Detection and abundance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Liechtenstein, and the estimation of prevalence and impact of the B.1.1.7 variant.

The new coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known to be also shed through feces, which makes wastewater-based surveillance possible, independent of symptomatic cases and unbiased by any testing strategies and frequencies. We investigated the entire population of the Principality of Liechtenstein with samples from the wastewater treatment plant Bendern (serving all 39,000 inhabitants). Twenty-four-hour composite samples were taken once or twice a week over a period of 6 months from September 2020 to March 2021. Viral RNA was concentrated using the PEG centrifugation method followed by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The aim of this research was to assess the suitability of SARS-CoV-2 fragments to relate the viral wastewater signal to the incidences and assess the impact of the emerging B.1.1.7. variant. The viral load in the wastewater peaked at almost 9 × 108 viral fragments per person equivalent (PE) and day on October 25, and showed a second peak on December 22 reaching a viral load of approximately 2 × 108 PE-1d-1. Individual testing showed a lag of 4 days and a distinct underestimation of cases at the first peak when testing frequency was low. The wastewater signal showed an immediate response to the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. The new virus variant B.1.1.7. was first detected in wastewater on December 23, while it was first observed with individual testing on January 13, 2021. Further, our data indicate that the emergence of new virus variant may change the wastewater signal, probably due to different shedding patterns, which should be considered in future models.

The life cycle-dependent transcriptional profile of the obligate intracellular amoeba symbiont Amoebophilus asiaticus.

Free-living amoebae often harbor obligate intracellular bacterial symbionts. Amoebophilus (A.) asiaticus is a representative of a lineage of amoeba symbionts in the phylum Bacteroidota. Here, we analyse the transcriptome of A. asiaticus strain 5a2 at four time points during its infection cycle and replication within the Acanthamoeba host using RNA sequencing. Our results reveal a dynamic transcriptional landscape throughout different A. asiaticus life cycle stages. Many intracellular bacteria and pathogens utilize eukaryotic-like proteins (ELPs) for host cell interaction and the A. asiaticus 5a2 genome shows a particularly high abundance of ELPs. We show the expression of all genes encoding ELPs and found many ELPs to be differentially expressed. At the replicative stage of A. asiaticus, ankyrin repeat proteins and tetratricopeptide/Sel1-like repeat proteins were upregulated. At the later time points, high expression levels of a type 6 secretion system that likely prepares for a new infection cycle after lysing its host, were found. This study reveals comprehensive insights into the intracellular lifestyle of A. asiaticus and highlights candidate genes for host cell interaction. The results from this study have implications for other intracellular bacteria such as other amoeba-associated bacteria and the arthropod symbionts Cardinium forming the sister lineage of A. asiaticus.

NOTCH1 activation in breast cancer confers sensitivity to inhibition of SUMOylation.

Breast cancer is genetically heterogeneous, and recent studies have underlined a prominent contribution of epigenetics to the development of this disease. To uncover new synthetic lethalities with known breast cancer oncogenes, we screened an epigenome-focused short hairpin RNA library on a panel of engineered breast epithelial cell lines. Here we report a selective interaction between the NOTCH1 signaling pathway and the SUMOylation cascade. Knockdown of the E2-conjugating enzyme UBC9 (UBE2I) as well as inhibition of the E1-activating complex SAE1/UBA2 using ginkgolic acid impairs the growth of NOTCH1-activated breast epithelial cells. We show that upon inhibition of SUMOylation NOTCH1-activated cells proceed slower through the cell cycle and ultimately enter apoptosis. Mechanistically, activation of NOTCH1 signaling depletes the pool of unconjugated small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1) and SUMO2/3 leading to increased sensitivity to perturbation of the SUMOylation cascade. Depletion of unconjugated SUMO correlates with sensitivity to inhibition of SUMOylation also in patient-derived breast cancer cell lines with constitutive NOTCH pathway activation. Our investigation suggests that SUMOylation cascade inhibitors should be further explored as targeted treatment for NOTCH-driven breast cancer.

Could CoRoT-7b and Kepler-10b be remnants of evaporated gas or ice giants?

We present thermal mass loss calculations over evolutionary time scales for the investigation if the smallest transiting rocky exoplanets CoRoT-7b (∼1.68REarth) and Kepler-10b (∼1.416REarth) could be remnants of an initially more massive hydrogen-rich gas giant or a hot Neptune-class exoplanet. We apply a thermal mass loss formula which yields results that are comparable to hydrodynamic loss models. Our approach considers the effect of the Roche lobe, realistic heating efficiencies and a radius scaling law derived from observations of hot Jupiters. We study the influence of the mean planetary density on the thermal mass loss by placing hypothetical exoplanets with the characteristics of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus to the orbital location of CoRoT-7b at 0.017 AU and Kepler-10b at 0.01684 AU and assuming that these planets orbit a K- or G-type host star. Our findings indicate that hydrogen-rich gas giants within the mass domain of Saturn or Jupiter cannot thermally lose such an amount of mass that CoRoT-7b and Kepler-10b would result in a rocky residue. Moreover, our calculations show that the present time mass of both rocky exoplanets can be neither a result of evaporation of a hydrogen envelope of a "Hot Neptune" nor a "Hot Uranus"-class object. Depending on the initial density and mass, these planets most likely were always rocky planets which could lose a thin hydrogen envelope, but not cores of thermally evaporated initially much more massive and larger objects.

Energetic neutral atoms as the explanation for the high-velocity hydrogen around HD 209458b.

Absorption in the stellar Lyman-alpha (Lyalpha) line observed during the transit of the extrasolar planet HD 209458b in front of its host star reveals high-velocity atomic hydrogen at great distances from the planet. This has been interpreted as hydrogen atoms escaping from the planet's exosphere, possibly undergoing hydrodynamic blow-off, and being accelerated by stellar radiation pressure. Energetic neutral atoms around Solar System planets have been observed to form from charge exchange between solar wind protons and neutral hydrogen from the planetary exospheres, however, and this process also should occur around extrasolar planets. Here we show that the measured transit-associated Lyalpha absorption can be explained by the interaction between the exosphere of HD 209458b and the stellar wind, and that radiation pressure alone cannot explain the observations. As the stellar wind protons are the source of the observed energetic neutral atoms, this provides a way of probing stellar wind conditions, and our model suggests a slow and hot stellar wind near HD 209458b at the time of the observations.

Spirometry, blood gas analysis and ultrasonography of the diaphragm after Winnie's interscalene brachial plexus block.

Ten patients with healthy lungs were subjected to radiology, sonography, spirometry and blood gas analysis before and after an interscalene brachial plexus block prior to shoulder surgery. Winnie's interscalene block induced ipsilateral hemidiaphragmatic paresis that was confirmed by radiology and sonography. Changes in forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were significant and PaO2 declined by an average of 1.3 kPa. These changes should not cause further clinical symptoms in sitting patients with unaffected lungs. In patients with pulmonary disease, this method of nerve block should be limited to cases for which there is a clear indication.

[Diagnosis and staging of blunt kidney trauma. A comparison of urinalysis, i.v. urography, sonography and computed tomography]. / Diagnose und Staging von stumpfen Nierentraumen. Vergleich von Harnanalyse, i.v. Urographie, Sonographie und Computertomographie.

In a retrospective study of 1230 patients with blunt abdominal or flank trauma, the results of microscopic urinalysis, urography, sonography, and computed tomography in the diagnosis and staging of renal injuries were compared. Haematuria was present in 98% of renal lacerations and in all pedicle injuries, whereas among 1038 patients without haematuria only one small laceration was found. The degree of haematuria showed no correlation with the severity of renal injury. 92 renal injuries were diagnosed radiologically, including 58 lacerations, 31 contusions, and three pedicle injuries. Computed tomography was performed in 39 lacerations and six contusions, and allowed correct diagnosis and staging in all cases. Urography established the correct diagnosis in 72%, and sonography in 85%. Sensitivity in the diagnosis of clinically relevant injuries (lacerations and pedicle injuries) was 98% (specificity: 99%), when both modalities were combined. Based on the results of our study, we suggest the use of sonography as a screening modality in blunt abdominal or flank trauma, and additional urography in case of haematuria. Computed tomography is the method of choice for exact staging of suspected renal injury.

[The radiological diagnosis of the male breast. Mammography, sonography and pathohistological correlation]. / Radiologische Diagnostik der männlichen Brustdrüse. Mammographie, Sonographie, pathohistologische Korrelation.

61 men with breast enlargement underwent mammography; complementary sonography was performed in 34 cases. Diagnoses included gynaecomastia in 53 cases, pseudo-gynaecomastia in 9 cases, 3 carcinomas, 2 inflammatory lesions and 1 lipoma. Gynaecomastias of up to four month's duration are histologically of the florid type and show a nodular or nodular-dendritic mammographic pattern; sonography usually demonstrates a focal hypo-echogenic area. Gynaecomastias of longer duration representing the fibrous type show mammographically a dendritic or diffuse pattern and sonographically a hyper-reflexive breast parenchyma. Mammography and sonography can differentiate reliably true gynaecomastia from pseudo-gynaecomastia. Gynaecomastia and especially inflammatory lesions may not always be readily differentiated from carcinoma. Sonography can be helpful by demonstrating hyper-reflexive glandular tissue, whereas carcinomas are usually hypoechoic.

[Intermediate results of kinematic knee prosthesis]. / Mittelfristige Ergebnisse mit der Kinematikknieprothese.

A retrospective study of 88 of 117 kinematic total knee prostheses was carried out at the Department of Orthopaedics, University Clinic, Innsbruck. In 71 cases the clinical and functional score of the knee Society was applied. Radiographs were taken under fluoroscopic control. In 3 cases, the need for revision surgery was already obvious. A slight varus angle of 2.1 degrees became apparent. Flexion contracture showed a correlation with the inclination of the femoral component. Radiolucencies of the tibial component showed up in cases with a reduced tibial angle. Radiolucencies of the patella component correlated with lateral subluxation.