Thioredoxin-1: a cardioprotector against stress

This editorial refers to ‘Thioredoxin-1 maintains mitochondrial function via mTOR signaling in the heart’ by S.I. Oka et al., pp. 1742–1755

Multimodality Cardiac Imaging in Young and Veteran Athletes: Updates on Atrial Function Assessment, Arrhythmia Predisposition and Pathology Discrimination.

Sports physicians and physiologists have aimed to assess exercise in young and master athletes so as to work out their conditioning levels and design training programs accordingly [...]

Energetic analysis and optimal design of a CHP plant in a frozen food processing factory through a dynamical simulation model

The proper design of cogeneration plants requires the choice of the technologies that best fits the ratio between heating and power loads. In this paper, a dynamical procedure of selecting and dimensioning a cogeneration plant, using deep and detailed energy, exergy and economic analysis of the entire production process of a frozen food production factory is proposed. The results highlight that a design method, based on a dynamic simulation, optimizes the energy efficiency of the food processing plant involved in the experimental test. Indeed, by considering the overall efficiency of the CHP + National grid system, the energy efficiency is 6% higher in the case of dynamic compared to a static design, resulting in better overall use of resources with a possible lower level of environmental impact. Moreover, the CHP plant designed with the proposed method generates electrical energy which appropriately matches that required by the process, with a surplus/deficit less than 4%, while the classic method never covers the amount required and results in a deficit greater than 20%. Finally, the annual savings of the solution derived from the dynamic method is 12% higher than that obtained with a traditional design technique. Considering the greater absolute cost of the cogeneration plant, this dynamic approach results in more profitable annual investment margins for the company

Thermal analysis of a cold room

The purpose of this research was to study the storage of fresh raw horticultural material processed and frozen in an industrial plant in southern Italy. A simulation technique (validated by experimental tests) was used giving the chance to evaluate the effect of bins location on the cooling capacity of the cold room avoiding expensive experimental tests. An external cooling system and an intermediate fluid ensure the cooling of the products. The air is distributed inside the cold room by two blowers that provide the forced convection of the air itself. First of all, experimental tests were carried out to validate the preliminary results obtained from the previous experiment, and then the authors carried out a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis in order to verify where a good arrangement of the storage bins is achieved inside the room. The tests were carried out in summer (July) on zucchini and peppers. The important deviations in the temperature of the product are mainly due to the different position occupied by the bins in the room. In fact, they are positioned at different distances and heights from the forced convection fans. Both simulation and experimental results show that the raw material cooled in the shortest possible time was the one placed to the shortest distance from the wall and at the lowest height of the room because of the low heat transfer through the floor. By increasing the distance from the access door through which the most significant heat transfer takes place, there is a small variation due to the optimal position of the storage bins inside the room, which still allows a good distribution of air

Thermo-fluid-dynamic characteristics of confluent jets for distribution of treated air in small environment

The diffusion of the air through nozzles and/or diffusers has been studied extensively thanks to the numerous examples of environmental conditioning systems and in general of systems in which the flow of matter escapes from particular openings. In this paper, we studied closed and small environments requiring thermo-hygrometric and ventilation control. Air jets are used to mix the treated air within the environment. The widespread diffusion of this technology, mainly conceived for large environments, justifies the characterization of a particular type of system realized by the authors. The first results of experimental tests carried out with a particular air conditioning system are showed in the present work. The particularity of the system consists in a low construction cost, possibility of modifications and operation according to the characteristics and needs to different agricultural species. This initial phase of the research related to the isothermal regime, allowed by the conditioning system, aimed to characterize the fluid-dynamic behaviour of the air diffusion systems realized with perforated surfaces. First tests were carried out in a specifically designed climatic room whose climate conditions are strictly controlled by a suitable control system under isothermal conditions. Moreover, an ad-hoc designed experimental device was used. It consists of a pantograph kinematic structure carrying the probes around in the fluid dynamic field. It allows measuring air velocity in different points in stationary or slowing enough transient conditions. The experimental data was used to validate the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to predict the internal airflow velocity distribution

Bilateral adrenal enucleation-induced changes in adenohypophyseal pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-related peptides synthesis and secretion: A comparative study with adrenalectomized rats

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the modulatory effect of transient changes in endogenous glucocorticoids, occurring after bilateral adrenal enucleation (ENUC), on anterior pituitary (AP) proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides synthesis and output in rats. For this purpose, adult female rats were either bilaterally ENUC, adrenalelectomized (ADX), or sham-operated (SHAM) and killed by decapitation 2, 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. Trunk blood was collected for measurements of ACTH, β-endorphin (β-END) and corticosterone (B) concentrations; APs were quickly dissected for the determination of ACTH, β-endorphin (β-END)-like (β-END-LI) and γ3-MSH contents and adrenal glands were removed and submitted to histological study. The results indicate that ENUC and ADX increased AP POMC-related peptides synthesis and release in association with changes in the AP processing of peptides belonging to the N-terminal (γ3-MSH), mid (ACTH) and C-terminal (β-LPH/ENDs) portions of POMC. While ADX abolished plasma B levels, ENUC induced a transient (day 2) decrease in plasma B concentrations which returned to SHAM levels at 7 days after surgery. These data tallied with the histological observations carried out, indicating a time-dependent regenerative process of the adrenal which was completed by three weeks after ENUC. There was a different pattern in plasma ACTH and β-END levels between ENUC and ADX; maximal plasma peptide levels were found 7–14 days after ENUC, then falling down to SHAM values at 21 days post ENUC. Conversely, there was a constant increment in plasma peptide levels up to 21 days after ADX. At 2 days after both ENUC and ADX all peptides measured in the AP were lower than SHAM values, thus reflecting a rapid corticotrope secretion. Thereafter, 7 or more days after surgery, AP peptide content in ADX rats increased, in a time-related fashion, up to 21 days after surgery. Only β-END-LI showed a similar AP content to that of the SHAM group, thereafter indicating a preferential cleavage of POMC to β-END long after ADX (21 days). ENUC rats showed increased AP POMC peptides content throughout the whole time, and it was significantly different from SHAM and ADX values 14 days post-surgery. Interestingly, we found an increment in AP γ3-MSH, a peptide which is preferentially synthesized in the intermediate lobe of the rat pituitary, in both ENUC and ADX situations. Our results further indicate that: 1) glucocorticoids, from regenerating adrenal origin, induce a fast negative feedback mechanism on AP secretion, and 2) there might be a delayed inhibitory action of newly synthesized corticosteroids on higher levels of the central nervous system. The lack of glucocorticoids (ADX) clearly corroborates a persistent enhancement of AP POMC-related peptides synthesis and secretion. The differences in AP processing of POMC between ENUC and ADX might be due to qualitative/quantitative changes in hypotalamic ACTH secretagogues output.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Test-time Unsupervised Domain Adaptation

Convolutional neural networks trained on publicly available medical imaging datasets (source domain) rarely generalise to different scanners or acquisition protocols (target domain). This motivates the active field of domain adaptation. While some approaches to the problem require labeled data from the target domain, others adopt an unsupervised approach to domain adaptation (UDA). Evaluating UDA methods consists of measuring the model's ability to generalise to unseen data in the target domain. In this work, we argue that this is not as useful as adapting to the test set directly. We therefore propose an evaluation framework where we perform test-time UDA on each subject separately. We show that models adapted to a specific target subject from the target domain outperform a domain adaptation method which has seen more data of the target domain but not this specific target subject. This result supports the thesis that unsupervised domain adaptation should be used at test-time, even if only using a single target-domain subjectComment: Accepted at MICCAI 202

Dépistage de l’infection à SARS-CoV-2 chez les voyageurs - Quelle approche pour évaluer le risque de transmis [SARS-CoV-2 screening in travelers: what approach to assess transmission risk ?]

Before a trip, a screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR is often required and raises the problem of detection of residual viral RNA at distance from the acute infection (post-Covid). At the University Hospital of Geneva, we developed an expertise to distinguish acute from post-Covid infections. Between October and December 2020, 30% of the people tested positive were able to travel because the result corresponded to post-Covid and 65% were put in isolation because of an acute infection with a risk of transmission. To overcome the detection of residual viral RNA by RT-PCR, a rapid antigenic test would be an interesting and less expensive alternative. It could also be performed a few hours before departure

A Mystery Unraveled: Non-tumorigenic pluripotent stem cells in human adult tissues

Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells have emerged as the gold standard of pluripotent stem cells and the class of 10 stem cell with the highest potential for contribution to regenerative and therapeutic application; however, their translational use is often impeded by teratoma formation, commonly associated with pluripotency. We discuss a population of nontumorigenic pluripotent stem cells, termed Multilineage Differentiating Stress Enduring (Muse) cells, which offer an innovative and 15 exciting avenue of exploration for the potential treatment of various human diseases. Areas covered: This review discusses the origin of Muse cells, describes in detail their various unique characteristics, and considers future avenues of their application and investigation with respect to what is currently known 20 of adult pluripotent stem cells in scientific literature. We begin by defining cell potency, then discussing both mesenchymal and various reported populations of pluripotent stem cells, and finally, delving into Muse cells and what sets them apart from their contemporaries. Expert opinion: Muse cells derived from adipose tissue (Muse-AT) are 25 efficiently, routinely and painlessly isolated from human lipoaspirate material, exhibit tripoblastic differentiation both spontaneously and under media-specific induction, and do not form teratomas. We describe qualities specific to Muse-ATcells and their potential impact on the field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy.Fil: Simerman, Ariel A.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Perone, Marcelo Javier. University of California; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gimeno, Maria Laura. University of California; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Dumesic, Daniel A.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Chazenblak, Gregorio D.. University of California; Estados Unido

Trans-generational epigenetic regulation associated with the amelioration of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Exon skipping is an effective strategy for the treatment of many Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) mutations. Natural exon skipping observed in several DMD cases can help in identifying novel therapeutic tools. Here, we show a DMD study case where the lack of a splicing factor (Celf2a), which results in exon skipping and dystrophin rescue, is due to a maternally inherited trans-generational epigenetic silencing. We found that the study case and his mother express a repressive long non-coding RNA, DUXAP8, whose presence correlates with silencing of the Celf2a coding region. We also demonstrate that DUXAP8 expression is lost upon cell reprogramming and that, upon induction of iPSCs into myoblasts, Celf2a expression is recovered leading to the loss of exon skipping and loss of dystrophin synthesis. Finally, CRISPR/Cas9 inactivation of the splicing factor Celf2a was proven to ameliorate the pathological state in other DMD backgrounds establishing Celf2a ablation or inactivation as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy