A receptor required for chitin perception facilitates arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and distinguishes root symbiosis from immunity.

Plants establish symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to facilitate nutrient uptake, particularly in nutrient-limited conditions. This partnership is rooted in the plant's ability to recognize fungal signaling molecules, such as chitooligosaccharides (chitin) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides. In the legume Medicago truncatula, chitooligosaccharides trigger both symbiotic and immune responses via the same lysin-motif-receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs), notably CERK1 and LYR4.

An NLR integrated domain toolkit to identify plant pathogen effector targets.

Plant immune receptors, known as NOD-like receptors (NLRs), possess unique integrated decoy domains that enable plants to attract pathogen effectors and initiate a specific immune response. The present study aimed to create a library of these integrated domains (IDs) and screen them with pathogen effectors to identify targets for effector virulence and NLR-effector interactions. This works compiles IDs found in NLRs from seven different plant species and produced a library of 78 plasmid clones containing a total of 104 IDs, representing 43 distinct InterPro domains.

Incidence and predictive factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in patients with oropharyngeal cancer undergoing multimodality treatment planning imaging.

Background: We investigated the incidence and predictive factors of retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) metastases in patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) undergoing multimodality treatment planning imaging before radiotherapy.

Methods: Consecutive patients with OPC treated with curative-intent radiotherapy from 2017 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment planning comprised contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) unless contraindicated.

Centralized Triage of Suspected Coronary Artery Disease Using Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography to Optimize the Diagnostic Yield of Invasive Angiography.

Background: Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is preferable to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis in elective patients without known CAD.

Methods: We conducted a nonrandomized interventional study involving 2 tertiary care centres in Ontario. From July 2018 to February 2020, outpatients referred for elective ICA were identified through a centralized triage process and were recommended to undergo CCTA first instead of ICA.

The grapevine LysM receptor-like kinase VvLYK5-1 recognizes chitin oligomers through its association with VvLYK1-1.

The establishment of defense reactions to protect plants against pathogens requires the recognition of invasion patterns (IPs), mainly detected by plasma membrane-bound pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Some IPs, also termed elicitors, are used in several biocontrol products that are gradually being developed to reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture. Chitin, the major component of fungal cell walls, as well as its deacetylated derivative, chitosan, are two elicitors known to activate plant defense responses.

Patient and Provider Satisfaction With Telehealth Preanesthesia Examinations.

Purpose: Telehealth has become commonplace in many healthcare systems across the United States. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large academic medical center in the southeast USA has increased the use of telehealth in the anesthesia department to complete preanesthetic assessments before the patient's surgery. This has allowed high-risk patient populations to limit potential exposure to COVID-19 and limit the financial burden of traveling from neighboring counties to complete their preanesthetic assessment in person.

SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling subunit Smarca4/BRG1 is essential for female fertility†.

Mammalian folliculogenesis is a complex process that involves the regulation of chromatin structure for gene expression and oocyte meiotic resumption. The SWI/SNF complex is a chromatin remodeler using either Brahma-regulated gene 1 (BRG1) or BRM (encoded by Smarca4 and Smarca2, respectively) as its catalytic subunit. SMARCA4 loss of expression is associated with a rare type of ovarian cancer; however, its function during folliculogenesis remains poorly understood.

Metformin prevents age-associated ovarian fibrosis by modulating the immune landscape in female mice.

Ovarian fibrosis is a pathological condition associated with aging and is responsible for a variety of ovarian dysfunctions. Given the known contributions of tissue fibrosis to tumorigenesis, it is anticipated that ovarian fibrosis may contribute to ovarian cancer risk. We recently reported that diabetic postmenopausal women using metformin had ovarian collagen abundance and organization that were similar to premenopausal ovaries from nondiabetic women.

Transcriptional heterogeneity of stemness phenotypes in the ovarian epithelium.

The ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) is a monolayer of epithelial cells surrounding the ovary that ruptures during each ovulation to allow release of the oocyte. This wound is quickly repaired, but mechanisms promoting repair are poorly understood. The contribution of tissue-resident stem cells in the homeostasis of several epithelial tissues is widely accepted, but their involvement in OSE is unclear.

Diagnostic Neuroradiology Subspecialty Training: 1 Versus 2 Years; the Canadian Perspective.

Background: Canada began a national reform of its post-graduate medical education training programs to a Competence By Design (CBD) model. Trends from accredited neuroradiology programs from the past 10 years were investigated to inform educators and stakeholders for this process.

Methods: A 13-question electronic survey was sent to program directors of all 8 accredited neuroradiology training programs in Canada.

The significance of ovarian fibrosis.

Ovarian aging is associated with significant changes in the structural organization of collagen, resulting in ovarian fibrosis. In many other tissues, fibrosis increases risks associated with tumorigenesis and metastasis. Thus, it is possible that ovarian fibrosis increases the risk of ovarian cancer by creating a microenvironment more permissive to tumor growth.

Convergent Rewiring of the Virulence Regulatory Network Promotes Adaptation of Ralstonia solanacearum on Resistant Tomato.

The evolutionary and adaptive potential of a pathogen is a key determinant for successful host colonization and proliferation but remains poorly known for most of the pathogens. Here, we used experimental evolution combined with phenotyping, genomics, and transcriptomics to estimate the adaptive potential of the bacterial plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum to overcome the quantitative resistance of the tomato cultivar Hawaii 7996. After serial passaging over 300 generations, we observed pathogen adaptation to within-plant environment of the resistant cultivar but no plant resistance breakdown.

Is It Only Takotsubo Syndrome? Cardiac MRI and a Case of Delayed ST-Elevation.

Takotsubo syndrome is a well described clinical phenomenon that often mimics acute coronary syndrome. We present an atypical case of Takotsubo syndrome, characterized by delayed troponin elevation and electrocardiogram changes suggestive of acute coronary syndrome, but a normal coronary angiogram. We describe the integration of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to identify syndrome overlap, and discuss the utilization of diagnostic modalities beyond coronary angiogram if clinical equipoise exists, including B-type natriuretic peptide/troponin ratio, intravascular coronary imaging, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

The large, diverse, and robust arsenal of Ralstonia solanacearum type III effectors and their in planta functions.

The type III secretion system with its delivered type III effectors (T3Es) is one of the main virulence determinants of Ralstonia solanacearum, a worldwide devastating plant pathogenic bacterium affecting many crop species. The pan-effectome of the R. solanacearum species complex has been exhaustively identified and is composed of more than 100 different T3Es.

LY75 Suppression in Mesenchymal Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells Generates a Stable Hybrid EOC Cellular Phenotype, Associated with Enhanced Tumor Initiation, Spreading and Resistance to Treatment in Orthotopic Xenograft Mouse Model.

The implications of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanisms in the initiation and progression of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that suppression of the antigen receptor LY75 directs mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in EOC cell lines with the mesenchymal phenotype, associated with the loss of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. In the present study, we used the LY75-mediated modulation of EMT in EOC cells as a model in order to investigate the specific role of EOC cells, with an epithelial (E), mesenchymal (M) or mixed epithelial plus mesenchymal (E+M) phenotype, in EOC initiation, dissemination and treatment response, following intra-bursal (IB) injections of SKOV3-M (control), SKOV3-E (Ly75KD) and a mixed population of SKOV3-E+M cells, into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice.

Effect of heifer age on the granulosa cell transcriptome after ovarian stimulation.

Genomic selection is accelerating genetic gain in dairy cattle. Decreasing generation time by using younger gamete donors would further accelerate breed improvement programs. Although ovarian stimulation of peripubertal animals is possible and embryos produced in vitro from the resulting oocytes are viable, developmental competence is lower than when sexually mature cows are used.

Expression of atresia biomarkers in granulosa cells after ovarian stimulation in heifers.

The use of younger gamete donors in dairy cattle genetic selection programs significantly accelerates genetic gains by decreasing the interval between generations. Ovarian stimulation (OS) and the practice of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) withdrawal, also known as coasting, are intensively used in pre-pubertal heifers without detrimental effects on subsequent reproductive performance but generally with lower embryo yields. However, recent data from embryo transfer programs showed similar embryo yields in younger and sexually mature animals but with a significant difference in the coasting period.

Using the Frailty Assessment for Care Planning Tool (FACT) to screen elderly chronic kidney disease patients for frailty: the nurse experience.

Purpose: Recent evidence supports the prognostic significance of frailty for functional decline and poor health outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease. Yet, despite the development of clinical tools to screen for frailty, little is known about the experiential impact of screening for frailty in this setting. The Frailty Assessment for Care Planning Tool (FACT) evaluates frailty across 4 domains: mobility, function, social circumstances, and cognition.

Follicle capacitation: a meta-analysis to investigate the transcriptome dynamics following follicle-stimulating hormone decline in bovine granulosa cells.

In recent years, exciting progress was made to improve the embryo outcome after ovarian stimulation in domestic animals. The practice of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) withdrawal, which is defined as the period of time between the last injection of FSH and oocyte retrieval, resulted in embryo yields significantly superior. Since then, specific changes in the transcriptome of granulosa cells were associated with the increase and also the decline in oocyte developmental competence following the FSH decline.

Cervical Internal Carotid Occlusion versus Pseudo-occlusion at CT Angiography in the Context of Acute Stroke: An Accuracy, Interobserver, and Intraobserver Agreement Study.

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of computed tomographic (CT) angiography to distinguish true cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion from pseudo-occlusion (defined as an isolated intracranial thrombus that impedes ascending blood flow) in the context of acute stroke. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent thrombectomy with preprocedural CT angiography that helps to demonstrate a lack of attenuation in the cervical ICA on the symptomatic side (24 men and 13 women; mean age, 63 years; age range, 30-86 years). Seven readers, including five neuroradiologists and two interventional neuroradiology fellows, independently reviewed the CT angiography images to assess whether there was true cervical ICA occlusion.

Effects of Magnetic and Electric Field Uniformity on Coded Aperture Imaging Quality in a Cycloidal Mass Analyzer.

Cycloidal mass analyzers are unique sector mass analyzers as they exhibit perfect double focusing, making them ideal for incorporating spatial aperture coding, which can increase the throughput of a mass analyzer without affecting the resolving power. However, the focusing properties of the cycloidal mass analyzer depend on the uniformity of the electric and magnetic fields. In this paper, finite element simulation and charged particle tracing were used to investigate the effect of field uniformity on imaging performance of a cycloidal mass analyzer.

Proof of Concept Coded Aperture Miniature Mass Spectrometer Using a Cycloidal Sector Mass Analyzer, a Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Field Emission Electron Ionization Source, and an Array Detector.

Despite many potential applications, miniature mass spectrometers have had limited adoption in the field due to the tradeoff between throughput and resolution that limits their performance relative to laboratory instruments. Recently, a solution to this tradeoff has been demonstrated by using spatially coded apertures in magnetic sector mass spectrometers, enabling throughput and signal-to-background improvements of greater than an order of magnitude with no loss of resolution. This paper describes a proof of concept demonstration of a cycloidal coded aperture miniature mass spectrometer (C-CAMMS) demonstrating use of spatially coded apertures in a cycloidal sector mass analyzer for the first time.

Frailty in end-stage renal disease: comparing patient, caregiver, and clinician perspectives.

Background: Frailty is associated with poor outcomes for patients on dialysis and is traditionally measured using tools that assess physical impairment. Alternate measurement tools highlight cognitive and functional domains, requiring clinician, patient, and/or caregiver input. In this study, we compared frailty measures for incident dialysis patients that incorporate patient, clinician, and caregiver perspectives with an aim to contrast the measured prevalence of frailty using tools derived from different conceptual frameworks.