Dynamic genetic adaptation of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron during murine gut colonization.

To understand how a bacterium ultimately succeeds or fails in adapting to a new host, it is essential to assess the temporal dynamics of its fitness over the course of colonization. Here, we introduce a human-derived commensal organism, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt), into the guts of germ-free mice to determine whether and how the genetic requirements for colonization shift over time. Combining a high-throughput functional genetics assay and transcriptomics, we find that gene usage changes drastically during the first days of colonization, shifting from high expression of amino acid biosynthesis genes to broad upregulation of diverse polysaccharide utilization loci.

A novel correlation Gaussian process regression-based extreme learning machine.

An obvious defect of extreme learning machine (ELM) is that its prediction performance is sensitive to the random initialization of input-layer weights and hidden-layer biases. To make ELM insensitive to random initialization, GPRELM adopts the simple an effective strategy of integrating Gaussian process regression into ELM. However, there is a serious overfitting problem in kernel-based GPRELM (GPRELM).

Preoperative Radiomics Nomogram Based on CT Image Predicts Recurrence-Free Survival After Surgical Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Rationale And Objectives: To construct preoperative models based on CT radiomics, radiologic and clinical features to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) after liver resection (LR) of BCLC 0 to B stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to classify the prognosis.

Materials And Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 161 HCC patients who underwent radical LR. Two methods, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and random survival forest analysis, were performed for radiomics signature (RS) construction.

Extreme Antagonism Arising from Gene-Environment Interactions.

Antagonistic interactions in biological systems, which occur when one perturbation blunts the effect of another, are typically interpreted as evidence that the two perturbations impact the same cellular pathway or function. Yet, this interpretation ignores extreme antagonistic interactions wherein an otherwise deleterious perturbation compensates for the function lost because of a prior perturbation. Here, we report on gene-environment interactions involving genetic mutations that are deleterious in a permissive environment but beneficial in a specific environment that restricts growth.

A genetic strategy for probing the functional diversity of magnetosome formation.

Model genetic systems are invaluable, but limit us to understanding only a few organisms in detail, missing the variations in biological processes that are performed by related organisms. One such diverse process is the formation of magnetosome organelles by magnetotactic bacteria. Studies of model magnetotactic α-proteobacteria have demonstrated that magnetosomes are cubo-octahedral magnetite crystals that are synthesized within pre-existing membrane compartments derived from the inner membrane and orchestrated by a specific set of genes encoded within a genomic island.

Rare giant secondary cutis verticis gyrata.

We report a case of cerebriform intradermal naevus (CIN) of the scalp in a 17-year-old girl. The clinical and histopathological presentations of the case are described and the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects presented.

[Preparation of decellularized carotids and its biocompatibility].

Objective: To study the preparation method for acellular vascular matrix and to evaluate its biocompatibility and safety so as to afford an ideal scaffold for tissue engineered blood vessel.

Methods: Fresh caprine carotids (length 50 mm) were harvested and treated with repeated frozen (-80 degrees C)/thawing (37 degrees C), cold isostatic pressing (506 (MPa, 4 degrees C), and 0.125% sodium dodecyl sulfate separately for preparation of acellular vascular matrix.

The use of dentin matrix scaffold and dental follicle cells for dentin regeneration.

Scaffold and inductive microenvironment are the two most important factors for dentin regeneration. They have been addressed with hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, polyglycolic acid, calcined bovine bone, and collagen, among other things. However, as of yet, no scaffold and inductive microenvironment combination has been shown to contribute to the regeneration of complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin tissues that include dentin, predentin and odontoblasts.

Could cells from menstrual blood be a new source for cell-based therapies?

Human endometrium is a highly regenerative tissue and contains a low number of cells which have high replicative ability and differentiation efficiency. This has been identified by many scientists. When the fresh growth of tissue and blood vessels is shed during each menstrual cycle, some cells with regenerative capabilities are present.