bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sentinel Node Imaging and Radioguided Surgery in the Era of SPECT/CT and PET/CT
Authors: Valdés Olmos Renato Alfredo , Rietbergen Daphne D. D. , Rubello Domenico , Pereira Arias-Bouda Lenka M. , Collarino Angela , Colletti Patrick M. , Vidal-Sicart Sergi , van Leeuwen Fijs W. B.
Published: September 2020

We review recent technological advances and new clinical indications for sentinel node (SN) and radioguided surgery in order to delineate future tendencies of interventional nuclear medicine in this field. A literature research was performed in PubMed to select relevant articles to be used as key references for analysis of the current approaches and tendencies in SN and radioguided surgery, as well as the evolving contribution of nuclear medicine intervention techniques to the various clinical applications. For classic indications such as melanoma and breast cancer, the incorporation of the SN approach based on the combined use of existing and new preoperative and intraoperative technologies in high-risk patient categories is becoming an emerging area of clinical indication. For SN biopsy staging in other malignancies with more complex lymphatic drainage, the incorporation of sophisticated tools is most helpful. The consecutive use of PET/CT and the SN procedure is increasing as a potential combined approach for the management of specific areas such as the axilla and the pelvis in patients at high risk of regional dissemination. Also, for the management of locoregional metastasis and oligometastatic disease, interventional nuclear medicine techniques are becoming valuable alternatives. The extended experience with SN biopsy is leading to technological advances facilitating the incorporation of this procedure to stage other malignancies with complex lymphatic drainage. New nuclear medicine–based approaches, incorporating SPECT/CT and PET/CT to guide resection of SNs and occult metastases, have recently been gaining ground.
Potential False-Positive Meckel’s Scan Caused by Umbilical Ornamentation
Authors: Pillenahalli Maheshwarappa Ravishankar , Menda Yusuf
Published: September 2020

An 18-year-old woman presented to the emergency department for bloody stools. A CT scan of the abdomen ruled out intussusception. Meckel’s scan was ordered to rule for Meckel’s diverticulum before upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. After proper pretreatment with H2 blocker, 99mTc-pertechnetate Meckel’s scan was performed. Dynamic planar imaging revealed a focus of gradual increase in uptake in midabdomen suggestive of Meckel’s diverticulum. A SPECT/CT was done to localize the focus of uptake. Surprisingly, the focus of uptake localized to the periumbilical region on SPECT/CT images. The cause of uptake could be due to local inflammation from umbilical ornamentation.
Multiple Cutaneous Leiomyomas Showing Increased FDG Uptake
Authors: Ji Xia , Bi Hongda , Dong Aisheng
Published: September 2020

Cutaneous leiomyomas are rare, sporadic, or inherited benign tumors arising from smooth muscle cells of the skin associated with various disorders. We present a case of multiple cutaneous leiomyomas showing increased FDG uptake with SUVmax of 19.9. This case indicates cutaneous leiomyoma should be considered as a rare differential diagnosis in patients with hypermetabolic cutaneous lesions. Careful correlation with clinical history is needed to avoid misdiagnosis.
Talocalcaneal Coalition With Os Sustentaculum
Authors: Usmani Sharjeel , Muzaffar Samreen , Al Kandari Fareeda , Ahmed Najeeb , Rehman Uzma
Published: September 2020

Os sustentaculi is a rare accessory bone of the foot located along the posterior end of sustentaculum tali. It is a component type of extra-articular talocalcaneal coalition. We report the case of a 17-year-old boy with symptomatic os sustentaculum with talocalcaneal coalition diagnosed on 99mTc-HDP SPECT/CT. We wish to emphasize on the use of SPECT/CT in not only characterizing the ossicle morphologically, but also for evaluation of this anatomical variant as an active source of pain in the absence of a more common cause of pain in young physically active patients.
Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Part LXXVII
Authors: Harolds Jay A. , Miller Laura B.
Published: September 2020

The chief nursing officer serves in multiple roles, but among the most important are being the chief administrator for the division of nursing, the chief voice in the organization to engage and empower nurses as professionals, and a major leader for increasing patient satisfaction, quality, and safety. Each of these roles has overlapping responsibilities, and failure in any one of could result in failure in all of them. If all of these roles are done well, the value of the care rendered by the healthcare organization will be substantially increased.
Abnormal FDG Uptake on PET/CT Due to Periosteal Reaction Caused by Hypervitaminosis D in a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Liu Jun , Wang Wei , Yang Jigang
Published: September 2020

A 7-year-old boy presented with diffuse bone pain. FDG PET/CT was performed to find the possible underlying malignant cause of hypercalcemia. The images demonstrated multiple foci of abnormal FDG activity at the sites of periosteal reaction. In addition, calcium deposit was noted in the basal ganglia, stomach, and the colon. History taking revealed that the patient had routinely taken an over-the-counter “supplement” that contains a high dose of vitamin D. One week after calcitonin therapy and stopping the supplement, the patient became symptom free. This case suggests that hypervitaminosis D might cause hypermetabolic periosteal reaction on FDG PET/CT imaging.
Incidental Metastatic Melanoma Identified on 18F-FDOPA PET/CT With Confirmation by Histology
Authors: Zhang-Yin Jules , Jublanc Christel , Aouidad Iman , Montravers Françoise , Talbot Jean-Noël
Published: September 2020

A 47-year-old woman with a history of surgically treated abdominal paraganglioma and left thigh melanoma underwent an 18F-FDOPA PET/CT for suspected locoregional recurrence of paraganglioma. 18F-FDOPA PET/CT disconfirmed this recurrence but revealed 2 FDOPA-avid left inguinal lymph nodes, confirmed on a subsequent 18F-FDG PET/CT. Excision and pathology characterized these lymph nodes as melanoma metastases. 18F-FDOPA PET/CT is a widely used and valuable tool in the assessment of paraganglioma, both for staging and recurrence detection. Uptake of FDOPA has only rarely been documented in metastatic melanoma that could be a pitfall for detecting neuroendocrine tumors.
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT-Guided Palliative Radiotherapy Provides Durable Responses to Over a Dozen Sites of Disease in Relapsed Myeloid Sarcoma
Authors: Shuttleworth Charles , Wegner Eva A. , Thompson Stephen R. , Kidson-Gerber Giselle
Published: September 2020

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a rare entity, and FDG PET/CT is a useful tool for staging at diagnosis and response assessment. We present a case of a 72-year-old woman diagnosed with multifocal extramedullary MS, using FDG PET/CT to guide palliative radiotherapy to 13 sites of disease over 2 separate relapses with complete and durable local responses and minimal toxicity. This case represents the largest reported burden of disease in MS successfully treated with FDG PET/CT-guided radiotherapy.
Isolated Metastasis to Spleen-Stomach Space From Follicular Thyroid Cancer Combined With a Benign Subcutaneous Nodule on 18F-FDG PET/CT and 131I Scintigraphy
Authors: Guo Xiuyu , He Hua , Gao Qiaolin , Jin Yinhua
Published: September 2020

A 40-year-old woman with follicular thyroid cancer underwent a systemic PET/CT evaluation before operation and then received total thyroidectomy and radioactive 131I ablation therapy. Posttreatment imaging of 131I whole-body scan with SPECT/CT showed that metastasis on the spleen-stomach space coexists with mimicking subcutaneous metastasis, considering their level of 131I accumulation and morphological changes on PET/CT. However, histopathology confirmed the subcutaneous lesion of fibrous hyperplasia by fine-needle aspiration. This case demonstrates a vital role of SPECT/CT in the diagnosis of metastatic thyroid cancer and mimicking metastasis.
Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumor With Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombosis Diagnosed With 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT
Authors: Morón Sarai , Cortés Carlos , Naranjo Monica , Granados Carlos , Rojas Julián
Published: September 2020

A 69-year-old man with a history of back pain, urinary obstruction, and deep vein thrombosis of both lower extremities 4 years earlier was diagnosed with rectal neuroendocrine tumor, grade 2, Ki-67 index 3%. 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT images showed a left pelvic mass extended to the lumen of the inferior vena cava with a high affinity for somatostatin receptor. A tubular focus of radiotracer accumulation after the course of inferior vena cava with filling defect was suggestive of tumor thrombus.
Metabolic Imaging Patterns on 18F-FDG PET in Acute and Subacute LGI1 Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis
Authors: Seniaray Nikhil , Verma Ritu , Ranjan Rajeev , Belho Ethel , Mahajan Harsh
Published: September 2020

Autoimmune encephalitis is a diverse group of neuropsychiatric disorders, which are difficult to diagnose clinically. The disorder presents acutely or subacutely with alteration of consciousness, cognitive decline, seizures, and abnormal movements. Autoantibodies are directed against intracellular antigens or extracellular domains of cell surface proteins, critical for neuronal excitability. 18F-FDG PET/CT has been used to diagnose the metabolic derangement in the brain due to various antibodies. Here we describe a case where acute and subacute phase of disease was visualized on serial 18F-FDG PET/CT.
FDG PET/CT Findings in a Patient With Ovarian Metastasis of Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Jiang Yuanyuan , Hou Guozhu , Cheng Xin , Zhu Zhaohui , Cheng Wuying
Published: September 2020

Pheochromocytoma metastasizing to the ovary is extremely rare. We report the case of a 59-year-old woman who underwent right adrenal pheochromocytoma resection 14 years ago and remained asymptomatic until recently when she complained of palpitation, perspiration, and hypertension. 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed a left adnexal mass with increased activity, which was later surgically removed and pathologically confirmed as ovarian metastasis of pheochromocytoma.
Avid 68Ga-PSMA Uptake in Periappendicular Abscess
Authors: Christensen Mads Tranberg , Klingenberg Søren , Gormsen Lars Christian , Jochumsen Mads Ryø , Bouchelouche Kirsten
Published: September 2020

68Ga–prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT for primary staging of high-risk prostate cancer revealed increased 68Ga-PSMA uptake in a known periappendicular abscess in a patient, who had undergone surgical drainage of the abscess 1 month earlier. The case presents another example of 68Ga-PSMA uptake in a benign infectious and inflammatory condition.
High 18F-FDOPA PET Uptake in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Authors: Salgues Betty , Kaphan Elsa , Molines Elicia , Brun Gilles , Guedj Eric
Published: September 2020

We present a 42-year-old woman with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and strong 18F-FDOPA PET uptake. 18F-FDOPA PET has high diagnostic accuracy in gliomas and brain metastases. The l-type amino acid transporter 1, targeted by 18F-FDOPA and 11C-MET PET, is a cell-type transporter usually upregulated in malignant tumors, including PCNSL. In this line, strong uptake was already shown with 11C-MET in PCNSL. We report the same findings with 18F-FDOPA. Consequently, PCNSL is a possible differential neoplastic diagnosis of 18F-FDOPA uptake among neoplastic lesions.
Pembrolizumab-Induced Thyroiditis and Colitis—Presentation and Resolution on Serial FDG PET/CT
Authors: Nawwar Ayah Adel , Searle Julie , Lyburn Iain Douglas
Published: September 2020

A 58-year-old man with previous melanoma of the left leg underwent whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT to stage metastatic disease prior to commencing pembrolizumab. Follow-up FDG PET/CT after 3 months of treatment showed partial metabolic response of soft tissue and nodal metastases and diffuse increased thyroid and colonic uptake, suggestive of thyroiditis and colitis. Pembrolizumab was ceased, and a repeat FDG PET/CT scan showed regression of uptake in the thyroid gland and colon, in keeping with resolution of inflammatory change. Immune-related adverse events induced by Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, should be recognized—cessation of treatment often leads to resolution.
Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection Detected on 18F-FDG PET/CT Scan Done for Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Pillenahalli Maheshwarappa Ravishankar , Graham Michael Moore
Published: September 2020

A 69-year-old woman with multiple myeloma came to our department for 18F-FDG PET/CT scan for routine surveillance. The patient denied any history of fever, cough, shortness of breath, or body aches. 18F-FDG PET/CT scan from vertex to knees was performed. PET/CT images revealed extensive peripheral ground-glass opacities showing intense FDG uptake (SUVmax 12) involving bilateral lower lobes. Possibility of an infective etiology including novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection was raised. The patient’s oropharyngeal swab for COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction amplification test came back positive for COVID-19 infection. The patient and her husband were advised home quarantine for 14 days.
Unilateral Vision Loss Due to Isolated Onodi Cell Mucocele
Authors: Gozgec Elif , Ogul Hayri
Published: September 2020

Onodi cell mucocele is a rare, benign, cystic, destructive and expansive lesion. While the sphenoid sinus mucocele is 1% to 2%, onodi cell mucocele is very rare. Because of its direct mass compression effect, its proximity to the orbital apex may cause many symptoms such as loss of vision, eye movements, and exophthalmus. Imaging methods have an important priority in diagnosis. It also plays a crucial role in planning treatment quickly and guiding the surgeon. Surgical excision is performed in the treatment, usually with an endonasal approach.
A COVID-19 descriptive study of life after lockdown in Wuhan, China
Authors: Zhou Tong , Nguyen Thuy-vy Thi , Zhong Jiayi , Liu Junsheng
Published: September 2020

On 8 April 2020, the Chinese government lifted the lockdown and opened up public transportation in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. After 76 days in lockdown, Wuhan residents were allowed to travel outside of the city and go back to work. Yet, given that there is still no vaccine for the virus, this leaves many doubting whether life will indeed go back to normal. The aim of this research was to track longitudinal changes in motivation for self-isolating, life-structured, indicators of well-being and mental health after lockdown was lifted. We have recruited 462 participants in Wuhan, China, prior to lockdown lift between 3 and 7 April 2020 (Time 1), and have followed up with 292 returning participants between 18 and 22 April 2020 (Time 2), 284 between 6 and 10 May 2020 (Time 3), and 279 between 25 and 29 May 2020 (Time 4). This four-wave study used latent growth models to examine how Wuhan residents' psychological experiences change (if at all) within the first two months after lockdown was lifted. The Stage 1 manuscript associated with this submission received in-principle acceptance (IPA) on 2 June 2020. Following IPA, the accepted Stage 1 version of the manuscript was preregistered on the OSF at https://osf.io/g2t3b. This preregistration was performed prior to data analysis. Generally, our study found that: (i) a majority of people still continue to value self-isolation after lockdown was lifted; (ii) by the end of lockdown, people perceived gradual return to normality and restored structure of everyday life; (iii) the psychological well-being slightly improved after lockdown was lifted; (iv) people who used problem solving and help-seeking as coping strategies during lockdown had better well-being and mental health by the end of the lockdown; (v) those who experienced more disruptions in daily life during lockdown would display more indicators of psychological ill-being by the end of the lockdown.
Tissue-specific developmental regulation and isoform usage underlie the role of
doublesex
in sex differentiation and mimicry in
Papilio
swallowtails
Authors: Deshmukh Riddhi , Lakhe Dhanashree , Kunte Krushnamegh
Published: September 2020

Adaptive phenotypes often arise by rewiring existing developmental networks. Co-option of transcription factors in novel contexts has facilitated the evolution of ecologically important adaptations.
doublesex
(
dsx
) governs fundamental sex differentiation during embryonic stages and has been co-opted to regulate diverse secondary sexual dimorphisms during pupal development of holometabolous insects. In
Papilio polytes
,
dsx
regulates female-limited mimetic polymorphism, resulting in mimetic and non-mimetic forms. To understand how a critical gene such as
dsx
regulates novel wing patterns while maintaining its basic function in sex differentiation, we traced its expression through metamorphosis in
P. polytes
using developmental transcriptome data. We found three key
dsx
expression peaks: (i) eggs in pre- and post-ovisposition stages; (ii) developing wing discs and body in final larval instar; and (iii) 3-day pupae. We identified potential
dsx
targets using co-expression and differential expression analysis, and found distinct, non-overlapping sets of genes—containing putative
dsx-
binding sites—in developing wings versus abdominal tissue and in mimetic versus non-mimetic individuals. This suggests that
dsx
regulates distinct downstream targets in different tissues and wing colour morphs and has perhaps acquired new, previously unknown targets, for regulating mimetic polymorphism. Additionally, we observed that the three female isoforms of
dsx
were differentially expressed across stages (from eggs to adults) and tissues and differed in their protein structure. This may promote differential protein–protein interactions for each isoform and facilitate sub-functionalization of
dsx
activity across its isoforms. Our findings suggest that
dsx
employs tissue-specific downstream effectors and partitions its functions across multiple isoforms to regulate primary and secondary sexual dimorphism through insect development.
Analytical model for electrohydrodynamic thrust
Authors: Vaddi Ravi Sankar , Guan Yifei , Mamishev Alexander , Novosselov Igor
Published: September 2020

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) thrust is produced when ionized fluid is accelerated in an electric field due to the momentum transfer between the charged species and neutral molecules. We extend the previously reported analytical model that couples space charge, electric field and momentum transfer to derive thrust force in one-dimensional planar coordinates. The electric current density in the model can be expressed in the form of Mott–Gurney law. After the correction for the drag force, the EHD thrust model yields good agreement with the experimental data from several independent studies. The EHD thrust expression derived from the first principles can be used in the design of propulsion systems and can be readily implemented in the numerical simulations.
Captive diffusions and their applications to order-preserving dynamics
Authors: Mengütürk Levent Ali , Mengütürk Murat Cahit
Published: September 2020

We propose a class of stochastic processes that we call captive diffusions, which evolve within measurable pairs of càdlàg bounded functions that admit bounded right-derivatives at points where they are continuous. In full generality, such processes allow reflection and absorption dynamics at their boundaries—possibly in a hybrid manner over non-overlapping time periods—and if they are martingales, continuous boundaries are necessarily monotonic. We employ multi-dimensional captive diffusions equipped with a totally ordered set of boundaries to model random processes that preserve an initially determined rank. We run numerical simulations on several examples governed by different drift and diffusion coefficients. Applications include interacting particle systems, random matrix theory, epidemic modelling and stochastic control.
Pesticide and resource stressors additively impair wild bee reproduction
Authors: Stuligross Clara , Williams Neal M.
Published: September 2020

Bees and other beneficial insects experience multiple stressors within agricultural landscapes that act together to impact their health and diminish their ability to deliver the ecosystem services on which human food supplies depend. Disentangling the effects of coupled stressors is a primary challenge for understanding how to promote their populations and ensure robust pollination and other ecosystem services. We used a crossed design to quantify the individual and combined effects of food resource limitation and pesticide exposure on the survival, nesting, and reproduction of the blue orchard beeOsmia lignaria. Nesting females in large flight cages accessed wildflowers at high or low densities, treated with or without the common insecticide, imidacloprid. Pesticides and resource limitation acted additively to dramatically reduce reproduction in free-flying bees. Our results emphasize the importance of considering multiple drivers to inform population persistence, management, and risk assessment for the long-term sustainability of food production and natural ecosystems.
Lactococcus carnosus sp. nov. and Lactococcus paracarnosus sp. nov., two novel species isolated from modified-atmosphere packaged beef steaks
Authors: Hilgarth Maik , Werum Victoria , Vogel Rudi F.
Published: September 2020

As part of a study investigating the spoilage microbiome of modified-atmosphere packaged beef from Germany, four novel strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated and subsequently taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach, which revealed that they could not be assigned to known species. The isolates were Gram-staining-positive, coccoid, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, catalase-negative and oxidase-negative. Morphological, physiological and phylogenetic analysis revealed a distinct lineage within the genus

Lactococcus

, with

Lactococcus piscium

and

Lactococcus plantarum

as closest relatives. Results indicated that they represented two different novel species with two strains, (TMW 2.1612T/TMW 2.1613 and TMW 2.1615T/TMW 2.1614), respectively. The two strains of both novel species shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences but a MLSA allowed their intraspecies differentiation. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of TMW 2.1612T and TMW 2.1615T had a similarity of 99.85 % to each other and a similarity of 99.85 and 99.78 % the most closely related type strain of

Lactococcus piscium

, respectively. However, the ANIb value between the respective type strains TMW 2.1612T and TMW 2.1615T, and the type strain of

Lactococcus piscium

was only 94.3 and 92.0 %, respectively, and 92.9 % between TMW 2.1612T and TMW 2.1615T. The in silico DDH estimate value between the respective type strain TMW 2.1612T and TMW 2.1615T and the most closely related type strain of

Lactococcus piscium

was only 59.9 and 48.9 %, respectively, and 51.1 % between TMW 2.1612T and TMW 2.1615T. Peptidoglycan type of strain TMW 2.1612T is Lys–Thr–Ala and major fatty acids are summed feature 8 and C16 : 0. Peptidoglycan type of strain TMW 2.1615T is Lys–Ala and major fatty acids are C16 : 0, C19 : 0cyclo ω8c and summed feature 8. On the basis of polyphasic evidence, the meat isolates represent two novel species of the genus

Lactococcus

, for which the names Lactococcus carnosus sp. nov and Lactococcus paracarnosus sp. nov are proposed. The designated respective type strains are TMW 2.1612T (=DSM 111016T =CECT 30115T) and TWM 2.1615T (=DSM 111017T =CECT 30116T).
Hearing the voices of Australian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ananda-Rajah MR , Veness BG , Berkovic D , Parker C , Kelly G , Ayton D
Published: September 2020

Background

The statistics of healthcare worker (HCW) COVID-19 infections do not convey the lived experience of HCWs during the pandemic. This study explores the working conditions and issues faced by Australian HCWs.

Methods

Qualitative analysis of free-text responses from Australian HCWs from 3 August to 5 August 2020 from an open letter calling for better respiratory protection for HCWs, transparent reporting of HCW COVID-19 infections and diversity in national infection control policy development. The open letter was sent to an email list of 23,000 HCWs from a previous campaign and promoted on social media.

Results

Among 2,733 HCWs who signed the open letter during the study period, 407 free-text responses were analysed. Doctors and nurses accounted for 58% and 35% of respondents, respectively. Most respondents came from Victoria (48%); New South Wales (18%); Queensland (12%) or Western Australia (12%). Dominant themes included concerns about: work health and safety standards; guidelines on respiratory protection including the omission of fit-testing of P2/N95 respirators; deficiencies in the availability, quality, appropriateness and training of personal protective equipment; a top-down workplace culture that enabled bullying in response to concerns about safety that culminated a loss of trust in leadership, self-reported COVID-19 infections in some respondents and moral injury.

Conclusion

Occupational moral injury in HCWs is the consequence of lapses in leadership at policy-making and organisational levels that have violated the normative expectations of HCWs. The challenge for healthcare leaders is to address workplace culture, consultation and engagement with HCWs in order to prevent this hidden pandemic from spreading throughout the health system.
High admission blood glucose is an independent risk factor of poor prognosis in COVID-19: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Lazarus Gilbert , Audrey Jessica , Wangsaputra Vincent Kharisma , Tamara Alice , Tahapary Dicky L.
Published: September 2020

Aims

To investigate the prognostic value of admission blood glucose (BG) in predicting COVID-19 outcomes, including poor composite outcomes (mortality/severity), mortality, and severity.

Materials and methods

Eligible studies evaluating the prognostic value of fasting BG (FBG) and random BG (RBG) levels in predicting COVID-19 outcomes were included and assessed for risk of bias with the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool. Random-effects high-vs-low meta-analysis followed by dose-response analysis using generalized least squares model in a two-stage random-effects meta-analysis were conducted. Potential non-linear association was explored using restricted cubic splines and pooled using restricted maximum likelihood model in a multivariate meta-analysis.

Results

The search yielded 35 studies involving a total of 14,502 patients. We discovered independent association between admission FBG and poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated non-linear relationship between admission FBG and severity (Pnon-linearity<0.001), where each 1 mmol/L increase augmented the risk of COVID-19 severity by 33% (risk ratio 1.33 [95% CI: 1.26-1.40]). Albeit exhibiting similar trends, study scarcity limited the strength of evidence on the independent prognostic value of admission RBG. GRADE assessment yielded high-quality evidence for the association between admission FBG and COVID-19 severity, and moderate-quality evidence for its association with mortality and poor outcomes, while the other assessments yielded very low-to-low quality.

Conclusion

High level of FBG at admission was independently associated with poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Further researches to confirm the observed prognostic value of admission RBG and to ascertain the estimated dose-response risk between admission FBG and on COVID-19 severity are required.
Disease association with frequented regions of genotype graphs
Authors: Hokin Samuel , Cleary Alan , Mudge Joann
Published: September 2020

Complex diseases, with many associated genetic and environmental factors, are a challenging target for genomic risk assessment. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) associate disease status with, and compute risk from, individual common variants, which can be problematic for diseases with many interacting or rare variants. In addition, GWAS typically employ a reference genome which is not built from the subjects of the study, whose genetic background may differ from the reference and whose genetic characterization may be limited. We present a complementary method based on disease association with collections of genotypes, called frequented regions, on a pangenomic graph built from subjects’ genomes. We introduce the pangenomic genotype graph, which is better suited than sequence graphs to human disease studies. Our method draws out collections of features, across multiple genomic segments, which are associated with disease status. We show that the frequented regions method consistently improves machine-learning classification of disease status over GWAS classification, allowing incorporation of rare or interacting variants. Notably, genomic segments that have few or no variants of genome-wide signif-icance (p < 5 × 10−8) provide much-improved classification with frequented regions, encouraging their application across the entire genome. Frequented regions may also be utilized for purposes such as choice of treatment in addition to prediction of disease risk.
Antihypertensive Medications and COVID-19 Diagnosis and Mortality: Population-based Case-Control Analysis in the United Kingdom
Authors: Rezel-Potts Emma , Douiri Abdel , Chowienczyk Phil J. , Gulliford Martin C.
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To evaluate antihypertensive medications and COVID-19 diagnosis and mortality, accounting for healthcare seeking behaviour.

Design

A population-based case control study with additional cohort analysis.

Setting

Primary care patients from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).

Participants

16 866 patients with COVID-19 events in the CPRD from 29th January to June 25th 2020 and 70 137 matched controls.

Main outcome measures

We explored associations between COVID-19 diagnosis and prescriptions for angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers (B), calcium-channel blockers (C), thiazide diuretics (D) and other antihypertensive drugs (O). We evaluated all-cause mortality among COVID-19 cases. Analyses were adjusted for covariates and consultation frequency.

Results

In covariate adjusted analyses, ACEIs were associated with lower odds of COVID-19 diagnosis (0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.77 to 0.88) as were ARBs, 0.87 (0.80 to 0.95) with little attenuation from adjustment for consultation frequency. In fully adjusted analyses, C and D were also associated with lower odds of COVID-19. Increased odds of COVID-19 for B (1.19, 1.12 to 1.26), were attenuated after adjustment for consultation frequency (1.01, 0.95 to 1.08). In adjusted analyses, patients treated with ACEIs or ARBs had similar mortality to patients treated with classes B, C, D or O (1.00, 0.83 to 1.20) or patients receiving no antihypertensive therapy (0.99, 0.83 to 1.18).

Conclusions

Associations were sensitive to adjustment for confounding and healthcare seeking, but there was no evidence that antihypertensive therapy is associated with increased risk of COVID-19 diagnosis or mortality; most classes of antihypertensive therapy showed negative associations with COVID-19 diagnosis.
High-throughput whole-brain mapping of rhesus monkey at micron resolution
Authors: Xu Fang , Shen Yan , Ding Lufeng , Yang Chao-Yu , Tan Heng , Wang Hao , Zhu Qingyuan , Xu Rui , Wu Fengyi , Xu Cheng , Li Qianwei , Su Peng , Zhang Li I. , Dong Hongwei , Desimone Robert , Xu Fuqiang , Hu Xintian , Lau Pak-Ming , Bi Guo-Qiang
Published: September 2020

Whole-brain mesoscale mapping of primates has been hindered by large brain size and the relatively low throughput of available microscopy methods. Here, we present an integrative approach that combines primate-optimized tissue sectioning and clearing with ultrahigh-speed, large-scale, volumetric fluorescence microscopy, capable of completing whole-brain imaging of a rhesus monkey at 1 µm × 1 µm × 2.5 µm voxel resolution within 100 hours. A progressive strategy is developed for high-efficiency, long-range tracing of individual axonal fibers through the dataset of hundreds of terabytes, establishing a “Serial sectioning and clearing, 3-dimensional Microscopy, with semi-Automated Reconstruction and Tracing” (SMART) pipeline. This system supports effective connectome-scale mapping of large primates that reveals distinct features of thalamocortical projections of the rhesus monkey brain at the level of individual axonal fibers.
Adaptation to recent outcomes attenuates the lasting effect of initial experience on risky decisions
Authors: Kóbor Andrea , Kardos Zsófia , Takács Ádám , Éltető Noémi , Janacsek Karolina , Tóth-Fáber Eszter , Csépe Valéria , Nemeth Dezso
Published: September 2020

Both primarily and recently encountered information have been shown to influence experience-based risky decision making. The primacy effect predicts that initial experience will influence later choices even if outcome probabilities change and reward is ultimately more or less sparse than primarily experienced. However, it has not been investigated whether extended initial experience would induce a more profound primacy effect upon risky choices than brief experience. Therefore, the present study tested in two experiments whether young adults adjusted their risk-taking behavior in the Balloon Analogue Risk task after an unsignaled and unexpected change point. The change point separated early “good luck” or “bad luck” trials from subsequent ones. While mostly positive (more reward) or mostly negative (no reward) events characterized the early trials, subsequent trials were unbiased. In Experiment 1, the change point occurred after one-sixth or one-third of the trials (brief vs. extended experience) without intermittence, whereas in Experiment 2, it occurred between separate task phases. In Experiment 1, if negative events characterized the early trials, after the change point, risk-taking behavior increased as compared with the early trials. Conversely, if positive events characterized the early trials, risk-taking behavior decreased after the change point. Although the adjustment of risk-taking behavior occurred due to integrating recent experiences, the impact of initial experience was simultaneously observed. The length of initial experience did not reliably influence the adjustment of behavior. In Experiment 2, participants became more prone to take risks as the task progressed, indicating that the impact of initial experience could be overcome. Altogether, we suggest that initial beliefs about outcome probabilities can be updated by recent experiences to adapt to the continuously changing decision environment.
Genomics of an avian neo-sex chromosome reveals the evolutionary dynamics of recombination suppression and sex-linked genes
Authors: Sigeman Hanna , Strandh Maria , Proux-Wéra Estelle , Kutschera Verena E. , Ponnikas Suvi , Zhang Hongkai , Lundberg Max , Soler Lucile , Bunikis Ignas , Tarka Maja , Hasselquist Dennis , Nystedt Björn , Westerdahl Helena , Hansson Bengt
Published: September 2020

How the avian sex chromosomes first evolved from autosomes remains elusive as 100 million years (Myr) of divergence and degeneration obscure their evolutionary history. Sylvioidea songbirds is an emerging model for understanding avian sex chromosome evolution because a unique chromosome fusion event ∼24 Myr ago has formed enlarged “neo-sex chromosomes” consisting of an added (new) and an ancestral (old) part. Here, we report the female genome (ZW) of one Sylvioidea species, the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). We confirm that the added region has been translocated to both Z and W, and show that the added-W part has been heavily reorganised within itself and with the ancestral-W. Next, we show that recombination between Z and W continued after the fusion event, and that recombination suppression took ∼10 Myr to be completed and arose locally and non-linearly along the sex chromosomes. This pattern is inconsistent with that of large inversions and instead suggests gradual and mosaic recombination suppression. We find that the added-W mirrors the ancestral-W in terms of repeat accumulation, loss of genetic variation, and gene degeneration. Lastly, we show that genes being maintained on W are slowly evolving and dosage sensitive, and that highly conserved genes across broad taxonomic groups, regardless of sex-linkage, evolve slower on both Z and W. This study reveals complex expansion of recombination suppression along avian sex chromosomes, and that the evolutionary trajectory of sex-linked genes is highly predictable and governed partly by sex-linkageper se, partly by their functional properties.
Characterization of a clinicalEnterobacter hormaecheistrain belonging to epidemic clone ST418 co-carryingblaNDM-1,blaIMP-4and mcr-9.1
Authors: Chen Wei , Hu Zhiliang , Wang Shiwei , Huang Doudou , Wang Weixiao , Cao Xiaoli , Zhou Kai
Published: September 2020

AnEnterobacter hormaecheiisolate (ECL-90) simultaneously harboringblaNDM-1,blaIMP-4andmcr-9.1was recovered from the secretion specimen of a 24-year-old male patient in a tertiary hospital in China. The whole genome sequencing of this isolate was complete, and 4 circular plasmids with variable sizes were detected. MLST analysis assigned the isolate to ST418, known as a carbapenemase-producing epidemic clone in China.blaIMP-4andmcr-9.1genes were co-carried on an IncHI2/2A plasmid (pECL-90-2) andblaNDM-1was harbored by an IncX3 plasmid (pECL-90-3). The genetic context ofmcr-9.1was identified as a prevalent structure, “rcnR-rcnA-pcoE-pcoS-IS903-mcr-9-wbuC”, which is a relatively unitary model involved in the mobilization ofmcr-9. Meanwhile,blaNDM-1gene was detected within a globally widespread structure known as NDM-GE-U.S (“ISAba125–blaNDM-1–blaMBL”). Our study warrants that the convergence of genes mediating resistance to last-resort antibiotics in epidemic clones would largely facilitate their widespread in clinical settings, thus representing a potential challenge to clinical treatment and public health.

Importance

Carbapenemase-producingEnterobacteriaceae(CPE) spread at a high rate and colistin is the last-resort therapeutic for the infection caused by CPE. However, the emergence of plasmid-bornemcrgenes highly facilitates the wide dissemination of colistin resistance, thus largely threatens the clinical use of colistin. Here, we for the first time characterized a clinicalEnterobacter hormaecheistrain co-producingblaNDM-1,blaIMP-4andmcr-9.1 belonging to an epidemic clone (ST418). The accumulation of genes mediating resistance to last-resort antibiotics in epidemic clones would largely facilitate their widespread in clinical settings, which may cause disastrous consequence with respect to antimicrobial resistance. Understanding how resistance genes were accumulated in a single strain could help us to track the evolutionary trajectory of drug resistance. Our finding highlights the importance of surveillance on the epidemic potential of colistin-resistant CPE, and effective infection control measures to prevent the resistance dissemination.
Genotypic similarity among algal symbionts corresponds to associations with closely related coral hosts
Authors: Reich Hannah G. , Kitchen Sheila A. , Stankiewicz Kathryn H. , Devlin-Durante Meghann , Fogarty Nicole D. , Baums Iliana B.
Published: September 2020

Mutualisms where hosts are coupled metabolically to their symbionts often exhibit high partner fidelity. Most reef-building corals form obligate symbioses with specific species of photosymbionts, dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae, despite needing to acquire symbionts early in their development from environmental sources. Three Caribbean acroporids (Acropora palmata,A. cervicornis, and their hybridA. prolifera) are geographically sympatric across much of their range in the greater Caribbean, but often occupy different depth and light habitats. Both species and their hybrid associate withSymbiodinium ‘fitti’, a genetically diverse species of symbiont that is specific to these hosts. Since the physiology of the dinoflagellate partner is strongly influenced by light (and therefore depth), we investigated whetherS. ‘fitti’populations from each host source were differentiated genetically. We generated shallow genome sequences of acroporid colonies sampled from across the Caribbean. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) amongS. ‘fitti’strains were identified by aligning sequences to a ~600 Mb draft assembly of theS. ‘fitti’genome, assembled from anA. cervicornismetagenome. Phylogenomic and multivariate analyses revealed that allelic variation amongS. ‘fitti’partitioned to each host species, as well as their hybrid, rather than by biogeographic origin. This is particularly noteworthy because the hybrid,A. prolifera, has a sparse fossil record and may be of relatively recent origin. Many of the SNPs putatively under selection were non-synonymous mutations predicted to alter protein efficiency. Differences in allele frequency amongS. ‘fitti’ populations from each host taxon may correspond to distinct phenotypes that thrive in the different cellular environments found in each acroporid. The non-random sorting among genetically diverse strains, or genotypes, to different hosts could be the basis for lineage diversification via disruptive selection, leading to ecological specialization and ultimately speciation.
Localization and Functional Characterization of the Alternative Oxidase inNaegleria
Authors: Cantoni Diego , Osborne Ashley , Taib Najwa , Thompson Gary , Kazana Eleanna , Edrich Elizabeth , Brown Ian R. , Gribaldo Simonetta , Gourlay Campbell W , Tsaousis Anastasios D.
Published: September 2020

The Alternative oxidase (AOX) is a protein involved in maintaining the Krebs cycle in instances where the respiratory chain has been inhibited, while allowing for the maintenance of cell growth and necessary metabolic processes for survival. Among eukaryotes, alternative oxidases have disperse distribution and are found in plants, fungi and a few protists, includingNaegleriassp.Naegleriaspecies are free-living unicellular amoeboflagellates, and include the pathogenic species ofN. fowleri, the so-called brain eating amoeba. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we aimed to understand the evolution, localization and function of AOX and the role that plays inNaegleria’s biology. Our analyses suggest that the protein was present in last common ancestor of the genus and structure prediction showed that all functional residues are also present inNaegleriaspecies. Using a combination of cellular and biochemical techniques, we also functionally characterizeN. gruberi’s AOX in its mitochondria and we demonstrate that its inactivation affects its proliferation. Consequently, we discuss the benefits of the presence of this protein inNaegleriaspecies, along with its potential pathogenicity role inN. fowleri. We predict that our findings will spearhead new explorations to understand the cell biology, metabolism and evolution ofNaegleriaand other free-living relatives.
Tissue-specific accumulation profiles of phorbol esters inJatropha curcasand gene induction in response to abiotic and biotic stresses
Authors: Wei Lei , Zhang Wei , Fan Caixin , Dai Tingwei , Li Shijuan , Chen Fang , Xu Ying
Published: September 2020

Jatropha curcasL. (J. curcas), a shrub plant of theEuphorbiaceaefamily, has received enormous attention as a promising biofuel plant for the production of biodiesel and medical potential in ethnopharmacology. However, the tumor-promoter toxin phorbol esters present inJ. curcasraises concerns for health and environmental risk as its large-scale cultivation limits the use of meal obtained after oil extraction for animal feed. Here, we determined the variation of phorbol ester profiles and contents in eightJ. curcastissues by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and found phorbol esters present in all parts of the plant except the seed shell. We showed tissue-specific patterns of accumulation of phorbol esters and associated terpenoids at the transcriptomic level with high transcript levels in reproductive and young tissues. Genes involved in the same module of terpenoids biosynthesis were positively correlated. We further present diverse abiotic and biotic stresses that had different effects on the accumulation of transcripts in terpenoids shared and branched terpenoid pathways in plant seedlings. The fine-tuning of terpenoids biosynthesis may link with ecological functions in plants under extreme environments and defense against pathogens.
A global omics data sharing and analytics marketplace: Case study of a rapid data COVID-19 pandemic response platform
Authors: Farah Ibrahim , Lalli Giada , Baker Darrol , Schumacher Axel
Published: September 2020

Under public health emergencies, particularly an early epidemic, it is fundamental that genetic and other healthcare data is shared across borders in both a timely and accurate manner before the outbreak of a global pandemic. However, although the COVID-19 pandemic has created a tidal wave of data, most patient data is siloed, not easily accessible, and due to low sample size, largely not actionable. Based on the precision medicine platform Shivom, a novel and secure data sharing and data analytics marketplace, we developed a versatile pandemic preparedness platform that allows healthcare professionals to rapidly share and analyze genetic data. The platform solves several problems of the global medical and research community, such as siloed data, cross-border data sharing, lack of state-of-the-art analytic tools, GDPR-compliance, and ease-of-use. The platform serves as a central marketplace of ‘discoverability’. The platform combines patient genomic & omics data sets, a marketplace for AI & bioinformatics algorithms, new diagnostic tools, and data-sharing capabilities to advance virus epidemiology and biomarker discovery. The bioinformatics marketplace contains some preinstalled COVID-19 pipelines to analyze virus- and host genomes without the need for bioinformatics expertise. The platform will be the quickest way to rapidly gain insight into the association between virus-host interactions and COVID-19 in various populations which can have a significant impact on managing the current pandemic and potential future disease outbreaks.
Which early indicator allows for a better understanding of the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic in France?
Authors: Loisel Patrice
Published: September 2020

We provide an explanation for the apparent discrepancy between the dynamic of the positive COVID-19 test rates and of the numbers of COVID-19-related hospital and intensive care admissions and deaths in France. We highlight the existence of a latency period of around 5 weeks between the infections of young individual (generally asymptomatic) to older individuals that may have a severe form of the disease and may be hospitalized. If the overall positive detection rate provided relevant information until the end of August, since the beginning of September the overall positive detection rate has reached a plateau and no longer provides relevant information on the current state of the epidemic. We show that the positive detection rate in the 70+ age group is a relevant and early indicator of the epidemic. Furthermore, we have shown an identical doubling time of around 16 days for the following indicators: the positive tests rate for the 70+ age group, the number of new admissions to hospital, intensive care unit admissions and deaths.