A metalloprotease secreted by an environmentally acquired gut bacterium hinders colonization in .

Although the importance of the microbiome in the context of tick biology and vector competence has recently come into a broader research focus, the field is still in its infancy and the complex ecological interactions between the tick residential bacteria and pathogens are obscure. Here, we show that an environmentally acquired gut bacterium has the potential to impair colonization within the tick vector through a secreted metalloprotease. Oral introduction of either LTG-1 isolate or its purified enhancin (Enhancin) protein significantly reduces burden in the guts of ticks.

Identification of inulin-responsive bacteria in the gut microbiota via multi-modal activity-based sorting.

Prebiotics are defined as non-digestible dietary components that promote the growth of beneficial gut microorganisms. In many cases, however, this capability is not systematically evaluated. Here, we develop a methodology for determining prebiotic-responsive bacteria using the popular dietary supplement inulin.

Melatonin Receptor 1B and Corticosteroid Receptor Polymorphisms in Infertile Women with Implantation Failure and Miscarriages.

Background: The development of assisted reproductive techniques has significantly improved fertility chances in many women, but recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and miscarriages (RM) might preclude successful pregnancy. Alterations in the intrinsic secretory patterns of melatonin and cortisol influence reproduction in humans, and imperfection of receptor - dependent signaling may additionally compromise the hormonal effects. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the influence of certain melatonin and cortisol receptor polymorphisms in infertile women.

Linear Interval Approximation of Sensor Characteristics with Inflection Points.

The popularity of smart sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing in various fields and applications. Both collect and transfer data to networks. However, due to limited resources, deploying IoT in real-world applications can be challenging.

Analysis and evaluation of correlation between DNA polymorphism in the genes MTHFR, PAI-1 and serum creatinine, creatinine clearance and albumin/creatinine ratio in morning urine of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy is a major microangiopathic complication of type 2 diabetes and a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Three-Dimensional Scanning Applied for Flexible and In Situ Calibration of Galvanometric Scanner Systems.

Galvanometric laser scanner (GLS) systems are widely used for materials processing due to their high precision, processing velocity, and repeatability. However, GLS systems generally suffer from scan field distortions due to joint and task space relationship errors. The problem is further pronounced in robotic applications, where the GLS systems are manipulated in space, as unknown errors in the relative pose of the GLS can be introduced.

Decreased ratio of FOXP3/FOXP3CD45RACD4 T cells in peripheral blood is associated with unexplained infertility and ART failure.

Unexplained infertility has a huge social impact and is a significant challenge for both clinicians and researchers. Previous studies have shown the involvement of multiple factors in infertility. Among these, the subset of regulatory T cells is of particular interest for the maternal tolerance towards the semi-allogenic fetus.

Nutrient niche specificity for glycosaminoglycans is reflected in polysaccharide utilization locus architecture of gut species.

Introduction: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) present in the mucosal layer can be used as nutrients by certain intestinal bacteria, particularly members of the Bacteroides. GAG abundances are altered in some diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, which may affect microbial composition and activity, and it is therefore important to understand GAG utilization by members of the gut microbiota.

Methods: We used growth assays, transcriptomics, and comparative genomics to evaluate chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronan (HA) degradation ability by multiple gut Bacteroides species.

Impaired Mucosal Homeostasis in Short-Term Fiber Deprivation Is Due to Reduced Mucus Production Rather Than Overgrowth of Mucus-Degrading Bacteria.

The gut mucosal environment is key in host health; protecting against pathogens and providing a niche for beneficial bacteria, thereby facilitating a mutualistic balance between host and microbiome. Lack of dietary fiber results in erosion of the mucosal layer, suggested to be a result of increased mucus-degrading gut bacteria. This study aimed to use quantitative analyses to investigate the diet-induced imbalance of mucosal homeostasis.

Linear Interval Approximation for Smart Sensors and IoT Devices.

In this work, we introduce and use an innovative approach for adaptive piecewise linear interval approximation of sensor characteristics, which are differentiable functions. The aim is to obtain a discreet type of inverse sensor characteristic, with a predefined maximum approximation error, with minimization of the number of points defining the characteristic, which in turn is related to the possibilities for using microcontrollers with limited energy and memory resources. In this context, the results from the study indicate that to overcome the problems arising from the resource constraints of smart devices, appropriate "lightweight" algorithms are needed that allow efficient connectivity and intelligent management of the measurement processes.

Allergen-Specific IgE and IgG4 as Biomarkers for Immunologic Changes during Subcutaneous Allergen Immunotherapy.

(1) Background: Biomarkers of efficacy for subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) on allergic rhinitis have not been evaluated in details. The present study aims to assess the relevance of measuring of sIgE, sIgG4 and IgE/IgG4 ratio during SCIT in patients with allergic rhinitis; (2) Methods: 20 patients, 13 men and 7 women aged 19 to 58 years, with clinically manifested seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis were studied. At the initiation and in the end of the three-year course of SCIT serum allergen-specific IgE and IgG4 were measured with ImmunoCAP system.

Transparent soil microcosms for live-cell imaging and non-destructive stable isotope probing of soil microorganisms.

Microscale processes are critically important to soil ecology and biogeochemistry yet are difficult to study due to soil's opacity and complexity. To advance the study of soil processes, we constructed transparent soil microcosms that enable the visualization of microbes via fluorescence microscopy and the non-destructive measurement of microbial activity and carbon uptake in situ via Raman microspectroscopy. We assessed the polymer Nafion and the crystal cryolite as optically transparent soil substrates.

Evaluating risk, safety and efficacy of novel reproductive techniques and therapies through the EuroGTP II risk assessment tool.

Study Question: Can risks associated with novelties in assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) be assessed in a systematic and structured way?

Summary Answer: An ART-specific risk assessment tool has been developed to assess the risks associated with the development of novelties in ART (EuroGTP II-ART).

What Is Known Already: How to implement new technologies in ART is well-described in the literature. The successive steps should include testing in animal models, executing pre-clinical studies using supernumerary gametes or embryos, prospective clinical trials and finally, short- and long-term follow-up studies on the health of the offspring.

Late Postpregnancy Modifications in the Subset of Peripheral Natural T Regulatory Cells in Healthy Women.

The establishment of a relevant regulatory T cell (Treg) pool in the periphery is of importance to ensure immune homoeostasis. Finely tuned signaling pathways in Tregs control the immune response during extreme endocrine changes in pregnancy and afterward. In this study, we investigate the population of Tregs and, in particular, the natural Tregs (nTregs) in healthy women divided into three groups according to the number of previous pregnancies, if any (Gr.

Pilot study of contact sensitization to rubber allergens and bisphenol A amongst dental students.

Objectives: The aim of this study has been to evaluate the rate of contact sensitization to some rubber allergens and to bisphenol A (BPA) amongst students of dental medicine and dental patients.

Material And Methods: A total of 50 participants were included in the study: 40 students of dental medicine exposed to the studied rubber allergens and BPA-based dental materials during the course of their education; 10 dental patients without occupational exposure to the latter substances served as a control group. All of them were patch-tested with the studied rubber allergens and bisphenol A.

Study of Toxocara seroprevalence among patients with allergy and healthy individuals in Bulgaria.

Data in the literature addressing the ability of Toxocara infection in humans to induce development of atopic disease are controversial. The aim of our study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in three groups of people: subjects with allergic symptoms and presence of allergen-specific IgE, subjects with allergic symptoms and absence of allergen-specific IgE, and clinically healthy blood donors. Serum samples from all subjects were tested by ELISA and Western blot for presence of specific antibodies against Toxocara canis.

Suppression of allergen-specific B lymphocytes by chimeric protein-engineered antibodies.

House dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) are among the most frequent causes of allergy symptoms in Europe. Der p 1 is one of the major allergenic compounds of Dpt and the pathological Der p 1-specific B cells play a key role as producers of allergen-binding antibodies. The selective elimination of these cells by artificial protein molecules which inhibit the production of Dpt-recognizing IgE antibodies is a perspective therapeutic goal of allergy.

Quantitative assessment of serum-specific IgE in the diagnosis of human cystic echinococcosis.

Anti-Echinococcus serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E was assessed by the ImmunoCAP system and compared with anti-Echinococcus serum IgG assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. The ImmunoCAP system revealed very high specificity (one false positive of 110 healthy individuals), low cross-reactivity (one false positive of 58 patients with other diseases) and decreased sensitivity (73.55%).

Atrial natriuretic peptide is an antiapoptotic factor for human granulosa luteinized cells with impact on the results of COH/IVF in women undergoing IVF program.

Aim: To investigate human granulosa luteinized cells as a local source of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its relationship to cell viability, development of preovulatory follicles and fertilization rate of oocytes.

Material And Methods: Indirect immunofluorescent technique, proANP kit, 4'6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-DNA staining and Caspase-3 activity assay were used to examine localization patterns, concentrations in follicular fluids (FFl) and antiapoptotic role of ANP, respectively.

Results: ANP is expressed on granulosa cells with membrane, submembrane and specific granular cytoplasmic localization.

Nitric oxide stimulates the production of atrial natriuretic peptide and progesterone by human granulosa luteinized cells with an antiapoptotic effect.

Objective: To study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and progesterone (P) production by human granulose luteinized cells (GLC) in vitro and to elucidate their role on the survival of cultured cells.

Methods: Human GLCs were cultured in HAM's F10/10% FCS as monolayers for 24 h. Subsequently GLCs were treated for 24 h with 0.

Structure-Activity Relationships for Some Diamine, Triamine and Schiff Base Derivatives and Their Copper(II) Complexes.

Ethylenediamine (en), putrescine (pu), diethylenetriamine (dien), dipropylenetriamine (dpta), spermidine (spmd) and their Cu(II) compounds as well as the Schiff bases with 2-furaldehyde (dienOO), 2- thiophenecarboxaldehyde (dienSS) and pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde (dienNN) of dien and that of dpta with 2- thiophenecarboxaldehyde (dptaSS), were prepared and characterised. They were tested against Bacillus substilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Xanthomonas campestris as antibacterial reagents, the highest activity being exhibited by Cu(dptaSS)(NO(3))(2) complex, which acts as antibiotic. In the antiproliferative tests (vs.

Platinum (II) Compounds With Antitumor Activity Studied by Molecular Mechanics.

A SERIES OF PT(LL) COMPLEXES WITH ANTITUMOR PROPERTIES: [1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]PtL(2) (meso-1-PtL(2)) and [erythro-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2-halo-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]PtL(2), [2L=2Cl-,2I-,SO(4) (2)-; halo = F (erythro-8-PtL(2)),halo = Cl (erythro-9-PtL(2))] has been modelled by molecular mechanics (MM). The MM calculations were carried out for different isomers and ligand conformations meso-delta, meso-lambda, d,l-delta, d,I-lambda. The compounds with the lowest MM energies have the same geometries as those obtained by X-ray analysis.

[Gated SPECT myocardial perfusion stress scintigraphy for evaluation of the ischemic risk in coronary artery disease].

The aim of study is to identify the sensitivity of gated SPECT myocardial perfusion stress scintigraphy (MPSS) for detection of multi - vessel coronary artery disease (MVD) and in the evaluation of their functional impact for ischemic risk determination. Thirty three patients were examined with Tc99m sestamibi MPSS in rest and after exercise in order to identify the involved vessel territories by the perfusion and kinetic stress abnormalities and the development of ischemic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction by the decrease in LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and by the transient LV dilation (TID). A semiquantitative evaluation of the perfusion abnormalities by the summed difference index (SDI) (according to 20- segments model in 5 degree scale) was done.

Electronic structure of oxide, peroxide, and superoxide clusters of the 3d elements: a comparative density functional study.

The 3d-element transition metal dioxide MO(2), peroxide M(O(2)), and superoxide MOO clusters (M=Sc-Zn), are studied by density functional theory with the B1LYP functional. The reliability of the methods and basis sets employed was tested by a reinvestigation of the monoxides, for which a database of experimental data is available. The global minima on the M+O(2) potential energy surfaces correspond to dioxide structure, the only exception being CuOO, with a superoxide structure.

I-123 MIBG cardiac scintigraphy and autonomic test evaluation in multiple sclerosis patients.

Autonomic symptoms are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and may cause significant disability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate direct cardiac sympathetic denervation in MS patients with I-123 MIBG cardiac scintigraphy compared with other parasympathetic electrophysiological examinations of autonomic dysfunction. Ten patients with MS and 7 age- and sex-matched control subjects were prospectively evaluated.