Repeated diagnostic ultrasound exposure modifies the structural properties of CA1 dendrites and alters the hippocampal transcriptome.

The development of neurons is regulated by several spatiotemporally changing factors, which are crucial to give the ability of neurons to form functional networks. While external physical stimuli may impact the early developmental stages of neurons, the medium and long-term consequences of these influences have yet to be thoroughly examined. Using an animal model, this study focuses on the morphological and transcriptome changes of the hippocampus that may occur as a consequence of fetal ultrasound examination.

In Vivo Imaging of Acute Hindlimb Ischaemia in Rat Model: A Pre-Clinical PET Study.

Background: To better understand ischaemia-related molecular alterations, temporal changes in angiogenic Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) expression and glucose metabolism were assessed with PET using a rat model of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: The mechanical occlusion of the base of the left hindlimb triggered using a tourniquet was applied to establish the ischaemia/reperfusion injury model in Fischer-344 rats. 2-[F]FDG and [Ga]Ga-NOTA-c(NGR) PET imaging performed 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days post-ischaemia induction was followed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining for APN/CD13 in ischaemic and control muscle tissue extracts.

Characterization of Indoor Molds after Ajka Red Mud Spill, Hungary.

A red mud suspension of ~700,000 m was accidentally released from the alumina plant in Ajka, Hungary, on the 4th of October 2010, flooding several buildings in the nearby towns. As there is no information in the literature on the effects of red mud on indoor mold growth, we conducted studies to answer the following question: does the heavy metal content of red mud inhibit fungal colonization in flooded houses? In order to gain knowledge on fungal spectra colonizing surfaces soaked with red mud and on the ability of fungi to grow on them, swabs, tape lifts, and air samples were collected from three case study buildings. A total of 43 fungal taxa were detected.

Autoimmune amelogenesis imperfecta in patients with APS-1 and coeliac disease.

Ameloblasts are specialized epithelial cells in the jaw that have an indispensable role in tooth enamel formation-amelogenesis. Amelogenesis depends on multiple ameloblast-derived proteins that function as a scaffold for hydroxyapatite crystals. The loss of function of ameloblast-derived proteins results in a group of rare congenital disorders called amelogenesis imperfecta.

Potential Clinical Usefulness of Post-Valvular Contrast Densities to Determine the Severity of Aortic Valve Stenosis Using Computed Tomography.

Background: Different methods are established for the changes in aortic valve stenosis with cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), but the effect of the grade of stenosis on contrast densities around the valve has not been investigated.

Aims/methods: Using the information from flow dynamics in cases of increased velocity through narrowed lumen, the hypothesis was formed that flow changes can alter the contrast densities in stenotic post-valvular regions, and the density changes might correlate with the grade of stenosis. Forty patients with severe aortic stenosis and fifteen with a normal aortic valve were enrolled.

Characterization of the Sterol 24-C-Methyltransferase Genes Reveals a Network of Alternative Sterol Biosynthetic Pathways in .

Certain members of the order can cause a life-threatening, often-fatal systemic infection called mucormycosis. Mucormycosis has a high mortality rate, which can reach 96 to 100% depending on the underlying condition of the patient. species are intrinsically resistant to most antifungal agents, such as most of the azoles, which makes mucormycosis treatment challenging.

Activity of Binary Combinations of Natural Phenolics and Synthetic Food Preservatives against Food Spoilage Yeasts.

Natural compounds are a suitable alternative to synthetic food preservatives due to their natural origin and health-promoting properties. In the current study, phenolic-phenolic and phenolic-synthetic combinations were tested for their antibiofilm formation, anti-planktonic growth, and anti-adhesion properties against , (formerly ), , and . The phenolics were vanillin and cinnamic acid, while the synthetic preservatives were sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sodium diacetate.

Central Nervous System Involvement in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Narrative Review of MRI Findings.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is one of the numerous extraglandular manifestations of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Moreover, neurological complaints precede the sicca symptoms in 25-60% of the cases. We review the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions typical for pSS, involving the conventional examination, volumetric and morphometric studies, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state fMRI.

Molecular identification, phylogeny and antifungal susceptibilities of dematiaceous fungi isolated from human keratomycosis.

Purpose: To investigate the dematiaceous fungal profile of patients with ocular mycoses attending a tertiary eye care hospital in Coimbatore, India METHODS: The identification of dematiaceous fungus based on their morphology, their genotypes, and the measurement of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using microdilution method of routinely used antifungal drugs were all compared.

Results: A total of 148 dematiaceous fungi were isolated during a study period of 27 months. Isolates were confirmed as Curvularia spp.

Molecular Characterization of Novel Mycoviruses in Seven Strains.

The presence of viruses is less explored in Mucoromycota as compared to other fungal groups such as Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Recently, more and more mycoviruses are identified from the early-diverging lineages of fungi. We have determined the genome of 11 novel dsRNA viruses in seven different strains with next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Differential Gene Expression of under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions.

Mucor lusitanicus and some other members of the fungal order Mucorales display the phenomenon of morphological dimorphism. This means that these fungi aerobically produce filamentous hyphae, developing a coenocytic mycelium, but they grow in a multipolar yeast-like form under anaerobiosis. Revealing the molecular mechanism of the reversible yeast-hyphal transition can be interesting for both the biotechnological application and in the understanding of the pathomechanism of mucormycosis.

Ultrasound Used for Diagnostic Imaging Facilitates Dendritic Branching of Developing Neurons in the Mouse Cortex.

Neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis are regulated by precise orchestration of intrinsic and extrinsic chemical and mechanical factors throughout all developmental steps critical for the assembly of neurons into functional circuits. While ultrasound is known to alter neuronal migration and activity acutely, its chronic effect on neuronal behavior or morphology is not well characterized. Furthermore, higher-frequency (3-5 MHz) ultrasound (HFU) is extensively used in gynecological practice for imaging, and while it has not been shown harmful for the developing brain, it might be associated with mild alterations that may have functional consequences.

CRISPR/Cas9-Based Mutagenesis of Histone H3.1 in Spinal Dynorphinergic Neurons Attenuates Thermal Sensitivity in Mice.

Burn injury is a trauma resulting in tissue degradation and severe pain, which is processed first by neuronal circuits in the spinal dorsal horn. We have recently shown that in mice, excitatory dynorphinergic (Pdyn) neurons play a pivotal role in the response to burn-injury-associated tissue damage via histone H3.1 phosphorylation-dependent signaling.

Characterization of Four Novel dsRNA Viruses Isolated from Strains.

We previously screened the total nucleic acid extracts of 123 strains for the presence of dsRNA molecules without further molecular analyses. Here, we characterized five novel dsRNA genomes isolated from four different   strains with next-generation sequencing (NGS), namely Mucor hiemalis virus 1a (MhV1a) from WRL CN(M) 122; Mucor hiemalis virus 1b (MhV1b) from NRRL 3624; Mucor hiemalis virus 2 (MhV2) from NRRL 3616; and Mucor hiemalis virus 3 (MhV3) and Mucor hiemalis virus (MhV4) from NRRL 3617 strains. Genomes contain two open reading frames (ORF), which encode the coat protein (CP) and the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), respectively.

Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of rare yeast infections: an initiative of the ECMM in cooperation with ISHAM and ASM.

Uncommon, or rare, yeast infections are on the rise given increasing numbers of patients who are immunocompromised or seriously ill. The major pathogens include those of the genera Geotrichum, Saprochaete, Magnusiomyces, and Trichosporon (ie, basidiomycetes) and Kodamaea, Malassezia, Pseudozyma (ie, now Moesziomyces or Dirkmeia), Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, and Sporobolomyces (ie, ascomycetes). A considered approach to the complex, multidisciplinary management of infections that are caused by these pathogens is essential to optimising patient outcomes; however, management guidelines are either region-specific or require updating.

In Vitro Activity of Selected Phenolic Compounds against Planktonic and Biofilm Cells of Food-Contaminating Yeasts.

Phenolic compounds are natural substances that can be obtained from plants. Many of them are potent growth inhibitors of foodborne pathogenic microorganisms, however, phenolic activities against spoilage yeasts are rarely studied. In this study, planktonic and biofilm growth, and the adhesion capacity of , , and spoilage yeasts were investigated in the presence of hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, stilbene, flavonoid and phenolic aldehyde compounds.

Characterization of Three Pleiotropic Drug Resistance Transporter Genes and Their Participation in the Azole Resistance of .

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection caused by certain members of the fungal order Mucorales. This infection is associated with high mortality rate, which can reach nearly 100% depending on the underlying condition of the patient. Treatment of mucormycosis is challenging because these fungi are intrinsically resistant to most of the routinely used antifungal agents, such as most of the azoles.

β-Galactosidase-Producing Isolates in Mucoromycota: Screening, Enzyme Production, and Applications for Functional Oligosaccharide Synthesis.

β-Galactosidases of Mucoromycota are rarely studied, although this group of filamentous fungi is an excellent source of many industrial enzymes. In this study, 99 isolates from the genera , , , , and , were screened for their β-galactosidase activity using a chromogenic agar approach. Ten isolates from the best producers were selected, and the activity was further investigated in submerged (SmF) and solid-state (SSF) fermentation systems containing lactose and/or wheat bran substrates as enzyme production inducers.

An intra-abdominal desmoid tumor.

Desmoid tumor is a very rare neoplasm which develops from fibroblasts. These tumors do not have the ability to metastasize, but they can cause significant morbidity and mortality by local invasion and they are prone to local recurrence. We present a case of an aggressive fibromatosis in a 28-year-old male patient with no previous medical history.

Effective connectivity differences in motor network during passive movement of paretic and non-paretic ankles in subacute stroke patients.

Background: A better understanding of the neural changes associated with paresis in stroke patients could have important implications for therapeutic approaches. Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM) for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is commonly used for analyzing effective connectivity patterns of brain networks due to its significant property of modeling neural states behind fMRI signals. We applied this technique to analyze the differences between motor networks (MNW) activated by continuous passive movement (CPM) of paretic and non-paretic ankles in subacute stroke patients.

CRISPR-Cas9-Based Mutagenesis of the Mucormycosis-Causing Fungus .

is considered as one of the most frequent agents of mucormycosis. The lack of efficient genetic manipulation tools hampers the characterization of the pathomechanisms and virulence factors of this opportunistic pathogenic fungus. Although such techniques have been described for certain species, the performance of targeted mutagenesis and the construction of stable transformants have remained a great challenge in Mucorales fungi.

Response of Human Neutrophil Granulocytes to the Hyphae of the Emerging Fungal Pathogen .

is an ascomycete filamentous fungus causing local and invasive phaeohyphomycoses in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Neutrophils are crucial participants of the first line host defense against fungal infections. They migrate to the infected site and eliminate the infectious agents by various mechanisms including phagocytoses, oxidative damage, or formation of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET).