IMRA/SRS Delphi consensus on international standards for common core components of robotic surgical training design.

Robotic surgery has expanded internationally at pace. There are multiple local robotic training pathways but there is inconsistency in standardisation of core common components for curricula internationally. A framework is required to define key objectives that can be implemented across robotic training ecosystems.

Concordance between PCR-based extraction-free saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 testing.

: Saliva represents a less invasive alternative to nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection. SalivaDirect is a nucleic acid extraction-free method for detecting SARS-CoV2 in saliva specimens. Studies evaluating the concordance of gold standard NPS and newly developed SalivaDirect protocols are limited.

Challenges in heart transplantation during COVID-19: A single-center experience.

Background: Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) recipients may be particularly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). OHT during the pandemic presents unique challenges in terms of feasibility and safety.

Methods: Chart review was performed for consecutive OHT recipients with COVID-19 and waitlisted patients who underwent OHT from March 1, 2020 to May 15, 2020.

Novel transcription factors PvBMY1 and PvBMY3 increase biomass yield in greenhouse-grown switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.).

Increasing crop yield requires the coordination of multiple metabolic pathways spanning photosynthetic carbon fixation, central carbon metabolism, and finally targeted carbon deposition to end product. In this study, we used a transcriptome-based gene regulatory association network to search for transcription factor genes that could play a role in increasing carbon flow through pathways associated with these processes to increase biomass yield in switchgrass. Two novel switchgrass transcription factors, PvBMY1 (BioMass Yield 1, belonging to the APETALA2/Ethylene Response Factor family of transcription factors) and PvBMY3 (BioMass Yield 3, a member of the Nuclear-Factor Y family of transcription factors), with predicted roles in the regulation of photosynthesis and related metabolism were identified.

The role of C1q in recognition of apoptotic epithelial cells and inflammatory cytokine production by phagocytes during Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Gastric epithelial cells (GECs) undergo apoptosis during H. pylori infection and phagocytes within the mucosa engulf these cells. The recognition and clearance of apoptotic cells is a multifactorial process, enhanced by the presence of various bridging molecules and opsonins which are abundant in serum.

Transgene autoexcision in switchgrass pollen mediated by the Bxb1 recombinase.

Background: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has a great potential as a platform for the production of biobased plastics, chemicals and energy mainly because of its high biomass yield on marginal land and low agricultural inputs. During the last decade, there has been increased interest in the genetic improvement of this crop through transgenic approaches.

Brain angiogenesis inhibitor 1 is expressed by gastric phagocytes during infection with Helicobacter pylori and mediates the recognition and engulfment of human apoptotic gastric epithelial cells.

After Helicobacter pylori infection in humans, gastric epithelial cells (GECs) undergo apoptosis due to stimulation by the bacteria or inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we assessed the expression and function of brain angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) in the engulfment of apoptotic GECs using human tissue and cells. After induction of apoptosis by H.

Critical role of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) in acute vascular inflammation.

The endothelium, as the interface between blood and all tissues, plays a critical role in inflammation. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid, highly abundant in plasma, that potently regulates endothelial responses through interaction with its receptors (S1PRs). Here, we studied the role of S1PR2 in the regulation of the proadhesion and proinflammatory phenotype of the endothelium.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 in classical Hodgkin lymphoma: assessment of expression and role in cell migration.

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), a neoplasm of abnormal B lymphocytes (Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells), has been described to have a typical pattern of clinical presentation and dissemination often involving functionally contiguous lymph nodes. Despite the progress made in understanding CHL pathophysiology, the factors that regulate the spread of lymphoma cells in CHL are poorly understood. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive sphingolipid present at high concentrations in the plasma and lymphatic fluid, is known to have a critical role in regulating lymphocyte trafficking mainly through sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1).

Assessment of the role of aptitude in the acquisition of advanced laparoscopic surgical skill sets: results from a virtual reality-based laparoscopic colectomy training programme.

Purpose: The surgeons of the future will need to have advanced laparoscopic skills. The current challenge in surgical education is to teach these skills and to identify factors that may have a positive influence on training curriculums. The primary aim of this study was to determine if fundamental aptitude impacts on ability to perform a laparoscopic colectomy.

The HP0256 gene product is involved in motility and cell envelope architecture of Helicobacter pylori.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is the causative agent for gastritis, and peptic and duodenal ulcers. The bacterium displays 5-6 polar sheathed flagella that are essential for colonisation and persistence in the gastric mucosa. The biochemistry and genetics of flagellar biogenesis in H.

Lactobacillus salivarius modulates cytokine induction and virulence factor gene expression in Helicobacter pylori.

Human infection by the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is characterized by a robust immune response which rarely prevents persistent H. pylori colonization. Emerging evidence suggests that lactobacilli may reduce H.

Effect of FliK mutation on the transcriptional activity of the {sigma}54 sigma factor RpoN in Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is a motile Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes and persists in the human gastric mucosa. The flagellum gene regulatory circuitry of H. pylori is unique in many aspects compared with the Salmonella/Escherichia coli paradigms, and some regulatory checkpoints remain unclear.

Posttranscriptional regulation of flagellin synthesis in Helicobacter pylori by the RpoN chaperone HP0958.

The Helicobacter pylori protein HP0958 is essential for flagellum biogenesis. It has been shown that HP0958 stabilizes the sigma(54) factor RpoN. The aim of this study was to further investigate the role of HP0958 in flagellum production in H.

Quantitative effect of suboptimal codon usage on translational efficiency of mRNA encoding HIV-1 gag in intact T cells.

Background: The sequences of wild-isolate strains of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) are characterized by low GC content and suboptimal codon usage. Codon optimization of DNA vectors can enhance protein expression both by enhancing translational efficiency, and by altering RNA stability and export. Although gag codon optimization is widely used in DNA vectors and experimental vaccines, the actual effect of altered codon usage on gag translational efficiency has not been quantified.

Strain-specific inhibition of Helicobacter pylori by Lactobacillus salivarius and other lactobacilli.

Objectives: To investigate the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of 28 strains of Lactobacillus salivarius and 12 other lactobacilli, isolated from different sites and from different geographical regions.

Methods: An in vitro agar plate diffusion assay was employed to assess the Lactobacillus anti-H. pylori activity.

Distribution of megaplasmids in Lactobacillus salivarius and other lactobacilli.

The genome of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118 includes a 242-kb megaplasmid, pMP118. We now show that 33 strains of L. salivarius isolated from humans and animals all harbor a megaplasmid, which hybridized with the repA and repE replication origin probes of pMP118.

HorB (HP0127) is a gastric epithelial cell adhesin.

Background: The Helicobacter pylori protein HorB (encoded by HP0127) is a member of a paralogous family that includes the adhesins BabA, AlpA, AlpB, and HopZ, which contribute to adhesion to gastric epithelial cells. Of the verified H. pylori porins, the HorB sequence is most similar to that of HopE, but the function of HorB is unknown.

The FliK protein and flagellar hook-length control.

The bacterial flagellum is a highly complex prokaryotic organelle. It is the motor that drives bacterial motility, and despite the large amount of energy required to make and operate flagella, motile organisms have a strong adaptive advantage. Flagellar biogenesis is both complex and highly coordinated and it typically involves at least three two-component systems.

Interleukin-8 induction by Helicobacter pylori in gastric epithelial cells is dependent on apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1/redox factor-1.

Helicobacter pylori infection causes inflammation and increases the expression of IL-8 in human gastric epithelial cells. H. pylori activates NF-kappaB and AP-1, essential transcriptional factors in H.

Comparative and functional analysis of sortase-dependent proteins in the predicted secretome of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118.

Surface proteins are important factors in the interaction of probiotic and pathogenic bacteria with their environment or host. We performed a comparative bioinformatic analysis of four publicly available Lactobacillus genomes and the genome of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius strain UCC118 to identify secreted proteins and those linked to the cell wall.

Helicobacter pylori flagellar hook-filament transition is controlled by a FliK functional homolog encoded by the gene HP0906.

Helicobacter pylori is a human gastric pathogen which is dependent on motility for infection. The H. pylori genome encodes a near-complete complement of flagellar proteins compared to model enteric bacteria.

HP0958 is an essential motility gene in Helicobacter pylori.

Motility is an essential colonization factor for the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. The H. pylori genome encodes most known flagellar proteins, although a number of key transcription regulators, chaperones, and structural proteins have not yet been identified.

Helicobacter pylori and H2O2 increase AP endonuclease-1/redox factor-1 expression in human gastric epithelial cells.

Background & Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection causes inflammation, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and oxidative DNA damage in the gastric mucosa. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 (APE-1)/redox factor-1 (Ref-1) repairs damaged DNA and reductively activates transcription factors, including activator protein-1. Considering that H.

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species differentially regulate Toll-like receptor 4-mediated activation of NF-kappa B and interleukin-8 expression.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been identified as a transmembrane protein involved in the host innate immune response to gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Upon activation by LPS recognition, the TIR domain of TLR4 signals through MyD88 to activate the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) pathway, a critical regulator of many proinflammatory genes, including interleukin-8 (IL-8). Emerging evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can contribute to diverse signaling pathways, including the LPS-induced cascade.