julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Intraspecific variation in plant–fungal interactions across tidal elevation in a salt marsh
2025-06-13

Summary Interspecific interactions vary depending on environmental and genetic factors, with intraspecific variation potentially altering these relationships. Specifically, intraspecific variation within host plants and their endosymbionts may affect above‐ and belowground interactions depending on environmental conditions. We examined how intraspecific variation within the salt marsh foundation species Spartina alterniflora and a common fungal root endosymbiont ( Lulworthia sp.) affected their interactions. We conducted a glasshouse experiment comparing interactions between Spartina growth forms (tall‐form from low marsh and short‐form from high marsh) and Lulworthia isolates from different marsh locations, and a laboratory experiment exposing Lulworthia isolates from both endpoints of a tidal elevation gradient to different salinities. Intraspecific variation affected fungal characteristics, plant traits, and plant–fungal interactions. Lulworthia isolates distinguished by a single‐nucleotide polymorphism had distinct morphologies and different salinity‐dependent growth rates. Spartina origin zone affected plant responses. Fungal treatment also affected plant performance: one isolate reduced Spartina density, height, biomass, and respiration – particularly for tall‐form plants – whereas the other isolate had neutral to positive effects relative to the control. Our results highlight how intraspecific variation in both fungal isolates and plant genotypes shapes plant–fungal interactions and mediates the capacity of host plants to respond to changing conditions depending on plant ecotype.
Neuroimaging-Guided TMS&#8211;EEG for Real-Time Cortical Network Mapping
2025-06-13

The cerebral cortex is organized into structurally and functionally segregated networks, enabling the human brain to process information highly efficiently. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in combination with electroencephalography (EEG), offers a non-invasive approach to probing brain networks, revealing cortical excitability and causal connectivity. However, this method faces two significant challenges: (a) ensuring the quality of TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) to maximize information gain, often requiring comprehensive cortical mapping, and (b) eliciting the response from the network of interest and not from adjacent cortical sites. Existing TMS targeting approaches frequently fail to precisely stimulate functionally relevant cortical areas, hindering treatment efficacy and the identification of biomarkers. The presented protocol integrates precise cortical mapping to acquire artifact-free TEPs, enabling reliable and reproducible measurements of early TEP components. This precision improves sensitivity to subtle neurophysiological variations and strengthens correlations with clinical phenotypes, supporting biomarker discovery in neuropsychiatric disorders. The proposed protocol utilizes structural, functional, and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify cortical patches belonging to the network of interest. Anatomical parcellation, functional connectivity, and real-time tractography are applied to locate areas with strong connectivity to other brain regions associated with the target network. The resulting personalized cortical clusters define the initial stimulation targets. TMS-EEG mapping is then employed to optimize TMS parameters by localizing cortical areas with high excitability, enhancing neuronal response magnitude while reducing non-neuronal noise, including muscle artifacts, decay, and other confounding factors affecting early TMS-EEG responses. A systematic exploration of the cortical mantle is conducted, adjusting stimulation location, orientation, and intensity, with continuous data quality monitoring through real-time visualization of averaged TEPs. TMS parameters producing artifact-free responses with clearly discernible early TEP components are selected for data collection. This article introduces the neuroimaging-guided TMS-EEG mapping technique and highlights the methodological advancements and benefits achievable through its application.
Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in the Myasthenia Gravis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
2025-06-13

Background/Objectives: Myasthenia gravis (MG) comprises an autoimmune disorder marked by muscle weakness and fatigue. MG frequently coexists with other autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, which may exacerbate the clinical burden of MG and adversely impact overall quality of life. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of diabetes in patients with MG. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in the MEDLINE PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Results: A total of 11 studies comprising 16,825 patients were included. The pooled prevalence of diabetes among MG patients was 15.6% (95% CI [8.4%, 24.7%]; I2 = 99%, p &lt; 0.001). Compared to healthy controls, MG patients had a 1.24-fold increased risk of developing diabetes (95% CI [1.01–1.54], p &lt; 0.001). Meta-regression showed no association between age and diabetes prevalence, although potential publication bias was noted (Egger’s test, p = 0.72). Conclusions: This meta-analysis reveals a higher prevalence of diabetes among MG patients, with an elevated risk compared to healthy individuals. These findings suggest that the association between MG and diabetes may be mediated by corticosteroid use, genetic factors, and reduced physical activity. The main limitations of this study are the lack of reported data regarding the type of diabetes and patients’ demographic and disease characteristics (MG classification severity and duration and type of treatment). Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying causal mechanisms and to elucidate the relationship between MG and diabetes subtypes.
A Systems Hypothesis of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Vitamin Transport Suppression and Metabolic Reprogramming in Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Open Call for Validation and Therapeutic Translation
2025-06-13

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly linked to systemic metabolic dysfunction, potentially influenced by gut–brain axis dysregulation, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: We developed Personalized Metabolic Margin Mapping (PM3), a computational systems biology framework, to analyze RNA-seq data from 12 ASD and 12 control postmortem brain samples. The model focused on 158 curated metabolic genes selected for their roles in redox balance, mitochondrial function, neurodevelopment, and gut–brain interactions. Results: Using unsupervised machine learning (Isolation Forest) to detect outlier expression patterns, Euclidean distance, and percent expression difference metrics, PM3 revealed a consistent downregulation of glycolysis (e.g., −5.4% in PFKM) and mitochondrial enzymes (e.g., −12% in SUCLA2). By incorporating cofactor dependency and subcellular localization, PM3 identified a coordinated suppression of multivitamin transporters (e.g., −4.5% in SLC5A6, −3.5% in SLC19A2), potentially limiting cofactor availability and compounding energy deficits in ASD brains. Conclusions: These findings suggest a convergent metabolic dysregulation signature in ASD; wherein the subtle suppression of cofactor-dependent pathways may impair energy metabolism and neurodevelopment. We propose that chronic microbial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in ASD suppresses vitamin transporter function, initiating mitochondrial dysfunction and transcriptomic reprogramming. Validation in LPS-exposed systems using integrated transcriptomic–metabolomic analysis is warranted.
Increasing motivation and well-being among medical students using curricular self-experience group sessions—a randomized controlled trial
2025-06-13

The integration of self-experience therapy into student teaching is a suitable way of eliciting short-term feelings of relatedness and increasing students' motivation to learn while simultaneously reducing their experiences of stress over a one-week period.
Neuronal encoding of recognition memory for numerical quantities in macaque intraparietal and prefrontal cortices
2025-06-13

The parieto-frontal number network in primates is vital for extracting and memorizing numerical information. However, how neurons in these regions retain abstract numerical categories to recognize target numbers amidst ongoing numerical input is unclear. To explore this, single neurons were recorded from the ventral intraparietal cortex (VIP) and lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) of two male macaques trained to memorize and recognize target numerosities while viewing sequences of irrelevant numerosities. In the VIP, neuronal selectivity for both target and irrelevant numerosities declined rapidly, making it unable to distinguish relevant from irrelevant quantities. Conversely, PFC neurons maintained selective tuning for target numerosities over time but not for irrelevant ones, enabling the distinction between sought and irrelevant quantities. Match enhancement effects, where firing increased for repeated target numerosities, were observed only in the PFC. In contrast, match suppression effects, involving reduced firing for repeated target numerosities, occurred in both the VIP and PFC. These findings suggest the VIP primarily encodes displayed numerosities, while the PFC is specialized for processing, storing, and recognizing numerical quantities by enhancing familiar numerosities. This highlights the PFC's key role in recognition memory, contrasting with the transient coding observed in the VIP.
1592-P: No Effect of Central Insulin on Dopamine Signaling in Men with Overweight and Obesity
2025-06-13

Introduction and Objective: The brain's dopaminergic circuitry is highly sensitive to hormonal changes which influences behavior and the regulation of metabolism. In men of normal weight, insulin action in the brain influences synaptic dopamine levels and activity in the striatum. Whether central acting insulin influences dopamine signaling and their interaction with brain activity in men with overweight and obesity is not known. Methods: In 10 men with overweight and obesity, we simultaneously performed [11C]raclopride- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in a hybrid scanner, after intranasal insulin or placebo on two separate days in a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, crossover trial. We investigated whether central administered insulin influences [11C]raclopride binding potential (BPnd) and striatal activity after spray application, as previously described in men with normal weight. Results: In men with overweight and obesity, no significant differences were observed after insulin compared to placebo administration on BPnd and resting-state activity of the ventral and dorsal striatum (p&amp;gt;0.05). In an exploratory voxel-wise analysis, we compared BPnd in men of normal weight with the current overweight/obese group. Men of normal weight showed a significant higher BPnd in the left caudate after insulin than men with overweight/obesity. Furthermore, HOMA-IR and food craving were significant predictors of insulin-induced BPnd response in the left caudate independent of BMI. Conclusion: This study shows for the first time that central insulin fails to influence dopamine levels in men with overweight and obesity with lower peripheral insulin sensitivity. Disclosure L. Sandforth: None. C. Kübler: None. A.L. Birkenfeld: None. H. Preissl: None. M. Heni: Advisory Panel; Amryt Pharma. Speaker's Bureau; Amryt Pharma, AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim. Advisory Panel; Boehringer-Ingelheim. Speaker's Bureau; Lilly Diabetes, Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi. A. Fritsche: Advisory Panel; Abbott. Speaker's Bureau; AstraZeneca. S. Kullmann: None. Funding Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (01GI0925)
Clinical Management of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
2025-06-15

Background: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) represents a progressive cerebrovascular disorder, characterized by aberrant accumulation of beta-amyloid isoforms in cortical and leptomeningeal vessel walls of cerebrum and cerebellum. Methods: We sought to investigate the clinical manifestations, current different diagnostic tools, various therapeutic strategies and most uncommon subtypes of the disease. Results: The vast majority of CAA remains sporadic, with increasing prevalence with age and very frequent coexistence with Alzheimer’s disease. Clinically, CAA can present with spontaneous lobar intracerebral hemorrhage, transient focal neurologic episodes attributed to convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage or cortical superficial siderosis, and progressive cognitive decline leading to dementia. Inflammatory CAA subtype should be recognized early and treated promptly so that better functional outcomes may be achieved. Moreover, genetic and iatrogenic CAA forms are rare, yet increasingly recognized during the last years. Therapeutic management remains challenging for clinicians, especially when markers indicative of higher bleeding risk are present. A targeted therapy does not currently exist. However, various clinical trials are in progress, focusing on offering new promising insights into the disease treatment. Conclusions: This review aims to deepen our understanding of CAA diagnosis and therapeutic approach but also summarizes current evidence on the most uncommon subtypes of this cerebral small-vessel disease.
Fibrinogen time course in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase or tenecteplase
2025-06-15

Introduction: Limited data exist on intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) effect on fibrinogen depletion, and on possible associations between low fibrinogen levels and hemorrhagic complications, among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study evaluating fibrinogen levels prior to IVT and at two prespecified timepoints following IVT end (2 and 24 h). Safety and efficacy outcomes were assessed. Fibrinogen depletion was defined as reduction &lt; 200 mg/dl, or as reduction ⩾ 50% of baseline fibrinogen levels after 2 and 24 h from IVT. Furthermore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, comparing fibrinogen level changes from baseline to a timeframe of 2–12 h, and to 24 h post-IVT between patients receiving alteplase versus tenecteplase. Results: One hundred and sixteen AIS patients, treated with IVT (alteplase = 81, tenecteplase = 35) were included in this study. Alteplase was associated with higher rates of fibrinogen depletion, observed in 2 (38% vs 0%; p -value &lt; 0.001) and 24 h (26% vs 0%; p -value: 0.002) post-IVT, compared to tenecteplase. Three symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages (sICH) and one major extracranial bleeding were observed in patients receiving alteplase (two out of four with fibrinogen depletion) and one sICH without associated fibrinogen depletion was documented in the tenecteplase subgroup. Major hemorrhagic complications were numerically higher in patients with fibrinogen depletion (6.5% vs 3.5%, p = 0.609). Fibrinogen depletion was documented in 50% of alteplase-treated patients complicated with sICH or major extracranial bleeding and in 0% of respective tenecteplase-treated patients. Two cohorts were included in the meta-analysis. Mean relative changes of fibrinogen levels from baseline to a timeframe of 2–12 h post-IVT (RoM: 9.84; 95% CI: 9.63–10.05) were significantly higher in patients receiving alteplase. Discussion and conclusions: Fibrinogen depletion was observed only in AIS patients receiving alteplase and was associated with numerically higher rates of major hemorrhagic complications. These findings require independent confirmation in larger, international cohort studies.
Proton-pump inhibitors increase C. difficile infection risk by altering pH rather than by affecting the gut microbiome based on a bioreactor model
2025-06-16

<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infections often occur after antibiotic use, but they have also been linked to proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. The underlying mechanism - whether infection risk is due to a direct effect of PPIs on the gut microbiome or changes in gastrointestinal pH - has remained unclear. To disentangle both possibilities, we studied the impact of the proton-pump inhibitor omeprazole and pH changes on key members of the human gut microbiome and stool-derived microbial communities from different donors <i>in vitro</i>. We then developed a custom multiple-bioreactor system to grow a model human microbiome community and a stool-derived community in chemostat mode and tested the effects of omeprazole exposure, pH changes, and their combination on <i>C. difficile</i> growth within these communities. Our findings show that changes in pH significantly affect the gut microbial community's biomass and the abundances of different bacterial taxa, leading to increased <i>C. difficile</i> growth within the community. However, omeprazole treatment alone did not result in such effects. These findings imply that the higher risk of <i>C. difficile</i> infection following proton-pump inhibitor therapy is probably because of alterations in gastrointestinal pH rather than a direct interaction between the drug and the microbiome. This understanding offers a new perspective on infection risks in proton-pump inhibitor therapy.
Early Administration of Rifampicin Does Not Induce Increased Resistance in Septic Two-Stage Revision Knee and Hip Arthroplasty
2025-06-16

Background/Objectives: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a severe complication that follows arthroplasty and occurs in approximately 2% of all cases. One of several cornerstones of therapy is an optimized antibiotic regimen. Early administration of rifampicin—together with a combination of an antibiotic to which the specific microorganism is susceptible—accompanying a two-stage revision surgery, remained controversial due to the potential risk of emerging resistance. However, the exact time to start rifampicin treatment often remains unclear and might be crucial in the treatment regimen. Methods: In a retrospective study design, a total of 212 patients receiving a two-stage revision surgery after a diagnosis of PJI (60.8% THA, 39.2% TKA) received an individual rifampicin combination therapy after initial debridement and removal of all foreign material, starting rifampicin on the second day postoperatively. Results: At the time of spacer explantation, two patients had developed rifampicin resistance (0.9%). At follow-up (M = 55.4 ± 21.8 months) after reimplantation, three patients had developed rifampicin resistance (1.4%). Concerning the development of reinfection, in general, in the study group and the necessity for further treatment, a total of 25 patients showed signs of reinfection (11.8%). Conclusions: Only 0.9% after the first stage and 1.4% at follow-up after the second stage of all 212 patients with accompanying long-term rifampicin combination therapy developed a rifampicin resistance. Therefore, rifampicin administration could be started on the second postoperative day when sufficient concentrations of the accompanying antibiotics can be expected.
Integrating EEG and EMG data: a novel statistical pipeline for investigating brain-muscle interaction in experimental neuroarchaeology
2025-06-16

Abstract This study introduces a novel multivariate statistical pipeline for integrating and analyzing EEG and EMG data in experimental neuroarchaeology, providing a robust framework for investigating brain-hand interactions during a variety of tool-related behaviours. By implementing a multistep approach, it effectively characterizes task/condition-related variations while detecting meaningful covariation patterns between neural and muscular activity. Compared to traditional univariate techniques, this pipeline better addresses the complexity of multimodal datasets, offering a more comprehensive understanding of cognitive-motor dynamics. We demonstrate the utility of this approach using data from a previously conducted experiment on early hominin stone tool use, illustrating how electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) integration can reveal interactions between brain and hand processes across tasks of varying manual complexity. This methodological advancement not only enhances the study of tool-related behaviors but also establishes a standardized framework for future research in neuroarchaeology. Beyond stone tools, this approach could be extended to other forms of material culture, such as ornaments and engravings, contributing to a broader understanding of manual skill development and symbolic behavior.
Patterns of Circulating piRNAs in the Context of a Single Bout of Exercise: Potential Biomarkers of Exercise-Induced Adaptation?
2025-06-16

Background: Physical activity induces a range of physiological and molecular adaptations, particularly affecting skeletal muscle and the cardiovascular system, regulating both tissue architecture and metabolic pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) may serve as potential biomarkers for these adaptations. Here, we analyzed piRNA patterns in the context of exercise. Methods: This study selected eight participants of the iReAct study (DRKS00017446) for piRNA analysis. Baseline assessments included demographic profiling and fitness evaluation, particularly maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) assessment. In addition, blood samples were collected pre- and (for six of the eight participants) post- standard reference training sessions. Subsequently, subjects underwent 6-week training protocols, employing standardized high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) regimens. Next, RNA sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed piRNAs, and correlation analyses were performed between piRNA expression patterns and training-associated changes in V̇O2max. Finally, to identify piRNAs potentially of interest in the context of exercise, different screening procedures were applied. Results: There were unique and specific changes in individual piRNA expression levels in response to exercise. In addition, we could define correlations of piRNA expression patterns, namely of piR-32886, piR-33151, piR-12547, and piR-33074, with changes in V̇O2max. These correlations did not reach significance in the small sample size of this pilot study, but might be verified in larger, confirming studies. Conclusions: This hypothesis-generating study identifies characteristic piRNA patterns in the context of exercise. Their significance as biomarkers is yet to be determined.