Background:The analysis of chromatin integrity has become an important determinant of sperm quality.In frozenthawed bovine sperm,neither the sequence of post-thaw injury events nor the dynamics of different types of s...Background:The analysis of chromatin integrity has become an important determinant of sperm quality.In frozenthawed bovine sperm,neither the sequence of post-thaw injury events nor the dynamics of different types of sperm DNA breaks are well understood.The aim of the present work was to describe such sperm degradation aftermath focusing on DNA damage dynamics,and to assess if this parameter can predict pregnancy rates in cattle.Results:A total of 75 cryopreserved ejaculates from 25 Holstein bulls were evaluated at two post-thawing periods(0-2 h and 2-4 h),analyzing global and double-stranded DNA damage through alkaline and neutral Comet assays,chromatin deprotamination and decondensation,sperm motility,viability,acrosomal status,and intracellular levels of total ROS,superoxides and calcium.Insemination of 59,605 females was conducted using sperm from the same bulls,thus obtaining the non-return to estrus rates after 90 d(NRR).Results showed an increased rate of double-stranded breaks in the first period(0-2 h:1.29±1.01%/h vs.2-4 h:0.13±1.37%/h;P<0.01),whereas the rate of sperm with moderate+high single-stranded breaks was higher in the second period(0-2 h:3.52±7.77%/h vs.2-4h:21.06±11.69%/h;P<0.0001).Regarding sperm physiology,viability decrease rate was different between the two periods(0-2 h:-4.49±1.79%/h vs.2-4 h:-2.50±3.39%/h;P=0.032),but the progressive motility decrease rate was constant throughout post-thawing incubation(0-2 h:-4.70±3.42%/h vs.2-4 h:-1.89±2.97%/h;P>0.05).Finally,whereas no correlations between bull fertility and any dynamic parameter were found,there were correlations between the NRR and the basal percentage of highly-damaged sperm assessed with the alkaline Comet(Rs=-0.563,P=0.003),between NRR and basal progressive motility(Rs=0.511,P=0.009),and between NRR and sperm with high ROS at 4 h post-thaw(Rs=0.564,P=0.003).Conclusion:The statistically significant correlations found between intracellular ROS,sperm viability,sperm motility,DNA damage and chromatin deprotamination suggested a sequence of events all driven by oxidative stress,where viability and motility would be affected first and sperm chromatin would be altered at a later stage,thus suggesting that bovine sperm should be used for fertilization within 2 h post-thaw.Fertility correlations supported that the assessment of global DNA damage through the Comet assay may help predict bull fertility.展开更多
The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has raised concerns about the mental health and social well-being of youth,including its potential to increase or exacerbate substance use behaviors[1].Among adolescents,...The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has raised concerns about the mental health and social well-being of youth,including its potential to increase or exacerbate substance use behaviors[1].Among adolescents,the COVID-19pandemic has resulted in limited face-to-face school contact and thus missed milestones in preventing alcohol and substance use.展开更多
Background Protamination and condensation of sperm chromatin as well as DNA integrity play an essential role during fertilization and embryo development.In some mammals,like pigs,ejaculates are emitted in three separa...Background Protamination and condensation of sperm chromatin as well as DNA integrity play an essential role during fertilization and embryo development.In some mammals,like pigs,ejaculates are emitted in three separate fractions:pre-sperm,sperm-rich(SRF)and post sperm-rich(PSRF).These fractions are known to vary in volume,sperm concentration and quality,as well as in the origin and composition of seminal plasma(SP),with differences being also observed within the SRF one.Yet,whether disparities in the DNA integrity and chromatin condensation and pro-tamination of their sperm exist has not been interrogated.Results This study determined chromatin protamination(Chromomycin A3 test,CMA_(3)),condensation(Dibromobi-mane test,DBB),and DNA integrity(Comet assay)in the pig sperm contained in the first 10 m L of the SRF(SRF-P1),the remaining portion of the sperm-rich fraction(SRF-P2),and the post sperm-rich fraction(PSRF).While chromatin protamination was found to be similar between the different ejaculate fractions(P>0.05),chromatin condensation was seen to be greater in SRF-P1 and SRF-P2 than in the PSRF(P=0.018 and P=0.004,respectively).Regarding DNA integrity,no differences between fractions were observed(P>0.05).As the SRF-P1 has the highest sperm concentra-tion and ejaculate fractions are known to differ in antioxidant composition,the oxidative stress index(OSi)in SP,calcu-lated as total oxidant activity divided by total antioxidant capacity,was tested and confirmed to be higher in the SRF-P1 than in SRF-P2 and PSRF(0.42±0.06 vs.0.23±0.09 and 0.08±0.00,respectively;P<0.01);this index,in addition,was observed to be correlated to the sperm concentration of each fraction(Rs=0.973;P<0.001).Conclusion While sperm DNA integrity was not found to differ between ejaculate fractions,SRF-P1 and SRF-P2 were observed to exhibit greater chromatin condensation than the PSRF.This could be related to the OSi of each fraction.展开更多
Background MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are small,single-stranded,non-coding RNA molecules of 22–24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression.In the last decade,miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals,including ca...Background MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are small,single-stranded,non-coding RNA molecules of 22–24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression.In the last decade,miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals,including cattle.It is known that miRNAs can act as key gene regulators of early embryogenesis in mice and humans;however,little is known about the content,expression,and function of sperm-borne miRNAs in early bovine embryo.In this study,total sperm RNA was isolated from 29 cryopreserved sperm samples(each coming from a separate bull)using a RNeasy kit and treatment with DNase I.RNA concentration and purity were determined through an Epoch spectrophotometer and an Agilent Bioanalyzer.The expression of 10 candidate miRNAs in bovine sperm(bta-miR-10a,bta-miR-10b,bta-miR-138,bta-miR-146b,bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a,bta-miR-34a,bta-miR-449a,bta-miR-495 and btamiR-7),previously identified in testis and/or epididymis,was evaluated with RT-qPCR.The cel-miR-39-3p was used as a spike-in exogenous control.Nonparametric Mann–Whitney tests were run to evaluate which miRNAs were differentially expressed between bulls with high fertility[HF;non-return rates(NRR)ranging from 39.5 to 43.5]and those with subfertility(SF;NRR ranging from 33.3 to 39.3).Several sperm functionality parameters(e.g.,viability,membrane stability or oxygen consumption,among others)were measured by multiplexing flow cytometry and oxygen sensing technologies.Results RNA concentration and purity(260/280 nm ratio)(mean±SD)from the 29 samples were 99.3±84.6 ng/μL and 1.97±0.72,respectively.Bioanalyzer results confirmed the lack of RNA from somatic cells.In terms of the presence or absence of miRNAs,and after applying the Livak method,8 out of 10 miRNAs(bta-miR-10b,-138,-146b,-19b,-26a,-449a,-495,-7)were consistently detected in bovine sperm,whereas the other two(bta-miR-10a,and-34a)were absent.Interestingly,the relative expression of one miRNA(bta-miR-138)in sperm was significantly lower in the SF than in the HF group(P=0.038).In addition to being associated to fertility potential,the presence of this miRNA was found to be negatively correlated with sperm oxygen consumption.The expression of three other miRNAs(bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a and bta-miR-7)was also correlated with sperm function variables.Conclusions In conclusion,although functional validation studies are required to confirm these results,this study suggests that sperm bta-miR-138 is involved in fertilization events and beyond,and supports its use as a fertility biomarker in cattle.展开更多
Here we review how evolving species concepts have been applied to understand yeast diversity.Initially,a phenotypic species concept was utilized taking into consideration morphological aspects of colonies and cells,an...Here we review how evolving species concepts have been applied to understand yeast diversity.Initially,a phenotypic species concept was utilized taking into consideration morphological aspects of colonies and cells,and growth profiles.Later the biological species concept was added,which applied data from mating experiments.Biophysical measurements of DNA similarity between isolates were an early measure that became more broadly applied with the advent of sequencing technology,leading to a sequence-based species concept using comparisons of parts of the ribosomal DNA.At present phylogenetic species concepts that employ sequence data of rDNA and other genes are universally applied in fungal taxonomy,including yeasts,because various studies revealed a relatively good correlation between the biological species concept and sequence divergence.The application of genome information is becoming increasingly common,and we strongly recommend the use of complete,rather than draft genomes to improve our understanding of species and their genome and genetic dynamics.Complete genomes allow in-depth comparisons on the evolvability of genomes and,consequently,of the species to which they belong.Hybridization seems a relatively common phenomenon and has been observed in all major fungal lineages that contain yeasts.Note that hybrids may greatly differ in their post-hybridization development.Future in-depth studies,initially using some model species or complexes may shift the traditional species concept as isolated clusters of genetically compatible isolates to a cohesive speciation network in which such clusters are interconnected by genetic processes,such as hybridization.展开更多
Background Although smoking is classified as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes,there is a scarcity of studies on prevalence of smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic.Thus,this study aims to analyze the trends o...Background Although smoking is classified as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes,there is a scarcity of studies on prevalence of smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic.Thus,this study aims to analyze the trends of prevalence of smoking in adolescents over the COVID-19 pandemic period.Methods The present study used data from middle to high school adolescents between 2005 and 2021 who participated in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey(KYRBS).We evaluated the smoking prevalence(ever or daily)by year groups and estimated the slope in smoking prevalence before and during the pandemic.Results A total of 1,137,823 adolescents participated in the study[mean age,15.04 years[95%confidence interval(CI)15.03-15.06];and male,52.4%(95%CI 51.7-53.1)].The prevalence of ever smokers was 27.7%(95%CI 27.3-28.1)between 2005 and 2008 but decreased to 9.8%(95%CI 9.3-10.3)in 2021.A consistent trend was found in daily smokers,as the estimates decreased from 5.4%(95%CI 5.2-5.6)between 2005 and 2008 to 2.3%(95%CI 2.1-2.5)in 2021.However,the downward slope in the overall prevalence of ever smokers and daily smokers became less pronounced in the COVID-19 pandemic period than in the pre-pandemic period.In the subgroup with substance use,the decreasing slope in daily smokers was significantly more pronounced during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period.Conclusions The proportion of ever smokers and daily smokers showed a less pronounced decreasing trend during the pandemic.The findings of our study provide an overall understanding of the pandemic's impact on smoking prevalence in adolescents.展开更多
The name of the second author was incorrectly captured in the initial online publication,and due to an error at the proofs stage,several proof corrections had been left undone.The original online article has been corr...The name of the second author was incorrectly captured in the initial online publication,and due to an error at the proofs stage,several proof corrections had been left undone.The original online article has been corrected.展开更多
Background Although previous studies have provided data on early pandemic periods of alcohol and substance use in adolescents,more adequate studies are needed to predict the trends of alcohol and substance use during ...Background Although previous studies have provided data on early pandemic periods of alcohol and substance use in adolescents,more adequate studies are needed to predict the trends of alcohol and substance use during recent periods,including the mid-pandemic period.This study investigated the changes in alcohol and substance use,except tobacco use,throughout the pre-,early-,and mid-pandemic periods in adolescents using a nationwide serial cross-sectional survey from South Korea.Methods Data on 1,109,776 Korean adolescents aged 13–18 years from 2005 to 2021 were obtained in a survey operated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.We evaluated adolescents’alcohol and substance consumption prevalence and compared the slope of alcohol and substance prevalence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to see the trend changes.We define the pre-COVID-19 period as consisting of four groups of consecutive years(2005–2008,2009–2012,2013–2015,and 2016–2019).The COVID-19 pandemic period is composed of 2020(early-pandemic era)and 2021(midpandemic era).Results More than a million adolescents successfully met the inclusion criteria.The weighted prevalence of current alcohol use was 26.8%[95%confidence interval(CI)26.4–27.1]from 2005 to 2008 and 10.5%(95%CI 10.1–11.0)in 2020 and 2021.The weighted prevalence of substance use was 1.1%(95%CI 1.1–1.2)from 2005 to 2008 and 0.7%(95%CI 0.6–0.7)between 2020 and 2021.From 2005 to 2021,the overall trend of use of both alcohol and drugs was found to decrease,but the decline has slowed since COVID-19 epidemic(current alcohol use:βdiff 0.167;95%CI 0.150–0.184;substance use:βdiff 0.152;95%CI 0.110–0.194).The changes in the slope of current alcohol and substance use showed a consistent slowdown with regard to sex,grade,residence area,and smoking status from 2005 to 2021.Conclusion The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption and substance use among over one million Korean adolescents from the early and mid-stage(2020–2021)of the COVID-19 pandemic showed a slower decline than expected given the increase during the prepandemic period(2005–2019).展开更多
A self-powered skin patch for the measurement of sweat conductivity is presented.The key component of the patch consists of a paper battery that is activated upon absorption of sweat.This body fluid acts as the batter...A self-powered skin patch for the measurement of sweat conductivity is presented.The key component of the patch consists of a paper battery that is activated upon absorption of sweat.This body fluid acts as the battery electrolyte,the conductivity of which has a direct impact on the battery-generated output power and voltage.This particular behaviour enables the operation of a very simple and robust conductivity sensor in direct current mode without needing an external power source.The device presented in this paper takes advantage of this new measurement method to develop a sweat patch for screening cystic fibrosis that operates with an extremely simple electronic circuit that minimizes its cost and environmental impact.The patch provides an unambiguous digital result that can be read in an electrochromic display and yields 95%sensitivity and 100%specificity when tested with artificial eccrine perspiration samples.展开更多
Hox and ParaHox genes constitute two families of developmental regulators that pattern the Anterior-Posterior body axis in all bilaterians.The members of these two groups of genes are usually arranged in genomic clust...Hox and ParaHox genes constitute two families of developmental regulators that pattern the Anterior-Posterior body axis in all bilaterians.The members of these two groups of genes are usually arranged in genomic clusters and work in a coordinated fashion,both in space and in time. While the mechanistic aspects of their action are relatively well known,it is still unclear how these systems evolved. For instance,we still need a proper model of how the Hox and ParaHox clusters were assembled over time.This problem is due to the shortage of information on gene complements for many taxa (mainly basal metazoans) and the lack of a consensus phylogenetic model of animal relationships to which we can relate our new findings.Recently, several studies have shown that the Acoelomorpha most probably represent the first offshoot of the Bilateria. This finding has prompted us,and others, to study the Hox and ParaHox complements in these animals,as well as their activity during development.In this review,we analyze how the current knowledge of Hox and ParaHox genes in the Acoelomorpha is shaping our view of bilaterian evolution.展开更多
In a recent paper published in a special issue of Integrative Zoology on‘Paleontology and evolution–part I.’(Palombo 2014),the author(van der Geer 2014)takes a review of the derived traits observed in endemic fossi...In a recent paper published in a special issue of Integrative Zoology on‘Paleontology and evolution–part I.’(Palombo 2014),the author(van der Geer 2014)takes a review of the derived traits observed in endemic fossil insular mammals,including body size variation,cranial and postcranial changes,and modifications in dentition.At one point in the discussion,the author misinterprets and seriously distorts statements by Jordana et al.(2012)on the relationship between hypsodonty and longevity in the fossil insular bovid Myotragus balearicus Bate,1909.展开更多
Background:Hospitalized patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)may experience disability and suffer from significant physical and mental impairment requiring physical rehabilitation following their...Background:Hospitalized patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)may experience disability and suffer from significant physical and mental impairment requiring physical rehabilitation following their discharge.However,to date,no attempt has been made to collate and synthesize literature in this area.Objective:This systematic review examines the outcomes of different physical rehabilitation interventions tested in COVID-19 patients who were discharged from hospital.Search strategy:A systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed,CINAHL,Scopus and medRxiv was conducted to identify articles published up to March 2022.Inclusion criteria:This systematic review included studies of outpatient rehabilitation programs for people recovering from COVID-19 who received physical activity,exercise,or breathing training to enhance or restore functional capacity,pulmonary function,quality of life,and mental health or function.Data extraction and analysis:Selection of included articles,data extraction,and methodological quality assessments were conducted by two review authors respectively,and consensus was reached through discussion and consultation with a third reviewer.Finally,we review the outcomes of studies based on four categories including:(1)functional capacity,(2)pulmonary function,(3)quality of life,and(4)mental health status.Results:A total of 7534 titles and abstracts were screened;10 cohort studies,4 randomized controlled trials and 13 other prospective studies involving 1583 patients were included in our review.Early physical rehabilitation interventions applied in COVID-19 patients who were discharged from the hospital improved multiple parameters related to functional capacity,pulmonary function,quality of life and mental health status.Conclusion:Physical rehabilitation interventions may be safe,feasible and effective in COVID-19 patients discharged from the hospital,and can improve a variety of clinically relevant outcomes.Further studies are warranted to determine the underlying mechanisms.展开更多
Yeasts,usually defined as unicellular fungi,occur in various fungal lineages.Hence,they are not a taxonomic unit,but rather represent a fungal lifestyle shared by several unrelated lineages.Although the discovery of n...Yeasts,usually defined as unicellular fungi,occur in various fungal lineages.Hence,they are not a taxonomic unit,but rather represent a fungal lifestyle shared by several unrelated lineages.Although the discovery of new yeast species occurs at an increasing speed,at the current rate it will likely take hundreds of years,if ever,before they will all be documented.Many parts of the earth,including many threatened habitats,remain unsampled for yeasts and many others are only superficially studied.Cold habitats,such as glaciers,are home to a specific community of cold-adapted yeasts,and,hence,there is some urgency to study such environments at locations where they might disappear soon due to anthropogenic climate change.The same is true for yeast communities in various natural forests that are impacted by deforestation and forest conversion.Many countries of the so-called Global South have not been sampled for yeasts,despite their economic promise.However,extensive research activity in Asia,especially China,has yielded many taxonomic novelties.Comparative genomics stud-ies have demonstrated the presence of yeast species with a hybrid origin,many of them isolated from clinical or industrial environments.DNA-metabarcoding studies have demonstrated the prevalence,and in some cases dominance,of yeast species in soils and marine waters worldwide,including some surprising distributions,such as the unexpected and likely common presence of Malassezia yeasts in marine habitats.展开更多
Antigen-presenting cells(APCs)may be resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection but still contribute to viral pathogenesis.Lectins such as sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 1(Siglec-1/CD169)mediate the attachment of viruses t...Antigen-presenting cells(APCs)may be resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection but still contribute to viral pathogenesis.Lectins such as sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 1(Siglec-1/CD169)mediate the attachment of viruses to APCs.Here,we show that APCs effectively capture SARS-CoV-2 within compartments via recognition of Siglec-1.This receptor interacts with sialylated gangliosides on membranes of SARS-CoV-2 variants.展开更多
基金the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation scheme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No.801342(Tecniospring INDUSTRY,TECSPR-19-1-0003)the Ministry of Science and Innovation,Spain(AGL2017-88329-R and PID2020-113320RBI00)+2 种基金the Catalan Agency for Management of University and Research Grants,Regional Government of Catalonia,Spain(2017-SGR-1229)the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies(ICREA)La Maratóde TV3 Foundation(214/857-202039)。
文摘Background:The analysis of chromatin integrity has become an important determinant of sperm quality.In frozenthawed bovine sperm,neither the sequence of post-thaw injury events nor the dynamics of different types of sperm DNA breaks are well understood.The aim of the present work was to describe such sperm degradation aftermath focusing on DNA damage dynamics,and to assess if this parameter can predict pregnancy rates in cattle.Results:A total of 75 cryopreserved ejaculates from 25 Holstein bulls were evaluated at two post-thawing periods(0-2 h and 2-4 h),analyzing global and double-stranded DNA damage through alkaline and neutral Comet assays,chromatin deprotamination and decondensation,sperm motility,viability,acrosomal status,and intracellular levels of total ROS,superoxides and calcium.Insemination of 59,605 females was conducted using sperm from the same bulls,thus obtaining the non-return to estrus rates after 90 d(NRR).Results showed an increased rate of double-stranded breaks in the first period(0-2 h:1.29±1.01%/h vs.2-4 h:0.13±1.37%/h;P<0.01),whereas the rate of sperm with moderate+high single-stranded breaks was higher in the second period(0-2 h:3.52±7.77%/h vs.2-4h:21.06±11.69%/h;P<0.0001).Regarding sperm physiology,viability decrease rate was different between the two periods(0-2 h:-4.49±1.79%/h vs.2-4 h:-2.50±3.39%/h;P=0.032),but the progressive motility decrease rate was constant throughout post-thawing incubation(0-2 h:-4.70±3.42%/h vs.2-4 h:-1.89±2.97%/h;P>0.05).Finally,whereas no correlations between bull fertility and any dynamic parameter were found,there were correlations between the NRR and the basal percentage of highly-damaged sperm assessed with the alkaline Comet(Rs=-0.563,P=0.003),between NRR and basal progressive motility(Rs=0.511,P=0.009),and between NRR and sperm with high ROS at 4 h post-thaw(Rs=0.564,P=0.003).Conclusion:The statistically significant correlations found between intracellular ROS,sperm viability,sperm motility,DNA damage and chromatin deprotamination suggested a sequence of events all driven by oxidative stress,where viability and motility would be affected first and sperm chromatin would be altered at a later stage,thus suggesting that bovine sperm should be used for fertilization within 2 h post-thaw.Fertility correlations supported that the assessment of global DNA damage through the Comet assay may help predict bull fertility.
基金supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute(KHIDI)funded by the Ministry of Health&WelfareRepublic of Korea[grant number:HV22C0233]。
文摘The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has raised concerns about the mental health and social well-being of youth,including its potential to increase or exacerbate substance use behaviors[1].Among adolescents,the COVID-19pandemic has resulted in limited face-to-face school contact and thus missed milestones in preventing alcohol and substance use.
基金This research was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation scheme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No.801342(Tecniospring INDUSTRYGrant:TECSPR-19-1-0003)+4 种基金the Ministry of Science and Innovation,Spain(Grants:PID2020-113320RB-I00,PID2020-113493RB-I00,RYC2021-034546-I and RYC2021-034764-I)the Catalan Agency for Management of University and Research Grants,Regional Government of Catalonia,Spain(Grants:2017-SGR-1229 and 2021-SGR-00900)the Seneca Foundation,Regional Government of Murcia,Spain(Grant:21935/PI/22)La Marato de TV3 Foundation(Grant:214/857-202039)and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies(ICREA).
文摘Background Protamination and condensation of sperm chromatin as well as DNA integrity play an essential role during fertilization and embryo development.In some mammals,like pigs,ejaculates are emitted in three separate fractions:pre-sperm,sperm-rich(SRF)and post sperm-rich(PSRF).These fractions are known to vary in volume,sperm concentration and quality,as well as in the origin and composition of seminal plasma(SP),with differences being also observed within the SRF one.Yet,whether disparities in the DNA integrity and chromatin condensation and pro-tamination of their sperm exist has not been interrogated.Results This study determined chromatin protamination(Chromomycin A3 test,CMA_(3)),condensation(Dibromobi-mane test,DBB),and DNA integrity(Comet assay)in the pig sperm contained in the first 10 m L of the SRF(SRF-P1),the remaining portion of the sperm-rich fraction(SRF-P2),and the post sperm-rich fraction(PSRF).While chromatin protamination was found to be similar between the different ejaculate fractions(P>0.05),chromatin condensation was seen to be greater in SRF-P1 and SRF-P2 than in the PSRF(P=0.018 and P=0.004,respectively).Regarding DNA integrity,no differences between fractions were observed(P>0.05).As the SRF-P1 has the highest sperm concentra-tion and ejaculate fractions are known to differ in antioxidant composition,the oxidative stress index(OSi)in SP,calcu-lated as total oxidant activity divided by total antioxidant capacity,was tested and confirmed to be higher in the SRF-P1 than in SRF-P2 and PSRF(0.42±0.06 vs.0.23±0.09 and 0.08±0.00,respectively;P<0.01);this index,in addition,was observed to be correlated to the sperm concentration of each fraction(Rs=0.973;P<0.001).Conclusion While sperm DNA integrity was not found to differ between ejaculate fractions,SRF-P1 and SRF-P2 were observed to exhibit greater chromatin condensation than the PSRF.This could be related to the OSi of each fraction.
基金the Ministry of Science and Innovation,Spain(IJC2019-039615-I and PID2020-113320RB-I00)the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation scheme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No.801342(Techniospring INDUSTRY+2 种基金TECSPR-19-1-0003)the Regional Government of Catalonia(2017-SGR-1229 and 2021-SGR-00900)the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies(ICREA).
文摘Background MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are small,single-stranded,non-coding RNA molecules of 22–24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression.In the last decade,miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals,including cattle.It is known that miRNAs can act as key gene regulators of early embryogenesis in mice and humans;however,little is known about the content,expression,and function of sperm-borne miRNAs in early bovine embryo.In this study,total sperm RNA was isolated from 29 cryopreserved sperm samples(each coming from a separate bull)using a RNeasy kit and treatment with DNase I.RNA concentration and purity were determined through an Epoch spectrophotometer and an Agilent Bioanalyzer.The expression of 10 candidate miRNAs in bovine sperm(bta-miR-10a,bta-miR-10b,bta-miR-138,bta-miR-146b,bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a,bta-miR-34a,bta-miR-449a,bta-miR-495 and btamiR-7),previously identified in testis and/or epididymis,was evaluated with RT-qPCR.The cel-miR-39-3p was used as a spike-in exogenous control.Nonparametric Mann–Whitney tests were run to evaluate which miRNAs were differentially expressed between bulls with high fertility[HF;non-return rates(NRR)ranging from 39.5 to 43.5]and those with subfertility(SF;NRR ranging from 33.3 to 39.3).Several sperm functionality parameters(e.g.,viability,membrane stability or oxygen consumption,among others)were measured by multiplexing flow cytometry and oxygen sensing technologies.Results RNA concentration and purity(260/280 nm ratio)(mean±SD)from the 29 samples were 99.3±84.6 ng/μL and 1.97±0.72,respectively.Bioanalyzer results confirmed the lack of RNA from somatic cells.In terms of the presence or absence of miRNAs,and after applying the Livak method,8 out of 10 miRNAs(bta-miR-10b,-138,-146b,-19b,-26a,-449a,-495,-7)were consistently detected in bovine sperm,whereas the other two(bta-miR-10a,and-34a)were absent.Interestingly,the relative expression of one miRNA(bta-miR-138)in sperm was significantly lower in the SF than in the HF group(P=0.038).In addition to being associated to fertility potential,the presence of this miRNA was found to be negatively correlated with sperm oxygen consumption.The expression of three other miRNAs(bta-miR-19b,bta-miR-26a and bta-miR-7)was also correlated with sperm function variables.Conclusions In conclusion,although functional validation studies are required to confirm these results,this study suggests that sperm bta-miR-138 is involved in fertilization events and beyond,and supports its use as a fertility biomarker in cattle.
基金SS and JH were supported by NIH/NIAID R37 MERIT Award AI39115-23NIH/NIAID R01 Award AI50113-16+1 种基金and NIH/NIAID R01 Award AI133654-03EJL was supported by BBSRC Award BB/L022508/1.DB was supported by DFG Award BE 2201/23-1 and BE 2201/28-1.JH is also co-director and fellow of the CIFAR program Fungal Kingdom:Threats&Opportunities.MCA acknowledges USDA Hatch project 1010662.
文摘Here we review how evolving species concepts have been applied to understand yeast diversity.Initially,a phenotypic species concept was utilized taking into consideration morphological aspects of colonies and cells,and growth profiles.Later the biological species concept was added,which applied data from mating experiments.Biophysical measurements of DNA similarity between isolates were an early measure that became more broadly applied with the advent of sequencing technology,leading to a sequence-based species concept using comparisons of parts of the ribosomal DNA.At present phylogenetic species concepts that employ sequence data of rDNA and other genes are universally applied in fungal taxonomy,including yeasts,because various studies revealed a relatively good correlation between the biological species concept and sequence divergence.The application of genome information is becoming increasingly common,and we strongly recommend the use of complete,rather than draft genomes to improve our understanding of species and their genome and genetic dynamics.Complete genomes allow in-depth comparisons on the evolvability of genomes and,consequently,of the species to which they belong.Hybridization seems a relatively common phenomenon and has been observed in all major fungal lineages that contain yeasts.Note that hybrids may greatly differ in their post-hybridization development.Future in-depth studies,initially using some model species or complexes may shift the traditional species concept as isolated clusters of genetically compatible isolates to a cohesive speciation network in which such clusters are interconnected by genetic processes,such as hybridization.
基金supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute(KHIDI),funded by the Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea(grant number:HV22C0233)the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korea government(NRF2021R1I1A2059735)。
文摘Background Although smoking is classified as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes,there is a scarcity of studies on prevalence of smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic.Thus,this study aims to analyze the trends of prevalence of smoking in adolescents over the COVID-19 pandemic period.Methods The present study used data from middle to high school adolescents between 2005 and 2021 who participated in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey(KYRBS).We evaluated the smoking prevalence(ever or daily)by year groups and estimated the slope in smoking prevalence before and during the pandemic.Results A total of 1,137,823 adolescents participated in the study[mean age,15.04 years[95%confidence interval(CI)15.03-15.06];and male,52.4%(95%CI 51.7-53.1)].The prevalence of ever smokers was 27.7%(95%CI 27.3-28.1)between 2005 and 2008 but decreased to 9.8%(95%CI 9.3-10.3)in 2021.A consistent trend was found in daily smokers,as the estimates decreased from 5.4%(95%CI 5.2-5.6)between 2005 and 2008 to 2.3%(95%CI 2.1-2.5)in 2021.However,the downward slope in the overall prevalence of ever smokers and daily smokers became less pronounced in the COVID-19 pandemic period than in the pre-pandemic period.In the subgroup with substance use,the decreasing slope in daily smokers was significantly more pronounced during the pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period.Conclusions The proportion of ever smokers and daily smokers showed a less pronounced decreasing trend during the pandemic.The findings of our study provide an overall understanding of the pandemic's impact on smoking prevalence in adolescents.
文摘The name of the second author was incorrectly captured in the initial online publication,and due to an error at the proofs stage,several proof corrections had been left undone.The original online article has been corrected.
基金supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute(KHIDI)funded by the Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea(grant number:HV22C0233 and grant number:HI22C1976)The funders had no role in study design,data collection,data analysis,data interpretation,or writing of the report.
文摘Background Although previous studies have provided data on early pandemic periods of alcohol and substance use in adolescents,more adequate studies are needed to predict the trends of alcohol and substance use during recent periods,including the mid-pandemic period.This study investigated the changes in alcohol and substance use,except tobacco use,throughout the pre-,early-,and mid-pandemic periods in adolescents using a nationwide serial cross-sectional survey from South Korea.Methods Data on 1,109,776 Korean adolescents aged 13–18 years from 2005 to 2021 were obtained in a survey operated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.We evaluated adolescents’alcohol and substance consumption prevalence and compared the slope of alcohol and substance prevalence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to see the trend changes.We define the pre-COVID-19 period as consisting of four groups of consecutive years(2005–2008,2009–2012,2013–2015,and 2016–2019).The COVID-19 pandemic period is composed of 2020(early-pandemic era)and 2021(midpandemic era).Results More than a million adolescents successfully met the inclusion criteria.The weighted prevalence of current alcohol use was 26.8%[95%confidence interval(CI)26.4–27.1]from 2005 to 2008 and 10.5%(95%CI 10.1–11.0)in 2020 and 2021.The weighted prevalence of substance use was 1.1%(95%CI 1.1–1.2)from 2005 to 2008 and 0.7%(95%CI 0.6–0.7)between 2020 and 2021.From 2005 to 2021,the overall trend of use of both alcohol and drugs was found to decrease,but the decline has slowed since COVID-19 epidemic(current alcohol use:βdiff 0.167;95%CI 0.150–0.184;substance use:βdiff 0.152;95%CI 0.110–0.194).The changes in the slope of current alcohol and substance use showed a consistent slowdown with regard to sex,grade,residence area,and smoking status from 2005 to 2021.Conclusion The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption and substance use among over one million Korean adolescents from the early and mid-stage(2020–2021)of the COVID-19 pandemic showed a slower decline than expected given the increase during the prepandemic period(2005–2019).
基金the financial support received from the ERC Consolidator Grant(SUPERCELL-GA.648518).
文摘A self-powered skin patch for the measurement of sweat conductivity is presented.The key component of the patch consists of a paper battery that is activated upon absorption of sweat.This body fluid acts as the battery electrolyte,the conductivity of which has a direct impact on the battery-generated output power and voltage.This particular behaviour enables the operation of a very simple and robust conductivity sensor in direct current mode without needing an external power source.The device presented in this paper takes advantage of this new measurement method to develop a sweat patch for screening cystic fibrosis that operates with an extremely simple electronic circuit that minimizes its cost and environmental impact.The patch provides an unambiguous digital result that can be read in an electrochromic display and yields 95%sensitivity and 100%specificity when tested with artificial eccrine perspiration samples.
文摘Hox and ParaHox genes constitute two families of developmental regulators that pattern the Anterior-Posterior body axis in all bilaterians.The members of these two groups of genes are usually arranged in genomic clusters and work in a coordinated fashion,both in space and in time. While the mechanistic aspects of their action are relatively well known,it is still unclear how these systems evolved. For instance,we still need a proper model of how the Hox and ParaHox clusters were assembled over time.This problem is due to the shortage of information on gene complements for many taxa (mainly basal metazoans) and the lack of a consensus phylogenetic model of animal relationships to which we can relate our new findings.Recently, several studies have shown that the Acoelomorpha most probably represent the first offshoot of the Bilateria. This finding has prompted us,and others, to study the Hox and ParaHox complements in these animals,as well as their activity during development.In this review,we analyze how the current knowledge of Hox and ParaHox genes in the Acoelomorpha is shaping our view of bilaterian evolution.
文摘In a recent paper published in a special issue of Integrative Zoology on‘Paleontology and evolution–part I.’(Palombo 2014),the author(van der Geer 2014)takes a review of the derived traits observed in endemic fossil insular mammals,including body size variation,cranial and postcranial changes,and modifications in dentition.At one point in the discussion,the author misinterprets and seriously distorts statements by Jordana et al.(2012)on the relationship between hypsodonty and longevity in the fossil insular bovid Myotragus balearicus Bate,1909.
文摘Background:Hospitalized patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)may experience disability and suffer from significant physical and mental impairment requiring physical rehabilitation following their discharge.However,to date,no attempt has been made to collate and synthesize literature in this area.Objective:This systematic review examines the outcomes of different physical rehabilitation interventions tested in COVID-19 patients who were discharged from hospital.Search strategy:A systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed,CINAHL,Scopus and medRxiv was conducted to identify articles published up to March 2022.Inclusion criteria:This systematic review included studies of outpatient rehabilitation programs for people recovering from COVID-19 who received physical activity,exercise,or breathing training to enhance or restore functional capacity,pulmonary function,quality of life,and mental health or function.Data extraction and analysis:Selection of included articles,data extraction,and methodological quality assessments were conducted by two review authors respectively,and consensus was reached through discussion and consultation with a third reviewer.Finally,we review the outcomes of studies based on four categories including:(1)functional capacity,(2)pulmonary function,(3)quality of life,and(4)mental health status.Results:A total of 7534 titles and abstracts were screened;10 cohort studies,4 randomized controlled trials and 13 other prospective studies involving 1583 patients were included in our review.Early physical rehabilitation interventions applied in COVID-19 patients who were discharged from the hospital improved multiple parameters related to functional capacity,pulmonary function,quality of life and mental health status.Conclusion:Physical rehabilitation interventions may be safe,feasible and effective in COVID-19 patients discharged from the hospital,and can improve a variety of clinically relevant outcomes.Further studies are warranted to determine the underlying mechanisms.
基金support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for grant PGC2018-099921-B-I00,cofounded by European Regional Development Fund(ERDF)from the Catalan Research Agency(AGAUR)SGR423+1 种基金from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program(ERC-2016–724173)from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation(Grant#GBMF9742).JG acknowledges support from the Lendület Program(award no.96049)of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Eötvös Lóránd Research Network.Q-MW was supported by grants No.31961133020 and No.31770018 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC).
文摘Yeasts,usually defined as unicellular fungi,occur in various fungal lineages.Hence,they are not a taxonomic unit,but rather represent a fungal lifestyle shared by several unrelated lineages.Although the discovery of new yeast species occurs at an increasing speed,at the current rate it will likely take hundreds of years,if ever,before they will all be documented.Many parts of the earth,including many threatened habitats,remain unsampled for yeasts and many others are only superficially studied.Cold habitats,such as glaciers,are home to a specific community of cold-adapted yeasts,and,hence,there is some urgency to study such environments at locations where they might disappear soon due to anthropogenic climate change.The same is true for yeast communities in various natural forests that are impacted by deforestation and forest conversion.Many countries of the so-called Global South have not been sampled for yeasts,despite their economic promise.However,extensive research activity in Asia,especially China,has yielded many taxonomic novelties.Comparative genomics stud-ies have demonstrated the presence of yeast species with a hybrid origin,many of them isolated from clinical or industrial environments.DNA-metabarcoding studies have demonstrated the prevalence,and in some cases dominance,of yeast species in soils and marine waters worldwide,including some surprising distributions,such as the unexpected and likely common presence of Malassezia yeasts in marine habitats.
基金The authors also acknowledge the crowdfunding initiative#Yomecorono(https://www.yomecorono.com).N.I.-U.is supported by the grant PID2020-117145RB-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and InnovationJ.M.-P.is supported by the grant PID2019-109870RB-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and in part also by Grifols.The C.R.laboratory is funded by RTI2018-094445-B100(MCIU/AEI/FEDER,UE)+1 种基金The NHP study was primarily supported by a YNPRC Coronavirus Pilot Research Project Program grant to M.Pa.under award P51 OD11132,Emergent Venture Fast grant program to M.Pa.under awards#2206 and#2144,and William and Lula Pitts Foundation(to M.Pa.)X.M.-T.is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund under agreement BES-2017-082900.The funders had no role in the study design,data collection and analysis,decision to publish,or preparation of the manuscript.
文摘Antigen-presenting cells(APCs)may be resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection but still contribute to viral pathogenesis.Lectins such as sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 1(Siglec-1/CD169)mediate the attachment of viruses to APCs.Here,we show that APCs effectively capture SARS-CoV-2 within compartments via recognition of Siglec-1.This receptor interacts with sialylated gangliosides on membranes of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
