Stem Cell Transplantation in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that causes substantial morbidity and mortality and for which no treatments are available. Stem cells offer some promise in the restoration of neurological function. We used systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression to study the impact of stem cell biology and experimental design on motor and sensory outcomes following stem cell treatments in animal models of SCI. One hundred and fifty-six publications using 45 different stem cell preparations met our prespecified inclusion criteria. Only one publication used autologous stem cells. Overall, allogeneic stem cell treatment appears to improve both motor (effect size, 27.2%; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 25.0%–29.4%; 312 comparisons in 5,628 animals) and sensory (effect size, 26.3%; 95% CI, 7.9%–44.7%; 23 comparisons in 473 animals) outcome. For sensory outcome, most heterogeneity between experiments was accounted for by facets of stem cell biology. Differentiation before implantation and intravenous route of delivery favoured better outcome. Stem cell implantation did not appear to improve sensory outcome in female animals and appeared to be enhanced by isoflurane anaesthesia. Biological plausibility was supported by the presence of a dose–response relationship. For motor outcome, facets of stem cell biology had little detectable effect. Instead most heterogeneity could be explained by the experimental modelling and the outcome measure used. The location of injury, method of injury induction, and presence of immunosuppression all had an impact. Reporting of measures to reduce bias was higher than has been seen in other neuroscience domains but were still suboptimal. Motor outcomes studies that did not report the blinded assessment of outcome gave inflated estimates of efficacy. Extensive recent preclinical literature suggests that stem-cell–based therapies may offer promise, however the impact of compromised internal validity and publication bias mean that efficacy is likely to be somewhat lower than reported here.     

Effects of X-Ray Dose On Rhizosphere Studies Using X-Ray Computed Tomography

X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) is a non-destructive imaging technique originally designed for diagnostic medicine, which was adopted for rhizosphere and soil science applications in the early 1980s. X-ray CT enables researchers to simultaneously visualise and quantify the heterogeneous soil matrix of mineral grains, organic matter, air-filled pores and water-filled pores. Additionally, X-ray CT allows visualisation of plant roots in situ without the need for traditional invasive methods such as root washing. However, one routinely unreported aspect of X-ray CT is the potential effect of X-ray dose on the soil-borne microorganisms and plants in rhizosphere investigations. Here we aimed to i) highlight the need for more consistent reporting of X-ray CT parameters for dose to sample, ii) to provide an overview of previously reported impacts of X-rays on soil microorganisms and plant roots and iii) present new data investigating the response of plant roots and microbial communities to X-ray exposure. Fewer than 5% of the 126 publications included in the literature review contained sufficient information to calculate dose and only 2.4% of the publications explicitly state an estimate of dose received by each sample. We conducted a study involving rice roots growing in soil, observing no significant difference between the numbers of root tips, root volume and total root length in scanned versus unscanned samples. In parallel, a soil microbe experiment scanning samples over a total of 24 weeks observed no significant difference between the scanned and unscanned microbial biomass values. We conclude from the literature review and our own experiments that X-ray CT does not impact plant growth or soil microbial populations when employing a low level of dose (<30 Gy). However, the call for higher throughput X-ray CT means that doses that biological samples receive are likely to increase and thus should be closely monitored.     

Life history parameters and diet of Risso's dolphins,Grampus griseus,from southeastern South Africa

The life history of Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) remains poorly known and data from strandings can help provide important information. Data from 126 Risso's dolphins stranded or bycaught along the southeastern coastline of South Africa between 1958 and 2017 were analyzed in relation to their sex, age structure, and diet. Mean estimated length at birth was 146.9 cm, while maximum length was 325 cm for males and 313 cm for females; small sample sizes precluded detailed examination of sexual dimorphism. Age estimates for 33 individuals (14 males, 17 females, 2 unknown sex) indicated a maximum age of 13 years (males) and 17 years (females), respectively; the oldest animal was 19 years (unknown sex). Mean length and age at attainment of sexual maturity were estimated at 280 cm and 7.1 years in males and at 282 cm and 7.7 years in females. Stomach contents from 27 individuals showed that diets of immature and mature males and females overlapped and consisted predominantly of cephalopods. Reported strandings decreased between 2000 and 2017, possibly due to a lack of reporting associated with a ban on driving on beaches or related to the collapse of the local “chokka” squid (Loligo reynaudii) fishery in 2014–2015.     

Records of fishes from the West Norfolk Ridge,north-west of New Zealand

Abstract

A total of 89 species of elasmobranch and teleost fish was recorded from the West Norfolk Ridge in 1986. Between 50 and 60 of these have not previously been reported from the area. Fish species were caught in bottom trawls at depths between 100 m and 1100 m, principally on the Wanganella Bank. Depth distribution is discussed. Species composition is very similar to that of northern New Zealand.     

Quantifying the effect of soil moisture content on segmenting root system architecture in X-ray computed tomography images

Aims

A commonly accepted challenge when visualising plant roots in X-ray micro Computed Tomography (μCT) images is the similar X-ray attenuation of plant roots and soil phases. Soil moisture content remains a recognised, yet currently uncharacterised source of segmentation error. This work sought to quantify the effect of soil moisture content on the ability to segment roots from soil in μCT images.

Methods

Rice (Oryza sativa) plants grown in contrasting soils (loamy sand and clay loam) were μCT scanned daily for nine days whilst drying from saturation. Root volumes were segmented from μCT images and compared with volumes derived by root washing.

Results

At saturation the overlapping attenuation values of root material, water-filled soil pores and soil organic matter significantly hindered segmentation. However, in dry soil (ca. six days of drying post-saturation) the air-filled pores increased image noise adjacent to roots and impeded accurate visualisation of root material. The root volume was most accurately segmented at field capacity.

Conclusions

Root volumes can be accurately segmented from μCT images of undisturbed soil without compromising the growth requirements of the plant providing soil moisture content is kept at field capacity. We propose all future studies in this area should consider the error associated with scanning at different soil moisture contents.     

Foreword: bacterial homologues of eukaryotic membrane proteins

Abstract

Human lipocalin-1 interacting membrane receptor (LIMR) was the first lipocalin receptor to be identified, as a specific receptor for lipocalin-1 (Lcn1). Subsequently LIMR has been reported to interact with other ligands as well, notably with the bovine lipocalin β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and with the unrelated secretoglobin uteroglobin (UG). To study the ligand-binding behaviour of this prototypic lipocalin receptor in more detail, a system was developed for the recombinant expression of LIMR in Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cells, and for the subsequent solubilization and purification of the protein. The receptor forms dimers or larger oligomers when solubilized in n-dodecyl β-D-maltoside (DDM). The full-length, functional receptor was captured onto a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) chip via an α-V5 antibody, and the binding of various potential ligands was followed in time. In this way, LIMR was shown to be highly specific for Lcn1, binding the lipocalin with low micromolar to high nanomolar affinity. No interactions with any of the other putative ligands could be detected, raising doubts about the physiological relevance of the reported binding of BLG and UG to the receptor.     

Assessment of the potential iridology for diagnosing kidney disease using wavelet analysis and neural networks

Alternative or complementary medicine emphasizes therapies that are claimed to improve quality of life, prevent disease, and address conditions that conventional medicine has limited success in curing. There are many techniques which are prevalent in many countries and these can cause harm if not scientifically evaluated. The objective of this paper is to validate the use of iridology to diagnose kidney abnormalities. Two subject groups were evaluated: one was 168 subjects free from kidney disease and the other was 172 subjects with chronic renal failure. The procedure to acquire, process and classify the iris images was designed in such a way that avoids any dependency on the iridologists by using wavelet analysis and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System. The results show a correct classification for both subjects with kidney problems and normal subjects of 82% and 93%, respectively. The proposed technique conducted on a systemic disease with ocular manifestations showed encouraging results. However, it is necessary to perform extensive studies with diseases that do not have ocular manifestations according to conventional medicine in order to validate iridology as a valid scientific technique.     

Chromosome Painting in Three Species of Buteoninae: A Cytogenetic Signature Reinforces the Monophyly of South American Species

Buteoninae (Falconiformes, Accipitridae) consist of the widely distributed genus Buteo, and several closely related species in a group called “sub-buteonine hawks”, such as Buteogallus, Parabuteo, Asturina, Leucopternis and Busarellus, with unsolved phylogenetic relationships. Diploid number ranges between 2n = 66 and 2n = 68. Only one species, L. albicollis had its karyotype analyzed by molecular cytogenetics. The aim of this study was to present chromosomal analysis of three species of Buteoninae: Rupornis magnirostris, Asturina nitida and Buteogallus meridionallis using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments with telomeric and rDNA probes, as well as whole chromosome probes derived from Gallus gallus and Leucopternis albicollis. The three species analyzed herein showed similar karyotypes, with 2n = 68. Telomeric probes showed some interstitial telomeric sequences, which could be resulted by fusion processes occurred in the chromosomal evolution of the group, including the one found in the tassociation GGA1p/GGA6. In fact, this association was observed in all the three species analyzed in this paper, and also in L. albicollis, suggesting that it represents a cytogenetic signature which reinforces the monophyly of Neotropical buteoninae species.     

Predicting 7-Day Survival Using Heart Rate Variability in Hospice Patients with Non-Lung Cancers

Background

A simple and accurate survival prediction tool can facilitate decision making processes for hospice patients with advanced cancers. The objectives of this study were to explore the association of cardiac autonomic functions and survival in patients with advanced cancer and to evaluate the prognostic value of heart rate variability (HRV) in 7-day survival prediction.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted on 138 patients with advanced cancer recruited from the hospice ward of a regional hospital in southern Taiwan. Information on functional status and symptom burden of the patients was recorded. Frequency-domain HRV was obtained for the evaluation of cardiac autonomic functions at admission. The end point of the study was defined as the survival status at day 7 after admission to the hospice ward. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the independent associations between HRV indices and survival of 7 days or less.

Results

The median survival time of the patients was 20 days (95% CI, 17–28 days). Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the natural logarithm-transformed high-frequency power (lnHFP) of a value less than 2 (OR = 3.8, p = 0.008) and ECOG performance status of 3 or 4 (OR = 3.4, p = 0.023) were significantly associated with a higher risk of survival of 7 days or less. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61–0.81).

Conclusions

In hospice patients with non-lung cancers, an lnHPF value below 2 at hospice admission was significantly associated with survival of 7 days or less. HRV might be used as a non-invasive and objective tool to facilitate medical decision making by improving the accuracy in survival prediction.