Horticulture meets the periodic table: a century of elemental research

Not only is 2019 the 100th anniversary of the Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, but to celebrate 150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev formally proposed the system of organising the chemical elements it is also the International Year of the Periodic table of Chemical Elements. This Centenary Review highlights work that has been published in this journal across its full history, illustrating how horticultural research involving the chemical elements of the periodic table has evolved over the past 100 years. The development of understanding of mineral nutrition is particularly highlighted, along with research through the century on crop protection and post-harvest spoilage prevention. More recent areas of research such as how mineral composition of horticultural crops affects the nutritional qualities of our food as well as investigations into bio-fortification are reviewed. How research into the importance of other elements such as silicon can mediate against environmental stressors is also included

The impact of hypoxia on the host-pathogen interaction between neutrophils and staphylococcus aureus

Neutrophils are key to host defence, and impaired neutrophil function predisposes to infection with an array of pathogens, with Staphylococcus aureus a common and sometimes life-threatening problem in this setting. Both infiltrating immune cells and replicating bacteria consume oxygen, contributing to the profound tissue hypoxia that characterises sites of infection. Hypoxia in turn has a dramatic effect on both neutrophil bactericidal function and the properties of S. aureus, including the production of virulence factors. Hypoxia thereby shapes the host–pathogen interaction and the progression of infection, for example promoting intracellular bacterial persistence, enabling local tissue destruction with the formation of an encaging abscess capsule, and facilitating the establishment and propagation of bacterial biofilms which block the access of host immune cells. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying host–pathogen interactions in the setting of hypoxia will enable better understanding of persistent and recalcitrant infections due to S. aureus and may uncover novel therapeutic targets and strategies

Predictors of training-related improvement in visuomotor performance in patients with multiple sclerosis: a behavioural and MRI study

Background: The development of tailored recovery-oriented strategies in multiple sclerosis requires early identification of an individual’s potential for functional recovery. Objective: To identify predictors of visuomotor performance improvements, a proxy of functional recovery, using a predictive statistical model that combines demographic, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Methods: Right-handed multiple sclerosis patients underwent baseline disability assessment and MRI of the brain structure, function and vascular health. They subsequently undertook 4 weeks of right upper limb visuomotor practice. Changes in performance with practice were our outcome measure. We identified predictors of improvement in a training set of patients using lasso regression; we calculated the best performing model in a validation set and applied this model to a test set. Results: Patients improved their visuomotor performance with practice. Younger age, better visuomotor abilities, less severe disease burden and concurrent use of preventive treatments predicted improvements. Neuroimaging localised outcome-relevant sensory motor regions, the microstructure and activity of which correlated with performance improvements. Conclusion: Initial characteristics, including age, disease duration, visuo-spatial abilities, hand dexterity, self-evaluated disease impact and the presence of disease-modifying treatments, can predict functional recovery in individual patients, potentially improving their clinical management and stratification in clinical trials. MRI is a correlate of outcome, potentially supporting individual prognosis

The effectiveness of early lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation for the treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma (EAGLE) : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Screening and classifying small-molecule inhibitors of amyloid formation using ion mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry

The search for therapeutic agents that bind specifically to precursor protein conformations and inhibit amyloid assembly is an important challenge. Identifying such inhibitors is difficult because many protein precursors of aggregation are partially folded or intrinsically disordered, which rules out structure-based design. Furthermore, inhibitors can act by a variety of mechanisms, including specific or nonspecific binding, as well as colloidal inhibition. Here we report a high-throughput method based on ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) that is capable of rapidly detecting small molecules that bind to amyloid precursors, identifying the interacting protein species and defining the mode of inhibition. Using this method we have classified a variety of small molecules that are potential inhibitors of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) aggregation or amyloid-beta 1-40 aggregation as specific, nonspecific, colloidal or non-interacting. We also demonstrate the ability of IMS-MS to screen for inhibitory small molecules in a 96-well plate format and use this to discover a new inhibitor of hIAPP amyloid assembly

Targeted Nasal Vaccination Provides Antibody-Independent Protection Against Staphylococcus aureus

Despite showing promise in preclinical models, anti-Staphylococcus aureus vaccines have failed in clinical trials. To date, approaches have focused on neutralizing/opsonizing antibodies; however, vaccines exclusively inducing cellular immunity have not been studied to formally test whether a cellular-only response can protect against infection. We demonstrate that nasal vaccination with targeted nanoparticles loaded with Staphylococcus aureus antigen protects against acute systemic S. aureus infection in the absence of any antigen-specific antibodies. These findings can help inform future developments in staphylococcal vaccine development and studies into the requirements for protective immunity against S. aureu

Relationships between dental appearance, self-esteem, socio-economic status, and oral health-related quality of life in UK schoolchildren: A 3-year cohort study.

Objectives: To examine the relationships between dental appearance, characteristics of the individual and their environment, and oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in young people over time. Methods: A total of 374 young people (122 boys, 252 girls) aged 11–12 years from seven different XX schools were recruited at baseline and 258 (78 boys, 180 girls) followed-up 3 years later, aged 14–15 years (69 per cent response rate). Participants completed a measure of OHQoL (CPQ11–14 ISF-16) and self-esteem (SE, CHQ-CF87). A clinical examination was undertaken, including clinician and self-assessed normative measures of need [Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN)] and dental caries. The Index of Multiple Deprivation was used to indicate socio-economic status (SES). Results: There was a general improvement between baseline and follow-up in the measures of malocclusion, as well as OHQoL. Multiple linear regression indicated that there were significant cross-sectional associations at baseline between OHQoL and SES (rho = −0.11; P = 0.006), SE (rho = −0.50; P < 0.001), and self-assessed IOTN (rho = 0.27; P < 0.001). There were significant longitudinal associations between the change in OHQoL and change in SE (rho = −0.46; P < 0.001) and change in the decayed, missing, or filled surfaces (rho = −0.24; P = 0.001). The mean improvement in the total CPQ11–14 ISF-16 score for those with a history of orthodontic treatment was 3.2 (SD = 6.9; P = 0.009) and 2.4 (SD = 8.8; P < 0.001) for those with no history of treatment. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.584). Conclusions: OHQoL improved in young people over time, whether they gave a history of orthodontic treatment or not. Individual and environmental characteristics influence OHQoL and should be taken into account in future studies

A web-based intervention (RESTORE) to support self-management of cancer-related fatigue following primary cancer treatment: a multi-centre proof of concept randomised controlled trial

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a frequent and distressing symptom experienced after cancer treatment. RESTORE is the first web-based resource designed to enhance self-efficacy to manage CRF following curative-intent treatment. The aim of this study is to test the proof of concept and inform the design of an effectiveness trial. Methods: A multi-centre parallel-group two-armed (1:1) exploratory randomised controlled trial (RCT) with qualitative process evaluation was employed in the study. Participants (≥18 years; ≤5 years post treatment with moderate to severe fatigue) were recruited and randomly assigned to RESTORE or a leaflet. Feasibility and acceptability were measured by recruitment, attrition, intervention adherence, completion of outcome measures and process evaluation. Change in self-efficacy to manage CRF was also explored. Outcome measures were completed at baseline (T0), 6 weeks (T1) and 12 weeks (T2). Data were analysed using mixed-effects linear regression and directed content analysis. Results: One hundred and sixty-three people participated in the trial and 19 in the process evaluation. The intervention was feasible (39 % of eligible patients consented) and acceptable (attrition rate 36 %). There was evidence of higher fatigue self-efficacy at T1 in the intervention group vs comparator (mean difference 0.51 [−0.08 to 1.11]), though the difference in groups decreased by 12 weeks. Time since diagnosis influenced perceived usefulness of the intervention. Modifications were suggested. Conclusion: Proof of concept was achieved. The RESTORE intervention should be subject to a definitive trial with some adjustments. Provision of an effective supportive resource would empower cancer survivors to manage CRF after treatment completion