Studies of chromosome and genome biology often focus on condensed chromatin in the form of chromosomes and neglect the non-dividing cells. Even when interphase nuclei are considered, they are often ...then treated as interchangeable round objects. However, different cell types can have very different nuclear shapes, and these shapes have impacts on cellular function; indeed, many pathologies are linked with alterations to nuclear shape. In this review, we describe some of the nuclear morphologies beyond the spherical and ovoid. Many of the leukocytes of the immune system have lobed nuclei, which aid their flexibility and migration; smooth muscle cells have a spindle shaped nucleus, which must deform during muscle contractions; spermatozoa have highly condensed nuclei which adopt varied shapes, potentially associated with swimming efficiency. Nuclei are not passive passengers within the cell. There are clear effects of nuclear shape on the transcriptional activity of the cell. Recent work has shown that regulation of gene expression can be influenced by nuclear morphology, and that cells can drastically remodel their chromatin during differentiation. The link between the nucleoskeleton and the cytoskeleton at the nuclear envelope provides a mechanism for transmission of mechanical forces into the nucleus, directly affecting chromatin compaction and organisation.
A common disease with significant impacts on health and quality of life, anemia is particularly prevalent in women of reproductive age due to blood losses during menstruation and pregnancy. Data from ...the World Health Organization (WHO) was analyzed to compare trends in prevalence of anemia in women aged 15‐49 among countries and over time with the goal of identifying regions both successful and in need of assistance in combatting anemia.
Worldwide from 2000 to 2013 the prevalence of anemia among women aged 15‐49 decreased, and then increased from 2013 to 2019; severe anemia decreased throughout the world from 2000 to 2019. Throughout all years, African countries had the highest prevalence of anemia and severe anemia while American and European countries had the lowest. With each decrease in human development index (HDI) category (very high to high, etc.) there was a significant increase in prevalence of total anemia (P < 0.001 for all).
This data suggests that although the prevalence of anemia among reproductive age women has decreased over time there is still much work remaining, particularly in low HDI countries. More effort is needed in preventing, recognizing and treating anemia.
Climate change has significant impacts on the distribution of species and alters ecological processes that result from species interactions. There is concern that such distribution shifts will affect ...animal-plant pollination networks. We modelled the potential future (2050 and 2070) distribution of an endangered migratory bat species (Leptonycteris nivalis) and the plants they pollinate (Agave spp) during their annual migration from central Mexico to the southern United States. Our models show that the overlap between the Agave and the endangered pollinating bat will be reduced by at least 75%. The reduction of suitable areas for Agave species will restrict the foraging resources available for the endangered bat, threatening the survival of its populations and the maintenance of their pollination service. The potential extinction of the bat L. nivalis will likely have negative effects on the sexual reproduction and genetic variability of Agave plants increasing their vulnerability to future environmental changes.
Abstract
We, for the first time, provide the experimental demonstration on the band gap engineering of layered hexagonal SnSe
2
nanostructured thin films by varying the thickness. For 50 nm thick ...film, the band gap is ~2.04 eV similar to that of monolayer, whereas the band gap is approximately ~1.2 eV similar to that of bulk for the 1200 nm thick film. The variation of the band gap is consistent with the the theoretically predicted layer-dependent band gap of SnSe
2
. Interestingly, the 400–1200 nm thick films were sensitiveto 1064 nm laser iradiation and the sensitivity increases almost exponentiallly with thickness, while films with 50–140 nm thick are insensitive which is due to the fact that the band gap of thinner films is greater than the energy corresponding to 1064 nm. Over all, our results establish the possibility of engineering the band gap of SnSe
2
layered structures by simply controlling the thickness of the film to absorb a wide range of electromagnetic radiation from infra-red to visible range.
Mandates for mask use in public during the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, worsened by global shortage of commercial supplies, have led to widespread use of homemade masks and ...mask alternatives. It is assumed that wearing such masks reduces the likelihood for an infected person to spread the disease, but many of these mask designs have not been tested in practice. We have demonstrated a simple optical measurement method to evaluate the efficacy of masks to reduce the transmission of respiratory droplets during regular speech. In proof-of-principle studies, we compared a variety of commonly available mask types and observed that some mask types approach the performance of standard surgical masks, while some mask alternatives, such as neck gaiters or bandanas, offer very little protection. Our measurement setup is inexpensive and can be built and operated by nonexperts, allowing for rapid evaluation of mask performance during speech, sneezing, or coughing.
Saliva is increasingly recognised as an attractive diagnostic fluid. The presence of various disease signalling salivary biomarkers that accurately reflect normal and disease states in humans and the ...sampling benefits compared to blood sampling are some of the reasons for this recognition. This explains the burgeoning research field in assay developments and technological advancements for the detection of various salivary biomarkers to improve clinical diagnosis, management, and treatment. This paper reviews the significance of salivary biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic applications, with focus on the technologies and biosensing platforms that have been reported for screening these biomarkers.
Self-monitoring of blood pressure (BP) appears to reduce BP in hypertension but important questions remain regarding effective implementation and which groups may benefit most. This individual ...patient data (IPD) meta-analysis was performed to better understand the effectiveness of BP self-monitoring to lower BP and control hypertension.
Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomised trials comparing self-monitoring to no self-monitoring in hypertensive patients (June 2016). Two reviewers independently assessed articles for eligibility and the authors of eligible trials were approached requesting IPD. Of 2,846 articles in the initial search, 36 were eligible. IPD were provided from 25 trials, including 1 unpublished study. Data for the primary outcomes-change in mean clinic or ambulatory BP and proportion controlled below target at 12 months-were available from 15/19 possible studies (7,138/8,292 86% of randomised participants). Overall, self-monitoring was associated with reduced clinic systolic blood pressure (sBP) compared to usual care at 12 months (-3.2 mmHg, 95% CI -4.9, -1.6 mmHg). However, this effect was strongly influenced by the intensity of co-intervention ranging from no effect with self-monitoring alone (-1.0 mmHg -3.3, 1.2), to a 6.1 mmHg (-9.0, -3.2) reduction when monitoring was combined with intensive support. Self-monitoring was most effective in those with fewer antihypertensive medications and higher baseline sBP up to 170 mmHg. No differences in efficacy were seen by sex or by most comorbidities. Ambulatory BP data at 12 months were available from 4 trials (1,478 patients), which assessed self-monitoring with little or no co-intervention. There was no association between self-monitoring and either lower clinic or ambulatory sBP in this group (clinic -0.2 mmHg -2.2, 1.8; ambulatory 1.1 mmHg -0.3, 2.5). Results for diastolic blood pressure (dBP) were similar. The main limitation of this work was that significant heterogeneity remained. This was at least in part due to different inclusion criteria, self-monitoring regimes, and target BPs in included studies.
Self-monitoring alone is not associated with lower BP or better control, but in conjunction with co-interventions (including systematic medication titration by doctors, pharmacists, or patients; education; or lifestyle counselling) leads to clinically significant BP reduction which persists for at least 12 months. The implementation of self-monitoring in hypertension should be accompanied by such co-interventions.
LINKED CONTENT
This article is linked to Chumpitazi et al and Chumpitazi & Shulman papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16024 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16244
Summary
Background
Restriction of dietary FODMAP intake can alleviate symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Because many FODMAPs have prebiotic actions, there is concern that their ...dietary restriction leads to dysbiosis with health consequences, and their intake is being encouraged by addition to foods and via supplements.
Aims
To examine the hazards and benefits of high and low FODMAP intake.
Methods
Current literature was reviewed and alternative hypotheses formulated.
Results
Low FODMAP intake reduces abundance of faecal Bifidobacteria without known adverse outcomes and has no effect on diversity, but the reduction in bacterial density may potentially be beneficial to gut health. Supplementary prebiotics can markedly elevate the intake of FODMAPs over levels consumed in the background diet. While this increases the abundance of Bifidobacteria, it adversely affects gut health in animal studies by inducing colonic mucosal barrier dysfunction, mucosal inflammation and visceral hypersensitivity. Rapid colonic fermentation is central to the identified mechanisms that include injury from high luminal concentrations of short‐chain fatty acids and low pH, and inflammatory effects of increased endotoxin load and glycation of macromolecules. Whether these observations translate into humans requires further study. Opposing hypotheses are presented whereby excessive intake of FODMAPs might have health benefits via prebiotic effects, but might also be injurious and contribute to the apparent increase in functional intestinal disorders.
Conclusions
Reduced FODMAP intake has few deleterious effects on gut microbiota. Consequences (both positive and negative) of excessive carbohydrate fermentation in the human intestines from elevated FODMAP intake require more attention.
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