Metataxonomic and metabolomic profiling revealed Pinus koraiensis cone essential oil reduced methane emission through affecting ruminal microbial interactions and host-microbial metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Pinus koraiensis cone essential oil (PEO) contains functional compounds such as monoterpene hydrocarbons, and the administration of PEO reduced methane (CH4) emissions during growing phase of goats. However, the mode of action of PEO driven CH4 reduction is not known, especially how the administration of PEO can affect rumen microbiota and host metabolism in goats during the fattening phase. This study aimed to elucidate the potential microbial and host responses PEO supplementation in goats using metataxonomics (prokaryotes and protozoa) and metabolomics (rumen fluid and serum). RESULTS: Ten fattening Korean native goats were divided into two dietary groups: control (CON; basal diet without additives) and PEO (basal diet + 1.5 g/d of PEO) with a 2 × 2 crossover design and the treatment lasted for 11 weeks. Administration of PEO reduced CH4 concentrations in the exhaled gas from eructation by 12.0-13.6% (P < 0.05). Although the microbial composition of prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) and protozoa in the rumen was not altered after PEO administration. MaAsLin2 analysis revealed that the abundance of Selenomonas, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and Anaerovibrio were enriched in the rumen of PEO supplemented goats (Q < 0.1). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group and Anaerovibrio were the keystone taxa in the CON and PEO groups, respectively. Methane metabolism (P < 0.05) was enriched in the CON group, whereas metabolism of sulfur (P < 0.001) and propionate (P < 0.1) were enriched in the PEO group based on microbial predicted functions. After PEO administration, the abundance of 11 rumen and 4 serum metabolites increased, whereas that of 25 rumen and 14 serum metabolites decreased (P < 0.1). Random forest analysis identified eight ruminal metabolites that were altered after PEO administration, among which four were associated with propionate production, with predictive accuracy ranging from 0.75 to 0.88. Additionally, we found that serum sarcosine (serum metabolite) was positively correlated with CH4 emission parameters and abundance of Methanobrevibacter in the rumen (|r|≥ 0.5, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that PEO administration reduced CH4 emission from of fattening goats with altered microbial interactions and metabolites in the rumen and host. Importantly, PEO administration affected utilizes various mechanisms such as formate, sulfur, methylated amines metabolism, and propionate production, collectively leading to CH4 reduction. The knowledge is important for future management strategies to maintain animal production and health while mitigate CH4 emission.

Efficacy and safety of shunt surgery in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus: can we predict shunt response by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings that can predict the shunt responsiveness in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients and to investigate postoperative outcome and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 192 patients with iNPH who underwent shunt at our hospital between 2000 and 2021 were included to investigate complications. Of these, after exclusion, 127 (1-month postoperative follow-up) and 77 (1-year postoperative follow-up) patients were evaluated. The preoperative MRI features (the presence of tightness of the high-convexity subarachnoid space, Sylvian fissure enlargement, Evans' index, and callosal angle) of the shunt-response and nonresponse groups were compared, and a systematic review was conducted to evaluate whether preoperative MRI findings could predict shunt response. RESULTS: Postoperative complications within one month after surgery were observed in 6.8% (13/192), and the most common complication was hemorrhage. Changes in corpus callosum were observed in 4.2% (8/192). The shunt-response rates were 83.5% (106/127) in the 1-month follow-up group and 70.1% (54/77) in 1-year follow-up group. In the logistic regression analysis, only Evans' index measuring >0.4 had a significant negative relationship with shunt response at 1-month follow-up; however, no significant relationship was observed at 1-year follow-up. According to our systematic review, it is still controversial whether preoperative MRI findings could predict shunt response. CONCLUSION: Evans' index measure of >0.4 had a significant relationship with the shunt response in the 1-month follow-up group. In systematic reviews, there is ongoing debate about whether preoperative MRI findings can accurately predict responses to shunt surgery. Postoperative corpus callosal change was observed in 4.2% of iNPH patients.

Cash outs during in-play sports betting: Who, why, and what it reveals.

Cashing out is a popular feature of modern 'in-play' sports betting that allows sports bettors to withdraw a bet before the sporting event on which the bet was placed is finalized. Previous studies have shown that use of the cash out feature is positively related to problem gambling symptomatology. However, little is known about demographic and psychological characteristics of in-play sports bettors who use the cash out feature, or their motivations for use. To fill this knowledge gap, we recruited 224 adults (18 + years) from Ontario who engaged in in-play sports betting in the past three months. Participants completed self-report measures of psychological and gambling-related variables. Participants also provided qualitative responses for their motivations for using the cash out feature. Approximately half (51.8 %) of the participants reported using the cash out feature. No statistically significant demographic differences were found between participants who used and did not use the cash out feature. Participants who used the feature (compared to those who did not) reported higher problematic alcohol and cannabis use, feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, and were motivated to gamble to make money. The primary reasons for cashing out were to access money immediately, to cut losses, and because cashing out felt like a less risky option. The current findings shed light on underlying psychological vulnerabilities associated with individuals who use the cash out feature, which can inform initiatives to reduce the harms associated with this popular feature of sports betting.

Comparison of clinical outcomes of patients with serial negative surveillance cultures according to a subsequent polymerase chain reaction test for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are of serious concern worldwide due to high morbidity and mortality. AIM: To evaluate the impact of the result of a subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for carbapenemase after serial negative surveillance cultures on positive culture conversion in patients with three consecutive negative surveillance cultures for CPE, and to identify risk factors for conversion. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with positive CPE cultures on CHROMagar KPC medium was performed in a Korean tertiary hospital from October 2018 to December 2022. PCR for blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaGES, and blaOXA-48 was performed after three consecutive negative rectal swab cultures. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients were compared according to whether follow-up PCR was positive (CNPP) or negative (CNPN). FINDINGS: Of 1075 patients with positive CPE cultures, 150 (14.0%) yielded three consecutive negative rectal swab cultures. Of these, 50 (33.3%) were CNPP, and 100 (66.7%) were CNPN. Risk factors associated with a positive PCR result on multivariate analysis were: age, central venous catheter, and Escherichia coli infection. CNPP patients were more likely to have positive culture conversion for CPE than CNPN patients (39/44 (88.6%) vs 21/50 (42.0%), P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for culture conversion were: a positive PCR result after surveillance cultures, diabetes mellitus, central venous catheter, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: CNPP patients have higher rates of culture conversion than CNPN patients, and a follow-up PCR test after serial negative surveillance cultures is useful in deciding whether or not to discontinue contact precautions.

Improved diagnostic performance of susceptibility-weighted imaging with compressed sensing-sensitivity encoding and neuromelanin-sensitive MRI for Parkinson's disease and atypical Parkinsonism.

AIM: To verify the diagnostic performance of the loss of nigrosome-1 on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) with compressed sensing-sensitivity encoding (CS-SENSE) and neuromelanin on neuromelanin-sensitive (NM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical Parkinsonism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 195 patients who underwent MRI between October 2019 and February 2020, including SWI, with or without CS-SENSE, and NM-MRI, were reviewed retrospectively. Two neuroradiologists assessed the loss of nigrosome-1 on SWI and neuromelanin on the NM-MRI. The result of N-3-fluoropropyl-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane positron-emission tomography (PET) was set as the reference standard. RESULTS: When CS-SENSE was applied for nigrosome-1 imaging on SWI, the non-diagnostic scan rate was lowered significantly from 19.3% (17/88) to 5.6% (6/107; p=0.004). Diagnosis of PD and atypical Parkinsonism based on the loss of nigrosome-1 on SWI and based on NM-MRI showed good diagnostic value (area under the curve [AUC] 0.821, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.755-0.875: AUC 0.832, 95% CI = 0.771-0.882, respectively) with a substantial inter-reader agreement (κ = 0.791 and 0.681, respectively). Combined SWI and neuromelanin had a similar discriminatory ability (AUC 0.830, 95% CI = 0.770-0.880). Similarly, the diagnosis of PD was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: CS-SENSE may add value to the diagnostic capability of nigrosome-1 on SWI to reduce the nondiagnostic scan rates. Furthermore, loss of nigrosome-1 on SWI or volume loss of neuromelanin on NM-MRI may be helpful for diagnosing PD.

Mechanical Control of Polaritonic States in Lead Halide Perovskite Phonons Strongly Coupled in THz Microcavity.

We demonstrate the generation and control of polaritonic states in perovskite phonon polaritons, which are strongly coupled in the middle of a flexible Fabry-Perot cavity. We fabricated flexible perovskite films on a microporous substrate coated with graphene oxide, which led to a virtually free-standing film incorporated into the microcavity. Rabi splitting was observed when the cavity resonance was in tune with that of the phonons. The Rabi splitting energy increased as the film thickness increased, reaching 1.9 meV, which is 2.4-fold higher than the criterion for the strong coupling regime. We obtained dispersion curves for various perovskite film thicknesses exhibiting two polariton branches; clear beats between the two polaritonic branches were observed in the time domain. Flexible cavity devices with perovskite phonons enable macroscopic control over the polaritonic energy states through bending processes, which add an additional degree of freedom in the manipulation of polaritonic devices.

Long-term oncological outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic approaches for right colon cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The short-term outcomes of robotic right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer have been extensively studied in comparison to conventional laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. However, the long-term oncological outcomes of the two approaches have not been investigated, except in single-center retrospective studies. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to investigate the long-term oncological outcomes of robotic right hemicolectomy compared with those of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for studies comparing robotic right hemicolectomy with conventional laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer from the date of database inception to August 2022. For survival data extraction, hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models from the Kaplan-Meier survival curves in the included studies. All calculations and statistical tests were performed using Review Manager software, version 5.4. RESULTS: A total of 523 patients (robotic right hemicolectomy, 230; laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, 293) from five studies were included in this meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. In terms of pathological characteristics, TNM stage was not different and revealed no differences in the number of harvested lymph nodes even though a larger number of lymph nodes were harvested in the robotic group in one study. Pooled analyses demonstrated no significant difference in disease-free survival (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.46-1.13, p = 0.15) and overall survival (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.48-1.13, p = 0.16) between robotic and laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer. CONCLUSION: Robotic right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer is comparable with conventional laparoscopic right hemicolectomy in terms of long-term oncological survival. More prospective, multicenter, randomized trials are necessary to determine the oncologic safety of robotic right hemicolectomy.

Deep Learning of Time-Signal Intensity Curves from Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Imaging Enables Tissue Labeling and Prediction of Survival in Glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: An autoencoder can learn representative time-signal intensity patterns to provide tissue heterogeneity measures using dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging. The aim of this study was to investigate whether such an autoencoder-based pattern analysis could provide interpretable tissue labeling and prognostic value in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type glioblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative dynamic susceptibility contrast MR images were obtained from 272 patients with IDH wild-type glioblastoma (training and validation, 183 and 89 patients, respectively). The autoencoder was applied to the dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging time-signal intensity curves of tumor and peritumoral areas. Representative perfusion patterns were defined by voxelwise K-means clustering using autoencoder latent features. Perfusion patterns were labeled by comparing parameters with anatomic reference tissues for baseline, signal drop, and percentage recovery. In the validation set (n = 89), a survival model was created from representative patterns and clinical predictors using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, and its performance was calculated using the Harrell C-index. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were enrolled. Five representative perfusion patterns were used to characterize tissues as high angiogenic tumor, low angiogenic/cellular tumor, perinecrotic lesion, infiltrated edema, and vasogenic edema. Of these, the low angiogenic/cellular tumor (hazard ratio, 2.18; P = .047) and infiltrated edema patterns (hazard ratio, 1.88; P = .009) in peritumoral areas showed significant prognostic value. The combined perfusion patterns and clinical predictors (C-index, 0.72) improved prognostication when added to clinical predictors (C-index, 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The autoencoder perfusion pattern analysis enabled tissue characterization of peritumoral areas, providing heterogeneity and dynamic information that may provide useful prognostic information in IDH wild-type glioblastoma.