Aging is universal, yet characterizing the molecular changes that occur in aging which lead to an increased risk for neurological disease remains a challenging problem. Aging affects the prefrontal ...cortex (PFC), which governs executive function, learning, and memory. Previous sequencing studies have demonstrated that aging alters gene expression in the PFC, however the extent to which these changes are conserved across species and are meaningful in neurodegeneration is unknown. Identifying conserved, age-related genetic and morphological changes in the brain allows application of the wealth of tools available to study underlying mechanisms in model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. RNA sequencing data from human PFC and fly heads were analyzed to determine conserved transcriptome signatures of age. Our analysis revealed that expression of 50 conserved genes can accurately determine age in Drosophila (R2 = 0.85) and humans (R2 = 0.46). These transcriptome signatures were also able to classify Drosophila into three age groups with a mean accuracy of 88% and classify human samples with a mean accuracy of 69%. Overall, this work identifies 50 highly conserved aging-associated genetic changes in the brain that can be further studied in model organisms and demonstrates a novel approach to uncovering genetic changes conserved across species from multi-study public databases.
For over 50 years instructor humor has been recognized as a way to positively impact student cognitive and affective learning. However, no study has explored humor exclusively in the context of ...college science courses, which have the reputation of being difficult and boring. The majority of studies that explore humor have assumed that students perceive instructor humor to be funny, yet students likely perceive some instructor humor as unfunny or offensive. Further, evidence suggests that women perceive certain subjects to be more offensive than men, yet we do not know what impact this may have on the experience of women in the classroom. To address these gaps in the literature, we surveyed students across 25 different college science courses about their perceptions of instructor humor in college science classes, which yielded 1637 student responses. Open-coding methods were used to analyze student responses to a question about why students appreciate humor. Multinomial regression was used to identify whether there are gender differences in the extent to which funny, unfunny, and offensive humor influenced student attention to course content, instructor relatability, and student sense of belonging. Logistic regression was used to examine gender differences in what subjects students find funny and offensive when joked about by college science instructors. Nearly 99% of students reported that they appreciate instructor humor and reported that it positively changes the classroom atmosphere, improves student experiences during class, and enhances the student-instructor relationship. We found that funny humor tends to increase student attention to course content, instructor relatability, and student sense of belonging. Conversely, offensive humor tends to decrease instructor relatability and student sense of belonging. Lastly, we identified subjects that males were more likely to find funny and females were more likely to find offensive if a college science instructor were to joke about them.
Objective: The authors used quantitative and qualitative methodologies to investigate college students' perceptions and use of illegal Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stimulants ...during spring and summer 2006. Participants: From fall 2005 through fall 2006, the authors studied 1,811 undergraduates at a large, public, southeastern research university in the United States. Methods: The authors administered surveys to these students and conducted 175 in-depth interviews. Results: Of the study participants, 34% reported the illegal use of ADHD stimulants. Most illegal users reported using ADHD stimulants primarily in periods of high academic stress and found them to reduce fatigue while increasing reading comprehension, interest, cognition, and memory. Furthermore, most had little information about the drug and found procurement to be both easy and stigmafree. Conclusions: This study supplies a rich understanding of the growing national trend of illegal ADHD stimulant use. The authors discuss strategies for stemming the tide of ADHD stimulant use.
Plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs) are increasingly consumed as a dairy alternative Olson, S. Milk and Non-Dairy Milk – US – 2021, 2021.. Plant foods are rich sources of (poly)phenols, but ...concentrations of these bioactive phytochemicals in processed PBMAs are not well documented. We procured twenty-seven PBMA products of 6 types (almond, coconut, oat, pea, rice, and soy) for (poly)phenol analysis. Samples were analyzed via ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array with mass spectrometry. The (poly)phenol content of PBMAs varies and is dependent on plant source, brand, and added flavorings. Soy milk had the highest concentration and rice milk had the lowest (91.9 ± 2.7 and 0.9 ± 0.2 mean mg ± SD/cup serving, respectively). Almond milk, the most widely consumed PBMA, averaged 12.1 ± 8.2 mg/cup serving, but the majority of (poly)phenols are derived from added flavorings. PBMAs contain a wide range of potentially bioactive (poly)phenols and may contribute significantly to overall dietary (poly)phenol intake with the potential to impact health outcomes.
Nutrigenomic evidence supports the idea that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) arises due to the interactions between the transcriptome, individual genetic profiles, lifestyle, and diet. Since eggs are ...a nutrient dense food containing bioactive ingredients that modify gene expression, our goal was to examine the role of whole egg consumption on the transcriptome during T2DM. We analyzed whether whole egg consumption in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats alters microRNA and mRNA expression across the adipose, liver, kidney, and prefrontal cortex tissue. Male ZDF (fa/fa) rats (n = 12) and their lean controls (fa/+) (n = 12) were obtained at 6 wk of age. Rats had ad libitum access to water and were randomly assigned to a modified semi-purified AIN93G casein-based diet or a whole egg-based diet, both providing 20% protein (w/w). TotalRNA libraries were prepared using QuantSeq 3' mRNA-Seq and Lexogen smallRNA library prep kits and were further sequenced on an Illumina HighSeq3000. Differential gene expression was conducted using DESeq2 in R and Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted P-values controlling for false discovery rate at 5%. We identified 9 microRNAs and 583 genes that were differentially expressed in response to 8 wk of consuming whole egg-based diets. Kyto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes/Gene ontology pathway analyses demonstrated that 12 genes in the glutathione metabolism pathway were upregulated in the liver and kidney of ZDF rats fed whole egg. Whole egg consumption primarily altered glutathione pathways such as conjugation, methylation, glucuronidation, and detoxification of reactive oxygen species. These pathways are often negatively affected during T2DM, therefore this data provides unique insight into the nutrigenomic response of dietary whole egg consumption during the progression of T2DM.
Regular aspirin use is associated with reduced risk of several malignancies. Epidemiologic studies analyzing aspirin, nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and acetaminophen use and ...ovarian cancer risk have been inconclusive.
We analyzed pooled data from 12 population-based case-control studies of ovarian cancer, including 7776 case patients and 11843 control subjects accrued between 1992 and 2007. Odds ratios (ORs) for associations of medication use with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer were estimated in individual studies using logistic regression and combined using random effects meta-analysis. Associations between frequency, dose, and duration of analgesic use and risk of ovarian cancer were also assessed. All statistical tests were two-sided.
Aspirin use was associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer (OR = 0.91; 95% confidence interval CI = 0.84 to 0.99). Results were similar but not statistically significant for nonaspirin NSAIDs, and there was no association with acetaminophen. In seven studies with frequency data, the reduced risk was strongest among daily aspirin users (OR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.67 to 0.96). In three studies with dose information, the reduced risk was strongest among users of low dose (<100 mg) aspirin (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.83), whereas for nonaspirin NSAIDs, the reduced risk was strongest for high dose (≥500 mg) usage (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.64 to 0.91).
Aspirin use was associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer, especially among daily users of low-dose aspirin. These findings suggest that the same aspirin regimen proven to protect against cardiovascular events and several cancers could reduce the risk of ovarian cancer 20% to 34% depending on frequency and dose of use.
Despite improved cardiometabolic outcomes following bariatric surgery, its long-term impact on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk remains uncertain. In parallel, the influence of bariatric surgery on the ...host microbiome and relationships with disease outcomes is beginning to be appreciated. Therefore, we investigated the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) on the patterns of sulfide-reducing and butyrate-producing bacteria, which are hypothesized to modulate CRC risk after bariatric surgery. In this single-center, cross-sectional study, we included 15 pre-surgery subjects with severe obesity and patients who are at a median (range) of 25.6 (9.9-46.5) months after RYGB (n = 16) or VSG (n = 10). The DNA abundance of fecal bacteria and enzymes involved in butyrate and sulfide metabolism were identified using metagenomic sequencing. Differences between pre-surgery and post-RYGB or post-VSG cohorts were quantified using the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) method. Our sample was predominantly female (87%) with a median (range) age of 46 (23-71) years. Post-RYGB and post-VSG patients had a higher DNA abundance of fecal sulfide-reducing bacteria than pre-surgery controls (LDA = 1.3-4.4, p < .05). The most significant enrichments were for fecal E. coli, Acidaminococcus and A. finegoldii after RYGB, and for A. finegoldii, S. vestibularis, V. parvula after VSG. As for butyrate-producing bacteria, R. faecis was more abundant, whereas B. dentium and A. hardus were lower post-RYGB vs. pre-surgery. B. dentium was also lower in post-VSG vs. pre-surgery. Consistent with these findings, our analysis showed a greater enrichment of sulfide-reducing enzymes after bariatric surgery, especially RYGB, vs. pre-surgery. The DNA abundance of butyrate-producing enzymes was lower post-RYGB. In conclusion, the two most used bariatric surgeries, RYGB and VSG, are associated with microbiome patterns that are potentially implicated in CRC risk. Future studies are needed to validate and understand the impact of these microbiome changes on CRC risk after bariatric surgery.Despite improved cardiometabolic outcomes following bariatric surgery, its long-term impact on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk remains uncertain. In parallel, the influence of bariatric surgery on the host microbiome and relationships with disease outcomes is beginning to be appreciated. Therefore, we investigated the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) on the patterns of sulfide-reducing and butyrate-producing bacteria, which are hypothesized to modulate CRC risk after bariatric surgery. In this single-center, cross-sectional study, we included 15 pre-surgery subjects with severe obesity and patients who are at a median (range) of 25.6 (9.9-46.5) months after RYGB (n = 16) or VSG (n = 10). The DNA abundance of fecal bacteria and enzymes involved in butyrate and sulfide metabolism were identified using metagenomic sequencing. Differences between pre-surgery and post-RYGB or post-VSG cohorts were quantified using the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) method. Our sample was predominantly female (87%) with a median (range) age of 46 (23-71) years. Post-RYGB and post-VSG patients had a higher DNA abundance of fecal sulfide-reducing bacteria than pre-surgery controls (LDA = 1.3-4.4, p < .05). The most significant enrichments were for fecal E. coli, Acidaminococcus and A. finegoldii after RYGB, and for A. finegoldii, S. vestibularis, V. parvula after VSG. As for butyrate-producing bacteria, R. faecis was more abundant, whereas B. dentium and A. hardus were lower post-RYGB vs. pre-surgery. B. dentium was also lower in post-VSG vs. pre-surgery. Consistent with these findings, our analysis showed a greater enrichment of sulfide-reducing enzymes after bariatric surgery, especially RYGB, vs. pre-surgery. The DNA abundance of butyrate-producing enzymes was lower post-RYGB. In conclusion, the two most used bariatric surgeries, RYGB and VSG, are associated with microbiome patterns that are potentially implicated in CRC risk. Future studies are needed to validate and understand the impact of these microbiome changes on CRC risk after bariatric surgery.
The Southern Ocean is a hotspot of the climate-relevant organic sulfur compound dimethyl sulfide (DMS). Spatial and temporal variability in DMS concentration is higher than in any other oceanic ...region, especially in the marginal ice zone. During a one-week expedition across the continental shelf of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), from the shelf break into Marguerite Bay, in January 2015, spatial heterogeneity of DMS and its precursor dimethyl sulfoniopropionate (DMSP) was studied and linked with environmental conditions, including sea-ice melt events. Concentrations of sulfur compounds, particulate organic carbon (POC) and chlorophyll a in the surface waters varied by a factor of 5-6 over the entire transect. DMS and DMSP concentrations were an order of magnitude higher than currently inferred in climatologies for the WAP region. Particulate DMSP concentrations were correlated most strongly with POC and the abundance of haptophyte algae within the phytoplankton community, which, in turn, was linked with sea-ice melt. The strong sea-ice signal in the distribution of DMS(P) implies that DMS(P) production is likely to decrease with ongoing reductions in sea-ice cover along the WAP. This has implications for feedback processes on the region's climate system.
This article is part of the theme issue 'The marine system of the West Antarctic Peninsula: status and strategy for progress in a region of rapid change'.
Background The role of Propionibacterium acnes in shoulder arthroplasty and broadly in orthopedic prosthetic infections has historically been underestimated, with biofilm formation identified as a ...key virulence factor attributed to invasive isolates. With an often indolent clinical course, P acnes infection can be difficult to detect and treat. This study investigates absorbable cements loaded with a broad-spectrum antibiotic combination as an effective preventive strategy to combat P acnes biofilms. Methods P acnes biofilm formation on an unloaded synthetic calcium sulfate (CaSO4 ) bone void filler cement bead was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy over a period of 14 days. Beads loaded with tobramycin alone or vancomycin alone (as comparative controls) and beads loaded with a vancomycin-tobramycin dual treatment were assessed for their ability to eradicate planktonic P acnes , prevent biofilm formation, and eradicate preformed biofilms using a combination of viable-cell counts, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Results P acnes surface colonization and biofilm formation on unloaded CaSO4 beads was slow. Beads loaded with antibiotics were able to kill planktonic cultures of 106 colony-forming units/mL, prevent bacterial colonization, and significantly reduce biofilm formation over periods of weeks. Complete eradication of established biofilms was achieved with a contact time of 1 week. Conclusions This study demonstrates that antibiotic-loaded CaSO4 beads may represent an effective antibacterial and antibiofilm strategy to combat prosthetic infections in which P acnes is involved.
We report a new family of ternary 111 hexagonal LnAuSb (Ln = La–Nd, Sm) compounds that, with a 19 valence electron count, has one extra electron compared to all other known LnAuZ compounds. LaAuSb, ...CeAuSb, PrAuSb, NdAuSb, and SmAuSb crystallize in the YPtAs-type structure, and have a doubled unit cell compared to other LnAuZ phases as a result of the buckling of the Au–Sb honeycomb layers to create interlayer Au–Au dimers. The dimers accommodate the one excess electron per Au and thus these new phases can be considered Ln 2 3+(Au–Au)0Sb2 3–. Band structure, density of states, and crystal orbital calculations confirm this picture, which results in a nearly complete band gap between full and empty electronic states and stable compounds; we can thus present a structural stability phase diagram for the LnAuZ (Z = Ge, As, Sn, Sb, Pb, Bi) family of phases. Those calculations also show that LaAuSb has a bulk Dirac cone below the Fermi level. The YPtAs-type LnAuSb family reported here is an example of the uniqueness of gold chemistry applied to a rigidly closed shell system in an unconventional way.
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