Conectar
by Temitope Ruth Folorunso, Gabriel Silva, Marilis E. Girón, Tess Lindow, Micah Persyn, Lori Eckhardt, Janna R. Willoughby
Effective culturing and DNA extraction protocols are essential for advancing research on fungal pathogens of brown spot needle blight (BSNB) that infect loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and other Pinus species. We evaluated the performance of four widely used fungal media, including Sabouraud dextrose, malt extract, potato dextrose, and yeast extract peptone dextrose, in both solid (agar) and liquid (broth) formats, quantifying fungal growth through colony diameter and biomass accumulation over a three-week period. Sabouraud dextrose agar and broth consistently supported the most rapid and extensive growth in both formats, while potato dextrose underperformed across these metrics. To identify an optimal protocol for downstream molecular applications, we also compared four DNA extraction methods, three of which were modified variants of the CTAB (cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide) chemistry as well as the Qiagen DNeasy kit following the yeast DNA extraction protocol. DNA yield, quantified by fluorometry, was highest for the high-salt CTAB polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) protocol and DNA purity (assessed by 260/280 absorbance ratio) was optimal for both PVP and Qiagen extractions. From these comparisons, we suggest that Sabouraud dextrose culturing combined with CTAB PVP extraction for use as a robust and accessible pipeline for generating high-quality fungal DNA.by Jack Jefferson, Claire Reigate, Alessandra Giacomini, M. Jordana Rivero, Matthew Hitchings, Tamsyn Uren Webster, Konstans Wells
Livestock grazing in confined pastures often means grazing on a less diverse diet than under more natural conditions and increased exposure to gastrointestinal parasites prevailing in these pastures. However, how sward composition influences gut microbiome (GM) diversity and its relationship with parasite burden remains poorly understood. In this study, we analysed the faecal GM of weaned lambs grazing on two distinct sward types (perennial ryegrass and a mixed-species sward) over three consecutive months using 16S rRNA sequencing, in order to assess how microbial diversity and composition are related to environmental conditions and the gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) burden in naturally infected lambs. Sward type and sampling time explained some of the variation in GM alpha diversity and community composition (beta diversity), whereas individual lamb identity accounted for considerably more variation in microbial assemblages. Shifts in the relative abundance of bacterial genera such as Saccharofermentans, Anaerosporobacter, Butyrivibrio in relation to sward type and sampling time suggest mostly adaptive fluctuations in response to diet and pasture condition. Abundance shifts of Negativibacillus, and Candidatus Saccharimonas were also associated with GIN burden, which, in turn, was higher in lambs grazing on mixed swards compared to ryegrass. Our findings add to the growing understanding of how sheep microbiomes vary with pasture management and changes in parasite burden. We highlight that individual identity may shape gut microbiota, and that potential triadic interactions among gastrointestinal parasites, sward exposure, and the gut microbiome underscore the importance of considering host, parasite, and environmental factors collectively when evaluating microbiome dynamics in grazing livestock.To evaluate the association between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and benign colorectal neoplasms (BCN), and to explore whether liver fibrosis/cirrhosis modifies these associations.
Retrospective cohort study with 1:1 propensity score matching.
Global, multicentre real-world analysis using deidentified electronic health records from over 130 healthcare organisations in the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network.
Hospitalised adults aged 45–75 years between October 2019 and October 2024. Patients with prior diagnoses of colorectal neoplasia or other chronic liver diseases were excluded. Final matched cohorts included 138 902 MASLD and non-MASLD patients, 3715 MASH and non-MASH patients, and 1312 MASH patients with and without fibrosis.
Primary outcomes: Incidence of CRC and BCN. Secondary outcome: Combined incidence of CRC and BCN. Outcomes were assessed with and without controlling for metabolic risk factors using Cox proportional hazards models.
MASLD was associated with increased risks of CRC (HR 2.71, 95% CI 2.29 to 3.20) and BCN (HR 2.50, 95% CI 2.38 to 2.63), both p
MASLD and MASH are independent risk factors for CRC and BCN, irrespective of metabolic comorbidities. Fibrosis/cirrhosis does not significantly influence CRC risk. These findings support the need to revisit CRC screening guidelines for patients with MASLD/MASH. Further prospective studies are warranted to explore underlying mechanisms and evaluate preventative interventions.
Neurogranin (Ng) has a role in synaptic plasticity and is considered a biomarker of synaptic dysfunction, a process hypothesised to be important in delirium. Few studies examining Ng in delirium exist, with mixed findings. This study aimed to investigate associations between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Ng concentrations and delirium in acutely admitted hip fracture patients.
Cross-sectional study.
Acutely admitted orthopaedic patients with hip fracture recruited from four participating hospitals in eastern Norway, representing secondary and tertiary care settings.
This study included 392 hip fracture patients. All admitted hip fracture patients operated in spinal anaesthesia were, regardless of age, considered for inclusion.
An in-house ELISA was used to measure CSF Ng concentration in patients acutely admitted with a hip fracture (n=392). Delirium status was evaluated daily according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Editions criteria independently by two experienced geriatricians. A value
180 patients (46 %) developed delirium and 70% of these had dementia. CSF Ng concentration did not differ significantly between those with and without delirium (176 pg/mL vs 164 pg/mL), with an estimated difference in medians of 12 (95% CI –5.8 to 29.8), p=0.185. Analyses adjusted for age, gender and dementia status did not show a statistically significant difference in Ng concentrations between the patients.
We did not find an association between delirium and CSF concentrations of Ng. This could imply that synaptic dysfunction and degeneration, involving Ng, are not key processes in the development of delirium. Further studies on other synaptic proteins are warranted to better explore synaptic dysfunction’s potential role in the pathophysiology of delirium.
To evaluate the effectiveness of multidisciplinary transitional care interventions on functional status, quality of life and readmission rates of stroke patients.
Quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis.
Studies with interventions to ease the hospital-to-home transition of stroke patients that were delivered by multidisciplinary teams consisting of registered healthcare professionals from at least two disciplines were included. Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used for quality appraisal.
Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched for randomised controlled trials delivering transitional care interventions to hospitalised stroke patients.
Thirty-one randomised controlled trials were included in the final review. The studies featured multidisciplinary teams of two to nine professionals, most commonly nurses, physicians and physiotherapists. Although multidisciplinary care improved functional status and quality of life scores, the impact on readmission rates was inconclusive. Meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in functional status when care involved physicians, care coordinators (often nurses) or had teams of more than two healthcare professionals. Significant improvement in quality of life was also reported when care involved physicians or in teams with more than two healthcare professionals.
Multidisciplinary transitional care interventions show promise in improving functional status and quality of life after stroke. Their effectiveness depends on team composition and coordination, particularly the inclusion of physicians and care coordinators. Future research should address reporting gaps and evaluate broader strategies to reduce hospital readmissions.
Impact (Addressing)
What problem did the study address? ○
The effectiveness of multidisciplinary transitional care interventions for stroke patients.
○Evaluated the role of various healthcare professionals within these teams.
What were the main findings? ○
Multidisciplinary transitional care interventions significantly enhance stroke patients' functional status, especially within the first 3 months.
○Teams with care coordinators (often nurses) and supportive physicians improve functional outcomes, with effective communication being crucial despite underreporting of specific practices.
○Teams comprising of more than two health professionals can significantly improve stroke patients' functional status.
Where and on whom will the research have an impact? ○
Healthcare institutions and providers: The findings can guide healthcare institutions in developing and implementing effective transitional care services for stroke patients.
○Stroke patients: Patients receiving multidisciplinary transitional care are likely to experience enhanced functional recovery and improved ability to perform daily activities.
○Policymakers and researchers: The study highlights the need for more detailed reporting and research on communication practices within multidisciplinary teams and the importance of evaluating underreported outcomes like readmission rates.
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
Artificial intelligence integration into healthcare has gained significant attention in recent years, with its use ranging from disease diagnosis to surgical assistance. While artificial intelligence's potential to improve patient outcomes and optimise patient care is undeniable, concerns regarding privacy, transparency, and the potential for medical errors persist. To take full advantage of artificial intelligence's transformative abilities, understanding patient perceptions and attitudes towards its integration into medicine is crucial for ethical considerations and health outcomes.
This study aimed to describe patients' perceptions of medical artificial intelligence and its integration into the healthcare system, drawing attention to a crucial yet understudied aspect of artificial intelligence adoption in Kazakhstan.
Descriptive qualitative design.
From February to March 2024, the researchers conducted semi-structured interviews amongst 13 patients. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and then analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The study adhered to the COREQ guidelines.
Five themes emerged from 13 interviews: the benefits of artificial intelligence on patient care, the importance of human factors on patient care over artificial intelligence, revolutionising patient care delivery through artificial intelligence, patient education and artificial intelligence, and balancing technology and human interaction in artificial intelligence-driven intervention.
Patient perceptions of artificial intelligence integration into healthcare were primarily positive. Nevertheless, patients prefer artificial intelligence as a supplementary tool under human supervision due to risks such as possible medical errors and violations of patient privacy.
Patients provided the data for this study. The researchers interviewed them about their perceptions of medical artificial intelligence and its integration into the healthcare system. The patients or the public contributed nothing to the other aspects of the study.
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