The effects of soil acidity on the age structure and age at sexual maturity of eastern red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) in hardwood forests of New Hampshire and Vermont

Acidic deposition resulting from emissions of sulfur and nitrogen has negatively impacted the hardwood forests of the northeastern United States, causing depletion of key nutrients such as calcium and chronic acidification of forest soil habitats. Strongly acidic habitats (pH \u3c 3.5) have long been considered lethal to eastern red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), but recent studies found that P. cinereus were abundant in hardwood forests with soil pH as low as 2.7 – a condition resulting from anthropogenic acid inputs. Although abundance of P. cinereus does not appear to be constrained by soil pH, I hypothesized that very acidic habitats would negatively impact the demographics of P. cinereus populations, including age distribution, growth rates, and age at sexual maturity. I analyzed demographic parameters of extant P. cinereus populations that were sampled in 2012 at four hardwood forests in NH and VT (USA) that ranged in soil/forest floor pH from 2.7 – 3.7. I determined the age of each P. cinereus using skeletochronology techniques to estimate population age structure, estimated growth curves for each population using the von Bertalanffy equation and Chapman’s method, and evaluated mean age at sexual maturity for each population. Overall, soil pH did not appear to strongly affect P. cinereus populations. However, the most acidic site (pH 2.7) had a greater proportion of juveniles to adults, suggesting that fewer juveniles survive to adulthood at soil pH \u3c 3.0. The mean age of sexually mature individuals was significantly higher at the most acidic site compared to least acidic site, but was not significantly different from the sites with intermediate pH sites. My results suggest that it is possible that P. cinereus populations have locally adapted to very acidic soils, but that demographic differences may reveal sensitivity of populations to this stressor. Further study of habitat pH and P. cinereus is warranted because these salamanders comprise a large portion of forest faunal biomass and play an key ecological role in nutrient cyclin

A Model to Predict Future Biologic or Targeted Synthetic DMARD Switch at a Subsequent Clinic Visit in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Introduction To understand factors leading to biologic switches and to develop a readily usable model with data collected in clinical care at preceding visits, with the overall aim to predict the probability of switching biologic at a subsequent clinic visit in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Participants were adults with RA participating in the CorEvitas RA registry. The study matched patients who switched biologics or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs) with control patients who had not switched biologics/tsDMARDs; the cohort was divided into a training and test set for prediction model development and validation. Using the training set, the best subset regression, lasso, and elastic net methods were used to determine the best potential models. Area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used for the final selection of the best model, and estimated coefficients of this model were applied to the test dataset to predict switching. Results A total of 5050 patients were included, of whom 3016 were in the training set and 2034 were in the test dataset. The average age was 59.6 years, the majority were female (3998, 79.2%), and the average duration of RA at the time of switch or control visit was 12.8 years. The final model included prior Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) by category, prior patient pain measurement, change in CDAI from baseline, age group, and number of prior biologics, all of which were significantly associated with switching biologics. The AUC was 0.690 for this model with the training dataset. The model was then applied to the test data with similar performance; the AUC was 0.687. Conclusion We have developed a simple model to determine the probability of switching biologics for RA at the following clinic visit. This model could be used in practice to provide clinicians with more information about their patient’s trajectory and likelihood of switching to a new biologic

A Cloud-Native Web Application for Assisted Metadata Generation and Retrieval: THESPIAN-NER

Within the context of the Competence Centre for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (4CH) project, the design and deployment of a platform-as-a-service cloud infrastructure for the first European competence centre of cultural heritage (CH) has begun, and some web services have been integrated into the platform. The first integrated service is the INFN-CHNet web application for FAIR storage of scientific analysis on CH: THESPIAN-Mask. It is based on CIDOC-CRM-compatible ontology and CRMhs, describing the scientific metadata. To ease the process of metadata generation and data injection, another web service has been developed: THESPIAN-NER. It is a tool based on a deep neural network for named entity recognition (NER), enabling users to upload their Italian-written report files and obtain labelled entities. Those entities are used as keywords either to serve as (semi)automatically custom queries for the database, or to fill (part of) the metadata form as a descriptor for the file to be uploaded. The services have been made freely available in the 4CH PaaS cloud platform

Protective effects of the melanocortin analog NDP-α-MSH in rats undergoing cardiac arrest

We previously reported that melanocortins afford cardioprotection in conditions of experimental myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, with involvement of the janus kinases (JAK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signalings. We investigated the influence of the melanocortin analog [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (NDP-α-MSH) on short-term detrimental responses to cardiac arrest (CA) induced in rats by intravenous (i.v.) administration of potassium chloride, followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus epinephrine treatment. In CA/CPR rats i.v. treated with epinephrine (0.1mg/kg) and returned to spontaneous circulation (48%) we recorded low values of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR), alteration of hemogasanalysis parameters, left ventricle low expression of the cardioprotective transcription factors pJAK2 and pTyr-STAT3 (JAK-dependent), increased oxidative stress, up-regulation of the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and down-regulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, as assessed at 1h and 3h after CPR. On the other hand, i.v. treatment during CPR with epinephrine plus NDP-α-MSH (340μg/kg) almost completely restored the basal conditions of MAP and HR, reversed metabolic acidosis, induced left ventricle up-regulation of pJAK2, pTyr-STAT3 and IL-10, attenuated oxidative stress, down-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 levels, and improved survival rate by 81%. CA/CPR plus epinephrine alone or in combination with NDP-α-MSH did not affect left ventricle pSer-STAT3 (ERK1/2-dependent) and pERK1/2 levels. These results indicate that melanocortins improve return to spontaneous circulation, reverse metabolic acidosis, and inhibit heart oxidative stress and inflammatory cascade triggered by CA/CPR, likely via activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway

Pleural Effusion in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Clinical and Prognostic Implications-An Observational, Retrospective Study

Background: COVID-19 presents with a wide spectrum of clinical and radiological manifestations, including pleural effusion. The prevalence and prognostic impact of pleural effusion are still not entirely clear. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective, single-center study including a population of consecutive patients admitted to the University Hospital of Cisanello (Pisa) from March 2020 to January 2021 with a positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab and SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia. The patients were divided into two populations based on the presence (n = 150) or absence (n = 515) of pleural effusion on chest CT scan, excluding patients with pre-existing pleural effusion. We collected laboratory data (hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin), worst PaO2/FiO(2) ratio as an index of respiratory gas exchange impairment, the extent of interstitial involvement related to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and data on intensity of care, length of stay and outcome (discharge or death). Results: The prevalence of pleural effusion was 23%. Patients with pleural effusion showed worse gas exchange (p < 0.001), longer average hospital stay (p < 0.001), need for more health care resources (p < 0.001) and higher mortality (p < 0.001) compared to patients without pleural effusion. By multivariate analysis, pleural effusion was found to be an independent negative prognostic factor compared with other variables such as increased C-reactive protein, greater extent of pneumonia and older age. Pleural effusion was present at the first CT scan in most patients (68%). Conclusions: Pleural effusion associated with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is a relatively frequent finding that is confirmed to be a negative prognostic factor. Identifying early prognostic factors in an endemic-prone disease such as COVID-19 is necessary to optimize its clinical management. Further clinical studies aimed at better characterizing pleural effusion in these patients will be appropriate in order to clarify its pathogenetic role

Transcriptome Analysis of Canine Cutaneous Melanoma and Melanocytoma Reveals a Modulation of Genes Regulating Extracellular Matrix Metabolism and Cell Cycle

Interactions between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment are considered critical in carcinogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. To examine transcriptome changes and to explore the relationship with tumor microenvironment in canine cutaneous melanocytoma and melanoma, we extracted RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens and analyzed them by means of RNA-seq for transcriptional analysis. Melanocytoma and melanoma samples were compared to detect differential gene expressions and significant enriched pathways were explored to reveal functional relations between differentially expressed genes. The study demonstrated a differential expression of 60 genes in melanomas compared to melanocytomas. The differentially expressed genes cluster in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, protein digestion and absorption, focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B) signaling pathways. Genes encoding for several collagen proteins were more commonly differentially expressed. Results of the RNA-seq were validated by qRT-PCR and protein expression of some target molecules was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry. We hypothesize that the developing melanoma actively promotes collagen metabolism and extracellular matrix remodeling as well as enhancing cell proliferation and survival contributing to disease progression and metastasis. In this study, we also detected unidentified genes in human melanoma expression studies and uncover new candidate drug targets for further testing in canine melanoma

Assessment of respiratory function and exercise tolerance at 4-6 months after COVID-19 infection in patients with pneumonia of different severity

The evaluation of COVID-19 systemic consequences is a wide research field in which respiratory function assessment has a pivotal role. However, the available data in the literature are still sparse and need further strengthening

Prevalenza di microalbuminuria e malattia renale cronica nei soggetti affetti da psoriasi

La psoriasi è una malattia infiammatoria cronica spesso associata a comorbidità quali l’artrite psoriasica, le malattie infiammatorie croniche intestinali, il diabete mellito, la dislipidemia, l’ipertensione, la steato-epatite non alcolica e la sindrome metabolica. Tuttavia, i dati sulla prevalenza di insufficienza renale e microalbuminuria sono limitati. 82 pazienti affetti da psoriasi sono stati sottoposti a prelievo ematico per la determinazione della creatinina sierica (sCr). La presenza di microalbuminuria su campione di urine del mattino è stata analizzata mediante metodo turbidimetrico. L’estensione e la severità della psoriasi è stata determinata mediante il PASI score. Sono stati utilizzati il test t di Student e il Test Chi quadro per il confronto dei dati; il valore p < 0.05 è stato considerato statisticamente significativo. 12 pazienti presentavano microalbuminuria positiva (> 30mg/g-creat); la prevalenza di microalbuminuria era pertanto 14.6%. I pazienti con microalbuminuria presentavano una psoriasi di più lunga durata (27.2 ± 11.8 vs 16.5 ± 12.1 anni; p = 0.005) and un eGFR ridotto rispetto ai pazienti con microalbuminuria negativa (80.1 ± 27.2 vs 124.1 ± 129.5 ml/min; p=0.007). Non vi erano differenze statisticamente significative per età, genere, BMI, prevalenza di ipertensione arteriosa e diabete mellito, PASI e Proteina C reattiva fra i due gruppi. I pazienti affetti da psoriasi e microalbuminuria positiva presentano una psoriasi di più lunga durata e un filtrato glomerulare stimato più basso rispetto ai paziente con microalbuminuria negativa. La presenza di microalbuminuria non è un reperto frequente nei pazienti affetti da psoriasi ma la sua correlazione con la durata della malattia cutanea potrebbe suggerire un interessamento glomerulare

Progression of clinical and eye movement markers in preataxic carriers of Machado-Joseph Disease

Background: Little is known about preclinical stages of Machado-Joseph disease, a polyglutamine disorder characterized by progressive adult-onset ataxia. Objective: We aimed to describe the longitudinal progression of clinical and oculomotor variables in the preataxic phase of disease. Methods: Carriers and noncarriers were assessed at three visits. Preataxic carriers (Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score < 3) expected to start ataxia in ≤4 years were considered near onset (PAN). Progressions of ataxic and preataxic carriers, considering status at the end of the study, were described according to the start (or its prediction) of gait ataxia (TimeToAfterOnset) and according to the study time. Results: A total of 35 ataxics, 38 preataxics, and 22 noncarriers were included. The “TimeToAfterOnset” timeline showed that Neurological Examination Scale for Spinocerebellar Ataxias (NESSCA; effect size, 0.09), Inventory of Non-Ataxia Symptoms (INAS0.07), and the vestibulo-ocular reflex gain (0.12) progressed in preataxic carriers, and that most slopes accelerate in PAN, turning similar to those of ataxics. In the study time, NESSCA (1.36) and vertical pursuit gain (1.17) significantly worsened in PAN, and 6 of 11 PANs converted to ataxia. For a clinical trial with 80% power and 2-year duration, 57 PANs are needed in each study arm to detect a 50% reduction in the conversion rate. Conclusions: NESSCA, INAS, vestibulo-ocular reflex, and vertical pursuit gains significantly worsened in the preataxic phase. The “TimeToAfterOnset” timeline unveiled that slopes of most variables are small in preataxics but increase and reach the ataxic slopes from 4 years before the onset of ataxia. For future trials in preataxic carriers, we recommend recruiting PANs and using the conversion rate as the primary outcome. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society