bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Aha1 Co-Chaperone Binding to Human Hsp90
Authors: Oroz Javier , Blair Laura J. , Zweckstetter Markus
Published: February 2019

Hsp90 is an essential chaperone that requires large allosteric changes to determine its ATPase activity and client binding. Because of the inherent low ATPase activity of human Hsp90, the co-chaperone Aha1, which is the only known ATPase stimulator in eukaryotes, is important for regulation of Hsp90’s allosteric timing. Little is known, however, about the structure of the Hsp90/Aha1 full-length complex. Here, we characterize the solution structure of unmodified human Hsp90 in complex with Aha1 using NMR spectroscopy. We show that the 214 kDa complex adopts multiple conformations in the absence of nucleotide. Interaction with Aha1 induces structural changes near the nucleotide-binding site in Hsp90’s N-terminal domain, providing a basis for its ATPase-enhancing activity. Moreover, the E67K mutation in Aha1 strongly diminishes the interaction, supporting a two-step binding mechanism. Our data reveal important aspects of this pivotal chaperone/co-chaperone interaction and emphasize the relevance of characterizing dynamic chaperone structures in solution.
Allergic inflammation hinders synergistic viral-bacterial co-infection in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: LeMessurier Kim S. , Iverson Amy R. , Chang Ti-Cheng , Palipane Maneesha , Vogel Peter , Rosch Jason W. , Samarasinghe Amali E.
Published: February 2019

Asthma is a chronic airways disease that can be exacerbated during respiratory infections. Our previous findings that the inflammatory state of allergic airways at the time of influenza A virus (IAV) infection in combination with epidemiologic findings that asthmatics were less likely to suffer from severe influenza during the 2009 pandemic suggest that additional complications of influenza, such as increased susceptibility to bacterial superinfection, may be mitigated in the allergic host. To test this hypothesis, we developed a murine model of ‘triple-disease’ in which mice were first rendered allergic toAspergillus fumigatusand co-infected with IAV andStreptococcus pneumoniaeseven days apart. Significant alterations to known synergistic effects of co-infection were noted in the allergic mice including reduced morbidity and mortality, bacterial burden, maintenance of alveolar macrophages, and reduced lung inflammation and damage. The lung microbiome of allergic mice differed from that of non-allergic mice during co-infection. To investigate the impact of the microbiome on the pathogenesis of lung disease, we induced a perturbation with a short course of fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is often prescribed for lung infections. A significant change in the microbiome was complemented with alterations to the inflammatory profile and a drastic increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines in allergic mice which were now susceptible to severe disease from IAV andS. pneumoniaeco-infection. Our data suggest that responses to co-infection in allergic hosts likely depends on the immune and microbiome states and that antibiotics should be used with caution in individuals with underlying chronic lung disease.

Author Summary

Asthma is a condition of the lungs that affects millions worldwide. Traditionally, respiratory infections are considered to have a negative impact on asthmatics. However, epidemiological data surrounding the 2009 influenza pandemic suggest that asthmatics may be better equipped to counter severe influenza including bacterial pneumonia. Herein, we introduce a novel mouse model system designed to recapitulate an influenza virus and Streptococcal co-infection in a host with fungal asthma. We found that underlying allergic asthma protects against severe disease induced by co-infection. Mice with underlying allergic inflammation had reduced damage to the lungs and did not show signs of respiratory distress. Among the differences noted in the allergic mice that were protected from viral and bacterial co-infection, was the lung microbiome. Allergic mice lost their protection from co-infection after we perturbed their lung microbiome with antibiotics suggesting that the lung microbiome plays a role in host immunity against invading pathogens.
Identification of circadian rhythms inNannochloropsisspecies using bioluminescence reporter lines
Authors: Poliner Eric , Cummings Cameron , Newton Linsey , Farré Eva M.
Published: February 2019

Circadian clocks allow organisms to predict environmental changes caused by the rotation of the Earth. Although circadian rhythms are widespread among different taxa, the core components of circadian oscillators are not conserved and differ between bacteria, plants, animals and fungi. Stramenopiles are a large group of organisms in which circadian rhythms have been only poorly characterized and no clock components have been identified. We have investigated cell division and molecular rhythms inNannochloropsisspecies. In the four strains tested, cell division occurred principally during the night period under diel conditions, however, rhythms dampened within 2-3 days after transfer to constant light. We developed firefly luciferase reporters for long-term monitoring ofin vivotranscriptional rhythms in twoNannochlropsisspecies,N. oceanicaCCMP1779 andN. salinaCCMP537. The reporter lines express free-running bioluminescence rhythms with periods of ~21-31 h that dampen within ~3-4 days under constant light. Using different entrainment regimes, we demonstrate that these rhythms are regulated by a circadian-type oscillator. In addition, the phase of free-running luminescence rhythms can be modulated pharmacologically using a CK1 ε/δ inhibitor, suggesting a role of this kinase in theNannochloropsisclock. Together with the molecular and genomic tools available forNannochloropsisspecies, these reporter lines represent an excellent system for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of stramenopile circadian oscillators.

Significance statement

Stramenopiles are a large and diverse line of eukaryotes in which circadian rhythms have been only poorly characterized and no clock components have been identified. We have developed bioluminescence reporter lines inNannochloropsisspecies and provide evidence for the presence of a circadian oscillator in stramenopiles; these lines will serve as tools for future studies to uncover the molecular mechanisms of circadian oscillations in these species.
multiPhATE: bioinformatics pipeline for functional annotation of phage isolates
Authors: Ecale Zhou Carol L. , Malfatti Stephanie , Kimbrel Jeffrey , Philipson Casandra , McNair Katelyn , Hamilton Theron , Edwards Robert , Souza Brian
Published: February 2019

To address the need for improved phage annotation tools that scale, we created an automated throughput annotation pipeline: multiple-genome Phage Annotation Toolkit and Evaluator (multiPhATE). multiPhATE is a throughput pipeline driver that invokes an annotation pipeline (PhATE) across a user-specified set of phage genomes. This tool incorporates a de novo phage gene-calling algorithm and assigns putative functions to gene calls using protein-, virus-, and phage-centric databases. multiPhATE’s modular construction allows the user to implement all or any portion of the analyses by acquiring local instances of the desired databases and specifying the desired analyses in a configuration file. We demonstrate multiPhATE by annotating two newly sequenced Yersinia pestis phage genomes. Within multiPhATE, the PhATE processing pipeline can be readily implemented across multiple processors, making it adaptable for throughput sequencing projects. Software documentation assists the user in configuring the system.

Availability and implementation

multiPhATE was implemented in Python 3.7, and runs as a command-line code under Linux or Unix. multiPhATE is freely available under an open-source BSD3 license from https://github.com/carolzhou/multiPhATE. Instructions for acquiring the databases and third-party codes used by multiPhATE are included in the distribution README file. Users may report bugs by submitting to the github issues page associated with the multiPhATE distribution.

Contact

zhou4@llnl.gov or carol.zhou@comcast.net.

Supplementary information

Data generated during the current study are included as supplementary files available for download at https://github.com/carolzhou/PhATE_docs.
Unique structural features of the mitochondrial AAA+ protease AFG3L2 reveal the molecular basis for activity in health and disease
Authors: Puchades Cristina , Ding Bojian , Song Albert , Wiseman R. Luke , Lander Gabriel C. , Glynn Steven E.
Published: February 2019

Mitochondrial AAA+ quality control proteases regulate diverse aspects of mitochondrial biology through specialized protein degradation, but the underlying molecular mechanisms that define the diverse activities of these enzymes remain poorly defined. The mitochondrial AAA+ protease AFG3L2 is of particular interest, as genetic mutations localized throughout AFG3L2 are linked to diverse neurodegenerative disorders. However, a lack of structural data has limited our understanding of how mutations impact enzymatic activity. Here, we used cryo-EM to determine a substrate-bound structure of the catalytic core of human AFG3L2. This structure identifies multiple specialized structural features within AFG3L2 that integrate with conserved structural motifs required for hand-over-hand ATP-dependent substrate translocation to engage, unfold and degrade targeted proteins. Mapping disease-relevant AFG3L2 mutations onto our structure demonstrates that many of these mutations localize to these unique structural features of AFG3L2 and distinctly influence its activity and stability. Our results provide a molecular basis for neurological phenotypes associated with different AFG3L2 mutations, and establish a structural framework to understand how different members of the AAA+ superfamily achieve specialized, diverse biological functions.
Genome-wide identification and analysis of A-to-I RNA editing events in the malignantly transformed cell lines from BEP2D induced by α-particles radiation
Authors: Liu Qiaowei , Li Hao , You Lukuan , Li Tao , Li Lingling , Zhou Pingkun , Bo Xiaochen , Chen Hebing , Chen Xiaohua , Hu Yi
Published: February 2019

Adenosine (A) to inosine (I) RNA editing is the most prevalent RNA editing mechanism in humans and play critical roles in tumorigenesis. However, the effects of radiation on RNA editing and the mechanisms of radiation-induced cancer were poorly understood. Here, we analyzed human bronchial epithelial BEP2D cells and radiation-induced malignantly transformed cells with next generation sequencing. By performing an integrated analysis of A-to-I RNA editing, we found that genome-encoded single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) might induce the downregulation of ADAR2 enzymes, and further caused the abnormal occurrence of RNA editing in malignantly transformed cells. These editing events were significantly enriched in differentially expressed genes between normal cells and cancer cells. In addition, oncogenes CTNNB1 and FN1 were highly edited and significantly overexpressed in cancer cells, thus may be responsible for the lung cancer progression. Our work provides a systematic analysis of RNA editing from lung tumor specimens with high-throughput RNA sequencing and DNA sequencing. Moreover, these results demonstrate further evidence for RNA editing as an important tumorigenesis mechanism.
PRDM14 controls X-chromosomal and global epigenetic reprogramming of H3K27me3 in migrating mouse primordial germ cells
Authors: Mallol Anna , Guirola Maria , Payer Bernhard
Published: February 2019

In order to prepare the genome for gametogenesis, primordial germ cells (PGCs) undergo extensive epigenetic reprogramming during migration towards the gonads in mammalian embryos. This includes changes on a genome-wide scale and additionally in females the remodeling of the inactive X-chromosome to enable X-chromosome reactivation (XCR). However, if global and X-chromosomal remodeling are related and which factors are important is unknown. Here we identify the germ cell determinant PR-domain containing protein 14 (PRDM14) as the first known factor that is instrumental for both global and X-chromosomal reprogramming in migrating mouse PGCs. We find that global upregulation of the repressive histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) mark is PRDM14 dosage-dependent in PGCs of both sexes. When focusing on XCR, we observed that PRDM14 is required for removal of H3K27me3 from the inactive X-chromosome. Furthermore we show that global and X-chromosomal H3K27me3 reprogramming are functionally separable, despite their common regulation by PRDM14. Thereby we provide mechanistic insight and spatiotemporal resolution to the remodeling of the epigenome during mouse PGC migration and link epigenetic reprogramming to its developmental context in vivo.
Semi-quantitative characterisation of mixed pollen samples using MinION sequencing and Reverse Metagenomics (RevMet)
Authors: Peel Ned , Dicks Lynn V. , Heavens Darren , Percival-Alwyn Lawrence , Cooper Chris , Clark Matthew D. , Davies Richard G. , Leggett Richard M. , Yu Douglas W.
Published: February 2019

1. The ability to identify and quantify the constituent plant species that make up a mixed-species sample of pollen has important applications in ecology, conservation, and agriculture. Recently, metabarcoding protocols have been developed for pollen that can identify constituent plant species, but there are strong reasons to doubt that metabarcoding can accurately quantify their relative abundances. A PCR-free, shotgun metagenomics approach has greater potential for accurately quantifying species relative abundances, but applying metagenomics to eukaryotes is challenging due to low numbers of reference genomes.

2. We have developed a pipeline, RevMet (Reverse Metagenomics), that allows reliable and semi-quantitative characterization of the species composition of mixed-species eukaryote samples, such as bee-collected pollen, without requiring reference genomes. Instead, reference species are represented only by ‘genome skims’: low-cost, low-coverage, short-read sequence datasets. The skims are mapped to individual long reads sequenced from mixed-species samples using the MinION, a portable nanopore sequencing device, and each long read is uniquely assigned to a plant species.

3. We genome-skimmed 49 wild UK plant species, validated our pipeline with mock DNA mixtures of known composition, and then applied RevMet to pollen loads collected from wild bees. We demonstrate that RevMet can identify plant species present in mixed-species samples at proportions of DNA ≥1%, with few false positives and false negatives, and reliably differentiate species represented by high versus low amounts of DNA in a sample.

4. The RevMet pipeline could readily be adapted to generate semi-quantitative datasets for a wide range of mixed eukaryote samples, which could include characterising diets, quantifying allergenic pollen from air samples, quantifying soil fauna, and identifying the compositions of algal and diatom communities. Our per-sample costs were £90 per genome skim and £60 per pollen sample, and new versions of sequencers available now will further reduce these costs.
The validity of an experiment testing the influence of acceleration on time dilation using a rotating Mössbauer absorber and a Synchrotron Mössbauer Source
Authors: Friedman Y. , Steiner J. M. , Livshitz S. , Perez E. , Nowik I. , Felner I. , Wille H.-C. , Wortmann G. , Efrati O. , Finkelstein A. , Petitgirard S. , Chumakov A. I. , Bessas D.
Published: February 2019

Three experiments are reviewed, performed (in 2014–2016) at ID18 of ESRF to measure the influence of acceleration on time dilation by measuring the relative shift between the absorption lines of two states of the same rotating absorber with accelerations anti-parallel and parallel to the incident beam. Statistically significant data for rotation frequencies up to 510 Hz in both directions of rotation were collected. For each run with high rotation, a stable statistically significant `vibration-free' relative shift between the absorption lines of the two states was measured. This may indicate the influence of acceleration on time dilation. However, the measured relative shift was also affected by the use of a slit necessary to focus the beam to the axis of rotation to a focal spot of sub-micrometre size. The introduction of the slit broke the symmetry in the absorption lines due to the nuclear lighthouse effect and affected the measured relative shift, preventing to claim conclusively the influence of acceleration on time dilation. Assuming that this loss of symmetry is of first order, the zero value of the relative shift, corrected for this loss, falls always within the experimental error limits, as predicted by Einstein's clock hypothesis. The requirements and an indispensable plan for a conclusive experiment, once the improved technology becomes available, is presented. This will be useful to future experimentalists wishing to pursue this experiment or a related rotor experiment involving a Mössbauer absorber and a synchrotron Mössbauer source.
Pump–probe laser system at the FXE and SPB/SFX instruments of the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser Facility
Authors: Palmer Guido , Kellert Martin , Wang Jinxiong , Emons Moritz , Wegner Ulrike , Kane Daniel , Pallas Florent , Jezynski Tomasz , Venkatesan Sandhya , Rompotis Dimitrios , Brambrink Erik , Monoszlai Balazs , Jiang Man , Meier Joachim , Kruse Kai , Pergament Mikhail , Lederer Max J.
Published: February 2019

User operation at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser Facility started at the SASE1 undulator beamline in fall 2017. The majority of the experiments utilize optical lasers (mostly ultrafast) for pump–probe-type measurements in combination with X-ray pulses. This manuscript describes the purpose-developed pump–probe laser system as installed at SASE1, implemented features and plans for further upgrades.
A survey of interactions in crystal structures of pyrazine-based compounds
Authors: Taghipour Fatemeh , Mirzaei Masoud
Published: February 2019

The important role of pyrazine (pz) and its derivatives in fields such as biochemistry and pharmacology, as well as in the study of magnetic properties, is surveyed. Recognition of these properties without extensive investigations into their structural properties is not possible. This review summarizes interactions that exist between these organic compounds by themselves in the solid state, as well as those in coordination polymers with metal ions and in polyoxometalate-based hybrids. Complexes based on pyrazine ligands can generate metal–organic framework (MOF) structures that bind polyoxometalates (POMs) through covalent and noncovalent interactions. Some biological and magnetic properties involving these compounds are considered and the effect of hydrogen bonding on their supramolecular architectures is highlighted.
South African foodservice quality: inpatient’s perceptions
Authors: Ncube Lindiwe Julia , Nesamvuni Alufheli Edgar
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess patient perceptions regarding South African hospital foodservice quality.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 419 questionnaires were administered to surgical and medical inpatients consuming a normal diet in six South African provinces. A number of 23 urban and 10 rural hospitals were sampled. Inpatients were surveyed for their opinions on hospital foodservice quality with a view to improving meals and food delivery processes.

Findings

Results revealed lower patient satisfaction with aspects relating to foodservice reliability. Among other issues, inpatients were not informed about meal times (overall median=0), had to wait longer than expected for their meals and were not informed about delays (overall median=2). Menu items were not explained to inpatients (overall median=0), and inpatients were not informed about nutritional values (overall median=0). Consequently, patients opined that they were not willing to use the hospital foodservice in future (overall median=2).

Originality/value

To identify South African healthcare issues that need improvement, it is necessary to establish where to act. These findings create awareness among authorities and hospital managers to consider patient perceptions when they review and try to improve public hospital foodservice quality, which could also assist in ensuring improvement in food consumption levels, thereby combating South African hospital malnutrition.
Muslim CEO, women on boards and corporate responsibility reporting: some evidence from Malaysia
Authors: Alazzani Abdulsamad , Wan-Hussin Wan Nordin , Jones Michael
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Very limited research has been devoted to answering the question of whether the religious beliefs of the upper echelons of management and gender diversity have any impacts on the communication of corporate social responsibility (CSR) information in the marketplace. This study aims to fill the void in the literature by posing the two research questions: first, does the CEO religion affect a firm’s CSR behaviour?; second, do the women on the boards influence CSR reporting?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors performed the tests on a sample of 133 firms listed in Bursa Malaysia that have analysts following using a self-constructed CSR disclosure index based on information in annual reports in 2009. A total of 23 per cent of the sample firms have Muslim CEOs, and women made up only 8 per cent of board members.

Findings

The authors find that Muslim CEOs are significantly associated with greater disclosure of CSR information. The authors also find a moderate relationship between board gender diversity and CSR disclosure. This is probably because of insufficient number of women on boards.

Research limitations/implications

The disclosure index is based on unsubstantiated CSR information provided in annual reports, and the authors examine only two aspects of board diversity, namely, Muslim religiosity and gender mix.

Originality/value

This study advances the research on upper echelons theory by illuminating the importance of religious value in influencing the CSR behaviour of corporate leaders. This has been largely overlooked because of lack of data.
Zeta potential of porous rocks in contact with mixtures of monovalent and divalent electrolytes
Authors: Thanh Luong Duy , Sprik Rudolf , Nguyen Xuan Ca
Published: February 2019

The zeta potential is one of the most important parameters influencing the electrokinetic coupling. Most reservoir rocks are saturated or partially saturated by natural water containing various types of ions (mostly monovalent and divalent ions). Therefore, understanding how the zeta potential behaves for mixtures of electrolytes is very important. In this work, measurements of the zeta potential for four different silica‐based samples saturated by seven different mixtures of monovalent and divalent electrolytes are then carried out at a fixed ionic strength. It is seen that the magnitude of the measured zeta potential decreases with increasing divalent cation fraction. The experimental results are then explained by a model developed for mixtures of monovalent and divalent electrolytes. The result shows that the theoretical model is able to reproduce the main trend of the variation of the zeta potential with divalent cation fractions. Additionally, the model can fit the experimental data reported in literature well for reasonable values of the input parameters.
Impact of climate change on Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) phenology and its implications on pest management
Authors: Gagnon Annie‐Ève , Bourgeois Gaétan , Bourdages Line , Grenier Patrick , Blondlot Anne
Published: February 2019

Climate change can cause negative impacts to the agricultural sector by increasing pest damage to crops. The European corn borer (ECB) is a major insect pest of corn in North America. Its speed of development could potentially accelerate under a warmer climate, leading to an earlier development of the first generation and an increase in the number of generations per year.

The main objective of this study was to assess the potential impacts of climate change on ECB management for the future period 2041–2070 in Quebec, Canada, using bioclimatic modelling and climate analogues.

First flight of ECB moths could occur about 15 days earlier in the season in 2041–2070 compared to the reference period 1970–1999.

The window for insecticide interventions may be reduced under climate change by 15.6% to 27.8% for univoltine ECB and by 13.8% to 52.7% for bivoltine ECB.

Climate change could promote the development of an additional generation in the southern region for both races, considering temperature increases and factors inducing the overwintering diapause.

ECB management could become more costly both economically and environmentally under the future climate, and it should be revised according to the results of this study.
The relationship between cannabis and male infertility, sexual health, and neoplasm: a systematic review
Authors: Rajanahally S. , Raheem O. , Rogers M. , Brisbane W. , Ostrowski K. , Lendvay T. , Walsh T.
Published: February 2019

Background

In the United States of America (USA), cannabis is legal in 28 states for medical purposes and 8 states for recreational use. In 2016, the legal marijuana industry reached nearly $7 billion in sales in the USA alone. Although consumption continues to increase, the medical effects of marijuana remain understudied. Young males comprise the demographic most likely to consume cannabis, and these individuals will be most vulnerable to its short‐ and long‐term consequences.

Objective

The purpose of this manuscript is to systematically review the available literature describing the effects of marijuana on male infertility, sexual health, and urologic neoplasms.

Materials and methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Medline and Embase databases through May 2017. In vitro models, animal models, case series, case–control, and cohort designs were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) statement was utilized to report results.

Results

After exclusions, 91 articles were synthesized for qualitative analysis. Of these manuscripts, 30 pertained to marijuana and male infertility, 36 discussed cannabis and male sexual health/hormones, and 25 explored the relationship between marijuana and urologic neoplasms.

Discussion

With respect to male factor fertility using semen parameters as a surrogate, cannabinoids likely play an inhibitory role. Data on marijuana and male sexual function are mixed but suggest that marijuana may enhance the subjective experience of sexual intercourse while potentially contributing to ED in a dose‐dependent manner. Cannabis has been associated with both increased and decreased risk of malignancy depending upon the target organ. Marijuana exposure seems to be an independent risk factor for testis cancer, data on bladder cancer are conflicting, and the evidence on prostate cancer supports anti‐neoplastic effects of cannabinoids.

Conclusion

Studies of the effects of cannabis suggest impact on urologic health and disease. Prospective, long‐term studies are necessary for further elucidation of these effects.
Trehalose as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Khalifeh Masoomeh , Barreto George E. , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: February 2019

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder resulting primarily from loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. PD is characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates, and evidence suggests that aberrant protein deposition in dopaminergic neurons could be related to the dysregulation of the lysosomal autophagy pathway. The therapeutic potential of autophagy modulators has been reported in experimental models of PD. Trehalose is a natural disaccharide that has been considered as a new candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It has a chaperone‐like activity, prevents protein misfolding or aggregation, and by promoting autophagy, contributes to the removal of accumulated proteins. In this review, we briefly summarize the role of aberrant autophagy in PD and the underlying mechanisms that lead to the development of this disease. We also discuss reports that used trehalose to counteract the neurotoxicity in PD, focusing particularly on the autophagy promoting, protein stabilization, and anti‐neuroinflammatory effects of trehalose.
Peri‐implantitis prevalence, incidence rate, and risk factors: A study of electronic health records at a U.S. dental school
Authors: Kordbacheh Changi Khashayar , Finkelstein Joseph , Papapanou Panos N.
Published: February 2019

Objectives

We assessed peri‐implantitis prevalence, incidence rate, and associated risk factors by analyzing electronic oral health records (EHRs) in an educational institution.

Methods

We used a validated reference cohort comprising all patients receiving dental implants over a 3.5‐year period (2,127 patients and 6,129 implants). Electronic oral health records of a random 10% subset were examined for an additional follow‐up of ≥2.5 years to assess the presence of radiographic bone loss, defined as >2 mm longitudinal increase in the distance between the implant shoulder and the supporting peri‐implant bone level (PBL) between time of placement and follow‐up. “Intact” implants had no or ≤2 mm PBL increase from baseline. Electronic oral health record notes were reviewed to corroborate a definitive peri‐implantitis diagnosis at implants with progressive bone loss. A nested case–control analysis of peri‐implantitis‐affected implants randomly matched by age with “intact” implants from peri‐implantitis‐free individuals identified putative risk factors.

Results

The prevalence of peri‐implantitis over an average follow‐up of 2 years was 34% on the patient level and 21% on the implant level. Corresponding incidence rates were 0.16 and 0.10 per patient‐year and implant‐year, respectively. Multiple conditional logistic regression identified ill‐fitting fixed prosthesis (OR = 5.9; 95% CI: 1.6–21.1), cement‐retained prosthesis (OR = 4.5; 2.1–9.5), and radiographic evidence of periodontitis (OR = 3.6; 1.7–7.6) as statistically associated with peri‐implantitis. Implant location in the mandible (OR = 0.02; 0.003–0.2) and use of antibiotics in conjunction with implant surgery (OR = 0.19; 0.05–0.7) emerged as protective exposures.

Conclusions

Approximately 1/3 of the patients and 1/5 of all implants experienced peri‐implantitis. Ill‐fitting/ill‐designed fixed and cement‐retained restorations, and history of periodontitis emerged as the principal risk factors for peri‐implantitis.
Long noncoding RNA expression profile from cryptococcal meningitis patients identifies DPY19L1p1 as a new disease marker
Authors: Zhang Lei , Fang Wen‐Jie , Zhang Ke‐Ming , Jiang Wei‐Wei , Chen Min , Liao Wan‐Qing , Pan Wei‐Hua
Published: February 2019

Aims

LncRNAs play a vital role in the pathological and physiological process. This study aimed to explore the involvement of lncRNAs in cryptococcal meningitis.

Methods

Microarray was performed in cryptococcal meningitis patients, and then, GO and KEGG pathways were analyzed. Coexpression relationship between lncRNA and mRNA was explored. The expressions of the lncRNAs and mRNAs, and their changes after treatment were detected by PCR.

Results

A total of 325 mRNAs (201 upregulated and 124 downregulated) and 497 lncRNAs (263 upregulated and 234 downregulated) were identified. The top three enriched GO terms for the mRNAs were arachidonic acid binding, activin receptor binding, and replication fork protection complex. The top three pathways in KEGG were asthma, one carbon pool by folate, and allograft rejection. A total of 305 coexpression relationships were found between 108 lncRNAs and 87 mRNAs. LncRNA‐DPY19L1p1 was significantly increased in patients and decreased after treatment. ROC analysis revealed DPY19L1p1 was a potential diagnostic marker (AUCROC = 0.9389). Furthermore, the target genes of DPY19L1p1 in cis or trans regulation were mainly involved in immune‐related pathways like the interleukin signaling pathway.

Conclusions

This study analyzed the differential lncRNA profile in cryptococcal meningitis patients and revealed DPY19L1p1 could be used for treatment evaluation and disease diagnosis.
Routine clinical use of liraglutide 3 mg for the treatment of obesity: Outcomes in non‐surgical and bariatric surgery patients
Authors: Suliman Mohamed , Buckley Adam , Al Tikriti Alia , Tan Tricia , le Roux Carel W. , Lessan Nader , Barakat Maha
Published: February 2019

In this study we prospectively collected data on the use of liraglutide 3 mg in obese Arab patients. As part of routine care, 2092 patients were dispensed liraglutide 3 mg. Median age was 38 years and 77% were women. Median baseline weight was 95 kg and body mass index was 36.6 kg/m2. Of the patients, 188 (9%) had previous bariatric surgery. Seven hundred and eighty‐seven patients were treated for ≥16 weeks and their median (interquartile range) weight loss was 6.0 (2.4‐9.4) kg, equivalent to 6.4% (2.6%‐9.7%) of baseline weight (P < 0.0001, n = 787). Of those treated for ≥16 weeks, 474 (60%) achieved a weight loss of >5% of baseline weight while 182 (23%) achieved >10% weight loss. There was no difference in percentage weight loss between postbariatric surgery (n = 76) and non‐surgical patients (n = 711). As a result of adverse events, mainly gastrointestinal symptoms, 140 (6.7%) of the patients stopped treatment. One patient developed acute pancreatitis in the context of gallstone disease but made an uneventful recovery. Liraglutide 3 mg was well tolerated and resulted in weight loss in routine clinical care similar to that seen in randomized controlled trials.
Dynamic imaging provides novel insight into the shape and stability of soil aggregates
Authors: Kayser Gilles , Graf‐Rosenfellner Markus , Schack‐Kirchner Helmer , Lang Friederike
Published: February 2019

Soil structural traits provide links between soil structure and ecosystem functioning. The size and stability of soil aggregates are assumed to provide information on aggregate formation and turnover. A standard method to analyse these traits is to determine the mass distribution on sieves. The major drawback of this method is the small size resolution because of a small number of size classes. A promising, yet still unexplored, method for size distribution analysis in soil science, is dynamic image analysis, which foremost allows a much larger diameter resolution and the assessment of both size and shape distributions. The aim of our study was to validate the applicability of dynamic digital image analysis in combination with sonication to characterize the size and shape distribution and the stability of aggregates. We used two different heterogeneous reference materials and three different soil samples with different aggregate stabilities to test this method. The soil samples were chosen based on increasing clay, humus and calcium carbonate contents. The method yielded reproducible results for diameter and shape distributions for both reference materials and soil samples. The most important improvement compared to well‐established methods was the extremely large size resolution. This allows specification of the pattern of diameter‐dependent breakup curves by relating them to specific soil properties. The information on sphericity adds supplementary information on the aggregates released. We found much lower sphericity of 1‐mm aggregates mobilized from topsoil samples formed from the activity of living organisms than aggregates mobilized from subsoil samples formed mainly by physicochemical processes.

Highlights

Our aim was to validate dynamic digital image analysis to characterize soil aggregates.

Dynamic image analysis allows high resolution and shape analysis compared to established methods.

The method yielded reproducible results for diameter and shape distributions.

We established high‐resolution disruption patterns of aggregates enabling new approaches in future research.
Latitudinal gradients in the ecology of New World bats
Authors: Alroy John
Published: February 2019

Aim

The aim was to quantify gradients in local richness levels, feeding strategies and body mass distributions in bats and relate them to environmental variation and habitat disturbance.

Location

The New World.

Time period

Present day.

Major taxa studied

Bats.

Methods

I assembled 152 local species inventories from the published literature, which include 245 species, along with body mass measurements and dietary categorizations. I quantified species richness using the Chao 1 extrapolator, obtained mean mass values for the inventories and computed proportions of species and of individuals belonging to different feeding guilds. I reduced the dimensonality of environmental variables using factor analysis and regressed richness values upon the factor scores.

Results

South of the Tropic of Cancer, bats exhibit sharp increases in local diversity, the abundance of frugivores and nectarivores, and mean body mass. These offsets are driven by increases in the richness and abundance of the leaf‐nosed bats (Phyllostomidae). Richness steeply declines near the Tropic of Capricorn, but the other variables do not trend strongly at this point. Most of the variance is explained by mean annual temperature, temperature seasonality and precipitation. There is no direct evidence that richness is lower in disturbed landscapes.

Main conclusions

The great radiation of phyllostomids in the Neotropics has created a uniquely rich biota. The reason that phyllostomids are now absent from the northern temperate zone might be that they are mostly frugivores or nectarivores. Therefore, they have prospered only in regions that provide fruit and nectar year‐round. Thus, biotic interactions might be the immediate cause of the latitudinal diversity gradient in New World bats. If so, then the biogeographical break is driven by environmental factors and is not a historical artefact. These results suggest that a more nuanced consideration of latitudinal gradients will prove to be helpful when it comes to studying many taxonomic groups.
Influence of occlusal deterioration considering prosthetics on subsequent all‐cause mortality in a Japanese elderly independent population
Authors: Yamaga Takayuki , Ogawa Hiroshi , Miyazaki Hideo
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The influence of occlusal deterioration on mortality may be incorrectly estimated due to improvements in the occlusal condition with prosthetics or deterioration without prosthetics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of occlusion cross‐sectional status and longitudinal changes considering prosthetics for subsequent all‐cause mortality in an elderly population.

Methods

Two dental examinations, in 1999 and 2003, were conducted in 378 subjects aged 71 years old in 1999. Annual follow‐ups to check survival information were performed until 2011. The Eichner index (EI), based on tooth contacts between the maxilla and mandible in the bilateral molar regions, was used as a measurement of occlusal condition. Three modified EIs, EI‐o (ie, original EI), EI‐f adding contacts by fixed prosthetic appliances, and EI‐r adding contacts by all prosthetics, were used. For survival analysis, the survival period was calculated from the last dental examination (in 2003) to death or censoring.

Results

In Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, a deterioration in EI‐f was a significant risk factor for stability (HR = 2.56, P = 0.018) after adjusting for potential confounders. However, occlusal conditions in 2003 did not have an influence on subsequent mortality and the occlusal losses of almost all subjects were at least partially recovered by removable prosthetics.

Conclusion

This study clarified that prosthetic dental care may reduce the influence of occlusal loss on mortality and that an event such as a large occlusal loss unrecoverable with fixed prosthesis alone at an older age may increase risk of death in Japanese elderly subjects.
A review of the etiologies, clinical characteristics, and treatment of canities
Authors: Triwongwaranat Daranporn , Thuangtong Rattapon , Arunkajohnsak Sittiroj
Published: February 2019

Hair pigmentation is regulated by follicular melanogenesis, in which the process consists of melanin formation and transfer to keratinocytes in the hair shaft. Human hair follicles contain two types of melanin: the brown‐black eumelanin and yellow‐red pheomelanin. Eumelanin is commonly present in black and brown hair while pheomelanin is found in auburn and blonde hair. Hair follicle melanogenesis is under cyclical control and is concurrently coupled to hair growth. Many factors including intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect the follicular melanogenesis. Though many studies have been conducted to identify the pathogenesis and regulation of hair pigmentation, the etiology of canities and hair pigmentation is still unclear. The pathogenesis of canities or gray hair is believed to occur either from insufficient melanin formation due to melanocyte degeneration or a defect in melanosomal transfer. Canities is an aging sign which often interferes with one's socio‐cultural adjustment. On the other hand, premature canities correlate with diseases such as osteopenia and cardiovascular disease. Risk factors associated with canities are not only genetic but also external causes. For example, smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress are among the most common factors. Camouflage techniques are still used as the primary treatment of canities. Further treatments for canities are being developed to achieve the true reversal of hair pigmentation.
Assessment of optimal insulin administration timing for standard carbohydrates‐rich meals using continuous glucose monitoring in children with type 1 diabetes: A cross‐over randomized study
Authors: Tucholski Krzysztof , Sokołowska Magdalena , Tucholska Dagmara , Kamińska Halla , Jarosz‐Chobot Przemysława
Published: February 2019

Aims/Introduction

The present study was an assessment of postprandial glucose concentration after carbohydrates‐rich meals using continuous glucose monitoring in 30 children with type 1 diabetes treated using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion with a rapid‐acting insulin analog.

Materials and Methods

Over a period of 3 days, participants administered simple boluses with different delay times between insulin administration and the beginning of carbohydrates‐rich meal consumption (meal no. 1 containing 197 kcal, no. 2 containing 247 kcal and meal no. 3 containing 323 kcal; containing practically no protein and fat). In the present cross‐over randomized study, we analyzed the average glucose concentration profiles in 5‐min intervals, mean glucose at insulin administration, mean glucose after 120 and 180 min, mean and peak glucose, glucose peak time, areas under the glucose and glucose increase curves, and time period lengths with glucose <50, 70 mg/dL, and >140 and 200 mg/dL.

Results

For test meals at 20‐min versus 0‐min delay time, the study exposed a longer median time period to reach peak glucose (95 vs 65 min, P = 0.01) after meals. A tendency to the lowest peak and mean glucose, and the longest time with glucose within a normal range was observed in patients who administered bolus insulin 20 min before a meal.

Conclusions

For carbohydrates‐rich meals, administration of a proper dose of a rapid‐acting insulin analog is crucial. The influence of rapid‐acting insulin analog administration timing seems to be of minor importance in comparison with correct insulin dose adjustment; however, a tendency to achieve more balanced glucose profiles was found in a group who administered insulin 20 min before a meal.
Korean gender differences in hidradenitis suppurativa: nature or nurture?
Authors: Happle R.
Published: February 2019

Linked article: J.H. Lee et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019; 33:e257. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15500
Molecularly confirmed Kabuki (Niikawa‐Kuroki) syndrome patients demonstrate a specific cognitive profile with extensive visuospatial abnormalities
Authors: Harris J. , Mahone E. M. , Bjornsson H. T.
Published: February 2019

Background

Kabuki (Niikawa‐Kuroki) syndrome (KS) is caused by disease‐causing variants in either of two components (KMT2D and KDM6A) of the histone methylation machinery. Nearly all individuals with KS have cognitive difficulties, and most have intellectual disability. Recent studies on a mouse model of KS suggest disruption of normal adult neurogenesis in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. These mutant mice also demonstrate hippocampal memory defects compared with littermates, but this phenotype is rescued postnatally with agents that target the epigenetic machinery. If these findings are relevant to humans with KS, we would expect significant and disproportionate disruption of visuospatial functioning in these individuals.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, we have compiled a battery to robustly explore visuospatial function. We prospectively recruited 22 patients with molecularly confirmed KS and 22 IQ‐matched patients with intellectual disability.

Results

We observed significant deficiencies in visual motor, visual perception and visual motor memory in the KS group compared with the IQ‐matched group on several measures. In contrast, language function appeared to be marginally better in the KS group compared with the IQ‐matched group in a sentence comprehension task.

Conclusions

Together, our data suggest specific disruption of visuospatial function, likely linked to the dentate gyrus, in individuals with KS and provide the groundwork for a novel and specific outcome measure for a clinical trial in a KS population.
Displacement of Simulated Flabby Tissue by Different Tray Designs and Impression Materials
Authors: Shin Jae‐Ok , Ko Kyung‐Ho , Huh Yoon‐Hyuk , Cho Lee‐Ra , Park Chan‐Jin
Published: February 2019

Purpose

To compare the effect of 3 tray designs and 3 commonly used impression materials on the displacement of flabby tissue during maxillary edentulous impression by superimposition of 3D digital models.

Materials and Methods

Fifteen maxillary edentulous casts with simulated flabby tissue were fabricated by modifying a standard maxillary edentulous acrylic resin cast. Three types of impression trays were fabricated: trays with conventional relief, trays with additional relief, and trays with an open window. Three impression materials were tested: light‐body polysulfide, light‐body vinylpolysiloxane, and zinc oxide eugenol paste. For the analysis of tissue displacement during impression making, the test and control stone casts were scanned using a 3D laser scanner, and the 3D digital models were superimposed using metrology software. Statistical analyses were performed with an α = 0.05.

Results

Negative deviations were recorded at the areas of the alveolar crest, posterior part of flabby tissue, and middle of the palate. On the other hand, a positive deviation was recorded at the area of the anterior part of flabby tissue. A significant difference in the displacement of flabby tissue was found when using different tray designs (p < 0.0001). The tray with the open window showed significantly low tissue displacement at the flabby tissue region. Depending on sites, the amount of flabby tissue displacement showed different significances by the different impression materials used (anterior part: p < 0.0001; alveolar crest: p = 0.097; posterior part: p < 0.0001). Conventionally relieved trays showed significantly higher values of displacement at the anterior part of flabby tissue (p < 0.0001), while trays with open windows showed similar values of displacement at all measuring points, and no significant differences among different impression materials were found (p = 0.104).

Conclusions

There were significant differences in the displacement of flabby tissue with different tray designs, especially with displacement occurring at the anterior and posterior parts of flabby tissue. Tray designs should be considered in order to make proper impressions when flabby tissue is present.