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Host and nonhost bacteria support bacteriophage dissemination along mycelia and abiotic dispersal networks.
Get PDFBacteriophages play a crucial role in shaping bacterial communities, yet the mechanisms by which nonmotile bacteriophages interact with their hosts remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap is especially pronounced in structured environments like soil, where spatial constraints and air-filled zones hinder aqueous diffusion. In soil, hyphae of filamentous microorganisms form a network of 'fungal highways' (FHs) that facilitate the dispersal of other microorganisms. We propose that FHs also promote bacteriophage dissemination. Viral particles can diffuse in liquid films surrounding hyphae or be transported by infectable (host) or uninfectable (nonhost) bacterial carriers coexisting on FH networks. To test this, two bacteriophages that infect Pseudomonas putida DSM291 (host) but not KT2440 (nonhost) were used. In the absence of carriers, bacteriophages showed limited diffusion on 3D-printed abiotic networks, but diffusion was significantly improved in Pythium ultimum-formed FHs when the number of connecting hyphae exceeded 20. Transport by both host and nonhost carriers enhanced bacteriophage dissemination. Host carriers were five times more effective in transporting bacteriophages, particularly in FHs with over 30 connecting hyphae. This study enhances our understanding of bacteriophage dissemination in nonsaturated environments like soils, highlighting the importance of biotic networks and bacterial hosts in facilitating this process
Visual snow syndrome: recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology and potential treatment approaches.
Get PDFPURPOSE OF REVIEW
Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a disorder characterized by persistent visual disturbances, including the visual snow phenomenon, palinopsia, heightened perception of entoptic phenomena, impaired night vision, and photophobia. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on recent findings over the past 18 months in VSS research and to summarize the current state of treatment approaches.
RECENT FINDINGS
Electrophysiological studies have revealed cortical hyperresponsivity in visual brain areas, imaging studies demonstrated microstructural and functional connectivity alterations in multiple cortical and thalamic regions and investigated glutamatergic and serotoninergic neurotransmission. These findings suggest that VSS might be a network disorder.Only few treatment studies are currently available demonstrating limited response to medication and even worsening or triggering of visual symptoms by certain antidepressants. Promising nonpharmacological treatments include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, the use of chromatic filters, and research on visual noise adaption and neuro-optometric visual rehabilitation therapy (NORT). However, the level of evidence is still low and further research is needed including larger trials and involving objective measures of individual dysfunction.
SUMMARY
Although there has been recent progress, we still have not fully understood the nature of VSS. Further research is needed on a clinical and pathophysiological level to successfully treat the condition
Angst vor der Mythenzertrümmerung? Gedanken zum musikethnologischen Dokumentarfilm Beyond Tradition: Kraft der Naturstimmen (2023)
No full textDer Filmtitel Beyond Tradition verspricht, hinter den Begriff der «Tradition» zu schauen, und zwar aus Perspektive dreier non-verbaler Vokaltraditionen: dem Appezeller Naturjodel, dem saamischen Joik und dem georgischen Samgherisi. Doch wie weit geht der musikethnologische Dokumentarfilm (Hagmann/von Gunten) wirklich in der Zertrümmerung eines überromantifizierten Verständnisses von «Tradition»?
In einer selbstkritischen Analyse reflektiert dieses Referat Ausgangslage, Hintergründe und Endresultat des erfolgreichen Kinodokumentarfilms (2023). Es zeigt auf, welche Interessenskonflikte während der Entstehung des Films ausgehandelt werden mussten und eruiert, inwiefern hier Mythen zertrümmert werden konnten und wo sie weiterhin bestehen bleiben
Linking compound weather extremes to Mediterranean cyclones, fronts and air streams
Get PDFMediterranean cyclones are the primary driver of many types of surface weather extremes in the Mediterranean region, the association with extreme rainfall being the most established. Although smaller in size compared to Atlantic cyclones, they share a similar synoptic structure organised in distinct air streams, such as the warm conveyor belt and the dry intrusion, and are associated with low-level temperature fronts. The large-scale characteristics of a Mediterranean cyclone, the properties of the associated airflows, the interaction with the topography around the Mediterranean basin, and the season of occurrence, all contribute in determining its surface impacts. Here, we take these factors into account to establish statistical links between mediterranean cyclones and weather compounds of two types, namely co-occurring rain–wind and wave–wind extremes. Specifically, compound extremes are attributed to a cyclone if they fall within the system’s impact area, using a definition that is expressly tested on Mediterranean cyclones and on the compound selection. Our results show that the majority of Mediterranean compound rain–wind and wave–wind extremes occur in the neighbourhood of a Mediterranean cyclone, with peaks exceeding 80%; the proportion of cyclone-related compounds is highest when considering transition seasons, and rain–wind events. Winter cyclones show highest compound frequency, matching with the peak winter occurrence of distinctively baroclinic
cyclones. A novelty of this work, the de-construction of the cyclones’ impact areas based on the presence of objectively-identified air streams and fronts, reveals a high incidence of both types of compound extremes below warm conveyor belt ascent regions, of wave-wind below dry intrusions
Evolut PRO and SAPIEN ULTRA Performance in Small Aortic Annuli: The OPERA-TAVI Registry.
No full textBACKGROUND
The performance of latest iteration transcatheter aortic valve replacement platforms in patients with small aortic anatomy remains underexplored.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and performance between the self-expanding (SE) Evolut PRO and PRO+ and the balloon-expandable (BE) SAPIEN ULTRA in patients with small aortic annuli.
METHODS
Data from the OPERA-TAVI (Comparative Analysis of Evolut PRO vs. SAPIEN 3 ULTRA Valves for Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) registry were used, with 1:1 propensity score matching. Primary endpoints included 1-year effectiveness composite (all-cause mortality, disabling stroke, or heart failure hospitalization) and 30-day device-related (hemodynamic structural valve dysfunction and nonstructural valve dysfunction) outcomes.
RESULTS
Among 3,516 patients, 251 matched pairs with aortic annular area 20 mm Hg (SE 1.0% vs BE 13.5%; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with small aortic annuli, transcatheter aortic valve replacement with latest iteration devices is safe. SE platforms are associated with more favorable device performance in terms of hemodynamic structural and nonstructural dysfunction. Randomized data are needed to validate these findings and guide informed device selection
Intradermal testing of iodinated contrast media: Should we test up to pure or with diluted compounds only?
Get PDFBACKGROUND
Intradermal testing (IDT) with iodinated contrast media (ICMs) is an established diagnostic tool in patients with ICM hypersensitivity. Currently, it is unclear which test concentration is the more useful one, up to pure or up to 1:10 diluted ICMs.
METHODS
We searched the literature database PubMed for eligible papers dealing with ICM allergy and their IDT results. We analyzed the data presented by the papers and compared the pooled groups tested with diluted and undiluted ICMs.
RESULTS
We identified 29 eligible original papers, and extracted data of 1137 patients that formed the study population. Although in the cohort tested with diluted ICMs the number of tested ICMs was greater, the percentage of positive tests was significantly less (9.0% vs. 24.7%; P < 0.0001; OR 0.30 [0.26-0.34]). The frequency of positive tested culprit ICMs was also lesser in the group tested with diluted ICMs (31.0% vs. 72.5%; P < 0.0001; OR 0.17 [0.12-0.23]). The number of drug provocation tests (DPTs) was greater in patients with diluted IDTs (374 vs. 89; P < 0.0001; OR 2.54 [1.93-3.36]). We detected an increased sensitivity in patients with undiluted tests (0.774 vs. 0.282) and a nearly identical specificity in both groups (1 vs. 0.983).
CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, we show that IDT up to pure ICM concentrations is superior to using diluted ICMs only. Possibly, we can reduce the number of DPTs when performing IDTs with pure ICMs. In the undiluted group, there were no hints for skin irritations or unspecific test reactions
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