bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent advancement and human tissue applications of volume electron microscopy
Authors: Abe Makoto , Ohno Nobuhiko
Published: October 2024

Structural observations are essential for the advancement of life science. Volume electron microscopy has recently realized remarkable progress in the three-dimensional analyses of biological specimens for elucidating complex ultrastructures in several fields of life science. The advancements in volume electron microscopy technologies have led to improvements, including higher resolution, more stability and the ability to handle larger volumes. Although human applications of volume electron microscopy remain limited, the reported applications in various organs have already provided previously unrecognized features of human tissues and also novel insights of human diseases. Simultaneously, the application of volume electron microscopy to human studies faces challenges, including ethical and clinical hurdles, costs of data storage and analysis, and efficient and automated imaging methods for larger volume. Solutions including the use of residual clinical specimens and data analysis based on artificial intelligence would address those issues and establish the role of volume electron microscopy in human structural research. Future advancements in volume electron microscopy are anticipated to lead to transformative discoveries in basic research and clinical practice, deepening our understanding of human health and diseases for better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on soil respiration in a soybean cropping system
Authors: Yang Jingyuan , Xu Qi , He Yuxuan , Jiang Meiguang , Ji Minglu , Qi Linyu , Qi Huan , Zhao Cancan , Miao Yuan , Liu Shasha , Sun Yanfeng
Published: October 2024

Soil respiration is an important pathway of carbon release from the terrestrial biosphere to the atmosphere, which plays a key role in ecosystem carbon cycling. However, the response and mechanism of soil respiration to nitrogen and phosphorus addition in legume plants are still unclear. Here, a pot experiment planted with soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition on soil respiration. Four treatments were designed: control, N addition, P addition, and both N and P addition. Soil respiration was measured twice a month from June to September in 2022. Our results showed that nutrient addition treatments presented significantly negative effects on soil respiration. In particular, nitrogen addition not only directly affected soil respiration, but also indirectly impacted soil respiration by altering soil nitrate nitrogen content. Elevated soil nitrate nitrogen content could inhibit soybean root nodule number and reduce biomass allocation to roots, thereby decreasing soil respiration. Furthermore, phosphorus addition and nitrogen–phosphorus co-addition strongly inhibited soybean nodulation by changing soil pH value, thus inhibiting soil respiration of soybean. The findings provide baseline information for optimizing nutrient management in legume crops.
The Transition to Adulthood: A Qualitative Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder From Military and Veteran Parents and Military-Dependent Young Adults
Authors: Pagán Antonio F , Montenegro Mara C , Ahlenius Mark , Ramirez Ana C , Ortiz Miriam , Bernal Estefani , Montiel-Nava Cecilia , Bittner Jennifer , Loveland Katherine A , Acierno Ron E
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Given the unique experiences of military service members and their families, military-dependent young adults (18–25 years old) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their military or veteran families experience unique barriers to accessing quality mental health care during the transition to adulthood. In fact, developing services to address ASD challenges for military families is a burgeoning area of interest for the department of defense. However, there is a limited knowledge on the specific needs of military families as the young adult’s transition outside of high school and lose supports.

Materials and Methods

The present study conducted 3 focus groups with 16 military and veteran parents, and 3 focus groups with 10 military-dependent young adults to evaluate the needs of military-dependent young adults (17–25 years old) with ASD and military/veteran parents with a young adult with ASD.

Results

Parents reported several key topics, including barriers to services (e.g., permanent change of station, recently moving to a state and lacking awareness of the available resources), defining adulthood in terms working in a cohesive family structure, and therapy recommendations for parents and young adults with ASD transitioning to adulthood. Young adults provided key information, including describing experiences with having a parent in the military, difficulty accessing services during the transition to adulthood, and recommendations on therapy for military-dependent young adults with ASD.

Conclusion

Military and veteran families with autistic dependents lack access to important mental-health resources. When developing programs for military families and military-dependent autistic young adults, mental health providers should consider the frequent relocations, lack of access to important transition resources, and common military values. The presence of advocates at military bases should be encouraged to help military families navigate autism services in their local community.
Under-documented micro species and the end of Carolinian endemism: bivalves of the Waccamaw Formation (basal Pleistocene, S.E. USA)
Authors: Campbell Timothy
Published: October 2024

The Waccamaw Formation is a Gelasian (basal Pleistocene, 2.5–1.8 Ma) muddy shell-sand found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina, USA. It has a diverse molluscan fauna but has never been monographed. Previous studies documented about 650 species of molluscs, including about 215 bivalves. Extensive sampling of three sites and examination of other unpublished collections has increased those figures to 1,250 and 335 species, respectively. In addition to numerous geographical and chronological range extensions, this study has also discovered 52 undescribed species of bivalves and 8 apparently undescribed genera of bivalves (two of those are extant and known from previous studies) and 9 families of bivalves new to the formation. Galeommatoidea has seen the greatest increase in documented diversity, going from 21 to 53 species known from the formation; the next most dramatic is Anomalodesmata, going from 14 to 32 species known to be present. The molluscan fauna of the Waccamaw Formation has a species richness more typical of tropical areas, but with a distinctive mix of subtropical shallow to mid-shelf taxa, and a few typically cold-water groups. The Recent fauna in the region with the most comparable average water temperature, South Carolina to northern Florida, has much lower diversity (about 775 species of molluscs, with about 280 of them bivalves) and lower endemism (almost no recent endemics) in a comparable amount of geographic area to the Waccamaw Formation deposits. A dramatic drop in typical winter water temperatures c. 1.8–1.7 Ma seems to be the most likely cause for these changes. Bivalve groups which have had the greatest drop in regional diversity are Noetiidae, Carditidae, Astartidae, Galeommatoidea, Ungulinidae and Pandoridae. Contrastingly, the local diversities of Arcidae, Mytiloidea, Lucinidae, Cardiidae and Pholadidae have all increased between the Gelasian and the recent, overwhelmingly through northwards range expansions.
The Molecular Tumor Board Turns 10: The Age of Complexity
Authors: Wahida Adam , Kurzrock Razelle
Published: October 2024

Gene sequencing has brought a titanic of complex data into clinical precision oncology. Deciphering this complexity for practice requires new constructs. In 2014, the Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) was introduced into the literature by a publication in The Oncologist. Ten years later, MTBs have become globally established vehicles that integrate rapidly emerging “omic” information, helping to transform cancer management.
A single dominant GLOBOSA allele accounts for repeated origins of hose-in-hose flowers in Sinningia (Gesneriaceae)
Authors: Yang Xia , Liu Qi , Wang Miao-Miao , Wang Xiao-Ya , Han Meng-Qi , Liu Fang-Pu , Lü Tian-Feng , Liu Jing , Wang Yin-Zheng
Published: October 2024

Plants bearing double flowers have long been cultivated as ornamental plants. Hose-in-hose flowers, bearing two-whorled corolla tubes in whorls 1 and 2, are uncommon but recur in Sinningia (Gesnerioideae, Gesneriaceae). In this study, we selected 15 hose-in-hose cultivars as materials to explore the underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms of this floral architecture. We found that they originated from different hybridization events within the Dircaea clade. Three B-class MADS-box genes were globally expressed in all floral whorls, but only GLOBOSA1 (GLO1) has accumulated a dominant mutation, i.e. the insertion of a hAT-like miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) into its promoter, that co-segregated with the hose-in-hose phenotype. In addition, all 15 hose-in-hose cultivars contained the same dominant GLO1 allele. Transient gene expression assays confirmed the role of this MITE insertion in upregulating the promoter activity of GLO1 by providing several cis-regulatory elements. Genetic transformation in heterologous Chirita pumila (Didymocarpoideae, Gesneriaceae) verified that this dominant GLO1 allele is sufficient to confer the hose-in-hose phenotype. We further demonstrated that both the GLO1 allele and the hAT-like MITE descended from wild S. cardinalis with single flowers. This study highlights the significance of wide hybridization in frequent gains of the dominant GLO1 allele and thereafter repeated occurrence of hose-in-hose flowers in Sinningia.
A modeling of complex trait phenotypic variance determinants
Authors: Hussain Shobbir
Published: October 2024

Studies have now shown that the heritability of some complex traits, such as human height, can be virtually fully captured via potential use of sufficiently powered approaches that can characterize the associated collective common- and rare-variant additive genetic architecture. However, for other traits, including complex disease traits, full recovery of such narrow sense heritability would still likely fall far short of respective heritability estimates yielded from pedigree-based analyses such as twin studies. Here, it is proposed that such traits could also involve additional types of relevant architecture and underlying genetic mechanism, such that interaction of somatic variants with heritable variants may represent an underappreciated component. The theoretical model suggested predicts that some relevant heritability estimates are systematically inflated by twin studies, and that instead a significant proportion of the phenotypic variances may be explained by specialized types of heritable genotype-by-environment interaction.
From age-specific to size-specific dose protocol for paediatric head computed tomography: a simple practical strategy for necessity assessment and parameter setting
Authors: Hu Liwei , Ouyang Rongzhen , Li Jing , Zhang Guozhi , Li Jiong , Guo Chen , Wang Qian , Zhong Yumin
Published: October 2024

This study proposes a practical approach to assessing the need for and determining the transitioning parameters from age-specific to size-specific dose protocols in paediatric head computed tomography examinations. It was designed to begin with the two different age-specific protocols currently applied on paediatric patients of 1 y ≤ age ≤ 6 y (21.34 mGy) and those of age >6 y (34.73 mGy). One characteristic size (HDthreshold) was found by measuring anteroposterior head diameter on historical topograms and used with age to set 135 cases into four groups for investigation (A, ≤6y, ≤HDthreshold; B, ≤6y, >HDthreshold; C, >6y, ≤HDthreshold; and D, >6 y, >HDthreshold). The image quality was compared in both subjective and objective manners. Results suggest patients in Group C may have received a potential overdose (38%), while the exposure setting for Group D may replace that for B. The proposed strategy was sufficient to assess the necessity and determine the transitioning parameters from age- to size-specific dose protocols.
Brain encoding during perceived control as a prospective predictor of improvement in quality of life
Authors: Dan Rotem , Brown Aliza R , Hutson Lauren , Belleau Emily L , Esfand Shiba M , Ruberto Valerie , Johns Emily , Null Kaylee E , Du Fei , Pizzagalli Diego A
Published: October 2024

Perceived control is strongly related to mental health and well-being. Specifically, lack of perceived control has been associated with learned helplessness and stress-related disorders, such as depression and anxiety. However, it is unknown whether brain activation to control and its protective effect against stress can predict changes in quality of life. To address this gap, we examined the neural underpinning of controllability in healthy females (N = 40) performing the Value of Control task in an functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Quality of life and perceived stress were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Increased brain activation for control was found within the putamen, insula, thalamus, mid-cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, and cerebellum. In contrast, increased brain activation for lack of control was found within the posterior cingulate and prefrontal cortices. In an exploratory analysis, an elastic-net algorithm was used to identify brain predictors of quality of life 6 months later. The right putamen’s activation to control was selected as the best prospective predictor of improvement in life enjoyment and satisfaction and this association was mediated by changes in perceived stress. Our findings suggest that neural responsiveness to control may have utility as a potential marker of quality of life and resilience to adversity.
Bistable Perception Discriminates Between Depressive Patients, Controls, Schizophrenia Patients, and Their Siblings
Authors: Arani Elahe , Garobbio Simona , Roinishvili Maya , Chkonia Eka , Herzog Michael H , van Wezel Richard J A
Published: October 2024

Background and Hypothesis

Individuals with schizophrenia have less priors than controls, meaning they rely less upon their prior experiences to interpret the current stimuli. These differences in priors are expected to show as higher alternation rates in bistable perception tasks like the Structure-from-Motion (SfM) paradigm. In this paradigm, continuously moving dots in two dimensions are perceived subjectively as traveling along a three-dimensional sphere, which results in a direction of motion (left or right) that shifts approximately every few seconds.

Study Design

Here, we tested healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia, siblings of patients with schizophrenia, and patients with depression with both the intermittent and continuous variants of the SfM paradigm.

Study Results

In the intermittent variant of the SfM paradigm, depressive patients exhibited the lowest alternation rate, followed by unaffected controls. In contrast, patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings displayed significantly higher alternation rates. In the continuous variant of the SfM paradigm, patients with schizophrenia showed the lowest mean percept durations, while there were no differences between the other three groups.

Conclusions

The intermittent SfM paradigm is a candidate endophenotype for schizophrenia. The aberrant processing in the patients may stem from alterations in adaptation and/or cross-inhibition mechanisms leading to changes in priors, as suggested by current models in the field. The intermittent SfM paradigm is, hence, a trait marker that offers the great opportunity to investigate perceptual abnormalities across the psychiatry spectrum, ranging from depression to psychosis.
Monitoring weekly δ13C variations along the cambium–xylem continuum in the Canadian eastern boreal forest
Authors: Namvar Sepideh , Boucher Étienne , Deslauriers Annie , Morin Hubert , Savard Martine M
Published: October 2024

Intra-annual variations of carbon stable isotope ratios (δ13C) in different tree compartments could represent valuable indicators of plant carbon source–sink dynamics, at weekly time scale. Despite this significance, the absence of a methodological framework for tracking δ13C values in tree rings persists due to the complexity of tree ring development. To fill this knowledge gap, we developed a method to monitor weekly variability of δ13C in the cambium–xylem continuum of black spruce species [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.] during the growing season. We collected and isolated the weekly incremental growth of the cambial region and the developing tree ring from five mature spruce trees over three consecutive growing seasons (2019–21) in Simoncouche and two growing seasons (2020–21) in Bernatchez, both located in the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. Our method allowed for the creation of intra-annual δ13C series for both the growing cambium (δ13Ccam) and developing xylem cellulose (δ13Cxc) in these two sites. Strong positive correlations were observed between δ13Ccam and δ13Cxc series in almost all study years. These findings suggest that a constant supply of fresh assimilates to the cambium–xylem continuum may be the dominant process feeding secondary growth in the two study sites. On the other hand, rates of carbon isotopic fractionation appeared to be poorly affected by climate variability, at an inter-weekly time scale. Hence, increasing δ13Ccam and δ13Cxc trends highlighted here possibly indicate shifts in carbon allocation strategies, likely fostering frost resistance and reducing water uptake in the late growth season. Additionally, these trends may be related to the black spruce trees' responses to the seasonal decrease in photosynthetically active radiation. Our findings provide new insights into the seasonal carbon dynamics and growth constraints of black spruce in boreal forest ecosystems, offering a novel methodological approach for studying carbon allocation at fine temporal scales.
Distribution and characterization of endophytic and rhizosphere bacteriome of below-ground tissues in Chinese fir plantation
Authors: Wang Kai , Wang Qingao , Hong Liang , Liu Yuxin , Yang Jiyun , Asiegbu Fred O , Wu Pengfei , Huang Lin , Ma Xiangqing
Published: October 2024

Plantations of Chinese fir, a popular woody tree species, face sustainable issues, such as nutrient deficiency and increasing disease threat. Rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria play important roles in plants’ nutrient absorption and stress alleviation. Our understanding of the microbiome structure and functions is proceeding rapidly in model plants and some crop species. Yet, the spatial distribution and functional patterns of the bacteriome for the woody trees remain largely unexplored. In this study, we collected rhizosphere soil, non-rhizosphere soil, fine root, thick root and primary root samples of Chinese fir and investigated the structure and distribution of bacteriome, as well as the beneficial effects of endophytic bacterial isolates. We discovered that Burkholderia and Paraburkholderia genera were overwhelmingly enriched in rhizosphere soil, and the abundance of Pseudomonas genus was significantly enhanced in fine root. By isolating and testing the nutrient absorption and pathogen antagonism functions of representative endophytic bacteria species in Pseudomonas and Burkholderia, we noticed that phosphorus-solubilizing functional isolates were enriched in fine root, while pathogen antagonism isolates were enriched in thick root. As a conclusion, our study revealed that the endophytic and rhizosphere environments of Chinese fir hold distinct structure and abundance of bacteriomes, with potential specific functional enrichment of some bacterial clades. These findings assist us to further study the potential regulation mechanism of endophytic functional bacteria by the host tree, which will contribute to beneficial microbe application in forestry plantations and sustainable development.
Implementing Cognitive Rehearsal Training With Nursing Students to Counter Incivility in the Clinical Setting as Students and New Nurses: A Sequential Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Wands LisaMarie , McDermott Carrie , Bernard Noreen , Wolf Rachel , Kimble Laura P.
Published: October 2024

Incivility is prevalent in the clinical workplace and can lead to reduced self-confidence, adverse health effects, and negative implications for patient care. Cognitive rehearsal training (CRT) serves as a mental plan that individuals can use to counter incivility. This mixed-methods study examined select outcomes related to experiencing incivility for nursing students before and after receiving CRT and early into their professional practice. Many participants described experiencing incivility. Most found CRT useful and implemented the general approach of pausing and thinking before responding. Incorporating CRT into prelicensure education has potential for decreasing the effects of incivility and protecting professional well-being.
Myositis associated with pembrolizumab presenting with myastheniform symptoms: two case reports
Authors: Deveci Şule , Uzun Mustafa , Özçelik Pinar , Tümer Doğukan Sebile Serranur , Matur Zeliha
Published: October 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as pembrolizumab, have revolutionized cancer treatment by enhancing the immune system’s response to malignancies. However, these therapies are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including neuromuscular complications such as myasthenia gravis, myositis, and myocarditis. We describe two male patients, aged 67 and 68, with small cell and non-small cell lung cancers, who developed progressive neuromuscular symptoms, including ptosis, diplopia, and generalized weakness, after receiving pembrolizumab. Clinical, biochemical, imaging, and electrophysiological findings confirmed the diagnosis of myositis with myastheniform features, with one case also involving myocarditis. Both patients underwent treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), pyridostigmine, and corticosteroids. The first patient, despite aggressive treatment including plasma exchange and rituximab, succumbed to complications from aspiration pneumonia. The second patient showed partial response to pyridostigmine and IVIg but later died due to metastatic cancer progression. A literature review revealed 52 cases of pembrolizumab-associated myositis with myastheniform symptoms, emphasizing its high morbidity and the need for vigilant monitoring. Pembrolizumab-associated myositis with myastheniform symptoms, especially when accompanied by myocarditis, presents a significant clinical challenge with high mortality. Early recognition and aggressive management of these irAEs are crucial to improving outcomes in cancer patients receiving ICIs.
Budget impact analysis of TPMT and NUDT15 pharmacogenomic testing for 6-mercaptopurine in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients
Authors: Fuerte Beverly , Burgos Mia , Cao Vyvy , Maggo Simran , Bhojwani Deepa , Rushing Teresa , Nguyen Jenny Q. , Gong Cynthia L.
Published: October 2024

Background

Pharmacogenomic testing identifies gene polymorphisms impacting drug metabolism, aiding in optimizing treatment efficacy and minimizing toxicity, thus potentially reducing healthcare utilization. 6-Mercaptopurine metabolism is affected by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) and nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15) polymorphisms. We sought to estimate the budget impact of preemptive pharmacogenomic testing for these genes in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients from an institutional perspective.

Methods

A Markov model was constructed to model the first cycle of the maintenance phase of chemotherapy for pediatric ALL patients transitioning between one of three health states: stable, moderately myelosuppressed, and severely myelosuppressed over 16 weeks, with each health state’s associated costs derived from the literature. The patient’s likelihood to experience moderate or severe myelosuppression based on metabolism phenotype was calculated from the literature and applied on a weekly basis, and the marginal budget impact of preemptive pharmacogenomic testing vs. no pharmacogenomic testing was calculated. One-way sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess parameter influence on results.

Results

Preemptive pharmacogenomic testing of TPMT and NUDT15 provided savings of up to $26 028 per patient during the maintenance phase. In the sensitivity analysis, the cost of outpatient management of moderate myelosuppression had the greatest impact on the budget, resulting in cost savings ranging from $8592 to $30 129 when the minimum and maximum costs of management were used in the model.

Conclusion

Preemptive pharmacogenomic testing for TPMT and NUDT15 polymorphisms before initiation of maintenance therapy for pediatric ALL patients yielded considerable cost savings.
Efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid for bile reflux after distal gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer: a secondary analysis of the PEGASUS-D randomized clinical trial
Authors: Jang Dong Kee , Park Young Suk , Yoo Moon-Won , Hwang Sun-Hwi , Ryu Seong-Yeob , Kwon Oh Kyoung , Hur Hoon , Yoon Hong Man , Eom Bang Wool , Ahn Hye Seong , Son Taeil , Song Kyo Young , Lee Han Hong , Choi Min-Gew , An Ji Yeong , Lee Sang-Il , Lee Sang Hyub , Park Do Joong
Published: October 2024

Background:

Few studies have been conducted on the prevention of bile reflux in gastric cancer patients who have undergone gastrectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in preventing bile reflux after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods:

This study was a secondary analysis of the PEGASUS-D trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Adults with a diagnosis of gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy were enrolled. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg of UDCA, 600 mg of UDCA, or placebo at a ratio of 1:1:1. UDCA and placebo were administered daily for 52 weeks. The primary outcomes included bile reflux symptoms at each time point, the percentage of participants with bile reflux, and the grade of gastritis.

Results:

Among 521 participants who underwent randomization, 151, 164, and 150 participants were analyzed from the 300 mg UDCA, 600 mg UDCA, and placebo groups, respectively. The difference in symptoms between the three groups was not significant. Bile reflux was less evident in the UDCA group than in the placebo group; however, this difference was significant only in the 300 mg group at 12 months postoperation (odds ratio, 0.44; P=0.0076). A significant reduction in gastritis was also observed in the 300 mg group at 12 months postoperation (odds ratio, 0.50; P=0.0368) compared to the placebo group.

Conclusions:

This study showed that UDCA administration significantly reduced bile reflux and gastritis by ~50% at the 12 months-postoperative follow-up in patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
Nursing student insights
Authors: Smith Carolyn E. , Davis Jenna
Published: October 2024

This survey, which was distributed to nursing schools across the US, explores nursing students' perceptions of interactions with nurses during clinical experiences. This article discusses the findings, which support the importance of fostering more positive relationships among clinical nurses and nursing students, provide important implications for nurses and nurse leaders, and guide future research.
Applying an Evaluation Framework of Hospital CHA/CHIP Quality and Heterogeneity to Accredited Local Health Departments in Kentucky, 2015-2022
Authors: Firchow Bradley A. , Boroughs Katie E.
Published: October 2024

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the quality of community health assessments (CHA) and community health improvement plans conducted by Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)-accredited local health departments (LHDs) in Kentucky.

Design:

Quality assessment of CHAs and community health improvement plan documents using criteria adapted from Pennel et al (2015).

Setting:

PHAB-accredited LHDs in Kentucky.

Participants:

Seventeen CHAs and community health improvement plan documents from PHAB-accredited LHD.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Quality scores based on 17 evaluation criteria, including stakeholder involvement, data examination, plan feasibility, and LHD-hospital collaboration.

Results:

The study found significant variation in the quality of CHAs and community health improvement plan documents. The highest scores were for partner involvement, data examination, and plan feasibility. The lowest scores were for LHD-hospital collaboration, use of evidence-based strategies, and plan evaluation. No community variables significantly predicted overall report scores.

Conclusions:

The quality of CHAs and community health improvement plan documents varies among Kentucky LHDs, highlighting the need for more robust guidance and standardized criteria. Strengthening hospital-LHD collaboration and focusing on evidence-based strategies can improve public health outcomes.

Implications for Policy and Practice:

Enhancing CHAs and community health improvement plan processes through legislative changes, better guidance, and improved collaboration between hospitals and LHD can lead to more effective public health interventions and outcomes.
Younger Age Is Associated With Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction in Women With Urinary Symptoms
Authors: DaSilva Katia A. , Lee Do H. , Sterling Emma K. , Hong Alison H. , Rahman Sara , Carter-Brooks Charelle M.
Published: October 2024

Importance

Recent articles have highlighted the existence of pelvic floor myofascial dysfunction in women presenting with pelvic floor disorders.

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether younger age is associated with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in women with lower urinary tract symptoms, including urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urinary incontinence.

Study Design

This retrospective cohort study included women seeking an initial outpatient urogynecology evaluation for urinary symptoms from 8/2018 to 2/2022. The primary outcome was the presence of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, defined as a diagnosis of levator myalgia/spasm. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association.

Results

Four hundred twenty-one women with lower urinary tract symptoms were included, and 115 (27.3%) were diagnosed with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Women with pelvic floor dysfunction were 13 years younger, less likely to report any incontinence (60% vs 71.9%, P = 0.026) and urgency incontinence (8.7% vs 17.3%, P = 0.04). There was no difference in reported urgency, frequency, or nocturia. Women with pelvic floor dysfunction were more likely to report dysuria (19.1% vs 9.5%, P = 0.012), dyspareunia (39% vs 7.5%, P < 0.001), vulvodynia (11.3% vs 2.3%, P < 0.001), and pelvic pain (25.2% vs 7.2%, P < 0.001). The odds of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in women <40 years old was 2.34 times greater than women ≥40 years old, after adjusting for other factors (adjusted odds ratio 2.341, 95% confidence interval [1.102, 4.972]).

Conclusions

Younger women with lower urinary tract symptoms were significantly more likely to have pelvic floor muscle dysfunction compared to older women with similar symptoms, even after controlling for other associated characteristics.
The effects of apelin-13 in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Zhou Yang , Meng Zijun , Han Yuqing , Yang Xiaofang , Kuai Jinxia , Bao Haijun
Published: October 2024

The objective is to investigate the effects of apelin-13 in models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mature male CD1 mice were subjected to the single prolonged stress method to induce PTSD-related behaviors. These behaviors were then evaluated using the elevated plus maze test, Morris water maze test, and open field test. Hippocampal neural cell death was assessed using propidium iodide labeling. The expression of hippocampal autophagy pathway-associated proteins was determined through immunoblotting analysis, and LC3 levels were also measured via quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The results demonstrate that administration of apelin-13 suppressed PTSD-induced hippocampal neural cell death and alleviated PTSD-related behaviors in mice. Additionally, PTSD led to an up-regulation of LC3 and FoxO3a, and down-regulation of P62, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-FoxO3a in the hippocampus. However, these changes were reversed by apelin-13 treatment. These findings support the hypothesis that apelin-13 prevents the development of PTSD-like behavior and inhibits autophagy of neuronal cells in a mouse model of PTSD. Apelin-13 may hold potential as a therapeutic agent for PTSD in clinical applications.
Gray matter volume differences based on sex in first-episode drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder and its molecular analysis
Authors: Sun Duo , Xi Kang , Yang Runxu , Chu Jiangmin , Xu Mingjie , Zhang Dafu , Cheng Yuqi
Published: October 2024

This study analyzed whether gray matter volume (GMV) differences exist between the sexes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and explored the relationships between these differences and neurotransmitter systems. This study enrolled 190 first-episode drug-naive patients with MDD and 293 healthy controls. All participants underwent T1-weighted high-resolution MRI. The interaction between the diagnosis (healthy controls vs. MDD) and sex (male vs. female) regarding GMV alterations was analyzed. The JuSpace toolbox, which covers a wide range of neurotransmitter systems, was used to identify the relationship between MDD-induced and sex-induced GMV alterations and specific receptor/transporter proteins in the brain. Sex-specific GMV differences were observed in the healthy controls but not in MDD patients. Male healthy controls had a larger GMV in the bilateral parahippocampal, lingual, inferior occipital, fusiform, cerebellar subregions, and left inferior temporal than female healthy controls, but several subregions of the thalamus had a larger GMV in female healthy controls than in male healthy controls. Sex-induced GMV alterations were associated with 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype 1a, cannabinoid receptor, and dopamine receptor (P < 0.01, false discovery rate corrected). GMV differences were not detected in the main effect of diagnosis and the interaction of diagnosis and sex. Sex-specific GMV differences are associated with the spatial distribution of serotonin, dopamine, and cannabinoid neurotransmitter receptor systems. Sex-based physiological differences in the GMV may account for male and female susceptibility to and differences in the clinical symptoms of MDD.
A broadly reactive ultralong bovine antibody that can determine the integrity of foot-and-mouth disease virus capsids
Authors: Clarke John D. , Duyvesteyn Helen M.E. , Perez-Martin Eva , Latišenko Undīne , Porta Claudine , Humphreys Kathleen V. , Hay Abigail L. , Ren Jingshan , Fry Elizabeth E. , van den Born Erwin , Charleston Bryan , Bonnet-Di Placido Marie , Owens Raymond J. , Stuart David I. , Hammond John A.
Published: October 2024

Foot-and-mouth disease vaccination using inactivated virus is suboptimal, as the icosahedral viral capsids often disassemble into antigenically distinct pentameric units during long-term storage, or exposure to elevated temperature or lowered pH, and thus raise a response that is no longer protective. Furthermore, as foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)’s seven serotypes are antigenically diverse, cross-protection from a single serotype vaccine is limited, and most existing mouse and bovine antibodies and camelid single-domain heavy chain-only antibodies are serotype-specific. For quality control purposes, there is a real need for pan-serotype antibodies that clearly distinguish between pentamer (12S) and protective intact FMDV capsid. To date, few cross-serotype bovine-derived antibodies have been reported in the literature. We identify a bovine antibody with an ultralong CDR-H3, Ab117, whose structural analysis reveals that it binds to a deep, hydrophobic pocket on the interior surface of the capsid via the CDR-H3. Main-chain and hydrophobic interactions provide broad serotype specificity. ELISA analysis confirms that Ab117 is a novel pan-serotype and conformational epitope-specific 12S reagent, suitable for assessing capsid integrity.
Telocytes link epithelial nutrient sensing with amplification of the ILC2-tuft cell circuit
Authors: Liao Chang , Ji Ming , Wang Zhi-En , Drucker Daniel J. , Liang Hong-Erh , Locksley Richard M.
Published: October 2024

Group 2 innate lymphocytes (ILC2s) are prevalent in small intestine but engagement of type 2 immunity during basal processes are incompletely described. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a cytokine implicated in ILC2 activation, was constitutively expressed in villus telocytes and crypt-associated trophocytes, specialized fibroblasts that sustain epithelial identity. Feeding increased TSLP and induced ILC2 type 2 cytokines that were attenuated by deletion of TSLP in PDGFRα+stromal cells or TSLP receptor on ILC2s. Mouse and human telocytes expressed receptors for glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), which is released by enteroendocrine cells (EECs) after eating. GLP-2 induced intestinal TSLP, TSLP-dependent ILC2 cytokine production, and tuft cell hyperplasia. The telocyte-alarmin relay couples EEC nutrient detection with amplification of a tuft cell chemosensory circuit that diversifies surveillance of ingested cargo.

One-Sentence Summary

Intestinal telocyte TSLP relays signals from enteroendocrine cells to ILC2s to amplify the tuft cell circuit in response to feeding.
Corticostriatal Maldevelopment in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Juvenile Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Cepeda Carlos , Holley Sandra M. , Barry Joshua , Oikonomou Katerina D. , Yazon Vannah-Wila , Peng Allison , Argueta Deneen , Levine Michael S.
Published: October 2024

There is a growing consensus that brain development in Huntington’s disease (HD) is abnormal, leading to the idea that HD is not only a neurodegenerative but also a neurodevelopmental disorder. Indeed, structural and functional abnormalities have been observed during brain development in both humans and animal models of HD. However, a concurrent study of cortical and striatal development in a genetic model of HD is still lacking. Here we report significant alterations of corticostriatal development in the R6/2 mouse model of juvenile HD. We examined wildtype (WT) and R6/2 mice at postnatal (P) days 7, 14, and 21. Morphological examination demonstrated early structural and cellular alterations reminiscent of malformations of cortical development, andex vivoelectrophysiological recordings of cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs) demonstrated significant age- and genotype-dependent changes of intrinsic membrane and synaptic properties. In general, R6/2 CPNs had reduced cell membrane capacitance and increased input resistance (P7 and P14), along with reduced frequency of spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory synaptic events during early development (P7), suggesting delayed cortical maturation. This was confirmed by increased occurrence of GABAAreceptor-mediated giant depolarizing potentials at P7. At P14, the rheobase of CPNs was significantly reduced, along with increased excitability. Altered membrane and synaptic properties of R6/2 CPNs recovered progressively, and by P21 they were similar to WT CPNs. In striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs), a different picture emerged. Intrinsic membrane properties were relatively normal throughout development, except for a transient increase in membrane capacitance at P14. The first alterations in MSNs synaptic activity were observed at P14 and consisted of significant deficits in GABAergic inputs, however, these also were normalized by P21. In contrast, excitatory inputs began to decrease at this age. We conclude that the developing HD brain is capable of compensating for early developmental abnormalities and that cortical alterations precede and are a main contributor of striatal changes. Addressing cortical maldevelopment could help prevent or delay disease manifestations.

Graphical Abstract
Emerging Biomarkers for Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Desai Chirag , Rathod Siddhrajsinh , Daulti Taufiq , Prajapati Mehul , Malkan Shikha , Bhamwani Manish
Published: October 2024

Alzheimer’s disease is primarily characterized by the gradual progression of neurodegeneration that leads to cognitive decline, and its early diagnosis remains the cornerstone for effective interventions. This systematic review of the current literature will investigate and summarize the available knowledge regarding the emerging biomarkers for the early diagnosis of AD. Many databases were searched across a wide range, using articles from the last ten years, all dealing with biochemical, imaging, and genetic biomarkers in the preclinical and prodromal stages of Alzheimer’s disease. More key biomarkers are those in cerebrospinal fluid, which are CSF markers like amyloid-beta (Aβ42) and tau proteins. Novel biomarkers are within the blood, through neuroimaging studies that use techniques such as PET and MRI. Genetic markers include the one APOE ε4. Findings hold promise for using biomarker profiles, especially fluid biomarkers combined with advanced neuroimaging, to enhance diagnostic accuracy at early stages. Such biomarkers require validation, however, through large-scale and longitudinal studies before their routine use in clinical settings. Standardized assessment protocols on the biomarker domain take on importance in this light to highlight the potential of new biomarkers in changing the landscape of diagnosis for AD.
A Prediction model for Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Chen Yuanyun , Wang Xiaoshu , Shi Quanhong , Xie Yanfeng , Xia Yulong , Zhong Jianjun , Jiang Li
Published: October 2024

Background and Purpose

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) patients were susceptible to pulmonary embolism (PE), which is frequently neglected due to the absence of predictive tools for early detection. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of PE in sICH patients and develop a efficient model for the prediction of PE in clinical practice.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective study involving 1129 sICH patients. The enrolled patients were divided into training set, internal validation set and external set (n=525: 357: 247). The univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analyses were employed to screen the independent risk factors of the PE in sICH patients. A nomogram model (Model P-P) was constructed based on R language and subsequently validated. For further evaluation, the Model P-P was compared with another similar model (Model A).

Results

The analyses revealed that deep vein thrombosis, age, Glasgow coma scale score, fibrinogen degradation product, D-dimer, hemoglobin, hemorrhage volume, plasma osmolality, and surgical method were significant risk factors for PE in sICH patients (p<0.05). The Model P-P was established based on these factors, and its sensitivity, specificity were 84.2%, 94% and 0.910, respectively. Furthermore, the AUC of Model P-P (0.894) was significantly higher than that of Model A (0.785) (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The Model P-P developed in this study exhibited reliable predictive efficiency, making it an applicable tool for the early evaluation and prediction of PE after sICH surgery. This model is potential to assist personalized treatment decisions in clinical practice, especially in the neurosurgical intensive care unit.
Du-IN-v2: Unleashing the Power of Vector Quantization for Decoding Cognitive States from Intracranial Neural Signals
Authors: Zheng Hui , Wang Hai-Teng , Jiang Wei-Bang , Chen Zhong-Tao , He Li , Lin Pei-Yang , Wei Peng-Hu , Zhao Guo-Guang , Liu Yun-Zhe
Published: October 2024

While invasive brain-computer interfaces have shown promise for high-performance speech decoding under medical use, the potential of intracranial stereoElectroEncephaloGraphy (sEEG), which causes less damage to patients, remains underexplored. With the rapid progress in representation learning, leveraging abundant pure recordings to further enhance speech decoding becomes increasingly attractive. However, some popular methods pre-train temporal models based on brain-level tokens, overlooking the brain's desynchronization nature; others pre-train spatial-temporal models based on channel-level tokens, yet fail to evaluate them on more challenging tasks, e.g., speech decoding, which demands intricate processing in specific brain regions. To tackle these issues, we introduce a general pre-training framework for speech decoding -- Du-IN-v2, which can extract contextual embeddings based on region-level tokens through discrete codex-guided mask modeling. To further push its limits, we propose Decoupling Product Quantization (DPQ), where different codexes are designed to extract different parts of brain dynamics. Our model achieves SOTA performance on both the 61-word classification task and the 49-syllable sequence classification task, surpassing all baselines. Model comparison and ablation studies reveal that our design choices, including (i) temporal modeling based on region-level tokens by utilizing 1D depthwise convolution to fuse channels in vSMC and STG regions and (ii) self-supervision by discrete decoupling codex-guided mask modeling, significantly contribute to these performances. Collectively, our approach, inspired by neuroscience findings, capitalizing on region-level representations from specific brain regions, is suitable for invasive brain modeling. It marks a promising neuro-inspired AI approach in BCI.
A co-conserved gene pair supportsCaulobacteriron homeostasis during chelation stress
Authors: Ortiz Sergio Hernandez , Ok Kiwon , O'Halloran Thomas V , Fiebig Aretha , Crosson Sean
Published: October 2024

Synthetic metal chelators are widely used in industrial, clinical, and agricultural settings, leading to their accumulation in the environment. We measured the growth ofCaulobacter crescentus, a soil and aquatic bacterium, in the presence of the ubiquitous chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and found that it restricts growth by lowering intracellular iron levels. Using barcoded transposon sequencing, we identified an operonic gene pair,cciT-cciO, that is required to maintain iron homeostasis in laboratory media during EDTA challenge.cciTencodes one of four TonB-dependent transporters that are regulated by the ferric uptake repressor (Fur) and stands out among this group of genes in its ability to supportCaulobactergrowth across diverse media conditions. The function of CciT strictly requirescciO, which encodes a cytoplasmic Fe(II) dioxygenase-family protein. Our results thus define a functional partnership between an outer membrane iron receptor and a cytoplasmic dioxygenase that are broadly co-conserved in Proteobacteria. We expanded our analysis to natural environments by examining the growth of mutant strains in freshwater from two lakes, each with biochemical and geochemical profiles that differ markedly from standard laboratory media. In lake water,Caulobactergrowth did not requirecciTorcciOand was less affected by EDTA treatment. This result aligns with our observation that EDTA toxicity is influenced by common forms of biologically chelated iron and the spectrum of free cations present in the medium. Our study defines a conserved iron acquisition system in Proteobacteria and bridges laboratory-based physiology studies with real-world conditions.