bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drivers of richness and community composition of fungal endophytes of tree seeds
Authors: Franić Iva , Eschen René , Allan Eric , Hartmann Martin , Schneider Salome , Prospero Simone
Published: August 2020

Recent studies revealed a high diversity of fungal endophytes in traded tree seeds, including potential plant pathogens. The factors determining richness and composition of seed mycobiomes are poorly understood, but might be an important determinant for tree health. We assessed the relative impact of host identity, site, several site-specific environmental factors, and whether the host was sampled in its native or non-native distribution range, on the richness and composition of fungal seed endophytes of nine tree species across 15 sites in Europe and North America. Our results show that fungal richness was affected by host identity, but not by environmental variables or host distribution range. Fungal community composition was primarily driven by host identity, and to a lesser extent by environment. Around 25% of the 2147 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were generalists appearing on both continents and in both gymnosperms and angiosperms. Around 63% of the ASVs appeared in only gymnosperms or angiosperms, and 33% of the ASVs were associated with a single host species, while none were found in all tree species. Our results suggest that although seed trade might facilitate movements of fungi, their establishment and spread in the new environment might be limited by host availability.
African regional progress and status of the programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: 2000–2020
Authors: Deribe Kebede , Bakajika Didier K , Zoure Honorat Marie-Gustave , Gyapong John O , Molyneux David H , Rebollo Maria P
Published: August 2020

To eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) by 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a campaign against the disease. Since the launch in 2000, significant progress has been made to achieve this ambitious goal. In this article we review the progress and status of the LF programme in Africa through the WHO neglected tropical diseases preventive chemotherapy databank, the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) portal and other publications. In the African Region there are 35 countries endemic for LF. The Gambia was reclassified as not requiring preventive chemotherapy in 2015, while Togo and Malawi eliminated LF as a public health problem in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Cameroon discontinued mass drug administration (MDA) and transitioned to post-MDA surveillance to validate elimination. The trajectory of coverage continues to accelerate; treatment coverage increased from 0.1% in 2000 to 62.1% in 2018. Geographical coverage has also significantly increased, from 62.7% in 2015 to 78.5% in 2018. In 2019, 23 of 31 countries requiring MDA achieved 100% geographic coverage. Although much remains to be done, morbidity management and disability prevention services have steadily increased in recent years. Vector control interventions conducted by other programmes, particularly malaria vector control, have had a profound effect in stopping transmission in some endemic countries in the region. In conclusion, significant progress has been made in the LF programme in the region while we identify the key remaining challenges in achieving an Africa free of LF.
Should domestic violence be or not a public crime?
Authors: Moreira Diana Nadine , Pinto da Costa Mariana
Published: August 2020

Background

Domestic violence has been addressed in public policies and law reforms in many countries to target its identification and provide increased support to those affected. In some countries, reporting domestic violence is mandatory, which means that anyone not only ‘can’ but also ‘must’ file a report, which is enough to progress the criminal proceedings, even against the victim’s will. This article provides an overview about the importance of the clinicians’ duty of care, debating whether or not domestic violence should be a public crime.

Methods

A narrative review on the subject of mandatory reporting of domestic violence, conducting a search of PubMed.

Results

Twenty studies were retrieved. Commonly victims agree with mandatory reporting. However, there are still several concerns voiced by both victims and health care workers that need to be further addressed.

Conclusion

This article addresses the importance and limitations of mandatory reporting while acknowledging the impact of these measures in both the victim and the accused.
Evaluation of dimethoate toxicity on fertilization and on embryonic development of Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816)
Authors: Scalisi Elena Maria , Pecoraro Roberta , Salvaggio Antonio , Corsaro Aurora , Messina Giuseppina , Ignoto Sara , Lombardo Bianca Maria , Brundo Maria Violetta
Published: August 2020

Organophosphates are a large class of chemicals with anticholinesterase action insecticides. Dimethoate belongs to the class of organophosphates and it is used for agriculture purpose. Its main toxicological role in animals and humans is the inhibition of the activity of acetylcholinesterase. Although it is not considered genotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogen, there is evidence of increased pup mortality in developmental neurotoxicity studies. Since there is scant published literature about developmental toxicity, we investigated the adverse effects of dimethoate on fertilization and embryonic development in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), a model organism widely used to assess the toxicity of contaminants on environmental matrices; so pesticide residues can be released into the environment, and could affect the health of organisms, including humans. Different solution of dimethoate (4 × 10−3, 4 × 10−4, 4 × 10−5, 4 × 10−6 and 4 × 10−7 g/10 ml) have been tested on spermatozoa of P. lividus to evaluate the fertilizing ability of them when we added egg cells untreated. We demonstrated that dimethoate does not interfere with fertilizing ability of spermatozoa but egg cells fertilized by treated spermatozoa showed alterations in the segmentation planes as asymmetric and/or asynchronous cell divisions.
Clinical results of splinting versus observation for pediatric trigger thumb
Authors: Yano Koichi , Ikeda Mikinori , Yoneda Masahiro , Tokui Akane , Nakagawa Keisuke , Kaneshiro Yasunori , Hosomi Ryo , Kazuki Kenichi
Published: August 2020

Patients with pediatric trigger thumb present with fixed contracture of the interphalangeal joint (IPJ) or snapping of the thumb. We applied a hand-based dynamic splint using coils at the IPJ. The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcomes of splint therapy versus observation. One hundred twenty-nine thumbs (112 patients and 57 boys) were examined retrospectively. At initial presentation, parents selected the treatment after explanation of pathology and consents were obtained. Treatment was concluded when full extension or resolution of the involved IPJ was achieved; alternatively, surgical treatment was offered for patients who failed to improve. Improvement in extension loss to 0° and hyperextension was defined as resolution of the IPJ. Surgery was not selected as a first-line treatment strategy in any of the cases in this study. The rate of resolution was 59% at 31 months of follow-up in the splint group (99 thumbs) and 43% at 30 months in observation group (30 thumbs); there was no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.15). Twenty-one thumbs showed locking of the IPJ in the extended position during splint therapy, but all recovered with a 71% rate of resolution. The splint group showed a higher rate of resolution than the observation group; however, there was no significant difference between therapies. Our study showed that 55% of patients with pediatric trigger thumb showed resolution following conservative treatment for an average of 30 months until surgery could be performed under local anesthesia. Splint therapy and observation are viable treatment options prior to surgery.
Development of a questionnaire to assess fear of falling in children with neuromuscular diseases
Authors: İpek Canan , Yilmaz Öznur , Karaduman Ayşe , Alemdaroğlu-Gürbüz İpek
Published: August 2020

Fear of falling (FOF) indicates loss of confidence in the ability to perform daily living activities without falling. Although specific questionnaires do exist to assess FOF in different patient populations, any of them targets the pediatric patients with neuromuscular diseases which falling is a frequent symptom. This study aims to present the development of a self-report FOF questionnaire for children with neuromuscular diseases, pilot application of the questionnaire, and its preliminary psychometric properties. An International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based ‘Pediatric Fear of Falling Questionnaire’ for neuromuscular diseases (Ped-FOF) was created by the study team following the steps of developing an instrument. The questionnaire included 34 items which were organized based on the ‘Activities and Participation’ component of ICF-children and youth. Thirty children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) were recruited to obtain preliminary reliability and validity results of the questionnaire. The mean Ped-FOF score of study population was 15.30 ± 7.03. According to the preliminary results, intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.715 [confidence interval (CI) 95%], and moderate correlations between Ped-FOF and functional performance and quality of life were determined (P < 0.05). Ped-FOF promises a practical assessment of FOF in pediatrics with neuromuscular diseases with understandable items that allow self-report of children. Ped-FOF also allows clinicians and therapists to assess FOF efficiently in limited clinical time. Its preliminary reliability and validity results are also sufficient to be used in DMD that falling is a frequent condition, which indicates that the use of questionnaire is promising in many other pediatric neuromuscular disorders.
Strategy for the Practice of Spine Oncological Surgery During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Berjano Pedro , Vanni Daniele , Fariselli Laura , Cecchinato Riccardo , Boriani Stefano
Published: August 2020

Study Design.

Case series.

Objective.

For each of the most frequent clinical scenarios, the authors reached a consensus on how should be timing and indications be optimized to reduce risk while maintaining the expected outcomes under the Covid-19 pandemics.

Summary of Background Data.

The organization of health care has been changed by the Covid-19 pandemic with a direct impact on Spine Oncology Surgery. Emergency surgery is still a priority, but in case of spinal tumors it should be better defined which conditions require emergency treatment.

Methods.

An expert panel with general spine surgeons, oncological spine surgeons, and radiation oncologists was formed to analyze the most frequent scenarios in spinal musculoskeletal oncology during Covid-19 pandemics.

Results.

Spine metastases can be found incidentally during follow-up or can clinically occur by increasing pain, pathologic fracture, and/or neurological symptoms. Primary spine tumors are much more rare and very rarely present with acute onset. The first step is to suspect this rare condition, to avoid to treat a primary tumor as it were a metastasis. Most complex surgery, like en bloc resection, associated with high morbidity and mortality rate for the treatment of low grade malignancy like chordoma or chondrosarcomas, if intensive care unit availability is reduced, can be best delayed some weeks, as not impacting on prognosis, due to the slow growth rate of these conditions. The currently accepted protocols for Ewing sarcoma (ES) and osteogenic sarcoma must be performed for local and systemic disease control. For ES, after the first courses of chemotherapy, radiotherapy can be selected instead of surgery, during Covid-19, to the end of the full course of chemotherapy. In immunocompromised patients, (treated by chemotherapy), it is necessary to avoid contact with affected or exposed people.

Conclusion.

Even more than during normal times, a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to share the decision to modify a treatment strategy.

Level of Evidence: 5
MRI During Spinal Loading Reveals Intervertebral Disc Behavior Corresponding to Discogram Findings of Annular Fissures and Pain Provocation
Authors: Torén Leif , Lagerstrand Kerstin , Waldenberg Christian , Brisby Helena , Hebelka Hanna
Published: August 2020

Study Design.

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether spinal loading, depicted with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), induces regional intervertebral disc (IVD) differences associated with presence and width of annular fissure and induced pain at discography.

Summary of Background Data.

Annular fissures play a role in low back pain (LBP) but cannot be accurately characterized with conventional MRI. Recently, annular fissures were suggested to influence different load-induced IVD behavior during MRI when comparing LBP-patients and controls. Thus, the loading effect could characterize behavior related to annular fissures noninvasively with MRI.

Methods.

Lumbar spines of 30 LBP-patients were investigated with MRI with and without loading, discography and CT. Five IVD regions were outlined on sagittal MRI images. Difference in normalized signal intensity (SI) with and without loading was calculated for each region. Eighty-three CT-discograms were graded regarding presence and width of fissures. Discograms were classified as pain-positive if a concordant pain response was obtained at a pressure <50 psi.

Results.

Comparing IVDs with outer fissures with IVDs without fissures, loading induced different behavior in the two ventral regions and in the posterior region. Higher SI increase in the central region was induced in IVDs with narrower fissures compared to IVDs with wider fissures. In the group of pain-negative discograms, a SI decrease was induced in the dorsal region whereas lack of such in the pain-positive group.

Conclusion.

The spinal loading-effect, depicted with MRI, reveals different regional behaviors between IVDs with outer fissures compared to those without, and between IVDs with narrow and broad fissures, as well as within posterior annulus between pain-positive and pain-negative discograms. Findings are of importance for future attempts to uncover phenotypes of painful IVDs.

Level of Evidence: 2
Differences in Functional Treadmill Tests in Patients With Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis Treated Operatively and Nonoperatively
Authors: Carreon Leah Y. , Glassman Steven D. , Yanik Elizabeth L. , Kelly Michael P. , Lurie Jon D. , Bridwell Keith H.
Published: August 2020

Study Design.

Prospective longitudinal cohort.

Objectives.

The aim of this study was to determine whether functional treadmill testing (FTT) demonstrates differences between patients treated operatively and nonoperatively for adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis (ASLS).

Summary of Background Data.

ASLS has become increasingly prevalent as the population ages. ASLS can be accompanied by neurogenic claudication, leading to difficulty walking. FTT may provide a functional tool to evaluate patients with ASLS.

Methods.

One hundred and eighty-seven patients who underwent nonoperative (n = 88) or operative treatment (n = 99) of ASLS with complete baseline and 2-year post-treatment FTTs and concurrent patient-reported outcomes were identified. FTT parameters included maximum speed, time to onset of symptoms, distance ambulated, time ambulated, and Back and Leg pain severity before and after testing.

Results.

At baseline, patients treated operatively reported worse post-FTT back pain (4.39 vs. 3.45, P = 0.032) than those treated nonoperatively, despite similar ODI, SRS-22 Pain and Activity domain scores. Mean time ambulated (+2.15 vs. −1.20 P = 0.001), pre-FTT back pain (+0.19 vs. −1.60, P < 0.000) and leg pain (+0.25 vs. −0.54, P = 0.024) improved in the operative group but deteriorated in the nonoperative group. On the 2-year follow-up FTT, both groups showed improvement in post-FTT back pain (−0.53 vs. −2.64, P < 0.000) and leg pain (−0.13 vs. −1.54, P = 0.001) severity but the improvement was statistically significantly greater in the operative compared to the nonoperative group.

Conclusion.

FTT results at baseline were worse in patients treated operatively than those treated non-operatively. FTT may be a useful adjunct to assess treatment outcomes in patients with ASLS and may help surgeons counsel patients regarding expectations 2 years after operative or nonoperative treatment for ASLS. At 2-year follow-up, time ambulated deteriorated in patients treated nonoperatively but improved in patients treated operatively. Although both groups showed improvement in post-FTT Back and Leg pain at 2 years, the improvement was greater in the operative compared to the nonoperative group.

Level of Evidence: 2
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Routine Bone Biopsy During Augmentation of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures
Authors: Hershkovich Oded , Bayley Edward , Rudik Oren , Alexandrovsky Vitaly , Friedlander Alon , Daglen Efrat , Lotan Raphael
Published: August 2020

Study Design.

Multi-center prospective study.

Objective.

To analyze the cost of routine biopsy during augmentation of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) and the affect it has on further treatment.

Summary of Background Data.

Vertebroplasty (VP) and Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP) are accepted treatments for VCF. Bone biopsy is routinely performed during every VCF surgery in many centers around the world to exclude an incidental finding of malignancy as the cause of the pathological VCF. The incidence been reported as 0.7% to 7.3%, however the published cohorts are small and do not discuss cost-benefit aspects.

Methods.

From 2008 to 2016 we performed 122 vertebral biopsies routinely on 116 patients in three hospitals. Twenty-three patients had history of malignancy (26 biopsies) and four were suspected of having malignancy based on imaging findings. The remaining 86 patients (99 biopsies) were presumed osteoporotic VCF.

Results.

Out of 99 biopsies in the VCF cohort group only one yielded an unsuspected malignancy (1.16%), positive for multiple myeloma (MM). The ability of clinical assessment and imaging alone to diagnose malignancy was found to be 91.7% sensitive and 84.2% specific in our cohort.

Conclusion.

Routine bone biopsy during vertebral augmentation procedure is a safe option for evaluating the cause of the VCF but has significant cost to the health system. The cost of one diagnosed case of unsuspected malignancy was $31,000 in our study. The most common pathology was MM, which has not been proven to benefit from early diagnosis. When comparing clinical diagnosis with imaging, a previous history of malignancy was found in only 40.7% of VCF patients, while imaging was 100% accurate in predicting presence of malignancy on biopsy. This study reassures spine surgeons in their ability to diagnose malignant VCFs and does not support the significant cost of routine bone biopsies.

Level of Evidence: 3
FAM60A promotes cisplatin resistance in lung cancer cells by activating SKP2 expression
Authors: Hou Qiang , Jiang Zhenzhen , Li Ying , Wu Hongjin , Yu Juehua , Jiang Mingfeng
Published: August 2020

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug in lung cancer treatment. Most cancer patients eventually develop cisplatin resistance, resulting in a poor prognosis. Previously, we identified a novel marker, family with sequence similarity 60A (FAM60A), that was responsible for resistance in cisplatin-resistant human lung adenocarcinoma A549 (A549/DDP) cells. Here, we investigated the biological effects of FAM60A in A549/DDP cells and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms to understand its functional role in cisplatin resistance. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis were used to determine the expression levels of FAM60A in A549/DDP cells. FAM60A and SKP2 were knockdown with small-interfering RNA (siRNA). Cancer cell viability was analyzed with flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of FAM60A increased significantly and dose-dependently in A549/DDP cells following cisplatin treatment. FAM60A overexpression up-regulated MDR1 expression, inhibited caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 3, and caspase 8 expression, and prevented cancer cell death. Microarray analysis of cells transfected with siRNA against the FAM60A transcript and control samples showed that SKP2 expression was positively regulated by FAM60A. SKP2 knockdown using a short-hairpin RNA reversed the functions induced by FAM60A. These results suggest that overexpression of FAM60A in A549/DDP cells led to SKP2 upregulation and enhanced cisplatin resistance in cancer cells. These provide new insights into chemoresistance and may contribute to reversing cisplatin resistance during lung cancer treatment.
Heart rate and blood pressure dependence of aortic distensibility in rats: comparison of measured and calculated pulse wave velocity
Authors: Spronck Bart , Tan Isabella , Reesink Koen D. , Georgevsky Dana , Delhaas Tammo , Avolio Alberto P. , Butlin Mark
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

When assessing arterial stiffness, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) are potential confounders. It appears that the HR/BP dependences of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and distensibility are different, even though both assess arterial stiffness. This study aims to compare aortic PWV as measured using pulse transit time (PWVTT) and as calculated from distensibility (PWVdist) at the same measurement site and propose a solution to the disparity in dependences of PWVTT and PWVdist.

Methods:

Adult anaesthetized rats (n = 24) were randomly paced at HRs 300–500 bpm, at 50 bpm steps. At each step, aortic PWVTT (two pressure-tip catheters) and PWVdist (pressure-tip catheter and ultrasound wall-tracking; abdominal aorta) were measured simultaneously while BP was varied pharmacologically.

Results:

HR dependence of PWVdist paradoxically decreased at higher levels of BP. In addition, BP dependence of PWVdist was much larger than that of PWVTT. These discrepancies are explained in that standard PWVdist uses an approximate derivative of pressure to diameter, which overestimates PWV with increasing pulse pressure (PP). In vivo, PP decreases as HR increases, potentially causing a PWVdist decrease with HR. Estimating the full pressure-diameter curve for each HR corrected for this effect by enabling calculation of the true derivative at diastolic BP. This correction yielded a PWVdist that shows HR and BP dependences similar to those of PWVTT. As expected, BP dependence of all PWV metrics was much larger than HR dependence.

Conclusion:

Measured and calculated PWV have different dependences on HR and BP. These differences are, at least in part, because of approximations made in using systolic and diastolic values to calculate distensibility.
Pulmonary Alterations Among Workers in a Dental Prosthesis Laboratory
Authors: Quintal-Méndez José Rodolfo , Soledad Ariel Rojas , López-Hernández Enrique , Sánchez-Monroy Virginia
Published: August 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the pulmonary alterations in workers from a dental prosthesis laboratory and explore dust and bacterial dissemination generated in the laboratory.

Methods:

Spirometry and computerized axial tomography were performed on 67 workers. Dust in workplace air was determined using the filtration-gravimetric method, and bacterial detection was explored using 16S rDNA gene sequencing.

Results:

Pulmonary alterations were detected in 37% of the workers. Airborne dust concentrations were determined to be higher than the maximum permissible exposure limit, and bacterial detection analysis revealed 23 bacterial genera. The most frequently detected bacterial genus wasSphingomonassp., which has been described as microbiota associated with disease of the oral cavity.

Conclusions:

The results of this study highlight the importance of the implementation of biosecurity measures, improvement of ventilation systems, and routine disinfection of dental impressions.
A systematic review of the management of acute superior mesenteric vein thrombosis in adults
Authors: Phoenix Eimear , Beck Jonathan , Patterson Timothy J. , Spence Robert A.J. , Taylor Mark A. , Spence Gary M.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Acute thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) is a rare but potentially catastrophic condition. Clinically separate from portal venous thrombosis due to a higher proportion of associated thrombophilic disorders and intestinal infarction, SMV thrombosis warrants a distinct approach to management. The aim of this review is to report the evidence for current practice.

Methods:

A systematic review was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four clinical trials databases and 4 trial registries were searched. This search was not limited by language or study type, but was limited to an adult population (18 years and above). The search period was between January 1, 2000 and February 28, 2019. The review was registered in the PROSPERO database: CRD42018116825. Bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.

Results:

A total of 7989 studies were identified, resulting in 19 observational studies being analyzed. Eighteen studies reported on anti-coagulation, 1 reported on anti-coagulation plus endovascular thrombectomy, 9 reported on thrombolysis, and 10 reported on the role of surgery. Bias assessment showed that confounding was a significant area of potential bias. This review has reported that the management of SMV thrombosis is centered around a patients’ perceived hemodynamic stability. If there is evidence of perforation or peritonism then surgical intervention is advocated. Otherwise, anti-coagulation or thrombolysis is preferred.

Conclusions:

The data reported were compared with, and added to, that presented by the European Society for Vascular Surgery 2017 guidelines. Overall the source data were heterogenous, with multiple sources of bias and statistical comparison was not achievable.
Interaction of glycated and acetylated human α2-antiplasmin with fibrin clots
Authors: Bryk Agata H. , Satała Dorota , Natorska Joanna , Rąpała-Kozik Maria , Undas Anetta
Published: August 2020

In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), increased α2-antiplasmin incorporation in fibrin and impaired fibrinolysis have been reported. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), used in cardiovascular prevention, modulates fibrinolysis and exerts weaker therapeutic effect in this disease. We investigated how glycation and acetylation of α2-antiplasmin affects its interaction with fibrin. Using surface plasmon resonance, we analyzed fibrin binding by α2-antiplasmin incubated with no β-D-glucose or ASA (control); incubated with β-D-glucose (5, 10, 50 mmol/l); (3) incubated with 1.6 mmol/l acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and (4) incubated with 1.6 mmol/l ASA and 50 mmol/l β-D-glucose. Incubation with glucose decreased affinity of α2-antiplasmin for fibrin compared with control α2-antiplasmin in a glucose concentration-depending manner. α2-Antiplasmin incubation with ASA did not affect its affinity to fibrin. α2-Antiplasmin incubation with ASA and glucose resulted in 4.2-fold increased affinity to fibrin compared with α2-antiplasmin incubated with 50 mmol/l glucose (P < 0.001). In conclusion, α2-antiplasmin incubation with glucose at concentrations encountered in T2DM is associated with decreased binding affinity of α2-antiplasmin to fibrin. ASA alone does not affect the binding affinity of α2-antiplasmin to fibrin, but partly reverses the effect introduced by the incubation with 50 mmol/l glucose. This study suggests new mechanisms involved in regulating fibrinolysis efficiency in hyperglycemia.
William F. Hoyt and the Neuro-Ophthalmology of Superior Oblique Myokymia and Ocular Neuromyotonia
Authors: Rasool Nailyn , Hoyt Creig S.
Published: August 2020

The contributions of William F. Hoyt, MD, to the field of neuro-ophthalmology are immense. His precision in history-taking and examination skills provided the foundation to fully understand a clinical disorder—determining its underlying pathophysiology, prognosis, and management. We describe two unusual eye movement disorders, superior oblique myokymia and ocular neuromyotonia, and how Dr. Hoyt's contributions shaped our understanding of these clinical entities.
Acute Idiopathic Blind Spot Enlargement and Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy: Potential Mimics of Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease
Authors: Fletcher William A. , Imes Richard K.
Published: August 2020

In 1988, William Hoyt, MD, et al described “acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement” (AIBSE) in 7 symptomatic patients who had no apparent abnormalities of the optic disc or surrounding retina. With the use of multifocal electroretinography, they showed that the scotoma was caused by occult retinal dysfunction. In 1992, J. Donald Gass, MD, described “acute zonal occult outer retinopathy” (AZOOR) in 13 patients who had sudden loss of often large zones of visual field without fundus abnormalities. Most patients developed zonal atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium and had no improvement in vision. Gass believed that AZOOR, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, multifocal choroiditis, and AIBSE were all variants of the same disorder. Despite over 3 decades of numerous reports, the classification of these entities, their pathogenesis, and treatment remain controversial. AIBSE and AZOOR may be mistaken for an acute optic neuropathy, so it behooves the neuro-ophthalmologist to be familiar with these disorders. This review describes the initial recognition of AIBSE and its relationship to AZOOR.
Asexual and sexual reproduction are two separate developmental pathways in a
Termitomyces
species
Authors: Vreeburg Sabine M. E. , de Ruijter Norbert C. A. , Zwaan Bas J. , da Costa Rafael R. , Poulsen Michael , Aanen Duur K.
Published: August 2020

Although mutualistic symbioses per definition are beneficial for interacting species, conflict may arise if partners reproduce independently. We address how this reproductive conflict is regulated in the obligate mutualistic symbiosis between fungus-growing termites and
Termitomyces
fungi. Even though the termites and their fungal symbiont disperse independently to establish new colonies, dispersal is correlated in time. The fungal symbiont typically forms mushrooms a few weeks after the colony has produced dispersing alates. It is thought that this timing is due to a trade-off between alate and worker production; alate production reduces resources available for worker production. As workers consume the fungus, reduced numbers of workers will allow mushrooms to ‘escape’ from the host colony. Here, we test a specific version of this hypothesis: the typical asexual structures found in all species of
Termitomyces
—nodules—are immature stages of mushrooms that are normally harvested by the termites at a primordial stage. We refute this hypothesis by showing that nodules and mushroom primordia are macro- and microscopically different structures and by showing that in the absence of workers, primordia do, and nodules do not grow out into mushrooms. It remains to be tested whether termite control of primordia formation or of primordia outgrowth mitigates the reproductive conflict.
Swimming and defence: competing needs across ontogeny in armoured fishes (Agonidae)
Authors: Kolmann M. A. , Peixoto T. , Pfeiffenberger J. A. , Summers A. P. , Donatelli C. M.
Published: August 2020

Biological armours are potent model systems for understanding the complex series of competing demands on protective exoskeletons; after all, armoured organisms are the product of millions of years of refined engineering under the harshest conditions. Fishes are no strangers to armour, with various types of armour plating common to the 400–500 Myr of evolution in both jawed and jawless fishes. Here, we focus on the poachers (Agonidae), a family of armoured fishes native to temperate waters of the Pacific rim. We examined armour morphology, body stiffness and swimming performance in the northern spearnose poacher (
Agonopsis vulsa
) over ontogeny. As juveniles, these fishes make frequent nocturnal forays into the water column in search of food, while heavily armoured adults are bound to the benthos. Most armour dimensions and density increase with body length, as does body stiffness. Juvenile poachers have enlarged spines on their armour whereas adults invest more mineral in armour plate bases. Adults are stiffer and accelerate faster than juveniles with an anguilliform swimming mode. Subadults more closely approximate adults more than smaller juveniles, with regards to both swimming and armour mechanics. Poacher armour serves multiple functions over ontogeny, from facilitating locomotion, slowing sinking and providing defence.
Multiyear social stability and social information use in reef sharks with diel fission–fusion dynamics
Authors: Papastamatiou Yannis P. , Bodey Thomas W. , Caselle Jennifer E. , Bradley Darcy , Freeman Robin , Friedlander Alan M. , Jacoby David M. P.
Published: August 2020

Animals across vertebrate taxa form social communities and often exist as fission–fusion groups. Central place foragers (CPF) may form groups from which they will predictably disperse to forage, either individually or in smaller groups, before returning to fuse with the larger group. However, the function and stability of social associations in predatory fish acting as CPFs is unknown, as individuals do not need to return to a shelter yet show fidelity to core areas. Using dynamic social networks generated from acoustic tracking data, we document spatially structured sociality in CPF grey reef sharks at a Pacific Ocean atoll. We show that sharks form stable social groups over multiyear periods, with some dyadic associations consistent for up to 4 years. Groups primarily formed during the day, increasing in size throughout the morning before sharks dispersed from the reef at night. Our simulations suggest that multiple individuals sharing a central place and using social information while foraging (i.e. local enhancement) will outperform non-CPF social foragers. We show multiyear social stability in sharks and suggest that social foraging with information transfer could provide a generalizable mechanism for the emergence of sociality with group central place foraging.
Ants resort to heuristics when facing relational-learning tasks they cannot solve
Authors: Oberhauser F. B. , Koch A. , De Agrò M. , Rex K. , Czaczkes T. J.
Published: August 2020

We humans sort the world around us into conceptual groups, such as ‘the same' or ‘different', which facilitates many cognitive tasks. Applying such abstract concepts can improve problem-solving success and is therefore worth the cognitive investment. In this study, we investigated whether ants (
Lasius niger
) can learn the relational rule of ‘the same' or ‘different' by training them in an odour match-to-sample test over 48 visits. While ants in the ‘different' treatment improved significantly over time, reaching around 65% correct decisions, ants in the ‘same' treatment did not. Ants did not seem able to learn such abstract relational concepts, but instead created their own individual strategy to try to solve the problem: some ants decided to ‘always go left', others preferred a ‘go to the more salient cue' heuristic which systematically biased their decisions. These heuristics even occasionally lowered the success rate in the experiment below chance, indicating that following
any
rule may be more desirable then making truly random decisions. As the finding that ants resort to heuristics when facing hard-to-solve decisions was discovered
post-hoc
, we strongly encourage other researchers to ask whether employing heuristics in the face of challenging tasks is a widespread phenomenon in insects.
How disease constrains the evolution of social systems
Authors: Udiani Oyita , Fefferman Nina H.
Published: August 2020

Animal populations are occasionally shocked by epidemics of contagious diseases. The ability of social systems to withstand epidemic shocks and mitigate disruptions could shape the evolution of complex animal societies. We present a mathematical model to explore the potential impact of disease on the evolutionary fitness of different organizational strategies for populations of social species whose survival depends on collaborative efficiency. We show that infectious diseases select for a specific feature in the organization of collaborative roles—cohort stability—and that this feature is costly, and therefore unlikely to be maintained in environments where infection risks are absent. Our study provides evidence for an often-stated (but rarely supported) claim that pathogens have been the dominant force shaping the complexity of division of labour in eusocial societies of honeybees and termites and establishes a general theoretical approach for assessing evolutionary constraints on social organization from disease risk in other collaborative taxa.
A gene's-eye view of sexual antagonism
Authors: Hitchcock Thomas J. , Gardner Andy
Published: August 2020

Females and males may face different selection pressures. Accordingly, alleles that confer a benefit for one sex often incur a cost for the other. Classic evolutionary theory holds that the X chromosome, whose sex-biased transmission sees it spending more time in females, should value females more than males, whereas autosomes, whose transmission is unbiased, should value both sexes equally. However, recent mathematical and empirical studies indicate that male-beneficial alleles may be more favoured by the X chromosome than by autosomes. Here we develop a gene's-eye-view approach that reconciles the classic view with these recent discordant results, by separating a gene's valuation of female versus male fitness from its ability to induce fitness effects in either sex. We use this framework to generate new comparative predictions for sexually antagonistic evolution in relation to dosage compensation, sex-specific mortality and assortative mating, revealing how molecular mechanisms, ecology and demography drive variation in masculinization versus feminization across the genome.
Unusual presentation of meningococcal meningitis in the elderly and utility of CSF PCR testing
Authors: Ranson Elizabeth , Ship Hannah , Garner Omai , Yang Shangxin , Bhattacharya Debika
Published: August 2020

We present an unusual case of a previously healthy 74-year-old man who presented with diffuse weakness, severe myalgias, petechial palmar rash and hypotension, but without fever, altered mental status, nuchal rigidity or headache, who was ultimately found through PCR testing to have meningococcal meningitis.
Phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary dynamics of nod and T3SS genes in the genus Bradyrhizobium
Authors: Teulet Albin , Gully Djamel , Rouy Zoe , Camuel Alicia , Koebnik Ralf , Giraud Eric , Lassalle Florent
Published: August 2020

Bradyrhizobium

are abundant soil bacteria and the major symbiont of legumes. The recent availability of

Bradyrhizobium

genome sequences provides a large source of information for analysis of symbiotic traits. In this study, we investigated the evolutionary dynamics of the nodulation genes (nod) and their relationship with the genes encoding type III secretion systems (T3SS) and their effectors among bradyrhizobia. Based on the comparative analysis of 146

Bradyrhizobium

genome sequences, we identified six different types of T3SS gene clusters. The two predominant cluster types are designated RhcIa and RhcIb and both belong to the RhcI-T3SS family previously described in other rhizobia. They are found in 92/146 strains, most of them also containing nod genes. RhcIa and RhcIb gene clusters differ in the genes they carry: while the translocon-encoding gene nopX is systematically found in strains containing RhcIb, the nopE and nopH genes are specifically conserved in strains containing RhcIa, suggesting that these last two genes might functionally substitute nopX and play a role related to effector translocation. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that bradyrhizobia simultaneously gained nod and RhcI-T3SS gene clusters via horizontal transfer or subsequent vertical inheritance of a symbiotic island containing both. Sequence similarity searches for known Nop effector proteins in bradyrhizobial proteomes revealed the absence of a so-called core effectome, i.e. that no effector is conserved among all

Bradyrhizobium

strains. However, NopM and SUMO proteases were found to be the main effector families, being represented in the majority of the genus. This study indicates that bradyrhizobial T3SSs might play a more significant symbiotic role than previously thought and provides new candidates among T3SS structural proteins and effectors for future functional investigations.
A Pilot Study on the Effects of Medically Supervised, Water-Only Fasting and Refeeding on Cardiometabolic Risk
Authors: Scharf Eugene L , Kolbe Patricia , Hwang Su-Yeon , Thompson Natasha , Gilbert Mara , Alexandrakis Faye , Bonjour Matthieu , Zeiler Evelyn , Myers Toshia
Published: August 2020

The Fasting for Brain and Heart Health Study was a prospective, single-center, observational study examining the effects of medically supervised, water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food refeeding diet on accepted measures of cardiovascular risk and metabolic health. The study enrolled 48 overweight/obese, non-diabetic participants of which 26 completed the full study protocol. The participants fasted according to an established protocol at an independent medical center that reported mean fast and refeed lengths of 17 and 7 days, respectively. The primary endpoint was to describe mean glucose tolerance as indicated by Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores at baseline, end-of-fast (EOF), and end-of-refeed (EOR) visits. Secondary endpoints were to describe the effects of fasting and refeeding on accepted markers of cardiovascular risk. Here we show that medically supervised, water-only fasting and/or whole-plant-food refeeding reduced resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), abdominal circumference, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) after refeeding. An increase in HOMA-IR scores at EOR was also observed.
Negative correlation between mean female age at first birth and rates of molecular evolution in primates, with predictions of the reproductive age in early hominins
Authors: Bajdek Piotr
Published: August 2020

mtDNA-based phylogenetic trees of the order Primates were constructed by the minimum evolution (ME) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods. Branch lengths were compared with the mean female age at first birth in the taxa studied. Higher reproductive age in females triggers a lower number of generations through time and, on average, at the molecular level smaller evolutionary distances between related taxa. However, this relationship is significant when the phylogeny is resolved by the ME method rather than the ML method. Reliability of the minimum evolution approach is discussed. In contrast to most studies, the ME tree recoversTarsius bancanus(Tarsiiformes) as a member of the Strepsirrhini, which phylogeny is supported by a strong branch length–reproductive age relationship and which is proposed as a novel heuristic method to test phylogeny. However, branches of certain taxa on the constructed phylogenetic tree show anomalous lengths relative to the mean female age at first birth, such as e.g. the human branch. As estimated in this paper, early members of the human lineage have likely reproduced at higher rates than modern humans, some forms possibly giving first birth at the mean age of 10–12 years, which is more comparable to the mean age at first birth in extant gorillas than to that typical of living humans and chimpanzees. Probable early reproduction in human ancestors is also supported by the comparably more evolved mitochondrial DNA in Denisovans than in modern humans, and by a smaller body mass in most fossil hominins, which often triggers fast maturation in primates.
Impaired cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in severe COVID-19 patients
Authors: Ni Ling , Cheng Meng-Li , Zhao Hui , Feng Yu , Liu Jingyuan , Ye Fang , Ye Qing , Zhu Gengzhen , Li Xiaoli , Wang Pengzhi , Shao Jing , Deng Yong-Qiang , Wei Peng , Chen Fang , Qin Cheng-Feng , Wang Guoqing , Li Fan , Zeng Hui , Dong Chen
Published: August 2020

The World Health Organization has declared SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak a world-wide pandemic. Individuals infected by the virus exhibited different degrees of symptoms, the basis of which remains largely unclear. Currently, though convalescent individuals have been shown with both cellular and humoral immune responses, there is very limited understanding on the immune responses, especially adaptive immune responses, in patients with severe COVID-19. Here, we examined 10 blood samples from COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The majority of them (70%) mounted SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral immunity with production of neutralizing antibodies. However, compared to healthy controls, the percentages and absolute numbers of both NK cells and CD8+ T cells were significantly reduced, accompanied with decreased IFNγ expression in CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood from severe patients. Most notably, we failed in detecting SARS-CoV-2-specific IFNγ production by peripheral blood lymphocytes from these patients. Our work thus indicates that COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms are associated with defective cellular immunity, which not only provides insights on understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19, but also has implications in developing an effective vaccine to SARS-CoV-2.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) non-operative treatment in HUCSK of Kosova- a 7 month study
Authors: Lokaj Gresa
Published: August 2020

I.

Introduction

Scoliosis is defined as a deviation from midline in the frontal plane, and rotation of the apex of the curve from ≥10° in AP radiography. Treatment of scoliosis is based in type of scoliosis, region of scoliotic curve, curve magnitude, bone maturity, gender, risk of scoliotic curve progression, other symptoms like and patient’s opinion about his spine shape. Treatment choices of AIS are observation, physical therapy, corsets and surgical treatment.

Purpose

Research of patients with AIS focusing in its characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnosis and a detalized research in non-operative treatment of AIS focusing in treatment choices and criteria of treatment.

Material and methods

The study is based in retrospective research September 2018-March 2019 (7 months) in HUCSK- Specialized outpatient clinics of Orthopaedics. Data is taken with special permission from Personal Data Protection

Office and Ethico-Professional Commity from specialized outpatient clinics of Orthopaedics system’s archive for patients with AIS of 10-18 years old.

Results

During September 2018-March 2019 period in specialized outpatient clinics of Orthopaedics-HUCSK, 250 cases with AIS of 10-18 years old with Cobb angle ≥10° are diagnosed and treated. The disease has a prevalence 1.40%. Based in gender women are more affected than men in a ratio 2.01:1. Most common form of AIS is the one that affects thoraco-lumbal region of spine with 60.8% of cases. There’s found a correlation between scoliosis and kyphosis in higher levels of spine.About 89.7% of cases are light scoliotic curves according to Cobb angle and the female\male ratio increases at women with increasement of Cobb’s angle. Patients are treated with one or more forms of non-operative treatment: observation 10.4% of cases, observation and physical therapy 89.6% of cases and observation, physical treatment and corset TLSO 25.6% of cases. Cases that have undergone three forms of non-operative treatment are with Cobb angle ≥20°.

Discussion

The results of this study are supported from many studies made in Germany, Singapor, Grece, Turkey and USA, from the earlier and later years, with data exactly or closely to this study results.