-
BMC Public Health Jul 2024The aim of this review was to investigate the impact of short message service (SMS)-based interventions on childhood and adolescent vaccine coverage and timeliness.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this review was to investigate the impact of short message service (SMS)-based interventions on childhood and adolescent vaccine coverage and timeliness.
METHODS
A pre-defined search strategy was used to identify all relevant publications up until July 2022 from electronic databases. Reports of randomised trials written in English and involving children and adolescents less than 18 years old were included. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
Thirty randomised trials were identified. Most trials were conducted in high-income countries. There was marked heterogeneity between studies. SMS-based interventions were associated with small to moderate improvements in vaccine coverage and timeliness compared to no SMS reminder. Reminders with embedded education or which were combined with monetary incentives performed better than simple reminders in some settings.
CONCLUSION
Some SMS-based interventions appear effective for improving child vaccine coverage and timeliness in some settings. Future studies should focus on identifying which features of SMS-based strategies, including the message content and timing, are determinants of effectiveness.
Topics: Humans; Text Messaging; Child; Adolescent; Reminder Systems; Vaccination Coverage; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Child, Preschool
PubMed: 38956527
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18900-4 -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Jul 2024Assessing the historical dynamics of key food web components is crucial to understand how climate change impacts the structure of Arctic marine ecosystems. Most...
BACKGROUND
Assessing the historical dynamics of key food web components is crucial to understand how climate change impacts the structure of Arctic marine ecosystems. Most retrospective stable isotopic studies to date assessed potential ecosystem shifts in the Arctic using vertebrate top predators and filter-feeding invertebrates as proxies. However, due to long life histories and specific ecologies, ecosystem shifts are not always detectable when using these taxa. Moreover, there are currently no retrospective stable isotopic studies on various other ecological and taxonomic groups of Arctic biota. To test whether climate-driven shifts in marine ecosystems are reflected in the ecology of short-living mesopredators, ontogenetic changes in stable isotope signatures in chitinous hard body structures were analysed in two abundant squids (Gonatus fabricii and Todarodes sagittatus) from the low latitude Arctic and adjacent waters, collected between 1844 and 2023.
RESULTS
We detected a temporal increase in diet and habitat-use generalism (= opportunistic choice rather than specialization), trophic position and niche width in G. fabricii from the low latitude Arctic waters. These shifts in trophic ecology matched with the Atlantification of the Arctic ecosystems, which includes increased generalization of food webs and higher primary production, and the influx of boreal species from the North Atlantic as a result of climate change. The Atlantification is especially marked since the late 1990s/early 2000s. The temporal patterns we found in G. fabricii's trophic ecology were largely unreported in previous Arctic retrospective isotopic ecology studies. Accordingly, T. sagittatus that occur nowadays in the high latitude North Atlantic have a more generalist diet than in the XIX century.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that abundant opportunistic mesopredators with short life cycles (such as squids) are good candidates for retrospective ecology studies in the marine ecosystems, and to identify ecosystem shifts driven by climate change. Enhanced generalization of Arctic food webs is reflected in increased diet generalism and niche width in squids, while increased abundance of boreal piscivorous fishes is reflected in squids' increased trophic position. These findings support opportunism and adaptability in squids, which renders them as potential winners of short-term shifts in Arctic ecosystems.
Topics: Animals; Decapodiformes; Arctic Regions; Climate Change; Ecosystem; Food Chain; Carbon Isotopes; Nitrogen Isotopes; Diet
PubMed: 38956464
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02274-7 -
Disease-a-month : DM Jul 2024Acute heart failure (AHF) episodes are marked by high rates of morbidity and mortality during the episode and minimal advancements in its care. Multiple biomarker...
Acute heart failure (AHF) episodes are marked by high rates of morbidity and mortality during the episode and minimal advancements in its care. Multiple biomarker monitoring is now a crucial supplementary technique in the therapy of AHF. A scientific literature search was conducted by assessing and evaluating the most pertinent research that has been published, including original papers and review papers with the use of PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane databases. Established biomarkers like natriuretic peptides (BNP, NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponins play crucial roles in diagnostic and prognostic evaluation. Emerging biomarkers such as microRNAs, osteopontin, galectin-3, ST2, and GDF-15 show promise in enhancing risk stratification and predicting adverse outcomes in HF. However, while these biomarkers offer valuable insights, their clinical utility requires further validation and integration into practice. Continued research into novel biomarkers holds promise for early HF detection and risk assessment, potentially mitigating the global burden of HF. Understanding the nuances of biomarker utilization is crucial for their effective incorporation into clinical practice, ultimately improving HF management and patient care.
PubMed: 38955639
DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2024.101782 -
Genome Research Jul 2024Island populations often experience different ecological and demographic conditions than their counterparts on the continent, resulting in divergent evolutionary forces...
Island populations often experience different ecological and demographic conditions than their counterparts on the continent, resulting in divergent evolutionary forces affecting their genomes. Random genetic drift and selection both may leave their imprints on island populations, although the relative impact depends strongly on the specific conditions. Here we address their contributions to the island syndrome in a rodent with an unusually clear history of isolation. Common voles () were introduced by humans on the Orkney archipelago north of Scotland >5000 years ago and rapidly evolved to exceptionally large size. Our analyses show that the genomes of Orkney voles were dominated by genetic drift, with extremely low diversity, variable Tajima's , and very high divergence from continental conspecifics. Increased / ratios over a wide range of genes in Orkney voles indicated genome-wide relaxation of purifying selection. We found evidence of hard sweeps on key genes of the lipid metabolism pathway only in continental voles. The marked increase of body size in Orkney-a typical phenomenon of the island syndrome-may thus be associated to the relaxation of positive selection on genes related to this pathway. On the other hand, a hard sweep on immune genes of Orkney voles likely reflects the divergent ecological conditions and possibly the history of human introduction. The long-term isolated Orkney voles show that adaptive changes may still impact the evolutionary trajectories of such populations despite the pervasive consequences of genetic drift at the genome level.
PubMed: 38955466
DOI: 10.1101/gr.278487.123 -
Journal For Immunotherapy of Cancer Jul 2024Adoptive cell therapy using genetically modified T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T) has shown encouraging results, particularly in certain blood...
BACKGROUND
Adoptive cell therapy using genetically modified T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T) has shown encouraging results, particularly in certain blood cancers. Nevertheless, over 40% of B cell malignancy patients experience a relapse after CAR-T therapy, likely due to inadequate persistence of the modified T cells in the body. IL15, known for its pro-survival and proliferative properties, has been suggested for incorporation into the fourth generation of CAR-T cells to enhance their persistence. However, the potential systemic toxicity associated with this cytokine warrants further evaluation.
METHODS
We analyzed the persistence, antitumor efficacy and potential toxicity of anti-mouse CD19 CAR-T cells which express a membrane-bound IL15-IL15Rα chimeric protein (CD19/mbIL15q CAR-T), in BALB/c mice challenged with A20 tumor cells as well as in NSG mice.
RESULTS
Conventional CD19 CAR-T cells showed low persistence and poor efficacy in BALB/c mice treated with mild lymphodepletion regimens (total body irradiation (TBI) of 1 Gy). CD19/mbIL15q CAR-T exhibits prolonged persistence and enhanced in vivo efficacy, effectively eliminating established A20 B cell lymphoma. However, this CD19/mbIL15q CAR-T displays important long-term toxicities, with marked splenomegaly, weight loss, transaminase elevations, and significant inflammatory findings in some tissues. Mice survival is highly compromised after CD19/mbIL15q CAR-T cell transfer, particularly if a high TBI regimen is applied before CAR-T cell transfer.
CONCLUSION
Tethered IL15-IL15Rα augments the antitumor activity of CD19 CAR-T cells but displays long-term toxicity in immunocompetent mice. Inducible systems to regulate IL15-IL15Rα expression could be considered to control this toxicity.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Antigens, CD19; Interleukin-15; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Humans; Disease Models, Animal; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Interleukin-15 Receptor alpha Subunit; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen; Lymphoma; Mice, Inbred BALB C; T-Lymphocytes
PubMed: 38955421
DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008572 -
Progress in Neurobiology Jun 2024Psychotic disorders entail intricate conditions marked by disruptions in cognition, perception, emotions, and social behavior. Notably, psychotic patients who use...
Psychotic disorders entail intricate conditions marked by disruptions in cognition, perception, emotions, and social behavior. Notably, psychotic patients who use cannabis tend to show less severe deficits in social behaviors, such as the misinterpretation of social cues and the inability to interact with others. However, the biological underpinnings of this epidemiological interaction remain unclear. Here, we used the NMDA receptor blocker phencyclidine (PCP) to induce psychotic-like states and to study the impact of adolescent cannabinoid exposure on social behavior deficits and synaptic transmission changes in hippocampal area CA2, a region known to be active during social interactions. In particular, adolescent mice underwent 7 days of subchronic treatment with the synthetic cannabinoid, WIN 55, 212-2 (WIN) followed by one injection of PCP. Using behavioral, biochemical, and electrophysiological approaches, we showed that PCP persistently reduced sociability, decreased GAD67 expression in the hippocampus, and induced GABAergic deficits in proximal inputs from CA3 and distal inputs from the entorhinal cortex (EC) to CA2. Notably, WIN exposure during adolescence specifically restores adult sociability deficits, the expression changes in GAD67, and the GABAergic impairments in the EC-CA2 circuit, but not in the CA3-CA2 circuit. Using a chemogenetic approach to target EC-CA2 projections, we demonstrated the involvement of this specific circuit on sociability deficits. Indeed, enhancing EC-CA2 transmission was sufficient to induce sociability deficits in vehicle-treated mice, but not in animals treated with WIN during adolescence, suggesting a mechanism by which adolescent cannabinoid exposure rescues sociability deficits caused by enhanced EC-CA2 activity in adult mice.
PubMed: 38955325
DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102652 -
Journal of Pharmacological and... Jun 2024Our study retrospectively examines 51 non-rodent general toxicology studies conducted over the past 8 years to ascertain the influence of recording methodologies on...
Our study retrospectively examines 51 non-rodent general toxicology studies conducted over the past 8 years to ascertain the influence of recording methodologies on baseline cardiovascular (CV) parameters and statistical sensitivity. Specifically, our work aims to evaluate the frequency of cardiovascular parameter recording categorized by therapeutic modality and study type, to assess the variability in these parameters based on measurement techniques, and to determine the sample sizes needed for detecting relevant changes in heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and QTc interval in non-human primate (NHP) studies. Results indicate that electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements in dogs and NHP were recorded in 63% of studies, combined with BP recording in 18% of studies, while BP was never recorded alone. Trend analysis reveals a decline in the utilisation of restraint-based methods for ECG measurements post-2017, to the benefit of telemetry-based recordings, particularly Jacketed External Telemetry (JET). There was a marked difference in baseline values, with restraint-based methods showing significantly higher HR and QTc values compared to JET, likely linked to animal stress. Further analysis suggests an unrealistic and unethical sample size requirement in NHP studies for detecting biologically meaningful CV parameter changes using restraint-based methods, while JET methods necessitate significantly smaller sample sizes. This retrospective study indicates a notable shift from snapshots short-duration, restraint-based methods towards telemetry approaches over the recent years, especially with an increased usage of implanted telemetry. The transition contributes to potential consensus within industry or regulatory frameworks for optimal practices in assessing ECG, HR, and BP in general toxicology studies.
PubMed: 38955286
DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2024.107537 -
Molecular Cell Jun 2024The specific nature of CRISPR-Cas12a makes it a desirable RNA-guided endonuclease for biotechnology and therapeutic applications. To understand how R-loop formation...
The specific nature of CRISPR-Cas12a makes it a desirable RNA-guided endonuclease for biotechnology and therapeutic applications. To understand how R-loop formation within the compact Cas12a enables target recognition and nuclease activation, we used cryo-electron microscopy to capture wild-type Acidaminococcussp. Cas12a R-loop intermediates and DNA delivery into the RuvC active site. Stages of Cas12a R-loop formation-starting from a 5-bp seed-are marked by distinct REC domain arrangements. Dramatic domain flexibility limits contacts until nearly complete R-loop formation, when the non-target strand is pulled across the RuvC nuclease and coordinated domain docking promotes efficient cleavage. Next, substantial domain movements enable target strand repositioning into the RuvC active site. Between cleavage events, the RuvC lid conformationally resets to occlude the active site, requiring re-activation. These snapshots build a structural model depicting Cas12a DNA targeting that rationalizes observed specificity and highlights mechanistic comparisons to other class 2 effectors.
PubMed: 38955179
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.06.007 -
Current Opinion in Plant Biology Jul 2024Inflorescence architecture is highly variable across plant lineages yet is critical for facilitating reproductive success. The capitulum-type inflorescence of the... (Review)
Review
Inflorescence architecture is highly variable across plant lineages yet is critical for facilitating reproductive success. The capitulum-type inflorescence of the Asteraceae is marked as a key morphological innovation that preceded the family's diversification and expansion. Despite its evolutionary significance, our understanding of capitulum development and evolution is limited. This review highlights our current perspective on capitulum evolution through the lens of both its molecular and developmental underpinnings. We attempt to summarize our understanding of the capitulum by focusing on two key characteristics: patterning (arrangement of florets on a capitulum) and floret identity specification. Note that these two features are interconnected such that the identity of florets depends on their position along the inflorescence axis. Phytohormones such as auxin seemingly determine both pattern progression and floret identity specification through unknown mechanisms. Floret morphology in a head is controlled by differential expression of floral symmetry genes regulating floret identity specification. We briefly summarize the applicability of the ABCE quartet model of flower development in regulating the floret organ identity of a capitulum in Asteraceae. Overall, there have been promising advancements in our understanding of capitula; however, comprehensive functional genetic analyses are necessary to fully dissect the molecular pathways and mechanisms involved in capitulum development.
PubMed: 38955094
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102589 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Chondrosarcomas are the third most frequent malignant bone tumors. With pelvic bones being their most common primary location, diagnosis and treatment of these tumors is...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Chondrosarcomas are the third most frequent malignant bone tumors. With pelvic bones being their most common primary location, diagnosis and treatment of these tumors is especially challenging due to the diverse clinical manifestations and involvement of critical anatomic structures. We present the case of a grade III pelvic chondrosarcoma of the left iliopubic branch managed through a multidisciplinary approach.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 26-year-old male patient presented with a 1-year history of a mass in the left iliopubic branch. The imaging findings suggested chondrosarcoma and showed extrinsic compression of pelvic structures causing right hydronephrosis, marked elongation and tortuosity of the sigmoid colon, and anterior and superior displacement of the bladder. Following multidisciplinary meeting it was decided to perform a left hemicolectomy, colostomy, and internal hemipelvectomy in the 1-2-3 left zones, with resection of the intrapelvic and intra-abdominal tumor, and preservation of the left lower extremity. The patient presented two episodes of intestinal obstruction, which resolved with medical management. Was discharged without presenting further complications.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Chondrosarcomas management demands a methodical approach. Appropriate surgical strategy requires individualization according to the characteristics of the lesion and the degree of involvement of surrounding structures. Complete resection of the tumor and preservation of the lower extremity function are critical achievements.
CONCLUSION
This case underscores the effective management of a challenging tumor such as pelvic chondrosarcoma. The multidisciplinary approach and collaboration of several specialties was crucial to reach an appropriate surgical strategy.
PubMed: 38954964
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109860