Search Results (171)

Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) is a zoonotic pathogen with a broad host range and diverse clinical manifestations. We report here the first documented case of MAH-induced fatal vasculitis in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Histopathological examination revealed acid-fast bacilli within macrophages and endothelial cells, primarily affecting the heart and aorta. Mycobacterial DNA was detected in cloacal swabs from affected finches and environmental samples from their housing facility. PCR targeting the rpoB gene and insertion elements IS1245 and IS901, followed by sequencing, confirmed MAH infection. MAH DNA was identified in 4 of 13 finch cloacal swabs and 7 of 28 environmental samples. This study describes a novel, highly pathogenic manifestation of MAH in birds and underscores the potential for avian involvement in environmental and zoonotic transmission. Full article

Food-borne botulism is a rare but serious disease caused by ingestion of botulinum neurotoxin pre-formed in food by Clostridium botulinum. Between 2006 and 2009, no foodborne botulism cases were reported in the UK. However, the period from 2010 to 2024 saw 13 cases, encompassing seven separate incidents and two outbreaks, with no reported fatalities. Cases were predominantly linked to imported, home-made, and artisanal foods, occasionally to commercial products. Diagnostic and public health challenges include delayed clinical diagnosis, delayed sample collection, inadequate specimen volumes, and the frequent unavailability of suspected food sources, hampering epidemiological investigations. The UK has an extremely low incidence of foodborne botulism with an estimated rate of 0.001 cases per 100,000 people per year, but despite this low occurrence, food botulism remains a public health emergency as it requires timely treatment and rapid reactive intervention to be undertaken by multiple regulatory agencies. Continuous professional training of medical staff, up-to-date clinical guidance, rapid diagnostic, and food investigations are essential for optimising patient outcomes and prevention. Full article

In vitro tissue models offer a flexible complementary study system for use alongside in vivo human tissue samples. Achieving accurate in vitro models relies on combining appropriate scaffolds, growth factors and cell populations to recreate human tissue complexity. Balancing a consistent cell supply with the creation of healthy tissue models can be challenging; established cell lines are often cancerous, with altered cellular function compared to healthy populations, and primary cells require repeated isolation, with associated batch-to-batch variation. Pluripotent stem cell-derived populations offer a consistent supply, as well as the ability to model disease phenotypes through cell reprogramming using patient-derived cells. In this study, we have used an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived fibroblast population to develop a dermal equivalent model. These cells form a consistent tissue construct with a structure and composition similar to primary fibroblast controls, which are able to support an overlying epidermis. The resultant full-thickness skin model demonstrates the expression of various key skin-related markers, correctly localised within the organised epidermis, notably improving on previous models of a similar nature. Providing proof of concept using an established in vitro protocol, this study paves the way for future work developing consistent, customised, full-thickness human skin equivalents using iPSC-derived populations. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impairments in social abilities and communication. Studying appropriate animal models can enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying these conditions, potentially leading to improved treatment and intervention strategies. Modeling impairments in linguistic development and vocal communication caused by autism had been a challenging goal for a long time. Prenatal valproic acid (VPA) treatment has been successfully used to induce ASD-like behavioral symptoms in several vertebrate species including birds. Applying VPA-treatment on songbirds, therefore, offers a promising research paradigm to model ASD. In this study, we investigated the effect of embryonic VPA treatment on song learning in the highly social zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Fertilized eggs were injected with either 0.45 µmol VPA or a saline solution on day 9 of incubation, and hatchlings were allowed to stay with their parents until day 35 post-hatching to facilitate song learning from the father. Once male offsprings reached adulthood, their songs were recorded and compared to those of their fathers. VPA-exposed males exhibited significantly greater similarity to their fathers’ songs compared to control males (74% vs. 31%, respectively), suggesting a reduced ability to modify and develop their own vocal patterns as subadults. Additionally, they showed higher entropy in their songs compared to controls (−1.4 vs. −1.7), indicating more disorganized vocalizations. These findings suggest that prenatal VPA exposure disrupts typical song learning and vocal development in zebra finches, likely by affecting neural mechanisms involved in vocal learning and crystallization of the songs. Our study suggests VPA treatment in songbirds provides a useful tool to model and investigate linguistic developmental disorders related to ASD in humans. Full article

This comprehensive review examines FINCHES (Force field-based Interaction Network for Characterizing Heterotypic and Entropic Sequences). This groundbreaking computational framework enables the rapid, sequence-based prediction of intermolecular interactions in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) without the need for molecular simulations. The document provides detailed comparisons with other computational methods, including their mathematical foundations, specific applications, and experimental validations. We explore both the potential for advancing our understanding of disordered protein function and the inherent challenges in computationally modeling these dynamic biological systems. Additionally, we discuss computational assessment tools for interface prediction in molecular complexes, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating IDR interaction predictions. Full article

Real-time health assessment is crucial for diagnosing emerging threats to wildlife. Point-of-care instruments now allow detailed, affordable measurements of blood metabolites (e.g., glucose, triglycerides, ketones) in free-ranging animals. Ketones, however, remain understudied, especially in relation to environmental and life-history traits. Here, we assessed blood ketone variation in male House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) across two seasons (summer and winter) as a function of body condition, circulating glucose, carotenoids, lipid-soluble vitamins, and habitat urbanization (urban/suburban/rural). In both seasons, the interaction between capture site and glucose concentration predicted ketone levels: urban and suburban birds showed a negative relationship, while in summer, rural birds showed a positive one. Additionally, in winter, ketone levels were negatively associated with plasma carotenoids, indicating birds with higher carotenoid levels had lower ketone concentrations. These findings suggest that similar to patterns seen in biomedical research and our previous work on carotenoids and health, ketone status can serve as a valuable indicator of nutritional condition and fat metabolism in wild birds, particularly in the context of urbanization. Full article

In recent years, many academics have addressed the issue of the intersection of the fields of Biblical studies and Cultural studies. Many academic works have emphasized the importance of the Bible in the building of cultural narratives and the need to reflect on those narratives through interpretation, placing biblical texts within originating cultural contexts. This article attempts to situate itself in that stream of work, exploring the graphic interpretation of the story of Ruth and Naomi in the graphic novel The Book of Ruth by Meredith Finch and Colin Dyer. It begins with an introduction to the characteristics of the graphic novel genre, highlighting how this medium has addressed religion and the Bible, including characters, narratives, and traditions. Subsequently, a comparative methodology is applied to examine the treatment of the biblical text in the graphic novel, contrasting the textual and graphic study conducted by Finch and Dyer. The aim is to demonstrate how the graphic novel serves as a contemporary mode of biblical text reception, creating a dialogue between the Bible and the current culture in which its texts are read. Full article

Background: Physical activity has a number of benefits; however, the consequences of inactivity can have a negative impact on individuals and health and social care services. Increasing knowledge can play an important role in helping sustain behaviours that can lead to health benefits, reduce barriers and increase participation in physical activity while having a greater impact on public health policy. The aim of this study is to explore knowledge about physical activity benefits, levels of activity, awareness of risks of inactivity, sources of information about the benefits and the relationship between knowledge about physical activity recommendations and activity levels. Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving adults over 18 years old in Northern Ireland (weighted sample n = 2201) and Ireland (weighted sample n = 1279) was commissioned by the Institute of Public Health in 2021 to explore knowledge about health benefits and the association between knowledge and physical activity levels. Descriptive statistics in percentages were used to demonstrate the findings, while chi square tests of independence were used to examine if a significant relationship between activity and knowledge existed. Results: Only 4 out of 10 respondents knew the recommendations of at least 150 min weekly of physical activity. A chi square test of independence showed that the relationship between knowledge about recommendations and activity was significant (χ2(1, n = 3506) = 20.25, p < 0.001, not weighted). There was a sex difference in the association of knowledge about the recommended guidelines and activity levels. Women were more knowledgeable about many of the health benefits of physical activity but were less active than men. Conclusions: Overall, getting the adult population more active remains a challenge in public health promotion; however, knowledge alone does not equate to action. Therefore, it is essential to understand and address the range of challenges to increasing physical activity to ensure the needs of the whole population are met. Full article

Coded aperture imaging (CAI) is a powerful imaging technology that has rapidly developed during the past decade. CAI technology and its integration with incoherent holography have led to the development of several cutting-edge imaging tools, devices, and techniques with widespread interdisciplinary applications, such as in astronomy, biomedical sciences, and computational imaging. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recently developed CAI techniques in the framework of incoherent digital holography. The review starts with an overview of the milestones in modern CAI technology, such as interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography, followed by a detailed survey of recently developed CAI techniques and system designs in subsequent sections. Each section provides a general description, principles, potential applications, and associated challenges. We believe that this review will act as a reference point for further advancements in CAI technologies. Full article

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been under clinical investigation for the treatment of cerebral palsy (CP) for over a decade. However, the field has been limited by study heterogeneity and variable reports of efficacy. We conducted a scoping review of published and registered reports of MSC treatment for CP, with meta-analysis of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) outcomes to summarize research and provide future recommendations. Thirty published reports and 10 registered trials were identified, including 1292 people with CP receiving MSCs. Most received ≥2 doses (72%) of umbilical cord tissue MSCs (75%), intrathecally (40%) or intravenously (38%), and 31% were treated via compassionate/Expanded access. MSC treatment was safe and meta-analyses demonstrated that MSCs conferred significant improvements in GMFM at 3 − (1.05 (0.19–1.92), p = 0.02), 6 − (0.97 (0.30–1.64), p = 0.005) and 12 months (0.99 (0.30–1.67), p = 0.005) post-treatment. Whilst MSCs are safe and improve GMFM outcomes in CP with large effect sizes, study and participant variability continues to confound data interpretation and limits subgroup analyses. With no published Phase 3 trials and high rates of compassionate access, the field would benefit from well-designed trials with unified outcomes. Additionally, data sharing to enable Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis would support the determination of optimal source, route and dose to progress towards regulatory approval. Full article

Human studies suggest point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is superior to radiographs for diagnosing rib fractures, but its efficacy in veterinary medicine remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of POCUS and digital radiographs for detecting rib fractures in canine cadavers, using necropsy as the reference standard. Nine canine cadavers were randomly assigned to either a fracture or control group, with fractures created surgically. Blinded evaluations were performed by an expert and novice sonographer, as well as a board-certified radiologist and a novice radiograph interpreter. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting rib fractures were 83% and 99.74% for ultrasound and 82% and 99.22% for radiographs, with no significant difference between modalities. However, the time required to identify rib fractures varied significantly, with ultrasound taking considerably longer than radiograph interpretation. The expert and novice sonographers required an average of 26 and 64 min, respectively, whereas the radiologist and novice radiograph interpreter took 3 and 10 min. These findings suggest that POCUS and radiographs provide comparable accuracy in detecting rib fractures in canine cadavers. Excluding the time required to obtain radiographs, ultrasound takes longer than radiograph interpretation to identify rib fractures. While POCUS remains a valuable diagnostic tool, its practicality in a clinical setting needs further investigation. Full article

The simulation of wave propagation, such as soliton propagation, based on the Rosenau-KdV-RLW equation on unbounded domains requires a bounded computational domain. Therefore, a special boundary treatment, such as an absorbing boundary condition (ABC) or a perfectly matched layer (PML), is necessary to minimize the reflections of outgoing waves at the boundary, preventing interference with the simulation’s accuracy. However, the presence of higher-order partial derivatives, such as $u_{xxt}$ and $u_{xxxxt}$ in the Rosenau-KdV-RLW equation, raises challenges in deriving accurate artificial boundary conditions. To address this issue, we propose an artificial neural network (ANN) method that enables soliton propagation through the computational domain without imposing artificial boundary conditions. This method randomly selects training points from the bounded computational space-time domain, and the loss function is designed based solely on the initial conditions and the Rosenau-KdV-RLW equation itself, without any boundary conditions. We analyze the convergence of the ANN solution theoretically. This new ANN method is tested in three examples. The results indicate that the present ANN method effectively simulates soliton propagation based on the Rosenau-KdV-RLW equation in unbounded domains or over extended periods. Full article

Pinnatoxins, a group of marine biotoxins primarily produced by the dinoflagellate Vulcanodinium rugosum, have garnered significant attention due to their potent toxic effects and widespread distribution in marine ecosystems. LC–MS analysis of shellfish and V. rugosum cultures revealed the presence of previously unidentified isomers of pinnatoxins D, E, F, and H, at levels approximately six times lower than those of known isomers. The chemical structures of these isopinnatoxins were determined using a combination of LC–MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy, which demonstrated that the isomerization of each pinnatoxin occurred through the opening and recyclization of the spiro-linked tetrahydropyranyl D-ring to form a smaller tetrahydrofuranyl ring. The acute toxicity of isopinnatoxin E was determined by intraperitoneal injection into mice and was found to be significantly lower than that of pinnatoxin E. Given their low toxicity and low abundance, it is unlikely that isopinnatoxins contribute significantly to the overall toxicity of pinnatoxins. Full article

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a threat to human health caused by the consumption of shellfish contaminated with toxins of the saxitoxin class. Human health is protected by the setting of regulatory limits and the analysis of shellfish prior to sale. Both robust toxicity data, generated from experiments fitting into the ethical 3R framework, and appropriate analysis methods are required to ensure the success of this approach. A literature review of in vivo animal bioassays and in vitro and analytical methods showed that in vitro methods are the best option to screen shellfish for non-regulatory purposes. However, since neither the receptor nor antibody binding of paralytic shellfish toxin analogues correlate with toxicity, these assays cannot accurately quantify toxicity in shellfish nor be used to calculate toxicity equivalence factors. Fully replacing animals in testing is rightfully the ultimate goal, but this cannot be at a cost to human health. More modern technology, such as organ-on-a-chip, represent an exciting development, but animal bioassays cannot currently be replaced in the determination of toxicity. Analytical methods that employ toxicity equivalence factors calculated using oral animal toxicity data result in an accurate assessment of the food safety risk posed by paralytic shellfish toxin contamination in bivalve molluscs. Full article