Human Body Research Articles

Engineering Redox Cofactor Balance for Improved 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Production in Escherichia coli.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) is the sole active form of folate functioning in the human body and is widely used as a nutraceutical. Unlike the pollution from chemical synthesis, microbial synthesis enables green production of 5-MTHF. In this study, Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) was selected as the host. Initially, by deleting 6-phosphofructokinase 1 and overexpressing glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, the glycolysis pathway flux decreased, while the pentose phosphate pathway flux enhanced. The ratios of NADH/NAD+ and NADPH/NADP+ increased, indicating elevated NAD(P)H supply. This led to more folate being reduced and the successful accumulation of 5-MTHF to 44.57 μg/L. Subsequently, formate dehydrogenases from Candida boidinii and Candida dubliniensis were expressed, which were capable of catalyzing the reaction of sodium formate oxidation for NAD(P)H regeneration. This further increased the NAD(P)H supply, leading to a rise in 5-MTHF production to 247.36 μg/L. Moreover, to maintain the balance between NADH and NADPH, pntAB and sthA, encoding transhydrogenase, were overexpressed. Finally, by overexpressing six key enzymes in the folate to 5-MTHF pathway and employing fed-batch cultivation in a 3 L fermenter, strain Z13 attained a peak 5-MTHF titer of 3009.03 μg/L, the highest level reported in E. coli so far. This research is a significant step toward industrial-scale microbial 5-MTHF production.

Gut microbiota-host lipid crosstalk in Alzheimer’s disease: implications for disease progression and therapeutics

AbstractTrillions of intestinal bacteria in the human body undergo dynamic transformations in response to physiological and pathological changes. Alterations in their composition and metabolites collectively contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The role of gut microbiota in Alzheimer’s disease is diverse and complex, evidence suggests lipid metabolism may be one of the potential pathways. However, the mechanisms that gut microbiota mediate lipid metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease pathology remain unclear, necessitating further investigation for clarification. This review highlights the current understanding of how gut microbiota disrupts lipid metabolism and discusses the implications of these discoveries in guiding strategies for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer’s disease based on existing data.

The Emerging Role and Clinical Applications of Morphomics in Diagnostic Imaging.

Analytic morphomics refers to the accurate measurement of specific biological markers of human body composition in diagnostic medical imaging. The increasing prevalence of disease processes that alter body composition including obesity, cachexia, and sarcopenia has generated interest in specific targeted measurement of these metrics to possibly prevent or reduce negative health outcomes. Typical morphomic measurements include the area and density of muscle, bone, vascular calcification, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat on a specific validated axial level in the patient's cross-sectional diagnostic imaging. A distinct advantage of these measurements is that they can be made retrospectively and opportunistically with pre-existing datasets. We provide a narrative review of the current state of art in morphomics, but also consider some potential future directions for this exciting field. Imaging based quantitative assessment of body composition has enormous potential across the breadth and scope of modern clinical practice. From risk stratification to treatment planning, and outcome assessment, all can be enhanced with the use of analytic morphomics. Moreover, it is likely that many new opportunities for personalized medicine will emerge as the field evolves. As radiologists, embracing analytic morphomics will enable us to contribute added value in the care of every patient.

Non-invasive quantification of 18F-florbetaben with total-body EXPLORER PET.

Kinetic modeling of 18F-florbetaben provides important quantification of brain amyloid deposition in research and clinical settings but its use is limited by the requirement of arterial blood data for quantitative PET. The total-body EXPLORER PET scanner supports the dynamic acquisition of a full human body simultaneously and permits noninvasive image-derived input functions (IDIFs) as an alternative to arterial blood sampling. This study quantified brain amyloid burden with kinetic modeling, leveraging dynamic 18F-florbetaben PET in aorta IDIFs and the brain in an elderly cohort. 18F-florbetaben dynamic PET imaging was performed on the EXPLORER system with tracer injection (300 MBq) in 3 individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 3 with mild cognitive impairment, and 9 healthy controls. Image-derived input functions were extracted from the descending aorta with manual regions of interest based on the first 30s after injection. Dynamic time-activity curves (TACs) for 110min were fitted to the two-tissue compartment model (2TCM) using population-based metabolite corrected IDIFs to calculate total and specific distribution volumes (VT, Vs) in key brain regions with early amyloid accumulation. Non-displaceable binding potential ([Formula: see text] was also calculated from the multi-reference tissue model (MRTM). Amyloid-positive (AD) patients showed the highest VT and VS in anterior cingulate, posterior cingulate, and precuneus, consistent with [Formula: see text] analysis. [Formula: see text]and VT from kinetic models were correlated (r² = 0.46, P < 2[Formula: see text] with a stronger positive correlation observed in amyloid-positive participants, indicating reliable model fits with the IDIFs. VT from 2TCM was highly correlated ([Formula: see text]= 0.65, P < 2[Formula: see text]) with Logan graphical VT estimation. Non-invasive quantification of amyloid binding from total-body 18F-florbetaben PET data is feasible using aorta IDIFs with high agreement between kinetic distribution volume parameters compared to [Formula: see text]in amyloid-positive and amyloid-negative older individuals.

Biofabrication Directions in Recapitulating the Immune System-on-a-Chip.

Ever since the implementation of microfluidics in the biomedical field, in vitro models have experienced unprecedented progress that has led to a new generation of highly complex miniaturized cell culture platforms, known as Organs-on-a-Chip (OoC). These devices aim to emulate biologically relevant environments, encompassing perfusion and other mechanical and/or biochemical stimuli, to recapitulate key physiological events. While OoCs excel in simulating diverse organ functions, the integration of the immune organs and immune cells, though recent and challenging, is pivotal for more comprehensive representation of human physiology. This comprehensive review covers the state of the art in the intricate landscape of immune OoC models, shedding light on the pivotal role of biofabrication technologies in bridging the gap between conceptual design and physiological relevance. We explore the multifaceted aspects of immune cell behavior, crosstalk and immune responses that are aimed to be replicated within microfluidic environments, emphasizing the need for precise biomimicry. Furthermore, we describe the latest breakthroughs and challenges of biofabrication technologies in immune OoC platforms, guiding researchers toward a deeper understanding of immune physiology and the development of more accurate and human predictive models for a.o., immune related disorders, immune development, immune programming, and immune regulation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Present situation of minimally invasive surgical treatment for early gastric cancer

Minimally invasive surgery is a kind of surgical operation, which is performed by using professional surgical instruments and equipment to inactivate, resect, repair or reconstruct the pathological changes, deformities and wounds in human body through micro-trauma or micro-approach, in order to achieve the goal of treatment, its surgical effect is equivalent to the traditional open surgery, while avoiding the morbidity of conventional surgical wounds. In addition, it also has the advantages of less trauma, less blood loss during operation, less psychological burden and quick recovery on patients, and these minimally invasive techniques provide unique value for the examination and treatment of gastric cancer patients. Surgical minimally invasive surgical techniques have developed rapidly and offer numerous options for the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC): endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), underwater EMR (UEMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR), endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE), submucosal tunnel endoscopic resection), laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS); Among them, EMR, EFTR and LECS technologies have a wide range of applications and different modifications have been derived from their respective surgical operations, such as band-assisted EMR (BA-EMR), conventional EMR (CEMR), over-the-scope clip-assisted EFTR, no-touch EFTR, the inverted LECS, closed LECS, and so on. These new and improved minimally invasive surgeries are more precise, specific and effective in treating different types of EGC.

Investigation of the amino acid composition of gluten-free biscuit with carob

The article studies the amino acid composition of the developed biscuit semi-finished products. When developing the recipe for gluten-free products, special attention was paid to the protein composition of the raw materials and the calculation of the amino acid score, since the lack of a certain amino acid affects the ability of gluten formation during the kneading process. In addition, an unbalanced amino acid composition can cause an imbalance in the human body and negatively affect the functioning of muscles, heart, brain and other organs, leading to diseases. The objectives of the research included the following: determination of the amino acid composition of gluten-free biscuit semi-finished products; analysis of amino acid composition and calculation of the amino acid score of gluten-free biscuit products. The amino acid composition was calculated according to well-known methods, taking into account the chemical composition of food products. During the calculation, the biological value of proteins was assessed, the utility coefficient, the amino acid composition balance coefficient, and the amino acid score difference coefficient were determined. It was established that the developed gluten-free biscuit contained a significant amount of threonine, namely 11.38 g per 100 g of protein. As a result of calculations, it was determined that the first limiting amino acid was tryptophan, the second was the compound «phenylalanine + tyrosine», the shares of which in the amino acid score were 0.12 and 0.90, respectively. An assessment of the complex balance of a gluten-free biscuit semi-finished product showed an insufficient level of balance in human nutrition, but the indicators of individual amino acids compared to the control made from wheat flour were higher, for example, valine by 1.8 times, isoleucine, leucine and lysine by 1.1 times, metheonine + cysteine 2.7 times and threonine 2.8 times.

Analysis of muscle implanted antenna performance with the variation of implantation depth

Abstract Implantation depth of Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs) is an important factor of communication quality between implantable antennas in IMDs and external devices. Therefore, it is required to study the effect of implantation depth on implantable antenna performance. In this article, dependence of resonant frequency and scattering parameters of a two-antenna system where one miniaturized meander-line antenna is placed within human muscle tissue layer operating at 2.45 GHz ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) band and a rectangular patch antenna placed outside human body, are tested. Here 15 values of implantation depth ranging over 5–35 mm inside muscle layer are taken and for each case resonant frequency and scattering parameters (S 11 and S 21) of the system are recorded. Statistical analysis has been performed to observe how these performance parameters are dependent on depth of implantation which may be varied at the time of surgery.

Field‐Free Region Scanning‐Based Magnetic Microcarrier Targeting in Multibifurcation Vessels

Navigation of microcarriers in complex environments as a vascular network remains an open challenge due to limited solutions for effective targeting strategy. Simultaneous real‐time visualization and manipulation of microcarriers at any depth in the human body is far to be achieved even though one of each task has been successfully proven. Herein, a novel targeting strategy is proposed that employs field‐free region (FFR) scanning to guide microcarriers through multiple bifurcations within a predefined vessel network. The main challenge of this method lies on how, where, and when to activate FFR to steer a particle to a desired direction, regardless of its spatial feedback. To achieve it, first, a mathematical model of particle motion in a vessel network is developed to predict particle behaviors and positions. Subsequently, an optimization algorithm is formulated to place FFR well‐coordinated around each bifurcation at a designated moment. The established solution for targeting a magnetic microcarrier is preemptively evaluated through finite element simulations and then successfully implemented in in vitro multibranched vessels.

Research on Human Lung Impedance Tomography Based on Soft Thresholding Image Segmentation and Reduced-Order Tikhonov Regularization

The lung is one of the most vital organs in the human body, and its condition is closely correlated with overall health. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), as a biomedical imaging technique, often produces low-quality reconstructed images due to its inherent ill-posedness in solving the inverse problem. To address this issue, this paper proposes a soft-threshold region segmentation algorithm with a relaxation factor. This algorithm segments the reconstructed lung images into internal regions, edge regions, and background regions, resulting in clearer boundaries in the reconstructed images. This facilitates the intuitive identification of regions of interest by healthcare professionals. Additionally, this segmentation algorithm is suitably combined with a dimension-reduced Tikhonov regularization algorithm. By utilizing the joint capabilities of these algorithms, the partition points belonging to the background region can be excluded from the sought grayscale vector, thereby improving the ill-posedness of the image reconstruction process and enhancing the quality of image reconstruction. Finally, a 16-electrode human lung EIT simulation model is established for the thoracic region and verified through simulation. Experimental validation is conducted using a human lung tank simulation platform to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Novel milestones for early esophageal carcinoma: From bench to bed

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for the majority of cases of EC. To effectively diagnose and treat ESCC and improve patient prognosis, timely diagnosis in the initial phase of the illness is necessary. This article offers a detailed summary of the latest advancements and emerging technologies in the timely identification of ECs. Molecular biology and epigenetics approaches involve the use of molecular mechanisms combined with fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), high-throughput sequencing technology (next-generation sequencing), and digital PCR technology to study endogenous or exogenous biomolecular changes in the human body and provide a decision-making basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diseases. The investigation of the microbiome is a swiftly progressing area in human cancer research, and microorganisms with complex functions are potential components of the tumor microenvironment. The intratumoral microbiota was also found to be connected to tumor progression. The application of endoscopy as a crucial technique for the early identification of ESCC has been essential, and with ongoing advancements in technology, endoscopy has continuously improved. With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the utilization of AI in the detection of gastrointestinal tumors has become increasingly prevalent. The implementation of AI can effectively resolve the discrepancies among observers, improve the detection rate, assist in predicting the depth of invasion and differentiation status, guide the pericancerous margins, and aid in a more accurate diagnosis of ESCC.

Aviation and medicine. Gatchina Officer Aviation School

Data on the first military aeronautical schools in Gatchina and in Kacha are presented. Information is given about the first military doctors of aeronautical schools and the first studies of the effect of flights on the human body.

The impact of uranium contamination in groundwater on human health: a toxicological risk assessment

ABSTRACT All living beings are exposed to naturally occurring radionuclides. Uranium, a primordial radionuclide forms compounds that are water soluble and enter the human body through food and drinking water. This study conducted a health risk assessment to evaluate the potential dangers associated with consuming uranium through groundwater in the Mansa district of Punjab, India. The uranium concentration varied from 43.43 µg/L to 449.79 µg/L. The biokinetic model of uranium including hair compartment as excretion pathway is used to calculate uranium retention in different organs of the human body. The Pearson correlation and principal component analysis are used for assessing the correlation of uranium with TDS, salinity, conductivity and pH. The high correlation is observed between TDS and uranium. The hazard quotient is 17.42 and excess cancer risk is higher than the permissible limit of 10−4. Owing to the high uranium concentration in Mansa district, periodic monitoring is advised along with clinical investigation of the population.

Lactate Concentration and Its Changes in the Blood of 3-month-old Rabbits

It was performed on 3-month-old rabbits, which were exposed to acute (20 minutes) and severe form of exogenous hypoxia (forced breathing in a nitrogen atmosphere with 5% O2 in pressure chamber conditions). Immediately after that (in the 1st, 3rd and 6th hours), the amount of lactate in their blood was determined. First, we studied the normal level of lactate in the blood of 3-month-old guinea pigs, then we subjected them to a hypoxia load and determined lactate. This series of experiments conducted by us allows us to get an idea of how blood lactate levels initially change in 3-month-old rabbits that have not yet reached sexual maturity under normal conditions and during the effects of various severe loads (such as acute hypoxia, long-term immobilization, and fast running). Here, we want to mention once again about lactate that this simple carbohydrate metabolite, along with other simple carbohydrates such as pyruvate (pyruvic acid) in the human and animal body, when there is a lack of oxygen in its cells, the glycolysis process (anaerobic decomposition of glucose) is carried out even faster, is an indicator of metabolic and functional importance that allows us to make judgments about its end products and at the same time its intensity and duration. As a final product of glycolysis, lactate accumulated in cells and tissues causes a change in the buffer systems there, an increase in the activity of the acidic range of pH (acidosis) and other negative reactions. An increase in the amount of lactate in the blood is considered a relatively weak toxic factor for the body. From this point of view, lactate is one of the harmful metabolites of the body. But studies have shown that the lactate formed as a result of glycolysis and other carbohydrate exchange processes is also used for the resynthesis (resynthesis) of sugars that are energetically useful for the body, that is, the body uses it as an energetic substrate. Therefore, the pronounced change in the level of lactate in the blood can also be considered as a kind of adaptive-defense reaction.

Appliance therapy for temporo-mandibular disorder- A case report

Disorder of the or facial complex that affects a vast majority of the people now-a days, almost about 1/3rd of the population is “Temper mandibular Disorders” also commonly referred to as TMDs. These are essential disorders of masticatory structures whose onset is associated with the motion and movement of the mandible in relation to the temper mandibular complex and has wide similarities with musculoskeletal disorders of other parts of the human body. Clinical presentation a young college going student presented with pain in the right temper mandibular joint region following trauma.(?) Treatment anterior positioning appliance was used for the treatment. Conclusion after proper case selection and treatment planning following relevant physical examination and other diagnostic procedures Anterior Positioning Appliance can be used as a non-pharmacological method of pain management and treatment of the described condition.

Trace detection of cadmium (II) ions based on an excessively tilted fiber grating

Cadmium (Cd2+) ion is one of the most crucial industrial pollutants that cause serious harm to the human body. We proposed and experimentally demonstrated a highly sensitive Cd2+ sensor based on hydrogel coated excessively tilted fiber grating. The hydrogel with the functional monomer of the allyl thiourea can specifically bind to Cd2+, and hence forming a complex. The grating excites high order cladding modes, and ensures a sufficient interaction between the light and hydrogel binding to Cd2+, providing highly sensitive monitoring. The results show that the sensor can detect 0-160 pM Cd2+ in aqueous solution. The maximum sensitivity is 10600 nm/µM, and the minimum detection concentration is 20 pM (about 0.004 ppb), which is much less than that of the international standard (3 ppb). The proposed sensor exhibits high sensitivity, ultra-low detection limit, specificity, and a compact structure, offering potential as a tool for Cd2+ detection in aqueous solution.

Interactive driving of electrostatic film actuator by proximity motion of human body

AbstractA built-in capacitive proximity sensing method for a charge-induction electrostatic film actuator is proposed. This actuator consists of two thin sheets that function as a stator and a slider. A stator is an insulating sheet with many strips of electrodes in it, whereas a slider is a dielectric sheet that has slight conductivity on its surface. By applying actuation voltage on stator electrodes, the slider that is placed on the stator is driven by electrostatic force. This research realized the simultaneous actuation and proximity sensing using the same electrodes by integrating a resonance-based capacitance measurement circuit into a driving circuit. The study investigated the impact of having a slider on sensing performance, confirming the feasibility of simultaneous sensing and driving. The implemented system achieved an interactive actuation that changed driving velocity according to the proximity distance of the human hand.

A study on phytogenotoxicity induced by biogenic amines: cadaverine and putrescine.

Among the compounds present in necro-leachate, a liquid released during the process of decomposition of the human body, are the biogenic amines cadaverine and putrescine. Although some studies on necro-leachate have indicated a potential ecotoxicological and public health risk associated with it, the research on this type of contamination is still rather limited. This study presents information about the phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic potential of cadaverine and putrescine, evaluated separately and within a mixture. Phytotoxicity was evaluated through a germination test, the initial growth of seedlings with Lactuca sativa, and cytogenotoxicity through chromosomal aberration and micronucleus tests with Allium cepa. The L. sativa results showed a phytotoxic effect for the evaluated amines, by reducing root (> 90%) and hypocotyl (> 80%) elongation. The co-exposure of cadaverine and putrescine potentiated cytogenotoxic activity by aneugenic action in the meristematic cells of A. cepa. From this result, it is possible to infer the eco-toxicogenic potential of cadaverine and putrescine. This study not only highlights the importance of the phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic effects of these amines but also emphasizes the urgent need for further investigation into contamination originating from cemetery environments. By evaluating the risks associated with necro-leachate, this research is aimed at informing global efforts to protect ecological and public health.

Assessment of the potential threats to brain health posed by the radiation from 5G sub-6GHz base stations in China using dosimetric methods.

The 5G sub-6GHz radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) are the most widely used in China's communications. The public has expressed concerns about possible brain health effects of the higher frequency bands in 5G compared to 2G, 3G, and 4G bands. It is imperative to empirically investigate the potential health hazards of these novel frequency bands in 5G communication technology. This study evaluates the assessment of brain tissue dose coupling from sub-6GHz band EMF emitted by base stations in China. Based on the 3D virtual human body model, the simulation environment was established. Dose including specific absorption rate (SAR) and internal electric field (IEF) between 2G, 3G, and 4G bands and 5G sub-6GHz was investigated using normalized exposure values and exposure limits. The results indicate that the sub-6GHz high-frequency band of 5G has the lowest dose value. It can be concluded that high-frequency electromagnetic radiation in 5G sub-6GHz reduces the dose and health threats to the brain. This provides strong support for the promotion of 5G commutation in China and other regions.

Review of Virulence Factors in Candida

Candida albicans is a prevalent commensal fungus that inhabits various anatomical regions, including the oropharyngeal cavity, gastrointestinal and vaginal tract, as well as the skin of persons in good condition. C. albicans is present in the normal flora of the microbiota in around 50% of the population. The clinical presentations of Candida species encompass a spectrum of symptoms, spanning from localized. The spectrum of mucocutaneous issues ranges from superficial to invasive disorders that impact many organ systems and present a substantial threat to human life. Disruptions in the normal homeostasis of Candida can be attributed to a range of reasons, encompassing systemic and local factors as well as genetic and environmental influences.&#x0D; These disruptions ultimately lead to a shift from a state of normal flora to the development of Infections caused by pathogens and opportunistic agents. The initiation and advancement of infection are regulated by the virulence characteristics of Candida, which play a role in the emergence of candidiasis. Oral candidiasis presents with a wide range of symptoms, which can be classified into major and minor types. The gastrointestinal tract is the main reservoir for Candida albicans in the human body. Infection occurs due to an imbalance in the local microbiota, impaired immune function, and damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Candidaemia, a term used to describe invasive infections caused by candida, is associated with the presence of Candida albicans in the bloodstream. The mutual relationship remains intact by maintaining a balance between the host immune system and C. albicans virulence factors. This study investigates the virulence traits exhibited by Candida albicans. These components have a significant impact on the development of disorders.