Comparative skull analysis suggests species-specific captivity-related malformation in lions (Panthera leo)

Lion (Panthera leo) populations have dramatically decreased worldwide with a surviving population estimated at 32,000 across the African savannah. Lions have been kept in captivity for centuries and, although they reproduce well, high rates of stillbirths as well as morbidity and mortality of neonate and young lions are reported. Many of these cases are associated with bone malformations, including foramen magnum (FM) stenosis and thickened tentorium cerebelli. The precise causes of these malformations and whether they are unique to captive lions remain unclear. To test whether captivity is associated with FM stenosis, we evaluated 575 lion skulls of wild (N = 512) and captive (N = 63) origin. Tiger skulls (N = 276; 56 captive, 220 wild) were measured for comparison. While no differences were found between males and females or between subadults and adults in FM height (FMH), FMH of captive lions (17.36±3.20 mm) was significantly smaller and with greater variability when compared to that in wild lions (19.77±2.11 mm). There was no difference between wild (18.47±1.26 mm) and captive (18.56±1.64 mm) tigers in FMH. Birth origin (wild vs. captive) as a factor for FMH remained significant in lions even after controlling for age and sex. Whereas only 20/473 wild lions (4.2%) had FMH equal to or smaller than the 5th percentile of the wild population (16.60 mm), this was evident in 40.4% (23/57) of captive lion skulls. Similar comparison for tigers found no differences between the captive and wild populations. Lions with FMH equal to or smaller than the 5th percentile had wider skulls with smaller cranial volume. Cranial volume remained smaller in both male and female captive lions when controlled for skull size. These findings suggest species- and captivity-related predisposition for the pathology in lions.Scopu

Children with Intestinal Failure Maintain Their Renal Function on Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition

Background: Long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) has been associated with renal complications, including hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, proteinuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Pediatric data are scarce and mostly short-term. Our study aimed to evaluate renal complications in children with intestinal failure (IF) receiving long-term PN. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary pediatric IF clinic of patients receiving home-PN treatment for more than 1 year. Data regarding medical background, anthropometrics, laboratory investigations and abdominal sonography were retrieved. Results: Complete data were available for 15 children (67% males), with a median age of 6 (range 1.5–15) years and a median (IQR) PN duration of 4 (1.5–6) years. Low-grade proteinuria was identified in 61% and microalbuminuria in 30% of the cohort. Hypercalciuria and hyperoxaluria were present in 50% and 46%, respectively. One patient had nephrocalcinosis. The estimated GFR was normal in all but one patient who had pre-existing kidney disease. Conclusions: Pediatric IF patients can present with preserved kidney function after years of PN treatment. Despite the high prevalence of hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis was not common. Base line and long-term monitoring of various aspects of renal function would be essential to characterize the effects of prolonged PN on kidney functions in pediatric patients

Dietary habits change of Lessepsian migrants’ fish from the Red Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

As impacts on the Mediterranean Sea are expected to grow in the future, especially with climate change, habitat degradation, and displacement of native species by non-indigenous species (NIS), the investigation of significant alterations to trophic levels in this diverse marine habitat is important. Analysis of stable isotopes from targeted consumers has previously been shown to reliably reflect that of primary producers, thus enabling us to describe and highlight potential shifts in the food web of a particular ecosystem. In this study, we used δ13C values of essential amino acids (AA) in order to examine the dietary composition of established non-native, Lessepsian fish migrants in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea compared to that of the same fish species from their original population in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Our data show that a clear variance in carbon isotopic signatures exists in food sources consumed by the same species between the different environments, with the exception of the classic herbivore, Siganus rivulatus (Forsskål & Niebuhr, 1775), whose very similar isotopic patterns reflect the algal source they predominantly consume in both locations. With the results of this research, we propose that Lessepsian fishes with the ability to maintain their nutritional patterns, though not necessarily that of their original food source, will acclimatize better in their new habitat. Consequences of flourishing Lessepsian fish populations include a further tropicalization of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the likely restructuring of local food webs

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Hinder Cancer Cell Motility through Regulation of Microtubule and Actin Dynamics

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are noninvasive, alternating electric fields within the intermediate frequency range (100–300 kHz) that are utilized as an antimitotic cancer treatment. TTFields are loco-regionally delivered to the tumor region through 2 pairs of transducer arrays placed on the skin. This novel treatment modality has been FDA-approved for use in patients with glioblastoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma based on clinical trial data demonstrating efficacy and safety; and is currently under investigation in other types of solid tumors. TTFields were shown to induce an anti-mitotic effect by exerting bi-directional forces on highly polar intracellular elements, such as tubulin and septin molecules, eliciting abnormal microtubule polymerization during spindle formation as well as aberrant cleavage furrow formation. Previous studies have demonstrated that TTFields inhibit metastatic properties in cancer cells. However, the consequences of TTFields application on cytoskeleton dynamics remain undetermined. In this study, methods utilized in combination to study the effects of TTFields on cancer cell motility through regulation of microtubule and actin dynamics included confocal microscopy, computational tools, and biochemical analyses. Mechanisms by which TTFields treatment disrupted cellular polarity were (1) interference with microtubule assembly and directionality; (2) altered regulation of Guanine nucleotide exchange factor-H1 (GEF-H1), Ras homolog family member A (RhoA), and Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) activity; and (3) induced formation of radial protrusions of peripheral actin filaments and focal adhesions. Overall, these data identified discrete effects of TTFields that disrupt processes crucial for cancer cell motility

Two captive lion skull specimens.

<p><b>A</b>– A skull of an adult lion with a normal opening of the foramen magnum. <b>B</b> - Abnormal bone growth protruding down from the roof of the foramen magnum (asterisk) in a young adult lion. (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0094527#pone-0094527-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2A</a> courtesy of Mr. Tom Kouris).</p

Measurements of lion skulls with FM stenosis (FMH< = 16.60 mm) and those with larger FM opening, comparing males and females separately.

<p>Significantly different values in the same raw and within the same sex are marked with a superscript asterisk.</p><p>FMH  =  foramen magnum height, BT  =  basilar thickness</p><p>All comparisons were done using <i>T</i>-test:</p><p>a t = 2.284, <i>DF</i> = 159, <i>P</i> = 0.024</p><p>b t = 3.630, <i>DF</i> = 120, <i>P</i><0.001</p><p>c t = 1.339, <i>DF</i> = 72, <i>P</i> = 0.185</p><p>d t = 1.468, <i>DF</i> = 61, <i>P</i> = 0.147</p><p>e t = 3.283, <i>DF</i> = 265, <i>P</i> = 0.001</p><p>f t = 2.229, <i>DF</i> = 205, <i>P</i> = 0.027</p><p>g t = 1.826, <i>DF</i> = 192, <i>P</i> = 0.069</p><p>h t = 0.826, <i>DF</i> = 145, <i>P</i> = 0.410</p

Pearson Correlations between FMH and SL and between SL and SW in lions and tigers.

<p>FMH  =  foramen magnum height, SL  =  skull length, SW  =  skull width.</p