Efficacy of different interaction devices using non-immersive virtual tasks in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a cross-sectional randomized trial

Background

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapid progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by a selective loss of motor neurons, brain stem and spinal cord which leads to deterioration of motor abilities. Devices that promote interaction with tasks on computers can enhance performance and lead to greater independence and utilization of technology.

Objective

To evaluate performance on a computer task in individuals with ALS using three different commonly used non-immersive devices.

Method

Thirty individuals with ALS (18 men and 12 women, mean age 59?years, range 44–74?years) with a mean score of 26, (minimum score of 14 and maximum 41) on the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and 30 healthy controls matched for age and gender, participated. All participants were randomly divided into three groups, each using a different device system (motion tracking, finger motion control or touchscreen) to perform three task phases (acquisition, retention and transfer).

Results

Both the ALS and control group (CG) showed better performance on the computer task when using the touchscreen device, but there was limited transfer of performance onto the task performed on the Finger Motion control or motion tracking. However, we found that using the motion tracking device led to transfer of performance to the touchscreen.

Conclusion

This study presents novel and important findings when selecting interaction devices for individuals with ALS to access technology by demonstrating immediate performance benefits of using a touchscreen device, such as improvement of motor skills. There were possible transferable skills obtained when using virtual systems which may allow flexibility and enable individuals to maintain performance overtime.

Trial registration

Registration name: Virtual Task in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Registration number: NCT03113630; retrospectively registered on 04/13/2017. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 02/02/2016.

     

High‐performance of Agaricus blazei fungus for the biological pretreatment of elephant grass

Biological pre‐treatment seems to be promising being an eco‐friendly process, with no inhibitor generated during the process. The potential for elephant grass pre‐treatment with white degradation fungi Pleurotus ostreatus, Agaricus blazei, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus citrinopileatus, and Pleurotus djamor, in isolated or mixed cultures of these strains, was evaluated. The highest activities of enzymes involved in the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass (laccases, endoglucanases, xylanases, and β‐glucosidases) were observed for A. blazei, L. edodes and the combination of P. ostreatus and A. blazei. In the enzymatic hydrolysis, there was greater release of reducing sugars in the pre‐treated elephant grass samples by A. blazei during 10 days (338.91 ± 7.39 mg g^?1 of biomass). For this sample, higher lignin reductions, 24.81 and 57.45%, after 15 and 35 days of incubation, respectively, were also verified. These data indicate the potential of macromycetes such as A. blazei to perform biological pre‐treatments. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:42–50, 2018     

Label-Free Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Puccinia psidii Uredospores Reveals Differences of Fungal Populations Infecting Eucalyptus and Guava

Puccinia psidii sensu lato (s.l.) is the causal agent of eucalyptus and guava rust, but it also attacks a wide range of plant species from the myrtle family, resulting in a significant genetic and physiological variability among populations accessed from different hosts. The uredospores are crucial to P. psidii dissemination in the field. Although they are important for the fungal pathogenesis, their molecular characterization has been poorly studied. In this work, we report the first in-depth proteomic analysis of P. psidii s.l. uredospores from two contrasting populations: guava fruits (PpGuava) and eucalyptus leaves (PpEucalyptus). NanoUPLC-MS^E was used to generate peptide spectra that were matched to the UniProt Puccinia genera sequences (UniProt database) resulting in the first proteomic analysis of the phytopathogenic fungus P. psidii. Three hundred and fourty proteins were detected and quantified using Label free proteomics. A significant number of unique proteins were found for each sample, others were significantly more or less abundant, according to the fungal populations. In PpGuava population, many proteins correlated with fungal virulence, such as malate dehydrogenase, proteossomes subunits, enolases and others were increased. On the other hand, PpEucalyptus proteins involved in biogenesis, protein folding and translocation were increased, supporting the physiological variability of the fungal populations according to their protein reservoirs and specific host interaction strategies.     

High-intensity Ultrasound as a Tool to Form Water in Oleogels Emulsions Structured by Lipids Oleogelators

This study aims to evaluate the structuration power and physical properties of oleogel emulsions formed by monoglycerides (MG), hardfat (HF), and lecithin (LE), with and without high-intensity ultrasound (HIU). Emulsion gels with and without HIU were prepared in mono-, bi- and ternary gelator blends (10% of the lipid phase) and with different water (W) proportions (W?=?1, 15, or 30%). All samples were analyzed according to their gel/emulsion formation, microstructure, melting behavior, rheology, texture, polymorphism, and oil binding capacity. In mono structured emulsions only MG was able to form structured emulsions that did not flow. Three synergic combinations of oleogels were found: MG:HF, HF:LE, and MG:HF:LE; nevertheless, the only synergic combination found in all water proportions was MG:HF. Sonicated MG:HF emulsions formed more organized and stable water droplets, and with 30 W even achieved similar physical properties as MG:HF oleogel (0 W). A soft structured emulsion was also found for sonicated LE and HF:LE with 30 W. Multicomponent emulsion gels formed by MG, HF, and LE are a good alternative for food applications because they can form different synergic combinations with good physical properties such as hardness (>?1 N), elastic modulus (>?1?×?10⁵ Pa), and oil binding capacity (>?99%), and these properties can be even improved by HIU.

     

H+-dependent inorganic phosphate transporter in breast cancer cells: Possible functions in the tumor microenvironment

Tumor microenvironment has a high concentration of inorganic phosphate (Pi), which is actually a marker for tumor progression. Regarding Pi another class of transporter has been recently studied, an H⁺-dependent Pi transporter, that is stimulated at acidic pH in Caco2BBE human intestinal cells. In this study, we characterized the H⁺-dependent Pi transport in breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231) and around the cancer tissue. MDA-MB-231 cell line presented higher levels of H⁺-dependent Pi transport as compared to other breast cell lines, such as MCF-10A, MCF-7 and T47-D. The Pi transport was linear as a function of time and exhibited a Michaelis-Menten kinetic of K_m = 1.387 ± 0.1674 mM Pi and V_max = 198.6 ± 10.23 Pi × h^?1 × mg protein^?1 hence reflecting a low affinity Pi transport. H⁺-dependent Pi uptake was higher at acidic pH. FCCP, Bafilomycin A1 and SCH28080, which deregulate the intracellular levels of protons, inhibited the H⁺-dependent Pi transport. No effect on pHi was observed in the absence of inorganic phosphate. PAA, an H⁺-dependent Pi transport inhibitor, reduced the Pi transport activity, cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. Arsenate, a structural analog of Pi, inhibited the Pi transport. At high Pi conditions, the H⁺-dependent Pi transport was five-fold higher than the Na⁺-dependent Pi transport, thus reflecting a low affinity Pi transport. The occurrence of an H⁺-dependent Pi transporter in tumor cells may endow them with an alternative path for Pi uptake in situations in which Na⁺-dependent Pi transport is saturated within the tumor microenvironment, thus regulating the energetically expensive tumor processes.     

Metabolites from algae with economical impact

In order to survive in a highly competitive environment, freshwater or marine algae have to develop defense strategies that result in a tremendous diversity of compounds from different metabolic pathways. Recent trends in drug research from natural sources have shown that algae are promising organisms to furnish novel biochemically active compounds. The current review describes the main substances biosynthesized by algae with potential economic impact in food science, pharmaceutical industry and public health. Emphasis is given to fatty acids, steroids, carotenoids, polysaccharides, lectins, mycosporine-like amino acids, halogenated compounds, polyketides and toxins.     

In vitro differentiation of male mouse embryonic stem cells into both presumptive sperm cells and oocytes

Pioneer work in male mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiation into germ cells (GC) showed generations of male or female gametes in separate experiments, using genetically manipulated or preselected ES cells. In an attempt to produce both types of gametes from male mouse ES cells without any genetic manipulation or preselection, we induce the differentiation by retinoic acid (RA) within nonadherent embryoid bodies (EB). It seems that gamete-like cell formation occurs in the correct manner based on the expression of early and late GC-specific genes such as Oct-4, Mvh, Stella, Dazl, Piwil 2, Pdrd 1, Rex 14, Rnf 17, Bmp8b, Acrosin, Stra-8, Haprin, LH-R, Gdf9, Zp3, Zp2, Sycp1, and Sycp3. Immunofluorescence analysis of morphologically well-formed GC and presumptive gametes showed positive labeling for SSEA1, Oct-4, EMA-1, FE-J1, Dazl, Fragilis, Mvh, Acrosin, and acetylated alpha-tubulin. Conventional cytogenetic and FISH analysis indicated a chromosome reduction in ES-derived GC. Our data suggest that ES cells with XY chromosomes can produce under the same experimental conditions both types of presumptive gametes, and this production depends on their positional and temporal information within the EB context.     

Smoking cessation and bronchial epithelial remodelling in COPD: a cross-sectional study

Background

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with bronchial epithelial changes, including squamous cell metaplasia and goblet cell hyperplasia. These features are partially attributed to activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Whereas smoking cessation reduces respiratory symptoms and lung function decline in COPD, inflammation persists. We determined epithelial proliferation and composition in bronchial biopsies from current and ex-smokers with COPD, and its relation to duration of smoking cessation.

Methods

114 COPD patients were studied cross-sectionally: 99 males/15 females, age 62 ± 8 years, median 42 pack-years, no corticosteroids, current (n = 72) or ex-smokers (n = 42, median cessation duration 3.5 years), postbronchodilator FEV₁ 63 ± 9% predicted. Squamous cell metaplasia (%), goblet cell (PAS/Alcian Blue⁺) area (%), proliferating (Ki-67⁺) cell numbers (/mm basement membrane), and EGFR expression (%) were measured in intact epithelium of bronchial biopsies.

Results

Ex-smokers with COPD had significantly less epithelial squamous cell metaplasia, proliferating cell numbers, and a trend towards reduced goblet cell area than current smokers with COPD (p = 0.025, p = 0.001, p = 0.081, respectively), but no significant difference in EGFR expression. Epithelial features were not different between short-term quitters (<3.5 years) and current smokers. Long-term quitters (≥3.5 years) had less goblet cell area than both current smokers and short-term quitters (medians: 7.9% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.005; 7.9% vs. 13.5%, p = 0.008; respectively), and less proliferating cell numbers than current smokers (2.8% vs. 18.6%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Ex-smokers with COPD had less bronchial epithelial remodelling than current smokers, which was only observed after long-term smoking cessation (>3.5 years).

Trial registration

NCT00158847