Tag: pubmed

Toxicol Sci. 2025 Mar 20:kfaf036. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf036. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Key Characteristics (KCs) are properties of chemicals that are associated with different types of human health hazard. KCs are used for systematic reviews in support of hazard identification. Transcriptomic data are a rich source of mechanistic data and are frequently interpreted through “enriched” pathways/gene sets. Such analyses may be challenging to interpret in regulatory science because of redundancy among pathways, complex data analyses, and unclear relevance to hazard identification. We hypothesized that by cross-mapping pathways/gene sets and KCs, the interpretability of transcriptomic data can be improved. We summarized 72 published KCs across 7 hazard traits into 34 umbrella KC terms. Gene sets from Reactome and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were mapped to these, resulting in “KC gene sets”. These sets exhibit minimal overlap and vary in the number of genes. Comparisons of the same KC gene sets mapped from Reactome and KEGG revealed low similarity, indicating complementarity. Performance of these KC gene sets was tested using publicly available transcriptomic datasets of chemicals with known organ-specific toxicity: Benzene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin tested in mouse liver, and drugs sunitinib and amoxicillin tested in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. We found that KC terms related to the mechanisms affected by tested compounds were highly enriched, while the negative control (amoxicillin) showed limited enrichment with marginal significance. This study’s impact is in presenting a computational approach based on KCs for the analysis of toxicogenomic data and facilitating transparent interpretation of these data in the process of chemical hazard identification.

PMID:40116072 | DOI:10.1093/toxsci/kfaf036

Environ Microbiol Rep. 2025 Apr;17(2):e70075. doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.70075.

ABSTRACT

The salt ponds of Trapani, Sicily, represent an extreme and under-explored ecosystem characterised by varying salinity gradients and environmental conditions. These ponds, integral to traditional salt extraction, include cold, driving, hot and crystallizer ponds, each hosting diverse microbial communities. This study aimed to explore the biological and physical-chemical diversity of 11 ponds during the salt production season in Trapani. We conducted comprehensive physical-chemical characterizations, including measurements of pH, conductivity, viscosity, density, organic carbon and ion concentration. Microbial DNA was extracted from salt pond waters and subjected to metabarcoding of 16S rRNA genes to determine the diversity of archaea and bacteria. High-throughput sequencing revealed significant variations in microbial communities across different pond types and seasons. Cold ponds showed a higher diversity of moderately halophilic organisms, while crystallizer and feeding ponds were dominated by extreme halophiles, particularly archaeal genus Halorubrum and Haloquadratum and bacterial genus Salinibacter. Statistical analyses indicated that environmental parameters, especially salinity and temperature, significantly influenced microbial community composition. Our findings enhance the understanding of microbial ecology in saline environments and highlight the potential of halophilic microorganisms. This study provides a foundation for future research into the functional roles of these microorganisms and their industrial applications.

PMID:40116066 | DOI:10.1111/1758-2229.70075

Helicobacter. 2025 Mar-Apr;30(2):e70026. doi: 10.1111/hel.70026.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence (AI) based on endoscopy for detecting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies published up to January 10, 2025. The selected studies focused on the diagnostic accuracy of AI in detecting H. pylori. A bivariate random-effects model was employed to calculate pooled sensitivity and specificity, both presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Study heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.

RESULTS: Of 604 studies identified, 16 studies (25,002 images or patients) were included. For the internal validation set, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) for detecting H. pylori were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.84-0.95), 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86-0.94), and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94-0.97), respectively. For the external validation set, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86-0.95), 0.94 (95% CI: 0.90-0.97), and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-0.99). For junior clinicians, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 0.76 (95% CI: 0.66-0.83), 0.75 (95% CI: 0.70-0.80), and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.77-0.84). For senior clinicians, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.74-0.86), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.91), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.94).

CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy-based AI demonstrates higher diagnostic performance compared to both junior and senior endoscopists. However, the high heterogeneity among studies limits the strength of these findings, and further research with external validation datasets is necessary to confirm the results.

PMID:40116054 | DOI:10.1111/hel.70026

J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2025 Mar 21. doi: 10.1111/jvp.13507. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Thiafentanil is a popular opioid agonist used for wildlife chemical immobilisation. Its effects are quickly and completely reversed by the antagonist naltrexone. Successful wildlife immobilisations using thiafentanil have been documented in a variety of wildlife species globally. The aim of this study was to describe the single-dose intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) pharmacokinetics of thiafentanil in goats at a dose of 90 μg/kg using a single cross-over study. The IM dose was administered in the left Vastus lateralis. Plasma samples were collected up to 120 min after thiafentanil administration from two female and eight male adult goats. Samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic parameters from one and two-compartment models were estimated via a Bayesian approach. The two-compartment model was preferred overall. The estimated bioavailability was 0.677 (90% Crl: 0.542-0.888), absorption rate constant (k_a) was 0.058 1/min (90% Crl: 0.045-0.115) and clearance was 29.0 mL/min/kg (90% Crl: 23.7-36.3) from this model. This study provides key pharmacokinetic data on thiafentanil, supporting a two-compartment model and offering insights into its absorption, bioavailability, and clearance when used for wildlife immobilisation.

PMID:40116049 | DOI:10.1111/jvp.13507

Glob Chang Biol. 2025 Mar;31(3):e70112. doi: 10.1111/gcb.70112.

ABSTRACT

Climate change-induced ocean warming can have profound implications for marine ecosystems and the socioeconomic activities dependent on them, affecting the catch composition, and fisheries revenue. Our study evaluates spatio-temporal changes in the Northwestern Mediterranean marine fisheries catch and revenue composition tied to ocean warming and disentangles the different underlying processes. To do so, we analyzed the weighted mean thermal affinity of the catch (Mean Temperature of the Catch: MTC) and revenue (Mean Temperature of Revenue: MTR) across different taxonomic groups, fishing fleets, and fishing harbors, using a 23-year time series of commercial landings. Results revealed changes in catch and revenue composition, with an overall temporal increase in the MTC (0.68°C per decade) and MTR (0.58°C per decade) linked to local sea temperature. The temporal increase in both indices prevailed across fishing fleets and taxonomic groups. The processes underpinning these changes over time were tropicalization (i.e. relative increase of warm-affinity species; 41.97% for MTC and 45.20% for MTR), and deborealization (i.e. relative decrease of cold-affinity species; 46.58% for MTC and 44.99% for MTR), with variability across dimensions. Deborealization particularly influenced pelagic fisheries (i.e. purse-seiners and surface longliners) and some commercially important species (e.g. European hake, blue whiting, and Norway lobster). Even if the temporal increase in MTC and MTR was consistent across taxonomic groups and fleets, the spatial dimension showed heterogeneity and temporal declines in some cases. In summary, our study provides valuable information about temporal changes in catch composition associated with local ocean warming and reveals potential cascading effects through the social-ecological system. In particular, we presented the MTR approach for the first time, evidencing ocean warming effects on revenue composition. We suggest that the correlation between changes in catch and revenue composition reveals the adaptive capacity, or fragility of specific fishing fleets and points to management priorities.

PMID:40116039 | DOI:10.1111/gcb.70112

J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2025 Mar 21;16:e17. doi: 10.1017/S2040174424000473.

ABSTRACT

Obesity during development has been reported to be a determinant factor in the future development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Parental obesity is suggested to be a predictor of children’s obesity, and it is important to consider parental factors to prevent NCDs in the progeny. Previously, we showed that paternal height had a stronger association with infant birth weight than paternal body mass index (BMI) in the Japanese population. However, only a few studies have examined the association between paternal physique and postnatal obesity. This study aimed to investigate the association between parental physique and obesity in children at the age of 3. This study used fixed data on 33,291 parent-child pairs from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, an ongoing national birth cohort study. The association between paternal physique (BMI and height) and children’s obesity at the age of 3 was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The higher the paternal BMI quartiles, the higher the odds ratio for obesity in male and female children at 3 years of age (P < 0.0001). However, paternal height quartiles were not associated with male or female obesity. These results differ from the association between paternal physique and infant birth weight, and it is possible that prenatal epigenetic and environmental factors of paternal origin were responsible for the differences between these two studies. The association between paternal BMI and obesity in children at the age of 3 suggests that paternal factors may be involved in the development of NCDs in future progeny.

PMID:40116036 | DOI:10.1017/S2040174424000473

Euro Surveill. 2025 Mar;30(11). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2500173.

ABSTRACT

We observed shifting trends in tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology in the EU/EEA between 2019 and 2023. In 2023, TB notifications among people of foreign origin increased by 24.6% after decreasing between 2019 and 2020. The majority originated from African and East Mediterranean regions, with a 316.4% upsurge in TB among Ukrainians in 2022-23. Rifampicin-resistant/multidrug-resistant TB increased by ≥ 60% in 2019-23, mainly among Ukrainians. Rapid response to shifting epidemiological patterns is crucial for efficient TB prevention and control within the EU/EEA.

PMID:40116035 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2500173

Euro Surveill. 2025 Mar;30(11). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2400393.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundMalaria is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites; occasionally, direct transmission through blood has been reported. Healthcare-associated infections refer to infections acquired in a hospital or another healthcare setting.AimThis systematic review aims to explore determinants of healthcare-associated malaria (HAM) cases.MethodThis review follows the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022309701). We searched five databases for publications on HAM cases published between 1 January 2000 and 7 December 2023. We initiated a data call for HAM cases to public health authorities from 37 European countries. We performed a backward and forward search, reviewed health authorities’ websites, performed searches on Google and the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) conference abstracts book.ResultsWe identified 37 studies on HAM comprising 55 HAM cases, of which 35 (64%) were infected in Europe, primarily in Spain (nine cases), France and Italy (seven cases each). All cases were infected with Plasmodium falciparum except one individual. Fifty HAM cases were hospital inpatients and five were healthcare workers. Five patients died. Flushing of vascular catheters with contaminated heparin/saline solution and manipulation of intravenous catheters were the most frequently reported procedures leading to infection among patients.ConclusionsWhile rare, HAM transmission can be fatal. Healthcare-associated malaria is preventable through strict adherence to infection prevention and control procedures. Despite extensive investigations, the procedure leading to infection often remained unknown, highlighting the complexity of investigations. Guidance and protocols for conducting investigations may improve the success rate of such inquiries.

PMID:40116034 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2400393

Euro Surveill. 2025 Mar;30(11). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2500172.

ABSTRACT

As tuberculosis (TB) in children is an indicator of ongoing transmission, we analysed surveillance data to understand the increase in notified TB cases among individuals aged < 15 years in the European Union/European Economic Area countries between 2015 and 2023. Several factors may have contributed to this increase, such as improved diagnosis and reporting, migration and the COVID-19 pandemic. The observed increasing trend, albeit low in absolute numbers, emphasises the importance of early case finding and timely prevention.

PMID:40116033 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2500172

Euro Surveill. 2025 Mar;30(11). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2400489.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundAs tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates decrease faster in native than migrant populations in European countries, addressing migrant health becomes increasingly important in TB programmes.AimTo inform European TB prevention and control policies, we analysed data on TB in migrants in low TB-incidence European countries (TB incidence < 10/100,000 population) during 2014-2020 by migrant origin, destination, and recent vs non-recent immigration.MethodsData on migrant TB patients were derived from the European Surveillance System (TESSy) and data on migrant populations from Eurostat or national statistical offices. We calculated annual migrant TB crude incidence rates (CIRs) per country of origin, destination country and year, for all migrants with TB and recently arrived migrants with TB, the latter defined by TB diagnosis within 1 year after arrival in the destination country.ResultsIn 2014-2020, 104,371 migrants with TB were reported to TESSy by 20 destination countries. Average annual migrant CIRs were highest in the United Kingdom (43/100,000). Origin countries of most migrant TB patients were India (n = 9,561), Romania (n = 8,345), and Pakistan (n = 7,300). The highest CIRs were found among migrants from Eritrea (480/100,000), Somalia (414/100,000) and The Gambia (343/100,000), and were higher than estimated World Health Organization incidences for those countries. The CIRs among recently arrived migrants appeared higher than in the overall migrant population.ConclusionsWe found substantially higher CIRs in certain migrant subpopulations than others. TB rates in recent migrants appeared to be up to 11 times higher than in corresponding origin countries. Tailored and regularly adapted TB prevention and control strategies are needed.

PMID:40116030 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.11.2400489