Earthworm records and habitat associations in the British Isles

The National Earthworm Recording Scheme (NERS) is the most comprehensive national database of earthworm species occurrence records for the British Isles, and possibly for any individual country in the world. Utilising the NERS database, we sought to update the current knowledge of earthworm species occurrences in the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands; identify species-specific habitat and microhabitat associations; reveal any biases and complementarities between amateur naturalist and research-related earthworm record collection; and inform how future earthworm sampling can be better focussed to improve our knowledge of earthworm ecology. We found that the most commonly occurring earthworm species were present in farmland and woodland, and recovered via soil pit sampling, the most common habitat-sampling protocol combinations. However, several earthworm species showed specificity to alternative habitats (such as trees, wetlands, and compost), and association with microhabitat (non-soil) sampling. There were clear disparities between scientific researchers and amateur naturalist recorders in terms of habitat types visited and sampling protocols/microhabitats used in the collection of earthworm records. Most importantly, we found that earthworm species currently considered to be nationally ‘rare’ in the British Isles are significantly associated with the most under-represented habitat-protocol/microhabitat combinations (forest deadwood and other microhabitats, in addition to scrubland, wetland and heathland habitats), and thus may not be rare, only under-sampled. We therefore encourage earthworm researchers and recorders to give greater attention to these situations, to gain new insights into these earthworm species' ecologies and distributions. Finally, we would like to promote the establishment of earthworm recording schemes in other countries, to enable national and global collaborative monitoring of earthworm responses to environmental change

The role of icIL-1RA in keratinocyte senescence and development of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype

There is compelling evidence that senescent cells, through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), can promote malignant transformation and invasion. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a key mediator of this cytokine network, but the control of its activity in the senescence programme has not been elucidated. IL-1 signalling is regulated by IL-1RA, which has four variants. Here, we show that expression of intracellular IL-1RA type 1 (icIL-1RA1), which competitively inhibits binding of IL-1 to its receptor, is progressively lost during oral carcinogenesis ex vivo and that the pattern of expression is associated with keratinocyte replicative fate in vitro. We demonstrate that icIL-1RA1 is an important regulator of the SASP in mortal cells, as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated icIL-1RA1 knockdown in normal and mortal dysplastic oral keratinocytes is followed by increased IL-6 and IL-8 secretion, and rapid senescence following release from RhoA-activated kinase inhibition. Thus, we suggest that downregulation of icIL-1RA1 in early stages of the carcinogenesis process can enable the development of a premature and deregulated SASP, creating a pro-inflammatory state in which cancer is more likely to arise.A scholarship from Becas Chile, Comisión Nacional de Investigación Cientı́fica y Tecnológicahttps://journals.biologists.com/jcsam2022Oral Pathology and Oral Biolog

Adenoid dysplasia of the oral mucosa

OBJECTIVE. To describe an unusual variant of oral epithelial dysplasia and to provide an appraisal of its immunohistochemical profile. STUDY DESIGN. An unusual form of epithelial dysplasia, which we have termed adenoid dysplasia, was evaluated for staining of cytokeratins AE1/AE3, vimentin, E-cadherin, and b-catenin. The immunohistochemical results were compared with those observed in moderate epithelial dysplasia, moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS. The immunoprofile of adenoid dysplasia was similar to that of acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma. Cytokeratin positivity within the acantholytic dysplastic cells confirmed their epithelial nature, and upregulation of vimentin was suggestive of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The most distinctive finding was a loss of E-cadherin expression within the discohesive cells, accompanied by increased cytosolic expression of b-catenin. CONCLUSIONS. This report presents the histomorphologic features of a unique form of oral epithelial dysplasia, termed adenoid dysplasia.http://www.journals.elsevier.com/oral-surgery-oral-medicine-oral-pathology-and-oral-radiology/http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/22124403hj201

The role of HOX genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Recent decades have witnessed the publication of numerous studies reporting alterations in the genome and transcriptome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Currently, the utilisation of these alterations as biomarkers and targets for therapy are limited and new, useful molecular characteristics are being sought. Many of the published HNSCC gene expression profiles demonstrate alterations in the expression of HOX genes. These are a family of Homeobox containing genes which are involved in developmental patterning and morphogenesis in the embryo, and which are often aberrantly expressed in cancer. The 39 HOX genes found in the human genome are arranged in 4 paralogous groups at different chromosomal loci. These control a wide range of cellular processes, including proliferation and migration, which are relevant in the context of cancer development. In this review article we will outline the biology of HOX genes in relation to cancer and summarise the accumulating evidence for their role in the development of HNSCC and the possibility that they could be a therapeutic target in this malignancy. We will also identify areas where our current understanding is weak in order to focus future work and appraise the ongoing strategies for pharmacological intervention.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-07142017-04-30hb2016Oral Pathology and Oral Biolog

An international survey of speciality training in oral and maxillofacial pathology

BACKGROUND: Speciality training in oral and maxillofacial pathology (OMFP) across the world would be aided by guidance on a generic curriculum and training programme that all countries could use as a template. In order to facilitate this, we require an understanding of the various forms which OMFP training takes across the world. METHODS: We sent a questionnaire to OMF pathologists in the 42 countries represented in the IAOP membership, via their Regional Councillor. The questionnaire included detailed demographics, entry requirements, specialty training program and facilities/ resources. RESULTS: Replies were received from 22/42 countries (52%). OMFP is a dental/dental and medical speciality in 72%, and in 92% of those, this is recognised by a licensing board. Training was undertaken in an academic environment in 85% (with many offering a further academic qualification) and the median length of training was 4 years. General/anatomical pathology training is mandated in 85% of programs and a common core of general sub-specialities was identified. An end of training assessment was conducted in 80% of programs with most including written, practical and oral elements. Training program directors and educational supervisors were in place in 12/16 programs and, in most, Quality Assurance of training was externally monitored. In only one country was the number of trainees linked to workforce planning. CONCLUSIONS: Training in OMFP varies across the world. However, we feel there is sufficient commonality for the development of an agreed indicative framework on education and training in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, perhaps under the auspices of the IAOP.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-0714hb201

The rotational modes of relativistic stars: Numerical results

We study the inertial modes of slowly rotating, fully relativistic compact stars. The equations that govern perturbations of both barotropic and non-barotropic models are discussed, but we present numerical results only for the barotropic case. For barotropic stars all inertial modes are a hybrid mixture of axial and polar perturbations. We use a spectral method to solve for such modes of various polytropic models. Our main attention is on modes that can be driven unstable by the emission of gravitational waves. Hence, we calculate the gravitational-wave growth timescale for these unstable modes and compare the results to previous estimates obtained in Newtonian gravity (i.e. using post-Newtonian radiation formulas). We find that the inertial modes are slightly stabilized by relativistic effects, but that previous conclusions concerning eg. the unstable r-modes remain essentially unaltered when the problem is studied in full general relativity.Comment: RevTeX, 29 pages, 31 eps figure

Number needed to treat with ursodeoxycholic acid therapy to prevent liver transplantation or death in primary biliary cholangitis

Objective: The clinical benefit of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) has never been reported in absolute measures. The aim of this study was to assess the number needed to treat (NNT) with UDCA to prevent liver transplantation (LT) or death among patients with PBC. Methods: The NNT was calculated based on the untreated LT-free survival and HR of UDCA with respect to LT or death as derived from inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted Cox proportional hazard analyses within the Global PBC Study Group database. Results: We included 3902 patients with a median follow-up of 7.8 (4.1-12.1) years. The overall HR of UDCA was 0.46 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.52) and the 5-year LT-free survival without UDCA was 81% (95% CI 79 to 82). The NNT to prevent one LT or death within 5 years (NNT5y) was 11 (95% CI 9 to 13). Although the HR of UDCA was similar for patients with and without cirrhosis (0.33 vs 0.31), the NNT5y was 4 (95% CI 3 to 5) and 20 (95% CI 14 to 34), respectively. Among patients with low alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (≤2× the upper limit of normal (ULN)), intermediate ALP (2-4× ULN) and high ALP (>4× ULN), the NNT5y to prevent one LT or death was 26 (95% CI 15 to 70), 11 (95% CI 8 to 17) and 5 (95% CI 4 to 8), respectively. Conclusion: The absolute clinical efficacy of UDCA with respect to LT or death varied with baseline prognostic characteristics, but was high throughout. These findings strongly emphasise the incentive to promptly initiate UDCA treatment in all patients with PBC and may improve patient compliance

Immunoexpression of HOXB7 and HOXB9 in salivary gland tumours

BACKGROUND : Salivary gland carcinomas are uncommon neoplasms and the identification of new prognostic indicators could improve their management. HOXB7 and HOXB9 are members of the class I homeobox-containing genes important for normal embryogenesis and that are dysregulated in several human neoplasms. This study investigated HOXB7 and HOXB9 expression in salivary gland tumourigenesis, they correlation with neoplastic proliferative and angiogenic features, and their importance as prognostic markers. METHODS : A hundred and fifty salivary gland tumours were organized in tissue microarray and expression of CD105, Ki67, HOXB7 and HOXB9 were determined through immunohistochemistry. Reactions were quantified and correlated with clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS : In normal glands HOXB7 was found in basal cells, whereas HOXB9 was seen in serous acinar and scattered ductal cells. Malignancies exhibited an increased vascular density, proliferative index, HOXB7 and HOXB9 expression when compared with pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumour. Significant correlation was found between HOXB7 and CD105 (p = 0.004) in adenoid cystic carcinomas, and HOXB7 higher expression significantly correlated with the presence of paresthesia (p = 0.02). No marker exhibited a significant association with survival rates (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION : HOXB7 and HOXB9 were expressed in normal salivary gland and were present in benign and malignant tumours derived from these structures, and HOXB7 significantly correlated with neoangiogenesis in AdCC. These findings suggest that both proteins might play a role in salivary gland tumourigenesis, but they were not significant prognostic determinants in this sample.Grants from the São Paulo State Research Foundation (Brazil), processes numbers 2009/53839-2, 2012/07519-9 and 2012/10781-7, and from the Brazilian Coordination of Higher Education (CAPES/PDSE 2892/13-8).http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-07142017-10-31hb2016Oral Pathology and Oral Biolog

Space Telescope and Optical Reverberation Mapping Project. VII. Understanding the Ultraviolet Anomaly in NGC 5548 with X-Ray Spectroscopy

During the Space Telescope and Optical Reverberation Mapping Project observations of NGC 5548, the continuum and emission-line variability became decorrelated during the second half of the six-month-long observing campaign. Here we present Swift and Chandra X-ray spectra of NGC 5548 obtained as part of the campaign. The Swift spectra show that excess flux (relative to a power-law continuum) in the soft X-ray band appears before the start of the anomalous emission-line behavior, peaks during the period of the anomaly, and then declines. This is a model-independent result suggesting that the soft excess is related to the anomaly. We divide the Swift data into on- and off-anomaly spectra to characterize the soft excess via spectral fitting. The cause of the spectral differences is likely due to a change in the intrinsic spectrum rather than to variable obscuration or partial covering. The Chandra spectra have lower signal-to-noise ratios, but are consistent with the Swift data. Our preferred model of the soft excess is emission from an optically thick, warm Comptonizing corona, the effective optical depth of which increases during the anomaly. This model simultaneously explains all three observations: the UV emission-line flux decrease, the soft-excess increase, and the emission-line anomaly

Narrowband Searches for Continuous and Long-duration Transient Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars in the LIGO-Virgo Third Observing Run

Isolated neutron stars that are asymmetric with respect to their spin axis are possible sources of detectable continuous gravitational waves. This paper presents a fully coherent search for such signals from eighteen pulsars in data from LIGO and Virgo's third observing run (O3). For known pulsars, efficient and sensitive matched-filter searches can be carried out if one assumes the gravitational radiation is phase-locked to the electromagnetic emission. In the search presented here, we relax this assumption and allow both the frequency and the time derivative of the frequency of the gravitational waves to vary in a small range around those inferred from electromagnetic observations. We find no evidence for continuous gravitational waves, and set upper limits on the strain amplitude for each target. These limits are more constraining for seven of the targets than the spin-down limit defined by ascribing all rotational energy loss to gravitational radiation. In an additional search, we look in O3 data for long-duration (hours-months) transient gravitational waves in the aftermath of pulsar glitches for six targets with a total of nine glitches. We report two marginal outliers from this search, but find no clear evidence for such emission either. The resulting duration-dependent strain upper limits do not surpass indirect energy constraints for any of these targets. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society