Scatterhoarding rodents favor higher predation risks for cache sites: The potential for predators to influence the seed dispersal process.

Scatterhoarding rodents often place caches in the open where pilferage rates are reduced, suggesting that they tradeoff higher risks of predation for more secure cache sites. We tested this hypothesis in two study systems by measuring predation risks inferred from measures of giving-up densities (GUDs) at known cache sites and other sites for comparison. Rodent GUDs were measured with small trays containing 3 L of fine sand mixed with sunflower seeds.

The Role of Toll-Like Receptors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A New Promising Therapeutic Approach?

Perturbations in immune processes play an important role in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), a multifactorial disorder mainly characterized by severe and prolonged fatigue and tipically affecting a variety of bodily systems including the immune system. Recent reports have shown that CFS/ME is an inflammatory disorder may be associated with autoimmune responses, mainly characterized by reduced functional activity of most immune cells, including neutrophils, natural killer cells, monocytes/macrophage and dendritic cells, together with dysregulations in cytokine levels, responsible for changes in the adaptive immune system. Interactions between gut microorganisms and host immune function have been shown to contribute to aberrant inflammation in CFS/ME patients.

An anthropologically based model of the impact of asymptomatic cases on the spread of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) remains a serious burden in many high-sexual-activity, undertreated populations. Using empirical data from a 2009 study of GC burden among pastoralists in Kaokoveld, Namibia, we expand the standard gonorrhoea transmission model by using locally derived sexual contact data to explore transmission dynamics in a population with high rates of partner exchange and low treatment-seeking behaviour. We use the model to generate ball-park estimates for transmission probabilities and other parameter values for low-level (i.

Effects of radiation type and delivery mode on a radioresistant eukaryote Cryptococcus neoformans.

Introduction: Most research on radioresistant fungi, particularly on human pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans, involves sparsely-ionizing radiation. Consequently, fungal responses to densely-ionizing radiation, which can be harnessed to treat life-threatening fungal infections, remain incompletely understood.

Methods: We addressed this issue by quantifying and comparing the effects of densely-ionizing α-particles (delivered either by external beam or by (213)Bi-labeled monoclonal antibodies), and sparsely-ionizing (137)Cs γ-rays, on Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cotard and Capgras syndrome after ischemic stroke.

Capgras and Cotard are delusional misidentification syndromes characterized by delusions about oneself, others, places, and objects. To date, there are few cases of comorbidity of both syndromes. We describe a case of aphasic stroke patient affected by cerebral ischemia localized in right temporoparietal region.

Molecular decodification of gymnemic acids from Gymnema sylvestre. Discovery of a new class of liver X receptor antagonists.

The individual chemical components of commercial extract of Gymnema sylvestre, a medicinal plant used in the traditional systems of the Indian medicine for its antidiabetic and hypolipidemic properties, were isolated and evaluated for their capability to act as modulators of nuclear and membrane receptors involved in glucose and lipid homeostasis. The study disclosed for the first time that individual gymnemic acids are potent and selective antagonists for the β isoform of LXR. Indeed the above activity was shared by the most abundant aglycone gymnemagenin (10) whereas gymnestrogenin (11) was endowed with a dual LXRα/β antagonistic profile.

Variability in tuberculosis granuloma T cell responses exists, but a balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is associated with sterilization.

Lung granulomas are the pathologic hallmark of tuberculosis (TB). T cells are a major cellular component of TB lung granulomas and are known to play an important role in containment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. We used cynomolgus macaques, a non-human primate model that recapitulates human TB with clinically active disease, latent infection or early infection, to understand functional characteristics and dynamics of T cells in individual granulomas.

Laser nano- and micro-structuring of silicon using a laser-induced plasma for beam conditioning.

A technique based on the interaction between a laser pulse and a laser-induced plasma is proposed as a very simple and potentially powerful method for surface nanostructuring. A laser pulse was focused onto a metallic target in order to generate a plasma, while a second laser pulse was directed to the plasma and crossed it perpendicularly to the first pulse and, subsequently, hit a silicon substrate. In this conditions, the second pulse interacts with the plasma which acted as an optical element whose properties could be modified by varying the energy density of the first pulse or the delay between the two pulses.

Mechanism-based proteomic screening identifies targets of thioredoxin-like proteins.

Thioredoxin (Trx)-fold proteins are protagonists of numerous cellular pathways that are subject to thiol-based redox control. The best characterized regulator of thiols in proteins is Trx1 itself, which together with thioredoxin reductase 1 (TR1) and peroxiredoxins (Prxs) comprises a key redox regulatory system in mammalian cells. However, there are numerous other Trx-like proteins, whose functions and redox interactors are unknown.

Computational modeling predicts IL-10 control of lesion sterilization by balancing early host immunity-mediated antimicrobial responses with caseation during mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Although almost a third of the world's population is infected with the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, our understanding of the functions of many immune factors involved in fighting infection is limited. Determining the role of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 at the level of the granuloma has proven difficult because of lesional heterogeneity and the limitations of animal models. In this study, we take an in silico approach and, through a series of virtual experiments, we predict several novel roles for IL-10 in tuberculosis granulomas: 1) decreased levels of IL-10 lead to increased numbers of sterile lesions, but at the cost of early increased caseation; 2) small increases in early antimicrobial activity cause this increased lesion sterility; 3) IL-10 produced by activated macrophages is a major mediator of early antimicrobial activity and early host-induced caseation; and 4) increasing levels of infected macrophage derived IL-10 promotes bacterial persistence by limiting the early antimicrobial response and preventing lesion sterilization.

Bmi1 enhances skeletal muscle regeneration through MT1-mediated oxidative stress protection in a mouse model of dystrophinopathy.

The Polycomb group (PcG) protein Bmi1 is an essential epigenetic regulator of stem cell function during normal development and in adult organ systems. We show that mild up-regulation of Bmi1 expression in the adult stem cells of the skeletal muscle leads to a remarkable improvement of muscle function in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The molecular mechanism underlying enhanced physiological function of Bmi1 depends on the injury context and it is mediated by metallothionein 1 (MT1)-driven modulation of resistance to oxidative stress in the satellite cell population.

Validation of a computer-aided diagnosis system for the automatic identification of carotid atherosclerosis.

Carotid atherosclerosis represents one of the most important causes of brain stroke. The degree of carotid stenosis is, up to now, considered one of the most important features for determining the risk of brain stroke. Ultrasound (US) is a non-invasive, relatively inexpensive, portable technique, which has an excellent temporal resolution.

Tailored synthesis of nanostructures by laser irradiation of a precursor microdroplet stream in open-air.

A method to synthesize multicomponent nanostructures in open-air is presented. A microdroplet precursor target is irradiated with a nanosecond laser pulse to induce plasma. At low droplet dispensing rates, the precursor and solvent are fully atomized without debris to produce nanoparticles and nanofilaments during plasma cooling.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling of intravenous and oral topiramate and its effect on phonemic fluency in adult healthy volunteers.

Aims: The aim was to develop a quantitative approach that characterizes the magnitude of and variability in phonemic generative fluency scores as measured by the Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) test in healthy volunteers after administration of an oral and a novel intravenous (IV) formulation of topiramate (TPM).

Methods: Nonlinear mixed-effects modelling was used to describe the plasma TPM concentrations resulting from oral or IV administration. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model was developed sequentially to characterize the effect of TPM concentrations on COWA with different distributional assumptions.

Macrophage polarization drives granuloma outcome during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), induces formation of granulomas, structures in which immune cells and bacteria colocalize. Macrophages are among the most abundant cell types in granulomas and have been shown to serve as both critical bactericidal cells and targets for M. tuberculosis infection and proliferation throughout the course of infection.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy: an in vivo molecular imaging biomarker for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta which leads to dysfunction of cerebral pathways critical for the control of movements. The diagnosis of PD is based on motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, akinesia, muscular rigidity, postural instability, and resting tremor, which are evident only after the degeneration of a significant number of dopaminergic neurons. Currently, a marker for early diagnosis of PD is still not available.

Diffusion tensor imaging and neuropsychologic assessment in aphasic stroke.

With the recent advances in neuroimaging it has become possible to characterize the cerebral reorganization that occurs in response to therapy and the conditions under which this reorganization occurs. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a neuroimaging technique that allows us to visualize white matter tracts and potential changes associated with different treatments. To date, only few data on structural neuroplasticity related to the recovery of poststroke aphasia were reported.

Scalarane sesterterpenes from Thorectidae sponges as inhibitors of TDP-43 nuclear factor.

The analysis of two Thorectidae sponge samples, Hyrtios sp. and Petrosaspongia sp., collected at Fiji Islands, led to the isolation of five new scalarane derivatives along with fifteen known compounds.

Exploitation of cholane scaffold for the discovery of potent and selective farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and G-protein coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GP-BAR1) ligands.

Nuclear and G-protein coupled receptors are considered major targets for drug discovery. FXR and GP-BAR1, two bile acid-activated receptors, have gained increasing consideration as druggable receptors. Because endogenous bile acids often target both receptor families, the development of selective ligands has been proven difficult, exposing patients to side effects linked to an unwanted activation of one of the two receptors.

Generation and culture of osteoclasts.

Osteoclasts are highly specialized cells of haematopoietic lineage that are uniquely responsible for bone resorption. In the past, osteoclasts were isolated as mature cells from chicken long bones, or were generated using osteoblasts or stromal cells to induce osteoclast formation in total bone marrow from mice or rabbits. The Copernican revolution in osteoclast biology began with the identification of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator NFκB-ligand (RANKL ) as the key regulators of osteoclast formation, fusion and function.

Is it reasonable to abandon obligatory vaccinations in Italy? a 2013 survey.

In Italy, infant vaccinations are mandatory for four infectious diseases: diphtheria, polio, tetanus and hepatitis B. In the past, there was widespread apprehension in Italy that doing away with obligatory vaccinations would reduce the coverage rate, but the possibility of making vaccinations optional has recently become more popular. The objectives of this study were to investigate parental willingness to vaccinate their children if those vaccinations were no longer mandatory and to evaluate the variables influencing this intention.

Hepatoblastoma presenting as precocious puberty: a case report.

Hepatoblastoma (HB), a primary liver tumor in childhood, is often accompanied by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) secretion, and sometimes by β-human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (β-hCG) secretion, and this can cause peripheral precocious puberty (PPP). We describe a case of PPP associated with HB. Laboratory tests showed an increase in AFP, β-hCG and testosterone values, and suppression of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels.

Pharmacological evaluation of the semi-purified fractions from the soft coral Eunicella singularis and isolation of pure compounds.

Background: Gorgonians of the genus Eunicella are known for possessing a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antiproliferative and antibacterial effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effect of the organic extract and its semi-purified fractions from the white gorgonian Eunicella singularis and the isolation and identification of pure compound(s) from the more effective fraction.

Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test and in comparison to the reference drug Acetylsalicylate of Lysine.

Structural evidence of N6-isopentenyladenosine as a new ligand of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase.

N6-isopentenyladenosine (i6A), a modified nucleoside belonging to the cytokinin family, has shown in humans many biological actions, including antitumoral effects through the modulation of the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) activity. To investigate the relationship between i6A and FPPS, we undertook an inverse virtual screening computational target searching, testing i6A on a large panel of 3D protein structures involved in cancer processes. Experimentally, we performed an NMR investigation of i6A in the presence of FPPS protein.