Life history of Monocystis parasites and genetic diversity of their hosts, the invasive Amynthas earthworms

Monocystis is a parasites in the phylum Apicomplexa that infects nearly 100% of earthworms; however, the parasites have low survivorship, low production of transmissible gametocysts, and seemingly lack schizogony. The purpose of this study was to investigate the improbable lifecycle and life history traits of a Monocystis species of the invasive Asian earthworms, Amynthas agrestis and A. tokioensis in Vermont. Preliminary data suggested that Monocystis sp. vary in life history traits between three sites sampled; therefore, it was necessary to investigate the genetic diversity and the mating system of its host, as the mating system is responsible for genetic variation. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers revealed genetic variation within and among sites of both Amynthas spp. which appear to employ a mixed-mating system of both sexual and asexual reproduction demonstrated by the presence of both clonal and unique genotypes. The life history and life cycle of Monocystis sp. in A. agrestis was described by using microscopy to measure phenology and parasite stages and numbers. Amynthas spp. at Audubon had a shorter season and the parasites produced gametocysts earlier than at the other two sites. The parasite success rate at Audubon, Hort Farm, and Centennial Woods were 113.8%, 73.6%, and 0%, repectively. Audubon worms had higher numbers of gametocyts but a lower mean number of sporocysts per gametocyst (127.0) than did hosts at Hort Farm (145.8). Monocystis sp. has different life history traits and schedules to compensate for the length of the season and the genetic variation of its host

Barriers To Recovery For Bangor\u27s Buprenorphine Patients

There are several buprenorphine providers at EMMc\u27s Center for Family Medicine serving the greater Bangor, ME region - an area of substantial opiate use. Among the patient population of outpatient buprenorphine users, both locally and nationally, there are high rates of relapse (~32%). In order to decrease relapse rates, it\u27s first imperative to conduct a baseline review of the current buprenorphine population to identify specific types of patients who are at higher risk of relapse. By understanding the barriers to recovery, the office hopes to apply an intervention to the current program, targeting this local demographic more effectively.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1098/thumbnail.jp

Barriers to recovery for Buprenorphine Patients in Bangor, Maine

Opiate addiction is a major public health problem in Maine. Addiction is a chronic disease with high relapse rates. A better understanding of the demographics and barriers to recovery in opiate addicted populations can help to improve the success of buprenorphine treatment programs.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1097/thumbnail.jp

Vermonters’ Opinions on Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening

Introduction: Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among men and women in Vermont and the United States. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer—nearly 90% of lung cancer is due to smoking. Frequently, lung cancers do not present clinically until they are advanced stage and therefore prognosis is poor. However, if detected early lung cancers are more operable and patients have better outcomes. In December 2013 the US Preventive Services Task Force released new guidelines for lung cancer screening among current and former smokers ages 55 to 80. It is recommended that current and former (within 15 years of quitting) smokers of 30 pack years receive an annual low-dose CT scan. The objective of this project was to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes towards lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scanning among Vermonters in the Burlington area.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1205/thumbnail.jp

Uncovering The Variable Life History Traits And Strategies Of The Gregarine Parasite, Monocystis Perplexa, In Its Invasive Earthworm Host, Amynthas Agrestis

Parasite life histories influence many aspects of infection dynamics, from the parasite infrapopulation diversity to the fitness of the parasite (the number of successfully transmitted parasites). Studies of medically important parasites, such as the parasite responsible for malaria (Plasmodium spp.), demonstrate the usefulness of investigating the life histories of parasites to better understand infection characteristics such as parasite load and probability of transmission. The gregarines are a diverse group of apicomplexan parasites that infect invertebrates, and are particularly common in insects and annelids. Given the great biodiversity and importance of their hosts, coupled with their close evolutionary relationship with important human pathogens such as Cryptosporidium spp., relatively little is known about gregarine life histories. The exemplar gregarine genus, Monocystis, is an excellent example of how a well-known gregarine parasite can have relatively little known about its life history. Specifically, the low reproductive output of Monocystis spp. and the absence of asexual replication makes the currently accepted life cycle untenable. More data are needed on the life history traits and strategies of Monocystis spp. that allow the parasite to be maintained at high prevalence and parasitemia. Here, a newly discovered species of Monocystis, infecting the invasive earthworm Amynthas agrestis, is described and investigated to determine key life history traits and strategies. First, I propose improvements to the current standard of gregarine species descriptions by standardizing nomenclature and biometrics and including molecular data. I described the newly discovered M. perplexa using the proposed improvements to gregarine species descriptions and found evidence of host species-specificity and widespread prevalence of the parasite in local earthworm populations. Such important data would not otherwise be collected with use of the current standard of gregarine species description and demonstrates the potential of implementing the suggested improvements. The life history of M. perplexa was investigated by measuring various life history traits throughout the course of infection. Key life history traits such as parasite phenology, resource allocation, and reproductive output were measured for infections at three local earthworm populations to determine if there is variation in parasite life histories within or among earthworm populations. Substantial variation in parasite life history traits and trade-offs between traits were identified. Notably, there was a trade-off between timing to parasite maturity, resource allocation, and reproductive output. Surprisingly, there was a near-complete lack of transmissible stages produced in one population, despite being maintained at high prevalence and parasitemia. To determine whether life history strategies, such as mode of transmission and asexual replication, can explain the currently untenable life cycle of M. perplexa, the presence of vertical transmission and asexual replication was revealed. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect and quantify minute amounts of parasite in the worm eggs and embryos and revealed a high rate of vertical transmission at all local sites. Evidence of parasite replication within the developing host embryo was found; however, no asexual replication was identified early in the host\u27s season. Last, all worm tissues examined had high concentrations of parasite DNA, including the clitellum, the organ that produces the worm egg capsule

Exploration into Expanding the Burlington SASH (Seniors Aging Safely at Home) Program

Background: In 2009, the Cathedral Square Corporation partnered with community provider organizations* to design a model for in-home services and support known as Seniors Aging Safely at Home (SASH). This comprehensive program, implemented at Heineberg Senior Housing in the New North End of Burlington, VT., combines health support, education, and social activities to create a safe and fulfilling environment for participants. Cathedral Squareplans to extend their SASH program to New North End (NNE) seniors residing in their own homes. However, the current and future needs of the NNE senior population (defined here as individuals age 50 and older) are not well known. NORCs are communities in which the population has aged in place, resulting in a high proportion of seniors living in one area. Neighborhoods with this dynamic have begun to organize programs which provide a variety of services to their seniors, including yard-work, educational workshops, social opportunities, and access to health care services. Village models are similar, but tend to be designed more intentionally as senior-supporting neighborhoods rather than arising naturally as the local population ages. By looking into current community models and by investigating the needs of the NNE senior population, Cathedral Square will be further equipped to offer important services to those who are interested.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1050/thumbnail.jp

Utah State Flute Studio

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1020/thumbnail.jp

Addressing the Language Binding Problem With Dynamic Functional Connectivity During Meaningful Spoken Language Comprehension

During speech, how does the brain integrate information processed on different timescales and in separate brain areas so we can understand what is said? This is the language binding problem. Dynamic functional connectivity (brief periods of synchronization in the phase of EEG oscillations) may provide some answers. Here we investigate time and frequency characteristics of oscillatory power and phase synchrony (dynamic functional connectivity) during speech comprehension. Twenty adults listened to meaningful English sentences and non-sensical “Jabberwocky” sentences in which pseudo-words replaced all content words, while EEG was recorded. Results showed greater oscillatory power and global connectivity strength (mean phase lag index) in the gamma frequency range (30–80 Hz) for English compared to Jabberwocky. Increased power and connectivity relative to baseline was also seen in the theta frequency range (4–7 Hz), but was similar for English and Jabberwocky. High-frequency gamma oscillations may reflect a mechanism by which the brain transfers and integrates linguistic information so we can extract meaning and understand what is said. Slower frequency theta oscillations may support domain-general processing of the rhythmic features of speech. Our findings suggest that constructing a meaningful representation of speech involves dynamic interactions among distributed brain regions that communicate through frequency-specific functional networks

Human Cerebral Neuropathology of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The cerebral neuropathology of Type 2 diabetes (CNDM2) has not been positively defined. This review includes a description of CNDM2 research from before the ‘Pubmed Era’. Recent neuroimaging studies have focused on cerebrovascular and white matter pathology. These and prior studies about cerebrovascular histopathology in diabetes are reviewed. Evidence is also described for and against the link between CNDM2 and Alzheimer\u27s disease pathogenesis. To study this matter directly, we evaluated data from University of Kentucky Alzheimer\u27s Disease Center (UK ADC) patients recruited while non-demented and followed longitudinally. Of patients who had come to autopsy (N = 234), 139 met inclusion criteria. These patients provided the basis for comparing the prevalence of pathological and clinical indices between well-characterized cases with (N = 50) or without (N = 89) the premortem diagnosis of diabetes. In diabetics, cerebrovascular pathology was more frequent and Alzheimer-type pathology was less frequent than in non-diabetics. Finally, a series of photomicrographs demonstrates histopathological features (including clinical–radiographical correlation) observed in brains of persons that died after a history of diabetes. These preliminary, correlative, and descriptive studies may help develop new hypotheses about CNDM2. We conclude that more work should be performed on human material in the context of CNDM2