Hypoxia treatment and resistance training alters microRNA profiling in rats skeletal muscle.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may play a crucial regulatory role in the process of muscle atrophy induced by high-altitude hypoxia and its amelioration through resistance training. However, research in this aspect is still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to employ miRNA microarray analysis to investigate the expression profile of miRNAs in skeletal muscle from an animal model of hypoxia-induced muscle atrophy and resistance training aimed at mitigating muscle atrophy. The study utilized a simulated hypoxic environment (oxygen concentration at 11.2%) to induce muscle atrophy and established a rat model of resistance training using ladder climbing, with a total intervention period of 4 weeks. The miRNA expression profile revealed 9 differentially expressed miRNAs influenced by hypoxia (e.g., miR-341, miR-32-5p, miR-465-5p) and 14 differentially expressed miRNAs influenced by resistance training under hypoxic conditions (e.g., miR-338-5p, miR-203a-3p, miR-92b-3p) (∣log2(FC)∣ ≥ 1.5, p < 0.05). The differentially expressed miRNAs were found to target genes involved in muscle protein synthesis and degradation (such as Utrn, mdm2, eIF4E), biological processes (such as negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent), and signaling pathways (such as Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, mTOR signaling pathway). This study provides a foundation for understanding and further exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced rats muscle atrophy and the mitigation of atrophy through resistance training.

Association of lipid profile and obesity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective. Abnormal lipid profile and obesity increase the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS patients may have a greater risk of infertility, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to abnormal lipid profile and obesity. The aim of the study was to find the association between abnormal lipid profile and obesity in patients with PCOS. Methods. In this case-control study, a total of 102 female subjects (51 diagnosed PCOS and 51 age-matched healthy controls) were enrolled, aged between 20-40 years. Biochemical parameters such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were estimated. Anthropometric parameters such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Mean of BMI, WC, WHR, LH, FSH, TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C was found significantly elevated in patients with PCOS as compared to controls (p<0.01). However, the mean of HDL-C was found significantly reduced in patients with PCOS as compared to controls (p<0.01). BMI has shown a significant positive correlation with WC (r=0.562, p<0.01) and WHR (r=0.580, p<0.01) among PCOS patients. LH has shown a significant positive correlation with FSH (r=0.572, p<0.01) among PCOS patients. TC has shown a significant positive correlation with TG (r=0.687, p<0.01), LDL-C (r=0.917, p<0.01), and VLDL-C (r=0.726, p<0.01) among PCOS patients. Conclusion. The results showed that abnormal lipid profile and obesity have a significant association with PCOS patients. Regular monitoring and treatment of PCOS patients are required to reduce the risk of infertility, MetS, and CVD.

Metabolomic-Based Comparison of Daphnia magna and Japanese Medaka Responses After Exposure to Acetaminophen, Diclofenac, and Ibuprofen.

Pharmaceuticals are found in aquatic environments due to their widespread use and environmental persistence. To date, a range of impairments to aquatic organisms has been reported with exposure to pharmaceuticals; however, further comparisons of their impacts across different species on the molecular level are needed. In the present study, the crustacean Daphnia magna and the freshwater fish Japanese medaka, common model organisms in aquatic toxicity, were exposed for 48 h to the common analgesics acetaminophen (ACT), diclofenac (DCF), and ibuprofen (IBU) at sublethal concentrations. A targeted metabolomic-based approach, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify polar metabolites from individual daphnids and fish was used. Multivariate analyses and metabolite changes identified differences in the metabolite profile for D. magna and medaka, with more metabolic perturbations for D. magna. Pathway analyses uncovered disruptions to pathways associated with protein synthesis and amino acid metabolism with D. magna exposure to all three analgesics. In contrast, medaka exposure resulted in disrupted pathways with DCF only and not ACT and IBU. Overall, the observed perturbations in the biochemistry of both organisms were different and consistent with assessments using other endpoints reporting that D. magna is more sensitive to pollutants than medaka in short-term studies. Our findings demonstrate that molecular-level responses to analgesic exposure can reflect observations of other endpoints, such as immobilization and mortality. Thus, environmental metabolomics can be a valuable tool for selecting sentinel species for the biomonitoring of freshwater ecosystems while also uncovering mechanistic information. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Early life adversity is associated with differential gene expression in immune cells: A cluster-based analysis across an acute psychosocial stressor.

Elucidating mechanisms by which early-life adversity (ELA) contributes to increased disease risk is important for mitigating adverse health outcomes. Prior work has found differences in immune cell gene expression related to inflammation and mitochondrial activity. Using a within-person between-group experimental design, we investigated differences in gene expression clusters across acute psychosocial stress and no-stress conditions. Participants were young adults (N = 29, aged 18 - 25 years, 62 % female, 47 % with a history of ELA). Gene expression was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected at 8 blood draws spanning two 5-hour sessions (stress vs. no-stress) separated by a week, 4 across each session (number of observations = 221). We applied two unsupervised gene clustering methods - latent profile analysis (LPA) and weighted gene co-expression analysis (WGCNA) - to cluster genes with similar expression patterns across participants. LPA identified 11 clusters, 7 of which were significantly associated with ELA-status. WGCNA identified 5 clusters, 3 of which were significantly associated with ELA-status. LPA- and WGCNA-identified clusters were correlated, and all clusters were highly preserved across sessions and time. There was no significant effect of acute stress on cluster gene expression, but there was a significant effect of time, and significant differences by ELA-status. ELA-associated clusters related to RNA splicing/processing, inflammation, leukocyte differentiation and division, and mitochondrial activity were differentially expressed across time: ELA-exposed individuals showed decreased expression of these clusters at 90-minutes while controls showed increased expression. Our findings replicate previous work in this area and highlight additional mechanisms by which ELA may contribute to disease risk.

Enzymatic hydrolyzation of Cordyceps militaris mushroom extracts and its effect on spent hen chicken.

Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of fresh and dried hydrolyzed Cordyceps militaris (CM) mushroom with proteolytic enzymes; bromelain (CMB), flavorzyme (CMF), and mixture of bromelain: flavorzyme (CMBF) on quality properties of spent hen chicken. Methods: Mushroom extract (CME) were combined with three proteolytic enzyme mixtures that had different peptidase activities; stem bromelain (CMB), flavorzyme (CMF), and mixture of stem bromelain:flavorzyme (CMBF) at (1 : 1). The effect of these hydrolysates was investigated on spent hen breast meat via dipping marination. Results: Hydrolyzation positively alters functional properties of CM protease. in which bromelain hydrolyzed group (CMB) displayed the highest proteolytic activity at 4.57 unit/mL. The antioxidant activity had significant increment from 5.32% in CME to 61.79% in CMB. A significantly higher emulsion stability index (ESI) and emulsification activity index (EAI) compared to CME were another result from hydrolyzation (p<0.05). Texture properties along with the shear force value and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) were notably improved under CMB and CMBF in fresh condition. Marination with CM mushroom protease that previously hydrolyzed with enzymes were proven to also increase the nucleotide compounds, indicated by higher AMP and IMP in hydrolysate groups (p<0.05). The concentration of both total and insoluble collagen remained unchanged, meaning less effect from CM protease. Conclusion: This study suggested the hydrolyzation of CM protease with bromelain or a mixture of bromelain:flavourzyme to significantly improve functional properties of protease and escalate the taste-related nucleotide compounds and texture profiles from spent hen breast meat.

Genome analysis of Streptococcus spp. isolates from animals in pre-antibiotic era with respect to antibiotic susceptibility and virulence gene profiles.

Lyophilized Streptococcus spp. isolates (n = 50) from animal samples submitted to the diagnostic laboratory at the University of Connecticut in the 1940s were revivified to investigate the genetic characteristics using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The Streptococcus spp. isolates were identified as follows; S. agalactiae (n = 14), S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae (n = 10), S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimils (n = 5), S. uberis (n = 8), S. pyogenes (n = 7), S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (n = 4), S. oralis (n = 1), and S. pseudoporcinus (n = 1). We identified sequence types (ST) of S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S. uberis, S. pyogenes, and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus and reported ten novel sequence types of those species. WGS analysis revealed that none of Streptococcus spp. carried antibiotic resistance genes. However, tetracycline resistance was observed in four out of 15 S. dysgalactiae isolates and in one out of four S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolate. This data highlights that antimicrobial resistance is pre-existed in nature before the use of antibiotics. The draft genome sequences of isolates from this study and 426 complete genome sequences of Streptococcus spp. downloaded from BV-BRC and NCBI GenBank database were analyzed for virulence gene profiles and phylogenetic relationships. Different Streptococcus species demonstrated distinct virulence gene profiles, with no time-related variations observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high genetic diversity of Streptococcus spp. isolates from the 1940s, and no clear spatio-temporal clustering patterns were observed among Streptococcus spp. analyzed in this study. This study provides an invaluable resource for studying the evolutionary aspects of antibiotic resistance acquisition and virulence in Streptococcus spp.

Behavioral indicators of heterogeneous subjective experience in animals across the phylogenetic spectrum: Implications for comparative animal phenomenology.

This behavioral study was undertaken to provide empirical evidence in favor of or opposed to the notion that animals across a wide breadth of the animal kingdom have subjective (personal) experience that varies with their lifestyles, ecological constraints, or phylogeny. Twelve species representing two invertebrate phyla and six vertebrate classes were observed unobtrusively in 15-min episodes, during which three modes of behavior (volitional, interactive, and egocentric) were quantified according to the frequency, variety, and dynamism of each mode. Volitional behavior was the most prevalent and dynamic mode for nearly all species, largely without regard to phylogenetic position. Interactive behavior likewise varied inconsistently across the entire evolutionary spectrum. Egocentric behavior was concentrated among the avian and mammalian species, but evidence of it were observed in the invertebrate species as well. Diagrams of the matrix constructed from the three qualitative modes and three quantitative attributes for each mode provide a metaphorical representation of the unique experiential profile of each species. To the extent that these behavioral measures correlate with the nature of the animal's subjective experience, they support the growing view that phenomenology is heterogeneous, multimodal, and non-linear in extent across the animal kingdom.

Graphic analysis of various sulfur applications on safflower fatty acids profile.

In this study, we examined the effects of seven different sulfur treatments on safflower seeds. The treatments included: no sulfur application (S0), 25 kg/ha of pure bulk sulfur (S25), 50 kg/ha of pure bulk sulfur (S50), 25 kg/ha of sulfur phosphate (Sp25), 50 kg/ha of sulfur phosphate (Sp50), 25 kg/ha of zinc sulfate (Zs25), and 50 kg/ha of zinc sulfate (Zs50). Our evaluation covered various seed quality attributes, including ash percentage (ASH), oil percentage (OIL), and protein percentage (PRO). Additionally, we analyzed the fatty acid composition, including palmitic acid 16 : 0 (PAL), stearic acid 18 : 0 (STE), oleic acid 18 : 1 (OLE), linoleic acid 18 : 2 (LINL), arachidic acid 20 : 0 (ARA), and linolenic acid 18 : 3 (LINN). The vector-view of the biplot illustrated positive associations among the fatty acids STE, PAL, and OLE, whereas ASH exhibited negative associations with OIL, LINL, and LINN. The polygon-view graph was divided into four sectors, with the genotype S50 emerging as the top performer for attributes such as OIL, PRO, LINL, ARA, and LINN. Treatment Zs50 occupied the vertex of another sector and displayed the highest values for palmitic acid PAL, STE, and OLE, while treatment S0 was positioned at the vertex of the next sector, characterized by its high ASH content. By utilizing the ideal tester tool of treatment by trait biplot, we identified OIL as the desirable trait that most effectively represented the data. The qualitative properties of safflower oil were notably influenced by sulfur application, with treatment S50 proving to be the most effective in enhancing these properties.

Relationship between sensory attributes and instrumental texture properties in meat analog patty system substituted with sweet potato stem.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the relationship between perceived sensory attributes and measurable instrumental properties is crucial for replicating the distinct textures of meat in plant-based meat analogs. In this study, plant-based patties composed of textured vegetable protein (TVP) and 10%, 20% and 30% TVPs were substituted with fibers from sweet potato stem (SPS), and their instrumental texture and sensory properties were evaluated. RESULTS: Samples with 20% SPS showed hardness, cohesiveness and chewiness, which are the mechanical indicators most similar to those of meat. A descriptive sensory analysis by ten trained participants indicated that the SPS-supplemented meat analog patties exhibited characteristics similar to pork patties in terms of firmness, toughness, cohesiveness and smoothness compared to the TVP-only sample. A strong positive correlation between instrumental hardness and sensory firmness was observed (P < 0.01); however, cohesiveness, springiness and chewiness did not show any correlation between instrumental and sensory analyses. Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values showed positive correlations with sensory cohesiveness, chewiness, toughness, fibrousness, moistness, firmness and springiness (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated the feasibility of physically treated fibers from SPS as a partial substitute for TVP in developing meat analogs. Additionally, this study suggested that instrumental hardness and WBSF measurements can be sound parameters for representing sensory texture characteristics while further developing plant-based meat analogs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary supplementation with ellagic acid improves the growth performance, meat quality, and metabolomics profile of yellow-feathered broiler chickens.

The aim of this research was to explore the effects of ellagic acid (EA) on growth performance, meat quality, and metabolomics profile of broiler chickens. 240 healthy yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups (6 replicates/group and 10 broilers /replicate): 1) a standard diet (CON); 2) CON+0.01% EA; 3) CON+0.02% EA; 4) CON+0.04% EA. Compared with the CON group, dietary 0.02% EA increased linearly and quadratically the ADG and lowered F/G ratio from 29 to 56 d and from 1 to 56 d of age (P < 0.05). The EA groups had higher spleen index and showed linear and quadratic improve thymus index (P < 0.05). A total of 0.02% EA linearly and quadratically increased the leg muscle percentage and quadratically increased the breast muscle percentage (P < 0.05). Compared to the control diet, 0.02% EA decreased quadratically the L* and increased a* of breast muscle at 45 min postslaughter (P < 0.05), and quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) the b* and increased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) drip loss. Additionally, EA improved linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) serum total protein concentration and reduced linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) serum blood urea nitrogen concentration. A total of 0.02% EA quadratically increased catalase activity and decreased malondialdehyde concentration in breast muscle compared with the control diet (P < 0.05). 0.02% and 0.04% EA could linearly and quadratically increase (P < 0.05) the concentrations of histidine, leucine and essential amino acids (EAA), 0.02% EA could linearly and quadratically increase (P < 0.05) the concentrations of threonine, glutamate, and flavored amino acids in breast muscle. 0.02% EA linearly and quadratically improved the C20:3n6, C22:6n3, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations, and the ratio of PUFA to saturated fatty acids (SFA), but reduced the C16:0 and the SFA concentrations in breast muscle than the CON group (P < 0.05). The EA diet linearly increased (P = 0.035) and quadratically tended (P = 0.068) to regulate the C18:2n6c concentration of breast muscle. Metabolomics showed that alanine metabolism, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism were the most differentially abundant. These results showed that EA supported moderate positive effects on growth performance, meat quality, and metabolomics profile of broilers.

Genome-wide characterization of TCP family and their potential roles in abiotic stress resistance of oat (Avena sativa L.).

The TCP gene family members play multiple functions in plant growth and development and were named after the first three family members found in this family, TB1 (TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1), CYCLOIDEA (CYC), and Proliferating Cell Factor 1/2 (PCF1/2). Nitrogen (N) is a crucial element for forage yield; however, over-application of N fertilizer can increase agricultural production costs and environmental stress. Therefore, the discovery of low N tolerance genes is essential for the genetic improvement of superior oat germplasm and ecological protection. Oat (Avena sativa L.), is one of the world's staple grass forages, but no genome-wide analysis of TCP genes and their roles in low-nitrogen stress has been performed. This study identified the oat TCP gene family members using bioinformatics techniques. It analyzed their phylogeny, gene structure analysis, and expression patterns. The results showed that the AsTCP gene family includes 49 members, and most of the AsTCP-encoded proteins are neutral or acidic proteins; the phylogenetic tree classified the AsTCP gene family members into three subfamilies, and each subfamily has different conserved structural domains and functions. In addition, multiple cis-acting elements were detected in the promoter of the AsTCP genes, which were associated with abiotic stress, light response, and hormone response. The 49 AsTCP genes identified from oat were unevenly distributed on 18 oat chromosomes. The results of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the AsTCP genes had different expression levels in various tissues under low nitrogen stress, which indicated that these genes (such as AsTCP01, AsTCP03, AsTCP22, and AsTCP38) played multiple roles in the growth and development of oat. In conclusion, this study analyzed the AsTCP gene family and their potential functions in low nitrogen stress at the genome-wide level, which lays a foundation for further analysis of the functions of AsTCP genes in oat and provides a theoretical basis for the exploration of excellent stress tolerance genes in oat. This study provides an essential basis for future in-depth studies of the TCP gene family in other oat genera and reveals new research ideas to improve gene utilization.

Chronomedicine Insights: Evaluating the Impact of Time-Restricted Meal Intake on Lipid Profile Parameters Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes in Northern India.

INTRODUCTION: Time-restricted meal intake (TRM) has shown potential benefits such as enhanced insulin sensitivity, lowered blood sugar levels, and possible weight loss in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the impact of TRM on lipid profile parameters such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in fasting conditions in T2DM patients. METHODS: In total, 400 patients from the endocrinology department at King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow were enrolled in this study, adhering to the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Male and female patients with recently diagnosed T2DM (in the past five years), aged between 25 to 60 years, on oral anti-diabetic therapy excluding insulin, expressing willingness to provide written consent and to adhere to TRM were included in the TRM group. It was a longitudinal study as diabetic dyslipidemia is primarily caused by insulin resistance and nutritional reasons and we wanted to assess the effect of TRM on lipid profile in T2DM patients. Patients were enrolled via simple random sampling using the random number table method (computerized). The TRM group had an early dinner at 7 pm whereas the control group was of non-TRM/late-night eaters. TRM group was given comprehensive guidance including strategies to manage hunger, permissible beverage options (water and prescribed medication) during the fasting period, and daily maintenance of a diary documenting their timing, type, and quantity of food intake which they were requested to bring fortnightly. Emphasis was placed on recording even minor dietary items consumed throughout the day. The TRM group consumed food ad libitum during a 12-hour eating window from breakfast at 7 am to dinner at 7 pm. Data distribution was non-parametric. Mann-Whitney U test compared TRM and control group using mean values at baseline and follow-ups. Analysis used GraphPad Prism 9.2.0 software (GraphPad Inc., La Jolla, CA). A p-value less than 0.05 (p < 0.05) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were lost to follow-up, resulting in 273 patients who completed the study. The mean value of TC in the TRM and non-TRM groups using the Mann-Whitney U test registered a highly significant p-value <0.0001 at 18 months, with a decrease of 14.17% from baseline in the TRM group and a decrease of 1.53% from baseline in the non-TRM group. The TRM group had a decrease of 24.75% in TG from a baseline value of 145.4±41.9, whereas the non-TRM group showed a decrease of 2.2% from a baseline value of 154.7±37.30 (p-value <0.0001). The TRM group showed an increase of 9.25% in HDL from a baseline value of 50.14±8.58; the non-TRM group showed an increase of 0.82% from a baseline value of 48.62±9.31 (p-value <0.0001). TRM group showed a decrease of 8.62% in LDL from a baseline value of 68.20±16.2 while the non-TRM group showed an increase of 1.54% from a baseline value of 65.38±19.3 (p-value <0.0002). The TRM group showed a decrease of 13.97% in VLDL from a baseline value of 32.20±18.7; the non-TRM group showed an increase of 4% from a baseline value of 30.16±24.2 (p-value <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our study's promising results underscore the potential of TRM as an effective strategy for managing dyslipidemia in individuals with T2DM, even over prolonged periods.

Latent profiles of emotion regulation among university students: links to repetitive negative thinking, internet addiction, and subjective wellbeing.

Recent years have seen a deterioration in the mental health of university students and notable surge in the need for psychological support. Due to its links to psychopathology and high-risk behaviors, difficulty in emotion regulation frequently serves as a transdiagnostic dimension. This cross-sectional study used a person-centered analytical approach (latent profile analysis; LPA) to identify groups of Portuguese university students with similar profiles of emotion regulation difficulties (N = 261; Mage = 22.5 ± 1.2 years; n = 213 female) and describe how these groups differ in their presentation of repetitive negative thinking, internet addiction, and subjective wellbeing. The analyses identified four latent profiles: 14.5% of students showed global dysregulation (the Low Emotion Regulation Profile), 23% were moderately dysregulated with elevated problems in goal-directed behavior (the Moderate Emotion Regulation Profile), 8% showed specific difficulties with low emotional awareness and clarity (the Low Insight Profile), and 54.4% showed adaptive emotion regulation (the High Emotion Regulation Profile). As anticipated, the Low Emotion Regulation Profile had the lowest subjective wellbeing and the highest prevalence of repetitive negative thinking and internet addiction. Students with a Low Insight Profile also showed low subjective wellbeing, but less repetitive negative thinking compared to the Low Emotion Regulation Profile. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving health and wellbeing among university students should consider each student's unique set of emotion regulation difficulties, rather than focusing on particular strategies. Further research may help determine whether emotion regulation profiles can serve as predictive indicators of varying mental health trajectories and subjective wellbeing in university students.

Explainable machine learning for predicting the geographical origin of Chinese Oysters via mineral elements analysis.

The traceability of geographic origin is essential for guaranteeing the quality, safety, and protection of oyster brands. However, the current outcomes of traceability lack credibility as they do not adequately explain the model's predictions. Consequently, we conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy of utilizing explainable machine learning combined with mineral elements analysis. The study findings revealed that 18 elements have the ability to determine regional orientation. Simultaneously, individuals should pay closer attention to the potential risks associated with oyster consumption due to the regional differences in essential and toxic elements they contain. Light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) model exhibited indistinguishable performance, achieving flawless accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score and AUC, with values of 96.77%, 96.43%, 98.53%, 97.32% and 0.998, respectively. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was used to evaluate the output of the LightGBM model, revealing differences in feature interactions among oysters from different provinces. Specifically, the features Na, Zn, V, Mg, and K were found to have a significant impact on the predictive process of the model. Consistent with existing research, the use of explainable machine learning techniques can provide insights into the complex connections between important product attributes and relevant geographical information.

Impact of suppression of the SOS response on protein expression in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli under antimicrobial pressure of ciprofloxacin.

Introduction/objective: Suppression of the SOS response in combination with drugs damaging DNA has been proposed as a potential target to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The SOS response is the pathway used to repair bacterial DNA damage induced by antimicrobials such as quinolones. The extent of lexA-regulated protein expression and other associated systems under pressure of agents that damage bacterial DNA in clinical isolates remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this strategy consisting on suppression of the SOS response in combination with quinolones on the proteome profile of Escherichia coli clinical strains. Materials and methods: Five clinical isolates of E. coli carrying different chromosomally- and/or plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance mechanisms with different phenotypes were selected, with E. coli ATCC 25922 as control strain. In addition, from each clinical isolate and control, a second strain was created, in which the SOS response was suppressed by deletion of the recA gene. Bacterial inocula from all 12 strains were then exposed to 1xMIC ciprofloxacin treatment (relative to the wild-type phenotype for each isogenic pair) for 1 h. Cell pellets were collected, and proteins were digested into peptides using trypsin. Protein identification and label-free quantification were done by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in order to identify proteins that were differentially expressed upon deletion of recA in each strain. Data analysis and statistical analysis were performed using the MaxQuant and Perseus software. Results: The proteins with the lowest expression levels were: RecA (as control), AphA, CysP, DinG, DinI, GarL, PriS, PsuG, PsuK, RpsQ, UgpB and YebG; those with the highest expression levels were: Hpf, IbpB, TufB and RpmH. Most of these expression alterations were strain-dependent and involved DNA repair processes and nucleotide, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and transport. In isolates with suppressed SOS response, the number of underexpressed proteins was higher than overexpressed proteins. Conclusion: High genomic and proteomic variability was observed among clinical isolates and was not associated with a specific resistant phenotype. This study provides an interesting approach to identify new potential targets to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The relationship between psychological capital, burnout and perceived stress in junior nurses: a latent profile analysis.

Background: Psychological capital, an intrinsic personal asset, enhances junior nurses' ability to navigate transition and sustain superior job performance. This study aimed to classify junior nurses into distinct psychological capital profiles and examine their associations with burnout and perceived stress levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 480 junior nurses from three hospitals in Beijing assessed psychological capital, stress, and burnout using e-questionnaires, from July 2021 to August 2022. We employed exploratory latent profile analysis for psychological capital profiling and logistic regression with the best subset method to identify the influential factors. Results: The results of the latent profile analysis supported the models of two latent profiles, which were defined as low psychological capital (224, 46.5%) and high psychological capital (256, 53.5%). Logistic regression revealed that introverted nurses and those experiencing moderate to high levels of burnout and stress were more likely to exhibit low psychological capital. Conclusion: Nursing management should proactively identify and support junior nurses with low psychological capital, with a focus on introverted individuals, to mitigate the impact of stress and burnout.

Assessment of Serum Atherogenic Indices and Insulin Resistance in Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate serum atherogenic indices as novel cardiovascular risk factors associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Materials and Methods: This retrospective case-control study included 57 patients with newly diagnosed RVO whose plasma lipid profile (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], total cholesterol [TC], and triglycerides [TG]) and insulin resistance were examined. Serum atherogenic indices (LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios) and presence of insulin resistance were compared between the patients and 63 healthy subjects. Cut-off values were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: The mean age of the RVO patients was 63.7±9.4 years. Plasma levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, TC, and TG showed no significant difference between the patient and control groups (p>0.05). However, LDL-C/HDL-C, non-HDL-C/HDL-C, and TC/HDL-C ratios were higher in the RVO group compared to healthy subjects (p=0.015, p=0.036, and p=0.015, respectively). Fasting insulin concentrations, plasma insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were higher in the RVO patients compared to controls (p=0.003, p=0.001, and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios were found to be increased in RVO. Compared to the traditional plasma lipid profile, serum atherogenic indices were found to be superior predictors of RVO development. Measurement of HOMA-IR index should be taken into consideration in the evaluation of insulin resistance. High serum atherogenic indexes in RVO patients reveal the need to take precautions against the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Latent Profile Analysis of Medication Beliefs in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in the Hospital-Home Transition and Comparison with Medication Adherence.

Background: The treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a protracted and arduous process. Medication, being a universally crucial therapeutic measure, underscores the significance of medication adherence in managing the disease effectively. Medication beliefs have emerged as a significant predictor of adherence, attracting considerable scholarly attention in recent years. However, there remains a paucity of research utilizing individual-centered approaches to explore medication beliefs among the T2DM population during the hospital-home transition, leaving the relationship between these beliefs and medication adherence unclear. Purpose: To investigate latent categories of medication beliefs among patients with T2DM during the transition from hospital to home, and to analyze variations in medication adherence across these categories of patients. Patients and methods: Between August 2022 and September 2023, this study selected 304 patients with a pre-discharge diagnosis of T2DM as study subjects from a tertiary hospital in Dongguan City. The patients' profiles were assessed comprehensively via the Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Questionnaire, alongside the Chinese version of Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-Specific and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8. The present study conducted latent profile analysis using Mplus 7.4 software and analyzed the influencing factors of different medication belief categories and their differences in medication adherence using SPSS 26.0 software. Results: The medication beliefs of 304 patients were rated at 3.36±5.24 points, while medication adherence scored 6.23±1.56 points. The medication beliefs were classified into four categories: moderate necessity - low to moderate concern group (40.13%), high necessity - low concern group (9.54%), moderate necessity - moderate to high concern group (19.08%), and moderate necessity - high concern group (31.25%). Age, monthly per capita household income, and place of residence emerged as influential factors for the four categories. Moreover, the disparity in medication adherence among these categories demonstrated statistical significance (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The medication beliefs of patients were classified into four distinct categories, and variations in medication adherence were evident across these categories. The high necessity - low concern group demonstrated the highest medication adherence scores, while the moderate necessity - high concern group exhibited the lowest scores. Healthcare providers are advised to tailor personalized medication belief enhancement programs based on patients' homogeneous beliefs, addressing specific issues encountered by each category. This approach aims to ensure optimal medication adherence across diverse medical and social environments, effectively improving patient prognosis and enhancing quality of life.

Efficacy and safety of photoselective vaporization of the prostate using the Greenlight XPS 180W laser and simple prostatectomy for high-volume prostate hypertrophy: a comparative analysis.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of treatment using simple prostatectomy (SP) and using photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) with a 180W GreenLight XPS laser in patients with high-volume prostate hypertrophy. Material and methods: The study included 120 patients with LUTS symptoms caused by prostatic enlargement of more than 80 ml; 79 patients were treated with SP, while 41 were treated with PVP. The analysis included subjective the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Life (QoL), and objective (Qmax), (Qave), and post-void residual volume (PVR) parameters before treatment and at an average of 38 months after surgical treatment. Early and late adverse effects and length of hospitalisation were assessed. Complication reports were performed according to the modified Clavien-Dindo system. Results: The analysis independently showed the effectiveness of both methods. Subjective parameters (IPSS, QoL), showed no significant differences. Patients treated with SP scored slightly better on objective parameters (Qmax, Qave, and PVR). Analysis of adverse effects and hospitalisation time were more favourable after PVP. Conclusions: SP and PVP were found to be comparable and highly effective in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia in terms of IPSS and QoL. Patients treated with the SP method obtained slightly better results of objective parameters such as Qmax, Qave, and PVR. Compared with SP, PVP has a more favourable safety profile.

Multiple Behavioral Risk Factors As Assets for Chronic Disease Prevention: Observations From Urban Primary Care Settings in Crete, Greece.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the health profile of patient-attendees visiting primary healthcare (PHC) practice settings in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the relationships between multiple behavioral risk factors (MBRFs) and consultation-driven health information. Multiple behavioral risk factors involve a variety of unhealthy behaviors that are associated with an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study design was based on a dataset analysis, afterward exploring the feasibility and diagnostic capacity of respiratory morbidity aspects from a study previously conducted. The study dataset contained information regarding socio-demographic characteristics, health habits, clinical information, and reported comorbidities from 183 primary care patient-attendees. A categorical regression analysis was performed, using as a numeric variable the multiple MBRFs (clustering of 0 to four factors) in order to examine relationships with the basic and clinical characteristics of the patient-attendees. RESULTS: Based on this secondary analysis, it was found that the prevalence of MBRFs is quite common among patient-attendees visiting urban PHC facilities. The prevalence of current smoking, sleep deprivation, increased body weight, and medium/high perceived stress levels were 33.9%, 52.5%, 83.1%, and 35.0%, respectively. An increased occurrence of MBRFs might be significantly predicted by the lower age of patient-attendees (b = -0.221, p = 0.05), by the absence of gray hair at an early age (b = -0.144, p = 0.042), by the physical discomfort during activities (b = 0.191, p = 0.017), or by the lower oxygen saturation (b = -0.184, p = 0.004). Diabetes mellitus (25.1%) was the most prevalent condition, followed by bronchial asthma (18.6%) and depression (15.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Lower age, absence of premature hair whitening, physical discomfort during activities, and lower oxygen saturation are linked with an increased occurrence of MBRFs, leading to a neglected way of living. Those factors could be used to alert researchers, policymakers, and PHC professionals to act accordingly in order to prevent or early diagnose NCDs.