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Sedimentary ancient DNA from an artificial water feature in a regional city of the Tang Dynasty reveals the use of plant and animal resources by urban residents in the Central Plains, China
No full textThe China Central Plains in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) was the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, characterized by a long and developed agricultural civilization. It also supported the world's most prosperous city network centered on Chang'an and Luoyang. The use of plant and animal resources by urban residents here offers significant insights into the empire's economy and global interactions. However, direct, quantifiable, and arguably less biased archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological studies are scarce, due to excavation challenges in modern urban areas and inherent limitations in the preservation and identification of macro-remains. Historical documents also tend to record elite groups or accidental events and thus show bias. Here, we analyzed sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) from an artificial water feature in Zhengzhou Shang Site in a regional city, Guan City (modern-day Zhengzhou), in the Central Plains during the Tang Dynasty. The results show that urban residents used diverse staple food crops, industrial crops, vegetables, fruits and nuts, and cultivated trees and aquatic plants. The staple food crops comprised foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), food legumes, barley (Hordeum vulgare), and wheat (Triticum aestivum); animal resources were mainly for labor, including horses (Equus caballus) and/or donkeys (Equus asinus), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and cattle (Bos taurus), with meat consumption minimal or absent. We report the first archaeological evidence for some non-staple crops in the Tang Dynasty, including tea (Camellia sinensis), goji berry (Lycium barbarum), and lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), and others which were introduced into China via the Silk Road, such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea), sesame (Sesamum indicum), pistachio (Pistacia vera), and pomegranate (Punica granatum). Our study provides direct evidence of industrial crop cultivation and non-native crop introduction as mentioned in historical documents, revealing these previously hidden crop cultivation histories and underscoring Tang agriculture's diversity and global connections. Furthermore, DNA translocation in archaeological deposits receives much attention. In this case, comparison between layers and stratigraphic analysis confirmed negligible translocation effects in the upper sediments, although underlying earlier layers show some translocation signals. The sedaDNA provided more taxonomic data than the archaeobotanical macro-remains. The study shows how sedaDNA retrieved from archaeological deposits is beneficial for comprehending the past use of plant and animal resources.</p
Genome-wide gene-sleep interaction study identifies novel lipid loci in 732,564 participants
No full textBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Deviations from the population mean in sleep duration have been associated with increased risk for developing dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but the mechanism of effect is poorly characterized. We performed large-scale genome-wide gene-sleep interaction analyses of lipid levels to identify genetic variants underpinning the biomolecular pathways of sleep-associated lipid disturbances and to suggest possible druggable targets.METHODS: We collected data from 55 cohorts with a combined sample size of 732,564 participants (87 % European ancestry) with data on lipid traits (high-density lipoprotein [HDL-c] and low-density lipoprotein [LDL-c] cholesterol and triglycerides [TG]). Short (STST) and long (LTST) total sleep time were defined by the extreme 20 % of the age- and sex-standardized values within each cohort. Based on cohort-level summary statistics data, we performed meta-analyses for one-degree of freedom tests of interaction and two-degree of freedom joint tests of the SNP-main and -interaction effect on lipid levels.RESULTS: The one-degree of freedom variant-sleep interaction test identified 10 novel loci (P int<5.0e-9), and we additionally identify 7 loci within the two-degree of freedom analyses (P joint<5.0e-9 in combination with P int<6.6e-6). Multiple loci, including those mapped to APSH (target for aspartic and succinic acid) and SLC8A1 showed biological plausibility and druggability potential based on literature. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the 17 (9 with short and 8 with long sleep) loci provided evidence into the biomolecular mechanisms underlying sleep-associated lipid changes, including potential involvement of the vitamin D receptor pathway. Collectively, these findings may contribute developing novel interventions for treating dyslipidemia in people with sleep disturbances.</p
Prenatal exposure to airborne polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and male lung function
No full textBackgroundLower-chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (LC-PCBs) can evaporate from original materials in older buildings and be inhaled by inhabitants. Prenatal exposure to LC-PCBs may interfere with fetal lung development, with consequences for adult lung function.ObjectiveDetermine the effect of prenatal LC-PCB exposure on adult lung function.MethodsWe included 184 adult males whose mothers lived in two partially LC-PCB contaminated residential areas leading up to their pregnancy. Spirometry assessed forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Z-scores standardized measurements. Associations were estimated using linear regression, with subsequent smoking stratification.ResultsPrenatally exposed individuals (n = 72) had 120 mL lower FEV1 (95 % CI: −280, 30) and 120 mL lower FVC (95 % CI: −310, 70) compared to unexposed individuals. Responses were intensified in ever smokers, and absent in never smokers.ConclusionPrenatal LC-PCBs exposure may reduce lung function in adult males, with later smoking potentially enhancing susceptibilityBACKGROUND: Lower-chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (LC-PCBs) can evaporate from original materials in older buildings and be inhaled by inhabitants. Prenatal exposure to LC-PCBs may interfere with fetal lung development, with consequences for adult lung function.OBJECTIVE: Determine the effect of prenatal LC-PCB exposure on adult lung function.METHODS: We included 184 adult males whose mothers lived in two partially LC-PCB contaminated residential areas leading up to their pregnancy. Spirometry assessed forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Z-scores standardized measurements. Associations were estimated using linear regression, with subsequent smoking stratification.RESULTS: Prenatally exposed individuals (n = 72) had 120 mL lower FEV1 (95 % CI: -280, 30) and 120 mL lower FVC (95 % CI: -310, 70) compared to unexposed individuals. Responses were intensified in ever smokers, and absent in never smokers.CONCLUSION: Prenatal LC-PCBs exposure may reduce lung function in adult males, with later smoking potentially enhancing susceptibility.</p
Plant microhabitats mediate the effects of glacier retreat on soil microbial diversity and community assembly
No full textSoil microorganisms and plants provide together the vast majority of key ecosystem functions and services, but the effects of climate change such as glacier retreat on soil microorganism–plant interactions remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated how plant microhabitats shape fungal and bacterial diversity, community composition, and functional diversity with glacier retreat over space-time. We analysed 234 microbial communities from bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and plant root endosphere across four deglaciation stages that span c 160 years of glacier retreat. Our results indicate that fungi and bacteria follow distinct spatio-temporal dynamics: bacterial α-diversity declined within 100 years after glacier retreat, whereas fungal α-diversity gradually increased. On the contrary, β-diversity of both bacteria and fungi decreased with glacier retreat, primarily through reduced turnover, indicating directional disassembly and species exclusion. Community composition changed across scales, that is depending on the interactions between glacier retreat and plant microhabitats. Plant roots harbour the most distinct soil microorganism communities, which were particularly constrained at the latest deglaciation stage. Finally, functional diversity analysis revealed that functional guilds varied with deglaciation depending on plant microhabitats. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, epiphytic fungi, plant pathogens, chemo-heterotrophic bacteria and nitrifying bacteria decrease with glacier retreat, while ectomycorrhizal fungi, endophyte, saprotrophic fungi, and cellulolytic bacteria increase with glacier retreat. Our findings reveal that both broad temporal and local spatial factors drive soil microbial community assembly and functions, with implications for plant-microorganism interactions and nutrient cycling dynamics in post-glacial landscapes
Femorotibial joint rotation in intact joints and following partial medial collateral ligament transection, tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, and cranial cruciate ligament transection - A limb press study
No full textDespite widespread use of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), the influence of partial medial collateral ligament transection (pMCLX) and physiologic loading on rotational stability remains unclear. This cadaveric study quantified internal and external tibial rotation in canine stifles under simulated weightbearing conditions. Ten unpaired pelvic limbs were mounted in a custom limb press applying axial loads equivalent to 30 % body weight with the stifle fixed at 135°. Quadriceps tension was simulated using a load cell and turnbuckle, and controlled internal and external torques (0.007 Nm/kg) were applied twice per condition. Joints were tested sequentially: intact, after pMCLX at the level of the planned TPLO osteotomy, following TPLO (target tibial plateau angle 5°), and after cranial cruciate ligament transection (CCLX). Internal rotation changed minimally after pMCLX (P = 1.0) but increased significantly following TPLO (P = 0.001) and CCLX (P = 0.002), with limited changes following CCLX (P = 1.0). External rotation increased significantly only between TPLO and CCLX (P = 0.02). These findings indicate that pMCLX does not contribute to significant rotational laxity, while TPLO increases internal rotation independently of CCL integrity. The stabilizing effects of quadriceps tension and axial loading highlight the importance of physiologic constructs in ex vivo models. Overall, these results challenge concerns about iatrogenic instability from pMCLX and support current TPLO positioning strategies.</p
Tribology of dual Pickering double emulsions:Machine learning-aided inner droplet analysis
No full textThis study investigated the tribological performance of Pickering water-in-oil emulsions and dual Pickering water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions (DEs) stabilized with particles at both the interfaces. W/O emulsions were stabilized by cocoa butter-based oleogel (CBolg) crystals, while DEs incorporating these emulsions were stabilized by whey protein microgels (WPM). The influence of temperature (21 and 37 °C) and surface texture (smooth vs biomimetic tongue-like surface) were investigated in tribology of W/O emulsions (30–60 % v/v water) and DEs (with 20 and 60 wt% W/O phase). In smooth surfaces, CBolg played a critical role in reducing the friction coefficient (μ) primarily via a fat-driven lubrication mechanism that was temperature dependent. While in DEs, smaller oil droplets encapsulating water provided similar lubrication to oil-based systems until starvation occurred. Strikingly, the water content in W/O emulsions exhibited distinct differences between emulsion systems within the biomimetic tongue-like surfaces, demonstrating lower lubricity at higher water concentration. Confocal microscopy images analyzed using Machine Learning (ML)-supported droplet segmentation enabled a more precise evaluation of structural changes within DEs when subjected to tribological stress. We demonstrated that although changes in inner droplet size altered in DEs, their contribution to the overall lubrication performance was minimal, due to their limited entrainment. Of more importance, the tribological performance was governed by the WPM with minimal influence from the droplet-entrained phenomena. These fundamental insights highlight the relevance of structured water in understanding frictional performance in emulsified systems, with structural integrity, composition, and topography of the tribological surface emerging as key factors.</p
Reenactment: Hvordan kan genopførelse bruges til at undersøge kunstværkers kommunikation i deres samtid?
No full textLong-term survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in the modern era compared with the general population-a nationwide Danish cohort study
No full textAims Recent advancements in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and patient selection have significantly improved the outcomes of TAVI. Yet it is unknown whether patients undergoing TAVI in the modern era have comparable mortality as the general population. Methods and results All patients undergoing TAVI in Denmark (2015–23) were matched on age and sex with controls from the general population (1:4). Patients were followed from 30-day post-TAVI until death or end of study (12/23). The 5-year all-cause mortality was examined by cumulative incidence functions and Cox-regression analyses. The 5-year all-cause hospitalization burden was analysed among those alive at 5-year post-index. The study included 7250 patients undergoing TAVI [median age 81.2 years (IQR 77.0–84.9), 57.3% men] and 29 000 controls. The absolute risk of death was 39.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 38.1–41.2] in the TAVI group, compared to 32.2% (95% CI 31.5–32.9) among controls. The associated all-cause mortality was similar between patients undergoing TAVI and controls [adjusted hazard ratio 0.95 (95% CI 0.90–1.01)]. Stratification by age revealed a higher risk of death among the TAVI group aged <80 years compared with controls, while patients aged ≥80 years showed a lower risk of death. Patients undergoing TAVI experienced longer and more frequent hospitalizations compared with controls, while the relative difference decreased over time. Conclusion Our findings suggest that TAVI was associated with long-term mortality and hospitalization rates comparable to the general population. Stratified by age, mortality was higher among TAVI patients <80 years and lower among those ≥80 years. These findings support patient selection, safety, and long-term outcomes of TAVI
Use of Prescription Drugs in Primary Care in the Years Before and After a Malignant Hematologic Diagnosis:A Register-Based Study
No full textEffects of Combining Short‐ and Long‐Acting Local Anaesthetics in Peripheral Nerve Blocks—A Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis
No full textBackgroundThis systematic review aims to clarify how combining short- and long-acting local anaesthetics (LA) affects onset time and duration in peripheral nerve blocks.MethodsWe included randomised controlled trials comparing adults undergoing peripheral nerve blocks with combined short- and long-acting LA with those receiving blocks performed with either a short- or long-acting LA. The primary outcome was the duration of analgesia. Secondary outcomes included the duration of onset time. We conducted meta-analyses, trial sequential analyses (TSA), risk of bias-2 and Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).ResultsWe included 21 trials with 1539 participants. The combination of short and long-acting LA reduced the duration of analgesia when compared with a long-acting LA (mean difference (MD) = −162 min, 95% CI: −246 to −79, p < 0.01, tau = 181 min, I2 = 96%, TSA-adj. 95% CI: −254 to −71, GRADE = moderate). The combination increased the duration of analgesia when compared with short-acting LA (MD = 216 min, 95% CI: 163–269, p < 0.01, TSA-adj. 95% CI: 150 to 282, GRADE = moderate). Combining short and long-acting LA reduced the duration of onset time (MD = −8.0 min, 95% CI: −11.5 to −4.6, p < 0.01, tau = 7.8 min, I2 = 98%, TSA-adj. 95% CI: −11.8 to −4.3, GRADE = low) when compared with long-acting LA. In contrast, the duration of onset time was increased (MD = 1.7 min, 95% CI: 0.2–3.3, p = 0.03, TSA-adj. 95% CI: 0.1–3.4, GRADE = low) when compared with short-acting LA.ConclusionOur assessment suggested that combining short and long-acting LA reduced block duration by 2½ h compared with long-acting LA and increased it by 3½ h compared with short-acting LA. The changes in duration of onset time were limited and likely not clinically relevant. Thus, using either long- or short-acting LA alone may generally be sufficient for peri- and postoperative pain management, making the need for combination unclear.Editorial CommentThis systematic review with meta-analysis presents updated results for different outcomes related to use of combined shorter and longer acting local anaesthetics for anaesthesia nerve blocks. The authors thoughtfully interpret the clinical relevance of the different outcomes in the meta-analysis.<br/