Glycocalyx damage biomarkers in healthy controls,abdominal surgery,and sepsis: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective

Despite wide interest in glycocalyx biomarkers, their values in healthy individuals, patients after abdominal surgery, and septic patients have been poorly understood.     

Intraspecific variation in seedling drought tolerance and associated traits in a critically endangered,endemic Hawaiian shrub

ABSTRACT

Background

Climates are changing at a rate that exceeds the adaptive capacity of species, especially endangered species. Genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity are important for population persistence, yet few studies have linked traits to seedling performance under drought in endangered species.     

DNA damage analysis concerning GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphism in gold jewellery workers from Peshawar Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the genotoxic effects of gold jewellery fumes and its association with GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms.     

An assessment of the conservation status of Restrepia (Orchidaceae) reveals the threatened status of the genus

ABSTRACT

Background

The genus Restrepia occurs throughout Central and South America in areas of montane forest heavily affected by deforestation.     

Protected from fire,but not from harm: seedling emergence of savanna grasses is constrained by burial depth

ABSTRACT

Background

The Cerrado is a fire-prone Neotropical savanna and grass seeds are the main component of the soil seed bank. Although grass seeds are presumed to tolerate heat pulses during fires, the assumption that these seeds will be recruited may be an overestimation, since it does not account for factors that limit seedling emergence from the soil.     

Global analysis of ecological niche conservation and niche shift in exotic populations of monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus,M. luteus) and their hybrid (M. × robertsii)

ABSTRACT

Background

Hybridisation associated with biological invasions may generate new phenotypic combinations, allowing hybrids to occupy new ecological niches. To date, few studies have assessed niche shifts associated with hybridisation in recently introduced populations while simultaneously characterising the niche of parental species in both native and introduced ranges.     

Drought resistance does not explain epiphytic abundance of accidental epiphytes

ABSTRACT

Background

Accidental epiphytism is common among vascular plants in forest ecosystems around the globe. A frequent observation in surveys of accidental epiphytes is the occurrence of few species with high epiphytic abundance, while most co-occurring terrestrial species are rarely found as epiphytes.     

Clinical and molecular characteristics associated with survival among cancer patients receiving first-line anti-PD-1/PD-L1-based therapies

Abstract

Background

Anti-PD-1/PD-L1-based therapy has emerged recently, and we aimed to figure out the latent value of different clinical and molecular factors to predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy compared with non-immunotherapy in the first-line setting.     

Serum cytokines and CXCR2: potential tumour markers in ovarian neoplasms

Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to investigate the systemic levels of cytokines and the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR2 in circulating neutrophils in patients with non-neoplastic ovarian lesions, benign neoplasia or malignant neoplasia.     

Shrub effects on germinable soil seed bank in overgrazed rangelands

ABSTRACT

Background

Little information is available about the effects of different species of shrubs on the composition of the soil seed bank (SSB) and how the SSB could contribute to restoration of degraded grasslands.     

Protective effect of Argan oil on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress against acrylamide-induced liver and kidney injury in rats

Abstract

Context

Acrylamide (ACR) is now a risk for general public health. Argan oil (AO) is harvested from the fruits of Argania spinosa and its rich source of antioxidant and phenolic compounds.     

Using oral hygiene education in schools to tackle child tooth decay: a mixed methods study with children and teachers in England

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Tooth decay is the most common reason for non- emergency hospital admissions in 5–9 year olds. As such, it is included in the England school curriculum at 8–9 years to facilitate improved oral hygiene and prevent tooth decay.     

Tape stripping the stratum corneum for biomarkers of ultraviolet radiation exposure at sub-erythemal dosages: a study in human volunteers

Abstract

Purpose

Prevalence of skin cancer is rapidly increasing. There is a need for non-invasive biomarkers to assess efficacy of prevention strategies aiming at reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Recently, stratum corneum (SC) biomarkers were applied in various inflammatory skin diseases. Here, we explore their suitability as candidate biomarkers for UVR.     

Three new species of Euathlus Ausserer, 1875 (Araneae,Theraphosidae) from Argentina

ABSTRACT

Euathlus

Ausserer, 1875 is a South American genus of spiders of the family Theraphosidae known from Chile and Argentina. Three new species from Argentina: Euathlus mauryi sp. n. (from San Juan province), Euathlus grismadoi sp. n. (from La Rioja province), and Euathlus pampa sp. n. (from Salta province) are described here. New records of the previous species Euathlus diamante and Euathlus tenebrarum are contributed. The distribution of these new species expands the geographical distribution of the genus along the Andean hills, with Salta province as the northernmost record of the genus. A key is provided for identification of Euathlus species as well as a map with all the records in Argentina.     

Mortality in cardiogenic shock is stronger associated to clinical factors than contemporary biomarkers reflecting neurohormonal stress and inflammatory activation

Abstract

Purpose

To validate the IABP-SHOCK II risk score in a Danish cohort and assess the association between the IABP-SHOCK II risk score and admission concentration of biomarkers reflecting neurohormonal – (Copeptin, Pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (proANP), Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MRproADM)) and inflammatory (ST2) activation in patients with CS complicating ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).     

Feasibility of neonatal haemoglobin A1C as a biomarker for retinopathy of prematurity

Abstract

Introduction

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially serious eye disorder affecting very preterm infants. Non-proliferative ROP (NP-ROP), also known as Early Stage ROP, is characterized by deficient retinal angiogenesis. Proliferative ROP (P-ROP), also known as Late Stage ROP, is characterized by pathologic angiogenesis. The use of neonatal haemoglobin A1C as a biomarker for ROP has not yet been evaluated.     

Functional traits and trait coordination change over the life of a leaf in a tropical fern species

Premise

Plant ecological strategies are often defined by the integration of underlying traits related to resource acquisition, allocation, and growth. Correlations between key traits across diverse plants suggest that variation in plant ecological strategies is largely driven by a fast–slow continuum of plant economics. However, trait correlations may not be constant through the life of a leaf, and it is still poorly understood how trait function varies over time in long-lived leaves.

Methods

Here, we compared trait correlations related to resource acquisition and allocation across three different mature frond age cohorts in a tropical fern species, Saccoloma inaequale.

Results

Fronds exhibited high initial investments of nitrogen and carbon, but with declining return in photosynthetic capacity after the first year. In the youngest fronds, we found water-use efficiency to be significantly lower than in the oldest mature fronds due to increased transpiration rates. Our data suggest that middle-aged fronds are more efficient relative to younger, less water-use efficient fronds and that older fronds exhibit greater nitrogen investments without higher photosynthetic return. In addition, several trait correlations expected under the leaf economics spectrum (LES) do not hold within this species, and some trait correlations only appear in fronds of a specific developmental age.

Conclusions

These findings contextualize the relationship between traits and leaf developmental age with those predicted to underlie plant ecological strategy and the LES and are among the first pieces of evidence for when relative physiological trait efficiency is maximized in a tropical fern species.

     

Risk factors for outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection at retirement homes in Ontario,Canada: a population-level cohort study

BACKGROUND:The epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in retirement homes (also known as assisted living facilities) is largely unknown. We examined the association between home-and community-level characteristics and the risk of outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in retirement homes since the beginning of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS:We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study of licensed retirement homes in Ontario, Canada, from Mar. 1 to Dec. 18, 2020. Our primary outcome was an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection (≥ 1 resident or staff case confirmed by validated nucleic acid amplification assay). We used time-dependent proportional hazards methods to model the associations between retirement home– and community-level characteristics and outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection.RESULTS:Our cohort included all 770 licensed retirement homes in Ontario, which housed 56 491 residents. There were 273 (35.5%) retirement homes with 1 or more outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection, involving 1944 (3.5%) residents and 1101 staff (3.0%). Cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were distributed unevenly across retirement homes, with 2487 (81.7%) resident and staff cases occurring in 77 (10%) homes. The adjusted hazard of an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a retirement home was positively associated with homes that had a large resident capacity, were co-located with a long-term care facility, were part of larger chains, offered many services onsite, saw increases in regional incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and were located in a region with a higher community-level ethnic concentration.INTERPRETATION:Readily identifiable characteristics of retirement homes are independently associated with outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and can support risk identification and priority for vaccination.

Frail older adults living in congregate care settings have been at the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and internationally.^1,2 Long-term care facilities — whose residents are the congregate living population most affected by COVID-19 — have been the subject of immense scientific and public interest during the pandemic.³ Retirement homes (often known as assisted living facilities) have received far less examination despite also housing many vulnerable older adults.^4–7 In contrast to long-term care facilities, retirement homes are private residential complexes that provide a range of supportive care and lifestyle services that are purchased out of pocket by residents or their families.⁸ Although residents of retirement homes access supportive care services, they are substantially less frail and dependent than residents of long-term care homes.⁵ Inconsistent regulation of these facilities throughout Canada and the United States has limited research into the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in retirement homes.⁹There are 770 licensed retirement homes in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, that house more than 50 000 older adults, a population size that approaches the number of Ontario residents of long-term care homes.¹⁰ Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, the number of positive cases and deaths in retirement homes has continued to grow. As of Apr. 11, 2021, retirement home residents accounted for about 8% of deaths from COVID-19 in Ontario (596/7552).¹¹ Outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection surged in retirement homes during the first and second waves in Canada and the US,^11,12 and there has been limited examination in the literature beyond early reports of case surveillance.¹³We examined the association between home- and community-level characteristics and the risk of outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Ontario’s retirement homes. Consistent with our previous population-level work in Ontario long-term care homes,^2,14 we hypothesized that home size and regional incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection would be associated with the risk of an outbreak.     

Changes in endogenous abscisic acid and stomata of the resurrection fern,Pleopeltis polypodioides,in response to de- and rehydration

Premise

While angiosperms respond uniformly to abscisic acid (ABA) by stomatal closure, the response of ferns to ABA is ambiguous. We evaluated the effect of endogenous ABA, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), nitric oxide (NO), and Ca²⁺, low and high light intensities, and blue light (BL) on stomatal opening of Pleopeltis polypodioides.

Methods

Endogenous ABA was quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; microscopy results and stomatal responses to light and chemical treatments were analyzed with Image J.

Results

The ABA content increases during initial dehydration, peaks at 15 h and then decreases to one fourth of the ABA content of hydrated fronds. Following rehydration, ABA content increases within 24 h to the level of hydrated tissue. The stomatal aperture opens under BL and remains open even in the presence of ABA. Closure was strongly affected by BL, NO, and Ca²⁺, regardless of ABA, H₂O₂ effect was weak.

Conclusions

The decrease in the ABA content during extended dehydration and insensitivity of the stomata to ABA suggests that the drought tolerance mechanism of Pleopeltis polypodioides is independent of ABA.

     

Use of thermal imaging and the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) to detect wheat response to elevated CO2 and drought

The spectral-based photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and leaf surface temperature (T_leaf) derived from thermal imaging are two indicative metrics of plant functioning. The relationship of PRI with radiation-use efficiency (RUE) and T_leaf with leaf transpiration could be leveraged to monitor crop photosynthesis and water use from space. Yet, it is unclear how such relationships will change under future high carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO₂]) and drought. Here we established an [CO₂] enrichment experiment in which three wheat genotypes were grown at ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (550 ppm) [CO₂] and exposed to well-watered and drought conditions in two glasshouse rooms in two replicates. Leaf transpiration (T_r) and latent heat flux (LE) were derived to assess evaporative cooling, and RUE was calculated from assimilation and radiation measurements on several dates along the season. Simultaneous hyperspectral and thermal images were taken at $~$1.5 m from the plants to derive PRI and the temperature difference between the leaf and its surrounding air ($∆$T_leaf−air). We found significant PRI and RUE and $∆$T_leaf−air and T_r correlations, with no significant differences among the genotypes. A PRI–RUE decoupling was observed under drought at ambient [CO₂] but not at elevated [CO₂], likely due to changes in photorespiration. For a LE range of 350 W m^–2, the ΔT_leaf−air range was $~$10°C at ambient [CO₂] and only $~$4°C at elevated [CO₂]. Thicker leaves in plants grown at elevated [CO₂] suggest higher leaf water content and consequently more efficient thermoregulation at high [CO₂] conditions. In general, T_leaf was maintained closer to the ambient temperature at elevated [CO₂], even under drought. PRI, RUE, ΔT_leaf−air, and T_r decreased linearly with canopy depth, displaying a single PRI-RUE and ΔT_leaf−air T_r model through the canopy layers. Our study shows the utility of these sensing metrics in detecting wheat responses to future environmental changes.