bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the roles of state demographics and state policies in epidemiologic studies of maternal-child health disparities
Authors: Chin Helen B , Howards Penelope P , Kramer Michael R , Johnson Candice Y
Published: December 2023

Disparities in maternal-child health outcomes by race and ethnicity highlight structural differences in the opportunity for optimal health in the United States. Examples of these differences include access to state-level social policies that promote maternal-child health. States vary in their racial and ethnic composition as a result of the complex history of policies and laws related to slavery, Indigenous genocide and relocation, segregation, immigration, and settlement in the United States. States also vary in the social policies they enact. As a result, correlations exist between the demographic makeup of a state’s population and the presence or absence of social policies in that state. These correlations become a mechanism by which racial and ethnic disparities in maternal-child health outcomes can operate. In this commentary, we use the example of 3 labor-related policies actively under consideration at state and federal levels (paid parental leave, paid sick leave, and reasonable accommodations during pregnancy) to demonstrate how correlations between state demographics and presence of these state policies could cause or exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities in maternal-child health outcomes. We conclude with a call for researchers to consider how the geographic distribution of racialized populations and state policies could contribute to maternal-child health disparities.
The effect of potassium supplementation and concomitant medications on potassium homeostasis for hospitalized patients
Authors: Montepara Courtney A , Bortmas Mackenzie R , Cochenour Christina J , Fleming Maura K , Gaffey Samantha H , McQuigg Megan A , Parisi Marissa K , Zimmerman David E , Covvey Jordan R , Nemecek Branden D
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Hospitalized patients receive potassium (K+) supplementation for hypokalemia, with clinicians often estimating a rise in serum K+ levels of 0.1 mEq/L per 10 mEq delivered. However, there is limited evidence to support this expectation. Patients also concomitantly take medications that may alter K+ levels, and it is not known to what degree these may impact interventions to correct K+ levels via supplementation. The objective of this study was to identify the impact of oral and/or intravenous K+ supplementation on serum K+ levels, including the influence of selected concomitant medications, in adult hospitalized patients.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective descriptive study of adult hospitalized patients receiving K+ supplementation at a tertiary hospital between 2021 and 2022 was conducted. Patients were included if they received at least one dose of potassium chloride while admitted to the general medicine ward. The primary outcome was the daily median change in serum K+, normalized per 10 mEq of supplementation administered. The secondary outcome was the impact of selected concomitant medication use on supplement-induced changes in serum K+.

Results

A total of 800 patients and 1,291 daily episodes of K+ supplementation were evaluated. The sample was approximately 53% women, was 78% white, and had a median age of 68 years. The overall daily median change in serum K+ level was 0.05 mEq/L per 10 mEq of supplementation delivered. Patients received a median of 40 mEq of supplementation per day, primarily via the oral route (80.6%). Among the concomitant medications assessed, loop diuretics significantly dampened the impact of K+ supplementation.

Conclusion

Supplementation of K+ in non–critically ill hospitalized patients is variable and dependent on concomitant medication use.
Genomic data inform taxonomy and conservation of Critically Endangered shrubs: a case study of Zieria (Rutaceae) species from eastern Australia
Authors: Orel Harvey K , McLay Todd G B , Guja Lydia K , Duretto Marco F , Bayly Michael J
Published: December 2023

Zieria buxijugum, Z. formosa, and Z. parrisiae are three closely related, Critically Endangered species of questionable taxonomic validity that occur within six kilometres of each other on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. We investigated genetic relationships and diversity of these species, along with two related but taxonomically distinct congeners, Z. granulata and Z. tuberculata, and a possible undescribed taxon, Z. aff. tuberculata. Double-digest restriction-site associated sequencing (ddRADseq) was used to generate anonymous genomic loci that were used for phylogenetic, network, and genetic structure analyses, and for estimating genetic diversity of the threatened species. Our results support the current taxonomic status of Z. buxijugum, Z. formosa, and Z. parrisiae, and suggest that Z. aff. tuberculata warrants recognition as a distinct species. We detected no evidence of inbreeding in the three Critically Endangered species, and found their genetic diversity to be similar to that of the more widespread species Z. granulata and Z. tuberculata. Comparison of plant material held in ex situ collections at the Australian National Botanic Gardens with wild plants highlighted several genotypes of the Critically Endangered species that are not represented in the ex situ collection, and we provide suggestions for the future inclusion of those unrepresented genotypes.
Multimodal assessment of mitochondrial function in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Payne Thomas , Burgess Toby , Bradley Stephen , Roscoe Sarah , Sassani Matilde , Dunning Mark J , Hernandez Dena , Scholz Sonja , McNeill Alisdair , Taylor Rosie , Su Li , Wilkinson Iain , Jenkins Thomas , Mortiboys Heather , Bandmann Oliver
Published: December 2023

The heterogenous aetiology of Parkinson's disease is increasingly recognized; both mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction have been implicated. Powerful, clinically applicable tools are required to enable mechanistic stratification for future precision medicine approaches. The aim of this study was to characterize bioenergetic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease by applying a multimodal approach, combining standardized clinical assessment with midbrain and putaminal 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) and deep phenotyping of mitochondrial and lysosomal function in peripheral tissue in patients with recent-onset Parkinson's disease and control subjects.

Sixty participants (35 patients with Parkinson's disease and 25 healthy controls) underwent 31P-MRS for quantification of energy-rich metabolites [ATP, inorganic phosphate (Pi) and phosphocreatine] in putamen and midbrain. In parallel, skin biopsies were obtained from all research participants to establish fibroblast cell lines for subsequent quantification of total intracellular ATP and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as well as mitochondrial and lysosomal morphology, using high content live cell imaging.

Lower MMP correlated with higher intracellular ATP (r = −0.55, P = 0.0016), higher mitochondrial counts (r = −0.72, P < 0.0001) and higher lysosomal counts (r = −0.62, P = 0.0002) in Parkinson's disease patient-derived fibroblasts only, consistent with impaired mitophagy and mitochondrial uncoupling. 31P-MRS-derived posterior putaminal Pi/ATP ratio variance was considerably greater in Parkinson's disease than in healthy controls (F-tests, P = 0.0036). Furthermore, elevated 31P-MRS-derived putaminal, but not midbrain Pi/ATP ratios (indicative of impaired oxidative phosphorylation) correlated with both greater mitochondrial (r = 0.37, P = 0.0319) and lysosomal counts (r = 0.48, P = 0.0044) as well as lower MMP in both short (r = −0.52, P = 0.0016) and long (r = −0.47, P = 0.0052) mitochondria in Parkinson's disease. Higher 31P-MRS midbrain phosphocreatine correlated with greater risk of rapid disease progression (r = 0.47, P = 0.0384).

Our data suggest that impaired oxidative phosphorylation in the striatal dopaminergic nerve terminals exceeds mitochondrial dysfunction in the midbrain of patients with early Parkinson's disease. Our data further support the hypothesis of a prominent link between impaired mitophagy and impaired striatal energy homeostasis as a key event in early Parkinson's disease.
The ‘Common Law Method’: British Approaches to the Development of International Law
Authors: Hovell Devika
Published: December 2023

For better or for worse, the ‘English school’ or ‘British tradition’ of international law has eluded systematization or definition. This article examines the responses of a UK legal adviser, a British judge on the International Court of Justice and influential scholars to a particular case, the Corfu Channel case. In doing so, it is possible to identify clear synergies in the mainstream legal method of British international lawyers. It should not be surprising that this method follows in the common law tradition, displaying its three key hallmarks of connection to social practice, focus on courts and an anti-theoretical tendency. Identity and analysis of these characteristics helps us to understand the distinctive contribution of British approaches to international law and the work this ‘common law method’ has done in strengthening and shaping international law. Identifying these characteristics is also important in order to understand the more problematic implications of their application in the international legal context. The common law method has consequences for the structure and direction of the international legal system, including the parameters of its community, the site of its authority and the role of theory in its development. Reflection on these strengths and weaknesses helps us better understand British contributions to international law. Paradoxically, the route to a more universal international law requires us first to understand the ways in which it is plural.
Methotrexate did not add skin cancer risk in patients with psoriasis receiving narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy: a nationwide retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chao Chun-Hsien , Wu Chun-Ying , Chou Fan-Ling , Chen Yi-Ju
Published: December 2023

Background

In the era of biologic therapy, phototherapy and methotrexate (MTX) are still commonly used for treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. However, the skin cancer risk following a combination of MTX and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) has rarely been explored.

Objectives

To investigate whether MTX plus NB-UVB increases skin cancer risk in patients with psoriasis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of data in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 1997 to 2013. Cumulative incidences and multivariate analysis were investigated using a competing risk regression model, comparing skin cancer risk between cohorts of people having combination therapy and those using NB-UVB alone, matched for relative confounders. We further conducted a sensitivity analysis for those receiving a higher MTX dose. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for skin cancer risk.

Results

We enrolled 3203 participants in each cohort. No significant differences in skin cancers were noted between the two cohorts for the cumulative incidences (log-rank test, P = 0.28) and for the hazard ratio (HRs) [adjusted HR 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–1.63, P = 0.247] in the competing risk regression model. There were also no significant differences between those receiving higher-dose MTX and UVB alone in the cumulative incidences of skin cancers (P = 0.23) and the HR (adjusted HR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.04–2.21, P = 0.23) in the multivariate analysis. There was no significant difference in the SIR between the two cohorts compared with the general population.

Conclusions

In the Taiwanese population, MTX does not increase skin cancer risk in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis receiving NB-UVB.
Foamy macrophages are proinflammatory and express TREM2 in eruptive xanthomas
Authors: Huang Yan , Dou Hanyu , Cui Baiping , Bai Yun , Wang Juan , Du Qian , Lai Yongxian , Liu Yeqiang , Ding Xiaolei
Published: December 2023

The accumulation of dermal foam cells (lipid-laden macrophages) is the primary histopathological feature of eruptive xanthomas. Yet, an understanding of the activation and implications of foamy macrophages in eruptive xanthomas remains unknown. We investigated foamy macrophage activation and found that these cells are proinflammatory. Of note, foam cells in eruptive xanthomas express TREM2, a recently identified marker for lipid-laden macrophages in atherosclerosis and obesity.
International melanoma and non melanoma skin cancer mortality trends: is it time to refocus our attention?
Authors: Venables Zoe C , Gran Sonia , Levell Nick J , Yiu Zenas Z N , Proby Charlotte M
Published: December 2023

We show how international melanoma crude mortality rates are decreasing, whereas those of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are increasing. This reflects how our melanoma care has vastly progressed over the last decade but highlights a need for better prevention and NMSC therapeutics development, especially given our increasingly ageing population.
Heterozygous RAD50 gene variant in a family with systemic sclerosis suggests role of impaired DNA repair mechanisms in disease pathogenesis
Authors: Machhua Sanghamitra , Sharma Shefali Khanna , Minz Ranjana Walker , Pandey Saurabh Kumar , Jindal Arvind , Rawat Amit , Jindal Ankur Kumar
Published: December 2023

In this study, a heterozygous nonsense variant in exon 21 (c.3229C>T; p.Arg1077*) of RAD50 was identified in a family with members with multiple systemic sclerosis (SSc), suggesting its significance in the disease's pathogenesis. RAD50 encodes a protein critical for DNA repair and is central in the DNA damage response/repair (DDR/R) network. The RAD50 variant might be the possible cause of familial cases of diffuse cutaneous SSc, implicating genomic instability because of a defective DDR/R network as a potential mechanism.
Age-Specific Resurgence in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Incidence in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era and Its Association With Respiratory Virus and Pneumococcal Carriage Dynamics: A Time-Series Analysis
Authors: Rybak Alexis , Assad Zein , Levy Corinne , Bonarcorsi Stéphane , Béchet Stéphane , Werner Andreas , Wollner Alain , Valtuille Zaba , Kaguelidou Florentia , Angoulvant François , Cohen Robert , Varon Emmanuelle , Ouldali Naïm
Published: December 2023

Using multiple national surveillance systems, we found an increase in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease during after the relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19, which strongly varied by age. Age groups with higher incidence of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza also experienced higher increase in invasive pneumococcal disease incidence, with no change in pneumococcal carriage.
Oral health professional intervention and child physical abuse—European legal approach
Authors: Corte-Real Ana , Almiro Pedro Armelim , Silva Mafalda , Nunes Tiago , Abreu João , Carreira Carla , Vieira Duarte Nuno
Published: December 2023

Physical violence against children and adolescents is an issue of Global Public Health. This study aims to identify traumatic injuries and the medicolegal temporary framework of the victim’s profile in the European legal approach. Participants and setting include the following: the clinical reports of a Portuguese European Clinical Academic Center database were analysed. An observational and prospective cohort study was performed. A descriptive analysis of the variables was conducted, considering gender, bimodal age groups, place of residence, offender data, place of occurrence, aetiology, localization, type of injuries, personal injury assessment by Quantum doloris, and injury time. The statistical analysis was performed by Spearman’s rho and Kendall’s tau-b correlation tests, Pearson’s chi-square test of independence (χ2), and Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric tests (P < 0.05). The relationship between age groups and the place of occurrence was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Orofacial and nonorofacial injuries were related (P = 0.035). The General Data Protection Regulation is not a barrier to the treatment and sharing of justified data but a framework for safeguarding individuals’ fundamental rights, including the Right to Health. Meticulous reporting of the clinical situation involves the victim, the occurrence, and the potential offender.

Key points
Estimating geodynamic model parameters from geodetic observations using a particle method
Authors: Marsman C P , Vossepoel F C , van Dinther Y , Govers R
Published: December 2023

Bayesian-based data assimilation methods integrate observational data into geophysical forward models to obtain the temporal evolution of an improved state vector, including its uncertainties. We explore the potential of a variant, a particle method, to estimate mechanical parameters of the overriding plate during the interseismic period. Here we assimilate vertical surface displacements into an elementary flexural model to estimate the elastic thickness of the overriding plate, and the locations and magnitudes of line loads acting on the overriding plate to produce flexure. Assimilation of synthetic observations sampled from a different forward model than is used in the particle method, reveal that synthetic seafloor data within 150 km from the trench are required to properly constrain parameters for long wavelength solutions of the upper plate (i.e. wavelength ∼500 km). Assimilation of synthetic observations sampled from the same flexural model used in the particle method shows remarkable convergence towards the true parameters with synthetic on-land data only for short to intermediate wavelength solutions (i.e. wavelengths between ∼100 and 300 km). In real-data assimilation experiments we assign representation errors due to discrepancies between our incorrect or incomplete physical model and the data. When assimilating continental data prior to the 2011 Mw Tohoku-Oki earthquake (1997–2000), an unrealistically low effective elastic plate thickness for Tohoku of ∼5–7 km is estimated. Our synthetic experiments suggest that improvements to the physical forward model, such as the inclusion of a slab, a megathrust interface and viscoelasticity of the mantle, including accurate seafloor data, and additional geodetic observations, may refine our estimates of the effective elastic plate thickness. Overall, we demonstrate the potential of using the particle method to constrain geodynamic parameters by providing constraints on parameters and corresponding uncertainty values. Using the particle method, we provide insights into the data network sensitivity and identify parameter trade-offs.
New constraints on the shear wave velocity structure of the Ivrea geophysical body from seismic ambient noise tomography (Ivrea-Verbano Zone, Alps)
Authors: Scarponi M , Kvapil J , Plomerová J , Solarino S , Hetényi G
Published: December 2023

We performed seismic ambient noise tomography to investigate the shallow crustal structure around the Ivrea geophysical body (IGB) in the Ivrea-Verbano Zone (IVZ). We achieved higher resolution with respect to previous tomographic works covering the Western Alps, by processing seismic data collected by both permanent and temporary seismic networks (61 broad-band seismic stations in total). This included IvreaArray, a temporary, passive seismic experiment designed to investigate the IVZ crustal structure. Starting from continuous seismic ambient noise recordings, we measured and inverted the dispersion of the group velocity of surface Rayleigh waves (fundamental mode) in the period range 4–25 s. We obtained a new, 3-D vS model of the IVZ crust via the stochastic neighbourhood algorithm (NA), with the highest resolution between 3 to 40 km depth. The fast and shallow shear wave velocity anomaly associated with the IGB presents velocities of 3.6 km s−1 directly at the surface, in remarkable agreement with the location of the exposed lower-to-middle crustal and mantle outcrops. This suggests a continuity between the surface geological observations and the subsurface geophysical anomalies. The fast IGB structure reaches vS of 4 km s−1 at 20–25 km depth, at the boundary between the European and Adriatic tectonic plates, and in correspondence with the earlier identified Moho jump in the same area. The interpretation of a very shallow reaching IGB is further supported by the comparison of our new results with recent geophysical investigations, based on receiver functions and gravity anomaly data. By combining the new geophysical constraints and the geological observations at the surface, we provide a new structural interpretation of the IGB, which features lower crustal and mantle rocks at upper crustal depths. The comparison of the obtained vS values with the physical properties from laboratory analysis of local rock samples suggests that the bulk of the IGB consists of a combination of mantle peridotite, ultramafic and lower crustal rocks, bound in a heterogeneous structure. These new findings, based on vS tomography, corroborate the recent interpretation for which the Balmuccia peridotite outcrops are continuously linked to the IGB structure beneath. The new outcomes contribute to a multidisciplinary framework for the interpretation of the forthcoming results of the scientific drilling project DIVE.

DIVE aims at probing the lower continental crust and its transition to the mantle, with two ongoing and one future boreholes (down to 4 km depth) in the IVZ area, providing new, complementary information on rock structure and composition across scales. In this framework, we constrain the upper crustal IGB geometries and lithology based on new evidence for vS, connecting prior crustal knowledge to recent active seismic investigations.
Simultaneous Bayesian estimation of size-specific catchability and size spectrum parameters from trawl data
Authors: Krumsick Kyle J , Pedersen Eric J
Published: December 2023

Fisheries-independent surveys are a critical tool for monitoring marine populations and communities. However, considerations must be made to account for variable-size-based catchability. The size-specific catchability function is therefore key for estimating size distributions, but often requires extensive data sets or specialized field experiments to determine. We develop a Bayesian model capable of simultaneously estimating both a size-based catchability curve and species-specific size spectrum parameters from trawl data by assuming that individual species size spectra follow a theoretically derived parametric size spectrum model. The resulting model provides a means of estimating catchability and size spectra within an adaptive framework capable of accommodating confounding factors such as vessel power and fish density, potentially allowing for improved biomass and productivity estimates. We demonstrate the application of this model using 15 years of Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) survey data from Nunavut to determine size-specific catchabilities and assess whether the size spectrum of Greenland Halibut has changed across the time series. While size spectrum parameters for this stock were not found to vary, we did find evidence of time-varying catchability parameters across the study period.
Circle Actions on Four Dimensional Almost Complex Manifolds With Discrete Fixed Point Sets
Authors: Jang Donghoon
Published: December 2023

We establish a necessary and sufficient condition for pairs of integers to arise as the weights at the fixed points of an effective circle action on a compact almost complex 4-manifold with a discrete fixed point set. As an application, we provide a necessary and sufficient condition for a pair of integers to arise as the Chern numbers of such an action, answering negatively a question by Sabatini whether $c_{1}^{2}[M] \leq 3 c_{2}[M]$ holds for any such manifold $M$. We achieve this by demonstrating that pairs of integers that arise as weights of a circle action also arise as weights of a restriction of a $\mathbb {T}^{2}$-action. Furthermore, we discuss applications to circle actions on complex/symplectic 4-manifolds and semi-free circle actions with discrete fixed point sets.
A Bedaquiline, Pyrazinamide, Levofloxacin, Linezolid, and Clofazimine Second-line Regimen for Tuberculosis Displays Similar Early Bactericidal Activity as the Standard Rifampin-Based First-line Regimen
Authors: Zainabadi Kayvan , Vilbrun Stalz Charles , Mathurin Laurent Daniel , Walsh Kathleen Frances , Pape Jean William , Fitzgerald Daniel W , Lee Myung Hee
Published: December 2023

Background

In 2018 the World Health Organization recommended a switch to an all oral bedaquiline-based second-line regimen for treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). How these new second-line regimens fare in comparison to first-line regimens for treatment of drug-sensitive tuberculosis (DS-TB) is not well known.

Methods

In this study, we contemporaneously enrolled subjects with DS-TB (n = 31) or DR-TB (n = 23) and assessed their response to therapy with first-line (rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide) or second-line (bedaquiline, pyrazinamide, levofloxacin, linezolid, clofazimine) regimens, respectively.

Results

We found that the early bactericidal activity of first- and second-line regimens was similar during the first 2 weeks of therapy as determined by BACTEC MGIT, colony-forming units, and a liquid limiting dilution assay capable of detecting differentially detectable/culturable Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Furthermore, an identical percentage (77.8%) of subjects from the DS-TB and DR-TB cohorts converted to culture negative after 2 months of therapy.

Conclusions

Despite presenting with more advanced disease at time of treatment, subjects with DR-TB receiving an all oral bedaquiline-based second-line treatment regimen displayed a similar microbiological response to therapy as subjects with DS-TB receiving a first-line treatment regimen.
Investigation of the transport and metabolic patterns of oil-displacing bacterium FY-07-G in the microcosm model using X-CT technology
Authors: Zhao Xueqing , Liao Zitong , Liu Tongtong , Cheng Wei , Gao Ge , Yang Mingbo , Ma Ting , Li Guoqiang
Published: December 2023

Aims

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is dedicated to enhancing oil recovery by harnessing microbial metabolic activities and their byproducts within reservoir rocks and fluids. Therefore, the investigation of microbial mobility and their extensive distribution within crude oil is of paramount importance in MEOR. While microscale models have been valuable for studying bacterial strain behavior in reservoirs, they are typically limited to 2D representations of porous media, making them inadequate for simulating actual reservoir conditions. Consequently, there is a critical need for 3D models and dependable visualization methods to observe bacterial transport and metabolism within these complex reservoir environments.

Methods and results

Bacterial cellulose (bc) is a water-insoluble polysaccharide produced by bacteria that exhibits biocompatibility and biodegradability. It holds significant potential for applications in the field of MEOR as an effective means for selective plugging and spill prevention during oil displacement processes. Conditionally cellulose-producing strain, FY-07-G, with green fluorescent labeling, was engineered for enhanced oil recovery. 3D micro-visualization model was constructed to directly observe the metabolic activities of the target bacterial strain within porous media and to assess the plugging interactions between cellulose and the medium. Additionally, X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) technology was employed for a comprehensive analysis of the transport patterns of the target strain in oil reservoirs with varying permeabilities. The results indicated that FY-07-G, as a microorganism employing biopolymer-based plugging principles to enhance oil recovery, selectively targets and seals regions characterized by lower permeability and smaller pore spaces.

Conclusions

This work provided valuable insights into the transport and metabolic behavior of MEOR strains and tackled the limitation of 2D models in faithfully replicating oil reservoir conditions, offering essential theoretical guidance and insights for the further application of oil-displacing bacterial strains in MEOR processes.
An update on the prevalence of colistin and carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in aquaculture: an emerging threat to public health
Authors: Memesh Roa , Yasir Muhammad , Ledder Ruth G , Zowawi Hosam , McBain Andrew J , Azhar Esam I
Published: December 2023

Aquaculture has been recognized as a hotspot for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance genes conferring resistance to clinically important antibiotics. This review gives insights into studies investigating the prevalence of colistin and carbapenem resistance (CCR) among Gram-negative bacilli in aquaculture. Overall, a high incidence of CCR has been reported in aquatic farms in several countries, with CCR being more prevalent among opportunistic human pathogens such as Acinetobacter nosocomialis, Shewanella algae, Photobacterium damselae, Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp., as well as members of Enterobacteriaceae family. A high proportion of isolates in these studies exhibited wide-spectrum profiles of antimicrobial resistance, highlighting their multidrug-resistance properties (MDR). Several mobile colistin resistance genes (including, mcr-1, mcr-1.1, mcr-2, mcr-2.1, mcr-3, mcr-3.1, mcr-4.1, mcr-4.3, mcr-5.1, mcr-6.1, mcr-7.1, mcr-8.1, and mcr-10.1) and carbapenemase encoding genes (including, blaOXA-48, blaOXA-55, blaNDM, blaKPC, blaIMI, blaAIM, blaVIM, and blaIMP) have been detected in aquatic farms in different countries. The majority of these were carried on MDR Incompatibility (Inc) plasmids including IncA/C, and IncX4, which have been associated with a wide host range of different sources. Thus, there is a risk for the possible spread of resistance genes between fish, their environments, and humans. These findings highlight the need to monitor and regulate the usage of antimicrobials in aquaculture. A multisectoral and transdisciplinary (One Health) approach is urgently needed to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria and/or resistance genes originating in aquaculture and avoid their global reach.
A ToxIN homolog from Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis impairs bacteriophage infection
Authors: McFarlane John A , Hansen Eleanore G , Ortega Estephany C , Iskender Irem , Noireaux Vincent , Bowden Steven D
Published: December 2023

Aims

To determine if the bacteriophage abortive infection system ToxIN is present in foodborne Salmonella and if it protects against infection by bacteriophages specific to enteric bacteria.

Methods and results

A set of foodborne Salmonella enteritidis isolates from a 2010 eggshell outbreak was identified via BLASTN (basic local alignment search tool nucleotide) queries as harboring a close homolog of ToxIN, carried on a plasmid with putative mobilization proteins. This homolog was cloned into a plasmid vector and transformed into the laboratory strain Salmonella typhimurium LT2 and tested against a set of Salmonella-specific phages (FelixO1, S16, Sp6, LPST153, and P22 HT105/1 int-201). ToxIN reduced infection by FelixO1, S16, and LPST153 by ∼1–4 log PFU ml−1 while reducing the plaque size of Sp6. When present in LT2 and Escherichia coli MG1655, ToxIN conferred cross-genus protection against phage isolates, which infect both bacteria. Finally, the putative ToxIN plasmid was found in whole-genome sequence contigs of several Salmonella serovars, pathogenic E. coli, and other pathogenic enterobacteria.

Conclusions

Salmonella and E. coli can resist infection by several phages via ToxIN under laboratory conditions; ToxIN is present in foodborne pathogens including Salmonella and Shiga-toxigenic E. coli.
Successful application of anthranilic diamides in preventing small hive beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) infestation in honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies
Authors: Hackmeyer Ethan J , Washburn Tyler J , Delaplane Keith S , Bartlett Lewis J
Published: December 2023

The nest-scavenging beetle Aethina tumida remains a persistent problem for beekeepers in parts of the Southeast United States, where warm wet soils allow beetle populations to grow rapidly and overwhelm colonies, especially during the summer dearth. Furthermore, small hive beetle infestation prevents beekeepers from easily provisioning colonies with additional pollen or protein feed (patties), preventing holistic management of honey bee health via improved nutrition, and reducing the economic potential of package and nucleus colony rearing in the Southeast. Here, we demonstrate using both in vitro laboratory trials and a small in vivo field trial that the differential specificity of anthranilic diamide insecticides (specifically, chlorantraniliprole) between bees and beetles allows for the control and prevention of small hive beetle infestation in honey bee colonies even when feeding with large patties. Honey bees show orders of magnitude higher tolerance to chlorantraniliprole compared to small hive beetles, opening new avenues for improving bee health including during spring splits and throughout the summer.
No evidence to support the use of glycerol–oxalic acid mixtures delivered via paper towel for controlling Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) mites in the Southeast United States
Authors: Bartlett Lewis J , Baker Christian , Bruckner Selina , Delaplane Keith S , Hackmeyer Ethan J , Phankaew Chama , Williams Geoffrey R , Berry Jennifer A
Published: December 2023

A significant amount of researcher and practitioner effort has focused on developing new chemical controls for the parasitic Varroa destructor mite in beekeeping. One outcome of that has been the development and testing of “glycerol–oxalic acid” mixtures to place in colonies for extended periods of time, an off-label use of the otherwise legal miticide oxalic acid. The majority of circulated work on this approach was led by practitioners and published in nonacademic journals, highlighting a lack of effective partnership between practitioners and scientists and a possible failure of the extension mandate in beekeeping in the United States. Here, we summarize the practitioner-led studies we could locate and partner with a commercial beekeeper in the Southeast of the United States to test the “shop towel–oxalic acid–glycerol” delivery system developed by those practitioners. Our study, using 129 commercial colonies between honey flows in 2017 split into 4 treatment groups, showed no effectiveness in reducing Varroa parasitism in colonies exposed to oxalic acid–glycerol shop towels. We highlight the discrepancy between our results and those circulated by practitioners, at least for the Southeast, and the failure of extension to support practitioners engaged in research.
Commercial probiotic formulas Bactocell and Levucell promote spring brood production in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies
Authors: Bleau N , Derome N , Giovenazzo P
Published: December 2023

Honey bees are essential pollinators for several economically important crops. In temperate countries, honey bee colonies face multiple threats during the overwintering period, such as food availability, diseases, and confinement. Beekeepers commonly use chemicals to improve colony health during winter, but these products can have a negative impact on bee health and pathogens can develop resistance to them. Thus, there is a need for further development of alternative treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of one endogenic bacterium (Bombella apis) and 2 commercial probiotic formulas (Bactocell and Levucell) on colony survival, spring development, and Vairimorpha (formerly Nosema) spp. spore count. Probiotic treatments were given in 1: 1 sugar syrup in October 2017 and April 2018, once a week for 2 wk. One experimental group was given Fumagilin-B, the only product approved in Canada to prevent nosemosis, once in October. The administration of 2 commercial probiotics, Bactocell (Pediococcus acidilactici) and Levucell (Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii), led to a significant increase in the number of sealed brood cells in spring. None of the probiotic treatments impacted the honey bee gut load of Vairimorpha spp. spores. The results suggest that beneficial microorganisms can improve spring development and performance of honey bee colonies.
On the epistemic urgency of decolonizing the school curriculum: a reflection
Authors: Akbar Azaan
Published: December 2023

In recent years there have been increasing calls to ‘decolonize’ the curriculum across different levels of education. This has been met with significant opposition at both the school and university levels. For many, there is a lack of clarity concerning why students, particularly in school, should study a decolonized curriculum. I reflect on the notion of an ‘epistemic urgency’ to decolonize the secondary school curriculum in England, and I focus particularly on History and Religious Education (RE) as examples. Using theories of epistemic injustice, and my own experiences in teaching, I build the case for this ‘urgency’ from two arguments: one from justice and one from purpose. On justice, I argue that current curricula create negative epistemic consequences that we might consider to be unjust. On purpose, I argue that some curricula also fail to meet the purposes that they are intended to meet, thereby creating further negative epistemic consequences. On both arguments, I hope to show that the negative epistemic consequences create an ‘urgency’ to decolonize curricula, which I hope encourages educators in England and beyond to begin considering whether decolonizing their curricula will lead to better outcomes for their learners.
Comparison of kits for SARS-CoV-2 extraction in liquid and passive samples
Authors: Lau Melody , King Brendon J , Keegan Alexandra , Drigo Barbara , Donner Erica , Monis Paul
Published: December 2023

Effective extraction and detection of viral nucleic acids from sewage are fundamental components of a successful SARS-CoV-2 sewage surveillance programme. As there is no standard method employed in sewage surveillance, understanding the performance of different extraction kits in the recovery of SARS-CoV-2 and the impact that PCR inhibitors have on quantification is essential to minimize data discrepancies caused by sample extraction. Three commercial nucleic acid extraction kits: the RNeasy PowerSoil Total RNA Kit (PS), the RNeasy PowerMicrobiome Kit (PMB), and the MagMAX™ Microbiome Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit (MM), with minor modifications, were evaluated. Their efficacy in recovering viral ribonucleic acid and removal of PCR inhibitors was assessed using two South Australian wastewater matrices—one from a major metropolitan site and one from a regional centre. Both had SARS-CoV-2 present due to active COVID-19 cases in these communities. Overall, the MM kit had a higher recovery of SARS-CoV-2 from the samples tested, followed by PMB and PS. The PMB kit performance was strongly influenced by the sample matrix when compared to the MM kit. It is recommended to assess the performance of extraction kits using different local wastewater matrices to ensure the accuracy and reliability of monitoring results to avoid false reporting.
Takotsubo syndrome
Authors: Templin-Ghadri Jelena , Würdinger Michael , Bauersachs Johann , Templin Christian
Published: December 2023

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute, transient left ventricular dysfunction with distinct wall motion abnormalities that extend beyond the territory of a single coronary artery. Four different types of TTS are known: apical, basal, mid-ventricular, and focal. TTS was first described by Sato and colleagues in Japan in 1990, with an increasing incidence over the last years. It predominantly affects postmenopausal women. Predisposing diseases and physical or emotional triggers are frequent. The pathophysiology is not yet completely understood; however, elevated catecholamine levels seem to be central. Its clinical presentation is comparable to that of an acute coronary syndrome, and the basis of its diagnosis is exclusion of epicardial coronary lesions as the culprit for the wall motion abnormalities. Therapeutic management of TTS is still challenging, and evidence-based treatment is entirely lacking. TTS is not a benign disease and outcome is comparable to that of acute myocardial infarction.
Cardiac catheterization, invasive imaging, and haemodynamics
Authors: Hamm Christian W , Assmus Birgit , Mitrovic Veselin
Published: December 2023

Heart failure results in abnormal loading conditions in the heart and lungs. These altered haemodynamics induce functional and structural changes in the cardiopulmonary system. Heart catheterization plays a major role in diagnosis and treatment of heart failure, for example, in diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or pulmonary hypertension. Whereas in-depth haemodynamic evaluation using a right heart catheter is used to establish the correct diagnosis and monitor treatment responses, left heart catheterization and coronary and structural interventions provide direct treatment approaches. Invasive haemodynamic evaluation is indicated when clinical assessment and imaging do not sufficiently explain the aetiology of heart failure. Standardized data acquisition and good procedural technique are key to achieving high diagnostic quality. Equally essential is a thorough understanding of haemodynamics for correct interpretation of pressure curves. Physicians must be adequately trained in obtaining high-quality haemodynamic measurements in order to provide an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment recommendations for the best possible patient care.
Angiotensin receptor blockers in heart failure
Authors: Piña Ileana L , Abdelhamid Magdy
Published: December 2023

Excess activation of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) contributes to the pathophysiology of heart failure. Activation of the RAS results in increased production of angiotensin I (AI), which is converted to angiotensin II (AII) by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). AII is a potent vasoconstrictor and also stimulates aldosterone secretion, which increases sodium and water retention. AII and aldosterone are also implicated in other potentially deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, including endothelial damage, sympathetic activation, collagen formation, and decreased nitric oxide production. RAS blockade with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is achieved by inhibiting the binding of AII to the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, which is believed to mediate the harmful cardiovascular effects of AII. The European Society of Cardiology Guidelines recommend an ARB to reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death in symptomatic patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction who are unable to tolerate an ACE inhibitor. An ARB may also be considered for patients with mid-range ejection fraction to reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalization and death.
Angiotensin II receptor–neprilysin inhibitor
Authors: Seferović Petar M , Senni Michele , Polovina Marija , Coats Andrew JS
Published: December 2023

Sacubitril/valsartan is the first-in-class angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) that combines the effects of potentiating the activity of the natriuretic peptide (NP) system with counteracting the increased activity of angiotensin II, via inhibition of the neutral endopeptidase neprilysin, combined with blockade of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor. In the PARADIGM-HF trial that recruited ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), sacubitril/valsartan was associated with a 20% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality or heart failure (HF) hospitalization, compared to enalapril. In the PIONEER-HF trial of hospitalized patients with acute HFrEF, sacubitril/valsartan was superior, compared to enalapril, in reducing NP levels and in attenuating the risk of cardiovascular mortality, rehospitalization, and HF progression. Although it was no more effective than valsartan in improving outcomes in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (≥45%) in the PARAGON-HF trial, there may be a benefit in individuals with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and in women with HF across a wider range of LVEF. This chapter summarizes the development and pharmacodynamics, and reviews the evidence supporting the contemporary role, of sacubitril/valsartan in the management of HF.
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists
Authors: Pitt Bertram , Ferreira João Pedro , Zannad Faiez
Published: December 2023

Hypertension, post-myocardial infarction, and heart failure are the cardiovascular clinical syndromes where mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have shown a beneficial effect. Most guidelines, while recommending MRAs, do not make a clear recommendation as to which MRAs should be used, how doses should be titrated, or what monitoring is indicated. This chapter provides an appraisal of the different types of MRA drugs and their pharmacological differences with respect to their mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, monitoring, adverse effects, and drug interactions.
Implantable cardioverter–defibrillators
Authors: Savarese Gianluigi , Linde Cecilia , Dickstein Kenneth
Published: December 2023

Implantable cardioverter–defibrillators (ICD) are used in secondary prevention to reduce mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and a history of sustained ventricular arrhythmias causing haemodynamic instability. Several randomized controlled trials have also shown that ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) reduces the risk of all-cause death in patients with HFrEF, regardless of the heart failure aetiology. However, the more recent DANISH trial reported neutral results on mortality, thus questioning the efficacy of ICDs in patients with non-ischaemic HFrEF. Additionally, the risk of SCD has been reduced by contemporary HFrEF pharmacological treatments and cardiac resynchronization therapy over the last 20 years. Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that parameters other than ejection fraction, for example, quantification of myocardial fibrosis and scar size, might better assess for a higher risk of SCD, and therefore might improve patient selection for ICD implantation in primary prevention. Recent data have proposed subcutaneous ICD implantation as a valid replacement for transvenous use in selected patients who require an ICD for primary prevention of SCD. Future research might foster optimization of ICD use by providing clearer guidance on patient risk stratification, and therefore assist physicians in selecting patients eligible for an ICD and the type of device.
Heart failure in systemic immune-mediated diseases
Authors: Luca Giacomo De , Moroni Luca , Tomelleri Alessandro , Marcolongo Renzo , Dagna Lorenzo , Caforio Alida LP , Matucci-Cerinic Marco
Published: December 2023

Patients with systemic rheumatic diseases presented an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications. These include vascular damage with accelerated atherosclerosis, myocardial and pericardial involvement, valvular abnormalities, arrhythmias, and heart failure (HF). The high risk of cardiovascular pathology is primarily due to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. The prevalence of HF is high since it represents the final result of various pathogenic mechanisms, mainly related to a chronic proinflammatory state. Increased concentration of inflammatory cytokines, indeed, correlates with the NYHA class in HF patients, acts as a direct cardiodepressant factor in patients with sepsis, and is directly involved in myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, leading to cardiac dysfunction. Different disease-specific pathogenic events may also have an impact on the occurrence of HF. Here we summarize the prevalence, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical features, and management of HF in the most common systemic rheumatic diseases, including: rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue diseases, and vasculitides.