Context.
The Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager on board the Solar Orbiter mission (SO/PHI) offers refocusing capabilities to cope with the strongly varying thermal environment of the optical ...system along the spacecraft’s elliptical orbit. The series of images recorded during in-flight focus calibrations can be employed for phase diversity analyses.
Aims.
In this work we infer the wavefront degradation caused by the thermo-optical effects in the High Resolution Telescope (HRT) from images taken during the fine and coarse focus scans performed in the commissioning phase of the instrument. The difference between these two series of images are mainly related to the employed defocused step (smaller for the fine scans) and the signal-to-noise ratio (higher for the coarse scans). We use the retrieved wavefronts to reconstruct the original scene observed during the calibration of the instrument.
Methods.
We applied a generalized phase diversity algorithm that allowed us to use several images taken with different amounts of defocus to sense the wavefront degradation caused by the instrument. The algorithm also uses information from both the inferred wavefront and the series of images to restore the solar scene.
Results.
We find that most of the retrieved Zernike coefficients tend to converge to the same value when increasing the number of images employed for PD for both the fine and the coarse focusing scans. The restored scenes also show signs of convergence, and the merit function is minimized more as
K
increases. Apart from a defocus, the inferred wavefronts are consistent for the two datasets (
λ
/10 −
λ
/11). For the fine scan images, the quiet-sun contrast improves from 4.5% for the original focused image up to about 10%. For the coarse scan images, the contrast of the restored scene is as high as 11%.
, an emerging opportunistic pathogen, is widely distributed in the environment the resistance mechanisms, and virulence factors of this bacterium facilitate its dissemination in hospitals. This study ...aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology of
strains associated with an outbreak in the Children's Hospital of México Federico Gómez (HIMFG). Twenty-one clinical
strains were recovered from cultures of blood and urine samples from 10 pediatric patients at the emergency department, and nine environmental
strains recovered from faucets in the same area were also included. Two of the 10 patients were related with health care-associated infections (HCAIs), and the other eight patients (8/10) were infected with environmental
strains. The outbreak was controlled by monthly disinfection of the faucets in the emergency department. Typing using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed a 52% genetic diversity with seven pulsotypes denoted P1-P7 among all
strains. Three pulsotypes (P2, P3, and P7) were identified among both the clinical and environmental
strains and associated with two type sequences (STs), namely, ST304 and ST24. Moreover, 80% (24/30) of the strains exhibited resistance mainly to tetracycline, 76.66% (23/30) to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 23.33% (7/30) to the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotype. The main resistance genes identified by multiplex PCR were
in 100% (30/30),
in 86.66% (26/30), and
in 80% (24/30) of the samples, respectively. Furthermore, the
, and
genes were identified in 96.6% (29/30), 90% (27/30), and 83.33% (25/30) of the samples, respectively. Additionally, 76.66% (23/30) of the
strains exhibited high swimming motility, 46.66% (14/30) showed moderate biofilm formation capacity, 43.33% (13/30) displayed moderate twitching motility, and 20% (6/30) exhibited high adherence. The clinical
strains isolated from blood most strongly adhered to HTB-9 cells. In conclusion, the molecular epidemiology and some of the features such as resistance, and virulence genes associated with colonization patterns are pathogenic attributes that can promote
dissemination, persistence, and facilitate the outbreak that occurred in the HIMFG. This study supports the need for faucet disinfection as a control strategy for clinical outbreaks.
"Transferon Oral" is a peptide-derived product with immunomodulatory properties obtained from the lysis and dialysis of human buffy coat. Its active pharmaceutical ingredient, generically known as ...Dialyzable Leucocyte Extract, is a mixture of peptide populations with reproducible proportions among batches. "Transferon Oral" modulates IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 and increases the survival rate in a herpes infection murine model when oropharyngeally (ORO) administered, which correlate with clinical observations where "Transferon Oral" is used as a therapeutic auxiliary in inflammatory diseases. Notwithstanding, how a peptide-derived product elicits systemic modulation of cytokines when ORO administered remains unclear. To shed light on the pharmacology of "Transferon Oral" its peptide components must be known. Ten "Transferon Oral" batches were sequenced by mass spectrometry and the intact peptides were identified. The most abundant peptides were the monomeric human Ubiquitin (Ub), a globular low-molecular mass protein, and an Ub variant which lacks the two-terminal Gly (Ub-GG). Recombinant Ub prevented murine death when ORO administered in a herpes infection murine model. Besides, the percentage of survival increased in groups treated with Transferon Oral+Ub and decreased in groups treated with Ub-depleted "Transferon Oral" respect to the group treated with "Transferon Oral" only. Our findings indicate that the biological properties of "Transferon Oral" are partially associated to the Ub content. They suggest that Ub may activate its extracellular receptor (CXCR-4) in the stomach eliciting systemic immunomodulatory effects
vagus nerve. This is the first report that identifies an active component of "Transferon Oral" with the potential for the development of oral peptide immunomodulators.
Post-stroke Neurogenesis: Friend or Foe? Cuartero, María Isabel; García-Culebras, Alicia; Torres-López, Cristina ...
Frontiers in cell and developmental biology,
03/2021, Letnik:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The substantial clinical burden and disability after stroke injury urges the need to explore therapeutic solutions. Recent compelling evidence supports that neurogenesis persists in the adult ...mammalian brain and is amenable to regulation in both physiological and pathological situations. Its ability to generate new neurons implies a potential to contribute to recovery after brain injury. However, post-stroke neurogenic response may have different functional consequences. On the one hand, the capacity of newborn neurons to replenish the damaged tissue may be limited. In addition, aberrant forms of neurogenesis have been identified in several insult settings. All these data suggest that adult neurogenesis is at a crossroads between the physiological and the pathological regulation of the neurological function in the injured central nervous system (CNS). Given the complexity of the CNS together with its interaction with the periphery, we ultimately lack in-depth understanding of the key cell types, cell-cell interactions, and molecular pathways involved in the neurogenic response after brain damage and their positive or otherwise deleterious impact. Here we will review the evidence on the stroke-induced neurogenic response and on its potential repercussions on functional outcome. First, we will briefly describe subventricular zone (SVZ) neurogenesis after stroke beside the main evidence supporting its positive role on functional restoration after stroke. Then, we will focus on hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) neurogenesis due to the relevance of hippocampus in cognitive functions; we will outline compelling evidence that supports that, after stroke, SGZ neurogenesis may adopt a maladaptive plasticity response further contributing to the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia. Finally, we will discuss the therapeutic potential of specific steps in the neurogenic cascade that might ameliorate brain malfunctioning and the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment in the chronic phase.
Abstract
Unhealthy aging poses a global challenge with profound healthcare and socioeconomic implications. Slowing down the aging process offers a promising approach to reduce the burden of a number ...of age-related diseases, such as dementia, and promoting healthy longevity in the old population. In response to the challenge of the aging population and with a view to the future, Norway and the United Kingdom are fostering collaborations, supported by a “Money Follows Cooperation agreement” between the 2 nations. The inaugural Norway–UK joint meeting on aging and dementia gathered leading experts on aging and dementia from the 2 nations to share their latest discoveries in related fields. Since aging is an international challenge, and to foster collaborations, we also invited leading scholars from 11 additional countries to join this event. This report provides a summary of the conference, highlighting recent progress on molecular aging mechanisms, genetic risk factors, DNA damage and repair, mitophagy, autophagy, as well as progress on a series of clinical trials (eg, using NAD+ precursors). The meeting facilitated dialogue among policymakers, administrative leaders, researchers, and clinical experts, aiming to promote international research collaborations and to translate findings into clinical applications and interventions to advance healthy aging.
Worldwide, the most highly consumed meat is of porcine origin. The production and distribution of swine meat are affected by diverse health matters, such as influenza and diarrhea, which cause head ...losses and require the use of antibiotics and other drugs in hog farms. To stimulate newborn piglet immune responses and increase resistance to infections, we developed a spray-drying technique to produce dried swine dialyzable spleen extract (sDSE), an immunomodulator. Based on the size-exclusion ultra performance liquid chromatography quantitative analysis, it was possible to recover up to 58% of the product after the drying process. The biological activity of orally administered dried sDSE increased mouse survival and induced cytokine production in a herpes infection model.
Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting devices for hydrocephalus Portillo Medina, Santiago Adalberto; Franco, Juan VA; Ciapponi, Agustín ...
Cochrane database of systematic reviews,
07/2017, Letnik:
2017, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:
To compare the effectiveness and safety of conventional and complex shunt devices for CSF diversion in people ...with hydrocephalus.
The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State Italy for ...the pesticide active substance lavandulyl senecioate are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative use of lavandulyl senecioate a pheromone comprise manual applications to control Planococcus ficus (vine mealybug) populations by mating disruption in table grape, wine grape, raisins and any other crops where P. ficus may be a pest in Southern Europe. The reliable endpoints, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.
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