Refining decomposition stage estimation: A study of seasonal insect composition and carcass weight change

In this study, we explore the interplay of seasonal insect assemblages and carcass weight change to refine the estimation of minimum post-mortem interval (PMI_min), a key variable in forensic investigations. By integrating these parameters, we shed light on their combined influence on decomposition stages, thus paving the way for a more robust method of PMI_min estimation. Our approach relies on rigorous field studies examining pig carcasses across spring, summer and autumn, with comprehensive measurements of carcass weight and detailed documentation of insect succession. We observed distinct insect assemblages and weight-change trends characteristic of each season, underlining the influence of seasonal variability on decomposition dynamics. To further enhance the reliability of our model, we combined the novel parameter of carcass weight change with the conventional total body score (TBS) method, ensuring a more objective assessment of decomposition stages. Although our study indicates promising advancements, it also acknowledges the limitations of using a single pig carcass per season, suggesting future research should incorporate larger sample sizes.     

Missense Variants Reveal Functional Insights Into the Human ARID Family of Gene Regulators

Missense variants are alterations to protein coding sequences that result in amino acid substitutions. They can be deleterious if the amino acid is required for maintaining structure or/and function, but are likely to be tolerated at other sites. Consequently, missense variation within a healthy population can mirror the effects of negative selection on protein structure and function, such that functional sites on proteins are often depleted of missense variants. Advances in high-throughput sequencing have dramatically increased the sample size of available human variation data, allowing for population-wide analysis of selective pressures. In this study, we developed a convenient set of tools, called 1D-to-3D, for visualizing the positions of missense variants on protein sequences and structures. We used these tools to characterize human homologues of the ARID family of gene regulators. ARID family members are implicated in multiple cancer types, developmental disorders, and immunological diseases but current understanding of their mechanistic roles is incomplete. Combined with phylogenetic and structural analyses, our approach allowed us to characterise sites important for protein-protein interactions, histone modification recognition, and DNA binding by the ARID proteins. We find that comparing missense depletion patterns among paralogs can reveal sub-functionalization at the level of domains. We propose that visualizing missense variants and their depletion on structures can serve as a valuable tool for complementing evolutionary and experimental findings.     

Bone Mineral Density in Pituitary Stalk Interruption Syndrome: The Role of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and Testosterone at Different Skeletal Sites

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the clinical indicators influencing bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and femoral neck in patients with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) who underwent multiple hormone replacement therapy (MHRT).MethodsMale patients with PSIS (n = 51) who underwent MHRT for at least 1 year were enrolled in this study. Their BMD parameters were recorded and compared with age-, weight-, and height-matched control adults. In addition, we performed multiple linear regression analysis to correlate clinical parameters with BMD parameters at 2 different sites.ResultsFifty-one patients with PSIS had a mean age of 30.39 ± 5.50 years. After 36 months of treatment, patients with PSIS who underwent MHRT had slightly lower BMD than those in the control group. Multiple linear regression models revealed a positive association between the Z-score values for the lumbar spine with treatment duration (r = 0.453, P < .001), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) standard deviation score (SDS) values (r = 0.248, P = .038), and total testosterone level (r = 0.260, P = .036) and a positive association between the Z-score values for the femoral neck with treatment duration (r = 0.425, P < .001) and IGF-1 SDS values (r = 0.338, P = .009).ConclusionCollectively, long-term MHRT improves bone density in patients with PSIS to the normal range. A combination of recombinant human growth hormone replacement is more beneficial to the BMD than non–recombinant human growth hormone treatment. Moreover, serum IGF-1 contributes to femoral and lumbar mineralization, whereas serum testosterone plays a role in lumbar mineralization.     

SOD mimics: From the tool box of the chemists to cellular studies

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are metalloproteins that protect cells against oxidative stress by controlling the concentration of superoxide (O₂⁻) through catalysis of its dismutation. The activity of superoxide dismutases can be mimicked by low-molecular-weight complexes having potential therapeutic applications. This review presents recent strategies for designing efficient SOD mimics, from molecular metal complexes to nanomaterials. Studies of these systems in cells reveal that some SOD mimics, designed to react directly with superoxide, may also indirectly enhance the cellular antioxidant arsenal. Finally, a good understanding of the bioactivity requires information on the cell-penetration, speciation, and subcellular location of the SOD mimics: we will describe recent studies and new techniques that open opportunities for characterizing SOD mimics in biological environments.     

Detecting the footprints of divergent selection in oaks with linked markers

Genome scans are increasingly used to study ecological speciation, providing a useful genome-wide perspective on divergent selection in the presence of gene flow. Here, we compare current approaches to detect footprints of divergent selection in closely related species. We analyzed 192 individuals from two interfertile European temperate oak species using 30 nuclear microsatellites from eight linkage groups. These markers present little intraspecific differentiation and can be used in combination to assign individual genotypes to species. We first show that different outlier detection tests give somewhat different results, possibly due to model constraints. Second, using linkage information for these markers, we further characterize the signature of divergent selection in the presence of gene flow. In particular, we show that recombination estimates for regions with outlier markers are lower than those for a control region, in line with a prediction from ecological speciation theory. Most importantly, we show that analyses at the haplotype level can distinguish between truly divergent (bi-directional) selection and positive selection in one of the two species, offering a new and improved method for characterizing the speciation process.     

The genetics of neuroticism and human values

Human values and personality have been shown to share genetic variance in twin studies. However, there is a lack of evidence about the genetic components of this association. This study examined the interplay between genes, values and personality in the case of neuroticism, because polygenic scores were available for this personality trait. First, we replicated prior evidence of a positive association between the polygenic neuroticism score (PNS) and neuroticism. Second, we found that the PNS was significantly associated with the whole human value space in a sinusoidal waveform that was consistent with Schwartz's circular model of human values. These results suggest that it is useful to consider human values in the analyses of genetic contributions to personality traits. They also pave the way for an investigation of the biological mechanisms contributing to human value orientations.     

Impact of the Time-Weighted Average Glucose Concentration and Diabetes on In-Hospital Mortality in Critically Ill Patients Older Than 75 Years: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of diabetes and hyperglycemia on in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients older than 75 years.MethodsThis was a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients older than 75 years in the first intensive care unit stay. The patients were divided into the following 4 groups: time-weighted average glucose (TWAG) <140 mg/dL without diabetes (group 1), TWAG ≥140 mg/dL without diabetes (group 2), TWAG <180 mg/dL with diabetes (group 3), and TWAG ≥180 mg/dL with diabetes (group 4). Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed.ResultsA total of 6760 patients over 75 years of age were included, including 2089 patients previously diagnosed with diabetes. The patients in group 2 had the highest in-hospital mortality (27.4%). In the fully adjusted regression model, the risk of in-hospital mortality increased by 76% (odds ratio = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.49-2.08) in group 2 as compared with group 1. Those from groups 3 and 4 exhibited risks equivalent to the risks of those in group 1; similar results were observed in the subgroup analysis. A J-shaped curve relationship and threshold effect were observed in patients without diabetes. For those with diabetes, a flatter curve pattern with a small slope was observed.ConclusionStress hyperglycemia was more detrimental to short-term prognosis than diabetes status in these patients. Looser glucose control may be suitable for patients older than 75 years with diabetes but unnecessary for those without diabetes. Patients with diabetes may be more resistant to the detrimental effects of glucose variations.     

Risk Factors of Thyroid Eye Disease

ObjectiveTo examine risk factors that might be associated with thyroid eye disease (TED) in patients with Graves’ disease (GD), which may guide physicians in the prevention and management of TED.MethodsMedline and Embase were searched for articles discussing risk factors of TED. Comparisons were made between GD patients with and without TED, and between active and inactive TED GD patients. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and odds ratios (ORs) were determined for continuous and dichotomous outcomes, respectively. Results were pooled with random effects using the DerSimonian and Laird model.ResultsFifty-six articles were included in the analysis. Smoking, inclusive of current and previous smoking status, was a significant risk factor for TED (OR: 2.401; CI: 1.958-2.945; P < .001). Statistical significance was found upon meta-regression between male sex and the odds of smoking and TED (β = 1.195; SE = 0.436; P = .013). Other risk factors were also examined, and patients with TED were significantly older than those without TED (WMD: 1.350; CI: 0.328-2.372; P = .010). While both age (WMD: 5.546; CI: 3.075-8.017; P < .001) and male sex (OR: 1.819; CI: 1.178-2.808; P = .007) were found to be significant risk factors for active TED patients compared to inactive TED patients, no statistical significance was found for family history, thyroid status, cholesterol levels, or body mass index.ConclusionFactors such as smoking, sex, and age predispose GD patients to TED, and TED patients to active TED. A targeted approach in the management of GD and TED is required to reduce the modifiable risk factor of smoking.