We sampled variably altered tidal creeks to determine community structure in a developing coastal (USA) landscape. Throw trapping collected smaller and juvenile nekton in the vegetated marsh while ...minnow trapping in unvegetated channels targeted relatively larger fishes. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordinations were used to assess community structure. Environmental factors and species most rank-correlated with community dissimilarities in ordinations were determined through the nonparametric BIOENV analysis. We found differences in community composition among creeks that were largely consistent in 2 years. Juveniles of the dominant salt marsh fish Fundulus heteroclitus from throw trapping had a pattern opposite of amphipods and associated with creeks with marsh downstream while larger F. heteroclitus (from minnow trapping) associated with creeks with high percentages of marsh coverage and lower watershed imperviousness. A transient fish Lagodon rhomboides was associated with creeks with lower marsh percentages. Results indicate that loss of marsh, and breaks in marsh connectivity to areas downstream of tidal creeks, can lead to reduced abundances of a dominant resident marsh fish. In order to maintain production of marsh fishes, planners should prioritize the maintenance of intact salt marsh habitats and natural landforms.
Nonuniversal use of facial protection during endoscopy may place endoscopists at risk of exposure to blood and body fluids; however, the frequency of exposure is unknown.
A prospective 6-month study ...of 4 gastroenterologists using a face shield during endoscopy was undertaken. The face shield was swabbed in a standardized fashion before and at the end of the session. Controls included pre- and post-swabs of face shields placed on the (1) endoscopy suite wall, (2) remote patient intake bay wall, and (3) after deliberate contamination with a colonoscope immediately after colonoscopy. The swabs were cultured for 48 hours, and growth was reported as no growth or by number of colony-forming units (CFUs). The groups were compared for +CFU rate and CFU number.
A total of 1100 procedures were performed in 239 endoscopy sessions. The +CFU rate in the pre-endoscopy groups (2%-4.8%, not significant) was significantly lower than the postendoscopist face shield (45.8%, P < .001) and endoscopy suite wall groups (21.4%, P < .001), respectively. Using a cut-off of >15 CFUs as an indicator of definite exposure, the occurrence rate was 5.6 per 100 half days of endoscopy to the endoscopist’s face and 3.4 per 100 half days of endoscopy 6 feet away.
This is the first study to quantify the rate of unrecognized exposure to the endoscopist’s face to potentially infectious biologic samples during endoscopy (5.6/100 days of endoscopy). This exposure may result in transmission of infectious diseases. As such, we recommend the use of universal facial protection during GI endoscopy.
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ABSTRACT
Johanson–Blizzard syndrome (JBS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, typical facial features, dental anomalies, hypothyroidism, ...sensorineural hearing loss, scalp defects, urogenital and anorectal anomalies, short stature, and cognitive impairment of variable degree. This syndrome is caused by a defect of the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR1, which is part of the proteolytic N‐end rule pathway. Herein, we review previously reported (n = 29) and a total of 31 novel UBR1 mutations in relation to the associated phenotype in patients from 50 unrelated families. Mutation types include nonsense, frameshift, splice site, missense, and small in‐frame deletions consistent with the hypothesis that loss of UBR1 protein function is the molecular basis of JBS. There is an association of missense mutations and small in‐frame deletions with milder physical abnormalities and a normal intellectual capacity, thus suggesting that at least some of these may represent hypomorphic UBR1 alleles. The review of clinical data of a large number of molecularly confirmed JBS cases allows us to define minimal clinical criteria for the diagnosis of JBS. For all previously reported and novel UBR1 mutations together with their clinical data, a mutation database has been established at LOVD.
This article reviews 60 UBR1 mutations including 31 novel ones observed in 50 families affected by Johanson–Blizzard syndrome. Genotype‐phenotype correlations are reported. Additionally, diagnostic criteria for the syndrome are proposed on the basis of the clinical data collected from individuals with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of Johanson–Blizzard syndrome. A database was set up at LOVD, providing public access to genotype and phenotype data.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific systemic syndrome of unknown cause that affects 3% to 8% of pregnancies in the United States. Although preeclampsia is known to be an important risk factor for ...pregnancy-associated stroke, few data exist with regard to its association with stroke not occurring during pregnancy or the postpartum period.
Using data from the Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study (SPYW), a population-based case-control study of risk factors for ischemic stroke in women aged 15 to 44 years (recruitment period: 1992 to 1996, SPYW-1; 2001 to 2003, SPYW-2), we examined the independent association between a history of preeclampsia and the likelihood of ischemic stroke. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were estimated using logistic regression. Cases (n=261) were women with stroke in the greater Baltimore-Washington area, and controls (n=421) were women free of a history of stroke identified by random digit dialing. Women who were pregnant at the time of stroke, those whose stroke occurred within 42 days postpartum, and nulligravida women were excluded from the analysis.
The prevalence of preeclampsia among cases and controls was 15% (SPYW-1: 16%; SPYW-2: 15%) and 10% (SPYW-1: 10%; SPYW-2: 11%), respectively. Preeclampsia was associated with an increased likelihood of ischemic stroke (crude OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.52). After multivariable adjustment for age, race, education, and number of pregnancies, women with a history of preeclampsia were 60% more likely to have a nonpregnancy-related ischemic stroke than those without a history of preeclampsia (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.62). Similar patterns were observed for women who reported symptoms of preeclampsia (elevated blood pressure and proteinuria).
These results suggest an association between a history of preeclampsia and ischemic stroke remote from pregnancy. If these results are confirmed in other studies, evaluation of the importance of targeting women with preeclampsia for close risk factor monitoring and control beyond the postpartum period may be warranted.
The interaction of wind with aquatic and terrestrial surfaces is known to control the creation of microbial aerosols allowing for their entrainment into air masses that can be transported regionally ...and globally. Near surface interactions between urban waterways and urban air are understudied but some level of interaction among these bacterial communities would be expected and may be relevant to understanding both urban air and water quality. To address this gap related to patterns of local air-water microbial exchange, we utilized next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from paired air and water samples collected from 3 urban waterfront sites and evaluated their relative bacterial diversity. Aerosol samples at all sites were significantly more diverse than water samples. Only 17-22% of each site's bacterial aerosol OTUs were present at every site. These shared aerosol OTUs included taxa associated with terrestrial systems (e.g.,
), aquatic systems (e.g.,
) and sewage (e.g.,
). In fact, sewage-associated genera were detected in both aerosol and water samples, (e.g.,
, and
), demonstrating the widespread influence of similar pollution sources across these urban environments. However, the majority (50-61%) of the aerosol OTUs at each site were unique to that site, suggesting that local sources are an important influence on bioaerosols. According to indicator species analysis, each site's aerosols harbored the highest percentage of bacterial OTUs statistically determined to uniquely represent that site's aquatic bacterial community, further demonstrating a local connection between water quality and air quality in the urban environment.
Abstract
Background
We studied humoral responses after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination across varying causes of immunodeficiency.
Methods
Prospective study of fully vaccinated ...immunocompromised adults (solid organ transplant SOT, hematologic malignancy, solid cancers, autoimmune conditions, human immunodeficiency virus HIV) versus nonimmunocompromised healthcare workers (HCWs). The primary outcome was the proportion with a reactive test (seropositive) for immunoglobulin G to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain. Secondary outcomes were comparisons of antibody levels and their correlation with pseudovirus neutralization titers. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with seropositivity.
Results
A total of 1271 participants enrolled: 1099 immunocompromised and 172 HCW. Compared with HCW (92.4% seropositive), seropositivity was lower among participants with SOT (30.7%), hematological malignancies (50.0%), autoimmune conditions (79.1%), solid tumors (78.7%), and HIV (79.8%) (P < .01). Factors associated with poor seropositivity included age, greater immunosuppression, time since vaccination, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and vaccination with BNT162b2 (Pfizer) or adenovirus vector vaccines versus messenger RNA (mRNA)-1273 (Moderna). mRNA-1273 was associated with higher antibody levels than BNT162b2 or adenovirus vector vaccines after adjusting for time since vaccination, age, and underlying condition. Antibody levels were strongly correlated with pseudovirus neutralization titers (Spearman r = 0.89, P < .0001), but in seropositive participants with intermediate antibody levels, neutralization titers were significantly lower in immunocompromised individuals versus HCW.
Conclusions
Antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines were lowest among SOT and anti-CD20 monoclonal recipients, and recipients of vaccines other than mRNA-1273. Among those with intermediate antibody levels, pseudovirus neutralization titers were lower in immunocompromised patients than HCWs. Additional SARS-CoV-2 preventive approaches are needed for immunocompromised persons, which may need to be tailored to the cause of immunodeficiency.
In this prospective study of 1271 participants, seropositivity after COVID-19 vaccination varied by condition: HCW (92.4%), HIV (79.8%), autoimmune conditions (79.1%), solid tumors (78.7%), hematological malignancies (50.0%), and SOT (30.7%). Additional strategies are needed to protect immunocompromised patients from COVID-19.
Broadband seismic data from the United States were processed into Ps and Sp receiver function image volumes for the purpose of constraining negative velocity gradients (NVG) at depths between the ...Moho and 200 km. Moho depth picks from the two independent datasets are in good agreement, however, large discrepancies in NVG picks occur and are attributed to free-surface multiples which obscure deep NVG arrivals in the Ps data. From the Sp data, shallow NVG are found west of the Rockies and in the central US while deep and sporadic NVG are observed beneath the Great Plains and northern Rockies. To aid the interpretation of the observed NVG arrivals, the mantle thermal field is estimated by mapping surface wave tomography velocities to temperature assuming an anelastic olivine model. The distribution of temperature versus NVG depth is bi-modal and displays two distinct thermal populations that are interpreted to represent both the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) and mid-lithosphere discontinuities (MLD). LAB arrivals occur in the western US at 60–85 km and 1200–1400 °C depth suggesting that they manifest partial melt near the base of the thermal plate. MLD arrivals primarily occur at 70–110 km depth and 700–900 °C and we hypothesize that these arrivals are caused by a low-velocity metasomatic layer containing phlogopite resulting from magma crystallization products that accumulate within long-lived thick lithosphere.
•USArray receiver function analysis finds ample mantle negative velocity gradients.•Inferred mantle temperatures delineate LAB and MLD populations.•MLD observations are attributed to phlogopite resulting from mantle metasomatism.
Fog supplies water and nutrients to systems ranging from coastal forests to inland deserts. Fog droplets can also contain bacterial and fungal aerosols, but our understanding of fog biology is ...limited. Using metagenomic tools and culturing, we provide a unique look at fungal and bacterial communities in fog at two fog-dominated sites: coastal Maine (USA) and the Namib Desert (Namibia). Microbial communities in the fog at both sites were diverse, distinct from clear aerosols, and influenced by both soil and marine sources. Fog from both sites contained Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, commonly soil- and air-associated phyla, but also contained bacterial taxa associated with marine environments including Cyanobacteria, Oceanospirillales, Novosphingobium, Pseudoalteromonas, and Bradyrhizobiaceae. Marine influence on fog communities was greatest near the coast, but still evident in Namib fogs 50 km inland. In both systems, differences between pre- and post-fog aerosol communities suggest that fog events can significantly alter microbial aerosol diversity and composition. Fog is likely to enhance viability of transported microbes and facilitate their deposition, making fog biology ecologically important in fog-dominated environments. Fog may introduce novel species to terrestrial ecosystems, including human and plant pathogens, warranting further work on the drivers of this important and underrecognized aerobiological transfer between marine and terrestrial systems.
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•Coastal fogs from Namibia and Maine both contained diverse microbial communities.•Fog contains more ocean microbes (compared to soil) when fog is near the coast.•Fog results in more microbial species to be deposited onto land than air alone.•A fog event changes the composition of microbes in the air.
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