HHV-6B, HHV-7, and B19V Are Frequently Found DNA Viruses in the Human Thymus but Show No Definitive Link with Myasthenia Gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterised by muscle weakness resulting from autoantibody-mediated disruption of the neuromuscular junction. Notably, it is also frequently associated with thymic pathology. This study explores the relationship between MG and DNA viruses in the thymus, employing targeted NGS and qPCR to analyse thymic tissue samples from both MG patients and healthy controls.

Thermophilic Filamentous Fungus C1-Cell-Cloned SARS-CoV-2-Spike-RBD-Subunit-Vaccine Adjuvanted with Aldydrogel85 Protects K18-hACE2 Mice against Lethal Virus Challenge.

SARS-CoV-2 is evolving with increased transmission, host range, pathogenicity, and virulence. The original and mutant viruses escape host innate (Interferon) immunity and adaptive (Antibody) immunity, emphasizing unmet needs for high-yield, commercial-scale manufacturing to produce inexpensive vaccines/boosters for global/equitable distribution. We developed DYAI-100A85, a SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) subunit antigen vaccine expressed in genetically modified thermophilic filamentous fungus, C1, and secreted at high levels into fermentation medium.

Growth of unrepaired hypoplastic proximal aortic arch and reintervention rate after aortic coarctation repair.

Background: Treatment of tubular hypoplasia of the aortic arch (THAA) associated with aortic coarctation (CoA) remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate growth of unrepaired hypoplastic proximal aortic arches (PAAs) after surgical repair for CoA.

Methods: Preoperative and follow-up echocardiographic images of 139 patients who underwent CoA repairs from 2005 to 2012 were reviewed.

Ectopic germinal centers in the thymus accurately predict prognosis of myasthenia gravis after thymectomy.

The ability of thymic histopathology to predict the long-term impact of thymectomy in non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis (NTMG) is mainly uncharted. We applied digital pathology to quantitatively characterize differences of thymic histology between early-onset (EOMG) and late-onset MG (LOMG) and to investigate the role of thymic changes for thymectomy outcomes in MG. We analyzed 83 thymic H&E slides from thymectomized NTMG patients, of which 69 had EOMG and 14 LOMG, using digital pathology open-access software QuPath.

Outcomes of surgery for extensive infective endocarditis.

Objective: Extensive infective endocarditis (EIE) involving the valve annulus or the intervalvular fibrous body (IFB) is a treatment challenge. We sought to clarify the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for EIE.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 197 consecutive patients who underwent an operation for infective endocarditis (IE) between 2005 and 2016 in the Helsinki University Hospital.

Outcomes after Surgery for Endocarditis among Intravenous Drug Users and Nonusers.

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for intravenous drug users (IVDU) with infective endocarditis (IE) is controversial. We therefore sought to investigate outcomes among IVDUs after surgery for IE.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 192 consecutive patients who underwent an operation for IE between 2005 and 2016 in the Helsinki University Hospital.

Incidence and impact of chronic lung allograft dysfunction after lung transplantation - single-center 14-year experience.

Lung transplantation remains the only available treatment option for many end-stage lung diseases. We evaluated our long-term lung transplantation results and the impact of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Adult lung transplants (2003-2015, =175) in a nationwide single transplant center were retrospectively analyzed.

Unilateral pulmonary oedema after minimally invasive and robotically assisted mitral valve surgery.

Objectives: Unilateral pulmonary oedema (UPO) is a severe complication of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. UPO rates and UPO-related mortality vary considerably between different studies. Due to lack of consistent diagnostic criteria for UPO, the aim of this study was to create a reproducible radiological classification for UPO.

Outcome of early vs delayed surgery for infective mitral endocarditis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Timing of surgery for infective endocarditis is controversial. The objective of this study was to report the outcomes of early vs delayed surgery (DS) of mitral endocarditis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated surgically for mitral endocarditis between 2005 and 2016 in a single center.

Effects of contrasting concentrate feeding strategies on meat quality of growing and finishing dairy bulls offered grass silage and barley based diets.

The objective was to examine the effects of concentrate level (barley grain 39 and 74 g dry matter/kg live weight) and allocation regime (steady, increased, decreased) on meat quality of growing dairy bulls fed grass silage ad libitum. Chemical, instrumental and sensory analyses were used for measuring quality of longissimus lumborum (LL). Greater concentrate level increased fat content (P = 0.

Scaling up and scaling down the production of galactaric acid from pectin using Trichoderma reesei.

Background: Bioconversion of D-galacturonic acid to galactaric (mucic) acid has previously been carried out in small scale (50-1000 mL) cultures, which produce tens of grams of galactaric acid. To obtain larger amounts of biologically produced galactaric acid, the process needed to be scaled up using a readily available technical substrate. Food grade pectin was selected as a readily available source of D-galacturonic acid for conversion to galactaric acid.

Expression of Two Novel β-Glucosidases from Chaetomium atrobrunneum in Trichoderma reesei and Characterization of the Heterologous Protein Products.

Two novel GH3 family thermostable β-glucosidases from the filamentous fungus Chaetomium atrobrunneum (CEL3a and CEL3b) were expressed in Trichoderma reesei, purified by two-step ion exchange chromatography, and characterized. Both enzymes were active over a wide range of pH as compared to Neurospora crassa β-glucosidase GH3-3, which was also expressed in T. reesei and purified.

[Treatment of adult tracheal stenosis].

Tracheal stenosis is a rare condition with symptoms mimicking asthma or COPD. The most frequent benign tracheal stenosis is caused by lesions related either to intubation or tracheostomy. Primary tracheal tumors or secondary malignancies such as locally advanced esophageal cancer are rare causes.

Enabling Low Cost Biopharmaceuticals: A Systematic Approach to Delete Proteases from a Well-Known Protein Production Host Trichoderma reesei.

The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei has tremendous capability to secrete proteins. Therefore, it would be an excellent host for producing high levels of therapeutic proteins at low cost. Developing a filamentous fungus to produce sensitive therapeutic proteins requires that protease secretion is drastically reduced.

Identification of novel isoprene synthases through genome mining and expression in Escherichia coli.

Isoprene is a naturally produced hydrocarbon emitted into the atmosphere by green plants. It is also a constituent of synthetic rubber and a potential biofuel. Microbial production of isoprene can become a sustainable alternative to the prevailing chemical production of isoprene from petroleum.

Divergent Impacts of Two Cattle Types on Vegetation in Coastal Meadows: Implications for Management.

The proportion of beef cattle in relation to the total number of cattle has increased in Europe, which has led to a higher contribution of beef cattle in the management of semi-natural grasslands. Changes in vegetation caused by this change in grazers are virtually unexplored so far. In the present study, the impacts of beef and dairy cattle on vegetation structure and composition were compared on Bothnian Bay coastal meadows.

The development of a model to predict BW gain of growing cattle fed grass silage-based diets.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to develop and validate empirical equations predicting BW gain (BWG) and carcass traits of growing cattle from intake and diet composition variables. The modelling was based on treatment mean data from feeding trials in growing cattle, in which the nutrient supply was manipulated by wide ranges of forage and concentrate factors. The final dataset comprised 527 diets in 116 studies.

Evaluation of protein supplementation for growing cattle fed grass silage-based diets: a meta-analysis.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to develop empirical equations predicting growth responses of growing cattle to protein intake. Overall, the data set comprised 199 diets in 80 studies. The diets were mainly based on grass silage or grass silage partly or completely replaced by whole-crop silages or straw.

Aerobic fitness does not modify the effect of FTO variation on body composition traits.

Purpose: Poor physical fitness and obesity are risk factors for all cause morbidity and mortality. We aimed to clarify whether common genetic variants of key energy intake determinants in leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEPR), and fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) are associated with aerobic and neuromuscular performance, and whether aerobic fitness can alter the effect of these genotypes on body composition.

Methods: 846 healthy Finnish males of Caucasian origin were genotyped for FTO (rs8050136), LEP (rs7799039) and LEPR (rs8179183 and rs1137101) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and studied for associations with maximal oxygen consumption, body fat percent, serum leptin levels, waist circumference and maximal force of leg extensor muscles.

Common genetic variation in the IGF1 associates with maximal force output.

Purpose: We clarified the effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1), IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3), interleukin-6 (IL6), and its receptor (IL6R) gene variants on muscular and aerobic performance, body composition, and on circulating levels of IGF-1 and IL-6. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may, in general, influence gene regulation or its expression, or the structure and function of the corresponding protein, and modify its biological effects. IGF-1 is involved in the anabolic pathways of skeletal muscle.

Effect of drinking water temperature on water intake and performance of dairy calves.

Very limited information is available on the effects of drinking water temperature on dairy calves. Therefore, the present experiment was designed to study the effects on performance, health, and water consumption of dairy calves offered drinking water either warm (16 to 18 °C) or cold (6 to 8 °C). The calves (60 calves/treatment) were housed in an insulated barn in pens (3.

Genetic variations of leptin and leptin receptor are associated with body composition changes in response to physical training.

Leptin regulates body weight, metabolism, and tissue adaptations to environmental stressors. We examined the association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of leptin promoter G-2548A (rs7799039) and leptin receptor Gln223Arg (rs1137101) with body composition, plasma leptin levels, and peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak) in response to 8 weeks of physical training in 48 male military conscripts. AA homozygotes of leptin promoter SNP-2548 showed higher body fat and BMI values than G allele carriers.

Selection from industrial lager yeast strains of variants with improved fermentation performance in very-high-gravity worts.

There are economic and other advantages if the fermentable sugar concentration in industrial brewery fermentations can be increased from that of currently used high-gravity (ca. 14 to 17 degrees P [degrees Plato]) worts into the very-high-gravity (VHG; 18 to 25 degrees P) range. Many industrial strains of brewer's yeast perform poorly in VHG worts, exhibiting decreased growth, slow and incomplete fermentations, and low viability of the yeast cropped for recycling into subsequent fermentations.

Improved fermentation performance of a lager yeast after repair of its AGT1 maltose and maltotriose transporter genes.

The use of more concentrated, so-called high-gravity and very-high-gravity (VHG) brewer's worts for the manufacture of beer has economic and environmental advantages. However, many current strains of brewer's yeasts ferment VHG worts slowly and incompletely, leaving undesirably large amounts of maltose and especially maltotriose in the final beers. alpha-Glucosides are transported into Saccharomyces yeasts by several transporters, including Agt1, which is a good carrier of both maltose and maltotriose.