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The enriched culture of acidogenic microorganisms was shown to favor the production of lactic acid, since the production of other acids, such as acetic and propionic acid, did not exceed 3.5 and 4.5 g/L, respectively. PRACTITIONER POINTS Cassava wastewater presented potential to lactic acid production. The CCRD showed that highest lactic acid concentrations (40 g/L). The adoption of cassava wastewater or manipueira as a substrate resulted in important information on the tendency to obtain value-added products such as lactic acid.It is well-recognized that adolescence and early adulthood are a high-risk period for non-adherence with treatment regimens in solid organ transplant recipients, leading to high rates of rejection and graft loss (Transplantation, 92, 2011, 1237; Pediatr Transplant, 9, 2005, 381; Transplantation, 77, 2004, 769). Preventing medication non-adherence is the holy grail of transplant adolescent care. If we can determine how best to support our patients in taking their daily medications as prescribed, we can improve long-term health, reduce need for re-transplantation, and reduce healthcare costs. In the last few years, several studies have provided us with additional insights into potentially effective interventions and have highlighted existing gaps in knowledge. This article reviews recent literature published over the last 5 years on the topic of adherence in transplant recipients, highlighting insights and opportunities to promote adherence at the individual patient level, family level, healthcare system level, and community level. Above all, the recent work that is highlighted suggests that adherence interventions for prevention and treatment must be multifaceted, individualized, and longitudinal to be effective.

The molecular drivers of human papillomavirus-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HPV + HNSCC) are not entirely understood. This study evaluated the relationship between HPV integration, expression of E6/E7, and patient outcomes in p16+ HNSCCs.

HPV type was determined by HPV PCR-MassArray, and integration was called using detection of integrated papillomavirus sequences polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We investigated whether fusion transcripts were produced by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). E6/E7 expression was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. We assessed if there was a relationship between integration and E6/E7 expression, clinical variables, or patient outcomes.

Most samples demonstrated HPV integration, which sometimes resulted in a fusion transcript. HPV integration was positively correlated with age at diagnosis and E6/E7 expression. There was a significant difference in survival between patients with vs without integration.

Contrary to previous reports, HPV integration was associated with improved patient survival. Therefore, HPV integration may act as a molecular marker of good prognosis.

Contrary to previous reports, HPV integration was associated with improved patient survival. Therefore, HPV integration may act as a molecular marker of good prognosis.

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) total protein in patients with acute ascending paresis is indicative of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Recent studies showed that the outdated, but still widely used upper reference limit (URL) for CSF total protein of 0.45g/L leads to false-positive results, mainly as a result of lack of age-adjustment. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of increased CSF total protein in adult GBS patients according to a new age-dependent URL.

Patients with GBS treated at the Medical University of Innsbruck between 2000 and 2018 were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, electrophysiological and CSF data were obtained from patients’ medical charts. Frequency of increased CSF total protein depending on disease duration was compared using the conventional URL of 0.45g/L and the age-dependent URL.

Ninety-seven patients with GBS aged 57±18years, comprising 38% women, underwent CSF sampling within a median of 6days after symptom onset. The median CSF total protein concentration was 0.65g/L and correlated with disease duration. Overall, 74% of patients had elevated CSF total protein levels using the conventional URL, as opposed to 52% applying the age-dependent URL. At 0-3, 4-7, 8-14 and >14days after disease onset, elevated CSF total protein was found in 46%, 84%, 78% and 100% of patients using the conventional URL, and in 32%, 53%, 65% and 64% of patients using the age-dependent URL. In multivariate analysis, significant predictors of elevated CSF total protein were disease duration and the demyelinating GBS variant. Similar results were obtained for CSF/serum albumin quotient (Q

).

Fewer true-positives for CSF total protein and Q

must be considered in suspected GBS, especially in the early disease course.

Fewer true-positives for CSF total protein and Qalb must be considered in suspected GBS, especially in the early disease course.Pneumonia and respiratory infections impact infants and children with Down syndrome; pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality in adults with Down syndrome. We aimed to review the literature to evaluate gaps and address key questions. A series of key questions were formulated a priori to inform the search strategy and review process; addressed prevalence, severity, etiology, risk factors, preventive methods, screening, and financial costs, potential benefits or harms of screening. Using the National Library of Medicine database, PubMed, detailed literature searches on pneumonia and respiratory infections in Down syndrome were performed. Previously identified review articles were also assessed. The quality of available evidence was then evaluated and knowledge gaps were identified. Forty-two relevant original articles were identified which addressed at least one key question. Study details including research design, internal validity, external validity, and relevant results are presented. Pneumonia and respiratory infections are more prevalent and more severe in individuals with Down syndrome compared to healthy controls through literature review, yet there are gaps in the literature regarding the etiology of pneumonia, the infectious organism, risk factors for infection, and to guide options for prevention and screening. There is urgent need for additional research studies in Down syndrome, especially in the time of the current COVID-19 pandemic.Recently, there has been a surge in cognition research using non-avian reptile systems. As a diverse group of animals, non-avian reptiles [turtles, the tuatara, crocodylians, and squamates (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenids)] are good model systems for answering questions related to cognitive ecology, from the role of the environment on the brain, behaviour and learning, to how social and life-history factors correlate with learning ability. Furthermore, given their variable social structure and degree of sociality, studies on reptiles have shown that group living is not a pre-condition for social learning. Past research has demonstrated that non-avian reptiles are capable of more than just instinctive reactions and basic cognition. Despite their ability to provide answers to fundamental questions in cognitive ecology, and a growing literature, there have been no recent systematic syntheses of research in this group. Here, we systematically, and comprehensively review studies on reptile learning. We identify ive populations of species, and social learning. To move the field forward, it will be immensely important to build upon the descriptive approach of testing whether a species can learn a task with experimental studies elucidating causal reasons for cognitive variation within and among species. With the appropriate methodology, this young but rapidly growing field of research should advance greatly in the coming years providing significant opportunities for addressing general questions in cognitive ecology and beyond.The ethylene-responsive element binding factor (ERF) family is a large family of transcription factors involved in plant development and environmental stress responses. We previously reported the identification of 29 putative substrates of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase3 (AtMPK3), AtMPK4 and AtMPK6, based on a solid-phase phosphorylation screening using a lambda phage expression library in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, a putative MPK substrate, AtERF72 (At3g16770), was strongly phosphorylated by AtMPK6 on the serine residue at position 151 (Ser151). AtERF72 binds to the GCC box (AGCCGCC) in the promoters of several pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and activates their transcription. We also show that the DNA-binding activity of AtERF72 is enhanced upon phosphorylation by AtMPK6 in vitro. In addition, transient co-expression experiments in Arabidopsis protoplasts revealed that effector constructs expressing a mutant variant of AtERF72, AtERF72S151D (carrying a Ser to aspartic acid [Asp] substitution at amino acid position 151) showed higher expression of the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene driven by the GCC box element than effector constructs expressing the wild-type AtERF72. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that the interaction between AtERF72S151D and TGA4/OBF4 was stronger than that between wild-type AtERF72 and TGA4/OBF4. Since AtERF72S151D is equivalent to AtERF72 phosphorylated by AtMPK6 at Ser151, these results suggest that the phosphorylation of AtERF72 by AtMPK6 triggers an event of transcriptional regulation from defence signalling in Arabidopsis.Peptide toxins of arthropods are one of the potential sources of bioactive substances. Toxins are able to bind to calcium channels and block them. Ca2+ ions play an important role in many cell processes, in particular, in apoptosis. In this work, we study the effect of some arthropod toxins on intracellular processes associated with the induction of apoptosis. Synthetic analogs of U5 -scytotoxin-Sth1a, ω-hexatoxin-Hv1a, ω-theraphotoxin-Hhn2a, and μ-agatoxin-Aa1a toxins-inhibitors of calcium L, P, and Q channels and sodium channels were used in the study. Apoptosis was induced by AC-1001 H3 peptide. We study the effect of toxins on the level of apoptosis, ROS, mitochondrial potential, GSH, and ATP in CHO-K1 cells. We show that all the tested toxins are able to dose dependently block the induction of apoptosis triggered by AC-1001 H3 and reduce the level of natural apoptosis in CHO-K1 cells. Cell incubation with apoptosis inducer AC-1001 H3 in the presence and absence of toxins causes an increase in the intracellular concentrations of ROS, ATP, and mitochondrial potential and decreases the GSH concentration. The present study reveals the antiapoptotic effect of a number of arthropod peptide toxins. The toxins studied can represent a novel approach used in the treatment of pathologies associated with the activation of apoptotic mechanisms.The turnover of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is relatively rapid (3-5 days in mouse and human), and this short existence and other aspects of the homeostasis of IECs are tightly regulated by various signaling pathways including Wnt-β-catenin signaling. Dysregulation of IEC homeostasis likely contributes to the development of intestinal inflammation and intestinal cancer. selleck products The roles of receptor protein tyrosine kinases and their downstream signaling molecules such as Src family kinases, Ras, and mTOR in homeostatic regulation of IEC turnover have recently been evaluated. These signaling pathways have been found to promote not only the proliferation of IECs but also the differentiation of progenitor cells into secretory cell types such as goblet cells. Of note, signaling by Src family kinases, Ras, and mTOR has been shown to oppose the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway and thereby to limit the number of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells or of Paneth cells. Such cross-talk of signaling pathways is important not only for proper regulation of IEC homeostasis but for the development of intestinal tumors and potentially for anticancer therapy.