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Boosting circadian autophagy by means of intermittent time-restricted feeding: a novel anti-ageing strategy?
No full textChanges in cardiac structure and function with aging
No full textAging is associated with progressive changes in cardiac structure and function. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and disease also increases profoundly with advancing age. Therefore, understanding the spectrum of physiological changes in the aging heart is crucial for the identification and risk stratification of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we discuss echocardiographic features of age-related cardiac remodeling
A breath of fresh air in microbiome science: shallow shotgun metagenomics for a reliable disentangling of microbial ecosystems
No full textNext-generation sequencing technologies allow accomplishing massive DNA sequencing, uncovering the microbial composition of many different ecological niches. However, the various strategies developed to profile microbiomes make it challenging to retrieve a reliable classification that is able to compare metagenomic data of different studies. Many limitations have been overcome thanks to shotgun sequencing, allowing a reliable taxonomic classification of microbial communities at the species level. Since numerous bioinformatic tools and databases have been implemented, the sequencing methodology is only the first of many choices to make for classifying metagenomic data. Here, we discuss the importance of choosing a reliable methodology to achieve consistent information in uncovering microbiomes
Deteriorating microbiomes in agriculture - the unintended effects of pesticides on microbial life
No full textThere is emerging concern regarding the unintentional and often unrecognized antimicrobial properties of “non-antimicrobial” pesticides. This includes insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides commonly used in agriculture that are known to produce broad ranging, off-target effects on beneficial wildlife, even at seemingly non-toxic low dose exposures. Notably, these obscure adverse interactions may be related to host-associated microbiome damage occurring from antimicrobial effects, rather than the presumed toxic effects of pesticides on host tissue. Here, we critically review the literature on this topic as it pertains to the rhizosphere microbiome of crop plants and gut microbiome of pollinator insects (namely managed populations of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera), since both are frequent recipients of chronic pesticide exposure. Clear linkages between pesticide mode of action and host-specific microbiome functionalities are identified in relation to potential antimicrobial risks. For example, inherent differences in nitrogen metabolism of plant- and insect-associated microbiomes may dictate whether neonicotinoid-based insecticides ultimately exert antimicrobial activities or not. Several other context-dependent scenarios are discussed. In addition to direct effects (e.g., microbicidal action of the parent compound or breakdown metabolites), pesticides may indirectly alter the trajectory of host-microbiome coevolution in honey bees via modulation of social behaviours and the insect gut-brain axis - conceivably with consequences on plant-pollinator symbiosis as well. In summary, current evidence suggests: (1) immediate action is needed by regulatory authorities in amending safety assessments for “non-antimicrobial” pesticides; and (2) that the development of host-free microbiome model systems could be useful for rapidly screening pesticides against functionally distinct microbial catalogues of interest
Artificial intelligence and soil carbon modeling demystified: power, potentials, and perils
No full textThe global soil carbon pool has been estimated to exceed the amount of carbon stored in the atmosphere and vegetation, though uncertainties to quantify below-ground carbon and soil carbon fluxes accurately still exist. Modeling soil carbon using artificial intelligence (AI) - machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms - has emerged as a powerful force in the carbon science community. These AI soil carbon models have shown improved performance to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, soil respiration (Rs), and other properties of the global carbon cycle when compared to other modeling approaches. AI systems have advanced abilities to optimize fits between inputs (geospatial environmental covariates) and outputs (e.g., SOC or Rs) through advanced pattern recognition, learning algorithms, latent variables, hyperparameters, hyperplanes, weighting factors, or multiple stacked processing (e.g., convolution and pooling). These machine-oriented applications have shifted focus from knowledge discovery and understanding of ecosystem processes, carbon pools and cycling toward data-driven applications that compute digital soil carbon outputs. The purpose of this review paper is to explore the emergence, applications, and progress of AI-ML and AI-DL algorithms to model soil carbon storage and Rs at regional and global scales. A critical discussion of the power, potentials, and perils of AI soil carbon modeling is provided. The paradigm shift toward AI modeling raises questions how we study soil carbon dynamics and what conclusions we draw which impacts carbon science research and education, carbon management, carbon policies, carbon markets and economies, and soil health
Environmentally relevant concentrations of fluconazole alter the embryonic development, oxidative status, and gene expression of NRF1, NRF2, WNT3A, WNT8A, NRD1, and NRD2 of Danio rerio embryos
No full textUp to date, there is little information published concerning fluconazole (FCZ) toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations. Bearing in mind the above background of FCZ, we aimed to evaluate the embryotoxic effects environmentally relevant concentrations of FCZ (800-1000 ng/L) may induce in Danio rerio. Moreover, we also wanted to prove whether these FCZ concentrations could generate oxidative stress and alter the expression of several genes related to the antioxidant mechanisms, sterol and retinol biosynthesis, and embryogenesis. Our findings demonstrate that FCZ, at all concentrations, induced pericardial edema, yolk sac deformation, scoliosis, and tail malformation in embryos. Moreover, we also demonstrated this drug altered the redox equilibrium of fish, promoting the production of lipoperoxidation level, hydroperoxide content, and protein carbonyl content in a concentration-dependent manner. Concerning gene expression, FCZ downregulated wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 3a (WNT3A), wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 8a (WNT8A), N-arginine dibasic convertase 1 (NRD1), and N-arginine dibasic convertase 2 (NRD2) and upregulated cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily a member 1 (CYP26A1), cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily a member 1B (CYP261B), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and nuclear respiratory factor 2 (NRF2) in D. rerio larvae. Collectively, our results point out that FCZ, at low concentrations, may alter the embryogenesis, oxidative status, and expression of several genes in D. rerio embryos via an impairment in sterol and retinol biosynthesis. Thus, our results provide some of the first evidence that FCZ, even at environmentally relevant concentrations, is harmful to aquatic species
Pollution status of microplastics in the freshwater environment of China: a mini review
No full textIn the last few years, the pollution of microplastics in freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs has aroused widespread concerns. In this review, rich and appropriate data on microplastics, in the freshwater ecosystem of China, was collected. Following this microplastics in surface waters, sediments, and biota, of the freshwater system, were thoroughly analyzed. The results show that microplastics are widespread in the freshwater environment of China. At the same time, the abundance of microplastics is positively correlated with both intensive human activities and urbanization. The risk index of microplastics is relatively high in the water of Yellow River (654 items/L), Yangtze River (9.20 × 105 items/km2), and Pearl River regions (7571 items/m3). The prevalent shapes of microplastics, in water and sediments, are fragments and fibers. Moreover, the particle size of microplastics is mainly less than 2 mm. In fact, PP and PE are found to be the main polymer types in the freshwater environment of China. Bivalves and freshwater fish are the main research objects of microplastics pollution in China. In parallel to that, the abundance of microplastics, in each aquatic organism, varied from a few to a dozen. Additionally, the characteristics of microplastics in organisms are mainly fibers smaller than 1 mm. Fundamentally, the key two sources of microplastics, in the freshwater environment of China, are wastewater discharge and surface runoff. It is noteworthy that microplastics, in a freshwater environment, does not only cause environmental pollution but harms aquatic organisms, too. Finally, microplastics can reach the human body, through the food chain, causing potential health issues
Weight stigma mitigating approaches to gender-affirming genital surgery
No full textThe use of body mass index (BMI) to determine eligibility for gender-affirming surgery in transgender and nonbinary individuals has been contested. While BMI thresholds are often meant to be protective, restricting patients from access to surgery can also cause harm. There is a rationale for the continued use of BMI, but the inherent problems with it must also be recognized, including how weight stigma impacts patients’ access to gender-affirming surgery and influences clinical care. This article uses a narrative review of current literature to discuss how high BMI affects surgical outcomes in gender-affirming genital surgeries, as well as analogous procedures, existing de facto BMI thresholds, and how to both minimize the harms of proceeding with surgery in patients with a high BMI or the harms of delaying for weight loss. BMI factors into surgical decision-making based on the existing literature, which demonstrates that high BMI is associated with increased surgical risk, including higher incidences of surgical site infections and poor wound healing, as well as the possibility of free flap complications, which are a component of certain genital procedures. This patient population is at higher risk for eating disorders, and it is prudent to find alternatives to requiring patient self-monitored weight management. The impacts of weight stigma should be considered when treating gender-affirming surgery patients, and further data and research are needed to augment shared decision-making and lead to practice change
Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen is a predictive factor of outcomes in patients with locally advanced unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by definitive chemoradiotherapy
No full textAim: Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LU-ESCC). This study aimed to describe the results of dCRT for T4 ESCC and evaluate the pretherapeutic predictive factors of the outcomes.Methods: A total of 133 patients with T4 ESCC who received dCRT were grouped into those who achieved a complete response (CR) or those who had residual disease (RD). The clinicopathologic variables were compared between the groups and the overall survival (OS) was evaluated. The predictive factor of RD was assessed and the prognostic factor for OS was identified.Results: Among the 133 patients, 31 (23%) achieved CR. The CR group had a significantly better OS than the RD group (89.9 months vs. 10.7 months; hazard ratio = 0.096; 95% confidence interval: 0.05-0.19; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that a supracarinal tumor (OR = 3.21; P = 0.016), higher pretherapeutic serum SCC-Ag level (> 1.6 ng/mL) (OR = 2.86; P = 0.018), and metastatic node invasion (OR = 3.19; P = 0.048) were independent predictors of RD. The increased level of pretherapeutic serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (> 1.6 ng/mL) (OR = 1.61; P = 0.022) was an independent predictor of poor survival.Conclusions: Among the patients who underwent dCRT for LU-ESCC, 23% achieved CR, and the long-term outcome of these patients was favorable. Increased levels of pretherapeutic serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen were also found to be predictive of treatment failure
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