Microbiome Dynamics and Functional Composition in Coelopa frigida (Diptera, Coelopidae): Insights into Trophic Specialization of Kelp Flies.

Coelopidae (Diptera), known as kelp flies, exhibit an ecological association with beached kelp and other rotting seaweeds. This unique trophic specialization necessitates significant adaptations to overcome the limitations of an algal diet. We aimed to investigate whether the flies' microbiome could be one of these adaptive mechanisms. Our analysis focused on assessing composition and diversity of adult and larval microbiota of the kelp fly Coelopa frigida. Feeding habits of the larvae of this species have been subject of numerous studies, with debates whether they directly consume kelp or primarily feed on associated bacteria. By using a 16S rRNA metabarcoding approach, we found that the larval microbiota displayed considerably less diversity than adults, heavily dominated by only four operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Phylogenetic placement recovered the most dominant OTU of the larval microbiome, which is the source of more than half of all metabarcoding sequence reads, as an undescribed genus of Orbaceae (Gammaproteobacteria). Interestingly, this OTU is barely found among the 15 most abundant taxa of the adult microbiome, where it is responsible for less than 2% of the metabarcoding sequence reads. The other three OTUs dominating the larval microbiome have been assigned as Psychrobacter (Gammaproteobacteria), Wohlfahrtiimonas (Gammaproteobacteria), and Cetobacterium (Fusobacteriota). Moreover, we also uncovered a distinct shift in the functional composition between the larval and adult stages, where our taxonomic profiling suggests a significant decrease in functional diversity in larval samples. Our study offers insights into the microbiome dynamics and functional composition of Coelopa frigida.

"Jack-of-all-trades" is parthenogenetic.

Sex is evolutionarily more costly than parthenogenesis, evolutionary ecologists therefore wonder why sex is much more frequent than parthenogenesis in the majority of animal lineages. Intriguingly, parthenogenetic individuals and species are as common as or even more common than sexuals in some major and putative ancient animal lineages such as oribatid mites and rotifers. Here, we analyzed oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) as a model group because these mites are ancient (early Paleozoic), widely distributed around the globe, and include a high number of parthenogenetic species, which often co-exist with sexual oribatid mite species. There is evidence that the reproductive mode is phylogenetically conserved in oribatid mites, which makes them an ideal model to test hypotheses on the relationship between reproductive mode and species' ecological strategies. We used oribatid mites to test the frozen niche variation hypothesis; we hypothesized that parthenogenetic oribatid mites occupy narrow specialized ecological niches. We used the geographic range of species as a proxy for specialization as specialized species typically do have narrower geographic ranges than generalistic species. After correcting for phylogenetic signal in reproductive mode and demonstrating that geographic range size has no phylogenetic signal, we found that parthenogenetic lineages have a higher probability to have broader geographic ranges than sexual species arguing against the frozen niche variation hypothesis. Rather, the results suggest that parthenogenetic oribatid mite species are more generalistic than sexual species supporting the general-purpose genotype hypothesis. The reason why parthenogenetic oribatid mite species are generalists with wide geographic range sizes might be that they are of ancient origin reflecting that they adapted to varying environmental conditions during evolutionary history. Overall, our findings indicate that parthenogenetic oribatid mite species possess a widely adapted general-purpose genotype and therefore might be viewed as "Jack-of-all-trades."

How Useful are Re-feeding Bloods for Paediatric Inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa?

The 2012 Junior Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa (MaRSiPAN) guidelines recommends daily blood testing during the initial 5 days of children admitted for inpatient re-feeding. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical utility of this and whether blood tests could be minimised. Single centre retrospective study of children admitted for inpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa (January 2018 - August 2020) was done in a general paediatric ward. Weight, body mass index and re-feeding blood biochemistry were recorded. There were 37 patients, all females, aged between 11-17 years. Weight ranged from 21.4-61.75 Kg. Phosphate levels were 0.6-1.6 mmol/L; mean value 1.22 mmol/L. Over the 5 days of daily testing, mean and median values of all blood results remained within reference ranges. No biochemical indication of re-feeding syndrome was evident and resulted in no change of management. There is limited utility in daily blood testing for patients for the initial 5 days.

Dermoid Cyst with Intracranial Extension Presenting With Headache.

Dermoid cysts (DC) are benign cutaneous developmental anomalies comprising of hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands, and lined by stratified squamous epithelium. They are most commonly found on the face, lower back, and ovaries. We present a case of DC with intracranial extension in a 9 year old boy who presented with headache and a fluctuant scalp swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a midline scalp mass with intracranial extension. The lesion was excised with superior sagittal sinus preservation; and confirmed as DC by histopathological examination. The boy made good recovery.

Septicemia, Meningitis and Bilateral Subdural Empyema in an Infant Caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a global bacterial pathogen. It is an uncommon pathogen causing central nervous system infections, accounting for <1% cases of bacterial meningitis. Sinusitis, trauma and presence of an intracranial device have been reported as risk factors for developing meningitis and brain abscesses. A previously healthy 5-month-old female infant presented to a hospital in North-Eastern India in February 2018 with Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and meningitis and was subsequently detected to have developed bilateral subdural empyema on computed tomography scan of the brain. Burr hole evacuation procedure of subdural empyema was done on day-18 subsequent to which inflammatory markers and temperature gradually normalized. Prolonged course of intravenous antibiotics (5-weeks) and anticonvulsants were needed. This case highlights the importance of considering brain abscess and empyema in a child with meningitis whose temperature do not settle down after being treated appropriately and adequately with intravenous antibiotics and features such as seizures develop. It also reflects the challenges that may be faced by clinicians in resource-limited settings both during acute and follow-up stages.

Neonatal meningitis and maternal sepsis caused by Streptococcus oralis.

A newborn male infant was admitted to the neonatal unit with suspected early onset neonatal sepsis for monitoring and intravenous antibiotics. Despite his initial normal clinical and laboratory parameters, cerebrospinal fluid cultures done on day 4 of life confirmed Streptococcus oralis meningitis. His mother became unwell shortly after labour, and grew Streptococcus oralis in her blood cultures. Both were successfully treated with antibiotics and made a full recovery. Streptococcus oralis has been associated with meningitis in patients receiving spinal anaesthesia or following dental work, but is an uncommon cause of neonatal meningitis and maternal sepsis. We describe the first case in the literature where a mother-baby pair developed invasive non-pyogenic streptococcal disease with the same organism. There is a need for robust guidelines on antibiotic therapy in these cases.

Biodynamic excisional skin tension lines for surgical excisions: untangling the science.

Objective There remains confusion between Langer's lines and wrinkle lines with respect to the optimal orientation of elliptical excisions on the trunk. This study sought to determine the directions of wound closure that would result in least wound tension after skin lesion excisions. Materials and methods Some 1181 consecutive skin lesion excisions were investigated (age range 13-95 years, median 64 years) using a tensiometer to determine directions of least wound tension. These lines were mapped. Skin tension measurements were taken during the procedure and analysed. The clear majority of excisions were for skin cancer and the others were for cysts or dysplastic naevi. Lesions such as lipomas, which entail incisional rather than excisional surgery (i.e. where overlying skin was not excised) were excluded. All lesions were cut out in a circular fashion following tension measurements. Closure was undertaken in the direction of least tension (biodynamic excisional skin tension line) and this was illustrated. This process was repeated in all cases where body site and direction of closure was mapped. Statistical analyses were undertaken on a series on the scalp and lower limb. Results Biodynamic excisional skin tension lines have a clear directional preference: scalp-coronal direction, limbs--vertical orientation of ellipses and trunk - mostly horizontal except oblique at the shoulder and scapular regions. Discussion Skin cancer excisions often end up with poor cosmetic results, owing to inconsistency in identifying the correct excisional wound closure lines. This has not been helped by the (hitherto) lack of large in vivo biomechanical studies, and because incisional lines and excisional lines have not been considered separately in surgical practice. Orientating ellipses or wound closures using biodynamic excisional skin tension lines offers a guide to reducing wound tension and minimising wound complications or scarring after cutaneous surgery.

Barriers to implementing the NICE guidelines for early-onset neonatal infection: cross-sectional survey of neonatal blood culture reporting by laboratories in the UK.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidelines for managing early-onset neonatal infections in 2012. It recommended provision for reporting blood cultures (BCs) with growth detected or not detected at 36 h. To determine if this was followed, a telephone survey was conducted amongst lead biomedical scientists based at microbiology laboratories (N = 209) in the UK. Overall, 202/209 responded and 139/202 had on-site facilities for BCs. BC results with growth detected or not detected at 36 h were available out-of-hours in 36/139 (26.6%) and 66/139 (47.5%) neonatal units, respectively. Early discontinuation of antibiotics should lead to improved antibiotic stewardship.

Respiratory-syncytial-virus- and rhinovirus-related bronchiolitis in children aged <2 years in an English district general hospital.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis is the most common reason for hospitalization in young children. In addition to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), other viruses have been increasingly implicated. Guidance on testing has also changed. AIMS: To compare clinicopathological outcomes in young children admitted with bronchiolitis due to RSV in comparison with rhinovirus (RV), and identify associated risk/epidemiological factors. METHODS: Children aged less than two years admitted to hospital with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis with positive results for either RSV or RV were included in this study. Polymerase-chain-reaction-negative cases using an extended respiratory virus panel served as a control group. Retrospective data were collected on sex, risk factors, respiratory support, intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and need for transfer to the high-dependency unit/paediatric intensive care unit were included. FINDINGS: Two hundred and twenty-seven out of 437 nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were positive for either RSV (N = 162) or RV (N = 65). The median age of cases was three months and 75% had at least one risk factor. Risk factors were higher in the RV group (P = 0.004). RV accounted for the majority of cases outside the RSV season (P < 0.01). RV-associated bronchiolitis had a longer LOS (more than seven days) (P < 0.05) and increased need for chest X-rays and/or antibiotics (P < 0.05). Use of intravenous fluids and respiratory support were higher in the RV group, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: RV is the second most common pathogen associated with bronchiolitis and is isolated all year round. This may be important in those with risk factors resulting in prolonged LOS. Further research is necessary to establish the exact role of RV in this common condition, particularly outside the traditional RSV season.

Coeliac disease in children - an update for general dental practitioners.

Coeliac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated systemic disorder caused by ingestion of gluten found in wheat, rye and barley. It affects around 1% of children, but 90% of cases are considered to remain undiagnosed. CD classically presents with gastrointestinal manifestations including diarrhoea, bloating, weight loss and abdominal pain, but extra-intestinal features (including oral and dental manifestations) are increasingly being reported. Dental and oral manifestations such as dental enamel defects, delayed eruption of teeth, recurrent aphthous ulcers are well-recognised manifestations of CD. In patients with yet undiagnosed CD, these can sometimes be the only presenting features. Dentists have regular contact with well children, and therefore the visit to the dentist is an opportunity to suspect CD. When CD is suspected, Dental practitioners can liaise with the general medical practitioner to organise screening for coeliac disease. Positive serology will prompt onward referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis. The recent European Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines revised in 2012 have streamlined the diagnostic pathway for faster diagnosis of CD. Management involves strict adherence to a gluten free diet, which should lead to resolution of symptoms, recovery of intestinal mucosa and prevention of long-term complications associated with it. This article aims to describe CD, inform of recent changes to the diagnostic pathway and highlight the dental manifestations of the condition to equip dental practitioners to aid early diagnosis and initiation of treatment for children with CD.

Schisandra chinensis reverses visceral hypersensitivity in a neonatal-maternal separated rat model.

Visceral hypersensitivity is an important characteristic feature of functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study evaluated the effect of Schisandra chinensis on visceral hyperalgesia induced by neonatal maternal separation (NMS) in an IBS rat model. The visceromotor responses to colorectal balloon distension (CRD) were measured by abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) and electromyographic (EMG) activities. NMS control rats (receiving vehicle) underwent aggravated visceral pain in response to CRD as compared to normal rats, evidenced by the reduced pain threshold, enhanced AWR scores and EMG responses. Treatment with a 70% ethanol extract of S. chinensis (0.3g/kg and 1.5g/kg/day) for 7 days resulted in an increase in the pain threshold (NMS control: 19.1±1.0mmHg vs low-dose: 24.8±1.3mmHg and high-dose: 25.2±1.8mmHg, p<0.01), and abolished the elevated AWR and EMG responses to CRD in NMS rats (AUC values of EMG response curve were: 1952±202 in NMS control group vs 1074±90 in low-dose group and 1145±92 in high-dose group, p<0.001), indicating that S. chinensis could reverse the visceral hypersensitivity induced by early-life stress event. The result of ELSA measurement shows that the elevated serotonin (5-HT) level in the distal colon of NMS rats returned to normal level after treatment with S. chinensis. Moreover, the increase in pain threshold in rats treated with S. chinensis was associated with a decline of the mRNA level of 5-HT(3) receptor in the distal colon. All available results demonstrate that S. chinensis can reverse visceral hypersensitivity induced by neonatal-maternal separation, and the effect may be mediated through colonic 5-HT pathway in the rat.

Inhibitory effect of schisandrin on spontaneous contraction of isolated rat colon.

This study examined the effect of schisandrin, one of the major lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis, on spontaneous contraction in rat colon and its possible mechanisms. Schisandrin produced a concentration-dependent inhibition (EC50=1.66 µM) on the colonic spontaneous contraction. The relaxant effect of schisandrin could be abolished by the neuronal Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 µM) but not affected by propranolol (1 µM), phentolamine (1 µM), atropine (1 µM) or nicotine desensitization, suggesting possible involvement of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) transmitters released from enteric nerves. N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (100-300 µM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, attenuated the schisandrin response. The role of nitric oxide (NO) was confirmed by an increase in colonic NO production after schisandrin incubation, and the inhibition on the schisandrin responses by soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo[4,3-α]-quinoxalin-1-one (1-30 µM). Non-nitrergic NANC components may also be involved in the action of schisandrin, as suggested by the significant inhibition of apamin on the schisandrin-induced responses. Pyridoxal phosphate-6-azo(benzene-2,4-disulfonic acid) tetrasodium salt hydrate (100 µM), a selective P2 purinoceptor antagonist, markedly attenuated the responses to schisandrin. In contrast, neither 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an antagonist for adenosine A1 receptors, nor chymotrypsin, a serine endopeptidase, affected the responses. All available results have demonstrated that schisandrin produced NANC relaxation on the rat colon, with the involvement of NO and acting via cGMP-dependent pathways. ATP, but not adenosine and VIP, likely plays a role in the non-nitrergic, apamin-sensitive component of the response.

Myeloid specific human CD33 is an inhibitory receptor with differential ITIM function in recruiting the phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2.

CD33 is a myeloid specific member of the sialic acid-binding receptor family and is expressed highly on myeloid progenitor cells but at much lower levels in differentiated cells. Human CD33 has two tyrosine residues in its cytoplasmic domain (Y340 and Y358). When phosphorylated, these tyrosines could function as docking sites for the phosphatases, SHP-1 and/or SHP-2, enabling CD33 to function as an inhibitory receptor. Here we demonstrate that CD33 is tyrosine phosphorylated in the presence of the phosphatase inhibitor, pervanadate, and recruits SHP-1 and SHP-2. Co-expression studies suggest that the Src-family kinase Lck is effective at phosphorylating Y340, but not Y358, suggesting that these residues may function in the selective recruitment of adapter molecules and have distinct functions. Further support for overlapping, but nonredundant, roles for Y340 and Y358 comes from peptide-binding studies that revealed the recruitment of both SHP-1 and SHP-2 to Y340 but only SHP-2 to Y358. Analysis using mutants of SHP-1 demonstrated that binding Y340 of CD33 was primarily to the amino Src homology-2 domain of SHP-1. The potential of CD33 to function as an inhibitory receptor was demonstrated by its ability to down-regulate CD64-induced calcium mobilization in U937. The dependence of this inhibition on SHP-1 was demonstrated by blocking CD33-mediated effects with dominant negative SHP-1. This result implies that CD33 is an inhibitory receptor and also that SHP-1 phosphatase has a significant role in mediating CD33 function. Further studies are essential to identify the receptor(s) that CD33 inhibits in vivo and its function in myeloid lineage development. (Blood. 2000;96:483-490)

Paired inhibitory and activating receptor signals.

The immunological literature has become inundated with reports regarding paired inhibitory receptors. Paired inhibitory receptor systems are highly conserved families that contain receptors involved in either cellular inhibition or activation. In most cases the paired putative biochemical antagonists are co-expressed on a given cell and thought to bind similar, if not identical, ligands making their biological role difficult to understand. Examples of these systems include immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptors (Killer Ig Receptors, Immunoglobulin-like Transcripts/Leukocyte Ig-like Receptors/Monocyte Macrophage Ig Receptors, and Paired Ig-like Receptors), and type II lectin-like receptor systems (NKG2 and Ly49). General characteristics of these inhibitory receptors include a cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM). The ITIM is phosphorylated upon engagement and recruits protein tyrosine phosphatases that dephosphorylate cellular substrates that would otherwise mediate activation. In contrast, the activating receptors of these pairs use charged residues within their transmembrane domains to associate with various signal transduction chains including the gamma chain of the receptor for the Fc portion of IgE, DAP12 or DAP10. Once phosphorylated, these chains direct the signal transduction cascade resulting in cellular activation. Here we review the signaling of several paired systems and present the current models for their signal transduction cascades.

Chromosome 22q11.2 interstitial deletions among childhood-onset schizophrenics and "multidimensionally impaired".

Since its first description almost a century ago schizophrenia with childhood onset, a rare yet devastating disorder, has been diagnosed in children as young as age 5. Recently, the velocardiofacial syndrome, whose underlying cause is interstitial deletions of 22q11.2, was found in 2 of 100 cases of schizophrenics with adult onset [Karayiorgou et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 7612-7616, 1995]. No study has documented the prevalence of velocardiofacial syndrome and the 22q11.2 deletion in a population of schizophrenics with childhood onset. Here we describe the result of such a study in a sample originally selected for a trial of atypical antipsychotic drugs. A separate group of patients was also included in the study; they can best be accounted for as a variant of childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) and had been provisionally termed "multidimensionally impaired." Fluorescent in situ hybridization screening of 32 COS and 21 multidimensionally impaired patients revealed 1 COS patient with an interstitial deletion spanning at least 2.5 megabases.