Effects of Spatial Food Distribution on Search Behavior in Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

To analyze how search strategies are adapted according to the geometric distribution of food sources, the authors submitted rats to a search task in which they had to explore 9 food trays in an open field and avoid visiting already-depleted trays. Trays were spatially arranged in 4 independent configurations: a cross, a 3 × 3 matrix, 3 clusters of 3 trays each, and a random configuration. Rats exhibited differential search efficiency as a specific effect of the susceptibility of the configurations to being explored in a principled way: Crosses were first, matrices or clusters were in the middle, and random configurations were last. Although no exhaustive searches or highly principled patterns were observed in any of the configurations, performances improved as the sessions went by. Thus, structural affordances of the environment influence the construction not only of search strategies but also of information linked to where the reward is. © 2007 American Psychological Association

Evaluation of qualitative and quantitative taste alterations in COVID-19

Taste dysfunctions occur in a large proportion of COVID-19 patients. This observational study compared interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in mild and moderate COVID-19 patients with the type (quantitative or qualitative) of taste disorders. The 208 COVID-19 patients (118 men and 90 women) showing only taste dysfunctions as prodromic symptoms were classified as mild and moderate patients. The evaluation of the taste disorder was carried out using a survey. The IL-6 levels were measured with a chemiluminescence assay. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon rank, Welch's, and Mann-Whitney tests (p <0.05). The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the perception of sour and salty, nor in the presence of dysgeusia and phantogeusia in moderate versus mild patients (p>0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in the perception of umami, bitter, sweet, and the presence of parageusia in moderate versus mild patients (p<0.05). There was an impairment of multiple tastes up to ageusia in patients with high IL-6 levels. The results showed that dysfunctions in the perception of sweet, bitter, umami, and the presence of parageusia can be considered as signs of more severe forms of COVID-19

Potential Role of miR-196a and miR-196b as Prognostic Biomarkers of Survival in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

The etiopathogenetic mechanisms involving tumor genesis, including alteration of cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and death, may lead to alterations in microRNAs (miR) expression. The hypothesis is that with the presence in the literature of recent studies conducted on miR-196a and miR-196b, it is possible to clearly determine, by aggregating the results, whether miR-196 upregulation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues can represent a prognostic biomarker of survival through hazard ratio (HR) analysis. The systematic review was conducted following the indications of the PRISMA, and four electronic databases were used (Science Direct, SCOPUS, PubMed, and Cochrane Central), with the addition of gray literature. Combinations of keywords were used, such as miR-196, miR-196 AND HNSCC, microRNA AND HNSCC, LSCC AND miR-196, OSCC AND miR-196, OPSCC AND miR-196, HSCC AND miR-196. The meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were performed using RevMan 5.41 software and Stata 13 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) with the implementation of the R 4.2 software. This search identified 1593 reports and, at the end of the selection, five articles were inserted. The results of the meta-analysis report an aggregate HR for overall survival (OS), between the highest and lowest miR-196 expression of 1.67, 95% CI: [1.16, 2.49]. In this meta-analysis, we found that the forest plot is in favor of higher OS in HNSCC patients, compared with the control, with low miR-196 expression, correlating this data with a favorable prognosis, which indicated the potential role of this miRNA in strengthening the therapy sensitiveness of the HNSCC patients. Consequently, the present systematic review places itself, together with other systematic reviews on this topic, in a key role to the finding of Phase 3 clinical trials studies, in search for a prognostic model of miR-196 for HNSCC. In conclusion, with the limitations of the meta-analysis, it can be argued that miRs of the miR-196 family could be independent prognostic biomarkers of survival for HNSCC

3D graphene scaffolds for skeletal muscle regeneration: future perspectives

Although skeletal muscle can regenerate after injury, in chronic damages or in traumatic injuries its endogenous self-regeneration is impaired. Consequently, tissue engineering approaches are promising tools for improving skeletal muscle cells proliferation and engraftment. In the last decade, graphene and its derivates are being explored as novel biomaterials for scaffolds production for skeletal muscle repair. This review describes 3D graphene-based materials that are currently used to generate complex structures able not only to guide cell alignment and fusion but also to stimulate muscle contraction thanks to their electrical conductivity. Graphene is an allotrope of carbon that has indeed unique mechanical, electrical and surface properties and has been functionalized to interact with a wide range of synthetic and natural polymers resembling native musculoskeletal tissue. More importantly, graphene can stimulate stem cell differentiation and has been studied for cardiac, neuronal, bone, skin, adipose, and cartilage tissue regeneration. Here we recapitulate recent \ufb01ndings on 3D scaffolds for skeletal muscle repairing and give some hints for future research in multifunctional graphene implants

Expression of Beta-Catenin, Cadherins and P-Runx2 in Fibro-Osseous Lesions of the Jaw: Tissue Microarray Study

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) and hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome (HPT-JT) are wellcharacterized benign bone fibro-osseous lesions. The intracellular mechanism leading to excessive deposition of fibrous tissue and alteration of differentiation processes leading to osteomalacia have not yet been fully clarified. Tissue Microarray (TMA)-based immunohistochemical expression of  -catenin, CK-AE1/AE3, Ki-67, cadherins and P-Runx2 were analyzed in archival samples from nine patients affected by FD and HPT-JT and in seven controls, with the aim of elucidating the contribution of these molecules ( -catenin, cadherins and P-Runx2) in the osteoblast differentiation pathway.  -catenin was strongly upregulated in FD, showing a hyper-cellulated pattern, while it was faintly expressed in bone tumors associated with HPT-JT. Furthermore, the loss of expression of OBcadherin in osteoblast lineage in FD was accompanied by N-cadherin and P-cadherin upregulation (p < 0.05), while E-cadherin showed a minor role in these pathological processes. P-Runx2 showed over-expression in six out of eight cases of FD and stained moderately positive in the rimming lining osteoblasts in HPT-JT syndrome.  -catenin plays a central role in fibrous tissue proliferation and accompanies the lack of differentiation of osteoblast precursors in mature osteoblasts in FD. The study showed that the combined evaluation of the histological characteristics and the histochemical and immunohistochemical profile of key molecules involved in osteoblast differentiation are useful in the diagnosis, classification and therapeutic management of fibrous-osseous lesions

Red blood cells membrane micropolarity as a novel diagnostic indicator of type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Classification of the category of diabetes is extremely important for clinicians to diagnose and select the correct treatment plan. Glycosylation, oxidation and other post-translational modifications of membrane and transmembrane proteins, as well as impairment in cholesterol homeostasis, can alter lipid density, packing, and interactions of Red blood cells (RBC) plasma membranes in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, thus varying their membrane micropolarity. This can be estimated, at a submicrometric scale, by determining the membrane relative permittivity, which is the factor by which the electric field between the charges is decreased relative to vacuum. Here, we employed a membrane micropolarity sensitive probe to monitor variations in red blood cells of healthy subjects (n=16) and patients affected by type 1 (T1DM, n=10) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, n=24) to provide a cost-effective and supplementary indicator for diabetes classification. We find a less polar membrane microenvironment in T2DM patients, and a more polar membrane microenvironment in T1DM patients compared to control healthy patients. The differences in micropolarity are statistically significant among the three groups (p<0.01). The role of serum cholesterol pool in determining these differences was investigated, and other factors potentially altering the response of the probe were considered in view of developing a clinical assay based on RBC membrane micropolarity. These preliminary data pave the way for the development of an innovative assay which could become a tool for diagnosis and progression monitoring of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Membrane micropolarity, Red blood cells, Fluorescence lifetime microscopy, Metabolic imaging, Personalized medicin

Oral lichen planus in children: An Italian case series

Oral lichen planus usually occurs in adults; there are no clear data regarding the incidence and the clinical features of oral lichen planus in children. This paper reports clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes of 13 Italian patients with oral lichen planus in childhood diagnosed between 2001 and 2021. The most common finding was keratotic lesions with reticular or papular/plaque-like patterns, confined to the tongue in seven patients. Although oral lichen planus in childhood is rare and the malignant transformation index is unknown, specialists must be aware of its characteristics and oral mucosal lesions must be correctly diagnosed and managed

MicroRNA-21 Expression as a Prognostic Biomarker in Oral Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Oral carcinoma represents one of the main carcinomas of the head and neck region, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Smoking and tobacco use are recognized risk factors. Prognostic survival biomarkers can be a valid tool for assessing a patient’s life expectancy and directing therapy towards specific targets. Among the biomarkers, the alteration of miR-21 expression in tumor tissues is increasingly reported as a valid prognostic biomarker of survival for oral cancer. The purpose of this meta-analysis was, therefore, to investigate and summarize the results in the literature concerning the potential prognostic expression of tissue miR-21 in patients with OSCC. Methods: The systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines using electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with the use of combinations of keywords, such as miR-21 AND oral cancer, microRNA AND oral cancer, and miR-21. The meta- analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.41 software. Results: At the end of the article-selection process, 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the result for the main outcome was a pooled HR per overall survival (OS) of 1.29 (1.16–1.44) between high and low expression of miR-21. Conclusions: The data in the literature and the results emerging from the systematic review indicate that miR-21 can provide a prognostic indication in oral cancer

From Bench to Bedside in Precision Medicine: Diabetes Mellitus and Peri-Implantitis Clinical Indices with a Short-Term Follow-Up: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from impaired secretion or action of insulin. The high levels of glucose in the blood can negatively affect the healing processes through alterations in vascularization, bone remodeling, and with increased susceptibility to infections. Diabetes mellitus is therefore a risk factor not only for many systemic diseases, but also for localized problems such as peri-implantitis. The objective of this systematic review was to identify a clear relationship between peri-implant inflammation indices and glycemic levels, through the investigation of prospective studies that report data on a short-term follow-up period. Our hypothesis was that peri-implant inflammatory indices may already present themselves in a statistically significant way as altered in patients with DM compared to patients without DM. Materials and methods: This review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Results: More than 992 records were identified in the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial electronic databases and only seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis report worse outcomes in patients with DM, even in the short period of six months, for peri-implatitis inflammation indices, such as Marginal bone loss (standardized (Std). mean difference (MD) 12 months 0.81 [0.45, 1.17].82 [0.53, 3.10]), Bleeding on probing (Std. MD 12 months 2.84 [1.34, 4.34].44 [1.41, 5.50]), Probing depth (Std. MD 12 months 1.14 [0.60, 1.68].24 [0.66, 3.83]), and the plaque index (Std. MD 12 months 2.83 [0.09, 5.57]). Conclusion: The literature linking glycaemic control to peri-implant disease is highly heterogeneous due to lack of consistency of the definition of peri-implantitis and its clinical indicators among studies. Therefore, interpretation of finding and relevance to clinical practice should be considered on individual bases. In the era of personalized medicine, the clinician should utilize individualized information from translational researches and analyze all risk factors to provide the patient with evidence-based treatment options

Biomimetic antimicrobial cloak by graphene-oxide agar hydrogel

Antibacterial surfaces have an enormous economic and social impact on the worldwide technological fight against diseases. However, bacteria develop resistance and coatings are often not uniform and not stable in time. The challenge is finding an antibacterial coating that is biocompatible, cost-effective, not toxic, and spreadable over large and irregular surfaces. Here we demonstrate an antibacterial cloak by laser printing of graphene oxide hydrogels mimicking the Cancer Pagurus carapace. We observe up to 90% reduction of bacteria cells. This cloak exploits natural surface patterns evolved to resist to microorganisms infection, and the antimicrobial efficacy of graphene oxide. Cell integrity analysis by scanning electron microscopy and nucleic acids release show bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect. Nucleic acids release demonstrates microorganism cutting, and microscopy reveals cells wrapped by the laser treated gel. A theoretical active matter model confirms our findings. The employment of biomimetic graphene oxide gels opens unique possibilities to decrease infections in biomedical applications and chirurgical equipment; our antibiotic-free approach, based on the geometric reduction of microbial adhesion and the mechanical action of Graphene Oxide sheets, is potentially not affected by bacterial resistance