On justifying arguments of species membership

In the debate about the moral status of human beings at the margins of life, arguments of species membership are often considered to be the least plausible ones. Against this backdrop, this article explores two possible ways to formulate feasible arguments of species membership. The first is an (in the broadest sense of the word) Aristotelian or neo-Aristotelian argument; the second is an argument from the intrinsic logic of human rights, which Robert Spaemann refers toas a ‘transcendental-pragmatic’ argument. On these grounds, the article proposes a philosophical justification for an at least moderate speciesism.     

Association of suboptimal health status with intestinal microbiota in Chinese youths

Suboptimal health status (SHS), a physical state between health and disease, is a subclinical and reversible stage of chronic disease. Previous studies have shown alterations in the intestinal microbiota in patients with some chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between SHS and intestinal microbiota in a case‐control study with 50 SHS individuals and 50 matched healthy controls. Intestinal microbiota was analysed by MiSeq 250PE. Alpha diversity of intestinal microbiota in SHS individuals was higher compared with that of healthy controls (Simpson index, W = 2238, P = .048). Beta diversity was different between SHS and healthy controls (P = .018). At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia was higher in the SHS group than that in the controls (W = 2201, P = .049). Compared with that of the control group, nine genera were significantly higher and five genera were lower in abundance in the SHS group (all P < .05). The intestinal microbiota, analysed by a random forest model, was able to distinguish individuals with SHS from the controls, with an area under the curve of 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.77‐0.81). We demonstrated that the alteration of intestinal microbiota occurs with SHS, an early stage of disease, which might shed light on the importance of intestinal microbiota in the primary prevention of noncommunicable chronic diseases.     

Effect of early antibiotic intervention on specific bacterial communities and immune parameters in the small intestine of growing pigs fed different protein level diets

Antibiotics are designed to affect gut microbiota and subsequently gut homeostasis. However, limited information exists about short- and long-term effects of early antibiotic intervention (EAI) on gut homeostasis (especially for the small intestine) of pigs following antibiotic withdrawal. We investigated the impact of EAI on specific bacterial communities, microbial metabolites and mucosal immune parameters in the small intestine of later-growth-stage pigs fed with diets differing in CP levels. Eighteen litters of piglets were fed creep feed with or without antibiotics from day 7 to day 42. At day 42, pigs within each group were offered a normal- or low-CP diet. Five pigs per group were slaughtered at days 77 and 120. At day 77, EAI increased Enterobacteriaceae counts in the jejunum and ileum and decreased Bifidobacterium counts in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). Moreover, tryptamine, putrescine, secretory immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG concentrations in the ileum and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA and protein levels in the jejunum and ileum were decreased in pigs with EAI (P < 0.05). At day 120, EAI only suppressed Clostridium cluster XIVa counts in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). These results suggest that EAI has a short-term effect on specific bacterial communities, amino acid decarboxylation and mucosal immune parameters in the small intestine (particularly in the ileum). At days 77 and 120, feeding a low-CP diet affected Bifidobacterium, Clostridium cluster IV, Clostridium cluster XIVa and Enterobacteriaceae counts in the jejunum or ileum (P < 0.05). Moreover, feeding a low-CP diet increased the concentrations of Igs in the jejunum and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). At day 120, feeding a low-CP diet increased short-chain fatty acid concentrations, reduced ammonia and spermidine concentrations and up-regulated genes related to barrier function in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). These results suggest that feeding a low-CP diet changes specific bacterial communities and intestinal metabolite concentrations and modifies mucosal immune parameters. These findings contribute to our understanding on the duration of the impact of EAI on gut homeostasis and may provide basis data for nutritional modification in young pigs after antibiotic treatment.     

Baseline Karnofsky performance status is independently predictive of death within 30 days of intracranial radiation therapy completion for metastatic disease

IntroductionFor patients with brain metastases, palliative radiation therapy (RT) has long been a standard of care for improving quality of life and optimizing intracranial disease control. The duration of time between completion of palliative RT and patient death has rarely been evaluated.MethodsA compilation of two prospective institutional databases encompassing April 2015 through December 2018 was used to identify patients who received palliative intracranial radiation therapy. A multivariate logistic regression model characterized patients adjusting for age, sex, admission status (inpatient versus outpatient), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and radiation therapy indication.Results136 consecutive patients received intracranial palliative radiation therapy. Patients with baseline KPS <70 (OR = 2.2; 95%CI = 1.6–3.1; p < 0.0001) were significantly more likely to die within 30 days of treatment. Intracranial palliative radiation therapy was most commonly delivered to provide local control (66% of patients) or alleviate neurologic symptoms (32% of patients), and was most commonly delivered via whole brain radiation therapy in 10 fractions to 30 Gy (38% of patients). Of the 42 patients who died within 30 days of RT, 31 (74%) received at least 10 fractions.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that baseline KPS <70 is independently predictive of death within 30 days of palliative intracranial RT, and that a large majority of patients who died within 30 days received at least 10 fractions. These results indicate that for poor performance status patients requiring palliative intracranial radiation, hypofractionated RT courses should be strongly considered.     

放线菌分类地位的变迁及其系统学研究最新进展

放线菌是目前细菌域最大的谱系之一,门下物种繁多。放线菌作为人类生产和生活极为密切的微生物类群,其强大的代谢产物编码能力为人们所共识。放线菌系统学是以实现对放线菌进行分类、鉴定、命名为目标的基础学科,因此它是放线菌资源研究和开发利用的重要理论基础。近期,我们放线菌资源与利用团队对2009年版放线菌分类系统再次进行了更新和修订,并被国际权威分类学期刊IJSEM杂志接受发表,进一步巩固了我国在本领域的国际领先地位。重点对放线菌的概念演变、分类地位变迁,以及放线菌系统学研究的最新进展做全面概述,并对其未来发展方向进行了展望,以供国内从事本领域研究的同行参考。     

Socioeconomic status dependent medical complexities in children with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia

A look into the associations of socioeconomic status (SES) with prevalence of various complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) is necessary, for an improvement of societal norms, governmental health policies and strategies. We therefore studied the influence of SES indices on certain hematological and clinical parameters in children with SCD in Saudi Arabia. We included 32 female and 33 male patients aged 5–16 years, who were classified based upon their family income. Family monthly income was divided into 4 categories from lowest to highest, with socioeconomic class1 having low earnings of <5000 SAR; the middle income class divided further into class 2 with earnings >5000–10,000 SAR, and class 3 with earnings >10,000–15,000 SAR; and the higher income class 4 with earnings of >15,000 SAR. The assessment indices used were, the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), adverse events, and hematological parameters. A higher percentage of children affected with the disease were from class1, which is the low socio-economic class. It was found that the percentage of frequency of VOC pain crisis, and adverse events was higher in social class 1 patients than in the classes 2, 3, and 4. Also, the age group 5–10 years appeared more susceptible to adverse events and VOC. Our findings suggest the need to conduct future larger studies, to deduce the modifying influence of disparity in SES on certain clinical and hematological indices in children with SCD.     

2004-2016年贵州省石漠化状况及动态演变特征

石漠化是制约我国西南地区社会、经济、生态发展的重要因素之一,及时监测评估其演变状况,对区域石漠化防治及生态环境建设具有重要科学意义。选取2004-2016年间4期TM影像,研究贵州省域尺度上、石漠化时空演变特征和未来发展趋势。结果显示：1）2004-2016年间,贵州省78.3%的区域植被覆盖度上升,平均增加了19.1%,达到63.4%,有55.4%的区域岩石裸露率下降;2）贵州省石漠化空间分布呈现从东北到西南渐次加重的特征,西部毕节市中、重度石漠化面积占该区域面积仍达62.0%-86.4%,而东部黔东南州约为18.4%-33.0%;3）2004-2016年间,贵州省石漠化状况呈现总体持续好转态势,以轻、中度石漠化转入为主体的无石漠化面积增加了1.1倍,轻度石漠化增加了20.0%左右,中度和重度石漠化面积分别减少了40.0%左右;4）截止到2016年,贵州省无石漠化、轻、中、重度石漠化区域分别占比约42.0%、24.1%、23.5%、10.4%;5）未来2020年及2024年,贵州省石漠化仍将持续改善,石漠化面积占比将分别减少8.9%和12.2%。过去十多年间,贵州省石漠化状况得到基本遏制,但局部区域仍存在高度的不稳定性,或趋于恶化的风险,未来在各类政策措施的支持下,贵州省石漠化状况仍将继续好转,但部分重度石漠化区域的治理将更为复杂而艰难。     

Correlation between chronological age and skeletal age using cvmi and modified MP3 methods

Chronological age conveys only a rough approximation of the maturational status of a person whereas skeletal maturity indicators give a more accurate estimation. Therefore, it is of interest to document the correlation between chronological and skeletal age using CVMI and modified MP3 methods. A total of 39 subjects between the age ranges of 9-16 years were selected for this study. Pre-treatment lateral cephalograms and hand-wrist radiographs of the subjects were used. The skeletal age was analyzed by the Cervical Vertebrae Maturity Index (CVMI) and modified MP3 methods. The data was analyzed with SPSS software version 23.00. Kendall''s Tau correlation test was performed to estimate the correlation between chronological age and skeletal age among the subjects and a linear regression test was also performed. Positive correlation was found between chronological age and skeletal age assessed by CVMI method (r= 0.398) and modified MP3 method (r=0.382) with p value >0.003. Thus it can be concluded that there was a positive correlation between chronological age and skeletal age among all the subjects.     

精准营养联合生长抑素对胃癌根治术患者的临床疗效

目的探讨生长抑素联合精准营养疗法对胃癌根治术患者术后营养指标水平和肠道菌群的影响。方法选取我院2017年10月至2019年1月收治并拟行胃癌根治术治疗的92例胃癌患者为研究对象,随机分为对照组(46例)和观察组(46例)。两组患者术后均给予常规处理。对照组患者同时给予生长抑素+常规肠外营养支持,观察组患者同时给予生长抑素+精准营养支持。于营养干预前后统计两组患者营养相关指标[体质量、血清白蛋白(ALB)、前白蛋白(PA)、淋巴细胞计数(LC)、肌酐(Ct)以及尿素氮(UN)]水平;对肠道菌群进行alpha分析,并计算肠杆菌、肠球菌、乳杆菌和双歧杆菌数量。结果营养干预前,两组患者营养相关指标水平以及肠道菌群相关指标水平之间差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。营养干预后,(1)观察组患者平均体质量以及血清ALB、PA、LC水平分别为(56.98±5.34)kg、(29.98±6.03)mg/L、(137.14±35.17)g/L、(1.15±0.26)×10⁹,对照组分别为(53.29±5.18)kg、(26.12±5.29)mg/L、(104.53±27.66)g/L、(0.82±0.18)×10⁹,两组之间差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);(2)观察组患者肠道菌群Chao指数和Ace指数水平分别为(397.84±75.23)、(408.26±78.34),对照组分别为(362.13±66.23)、(371.19±70.09),两组之间差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);(3)观察组患者肠道肠杆菌、肠球菌数量明显低于对照组,而乳杆菌、双歧杆菌数量明显高于对照组(均P<0.05)。结论胃癌根治术患者术后联合生长抑素和精准营养疗法能够显著改善患者的营养状况,保持肠道菌群丰度,平衡肠道菌群分布,值得临床研究和应用。     

Trait‐based diatom functional diversity as an appropriate tool for understanding the effects of environmental changes in soda pans

Saline lakes, among the most seriously endangered ecosystems, are threatened due to climate change and human activities. One valuable feature of these environments is that they constitute areas of high biodiversity. Ecologists are, therefore, under great pressure to improve their understanding of the effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on the biodiversity of saline lakes. In this study, a total of 257 samples from 32 soda pans in Central Europe between 2006 and 2015 were examined. The effects of environmental variables and of geographical and limnoecological factors on functional diversity were analyzed. Furthermore, the explanatory power of the trait‐based approach was assessed, and the applicability of the indices for biomonitoring purposes was determined. It was found that low habitat heterogeneity and harsh environments lead to the selection of a small number of suitable traits, and consequently, to a naturally low level of functional diversity. Anthropogenic activities enhance diversity at functional level due to the shift toward freshwater characteristics. On the regional scale, the effects of the region and status (natural, degraded, reconstructed) on diatom functional diversity were significant and more pronounced than that of the environmental and other limnoecological factors. The degree of variance found in functional diversity ascribed to environmental variables is five times greater in the case of the application of a trait‐based approach, than when a taxonomic one is employed in the literature. Each of the tested functional diversity indices was sensitive to the most important environmental variables. Furthermore, these were type‐specific and proved to be more complex indicators than taxonomic metrics. It is possible to suggest four functional diversity indices (FGR, FRic, FDis, and FDiv) which emphasize their independence from substrate and seasonal variations for ecological status assessment and conservation planning.