Sex differences in the immune response to acute COVID-19 respiratory tract infection

Determine if sex differences exist in clinical characteristics and outcomes of adults hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a US healthcare system. Case series study. Sequentially hospitalized adults admitted for COVID-19 at two tertiary care academic hospitals in New Orleans, LA, between 27 February and 15 July 2020. Measures included demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, and laboratory results. Outcomes included intensive care unit admission (ICU), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and in-hospital death. We included 776 patients (median age 60.5 years; 61.4% women, 75% non-Hispanic Black). Rates of ICU, IMV, and death were similar in both sexes. In women versus men, obesity (63.8 vs 41.6%, P < 0.0001), hypertension (77.6 vs 70.1%, P = 0.02), diabetes (38.2 vs 31.8%, P = 0.06), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 22.1 vs 15.1%, P = 0.015), and asthma (14.3 vs 6.9%, P = 0.001) were more prevalent. More women exhibited dyspnea (61.2 vs 53.7%, P = 0.04), fatigue (35.7 vs 28.5%, P = 0.03), and digestive symptoms (39.3 vs 32.8%, P = 0.06) than men. Obesity was associated with IMV at a lower BMI (> 35) in women, but the magnitude of the effect of morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40) was similar in both sexes. COPD was associated with ICU (adjusted OR (aOR), 2.6; 95%CI, 1.5–4.3) and IMV (aOR, 1.8; 95%CI, 1.2–3.1) in women only. Diabetes (aOR, 2.6; 95%CI, 1.2–2.9), chronic kidney disease (aOR, 2.2; 95%CI, 1.3–5.2), elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (aOR, 2.5; 95%CI, 1.4–4.3), and elevated ferritin (aOR, 3.6; 95%CI, 1.7–7.3) were independent predictors of death in women only. In contrast, elevated D-dimer was an independent predictor of ICU (aOR, 7.3; 95%CI, 2.7–19.5), IMV (aOR, 6.5; 95%CI, 2.1–20.4), and death (aOR, 4.5; 95%CI, 1.2–16.4) in men only. This study highlights sex disparities in clinical determinants of severe outcomes in COVID-19 patients that may inform management and prevention strategies to ensure gender equity.     

Alpha (1,2)-Fucosyltransferase M307A Polymorphism Improves Piglet Survival

To confirm the beneficial effects of alpha (1,2)-fucosyltransferase (FUT1) M307 ^A on piglet survival on commercial farms, we performed PCR-RFLP analysis of FUT1 M307 in successfully marketed (n = 245) and disease affected/deceased pigs during weaning (n = 252) at a commercial farm. We also evaluated the FUT1 genotypes of 190 healthy pigs from three different genetic backgrounds. The distribution of genotypes differed between the successfully marketed and disease affected/deceased pig groups. The frequency of the A allele, associated with resistance to edema and post-weaning diarrhea, was higher in the post-weaning survival group (0.21) than in the non-survival group (0.16, P < 0.05). The odds ratio for piglet survival between AA and GG genotypes was 1.98; thus, piglet survival for individuals with the AA genotype was almost two-fold greater than for GG individuals. The FUT1 gene polymorphism can be used as an effective marker for selection programs to improve post-weaning piglet survival.     

Induction of the Differentiation of HL-60 Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells by l-Ascorbic Acid

The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of l-ascorbic acid (LAA) on the growth of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, besides induction of apoptosis. LAA (≥10^-4?M) was found to markedly inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 in liquid culture and clonogenicity in semisolid culture. Moreover, LAA-treated HL-60 showed activity to produce chemiluminescence and expressed CD 66b cell surface antigens, indicating that LAA induces the differentiation of HL-60 mainly into granulocytes. The results are supported by morphological changes of LAA-treated HL-60 into segmented neutrophils. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of LAA on the growth of HL-60 cells seems to arise from the induction of differentiation. To assess the potential role of LAA, cells were exposed to oxygen radical scavengers in the absence or presence of LAA. Catalase abolished and superoxide dismutase promoted LAA-induced differentiation of HL-60. Thus, H²O² produced as a result of LAA treatment seems to play a major role in induction of HL-60 differentiation.     

Risk Assessment of the Abandoned Jukjeon Metal Mine in South Korea Following the Korean Guidelines

Toxic metal contamination in the vicinity of Korean abandoned metal mines has been reported. A risk assessment for these metals was performed for the inhabitants in the area of the abandoned Jukjeon metal mine. Soil, groundwater, and crop samples were collected around the mine. After pretreatment of these samples, metal concentrations were measured and then a risk assessment was performed using the Korean soil-contamination risk assessment guidelines. Phytoaccumulation of metals in crops was observed in soybeans (As and Zn), red peppers (Zn), sweet potatoes (As and Zn), and cabbage (Cu), which had higher metal concentrations than soils in the area. The metal intake rate was highest for inhalation of soil. Cancer risk was highest from ingestion of As-contaminated crops. The sum of carcinogenic risks was 6.29 × 10^–3. The non-carcinogenic risk was highest for ingestion of As-contaminated crops (8.17). Most of the risks were attributable to As, Pb, and Hg contamination, therefore these three metals must be considered as the principal metals toxic to human health in the sampled area. In particular, the inhalation of metal-contaminated soil should be considered for risk assessment along with ingestion of water and crops in abandoned mine areas.     

Isolation and characterization of BTEX tolerant and degrading Pseudomonas putida BCNU 106

Bacterial strains growing in river sediments were screened to identify an organic solvent-tolerant strain of Pseudomonas. Using this screen, Pseudomonas sp. BCNU 106 was isolated on the basis of its ability to grow on benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and three xylene isomers, o-, m- and p-xylene, as its sole carbon source. BCNU 106 was identified as a gram-negative, rod-shaped aerobic and mesophilic bacterium, which grew in liquid media containing high concentrations of organic solvents. 16S rDNA analysis classified BCNU 106 as a new member of the genus Pseudomonas. BCNU 106 was distinguishable from other Pseudomonas strains that are tolerant to organic solvents in that the isolate had the ability to utilize all three xylene isomers as well as benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene. The unique properties of the isolate such as solvent-tolerance and the ability to degrade xylene isomers may have important implications for the efficient treatment of solvent wastes.     

Molecular identity,morphology and taxonomy of the Rhynchospio glutaea complex with a key to Rhynchospio species (Annelida,Spionidae)

Rhynchospio glutaea (Ehlers, 1897 Ehlers, E. 1897. Polychaeten. Ergebnisse der Hamburger Magalhaensischen Sammelreise 1892/93. L. Friederichsen & Co., Hamburg, Germany. [Google Scholar]), Rhynchospio arenincola Hartman, 1936 Hartman, O. 1936. New species of Spionidae (Annelida Polychaeta) from the coast of California. University of California Publications in Zoology 41, 45–52. [Google Scholar] and Rhynchospio arenincola asiatica Chlebovitsch, 1959 Chlebovitsch, V.V. 1959. Species of Polychaeta worms from the Kurile Islands, which are new or recorded for the first time in the USSR fauna. Zoologichesky Zhurnal 38, 167–181. [Google Scholar], originally described from Strait of Magellan, California, and South Kurile Islands respectively, appear similar to each other in adult morphology. These species and subspecies have been considered by some authors as subjective synonyms and are here referred to as members of the R. glutaea complex. Sequence data of four gene fragments (2465 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 18S and 28S rDNA, and Histone 3 have shown that R. glutaea complex individuals from the South West Atlantic (Argentina), North East Pacific (British Columbia and Oregon) and North West Pacific (South Korea) were genetically distant and not conspecific. These data also indicate that R. arenincola from North America and R. aff. asiatica from South Korea are more closely related to each other, and both are closer to R. glutaea from South America than to R. nhatrangi from Vietnam: nhatrangi (glutaea (arenincola-aff. asiatica)). Adults of the R. glutaea complex are hermaphrodites and the arrangement of gametes is suggested to be a crucial reproductive character for distinguishing these species. Based on this character, two species of the complex are apparent in the North West Pacific: R. asiatica Chlebovitsch, 1959 Chlebovitsch, V.V. 1959. Species of Polychaeta worms from the Kurile Islands, which are new or recorded for the first time in the USSR fauna. Zoologichesky Zhurnal 38, 167–181. [Google Scholar] stat. nov. from the Kurile Islands (not analysed here) and an unnamed species from the mainland coast of Asia (here referred to as R. aff. asiatica). Adult morphology of R. asiatica stat. nov. is briefly described and illustrated. The lectotype and the type locality of the species on Iturup Is. are established for the first time. An identification key is provided to the 10 currently recognized Rhynchospio species.     

Reduction of Nitrate in Agricultural Soils by Bio-electrokinetics

High nitrate concentration in surface soils is a serious concern for the agricultural industry throughout the world. Nitrate reduction can be achieved by chemical or biological processes; however, these processes are difficult to achieve in-situ because of the low permeability of clays. This study evaluates bio-electrokinetic processes for nitrate treatment in low-permeability soils. The concept is based on using iron electrodes to generate an electric field and a reducing environment in the soil to facilitate nitrate reduction by existing bacteria. Experiments were conducted using starch as an additive for microbial activity in the anolyte. Three sets of experiments were conducted under 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 V cm^?1 voltage gradient, and using starch as an anolyte for enhancing existing microbial activity in the soil. Initial nitrate concentration in the soil (agricultural soil collected from Jinju, Korea) was between 782 and 800 mg kg^?1. Removal of 100% nitrate was achieved in the soil under 0.5 and 1.0 V cm^?1 due to the combined effect of biological and iron reduction. A control experiment with iron electrodes, but without starch, was not as effective. Ammonium was also effectively removed by the combined action of starch and iron under 0.5 and 1.0 V cm^?1. The role of starch with iron on the nitrate and ammonium removal process is evaluated along with the role of transport by electro-osmosis and electro-migration. The bacterial action on denitrification and nitrification is assessed and the relationship between pH and the efficiency of nitrate reduction in the bio-EK systems is evaluated.