Bacterial interactions underpin worsening lung function in cystic fibrosis-associated infections.

Unlabelled: Chronic lung infections are the primary cause of morbidity and early mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) and, as such, have been the subject of a great deal of research. Subsequently, they have become one of the key paradigms for polymicrobial infections. The literature, however, has traditionally focused on the presence of pathogens in isolation or univariate measures like number of species to predict decline of lung function and ignores large swathes of data.

Ecological patterns and processes of temporal turnover within lung infection microbiota.

Background: Chronic infection and consequent airway inflammation are the leading causes of morbidity and early mortality for people living with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, lower airway infections across a range of chronic respiratory diseases, including in CF, do not follow classical 'one microbe, one disease' concepts of infection pathogenesis. Instead, they are comprised of diverse and temporally dynamic lung infection microbiota.

Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor therapy has negligible effects on the cystic fibrosis gut microbiome.

People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) experience a range of persistent gastrointestinal symptoms throughout life. There is evidence indicating interaction between the microbiota and gut pathophysiology in CF. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on the potential effects of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies on the gut microbiome.

Prior exposure of microbial communities to seawater reduces resilience but increases compositional and functional resistance to flooding events.

Storm surges, flooding, and the encroachment of seawater onto agricultural land are predicted to increase with climate change. These flooding events fundamentally alter many soil properties and have knock-on effects on the microbial community composition and its functioning. The hypotheses tested in this study were (1) that the extent of change (resistance) of microbial community functioning and structure during seawater flooding is a factor of pre-adaptation to the stress, and (2) if structure and function are altered, the pre-adaptation will result in communities returning to previous state prior to flooding (resilience) faster than unexposed communities.

Effects of postage on recovery of pathogens from cystic fibrosis sputum samples.

Background: Regular surveillance microbiology of sputum is used in cystic fibrosis (CF) to monitor for new pathogens and target treatments. A move to remote clinics has meant greater reliance on samples collected at home and posted back. The impact of delays and sample disruption caused by posting has not been systematically assessed but could have significant implications for CF microbiology.

Light curves and colours of the ejecta from Dimorphos after the DART impact.

On 26 September 2022, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft struck Dimorphos, a satellite of the asteroid 65803 Didymos. Because it is a binary system, it is possible to determine how much the orbit of the satellite changed, as part of a test of what is necessary to deflect an asteroid that might threaten Earth with an impact. In nominal cases, pre-impact predictions of the orbital period reduction ranged from roughly 8.

Mineralogy affects prokaryotic community composition in an acidic metal mine.

The microbial ecology of acidic mine and sulfide cave ecosystems is well characterised with respect to aquatic communities, typically revealing low taxonomic complexity and dominance by a relatively limited number of cosmopolitan acidophilic bacterial and archaeal taxa. Whilst pH, temperature, and geochemistry are recognised drivers of diversity in these ecosystems, the specific question of a possible influence of substratum mineralogy on microbial community composition remains unanswered. Here we address this void, using 81 subterranean mineral samples from a low temperature abandoned, acidic, sulfide ore mine system at Mynydd Parys (Parys Mountain in English), Wales, UK.

Magnetic resonance imaging anatomy of the craniovertebral ligaments: A radiological study with confirmatory dissection.

Background: Descriptions of the radiological appearance of the craniovertebral ligaments often lack detail. This study aimed to provide an accurate description of the morphology and radiological appearance of the alar and cruciform ligaments with confirmation of findings by fine dissection.

Materials And Methods: Six embalmed human cadaveric specimens were reduced to an osseoligamentous arrangement spanning the C2/3 disc to the occiput.

Bacterial Culture Underestimates Lung Pathogen Detection and Infection Status in Cystic Fibrosis.

Microbiological surveillance of airway secretions is central to clinical care in cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the efficacy of microbiological culture, the diagnostic gold standard for pathogen detection, has been increasingly questioned. Here we compared culture with targeted quantitative PCR (QPCR) for longitudinal detection of 2 key pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Reproduction and resolution of familiar head pain with upper cervical spine sustained joint mobilization may help identify cervicogenic headaches: a case-control study.

Background: The relative value of clinical tests toward identifying cervicogenic headache (CGH) remains under investigated. Whilst certain physical examination findings have been associated with CGH, consensus on which findings provide the strongest association remains elusive.

Objectives: To determine which cervical musculoskeletal assessment procedures used in CGH are positively associated with CGH.

Feasibility of Using Detuned Laser as a Placebo In Manual Therapy Research: An Analysis of Participant Perceptions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using detuned laser as a placebo intervention in manual therapy research.

Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial. In our analysis, 30 participants with chronic ankle instability (manual therapy group: n = 13, age = 33.

Reproducibility of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers Over Sub-Cultured Generations for the Development of Novel Textiles.

The textile industry is in crisis and under pressure to minimize the environmental impact on its practices. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a naturally occurring form of cellulose, displays properties superior to those of its cotton plant counterpart, such as enhanced purity, crystallinity, tensile strength, and water retention and is thus suitable for an array of textile applications. It is synthesized from a variety of microorganisms but is produced in most abundance by .

Thoracic Manual Therapy Improves Pain and Disability in Individuals With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Compared With Placebo: A Randomized Controlled Trial With 1-Year Follow-up.

Objective: To investigate whether muscle energy technique (MET) to the thoracic spine decreases the pain and disability associated with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS).

Design: Single-center, 3-arm, randomized controlled trial, single-blind, placebo control with concealed allocation and a 12-month follow-up.

Setting: Private osteopathic practice.

Intestinal function and transit associate with gut microbiota dysbiosis in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Most people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms and are at risk of gut complications. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is apparent within the CF population across all age groups, with evidence linking dysbiosis to intestinal inflammation and other markers of health. This pilot study aimed to investigate the potential relationships between the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal physiology, transit, and health.

Acromiohumeral distance and supraspinatus tendon thickness in people with shoulder impingement syndrome compared to asymptomatic age and gender-matched participants: a case control study.

Background: Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) is the most common form of shoulder pain. Conservative and surgical treatments for SIS are often not effective. One such surgical intervention is subacromial decompression, aimed at widening the subacromial space (SAS).

When Treating Coexisting Low Back Pain and Hip Impairments, Focus on the Back: Adding Specific Hip Treatment Does Not Yield Additional Benefits-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To determine whether adding hip treatment to usual care for low back pain (LBP) improved disability and pain in individuals with LBP and a concurrent hip impairment.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Seventy-six participants (age, 18 years or older; Oswestry Disability Index, 20% or greater; numeric pain-rating scale, 2 or more points) with LBP and a concurrent hip impairment were randomly assigned to a group that received treatment to the lumbar spine only (LBO group) (n = 39) or to one that received both lumbar spine and hip treatments (LBH group) (n = 37).

Relationships between community composition, productivity and invasion resistance in semi-natural bacterial microcosms.

Common garden experiments that inoculate a standardised growth medium with synthetic microbial communities (i.e. constructed from individual isolates or using dilution cultures) suggest that the ability of the community to resist invasions by additional microbial taxa can be predicted by the overall community productivity (broadly defined as cumulative cell density and/or growth rate).

Model Systems to Study the Chronic, Polymicrobial Infections in Cystic Fibrosis: Current Approaches and Exploring Future Directions.

A recent workshop titled "Developing Models to Study Polymicrobial Infections," sponsored by the Dartmouth Cystic Fibrosis Center (DartCF), explored the development of new models to study the polymicrobial infections associated with the airways of persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). The workshop gathered 35+ investigators over two virtual sessions. Here, we present the findings of this workshop, summarize some of the challenges involved with developing such models, and suggest three frameworks to tackle this complex problem.

Bacterial communities in larger islands have reduced temporal turnover.

Patterns of species diversity provide fundamental insights into the underlying mechanisms and processes that regulate biodiversity. The species-time relationship (STR) has the potential to be one such pattern; in a comparable manner to its more extensively studied spatial analogue, the species-area relationship (SAR), which has been pivotal in the development of ecological models and theories. We sought to determine the mechanisms and processes that underpin STR patterns of temporal turnover by sampling bacterial communities within ten water-filled tree-holes on the same European beech tree through the course of a year.

The airways microbiome of individuals with asthma treated with high and low doses of inhaled corticosteroids.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the mainstay of asthma treatment, but evidence suggests a link between ICS usage and increased rates of respiratory infections. We assessed the composition of the asthmatic airways microbiome in asthma patients taking low and high dose ICS and the stability of the microbiome over a 2 week period.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 55 individuals with asthma.

Injuries, practices and perceptions of Australian wheelchair sports participants.

Background: Data regarding injuries in community-based wheelchair sport athletes is limited and long-term management of injuries and their impact upon participation unexplored. Little data examines benefits and barriers to wheelchair sports participation across the community.

Hypothesis: The prevalence and nature of injuries sustained by wheelchair sports participants and injury prevention and management strategies will be associated with level of sports participation.