Loss of C1q alters the auditory brainstem response.

Neural circuits in the auditory brainstem compute interaural time and intensity differences used to determine the locations of sound sources. These circuits display features that are specialized for these functions. The projection from the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) to the medial nucleus of the trapezoid (MNTB) body travels along highly myelinated fibers and terminates in the calyx of Held.

Treat-to-target and shared decision-making in systemic lupus erythematosus from the patients' perspective: results from an international patient survey.

Objectives: Treat-to-target (T2T) is being recognised as a promising concept to significantly improve the outcomes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Despite its success being closely tied to patients' involvement, the patients' perspective regarding T2T has not been evaluated. We aimed to investigate patients' attitude towards T2T and their involvement in treatment decisions.

Effects of erythropoietin on cognitive impairment and prefrontal cortex activity across affective disorders: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Persistent cognitive impairment is frequent across bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), highlighting an urgent need for pro-cognitive treatments.

Aim: This study investigated effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on cognitive impairment and dorsal prefrontal cortex (dPFC) activity in affective disorders.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, cognitively impaired patients with remitted BD or MDD received 1 weekly recombinant human EPO (40,000 IU/mL) or saline infusion for a 12-week period.

Comparing divisome organization between vegetative and sporulating at the nanoscale using DNA-PAINT.

Spore-forming bacteria have two distinct division modes: sporulation and vegetative division. The placement of the foundational division machinery component (Z-ring) within the division plane is contingent on the division mode. However, investigating if and how division is performed differently between sporulating and vegetative cells remains challenging, particularly at the nanoscale.

Deep Conservation and Unexpected Evolutionary History of Neighboring lncRNAs MALAT1 and NEAT1.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have begun to receive overdue attention for their regulatory roles in gene expression and other cellular processes. Although most lncRNAs are lowly expressed and tissue-specific, notable exceptions include MALAT1 and its genomic neighbor NEAT1, two highly and ubiquitously expressed oncogenes with roles in transcriptional regulation and RNA splicing. Previous studies have suggested that NEAT1 is found only in mammals, while MALAT1 is present in all gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) except birds.

Effect of erythropoietin on cognitive side-effects of electroconvulsive therapy in depression: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective and rapid-acting treatment for severe depression but is associated with cognitive side-effects. Identification of add-on treatments that counteract these side-effects would be very helpful. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study investigated the effects of four add-on erythropoietin (EPO; 40,000 IU/ml) or saline (placebo) infusions over 2.

Investigation of the Formal Pathogenesis of Green Liver Discoloration in Organically Reared Female Bronze Turkeys ().

Green liver discoloration (GL) in fattening turkeys is suspected to be a multifactorial disease complex with a compromised immune system as the key factor. This study aimed to identify the formal pathogenesis of GL and to investigate possible nutritional influences. A total of 360 Bronze turkey hens out of 10 flocks from 5 fattening farms were necropsied for detection of GL during 2 consecutive trials on 2 examination dates each (70th to 75th and 120th to 127th day of fattening, respectively).

Analysis of driver characteristics, self-reported psychology measures and driving performance measures associated with aggressive driving.

Whereas aggressive driving mainly causes speed-related crashes, aggressive driving may be reduced to improve road safety by identifying aggressive driving behaviour, aggressive drivers' characteristics, and their underlying motivational and psychological processes. Previous studies show that both driving performance and self-reported measures of aggressive driving are effective means to identify aggressive drivers. However, these studies assessed aggressive driving patterns across only a limited number of events, did not relate driver characteristics to aggressive driving in each event, and used chiefly vehicle kinematics variables (e.

An Explorative Study of the Causal Pathogenesis of Green Liver Discoloration in Organically Reared Female Bronze Turkeys () Considering the Infectious Risk Factors.

A recent study revealed that organically raised Bronze turkeys showed a high prevalence of green liver discoloration. This alteration is commonly associated with the Turkey Osteomyelitis Complex and potentially caused by opportunistic bacteria. Therefore, 360 organically fattened Bronze turkeys were examined post-mortem throughout two fattening trials with two examinations each to determine possible infectious risk factors and reduce disease prevalence.

Long-term microglia depletion impairs synapse elimination and auditory brainstem function.

Specialized sound localization circuit development requires synapse strengthening, refinement, and pruning. Many of these functions are carried out by microglia, immune cells that aid in regulating neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, apoptosis, and synaptic removal. We previously showed that postnatal treatment with BLZ945 (BLZ), an inhibitor of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), eliminates microglia in the brainstem and disables calyceal pruning and maturation of astrocytes in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB).

Case Series of Disseminated Xanthogranulomatosis in Red-crowned Parakeets () with Detection of Psittacine Adenovirus 2 (PsAdV-2).

Xanthogranulomatosis is a common dermatological disease in birds. This form of inflammation, possibly associated with lipometabolic disorders, can also be seen in visceral organs, which as yet has only rarely been described in avian medicine. In general, diseases related to impaired lipid metabolism are frequently reported in avian medicine, with hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis being the most common.

Use of a Point-of-Care Progesterone Assay to Predict Onset of Parturition in the Bitch.

An assay of circulating progesterone (P4) is commonly used to estimate progress through late gestation in the bitch. Point-of-care assays provide rapid results, a major advantage over laboratory-based assays. This study aims to compare P4 levels determined by the Catalyst® Progesterone point-of-care assay with those determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) and to identify the expected distribution of Catalyst P4 levels at time intervals 3 days prior to the onset of parturition in pregnant bitches.

The Role of Nanoscale Distribution of Fibronectin in the Adhesion of Studied by Protein Patterning and DNA-PAINT.

is a widespread and highly virulent pathogen that can cause superficial and invasive infections. Interactions between surface receptors and the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin mediate the bacterial invasion of host cells and is implicated in the colonization of medical implant surfaces. In this study, we investigate the role of distribution of both fibronectin and cellular receptors on the adhesion of to interfaces as a model for primary adhesion at tissue interfaces or biomaterials.

Spatial centrosome proteome of human neural cells uncovers disease-relevant heterogeneity.

The centrosome provides an intracellular anchor for the cytoskeleton, regulating cell division, cell migration, and cilia formation. We used spatial proteomics to elucidate protein interaction networks at the centrosome of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells (NSCs) and neurons. Centrosome-associated proteins were largely cell type-specific, with protein hubs involved in RNA dynamics.

Effects of ivermectin treatment of backyard chickens on mosquito dynamics and West Nile virus transmission.

Background: Vector control strategies typically rely on pesticides to target mosquitoes involved in enzootic and zoonotic transmission of West Nile virus (WNV). Nevertheless, increasing insecticide resistance and a desire to reduce pesticide usage provide the impetus for developing alternative strategies. Ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic drug which is widely used in human and veterinary medicine, is a potential alternative for targeted control because Culex mosquitoes experience increased mortality following ingestion of IVM in bloodmeals.

Non-Apoptotic Caspase Activity Preferentially Targets a Novel Consensus Sequence Associated With Cytoskeletal Proteins in the Developing Auditory Brainstem.

The auditory brainstem relies on precise circuitry to facilitate sound source localization. In the chick, the development of this specialized circuitry requires non-apoptotic activity of caspase-3, for which we previously identified several hundred proteolytic substrates. Here we tested whether the sequence of the caspase cleavage site differentially encodes proteolytic preference in apoptotic and non-apoptotic contexts.

Use of serum progesterone and prostaglandin F metabolite levels to predict onset of parturition in the bitch.

The prediction of time to onset of parturition in a preparturient bitch is of great clinical value, particularly for bitches at high risk of dystocia and those lacking relevant clinical data from the time of breeding. In a previous study, four cut-offs for plasma progesterone levels, measured by radioimmunoassay, were shown to be useful for predicting the likelihood of a bitch entering stage one of parturition within defined time intervals. The first aim of the current study was to evaluate these cut-offs in a clinical setting, using serum progesterone samples drawn from preparturient bitches 12-hourly instead of 6-hourly and assessed using chemiluminescence immunoassay.

Synapse Maturation and Developmental Impairment in the Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body.

Sound localization requires rapid interpretation of signal speed, intensity, and frequency. Precise neurotransmission of auditory signals relies on specialized auditory brainstem synapses including the calyx of Held, the large encapsulating input to principal neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). During development, synapses in the MNTB are established, eliminated, and strengthened, thereby forming an excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) synapse profile.

Research Note: It's not just stress-fecal contamination of plumage may affect feather corticosterone concentration.

The feather corticosterone concentration (fCORT) is increasingly used to assess long-term stress in birds as this indicator provides the potential to retrospectively evaluate the adrenocortical activity of a bird during the growth period of a feather over several weeks in one sample. However, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning external factors which can potentially influence fCORT in birds. The aim of the present study was to determine whether fCORT in laying hens is affected by previous fecal contamination of the plumage.

The transformation of Caribbean coral communities since humans.

The mass die-off of Caribbean corals has transformed many of this region's reefs to macroalgal-dominated habitats since systematic monitoring began in the 1970s. Although attributed to a combination of local and global human stressors, the lack of long-term data on Caribbean reef coral communities has prevented a clear understanding of the causes and consequences of coral declines. We integrated paleoecological, historical, and modern survey data to track the occurrence of major coral species and life-history groups throughout the Caribbean from the prehuman period to the present.

Usutu virus infection in aviary birds during the cold season.

The mosquito-borne flavivirus Usutu virus (USUV) is responsible for countless deaths in both resident populations and birds kept in outdoor aviaries. Since 2001, USUV outbreaks have attracted increased attention due to the rapid geographical spread of the virus and its close relationship to West Nile virus (WNV), an emerging pathogen in humans and animals. Similar to WNV, the USUV enzootic transmission cycle predominantly involves spp.