Αρχειοθήκη ιστολογίου

Σάββατο 20 Ιουλίου 2019

Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182,00306932607174,alsfakia@gmail.com,


The Egyptian Orthopaedic Journal
Mini-open repair for acute Achilles tendon rupture using the ring forceps techniqueHatem S.A Elgohary, Mhmod A ElghafarThe Egyptian Orthopaedic Journal 2018 53(4):285-291Background Treatment of acute closed rupture of the tendo-Achilles is a challenge for the orthopedic surgeons. The aim of this study was to assess the results of repairing the tendo-Achilles using the ring forceps technique through a mini-open approach. Patients and methods A total of 21 adult patients with a closed rupture of the...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
3m
Multimodality imaging diagnosis of multiple ventricular thrombosis and massive stroke after gemcitabine...
Multimodality imaging diagnosis of multiple ventricular thrombosis and massive stroke after gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy for Urothelial CancerPier Paolo Bassareo1, Daniele Cocco2, Christian Cadeddu2, Giuseppe Mercuro21 Department of Cardiology, University College of Dublin, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy2 Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
4m
Giant right ventricular mass protruding into the pulmonary artery during systole, Yavuzer Koza1, Umit...
Giant right ventricular mass protruding into the pulmonary artery during systole,Yavuzer Koza1, Umit Arslan2, Bilgehan Erkut2, Enise Armagan Koza31 Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey2 Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey3 Department of Anesthesiology, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, TurkeyCorrespondence Address:Yavuzer KozaDepartment of Cardiology, Faculty...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
5m
Cardiovascular Echography
The Intrusive nature of epicardial adipose tissue as revealed by cardiac magnetic resonanceLaura Anna Leo, Vera Lucia Paiocchi, Susanne Anna Schlossbauer, Siew Yen Ho, Francesco F FaletraJournal of Cardiovascular Echography 2019 29(2):45-51The epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) refers to the deposition of adipose tissue fully enclosed by the pericardial sac. EAT has a complex mixture of adipocytes, nervous tissue, as well as inflammatory, stromal and immune cells secreting bioactive molecules. This...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
7m
Evaluatıon of hypofractıonated stereotactıc radıotherapy (HFSRT) to the resectıon cavıty after surgıcal...
Evaluatıon of hypofractıonated stereotactıc radıotherapy (HFSRT) to the resectıon cavıty after surgıcal resectıon of braın metastases: A sıngle center experıenceFerrat Dincoglan, Omer Sager, Bora Uysal, Selcuk Demiral, Hakan Gamsiz, Esin Gündem, Yelda Elcim, Bahar Dirican, Murat BeyzadeogluIndian Journal of Cancer 2019 56(3):202-206INTRODUCTON: Adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical resection is used for the treatment of patients with brain metastasis. In this study, we assessed the use of adjuvant...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
8m
Indian Journal of Cancer
Shared decision making and cancer screeningFilipe Prazeres, Elisa MartinsIndian Journal of Cancer 2019 56(3):195-196WT1 in astrocytomas: Comprehensive evaluation of immunohistochemical expression and its potential utility in different histological gradesAakriti Manocha, Sunila JainIndian Journal of Cancer 2019 56(3):197-201BACKGROUND: Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) mutation has recently been detected in gliomas. Growing data indicate that WT1 mutation plays a causal role in gliomagenesis and is overexpressed...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
9m
Case Studies for Public Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region - 2019,The Eastern Mediterranean...
Case Studies for Public Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region - 2019,The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) helped to launch and establish several Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). EMPHNET continues to provide ongoing technical and programmatic support for these program in an effort to assist countries to strengthen their public health workforce. READ MORE
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
10m
WHO Response to Disease Outbreaks in Liberia: Lessons learned from the 2014 - 2015 Ebola Virus Disease...
WHO Response to Disease Outbreaks in Liberia: Lessons learned from the 2014 - 2015 Ebola Virus Disease OutbreakThis special issue of the Pan African Medical Journal documents the successful application of lesson learnt from response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Liberia and identifies some best practices that could be applied to other disease prevention, control and elimination programmes with similar success. The papers, written by those who were actively engaged in response to epidemics...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
11m
Nigerian Medical Journal
The role of preoperative evaluations in otorhinolayngological proceduresWaheed Atilade Adegbiji, Gabriel Toye Olajide, Fatai Olatoke, Olubunmi Kolawole Ogundipe, Sulyman Biodun AlabiNigerian Medical Journal 2018 59(6):59-63Background: Routine laboratory investigations are important in preoperative preparation of otorhinolaryngological, head and neck patients to assess and to prevent operative risks. This study aimed at determining the American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification of the...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
13m
New data on crinoid assemblages from the oldest sedimentary rocks of the Polish Outer Carpathians (Jurassic-Cretaceous)...
New data on crinoid assemblages from the oldest sedimentary rocks of the Polish Outer Carpathians (Jurassic-Cretaceous)Publication date: Available online 29 June 2019Source: Annales de PaléontologieAuthor(s): Mariusz A. Salamon, Bruno Ferré, Andrzej Szydło, Tomasz Brachaniec, Miroslav BubíkAbstractCrinoids (Crinoidea) preserved in the so-called Cieszyn Beds (Tithonian-Hauterivian; southern Poland) are relatively numerous, especially in some levels, but not highly diversified. They are absent in the...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
14m
The Arab Journal of Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiology evolution: Our past guides us to our futureJames F BenenatiThe Arab Journal of Interventional Radiology 2019 3(2):39-40The pan Arab interventional radiology society: Renaissance and researchMohammad ArabiThe Arab Journal of Interventional Radiology 2019 3(2):41-41The status of vascular and interventional radiology training: The Saudi experienceYousof AbdulRahman Al Zahrani, Mohammad Arabi, Mohammad AlmoaiqelThe Arab Journal of Interventional Radiology 2019 3(2):42-43Adrenal...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
14m
H&N
National Cancer Institute theNCI19 JulHead and neck cancers include cancers in the larynx, throat, lips, mouth, nose, and salivary glands. An overview:… https://t.co/8k888IUUixDetails  |  RetweetNational Cancer Institute theNCI18 JulRT @NCIKerlavage: Calling developers and cancer informaticists: submit a proposal to build the #CancerData Aggregator, a software service t…Details  |  RetweetNational Cancer Institute theNCI18 JulIn children with acute myeloid #leukemia, the bone marrow makes a large...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
15m
OncologyEducation is proud to present our ASCO 2019 Roundtable Discussions. These videos incorporate both...
OncologyEducation is proud to present our ASCO 2019 Roundtable Discussions.These videos incorporate both Canadian and international perspectives from our faculty of experts with updates on key data presented at this year's meeting.We invite you to view our Roundtable Discussions.Please enjoy and share with your colleagues.To view the videos, click the images below:Click here for more video updates from ASCO 2019
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
16m
The profound oral cavity cancer burden in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands:...
The profound oral cavity cancer burden in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: A global health opportunityAuthor links open overlay panelAjay M.NarayananaAndreyFinegershbMary P.ChangcJoanneOgodRyan K.OroscobWilliam J.MossdaUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, United States of AmericabUniversity of California, San Diego, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, San Diego, CA 92103, United States of AmericacDepartment...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
16m
Multilingualism, Multiculturalism, and Migration: A Critical Assessment  Josue David Cisneros
Multilingualism, Multiculturalism, and Migration: A Critical Assessment  Josue David Cisneros
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
18m
Footprints of War: Militarized Landscapes in Vietnam. By David Biggs,  David Hunt  Irish Presbyterians...
Footprints of War: Militarized Landscapes in Vietnam. By David Biggs,  David Hunt  Irish Presbyterians and the Shaping of Western Pennsylvania, 1770-1830. By Peter E. Gilmore  Kerby A Miller  Selling the Sights: The Invention of the Tourist in American Culture. By Will B. Mackintosh  Anthony J Stanonis  Race Women Internationalists: Activist-Intellectuals and Global Freedom Struggles. By Imaobong D. Umoren  Nicole M Jackson
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
18m
Long-term c-Kit overexpression in beta cells compromises their function
 in ageing mice,AbstractAims/hypothesisc-Kit signalling regulates intracellular pathways that enhance beta cell proliferation, insulin secretion and islet vascularisation in mice up to 28 weeks of age and on short-term high-fat diet. However, long-term c-Kit activation in ageing mouse islets has yet to be examined. This study utilises beta cell-specific c-Kit-overexpressing transgenic (c-KitβTg) ageing mice (~60 weeks) to determine the effect of its activation on beta cell dysfunction and insulin...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
18m
Concordance of glycaemic and cardiometabolic traits between Indian women with history of gestational...
Concordance of glycaemic and cardiometabolic traits between Indian women with history of gestational diabetes mellitus and their spouses: an opportunity to target the householdAbstractAims/hypothesisThe aim of this study was to investigate the concordance of dysglycaemia (prediabetes or diabetes) and cardiometabolic traits between women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their spouses.MethodsUsing hospital medical records, women with GDM (diagnosed between 2012 and 2016) and...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
19m
Consequences of being overweight or obese during pregnancy on diabetes in the offspring: a record linkage...
Consequences of being overweight or obese during pregnancy on diabetes in the offspring: a record linkage study in Aberdeen, ScotlandAbstractAims/hypothesisMaternal obesity in pregnancy is associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality rate in the offspring. We aimed to determine whether maternal obesity is also associated with increased incidence of type 2 and type 1 diabetes in the offspring, independently of maternal diabetes as a candidate mechanistic pathway.MethodsBirth records of 118,201...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
19m
Reversion from prediabetes to normoglycaemia and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: the...
Reversion from prediabetes to normoglycaemia and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: the Whitehall II cohort study,AbstractAims/hypothesisReversion from prediabetes to normoglycaemia is accompanied by an improvement in cardiovascular risk factors, but it is unclear whether this translates into a reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events or death. Hence, we studied the probability of reversion from prediabetes to normoglycaemia and the associated risk of future CVD and death...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
20m
Diabetologia
Correction to: In vivo imaging of type 1 diabetes immunopathology using eye-transplanted islets in NOD miceUnfortunately there is a mistake in the presentation of the affiliations in this paper.Reversion from prediabetes to normoglycaemia and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: the Whitehall II cohort studyAbstractAims/hypothesisReversion from prediabetes to normoglycaemia is accompanied by an improvement in cardiovascular risk factors, but it is unclear whether this translates into a reduction...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
20m
Influence of oral administration of Akkermansia muciniphila on the tissue distribution and gut microbiota...
Influence of oral administration of Akkermansia muciniphila on the tissue distribution and gut microbiota composition of acute and chronic cadmium exposure mice  Saisai Feng; Yang Liu; Yanyang Huang ; Jianxin Zhao; Hao Zhang ...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
21m
Polyclonal Campylobacter fetus infections among unrelated patients, Montevideo, Uruguay, 2013-2018,  Daniela...
Polyclonal Campylobacter fetus infections among unrelated patients, Montevideo, Uruguay, 2013-2018,  Daniela Costa; Laura Betancor; Pilar Gadea; Laura Cabezas; Leticia Caiata ...  On Measles, Vaccination, Social Media Activism and How to Win Back Our Role as our Patients' Best Advocates  Richard L Oehler, MD, FACP, FIDSA  Metagenomic Analysis of Microdissected Valvular Tissue for Etiologic Diagnosis of Blood Culture Negative Endocarditis  Matthieu Million; Maxime Gaudin; Cléa Melenotte; Lionel Chasson ; Sophie...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
21m
Molecular Neurobiology
Correction to: In Vitro Seeding Activity of Glycoform-Deficient Prions from Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy and Familial CJD Associated with PrP V180I MutationThe original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The email address Dr. Wen-Quan Zou, one of the corresponding authors should be written as "wxz6@case.edu" instead of "wxz@case.edu".Correction to: Role of Chronic Administration of Antidepressant Drugs in the Prenatal Stress-Evoked Inflammatory Response in the Brain...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
22m
Life Cycle Assessment
SETAC Europe Young Scientist LCA award 2019 for P. James JoyceAbstractAt the 29th SETAC Europe annual meeting, May 26–30, 2019, Helsinki (Finland), P. James Joyce received the SETAC Europe Young Scientist LCA Award 2019. James is an environmental scientist by formation (University of Cambridge/Imperial College London), and finished his PhD in 2019 (KTH Institute of Technology, Sweden). His PhD research focused on the environmental considerations related to valorization of Bauxite residue. Herein,...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
23m
Absolute War: Violence and Mass Warfare in the German Lands, 1792–1820 The People's Wars: Histories...
Absolute War: Violence and Mass Warfare in the German Lands, 1792–1820The People's Wars: Histories of Violence in the German Lands, 1820–1888  Leighton James 
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
24m
Well-Being Assessment
Validation of the German Version of the Subjective Vitality Scale - a Cross-Sectional Study and a Randomized Controlled TrialAbstractOver the last decade, the concept of Subjective Vitality has gained popularity as one indicator of human well-being. However, today no valid instrument exists to measure Subjective Vitality in German speaking samples. To close this gap, we validated a German trait and state version of the Subjective Vitality Scale (Ryan and Frederick 1997). Study one (N = 632) used...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
24m
Forbidden Memories: Women's Experiences of 1965 in Eastern Indonesia. By Merry Koliman, Liliya Wetangterah,...
Forbidden Memories: Women's Experiences of 1965 in Eastern Indonesia. By Merry Koliman, Liliya Wetangterah, and Karen Campbell-Nelson (eds)  Chris Lundry  "You ask many questions, but you don't give many answers": Embracing the Mess in Conflict Studies Classrooms  Anna Sheftel
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
26m
Letalität nach operativen Risikoeingriffen bei Zeugen Jehovas, ZusammenfassungHintergrund Patienten...
Letalität nach operativen Risikoeingriffen bei Zeugen Jehovas,ZusammenfassungHintergrundPatienten der Zeugen Jehovas (ZJ) lehnen die Transfusion von Fremdblut (FB) aus religiöser Überzeugung ab. Dennoch wünschen sich auch ZJ, von modernen Therapiekonzepten einschließlich großer Operationen profitieren zu können, ohne ein übertrieben hohes Letalitätsrisiko eingehen zu müssen. Das Krankenhaus Nordwest in Frankfurt am Main ist „Vertrauensklinik" der ZJ und führt jährlich etwa 100 operative Eingriffe...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
26m
Der Anaesthesist
Anästhesiologisches Management bei endovaskulärer SchlaganfalltherapieZusammenfassungBei akutem ischämischem Schlaganfall (AIS) bewahrt nur die rasche Rekanalisation der verschlossenen Hirnarterie den betroffenen Patienten vor einem schweren neurologischen Defizit oder sogar einem tödlichen Ausgang. Lange Zeit war lediglich eine systemische Lyse der einzige, zur Verfügung stehende kausale Ansatz. Nach den Publikationen mehrerer randomisierter, prospektiver Studien zum Einsatz der endovaskulären Thrombektomie...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
27m
Practical Shape,  Christine Swanton
Practical Shape,  Christine Swanton
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
29m
Marie of France, Countess of Champagne, 1145–1198,  Tracy Adams  Enchanted Islands: Picturing the Allure...
Marie of France, Countess of Champagne, 1145–1198,  Tracy Adams  Enchanted Islands: Picturing the Allure of Conquest in Eighteenth-Century France  Carol E Harrison
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
29m
Metformin enhances gefitinib efficacy by interfering with interactions between tumor-associated macrophages...
Metformin enhances gefitinib efficacy by interfering with interactions between tumor-associated macrophages and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells,AbstractBackgroundTumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in drug resistance in many tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, how TAMs interact with HNSCC cells to induce drug resistance, especially under hypoxic conditions, is unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of TAM-induced...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
30m
Cellular Oncology
Curcumin: a potent agent to reverse epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitionAbstractBackgroundEpithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in tumor progression, invasion, migration and metastasis. EMT is a process by which polarized epithelial cells acquire motile mesothelial phenotypic features. This process is initiated by disassembly of cell-cell contacts through the loss of epithelial markers and replacement of these markers by mesenchymal markers. Reconstruction of the cytoskeleton and...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
30m
Academic Psychiatry
Correction to: The Use of Technology by Youth: Implications for Psychiatric EducatorsThis article was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on November 16, 2018 with open access.Empowering Clinician-Educators with Chalk Talk Teaching ScriptsA Dark Spot on a White Canvas: Thoughts on Being a Black Academic PsychiatristChallenges and Perspectives to the Fall in Psychiatry Fellowship ApplicationsA Missed Opportunity: Universal School-Based Mental...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
32m
Does oral antiviral suppressive therapy prevent recurrent herpes labialis in children? Laure F Pittet1,...
Does oral antiviral suppressive therapy prevent recurrent herpes labialis in children?Laure F Pittet1, Nigel Curtis1,2,3Author affiliationsInfectious Diseases Unit, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaInfectious Diseases Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaCorrespondence toProfessor Nigel Curtis, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne,...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
33m
Involvement of the vermillion border in a severe case of periorificial dermatitis, Vance Tran1, Vinay...
Involvement of the vermillion border in a severe case of periorificial dermatitis,Vance Tran1, Vinay Kukreti2,3Author affiliationsDepartment of Family Medicine, Queen's University, Oshawa, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Paediatrics, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaPaediatrics, Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Oshawa, Ontario, CanadaCorrespondence toDr Vinay Kukreti, Paediatrics, Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.L1G 2B9; vkukreti@lh.caView Full Texthttp://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2019-317798Statistics...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
34m
Archives of Disease in Childhood
ArchimedesDoes oral antiviral suppressive therapy prevent recurrent herpes labialis in children?Laure F Pittet, Nigel Curtis (2019-07-16)10.1136/archdischild-2019-317249ViewpointSecond medical opinions in paediatric practice; proposals for a framework for best practiceVic Larcher, Joe Brierley (2019-07-18)10.1136/archdischild-2019-317223Original articleProfessionals' accounts of genetic testing in adoption: a qualitative studyMichael Arribas-Ayllon, Angus Clarke, Katherine Shelton (2019-07-11)10.1136/archdischild-2019-316911Waist...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
35m
Cerebral venous thrombosis: a rare complication of herpes simplex encephalitis, Abstract We report...
Cerebral venous thrombosis: a rare complication of herpes simplex encephalitis,AbstractWe report a case of classic HSE with early neurological relapse 7 days after onset of acyclovir treatment secondary to cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). The development of CVT after meningoencephalitis has been described with neurotropic viruses such as HSV, HIV, or enteroviruses and also bacterial or fungal agents. CVT is probably the consequence of the inflammation secondary to these infections. A diagnosis of...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
36m

NeuroVirology
Polymorphisms in CAMKK2 associate with susceptibility to sensory neuropathy in HIV patients treated without stavudineAbstractHIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) is a debilitating neurological complication of HIV infection potentiated by the antiretroviral drug stavudine. While stavudine is no longer used, HIV-SN now affects around 15% of HIV+ Indonesians. Here, we investigate whether polymorphisms within the P2X-block (P2X4R, P2X7R, CAMKK2) and/or ANAPC5 mark susceptibility to HIV-SN in this...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
36m
JAMA
VIEWPOINTThe Conundrum of the United States Medical Licensing Examination Score Reporting StructureJennifer L. Swails, MD; Omowunmi Aibana, MD, MPH; Barbara J. Stoll, MDEvidence vs Consensus in Clinical Practice GuidelinesBenjamin Djulbegovic, MD, PhD; Gordon Guyatt, MD, MSTRENDING NOW ON JAMAAssociation of Lifestyle and Genetic Risk With Incidence of DementiaBasch Unbound—The House of God and Fiction as Resistance at 40Advances in Understanding the Pathophysiology of Chronic Fatigue SyndromeSubclinical...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
37m
Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics
Multisensory feature integration in (and out) of the focus of spatial attentionAbstractAnne Treisman transformed the way in which we think about visual feature integration. However, that does not mean that she was necessarily right, nor that she looked much beyond vision when considering how features might be bound together into perceptual objects. While such a narrow focus undoubtedly makes sense, given the complexity of human multisensory information processing, it is nevertheless somewhat surprising...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
38m
Hippo/Mst1 overexpression induces mitochondrial death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via...
Hippo/Mst1 overexpression induces mitochondrial death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via activating β-catenin/Drp1 pathway,AbstractMammalian Ste20-like kinase 1 (Mst1) is associated with cell apoptosis. In the current study, we explored the regulatory effects of Mst1 on squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in vitro. SCCHN Cal27 cells and Tu686 cells were transfected with adenovirus-loaded Mst1 to detect the role of Mst1 in cell viability. Then, siRNA against Drp1 was transfected...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
39m
Cell Stress and Chaperones
Correction to: Superoxide dismutase activity as a predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathyDue to an unfortunate turn of events, part of the data in the columns HR, 95% CI and p is missing from Figs. 4–9 of the original publication.Resveratrol and siRNA in combination reduces Hsp27 expression and induces caspase-3 activity in human glioblastoma cellsAbstractGBM cells can easily gain resistance to conventional therapy, and therefore treatment of glioblastoma...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
39m
Phase I study of ipatasertib as a single agent and in combination with abiraterone plus prednisolone...
Phase I study of ipatasertib as a single agent and in combination with abiraterone plus prednisolone in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors,AbstractPurposeIpatasertib is a selective inhibitor of Akt, a frequently activated protein kinase in human cancers. The current study assessed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of ipatasertib in Japanese patients with solid tumors.MethodsThis was a phase I, open-label, 3 + 3 dose-escalation study conducted in two stages. In stage I, Japanese...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
40m
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology
Effect of ethnicity on vinorelbine pharmacokinetics: a population pharmacokinetics analysisAbstractBackgroundPharmacokinetics of vinorelbine is mainly known from studies conducted in European patients. Interethnic differences in drug disposition may, however, induce interethnic variation in drug exposure. This paper aimed to evaluate the effect of ethnicity on the bioavailability and clearance of oral and intravenous vinorelbine.MethodsOral and intravenous vinorelbine pharmacokinetics data in Asian...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
40m
Mortality rates and prognostic factors in patients with malignant salivary tumors, Abstract Malignancies...
Mortality rates and prognostic factors in patients with malignant salivary tumors,AbstractMalignancies of the salivary glands represent a multifarious disease. Evaluating the prognostic factors of these malignancies may help predict patient outcome and aid decision-making in choosing the most suitable therapy. We examined the role of various salivary tumorigenic, clinical and therapeutic features in a cohort of 101 patients diagnosed and treated for primary malignant salivary tumors. These include...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
41m
Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with cetuximab in vulnerable elderly patients with locally advanced...
Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with cetuximab in vulnerable elderly patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma,AbstractThis study was designed to evaluate the objective response after hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) combined with cetuximab (HFBRT) in vulnerable elderly patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Vulnerable elderly patients with histologically proven HNSCC received HFRT (total dose 60 Gy, 3 Gy/fraction) with...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
41m
Oncology
Identification of important invasion and proliferation related genes in adrenocortical carcinomaAbstractAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an end‐stage hormonal syndrome. Although profound attempts have been made to illuminate the pathogenesis, the molecular mechanisms of ACC remain to be clarified. To identify the important genes in the progression of ACC, microarray datasets GSE19775 was downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database. The differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) were identified,...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
42m
Based on electron microscopic (EM) imagery, this illustration provides a three-dimensional (3D),...
Based on electron microscopic (EM) imagery, this illustration provides a three-dimensional (3D), graphical representation of a number of norovirus virions, set against a black background.More Info
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
43m
Archives of Disease in Childhood
EditorialPalivizumab for children with Down syndrome: is the time right for a universal recommendation?Bosco Paes, Souvik MitraChanging practice and altering national policy—selective dorsal rhizotomyGlobal child healthCharging undocumented migrant children for NHS healthcare: implications for child healthNeal James Russell, Lisa Murphy, Laura Nellums et al.Growth of preterm infants at the time of global obesityJosé Villar, Francesca Giuliani, Josep Figueras-Aloy et al.Adolescent healthDeliberate...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
43m
Neurosciences in the ninth art
Neurological SciencesAugust 2019, Volume 40, Issue 8, pp 1749–1750| Cite asAuthorsAuthors and affiliationsMichele Augusto Riva1Email authorView author's OrcID profileAndrea Galli1Michael Belingheri11.School of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milano-BicoccaMonzaItalyLetter to the EditorFirst Online: 25 February 20191Shares  42DownloadsDear Editor,Stan Lee (1922–2018), who recently passed away, was one of the most prolific comic book writers and publishers. He co-created numerous popular fictional...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
45m
Identification of a novel splice mutation in CTNNB1 gene in a Chinese family with both severe intellectual...
Identification of a novel splice mutation in CTNNB1 gene in a Chinese family with both severe intellectual disability and serious visual defects,AbstractThe CTNNB1 gene encode the β-catenin protein which is a core unit of the cadherin/catenin multiprotein complex. The loss-of-function mutation of the CTNNB1 gene recently has been confirmed as a cause of intellectual disability. Previous studies have found that patients with CTNNB1 gene mutation may have other clinical manifestation such as microcephaly,...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
46m
Sexual abuse and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, AbstractObjective We investigated the frequency...
Sexual abuse and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures,AbstractObjectiveWe investigated the frequency of reported sexual abuse in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in a Middle-Eastern culture (Iran) and tried to characterize the association between a history of sexual abuse and the clinical characteristics of PNES in these patients.MethodsIn this retrospective database study, patients with PNES, who were investigated at Shiraz Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Shiraz University of...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
46m
Neurological Sciences
Correction to: Effect of taping on scapular kinematics of patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophyThe published version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in Fig. 2. Only one graphic of different movement of scapula was published instead of three. The Figure is corrected here.Incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the Italian region of Umbria: a population-based study using healthcare administrative databasesAbstractParkinson's disease is known to pose a significant...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
46m
County lines: how gang crime is affecting our young people, 'County lines' is the term used for the...
County lines: how gang crime is affecting our young people,'County lines' is the term used for the proliferating mobile phone lines used by gangs to infiltrate county towns where a profitable drug market is identified. The National Crime Agency reports that 88% of police areas in England and Wales have either an established or emerging County Lines problem in [...]By Alessandra Glover Williams, Fiona Finlay
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
46m
Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in pregnant women and their association with...
Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in pregnant women and their association with a biomarker of oxidative stress,AbstractExposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pregnancy may pose adverse health risk to both the mothers and babies. In the present study, 188 pregnant women of different trimesters were recruited in Guangzhou, south China, and nine hydroxyl PAHs (OH-PAHs) and a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were determined...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
48m
Commonly consumed freshwater fish,...,Vibrio cholerae
Virulence, antimicrobial and heavy metal tolerance, and genetic diversity of Vibrio cholerae recovered from commonly consumed freshwater fish,AbstractVibrio cholerae is a leading waterborne pathogen worldwide. Continuous monitoring of V. cholerae contamination in aquatic products and identification of risk factors are crucial for assuring food safety. In this study, we determined the virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility, heavy metal tolerance, and genetic diversity of 400 V. cholerae isolates...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
49m
Hairdressers are exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde during the hair straightening procedure,...
Hairdressers are exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde during the hair straightening procedure,AbstractThe fact that hairdressers are exposed to toxic substances through the handling of creams and smoothing products prompted this study whose aim was to quantify the occupational exposure of hairdressers to formaldehyde by comparing the results of exposure for different types of beauty salon. The study population consisted of 23 beauty salons located in the city of Bauru, São Paulo state,...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
50m

Green vehicle adoption behavior among low-income households
: evidence from coastal MalaysiaAbstractIn an attempt to mitigate the effects of extreme natural events caused by greenhouse gases (GHGs), a significant number of researchers and environmentalists have repeatedly stressed the importance of implementing protective measures, including the promotion of green consumption. This study examined the elements that motivated the willingness and the practice of green behavior (GB) among low-income households in coastal Peninsular Malaysia. To meet the research...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
51m
Fluorene-9-bisphenol inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human endometrial cancer Ishikawa...
Fluorene-9-bisphenol inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells by repressing TGF-β signaling pathwayAbstractFluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF), a new derivative of bisphenol A (BPA), has been introduced for treatment with estrogen-related tumors, such as endometrial cancer. This study investigated the potential mechanism underlying the action of BHPF against endometrial cancer in vitro. We used the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) method on Ishikawa cells to screen...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
51m
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Efficient microalgae removal from aqueous medium through auto-flocculation: investigating growth-dependent role of organic matterAbstractThis study investigated the growth-dependent role of algal organic matters (AOMs) to achieve high removal efficiency (R.E) of microalgae. The results showed that the microalgae cells produced 96 ± 2% of total AOMs as loose bound AOMSS (LB-AOMs) and 4 ± 1% as cell-bound (CB-AOMs) in exponential phase. In stationary phase, LB-AOMs and CB-AOMs were 46 ± 0.7percentage...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
51m
   Tragic Excess in Hamlet   Jeffrey Wilson  After Great Grief a Formal Feeling Comes: The Conclusion...
   Tragic Excess in Hamlet   Jeffrey Wilson  After Great Grief a Formal Feeling Comes: The Conclusion of Milton's Lycidas  John Savoie  Strings of Pearls: James, Maupassant, and "Paste"  Philip Horne  Physician, Heal Thyself: The Satiric Turn in Washington Square  Stewart Justman  Yeats's Presences  Francis O'Gorman  No Puzzle: James Merrill, Philosophical Poetry, and the Structure of the Self  V Joshua Adams  Tony Hoagland and Self-Criticism  Mark Halliday   Poetry   More Things in Heaven  David...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
52m
Intranasal infection by Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Persistent viral replication and the development of T-cell responses after intranasal infection by MCMVAbstractNatural transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been difficult to observe. However, recent work using the mouse model of murine (M)CMV demonstrated that MCMV initially infects the nasal mucosa after transmission from mothers to pups. We found that intranasal (i.n.) inoculation of C57BL/6J mice resulted in reliable recovery of replicating virus from the nasal mucosa as assessed by plaque...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
53m
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
Adverse immunological imprinting by cytomegalovirus sensitizing for allergic airway diseaseAbstractCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has a profound impact on the host's immune system. Immunological imprinting by CMV is not restricted to immunity against CMV itself, but can affect immunity against other viral or non-viral infectious agents and also immunopathological responses. One category is heterologous immunity based on molecular mimicry, where antigen recognition receptors specific for a CMV antigen...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
54m
Role of antibodies in confining cytomegalovirus after reactivation from latency: three decades' résumé,...
Role of antibodies in confining cytomegalovirus after reactivation from latency: three decades' résumé,AbstractCytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are highly prevalent herpesviruses, characterized by strict species specificity and the ability to establish non-productive latent infection from which reactivation can occur. Reactivation of latent human CMV (HCMV) represents one of the most important clinical challenges in transplant recipients secondary to the strong immunosuppression. In addition, HCMV is the...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
55m
Adverse immunological imprinting by cytomegalovirus sensitizing for allergic airway disease, Abstract...
Adverse immunological imprinting by cytomegalovirus sensitizing for allergic airway disease,AbstractCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has a profound impact on the host's immune system. Immunological imprinting by CMV is not restricted to immunity against CMV itself, but can affect immunity against other viral or non-viral infectious agents and also immunopathological responses. One category is heterologous immunity based on molecular mimicry, where antigen recognition receptors specific for a CMV antigen...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
56m
Adverse immunological imprinting by cytomegalovirus sensitizing for allergic airway disease, Abstract...
Adverse immunological imprinting by cytomegalovirus sensitizing for allergic airway disease,AbstractCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has a profound impact on the host's immune system. Immunological imprinting by CMV is not restricted to immunity against CMV itself, but can affect immunity against other viral or non-viral infectious agents and also immunopathological responses. One category is heterologous immunity based on molecular mimicry, where antigen recognition receptors specific for a CMV antigen...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
   Fosfomycin tromethamine activity on biofilm and intracellular bacterial communities produced by...
   Fosfomycin tromethamine activity on biofilm and intracellular bacterial communities produced by uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infection  Maria José González; Paula Da Cunda; Martín Notejane ; Pablo Zunino; Paola Scavone ... Fosfomycin tromethamine reduces uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilm, without activity on intracellular bacterial communities within the bladder.  Human papillomavirus infection and autoimmune disorders: a tertiary center experience  Hanife...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Adverse immunological imprinting by cytomegalovirus sensitizing for allergic airway diseaseAbstractCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has a profound impact on the host's immune system. Immunological imprinting by CMV is not restricted to immunity against CMV itself, but can affect immunity against other viral or non-viral infectious agents and also immunopathological responses. One category is heterologous immunity based on molecular mimicry, where antigen recognition receptors specific for a CMV antigen...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Laboratory Evaluation of Spasmodic Dysphonia, Publication date: Available online 6 July 2019 Source: Journal...
Laboratory Evaluation of Spasmodic Dysphonia,Publication date: Available online 6 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Sammy Othman, Srihari Daggumati, Rohan Patel, Justin Ross, Robert T. SataloffSummaryObjectivesTo evaluate the utility of comprehensive laboratory evaluation in patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD).Study DesignRetrospective chart review.MethodsA review of the medical records of 40 patients diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia from 2009-2018 was preformed to evaluate abnormal...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Monitoring Breathing Muscle Performance During Singing Noninvasively Using Mechanomyography and Electromyography,...
Monitoring Breathing Muscle Performance During Singing Noninvasively Using Mechanomyography and Electromyography,Publication date: Available online 9 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Muhammad Imran Ramli, Nur Azah Hamzaid, Julia Patrick EngkasanAbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the performance of mechanomyography (MMG) and electromyography (EMG) in monitoring the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) as accessory respiratory muscles when breathing during singing.MethodsMMG...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
The Voice Disability Coping Questionnaire
Factor Analysis of the Persian Version of the Voice Disability Coping QuestionnairePublication date: Available online 16 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Farzaneh Salehimanesh, Majid Soltani, Maryam Dastoorpoor, Negin MoradiAbstractIntroductionVoice disorders can affect the quality of life and coping mechanisms and also coping mechanisms can affect the way in which patients deal with their voice problems. People with voice disorders need to use coping strategies to deal with the problems...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Laryngeal hypersensitivity : Laryngeal pesthesia Questionnaire,...................,LHQ: Laryngeal hypersensitivity questionnaire; PVFM: Paradoxical vocal fold movement.,.....................,Laryngeal Dysfunction Syndromes include chronic refractory cough, pdoxical vocal fold movement (vocal cord dysfunction), muscle tension dysphonia and globus pharyngeus. These conditions present to clinicians as discrete syndromes based around a dominant manifestation of a disordered laryngeal adductor reflex, e.g. cough, vocal fold closure, vocalisation, or swallowing.
Abnormal sensory experience is characterised in three ways: (1) hypersensory–sensation triggered by stimuli that is sub-threshold for triggering that sensation, (2) pesthesia–altered sensory experience, and (3) allodynia–sensation triggered by stimuli that do not normally trigger those sensations.Patients with laryngeal dysfunction syndromes such as chronic refractory cough, paradoxical vocal fold movement, globus pharyngeus and muscle tension dysphonia frequently report irritation and discomfort...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
The Newcastle Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Questionnaire
Cough. 2014; 10: 1.Published online 2014 Feb 19. doi: 10.1186/1745-9974-10-1PMCID: PMC3931290PMID: 24552215Development and validation of the Newcastle laryngeal hypersensitivity questionnaireAnne E Vertigan,corresponding author1,2,3 Sarah L Bone,1,2 and Peter G Gibson2,3,4Author information Article notes Copyright and License information DisclaimerThis article has been cited by other articles in PMC.Go to:AbstractBackgroundLaryngeal hypersensitivity may be an important component of the common disorders...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Dehydration and Estrous Staging in the Rat Larynx: an in vivo Prospective Investigation, Publication...
Dehydration and Estrous Staging in the Rat Larynx: an in vivo Prospective Investigation,Publication date: Available online 13 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Abigail Cox, Naila Cannes do Nascimento, Andrea Pires dos Santos, M. Preeti SivasankarAbstractObjectiveThis novel study sought to untangle the association between hydration state and the estrous cycle in the vocal folds, since the voice is reported to negatively change in speakers during the estrous cycle and with dehydration. We...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Intraglottal Pressure: A Comparison Between Male and Female Larynxes, Publication date: Available...
Intraglottal Pressure: A Comparison Between Male and Female Larynxes,Publication date: Available online 13 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Sheng Li, Ronald C. Scherer, MingXi Wan, SuPin Wang, Bo SongSummaryAcoustic differences in the phonated sounds made by men and women are related to laryngeal and vocal tract structural differences. This model-based study explored how typical vocal fold differences between males and females affect intraglottal pressure distributions under conditions...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Long-Term Effects of a Voice Training Program to Prevent Voice Disorders in Teachers, Publication...
Long-Term Effects of a Voice Training Program to Prevent Voice Disorders in Teachers,Publication date: Available online 13 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Birte Meier, Ulla BeushausenAbstractObjectivesResearch findings about long-term effectiveness of voice training programs for teachers are limited. This study shows long-term evaluation results of a statewide voice training program for teachers in Lower Saxony/Germany.MethodTwenty-seven voice training sessions with 286 participating...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Vocal Fold "Paralysis": An Early Sign in Multiple System Atrophy, Publication date: Available online...
Vocal Fold "Paralysis": An Early Sign in Multiple System Atrophy,Publication date: Available online 16 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Philip W. Tipton, Dale C. Ekbom, Amy L. Rutt, Jay A. van GerpenSummaryMultiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a cerebellar syndrome, autonomic dysfunction, and extrapyramidal signs. Extrapyramidal signs may manifest as parkinsonism as well as dystonia, which is the involuntary contraction of a muscle(s) resulting in...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h

Neuroblastoma in relation to joint effects of vitamin A and maternal and offspring variants in vitamin...
Neuroblastoma in relation to joint effects of vitamin A and maternal and offspring variants in vitamin A-related genes: A report of the Children's Oncology GroupPublication date: August 2019Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 61Author(s): Angela L. Mazul, Clarice R. Weinberg, Stephanie M. Engel, Anna Maria Siega-Riz, Fei Zou, Kathryn S. Carrier, Patricia V. Basta, Zalman Vaksman, John M. Maris, Sharon J. Diskin, Charlene Maxen, Arlene Naranjo, Andrew F. OlshanAbstractBackgroundThere is evidence vitamin...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Defining a mutational signature for endometrial cancer screening and early detection Publication date:...
Defining a mutational signature for endometrial cancer screening and early detectionPublication date: August 2019Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 61Author(s): Laura Costas, Luis Palomero, Yolanda Benavente, Magdalena Guardiola, Jon Frias-Gomez, Miquel Ángel Pavón, Maite Climent, José Manuel Martinez, Marc Barahona, Mónica Salinas, Marta Pineda, Ilaria Bianchi, Jaume Reventós, Gabriel Capellà, Mireia Diaz, August Vidal, Josep Maria Piulats, Jordi Ponce, Joan Brunet, Francesc Xavier BoschAbstractIntroductionThe...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Screening baseline characteristics of early lung cancer on low-dose computed tomography with computer-aided...
Screening baseline characteristics of early lung cancer on low-dose computed tomography with computer-aided detection in a Chinese populationPublication date: October 2019Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 62Author(s): Yuanyuan Liu, Hongbin Luo, Haomiao Qing, Xiaodong Wang, Jing Ren, Guohui Xu, Shibei Hu, Changjiu He, Peng ZhouAbstractObjectivesThis study investigated appropriate baseline characteristics for screening a Chinese population at high risk of early lung cancer, assisted by low-dose computed...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Corpus uteri cancer has become the fourth most common female cancer in Europe
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2018 Oct;143 Suppl 2:37-50. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.12612.Cancer of the corpus uteri.Amant F1,2,3, Mirza MR4, Koskas M5, Creutzberg CL6.Author information1Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.2Center for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.3Center for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands.4Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
A heavier weight at birth is associated with an elevated risk of total and follicular thyroid cancer, which underscores that prenatal exposures may be important in thyroid cancer aetiology.
https://sfakianakisorl.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-heavier-weight-at-birth-is-associated.htmlAlexandros SfakianakisAnapafseos 5 . Agios NikolaosCrete.Greece.7210028410261826948891480alsfakia@gmail.com
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
A heavier weight at birth is associated with an elevated risk of total and follicular thyroid cancer, which underscores that prenatal exposures may be important in thyroid cancer aetiology.
Birthweight and risk of thyroid cancer and its histological types: A large cohort studyPublication date: October 2019Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 62Author(s): Julie Aarestrup, Cari M. Kitahara, Jennifer L. BakerAbstractBackgroundThe aetiology of thyroid cancer is poorly understood, but it is possible that this malignancy has origins early in life. It is, however, currently unknown if birthweight, as an indicator of prenatal growth, is related to thyroid cancer risk.ObjectiveTo investigate...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Cancer Epidemiology
Clinicopathologic and epidemiological characteristics of prognostic factors in post-surgical survival of colorectal cancer patients in Jiangsu Province, ChinaPublication date: October 2019Source: Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 62Author(s): Said Abasse Kassim, Weiyan Tang, Muhammad Abbas, Shenzhen Wu, Qingdao Meng, Chengcheng Zhang, Xiaobo Li, Rui ChenAbstractPoor survival among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients has been widely associated with clinico-epidemiological features and treatment regimen. In...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Journal of Voice
Reply to Functional Dysphonia: A Clear Need for Differential DiagnosisPublication date: Available online 18 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Tamonud ModakFactor Analysis of the Persian Version of the Voice Disability Coping QuestionnairePublication date: Available online 16 July 2019Source: Journal of VoiceAuthor(s): Farzaneh Salehimanesh, Majid Soltani, Maryam Dastoorpoor, Negin MoradiAbstractIntroductionVoice disorders can affect the quality of life and coping mechanisms and also coping...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Acta Histochemica
Comparison of incremental concentrations of micron-sized superparamagnetic iron oxide for labelling articular cartilage derived chondroprogenitorsPublication date: Available online 18 July 2019Source: Acta HistochemicaAuthor(s): Elizabeth Vinod, Jithu Varghese James, Upasana Kachroo, Solomon Sathishkumar, Abel Livingston, Boopalan RamasamyAbstractIntroductionIn vivo tracking of labelled cells can provide valuable information about cellular behavior in the microenvironment, migration and contribution...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
The erector spinae plane block for effective analgesia after lung lobectomy: Three cases report Rationale:...
The erector spinae plane block for effective analgesia after lung lobectomy: Three cases reportRationale: The thoracic epidural block and thoracic paravertebral block are widely used techniques for multimodal analgesia after thoracic surgery. However, they have several adverse effects, and are not technically easy. Recently, the erector spinae plane block (ESPB), an injected local anesthetic deep to the erector spinae muscle, is a relatively simple and safe technique. Patient concerns: Three patients...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Association of CTLA-4 tagging polymorphisms and haplotypes with hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A case-control...
Association of CTLA-4 tagging polymorphisms and haplotypes with hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A case-control studyIt has been proposed that cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) may attenuate the T-cell activation threshold, thereby decreasing the antitumor response and conferring susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we selected CTLA-4 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and explored the relationship between these polymorphisms and susceptibility...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Diagnostic accuracy of different computer-aided diagnostic systems for malignant and benign thyroid...
Diagnostic accuracy of different computer-aided diagnostic systems for malignant and benign thyroid nodules classification in ultrasound images: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocolObjective: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of different computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems for thyroid nodules classification. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted from inception until March, 2019 using the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Cochrane...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for human immunodeficiency virus associated gastric...
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for human immunodeficiency virus associated gastric Burkitt lymphoma: A case reportRationale: HIV-related lymphoma, especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is one of the most common malignant tumors in HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for the patients with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is needed to be further explored. Patient concerns: A 57-year-old man was hospitalized with intermittent...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Upregulation of microRNA-191 can serve as an independent prognostic marker for poor survival in prostate...
Upregulation of microRNA-191 can serve as an independent prognostic marker for poor survival in prostate cancerMicroRNA-191 (miR-191) has been identified as being upregulated in several types of cancers, and plays the role of oncogene. The expression of miR-191 has been found to be upregulated in prostate cancer tissues as well as cell lines. In this study, we analyzed the correlation of miR-191 expression with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in prostate cancer. Prostate cancer tissue samples...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Correction of labial tubercle defect in repaired bilateral cleft lips using bilateral vermilion musculomucosal...
Correction of labial tubercle defect in repaired bilateral cleft lips using bilateral vermilion musculomucosal sliding flaps: Case seriesRationale: Insignifificant, asymmetrical or lack of labial tubercle often occurs after cleft lip surgery due to improper treatment of vermilion tissue. Especially in the cases of bilateral cleft lip, because of short front lip and insuffificient vermilion tissue, the median vermilion depression often occurs after surgery, forming a "whistling" deformity. The object...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Prognostic role of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio in colorectal cancer: A meta analysis Objective:...
Prognostic role of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio in colorectal cancer: A meta analysisObjective: This meta-analysis evaluates the prognosis value of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in colorectal cancer. Methods: Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effective values. Results: A total of 6 studies with 1942 patients were included in this study. Pooled results revealed that elevated...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction/acid-fast bacilli in conjunction with computed tomography–guided...
Diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction/acid-fast bacilli in conjunction with computed tomography–guided pleural biopsy in tuberculous pleurisy: A diagnostic accuracy studyPatients with tuberculous pleurisy often remain undiagnosed even after blind thoracentesis and closed pleural biopsy (PB). In this study, we assessed the value of computed tomography (CT)-guided core needle biopsy of pleural lesion and evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/staining for acid-fast...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Therapeutic effect of lutein supplement on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: A retrospective study,...
Therapeutic effect of lutein supplement on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: A retrospective study,This study retrospectively evaluated the effect of lutein supplement (LS) on patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). A total of 72 patients with NPDR were included in this study. All patients received Zeaxanthin during the study period. In addition, 36 patients also received LS and were assigned to the treatment group, while the other 36 patients did not receive LS and were...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Cognitive Processing
Floating novel object recognition in adult zebrafish: a pilot studyAbstractThe novel object recognition (NOR) tasks can be used to quantify memory function in zebrafish similarly to rodents. The development of zebrafish learning and memory tests provides a means for testing the effects of pharmacological manipulations of memory. Several authors reported on the successful application of different objects in NOR tests placed either at the bottom of test tanks or submerged into the tank water of zebrafish....
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h
Medicine - Vol. 98, No. 29, July 2019 Lippincott Journals eTOC
Therapeutic effect of lutein supplement on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: A retrospective studyThis study retrospectively evaluated the effect of lutein supplement (LS) on patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). A total of 72 patients with NPDR were included in this study. All patients received Zeaxanthin during the study period. In addition, 36 patients also received LS and were assigned to the treatment group, while the other 36 patients did not receive LS and were...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1h

Global rosacea treatment guidelines and expert consensus points: The differences Juliandri Juliandri...
Global rosacea treatment guidelines and expert consensus points: The differencesJuliandri Juliandri MD Xiaoyan Wang MD Zijing Liu MD Jiawen Zhang MD Yang Xu MD, PhD Chao Yuan MD, PhDFirst published: 26 February 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12903Funding information:Natural National Science Foundation of China (81301394, 81602778); Construction Program of Jiangsu Provincial Clinical Research Center Support System (BL2014084)Read the full textePDFPDFTOOLS SHARESummaryBackgroundRosacea is a...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Autologous pure platelet‐rich plasma injections for facial skin rejuvenation: Biometric instrumental...
Autologous pure platelet‐rich plasma injections for facial skin rejuvenation: Biometric instrumental evaluations and patient‐reported outcomes to support antiaging effectsPeter A Everts PhD  Pedro Contreiras Pinto PhD  Leonor Girão MDFirst published: 23 October 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12802 Cited by: 1Read the full textePDFPDFTOOLS SHARESummaryBackgroundDuring skin aging, a degeneration of connective tissue and decrease in hyaluronic acid polymers occur. Since platelet‐rich plasma (PRP)...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Efficacy of platelet‐rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia patients Ghazala Butt MD  Ijaz Hussain FCPS ...
Efficacy of platelet‐rich plasma in androgenetic alopecia patientsGhazala Butt MD  Ijaz Hussain FCPS  Fridoon Jawad Ahmed PhD  Mahmood S Choudhery PhDFirst published: 04 November 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12810 Cited by: 1Read the full textePDFPDFTOOLS SHAREAbstractBackgroundAndrogenetic alopecia (AGA), a patterned hair loss in both males and females, is a commonly occurring disease worldwide. Conventionally, no curative or satisfactory treatment is available for this condition. Therefore,...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Biostimulatory effects of polydioxanone, poly‐d, l lactic acid, and polycaprolactone fillers in mouse...
Biostimulatory effects of polydioxanone, poly‐d, l lactic acid, and polycaprolactone fillers in mouse modelTae‐Rin Kwon PhD  Sung Won Han MS  In Kwon Yeo MD  Jong Hwan Kim MS  Jae Min Kim MD  Ji‐Yeon Hong MD  Byung‐Chul Lee MS  Sung‐Eun Lee MS  Ho Sang Moon PhD … See all authorsFirst published: 15 April 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12950Kwon and Han are contributed equally to this study.Read the full textePDFPDFTOOLS SHARESummaryBackgroundNumerous fillers are increasingly used for augmentation...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Treatment of alopecia areata with nonablative fractional laser combined with topical minoxidil Wuyuntana...
Treatment of alopecia areata with nonablative fractional laser combined with topical minoxidilWuyuntana Wang MM  Gegentana MM  Tonglaga MD  Bagenna MD  Yuanhong Li MD, PhDFirst published: 06 June 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12883Read the full textePDFPDFTOOLS SHARESummaryBackgroundAlopecia areata (AA) is a relatively common dermatosis with the sudden burst of hair loss on the scalp and other hair‐bearing regions. However, because of high relapse and side effects, no satisfactory therapy has...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Injectable profiloplasty: Forehead, nose, lips, and chin filler treatment Dario Bertossi MD  Luca Lanaro...
Injectable profiloplasty: Forehead, nose, lips, and chin filler treatmentDario Bertossi MD  Luca Lanaro MD  Irene Dell'Acqua MD  Massimo Albanese MD  Luciano Malchiodi MD  Pier Francesco Nocini MDFirst published: 15 November 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12792 Cited by: 1Funding information:English review assistance was provided to the authors by ClearView Medical Communications, LLC and funded by Allergan SpA SpA at the request of the investigator. All authors met the ICMJE authorship criteria....
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Molecular Medicine - Volume:44 Number: Spandidos Publications
O-GlcNAcylation in immunity and inflammation: An intricate system (Review)Yu Li, Mingzheng Xie, Lili Men, Jianling DuView Abstract ❯The association of female and male infertility with telomere length (Review)Eleni Vasilopoulos, Persefoni Fragkiadaki, Charikleia Kalliora, Domniki Fragou, Anca Oana Docea, Elena Vakonaki, Dimitris Tsoukalas, Daniela Calina, Ana Maria Buga, George Georgiadis, Charalampos Mamoulakis, Antonios Makrigiannakis, Demetrios A. Spandidos, Aristidis TsatsakisView Abstract ❯Screening...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Herbal alternatives in androgenetic alopecia : Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), Green tea (Camellia sinensis), Pumpkin seed (Curcurbita pepo), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Grape seed (Vitis vinifera), and Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
REVIEW ARTICLEAn overview of herbal alternatives in androgenetic alopeciaMaria Yusuf Dhariwala M. PharmPadmini Ravikumar M. Pharmhttps://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12930SummaryThe second most common alopecia—Androgenetic alopecia (AGA)—occurs due to hormonal imbalance. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) an androgenic hormone is a sex steroid, produced in the gonads. The target sites of DHT are similar to that of testosterone, and it attaches easily remaining bound for 53 minutes as compared to 35 minutes of testosterone....
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Cosmetic Dermatology
REVIEW ARTICLESGlobal rosacea treatment guidelines and expert consensus points: The differencesJuliandri Juliandri MD  Xiaoyan Wang MD  Zijing Liu MD  Jiawen Zhang MD  Yang Xu MD, PhDChao Yuan MD, PhDPages: 960-965  First Published: 26 February 2019Abstract  Full text  PDF  ReferencesRequest permissionsAn overview of herbal alternatives in androgenetic alopeciaMaria Yusuf Dhariwala M. Pharm  Padmini Ravikumar M. PharmPages: 966-975  First Published: 13 April 2019Abstract  Full text  PDF  ReferencesRequest...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Seasonal Minimum and Maximum Solar Ultraviolet Exposure Measurements of Classroom Teachers Residing...
Seasonal Minimum and Maximum Solar Ultraviolet Exposure Measurements of Classroom Teachers Residing in Tropical North Queensland, Australia,Nathan J. Downs Damien P. Igoe Alfio V. Parisi Olivia Taylor Shari L. LazzaroniAlex Rawlings Daniel R. Garzón‐Chavez Simone L. HarrisonPages: 1083-1093 First Published: 08 January 2019Personal erythemally effective exposure of classroom teachers in tropical Townsville (19.3°S) was measured to establish seasonal extremes in exposure behavior. Mean daily personal...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Photochemistry and Photobiology Volume 95, Issue 4Pages: 909-1093 July/August 2019 Issue Information...
Photochemistry and PhotobiologyVolume 95, Issue 4Pages: 909-1093July/August 2019Issue InformationIssue InformationPages: 909-910 | First Published: 19 July 2019Research ArticlesPhotostability of Terbinafine Under UVA Irradiation: The Effect of UV AbsorbersAgata Kryczyk‐Poprawa, Paweł Żmudzki, Paulina Koczurkiewicz, Elżbieta Pękala, Urszula HubickaPages: 911-923 | First Published: 22 December 2018In‐depth investigation of the photostability of terbinafine was conducted, taking into account the presence...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Photo‐Modification of Melanin by a Mid‐infrared Free‐electron Laser,Takayasu Kawasaki, Aomi Sato, Yuki...
Photo‐Modification of Melanin by a Mid‐infrared Free‐electron Laser,Takayasu Kawasaki, Aomi Sato, Yuki Tominaga, You Suzuki, Takahiro Oyama, Makoto Tadokoro, Koichi Tsukiyama, Kiyoshi Nokihara, Heishun ZenPages: 946-950 | First Published: 05 January 2019 We applied a free‐electron laser tuned to mid‐infrared wavelength (5.8 μm) to irradiate melanin. The melanin powder was dispersed by the pulse irradiation with power energy of 500 mJ cm−2, and the minimum pulse number for damage to the morphology...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
NLOphoric Triphenylamine Derived Donor‐π‐Acceptor‐π‐Donor Based Colorants: Synthesis, Spectroscopic,...
NLOphoric Triphenylamine Derived Donor‐π‐Acceptor‐π‐Donor Based Colorants: Synthesis, Spectroscopic, Density Functional Theory and Z‐scan Studies,Manish M. Raikwar, Elizabeth Mathew, Manu Varghese, Issac H. Joe, Sekar Nagaiyan NethiPages: 931-945 | First Published: 28 January 2019 Three dyes (5a‐c) with D‐π‐A‐π‐D structural motif were synthesized and investigated for their photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior. The photophysical behavior of 5a‐c were affected by the polarity of the medium...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Efficient Photooxidation of Aryl(hetaryl)pyrazolines by Benzoquinone,Valery F. Traven, Ivan V. Ivanov, Sergei...
Efficient Photooxidation of Aryl(hetaryl)pyrazolines by Benzoquinone,Valery F. Traven, Ivan V. Ivanov, Sergei M. Dolotov, Artem N. Semakin, Dmitriy A. Cheptsov, Zarina Z. MamirgovaPages: 924-930 | First Published: 06 January 2019 Photooxidation of aryl(hetaryl)pyrazolines in the presence of benzoquinone in organic solvents undergoes at high rate and provides the corresponding pyrazoles in a good yields. The effects of the solvent, pyrazoline structure and oxygen provide definite information on the...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
Photostability of Terbinafine Under UVA Irradiation: The Effect of UV Absorbers,Agata Kryczyk‐Poprawa, Paweł...
Photostability of Terbinafine Under UVA Irradiation: The Effect of UV Absorbers,Agata Kryczyk‐Poprawa, Paweł Żmudzki, Paulina Koczurkiewicz, Elżbieta Pękala, Urszula HubickaPages: 911-923 | First Published: 22 December 2018In‐depth investigation of the photostability of terbinafine was conducted, taking into account the presence of UV absorbers such as TiO2, ZnO, avobenzone, 3‐(4‐methylbenzylidene)camphor, octocrylene, benzophenone‐1 and benzophenone‐2. The photocatalytic degradation of terbinafine...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
2h
19th Internarional Symposium of ISTU 5th European Symposium of EUFUS Barcelona 2019 | 13th - 15th June ABSTRACT BOOK
11:31(Unknown title) Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182, 11:19(Unknown title) Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182, 11:10(Unknown title) Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182,11:05(Unknown title) Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182, 11:01(Unknown...
Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης
1d

Neurological Sciences

Correction to: Effect of taping on scapular kinematics of patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

The published version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in Fig. 2. Only one graphic of different movement of scapula was published instead of three. The Figure is corrected here.



Incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the Italian region of Umbria: a population-based study using healthcare administrative databases

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is known to pose a significant burden on society in industrialized countries. However, few studies have been conducted in Italy using administrative healthcare databases for epidemiological purposes. We wanted to estimate the incidence and prevalence rates of Parkinson's disease in the Italian region of Umbria by means of linkage between several sources of administrative healthcare data: hospitalization episodes, exemptions from medical charges, drug prescriptions from general practitioners and physicians working in the public sector. Using a pre-defined algorithm, we estimated incident and prevalent cases of Parkinson's disease for the year 2016. The regional incidence rate, adjusted with Italian standard population data, was 0.40 new cases/1000 person-years (0.41 in females, 0.39 in males). We estimated that 5550 subjects were affected by Parkinson's disease, leading to an age-adjusted prevalence rate of 5.42/1000 inhabitants. Prevalence and incidence increased with age and male gender. However, due to the longer life expectancy of females, the absolute number of prevalent cases was greater among females. The heterogeneity of spatial distribution of disease was high. A considerable proportion of prevalent cases was hospitalized in 2016. The most recurrent reasons for hospitalization episodes were disorders related to the nervous system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal and connective tissue apparatus. The study findings support the feasibility of future epidemiological studies of Parkinson's disease with administrative data as well as the need for an integrative care pathway for the patients with Parkinson's disease.



Sexual abuse and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Abstract

Objective

We investigated the frequency of reported sexual abuse in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in a Middle-Eastern culture (Iran) and tried to characterize the association between a history of sexual abuse and the clinical characteristics of PNES in these patients.

Methods

In this retrospective database study, patients with PNES, who were investigated at Shiraz Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, from 2008 until 2018, were studied. Patients were categorized into two groups: (1) those with a history of sexual abuse and (2) those without such a history.

Results

A total of 314 patients were studied. Twenty-six patients (8.3%) had a history of sexual abuse, while 288 patients (91.7%) denied having such an experience. Sex ratio (OR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.14–10.89; p = 0.02) and a history of child abuse (OR: 4.85; 95% CI: 1.82–12.96; p = 0.002) were significantly associated with a history of sexual abuse.

Conclusion

Some people with a history of sexual abuse are at risk of developing PNES later in their lives. While social, cultural, and even genetic predisposition may be interacting for such an association to come to play, there is no concrete direct evidence to clarify this link yet. This should be investigated in future international cross-cultural studies and also highlights the need for planning genetic studies in patients with PNES.



Neurosciences in the ninth art


Identification of a novel splice mutation in CTNNB1 gene in a Chinese family with both severe intellectual disability and serious visual defects

Abstract

The CTNNB1 gene encode the β-catenin protein which is a core unit of the cadherin/catenin multiprotein complex. The loss-of-function mutation of the CTNNB1 gene recently has been confirmed as a cause of intellectual disability. Previous studies have found that patients with CTNNB1 gene mutation may have other clinical manifestation such as microcephaly, abnormal facial features, motor and language delays, and mild visual defects. Here, we reported a 27-year-old Chinese pregnant woman with a severe intellectual disability and serious visual defects who was detected with a novel splice mutation (c.734+1G>A) in CTNNB1 gene by whole-exome sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Further investigation showed that the variant was inherited from her mother with similar phenotypes. This report not only helps to expand the mutant spectrum of the CTNNB1 gene but also prompts a new insight into genetic diagnosis in patients with both serious intellectual disability and visual defects.



Highlights of the issue 8, 2019


Identification of a novel NOTCH3 mutation in an Italian family affected by a mild form of CADASIL


Carrier frequency of spinal muscular atrophy in Thailand

Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the leading causes of death in infants and young children from heritable diseases. Patients diagnosed with SMA develop symmetrical progressive muscle weakness and atrophy from degeneration of alpha motor neurons. Approximately 95% of patients have a homozygous deletion of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene in exon 7 and inherited in autosomal recessive pattern. Considering the high prevalence of SMA carrier in many population, it is possible that SMA is one of the most common autosomal recessive disorders in Thailand and Southeast Asia. In this study, we analyzed DNA from peripheral blood of 505 healthy Thai adults using quantitative PCR-based for SMN1 gene exon 7 copy number analysis. Individual samples with heterozygous deletion of SMN1 gene were confirmed with MLPA. The result identified 9 samples (1.78%) with heterozygous deletion and 39 samples as more than 2 copies of SMN1. No homozygous deletion was detected in the samples. In conclusion, we established carrier frequency of SMA in selected Thai population at 1.8% from 505 participants. The prevalence coincides with prevalence in East Asia and Caucasian population. The result could be implemented for SMA carrier screening in couples at risk in the region.



Choosing Wisely: five recommendations related to tests, treatments, and procedures at risk of inappropriateness in the cure of Parkinson's disease (LIMPE-DISMOV Academy)


Complex multisystem phenotype associated with the mitochondrial DNA m.5522G>A mutation

Abstract

Mitochondrial tRNAs are responsible for more than half of pathogenic point mutations in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). Different mutations give rise to widely differing phenotypes, ranging from isolated organ-specific diseases to multisystem conditions. Herein, we report a 40-year-old woman presenting with a complex multisystem phenotype including sensorineural hearing loss, retinopathy, severe dilated cardiomyopathy, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and renal failure. Sequence analysis of mtDNA identified the m.5522G>A mutation in MT-TW, the gene encoding mitochondrial tRNA for tryptophan. The heteroplasmic variant, thus far described once, was almost exclusively confined to skeletal muscle tissue, as shown by massive parallel sequencing and corroborated by an ad hoc designed PCR-based strategy. This patient, presenting a severe, multisystem involvement apparently sparing the brain, contributes to the genetic heterogeneity of mitochondrial diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial tRNAs.



Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
6948891480

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Efficient microalgae removal from aqueous medium through auto-flocculation: investigating growth-dependent role of organic matter

Abstract

This study investigated the growth-dependent role of algal organic matters (AOMs) to achieve high removal efficiency (R.E) of microalgae. The results showed that the microalgae cells produced 96 ± 2% of total AOMs as loose bound AOMSS (LB-AOMs) and 4 ± 1% as cell-bound (CB-AOMs) in exponential phase. In stationary phase, LB-AOMs and CB-AOMs were 46 ± 0.7percentage and 54 ± 0.2 percentage, respectively. The R.Es in exponential and stationary phase were 83 ± 2.6% and 66 ± 1.2%, respectively. It is found that the difference of biomass concentration (between exponential and stationary phase) had no significant impact on the R.E (P > 0.01). Further investigations revealed that LB-AOMs inhibit flocculation in exponential and CB-AOMs in stationary phase; however, CB-AOMs showed stronger inhibition than the LB-AOMs (P < 0.01). The provision of calcium (17 ± 0.9 mg/L) to the culture reduced the AOMs inhibition and improved the R.E from 66 ± 1.2% (in control) to 90 ± 4.2%. An increase in R.E was attributed to the interaction of calcium with AOMs and subsequently acting as a flocculant. The findings of this study can be valuable to improve the performance of auto-flocculation technology, which is mainly limited by the presence of AOMs.

Graphical Abstract



Fluorene-9-bisphenol inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells by repressing TGF-β signaling pathway

Abstract

Fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF), a new derivative of bisphenol A (BPA), has been introduced for treatment with estrogen-related tumors, such as endometrial cancer. This study investigated the potential mechanism underlying the action of BHPF against endometrial cancer in vitro. We used the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) method on Ishikawa cells to screen sub-lethal doses of BHPF and established the optimal concentration at which BHPF influenced the proliferation of Ishikawa cells. Effect of BHPF on cell migration and invasion was investigated by cell scratch assay and transwell assay, respectively. Expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)–related proteins were detected by Western blot analysis. BHPF was found to inhibit the proliferation of Ishikawa cells, whose migration and invasion abilities were also reduced. Western blot indicated that BHPF can significantly inhibit the EMT process of Ishikawa cells by blocking transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. This is the first report of the effect of BHPF on the biological behavior of endometrial cancer cells and its inhibition of endometrial cancer progression by repressing both endometrial cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, hence suggesting it as a novel anti-cancer drug.

Graphical abstract

Schematic representation of the molecular basis underlying BHPF treatment. BHPF repressed the EMT process by regulating EMT-related genes, such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin as well as the TGF-β signaling pathway–related genes, including p-Smad2/3 and slug, in a BHPF-dependent manner.



Application of a stable carbon isotope for identifying Broussonetia papyrifera pollen

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate whether δ13C values can be used to identify pollen specie in the atmosphere. A Burkard 7-day recording volumetric spore trap was used to collected pollens in the atmosphere in Tainan City, Taiwan, from January 2 to December 28, 2006, and a light microscope was used to identify the pollen species and concentrations. A Burkard cyclone sampler was used to collect particulate matter and an elemental analyzer with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer was used to analyze the δ13C values. Our data showed that the predominate pollen specie in the atmosphere was Broussonetia papyrifera pollen and that the annual average concentration was 27 grains/m3 (pollen season, 36; nonpollen season, 9 grains/m3). The average δ13C value was − 26.19‰ for particulate matter in the atmosphere (pollen season, − 26.00‰; nonpollen season, − 26.28‰). No significant association was observed between δ13C values and Broussonetia papyrifera pollen concentrations. However, the δ13C value in the atmosphere was associated with the levels of Broussonetia papyrifera pollen among the samples with a diameter of particulate matter smaller than 10 μm at a level lower than 40 μg/m3. In addition, the relative contribution of Broussonetia papyrifera pollen to the carbon in the atmosphere using a two end-member mixing models was found to be associated with the Broussonetia papyrifera pollen concentration. In summary, our study suggested that δ13C values can be applied in the assessment of Broussonetia papyrifera pollen specie under specific conditions in the atmosphere.



Performance and emission reduction characteristics of cerium oxide nanoparticle-water emulsion biofuel in diesel engine with modified coated piston

Abstract

In the present scenario, the utilization of petroleum fuel is expanding forcefully worldwide in the vitality store and plays a highly hazardous role in the ecological system. Biofuel stands out among the most tenable keys for this issue. The lemongrass oil is used as a biofuel because of low density and viscosity when compared with diesel. The lemongrass oil is extracted by steam distillation process. In the present investigation, partially stabilized zirconium, due to its higher thermal conductivity, is selected as coating material. The top surface of the piston and the inlet and exhaust valves are coated up to the preferred thickness of 500 μm by the plasma spray technique. The lemongrass emulsion fuel is prepared in the proportion of 94% of lemongrass oil, 5% of water, and 1% of surfactant span 80. The nanoparticles of cerium oxide were used with lemongrass oil (LGO) nano-emulsion in the measurement of 30 ppm. The four-stroke diesel engine execution, ignition, and the outflow extent were contrasted in the diesel and lemongrass oil (LGO) compared with the base diesel engine. The performance characteristic curves of lemongrass-cerium oxide nano-emulsion fuel show the increase in brake thermal efficiency of 17.21% when compared with the mineral diesel fuel. The emission characteristics of lemongrass-cerium oxide nano-emulsion fuel show a drop in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emission by 16.21% and 15.21%, respectively, when compared with base diesel fuel and also there is a decrease in oxides of nitrogen and smoke emission by 24.1% and 6.3%, respectively, when compared to mineral diesel fuel.



Green vehicle adoption behavior among low-income households: evidence from coastal Malaysia

Abstract

In an attempt to mitigate the effects of extreme natural events caused by greenhouse gases (GHGs), a significant number of researchers and environmentalists have repeatedly stressed the importance of implementing protective measures, including the promotion of green consumption. This study examined the elements that motivated the willingness and the practice of green behavior (GB) among low-income households in coastal Peninsular Malaysia. To meet the research objectives, this study adopted the survey questionnaire method to collect data from 380 low-income households. The findings revealed that self-efficacy (SE) and environmental concerns (EC) have statistically significant effects on the attitude toward green products (ATT), while subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) have influence on the intention of green vehicles. Eventually, the study discovered the effects of the intention to adopt green vehicle on green vehicle adoption behavior. Hence, the findings of this study provide new insights for policymakers in Malaysia to place more emphasis on improving consumer attitudes, social standards, and PBC, which will ultimately contribute to the adoption of environment-friendly vehicles. In addition, car manufacturers should support this program by designing products and options that would encourage those in the low-income group to replace their conventional vehicles with green alternatives in Malaysia.



Enhanced phytoremediation of PAHs-contaminated soil from an industrial relocation site by Ochrobactrum sp.

Abstract

Nowadays, the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated soil has received wide attention. In this work, Ochrobactrum sp. (PW) was isolated through selective enrichment from PAHs-contaminated soil in coking plant of Beijing, and the effects of PW on phytoremediation of that soil by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were investigated through pot experiments. Plant biomass, peroxidase (POD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, soil enzyme activity (polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase activity), and residual concentration of PAHs in soils were determined to illustrate the ability of PW for enhancing the degradation of PAHs by plants. The results showed that the fresh weight of ryegrass and alfalfa inoculated with PW was significantly (p < 0.05) increased while the activity of POD and MDA contents were notably (p < 0.05) reduced than that without inoculation. Additionally, PW enhanced the activity of polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase in soil significantly (p < 0.05), and further enhanced the degradability of the system to PAHs. Different treatment methods could be ranked by the following order according to the degradability: SP (alfalfa + PW) > RP (ryegrass + PW) > PW (PW) > S (alfalfa) > R (ryegrass). The combined action of PW and alfalfa/ryegrass could accelerate the degradability of PAHs from soil contaminated by coking plants. PW could be used as potential bacteria to promote phytoremediation of the soil contaminated by PAHs.



Hairdressers are exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde during the hair straightening procedure

Abstract

The fact that hairdressers are exposed to toxic substances through the handling of creams and smoothing products prompted this study whose aim was to quantify the occupational exposure of hairdressers to formaldehyde by comparing the results of exposure for different types of beauty salon. The study population consisted of 23 beauty salons located in the city of Bauru, São Paulo state, Brazil. The samples were collected by inhaled air tests during the most critical 15-min period of the hair straightening procedure and during the 8-h work shift. The concentrations of formaldehyde contained in the formulations of these products were also evaluated and compared with exposure levels. The results were evaluated according to the exposure limits prescribed in Brazilian (NR15) and North American (US OSHA and US NIOSH) standards. The analysis of the smoothing products showed concentrations of formaldehyde of between 3 and 11% in their compositions, i.e., up to 54 times above the 0.2% limit allowed by the National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA). The present study showed that hairdressers are chronically exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde in the workplace and these exposures are mainly associated with the work process, where many variables of this process influence the intensity of exposure.



Virulence, antimicrobial and heavy metal tolerance, and genetic diversity of Vibrio cholerae recovered from commonly consumed freshwater fish

Abstract

Vibrio cholerae is a leading waterborne pathogen worldwide. Continuous monitoring of V. cholerae contamination in aquatic products and identification of risk factors are crucial for assuring food safety. In this study, we determined the virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility, heavy metal tolerance, and genetic diversity of 400 V. cholerae isolates recovered from commonly consumed freshwater fish (Aristichthys nobilisCarassius auratusCtenopharyngodon idellus, and Parabramis pekinensis) collected in July and August of 2017 in Shanghai, China. V. cholerae has not been previously detected in the half of these fish species. The results revealed an extremely low occurrence of pathogenic V. cholerae carrying the major virulence genes ctxAB (0.0%), tcpA (0.0%), ace (0.0%), and zot (0.0%). However, high incidence of virulence-associated genes was observed, including the RTX toxin gene cluster (rtxA-D) (83.0–97.0%), hlyA (87.8%), hapA (95.0%), and tlh (76.0%). Meanwhile, high percentages of resistance to antimicrobial agents streptomycin (65.3%), ampicillin (44.5%), and rifampicin (24.0%) were observed. Approximately 30.5% of the isolates displayed multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotypes with 42 resistance profiles, which were significantly different among the four fish species (MARI, P = 0.001). Additionally, tolerance of isolates to heavy metals Hg2+ (49.3%), Zn2+(30.3%), and Pb2+ (12.0%) was observed. The enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR)-based fingerprinting of the 400 V. cholerae isolates revealed 328 ERIC-genotypes, which demonstrated a large degree of genomic variation among the isolates. Overall, the results of this study support the need for food safety risk assessment of aquatic products.



Column and batch sorption investigations of nickel(II) on extractant-impregnated resin

Abstract

Macroporous resin-supported reagents have been identified as potential adsorbents for removal of toxic pollutants. This article presents an experimental designed to evaluate the sorption and desorption of nickel(II) with the help of column and batch procedure using simple extractant-impregnated resin (EIR). Isonitroso-4-methyl-2-pentanone (IMP) as an extractant was impregnated on a solid support like Amberlite XAD-4 to prepare the EIR sorbent. Column experimental conditions such as pH, sample flow rate and volume, eluting solution, and interfering ions were studied to optimize the nickel(II) sorption and recovery from aqueous media. The column results suggest that the quantitative nickel(II) sorption was observed at pH 5–6, and the quantitative recovery (≥ 95%) was achieved by using 1.0 M HNO3. The high concentrations of cations and anions (except EDTA) present in the spiked binary and multi-element mixture solution show no interferences in both quantitative sorption and recovery of nickel(II), whereas the batch experiments were performed to evaluate nickel(II) sorption behavior using the linearized and non-linearized kinetic and isotherm models. By error function analysis, the Freundlich isotherm and the pseudo-first-order kinetic model were found to describe best the experimental data obtained over the studied concentration range and sorption time, respectively. The maximum sorption capacity of nickel(II) onto the EIR sorbent was found to be ~ 81 mg/g. The mean free energy (E = 10.1 kJ/mol) determined using Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm suggests chemical nature of nickel(II) sorption on EIR. The novelty of the EIR adsorbent lies in its potential for separation and recovery of nickel(II) at trace level in water samples of different origin.



Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in pregnant women and their association with a biomarker of oxidative stress

Abstract

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pregnancy may pose adverse health risk to both the mothers and babies. In the present study, 188 pregnant women of different trimesters were recruited in Guangzhou, south China, and nine hydroxyl PAHs (OH-PAHs) and a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were determined in their urine samples. All OH-PAHs except for 4-hydroxyphenanthrene and 6-hydroxychrysene were found in > 90% samples, with total concentration in the range of 0.52 to 42.9 μg/g creatinine. In general, concentration levels of OH-PAHs in pregnant women were lower than those in general population in the same research area but with higher levels in working women than in housewives. The mean daily intakes of PAHs from dietary estimated by urinary OH-PAHs were 0.021, 0.004, 0.047, and 0.030 μg/kg_bw/day for naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, respectively, which were much lower than the reference doses (20, 30, and 40 μg/kg_bw/day for naphthalene, pyrene, and fluorene, respectively) derived from chronic oral exposure data by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The low exposure levels of PAHs may be attributed to the traditional dietary taboo of Chinese pregnant women, which is to minimize the consumption of "toxic" food. The concentrations of 8-OHdG (4.67–49.4 μg/g creatinine) were significantly positively correlated with concentrations of several OH-PAHs, such as metabolites of naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene (r = 0.3–0.6). In addition, the concentrations of 8-OHdG were higher in working women than in housewives when exposed to the same levels of PAHs, partly indicating the possible relation between work-related pressure for working women and the oxidative stress.




Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
6948891480

Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Adverse immunological imprinting by cytomegalovirus sensitizing for allergic airway disease

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has a profound impact on the host's immune system. Immunological imprinting by CMV is not restricted to immunity against CMV itself, but can affect immunity against other viral or non-viral infectious agents and also immunopathological responses. One category is heterologous immunity based on molecular mimicry, where antigen recognition receptors specific for a CMV antigen with broad avidity distribution also bind with some avidity to unrelated antigens and exert effector functions against target structures other than those linked to CMV. Another category is induction of cytokines by CMV infection that inhibit or drive immune responses to bystander antigens unrelated to CMV, and a third category is the activation of antigen-presenting cells by CMV from which unrelated antigens profit as "stowaways". A striking example of the "stowaway" category, actually one that is of medical importance, has been published recently and will be discussed here for the more general reader. Specifically, in a murine model, CMV airway infection and inhaled environmental antigen of poor intrinsic allergenic potential were found to sensitize for allergic airway disease (AAD) only when combined. As to the mechanism, viral activation of CD11b+ conventional dendritic cells (CD11b+ cDC) that localize to airway mucosa facilitates uptake and processing of inhaled antigen. Thus, CMV serves as a "door opener" for otherwise harmless environmental antigens that have no intrinsic property to activate DC. Antigen-laden CD11b+ cDC migrate selectively to the airway draining lymph nodes, where they prime type-2 CD4+ T helper (Th-2) cells. Upon airway re-exposure to the inhaled antigen, Th-2 cells secrete interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-25) known to induce goblet cell metaplasia, the lead histopathological manifestation of AAD that is characterized by thickening of airway epithelia and increased numbers of mucus-producing goblet cells, resulting in enhanced mucus secretion and airflow obstruction.



'Checks and balances' in cytomegalovirus-host cohabitation


Intertwined: SAMHD1 cellular functions, restriction, and viral evasion strategies

Abstract

SAMHD1 was initially described for its ability to efficiently restrict HIV-1 replication in myeloid cells and resting CD4+ T cells. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that SAMHD1-mediated restriction is by far not limited to lentiviruses, but seems to be a general concept that applies to most retroviruses and at least a number of DNA viruses. SAMHD1 anti-viral activity was long believed to be solely due to its ability to deplete cellular dNTPs by enzymatic degradation. However, since its discovery, several new functions have been attributed to SAMHD1. It has been demonstrated to bind nucleic acids, to modulate innate immunity, as well as to participate in the DNA damage response and resolution of stalled replication forks. Consequently, it is likely that SAMHD1-mediated anti-viral activity is not or not exclusively mediated through its dNTPase activity. Therefore, in this review, we summarize current knowledge on SAMHD1 cellular functions and systematically discuss how these functions could contribute to the restriction of a broad range of viruses besides retroviruses: herpesviruses, poxviruses and hepatitis B virus. Furthermore, we aim to highlight different ways how viruses counteract SAMHD1-mediated restriction to bypass the SAMHD1-mediated block to viral infection.



Role of antibodies in confining cytomegalovirus after reactivation from latency: three decades' résumé

Abstract

Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are highly prevalent herpesviruses, characterized by strict species specificity and the ability to establish non-productive latent infection from which reactivation can occur. Reactivation of latent human CMV (HCMV) represents one of the most important clinical challenges in transplant recipients secondary to the strong immunosuppression. In addition, HCMV is the major viral cause of congenital infection with severe sequelae including brain damage. The accumulated evidence clearly shows that cellular immunity plays a major role in the control of primary CMV infection as well as establishment and maintenance of latency. However, the efficiency of antiviral antibodies in virus control, particularly in prevention of congenital infection and virus reactivation from latency in immunosuppressed hosts, is much less understood. Because of a strict species specificity of HCMV, the role of antibodies in controlling CMV disease has been addressed using murine CMV (MCMV) as a model. Here, we review and discuss the role played by the antiviral antibody response during CMV infections with emphasis on latency and reactivation not only in the MCMV model, but also in relevant clinical settings. We provide evidence to conclude that antiviral antibodies do not prevent the initiating molecular event of virus reactivation from latency but operate by preventing intra-organ spread and inter-organ dissemination of recurrent virus.



Generation, maintenance and tissue distribution of T cell responses to human cytomegalovirus in lytic and latent infection

Abstract

Understanding how the T cell memory response directed towards human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) develops and changes over time while the virus persists is important. Whilst HCMV primary infection and periodic reactivation is well controlled by T cell responses in healthy people, when the immune system is compromised such as post-transplantation, during pregnancy, or underdeveloped such as in new-born infants and children, CMV disease can be a significant problem. In older people, HCMV infection is associated with increased risk of mortality and despite overt disease rarely being seen there are increases in HCMV-DNA in urine of older people suggesting that there is a change in the efficacy of the T cell response following lifelong infection. Therefore, understanding whether phenomenon such as "memory inflation" of the immune response is occurring in humans and if this is detrimental to the overall health of individuals would enable the development of appropriate treatment strategies for the future. In this review, we present the evidence available from human studies regarding the development and maintenance of memory CD8 + and CD4 + T cell responses to HCMV. We conclude that there is only limited evidence supportive of "memory inflation" occurring in humans and that future studies need to investigate immune cells from a broad range of human tissue sites to fully understand the nature of HCMV T cell memory responses to lytic and latent infection.



Impact of CMV upon immune aging: facts and fiction

Abstract

Aging is accompanied by significant defects in immunity and compromised responses to new, previously unencountered microbial pathogens. Most humans carry several persistent or latent viruses as they age, interacting with the host immune systems for years. In that context maybe the most studied persistent virus is Cytomegalovirus, infamous for its ability to recruit very large T cell responses which increase with age and to simultaneously evade elimination by the immune system. Here we will address how lifelong CMV infection and the immunological burden of its control might affect immune reactivity and health of the host over time.



'From immunosenescence to immune modulation': a re-appraisal of the role of cytomegalovirus as major regulator of human immune function

Abstract

In the year 2000, cytomegalovirus was identified as a risk factor for mortality in a seminal study of octogenarian residents in Sweden. This finding triggered a wave of additional epidemiological investigations, some of which supported this association whilst others observed no such effect. In addition, this increased risk of death in CMV-seropositive people was correlated with observed changes within the T-cell repertoire such that accelerated 'immunosenescence' became a de facto explanation, without strong evidence to this effect. Recent years have seen a re-appraisal of these findings. Interestingly, many studies show that cytomegalovirus acts to improve immune function, most clearly in younger donors. In addition, the excess mortality in older people that is observed in CMV-seropositive cohorts appears to be related primarily to an excess of vascular disease rather than impairment of immune function. CMV is an important member of the natural 'virome' of Homo sapiens and has an important, and generally positive, modulatory influence on human immune function throughout most of life. However, within certain populations, this influence can become negative and age, co-morbidity and environment all act as determinants of this effect. As such, it is important that new interventions are developed that can mitigate the damaging influence of CMV on human health in populations at risk.



Caspase-8 restricts natural killer cell accumulation during MCMV Infection

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells provide important host defense against herpesvirus infections and influence subsequent T cell control of replication and maintenance of latency. NK cells exhibit phases of expansion, contraction and memory formation in response to the natural mouse pathogen murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Innate and adaptive immune responses are tightly regulated in mammals to avoid excess tissue damage while preventing acute and chronic viral disease and assuring resistance to reinfection. Caspase (CASP)8 is an autoactivating aspartate-specific cysteine protease that initiates extrinsic apoptosis and prevents receptor interacting protein (RIP) kinase (RIPK)1–RIPK3-driven necroptosis. CASP8 also promotes death-independent signal transduction. All of these activities make contributions to inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that CASP8 restricts NK cell expansion during MCMV infection but does not influence NK memory. Casp8/Ripk3/ mice mount higher NK response levels than Casp8+/Ripk3/ littermate controls or WT C57BL/6 J mice, indicating that RIPK3 deficiency alone does not contribute to NK response patterns. MCMV m157-responsive Ly49H+ NK cells support increased expansion of both Ly49H NK cells and CD8 T cells in Casp8/Ripk3/ mice. Surprisingly, hyperaccumulation of NK cells depends on the pronecrotic kinase RIPK1. Ripk1/Casp8/Ripk3/ mice fail to show the enhanced expansion of lymphocytes observed in Casp8/Ripk3/ mice even though development and homeostasis are preserved in uninfected Ripk1/Casp8/Ripk3/ mice. Thus, CASP8 naturally regulates the magnitude of NK cell responses in response to infection where strong activation signals depend on another key regulator of death signaling, RIPK1. In addition, the strong NK cell response promotes survival of effector CD8 T cells during their expansion. Thus, hyperaccumulation of NK cells and crosstalk with T cells becomes amplified in the absence of extrinsic cell death machinery.



Persistent viral replication and the development of T-cell responses after intranasal infection by MCMV

Abstract

Natural transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been difficult to observe. However, recent work using the mouse model of murine (M)CMV demonstrated that MCMV initially infects the nasal mucosa after transmission from mothers to pups. We found that intranasal (i.n.) inoculation of C57BL/6J mice resulted in reliable recovery of replicating virus from the nasal mucosa as assessed by plaque assay. After i.n. inoculation, CD8+ T-cell priming occurred in the mandibular, deep-cervical, and mediastinal lymph nodes within 3 days of infection. Although i.n. infection induced "memory inflation" of T cells specific for the M38316–323 epitope, there were no detectable CD8+ T-cell responses against the late-appearing IE3416–423 epitope, which contrasts with intraperitoneal (i.p.) infection. MCMV-specific T cells migrated into the nasal mucosa where they developed a tissue-resident memory (TRM) phenotype and this could occur independently of local virus infection or antigen. Strikingly however, virus replication was poorly controlled in the nasal mucosa and MCMV was detectable by plaque assay for at least 4 months after primary infection, making the nasal mucosa a second site for MCMV persistence. Unlike in the salivary glands, the persistence of MCMV in the nasal mucosa was not modulated by IL-10. Taken together, our data characterize the development of local and systemic T-cell responses after intranasal infection by MCMV and define the nasal mucosa, a natural site of viral entry, as a novel site of viral persistence.



T-cell immunity against cytomegalovirus in HIV infection and aging: relationships with inflammation, immune activation, and frailty

Abstract

Both aging and treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are characterized by low-level chronic inflammation and immune activation which contribute to the development of age-related diseases, frailty, and early mortality. Chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is highly prevalent in older adults and HIV-infected populations. A number of studies have shown that CMV induces broad and strong T-cell responses in CMV-seropositive older adults and HIV-infected individuals. CMV infection rarely develops into clinical disease in immunocompetent individuals. However, a large body of literature has shown adverse effects of chronic CMV infection on the health and longevity of these populations. It has been hypothesized that chronic CMV infection may be a driver of chronic inflammation and immune activation, and may further contribute to the development of frailty. Thus, there is a need to better understand the extent of the impact of chronic CMV infection on T-cell immunity and health in aging and HIV infection. In this review, we will address important considerations and challenges in the assessment of chronic CMV infection and CMV-specific T-cell responses. We will then review recent data on relationships between T-cell responses to CMV and levels of inflammatory markers and immune activation, as well as the onset of frailty.



The peculiar physiological responses of Rhizoctonia solani under the antagonistic interaction coupled by a novel antifungalmycin N2 from Streptomyces sp. N2

Abstract

A novel antifungalmycin N2 (3-methyl-3,5-amino-4-vinyl-2-pyrone, C6H7O2N) was previously discovered from Streptomyces sp. N2, which exerted a broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi. To provide comprehensive insights into the antagonistic mechanisms and biocontrol efficacy of antifungalmycin N2, the present work investigated the physiological responses of Rhizoctonia solani under interaction with antifungalmycin N2. First, the mycelial growth of R. solani was significantly inhibited by antifungalmycin N2 during liquid shake-flask culture. Morphological observations showed that the morphogenesis of R. solani was influenced by antifungalmycin N2, in which the hyphae became severely shriveled and flattened, irregularly folded and branched. Additionally, an obvious accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected in R. solani hyphae, indicating oxidative stress induced by antifungalmycin N2. Further results showed that chitinase activity and its hydrolytic N-acetylglucosamine were significantly accelerated by antifungalmycin N2, demonstrating the cell wall of R. solani was damaged. Interestingly, the enzymatic antioxidant activities of R. solani were significantly induced in response to a relatively low concentration of antifungalmycin N2 (1.44–5.77 µg/mL). However, all antioxidant enzymes became highly inactive when the antifungalmycin N2 was increased to 11.53 µg/mL, suggesting that the enzymatic antioxidant system in R. solani was probably collapsed by the oxidative stress beyond its acceptance scope. In conclusion, antifungalmycin N2 exerted its antagonistic activity by inducing both cell wall degradation and oxidative stress in R. solani, thus leading to fungal morphogenesis and autolysis. Meanwhile, R. solani could induce and activate its antioxidant enzymes as a defence response to the oxidative stress caused by antifungalmycin N2.



Actively detached Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm cell susceptibility to benzalkonium chloride and associated resistance mechanism

Abstract

The present work aimed at studying physiological properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells actively detached from biofilm formed on stainless steel and comparing them with their planktonic counterparts as a function of growth temperature (20 °C and 37 °C). The susceptibility of P. aeruginosa cells to benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was studied. Furthermore, the effect of BAC on the cell membrane integrity and the role of the cell membrane fluidity in the cell-scale-resistance mechanism were investigated. Our results showed that actively detached biofilm cells were more susceptible to BAC treatment than planktonic ones. A greater leakage of intracellular potassium after BAC addition was observed in actively detached biofilm cells, which reflects their membrane vulnerability. The rise of the growth temperature from 20 to 37 °C increased the membrane rigidity of planktonic cells comparatively to their actively detached biofilm ones. Under experimental conditions developed in this work, our data highlighted that actively biofilm-detached and planktonic P. aeruginosa cells have distinguishable phenotypes.



Bacterial communities of the microbial mats of Chokrak sulfide springs

Abstract

This is the comparative investigation of the composition of phototrophic microbial mats developing in sulfide-rich saline Chokrak springs with outflow at the shore of the hypersaline lake Chokrak by means of next-generation sequencing. The springs are characterized by low temperature (~ 15 °C), near-neutral pH (6.7–8.5), and high-sulfide content. In the species composition the benthic microbial communities of Chokrak springs are similar to microbial mats of marine supralittoral and lagoons. Our results showed that salinity limitation had a significant effect on the species composition of benthic microbial communities developing at the outflow of the Chokrak springs. Predominant oxygenic phototrophs belonged to the genera Phormidium, Lyngbya, Leptolyngbya, Geitlerinema, and Arthrospira. Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria were represented by halophilic green sulfur bacteria Prosthecochloris spp., halotolerant Chlorobaculum sp., as well as marine and extremely halophilic purple bacteria Roseospira, Rhodovibrio, and Halochromatium. Monoculture of a new species of halotolerant anoxygenic filamentous phototrophic bacteria was isolated.



Heavy metal spill influences bacterial communities in freshwater sediments

Abstract

Bacteria are highly abundant in freshwater sediments and play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycling. Bacterial assemblage is known to be sensitive to heavy metal pollution. However, the shift in freshwater sediment bacterial community after a sudden exposure to heavy metal spill remains unknown. The present study explored the impact of metal (metalloid) spill on sediment bacterial community in a freshwater reservoir. Although sediment bacterial abundance was relatively insensitive to metal (metalloid) spill, bacterial richness, diversity and community structure displayed considerable temporal variations. In addition, the proportions of Proteobacteria Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes drastically declined, while a significant enrichment of Firmicutes was observed.



Antibacterial activity against porcine respiratory bacterial pathogens and in vitro biocompatibility of essential oils

Abstract

Bacterial respiratory infections affecting pigs such as pneumonia, pleuropneumonia, and pleurisy, are a major health concern in the swine industry and are associated with important economic losses. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activities of essential oils against major swine respiratory pathogens with a view to developing a potential alternative to antibiotics. Their synergistic interactions with the bacteriocin nisin was also examined. Lastly, we assessed the in vitro biocompatibility of the most efficient essential oils using a pig tracheal epithelial cell line. Of the nine essential oils tested, those from cinnamon, thyme, and winter savory were the most active against Streptococcus suisActinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeActinobacillus suisBordetella bronchisepticaHaemophilus parasuis, and Pasteurella multocida, with minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.156% (v/v). The main component found in cinnamon, thyme, and winter savory oils were cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and carvacrol, respectively. Treating pre-formed S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae biofilms with thyme or winter savory oils significantly decreased biofilm viability. We also observed a synergistic growth inhibition of S. suis with mixtures of nisin and essential oils from thyme and winter savory. Concentrations of nisin and cinnamon, thyme and winter savory essential oils that were effective against bacterial pathogens had no effect on the viability of pig tracheal epithelial cells. The present study brought evidence that essential oils are potential antimicrobial agents against bacteria associated with porcine respiratory infections.



Isolation, characterization, and structural elucidation of 4-methoxyacetanilide from marine actinobacteria Streptomyces sp. SCA29 and evaluation of its enzyme inhibitory, antibacterial, and cytotoxic potential

Abstract

Marine actinobacteria are less explored than their terrestrial counterparts as potential source of natural products. The present study was aimed to elucidate the bioactive potential of metabolites produced by marine-derived actinobacterial strain Streptomyces sp.SCA29 isolated from Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The potential isolate SCA29 was identified as Streptomyces sp. by phenotypic, genotypic (16S-rRNA) and phylogenetic analyses. The crude bioactive compound was extracted using organic solvents. The compounds were subjected to separation and purification by column chromatography which yielded six fractions. Each fraction was assayed for inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes, antagonistic activity against bacterial pathogens, and cytotoxic activity against various cell lines. The fraction F3c was considered to be highly active owing to its significant inhibition potential against α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes with IC50 values as 44.26 and 53.19 µg/mL, respectively. The active fraction showed antibacterial activity against test bacterial pathogens with the MIC value ranged from 3.90 to 31.25 µg/mL. The compound also exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity on various cell lines without significant effect against human normal cells. The bioassay-guided fractionation of extract led to the identification of 4-methoxyacetanilide, an acetamide derivative. The structure of the bioactive compound was confirmed by HR-MS, NMR (1H and 13C) and FT-IR spectra, and by comparison with literature data.



Biodiversity and antifouling activity of fungi associated with two soft corals from the South China Sea

Abstract

Bacteria in corals have been studied in detail in the past decades. However, the biodiversity and bioactivity of fungi in corals are still poorly understood. This study investigated the biodiversity and antifouling activity of fungi in soft corals Cladiella krempfi and Sarcophyton tortuosum from the South China Sea. A high diverse and abundant fungal community was found in the two soft corals. Furthermore, five isolates shared 83–95% similarity with their closest relatives, indicating that they might be novel species in genera Phaeoshaeria and Mucor. In addition, approximately 50% of the representative isolates exhibited distinct antifouling activity. In particular, isolates Fungal sp. SCAU132 and Fungal sp. SCAU133 displayed very strong antifouling activity against Bugula neritina, suggesting they can provide a potential resource for further investigation on isolation of novel antifouling metabolites. To our knowledge, this study is the first report to investigate the biodiversity and antifouling activity of fungi in C. krempfi and S. tortuosum.



Synergistic deletion of RGS1 and COS1 may reduce the pathogenicity of Magnaporthe oryzae

Abstract

Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is a serious threat to global rice production. In recent years, many pathogenicity genes of M. oryzae have been identified, although most of their functions remain unknown. In this study, we report the synergistic deletion of RGS1 and COS1 that may reduce the pathogenicity of M. oryzae. The investigation involved comparing ΔMorgs1, ΔMocos1, and ΔMorgs1Mocos1 mutants. The ΔMorgs1Mocos1 mutant showed a weak reduction in vegetative growth, and the colonies displayed fewer and smoother aerial hyphae. The ΔMorgs1Mocos1 mutant exhibited delayed appressorium-like structure formation and 'low pathogenicity' on detached rice seedling leaves when compared with ΔMocos1. Moreover, the melanin content of the single and double mutants was remarkably lower than that of the WT type. Thus, our results indicate that the synergy between RGS1 and COS1may be crucial in the pathogenicity of M. oryzae.



Arbuscular mycorrhiza: a viable strategy for soil nutrient loss reduction

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi's (AMF) role in plant nutrition and stress management is well known, but very few researches and studies have been conducted so far on the fungal ability to reduce different nutrient losses (runoff, leaching and volatilization) from the soil system. This important ecosystem service of AMF had been neglected largely. From the recent findings, it has been confirmed that mycorrhizal symbiosis has potential to check the losses of applied nutrients. The role of soil biota in nutrient cycling is indispensable and determines the nutrient availability to plants. Among these biota, AMF's association with plants is the most prevalent, but the exact mechanisms followed by AMF in nutrient cycling, transformation and reducing nutrient loss ability are still inconclusive. In this review, we will try to unlock this particular aspect of AMF which is important to achieve global food demand in a sustainable way.



The stimulatory effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and plant growth regulators on wheat physiology grown in sandy soil

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the physiology and yield of wheat grown in less fertile sandy soil. The isolated PGPR strains were identified by 16S-rRNA gene sequencing as Planomicrobium chinense (P1), Bacillus cereus (P2) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (P3). Wheat varieties (Galaxy-13 and Pak-2013) differing in sensitivity to drought were soaked in fresh cultures of bacterial isolates and the PGRs (salicylic acid and putrescine) were sprayed at 150 mg/L on seedlings at three leaf stage. PGPR and PGRs treated plants showed significant increase in the contents of chlorophyll, sugar and protein even under harsh environmental conditions. Drought stress enhanced the production of proline, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation but a decrease was noted in the biochemical content (i.e. chlorophyll, protein and sugar) of inoculated plants. PGPR inoculation also significantly enhanced the yield parameters (i.e. plant height, spike length, grain yield and weight) and improved the fertility status of sandy soil. The accumulation of macronutrient, total NO3-N and P concentration and soil moisture content of rhizosphere soil was also enhanced by PGPRs inoculation. It is concluded that the combined effects of PGPR and PGRs have profound effects on the biochemical responses and drought tolerance of wheat grown in sandy soils.





Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
6948891480

A heavier weight at birth is associated with an elevated risk of total and follicular thyroid cancer, which underscores that prenatal exposures may be important in thyroid cancer aetiology.



Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
6948891480