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DNA typing was requested to investigate a presumptive cancer diagnosis error by confirming whether benign and cancerous prostatic tissue in the same presurgical hoematoxytin and eosin stained slide belonged to the same person. After independent histological re-examination of the slide by a pathologist, manual slide dissection was used to guarantee independent and high recovery DNA isolation from each tissue section, avoiding carryover and background contamination. Nuclear DNA quantification performed by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed the absence of human DNA for short tandem repeat (STR) typing. Mitochondrial DNA was only obtained by performing PCR of very short fragments (∼100 bp), indicating high DNA degradation. Different low frequency hypervariable region I haplotypes were obtained from each tissue section (normal tissue section haplotype: 16224C, 162341, 1631 1C, 16356C; cancer tissue section haplotype: 1 6256T, 162701, 1 6293G). Only the normal tissue section haplotype matched that obtained from the patient's blood sample, indicating that the cancer tissue section originated from an unknown patient. These results supported the hypothesis of sample mix up during block processing or slide preparation by a carryover mechanism. Mitochondrial genetic typing is recommended to exclude the possibility of carryover artefacts when low DNA content and high degradation compromise conventional STR typing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is developed for simulating the dynamics of two ultrashort laser pulses inside a saturable absorbing media. This work discusses the results obtained using this numerical model for the prediction of the nonlinear absorbing media behaviour as well as how it affects the final double pulse combination. These results can be used to improve contrast cleaning conditions for high power laser chains and for synchronization studies, this last application was checked in the VEGA facility lab as a code validation.

We investigate the visual performance associated with adaptation to a daily wear soft contact lens on the human eye. For this purpose, we used tour parameters, one of which was an objective parameter, while the rest were subjective parameters. The objective parameter was a single quality parameter, a Merit function (Mf) derived from the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the overall [eye + contact lens] system The subjective parameters were the visual acuity (VA), the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and the standard adaptation criterion of Terry et al. (1993). The normality criterion for the MTF was determined by evaluating the fluctuations of the Mf over a day in five emmetropic observers, Fluctuations with no statistically significant differences in the merit function (p>0.05) and their standard deviation (8%) defined our standard criterion. The CSF and the VA were similarly measured (for emmetropic observers). The results obtained with emmetropic observers allowed us to establish a standard criterion for the evaluation parameters we propose. When this criterion is applied to daily soft wear disposable contact lenses, their performance proves to be good, since both the objective (MTF) and the subjective parameters (CSF, VA, adaptation criterion) always lie within the range defined by our criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-component system GacS/A and the posttranscriptional control system Rsm constitute a genetic regulation pathway in Gammaproteobacteria; in some species of Pseudomonas, this pathway is part of a multikinase network (MKN) that regulates the activity of the Rsm system. In this network, the activity of GacS is controlled by other kinases. One of the most studied MKNs is the MKN-GacS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, where GacS is controlled by the kinases RetS and LadS; RetS decreases the kinase activity of GacS, whereas LadS stimulates the activity of the central kinase GacS. Outside of the Pseudomonas genus, the network has been studied only in Azotobacter vinelandii. In this work, we report the study of the RetS kinase of A. vinelandii; as expected, the phenotypes affected in gacS mutants, such as production of alginates, polyhydroxybutyrate, and alkylresorcinols and swimming motility, were also affected in retS mutants. Interestingly, our data indicated that RetS in A. vinelandii acts as a positive regulator of GacA activity. Consistent with this finding, mutation in retS also negatively affected the expression of small regulatory RNAs belonging to the Rsm family. We also confirmed the interaction of RetS with GacS, as well as with the phosphotransfer protein HptB., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Hallux valgus (HV) is a complex deformity, with many associated risk factors. The flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon is a dynamic and potentially deforming force as it bowstrings laterally with HV. We hypothesized that FHL is more laterally inserted in the distal phalanx in cadavers with HV; therefore, it might be also a primary destabilizing force. We aim to compare the FHL distal insertion morphology and its relationship with osseous structures in cadavers with and without HV., Methods: Sixteen cadaver specimens, 8 with HV and 8 without (N-HV) were dissected. We evaluated FHL distal morphology in terms of its insertional footprint location and FHL long-axis position in relation to osseous anatomy., Results: Both the HV and N-HV groups displayed a laterally inserted footprint at the distal phalanx, with the HV group exhibiting median lateral translation of the footprint 6% greater than the N-HV group ( P  < .01). Both groups also demonstrated a laterally displaced position for the FHL long axis. The median FHL long axis for HV vs N-HV specimens 1 cm proximal to the IP joint was 9% more laterally displaced from the midaxis ( P  < .01), and at 1 cm proximal to the MTP joint was measured to be 15% more laterally displaced from the midaxis ( P  < .01)., Conclusion: FHL demonstrated an eccentric position in terms of insertion and trajectory in both the HV and N-HV groups, with greater lateralization in specimens exhibiting HV deformity. This eccentricity potentially creates a greater deforming force vector contributing to the development of HV., Clinical Relevance: The etiology and progression of HV deformity may include a lateralized insertion of the FHL tendon. Treatment implications remain unknown at this time., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest concerning the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Disclosure forms for all authors are available online.

The occurrence of mycotoxins on grapes poses a high risk for food safety; thus, it is necessary to implement effective prevention methods. In this work, a metagenomic approach revealed the presence of important mycotoxigenic fungi in grape berries, including Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus niger aggregate species, or Aspergillus section Circumdati . However, A. carbonarius was not detected in any sample. One of the samples was not contaminated by any mycotoxigenic species, and, therefore, it was selected for the isolation of potential biocontrol agents. In this context, Hanseniaspora uvarum U1 was selected for biocontrol in vitro assays. The results showed that this yeast is able to reduce the growth rate of the main ochratoxigenic and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus spp. occurring on grapes. Moreover, H. uvarum U1 seems to be an effective detoxifying agent for aflatoxin B 1 and ochratoxin A, probably mediated by the mechanisms of adsorption to the cell wall and other active mechanisms. Therefore, H. uvarum U1 should be considered in an integrated approach to preventing AFB 1 and OTA in grapes due to its potential as a biocontrol and detoxifying agent.

Purpose: To compare the safety and the visual outcomes of two experienced cataract surgeons who converted from extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) to manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) during a campaign for the prevention of blindness., Methods: Two surgeons used the ECCE technique (ECCE group) during a campaign in Burkina Faso on 93 consecutive cataract patients with a corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) <20/80 in the best eye. Both surgeons used MSICS for the first time on 98 consecutive cases in another campaign in Kenya after theoretical instructional courses., Results: There were no significant differences in CDVA at 3 months postoperatively. There were 69% of eyes with uncorrected distance visual acuity ≥20/60 in the MSICS group and 49% eyes in the ECCE group. Spherical equivalents ranged between -1D and +1D in 55% of the MSICS group versus 43% in the ECCE group. There were significant differences in the changes in the vertical component of astigmatism (J45) but not the horizontal (J0) component. There were no significant differences in the intraoperative complications. The most common postoperative complication was corneal edema on the first day in 40.86% and 19.38% of the ECCE and MSICS groups, respectively., Conclusion: Transitioning from ECCE to MSICS for experienced cataract surgeons in surgical campaigns is safe. The rate of complications is similar for both techniques. Slightly better visual and refractive outcomes can be achieved due to the decreased induction of corneal astigmatism.

Background: The assessment of quality of life (QOL), identifying functional capacity and frequency of angina and other cardiac symptoms, are key issues in the treatment of chronic patients or in those with disease instability., Objective: To identify predictors of quality of life (QOL) improvement in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS)., Methods: Patients hospitalized in a cardiology reference hospital were assessed with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at the time of admission and after 6 months. The analyzed outcome was the variation of the QOL score, resulting from the difference between the score after six months and the score at the time of admission. Differences between patients with or without 6-month QOL improvements regarding the demographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis., Results: Hypertensive patients presented lower improvement in QOL scores when compared to non-hypertensive ones [8.3(0-25) vs. 16.6(0-33.3); P=0.05], as well as patients with dyslipidemia, when compared to non-dyslipidemic ones [8.3(0-25) vs. 16.6(0-33.3); P=0.02]. Patients with unstable angina presented greater improvements in QOL in relation to those with NSTE myocardial infarction [16.6(0-33.3) vs. 8.3(-8.3-25); P=0.03]. By multivariate analysis, myocardial revascularization in the first 30-days was associated with the greater improvement in the QOL score (8.47 points; P=0.005). On the other side, the presence of dyslipidemia at the baseline evaluation was an independent predictor of worse QOL scores (-7.2 points; P=0.01)., Conclusion: Myocardial revascularization was associated with improvement in the 6-month QOL scores, while dyslipidemia was associated with worse scores.

Background and Purpose: Myocardial ischemia prolongs the QTc interval. Very little data exists about its prognostic implications in the non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NST-ACS)., Methods: This is and observational and prospective study in which we evaluated the prognostic implications of the QTc obtained at admission (AQTc) in the short- and long-term of the NST-ACS. The median of the follow-up was 17 months., Results: AQTc correlated adequately with the incidence of adverse events in the short- and long-term (P < .001), with the best cut-off point in 450 milliseconds. Patients with AQTc > or =450 presented higher frequency of in-hospital death: 8.8% vs 1.2%; P = .001, and MACE (death, recurrent ischemia, or urgent coronary revascularization): 72% vs 25%; P < .001. In a Cox regression analysis, we found 3 independent predictors of cardiovascular death after discharge: AQTc > or =450 (14.7% vs 2.1%; P < .0001), age >65 years and left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. Coronary revascularization reduced the risk of posthospitalary cardiovascular death in AQTc > or =450 milliseconds (5% vs 24%; P < .0001) but had no significant effect in AQTc<450 milliseconds., Conclusion: These findings provide a new evidence supporting the prognostic value of the AQTc in predicting unfavorable events in the short- and long-term of the NST-ACS.

The plastocyanin-cytochrome f complex from Nostoc exhibits relevant structural differences when compared with the homologous complexes from other cyanobacteria and plants, with electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions being differently involved in each case. Here, five negatively charged residues of a recombinant form of cytochrome f from Nostoc have been replaced with either neutral or positively charged residues, and the effects of mutations on the kinetics of electron transfer to wild-type and mutant forms of plastocyanin have been measured by laser flash absorption spectroscopy. Cytochrome f mutants with some negative charges replaced with neutral residues exhibit an apparent electron transfer rate constant with wild-type plastocyanin similar to or slightly higher than that of the wild-type species, whereas the mutants with negative charges replaced with positive residues exhibit a significantly lower reactivity. Taken together, these results indicate that the effects of neutralizing residues at the electrostatically charged patch of cytochrome f are smaller than those previously observed for mutants of plastocyanin, thus suggesting that it is the copper protein which determines the specificity of the electrostatic interaction with the heme protein. Moreover, cross reactions between mutants of both proteins reveal the presence of some short-range specific electrostatic interactions. Our findings also make evident the fact that in Nostoc the main contribution to the electrostatic nature of the complex is provided by the small domain of cytochrome f.