Honey Added to Yogurt with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494 Supports Probiotic Enrichment but Does Not Reduce Intestinal Transit Time in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial.

BACKGROUND: Honey improves probiotic survival in vitro. However, if this effect translates to humans has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine effects of honey plus yogurt containing the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494 (B. animalis) on intestinal transit time, probiotic enrichment, digestive health, mood, and cognition in adults. METHODS: Sixty-six healthy adults (34 female; 33.6 ± 9.8 y; 24.6 ± 3.0 kg/m2) in a crossover trial were randomly assigned to 2-wk yogurt conditions in a counterbalanced order with ≥4-wk washout: 1) Honey (HON): yogurt plus honey and 2) Negative Control (NC): heat-treated yogurt plus sugar. Of the participants, n = 62 completed the trial, and n = 37 (17 female; 32.0 ± 8.3 y; 25.0 ± 2.9 kg/m2) elected to enroll in a third condition (a nonrandomized study extension) after ≥4-wk washout with a reference Positive Control (PC): yogurt plus sugar. At baseline and end of each of the 3 conditions, intestinal transit time was measured with dye capsules; probiotic abundance with fecal DNA 16S sequencing; digestive health with symptom/function records, Bristol stool consistency, Gastrointestinal Tolerability, and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index; mood with Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Short Form, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-42, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System questionnaires, and an emotional image task; and cognition with a spatial reconstruction task. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) with significance at P ≤ 0.05. Baseline and end data were included in the LMM, with fixed effects being treatment, time, treatment by time interaction, and baseline covariate, and the random effect being the participant. RESULTS: B. animalis was enriched in HON (d = 3.54; P = 0.0002) compared to controls with linear discriminant analysis effect size. Intestinal transit time, gastrointestinal health, mood, and cognition did not differ between conditions (LMM: Ps > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Yogurt + honey enriched B. animalis but did not reduce intestinal transit time or have other functional gastrointestinal, mood, or cognitive effects in adults. This trial was registered at www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov as NCT04187950 and NCT04901390.

Review of Microwave Near-Field Sensing and Imaging Devices in Medical Applications.

Microwaves can safely and non-destructively illuminate and penetrate dielectric materials, making them an attractive solution for various medical tasks, including detection, diagnosis, classification, and monitoring. Their inherent electromagnetic properties, portability, cost-effectiveness, and the growth in computing capabilities have encouraged the development of numerous microwave sensing and imaging systems in the medical field, with the potential to complement or even replace current gold-standard methods. This review aims to provide a comprehensive update on the latest advances in medical applications of microwaves, particularly focusing on the near-field ones working within the 1-15 GHz frequency range. It specifically examines significant strides in the development of clinical devices for brain stroke diagnosis and classification, breast cancer screening, and continuous blood glucose monitoring. The technical implementation and algorithmic aspects of prototypes and devices are discussed in detail, including the transceiver systems, radiating elements (such as antennas and sensors), and the imaging algorithms. Additionally, it provides an overview of other promising cutting-edge microwave medical applications, such as knee injuries and colon polyps detection, torso scanning and image-based monitoring of thermal therapy intervention. Finally, the review discusses the challenges of achieving clinical engagement with microwave-based technologies and explores future perspectives.

A cross-sectional study evidences regulations of leukocytes in the colostrum of mothers with obesity.

BACKGROUND: Breastmilk is a dynamic fluid whose initial function is to provide the most adapted nutrition to the neonate. Additional attributes have been recently ascribed to breastmilk, with the evidence of a specific microbiota and the presence of various components of the immune system, such as cytokines and leukocytes. The composition of breastmilk varies through time, according to the health status of mother and child, and altogether contributes to the future health of the infant. Obesity is a rising condition worldwide that creates a state of systemic, chronic inflammation including leukocytosis. Here, we asked whether colostrum, the milk produced within the first 48 h post-partum, would contain a distinct leukocyte composition depending on the body mass index (BMI) of the mother. METHODS: We collected peripheral blood and colostrum paired samples from obese (BMI > 30) and lean (BMI < 25) mothers within 48 h post-partum and applied a panel of 6 antibodies plus a viability marker to characterize 10 major leukocyte subpopulations using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The size, internal complexity, and surface expression of CD45 and CD16 of multiple leukocyte subpopulations were selectively regulated between blood and colostrum irrespective of the study groups, suggesting a generalized cell-specific phenotype alteration. In obesity, the colostrum B lymphocyte compartment was significantly reduced, and CD16+ blood monocytes had an increased CD16 expression compared to the lean group. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first characterization of major leukocyte subsets in colostrum of mothers suffering from obesity and the first report of colostrum leukocyte subpopulations in Latin America. We evidence various significant alterations of most leukocyte populations between blood and colostrum and demonstrate a decreased colostrum B lymphocyte fraction in obesity. This pioneering study is a stepping stone to further investigate active immunity in human breastmilk.

A Novel Discretization Procedure in the CSI-FEM Algorithm for Brain Stroke Microwave Imaging.

In this work, the contrast source inversion method is combined with a finite element method to solve microwave imaging problems. The paper's major contribution is the development of a novel contrast source variable discretization that leads to simplify the algorithm implementation and, at the same time, to improve the accuracy of the discretized quantities. Moreover, the imaging problem is recreated in a synthetic environment, where the antennas, and their corresponding coaxial port, are modeled. The implemented algorithm is applied to reconstruct the tissues' dielectric properties inside the head for brain stroke microwave imaging. The proposed implementation is compared with the standard one to evaluate the impact of the variables' discretization on the algorithm's accuracy. Furthermore, the paper shows the obtained performances with the proposed and the standard implementations of the contrast source inversion method in the same realistic 3D scenario. The exploited numerical example shows that the proposed discretization can reach a better focus on the stroke region in comparison with the standard one. However, the variation is within a limited range of permittivity values, which is reflected in similar averages.

Open-Ended Coaxial Probe Measurements of Complex Dielectric Permittivity in Diesel-Contaminated Soil during Bioremediation.

In the bioremediation field, geophysical techniques are commonly applied, at lab scale and field scale, to perform the characterization and the monitoring of contaminated soils. We propose a method for detecting the dielectric properties of contaminated soil during a process of bioremediation. An open-ended coaxial probe measured the complex dielectric permittivity (between 0.2 and 20 GHz) on a series of six soil microcosms contaminated by diesel oil (13.5% Voil/Vtot). The microcosms had different moisture content (13%, 19%, and 24% Vw/Vtot) and different salinity due to the addition of nutrients (22 and 15 g/L). The real and the imaginary component of the complex dielectric permittivity were evaluated at the initial stage of contamination and after 130 days. In almost all microcosms, the real component showed a significant decrease (up to 2 units) at all frequencies. The results revealed that the changes in the real part of the dielectric permittivity are related to the amount of degradation and loss in moisture content. The imaginary component, mainly linked to the electrical conductivity of the soil, shows a significant drop to almost 0 at low frequencies. This could be explained by a salt depletion during bioremediation. Despite a moderate accuracy reduction compared to measurements performed on liquid media, this technology can be successfully applied to granular materials such as soil. The open-ended coaxial probe is a promising instrument to check the dielectric properties of soil to characterize or monitor a bioremediation process.

A Prototype Microwave System for 3D Brain Stroke Imaging.

This work focuses on brain stroke imaging via microwave technology. In particular, the open issue of monitoring patients after stroke onset is addressed here in order to provide clinicians with a tool to control the effectiveness of administered therapies during the follow-up period. In this paper, a novel prototype is presented and characterized. The device is based on a low-complexity architecture which makes use of a minimum number of properly positioned and designed antennas placed on a helmet. It exploits a differential imaging approach and provides 3D images of the stroke. Preliminary experiments involving a 3D phantom filled with brain tissue-mimicking liquid confirm the potential of the technology in imaging a spherical target mimicking a stroke of a radius equal to 1.25 cm.

Near-field microwave sensing technology enhanced with machine learning for the non-destructive evaluation of packaged food and beverage products.

In the food industry, the increasing use of automatic processes in the production line is contributing to the higher probability of finding contaminants inside food packages. Detecting these contaminants before sending the products to market has become a critical necessity. This paper presents a pioneering real-time system for detecting contaminants within food and beverage products by integrating microwave (MW) sensing technology with machine learning (ML) tools. Considering the prevalence of water and oil as primary components in many food and beverage items, the proposed technique is applied to both media. The approach involves a thorough examination of the MW sensing system, from selecting appropriate frequency bands to characterizing the antenna in its near-field region. The process culminates in the collection of scattering parameters to create the datasets, followed by classification using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) learning algorithm. Binary and multiclass classifications are performed on two types of datasets, including those with complex numbers and amplitude data only. High accuracy is achieved for both water-based and oil-based products.

Retrospective Analysis of the Ventilatory Workload Kinetic Index during Stability and Crisis in Patients with Asthma and COPD in a Monitored Program.

To assess ventilatory evolution through the Ventilatory Workload Kinetic Index (VWKI) in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during stability and exacerbation. Retrospective analysis. Conducted at the Padre Alberto Hurtado Hospital, Santiago, Chile. Ten patients with asthma and fifty-five with COPD participated. Sixty-five clinical records were reviewed. The VWKI in stability and exacerbation of these patients was extracted. When analyzing the baseline with the peak in both asthma and COPD, there was a significant increase in the VWKI. Similarly, the loads, translations, and supports significantly increased from the baseline to the peak. However, in the loads, there were no changes in airway resistance for asthma or in cough for COPD. Likewise, the supports for asthma and COPD showed no changes in the O2. The VWKI determined ventilatory issues in outpatients and made locating the greatest compromise in loads, translations, or supports possible.

Finding Candida auris in public metagenomic repositories.

Candida auris is a newly emerged multidrug-resistant fungus capable of causing invasive infections with high mortality. Despite intense efforts to understand how this pathogen rapidly emerged and spread worldwide, its environmental reservoirs are poorly understood. Here, we present a collaborative effort between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and GridRepublic (a volunteer computing platform) to identify C. auris sequences in publicly available metagenomic datasets. We developed the MetaNISH pipeline that uses SRPRISM to align sequences to a set of reference genomes and computes a score for each reference genome. We used MetaNISH to scan ~300,000 SRA metagenomic runs from 2010 onwards and identified five datasets containing C. auris reads. Finally, GridRepublic has implemented a prospective C. auris molecular monitoring system using MetaNISH and volunteer computing.

Effect of residence in nonmetropolitan counties on stage and tumor size at diagnosis in patients with breast cancer: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of residence in nonmetropolitan versus metropolitan counties on stage and tumor size at diagnosis in patients with breast cancer in the United States. METHODS: Women with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer between 2010 and 2015 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Logistic regression was used to model the effect of residence in nonmetropolitan counties on cancer stage and tumor size, adjusted for age, marital status, and 2 county-level socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: The final sample included 267,691 patients. More patients were diagnosed at advanced stages (III-IV vs I-II: 51.11% vs 50.21%) and with larger tumors (>2 cm vs < = 2 cm: 47.62% vs 46.77%) in nonmetropolitan counties. After adjustment, residence in nonmetro counties was not associated with advanced stage at diagnosis (OR = 0.987; 95% CI: 0.959-1.015) or tumor size >2 cm at diagnosis (OR = 0.997; 95% CI: 0.969-1.026). In stratified analysis by race/ethnicity, however, non-Hispanic White patients in nonmetropolitan counties were significantly more likely to have an advanced stage (OR = 1.035, 95% CI: 1.003-1.068) and tumor sizes >2 cm (OR = 1.051; 95% CI: 1.018-1.084) at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Residence in nonmetropolitan counties in the United States was not associated with advanced stage or tumor size >2 cm at diagnosis in cases of breast cancer, compared to the residence in metropolitan counties. However, among non-Hispanic White females, residence in nonmetropolitan counties was associated with significantly higher odds of having an advanced stage and a tumor size >2 cm at diagnosis.

Thoracic Fetiform Teratoma: A Case Report of a Very Rare Entity in a Peruvian Hospital.

Mature fetiform teratoma, or homunculus, is a term coined for a rare variant of teratoma with a prevalence of 0.01% of teratomas. There have been very few cases reported in the world, and its thoracic presentation is extremely unusual. We present the case of a 31-year-old female patient with a history of progressive chest pain in the left hemithorax, associated with dyspnea on moderate exertion and cough. Imaging studies revealed a large intrathoracic tumor visually compatible with a teratoma. Surgical resection by a clamshell approach was successful, and subsequent anatomopathological studies of the operative specimen concluded that the mass was a mature fetiform thoracic teratoma. The treatment of this entity is generally surgical and includes wide resection due to its large adhesive component to surrounding tissues. Thus, the cardiothoracic surgeon must know approaches that allow wide resection, making these cases true surgical challenges.

Impact of a virtual educational intervention on knowledge and awareness of biomedical waste management among Peruvian dental professionals.

Waste from healthcare is a significant global issue, with around 85% of it being common waste and the remaining 15% being hazardous waste that is infectious and toxic. Dentistry uses various materials that create a substantial amount of biomedical waste capable of impacting the environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a virtual educational program on the knowledge and awareness of dental material recycling and reuse, as well as biomedical waste management, among dental professionals in Peru. The current study was a longitudinal and quasi-experimental evaluation of 165 dentists from Peru. A validated questionnaire consisting of 30 items was administered at three different intervals (pre-test, immediate post-test, and 14-day post-test). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H tests to compare scores between categories of each sociodemographic variable, and the Cochrane's Q and Friedman test was used for related measures comparison. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered. When comparing the percentage of correct responses regarding recycling and reuse of dental materials and biomedical waste management between the pre-test and the immediate post-test, a significant improvement in knowledge was observed for most of the questionnaire items (p < 0.05). At 14 days after the test, those who studied at a private university, unmarried, bachelors, non-specialists, non-teachers and have less than 10 years of professional experience did not did not retain knowledge on biomedical waste management (p < 0.05) or recycling and reusing dental materials (p < 0.05) to a significant extent. There was a significant enhancement in dentists' knowledge and awareness of managing biomedical waste, recycling, and reusing dental materials following the educational intervention. This improvement was observed across all sociodemographic variables considered in the study. However, this knowledge was not retained beyond two weeks for those who studied at a private university, unmarried, bachelor, with no specialty, non-teachers and with less than 10 years of professional experience. Government authorities should encourage oral health professionals to conduct research with educational interventions focused on improving and evaluating the sustainability and environmental impact of dental practices. This will enable professionals to better understand, control and evaluate the consequences of their practical work.

Brain Stroke Classification via Machine Learning Algorithms Trained with a Linearized Scattering Operator.

This paper proposes an efficient and fast method to create large datasets for machine learning algorithms applied to brain stroke classification via microwave imaging systems. The proposed method is based on the distorted Born approximation and linearization of the scattering operator, in order to minimize the time to generate the large datasets needed to train the machine learning algorithms. The method is then applied to a microwave imaging system, which consists of twenty-four antennas conformal to the upper part of the head, realized with a 3D anthropomorphic multi-tissue model. Each antenna acts as a transmitter and receiver, and the working frequency is 1 GHz. The data are elaborated with three machine learning algorithms: support vector machine, multilayer perceptron, and k-nearest neighbours, comparing their performance. All classifiers can identify the presence or absence of the stroke, the kind of stroke (haemorrhagic or ischemic), and its position within the brain. The trained algorithms were tested with datasets generated via full-wave simulations of the overall system, considering also slightly modified antennas and limiting the data acquisition to amplitude only. The obtained results are promising for a possible real-time brain stroke classification.

A promising blueberry from Colombia: antioxidant activity, nutritional and phytochemical composition of Cavendishia nitida (Kunth) A.C.Sm.

Many Neotropical representatives of Ericaceae have fruits with antioxidant activity and high nutritional value. However, in Colombia, these fruits are little consumed and are considered underutilized. One such example is the berries of Cavendishia nitida (Kunth) A.C.Sm. In this study, the nutritional value, the total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents, and antioxidant activity of C. nitida fruit were performed. From the leaves, an ethanolic extract was made, which was then fractioned to measure its antioxidant activity and analyze its chemical composition. The results indicate that the fruit of C. nitida can be classified as potentially edible, due to its minerals and vitamins contents. Five anthocyanins were detected in the berries; while in the leaves extract six terpenes and one flavonol were identified. The ethyl acetate fraction of the leaves extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity with the DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals tested. We also found a strong correlation between the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the values of percentage of inhibition of DPPH• and ABTS•+ in all the samples tested. The results of this study suggest that the berries of C. nitida are promising as edible fruits, and beneficial for human and animal health. However, even though the communities of the region use this berry as food, the toxicity of fruits must be evaluated to confirm that their consumption is safe for humans.

Experimental Validation of a Microwave System for Brain Stroke 3-D Imaging.

This paper experimentally validates the capability of a microwave prototype device to localize hemorrhages and ischemias within the brain as well as proposes an innovative calibration technique based on the measured data. In the reported experiments, a 3-D human-like head phantom is considered, where the brain is represented either with a homogeneous liquid mimicking brain dielectric properties or with ex vivo calf brains. The microwave imaging (MWI) system works at 1 GHz, and it is realized with a low-complexity architecture formed by an array of twenty-four printed monopole antennas. Each antenna is embedded into the "brick" of a semi-flexible dielectric matching medium, and it is positioned conformal to the head upper part. The imaging algorithm exploits a differential approach and provides 3-D images of the brain region. It employs the singular value decomposition of the discretized scattering operator obtained via accurate numerical models. The MWI system analysis shows promising reconstruction results and extends the device validation.

Association of variants in IL1B, TLR9, TREM1, IL10RA, and CD3G and Native American ancestry on malaria susceptibility in Colombian populations.

Host genetics is an influencing factor in the manifestation of infectious diseases. In this study, the association of mild malaria with 28 variants in 16 genes previously reported in other populations and/or close to ancestry-informative markers (AIMs) selected was evaluated in an admixed 736 Colombian population sample. Additionally, the effect of genetic ancestry on phenotype expression was explored. For this purpose, the ancestral genetic composition of Turbo and El Bagre was determined. A higher Native American ancestry trend was found in the population with lower malaria susceptibility [odds ratio (OR) = 0.416, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.234-0.740, P = 0.003]. Three AIMs presented significant associations with the disease phenotype (MID1752, MID921, and MID1586). The first two were associated with greater malaria susceptibility (D/D, OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.06-4.69, P = 0.032 and I/D-I/I, OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.18-3.87, P = 0.011, respectively), and the latter has a protective effect on the appearance of malaria (I/I, OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.08-0.40, P < 0.0001). After adjustment by age, sex, municipality, and genetic ancestry, genotype association analysis showed evidence of association with malaria susceptibility for variants in or near IL1B, TLR9, TREM1, IL10RA, and CD3G genes: rs1143629-IL1B (G/A-A/A, OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.21-0.78, P = 0.0051), rs352139-TLR9 (T/T, OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11-0.72, P = 0.0053), rs352140-TLR9 (C/C, OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.20-0.87, P = 0.019), rs2234237-TREM1 (T/A-A/A, OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.23-0.79, P = 0.0056), rs4252246-IL10RA (C/A-A/A, OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.18-3.75, P = 0.01), and rs1561966-CD3G (A/A, OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.06-0.69, P = 0.0058). The results showed the participation of genes involved in immunological processes and suggested an effect of ancestral genetic composition over the traits analyzed. Compared to the paisa population (Antioquia), Turbo and El Bagre showed a strong decrease in European ancestry and an increase in African and Native American ancestries. Also, a novel association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms with malaria susceptibility was identified in this study.

[Colonic histoplasmosis as a diagnostic manifestation of AIDS]. / Histoplasmosis colónica como manifestación diagnóstica de SIDA.

We report the case of 48 year old female patient without a history of significance importance.(refuses blood transfusion). She complaint of diarrhea of four months of duration and weight loss of 8 kg. she added episodes of hematochezia and severe anemia requiring transfusion. An intrahemorrhagic colonoscopy was performed detecting three ulcerated lesions. First at 10 cm from the anus, one in transverse colon distal, another similar ulcer in the proximal transverse The biopsies showed ulcer granulation tissue, abundant macrophages with intracytoplasmic structures consistent with histoplasmosis. Tests showed no tuberculosis or intestinal parasitosis. HIV testing (ELISA and Western Blot) were positive. The CD4 (78 cells) and extrapulmonary histoplasmosis were the criteria defined stage AIDS. The extrapulmonary histoplasmosis defines stage IV in immunosuppressed patients with HIV. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding colonic ulcer secondary to Histoplasma is a rare form presentation as a diagnostic manifestation of AIDS.

Atlantic Salmon Pre-smolt Survivors of Renibacterium salmoninarum Infection Show Inhibited Cell-Mediated Adaptive Immune Response and a Higher Risk of Death During the Late Stage of Infection at Lower Water Temperatures.

Bacterial kidney disease (BKD) is widespread in many areas of the world and can cause substantial economic losses for the salmon aquaculture industry. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathophysiological response and gene expression profiles related to the immune response at different water temperatures and to identify the best immunopathological biomarkers to define a phenotype of resistance to BKD. The abundance of msa transcripts of R. salmoninarum in the head kidney was significantly higher in infected fish at 11°C. R. salmoninarum induced significantly more severe kidney lesions, anemia and impaired renal function at 11°C. In addition, the expression pattern of the genes related to humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in infected fish at 11 and 15°C was very similar, although R. salmoninarum induced a significantly greater downregulation of the adaptive immune response genes at the lower water temperature. These results could be due to a suppressed host response directly related to the lowest water temperature and/or associated with a delayed host response related to the lowest water temperature. Although no significant differences in survival rate were observed, fish infected at the lowest temperature showed a higher probability of death and delayed the mortality curve during the late stage of infection (35 days after infection). Thirty-three immunopathological biomarkers were identified for potential use in the search for a resistance phenotype for BKD, and eight were genes related specifically to the adaptive cell-mediated immune response.

Malformación de Arnold Chiari / Arnold Chiari malformation

La malformación de Arnold Chiari es una enfermedad rara que consiste en una alteración anatómica de la base del cráneo, en la que se produce herniación del cerebelo y del tronco del encéfalo a través del foramen magnum hasta el canal cervical. Muchos niños afectados nunca llegan a tener síntomas. En el caso de que cause síntomas, estos no suelen aparecer hasta la infancia tardía o adolescencia. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente de 2 años con malformación de Arnold Chiari tipo I. (AU)

Arnold Chiari malformation is a rare disease that consists of an anatomical alteration of the base of the skull, in which herniation of the cerebellum and brainstem occurs through the foramen magnum to the cervical canal. Many affected children never develop symptoms. If it does cause symptoms, they usually don’t appear until late childhood or adolescence. We present the clinical case of a 2-year-old patient with Arnold Chiari malformation type I. (AU)