bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Experience in Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty
Authors: Yang Jinxiu , He Leren
Published: August 2024

Objective

This study characterizes the appearance changes associated with aging of the human lower eyelid, grounded in its anatomical basis. Tailored approaches to lower eyelid bag are performed by these anatomical manifestations.

Methods

From January 2017 to January 2023, lower eyelid blepharoplasty was performed on 137 patients, aged 20 to 60 years. These patients were divided into 3 groups according to the periorbital aging appearance, primarily characterized by the presence and location of the “bag” bulge of the lower eyelid. We analyzed the corresponding changes in anatomical structures for each type, which included a weakened fibrous orbital support system, reduced muscle tone, and increased orbital fat. Patients were treated with tailored blepharoplasty techniques according to their classification. All patients in this study ranged in follow-up from 1 to 12 months. With patients' permit, photographs and clinical information were taken to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative outcome.

Results

Our study identified 3 morphologies of the lower eyelid. Type 1 presents a “bubble bag” in the medial and inferior aspect of the lower eyelid. Type 2 features a double convexity contour, with separate fat pad herniations demarcated by fibrous connective tissue. Type 3 exhibits a single convexity with a uniform herniation of fat pads across the entire lower eyelid. We have delineated the anatomical changes associated with each morphology type. With an approach grounded in “remodeling” and “recovery,” the surgical treatment targets the fibrous support tissue to improve the outcomes of lower eyelid rejuvenation. No complications occurred. All postoperative results reached both surgeon's and patient's expectations.

Conclusions

Surgeons must recognize the pivotal role of fibrous connective tissues—including the arcuate expansion, fascia of the inferior oblique muscle, and the orbicularis retaining ligament—and endeavor to preserve or reinforce these structures during surgical procedures. An anatomically based surgical approach would more effectively and safely to resist the facial aging process.
Clinical Efficacy of Mechanical Micronized Fat-Assisted Fat Grafting on Temporal Depression
Authors: He Anqi , Zheng Shaoluan , Chen Chenxi , Feng Zihao , Qi Fazhi
Published: August 2024

Background

Temporal concavities result from reduced subcutaneous fat and bone structure variations, impacting facial aesthetics. Filling treatments, including autologous fat grafts, synthetic fillers, and biological materials, are used for enhancement. Autologous fat grafting is promising but limited by unpredictable fat absorption and nonstandardized procedures. This study aims to assess the clinical effectiveness of mechanical micronized fat in combination with autologous granular fat grafting for lipofilling in the correction of temporal deformities.

Methods

Patients (n = 37, mean age = 37.48) with temporal concavity caused by aging and Inherently inadequate capacity were enrolled and divided into control group (n = 10) and study group (n = 9) according to different fat grafts. Control group received pure autologous granular fat, with an average volume of approximately 19.30 mL. In contrast, the study group used mechanical micronized fat along with autologous granular fat co-injection through an 18G needle with an average injection volume of about 18.89 mL. All autologous fat collected from patients' abdominal and thighs. Information, including postoperative clinical efficacy scored by various plastic surgeons for the comparison of preoperative and postoperative photos of patients, patient satisfaction, and complications between the two groups, was documented. Additionally, changes in patients' quality of life were evaluated using the FACE-Q scale.

Results

Six months after surgery, the efficacy of temporal filling in the study group (6.69 ± 0.64) was higher than the control group (6.37 ± 0.67) (P = 0.0048). The patient satisfaction was more prominent in the study group (6.28 ± 0.87) than in the control group (5.80 ± 0.71) (P = 0.0449). Differences between above two observation indicators were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The FACE-Q scale items, which assess psychological health, social functioning, and early life impact, showed higher scores in the study group both before the surgery (psychological health: 59.22 ± 3.53, social functioning: 64.75 ± 3.15) and 6 months after the surgery (psychological health: 69.44 ± 4.50, social functioning: 75.33 ± 3.81, early life impact: 74.21 ± 0.70) (P > 0.05). Notably, only one micronodule formation was detected among all patients.

Conclusion

Mechanical micronized fat combined with autologous granular fat improve the clinical effect of treating concavity in temporal region, which is worthy of further promotion and application.
The Value of Drawing Practice in Plastic Surgery Training
Authors: Xing Shuliang , James Andrew J. , Nemani Sriya V. , Wang Jianfeng , Qi Fazhi , Gu Jianying
Published: August 2024

No specialty has such close relationship with art as plastic surgery among medicine. Both are intensely creative processes that combine technology with utmost dexterity and now are undervalued in the medical education. Art is a reservoir that provides a surgeon with creativity and improved dexterity. It is beneficial for the surgeons to practice drawing, for it can bring passion and inspiration, enhance observation and imagination, improve dexterity and accuracy, and help keep a good relation with patients. In some way, plastic surgery is art and plastic surgeon is artist.
Comparison of Microwave-Based Therapy and Negative-Pressure Suction-Curettage for Axillary Hyperhidrosis and Bromhidrosis
Authors: Ge Yining , Liu Jiaqi , Zhang Rufan
Published: August 2024

Background

Axillary hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis are common clinical diseases, affecting the patients' work and life. Negative-pressure suction-curettage is the most popular treatment now, but challenged by a new microwave-based therapy (MiraDry). We intend to compare the safety and efficiency of the 2 treatments.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 39 female patients with both primary hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis was conducted. Seventeen patients were treated with MiraDry, and 22 underwent negative-pressure suction-curettage. The postoperative follow-up program included sweat and odor assessments, satisfaction measurement, safety evaluation, and recurrence assessment at different time points until 12 months.

Results

Both treatments showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in HDSS score and odor level at 6 and 12 months compared with the baseline. No significant difference in relative reduction was observed between the 2 groups. The satisfaction score of the microwave-based therapy group was higher than that of the negative-pressure suction-curettage group, but no statistical difference was found. The difference in the recurrence rate and complication rate between the groups did not reach significance.

Conclusions

Microwave-based therapy is a noninvasive treatment with durable effects, low risks, shorter downtime, good appearance, and high satisfaction for axillary hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Lesions in Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Ge Yining , Saad Mariam , Nemani Sriya , Shi Yuedong , Lineaweaver William C. , Yang Yanwen
Published: August 2024

Background

Immunosuppressive therapy is essential for to prevent graft rejection in renal transplant patients; however, it is associated with elevating the risk of several pathologies in these patients particularly infectious and neoplastic conditions. In this study, we explore the diagnosis and treatment of skin lesions in renal transplant patients.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 12 renal transplant recipients referred to plastic and reconstructive surgery with skin lesions from 2000 to 2020 was performed.

Results

The mean age of the 12 patients was 49.6 years. Time to plastic surgery after renal transplantation ranged between 1 and 16 years. Nine cases of basal cell carcinoma, 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 case of skin and soft tissue infection of the lower extremity and cutaneous extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type was observed. Flaps, skin grafts, and artificial dermis grafts constitute the main reconstructive methods. There were no postoperative infections or wound dehiscence.

Conclusions

Cutaneous infections and skin malignancy account for most of the skin lesions developing after renal transplantation. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder warrants equal attention and should not be disregarded. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve prognosis as patients with longer duration of transplant were found to have more aggressive tumors. Plastic and reconstructive surgery offers a safe therapeutic method of treatment in these cases.
Reconstruction Techniques and Associated Morbidity in Minimally Invasive Gastrectomy for Cancer
Authors: Schneider Marcel André , Kim Jeesun , Berlth Felix , Sugita Yutaka , Grimminger Peter P. , Wijnhoven Bas P.L. , Overtoom Hidde , Gockel Ines , Thieme René , Griffiths Ewen A. , Butterworth William , Nienhüser Henrik , Müller Beat , Crnovrsanin Nerma , Gero Daniel , Nickel Felix , Gisbertz Suzanne , van Berge Henegouwen Mark I. , Pucher Philip H. , Khan Kashuf , Chaudry Asif , Patel Pranav H. , Pera Manuel , Dal Cero Mariagiulia , Garcia Carlos , Martinez Salinas Guillermo , Kassab Paulo , Prado Castro Osvaldo Antônio , Norero Enrique , Wisniowski Paul , Putnam Luke Randall , Lombardi Pietro Maria , Ferrari Giovanni , Gudaityte Rita , Maleckas Almantas , Prodehl Leanne , Castaldi Antonio , Prudhomme Michel , Lee Hyuk-Joon , Sano Takeshi , Baiocchi Gian Luca , De Manzoni Giovanni , Giacopuzzi Simone , Bencivenga Maria , Rosati Riccardo , Puccetti Francesco , D’Ugo Domenico ,   the GASTRODATA consortium, Nunobe Souya , Yang Han-Kwang , Gutschow Christian Alexander
Published: August 2024

Objective/Background:

Various anastomotic and reconstruction techniques are used for minimally invasive total (miTG) and distal gastrectomy (miDG). Their effects on postoperative morbidity have not been extensively studied.

Methods:

MiTG and miDG patients were selected from 9356 oncological gastrectomies performed in 2017–2021 in 43 centers. Endpoints included anastomotic leakage (AL) rate and postoperative morbidity tested by multivariable analysis.

Results:

Three major anastomotic techniques [circular stapled (CS); linear stapled (LS); and hand sewn (HS)], and 3 major bowel reconstruction types [Roux (RX); Billroth I (BI); Billroth II (BII)] were identified in miTG (n=878) and miDG (n=3334). Postoperative complications, including AL (5.2% vs 1.1%), overall (28.7% vs 16.3%), and major morbidity (15.7% vs 8.2%), as well as 90-day mortality (1.6% vs 0.5%) were higher after miTG compared with miDG. After miTG, the AL rate was higher after CS (4.3%) and HS (7.9%) compared with LS (3.4%). Similarly, major complications (LS: 9.7%, CS: 16.2%, and HS: 12.7%) were lowest after LS. Multivariate analysis confirmed anastomotic technique as a predictive factor for AL, overall, and major complications. In miDG, AL rate (BI: 1.4%, BII 0.8%, and RX 1.2%), overall (BI: 14.5%, BII: 15.0%, and RX: 18.7%), and major morbidity (BI: 7.9%, BII: 9.1%, and RX: 7.2%), and mortality (BI: 0%, BII: 0.1%, and RY: 1.1%%) were not affected by bowel reconstruction.

Conclusions:

In oncologically suitable situations, miDG should be preferred to miTG, as postoperative morbidity is significantly lower. LS should be a preferred anastomotic technique for miTG in Western Centers. Conversely, bowel reconstruction in DG may be chosen according to the surgeon’s preference.
Mycotic Aneurysms: Uncommon Pathogens and Treatment Conundrums
Authors: Ravindra Akshatha , Naguthevar Santhanam , Kumar Deepak , Rajagopal Rengarajan , Khera Pushpinder Singh , Tak Vibhor , Ramankutty Neetha Thayil , Meena Durga Shankar , Midha Naresh , Bohra Gopal Krishana , Garg Mahendra Kumar
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Mycotic aneurysms, characterized by vessel wall dilation resulting from infections including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, are a rare yet severe consequence of systemic infections.These aneurysms, accounting for 0.6% of Western countries' aneurysms, carry a higher risk of rupture compared to uninfected conditions. While the femoral artery, aorta, and intracranial visceral arteries are commonly affected, pathogens causing mycotic aneurysms vary across regions. Diagnostic challenges arise from nonspecific symptoms such as fever, pulsatile mass, local discomfort, and arterial inflammation.

 

Materials & Methods:
The case series involves three patients diagnosed with mycotic aneurysms due to unusual pathogens. We describe each patient's clinical presentation, medical history, physical examination findings, laboratory results, imaging studies, and the diagnostic process leading to the identification of the causative pathogens.

Results

The first case depicts a 70-year-old male with a ruptured infra-renal abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm caused by Salmonella Paratyphi A. The second case involves a 66-year-old male with a Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated descending thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm. The third case pertains to a 70-year-old male with a ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysm into the esophagus due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Each case highlights unique clinical features, laboratory findings, imaging results, and the management approaches undertaken.

Conclusion

Mycotic aneurysms, stemming from infections involving diverse pathogens, pose diagnostic challenges due to their nonspecific symptoms. Early identification and intervention are essential to mitigate the severe complications associated with these aneurysms. The presented cases underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and management, ensuring optimal outcomes for patients affected by mycotic aneurysms.
Fatal Clostridium septicum gas gangrene complicating ECMO: case report and review of literature
Authors: Turban Adrien , Joussellin Vincent , Piau Caroline , Cattoir Vincent , Launey Yoann , Eustache Gabriel
Published: August 2024

Clostridium septicum gas gangrene is a severe and deadly infection caused by an anaerobic, spore-forming, Gram-positive bacillus. As previously described, two entities are observed: traumatic and spontaneous (or non-traumatic) forms. In this report, we aim to describe the case of a fulminant and ultimately fatal C. septicum myonecrosis occurring in a patient who was first admitted for refractory cardiac arrest and placed on veino-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Building upon prior studies that have documented cases of spontaneous gas gangrene caused by C. septicum, we provide an updated compilation, focusing on microbiological characteristics of C. septicum, along with the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with spontaneous gas gangrene. Additionally, the specific clinical situation of our case illustrates the seriousness of this infectious complication that combined both spontaneous and traumatic gas gangrene risk factors. We thus, discuss the antibiotic coverage prior to the initiation of ECMO procedure.
A Chameleonic Macrocyclic Peptide with Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: Payne Colton D. , Franke Bastian , Fisher Mark F. , Hajiaghaalipour Fatemeh , McAleese Courtney E. , Song Angela , Eliasson Carl , Zhang Jingjing , Jayasena Achala S. , Vadlamani Grishma , Clark Richard J. , Minchin Rodney F. , Mylne Joshua S. , Rosengren K. Johan
Published: August 2024

Head-to-tail cyclized peptides are intriguing natural products with unique properties. The PawS-Derived Peptides (PDPs) are produced from precursors of seed storage albumins in species of the daisy family. Here we report an unusually large PDP with two disulfide bonds, identified from seeds ofZinnia elegans. In water, synthetic PDP-23 forms a unique dimeric structure in which two monomers containing two β-hairpins cross-clasp and enclose a hydrophobic core, creating a square prism. This stable dimer can be split and each monomer unfolds to a V-shape in micelles or organic solvents. This chameleonic character is unusual for disulfide-rich peptides and engenders PDP-23 with potential for cell delivery and accessing novel targets. We demonstrated this by conjugating a rhodamine dye to the PDP-23 scaffold, creating a stable, cell-penetrating inhibitor of the P-glycoprotein drug efflux pump.
Older mothers produce offspring with longer telomeres: a longitudinal within-parent analysis
Authors: Brown Antony M. , Wood Emma M. , Capilla-Lasheras Pablo , Harrison Xavier A. , Young Andrew J.
Published: August 2024

As telomere length often predicts survival and lifespan, there is considerable interest in understanding the origins of inter-individual variation in telomere length. Transgenerational effects of parental age on offspring telomere length are thought to be a key source of variation, but the rarity of longitudinal studies that examine the telomeres of successive offspring born throughout the lives of parents leaves such parental age effects poorly understood. Here, we exploit telomere length measures of successive offspring produced throughout the long breeding tenures of parents in wild white-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali) societies, to isolate the effects of within-parent changes in age on offspring telomere lengths. Our analyses reveal the first evidence to date of a positive within-parent effect of advancing age on offspring telomere length: as individual mothers age they produce offspring with longer telomeres. We consider the potential for pre- and post-natal mechanisms to explain our findings. As telomere erosion predicts offspring mortality in this species, this positive parental age effect could significantly impact parent and offspring fitness. Our findings support the view that transgenerational effects of parental age can be an appreciable source of inter-individual variation in telomere length.
Effects of physiological deficits in pineal melatonin on Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Dearing Carley G. , Silva Primal D. , Turner Danielle N. , Fish Betty A. , Contreras Ethan O. , Schwarting Zuri A. , Sena Johnny , Schilkey Faye D. , Bearer Elaine L. , Wilkinson Stephen D. , Rogelj Snezna , Thompson Stewart
Published: August 2024

Background

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive and treatment resistant. Evidence suggests that deficits in melatonin signaling increase TNBC risk: conditions that suppress melatonin increased incidence, low melatonin receptor expression correlates with worse prognosis, and high-dose melatonin can inhibit TNBC. Together this suggests that normalizing pineal melatonin could reduce TNBC incidence and/or mortality. The goal of this study was to determine whether small physiological deficits in melatonin alone, can increase risk for TNBC, and how ‘normal’ melatonin would be protective.

Methods

The effect of melatonin treatment on 4t1 cellsin vitrowas measured using the MTT cell viability assay, and gene expression of breast cancer and melatonin signaling markers. The effect of pineal gland status on 4t1 cell allografts was tested in C3Sn mice (Mus Musculus) with either an intact pineal (control) or surgical removal of the pineal causing a ~50% deficit in plasma melatonin. Orthotopic tumors were assessed by histopathology and metastasis by strain specific qPCR against 4t1 cell and host gDNA.

Results

Melatonin treatment induced significant changes in gene expression, with a significant reduction in derived PAM50 Risk of Recurrence score (ROR in Not treated = 65.5 ± 10.6 Mean SEM; Treated with 25pg/ml of melatonin 20.8 ± 8.3; P = 0.008), suggesting melatonin treatment would improve prognosis. A ~50% reduction in plasma melatonin increased orthotopic tumors, but this was non-significant, and had no effect on metastasis from tail vein allograft.

Conclusions

Physiological deficits in melatonin do alter the oncogenic status of 4t1 tumor cells but this has only a limited effect on growth and metastasisin vivo. Lack of significance in orthotopic tumor formation may be due to small sample size, and it is possible that any protective effect of melatonin occurs earlier in tumor development than we have tested.
Evaluation of Postharvest Senescence in Broccoli Via Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Guo Xiaolei , Ahlawat Yogesh , Zare Alina , Liu Tie
Published: August 2024

Fresh fruits and vegetables are invaluable for human health, but their quality deteriorates before reaching consumers due to ongoing biochemical processes and compositional changes. The current lack of any objective indices for defining “freshness” of fruits or vegetables limits our capacity to control product quality leading to food loss and waste. It has been hypothesized that certain proteins and compounds such as glucosinolates can be used as an indicator to monitor the freshness of vegetables and fruits. However, it is challenging to “visualize” the proteins and bioactive compounds during the senescence processes. In this work, we propose machine learning hyperspectral image analysis approaches for estimating glucosinolates levels to detect postharvest senescence in broccoli. Therefore, we set out the research to quantify glucosinolates as “freshness-indicators” which aid in the development of an innovative and accessible tool to precisely estimate the freshness of produce. Such a tool would allow for significant advancement in postharvest logistics and supporting the availability for high-quality and nutritious fresh produce.
KLHDC7B as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Insights from Bulk and Single-Cell RNA-Seq and Spatial Transcriptomics of Epidermal Keratinocytes
Authors: Guo Sen
Published: August 2024

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many body parts, symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Red rash on the face is the most common symptom, others include painful and swollen joints, fever, chest pain, and feeling tired [1]. Both genetics and environmental factors are identified to be involved in SLE [2]. Currently, there is no cure for SLE, and corticosteroids are usually used as one of the treatment methods, but long-term use leads to side effects [3]. Identifying new therapeutic targets is crucial for improving the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). By integrating bulk and single-cell RNA-seq data with spatial transcriptomics of keratinocytes, we found KLHDC7B to be upregulated in UV-treated HaCaT cells, SLE skin keratinocytes, and spatially resolved epidermal samples. These findings suggest KLHDC7B as a potential therapeutic target for SLE.
Inferring polygenic negative selection underlying an individual trait as a distribution of fitness effects (DFEs) from GWAS summary statistics
Authors: Xue Alexander T. , Huang Yi-Fei , Siepel Adam
Published: August 2024

There has been rising interest in exploiting data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to detect a genetic signature of natural selection acting on a given phenotype. However, current approaches are unable to directly estimate the distribution of fitness effects (DFE), an established property in population genetics that can elucidate genomic architecture pertaining to a particular focal trait. To this end, we introduce ASSESS, an inferential method that exploits the Poisson Random Field (PRF) to model selection coefficients from genome-wide allele count data, while jointly conditioning GWAS summary statistics on a latent distribution of phenotypic effect sizes. This probabilistic model is unified under the assumption of an explicit relationship between fitness and trait effect to yield a DFE. To gauge the performance of ASSESS, we enlisted various simulation experiments that covered a range of usage cases and model misspecifications, which revealed accurate recovery of the underlying selection signal. As a further proof-of-concept, ASSESS was applied to an array of publicly available human trait data, whereby we replicated previously published empirical findings from an alternative methodology. These demonstrations illustrate the potential of ASSESS to satisfy an increasing need for powerful yet convenient population genomic inference from GWAS summary statistics.

Author Summary

The growth of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) over the past decade has provided a wealth of resources for uncovering the genomic architecture underlying complex traits, including the footprint of selection. Currently, there are computational tools for inferring natural selection whereby GWAS results are leveraged to conduct a binary test for overall presence, estimate a correlated property, or summarize polygenic selection strength with a single statistic. However, a methodology that exploits GWAS data to estimate the distribution of fitness effects (DFE), which is the most direct measurement for the genetic impact of natural selection acting on a complex trait, does not currently exist. To this end, we constructed an approach to directly infer the DFE, wherein per-site selection coefficients specifically associated with a focal trait are aggregated across the genome. This implementation is designed to explicitly model an entire genome-wide set of summary statistics output from a GWAS rather than the individual-level input data, which offers computational efficiency and convenience as well as alleviates privacy concerns. We expect this to be a promising development given the further accumulation of GWAS results and investigators seeking more sophisticated analyses into the relationship between genetics and traits.
Biological changes, political ideology, and scientific communication shape human perceptions of pollen seasons
Authors: Song Yiluan , Millard-Ball Adam , Fox Nathan , Van Berkel Derek , Agrawal Arun , Zhu Kai
Published: August 2024

Climate change is changing the timing and intensity of pollen seasons, thereby increasing human exposure to allergenic pollen. Climate-driven changes in pollen seasons present a unique opportunity to craft messaging aimed at communicating climate change impacts on public health through changes in the biological systems. However, it is unclear how pollen seasons are experienced and understood by the public, including how well we detect pollen seasons or what factors we view as responsible for changes in pollen seasons. Here, we use social media data in the United States from 2012 to 2022 to assess public perceptions of pollen seasons at large spatiotemporal scales. We show that pollen seasons detected by social media (Twitter) users align well with natural pollen seasons. Attribution of changing pollen seasons, however, varies based on political ideology: liberal users, compared to conservative users, are more likely to attribute changing pollen seasons to climate change. Mass media and scientific experts play a key role in communicating how climate change drives changing pollen seasons. Our findings reveal how changes in biological systems, political ideology, and scientific communications collectively shape public perceptions of pollen seasons under climate change. Our findings constitute a step towards more effective climate change impact communication and public health intervention design.
An Imputation-Based Approach for Augmenting Sparse Epidemiological Signals
Authors: Benefield Amy E. , Williams Desiree , Nagraj VP
Published: August 2024

Near-term disease forecasting and scenario projection efforts rely on the availability of data to train and evaluate model performance. In most cases, more extensive epidemiological time series data can lead to better modeling results and improved public health insights. Here we describe a procedure to augment an epidemiological time series. We used reported flu hospitalization data from FluSurv-NET and the National Healthcare Safety Network to estimate a complete time series of flu hospitalization counts dating back to 2009. The augmentation process includes concatenation, interpolation, extrapolation, and imputation steps, each designed to address specific data gaps. We demonstrate the forecasting performance gain when the extended time series is used to train flu hospitalization models at the state and national level.
First Report of Nipah virus shed in urine by fruit bats(Pteropus medius), Sri Lanka
Authors: Kohl Claudia , Siriwardana Sahan , Muzeniek Therese , Perera Thejanee , Bas Dilara , Öruc Mizgin , Brinkmann Annika , Becker-Ziaja Beate , Schwarz Franziska , Jeevatharan Hamsananthy , Weerasena Jagathpriya , Handunnetti Shiroma , Perera Inoka C. , Premawansa Gayani , Premawansa Sunil , Yapa Wipula , Nitsche Andreas
Published: August 2024

Nipah virus is an emerging pathogen with high public health relevance, causing outbreaks in South- and Southeast Asia with high case fatality rates. The natural reservoir host are fruit bats (Pteropus spp). In this study, we confirmed the presence of Nipah virus for the first time in Sri Lanka and are proving the genetic relatedness to Nipah virus strains from southern India, causing outbreaks in 2007, 2018, 2019 and 2023. It is noteworthy that the shedding of the Nipah Virus may have a temporal variation that correlates with the breeding season ofPteropus medius. Furthermore, preventive measures and possible mechanisms influencing viral shedding are discussed.
Variable prevalence of protectiveSpiroplasmainfection over time in two natural populations ofDrosophila hydei
Authors: Jones Jordan E. , Court Rebecca , Kageyama Daisuke , Obbard Darren J. , Hurst Gregory D. D.
Published: August 2024

The temporal dynamics of protective symbionts have rarely been characterized outside of aphid hosts. Here, we determine the prevalence ofSpiroplasmain two populations ofD. hydeiwhereSpiroplasmainfection had been previously recorded (UK and Japan). We observe that infection in both populations is variable over time and confirm the persistence ofSpiroplasmain the UK population for 9 years. Thus, variable prevalence over time appears to be a common feature of these symbioses.
Leveraging Pre-Vaccination Antibody Titers across Multiple Influenza H3N2 Variants to Forecast the Post-Vaccination Response
Authors: Stacey Hannah , Carlock Michael A. , Allen James D. , Hanley Hannah B. , Crotty Shane , Ross Ted M. , Einav Tal
Published: August 2024

Despite decades of research on the influenza virus, we still lack a predictive understanding of how vaccination reshapes each person's antibody response, which impedes efforts to design better vaccines. Here, we combined fifteen prior H3N2 influenza vaccine studies from 1997-2021, collectively containing 20,000 data points, and demonstrate that a person's pre-vaccination antibody titers predicts their post-vaccination response. In addition to hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers against the vaccine strain, the most predictive pre-vaccination feature is the HAI against historical influenza variants, with smaller predictive power derived from age, sex, BMI, vaccine dose, the date of vaccination, or geographic location. The resulting model predicted future responses even when the vaccine composition changed or a different inactivated vaccine formulation was used. A pre-vaccination feature ‒ the time between peak HAI across recent variants ‒ distinguished large versus small post-vaccination responses with 73% accuracy. As a further test, four vaccine studies were conducted in 2022-2023 spanning two geographic locations and three influenza vaccine types. These datasets formed a blinded prediction challenge, where the computational team only received the pre-vaccination data yet predicted the post-vaccination responses with 2.2-fold error, comparable to the 2-fold intrinsic error of the experimental assay. This approach paves the way to better utilize current influenza vaccines, especially for individuals who exhibit the weakest responses.
Pulmonary129Xe Magnetic Resonance Gas-exchange Abnormalities in Moderate-Severe Asthma
Authors: Tcherner Sam , Mozaffaripour Ali , Matheson Alexander M , Biancaniello Alexander , Yamashita Cory , Parraga Grace
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND

Asthma is recognized as an inflammatory disease of the airways, but inflammation may also affect the parenchyma and pulmonary vasculature. Hyperpolarized129Xe MRI and MR spectroscopy (MRS) provide a way to quantify the transfer of gas from the airways through the alveolar membrane and its binding to hemoglobin in the red blood cells (RBC) of the pulmonary microvasculature. The vast majority of129Xe MRS studies have investigated interstitial lung disease and the ratio of129Xe binding to the RBC and129Xe present in the alveolar membrane, (RBC:membrane) which is a surrogate of oxygen gas-transfer to the blood. We wondered if129Xe RBC:membrane would differ in asthma patients as compared to healthy volunteers because of recent work showing abnormally diminished pulmonary vascular small-vessel structure in severe-asthma.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Do129Xe MRI gas-transfer measurements differ significantly in patients with moderate-severe asthma?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, healthy (NCT02484885) and asthma (NCT04651777;NCT02351141) participants were evaluated who provided written informed consent.

RESULTS

Thirty-one participants with asthma (mean age=55 years ±18; 22 females) and 32 healthy volunteers (mean age=31 years ±14; 12 females) with129Xe MRS were evaluated. FEV1, VDP and DLCO/KCOwere significantly different in asthma compared to healthy participants. Age-corrected1RBC:membrane was significantly different in moderate-severe asthma (0.32±0.09) as compared to healthy participants (0.47±0.12,P=.01). RBC:membrane was significantly related to pulse-oximetry hemoglobin estimates (ρ=.29;P=.04) and DLCO(ρ=.71;P<.001). Significant relationships between129Xe RBC:membrane and age were observed in healthy (ρ=-.55;P=.002) and asthma participants (ρ=-0.49;P=.006), adjusted for sex. A significant ANCOVA model also revealed the influence of age (P=.002), sex (P<.001), hemoglobin (P=.003) and asthma status (P=.02) on RBC:membrane.

INTERPRETATION

129Xe RBC:membrane values were significantly different in moderate-severe asthma compared to healthy volunteers and were explained by age, sex, hemoglobin, and asthma status.
Substantial hierarchical reductions of genetic and morphological traits in the evolution of rotiferan parasites
Authors: Herlyn Holger , Hembrom Anju Angelina , Tosar Juan-Pablo , Mauer Katharina M. , Schmidt Hanno , Dezfuli Bahram Sayyaf , Hankeln Thomas , Bachmann Lutz , Sarkies Peter , Peterson Kevin J. , Fromm Bastian
Published: August 2024

Abstract Figure

Graphical abstract

During the last 800 million years of evolution animals radiated into a vast range of diversity of species and disparity of forms and lifestyles. The process involved a near hierarchical increase in complexity from life forms with few cell types to organisms with many hundreds of cell-types. However, neither genome size nor number of protein-coding genes can explain these differences and their biological basis remains elusive. Yet, recent studies have suggested that the evolution of complexity is closely linked to the acquisition of a class of protein coding gene-regulators called microRNAs.

In a regressive approach, to investigate the association between loss of organismal complexity and microRNAs, we here studied Syndermata, an invertebrate group including free-living rotifers (Monogononta, Bdelloidea), the epibiotic Seisonidea and the endoparasitic Acanthocephala. Genomic, transcriptomic and morphological characterization and comparisons across 25 syndermatan species revealed a strong correlation between loss of microRNAs, loss of protein-coding genes and decreasing morphological complexity. The near hierarchical loss extends to ∼85% loss of microRNAs and a ∼50% loss of BUSCO genes in the endoparasitic Acanthocephala, the most reduced group we studied.

Together, the loss of ∼400 protein-coding genes and ∼10 metazoan core gene losses went along with one microRNA family loss. Furthermore, the loss of ∼4 microRNA families or ∼34 metazoan core genes associated with one lost morphological feature. These are the first quantitative insights into the regulatory impact of microRNAs on organismic complexity as a predictable consequence in regressive evolution of parasites.
Neural Representation Precision of Distance Predicts Arithmetic Performance
Authors: Zhao Hui , Qi Wang , Xu Jiahua , Yao Yaxin , Lv Jianing , Yang Jiaxin , Qin Shaozheng
Published: August 2024

Focusing on the distance between magnitudes as the start point to investigate the mechanism of relationship detecting and its contribution to mathematical thinking, this study explores the precision of neural representations of numerical distance and their impact on arithmetic performance. By employing neural decoding techniques and representational similarity analysis, the present study investigates how accurately the brain represents numerical distances and how this precision relates to arithmetic skills. Thirty-two children participated, completing a dot number comparison task during fMRI scanning and an arithmetic fluency test. Results indicated that neural activation patterns in the intra-parietal sulcus decoded the distance between the presented pair of dots, and higher precision in neural distance representation correlates with better arithmetic performance. These findings suggest that the accuracy of neural decoding can serve as an index of the neural representation precision and that the ability to precisely encode numerical distances in the brain is a key factor in mathematical abilities. This provides new insights into the neural basis of mathematical cognition and learning.

Highlights

Utilizing representational similarity analysis and neural decoding techniques, the research proposes that the accuracy of neural decoding serve as an index of neural representation precision.

The precision of neural representation of numerical distances in the brain predicts task performance and math arithmetic proficiency in children.

These findings imply the potential significance of relational information in general cognition and learning beyond mathematical learning.
Topological embedding and directional feature importance in ensemble classifiers for multi-class classification
Authors: Rocha Liedl Eloisa , Yassin Shabeer Mohamed , Kasapi Melpomeni , Posma Joram M.
Published: August 2024

Cancer is the second leading cause of disease-related death worldwide, and machine learning-based identification of novel biomarkers is crucial for improving early detection and treatment of various cancers. A key challenge in applying machine learning to high-dimensional data is deriving important features in an interpretable manner to provide meaningful insights into the underlying biological mechanisms

We developed a class-based directional feature importance (CLIFI) metric for decision tree methods and demonstrated its use for the The Cancer Genome Atlas proteomics data. We incorporated this metric into four algorithms, Random Forest (RF), LAtent VAriable Stochastic Ensemble of Trees (LAVASET), and Gradient Boosted Decision Trees (GBDTs), and a new extension incorporating the LAVA step into GBDTs (LAVABOOST). Both LAVA methods incorporate topological information from protein interactions into the decision function.

The different models’ performance in classifying 28 cancers resulted in F1-scores of 93% (RF), 92% (LAVASET), 89% (LAVABOOST) and 86% (GBDT), with no method outperforming all others for individual cancer type prediction. The CLIFI metric allowed the visualisation of the model decision making functions, and the distributions indicated heterogeneity in several proteins (MYH11, ERα, BCL2) for different cancer types (including brain glioma, breast, kidney, thyroid and prostate cancer).

We have developed an integrated, directional feature importance metric for multi-class decision tree-based classification models that facilitates interpretable feature importance assessment. The CLIFI metric can be used in conjunction with incorporating topological information into the decision functions of models to add inductive bias for improved interpretability.

Availability

All codes are available for data curation fromhttps://github.com/EloisaRL/TCGA-proteomics-pipelineand the LAVASET (v1.0) package fromhttps://github.com/melkasapi/LAVASET.
3D Reconstruction of Neuronal Allometry and Neuromuscular Projections in Asexual Planarians Using Expansion Tiling Light Sheet Microscopy
Authors: Lu Jing , Xu Hao , Wang Dongyue , Chen Yanlu , Inoue Takeshi , Gao Liang , Lei Kai
Published: August 2024

The intricate coordination of the neural network in planarian growth and regeneration has remained largely unrevealed, partly due to the challenges of imaging the central nervous system (CNS) in three dimensions (3D) with high resolution and within a reasonable timeframe. To address this gap in systematic imaging of the CNS in planarians, we adopted high-resolution, nanoscale imaging by combining tissue expansion and tiling light-sheet microscopy, achieving up to 4-fold linear expansion. Using an automatic 3D cell segmentation pipeline, we quantitatively profiled neurons and muscle fibers at the single-cell level in over 400 wild-type planarians during homeostasis and regeneration. We validated previous observations of neuronal cell number changes and muscle fiber distribution. We found that the increase in neuron cell number tends to lag behind the rapid expansion of somatic cells during the later phase of homeostasis. By imaging the planarian with up to 120 nm resolution, we also observed distinct muscle distribution patterns at the anterior and posterior poles. Furthermore, we investigated the effects ofβ-cateninRNAi on muscle fiber distribution at the posterior pole, consistent with changes in anterior-posterior polarity. The glial cells were observed to be close in contact with dorsal-ventral muscle fibers. Finally, we observed disruptions in neural-muscular networks ininr-1RNAi planarians. These findings provide insights into the detailed structure and potential functions of the neural-muscular system in planarians and highlight the accessibility of our imaging tool in unraveling the biological functions underlying their diverse phenotypes and behaviors.
Bovine H5N1 influenza virus binds poorly to human-type sialic acid receptors
Authors: Santos Jefferson J.S. , Wang Shengyang , McBride Ryan , Zhao Yan , Paulson James C. , Hensley Scott E.
Published: August 2024

Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI) viruses started circulating widely in lactating dairy cattle in the United States at the end of 2023. Avian influenza viruses enter cells after binding to glycan receptors with terminally linked α2-3 sialic acid, whereas human influenza viruses typically bind to glycan receptors terminally linked α2-6 sialic acid in the upper respiratory tract. Here, we evaluated the receptor binding properties of hemagglutinin (HA) trimers from a clade 2.3.4.4b avian isolate (A/American Wigeon/South Carolina/22-000345-001/2021) and a cattle isolate (A/dairy cattle/Texas/24-008749-002-v/2024). Using two different methods, we found that both of the 2.3.4.4b H5s bound efficiently to glycan receptors with terminally linked α2-3 sialic acid with no detectable binding to glycan receptors with terminally linked α2-6 sialic acid. Our data suggest that clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses bind poorly to human receptors. It will be important to continue evaluating receptor binding properties of these viruses as they evolve in cattle.
Modelling post-disturbance empirical patterns in a forest ecosystem
Authors: Zanchetta Davide , Maritan Amos , Azaele Sandro
Published: August 2024

We investigate the impact of disturbances on forest ecosystems by examining transient population dynamics in a controlled experiment carried out in a tropical rainforest. We first model the mean species abundance with a simple consumer-resource model, which is then extended into two multi-species frameworks for community dynamics: a neutral model, which emphasises the ability of any species to recover independently of the others; and a non-neutral one, where species interactions play an important role in reconstructing ecosystem’s structure and patterns. The results indicate that, while both frameworks accurately describe correlation functions and mean-variance relations, the non-neutral model more effectively captures community structure as revealed by an evenness indicator. This suggests that interspecific interactions significantly influence the ecosystem’s ability to respond to disturbances, providing deeper insights into the recovery dynamics of forest ecosystems.
Integrating Secondary Structure Information Enhances Phylogenetic Signal in Mitochondrial Protein Coding Genes
Authors: Cucini Claudio , Nardi Francesco , Pons Joan
Published: August 2024

Secondary structures have long been held to carry significant phylogenetic information, but the difficulty in collating primary sequence and structural information has frequently hindered its full application in phylogenetic studies. Here, we focus on the implementation of secondary structure information (inner, outer and transmembrane regions) to improve partitioning in datasets of mitochondrial Protein-Coding Genes for phylogenetic analysis. A new pipeline called TRAMPO was developed to partition alignment sites accordingly. The inclusion of this structural information in phylogenetic analyses was shown to produce an improvement in the phylogenetic signal of mitochondrial protein coding genes. We speculate that the observed, distinctive, compositional bias towards thymines in second codon sites of transmembrane regions, as well as selection, may be among the possible driving forces. This effect is especially relevant in lineages older than 50 Ma, where the signal of second codon positions becomes more relevant as first and third codon sites begin experiencing saturation.
Mechanical Implications of Cellular Viscoelasticity, Cortex Polarity, Superelasticity, and Cell-Cell Junctions in Curved Tissues
Authors: Perez-Tirado Amaury , Unkelbach Ulla , Oswald Tabea A. , Rheinlaender Johannes , Schäffer Tilman E. , Mukenhirn Markus , Honigmann Alf , Janshoff Andreas
Published: August 2024

Investigations of the response of curved epithelia derived from MDCK-II cells to external deformation involved indentation-relaxation experiments using colloidal probe microscopy. Notably, hemicysts exhibited lower tissue tension, greater compliance, and increased fluidity compared to cysts. The primary response to deformation turned out to be the in-plane expansion of the basal cortex/membrane of cells. Additionally, drug treatments applied to curved tissue, along with deformation of tailored mutants (such as E-cadherin knockout), revealed that tissue compliance over short time scales is influenced by an interplay of viscoelastic properties in individual cells, their apical-basal polarity, superelasticity of the shell, and excess interfacial area. Meanwhile, tissue resilience predominantly depends on the integrity of cell-cell contacts.