bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compensation for a costly ornament depends on the development of flight performance in stalk-eyed flies
Authors: Vance Jason T. , Pehl Kayla , Acakpo Comonla J. , Swallow John G.
Published: October 2023

Several species of stalk-eyed flies exhibit exaggerated sexual dimorphism where females favor males with longer eyespans. Longer eyespan increases a fly’s moment of inertia, and may, therefore, impact flight behavior and fitness, specifically maneuverability and predator evasion. However, these putative costs may be ameliorated by co-selection for compensatory traits, as flies with longer eyespans tend to have larger thoraces and wings, which allows them to perform turns similar to flies with shorter eyespans. Furthermore, the capacity to compensate for a potentially costly ornament may not be fixed across the life-history of the adult stage, as stalk-eyed flies achieve sexual maturity at 3-4 weeks of age, accompanied by significant growth of reproductive tissues and organs. Thus, growth of the abdomen and body mass over time may impose constraints on flight performance that may affect whether an adult reaches the age of reproductive viability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the flight performance of stalk-eyed flies and its relationship to body morphology and development. The flight performance of 1-to-30 day oldTeleopsis dalmanni(n=124) andDiasemopsis meigenii(n=83) were assessed by presenting normoxic, variable-density mixtures of heliox (O2, N2and He) in 10% increments ranging from air to pure heliox; the least-dense gas allowing flight represented maximal performance. Flight kinematics were analyzed using high-speed (5930fps) videography. Immediately following flight assessment, flies were euthanized, photographed, dissected and weighed. In both species, total body mass, thorax and abdominal mass increased across age. Wing kinematics and maximal flight capacity were associated with thorax mass, and increased with age as flies became heavier. Although flies with longer eyespans were indeed heavier, they had larger wings and thoraces; however, maximal flight capacity and kinematics were generally independent of eyespan. Thus, bearing long eye-stalks did not impair flight performance, nor did the increase in mass attributable to reproductive maturation. Instead, variation in flight performance appears associated with the development of the flight motor, and improved ratio of thorax-to-total mass, across age.
A novel approach for ecosystem respiration simulation in drylands
Authors: Ai Jinlong , Qi Xiaowen , Zhang Rensen , He Mingye , Li Jingyang , Xu Ronghan , Li Yapeng , Sarmah Sangeeta , Wang Huan , Zhao Junfang
Published: October 2023

Terrestrial ecosystem respiration (Reco) in drylands (arid and semi-arid areas) contributes to the largest uncertainty of the global carbon cycle. Here, using the Reco data from 24 sites (98 site-years) in drylands from Fluxnet and corresponding MODIS remote sensing products, we develop a novel semi-empirical, yet physiologically-based remote sensing model: the ILEP_Reco model (a Reco model derived from ILEP, the acronym for “integrated LE and EVI proxy”). This model can simulate Reco observations across most biomes in drylands with a small margin of error (R2 = 0.56, RMSE = 1.12 gCm−2d−1, EF = 0.46, MBE = −0.06 gCm−2d−1) and performs significantly better than the previous model: Ensemble_all. The seasonal variation of Reco in drylands can be well simulated by the ILEP_Reco model. When we relate ILEP to the Q10 model, the corresponding ILEP_Q10 values in all 98 site-years distribute quite convergently, which greatly facilitates fixing the ILEP_Q10 value as a constant in different site-years. The spatial variation of Reco in drylands is then defined as reference respiration at the annual mean ILEP, which can be easily and powerfully simulated by the ILEP_Reco model. These results help us understand the spatial-temporal variations of Reco in drylands and thus will shed light on the carbon budget on a regional scale, or even a global one.
Predation pressure by arthropods, birds, and rodents is interactively shaped by tree species richness, vegetation structure, and season
Authors: Anttonen Perttu , Perles-Garcia Maria , Kunz Matthias , von Oheimb Goddert , Li Yi , Bruelheide Helge , Ma Ke-Ping , Zhu Chao-Dong , Schuldt Andreas
Published: October 2023

Tree species richness, forest structure, and seasonal fluctuations between rainy and dry seasons can strongly affect trophic interactions in forest ecosystems, but the inter- and scale dependence of these variables remains unclear. Using artificial caterpillars (~18,000 replicates), we analyzed predation pressure by arthropods, birds, and rodents along a tree species richness gradient across seasons in a subtropical tree diversity experiment (BEF-China). The aim of the study was to test if forest structure, in addition to tree species richness, has an effect on predation pressure and to further specify which structural variables are important in driving predation. We assessed the effects of tree species richness and forest structure at the plot and local neighborhood levels. We also included fine-scale placement covariates, plot size, and topographical covariates of the study site. Forest structure and tree species richness independently and interactively affected predation pressure. The spatial scale was an important determinant for tree species richness and structural effects, extending from within plot scales to the overall heterogeneity of the plots’ surrounding environment. For example, the effect of branch density in the local neighborhood depended on both surrounding tree species richness and plot-level vegetation density. Similarly, visibility-enhancing factors increased attacks by arthropods (lack of branches in close surroundings) and by birds (open area), depending on the surrounding vegetation. A comparison of structural measures showed that predation pressure can be addressed in much greater detail with multiple specific structural features than with overall forest complexity. Seasonal change also affected predation pressure, with foliage being a stronger attractant in spring, but also by presumable topography-driven study plot differences in sun exposure and humidity between rainy and dry seasons. Our study demonstrates that predation pressure is not simply a function of tree species richness or structure but is shaped by the interplay of structural elements, spatial scale, and seasonal dynamics along gradients of tree species richness and forest structure. The structural and seasonal effects are important to take into account when addressing how current and future biodiversity loss may change top‐down control of herbivory and overall ecosystem functioning.
Climate and land-use changes threaten the effectiveness of protected areas for protecting Galliformes in Southeast Asia
Authors: Liu Zhengxiao , Tian Shan , Lu Shuai , Zhu Ziqiang , Peng Yuyang , Li Xinyu , An Lidan , Li Jianqiang , Xu Jiliang , Wang Yong
Published: October 2023

Climate and land-use changes and their interactions have a profound effect on biodiversity, especially in biodiverse areas such as Southeast Asia (SEA) where aggregations of endemic species are widespread. To increase the effectiveness of biodiversity protection, it is crucial to understand the effect of climate and land-use changes on biodiversity. In the present study, we predicted future land-use changes based on a Cellular automaton Markov chain model (CA-MARKOV), and took Galliformes species as an example to assess the impact of climate and land-use changes on the effectiveness of protected areas in SEA. In addition, we used an ensemble of species distribution models (SDMs) to assess the potential habitats and their dynamics of 62 Galliformes species currently and in the 2070s. Our results showed that climate and land-use changes would reduce the suitable habitats of these Galliformes species. Among them, 22 or 31 species would migrate upward because of a decrease in habitat suitability at lower elevations caused by climate and land-use changes, while other 40 or 30 species were predicted to migrate downward because of land use changes under two dispersal scenarios. These changes would expand the area with low and high diversity, but there would be a mismatch between the current protected areas (PAs) and future suitable habitats with high diversity. In order to effectively ensure biodiversity protection and conserve 30% of the planet by 2030, our findings suggest that we should establish new PAs or adjust the range of PAs based on the impact of climate and land-use changes.
Modeling the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon in temperate forest soils on the basis of solute transport
Authors: Yu Fang , Liu Qiang , Fan Chunnan , Li Shuang
Published: October 2023

Temperate forests are of pivotal importance in global carbon cycle, as they currently act as a carbon sink. Moreover, the continued expansion of the forest provides significant benefits in terms of mitigating climate change. Soil organic carbon (SOC) constitutes a vital component of the carbon inventory harbored within forest soils. Thus, understanding the dynamics and distribution of SOC in temperate forest soils can be essential to better predict the forest SOC inventories, and can help to provide theoretical basis for further studies in soil carbon management technologies. Spatial variability of SOC has been studied extensively, but the mechanism that regulates the vertical pattern of SOC is still not clear. In the present study, we hypothesized that the vertical pattern of SOC in temperate forest soils is dominated by the vertical transport of solute in soil, and a theoretical vertical scaling of SOC was proposed based on percolation theory. Theoretical range of SOC in the national forests in northeastern China and the United States were also predicted. The agreement between the observed SOC profiles and the theoretical scaling supported the hypothesis and suggested that percolation theory can be applied to depict the vertical distribution of SOC, while the application could be limited if vegetation cover and soil texture alter the dominant controlling factor of SOC distribution. The concordance between empirical data and the predicted range also showed significant potential of integrating percolation theory into comprehensive models for carbon stock estimation.
The genetics of urinary microbiome, an exploration of the trigger in calcium oxalate stone
Authors: Yang Yuanyuan , Miao Lintao , Lu Yuchao , Wang Shaogang
Published: October 2023

Background: Kidney stone disease is a global disease; however, it has not been totally understood. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone is the dominant type of kidney stone, and the potential factors involved in its formation are yet to be explored. Clinically, we found that the CaOx stones in patients were mainly unilateral; therefore, systemic factors cannot explain them, although some local factors must be involved. Urinary microbiota is involved in stone formation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between the urinary microbiota and CaOx stones and provide insight into the medical treatment and prevention of CaOx stones.

Methods: Sixteen pelvic urine samples were collected from the stone and non-stone sides of patients with unilateral CaOx stones following strict criteria. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on each pair of pelvic urine samples at the species level. Many bioinformatic analyses were conducted to explore the potential factors affecting CaOx stone formation.

Results: Although no statistically significant difference was found between the overall microbiota of the pelvis urine from the two sides. Many biologically distinct taxa were observed, including many bacteria found in previous studies, like Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicute and Enterobacter cloacae and so on. What’s more, despite these common bacteria, our current study added to these bacterial communities with additional identification of Deinococcus-Thermus, Coriobacteriia, Porphyromonas and Ralstonia. To predict the functions of these microbiota, Kyoto Encyclopedia for Genes and Genomes and MetaCyc analysis were conducted and immunometabolism might be an important pathway. Moreover, a random forest predictor was constructed to distinguish the stone side from the non-stone side, with an accuracy of 62.5%.

Conclusion: Our research profiled the microbiome in the pelvis urine from both the stone and non-stone sides of patients with unilateral CaOx stones, provided insight into the dominant role of urinary dysbiosis in CaOx stones formation. Furthermore, this study also predicted the potential crosstalk among urinary microbiota, immunometabolism, and CaOx stones.
Current knowledge of thrombocytopenia in sepsis and COVID-19
Authors: Cheng Junjie , Zeng Hanhai , Chen Huaijun , Fan Linfeng , Xu Chaoran , Huang Huaping , Tang Tianchi , Li Min
Published: October 2023

Thrombocytopenia, characterized by a decrease in platelet count, is commonly observed in sepsis and COVID-19. In sepsis, thrombocytopenia can result from various mechanisms, including impaired platelet production in the bone marrow, accelerated platelet destruction due to increased inflammation, sequestration of platelets in the spleen, immune-mediated platelet destruction, or dysregulated host responses. Similarly, thrombocytopenia has been reported in COVID-19 patients, but the immune-related mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Notably, interventions targeting thrombocytopenia have shown potential for improving outcomes in both sepsis and COVID-19 patients. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Sub-optimal host plants have developmental and thermal fitness costs to the invasive fall armyworm
Authors: Mubayiwa Macdonald , Machekano Honest , Chidawanyika Frank , Mvumi Brighton M. , Segaiso Bame , Nyamukondiwa Casper
Published: October 2023

The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a global invasive pest of cereals. Although this pest uses maize and sorghum as its main hosts, it is associated with a wide range of host plants due to its polyphagous nature. Despite the FAW's polyphagy being widely reported in literature, few studies have investigated the effects of the non-preferred conditions or forms (e.g., drought-stressed forms) of this pest’s hosts on its physiological and ecological fitness. Thus, the interactive effects of biotic and abiotic stresses on FAW fitness costs or benefits have not been specifically investigated. We therefore assessed the effects of host plant quality on the developmental rates and thermal tolerance of the FAW. Specifically, we reared FAW neonates on three hosts (maize, cowpeas, and pearl millet) under two treatments per host plant [unstressed (well watered) and stressed (water deprived)] until the adult stage. Larval growth rates and pupal weights were determined. Thermal tolerance traits viz critical thermal maxima (CTmax), critical thermal minima (CTmin), heat knockdown time (HKDT), chill-coma recovery time (CCRT), and supercooling points (SCPs) were measured for the emerging adults from each treatment. The results showed that suboptimal diets significantly prolonged the developmental time of FAW larvae and reduced their growth rates and ultimate body weights, but did not impair their full development. Suboptimal diets (comprising non-cereal plants and drought-stressed cereal plants) increased the number of larval instars to eight compared to six for optimal natural diets (unstressed maize and pearl millet). Apart from direct effects, in all cases, suboptimal diets significantly reduced the heat tolerance of FAWs, but their effect on cold tolerance was recorded only in select cases (e.g., SCP). These results suggest host plant effects on the physical and thermal fitness of FAW, indicating a considerable degree of resilience against multiple stressors. This pest’s resilience can present major drawbacks to its cultural management using suboptimal hosts (in crop rotations or intercrops) through its ability to survive on most host plants despite their water stress condition and gains in thermal fitness. The fate of FAW population persistence under multivariate environmental stresses is therefore not entirely subject to prior environmental host plant history or quality.
Study of sustainable HDPE-based materials for aquaculture applications: effects on fouling
Authors: Sanjuan Eva , Barriga-Cuartero Javier , Andreu-Sánchez Oscar , González Alberto , Fouz Belén
Published: October 2023

This study addresses one of the most common problems faced by the marine sector, namely the accumulation of organic matter and organisms on submerged surfaces. This biological phenomenon causes structural problems in aquatic systems and its mitigation implies a large economic outlay for marine aquaculture industry. Antifouling paints are being developed to help control this undesirable process; however, these treatments are problematic as they degrade and release biocides and heavy metals into the environment. In this context, our study focuses on developing more environmentally friendly antifouling strategies. For this purpose, we designed high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material functionalized with different copper compounds or silica, and subsequently tested their effects on biofilm formation by aquatic organisms at both laboratory and pilot scale. Bacterial species (Vibrio harveyi and Cellulophaga lytica) and diatoms (Nitzschia ovalis) known for producing biofilm were used. Our study revealed that material including copper pyrithione (CuPT) was highly effective in inhibiting bacterial and algal biofilm formation. Moreover, the ecotoxicological study covering three trophic levels (bacteria, algae and rotifers) indicated that none of the materials developed and tested herein was toxic. HDPE is easily moldable and suitable to produce built-in aquatic structures, and our results show that its functionalization with CuPT greatly improves its antifouling capacity. These findings represent a step forward in the fight against fouling in marine environments.
Analysis of the aerodynamic characteristics of an ejection seat system using computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Prakash Ved , Chandel Sunil , Thakur D. G. , Čep Robert , Khedkar Nitin , Salunkhe Sachin , Abouel Nasr Emad S.
Published: October 2023

In the present work, an investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of an ejection seat occupant is carried out using the commercially available computational fluid dynamics software ANSYS Fluent. 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations are solved to obtain the aerodynamic coefficients of the ejection seat system. For this analysis, an unstructured grid is generated for the ejection seat occupant using ANSYS meshing. Validation is carried out and the performance of three different turbulence models is analyzed at Mach 0.6. Based on the most suitable turbulence model, further analysis of the aerodynamic coefficients of the ejection seat occupant is calculated at Mach numbers of 0.35, 0.45, 0.55, 0.65, and 0.75. For all values of Mach, the angle of attack is varied from −15° to 15° in 5° increments and the yaw angle is varied from 0° to 60° in 10° increments. Based on the results, it is observed that the magnitude of the axial force decreases with increasing angle of attack and yaw angle. Similarly, the normal force coefficient and pitching moment coefficient decrease with increasing angle of attack. Finally, the side force coefficient, yawing moment, and rolling moment coefficients increase with increasing yaw angle.
Extracting decision-making features from the unstructured eye movements of clinicians on glaucoma OCT reports and developing AI models to classify expertise
Authors: Akerman Michelle , Choudhary Sanmati , Liebmann Jeffrey M. , Cioffi George A. , Chen Royce W. S. , Thakoor Kaveri A.
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to investigate the eye movement patterns of ophthalmologists with varying expertise levels during the assessment of optical coherence tomography (OCT) reports for glaucoma detection. Objectives included evaluating eye gaze metrics and patterns as a function of ophthalmic education, deriving novel features from eye-tracking, and developing binary classification models for disease detection and expertise differentiation. Thirteen ophthalmology residents, fellows, and clinicians specializing in glaucoma participated in the study. Junior residents had less than 1 year of experience, while senior residents had 2–3 years of experience. The expert group consisted of fellows and faculty with over 3 to 30+ years of experience. Each participant was presented with a set of 20 Topcon OCT reports (10 healthy and 10 glaucomatous) and was asked to determine the presence or absence of glaucoma and rate their confidence of diagnosis. The eye movements of each participant were recorded as they diagnosed the reports using a Pupil Labs Core eye tracker. Expert ophthalmologists exhibited more refined and focused eye fixations, particularly on specific regions of the OCT reports, such as the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) probability map and circumpapillary RNFL b-scan. The binary classification models developed using the derived features demonstrated high accuracy up to 94.0% in differentiating between expert and novice clinicians. The derived features and trained binary classification models hold promise for improving the accuracy of glaucoma detection and distinguishing between expert and novice ophthalmologists. These findings have implications for enhancing ophthalmic education and for the development of effective diagnostic tools.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in vitro biofilm dispersal from microplastics influenced by simulated human environment
Authors: Leighton Ryan E. , Xiong Liyan , Anderson Gracie K. , Astarita Grace M. , Cai Guoshuai , Norman Robert Sean , Decho Alan W.
Published: October 2023

Growing concerns exist regarding human ingestion of contaminated seafood that contains Vibrio biofilms on microplastics (MPs). One of the mechanisms enhancing biofilm related infections in humans is due to biofilm dispersion, a process that triggers release of bacteria from biofilms into the surrounding environment, such as the gastrointestinal tract of human hosts. Dispersal of cells from biofilms can occur in response to environmental conditions such as sudden changes in temperature, pH and nutrient conditions, as the bacteria leave the biofilm to find a more stable environment to colonize. This study evaluated how brief exposures to nutrient starvation, elevated temperature, different pH levels and simulated human media affect Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus biofilm dispersal and processes on and from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) MPs. Both species were able to adequately disperse from all types of plastics under most exposure conditions. V. parahaemolyticus was able to tolerate and survive the low pH that resembles the gastric environment compared to V. vulnificus. pH had a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) positive effect on overall V. parahaemolyticus biofilm biomass in microplates and cell colonization from PP and PS. pH also had a positive effect on V. vulnificus cell colonization from LDPE and PP. However, most biofilm biomass, biofilm cell and dispersal cell densities of both species greatly varied after exposure to elevated temperature, pH, and nutrient starvation. It was also found that certain exposures to simulated human media affected both V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus biofilm biomass and biofilm cell densities on LDPE, PP and PS compared to exposure to traditional media of similar pH. Cyclic-di-GMP was higher in biofilm cells compared to dispersal cells, but exposure to more stressful conditions significantly increased signal concentrations in both biofilm and dispersal states. Taken together, this study suggests that human pathogenic strains of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus can rapidly disperse with high cell densities from different plastic types in vitro. However, the biofilm dispersal process is highly variable, species specific and dependent on plastic type, especially under different human body related environmental exposures.
Culturing the Plastisphere: comparing methods to isolate culturable bacteria colonising microplastics
Authors: Stevenson Emily M. , Buckling Angus , Cole Matthew , Lindeque Penelope K. , Murray Aimee K.
Published: October 2023

Microplastics quickly become colonised by diverse microbial communities, known as the Plastisphere. There is growing concern that microplastics may support the enrichment and spread of pathogenic or antimicrobial resistant microorganisms, although research to support the unique role of microplastics in comparison to control particles remains inconclusive. Limitations to this research include the microbiological methods available for isolating adhered microbes. Culture-based methods provide some of the most established, accessible and cost-effective microbiological protocols, which could be extremely useful in helping to address some of the remaining key questions in Plastisphere research. Previous works have successfully cultured bacteria from plastics, but these have not yet been reviewed, nor compared in efficiency. In this study, we compared four common biofilm extraction methods (swabbing, sonication, vortexing, sonication followed by vortexing) to extract and culture a mixed community of bacteria from both microplastic (polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene) and control (wood and glass) particles. Biofilm extraction efficiency and viability of bacterial suspension was determined by comparing CFU/mL of four different groups of bacteria. This was verified against optical density and 16S rRNA qPCR. Overall, we found that all tested methods were able to remove biofilms, but to varying efficiencies. Sonicating particles with glass beads for 15 min, followed by vortexing for a further minute, generated the highest yield and therefore greatest removal efficiency of culturable, biofilm-forming bacteria.
Identification of staphyloxanthin and derivates in yellow-pigmented Staphylococcus capitis subsp. capitis
Authors: Siems Katharina , Runzheimer Katharina , Rebrosova Katarina , Etzbach Lara , Auerhammer Alina , Rehm Anna , Schwengers Oliver , Šiler Martin , Samek Ota , Růžička Filip , Moeller Ralf
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Staphylococcus capitis naturally colonizes the human skin but as an opportunistic pathogen, it can also cause biofilm-associated infections and bloodstream infections in newborns. Previously, we found that two strains from the subspecies S. capitis subsp. capitis produce yellow carotenoids despite the initial species description, reporting this subspecies as non-pigmented. In Staphylococcus aureus, the golden pigment staphyloxanthin is an important virulence factor, protecting cells against reactive oxygen species and modulating membrane fluidity.

Methods

In this study, we used two pigmented (DSM 111179 and DSM 113836) and two non-pigmented S. capitis subsp. capitis strains (DSM 20326T and DSM 31028) to identify the pigment, determine conditions under which pigment-production occurs and investigate whether pigmented strains show increased resistance to ROS and temperature stress.

Results

We found that the non-pigmented strains remained colorless regardless of the type of medium, whereas intensity of pigmentation in the two pigmented strains increased under low nutrient conditions and with longer incubation times. We were able to detect and identify staphyloxanthin and its derivates in the two pigmented strains but found that methanol cell extracts from all four strains showed ROS scavenging activity regardless of staphyloxanthin production. Increased survival to cold temperatures (−20°C) was detected in the two pigmented strains only after long-term storage compared to the non-pigmented strains.

Conclusion

The identification of staphyloxanthin in S. capitis is of clinical relevance and could be used, in the same way as in S. aureus, as a possible target for anti-virulence drug design.
The characteristics of intestinal microbiota in patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced liver fibrosis by 16S rRNA gene sequence
Authors: Guo Chen , Zhang Pengpeng , Li Junhui , Zhou Chen , Yang Zhen , Zhang Yu , Luo Yulin , Zhou Jie , Cai Yu , Ming Yingzi
Published: October 2023

Background

The intestinal microbiota is known to play a role in the development of liver disease, there is a limited understanding of the intestinal microbiota associated with chronic schistosomiasis japonica. This study sought to explore the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota in patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica and identify potential biomarkers that could aid diagnosis.

Methods

A total of 40 residents of Qingshan Island in Yueyang (Hunan, China) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. These individuals were divided into two groups for analysis of the intestinal microbiota: patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced liver fibrosis group (CSJ group, n = 10) and a healthy control group (HC group, n = 30). Feces were collected from each participant and analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which included species composition analysis at the phylum and family levels, α and β diversity analysis, LEfSe, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) and Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COG) analysis.

Results

Our results indicated that Schistosoma japonicum infection changed the composition and abundance of intestinal microbiota at the phylum and family levels. Compared with the HC group, the α and β diversity results showed that CSJ group had low diversity of species of the intestinal microbiome. LEfSe and relative abundance analysis found that the Prevotella 7, Alloprevotella, and Holdemanella genera were significantly higher in the CSJ group than in the HC group. Meanwhile, the ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of Prevotella 7, Alloprevotella, and Holdemanella genera was 0.779, 0.769, and 0.840, respectively. KEGG and COG analysis showed that the Replication and Repair, and Defense Mechanism pathways correlated strongly with chronic schistosomiasis japonica infection.

Conclusion

The current study was the first to explore differences in the intestinal microbiota of patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced liver fibrosis and healthy people from Qingshan Island, which indicated that Prevotella 7, Alloprevotella, and Holdemanella genera could have a potential value in non-invasive diagnosis of chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced fibrosis.
Mycobacteriophages in diagnosis and alternative treatment of mycobacterial infections
Authors: Ouyang Xudong , Li Xiaotian , Song Jinmiao , Wang Hui , Wang Shuxian , Fang Ren , Li Zhaoli , Song Ningning
Published: October 2023

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing threat to human populations. The emergence of multidrug-resistant “superbugs” in mycobacterial infections has further complicated the processes of curing patients, thereby resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and alternative treatment are important for improving the success and cure rates associated with mycobacterial infections and the use of mycobacteriophages is a potentially good option. Since each bacteriophage has its own host range, mycobacteriophages have the capacity to detect specific mycobacterial isolates. The bacteriolysis properties of mycobacteriophages make them more attractive when it comes to treating infectious diseases. In fact, they have been clinically applied in Eastern Europe for several decades. Therefore, mycobacteriophages can also treat mycobacteria infections. This review explores the potential clinical applications of mycobacteriophages, including phage-based diagnosis and phage therapy in mycobacterial infections. Furthermore, this review summarizes the current difficulties in phage therapy, providing insights into new treatment strategies against drug-resistant mycobacteria.
Progress in TLE treatment from 2003 to 2023: scientific measurement and visual analysis based on CiteSpace
Authors: Cao Zhan , Guo Mingjie , Cao Xun , Liu Tiantian , Hu Shaowen , Xiao Yafei , Zhang Min , Liu Hengfang
Published: October 2023

Objective

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common cause of drug-resistant epilepsy and can be treated surgically to control seizures. In this study, we analyzed the relevant research literature in the field of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) treatment to understand the background, hotspots, and trends in TLE treatment research.

Methods

We discussed the trend, frontier, and hotspot of scientific output in TLE treatment research in the world in the last 20 years by searching the core collection of the Web of Science database. Excel and CiteSpace software were used to analyze the basic data of the literature.

Result

We identified a total of 2,051 publications on TLE treatment from 75 countries between 2003 and 2023. We found that the publication rate was generally increasing. The United States was the most publishing country; among the research institutions on TLE treatment, the University of California system published the most relevant literature and collaborated the most with other institutions. The co-citation of literature, keyword co-occurrence, and its clustering analysis showed that the early studies focused on open surgical treatment, mainly by lobectomy. In recent years, the attention given to stereotactic, microsurgery, and other surgical techniques has gradually increased, and the burst analysis indicated that new research hotspots may appear in the future in the areas of improved surgical procedures and mechanism research.
Hearing and sociality: the implications of hearing loss on social life
Authors: Podury Archana , Jiam Nicole T. , Kim Minsu , Donnenfield Jonah I. , Dhand Amar
Published: October 2023

Hearing is essential to the formation of social relationships and is the principal afferent of social life. Yet hearing loss, which is one of the most prevalent forms of sensory disability worldwide and is critical for social development, has received little attention from the social interventionalist perspective. The purpose of this mini-review is to describe the basic neurobiological principles of hearing and to explore the reciprocal relationships between social support, hearing loss, and its psychosocial comorbidities. We also discuss the role of social enrichment in sensorineural recovery and identify open questions within the fields of hearing physiology and social networks.
Inflammatory cell death induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy initiates anticancer immunity
Authors: Wang Lingyan , Chelakkot Vipin Shankar , Newhook Nick , Tucker Stephanie , Hirasawa Kensuke
Published: October 2023

Background

Inflammatory cell death is a form of programmed cell death (PCD) that induces inflammatory mediators during the process. The production of inflammatory mediators during cell death is beneficial in standard cancer therapies as it can break the immune silence in cancers and induce anticancer immunity. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer therapy with photosensitizer molecules and light sources to destroy cancer cells, which is currently used for treating different types of cancers in clinical settings. In this study, we investigated if PDT using 5-aminolevulinic (5-ALA-PDT) causes inflammatory cell death and, subsequently, increases the immunogenicity of cancer cells.

Methods

Mouse breast cancer (4T1) and human colon cancer (DLD-1) cells were treated with 5-ALA for 4 hours and then irradiated with a light source. PCD induction was measured by western blot analysis and FACS. Morphological changes were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). BALB/c mice were injected with cell-free media, supernatant of freeze/thaw cells or supernatant of PDT cells intramuscular every week for 4 weeks and then challenged with 4T1 cells at the right hind flank of BALB/c. Tumor growth was monitored for 12 days.

Results

We found that 5-ALA-PDT induces inflammatory cell death, but not apoptosis, in 4T1 cells and DLD-1 cells in vitro. Moreover, when mice were pretreated with 5-ALA-PDT culture supernatant, the growth of 4T1 tumors was significantly suppressed compared to those pretreated with freeze and thaw (F/T) 4T1 culture supernatant.

Conclusion

These results indicate that 5-ALA-PDT induces inflammatory cell death which promotes anticancer immunity in vivo.
An image-based modeling framework for predicting spatiotemporal brain cancer biology within individual patients
Authors: Bond Kamila M. , Curtin Lee , Ranjbar Sara , Afshari Ariana E. , Hu Leland S. , Rubin Joshua B. , Swanson Kristin R.
Published: October 2023

Imaging is central to the clinical surveillance of brain tumors yet it provides limited insight into a tumor’s underlying biology. Machine learning and other mathematical modeling approaches can leverage paired magnetic resonance images and image-localized tissue samples to predict almost any characteristic of a tumor. Image-based modeling takes advantage of the spatial resolution of routine clinical scans and can be applied to measure biological differences within a tumor, changes over time, as well as the variance between patients. This approach is non-invasive and circumvents the intrinsic challenges of inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity that have historically hindered the complete assessment of tumor biology and treatment responsiveness. It can also reveal tumor characteristics that may guide both surgical and medical decision-making in real-time. Here we describe a general framework for the acquisition of image-localized biopsies and the construction of spatiotemporal radiomics models, as well as case examples of how this approach may be used to address clinically relevant questions.
PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment and its impact on clinical imaging in non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of immune-related adverse events
Authors: Mohammed Nader , Xiao En-Hua , Mohsen Shallal , Xiong Zeng , Zhou RongRong
Published: October 2023

Background

In the contemporary era of cancer treatment, lung cancer (LC) holds the unenviable position of being the primary contributor to cancer-induced mortality worldwide. Although immunotherapy has expanded the therapeutic landscape for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been accompanied by a concomitant increase in immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Timely detection of irAEs is pivotal for efficacious management and enhanced patient outcomes. Diagnostic imaging, encompassing x-ray and CT scans, can facilitate the identification and supervision of irAEs, thereby ensuring the prompt recognition of associated patterns and alterations for expeditious treatment.

Methods

The present inquiry undertook a systematic exploration of multiple databases, incorporating a diverse array of studies such as randomized controlled trials and observational analyses. Patient demographics, imaging outcomes, and risk of bias were extracted from the data. Meta-analysis was executed utilizing R Statistical Software, with the results of the risk of bias assessment summarized accordingly.

Findings

The analysis unveiled a higher prevalence of irAEs in patients receiving first-line treatment for NSCLC compared to those receiving subsequent treatments, with a statistically significant distinction observed for both high- and low-grade irAEs (p < 0.001). Pneumonitis, thyroiditis, and colitis emerged as the most frequently reported irAEs, whereas hepatitis and pancolitis were less commonly documented. This investigation signifies a crucial advancement in elucidating the function of imaging in the treatment of NSCLC with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and emphasizes the imperative for ongoing research in this domain.
Risk factors of breast cancer recurrence in pathologic complete response achieved by patients following neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Choi Joon Young , Woen Doyoun , Jang Sung Yoon , Lee Hyunjun , Shin Dong Seung , Kwak Youngji , Lee Hyunwoo , Chae Byung Joo , Yu Jonghan , Lee Jeong Eon , Kim Seok Won , Nam Seok Jin , Ryu Jai Min
Published: October 2023

Objective

Pathologic complete response (pCR) of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is highly related to molecular subtypes. Patients who achieved tumor pCR after NAC have a better prognosis. However, despite of better prognosis, pCR patients have a potential for recurrence. There is little evidence of risk factors of recurrence in patients with pCR. We aim to analyze factors associated with tumor recurrence in patients who achieved pCR.

Methods

This study retrospectively reviewed the data of patients diagnosed with breast cancer who achieved pCR after receiving NAC between January 2009 and December 2018 in Samsung Medical Center. pCR was defined as no residual invasive cancer in the breast and axillary nodes even if there is residual ductal carcinoma in situ (ypT0 or ypTis with ypN0). Breast cancers are classified into 4 subtypes based on hormone receptors (HR) and human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. Patients who had bilateral breast cancer, ipsilateral supraclavicular or internal mammary lymph node metastasis, inflammatory breast cancer, distant metastasis, unknown subtype, and histologically unique case were excluded from the study.

Results

In total 483 patients were included in this study except for patients who corresponded to the exclusion criteria. The median follow-up duration was 59.0 months (range, 0.5-153.3 months). Breast cancer recurred in 4.1% of patients (20 of 483). There was a significant difference in clinical T (P = 0.004) and clinical N (P = 0.034) stage in the Kaplan-Meier curve for disease-free survival. Molecular subtypes (P = 0.573), Ki67 (P = 1.000), and breast surgery type (P = 0.574) were not associated with tumor recurrence in patients who achieved pCR after NAC. In the clinical T stage and clinical N stage, there was a significant difference between recurrence and no-recurrence groups (clinical T stage; P = 0.045, clinical N stage; P = 0.002). Univariable Cox regression revealed statistical significance in the clinical T stage (P = 0.049) and clinical N stage (P = 0.010), while multivariable Cox regression demonstrated non-significance in the clinical T stage (P = 0.320) and clinical N stage (P = 0.073).

Conclusion

Results in this study showed that clinical T, clinical N stage, and molecular subtypes were not statistically significant predictors of recurrence in patients who achieved pCR after NAC. In spite of that, pCR after NAC may be more important than clinical staging and molecular subtype in early breast cancer. In addition, escalated treatments for patients with HER2 + or triple-negative tumors would be considered with a strict patient selection strategy to prevent over-treatment as well as achieve pCR.
Development and clinical validation of a microfluidic-based platform for CTC enrichment and downstream molecular analysis
Authors: Cai Songhua , Deng Youjun , Wang Zhe , Zhu Junyu , Huang Chujian , Du Longde , Wang Chunguang , Yu Xiangyang , Liu Wenyi , Yang Chenglin , Wang Zhe , Wang Lixu , Ma Kai , Huang Rui , Zhou Xiaoyu , Zou Heng , Zhang Wenchong , Huang Yan , Li Zhi , Qin Tiaoping , Xu Tao , Guo Xiaotong , Yu Zhentao
Published: October 2023

Background

Although many CTC isolation and detection methods can provide information on cancer cell counts, downstream gene and protein analysis remain incomplete. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a technology that can provide comprehensive information on both the number and profile of CTC.

Methods

In this study, we developed a novel microfluidics-based CTC separation and enrichment platform that provided detailed information about CTC.

Results

This platform exhibits exceptional functionality, achieving high rates of CTC recovery (87.1%) and purification (∼4 log depletion of WBCs), as well as accurate detection (95.10%), providing intact and viable CTCs for downstream analysis. This platform enables successful separation and enrichment of CTCs from a 4 mL whole-blood sample within 15 minutes. Additionally, CTC subtypes, selected protein expression levels on the CTC surface, and target mutations in selected genes can be directly analyzed for clinical utility using immunofluorescence and real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the detected PD-L1 expression in CTCs is consistent with immunohistochemical assay results.

Conclusion

The microfluidic-based CTC enrichment platform and downstream molecular analysis together provide a possible alternative to tissue biopsy for precision cancer management, especially for patients whose tissue biopsies are unavailable.
Real-world patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes associated with tucatinib therapy in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Kaufman Peter A. , Neuberger Edward , Schwartz Naomi R. M. , Wang Shu , Liu Yutong , Hsu Ling-I , Bartley Karen , Blahna Matthew T. , Pittner Brian T. , Wong Gabriel , Anders Carey
Published: October 2023

Background

Tucatinib is an oral human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-directed therapy approved in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for use in patients with previously treated HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with/without brain metastases (BM). To inform clinical decision-making, it is important to understand tucatinib use in real-world clinical practice. We describe patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes for tucatinib treatment in the real-world setting.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with HER2+ MBC (January 2017-December 2022) who received tucatinib treatment in a nationwide, de-identified electronic health record–derived metastatic breast cancer database. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were described at baseline (prior to tucatinib initiation). Key outcomes included real-world time to treatment discontinuation (rwTTD), time to next treatment (rwTTNT), and overall survival (rwOS).

Results

Of 3,449 patients with HER2+ MBC, 216 received tucatinib treatment (n=153 with BM; n=63 without BM) and met inclusion criteria. Median (range) age of patients was 56 (28-84) years, 57.9% were White, and 68.5% had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤1. Median (IQR) follow-up from start of tucatinib treatment was 12 (6-18) months. Among all patients who received tucatinib treatment, median (95% CI) rwTTD was 6.5 (5.4-8.8) months with 39.8% and 21.4% remaining on treatment at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Median (95% CI) rwTTNT was 8.7 (6.8-10.7) months. Patients who received the approved tucatinib triplet combination after ≥1 HER2-directed regimen in the metastatic setting had a similar median (95% CI) rwTTD (any line: 8.1 [5.7-9.5] months; second-line (2L) and third-line (3L): 9.4 [6.3-14.1] months) and rwTTNT (any line: 8.8 [7.1-11.8] months; 2L and 3L: 9.8 [6.8-14.1] months) to the overall population. Overall, median (95% CI) rwOS was 26.6 (20.2-not reached [NR]) months, with similar findings for patients who received the tucatinib triplet (26.1 [18.8-NR] months) and was NR in the subgroup limited to the 2L/3L population.

Conclusion

Tucatinib treatment in the real-world setting was associated with a similar median rwTTD, rwTTNT, and rwOS as in the pivotal HER2CLIMB trial, with particular effectiveness in patients in the 2L/3L setting. These results highlight the importance of earlier use of tucatinib in HER2+ MBC.