Rowing crews synchronise strokes to achieve optimal performance. Antiphase crew coordination (i.e., alternating strokes) may reduce velocity fluctuations of the boat, which would theoretically imply reduced hydrodynamic drag and, hence, potentially faster race times. We experimentally compared in-phase to antiphase rowing on water in terms of crew coordination and effects on boat kinematics and race time. We tested whether rowers are able to row in an antiphase pattern on the water. Next, we aimed to verify whether antiphase rowing on water indeed decreased surge velocity fluctuations and whether this would imply a higher boat speed and faster race times. Nine pairs of experienced rowers rowed four 1,000 m trials in in-phase and antiphase at 20 and 30 strokes per minute. Despite this being their first attempt, most crews performed the unconventional antiphase pattern stably. Antiphase rowing indeed reduced boat velocity fluctuations, especially at higher pace, but did not yield faster race times in these first attempts. The current results provide a promising first step in testing the possibilities of antiphase crew rowing on water and its effects on boat movements and velocity. Whether antiphase rowing may result in faster racing times given the potency to improve antiphase rowing through practice and optimisation of the design and rigging of the boat, will require further research.
Whether retinoids and carotenoids impact on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is unknown. We conducted a 1:1 randomized controlled trial with extracorporeal photopheresis for GVHD-prophylaxis as the intervention. The plasma levels of retinoids and carotenoids were determined at randomization and 3 months after ASCT. We found no significant difference in GVHD occurrence and levels of retinoids between the intervention and control groups at either of the two time points. Whether routine vitamin A supplementation is warranted for GVHD prevention, needs further study. Our exploratory study highlights the complex role of retinoid homeostasis in immune function during ASCT. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03204721.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to manage menopausal symptoms, but its perioperative use raises concerns about increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. Clinical guidelines vary, with some advising temporary discontinuation before surgery. This scoping review aims to synthesise evidence and guidance on whether perioperative cessation of HRT influences postoperative VTE risk. A systematic search of PubMed and the Cochrane Library identified studies evaluating pre-operative HRT and VTE outcomes. Search terms included Hormone Replacement Therapy, HRT, Venous Thromboembolism, Venous Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism, Perioperative Care and Surgical Procedures, Operative. Studies included adult women on HRT undergoing surgery and assessed discontinuation and VTE risk. Data were synthesised narratively. The search identified 246 records, four of which met the inclusion criteria: three primary studies and one systematic review. Only one study compared perioperative continuation versus cessation of HRT and found no significant increase in postoperative VTE with continued use. Other studies examined HRT among multiple VTE risk factors, with inconsistent findings. Clinical guidelines recognise oral oestrogen as a VTE risk factor and distinguish between higher-risk oral and lower-risk transdermal formulations; however, few provide explicit perioperative recommendations. Evidence is limited and insufficient to support routine perioperative HRT cessation. The only comparative study found no significant increase in VTE with continuation, though limitations restrict interpretation. Overall, the literature reflects uncertainty. Given limited and heterogeneous data, perioperative HRT management should be individualised. Further prospective research is needed to determine whether temporary withdrawal, particularly of oral oestrogen, reduces postoperative VTE risk.
This study aims to assess the association between the Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM) and sarcopenic obesity (SO) in middle-aged and elderly populations, and to evaluate whether the Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) acts as the mediation in this relationship. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 3746 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2011 to 2018. Weighted multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to explore the association between DI-GM and the prevalence of SO, DI-GM and HSI, and HSI and the prevalence of SO. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used to assess the potential nonlinear relationship between DI-GM and SO. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the consistency of this relationship across different demographic groups. Additionally, mediation analysis was conducted to explore whether there existed a potential association between DI-GM, HSI, and SO. Among the 3746 participants included in the study, 369 (9.8%) were diagnosed with SO. After adjusting for all covariates by weighted multivariate logistic regression, each unit increase in DI-GM was associated with a 15% decrease in the prevalence of SO [Model 3: OR = 0.85, 95% CI (0.76, 0.95), p = 0.006]. When DI-GM was categorized into quartiles, the results remained significant [Model 3: OR = 0.47, 95% CI (0.30, 0.75), p = 0.002]. Further analysis indicated that the protective effect of DI-GM was primarily attributed to the Beneficial gut microbiota score (BGMS). RCS analysis revealed a significant linear relationship between DI-GM and SO (p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis demonstrated the robustness of this association across various subgroups. Mediation analysis showed that 17.8% of the association between DI-GM and SO was mediated by HSI (p < 0.05). DI-GM is significantly inversely associated with the prevalence of SO in the aging population, and HSI partially mediates this association.
Vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS) remains a challenging sequela of radical prostatectomy (RP). To evaluate endoscopic outcomes in men with VUAS using a patient-centred composite endpoint of concurrent urethral patency and continence. Retrospective, single-centre consecutive case series. We analysed 60 consecutive men treated endoscopically for VUAS (2014-2023). Primary endpoints were urethral patency (passage of a 20F catheter at 6-month follow-up) and continence (0-1 pad/day at last follow-up; for men with an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), assessed after device activation). Secondary endpoints included AUS implantation and complications. Subgroup comparisons by prior pelvic radiotherapy (RTx) were performed using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney tests. Median follow-up was 40 months. Patency was achieved in 45/60 (75%). Continence was achieved in 22/60 (36.7%): 5 men remained continent without AUS and 17 became continent after AUS; 4/21 AUS required explant for erosion. Composite success (patency plus continence) occurred in 20/60 (33.3%). Prior RTx was not significantly associated with patency, continence, composite success, or AUS implantation. Three men required urinary diversion for pubic bone fistulation and three were diagnosed with bladder cancer (no AUS implanted). Seventeen patients declined AUS despite persistent stress urinary incontinence. Endoscopic treatment restores urethral patency in most men with post-RP VUAS, but the final patient-centred outcome of simultaneous patency and continence is achieved in one-third. These data may support shared decision-making regarding expectations and staged continence surgery. Not applicable. Keyhole treatment of scarring after prostate surgery: what reopening the urine passage means for regaining bladder control? After prostate removal surgery, some men develop scarring where the bladder joins the urethra. This can narrow or block the urine passage and is often linked with urine leakage. The usual first step is an endoscopic (“keyhole”) procedure that cuts the scar from inside to reopen the passage. We reviewed 60 men treated this way at our centre (2014–2023). We checked, over several follow up visits up to six months, whether the passage stayed open and whether men could control urine (defined as using 0–1 pad per day). We also recorded who needed an artificial urinary sphincter (a small implanted device that helps prevent leakage) and any complications. Results: the urine passage remained open in 45 of 60 men (75%). Good bladder control was achieved in 22 of 60 (37%). Our “final success” combined both goals—an open passage and good control—and was seen in 20 of 60 men (33%). An artificial sphincter was implanted in 21 men (35%); 17 other men chose not to have this device despite ongoing leakage. Four implanted devices later eroded and were removed. Three men needed urinary diversion because of a rare complication (a fistula involving the pubic bone), and three were diagnosed with bladder cancer during follow up. In this study, having had radiotherapy in the past did not clearly change the chances of success. What this means: keyhole treatment usually reopens the passage, but many men will still need an artificial sphincter to be reliably dry. Knowing this helps patients and clinicians plan realistic timelines and next steps after the first procedure. If scarring keeps coming back or the narrowing is severe, early discussion of reconstructive surgery may be appropriate.
This study aimed to investigate the association between protein-energy wasting (PEW) and cognitive impairment (CI) in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). In this single-center cross-sectional study, 86 patients receiving MHD were enrolled. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements, including mid-arm circumference (MAC) and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), as well as the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS). Cognitive function was evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with patients classified into CI (n = 50) and non-CI (n = 36) groups based on education-adjusted scores. Group comparisons, Spearman correlation analysis, multivariable logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed. Cognitive impairment was present in 58.1% of the patients. Compared with the non-CI group, patients with CI had a higher Malnutrition-Inflammation Score and lower MAMC. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that lower MAMC (adjusted OR 0.571, 95% CI 0.400-0.816, p = 0.002) and higher MIS (adjusted OR 1.249, 95% CI 1.006-1.550, p = 0.044) were independently associated with cognitive impairment. ROC analysis demonstrated that a multivariable model combining age, years of education, dialysis vintage, MAMC, and MIS exhibited excellent discriminative ability (AUC = 0.942, 95% CI 0.898-0.987). Lower MAMC and higher MIS were independently associated with cognitive impairment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. These two indicators (MAMC and MIS) showed stronger and more consistent associations with cognitive impairment than single biochemical markers. Given the cross-sectional design of the study, the temporal direction of the association cannot be determined. Prospective studies are warranted to clarify whether muscle loss precedes cognitive decline or occurs as a consequence of it, and to evaluate whether preserving muscle mass can protect cognitive function in this population.
Listening to music while studying is common, yet it remains unclear whether self-selected popular music facilitates or interferes with memory performance. This exploratory pilot fMRI study examined whether preferred Japanese pop music (J-Pop), compared with unpleasant sounds and a no-sound baseline, was descriptively associated with differences in visual memory retrieval, subjective focus, and regional brain activity in healthy young adults. Five participants completed a visual encoding and retrieval task under three auditory conditions during fMRI. Behavioral performance, focus ratings, and region-of-interest (ROI) activity in the anterior insula and temporo-occipital visual association cortex were examined using descriptive statistics and nonparametric analyses. Descriptively, recall accuracy and subjective focus were highest in the preferred J-Pop condition, intermediate in the no-sound condition, and lowest in the unpleasant condition; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Exploratory ROI analyses showed that anterior insula activity was descriptively higher during the J-Pop condition, whereas temporo-occipital visual association cortex activity was descriptively highest during unpleasant sounds, intermediate during J-Pop, and lowest during the no-sound condition. Brain-behavior correlations were also exploratory and should be interpreted cautiously given the very small sample size. These findings do not establish that preferred J-Pop improves memory performance or supports a specific neural mechanism. Rather, they suggest that this paradigm is feasible and may be useful for generating hypotheses about how affectively positive, self-selected music relates to visual memory retrieval, subjective focus, and salience-related neural processing in future adequately powered studies.
Diagnosing SHOX gene variations is important because growth hormone treatment is an approved option for affected children. Subtle clinical and radiological abnormalities were reported in SHOX deficiency associated with idiopathic short stature (ISS). Whether systematic or phenotype-based molecular screening should be performed remains debated. To determine whether simple radiological features on left-hand radiography could serve as indicators for molecular analysis of the SHOX gene, and to compare these with published clinical/radiological scores. This retrospective study included 266 patients diagnosed with ISS who underwent SHOX gene analysis without any predefined selection criteria at the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit of Angers University Hospital from 2016 to 2023, aiming to determine the rate of SHOX gene variations. We also included 33 ISS patients diagnosed with a SHOX gene variation between 2005 and 2015 to refine sensitivity analyses. Systematic screening using MLPA identified SHOX gene variations in 9.8% of ISS children and sequencing in MLPA-negative subjects detected an additional 6%. Variations occurred in the coding regions in one-third and in the enhancer regions in two-thirds. A cutoff of 147° for the convexity of the distal radial metaphysis showed sensitivity/specificity of 89%/50%. A cutoff of 128° for pyramidalization of the carpal row yielded sensitivity/specificity of 86%/49%. Combining both criteria yielded 91% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Previous scores proposed by Rappold and Binder had sensitivity/specificity of 36%/51% and 81%/10%, respectively. Systematic molecular screening by MLPA and sequencing is recommended to detect all SHOX gene variants in children with ISS.
Reports during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested a surge in domestic violence cases. It is important to examine whether patterns changed following the pandemic. Authors of this study evaluated whether Sedgwick County (SGC) experienced similar trends by comparing intimate partner violence (IPV)-related service utilization before, during, and after the pandemic. Participants included IPV victims who accessed services through Wichita Family Crisis Center from January 1, 2018, to May 31, 2025. There were no exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed across three periods: pre-COVID (Period 1: 3/1/18 - 2/28/20), COVID (Period 2: 2/29/20 - 5/31/23), and post-COVID (Period 3: 6/1/23 - 5/30/25). Chi-square testing was used for statistical analysis. A total of 11,341 clients were included, with a 31% decrease from Period 1 to Period 2 and a 19% increase from Period 2 to Period 3. A total of 100,356 services were analyzed; services decreased during COVID and increased post-COVID to levels exceeding pre-pandemic levels (p <0.001). During COVID, the proportion of hotline calls related to children younger than 17 years doubled, then declined post-COVID (p <0.0001). Upward trends also were observed in safety planning services during and after COVID, along with an increase in sex trafficking-related services post-COVID (p <0.0001). In SGC, IPV-related calls and services decreased during the pandemic and increased steadily in the post-COVID period. These patterns may reflect reduced access to care or changes in service availability during the pandemic, rather than a true reduction in IPV prevalence or service needs.
Research has shown inconsistent results regarding the impact of personality disorder (PD) on psychotherapy outcomes for depression. There is a scarcity of studies comparing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with short-term psychodynamic therapy (STPP). This study aimed to compare outcome of STPP and CBT in depressed patients with and without PD and investigate whether PD or specific PD traits differentially affected outcome in STPP and CBT. One hundred outpatients with major depression (PD, n=28; NoPD, n=72) were randomized to STPP or CBT and followed up after 28 weeks. PD was assessed by semi-structured interview (SCID-II) which indicated mild to moderate severity of PD. Primary outcome measures were Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory-II, secondary outcome measures were the Global Functioning Scale, Work and Social Adjustment Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7. Statistics comprised bivariate analyses and multivariate linear regression. Effect sizes for primary and secondary outcomes were large for both the PD and NoPD groups, with no significant difference in clinical status between the groups after 28 weeks. The presence of a PD diagnosis did not moderate outcome of STPP versus CBT, but the interaction between paranoid traits and treatment showed a significant effect in favor of STPP. The results indicate that co-occurring mild to moderate personality pathology should not be a barrier to standard psychotherapies for patients with depression. More studies are needed to investigate whether type and complexity of personality pathology differentially affect short- and longer-term outcomes of different psychotherapies for depressed patients.
Ultra-processed food (UPF) has been extensively linked to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic disease, and cancer. It also contributes to the development of inflammation, oxidative stress, and other disease pathways, with obesity being a major concern. In this review, we offer insights into the role of UPF consumption on nutritional behavior, diet quality, and health. We also raise the questions of whether UPF promotes obesity that subsequently mediates the development of infertility, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and hypertension, and whether UPF independently drives these conditions through obesity-independent pathways. Understanding the impact of UPF on diet quality and health can guide strategies to reduce its consumption and address related public health and sustainability challenges.
The purposes of this study were to determine (1) whether delay to total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) after traumatic distal humerus fracture affects heterotopic ossification (HO) formation and (2) whether HO is associated with postoperative elbow range of motion (ROM). This retrospective cohort study included patients with distal humerus fractures who underwent TEA at a single institution by a single orthopaedic surgeon from 2017 to 2021. All procedures were performed using a triceps fascial tongue approach. Patients did not receive HO prophylaxis and followed a standardized postoperative rehabilitation protocol. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records and entered into an electronic database. Postoperative radiographs were reviewed for evidence of periarticular HO. HO volume was estimated using three-dimensional linear measurements derived from orthogonal radiographic views. Pearson bivariate correlation analyses were performed to assess associations between HO volume, time to surgery, and patient characteristics. Sixteen female patients were included, with a mean age of 78.9 (±9.8) years. Median time to surgery was 14.5 days (IQR, 11-27.5). There was no significant correlation between delay to surgery and HO volume, which averaged 5.5 (±4.5) cm3. Among five of fifteen patients with a postoperative total elbow arc of motion <100°, the mean time to surgery was 17.6 days and mean HO volume was 9.2 cm3. Delay to TEA was not associated with HO volume in geriatric patients treated for distal humerus fractures. However, increased HO volume was associated with reduced postoperative elbow ROM.
Genetic testing is critical in the management of breast cancer, guiding surgical decision-making, informing therapy selection, and identifying at-risk relatives. Despite its clinical importance, completion of genetic testing remains suboptimal. This study evaluated whether completion of genetic testing differed when testing was offered directly by a breast surgeon in clinic compared with the traditional referral to an external genetic specialist. This retrospective cohort study included women aged 18 to 89 years diagnosed with breast cancer who presented to a breast surgeon in Wichita, Kansas, between 2017 and 2023. Patients seen in 2020-2021 were excluded due to COVID-19-related disruptions. From 2017-2019, patients were referred to a genetic specialist, whereas from 2022-2023, testing was offered directly by the surgeon in clinic. The primary outcome was completion of genetic testing. Among 732 eligible patients, 62% (n = 454) completed genetic testing. Patients who completed testing were younger (mean age 61 vs. 70 years, p <0.001) and more likely to report a family history of cancer (69.4% vs. 43.8%, p <0.001). Among those tested, 4.9% had a pathogenic mutation, most commonly in BRCA2, ATM, or CHEK2. Patient characteristics, including age and family history, did not differ between provider groups. Genetic testing completion was higher when testing was offered in clinic by the surgeon (72.6%) than through referral-based testing (55.2%; p <0.001). Offering genetic testing directly within the breast surgeon's clinic was associated with significantly higher completion rates compared with referral-based testing. Integrating genetic testing into surgical consultations may reduce logistical barriers and enable earlier use of genetic information in treatment planning.
Microorganisms are intricately interrelated with each other in the gut microecosystem, which influences the colonization and functional roles of probiotics. However, how these interactions dynamically change during host development and whether their topological features influence host phenotypes, such as average daily gain (ADG), remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed metagenome analysis for 2,311 fecal samples collected from a specifically designed eight genetically divergent breed intercrossed mosaic F6 and F7 population, at three developmental ages of 25 days (D25), 120 days (D120), and 240 days (D240) of each individual, covering pre-weaning to market. By constructing their microbiota co-abundance networks, we systematically characterized dynamic changes in beneficial commensal bacteria involved co-abundance networks in the pig gut microbiome across three ages. We elucidated conserved and variable co-abundance features involving these bacteria across developmental stages. We observed that the cross-age stable co-abundance correlations of beneficial commensal bacteria were maintained by a large set of weak correlations. A subset of age-shared co-abundance correlations remained variable across different ages in correlation strength and direction. Topological analysis revealed that beneficial commensal bacteria involved co-abundance networks were highly age-specific. Among the three age stages sampled in this study, the D120 stage represented a critical window for the structural and functional reorganization of gut microbiota. Using metagenomic sequencing data at the D120, we identified two guilds that were significantly associated with ADG from D120 to D240. Guild 1 included short chain fatty acid-producing taxa and was positively associated with ADG, whereas Guild 2 tended to self-utilization of energy and was negatively associated with ADG. We also inferred the ecological interaction mechanisms of ADG-associated microbial communities using genome-scale metabolic models. These findings provided a theoretical basis for stage-specific intervention in the pig gut microbiome using probiotics to improve production traits.
Metabolic dysfunction contributes to glaucoma progression, including through substrate availability and the presence and concentration of substrate transporters. Observations of metabolic substrate transporter loss in glaucoma, including loss of monocarboxylate transporter-2 (MCT2), have suggested there are serious implications for metabolic dysfunction on the health and survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In this study, we investigate whether MCT2 is necessary and sufficient for RGC survival in vivo and after ocular hypertension (OHT). We used an inducible conditional knockout (KO) mouse to remove MCT2 in Thy1-positive RGCs, then assessed RGC survival and function after OHT. MCT2 KO alone did not affect RGC density but did significantly reduce pattern electroretinogram amplitude. Upregulation of MCT1, MCT4, and GLUT3 transporters occurred as a result of MCT2 KO, suggesting that RGCs employ compensatory measures to meet their metabolic needs. Introducing oral nicotinamide (500 mg/kg/day) to test its ability to offset potential energy substrate insufficiency from MCT2 KO showed that nicotinamide was protective of RGC density for the MCT KO group but did not preserve RGC density or function for MCT2 KO + OHT. These data indicate RGCs are able to undergo compensatory adaptation to MCT2 KO with substrate transporter upregulation, which preserves their density but is not sufficient to fully preserve their function. Intervention that supplies metabolic intermediates can mitigate the loss of MCT2.
Chlamydia suis is an obligate intracellular bacterium endemic in pig populations and is detected in the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting that the intestine may be an important site of chlamydial colonization. Despite this, intestinal chlamydial infections remain poorly understood, largely due to the lack of models that accurately mimic the interaction of C. suis with the gut epithelium. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether porcine jejunum-derived enteroids constitute a suitable in vitro model to investigate intestinal infection by C. suis and to compare infection dynamics with the closely related human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. Porcine enteroid monolayers were exposed to C. suis and C. trachomatis, and bacterial uptake, inclusion formation, and replication were assessed using microscopy-based and molecular approaches. Both C. suis and C. trachomatis efficiently attached to primary intestinal epithelial cells and formed intracellular inclusions, indicating successful bacterial uptake and early intracellular survival. Infection levels increased in a dose-dependent manner, confirming that enteroid-derived monolayers are suitable for studying early host-pathogen interactions. Furthermore, treatment with tetracycline reduced C. suis inclusion formation and extracellular bacterial release, thereby functionally confirming that an active infection had been established and that the model responded as expected to antibiotic treatment. However, unlike the McCoy cell model which supports productive bacterial replication, enteroid cultures did not exhibit a significant increase in intracellular bacterial load over time. Despite this limited replication in enteroids, chlamydial DNA accumulated in the culture supernatants, suggesting extracellular release of bacterial material. In conclusion, porcine intestinal epithelial cells permit chlamydial attachment, internalization, and early inclusion formation. However, under the tested conditions, efficient completion of the chlamydial developmental cycle was not observed. Nevertheless, porcine enteroid-derived cultures represent a physiologically relevant in vitro platform to investigate the early stages of intestinal chlamydial infection and provide a valuable system for studying host-pathogen interactions at the intestinal interface.
Current literature demonstrates significant deficiencies in menopause education among Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) residents, with limited formal curricula reported across residency programs. Reported gaps in resident knowledge and comfort with menopause management pose a concern for the growing aging population in the United States. The aim of this project was to assess resident knowledge of menopause, treatment options, and patient care. This cross-sectional, survey-based study involved OB-GYN residents affiliated with The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, Kansas. The survey included questions assessing knowledge and comfort related to menopause topics. The primary outcome was resident knowledge regarding menopause. This study was conducted at a community-based OB-GYN residency program and was designed to be reproducible across residency programs. Of 20 residents, 14 responses were received and analyzed (70% response rate). Most respondents reported fewer than 5 hours of exposure to menopause education (56.3%, n = 9). Of five knowledge questions, two had fewer than 25% correct responses. Most residents reported being only somewhat comfortable and needing additional experience explaining the etiology and physiology of menopause symptoms (56.3%, n = 9). When asked whether the program prepares them to confidently treat menopausal patients after graduation, the largest proportion neither agreed nor disagreed (43.8%, n = 7). Residents demonstrated limited knowledge of menopause and low comfort with menopause management. Although this study was limited to a single program, the findings are consistent with current literature. Increased exposure to menopausal patients and topics, along with standardized menopause curricula, may improve resident knowledge and comfort in menopause management.
Easy, universal, and cost-effective methods of gamete preservation for echinoids are required since echinoids are important model organisms for studying fertilization and early development, and at the same time, they are valuable fishery resources, and key components of marine ecosystems. In general, cryopreservation is the common method of animal sperm preservation, but we previously reported a simple method using a chilled condition as an alternative choice, using Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. In this study, we applied this method to various echinoid species to test whether it was effective for them, and then we determined the features of the preserved sperm in detail. The fertilization capability of preserved sperm was maintained for several weeks, though higher sperm density was needed to obtain 100% fertilization in later periods. Eggs fertilized by the preserved sperm developed normally, and the morphology of the embryos was not affected. Sperm swimming in a stable, regular manner were observed even at the end of the preservation period, though the flagellar beat frequency was substantially decreased during preservation. There was almost no change of the flagellar beat form during preservation. Here, we showed that our simple method is basically applicable to various echinoid species and provides the opportunity for effective and immediate use of competent echinoid sperm by a wide variety of users, such as people in research, fisheries and education.
Gut microbiomes play a crucial role in host physiology and seasonal adaptation. While seasonal shifts in avian gut microbiota are often attributed to seasonal diet variation, environmental factors may be equally or more important, particularly in urban ecosystems. This study aimed to determine whether seasonal variation in the gut microbiome of free-living feral pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) inhabiting urban environments is associated with seasonal changes in diet and environmental conditions. We captured feral pigeons at three locations in Groningen, the Netherlands, during winter (January-February 2019) and summer (July-August 2019). Cloacal swabs and fecal samples were collected to assess gut microbiota via 16S rRNA sequencing and diet via DNA metabarcoding, respectively. Microbial diversity and composition showed significant seasonal variation and location effects. At Vismarkt, one of the three urban sampling sites within the city of Groningen, Firmicutes were more abundant in summer than in winter, while Actinobacteria were more abundant in winter. Dominant genera also varied seasonally, with Lactobacillus more abundant in summer. In contrast, the diet composition was dominated by Poaceae (grasses), Fabaceae (legumes), and Asteraceae (daisies) across all seasons and locations, with no detectable differences between locations or seasons. Distance-based redundancy analysis indicated that temperature was significantly associated with microbiome composition, whereas diet as measured here showed no detectable association. This suggests that seasonal microbiome variation in urban feral pigeons may be related to seasonal environmental conditions even without detectable dietary shifts, consistent with the idea that seasonal environmental conditions can contribute to microbiome seasonality in birds.
Alterations in the gut microbiome are implicated in infant malnutrition. Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (B. infantis), a commensal common in breastfed infants, has been shown to have reduced abundance in malnourished infants. This trial (NCT05952076) evaluated if B. infantis strain Bi-26 supplementation could improve growth and health outcomes in underweight infants in Pakistan. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 40 infants aged 30-120 days (d) with a weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) below -2 received daily oral Bi-26 or placebo for 28d, with follow-up to d90 for safety. The primary endpoint was change in WAZ from baseline to d56. The intended sample size was 396 infants but study was terminated early due to operational delays. Total B. infantis levels microbiome, metabolome, and cytokine profiles were assessed. Bi-26 supplementation increased fecal B. infantis levels at d28 (p = 0.001) and d56 (p = 0.03) but did not result in significant change in WAZ (p = 0.69) or weight gain (p = 0.56) compared to placebo. Fewer adverse events (AEs) occurred in the Bi-26 group compared to placebo (40% vs. 80% of infants; 17 vs. 49 events). Probiotic engraftment was impacted by presence of baseline endogenous B. infantis, suggesting that Bi-26 complemented rather than outcompeted endogenous strains. Bi-26 altered microbiome composition with transient alterations in function and metabolite abundance that reverted to baseline by d56, without cytokine differences between groups. B. infantis levels and Bifidobacterium-community types were associated with fewer AEs but not changes in WAZ or weight. Bi-26 supplementation had an acceptable safety profile but did not improve growth. The findings of this trial support further evaluation of B. infantis strains in larger studies of underweight infants across diverse LMIC settings. Future trials should determine whether sustained metabolic and functional remodeling can translate into measurable improvements in growth and health outcomes. https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05952076, NCT05952076.