Life — Open Access Journal

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate for the first time the impact of a nanocellulose-based wound dressing in the treatment of pediatric patients with both partial- and deep-thickness burns. Usability and effectiveness were defined based on parameters such as frequency of dressing changes under narcosis, duration of hospital stay, onset of complications, need for additional treatments, and follow up scar formation assessment. Fifty-six children who sustained burns in the year 2018 and were treated with a nanocellulose-based wound dressing were included in the trial. The mean stay in hospital was 6.7 days. Patients underwent dressing changes under narcosis 2.4 times on average, and none had wound-associated infection. In all, 82% of the patients were treated only with nanocellulose-based wound dressings, and reepithelialization occurred after ten days. The majority of patients had scars with normal pigmentation (98%), vascularization (91%), height (92%), and pliability (92%). In conclusion, using a nanocellulose-based wound dressing for the treatment of both superficial, partial-thickness and deep, full-thickness burns has several advantages. Compared with the results published in literature on other wound dressings, it requires a moderate number of dressing changes under narcosis and results in short hospital stays. Additionally, it has a low associated infection rate and promotes wound healing. Full article

Periodontitis has been associated with an increased risk of and mortality associated with human colorectal cancer (CRC). Current evidence attributes such an association to the direct and indirect effects of virulence factors belonging to periodontal pathogens, to inflammatory mediators and to genetic factors. The aims of the study were to assess the existence of a genetic linkage between periodontitis and human CRC, to identify genes considered predominant in such a linkage, thus named leader genes, and to determine pathogenic mechanisms related to the products of leader genes. Genes linking periodontitis and CRC were identified and classified in order of predominance, through an experimental investigation, performed via computer simulation, employing the leader gene approach. Pathogenic mechanisms relating to leader genes were determined through cross-search databases. Of the 83 genes linking periodontitis and CRC, 12 were classified as leader genes and were pathogenically implicated in cell cycle regulation and in the immune-inflammatory response. The current results, obtained via computer simulation and requiring further validation, support the existence of a genetic linkage between periodontitis and CRC. Cell cycle dysregulation and the alteration of the immuno-inflammatory response constitute the pathogenic mechanisms related to the products of leader genes. Full article

Oxidative stress is believed to play a critical role in atherosclerosis initiation and progression. In line with this, in a group of 1099 subjects, we determined eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to oxidative stress (PON1 c.575A>G, MPO c.−463G>A, SOD2 c.47T>C, GCLM c.−590C>T, NOS3 c.894G>T, NOS3 c.−786T>C, CYBA c.214C>T, and CYBA c.−932A>G) and assessed the extent of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries based on Gensini score. An increased risk of having a Gensini score in the higher half of the distribution was observed for the PON1 c.575G allele (odds ratio (OR) = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004–1.617, p = 0.046). Next, the genetic risk score (GRS) for the additive effect of the total number of pro-oxidative alleles was assessed. We noted an increase in the risk of having a Gensini score above the median with the maximum number of risk alleles (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.19–5.23, p = 0.014). A univariate Spearman’s test revealed significant correlation between the total number of pro-oxidant alleles (GRS) and the Gensini score (ρ = 0.068, p = 0.03). In conclusion, the PON1 c.575A>G variant and the high number of risk alleles (GRS) were independent risk factors for a high Gensini score. We suggest, however, that GRS might occur as a more valuable component in adding a predictive value to the genetic background of atherosclerosis. Full article

Essential oil components of Nelumbo nucifera flowers from cultivated and wild lotus samples were analyzed and compared using three different extraction techniques, i.e., headspace extraction (HE), steam distillation (SD) and solvent extraction (SE), coupled with GC-MS. Forty-two peaks in the GC-MS analysis were identified as essential oil components extracted by the three methods from N. nucifera flower. The major essential oil components extracted by SD method were found to be Z,Z-10,12-hexadecadienal and E-14-hexadecenal with relative contents of 16.3% and 16.7%, respectively, which is different from that of SE method, i.e., n-hexadecanoic acid and Z,Z-9,12-octadecadienoic acid accounting for 25.8% and 26.8%, respectively. HE method demonstrated a possibility to be used as an in situ and simplest method for extracting the essential oil components from raw materials. By adding a small amount of glycerinum onto the surface of the air-dried flower sample as a solvent trap in the HE method, the volatility of the essential oil components was found to increase by two times for the first time, which could be further utilized to improve the extraction efficiency and the recovery of the essential oil components from other materials for more applications. In addition, the comparison of essential oil components between cultivated and wild samples showed that they differed only in the chemical contents but not in chemical components. This will be a comprehensive report on the chemical information of the essential oil components of N. nucifera flower and provide guidance for its further exploration as high value-added products in the food and healthcare industries. Full article

Therapeutic options for treating advanced melanoma are progressing rapidly. Until six years ago, the regimen for treating advanced melanoma mainly comprised cytotoxic agents such as dacarbazine, and type I interferons. Since 2014, anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD1) antibodies have become recognized as anchor drugs for treating advanced melanoma with or without additional combination drugs such as ipilimumab. In addition, v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) kinase inhibitors in combination with mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors are among the most promising chemotherapeutic regimens for treating advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma, especially in patients with low tumor burden. Since anti-PD1 antibodies are widely applicable for the treatment of both BRAF wild-type and mutated advanced melanomas, several clinical trials for drugs in combination with anti-PD1 antibodies are ongoing. This review focuses on the development of the anti-melanoma therapies available today, and discusses the clinical trials of novel regimens for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Full article

Astronauts are at risk of losing 1.0% to 1.5% of their bone mass for every month they spend in space despite their adherence to diets and exercise regimens designed to protect their musculoskeletal systems. This loss is the result of microgravity-related impairment of osteocyte and osteoblast function and the consequent upregulation of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. This review describes the ontogeny of osteoclast hematopoietic stem cells and the contributions macrophage colony stimulating factor, receptor activator of the nuclear factor-kappa B ligand, and the calcineurin pathways make in osteoclast differentiation and provides details of bone formation, the osteoclast cytoskeleton, the immune regulation of osteoclasts, and osteoclast mechanotransduction on Earth, in space, and under conditions of simulated microgravity. The article discusses the need to better understand how osteoclasts are able to function in zero gravity and reviews current and prospective therapies that may be used to treat osteoclast-mediated bone disease. Full article

Solids in the interstellar medium consist of an intimate mixture of silicate and carbonaceous grains. Because 99% of silicates in meteorites were reprocessed at high temperatures in the inner regions of the Solar Nebula, we propose that similar levels of heating of carbonaceous materials in the oxygen-rich Solar Nebula would have converted nearly all carbon in dust and grain coatings to CO. We discuss catalytic experiments on a variety of grain surfaces that not only produce gas phase species such as CH₄, C₂H₆, C₆H₆, C₆H₅OH, or CH₃CN, but also produce carbonaceous solids and fibers that would be much more readily incorporated into growing planetesimals. CH₄ and other more volatile products of these surface-mediated reactions were likely transported outwards along with chondrule fragments and small Calcium Aluminum-rich Inclusions (CAIs) to enhance the organic content in the outer regions of the nebula where comets formed. Carbonaceous fibers formed on the surfaces of refractory oxides may have significantly improved the aggregation efficiency of chondrules and CAIs. Carbonaceous fibers incorporated into chondritic parent bodies might have served as the carbon source for the generation of more complex organic species during thermal or hydrous metamorphic processes on the evolving asteroid. Full article

Euonymus species from the Celastraceae family are considered as a source of unusual genes modifying the oil content and fatty acid composition of vegetable oils. Due to the possession of genes encoding enzyme diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (DAcT), Euonymus plants can synthesize and accumulate acetylated triacyglycerols. The gene from Euonymus europaeus (EeDAcT) encoding the DAcT was identified, isolated, characterized, and modified for cloning and genetic transformation of plants. This gene has a unique nucleotide sequence and amino acid composition, different from orthologous genes from other Euonymus species. Nucleotide sequence of original EeDAcT gene was modified, cloned into transformation vector, and introduced into tobacco plants. Overexpression of EeDAcT gene was confirmed, and transgenic host plants produced and accumulated acetylated triacylglycerols (TAGs) in immature seeds. Individual transgenic plants showed difference in amounts of synthesized acetylTAGs and also in fatty acid composition of acetylTAGs. Full article

It is known that exposure to excess saturated fatty acids, especially palmitate, can trigger cellular stress responses interpreted as lipotoxicity. The effect of excessive free fatty acids on oxidative phosphorylation capacity in myoblasts of patients with the m.3243A>G mutation was evaluated with the mitochondrial (Mito) stress test using a Seahorse XF96 analyzer. ß-oxidation, measured with the Seahorse XF96 analyzer, was similar in patients and controls, and reduced in both patients and controls at 40 °C compared to 37 °C. Mito stress test in the absence of fatty acids showed lower values in patients compared to controls. The mitochondrial activity and ATP production rates were significantly reduced in presence of palmitate, but not of oleate in patients, showing a negative effect of excessive palmitate on mitochondrial function in patients. Diabetes mellitus is a frequent symptom in patients with m.3243A>G mutation. It can be speculated that the negative effect of palmitate on mitochondrial function might be related to diacylglycerols (DAG) and ceramides (CER) mediated insulin resistance. This might contribute to the elevated risk for diabetes mellitus in m.3243A>G patients. Full article

Weaning is a stressful time for piglets, often leading to weight loss and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A leading cause for these post-weaning problems is enteric dysbiosis and methods to improve piglet health at this crucial developmental stage are needed. This study aimed to determine whether an enteric dysbiosis caused by weaning could be corrected via a faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy piglets from a previous wean. Two or four focal piglets per litter were assigned to one of two treatments; FMT two days post weaning (n = 21; FMT) or a control which received saline two days post weaning (n = 21; CON). FMT consisted of homogenised donor faeces administered orally at 3 mL/kg. Weaning occurred at 18 days of age and weights and faecal samples were collected on days 18, 20, 24 and 35. 16S rRNA amplicon analysis was used to assess the faecal microbiota of piglets. FMT increased Shannon’s diversity post weaning (p < 0.001) and reduced the scratch score observed at 24 days of age (p < 0.001). The bacterial populations significantly differed in composition at each taxonomic level. In FMT pigs, significant increases in potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli were observed. However, increases in beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus mucosae and genera Fibrobacteres and Bacteroidetes were also observed in FMT treated animals. To our knowledge, this is the first study to observe a significant effect on piglet faecal microbiota following a single FMT administered post weaning. Therefore, FMT post weaning can potentially alleviate enteric dysbiosis. Full article

Background: patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) showed detectable levels of tear pepsin that explain the nasolacrimal obstruction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with LPR show ocular surface changes and to investigate the relationship between lacrimal pepsin concentration and ocular alterations. Methods: Fifty patients with positive endoscopic signs for LPR and an equal or higher score of 13 and 7 for Reflux Symptom Index and Reflux Finding Score were enrolled. Twenty healthy patients with no reflux disease and dry eye were included as the control group. After evaluation of ocular discomfort symptoms, the tear break-up time test, corneal staining, and tear sampling were performed. Tear pepsin levels were measured using Pep-test^TM kit. Results: Patients with LPR showed ocular surface changes including epithelial damage (48%) and impairment of lacrimal function (72%). Tear pepsin levels were detectable in 32 out of 50 (64%) patients with LPR (mean ± SD: 55.4 ± 67.5 ng/mL) and in none of the control subjects. Most of the LPR patients complained of ocular discomfort symptoms, including itching (38%), redness (56%), or foreign body sensation (40%). Tear pepsin levels were significantly correlated with the severity of LPR disease and with ocular surface changes. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach, including ophthalmological evaluation, should be considered in order to improve the management of patients with LPR. Full article

The peptidyl transferase center of the modern ribosome has been found to encompass an area of twofold pseudosymmetry (SymR). This observation strongly suggests that the very core of the ribosome arose from a dimerization event between two modest-sized RNAs. It was previously shown that at least four non-standard interactions exist between the two halves of SymR. Herein, we verify that the structure of the SymR is highly conserved with respect to both ribosome transition state and phylogenetic diversity. These comparisons also reveal two additional sites of interaction between the two halves of SymR and refine our understanding of the previously known interactions. In addition, the possible role that magnesium may have in the coordination, stabilization, association, and evolutionary history of the two halves (A-region and P-region) was examined. Together, the results identify a likely site where structural elements and Mg²⁺ ions may have facilitated the ligation of two aboriginal RNAs into a single unit. Full article

This study investigated the suppressive effect of exercise preconditioning against colitis induced by high-fat diet (HF) plus dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in wild-type mice. Male mice (C57BL/6) aged 6 weeks were assigned to standard chow (SC, n = 10) or HF (n = 10) or HF followed by DSS (HF+DSS, n = 10) or exercise preconditioning (EX) followed by HF+DSS (EX+HF+DSS, n = 10) for a total of 15 weeks. After 12 weeks of dietary treatments and/or exercise preconditioning, mice in the DSS groups were subjected to administration of 2 cycles of 5-day DSS (2% w/v) with a 7-day interval between cycles. HF resulted in colitis symptoms and histological changes, infiltration of immunity cells, decreased gut barrier proteins, increased pro-inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokine such as adiponectin, which deteriorated after administration of DSS. Exercise preconditioning alleviated HF+DSS-induced colitis and caused significant modifications in gut microbiota: decreased Bacteroides vulgatus (p = 0.050) and increased Akkermansia muciniphila (p = 0.050). The current findings suggest that exercise preconditioning attenuates the severity of HF+DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice. Full article

Protein glycosylation is a post-translational modification that impacts on protein activity, stability, and interactions. It was sensitively altered by the cellular state and, therefore, is now used for a diagnostic or prognostic indicator of various human diseases such as cancer. To evaluate the clinical feasibility in the veterinary area, the N-glycan biomarkers were discovered from canine serum for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA), which is one of the most common diseases of dogs. N-glycome was obtained from 20 μL of canine serum by the enzymatic cleavage followed by the purification and enrichment using solid-phase extraction. Independent compositions of 163 and 463 N-glycans were found from healthy control (n = 41) and osteoarthritis patients (n = 92), respectively. Initially, 31 of the potential biomarkers were screened by the p-values below 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ from ANOVA. Then, the area under the curve (AUC) and the intensity ratio between OA patient and healthy control (P/C ratio) were calculated. Considering the diagnostic efficacy, the AUC bigger than 0.9 and the P/C ratio larger than 3.0 were used to discover 16 N-glycans as diagnostic biomarkers. Particularly, five of the diagnostic biomarkers were AUC above 0.99 and three of N-glycans had AUC 1.0. The results suggest a clear possibility for N-glycan biomarkers to be used as a clinical tool in the veterinary medical area enabling to provide objective and non-invasive diagnostic information. Full article

Fatty liver syndrome is an emerging health problem in the world, due to the high prevalence of obesity and alcohol use disorder. Given the nature of the disease’s advancement to cirrhosis and liver-related complications, it is important to assess the severity of the disease, which is typically done via a liver biopsy. Due to the limitations and risks of liver biopsy, the role of noninvasive tests is essential and evolving to stratify the stage of the liver disease, predict the outcomes, and/or monitor the treatment response. This review is focused on noninvasive tests, including the use of serum-based biomarkers, ultrasound-based shear wave elastography, transient elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography in both clinical and research settings. Full article

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy in the oral cavity. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis of advanced states has not significantly improved. Depth of invasion, pattern of invasion such as tumor budding grade, lingual lymph node metastasis in early stages, collective cell migration and circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood are some examples of the mechanisms that are currently receiving increasing attention in the evaluation of the prognosis of tongue cancers. Anatomic-based surgery showed that it is possible to improve loco-regional control of tongue cancer. In patients with a “T-N tract involvement”, there is significantly more distant recurrence (40%) in patients undergoing a compartmental tongue surgery. In general, the neoplastic infiltration of the lingual muscles is traced back to the finding of neoplastic tissue along the course of a muscle; however, the muscle fibers, due to their spatial conformation and the organization of the extracellular matrix, could influence the movement of tumor cells through the muscle, leaving its three-dimensional structure unchanged. We need to exclude the possibility that tongue muscle fibers represent a mechanism for the diffusion of cancer cells without muscle invasion. Full article

Rodent models have been widely used as analogs for estimating spaceflight-relevant molecular mechanisms in human tissues. NASA GeneLab provides access to numerous spaceflight omics datasets that can potentially generate novel insights and hypotheses about fundamental space biology when analyzed in new and integrated fashions. Here, we performed a pilot study to elucidate space biological mechanisms across tissues by reanalyzing mouse RNA-sequencing spaceflight data archived on NASA GeneLab. Our results showed that clock gene expressions in spaceflight mice were altered compared with those in ground control mice. Furthermore, the results suggested that spaceflight promotes asynchrony of clock gene expressions between peripheral tissues. Abnormal circadian rhythms are associated not only with jet lag and sleep disorders but also with cancer, lifestyle-related diseases, and mental disorders. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of elucidating the causes of circadian rhythm disruptions using the unique approach of space biology research to one day potentially develop countermeasures that benefit humans on Earth and in space. Full article

Metformin is reported to affect human gut microbiota; however, the nature of this association in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is unknown. We enrolled 31 patients with T2DM who took metformin for the first time in this study. We compared them before and after four weeks of taking metformin. Fecal samples were collected and 16S rDNA sequences were performed to identify the gut microbiota. Blood samples and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaire results, denoting gastro-intestinal symptoms, were also collected. In the whole-group analysis, no significant differences were found at the phylum level. In a subgroup of 21 patients that excluding those using medications affecting gut microbiota, there was a significant decrease of the phylum Firmicutes (p = 0.042) and of the ratio of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes abundances (p = 0.04) after taking metformin. Changes in abdominal pain (r = −0.56, p = 0.008) and regurgitation (r = −0.53, p = 0.01) were associated with Parabacteroides. Despite there being no direct association with abdominal symptoms, our study revealed that the composition of gut microbiota in Japanese individuals with T2DM partially changed after starting metformin. Full article

There is limited data on pregnancy outcomes in Pompe Disease (PD) resulting from deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase. Late-onset PD is characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and decline of respiratory function secondary to the involvement of the respiratory muscles. In a cohort of twenty-five females, the effects of both PD on the course of pregnancy and the effects of pregnancy on PD were investigated. Reproductive history, course of pregnancy, use of Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), PD symptoms, and outcomes of each pregnancy were obtained through a questionnaire. Among 20 subjects that reported one or more pregnancies, one subject conceived while on ERT and continued therapy through two normal pregnancies with worsening of weakness during pregnancy and improvement postpartum. While fertility was not affected, pregnancy may worsen symptoms, or cause initial symptoms to arise. Complications with pregnancy or birth were not higher, except for an increase in the rate of stillbirths (3.8% compared to the national average of 0.2–0.7%). Given small sample size and possible bias of respondents being only women who have been pregnant, further data may be needed to better analyze the effects of pregnancy on PD, and the effects of ERT on pregnancy outcomes. Full article