bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traction Applying Technique on Bicanalicular Crawford Silicone Tube to Overcome the Notching Deformity After Lacrimal Canalicular Repair
Authors: Baek Sang Oon , Kim Jae Won , Lee Jun Yong , Kwon Ho
Published: August 2020

Lower eyelid avulsion injury with lower canalicular laceration generally occur just medial to the punctum with insufficient skin remnant for repair causing tension on repair margins. The inevitable blinking force, along with the tension widens the repair margin, resulting in an aesthetically challenging notch at the medial lower lid. The authors attempted to minimize this notching deformity with a traction applying technique on bicanalicular silicone tube.

Fifteen patients were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: the experimental group with 10 patients which received the traction technique, and the control group with 5 patients which the traction technique was omitted. Each end of the bicanalicular silicone tube was intubated through both puncta and the lacerated canaliculus. No canalicular anastomosis was performed. The tube ends were retrieved through the nostril, followed by medial canthal tendon, orbicularis oculi muscle, and skin repair. The tube ends were pulled to create a tension on the loop, until upper and lower puncta apposed each other, creating a dimple in the medial canthal area. The tube ends were tied and anchored at internal valve of the nostril to maintain the traction tension. Medial lower lid notching (>2 mm width), epiphora, and conjunctival injection were evaluated and compared in the 2 groups.

Patients with traction technique showed symmetric medial canthal angle and minimized lower lid notching deformity when compared with the control group (P = 0.025). No conjunctival injections and epiphora were observed in either group. Symmetric and aesthetically satisfactory results were achieved by traction applying technique on bicanalicular silicone tube.
Biomechanical and Biochemical Analyses of the Effects of Propranolol on the Osseointegration of Implants
Authors: Tekin Samet , Dundar Serkan , Demirci Fatih , Bozoglan Alihan , Yildirim Tuba Talo , Karaman Tahir , Gul Mehmet
Published: August 2020

This study aimed to investigate the effects of systemic propranolol on the osseointegration of titanium implants. After the surgical insertion of titanium implants into the metaphyseal part of the tibiae of rats, the rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: the control (n = 8), propranolol dosage-1 (PRP-1) (n = 8), and propranolol dosage-2 (PRP-2) (n = 8) groups. In the control group, the rats received no further treatment during the 4-week experimental period after the surgery. After the surgical insertion of the implants, the rats in the PRP-1 and PRP-2 groups were given 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg propranolol, respectively, every 3 days for the 4-week experimental period. After the experimental period, the rats were euthanized. Blood sera were collected for biochemical analysis, and the implants and surrounding bone tissues were used for the biomechanical reverse torque analysis. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's honest significant difference test were used for statistical analysis. The student t-test was used to analyze the data obtained from the tests and the controls. There were no significant differences in the reverse torque analysis results and the biochemical parameters (alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and phosphorus) of the groups (P > 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase was, however, found to be higher in test animals compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Also, propranolol did not biomechanically affect the osseointegration of titanium implants, while alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in the test animals.
Location of Central Sulcus According to Coronal Suture
Authors: Ekşi Murat Şakir , Güdük Mustafa , Usseli Murat Imre , Pamir M. Necmettin
Published: August 2020

Background:

It is essential to localize the central sulcus in patients with lesions within or nearby the sensorial and/or motor cortex. The coronal suture is a valuable bony landmark in neurosurgical practice; it could be used to localize the central sulcus. There are scarce amount of literature about normal values of the distance between the central sulcus and the coronal suture. In the present study, the authors aimed to learn normative values of the distance between the central sulcus and the coronal suture in a patient sample representing Turkish population. The authors also aimed to look for any difference in values according to sex and age.

Methods:

The authors retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database. Patients were evaluated on cranial computed tomography (CT) reformatted in 3 planes (axial, coronal, and sagittal). Intracranial and extracranial pathologies were scanned. If there was no pathology, the reviewed CT scan was added up to the database. The coronal suture and the central sulcus were identified at the midline location on axial and sagittal view CT images. Vertical distance between coronal suture and central sulcus was measured.

Results:

Mean distance of the central sulcus to the coronal suture was 47.5 ± 7.6 mm (range = 26.2–67.3 mm).

Conclusions:

Identifying the central sulcus relative to the coronal suture is essential to preserve the primary motor and/or sensory cortices in neurosurgical procedures. The distance of the central sulcus to the coronal suture is approximately 4.7 cm in adult patients from Turkey, which did not differ according to age or sex.
Adequacy of the Italian National Tariff for Orthognathic Surgery: A Cost Analysis Using the Activity Based Costing (ABC) Method
Authors: Tewfik Karim , Chiarelli Pasquale , Battaglia Salvatore , Catanzaro Susanna , Pederneschi Nicola , Copelli Chiara , Manfuso Alfonso , Cassano Lazzaro , Longo Francesco
Published: August 2020

The reduced economic resources in health care and the consequent spending review have brought great interest in surgical costs. The aim of the study is to determine direct hospital costs for Orthognathic procedures using the Activity based costing method and evaluate the adequacy of the refund provided by the Italian National Health Service. From January 2017 to December 2017 9 consecutive patients underwent the following Orthognathic procedures at IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy): bimaxillary osteotomy (n = 7), Le Fort I osteotomy (n = 1) and Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO) (n = 1). Activity based costing was used to obtain costs of each single hospitalization split into surgery, instay, and services. The mean total cost for a bimaxillary osteotomy was 7596.40€. We observed a total cost of 3925.00€ for Le Fort I osteotomy and of 4334.50€ for BSSO. The refund of 4378.00€ provided by the Italian National Health Service system for Orthognathic surgery seems insufficient to cover costs of bimaxillary osteotomy but consistent for single osteotomy (Le Fort I or BSSO).
Use of a Monoblock Gunning Splint in a Bilateral Condylar Fracture in an Edentulous Patient
Authors: Hwang Kun , Ma Sung Hwan
Published: August 2020

This paper presents the outcomes of a conservative approach to a bilateral condylar fracture in an edentulous patient. Serial changes of the inclination angle were measured in an edentulous mandibular fracture treated with a monoblock Gunning splint.

After being hit by a motor vehicle, a 67-year-old man fell onto his face. He had been edentulous for 7 years and did not use dentures. His mouth-opening was 28 mm between the edentulous maxilla and the mandible. X-rays and computed tomography revealed a comminuted mandibular angle fracture and bilateral condylar fractures. Stone casts were made from maxillary and mandibular alginate impressions. Maxillary and mandibular labiolingual splints were constructed using an autopolymerizing acrylic resin. In the most comfortable jaw position, the wax-bite was inter-positioned between the upper and lower splints and the vertical dimension was measured. Using a calibration resin, the inter-positional segment containing the eyelet wire was fixed between the splints with glue. A monoblock Gunning splint was applied and intermaxillary fixation (IMF) was performed with circummandibular and circumzygomatic wiring. The inclination of the fractured condyle was compared with the contralateral side. The difference in inclination between the fractured and contralateral sides was plotted over time.

On post-IMF day 34, the inclination angle had decreased to 22.9°, only 3.2° greater than the contralateral side. The difference in inclination was fitted to an exponential regression model (y = 11.378e−0.043x, R2 = 0.766, P = 0.022).

This case shows that a condylar fracture in an edentulous patient can be treated by vertical lengthening using a monoblock Gunning splint and IMF.
Management of Complications Related to Removal of the Buccal Fat Pad
Authors: Pimentel Thais , Hadad Henrique , Statkievicz Cristian , Alcantara-Júnior Albertino Gomes de , Vieira Eduardo Hochuli , Souza Francisley Ávila , Garcia-Júnior Idelmo Rangel
Published: August 2020

Removal of the buccal fat pad (BFP) is an important topic of discussion in the literature. Several studies have reported improvements in facial esthetics as a result of this technique. The BFP is close to vital structures, such as the facial nerve, parotid duct, and vessels. Injuries related to these structures may occur during the surgical procedure. This manuscript aimed to report and discuss 2 clinical cases of the complications after removal of the BFP. Besides the case presentation, a comprehensive review of the literature was also provided. The reported cases were 2 patients aged 31 and 38 years who were attended by the oral and maxillofacial surgery teams after a complication in the BFP surgery. The first case involved swelling due to Stensen's duct injury, and the second involved uncontrolled bleeding from the internal maxillary artery. Removal of the BFP must have precise indications. Complications may occur during or after surgery; hence, anatomical knowledge is fundamental to appropriate patient management.
Utilization of Visual Acuity Retroilluminated Charts for the Assessment of Afferent Visual System Dysfunction in a Pediatric Neuroimmunology Population
Authors: Sguigna Peter V. , McCreary Morgan C. , Conger Darrel L. , Graves Jennifer S. , Benson Leslie A. , Waldman Amy T. , Greenberg Benjamin M. ,   on behalf of the PERCEPTION Collaboration
Published: August 2020

Background:

Visual acuity has been a significant outcome measure in clinical trials for patients suffering from neuro-ophthalmological diseases and multiple sclerosis; however, there are limited data on the comparison of various testing strategies in pediatric patients with these disorders. Clinical trials using vision as an outcome could include a variety of tools to assess the acuity, including 2-m and 4-m standardized retroilluminated charts.

Methods:

We investigated the difference in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) scores obtained using 2-m and 4-m charts, as well as the impact of optic neuritis, use of vision correction, age, and gender on visual acuity data from 71 patients with pediatric neuroimmunological conditions in a cross-sectional study.

Results:

We determine that the ETDRS letter scores obtained using 4-m charts are on average 3.43 points less (P = 0.0034) when testing monocular ETDRS letter scores and on average 4.14 points less (P = 0.0008) when testing binocular ETDRS letter scores, relative to that obtained using the 2-m charts. However, we find that when performing monocular testing, optic neuritis in the eye being tested did not result in a statistically significant difference between 2-m and 4-m ETDRS letter scores.

Conclusions:

Although visual acuity charts are formatted by the distance, there are significant differences in the number of letters correctly identified between 2-m and 4-m charts. Although the differences may not impact the clinical acuity, research protocols should consider these differences before collapsing data across disparate studies.
Bedside Assessment of Vergence in Stroke Patients
Authors: Anagnostou Evangelos , Koutsoudaki Penelopi , Tountopoulou Argyro , Spengos Konstantinos , Vassilopoulou Sophia
Published: August 2020

Background:

Given the widely distributed network of midbrain, pontine, cerebellar, and cortical areas involved in the neural control of vergence, one might expect various vergence deficits in stroke patients. In this article, we investigated the localizing value of bedside vergence testing with respect to different supratentorial and infratentorial infarction locations.

Methods:

Three hundred five stroke patients and 50 age-matched controls were examined prospectively by means of bedside tests to assess slow and fast binocular (i.e., symmetrical) as well as slow and fast monocular (i.e., asymmetrical) convergence. Infarction locations, as identified on MRI, were correlated with vergence performance using multinomial logistic regression.

Results:

Vergence deteriorated with age in both stroke patients and healthy controls. Most infarction locations did not show significant associations with vergence parameters, apart from cases with parietal lobe lesions, which exhibited insufficient asymmetrical, slow and fast vergence for both the left and the right eye. Finally, patients with severe ischemic small vessel disease showed a slight but significant decrease in their fast binocular vergence performance.

Conclusions:

There is only a limited localizing value of vergence deficits in stroke. Parietal lobe infarctions are more frequently associated with insufficient binocular and monocular vergence. Midbrain strokes were too few to draw final conclusions. However the most robust factor to emerge from our data is age. Older subjects show poor slow binocular as well as slow and fast monocular vergence. Extended white matter lesions are also correlated with deficient vergence ability suggesting a role for subcortical wide range connections in maintaining an intact vergence circuitry.
Seven-Year Follow-Up of a Patient With a Retained Needlefish Jaw Fragment Abutting Against His Left Internal Carotid Artery
Authors: Daigle Patrick , Mehta Sonul , Bhayana Rajesh , Das Sunit , Bharatha Aditya , Nijhawan Navdeep
Published: August 2020

A 51-year-old man presented to the ophthalmology service with binocular diplopia and facial numbness. The patient was returning from a trip to Mexico. He reported having been hit in the left periocular region by a fish while swimming. Local doctors repaired a laceration in the left lateral canthus shortly after the incident. Orbital imaging revealed 2 needle-like foreign bodies corresponding to retained pieces of a needlefish jaw in the left orbit. Given the location of the foreign bodies, observation with repeat imaging was deemed more appropriate than surgical exploration. Subsequent imaging studies showed no migration of the foreign body, and the patient did not suffer from any related complications more than 7 years after the initial injury.
The Usefulness of Anti-acetylcholine Receptor Binding Antibody Testing in Diagnosing Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Chung In Young , Sheth Shivanand J. , Wells Kristen K. , Campbell Thomas G.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR–Abs) testing is a safe and simple ancillary method for confirming the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Despite the test's high sensitivity (85%–90%) for generalized myasthenia gravis, AChR–Abs testing has been reported to have a low sensitivity 44%–66% for ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG). The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of AChR binding Abs testing for diagnosing OMG by evaluating the test's sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review on 114 OMG suspects who presented to the emergency department of a tertiary eye center in Victoria, Australia, was completed. The patients presented with diplopia alone, ptosis alone, or the combination of diplopia and ptosis. All participants were followed up longitudinally in the neuro-ophthalmology outpatient clinics for the average of 2.8 months, where they have received AChR binding testing. The final diagnosis was only given to the patients who either were seropositive for AChR binding Abs and had a high clinical suspicion of OMG, or the patient who was seronegative for AChR binding Abs but was regarded as likely to have OMG clinically and responded to the diagnostic treatments (pyridostigmine bromide and immunosuppressant therapy).

Results:

The sensitivity of AChR binding Abs testing in diagnosing OMG was higher (80%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 51.91%–95.67%) than previously reported (44%–66%). AChR binding Abs testing also had a high specificity (98.99%; 95% CI, 94.50%–99.97%) and positive predictive value (92.31%; 95% CI, 62.68%–98.85%).

Conclusion:

The study suggests the higher utility of the AChR binding Abs testing in diagnosing OMG due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value.
Neuro-Ophthalmic Manifestations of Acute Leukemia
Authors: Alrobaian Malek A. , Henderson Amanda D.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Ophthalmic involvement in acute leukemia is common, with 36% of patients having ophthalmic involvement at the time of diagnosis. However, neuro-ophthalmic involvement is relatively rare. We present a characterization of neuro-ophthalmic findings in patients with acute leukemia and discuss the implications of these findings on patient management and prognosis.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of cases of acute leukemia with central nervous system (CNS) involvement and neuro-ophthalmic manifestations that were evaluated at the Wilmer Eye Institute between January 2013 and September 2019. Data collected included demographic information, leukemia details, results of diagnostic testing, and features of associated neuro-ophthalmic manifestations.

Results:

Twelve patients with mean age 42 years (range 9–65, median 39) were included. Seven (58%) patients were men and 5 (42%) women. Eight (67%) were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and 4 (33%) with acute lymphoid leukemia. Neuro-ophthalmic findings included 4 patients with isolated sixth nerve palsies, 2 with multiple cranial nerve palsies, 2 with orbital lesions with proptosis, 4 with optic disc swelling, and 1 with isolated fourth nerve palsy. Five (42%) neuro-ophthalmic presentations were associated with known CNS disease, 3 (25%) were associated with active disease but heralded the discovery of CNS involvement, 3 (25%) were the presenting features of relapse, and 1 (8%) led to the original leukemia diagnosis. Neuroimaging showed 4 with leptomeningeal enhancement, 4 with cranial nerve enhancement/thickening, 3 with optic nerve/sheath enhancement, 1 with lytic lesion of bone, 1 with soft tissue mass, and 1 with cytotoxic brain edema. One case had normal neuroimaging. Overall, patients had a poor prognosis, with 7 patients dying from leukemia or its complications and only 1 achieving a sustained remission. In 58% of the cases in our series, the discovery of neuro-ophthalmic leukemic involvement directly led to a change in leukemia treatment.

Conclusions:

Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of leukemia may occur as presenting features of diagnosis, relapse, or CNS involvement, and portend a poor prognosis. Detection of neuro-ophthalmic involvement often triggers a prompt change in management. Therefore, familiarity with potential neuro-ophthalmic presentations of acute leukemia may avoid delayed diagnosis, and resultant inadequate treatment, of primary disease, relapse, or CNS involvement.
Antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: a systematic review
Authors: Post Nathan , Eddy Danielle , Huntley Catherine , van Schalkwyk May C. I. , Shrotri Madhumita , Leeman David , Rigby Samuel , Williams Sarah V. , Bermingham William H. , Kellam Paul , Maher John , Shields Adrian M. , Amirthalingam Gayatri , Peacock Sharon J. , Ismail Sharif A.
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Progress in characterising the humoral immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been rapid but areas of uncertainty persist. This review comprehensively evaluated evidence describing the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 published from 01/01/2020-26/06/2020.

Methods

Systematic review. Keyword-structured searches were carried out in MEDLINE, Embase and COVID-19 Primer. Articles were independently screened on title, abstract and full text by two researchers, with arbitration of disagreements. Data were double-extracted into a pre-designed template, and studies critically appraised using a modified version of the MetaQAT tool, with resolution of disagreements by consensus. Findings were narratively synthesised.

Results

150 papers were included. Most studies (75%) were observational in design, and included papers were generally of moderate quality based on hospitalised patients. Few considered mild or asymptomatic infection. Antibody dynamics were well described in the acute phase, and up to around 3 months from disease onset, although inconsistencies remain concerning clinical correlates. Development of neutralising antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 infection is typical, although titres may be low. Specific and potent neutralising antibodies have been isolated from convalescent plasma. Cross reactivity but limited cross neutralisation occurs with other HCoVs. Evidence for protective immunity in vivo is limited to small, short-term animal studies, which show promising initial results in the immediate recovery phase.

Interpretation

Published literature on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 is of variable quality with considerable heterogeneity with regard to methods, study participants, outcomes measured and assays used. Antibody dynamics have been evaluated thoroughly in the acute phase but longer follow up and a comprehensive assessment of the role of demographic characteristics and disease severity is needed. The role of protective neutralising antibodies is emerging, with implications for therapeutics and vaccines. Large, cross-national cohort studies using appropriate statistical analysis and standardised serological assays and clinical classifications should be prioritised.
Modelling acceptable novelty transitions with emotional habituation: Effects of uncertainty and prediction error on preference changes
Authors: Sekoguchi Takahiro , Yanagisawa Hideyoshi
Published: August 2020

Previous mathematical models developed to optimize the degree of novelty in product design have represented novelty by emotional dimensions such as arousal (surprise) and valence (positivity and negativity). Formalizing arousal as Bayesian information gain and valence as a function of arousal based on Berlyne’s arousal potential theory, the model indicates that novelty becomes acceptable with repeated exposure and changes the preferences of the users. Hence, acceptable novelty transitions are important in the design of long-term product experience. We propose a mathematical model of acceptable novelty transitions with emotional habituation based on the emotional dimension model. We formalized valence as a function of information-theoretic free-energy and expressed free-energy as a function of three parameters: initial prediction error, initial uncertainty, and noise of sensory stimulus. To verify whether the transition speed of acceptable novelty depends on the initial uncertainty in our model, we analysed the responses of participants to historic artworks; we manipulated the uncertainty level by varying the obscurity of the presented pieces and the prediction error by rendering them in different artistic styles. We used the subjective reports of valence in response to the samples as measures of valence levels. The experimental results support our hypothesis.
Coformulation with tattoo ink for immunological assessment of vaccine immunogenicity in the draining lymph node
Authors: Barber-Axthelm Isaac M , Kelly Hannah G , Esterbauer Robyn , Wragg Kathleen , Gibbon Anne , Lee Wen Shi , Wheatley Adam K , Kent Stephen J , Tan Hyon-Xhi , Juno Jennifer A
Published: August 2020

Characterisation of germinal centre B and T cell responses yields critical insights into vaccine immunogenicity. Non-human primates are a key pre-clinical animal model for human vaccine development, allowing both lymph node and circulating immune responses to be longitudinally sampled for correlates of vaccine efficacy. However, patterns of vaccine antigen drainage via the lymphatics after intramuscular immunisation can be stochastic, driving uneven deposition between lymphoid sites, and between individual lymph nodes within larger clusters. In order to improve the accurate isolation of antigen-exposed lymph nodes during biopsies and necropsies, we developed and validated a method for co-formulating candidate vaccines with tattoo ink, which allows for direct visual identification of vaccine-draining lymph nodes and evaluation of relevant antigen-specific B and T cell responses by flow cytometry. This approach improves the assessment of vaccine-induced immunity in highly relevant non-human primate models.
Age and gender dependence of liver diffusion parameters and the evidence of intravoxel incoherent motion modelling of perfusion component is constrained by diffusion component
Authors: Huang Hua , Zheng Cun-Jing , Wang Li-Fei , Che-Nordin Nazmi , Wáng Yì Xiáng J.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To establish reference values for middle aged subjects and investigate age and gender dependence of liver diffusion MRI parameters.

Methods

The IVIM type of liver diffusion scan was based on a single-shot spin-echo type echo-planar sequence using a 1.5-T magnet with 16b-values. DDVD (diffusion-derived vessel density) was the signal difference betweenb=0 andb=2 s/mm2images after removing visible vessels. IVIM analysis was performed with full-fitting and segmented-fitting, and with threshold b-value of 60 or 200 s/mm2, and fitting started fromb=2 s/mm2. 32 men (age range: 25-71 years) and 26 men (age: 22-69 years) had DDVD and IVIM analysis respectively, while 36 women (age: 20-71 years) had DDVD and IVIM analysis.

Results

DDVD had an age-related reduction noted for women. IVIM results of full fitting had good agreement with segmented fitting with thresholdbof 60 s/mm2results, but less so with results of thresholdbof 200 s/mm2. As age increases, female subjects’ Dslowmeasure had significant reduction, and PF and Dfastmeasure had significant increase. For the age group of 40-55 years, DDVD, Dslow, PF, and Dfast were 12.27±3.90, 1.072±0.067 (10−3mm2/s), 0.141±0.025, 61.0±14.0 (10−3mm2/s), and 13.4±3.6, 1.069±0.074 mm2/s, 0.119±0.014, 57.1±13.2 mm2/s, for men and women, respectively.

Conclusion

DDVD measure suggest that aging may be associated with reduction in liver perfusion. Lower Dslowmeasurement can lead to artificial higher PF and Dfastmeasurement, providing the evidence of IVIM modeling of perfusion component is constrained by diffusion component.
Future carbon emissions from global mangrove forest loss
Authors: Adame M.F. , Connolly R.M. , Turschwell M.P. , Lovelock C.E. , Fatoyinbo L. , Lagomasino D. , Goldberg L.A. , Holdorf J. , Friess D.A. , Sasmito SD. , Sanderman J. , Sievers M. , Buelow C. , Kauffman B.J. , Bryan-Brown D. , Brown C.J.
Published: August 2020

Mangroves have among the highest carbon densities of any tropical forest. These “blue carbon” ecosystems can store large amounts of carbon for long periods, and their protection reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports climate change mitigation. The incorporation of mangroves into Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement and their valuation on carbon markets requires predicting how the management of different land-uses can prevent future greenhouse gas emissions and increase CO2sequestration. Management actions can reduce CO2emissions and enhance sequestration, but should be guided by predictions of future emissions, not just carbon storage. We project emissions and forgone soil carbon sequestration potential caused by mangrove loss with comprehensive global datasets for carbon stocks, mangrove distribution, deforestation rates, and drivers of land-use change. Emissions from mangrove loss could reach 2,397 Tg CO2eqby the end of the century, or 3,401 Tg CO2eqwhen considering forgone carbon sequestration. The highest emissions were predicted in southeast and south Asia (West Coral Triangle, Sunda Shelf, and the Bay of Bengal) due to conversion to aquaculture or agriculture, followed by the Caribbean (Tropical Northwest Atlantic) due to clearing and erosion, and the Andaman coast (West Myanmar) and north Brazil due to erosion. Together, these six regions accounted for 90% of the total potential CO2eqfuture emissions. We highlight hotspots for future emissions and the land-use specfic management actions that could avoid them with appropriate policies and regulation.
Genetics of phosphorus use efficiency in a MAGIC wheat population grown in the field
Authors: Wasson Anton P. , Zwart Alexander B. , Verbyla Arunas P. , Permalloo Gilbert , Weligama Chandrakumara , Ryan Peter R. , Delhaize Emmanuel
Published: August 2020

Phosphorus (P) is an essential plant nutrient and regular applications are essential in most farming systems to maintain high yields. Yet the P fertilizers applied to crops and pastures are derived from non-renewable resources. It is therefore important to find agronomic and genetic strategies for using this resource efficiently, especially since only a proportion of the applied P is absorbed by crops. The aim of this study was to identify Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for P use efficiency (PUE) in wheat using a Multiparent Advanced Generation InterCross (MAGIC) population grown in the field. The 357 genotypes were arranged in paired plots with and without P fertilization. Yield and biomass were measured and PUE was calculated as either the performance of the genotype relative to the average response to fertilization, or the performance of the genotype relative to the average resilience in the absence of fertilization. Five trials were conducted over three years in Australia at three sites with contrasting clay and sandy soil types.

Genotypic variation for response and resilience were identified in all trials with moderate to strong correlation with productivity with and without P between trials. Multiparent Whole Genome Average Interval Mapping (WGAIM) QTL analyses were conducted on the four traits (Biomass / Yield × P Response / Resilience) across the five trials and identified 130 QTL in total. QTL within 10 cM of each other were clustered into 56 groups that were likely to represent identical or linked loci. Of the clusters 27 (48%) contained only a single QTL but 17 (31%) contained 3 or more in different trials or traits. This suggests multiple biological mechanisms driving PUE in different environments. Eight of the 56 groups collocated with QTL for seedling root hair length identified in the same MAGIC population in an earlier study.

Highlight

Identification of genetic loci for phosphorus use efficiency in a multigenic population of Australian wheats grown on contrasting soils.
Lung Immune Tone Regulation by the Gut-Lung Immune Axis: Short-chain Fatty Acid Receptors FFAR2 and FFAR3, and IL-1β Expression Profiling in Mouse and Human Lung
Authors: Liu Qing , Tian Xiaoli , Maruyama Daisuke , Arjomandi Mehrdad , Prakash Arun
Published: August 2020

Microbial metabolites produced by the gut microbiome, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), can influence both local intestinal and distant lung physiology and response to injury. However, how lung immune activity is regulated by SCFAs is unknown. We examined fresh human lung tissue and observed the presence of SCFAs with large inter-individual and even intra-lobe variability.In vitro, SCFAs were capable of modifying the metabolic programming in both resting and LPS-exposed alveolar macrophages (AM). Additionally, since we hypothesized that lung immune tone could be defined through priming of the inflammasome (aka signal 1), we interrogated naïve mouse lungs for pro-IL-1β message and localized its presence within the alveolar spacein situ, specifically in AM subsets, and in close proximity to alveolar type 2 epithelial (AT2) cells. We established that metabolically active gut microbiota, that produce SCFAs, can transmit LPS and SCFAs to the lung (potential sources of signal 1), and thereby could regulate lung immune tone and metabolic programming. To understand how murine lung cells sensed and upregulated IL-1β in response to gut-microbiome factors, we determined thatin vitro, AM and AT2 cells expressed SCFA receptors, FFAR2, FFAR3, and IL-1β but with different expression patterns and LPS-inducibility. Finally, we observed that IL-1β, FFAR2 and FFAR3 were expressed both in isolated human AM and AT2 cellsex-vivo, but in fresh human lung sectionsin situ, only AM expressed IL-1β at rest and after LPS challenge. Together, this translational study using mouse and human lung tissue and cells supports an important role for the gut microbiome and SCFAs in regulating lung immune tone.
Genomic diversity ofEscherichia coliisolates from healthy children in rural Gambia
Authors: Foster-Nyarko Ebenezer , Alikhan Nabil-Fareed , Ikumapayi Usman Nurudeen , Golam Sarwar , Hossain M Jahangir , Okoi Catherine , Tientcheu Peggy-Estelle , Defernez Marianne , O’Grady Justin , Antonio Martin , Pallen Mark J.
Published: August 2020

Little is known about the genomic diversity ofEscherichia coliin healthy children from sub-Saharan Africa, even though this is pertinent to understanding bacterial evolution and ecology and their role in infection. We isolated and whole-genome sequenced up to five colonies of faecalE. colifrom 66 asymptomatic children aged three-to-five years in rural Gambia (n=88 isolates from 21 positive stools). We identified 56 genotypes, with an average of 2.7 genotypes per host. These were spread over 37 seven-allele sequence types and theE. coliphylogroups A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F andEscherichiacryptic clade I. Immigration events accounted for three-quarters of the diversity within our study population, while one-quarter of variants appeared to have arisen from within-host evolution. Several study strains were closely related to isolates that caused disease in humans or originated from livestock. Our results suggest that within-host evolution plays a minor role in the generation of diversity than independent immigration and the establishment of strains among our study population. Also, this study adds significantly to the number of commensalE. coligenomes, a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in the sequencing of this species.
Transcriptional network involving ERG and AR orchestrates Distal-Less Homeobox 1 mediated prostate cancer progression
Authors: Goel Sakshi , Bhatia Vipul , Carskadon Shannon , Gupta Nilesh , Asim Mohammad , Palanisamy Nallasivam , Ateeq Bushra
Published: August 2020

Nearly half of the prostate cancer (PCa) cases show elevated levels of ERG oncoprotein due toTMPRSS2-ERGgene fusion. Here, we demonstrate ERG mediated upregulation of Distal-less homeobox-1 (DLX1), an established PCa biomarker. Using series of functional assays, we show DLX1 elicits oncogenic properties in prostate epithelial cells, and abrogating its function leads to reduced tumor burden in mouse xenografts. Clinically, ∼60% of the PCa patients exhibit high DLX1 levels, while ∼50% of these cases also harbor elevated ERG associated with aggressive disease and poor survival probability. Mechanistically, we show that ERG gets recruited ontoDLX1promoter and interacts with its enhancer-bound androgen receptor (AR) and FOXA1 to regulateDLX1expression inTMPRSS2-ERGpositive cases. Alternatively, in ERG-negative cases, DLX1 is regulated by AR/AR-V7 and FOXA1. Importantly, BET bromodomain inhibitors disrupt the transcriptional regulators ofDLX1and its associated oncogenic properties, signifying their efficacy in treatment of DLX1-positive PCa patients.
Different combinations of insect Na,K-ATPase α- and β-subunit paralogs enable fine tuning of toxin resistance and enzyme kinetics
Authors: Herbertz Marlena , Dalla Safaa , Wagschal Vera , Turjalei Rohin , Heiser Marlies , Dobler Susanne
Published: August 2020

Background

Cardiac glycosides are known to fatally inhibit the Na,K-ATPase throughout the animal kingdom. Several animals, however, evolved target-site insensitivity by substitutions in the otherwise highly conserved cardiac glycoside binding pocket located on the Na,K-ATPase α-subunit. The minimal functional enzyme consist of an α- and a β-subunit, the latter considered mainly as a chaperone responsible for correct folding and membrane integration. We here analyze resistance to cardiac glycosides and kinetic properties of different Na,K-ATPase α/β-combinations of the large milkweed bug,Oncopeltus fasciatus. These insects have adapted to high concentrations of cardiac glycosides in their food plants via several rounds of Na,K-ATPase gene duplications followed by differential resistance conferring substitutions and subfunctionalization of the enzymes.

Results

To investigate their characteristics we expressed nine combinations ofO. fasciatusNa,K-ATPase α/β-sunbunits (three each) inSf9 cells and tested them with two structurally distinct cardiac glycosides, calotropin, a host plant compound, and ouabain, a commonly used toxin. Differences in the number and identity of amino acid substitutions in the cardiac glycoside binding site resulted in large differences in activity and toxin resistance of the three α-subunits. The enzymes’ kinetics were also influenced by the β-subunits leading to increased activities (αCβ3) or altered resistances. The host plant toxin calotropin proved to be a much more potent inhibitor than ouabain for the phylogenetically oldest αC based enzymes. This effect was compensated for in the αB and αA based enzymes with αAβ1 having higher resistance against calotropin than against ouabain.

Conclusion

The originally higher inhibitory potency of the host compound calotropin supports a coevolutionary escalation of plant defenses and herbivore tolerance mechanisms. For the bugs the possession of multiple paralogs improved adaptation to plant toxins in a stepwise manner and mitigates pleiotropic effects by a compromise between ion pumping activity and resistance.
H2O2/ABA signal pathway participates in the regulation of stomata opening of cucumber leaves under salt stress by putrescine
Authors: Ma Siguang , Jahan Mohammad Shah , Guo Shirong , Tian Mimi , Zhou Ranran , Liu Hongyuan , Feng Bingjie , Shu Sheng
Published: August 2020

The stomatal-aperture is imperative for plant physiological metabolism. The function of polyamines (PAs) in stomatal regulation under stress environment largely remains elucidate. Herein, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of exogenous putrescine (Put) on the stomatal opening of cucumber leaves under salt stress. The results revealed that Put relieved the salt-induced photosynthetic inhibition of cucumber leaves by regulating stomatal-apertures. Put application increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and decreased abscisic acid (ABA) content in leaves under salt stress. The inhibitors of diamine oxidase (DAO), polyamine oxidase (PAO), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH) are AG, 1,8-DO and DPI, respectively and pre-treatment with these inhibitors up-regulated key gene NCED of ABA synthase and down-regulated key gene GSHS of reduced glutathione (GSH) synthase. The content of H2O2 and GSH were decreased and ABA content was increased and its influenced trend is AG>1,8-DO>DPI. Moreover, the Put induced down-regulation of ABA content under salt stress blocked by treatment with H2O2 scavenger (DMTU) and GSH scavenger (CNDB). Additionally, the application of DMTU also blocked the increase of GSH content. Collectively, these results suggest that Put can regulate GSH content by promoting H2O2 generation through polyamine metabolic pathway, which inhibits ABA accumulation to achieve stomatal regulation under salt stress.

Highlight

Exogenous putrescine alleviates photosynthesis inhibition in salt-stressed cucumber seedlings by regulating stomatal-aperture.
Centromeric repeats of the Western European house mouse I: high sequence diversity among monomers at local and global spatial scales
Authors: Rice William R.
Published: August 2020

Previous work found that the centromeric repeats of the Western European house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) are composed predominantly of a 120 bp monomer that is shared by the X and autosomes. Polymorphism in length and sequence was also reported. Here I quantified the length and sequence polymorphism of the centromeric repeats found on the X and autosomes. The levels of local and global sequence variation were also compared. I found three length variants: a 64mer, 112mer and 120mer with relative frequencies of 2.4%, 8.6%, and 89%, respectively. There was substantial sequence variation within all three length variants with a rank-order of: 64mer < 120mer < 112mer. The 64mer was never found alone on long Sanger traces, and was arranged predominantly as a 176 bp higher-order repeat composed of a 64/112mer dimer. Reanalysis of archived ChIP-seq reads found that all three length variants were enriched with the foundational centromere protein CENP-A, but the enrichment was far higher for the 120mer. This pattern indicates that only the 120mer contributes substantially to the functional centromeres, i.e., to the kinetochore-binding, centric cores of the centromeric repeat arrays. Despite only moderate sequence divergence among random pairs of 120mers (averaging 5.9%), other measures of sequence diversity were exceptionally high: i) variant richness (numerical diversity) –on average, one new sequence variant was observed every 4th additional monomer randomly sampled (in N = 7.2 × 103monomers), and ii) variant evenness –all of the nearly 2 × 103observed sequence variants were at low frequency, with the most common variant having a frequency of only 5.7%. I next used long Sanger trace data from the Mouse Genome Project to assess the pattern of monomer diversity among neighboring 120mers. Unexpectedly, side-by-side monomers were rarely identical in sequence, and sequence divergence between these neighbors was nearly as high as that between random pairs taken from the genome-wide pool of all 120mers. I also used long Sanger traces to determine sequence variation among neighborhoods of 5 contiguous 120 bp monomers. Sequence diversity within these small regions typically spanned most of the entire range of that found genome-wide. Despite high sequence variation within these neighborhoods, the density of monomers with functional binding motifs for CENP-B (i.e., b-boxes with sequence NTTCGNNNNANNCGGGN) was strongly conserved at about 50%. The overarching pattern of monomer structure at the centromeric repeats of this subspecies is: i) high homogeneity in the density CENP-B binding sites, and ii) high heterogeneity in monomer sequence at both local and global levels.
Predicting the tension in actin cytoskeleton from the nucleus shape
Authors: Balakrishnan Sreenath , Raju Shilpa R , Barua Anwesha , Ananthasuresh G.K.
Published: August 2020

Tension in actin cytoskeleton regulates many cellular processes and nuclear morphology. Here, we demonstrate a simple computational method for estimating actin cytoskeletal tension from nucleus shape. We first note that mechanics-based modeling defines a relationship among the volume, surface area, and projected area of the nucleus and hence a specific surface in the three-parameter space of the aforementioned geometric quantities. Data of nuclei from multiple cell types lie on such a surface. Furthermore, nuclei from a given cell population lie on a straight line on the surface. The location and orientation of the line varies with cell type. By using a mechanical model, we present two non-dimensional parameters, namely, the flatness and stretch indicators, which serve as curvilinear coordinates on the surface. Flatness indicator defines the extent of nuclear flattening due to actin cytoskeletal tension and the stretch indicator captures the effect of the elastic modulus of the nuclear envelope. We validate our assertions by modulating the actin cytoskeletal tension using three independent mechanisms: (i) direct downregulation by Cytochalasin D, (ii) indirect upregulation using Nocodazole, and (iii) mechanical stimulation by varying substrate stiffness. We also infer that the flatness indicator is equivalent to the ratio of the height to diameter of the nucleus and is related to the Vogel number. By using this geometric insight, we validate the predictions of our model with data from many previous studies. Finally, we present an analytical formula and a correlation for estimating actin cytoskeletal tension from nuclear projected area and volume.
Transcription coordinates histone amounts and genome content
Authors: Claude Kora-Lee , Bureik Daniela , Adarska Petia , Singh Abhyudai , Schmoller Kurt M.
Published: August 2020

Biochemical reactions typically depend on the concentrations of the molecules involved, and cell survival therefore critically depends on the concentration of proteins. To maintain constant protein concentrations during cell growth, global mRNA and protein synthesis rates are tightly linked to cell volume. While such regulation is appropriate for most proteins, certain cellular structures do not scale with cell volume. The most striking example of this is the genomic DNA, which doubles during the cell cycle and increases with ploidy, but is independent of cell volume.

Here, we show that the amount of histone proteins is coupled to the DNA content, even though mRNA and protein synthesis globally increase with cell volume. As a consequence, and in contrast to the global trend, histone concentrations (i.e. amounts per volume) decrease with cell volume but increase with ploidy. We find that this distinct coordination of histone homeostasis and genome content is already achieved at the transcript level, and is an intrinsic property of histone promoters that does not require direct feedback mechanisms. Mathematical modelling and histone promoter truncations reveal a simple and generalizable mechanism to control the cell volume- and ploidy-dependence of a given gene through the balance of the initiation and elongation rates.