Integrative and syntactic complexity's role in decision-making under uncertainty.

This study explores the impact of integrative complexity (IC) and syntactic complexity (SC) on decision-making under uncertainty. The research addresses how cognitive structures contribute to decision quality in ambiguous situations. A modified Ellsberg experiment was conducted using an online platform.

Ultrasound-guided vs. fluoro-guided axillary venous access for cardiac implantable electronic devices: a patient-based meta-analysis.

Aims: The use of ultrasound (US)-guided venous puncture for cardiac pacing/defibrillation lead placement may minimize the risk of periprocedural complications and radiation exposure. However, none of the published studies have been sufficiently powered to recommend this approach as the standard of care. We compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided axillary venous puncture (US-AVP) vs.

Sulforaphane-mediated immune regulation through inhibition of NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways in human dendritic cells.

Inflammation and immune responses are intricately intertwined processes crucial for maintaining homeostasis and combating against pathogens. These processes involve complex signaling pathways, notably the Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NF-κB) and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways, which play crucial roles. Sulforaphane (SFN), a nutraceutic, has emerged as a potential regulator of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties.

Dendritic Cells as a Therapeutic Strategy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Vaccines.

Dendritic cells (DCs) serve as professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) bridging innate and adaptive immunity, playing an essential role in triggering specific cellular and humoral responses against tumor and infectious antigens. Consequently, various DC-based antitumor therapeutic strategies have been developed, particularly vaccines, and have been intensively investigated specifically in the context of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This hematological malignancy mainly affects the elderly population (those aged over 65), which usually presents a high rate of therapeutic failure and an unfavorable prognosis.

Modulation of the Immune Response to Allergies Using Alternative Functional Foods.

Modulation of the allergic immune response through alternative therapies is a field of study that aims to address allergic reactions differently from traditional approaches. These therapies encompass the utilization of natural functional foods, which have been observed to exert an influence on the immune response, thus mitigating the severity of allergies. Indeed, some studies suggest that the incorporation of these nutraceuticals can regulate immune function, leading to a reduction in histamine release and subsequent alleviation of allergic symptoms.

Natural languages and RNA virus evolution.

Information concepts from physics, mathematics and computer science support many areas of research in biology. Their focus is on objective information, which provides correlations and patterns related to objects, processes, marks and signals. In these approaches only the quantitative aspects of the meaning of the information is relevant.

Archaeological approaches to RNA virus evolution.

Studies with RNA enzymes (ribozymes) and protein enzymes have identified certain structural elements that are present in some cellular mRNAs and viral RNAs. These elements do not share a primary structure and, thus, are not phylogenetically related. However, they have common (secondary/tertiary) structural folds that, according to some lines of evidence, may have an ancient and common origin.

Cognitive modeling for understanding interactions between people and decision support tools in complex and uncertain environments: A study protocol.

Background: Recent advances in Computational Intelligence Tools and the escalating need for decision-making in the face of complex and uncertain phenomena like pandemics, climate change, and geopolitics necessitate understanding the interaction between these tools and human behavior. It is crucial to efficiently utilize the decision-makers cognitive resources in addressing specific problems.

Methods: The main goal of this present protocol is to describe the effect that CITs (Computational Intelligence Tools) have on decisions made during complex and uncertain situations.

Current research trends on cognition, integrative complexity, and decision-making: a systematic literature review using activity theory and neuroscience.

Introduction: This article presents a systematic literature review that follows the PRISMA and PICOS guidelines to analyze current research trends on cognition, integrative complexity (IC) (a cognitive feature focusing on information processing in a person's response rather than its quantity or quality), and decision-making from the perspectives of activity theory and neuroscience.

Methods: The study examines 31 papers published between 2012 and 2022 and 19 articles specifically related to neuroscience. We performed a content analysis using six categories within activity theory: subjects, objects, rules, community, division of labor, and outcomes.

Update on In Vitro Diagnostic Tools and Treatments for Food Allergies.

Food allergy (FA) is an adverse immunological reaction to a specific food that can trigger a wide range of symptoms from mild to life-threatening. This adverse reaction is caused by different immunological mechanisms, such as IgE-mediated, non-IgE-mediated and mixed IgE-mediated reactions. Its epidemiology has had a significant increase in the last decade, more so in developed countries.

Sulforaphane Reduces the Chronic Inflammatory Immune Response of Human Dendritic Cells.

Background: Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate of vegetable origin with potent antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. The characterization of its pleiotropic activity in human dendritic cells (DCs) is poorly summarized. The aim of this work was to study the immunomodulatory power of SFN in response to an inflammatory microenvironment on human monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs).

Non-coding RNAs derived from the foot-and-mouth disease virus genome trigger broad antiviral activity against coronaviruses.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of a potentially severe respiratory disease, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an ongoing pandemic with limited therapeutic options. Here, we assessed the anti-coronavirus activity of synthetic RNAs mimicking specific domains in the non-coding regions of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) genome (ncRNAs). These molecules are known to exert broad-spectrum antiviral activity in cell culture, mice and pigs effectively triggering the host innate immune response.

Inhibition of Human Coronaviruses by Combinations of Host-Targeted and Direct-Acting Antivirals.

Antiviral compounds targeting cellular metabolism are part of the therapeutic arsenal to control the spread of virus infection, either as sole treatment or in combination with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) or vaccines. Here, we describe the effect of two of them, lauryl gallate (LG) and valproic acid (VPA) both exhibiting a wide antiviral spectrum, against infection by coronaviruses such as HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and SARS-CoV-2. A consistent 2 to 4-log-decrease in virus yields was observed in the presence of each antiviral, with an average IC value of 1.

Nutraceuticals as Potential Therapeutic Modulators in Immunometabolism.

Nutraceuticals act as cellular and functional modulators, contributing to the homeostasis of physiological processes. In an inflammatory microenvironment, these functional foods can interact with the immune system by modulating or balancing the exacerbated proinflammatory response. In this process, immune cells, such as antigen-presenting cells (APCs), identify danger signals and, after interacting with T lymphocytes, induce a specific effector response.

Update on Anti-Inflammatory Molecular Mechanisms Induced by Oleic Acid.

In 2010, the Mediterranean diet was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Olive oil is the most characteristic food of this diet due to its high nutraceutical value. The positive effects of olive oil have often been attributed to its minor components; however, its oleic acid (OA) content (70-80%) is responsible for its many health properties.

Adaptive value of foot-and-mouth disease virus capsid substitutions with opposite effects on particle acid stability.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a picornavirus that exhibits an extremely acid sensitive capsid. This acid lability is directly related to its mechanism of uncoating triggered by acidification inside cellular endosomes. Using a collection of FMDV mutants we have systematically analyzed the relationship between acid stability and the requirement for acidic endosomes using ammonium chloride (NHCl), an inhibitor of endosome acidification.

Immunogenicity of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Dendrimer Peptides: Need for a T-Cell Epitope and Ability to Elicit Heterotypic Responses.

An approach based on a dendrimer display of B- and T-cell epitopes relevant for antibody induction has been shown to be effective as a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine. BT dendrimers combining two copies of the major FMD virus (FMDV) type O B-cell epitope (capsid proteinVP1 (140-158)) covalently linked to a heterotypic T-cell epitope from non-structural protein 3A (21-35), henceforth BT-3A, has previously been shown to elicit high neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers and IFN-γ-producing cells in both mice and pigs. Here, we provide evidence that the B- and T-cell epitopes need to be tethered to a single molecular platform for successful T-cell help, leading to efficient nAb induction in mice.

Central and peripheral nervous system involvement by COVID-19: a systematic review of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, neuropathology, neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and cerebrospinal fluid findings.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 can affect the human brain and other neurological structures. An increasing number of publications report neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19. However, no studies have comprehensively reviewed the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of the central and peripheral nervous system's involvement in these patients.

Peptide-Based Vaccines: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus, a Paradigm in Animal Health.

Vaccines are considered one of the greatest global health achievements, improving the welfare of society by saving lives and substantially reducing the burden of infectious diseases. However, few vaccines are fully effective, for reasons ranging from intrinsic limitations to more contingent shortcomings related, e.g.

Swine T-Cells and Specific Antibodies Evoked by Peptide Dendrimers Displaying Different FMDV T-Cell Epitopes.

Dendrimeric peptide constructs based on a lysine core that comprises both B- and T-cell epitopes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have proven a successful strategy for the development of FMD vaccines. Specifically, BT dendrimers displaying two copies of the major type O FMDV antigenic B-cell epitope located on the virus capsid [VP1 (140-158)], covalently linked to a heterotypic T-cell epitope from either non-structural protein 3A [3A (21-35)] or 3D [3D (56-70)], named BT-3A and BT-3D, respectively, elicit high levels of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and IFN-γ-producing cells in pigs. To assess whether the inclusion and orientation of T-3A and T-3D T-cell epitopes in a single molecule could modulate immunogenicity, dendrimers with T epitopes juxtaposed in both possible orientations, i.

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in the Madrid region of Spain are carriers of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli and enteropathogenic E. coli.

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance is unclear. Raccoons in North America can carry a variety of enteric bacteria, with associated antimicrobial resistance, that could infect humans and livestock. The potential for raccoons to carry these bacteria in Europe, where they are an invasive species, has not been explored.

Association of Porcine Swine Leukocyte Antigen (SLA) Haplotypes with B- and T-Cell Immune Response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) Peptides.

Dendrimer peptides are promising vaccine candidates against the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Several B-cell epitope (BT) dendrimers, harboring a major FMDV antigenic B-cell site in VP1 protein, are covalently linked to heterotypic T-cell epitopes from 3A and/or 3D proteins, and elicited consistent levels of neutralizing antibodies and IFN-γ-producing cells in pigs. To address the contribution of the highly polymorphic nature of the porcine MHC (SLA, swine leukocyte antigen) on the immunogenicity of BT dendrimers, low-resolution (Lr) haplotyping was performed.

MDA5 cleavage by the Leader protease of foot-and-mouth disease virus reveals its pleiotropic effect against the host antiviral response.

The RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) plays a key role in triggering innate antiviral response during infection by RNA viruses. MDA5 activation leads to transcription induction of type-I interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines. MDA5 has also been associated with autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases by dysfunctional activation of innate immune response in the absence of infection.

Immunogenicity of a Dendrimer BT Peptide Harboring a T-Cell Epitope From FMDV Non-structural Protein 3D.

Synthetic dendrimer peptides are a promising strategy to develop new FMD vaccines. A dendrimer peptide, termed BT-3A, which harbors two copies of the major FMDV antigenic B-cell site [VP1 (140-158)], covalently linked to a heterotypic T-cell from the non-structural protein 3A [3A (21-35)], has been shown to protect pigs against viral challenge. Interestingly, the modular design of this dendrimer peptide allows modifications aimed at improving its immunogenicity, such as the replacement of the T-cell epitope moiety.

Designing Functionally Versatile, Highly Immunogenic Peptide-Based Multiepitopic Vaccines against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus.

A broadly protective and biosafe vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) remains an unmet need in the animal health sector. We have previously reported solid protection against serotype O FMDV afforded by dendrimeric peptide structures harboring virus-specific B- and T-cell epitopes, and also shown such type of multivalent presentations to be advantageous over simple B-T-epitope linear juxtaposition. Chemically, our vaccine platforms are modular constructions readily made from specified B- and T-cell epitope precursor peptides that are conjugated in solution.