scholarly journals Loss of cytoplasmic incompatibility and minimal fecundity effects explain relatively low Wolbachia frequencies in Drosophila mauritiana

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan K. Meany ◽  
William R. Conner ◽  
Sophia V. Richter ◽  
Jessica A. Bailey ◽  
Michael Turelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Maternal Transmission ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Fitness Advantage ◽  
Drosophila Mauritiana ◽  
Group A ◽  
Phylogenomic Analyses ◽  
Group B

ABSTRACTMaternally transmitted Wolbachia bacteria infect about half of all insect species. Many Wolbachia cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), reduced egg hatch when uninfected females mate with infected males. Although CI produces a frequency-dependent fitness advantage that leads to high equilibrium Wolbachia frequencies, it does not aid Wolbachia spread from low frequencies. Indeed, the fitness advantages that produce initial Wolbachia spread and maintain non-CI Wolbachia remain elusive. wMau Wolbachia infecting Drosophila mauritiana do not cause CI, despite being very similar to CI-causing wNo from D. simulans (0.068% sequence divergence over 682,494 bp), suggesting recent CI loss. Using draft wMau genomes, we identify a deletion in a CI-associated gene, consistent with theory predicting that selection within host lineages does not act to increase or maintain CI. In the laboratory, wMau shows near-perfect maternal transmission; but we find no significant effect on host fecundity, in contrast to published data. Intermediate wMau frequencies on the island Mauritius are consistent with a balance between unidentified small, positive fitness effects and imperfect maternal transmission. Our phylogenomic analyses suggest that group-B Wolbachia, including wMau and wPip, diverged from group-A Wolbachia, such as wMel and wRi, 6–46 million years ago, more recently than previously estimated.

scholarly journals Stopping Disease-Modifying Therapy in Nonrelapsing Multiple Sclerosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Birnbaum
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Acute Disease ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Secondary Progressive ◽  
Disease Modifying Therapy ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Group A ◽  
Multiple Variables ◽  
Disease Modifying ◽  
Group B

Background: Current disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are of benefit only in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). Thus, safely stopping DMTs in people with secondary progressive MS may be possible. Methods: Two groups of patients with MS were studied. Group A consisted of 77 patients with secondary progressive MS and no evidence of acute central nervous system inflammation for 2 to 20 years. These patients were advised to stop DMTs. Group B consisted of 17 individuals with RMS who stopped DMTs on their own. Both groups were evaluated at treatment cessation and for a minimum of 1 year thereafter. Multiple variables were assessed to determine those that predicted recurrent acute disease. Results: Nine patients in group A (11.7%) and ten patients in group B (58.8%) had recurrent acute disease, almost always within 1 to 2 years of stopping treatment. The only variable of significance in group A distinguishing stable and relapsing patients was age (P = .0003), with relapsing patients being younger. Group B patients were younger and had significantly lower Expanded Disability Status Scale scores than group A, with no significant differences in age between relapsed and stable patients. Conclusions: The DMTs can be stopped safely in older patients with MS (≥7 decades) with no evidence of acute disease for 2 years or longer, with an almost 90% probability of remaining free of acute recurrence. The high proportion of untreated patients with RMS experiencing recurrent acute disease is consistent with published data.

Isozyme variation, morphology, and growth response to temperature in Pythium irregulare

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (12) ◽  
pp. 2073-2081 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. S. Barr ◽  
S. I. Warwick ◽  
N. L. Desaulniers
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Pythium Ultimum ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Pythium Irregulare ◽  
Analysis Group ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pythium Sylvaticum ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Isozyme-based genetic diversity, morphological characters, and growth rate at different temperatures were compared in a worldwide collection of 125 isolates presumed to be Pythium irregulare Buisman. The isozyme data was analysed with previously published data for Pythium ultimum Trow and Pythium sylvaticum Campbell & Hendrix. UPGMA cluster analysis yielded a dendrogram with four distinct groups: P. ultimum, P. sylvaticum, and two for P. irregulare. Putative P. irregulare isolates were separated into 33 multilocus genotypes defined by 11 isozyme loci: group A contained 116 isolates in 25 genotypes, and group B, 8 isolates in 7 genotypes. One genotype with a single isolate was determined as P. sylvaticum. Based on the isozyme analysis, group B was considered a distinct taxonomic entity from group A, but lacked any unique morphological character. There was a wide range in oogonium and oospore sizes among different isolates of P. irregulare, with those in group B generally being larger. Some isolates in group A had well developed oogonial spines, but others were essentially spineless, whereas all those in group B were spineless. Both groups A and B contained isolates with distinctly aplerotic oospores and others with essentially plerotic oospores. Antheridial number and shape were highly variable both within and among isolates in the two groups. Growth rate over a range of temperatures varied among isolates in both groups and was not a reliable taxonomic criterion. The irregular shape of oogonia and, when present, oogonial spines were the only reliable characters for distinguishing P. irregulare isolates from other taxa. Key words: taxonomy, Oomycetes, Pythiaceae, Pythium ultimum, Pythium sylvaticum.

scholarly journals 669 COVID-19-related acute pericarditis. A retrospective observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vito Maurizio Parato ◽  
Maria Chiara Galieni ◽  
Stefano Marcelli ◽  
Salvatore La Carruba
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Pericardial Effusion ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Cardiovascular Complications ◽  
Retrospective Observational Study ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Acute Pericarditis ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Abstract Aims Acute pericarditis is considered one of the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19. The published data suggest that the diagnosis of acute pericarditis in patients with COVID-19 infection may be more frequent than usually diagnosed and as a consequence, undertreated. The proposed investigation is a retrospective observational study in which 170 patients, admitted to an Intensive Care Unit because of a COVID-19 diagnosis, were analysed. All patients underwent cardiological evaluation including a bedside echocardiogram. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical implications of acute pericarditis diagnosed through the presence of pericardial effusion. Methods and results The proposed investigation is a retrospective observational study enrolling patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit of Madonna del Soccorso Hospital (San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy) because of a SARS-CoV-2 induced severe acute respiratory syndrome. No. 170 patients, admitted from 1 April 2020 to 30 April 2021, were enrolled. All patients presented a variable picture of bilateral interstitial pneumonia characterized by ground glass opacifications at HR-Chest CT. Some patients underwent oro-tracheal intubation and invasive ventilation. All patients underwent cardiological consultation including a transthoracic bedside echocardiogram, using ultrasound E9-GE machine (Boston, MA, USA). Demographic, laboratory and clinical data were collected for all enrolled patients (Table 1). The diagnosis of acute pericarditis was defined by: (i) different degree of pericardial effusion; (ii) C-reactive proteine elevation. All patients were divided in two groups: (1) pericarditis group (a); (2) pericarditis-free group (b). Of 170 enrolled patient, 51 were females (30%) and 119 were males (70%). Median age for all patients was 67.6 ± 13.3 [females: 70.5 (±16.2); males: 66.4 (±11.7)]. Of 170, n. 60 patients had a diagnosis of acute pericarditis (32.2%). Group A (patient with acute pericarditis) consisted of 60 patients, age 69.2 (±12.6), 39 (65%) male [age 69.3 (±10.6)], 21 (35%) female [age 69.1 (±16.0)]. Of 60, only 6 had a pericardial effusion >10 mm (10%); the remaining group A-patients (90%) had a mild pericardial effusion (<10 mm). No patient had tamponade picture. Group B (pericarditis-free patients) included 110 patients, age 66.7 (±13.7), 80 (72.7%) males [age 65.0 (±12.1)], 30 (27.3%) females [age 71.4 (±16.6)]. Group A-patients (with pericarditis) had more days of intubation and a prolonged global hospital stay compared with group B (pericarditis-free). Other demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters were similar between the two groups. Conclusions Pericarditis is a frequent cardiovascular complication of COVID-19 (32.2% in our study). It may have clinical and prognostic implications.

scholarly journals Dynamics of atmospheric 131I in radioactive plumes in eastern Japan immediately after the Fukushima accident by analysing published data

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruo Tsuruta ◽  
Yuichi Moriguchi ◽  
Teruyuki Nakajima
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Fukushima Accident ◽  
Group A ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Group B ◽  
Eastern Japan

Abstract The spatio-temporal distribution of atmospheric radioiodine immediately after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FD1NPP) accident has not yet been clarified due to very limited observed data, compared with atmospheric radiocaesium data. Here, we first revealed that the ratios of 131I (decay-corrected to March 11, 2011) to 137Cs in radioactive plumes were divided into three groups (A, B, and C) by analysing all published data on atmospheric 131I concentrations independently measured immediately after the accident in eastern Japan. Groups A and C were found regardless of whether the measurement sites were located in eastern Fukushima or Kantou areas, while group B was observed only in the eastern Kantou area. The ratios in group A were approximately equal to 10 for the plumes on March 15, March 20, and on the morning of March 21, and those in group B were approximately 75 on March 16. Their possible sources were Unit 2 and/or Unit 3. In contrast, the ratios in group C were approximately equal to 360, much higher than those of groups A and B, and were observed from the afternoon of March 21 to March 25. These high 131I concentrations could be released after water supply to FD1NPP.

Head Impulse Test Paradigm and Suppression Head Impulse Test Paradigm in Individuals With and Without Motion Sickness

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Rakesh T. Kumar ◽  
Sujeet Kumar Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Motion Sickness ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Head Impulse Test ◽  
Video Head Impulse Test ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Head Impulse ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Ideal Technique

Purpose This study aimed to assess the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) gain using both the Head Impulse Test Paradigm (HIMP) and Suppressive Head Impulse Test Paradigm (SHIMP) in individuals with motion sickness. Method Fifty eight participants (58 females) in the age range of 18–25 years were recruited for the study. The participants were divided into two groups, Group A had 29 participants with no motion sickness, and Group B consisted of 29 individuals who had motion sickness. All the participants underwent HIMP and SHIMP testing. Results None of the participants had a presence of saccades in the HIMP technique, and all the participants in both the groups had anticompensatory saccades in SHIMP technique. Also, there was no difference in VOR gain or VOR gain asymmetry between individuals with and without motion sickness using HIMP and SHIMP Techniques. Conclusions The results of the study show no differences in VOR gain between individuals with and without motion sickness. It has been reported that only low frequencies trigger the motion sickness. Since the Video Head Impulse Test assesses the high frequency, it may not be an ideal technique to evaluate the vestibular system in individuals with motion sickness.

scholarly journals Use of Cryopreserved Allogeneic PBSC Results in Delayed Engraftment and Increased Incidence of Poor Graft Function

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1778-1778
Author(s):  
Samar Kulkarni ◽  
John Murray ◽  
James Clarke ◽  
Mike Dennis ◽  
Amit Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Graft Function ◽  
Back Analysis ◽  
Cell Loss ◽  
Blood Component ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Poor Graft Function ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Use of Cryopreserved Allogeneic PBSC Results in Delayed Engraftment And Increased Incidence of Poor Graft Function Introduction: During COVID Pandemic, national and international transplant centres agreed to use cryopreserve the donor PBSC as a safer option to deliver allogeneic transplants. Published data suggests that use of cryopreserved allogeneic PBSC is safe and comparable to use of fresh PBSC but cryopreservation of stem cells may lead to cell loss and hence efficacy. During COVID pandemic, use of cryopreserved allogeneic PBSC was adopted as policy on 01/06/2020. This look back analysis evaluates the impact of change in policy. Aims: Evaluate Engraftment time, compare with historical data, blood component support, and use of growth factors Methods and Materials: Data was collected from health records (paper and electronic) and laboratory records. Transplant features and engraftment kinetics were analysed. Results: Group A June 2020 to November 2020, 19 patients [M: 13; F: 6; median age: 50yr (range: 23-69)] who received cryopreserved allogeneic PBSC were compared to 35 patients [M:24; F:11; median age: 59yr (range: 21-71)] receiving fresh allogeneic PBSC for engraftment kinetics. There were no differences between two groups regarding underlying diagnosis (p=0.31), sex mismatch, CMV mismatch, blood group mismatch, reduced intensity conditioning [RIC](p=0.28), type of donor (p=0.98) or use of Alemtuzumab (p=0.88). Median infused Cell dose in group A was 5.3 (3.4-7.16) and in group B 4.9 (1.03-6.85), [p=0.11]. Neutrophil engraftment was significantly faster with fresh PBSC as compared to cryopreserved PBSC (16d vs. 25d, p=0.0025) predominantly with MUD (18d vs. 27d, p=0.009) and RIC (16d vs. 25d, p=0.009). Platelet engraftment to 25 was faster with fresh PBSC (13d vs. 20d, p=0.021) with delayed engraftment in MUD (20d vs. 13d, p=0.006) and RIC (23d vs. 13d, p=0.039). Day to engraftment per unit CD34 was shorter with fresh PBSC for neutrophils (median: 3.2, range: 2.0-7.7 vs. 5.3, range: 2.5-16.7; p=0.006) and platelets (median: 2.4, range: 1.7-25 vs. 3.8, range: 2.2-25; p=0.001) but only for MUD. This suggests 35-40% less efficiency with use of cryopreserved PBSC. There was no difference in the need for transfusion support [RBCs (6 units vs. 3 units, p=0.32); platelets (5 pools vs. 7 pools, p=0.33)]. G-CSF use was higher with cryopreserved PBSC in RIC (54% vs. 20%, p=0.031). Two patients experienced TRM before day 90 (3.7%). At day 90, 17/52 (32.7%) had cytopenia in one lineage and 8/52 (16%) had cytopenia in more than one lineage. Delayed engraftment was observed in 10 of 33 patients (30.3%) transplanted in 2020 and the only significant association was use of cryopreserved PBSC (0% vs. 53%, p=0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of aGVHD, hepatic VOD, microangiopathy and bacterial infections. Numbers are not sufficient to make disease specific comparisons. Conclusion: Cryopreserved PBSC result in delayed neutrophil and platelet engraftment predominantly with MUDS and RIC. Incidence of delayed engraftment and poor graft function is higher. Per unit CD34 dose, cryopreserved PBSC are 30-40% less efficient to achieve engraftment. Delayed engraftment with cryopreserved PBSC especially in MUD raises the possibility that time from harvest to cryopreservation contributes to reduced efficacy. Based on these findings it was decided to infuse higher CD34 dose (6-7x10^6/kg as compared to usual 4-5x10^6/kg) for cryopreserved MUD PBSC. Disclosures Bloor: Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria.

scholarly journals Wolbachiain the spittlebugProsapia ignipectus:Variable infection frequencies, but no apparent effect on host reproductive isolation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy B. Wheeler ◽  
Vinton Thompson ◽  
William R. Conner ◽  
Brandon S. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Contact Zone ◽  
Cytoplasmic Incompatibility ◽  
Frequency Variation ◽  
Apparent Effect ◽  
Pig Genome ◽  
Variable Transmission ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Northeastern Usa

AbstractAnimals serve as hosts for complex communities of microorganisms, including endosymbionts that live inside their cells.Wolbachiabacteria are perhaps the most common endosymbionts, manipulating host reproduction to propagate. ManyWolbachiacause intense cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that promotes their spread to high and relatively stable frequencies.Wolbachiathat cause weak or no CI tend to persist at intermediate, often variable, frequencies.Wolbachiacould also contribute to host reproductive isolation (RI), although current support for such contributions is limited to a few systems. To test forWolbachiafrequency variation and effects on host RI, we sampled several localProsapia ignipectus(Fitch)(Hemiptera: Cercopidae) spittlebug populations in the northeastern USA over two years, including closely juxtaposed Maine populations with different monomorphic color forms, “black” and “lined”. We discovered a group-BWolbachia(wPig) infectingP. ignipectusthat diverged from group-AWolbachia—likemodelwMel andwRi strains inDrosophila—6to 46 MYA. Populations of the sister speciesProsapia bicincta(Say) from Hawaii and Florida are uninfected, suggesting thatP. ignipectusacquiredwPig after their initial divergence.wPig frequencies were generally high and variable among sites and between years. While phenotypingwPig effects on host reproduction is not currently feasible, thewPig genome contains three divergent sets of CI loci, consistent with highwPig frequencies. Finally, Maine monomorphic black and monomorphic lined populations ofP. ignipectusshare bothwPig and mtDNA haplotypes, implying no apparent effect ofwPig on the maintenance of this morphological contact zone. We hypothesizeP. ignipectusacquiredwPig horizontally as observed for manyDrosophilaspecies, and that significant CI and variable transmission produce high but variablewPig frequencies.

scholarly journals Comparative study of perioperative morbidities of the conventional and ultrasound-guided suprapubic catheterization in the patients of urinary retention during emergency

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 3660
Author(s):  
Mahesh Chandra ◽  
Keyur Parmar ◽  
Seema Wasnik
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Retention ◽  
Perioperative Complications ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Bowel Segment ◽  
Distended Bladder ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group 5 ◽  
Group B ◽  
Urological Emergencies

Background: Urinary retention is one of the common urological emergencies and conventional ‘blind’ SPC frequently used comfortable as well superior procedure for patients. During conventional SPC, the distended bladder is identified by palpation or percussion without proper attention to intervening bowel segment and other structures. However, the recently published data suggests that if, ultrasound is used during SPC, and it identifies not only bladder but also intervening bowel segment which complications. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess and compare the perioperative complications of both methods.Methods: This prospective study was conducted between years November’2017 to June’2019. Sixty patients (n=60) of urinary retention were randomized to undergo ultrasound guided or conventional SPC procedures. Patients were divided into two equal groups of 30 patients in US-SPC (Group-A) and C-SPC (Group-B). After either SPC, the patients were closely observed for development of complications.Results: Overall, the patients had mean age of 53.87+21.418 and 53.87+21.418 years in C-SPC and US-SPC group, respectively. Mean operative time and subsequent initial urine drainage were almost equal in both groups. However, in C-SPC group, 5(16.7%) patients developed complications in the form of 03 misplaced catheters outside bladder, 01 into retro pubic space and another 01 into rectum. All patients in Group-A required ultrasound guided revision of SPC compared to none in Group-B.Conclusion: Overall, the ultrasound-guided SPC (US-SPC) is safer procedure compared to conventional ‘blind’ C-SPC in relieving urinary retention in emergency, thus it should be recommended procedure whenever need arise for SPC procedure.

An ultrastructural study of sertoli cells in two geographically isolated populations of Aphanius dispar

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 548-549
Author(s):  
Taber A. Ba-Omar ◽  
Philip F. Prentis
Keyword(s):  
Ultrastructural Level ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Freshwater Teleost ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
The North ◽  
Group A ◽  
Ultrathin Sections ◽  
Group B ◽  
Geographically Isolated

We have recently carried out a study of spermiogenic differentiation in two geographically isolated populations of Aphanius dispar (freshwater teleost), with a view to ascertaining variation at the ultrastructural level. The sampling areas were the Jebel Al Akhdar in the north (Group A) and the Dhofar region (Group B) in the south. Specimens from each group were collected, the testes removed, fixed in Karnovsky solution, post fixed in OsO, en bloc stained with uranyl acetate and then routinely processed to Agar 100 resin, semi and ultrathin sections were prepared for study.

Comparison of one-year prognosis of patients classified as chronic critical lower limb ischaemia according to TASC II or European consensus definition in the COPART cohort

VASA ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 0220-0228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Vircoulon ◽  
Carine Boulon ◽  
Ileana Desormais ◽  
Philippe Lacroix ◽  
Victor Aboyans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Critical Limb Ischaemia ◽  
Limb Ischaemia ◽  
Medical Group ◽  
Consensus Definition ◽  
Transcutaneous Oxygen ◽  
European Consensus ◽  
Group A ◽  
One Year ◽  
Group B

Background: We compared one-year amputation and survival rates in patients fulfilling 1991 European consensus critical limb ischaemia (CLI) definition to those clas, sified as CLI by TASC II but not European consensus (EC) definition. Patients and methods: Patients were selected from the COPART cohort of hospitalized patients with peripheral occlusive arterial disease suffering from lower extremity rest pain or ulcer and who completed one-year follow-up. Ankle and toe systolic pressures and transcutaneous oxygen pressure were measured. The patients were classified into two groups: those who could benefit from revascularization and those who could not (medical group). Within these groups, patients were separated into those who had CLI according to the European consensus definition (EC + TASC II: group A if revascularization, group C if medical treatment) and those who had no CLI by the European definition but who had CLI according to the TASC II definition (TASC: group B if revascularization and D if medical treatment). Results: 471 patients were included in the study (236 in the surgical group, 235 in the medical group). There was no difference according to the CLI definition for survival or cardiovascular event-free survival. However, major amputations were more frequent in group A than in group B (25 vs 12 %, p = 0.046) and in group C than in group D (38 vs 20 %, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Major amputation is twice as frequent in patients with CLI according to the historical European consensus definition than in those classified to the TASC II definition but not the EC. Caution is required when comparing results of recent series to historical controls. The TASC II definition of CLI is too wide to compare patients from clinical trials so we suggest separating these patients into two different stages: permanent (TASC II but not EC definition) and critical ischaemia (TASC II and EC definition).

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