Diversity and functionality of bacillus species associated with alkaline fermentation of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L. Verdc) into dawadawa-type African condiment

The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of Bacillus species in dawadawa; aiding potential starter cultures selection for alkaline fermentation of bambara groundnut into dawadawa-type condiments based on their genotypic and volatile compound profiles. Bacillus species (n = 71) isolated from spontaneously fermented dawadawa were identified using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as B. cereus (35%), B. licheniformis (30%), B. pumilus (21%), B. subtilis (10%) and B. amyloliquefaciens (4%). Further molecular typing was performed using GTG5 rep-PCR typing, 16S rRNA and gyrA gene sequencing. The gyrA gene sequence analysis exhibited the highest species discriminatory power with B. subtilis subsp. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum, B. pumilus and B. licheniformis as the distinct clusters. Representative strains from each cluster were then used as starter cultures for the production of dawadawa from bambara groundnut. Volatile compounds analysis using headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) and comprehensive gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOF MS) identified distinct chemical profiles produced by each of the four strains. Volatile compounds produced by B. subtilis subsp. subtilis (strain SFBA3) were categorized by dimethyl disulfide, methanethiol and nonanal while B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum (strain SFBA2) produced acetic acid and hexadecanoic acid. B. cereus (strain PALB7) produced 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine and 2-butanone which were not detected in the other condiments. Hexanal was the main compound produced by B. licheniformis (strain OALB7).https://link.springer.com/journal/2172019-07-01hj2018ChemistryFood Scienc

Myotube growth is associated with cancer-like metabolic reprogramming and is limited by phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase

Funding Information: Brendan M. Gabriel was supported by fellowships from the Novo Nordisk Foundation ( NNF19OC0055072 ) & the Wenner-Gren Foundation , an Albert Renold Travel Fellowship from the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes , and an Eric Reid Fund for Methodology from the Biochemical Society . Abdalla D. Mohamed was funded initially by Sarcoma UK (grant number SUK09.2015 ), then supported by funding from Postdoctoral Fellowship Program ( Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany ), and currently by Cancer Research UK . Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The AuthorsPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Use of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill extracts from Brazilian Caatinga as an alternative of natural moisturizer in cosmetic formulations

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was the obtainment of Opuntia fícus-indica (L.) Mill extract for the development of cosmetic formulations and in vivo evaluation of its moisturizing effects. The formulations were tested for preliminary and accelerated stability. Organoleptic characteristics, pH values and rheological behavior were assessed. The evaluation of moisturizing efficacy of the emulsions formulated with 3.0% of Polyacrylamide (and) C13-14 Isoparaffin (and) Laureth-7 containing 1.0 and 3.0% of O. ficus-indica hydroglycolic extract (EHG001) was performed using the capacitance method (Corneometer(r)) and the transepidermal water loss - TEWL evaluation (Tewameter(r)). The emulsions formulated were stable, exhibiting pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior. The results of evaluation of moisturizing efficacy showed increased skin hydration after five hours by mainly increasing the skin barrier effect. The formulations containing 1.0 and 3.0% of EHG001 enhanced the skin barrier effect by reducing TEWL up to four hours after application. The results observed suggest that O. ficus-indica hydroglycolic extract may act through a humectant and occlusion mechanism

An Integrated TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource to Drive High-Quality Survival Outcome Analytics

For a decade, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program collected clinicopathologic annotation data along with multi-platform molecular profiles of more than 11,000 human tumors across 33 different cancer types. TCGA clinical data contain key features representing the democratized nature of the data collection process. To ensure proper use of this large clinical dataset associated with genomic features, we developed a standardized dataset named the TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource (TCGA-CDR), which includes four major clinical outcome endpoints. In addition to detailing major challenges and statistical limitations encountered during the effort of integrating the acquired clinical data, we present a summary that includes endpoint usage recommendations for each cancer type. These TCGA-CDR findings appear to be consistent with cancer genomics studies independent of the TCGA effort and provide opportunities for investigating cancer biology using clinical correlates at an unprecedented scale. Analysis of clinicopathologic annotations for over 11,000 cancer patients in the TCGA program leads to the generation of TCGA Clinical Data Resource, which provides recommendations of clinical outcome endpoint usage for 33 cancer types

ARHGEF12 influences the risk of glaucoma by increasing intraocular pressure

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a blinding disease. Two important risk factors for this disease are a positive family history and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which is also highly heritable. Genes found to date associated with IOP and POAG are ABCA1, CAV1/CAV2, GAS7 and TMCO1. However, these genes explain only a small part of the heritability of IOP and POAG.We performed a genome-wide association study of IOP in the population-based RotterdamStudy I and Rotterdam Study II using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) imputed to 1000 Genomes. In this discovery cohort (n = 8105), we identified a newlocus associated with IOP. The most significantly associated SNPwas rs58073046 (ß = 0.44, P-value = 1.87 × 10-8, minor allele frequency = 0.12), within the gene ARHGEF12. Independent replication in five population-based studies (n = 7471) resulted in an effect size in the same direction that was significantly associated (ß = 0.16, P-value = 0.04). The SNP was also significantly associated with POAG in two independent case-control studies [n = 1225 cases and n = 4117 controls; odds ratio (OR) = 1.53, P-value = 1.99 × 10-8], especially with high-tension glaucoma (OR = 1.66, P-value = 2.81 × 10-9; for normal-tension glaucoma OR = 1.29, P-value = 4.23 × 10-2). ARHGEF12 plays an important role in the RhoA/RhoA kinase pathway, which has been implicated in IOP regulation. Furthermore, it binds to ABCA1 and links the ABCA1, CAV1/CAV2 and GAS7 pathway to Mendelian POAG genes (MYOC, OPTN, WDR36). In conclusion, this study identified a novel association between IOP and ARHGEF12

Etiology-specific incidence and mortality of diarrheal diseases in the African region : a systematic review and meta-analysis

DATA AVAILABILITY : All results and data generated is provided within the manuscript or supplementary information files.BACKGROUND : Diarrheal diseases substantially affect public health impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), particularly in Africa, where previous studies have indicated a lack of comprehensive data. With a growing number of primary studies on enteric infections in Africa, this study aimed to estimate the incidence and mortality of diarrheal pathogens across all ages in Africa in the year 2020. We also explored different methodological assumptions to allow comparison with other approaches. METHODS : Through a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from African LMICs, we estimated the etiology proportions for diarrheal diseases and deaths. We combined the etiology proportions with incidence data collected from a population survey in Africa from 2020 and mortality data from the Global Health Observatory of WHO. RESULTS : We estimated 1,008 billion diarrhea cases (95% UI 447 million-1,4 billion) and 515,031 diarrhea deaths (95% UI 248,983-1,007,641) in the African region in 2020. In children under five, enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (44,073 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 18,818 − 60,922) and G. lamblia (36,116 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 15,245 − 49,961) were the leading causes of illness. Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) (155 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 106.5-252.9) and rotavirus (61.5 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 42.3-100.3) were the primary causes of deaths. For children over five and adults, Salmonella spp. caused the largest number of diarrheal cases in the population of children ≥ 5 and adults (122,090 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 51,833 − 168,822), while rotavirus (16.4 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 4.2–36.7) and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (14.6 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 3.9–32.9) causing the most deaths. Geographically, the highest incidence of diarrhea was in Eastern Africa for children under five (114,389 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 34,771 − 172,884) and Central Africa for children over five and adults (117,820 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 75,111–157,584). Diarrheal mortality was highest in Western Africa for both children below five and above (children < 5: 194.5 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 120-325.4; children ≥ 5 and above: 33.5 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 12.9–75.1). CONCLUSION : These findings provide new information on the incidence and mortality of sixteen pathogens and highlight the need for surveillance and control of diarrheal infectious diseases in Africa. The cause-specific estimates are crucial for prioritizing diarrheal disease prevention in the region.This study is part of the “FOCAL (Foodborne disease epidemiology, surveillance, and Control in African LMIC)” Project, a multi-partner, multi-study research grant co-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom Government.https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.comhj2024Consumer ScienceFood ScienceSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Prevalence Varies Widely Between Qualitative and Quantitative Radiological Assessment Methods: The Rotterdam Study

Accurate diagnosis of vertebral osteoporotic fractures is crucial for the identification of individuals at high risk of future fractures. Different methods for radiological assessment of vertebral fractures exist, but a gold standard is lacking. The aim of our study was to estimate statistical measures of agreement and prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the population-based Rotterdam Study, across two assessment methods. The quantitative morphometry assisted by SpineAnalyzer® (QM SA) method evaluates vertebral height loss that affects vertebral shape whereas the algorithm-based qualitative (ABQ) method judges endplate integrity and includes guidelines for the differentiation of vertebral fracture and nonfracture deformities. Cross-sectional radiographs were assessed for 7582 participants aged 45 to 95 years. With QM SA, the prevalence was 14.2% (95% CI, 13.4% to 15.0%), compared to 4.0% (95% CI, 3.6% to 4.5%) with ABQ. Inter-method agreement according to kappa (κ) was 0.24. The highest agreement between methods was among females (κ = 0.31), participants age >80 years (κ = 0.40), and at the L1 level (κ = 0.40). With ABQ, most fractures were found at the thoracolumbar junction (T12–L1) followed by the T7–T8 level, whereas with QM SA, most deformities were in the mid thoracic (T7–T8) and lower thoracic spine (T11–T12), with similar number of fractures in both peaks. Excluding mild QM SA deformities (grade 1 with QM) from the analysis increased, the agreement between the methods from κ = 0.24 to 0.40, whereas reexamining mild deformities based on endplate depression increased agreement from κ = 0.24 to 0.50 (p <0.001). Vertebral fracture prevalence differs significantly between QM SA and ABQ; reexamining QM mild deformities based on endplate depression would increase the agreement between methods. More widespread and consistent application of an optimal method may improve clinical care

Serum levels of S-100 protein are directly proportional to the size, number, thickness and degree of cellularity of congenital melanocytic nevi

To the Editor: Some patients with congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) present progressive growth and thickening, extracutaneous involvement (neurocutaneous melanocytosis, NCM) or neoplastic transformation (melanoma); and others remain stable or even regress. There are no markers to assess progression or follow-up. Recently, we found S-100, a protein which acts on cell differentiation and proliferation, elevated in CMN.1 S-100 is a ligand of the RAGE pathway (related to the MAPK-pathway), and low serum levels of soluble-RAGE were related to poor survival in melanoma.2 Also SOX10, expressed in melanocytes with high specificity, is useful in detection, prognosis and treatment assessment of melanoma.3 We explored if S-100, RAGE and SOX10 serum levels vary in children’s CMN and assessed clinical or pathological correlations

Diagnosis and management of pseudohypoparathyroidism and related disorders: first international Consensus Statement

This Consensus Statement covers recommendations for the diagnosis and management of patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and related disorders, which comprise metabolic disorders characterized by physical findings that variably include short bones, short stature, a stocky build, early-onset obesity and ectopic ossifications, as well as endocrine defects that often include resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and TSH. The presentation and severity of PHP and its related disorders vary between affected individuals with considerable clinical and molecular overlap between the different types. A specific diagnosis is often delayed owing to lack of recognition of the syndrome and associated features. The participants in this Consensus Statement agreed that the diagnosis of PHP should be based on major criteria, including resistance to PTH, ectopic ossifications, brachydactyly and early-onset obesity. The clinical and laboratory diagnosis should be confirmed by a molecular genetic analysis. Patients should be screened at diagnosis and during follow-up for specific features, such as PTH resistance, TSH resistance, growth hormone deficiency, hypogonadism, skeletal deformities, oral health, weight gain, glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, as well as subcutaneous and/or deeper ectopic ossifications and neurocognitive impairment. Overall, a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach from infancy through adulthood, including a transition programme, should help us to improve the care of patients affected by these disorders

Informe Científico-Técnico: Nuevo sistema para la reducción del impacto de la pesca de arrastre de fondo en las costas españolas del Mediterráneo

Se presentan los resultados de un proyecto de desarrollo de un sistema de arte de arrastre alternativo, basado en el uso de unas puertas que no contactan con el fondo marino y que no implican ninguna otra modificación en el resto del arte de pesca. Del 4 Abril 2011 al 18 Mayo 2011 se llevó a cabo una campaña piloto, a bordo del B/P Nueva Joven Josefina, en aguas del Menorca (Islas Baleares). Durante la misma se realizaron un total de 43 pescas comerciales de arrastre de fondo entre 124 y 669 m de profundidad, 20 con un arte tradicional y 23 con un arte experimental, que a diferencia del anterior llevaba puertas Thyboron Tipo 15VFS, unidas a las malletas mediante cable y cadenas de 175 kg. La geometría de la red y el consumo de combustible se estimaron con sensores ITI y caudalimetros, integrados en el sistema SDR-10. Además se calcularon los rendimientos comerciales y los descartes, así como las distribuciones de tallas de las principales especies capturadas. Se capturaron un total de 213433 ejemplares correspondientes a 192 especies o categorías comerciales, con un peso de 5781 kg, de los cuales 3712 kg (64%) fueron captura comercial y 2069 kg (36%) descartes. Se midieron un total 29493 ejemplares de 109 especies. El arte experimental no ha mostrado diferencias significativas respecto del arte tradicional, por lo que se refiere a las maniobras de pesca comerciales, la composición de la captura total, los rendimientos de las principales especies comerciales y los descartes. Las distribuciones de tallas de estas especies tampoco han mostrado un patrón claro que diferencie los dos artes comparados. Dónde sí se han observado diferencias ha sido en el consumo de combustible, ya que con el arte experimental se ha reducido un 14% en la plataforma y un 4% en el talud, manteniendo e incluso aumentando las dimensiones del aparejo trabajando sobre el fondo. Un aspecto, este último, que puede conllevar un incremento del área barrida y, por tanto, del esfuerzo efectivo de pesca respecto al arte tradicional, y que será necesario gestionar/limitar en caso de que el uso de este tipo de puertas se extienda. Este cambio realizado con el arte experimental, unido a otras posibles modificaciones, muestran la posibilidad de seguir mejorando la pesquería de arrastre de fondo, con el objetivo de intentar hacerla ecológica y económicamente sostenible. Los resultados del presente proyecto han sido difundidos al sector pesquero de las Islas Baleares y, en general, a través de los medios de comunicació