Revisiting Querleu-Morrow Radical Hysterectomy: How to Apply the Anatomy of Parametrium and Pelvic Autonomic Nerves to Cervical Cancer Surgery?

In 2008, Querleu and Morrow proposed a novel classification of radical hysterectomy, which was quickly accepted by the professional oncogynecological community. The Querleu and Morrow (Q-M) classification of radical hysterectomy has provided a unique opportunity for uniform surgical and anatomical terminology. The classification offers detailed explanations of anatomical landmarks and resection margins for the three parametria of the uterus. However, there are still some disagreements and misconceptions regarding the terminology and anatomical landmarks of the Q-M classification. This article aims to highlight the surgical anatomy of all radical hysterectomy types within the Q-M classification. It discusses and illustrates the importance of anatomical landmarks for defining resection margins of the Q-M classification and reviews the differences between Q-M and other radical hysterectomy classifications. Additionally, we propose an update of the Q-M classification, which includes the implementation of parauterine lymphovascular tissue, paracervical lymph node dissection, and Selective-Systematic Nerve-Sparing type C2 radical hysterectomy. Type D was modified according to current guidelines for the management of patients with cervical cancer. The detailed explanation of the surgical anatomy of radical hysterectomy and the proposed update may help achieve surgical harmonization and precise standardization among oncogynecologists, which can further facilitate accurate and comparable results of multi-institutional surgical clinical trials.

Enzymatically Built Nanoenabled Antimicrobial Coating on Urinary Catheters

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections represent a major share of nosocomial infections, and are associated with longer periods of hospitalization and a huge financial burden. Currently, there are only a handful of commercial materials that reduce biofilm formation on urinary catheters, mostly relying on silver alloys. Therefore, we combined silver-phenolated lignin nanoparticles with poly(carboxybetaine) zwitterions to build a composite antibiotic-free coating with bactericidal and antifouling properties. Importantly, the versatile lignin chemistry enabled the formation of the coating in situ, enabling both the nanoparticle grafting and the radical polymerization by using only the oxidative activity of laccase. The resulting surface efficiently prevented nonspecific protein adsorption and reduced the bacterial viability on the catheter surface by more than 2 logs under hydrodynamic flow, without exhibiting any apparent signs of cytotoxicity. Moreover, the said functionality was maintained over a week both in vitro and in vivo, whereby the animal models showed excellent biocompatibility.

Bioenergetic and Inflammatory Alterations in Regressed and Non-Regressed Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with multiple physiological abnormalities. Current laboratory and clinical evidence most commonly report mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and immunological imbalance in almost every cell type of the body. The present work aims to evaluate oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), and inflammation-related molecules such as Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), chitinase 3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin-9 (IL-9) in ASD children with and without regression compared to healthy controls. Children with ASD (n = 56) and typically developing children (TDC, n = 12) aged 1.11 to 11 years were studied. Mitochondrial activity was examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from children with ASD and from the control group, using a metabolic analyzer. Gene and protein levels of IL-1β, IL-9, COX-2, and YKL-40 were investigated in parallel. Our results showed that PBMCs of the ASD subgroup of regressed patients (ASD R(+), n = 21) had a specific pattern of mitochondrial activity with significantly increased maximal respiration, respiratory spare capacity, and proton leak compared to the non-regressed group (ASD R(-), n = 35) and TDC. Furthermore, we found an imbalance in the studied proinflammatory molecules and increased levels in ASD R(-) proving the involvement of inflammatory changes. The results of this study provide new evidence for specific bioenergetic profiles of immune cells and elevated inflammation-related molecules in ASD. For the first time, data on a unique metabolic profile in ASD R(+) and its comparison with a random group of children of similar age and sex are provided. Our data show that mitochondrial dysfunction is more significant in ASD R(+), while in ASD R(-) inflammation is more pronounced. Probably, in the group without regression, immune mechanisms (immune dysregulation, leading to inflammation) begin initially, and at a later stage mitochondrial activity is also affected under exogenous factors. On the other hand, in the regressed group, the initial damage is in the mitochondria, and perhaps at a later stage immune dysfunction is involved.

Mussel-Inspired Sonochemical Nanocomposite Coating on Catheters for Prevention of Urinary Infections

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most common hospital-acquired infections and cause patient discomfort, increased morbidity, and prolonged stays, altogether posing a huge burden on healthcare services. Colonization occurs upon insertion, or later by ascending microbes from the rich periurethral flora, and is therefore virtually unavoidable by medical procedures. Importantly, the dwell time is a significant risk factor for bacteriuria because it gives biofilms time to develop and mature. This is why we engineer antibacterial and antibiofilm coating through ultrasound- and nanoparticle-assisted self-assembly on silicone surfaces and validate it thoroughly in vitro and in vivo. To this end, we combine bimetallic silver/gold nanoparticles, which exercise both biocidal and structural roles, with dopamine-modified gelatin in a facile and substrate-independent sonochemical coating process. The latter mussel-inspired bioadhesive potentiates the activity and durability of the coating while attenuating the intrinsic toxicity of silver. As a result, our approach effectively reduces biofilm formation in a hydrodynamic model of the human bladder and prevents bacteriuria in catheterized rabbits during a week of placement, outperforming conventional silicone catheters. These results substantiate the practical use of nanoparticle-biopolymer composites in combination with ultrasound for the antimicrobial functionalization of indwelling medical devices.

Metabolic Profile of Leaves and Pulp of Passiflora caerulea L. (Bulgaria) and Their Biological Activities

At present, there are no data in the scientific literature on studies aimed at characterizing Passiflora caerulea L. growing in Bulgaria. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolic profile and elemental composition of the leaves and pulp of this Passiflora, as well as to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of its leaf and pulp extracts. The results showed that the pulp predominantly contained the essential amino acid histidine (7.81 mg g-1), while it was absent in the leaves, with the highest concentration being tryptophan (8.30 mg g-1). Of the fatty acids, palmitoleic acid predominated both in the pulp and in the leaves. A major sterol component was β-sitosterol. Fructose (7.50%) was the predominant sugar in the pulp, while for the leaves, it was glucose-1.51%. Seven elements were identified: sodium, potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. The highest concentrations of K and Mg were in the pulp (23,946 mg kg-1 and 1890 mg kg-1) and leaves (36,179 mg kg-1 and 5064 mg kg-1). According to the DPPH, FRAP and CUPRAC methods, the highest values for antioxidant activity were found in 70% ethanolic extracts of the leaves, while for the ABTS method, the highest value was found in 50% ethanolic extracts. In the pulp, for all four methods, the highest values were determined at 50% ethanolic extracts. Regarding the antibacterial activity, the 50% ethanolic leaf extracts were more effective against the Gram-positive bacteria. At the same time, the 70% ethanolic leaf extract was more effective against Gram-negative bacteria such as Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076. The leaf extracts exhibited higher anti-inflammatory activity than the extracts prepared from the pulp. The obtained results revealed that P. caerulea is a plant that can be successfully applied as an active ingredient in various nutritional supplements or cosmetic products.

Epidemiological and Genetic Characteristics of Respiratory Viral Coinfections with Different Variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

This study aimed to determine the incidence and etiological, seasonal, and genetic characteristics of respiratory viral coinfections involving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Between October 2020 and January 2024, nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 2277 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Two multiplex approaches were used to detect and sequence SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B viruses, and other seasonal respiratory viruses: multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiplex next-generation sequencing. Coinfections of SARS-CoV-2 with other respiratory viruses were detected in 164 (7.2%) patients. The most common co-infecting virus was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (38 cases, 1.7%), followed by bocavirus (BoV) (1.2%) and rhinovirus (RV) (1.1%). Patients ≤ 16 years of age had the highest rate (15%) of mixed infections. Whole-genome sequencing produced 19 complete genomes of seasonal respiratory viral co-pathogens, which were subjected to phylogenetic and amino acid analyses. The detected influenza viruses were classified into the genetic groups 6B.1A.5a.2a and 6B.1A.5a.2a.1 for A(H1N1)pdm09, 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.1 and 3C.2a.2b for A(H3N2), and V1A.3a.2 for the B/Victoria lineage. The RSV-B sequences belonged to the genetic group GB5.0.5a, with HAdV-C belonging to type 1, BoV to genotype VP1, and PIV3 to lineage 1a(i). Multiple amino acid substitutions were identified, including at the antibody-binding sites. This study provides insights into respiratory viral coinfections involving SARS-CoV-2 and reinforces the importance of genetic characterization of co-pathogens in the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies.

Single-nucleus transcriptomics of epicardial adipose tissue from female pigs reveals effects of exercise training on resident innate and adaptive immune cells

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death in women. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) secretes cytokines to modulate coronary artery function, and the release of fatty acids from EAT serves as a readily available energy source for cardiomyocytes. However, despite having beneficial functions, excessive amounts of EAT can cause the secretion of proinflammatory molecules that increase the instability of atherosclerotic plaques and contribute to CAD progression. Although exercise mitigates CAD, the mechanisms by which exercise impacts EAT are unknown. The Yucatan pig is an excellent translational model for the effects of exercise on cardiac function. Therefore, we sought to determine if chronic aerobic exercise promotes an anti-inflammatory microenvironment in EAT from female Yucatan pigs.

METHODS

Sexually mature, female Yucatan pigs (n = 7 total) were assigned to sedentary (Sed, n = 3) or exercise (Ex, n = 4) treatments, and coronary arteries were occluded (O) with an ameroid to mimic CAD or remained non-occluded (N). EAT was collected for bulk (n = 7 total) and single nucleus transcriptomic sequencing (n = 2 total, 1 per exercise treatment).

RESULTS

Based on the bulk transcriptomic analysis, exercise upregulated S100 family, G-protein coupled receptor, and CREB signaling in neurons canonical pathways in EAT. The top networks in EAT affected by exercise as measured by bulk RNA sequencing were SRC kinase family, fibroblast growth factor receptor, Jak-Stat, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Single nucleus transcriptomic analysis revealed that exercise increased the interaction between immune, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells in the insulin-like growth factor pathway and between endothelial and other cell types in the platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 pathway. Sub-clustering revealed nine cell types in EAT, with fibroblast and macrophage populations predominant in O-Ex EAT and T cell populations predominant in N-Ex EAT. Unlike the findings for exercise alone as a treatment, there were not increased interactions between endothelial and mesenchymal cells in O-Ex EAT. Coronary artery occlusion impacted the most genes in T cells and endothelial cells. Genes related to fatty acid metabolism were the most highly upregulated in non-immune cells from O-Ex EAT. Sub-clustering of endothelial cells revealed that N-Ex EAT separated from other treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

According to bulk transcriptomics, exercise upregulated pathways and networks related to growth factors and immune cell communication. Based on single nucleus transcriptomics, aerobic exercise increased cell-to-cell interaction amongst immune, mesenchymal, and endothelial cells in female EAT. Yet, exercise was minimally effective at reversing alterations in gene expression in endothelial and mesenchymal cells in EAT surrounding occluded arteries. These findings lay the foundation for future work focused on the impact of exercise on cell types in EAT.

Prevalence and clinical impact of mono- and co-infections with endemic coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU-1 during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

Endemic human coronaviruses (eHCoVs) are found worldwide and usually result in mild to moderate upper respiratory tract infections. They can lead to more severe illnesses such as croup, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia in vulnerable populations. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, information on HCoV prevalence and incidence and clinical impact of co-infections of HCoV with SARS-CoV-2 was lacking.

Objectives

Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of infections caused by eHCoVs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria.

Methods

From January 2021 to December 2022, nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with acute upper or lower respiratory tract infections were tested for 17 respiratory viruses using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. The clinical data and laboratory parameters of patients infected with respiratory viruses were analysed.

Results

Of the 1375 patients screened, 24 (1.7 %) were positive for HCoVs, and 197 (14.3 %) were positive for eight other seasonal respiratory viruses. Five (0.7 %) of 740 patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 were co-infected with eHCoVs. Co-infected patients had a mean C-reactive protein level of 198.5 ± 2.12 mg/mL and a mean oxygen saturation of 82 ± 2.8 mmHg, while those in patients co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses were 61.8 mg/mL and 92.8 ± 4.6 mmHg, respectively (p < 0.05). Pneumonia was diagnosed in 63.3 % of patients with HCoV infection and 6 % of patients positive for other seasonal respiratory viruses (p < 0.05). Patients with SARS-CoV-2 mono-infection stayed in hospital for an average of 5.8 ± 3.7 days, whereas the average hospital stay of patients with eHCoV and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection was 9 ± 1.4 days (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These findings indicate the low prevalence of eHCoVs and low co-infection rate between eHCoVs and SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria. Despite their low incidence, such mixed infections can cause severe signs that require oxygen therapy and longer hospital stays, underlining the need for targeted testing of severe COVID-19 cases to identify potential co-infections.

Integrated analysis of gut metabolome, microbiome, and exfoliome data in an equine model of intestinal injury

BACKGROUND

The equine gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome has been described in the context of various diseases. The observed changes, however, have not been linked to host function and therefore it remains unclear how specific changes in the microbiome alter cellular and molecular pathways within the GI tract. Further, non-invasive techniques to examine the host gene expression profile of the GI mucosa have been described in horses but not evaluated in response to interventions. Therefore, the objectives of our study were to (1) profile gene expression and metabolomic changes in an equine model of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced intestinal inflammation and (2) apply computational data integration methods to examine host-microbiota interactions.

METHODS

Twenty horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (n = 10): control (placebo paste) or NSAID (phenylbutazone 4.4 mg/kg orally once daily for 9 days). Fecal samples were collected on days 0 and 10 and analyzed with respect to microbiota (16S rDNA gene sequencing), metabolomic (untargeted metabolites), and host exfoliated cell transcriptomic (exfoliome) changes. Data were analyzed and integrated using a variety of computational techniques, and underlying regulatory mechanisms were inferred from features that were commonly identified by all computational approaches.

RESULTS

Phenylbutazone induced alterations in the microbiota, metabolome, and host transcriptome. Data integration identified correlation of specific bacterial genera with expression of several genes and metabolites that were linked to oxidative stress. Concomitant microbiota and metabolite changes resulted in the initiation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response within the intestinal mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of integrative analysis identified an important role for oxidative stress, and subsequent cell signaling responses, in a large animal model of GI inflammation. The computational approaches for combining non-invasive platforms for unbiased assessment of host GI responses (e.g., exfoliomics) with metabolomic and microbiota changes have broad application for the field of gastroenterology. Video Abstract.

Resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus with dominance of RSV-B during the 2022-2023 season

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses in Bulgaria, characterize the genetic diversity of RSV strains, and perform amino acid sequence analyses of RSV surface and internal proteins.

Methods

Clinical and epidemiological data and nasopharyngeal swabs were prospectively collected from patients with acute respiratory infections between October 2020 and May 2023. Real-time PCR for 13 respiratory viruses, whole-genome sequencing, phylogenetic, and amino acid analyses were performed.

Results

This study included three epidemic seasons (2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023) from week 40 of the previous year to week 20 of the following year. Of the 3,047 patients examined, 1,813 (59.5%) tested positive for at least one viral respiratory pathogen. RSV was the second most detected virus (10.9%) after SARS-CoV-2 (22%). Coinfections between RSV and other respiratory viruses were detected in 68 cases, including 14 with SARS-CoV-2. After two seasons of low circulation, RSV activity increased significantly during the 2022-2023 season. The detection rates of RSV were 3.2, 6.6, and 13.7% in the first, second, and third seasons, respectively. RSV was the most common virus found in children under 5 years old with bronchiolitis (40%) and pneumonia (24.5%). RSV-B drove the 2022-2023 epidemic. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the sequenced RSV-B strains belonged to the GB5.0.5a and GB5.0.6a genotypes. Amino acid substitutions in the surface and internal proteins, including the F protein antigenic sites were identified compared to the BA prototype strain.

Conclusion

This study revealed a strong resurgence of RSV in the autumn of 2022 after the lifting of anti-COVID-19 measures, the leading role of RSV as a causative agent of serious respiratory illnesses in early childhood, and relatively low genetic diversity in circulating RSV strains.

Evaluation of cleaved caspase-3 and Ki-67 index on diagnostic biopsy in response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the context of post-treatment tumour ypT stage, ypN stage, grade, and molecular subtype

Introduction

Breast carcinoma is a heterogeneous disease, characterised by diverse clinical behaviour. The aim of this study was to assess how cleaved caspase-3 and Ki-67 index, evaluated on diagnostic biopsy, are related to response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the context of molecular subtype, post-treatment tumour, N category, and grade.

Material and methods

A retrospective analysis was carried out among 110 breast cancer patients. Ki-67 levels and caspase-3 expression on diagnostic biopsy were explored regarding their relation to tumour grade and molecular subtype, ypT, ypN categories, and T and N categories according to Sataloff tumour response evaluation.

Results

A statistically significant relationship was found between Ki-67 levels and tumour grade K-W = 24.2932, p < 0.0001; molecular subtype K-W = 28.5439, p < 0.00000967538; size and invasion of the primary tumour after neoadjuvant chemotherapy K-W = 11.7944, p < 0.0377169; caspase-3 expression after neoadjuvant therapy, evaluated according to the Sataloff classification χ2 = 5.97, df = 1, p = 0.0145.

Discussion

No significant difference was found between Ki-67 expression in patients with pathological complete response, compared to those with partial and no response, a statistically significant difference in cases with different molecular subtype, histology grade, and tumour stage after neoadjuvant therapy. Cleaved caspase-3-positive breast cancer cases are often better responders to neoadjuvant therapy, but with no significant correlation to molecular subtype, high-grade categories, or tumour stage.

Conclusions

The caspase-3 and Ki-67 index on diagnostic biopsy are related to post-neoadjuvant treatment prognostic factors (ypT stage, grade), proving them useful for prediction of treatment response to neoadjuvant therapy and further patient management.

Protein-Rich Rafts in Hybrid Polymer/Lipid Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Considerable attention has been dedicated to lipid rafts due to their importance in numerous cell functions such as membrane trafficking, polarization, and signaling. Next to studies in living cells, artificial micrometer-sized vesicles with a minimal set of components are established as a major tool to understand the phase separation dynamics and their intimate interplay with membrane proteins. In parallel, mixtures of phospholipids and certain amphiphilic polymers simultaneously offer an interface for proteins and mimic this segregation behavior, presenting a tangible synthetic alternative for fundamental studies and bottom-up design of cellular mimics. However, the simultaneous insertion of complex and sensitive membrane proteins is experimentally challenging and thus far has been largely limited to natural lipids. Here, we present the co-reconstitution of the proton pump bo3 oxidase and the proton consumer ATP synthase in hybrid polymer/lipid giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) via fusion/electroformation. Variations of the current method allow for tailored reconstitution protocols and control of the vesicle size. In particular, mixing of protein-free and protein-functionalized nanosized vesicles in the electroformation film results in larger GUVs, while separate reconstitution of the respiratory enzymes enables higher ATP synthesis rates. Furthermore, protein labeling provides a synthetic mechanism for phase separation and protein sequestration, mimicking lipid- and protein-mediated domain formation in nature. The latter means opens further possibilities for re-enacting phenomena like supercomplex assembly or symmetry breaking and enriches the toolbox of bottom-up synthetic biology.

Vertebral Artery Dissection

Vertebral artery dissections are a rare pathology that carries a high risk of stroke in a younger population. They may be caused by minor mechanisms and the index of suspicion should be high. Treatment with anticoagulation or antiplatelets should follow if no surgical management is indicated.We describe a case of a female in her 30s who fell backward off a swing and rolled over her head and complained of continued posterior neck pain. The patient was found to have a vertebral artery dissection on MRI. The patient was then anticoagulated with high-dose apixaban and low-dose aspirin.The emergency medicine provider should be aware of possible low-impact mechanisms that can cause vertebral artery dissection and should have a high index of suspicion. If surgical management is not indicated, anticoagulation should be initiated.

Experimental Ultrasound Approach for Studying Knee Intra-Articular Femur-Tibia Movements under Different Loads

The purpose of the present study was to develop an experimental model for the study of intra-articular knee movements depending on the function of the knee joint and involved muscle groups under isometric stretching conditions with different loads. The experimental procedure included an ultrasound examination of a knee joint after isometric stretching in healthy men (n = 32). The changes (in millimeters) in the distances between the femur and tibia were measured using an ultrasound sonographer at three stages. The first stage was performed on ten (n = 10) healthy men in five different sitting and upright positions. In the second and third experimental model stages, lower limbs loading was applied to 22 participants. Our hypothesis, which was confirmed, was that as a result of increased loads on the participant's back, an intra-articular decrease in the femur-tibia cartilage surface distance would be observed. The accuracy of the created experimental model was improved over its three stages from 30% to 9%. Quantitative model data can help to create a mathematical model of the mechanical effects during the deformation of knee joint bone cartilage and it can also help outline some future tasks: increasing loading weights, enlarging participant groups, performing comparisons of men and women, and performing comparisons of healthy and pathological individuals.

From Traditional Dairy Product "Katak" to Beneficial Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains

Traditional milk products, widely consumed in many countries for centuries, have been drawing renewed attention in recent years as sources of bacteria with possible bioprotective properties. One such product for which only limited information exists is the traditional Bulgarian "katak". This fermented yogurt-like product, renowned for its taste and long-lasting properties, possesses specific sensory characteristics. In this study, 18 lactic acid bacteria (LABs) were isolated from artisanal samples made in the Northwest part of Bulgaria. A polyphasic taxonomic approach combining classical phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods, such as multiplex PCR, 16S rDNA sequencing, and MALDI-TOF MS, was applied, leading to the identification of 13 strains. The dominance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was confirmed. In vitro tests with the identified strains in model systems showed a promising broad strain-specific spectrum of activity against food-borne and human pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli). Non-purified Lactobacillus postbiotics, produced during fermentation in skimmed and soya milks and in MRS broth, were estimated as limiting agents of virulence factors. The LAB's production of lactate, acetate, and butyrate is a promising probiotic feature. A further characterization of the active strains and analysis of the purified post-metabolites are needed and are still in progress.

Single-nucleus transcriptomics of epicardial adipose tissue from females reveals exercise control of innate and adaptive immune cells

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death in women. Although exercise mitigates CAD, the mechanisms by which exercise impacts epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) are unknown. We hypothesized that exercise promotes an anti-inflammatory microenvironment in EAT from female pigs. Yucatan pigs (n=7) were assigned to sedentary (Sed) or exercise (Ex) treatments and coronary arteries were occluded (O) with an ameroid to mimic CAD or remained non-occluded (N). EAT was collected for bulk and single nucleus transcriptomic sequencing (snRNA-seq). Exercise upregulated G-protein coupled receptor, S100 family, and FAK pathways and downregulated the coagulation pathway. Exercise increased the interaction between immune, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells in the insulin-like growth factor pathway and between endothelial and other cell types in the platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 pathway. Sub-clustering revealed nine cell types in EAT with fibroblast and macrophage populations predominant in O-Ex EAT and T cell population predominant in N-Ex EAT. Coronary occlusion impacted the largest number of genes in T and endothelial cells. Genes related to fatty acid metabolism were the most highly upregulated in non-immune cells from O-Ex EAT. Sub-clustering of endothelial cells revealed that N-Ex EAT separated from other treatments. In conclusion, aerobic exercise increased interaction amongst immune and mesenchymal and endothelial cells in female EAT. Exercise was minimally effective at reversing alterations in gene expression in endothelial and mesenchymal cells in EAT surrounding occluded arteries. These findings lay the foundation for future work focused on the impact of exercise on cell types in EAT.

Induced regeneration of articular cartilage - identification of a dormant regeneration program for a non-regenerative tissue

A mouse organoid culture model was developed to regenerate articular cartilage by sequential treatment with BMP2 and BMP9 (or GDF2) that parallels induced joint regeneration at digit amputation wounds in vivo. BMP9-induced chondrogenesis was used to identify clonal cell lines for articular chondrocyte and hypertrophic chondrocyte progenitor cells from digit fibroblasts. A protocol that includes cell aggregation enhanced by BMP2 followed by BMP9-induced chondrogenesis resulted in the differentiation of organized layers of articular chondrocytes, similar to the organization of middle and deep zones of articular cartilage in situ, and retained a differentiated phenotype following transplantation. In addition, the differentiation of a non-chondrogenic connective tissue layer containing articular chondrocyte progenitor cells demonstrated that progenitor cell sequestration is coupled with articular cartilage differentiation at a clonal level. The studies identify a dormant endogenous regenerative program for a non-regenerative tissue in which fibroblast-derived progenitor cells can be induced to initiate morphogenetic and differentiative programs that include progenitor cell sequestration. The identification of dormant regenerative programs in non-regenerative tissues such as articular cartilage represents a novel strategy that integrates regeneration biology with regenerative medicine.

Prehemolytic impact of phenothiazine drugs on the attachment of spectrin network in red blood cells

INTRODUCTION

Chlorpromazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine are phenothiazine drugs that cause colloid-osmotic hemolysis of human erythrocytes by unknown mechanism. To clarify this mechanism, the impact of these drugs on the βsp (1.4 MHz) and γ1sp (9 MHz) dielectric relaxations was investigated. Each relaxation was shown to reduce its strength on the severing specific bridge that connects the spectrin network with the lipid membrane. For βsp relaxation, this is the spectrin-actin-glycophorin C bridge while for γ1sp relaxation this is the spectrin-ankyrin-band 3 bridge.

Extinction scenarios in evolutionary processes: a multinomial Wright-Fisher approach

We study a discrete-time multi-type Wright-Fisher population process. The mean-field dynamics of the stochastic process is induced by a general replicator difference equation. We prove several results regarding the asymptotic behavior of the model, focusing on the impact of the mean-field dynamics on it. One of the results is a limit theorem that describes sufficient conditions for an almost certain path to extinction, first eliminating the type which is the least fit at the mean-field equilibrium. The effect is explained by the metastability of the stochastic system, which under the conditions of the theorem spends almost all time before the extinction event in a neighborhood of the equilibrium. In addition to the limit theorems, we propose a maximization principle for a general deterministic replicator dynamics and study its implications for the stochastic model.

Genomic Epidemiology and Lineage Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Bulgaria: Insights from a Three-Year Pandemic Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has brought about significant challenges worldwide. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of the genomic epidemiology and lineage dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Bulgaria over a three-year period. Through extensive genomic sequencing and data analysis, we investigated the evolution of the virus, the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs), and their impact on the country's pandemic trajectory. We also assessed the relationship between viral diversity and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in Bulgaria. Our findings shed light on the temporal and spatial distribution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages and provide crucial insights into the dynamics of the pandemic in the country. The interplay between international travel and viral transmission plays a significant role in the emergence and dissemination of different SARS-CoV-2 variants. The observed proportions of exportation to various continents provide insights into the potential pathways through which these lineages spread globally. Understanding the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Bulgaria is essential for formulating targeted public health strategies, enhancing vaccination efforts, and effectively managing future outbreaks.

Early Detection of the Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 XAN Variant in Bulgaria: Initial Genomic Insights into Yet Another Piece of the Growing Puzzle of Recombinant Clades

The first recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants were identified in 2022, causing public health concerns. The importance of recombinant variants has increased especially since the WHO designated the recombinant variant XBB and its lineages as subvariants that require monitoring on 20 November 2022. In this study, we provide the first insights into the new SARS-CoV-2 variant named XAN, a recombinant composed of Omicron sub-lineages BA.2 and BA.5. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 XAN variant identified in Bulgaria.

Cases of acute hemiparesis in childhood

INTRODUCTION

Acute hemiparesis is an emergency of various etiologies and possible fatal outcome.

Engineering Porous Silicon-Based Microcavity for Chemical Sensing

In this article, the authors theoretically and experimentally investigated ways to improve the efficiency of porous silicon (PS)-based optical microcavity sensors as a 1D/2D host matrix for electronic tongue/nose systems. The transfer matrix method was used to compute reflectance spectra of structures with different [n_Ln_H] sets of low n_L and high n_H bilayer refractive indexes, the cavity position λ_c, and the number of bilayers N_bi. Sensor structures were prepared by electrochemically etching a silicon wafer. The kinetics of adsorption/desorption processes of ethanol-water-based solution was monitored in real time with a reflectivity probe-based setup. It was theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the sensitivity of the microcavity sensor is higher for structures with refractive indexes in the lower range (and the corresponding porosity values in the upper range). The sensitivity is also improved for structures with the optical cavity mode (λ_c) adjusted toward longer wavelengths. The sensitivity of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) with cavity increases for a structure with cavity position λ_c in the long wavelength region. The full width at half maximum (fwhm_c) of the microcavity is smaller and the quality factor of microcavity (Q_c) is higher for the DBR with a larger number of structure layers N_bi. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulated data. We believe that our results can help in developing rapid, sensitive, and reversible electronic tongue/nose sensing devices based on a PS host matrix.