Tag: pubmed

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 Sep 8:S0091-6749(23)01117-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.08.033. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Urticaria is characterized by inappropriate mast cell degranulation that leads to the development of wheals and/or angioedema. Twin and family studies indicate that there is a substantial heritable component to urticaria risk.

OBJECTIVE: To identify genomic loci at which common genetic variation influence urticaria susceptibility.

METHODS: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of urticaria (including all subtypes) from three European cohorts (UK Biobank, FinnGen, and the HUNT Study) were combined through statistical meta-analysis (14,306 urticaria cases and 650,664 controls). Cases were identified from electronic healthcare records from primary and/or secondary care. To identify putative causal variants and genes, statistical fine-mapping, colocalization, and interrogation of publicly available single-cell transcriptome sequencing resources were performed.

RESULTS: Genome-wide significant associations (p < 5 x 10^-8) were identified at six independent loci. These included two previously reported association signals at 1q44 and the human leucocyte antigen region on chromosome 6. Genes with expected or established roles in mast cell biology were associated with the other four genome-wide association signals (GCSAML, FCER1A, TPSAB1, and CBLB). Colocalization of association signals consistent with the presence of shared causal variants was observed between urticaria susceptibility and increased expression of GCSAML (posterior probability (PP_coloc) = 0.89) and FCER1A (PP_coloc = 0.91) in skin.

CONCLUSION: Common genetic variation influencing the risk of developing urticaria was identified at six genomic loci. The relationship of genes with roles in mast cell biology with several association signals implicates genetic variability of specific components of mast cell function in the development of urticaria.

PMID:37690594 | DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2023.08.033

Chemosphere. 2023 Sep 8:140134. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140134. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Liquid fossil fuels, collectively known as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), are highly toxic and frequently leak into subsurface environments due to anthropogenic activities. As an in-situ biological remedial option for TPH contamination, aerobic TPH biodegradation is limited due to oxygen’s low solubility in water, and because it is consumed quickly by aerobic bacteria. Thus, we investigated the potential of anaerobic TPH degradation by indigenous fermenting bacteria and Fe(III)-reducing bacteria. Twenty 6-10 m soil cores were collected from a closed military base subject to ongoing TPH contamination since the 1980s. Physicochemical and microbial properties were determined at 0.5-m intervals in each core. To assess the relationship between TPH degradation and microbial Fe(III) reduction, soil samples were grouped into high-TPH (>500 mg kg^-1) and high-Fe(II) (>450 mg kg^-1), high-TPH and low-Fe(II), low-TPH and high-Fe(II), and low-TPH and low-Fe(II) groups. Alpha diversity was significantly lower in high-TPH groups than in low-TPH groups, suggesting that high TPH concentrations exerted a strong selective pressure on bacterial communities. In the high-TPH and low-Fe(II) group, fermenting bacteria, including Microgenomatia and Chlamydiae, were more abundant, suggesting that TPH biodegradation occurred via fermentation. In the high-TPH and high-Fe(II) group, Fe(III)-reducing bacteria, including Geobacter and Zoogloea, were more abundant, suggesting that microbial Fe(III) reduction enhances TPH biodegradation. In contrast, the fermenting and/or Fe(III)-reducing bacteria were not statistically abundant in the low-TPH groups.

PMID:37690548 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140134

Spine J. 2023 Sep 8:S1529-9430(23)03375-2. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.09.002. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The disc, endplate (EP), and bone marrow region of the spine form a single anatomical and functional interdependent unit; isolated degeneration of any one structure is rare. Modic changes (MC), however, are restricted to the subchondral bone alone and based on only T1 and T2 sequences of MRI. This results in poor reliability in differentiating fat from edema and hence may give a false impression of disease inactivity.

PURPOSE: To study the changes in disc, endplate, and bone marrow as a whole in degeneration and propose a classification based on the activity status of this complex with the addition of STIR MRI sequences.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational cohort PATIENT SAMPLE: Patients with isolated brain, cervical, or thoracic spine injury and patients with LBP who underwent MRI formed the control and study groups, respectively.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data, the prevalence of MC and disc-endplate-bone marrow classification (DEBC) changes, EPs undergoing reclassification based on DEBC, and comparison of the prevalence of MC, DEBC, H+modifier and DEBC with H+concordance between control and LBP group. The study determined the risk of LBP patients undergoing surgery as well as the incidence of postoperative infection based on DEBC changes. Significance was calculated by binomial test and Chi-square test with the effect size of 0.3-0.5. Prevalence and association of outcome were calculated by Altman’s odds ratio with the 95% CI and the scoring of z statistics. Logistic expression was plotted for independent variables associated with each class of both Modic and DEBC against dependent variables surgery and non-surgery.

METHODS: Lumbar segments in both groups were assessed for MC types. The DEBC classification was developed with the addition of STIR images and studying the interdependent complex as a whole: Type-A: Acute inflammation; Type-B: Chronic Persistence; Type-C: Latent and Type-D: Inactive. Modifier H+was added if there was disc herniation. The classification was compared to MC and correlated to clinical outcomes.

RESULTS: 3560 EPs of 445 controls and 8680 EPs in 1085 patients with LBP were assessed. 4 non-MC, 560 MC-II, and 22 MC-III EPs were found to have previously undetected edema in STIR (n=542) or hyperintensity in discs (n=44) needing reclassification. The formerly undescribed Type-B of DEBC, representing a chronic persistent activity state was the most common (51.8%) type. The difference between the control and LBP of H+(12%vs28.8%) and its co-occurrence with DEBC type 1.1%vs23.3%) was significant (p<0.0001). The odds ratio for the need for surgery was highest (OR=5.2) when H+and DEBC type change co-occurred. Postoperative deep infection (as determined by CDC criteria) was 0.47% in non-DEBC, compared to 2.4% in patients with DEBC (p=0.002), with maximum occurrence in Type-B.

CONCLUSION: Classification based on the classic MC was found to need a reclassification in 586 EPs showing the shortcomings of results of previous studies. Considering the DEBC allowed better classification and better predictability for the need for surgical intervention and incidence of postoperative infection rate than MC.

PMID:37690481 | DOI:10.1016/j.spinee.2023.09.002

Environ Pollut. 2023 Sep 8:122529. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122529. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microbial community, as the decomposers of constructed wetland (CW), plays crucial role in biodegradation and biotransformation of pollutants, nutrient cycling and the maintenance of ecosystem balance. In this study, 9 water samples, 6 sediment samples, and 8 plant samples were collected in Annan CW, which has the functions of water treatment and wetland culture park. The characteristics of microbial community structure in different media were illustrated by using of high-throughput sequencing-based metagenomics approach and statistical analysis. Meanwhile, this study identified and classified human pathogens in CW to avoid potential risks to human health. The results showed that dominant bacteria phyla in CW include Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia. The distribution of microorganisms in three media is different, but not significant. And the pH and DO profoundly affected microbe abundance, followed by water temperature. The microbial diversity in sediments is the highest, which is similar with the detection of human pathogens in sediments. Moreover, compared with Calamus, Lythrum salicaria and Reed, Scirpus tabernaemontani has fewer pathogenic microorganisms. The distribution of microorganisms in the constructed wetland is complex, and a variety of human pathogens are detected, which is more prone to create potential risks to human health and should receive additional attention.

PMID:37690468 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122529

Environ Pollut. 2023 Sep 8:122509. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122509. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microplastic (MP) pollution has been detected in coral reefs, raising concerns regarding its global impact. Although they cover a small portion (<1%) of the total area of the world’s oceans, coral reefs are geological and biological structures that trap MPs and disproportionately enhance their accumulation. In this review, we attempted to understand how coral reefs act as short- and long-term sinks for MPs. We describe five characteristics that lead to the enrichment of microplastics in coral reefs: 1) adhesion on reef-building corals at distinct depths; 2) ingestion by reef organisms (i.e., suspension feeders, such as sponges, ascidians, and corals), bioconcentration, and formation of short-term (i.e., years to decades) biological sinks for MPs; 3) formation of long-term (i.e., centuries) MP sinks in coral skeletons and unconsolidated subsurface sediments; 4) reduction of sediment resuspension and seafloor turbulent kinetic energy by complex marine forest architecture that reduces bottom shear stress, facilitates the retention, and deposition of small (<0.5 mm) and high-density floating MPs; and 5) diagenesis of Anthropocene sedimentary rocks containing MPs. We estimate that reef processes may remove more than 10% of floating MPs in shallow tropical waters yearly. Statistical results show that microplastic abundance for reef-building corals are higher than values found in reef sediments and especially in seawater. Moreover, pellets, films, foams and mainly fragments and fibers have been found. These field-based data support our hypothesis of sinks in the reef sediments and organisms. We highlight the role of these seascapes in the interception of MPs as traps and sinks in reef sediments, biota, and carbonate frameworks. As coral reefs are prone to MP accumulation and can become pollution hotspots, global initiatives are necessary to conserve these rich ecosystems and prevent rapidly increasing plastic pollution.

PMID:37690465 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122509

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2023 Sep 8:1-7. doi: 10.1159/000533401. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Several studies have investigated the relationship between obesity and AD prevalence, but the results have been conflicting. This study investigated the association between obesity and AD in Korean adolescents.

METHODS: We used nationally representative data regarding 1,617 Korean adolescents aged 12-18 years, which were obtained from the cross-sectional Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2019. Multiple logistic regression analysis (including age, sex, region of residence, number of household members, economic status, lipid profile, and stress level) was used to evaluate the relationships of obesity and abdominal obesity with doctor-diagnosed AD.

RESULTS: Although the results were not statistically significant, obese adolescents were diagnosed with AD (20.8%) more often than non-obese adolescents (20.8% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.055). This tendency was more prominent in male adolescents than in female adolescents, but the finding was not statistically significant. Body mass index and the prevalence of abdominal obesity did not differ between the AD and non-AD groups. Adolescents with AD had significantly higher total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, compared with adolescents who did not have AD. In the adjusted model, an LDL-C level ≥130 mg/dL was a risk factor for AD (adjusted odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.05).

CONCLUSIONS: A high LDL-C level may be a risk factor for AD. Proper management of dyslipidemia through lifestyle modification may aid in AD prevention and control. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to assess the associations of AD with obesity and dyslipidemia.

PMID:37690448 | DOI:10.1159/000533401

Public Health. 2023 Sep 8;223:249-256. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: According to the Swiss medico-ethical guidelines valid between 2004 and 2018, the key criterion for assisted suicide (AS) was that the patients who wished to die suffered with a disease leading to death in the foreseeable future. Critics of AS fears that broadening of the medical indications will lead to an uncontrolled expansion to persons who are not terminally ill (slippery slope argument). We evaluated to what extent this broadening took place in practice over time.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective national cohort study.

METHODS: By using data of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, we analyzed the long-term development of AS in Switzerland over a 20-year period (1999-2018; n = 8738 cases). We classified the cases into one of three categories regarding the aforementioned key criterion for AS.

RESULTS: In 43.6% of AS cases, the criterion ‘end of life is near’ was met. In 5.3% of cases, this criterion was not met (4.7%: mental disorders; 0.6%: dementia). In 51.1% of cases, the reason underlying AS comprised several, mostly age-related diseases and/or functional impairments; the aforementioned key criterion, however, was probably not met in most of the cases. Over time, the number of cases doubled over each 5-year period; this increase occurred similarly for the three categories.

CONCLUSION: The fact that many AS cases took place outside the valid medico-ethical guidelines might be interpreted as a development in the idea of the slippery slope argument. The fact that the percentage distribution of these cases remained unchanged over time argues against it.

PMID:37690397 | DOI:10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.001

J Surg Res. 2023 Sep 8;293:22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.07.039. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There is a gender gap in the surgical field worldwide. Brazil and low- and middle-income countries generally tend to have a more profound gap. Therefore, we aim to assess the gender distribution in Brazilian surgical residencies.

METHODS: From a national residencies’ database, we collected residency entering years, names, and surgical subspecialties. We classified gender from the names using Gender API software and performed linear regression, binomial, and chi-square tests.

RESULTS: From 81,979 doctors (1931-2020), 36.6% were women (P < 0.001). Of 13 subspecialties, regarding the absolute numbers of women, only neurosurgery and plastic surgery did not significantly differ between gender per year. There was a statistically significant growth in the proportional rates of female representation among most of the surgical residencies analyzed. Overall, the least women’s representation was in urology (3.8%). From all subspecialties analyzed, both genders had a significant linear absolute increase over the years (P < 0.05), except for obstetrics-gynecology and pediatric surgery for men. Until 1990, all surgical programs had at least one woman resident, except for colorectal surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: Although there is an overall lack of women surgeons in Brazil, we observed an increase in women in surgical residencies. Therefore, the study may demonstrate a future change in the Brazilian gender equity scenario and reflect the growing representation of women in medicine in Brazil, except for some surgical specialties.

PMID:37690383 | DOI:10.1016/j.jss.2023.07.039

Poult Sci. 2023 Aug 22;102(11):103057. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103057. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In the commercial egg industry, avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) can lead to significant economic loss. The Poulvac E. coli vaccine (PECV) is a commercially available attenuated live vaccine commonly applied via spray or drinking water to protect against losses associated with colibacillosis. The PECV has not been tested in layer hatching eggs using in ovo injection. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of injecting 50 μL of different doses of the PECV into Hy-Line W-36-layer hatching eggs on the hatchability and quality characteristics of hatchlings. At 18 d of incubation (DOI), treatments included 1 noninjected and 1 diluent-injected control. Furthermore, PECV treatments included a full dose (4.4 × 10⁸E. coli CFU) or serial dilutions of the full dose to produce 4.4 × 10⁶, 4.4 × 10⁴, or 4.4 × 10² CFU doses of E. coli. In ovo injections targeted the amnion. Percent hatchability of live embryonated eggs (HI), percent residue eggs, hatchling mortality, and female chick whole and yolk-free BW, relative yolk sac weight, and body length were among the variables examined. Treatment significantly (P < 0.0001) affected HI, with HI being highest in the control groups (97.3% in the noninjected and 94.2% in the diluent-injected), and with HI values being 89.0, 88.9, 84.4, and 71.2% in the 4.4 × 10², 4.4 × 10⁴, 4.4 × 10⁶, and 4.4 × 10⁸ CFU E. coli dose treatments, respectively. The percentage of live embryos that did not complete hatch but that pipped internally (P = 0.024) or externally (P < 0.0001) were significantly affected by treatment, with percentages being highest in the 4.4 × 10⁸ CFU treatment. Female chick body length was significantly (P < 0.0001) affected by treatment and was longer in both control groups and in the 1 × 10² CFU E. coli treatment in comparison to all other treatments. Yolk-free female chick BW was significantly (P = 0.034) affected by treatment and was lower in the 4.4 × 10⁶ CFU and 4.4 × 10⁸ CFU treatments when compared to the diluent-injected control group. An increase in the E. coli concentration administered in the amnion of embryonated layer hatching eggs at 18 DOI decreased hatch success and female chick yolk-free BW and body length.

PMID:37690369 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2023.103057

J Biomech. 2023 Sep 8;159:111794. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111794. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The study aims to investigate the effects of different loads and speed during running on inter- and intra-individual muscle force amplitudes, variabilities and coordination patterns. Nine healthy participants ran on an instrumentalized treadmill with an empty weight vest at two velocities (2.6 m/s and 3.3 m/s) or while carrying three different loads (4.5, 9.1, 13.6 kg) at 2.6 m/s while kinematics and kinetics were synchronously recorded. The major lower limb muscle forces were estimated using a musculoskeletal model. Muscle force amplitudes and variability, as well as coordination patterns were compared at the group and at the individual level using respectively statistical parametric mapping and covariance matrices combined with multidimensional scaling. Increasing the speed or the load during running increased most of the muscle force amplitudes (p < 0.01). During the propulsion phase, increasing the load increased muscle force variabilities around the ankle joint (modification of standard deviation up to 5% of body weight (BW), p < 0.05) while increasing the speed decreased variability for almost all the muscle forces (up to 10% of BW, p < 0.05). Each runner has a specific muscle force coordination pattern signature regardless of the different experimental conditions (p < 0.05). Yet, this individual pattern was slightly adapted in response to a change of speed or load (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that adding load increases the amplitude and variability of muscle force, but an increase in running speed decreases the variability. These findings may help improve the design of military or trail running training programs and injury rehabilitation by progressively increasing the mechanical load on anatomical structures.

PMID:37690366 | DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111794