共找到 20 条结果
Genomic data on clinically relevant bacteria of public health concern from sub-Saharan Africa are limited. In this study, we present the phenotypic profiles and genomic characteristics of four Shigella flexneri isolates recovered from untreated community wastewater samples in Ghana.
The scale worm genus Eunoe was investigated using an integrative taxonomic approach that combined multilocus DNA (COI, 16S rRNA, ITS2, and 28S rRNA) and detailed morphological data to address persistent uncertainty over generic limits in Polynoidae. Our phylogenetic analyses support Eunoe sensu stricto as a clade comprising six species: Eunoe nodosa (the type species), E. oerstedi, E. cf. oerstedi CMC01 (a putative undescribed species), E. ciliata comb. nov. (formerly placed in Gattyana), E. shirikishinai, and E. spinicirris. The remaining fifteen species currently assigned to Eunoe were recovered outside Eunoe s. str. and were scattered across the inferred phylogeny. Their placement does not allow confident assignment to other polynoid genera. In this study, we redescribe E. nodosa and E. oerstedi, designate lectotypes for both species, and generate sequence data from the lectotype of E. oerstedi using museomics methods. Based on our morphological analysis, five additional species likely belonging to Eunoe s. str. are also identified: E. barbata, E. hydroidopapillata, E. hozawai, E. sentiformis, and E. spinosa. Our findings suggest that Eunoe s. str. can be characterized by the presence of macrotubercles on elytra and the dorsal or dorsolateral placement of the anterior pair of eyes. In contrast, the ventral position of the anterior pair of eyes is a diagnostic character of Gattyana s. str. We also corroborate earlier evidence for the polyphyly of Harmothoe, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive taxonomic revision of generic boundaries in Polynoidae.
Many ecosystems worldwide are experiencing chronic anthropogenic nutrient enrichment, which often increases plant productivity while reducing species richness. Although nutrient inputs are now declining in some regions, the potential benefits of this reduction depend on the reversibility of enrichment impacts. In turn, ecosystem recovery can be determined by the enrichment history, that is, the rate and duration of nutrient enrichment. Here, we quantify how nutrient enrichment history shapes community recovery dynamics using a four-decade grassland experiment that examines the joint effects of nutrient enrichment rate and duration with: (1) three durations of nutrient enrichment and recovery: one decade of enrichment followed by three decades of recovery, three decades of enrichment followed by one decade of recovery, or continuous enrichment for four decades; and (2) nutrient enrichment at a gradient of rates ranging from atmospheric deposition to agricultural fertilization. Our results showed nutrient enrichment increased plant biomass and reduced species richness, with higher nutrient addition rates leading to more rapid and sustained species loss and biomass increase, even over short enrichment periods. We assessed recovery dynamics following cessation as increases in species richness and declines in community biomass relative to control conditions, because of the tight coupling between richness and biomass in many communities. We found that the reversibility of enrichment effects depended on enrichment duration, with prolonged enrichment slowing recovery of both species richness and biomass, especially at high enrichment rates. However, biomass recovered more rapidly than species richness following cessation. These findings highlight that recovery trajectories of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning depend jointly on enrichment rate and duration, underscoring the need for restoration strategies that account for nutrient legacies and their determinants. 全球范围内许多生态系统正在经历由长期人类活动引起的营养物质富集，这往往会提高植物群落生产力，同时降低物种丰富度。尽管部分地区的营养物质输入正在减少，但这种减少能否带来生态效益，取决于营养物质富集效应的可逆性。而生态系统恢复的过程又可能受到营养物质富集历史的影响，即营养物质添加的速率与持续时间。本研究基于一项持续四十余年的草地实验，量化了不同营养物质富集历史如何影响植物群落恢复动态。该实验同时控制了养分添加速率与持续时间，包括:(1)三种不同的养分添加与恢复历史:添加10年后停止并恢复32年、添加32年后停止并恢复10年，以及持续添加42年；(2)八种养分添加速率，覆盖从大气氮沉降到农业施肥水平(0–272 kg N·ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹)。 研究结果表明，即使在较短的富集时间内，较高的养分添加速率也会导致更快速且持续的物种丧失与生物量增加。由于许多植物群落中物种丰富度与生物量之间存在紧密耦合关系，养分添加停止后，我们通过物种丰富度以及群落生物量相对于对照条件的差距来衡量群落恢复动态。研究发现，营养物质富集效应的可逆性受到养分添加持续时间的显著影响；长期养分添加会延迟物种丰富度与群落生物量的恢复，尤其是在高养分添加速率下更为明显。不过，在停止养分添加后，群落生物量的恢复速度显著快于物种丰富度。这些结果表明，生物多样性与生态系统功能的恢复轨迹受到养分添加速率与持续时间的共同影响，凸显了充分考虑营养物质遗留效应及其决定因素对于生态恢复策略制定的重要性。.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries frequently necessitate anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), yet balance deficits persist during preoperative and postoperative periods. However, comprehensive longitudinal comparative studies remain scarce. This study utilized a high-resolution plantar pressure system to thoroughly assess these balance characteristics, aiming to optimize clinical rehabilitation. Fifty participants [25 in the ACLR group, 25 in the normal control (NC) group] were assessed using the SMARTX-MFS plantar pressure system. The ACLR group was assessed preoperatively, 2 months postoperatively, and 6 months postoperatively. The static parameters included the pressure proportion of the affected side (PA), the center of pressure (COP) 95% confidence ellipse area (SCOP) and the COP trajectory length (LCOP). The dynamic parameters included COP medial-lateral offset length (LCOP-ML), COP anterior-posterior offset length (LCOP-AP), gait line length (LG), single-leg support line length (LS), maximum moving speed of COP (VMAX), proportion of swing period (PSW), support period (PS), weight-bearing response period (PWB), single-leg support period (PSL), pre-swing period (PSP), and the maximum pressure in the forefoot (PMAX-F), arch (PMAX-A) and heel (PMAX-H). Inter-group and intra-group comparisons were conducted. Preoperatively: The ACLR group exhibited impairments in both static and dynamic balance, alongside profound bilateral asymmetry. Two Months Postoperatively: Only LCOP-AP showed significant improvement (P > 0.05). Six Months Postoperatively: Static balance and most dynamic parameters showed no statistically significant differences compared to the NC group, except for increased LCOP-ML (P < 0.05) and decreased LG and LS of the affected side (P < 0.05). Within the ACLR group, the affected side still exhibited extremely significant decreased LG, LS, and PMAX-F (P < 0.001), while PMAX-A and PMAX-H decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The ACLR group showed significant balance deficits at pre-operation. Only the LCOP-AP showed significant improvement at 2 months post-operation. The deficits basically recovered at 6 months post-operation. However, the asymmetry of COP trajectory and plantar pressure still existed. The study provided a basis for clinical rehabilitation assessment.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder occasionally complicated by vasculopathy, but the concurrence of NF1, a ruptured distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysm, and moyamoya syndrome is exceedingly rare. Literature review revealed that fewer than 20 such cases have been reported in English publications to date. The management of such complex, multifocal cerebrovascular pathology-including the choice of therapy, the risk of procedural complications, and the need for lifelong surveillance-poses significant challenges. A 44-year-old man with clinical features of NF1 presented with sudden headache, dizziness, and transient syncope. Imaging revealed a ruptured saccular aneurysm arising from the right A3 segment of the ACA, accompanied by intraventricular hemorrhage and contralateral moyamoya-like vasculopathy. Given the aneurysm's deep pericalosal location, small size, and the patient's multiple scalp neurofibromas, endovascular coil embolization was selected over microsurgical clipping. The procedure was successfully performed via a transfemoral approach, achieving complete aneurysm occlusion with preservation of the parent artery. The patient recovered well neurologically. Remarkably, digital subtraction angiography at more than five years post-embolization confirmed durable occlusion of the treated aneurysm without recurrence. However, it also demonstrated progression of the moyamoya syndrome and revealed a new, untreated aneurysm at the right ophthalmic segment. This case illustrates that endovascular coil embolization can be a safe and effective first-line treatment for ruptured distal ACA aneurysms in the complex setting of NF1 vasculopathy, providing long-term protection from rebleeding. The long-term follow-up uniquely highlights that NF1-associated cerebrovascular disease is progressive and multifocal; successful treatment of an index ruptured aneurysm does not eliminate the risk of new lesions elsewhere. Therefore, indefinite vascular surveillance is warranted in these patients. This report underscores the importance of a tailored, multidisciplinary approach and lifelong monitoring in managing NF1-related cerebrovascular complications.
Virulent extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae strains are increasingly being reported with corresponding increased global morbidity and mortality. Integrons may contribute to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. The aim of this study was to detect the frequency of XDR K. pneumoniae strains carrying fimH and integrons genes in Isfahan. Samples were collected from the patients hospitalized in different wards of hospital and K. pneumoniae strains were identified among them by molecular identification based on a 16-23 S rDNA ITS fragment amplification. XDR strains were detected utilizing antibiotic susceptibility testing by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The frequencies of a virulence gene (fimH) and integron coding genes (intI, intII, and intIII) was determined in XDR strains by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Among 100 clinical strains of K. pneumoniae, 10 strains (10%) were XDR. XDR isolates were most frequently recovered from patients aged 60-80 years, particularly from urine samples in ICUs. All strains were resistant to most commonly used antibiotics including beta lactams, cephalosporins, nitrofurantoin, and some combination antibiotics. The genes fimH, intI, and intII were detected in 100%, 80%, and 40% of XDR strains, respectively. The high prevalence of virulence and integron-coding genes in XDR strains of K. pneumoniae suggests a potential for the dissemination of virulence and resistance determinants in nosocomial settings; however, clinical impact studies are needed to confirm this. It seems that more research should be done on the genetic diversity of K. pneumoniae virulence and its transporting elements.
Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a leading bacterial pathogen responsible for foodborne outbreaks worldwide, with poultry products being a major source of human salmonellosis. While previous studies have predominantly focused on Salmonella transmission in the chicken production chain, ducks have received comparatively little attention as a potential reservoir host. In this study, we investigated Salmonella contamination across a commercial duck breeder-hatchery-grow-out (BHG) production system in Inner Mongolia, Hebei, and Shandong, China, comprising five breeder duck farms, one hatchery, and one commercial grow-out duck farm. From January 2022 to July 2025, a total of 7765 samples were collected across the duck BHG production system, from which 796 Salmonella isolates were recovered, yielding an overall prevalence of 10.25%. Serotyping analysis identified 16 serovars, dominated by S. Typhimurium (52.51%, 418/796), followed by S. Anatum (18.72%, 149/796) and S. Enteritidis (16.21%, 129/796). To further explore genomic relationships and potential transmission routes, 212 of the 418 S. Typhimurium isolates, representing diverse sampling time points, production stages, sample sources, locations, and antimicrobial-resistance profiles, were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Core-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis revealed the presence of both vertical and horizontal transmission of S. Typhimurium from breeder ducks to commercial ducks. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that 83 S. Typhimurium isolates (26.35%) exhibited antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to more than three classes of antibiotics. These isolates exhibited high resistance rates to ampicillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, and streptomycin. A comparative genomic analysis of multidrug resistance genes identified an IS26-mediated chromosomal replacement event, leading to the replacement of a chromosomal region with a multidrug resistance region (MRR). This genomic rearrangement may contribute to the persistence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant clones within the production system. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Salmonella circulating in breeder ducks and farm environments can disseminate through eggs and the hatchery to commercial meat ducks, suggesting that the hatchery may serve as key points for amplification and cross-contamination. These results underscore the need for strengthened hatchery biosecurity, including routine surveillance, strict workflow separation, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection, to reduce the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella along the duck production chain.
Recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli is frequently limited by aggregation into inclusion bodies, reducing the recovery of active protein. In this study, we compared two naturally occurring Arabidopsis thaliana PRLIP1 variants from the Columbia-0 and Wassilewskija accessions, which differ by 13 amino acids, during temperature-controlled heterologous expression as GFP fusion proteins. GFP fluorescence, protein distribution between soluble and insoluble fractions, and esterase activity recovered after alkaline solubilization and refolding were analysed. Reduced cultivation temperatures increased GFP fluorescence and recovered esterase activity, although most of the recombinant protein still remained associated with inclusion bodies. Differences between the two PRLIP1 variants were observed in fluorescence intensity, inclusion body accumulation, and recovered esterase activity, indicating that natural PRLIP1 variation is associated with altered recombinant protein behaviour. Sequence-based hydropathy analysis revealed no major global differences in overall hydrophobicity, whereas aggregation prediction indicated subtle local differences in aggregation-prone regions. These results suggest that naturally occurring allelic variation can provide a useful first-pass approach to identify sequence-associated differences in folding-related behaviour and functional recovery, while residue-level causal mechanisms require further mutational analysis.
The caddisfly genus Psilopteryx Stein, 1874 (Limnephilidae) represents a taxonomically challenging group in which species boundaries have traditionally been defined solely by adult morphology, as larval stages lack reliable diagnostic characters. This difficulty is particularly evident within the Psilopteryx psorosa species group in Central Europe, where species delimitation has relied primarily on subtle and often variable differences in male genital morphology, while reliable diagnostic characters for larvae and females remain unavailable. In this study, we applied a multilocus molecular approach to evaluate species boundaries within this complex. We analysed 58 specimens collected across eight montane regions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany, including material from the type locality of P. psorosa. Based on male genital morphology and following the taxonomic concept of Mey and Botosaneanu (1985), the analysed specimens were initially assigned to two subspecies: P. psorosa psorosa and P. psorosa bohemosaxonica. Two mitochondrial genes (COI, cytB) and one nuclear marker (wingless) were analysed using haplotype-based analysis, genetic distances, and phylogenetic inference. Across all analysed markers, genetic divergence was low, with median uncorrected p-distances not exceeding 0.3% and maximum divergence below 2%. Mitochondrial haplotypes were widely shared among regions and taxa, and neutrality tests performed on the complete mtDNA dataset yielded significantly negative values. Haploweb analysis of the nuclear marker recovered a single field for recombination (FFR), while both single-gene phylogenetic reconstructions and the concatenated multilocus analysis failed to recover reciprocally monophyletic groups corresponding to the traditionally recognised taxa. Our results indicate that the analysed forms represent a single evolutionary lineage and that the observed morphological differentiation reflects geographically structured intraspecific variation rather than distinct species.
Liquid and glass are two closely related disordered states of matter. Whether each can exhibit two or more structurally distinct yet chemically identical forms have been debated for decades and the relationship between polymorphism in equilibrium liquids and that in non-equilibrium glasses remains elusive. Here, we address these long-standing issues in two prototype glass-forming metallic alloys using in situ high-pressure high-temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction in diamond anvil cells. We identify distinct liquids above their melting temperatures and corresponding glasses formed upon melt quenching at different pressures, as evidenced by reproducible discontinuous changes in multiple diffraction-derived structural descriptors. Comprehensive structural and compositional characterizations consistently demonstrate that the recovered samples are fully amorphous and chemically homogeneous glasses. By continuously monitoring the formation and transformation pathways with in situ structural probes, our study provides compelling experimental evidence for the more general existence of liquid and glass polymorphism in densely packed metallic alloy systems.
We report five high-quality, potentially novel metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) recovered from a manganese(II)-oxidizing biofilm reactor. Affiliated with Bacteroidota and Pseudomonadota, these MAGs provide a genomic basis for understanding the ecology and metabolic potential of Mn(II)-oxidizing systems and represent a valuable resource for future functional studies of biofilm-mediated metal cycling.
Idebenone (IDB), a synthetic analogue of coenzyme Q10, has been proposed as a promising antioxidant in sperm cryopreservation because of its potential to reduce oxidative damage. This study investigated the effects of IDB on dog and cat epididymal spermatozoa cryopreserved by slow-freezing (SF) or vitrification (VIT) on kinematics parameters, membrane integrity, oxidative stress, and chromatin integrity. Epididymal sperm samples from twenty dogs (n = 40) and eleven cats (n = 22) were recovered by retrograde flushing and slicing-washing, respectively. Four treatments were established according to cryopreservation method and IDB supplementation (0 [control] or 10 µM): SF-Control, SF + IDB, VIT-Control, and VIT + IDB. Samples subjected to SF were supplemented with 5% glycerol and frozen in static liquid nitrogen (LN₂) vapor, whereas those subjected to VIT were supplemented with 250 mM sucrose and 1% BSA, and directly plunged into LN₂. IDB supplementation did not improve sperm kinematics or membrane integrity in either species (P > 0.05). In dog sperm, both SF + IDB and VIT + IDB showed lower oxidative stress and greater chromatin integrity than SF-Control and VIT-Control, respectively (P < 0.05). In cat sperm, VIT + IDB showed higher post-warming beat-cross frequency than VIT-Control (P < 0.05). In addition, both SF + IDB and VIT + IDB showed lower oxidative stress than their respective controls (P < 0.05). However, improved chromatin integrity in cats was only observed in the SF + IDB treatment compared with SF-Control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, idebenone reduced oxidative stress in dog and cat epididymal spermatozoa, while improved chromatin integrity was observed in dogs after both cryopreservation methods and in cats only after slow freezing.
The production of the biopolymer poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) by the halophile Halomonas boliviensis in fed-batch cultivations using bench-scale bioreactors was re-examined aiming to improve productivity and decrease production costs. To improve productivity, controlled feeding of glucose and nitrogen source, and supplementation of extra monosodium glutamate (MSG), phosphate, and trace elements were assessed. Non-aseptic conditions were investigated as a strategy to reduce costs related to medium and equipment sterilization. Further, to reduce production costs, glucose-rich hydrolysates derived from industrial residues of the red macroalga Gelidium corneum were used as an alternative carbon source to glucose. These hydrolysates were produced through hydrothermal pretreatment to remove residual agar followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. Enzyme recycling was evaluated as a strategy to improve process economics. After hydrolysis, the enzymatic cocktail was recovered using an ultrafiltration membrane and reused in the next batch. Supplementation of trace elements and increased phosphate addition contributed to a significant increase of cell dry weight (CDW), P3HB titer and overall P3HB volumetric productivity up to 103.1 ± 1.9 g/L, 70.9 ± 0.3 g/L, and 0.92 ± 0.04 g/L·h, respectively. Under non-aseptic conditions, P3HB titers and productivities were comparable to those achieved under axenic conditions. Algal hydrolysates proved to be an effective glucose source, yielding results similar to those obtained with commercial glucose. This study shows that H. boliviensis is a promising platform for P3HB production and can efficiently convert carbohydrate-rich residual biomass under non-sterile conditions.
Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical abdominal emergency in children. Its atypical presentations remain a significant source of diagnostic error. The presentation of an appendiceal abscess as an isolated abdominal wall mass, in the complete absence of abdominal pain, represents a misleading manifestation that directly contradicts the classic teaching that peritoneal signs are essential for diagnosis. A previously healthy 13-year-old boy presented with a 10-day history of a painful right lower abdominal wall swelling, explicitly denying any abdominal pain. Initially misdiagnosed with a soft tissue infection based on a focused abdominal wall ultrasound, he was referred after 10 days of unsuccessful treatment. A non-contrast computed tomography scan revealed a secondary abdominal wall abscess connected via an inflammatory tract to a large periappendiceal abscess. Management followed a staged strategy: intravenous antibiotics led to resolution, followed by an uncomplicated delayed laparoscopic appendectomy 3 months later. The patient recovered fully. This case illustrates a critical diagnostic pitfall where the absence of expected abdominal pain and a prominent local finding led to initial misdiagnosis as soft-tissue infection. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge posed by this presentation and serves to remind clinicians of the importance of considering an intra-abdominal source and obtaining a comprehensive ultrasound evaluation in children with an unexplained abdominal wall mass, even in the absence of abdominal pain. A diagnostic consideration pathway is presented as a teaching schematic to illustrate a systematic approach to evaluation in such ambiguous scenarios. It is crucial to emphasize that this pathway is derived from a single case and is presented for educational purposes, not as a validated clinical tool.
Consumer smartwatches can provide longitudinal peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) estimates for wellness purposes, but there is limited evidence that they can be used to monitor respiratory disease. In this study, we described a 52-year-old man with fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis who developed exertional hypoxemia, which progressed radiologically and led to functional decline. Systemic corticosteroids improved his symptoms, imaging, and lung function. The monthly mean Apple Watch SpO2 dropped from 95.7% to 94.4% within 3 months of the worsening and recovered to 96.5% 4 weeks after corticosteroid initiation. Daily-life SpO2 trends from smartwatches may be useful for monitoring respiratory diseases.
The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are multifactorial, necessitating a One Health approach for its mitigation. Indiscriminate and unnecessary antimicrobial use drives AMR within hospitals and livestock farms, hypothesized as key hotspots. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate environmental contamination by non-susceptible Escherichia coli (E. coli) in hospitals, livestock farms, and a community in close proximity to a hospital in the Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. A total of 134 environmental samples were collected, comprising wastewater (n = 74), soil (n = 30), and groundwater (n = 30). Of these, 54 samples were obtained from five hospitals, 50 samples from six livestock farms, and 30 groundwater samples from the surrounding community. A total of 49 (36.56%) E. coli isolates were recovered (hospitals = 15/54, 27.77%, livestock farms = 31/50, 62%, community = 3/30, 10%). Of the total, 27 (55.1%) isolates (hospitals = 11/15, 73.33%, livestock farms = 16/31, 51.61%, community = 0) were non-susceptible to at least 1 of 7 antibiotics tested. Highest rate of non-susceptibility was observed for ampicillin (24/49, 48.97%), followed by co-trimoxazole (16/49, 32.65%), ciprofloxacin (13/49, 26.53%), co-amoxiclav (9/49, 18.36%), cefotaxime (7/49, 14.28%), gentamicin (2/49, 4.08%), and meropenem (1/49, 2.04%). Of the total isolates, 16.32% (8/49) were multidrug-resistant (MDR). These findings demonstrate that hospital and livestock environments may act as important reservoirs of AMR E. coli, underscoring the urgent need to integrate environmental surveillance, wastewater management, and antimicrobial stewardship into Sri Lanka's One Health AMR control strategies.
We isolated 61 actinomycete strains from diverse animal-derived samples. Although Streptomyces predominates in soil environments, actinomycetes recovered from animal samples were primarily non-Streptomyces taxa, including rare genera such as Micromonospora sp. The antimicrobial activities of the isolated actinomycetes were evaluated, and several strains exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. These findings highlight animal-derived actinomycetes as promising sources of bioactive natural products.
Retained intrathoracic metallic foreign bodies (FBs) following penetrating chest trauma represent a challenging surgical emergency, particularly when situated in proximity to critical mediastinal structures. Anesthetic management in such cases demands meticulous airway planning, expertise in lung isolation techniques, and vigilant anticipation of physiological changes during one-lung ventilation. We describe two adult men with penetrating chest trauma and retained metallic FBs adjacent to critical mediastinal structures, both managed under general anesthesia with left lung isolation using a bronchial blocker (BB). The first patient, a 40-year-old factory worker, sustained an injury from an iron nail ejected from an industrial sewing machine, resulting in a retained left paratracheal FB and ipsilateral hemopneumothorax. Despite preexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the nail was successfully retrieved via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The second patient, a 34-year-old man, sustained a gunshot wound with a bullet lodged in the superior mediastinum, abutting the left brachiocephalic vein; the bullet was successfully retrieved via open thoracotomy. In both cases, the airway was secured via video laryngoscopy-guided tracheal intubation with a single-lumen tube, followed by fiberoptic-guided placement of the BB in the left main bronchus. Both FBs were retrieved without injury to adjacent structures. Both patients underwent planned postoperative mechanical ventilation and subsequently recovered uneventfully. These cases highlight the utility of a sequential airway strategy, in which the airway is secured first, and a bronchial blocker is subsequently deployed to facilitate the safe retrieval of deeply situated intrathoracic FBs across differing surgical approaches. They underscore the necessity of individualized anesthetic planning, tailored lung-isolation device selection, and vigilant intraoperative monitoring in complex thoracic trauma.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is traditionally associated with raw seafood, but cross-contamination in commercial catering can create overlooked hazards. We investigated a gastroenteritis outbreak affecting 88 individuals to determine how a non-seafood vehicle became the route of transmission. We conducted integrated epidemiological and environmental traceback investigations. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) were applied to analyze the genetic relatedness and resistome of the recovered isolates. Traceback strongly implicated rice noodles as the most likely vehicle. The outbreak was traced to a prerequisite program failure (raw clam exudate dripping onto uncovered noodles) followed by a critical control point failure (insufficient blanching for 1-2 min). WGS and cgMLST supported these findings: clinical and rice-noodle isolates were genetically identical (0-1 SNPs, tdh+), whereas a V. parahaemolyticus isolate from cooked bean sprouts was phylogenetically distant (>1300 allelic differences) and tdh-negative, excluding it as the cause. The outbreak clone also exhibited a multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype, including Colistin resistance and the CARB-22 β-lactamase gene. These results indicate that cross-contaminated food matrices can act as reservoirs for clinically relevant resistance determinants. This underscores the need for strict physical barriers, validated thermal processing, and high-resolution genomic surveillance to prevent opportunistic pathogen transmission in commercial catering.
The spatial organization of the tumor microenvironment shapes immune function and disease progression, yet existing methods for cell-type interaction networks from multiplexed tissue images operate in two dimensions and ignore spatial autocorrelation. We introduce ISPat-3D (Informed Spatially Aware Patterns in 3D), a hierarchical Bayesian framework that recovers spatially varying, zone-specific interaction networks from 3D multiplexed cancer imaging data. The method partitions the tissue volume into tumor intensity zones, fits an anisotropic Gaussian process per cell type and zone with separate lengthscales for the tissue plane and axial direction, decomposes the residuals via multi-study factor analysis, and extracts partial correlation networks from the resulting precision matrices. Simulations demonstrate accurate recovery of shared and zone-specific structure with high power and controlled FDR. We apply ISPat-3D to two 3D serial section multiplexed datasets: the colorectal cancer atlas (CRC1) 3D CyCIF specimen and a HER2-positive ductal breast carcinoma (BC) specimen from a 3D IMC. In CRC1, zone-specific networks reveal a T cell module intensifying with tumor burden, with the dominant regulatory association shifting from CD4$^+$$\leftrightarrow$Treg at intermediate density to CD8$^+$$\leftrightarrow$Treg at maximal density, consistent with cytotoxic suppression at the tumor core. In BC, the shared network shows near-perfect conditional coupling between cancer-associated fibroblasts and the myoepithelial layer, while zone-specific networks reveal CAF$\leftrightarrow$endothelial co-localisation at intermediate and high burden, consistent with angiogenic remodeling, and a B cell$\leftrightarrow$CAF association confined to high-density zones, consistent with tertiary lymphoid structure formation. Across both tumors, ISPat-3D identifies volumetric spatial conditional interactions not recoverable from 2D sections. The code for ISPAT-3D is available at \url{https://github.com/sagnikbhadury/ISPAT-3D}.