Ribosome customization and functional diversification among P-stalk proteins regulate late poxvirus protein synthesis.

Growing evidence suggests that ribosomes selectively regulate translation of specific mRNA subsets. Here, quantitative proteomics and cryoelectron microscopy demonstrate that poxvirus infection does not alter ribosomal subunit protein (RP) composition but skews 40S rotation states and displaces the 40S head domain. Genetic knockout screens employing metabolic assays and a dual-reporter virus further identified two RPs that selectively regulate non-canonical translation of late poxvirus mRNAs, which contain unusual 5' poly(A) leaders: receptor of activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) and RPLP2.

Disruption of CPSF6 enhances cellular permissivity to HIV-1 infection through alternative polyadenylation.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) relies upon a broad array of host factors in order to replicate and evade the host antiviral response. Cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 6 (CPSF6) is one such host factor that is recruited by incoming HIV-1 cores to regulate trafficking, nuclear import, uncoating, and integration site selection. Despite these well-described roles, the impact of CPSF6 perturbation on HIV-1 infectivity varies considerably by cell type.

Release of P-TEFb from the Super Elongation Complex promotes HIV-1 latency reversal.

The persistence of HIV-1 in long-lived latent reservoirs during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains one of the principal barriers to a functional cure. Blocks to transcriptional elongation play a central role in maintaining the latent state, and several latency reversal strategies focus on the release of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) from sequestration by negative regulatory complexes, such as the 7SK complex and BRD4. Another major cellular reservoir of P-TEFb is in Super Elongation Complexes (SECs), which play broad regulatory roles in host gene expression.

Release of P-TEFb from the Super Elongation Complex promotes HIV-1 latency reversal.

The persistence of HIV-1 in long-lived latent reservoirs during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains one of the principal barriers to a functional cure. Blocks to transcriptional elongation play a central role in maintaining the latent state, and several latency reversal strategies focus on the release of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) from sequestration by negative regulatory complexes, such as the 7SK complex and BRD4. Another major cellular reservoir of P-TEFb is in Super Elongation Complexes (SECs), which play broad regulatory roles in host gene expression.

Kiwifruit Resistance to and pv. and Defence Induction by Acibenzolar-S-methyl and Methyl Jasmonate Are Cultivar Dependent.

Pathogen susceptibility and defence gene inducibility were compared between the cultivar 'Hortgem Tahi' and the two cultivars of 'Hayward' and 'Zesy002'. Plants were treated with acibenzolar-s-methyl (ASM) or methyl jasmonate (MeJA) one week before inoculation with pv. (Psa biovar3) or , or secondary induction with chitosan+glucan (Ch-Glu) as a potential pathogen proxy.

Laser-Induced Temperature Changes on the Outer Surface of Titanium Dental Implants: An In Vitro Study.

Purpose: To measure the surface temperature distribution after using a CO2 laser to heat titanium dental implants via different power settings, application intervals, and irradiation times.

Materials And Methods: A total of 10 tissue-level titanium implants (Screw-Line Promote Plus, Camlog; 4.3 × 11 mm) were placed (EpoFix, Struers) and irradiated with a CO2 laser (Denta 2, Lutronic) with a wavelength of 10.

Postharvest Application of Acibenzolar-S-Methyl Activates Salicylic Acid Pathway Genes in Kiwifruit Vines.

The plant defence inducer Actigard (acibenzolar-S-methyl [ASM]) is applied before flowering and after fruit harvest to control bacterial canker in kiwifruit caused by pv. . Pre-flowering application of ASM is known to upregulate defence gene expression; however, the effect of postharvest ASM on defence gene expression in the vine is unknown.

A Cdh3-β-catenin-laminin signaling axis in a subset of breast tumor leader cells control leader cell polarization and directional collective migration.

Carcinoma dissemination can occur when heterogeneous tumor and tumor-stromal cell clusters migrate together via collective migration. Cells at the front lead and direct collective migration, yet how these leader cells form and direct migration are not fully appreciated. From live videos of primary mouse and human breast tumor organoids in a 3D microfluidic system mimicking native breast tumor microenvironment, we developed 3D computational models, which hypothesize that leader cells need to generate high protrusive forces and overcome extracellular matrix (ECM) resistance at the leading edge.

Application of CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing for HIV Host Factor Discovery and Validation.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) interacts with a wide array of host factors at each stage of its lifecycle to facilitate replication and circumvent the immune response. Identification and characterization of these host factors is critical for elucidating the mechanism of viral replication and for developing next-generation HIV-1 therapeutic and curative strategies. Recent advances in CRISPR-Cas9-based genome engineering approaches have provided researchers with an assortment of new, valuable tools for host factor discovery and interrogation.

Circulating ACE2-expressing extracellular vesicles block broad strains of SARS-CoV-2.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the pandemic of the coronavirus induced disease 2019 (COVID-19) with evolving variants of concern. It remains urgent to identify novel approaches against broad strains of SARS-CoV-2, which infect host cells via the entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Herein, we report an increase in circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) that express ACE2 (evACE2) in plasma of COVID-19 patients, which levels are associated with severe pathogenesis.

Standardization of the Fried frailty phenotype improves cardiovascular disease risk discrimination.

Background: Standardizing the Fried criteria (S-FC) using cutoffs specific to the patient population improves adverse outcome prediction. However, there is limited evidence to determine if a S-FC assessment can improve discrimination of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in middle-aged and older women.

Design: The objective of this cross-sectional analysis was to compare the ability of the Fried frailty phenotype criteria (FC) to discriminate between individuals at higher risk for CVD according to the Framingham Risk Score and Rasmussen Disease Score in comparison to the S-FC.

Proportion of asylum seekers carrying multi-drug resistant microorganisms is persistently increased after arrival in the Netherlands.

Background: Several studies have shown a high prevalence of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) amongst asylum seekers when compared to the general population. The aim of this study is to assess the duration of MDRO carriage in this population.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected between January 1st 2014 through December 31st 2016.

Explantation of an Osseointegrated Titanium Implant Using Laser-Induced Thermo-necrosis: A Case Report.

Explantation of fully or partially osseointegrated titanium implants is a complex procedure for myriad reasons and often results in major bone loss and pronounced defects of the hard and soft tissues. This may require more elaborate surgical interventions in cases of re-implantation. In this patient case, an osseointegrated titanium implant with some visible bone loss, missing attached mucosa at the buccal aspect, and a nonideal three-dimensional (3D) position had to be explanted.

Tobacco cessation outcomes: The case for milestone-based services.

Introduction: This study focuses on a Midwest State's tobacco quitline. The purpose was to understand possible relationships between services provided and cessation rates.

Methods: The data examined in this study came from aggregated intake/treatment data and follow-up interview data.

Efficacy of ivermectin mass-drug administration to control scabies in asylum seekers in the Netherlands: A retrospective cohort study between January 2014 - March 2016.

Scabies is a skin infestation with the mite Sarcoptes scabiei causing itch and rash and is a major risk factor for bacterial skin infections and severe complications. Here, we evaluated the treatment outcome of 2866 asylum seekers who received (preventive) scabies treatment before and during a scabies intervention programme (SIP) in the main reception centre in the Netherlands between January 2014 and March 2016. A SIP was introduced in the main national reception centre based on frequent observations of scabies and its complications amongst Eritrean and Ethiopian asylum seekers in the Netherlands.

Screening for infectious diseases of asylum seekers upon arrival: the necessity of the moral principle of reciprocity.

Background: With a large number of forcibly displaced people seeking safety, the EU is facing a challenge in maintaining solidarity. Europe has seen millions of asylum seekers crossing European borders, the largest number of asylum seekers since the second world war. Endemic diseases and often failing health systems in their countries of origin, and arduous conditions during transit, raise questions around how to meet the health needs of this vulnerable population on arrival in terms of screening, vaccination, and access to timely and appropriate statutory health services.

Protocol for the HAPPY Hearts study: cardiovascular screening for the early detection of future adverse cardiovascular outcomes in middle-aged and older women: a prospective, observational cohort study.

Introduction: Efforts to identify individuals at a higher risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes focus on traditional risk factors, such as age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure and and cholesterol; however, this approach does not directly assess cardiovascular function and may underestimate the risk of experiencing adverse cardiovascular outcomes in women. This prospective, observational cohort study will examine the ability of the Heart Attack Prevention Program for You (HAPPY) Hearts screening protocol, a series of non-invasive procedures to identify middle-aged and older women who are at an elevated risk for experiencing an adverse cardiovascular event in the 5-year period after screening. The predictive value of the HAPPY Hearts protocol will also be compared with the Framingham Risk Score to determine the sensitivity for estimating risk for an adverse cardiovascular outcome.

High Prevalence of Infectious Diseases and Drug-Resistant Microorganisms in Asylum Seekers Admitted to Hospital; No Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae until September 2015.

Introduction: The current refugee crisis emphasizes the need for information on infectious diseases and resistant microorganisms in asylum seekers with possible consequences for public health and infection control.

Methods: We collected data from asylum seekers admitted to our university hospital or who presented at the Emergency Department (n = 273). We collected general and demographic characteristics including country of origin, the reason of presentation, and the screening results of multi-drug resistant organisms.

"Reforms Looked Really Good on Paper": Rural Food Service Responses to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Background: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHKA) required schools to make changes to meals provided to children. Rural school districts have limited resources, with increased obesity rates and local food insecurity. In this study we sought to understand the perceptions of rural food service directors and the barriers to implementing the changes.

Louse-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis) in asylum seekers from Eritrea, the Netherlands, July 2015.

Two patients from Eritrea, recently arrived in the Netherlands, presented with fever and were investigated for malaria. Bloodfilms showed spirochetes but no blood parasites. Louse-borne relapsing fever caused by Borrelia recurrentis was diagnosed.

Energy drink usage among university students in a Caribbean country: Patterns of use and adverse effects.

Objective: There has been little inquiry addressing whether or not concerns about adverse effects of energy drink usage are relevant in the Caribbean. This survey investigated energy drink usage and adverse consequences among tertiary level students in Trinidad and Tobago.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1994 students from eight institutions was conducted using a de novo questionnaire based on findings from a focus group of students.

First Report of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae the Causal Agent of Bacterial Canker of Kiwifruit on Actinidia arguta Vines in New Zealand.

Actinidia arguta is commercially grown in New Zealand and few other countries; the fruit are sometimes sold as kiwiberry or hardy kiwi. In New Zealand, two biovars of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae have recently been found to cause bacterial canker on both A.

Optimal procedure planning and guidance system for peripheral bronchoscopy.

With the development of multidetector computed-tomography (MDCT) scanners and ultrathin bronchoscopes, the use of bronchoscopy for diagnosing peripheral lung-cancer nodules is becoming a viable option. The work flow for assessing lung cancer consists of two phases: 1) 3-D MDCT analysis and 2) live bronchoscopy. Unfortunately, the yield rates for peripheral bronchoscopy have been reported to be as low as 14%, and bronchoscopy performance varies considerably between physicians.