Plastic Quantification and Polyethylene Overestimation in Agricultural Soil Using Large-Volume Pyrolysis and TD-GC-MS/MS.

Quantification of microplastics in soil is needed to understand their impact and fate in agricultural areas. Often, low sample volume and removal of organic matter (OM) limit representative quantification. We present a method which allows simultaneous quantification of microplastics in homogenized, large environmental samples (>1 g) and tested polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) (200-400 μm) overestimation by fresh and diagenetically altered OM in agricultural soils using a new combination of large-volume pyrolysis adsorption with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS/MS).

Intramuscular Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotypes E and A Elicit Distinct Effects on SNAP25 Protein Fragments, Muscular Histology, Spread and Neuronal Transport: An Integrated Histology-Based Study in the Rat.

Botulinum neurotoxins E (BoNT/E) and A (BoNT/A) act by cleaving Synaptosome-Associated Protein 25 (SNAP25) at two different C-terminal sites, but they display very distinct durations of action, BoNT/E being short acting and BoNT/A long acting. We investigated the duration of action, spread and neuronal transport of BoNT/E (6.5 ng/kg) and BoNT/A (125 pg/kg) after single intramuscular administrations of high equivalent efficacious doses, in rats, over a 30- or 75-day periods, respectively.

Protocol for mapping physiological DSBs using in-suspension break labeling in situ and sequencing.

Physiological double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are a major source of genomic instability. Here, we present a protocol for mapping physiological DSBs by in-suspension break labeling in situ and sequencing (sBLISS) in a single-nucleotide resolution. We describe steps for cell fixation, labeling of DSBs, DNA isolation followed by in vitro transcription (IVT), reverse transcription, and library preparation.

TOP1 and R-loops facilitate transcriptional DSBs at hypertranscribed cancer driver genes.

DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) pose a significant threat to genomic integrity, and their generation during essential cellular processes like transcription remains poorly understood. In this study, we employ several techniques to map DSBs, R-loops, and topoisomerase 1 cleavage complex (TOP1cc) to comprehensively investigate the interplay between transcription, DSBs, topoisomerase 1 (TOP1), and R-loops. Our findings reveal the presence of DSBs at highly expressed genes enriched with TOP1 and R-loops.

Naturally occurring psittacid alphaherpesvirus 3 and probable adenovirus coinfection in an Indian ringneck parakeet in the United States.

Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 3 (PsAHV-3) is a rarely reported virus that has been associated with pneumonia in psittacine birds. A 5-mo-old Indian ringneck parakeet (syn. rose-ringed parakeet; ) was euthanized after developing torticollis and lethargy.

Self-management and hospitalization in 615 Swedish patients with Addison's disease during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a retrospective study.

Objective: Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) entails a chronic adrenal insufficiency and is associated with an increased risk of severe infections. It is, however, unknown how patients with AAD were affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020-2021. This study was aimed at investigating the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with AAD in Sweden, the self-adjustment of medications during the disease, impact on social aspects, and treatment during hospitalization.

Comprehensive cancer predisposition testing within the prospective MASTER trial identifies hereditary cancer patients and supports treatment decisions for rare cancers.

Background: Germline variant evaluation in precision oncology opens new paths toward the identification of patients with genetic tumor risk syndromes and the exploration of therapeutic relevance. Here, we present the results of germline variant analysis and their clinical implications in a precision oncology study for patients with predominantly rare cancers.

Patients And Methods: Matched tumor and control genome/exome and RNA sequencing was carried out for 1485 patients with rare cancers (79%) and/or young adults (77% younger than 51 years) in the National Center for Tumor Diseases/German Cancer Consortium (NCT/DKTK) Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumor Eradication Research (MASTER) trial, a German multicenter, prospective, observational precision oncology study.

Cardiac Disease of Raptors.

Cardiac disease, in its various presentations, is being recognized as a common raptor health problem. Evidence suggests that the prevalence of cardiac disease varies between captive and wild bird of prey populations, probably because of differences in activity levels and diet. However, a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases have been reported to affect raptor species (captive and free living), including atherosclerosis, pathogenic arrhythmias, infectious cardiomyopathies, and endocarditis.

Clinical and pathologic evaluation of chorioretinal lesions in wild owl species.

Objective: Investigate histopathology and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of wild owls with chorioretinitis and identify any potential correlation with an infectious etiology.

Materials And Methods: Ophthalmic examination and retinal OCT imaging were performed on fifteen great horned (Strix varia) and barred (Bubo virginianus) owls (30 eyes) with chorioretinitis and five owls with normal eyes (10 eyes). Testing to investigate the presence of potential infectious diseases included a complete blood count, biochemistry, protein electrophoresis, West Nile virus (WNV) plaque reduction neutralization test, Toxoplasma gondii modified direct agglutination test, WNV RT-PCR, and Avian Influenza RT-PCR.

Contralateral pneumothorax after central line placement in COVID-19 positive patients.

Contralateral pneumothorax after percutaneous central venous catheter placement has not been previously reported. Three patients who required intubation and mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 were identified with a new pneumothorax on routine post-placement chest roentgenogram on the side opposite the catheter placement.  Retrospective review of charts, radiographs, and laboratory studies.

Improvement of wastewater and water quality via a full-scale ozonation plant? - A comprehensive analysis of the endocrine potential using effect-based methods.

Micropollutants (MPs), especially endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), are mainly released from WWTPs into surface water bodies and can subsequently lead to adverse effects in biota. Treatment with ozone proved to be a suitable method for eliminating such MPs. This method was implemented at the WWTP Aachen-Soers by commissioning the largest full-scale ozonation plant in Europe at the moment.

Predictors of hepatitis C treatment outcomes in a harm reduction-focused primary care program in New York City.

Background: The social determinants of health that influence steps in the entire Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment cascade must be identified to achieve HCV elimination goals. This project aimed to evaluate the association of these factors with HCV treatment completion and return for sustained virologic response (SVR) testing.

Methods: We used retrospective cohort data from our primary care-based HCV treatment program that provides comprehensive harm reduction care to those who use or formerly used drugs.

Tackling the Challenge of Extracting Microplastics from Soils: A Protocol to Purify Soil Samples for Spectroscopic Analysis.

Microplastic pollution in soils is an emerging topic in the scientific community, with researchers striving to determine the occurrence and the impact of microplastics on soil health, ecology, and functionality. However, information on the microplastic contamination of soils is limited because of a lack of suitable analytical methods. Because micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR), next to Raman spectroscopy, is one of the few methods that allows the determination of the number, polymer type, shape, and size of microplastic particles, the present study addresses the challenge of purifying soil samples sufficiently to allow a subsequent µ-FTIR analysis.

Programmed DNA Damage and Physiological DSBs: Mapping, Biological Significance and Perturbations in Disease States.

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are known to be the most toxic and threatening of the various types of breaks that may occur to the DNA. However, growing evidence continuously sheds light on the regulatory roles of programmed DSBs. Emerging studies demonstrate the roles of DSBs in processes such as T and B cell development, meiosis, transcription and replication.

Mapping the breakome reveals tight regulation on oncogenic super-enhancers.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) could be deleterious and lead to age-related diseases, such as cancer. Recent evidence, however, associates DSBs with vital cellular processes. As discussed here, genome-wide mapping of DSBs revealed an unforeseen coupling mechanism between transcription and DNA repair at super-enhancers, as means of hypertranscription of oncogenic drivers.

Pleiotropic tumor suppressor functions of WWOX antagonize metastasis.

Tumor progression and metastasis are the major causes of death among cancer associated mortality. Metastatic cells acquire features of migration and invasion and usually undergo epithelia-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Acquirement of these various hallmarks rely on different cellular pathways, including TGF-β and Wnt signaling.

A Novel Integrative Psychotherapy for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures Based on the Biopsychosocial Model: A Retrospective Pilot Outcome Study.

Background: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) represent one of the most sizable treatment challenges in neuropsychiatry. Although the underlying mechanism is far from being understood, several interventions have been suggested. However, patients with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses and epilepsy are excluded from most intervention studies.

Dopamine Receptor D5 is a Modulator of Tumor Response to Dopamine Receptor D2 Antagonism.

Purpose: Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) is a G protein-coupled receptor antagonized by ONC201, an anticancer small molecule in clinical trials for high-grade gliomas and other malignancies. DRD5 is a dopamine receptor family member that opposes DRD2 signaling. We investigated the expression of these dopamine receptors in cancer and their influence on tumor cell sensitivity to ONC201.

Dermatophytic pseudomycetomas in two ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

Background: Dermatophytic pseudomycetoma is an atypical form of dermatophytosis where the infection is located in the deep dermal and subcutaneous tissues. Although rare, it is most commonly associated with Microsporum canis or Trichophyton sp. It has been reported in cats, dogs and horses.

The Educated Guess: Determining Drug Doses in Exotic Animals Using Evidence-Based Medicine.

Lack of species-specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data is a challenge for pharmaceutical and dose selection. If available, dose extrapolation can be accomplished via basic equations. If unavailable, several methods have been described.

Phylogeny of the order (, ): among and within order relationships based on five molecular loci.

The order (, ) is a group of biotrophic, obligate plant parasitic fungi with a tropical distribution and high host specificity. Traditionally two families are recognised within this order: and , based mostly on morphological and host characteristics. Currently, the position of the order within the class is inconclusive, as well as the monophyly of the order, and its internal phylogenetic structure.