Chronic alcohol consumption and withdrawal do not induce cell death in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, but lead to irreversible depression of peptide immunoreactivity and mRNA levels

There is evidence that chronic ethanol treatment (CET) disrupts the biological rhythms of various brain functions and behaviors. Because the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is widely recognized as the dominant pacemaker of the circadian system, we have examined the effects of CET and withdrawal on the main morphological features and chemoarchitecture of this hypothalamic nucleus. Groups of rats ethanol-treated for 6 and 12 months were compared with withdrawn rats (ethanol-treated for 6 months and then switched to a normal diet for an additional 6 months) and with groups of age-matched control and pair-fed control rats. The volume and the total number of neurons of the SCN were estimated from conventionally stained material, whereas the total number of astrocytes and of neurons containing vasopressin (AVP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), and somatostatin (SS) were estimated from immunostained sections. The estimates were obtained using unbiased stereological methods, based on Cavalieri’s principle and the optical fractionator. The volume of the SCN and the total number of SCN neurons and astrocytes did not vary among groups. We found, however, that CET induced a significant reduction in the total number of AVP-, VIP-, GRP-, and SS-containing neurons. Withdrawal from alcohol did not reduce but rather augmented the loss of VIP- and GRP-immunoreactive neurons. The CET-induced neurochemical alterations seem to result from a decrease in neuropeptide synthesis, as revealed by the reduction in AVP and VIP mRNA levels demonstrated byin situhybridization with radioactively labeled 48-mer AVP and 30-mer VIP probes. It is thus possible to conclude that the irreversible CET-induced changes in the neurochemistry of the SCN might underpin the disturbances in circadian rhythms observed after long-term alcohol consumption.</jats:p

Mid-Infrared diagnostics of metal-rich HII regions from VLT and Spitzer Spectroscopy of Young Massive Stars in W31

We present near-IR VLT/ISAAC and mid-IR Spitzer/IRS spectroscopy of the young massive cluster in the W31 star-forming region. H-band spectroscopy provides refined classifications for four cluster members O stars with respect to Blum et al. In addition, photospheric features are detected in the massive Young Stellar Object (mYSO) #26. Spectroscopy permits estimates of stellar temperatures and masses, from which a cluster age of ~0.6 Myr and distance of 3.3 kpc are obtained, in excellent agreement with Blum et al. IRS spectroscopy reveals mid-infrared fine structure line fluxes of [Ne II-III] and [S III-IV] for four O stars and five mYSOs. In common with previous studies, stellar temperatures of individual stars are severely underestimated from the observed ratios of fine-structure lines, despite the use of contemporary stellar atmosphere and photoionization models. We construct empirical temperature calibrations based upon the W31 cluster stars of known spectral type, supplemented by two inner Milky Way ultracompact (UC) HII regions whose ionizing star properties are established. Calibrations involving [NeIII] 15.5um/[NeII] 12.8um, [SIV] 10.5um/[NeII] 12.8um or [ArIII] 9.0um/[NeII] 12.8um have application in deducing the spectral types of early- to mid- O stars for other inner Milky Way compact and UCHII regions. Finally, evolutionary phases and timescales for the massive stellar content in W31 are discussed, due to the presence of numerous young massive stars at different formation phases in a `coeval' cluster.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, accepted for MNRA

Predictors of walking capacity in peripheral arterial disease patients

OBJECTIVE: To estimate walking capacity in intermittent claudication patients through a prediction model based on clinical characteristics and the walking impairment questionnaire. METHODS: The sample included 133 intermittent claudication patients of both genders aged between 30 and 80 years. Data regarding clinical characteristics, the walking impairment questionnaire and treadmill walking test performance were obtained. Multiple regression modeling was conducted to predict claudication onset distance and total walking distance using clinical characteristics (age, height, mass, body mass index, ankle brachial index lower, gender, history of smoking and co-morbid conditions) and walking impairment questionnaire responses. Comparisons of claudication onset distance and total walking distance measured during treadmill tests and estimated by a regression equation were performed using paired t-tests. RESULTS: Co-morbid conditions (diabetes and coronary artery disease) and questions related to difficulty in walking short distances (walking indoors - such as around your house and walking 5 blocks) and at low speed (walking 1 block at average speed - usual pace) resulted in the development of new prediction models high significant for claudication onset distance and total walking distance (p0.05) were observed. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrated that walking capacity can be adequately estimated based on co-morbid conditions and responses to the walking impairment questionnaire

Localization of gravity on a de Sitter thick braneworld without scalar fields

In this work we present a simple thick braneworld model that is generated by an intriguing interplay between a 5D cosmological constant with a de Sitter metric induced in the 3-brane without the inclusion of scalar fields. We show that 4D gravity is localized on this brane, provide analytic expressions for the massive Kaluza-Klein (KK) fluctuation modes and also show that the spectrum of metric excitations displays a mass gap. We finally present the corrections to Newton's law due to these massive modes. This model has no naked singularities along the fifth dimension despite the existence of a mass gap in the graviton spectrum as it happens in thick branes with 4D Poincare symmetry, providing a simple model with very good features: the curvature is completely smooth along the fifth dimension, it localizes 4D gravity and the spectrum of gravity fluctuations presents a mass gap, a fact that rules out the existence of phenomenologically dangerous ultralight KK excitations in the model. We finally present our solution as a limit of scalar thick branes.Comment: 11 pages in latex, no figures, title and abstract changed, a new section and some references adde

Casimir effect of electromagnetic field in Randall-Sundrum spacetime

We study the finite temperature Casimir effect on a pair of parallel perfectly conducting plates in Randall-Sundrum model without using scalar field analogy. Two different ways of interpreting perfectly conducting conditions are discussed. The conventional way that uses perfectly conducting condition induced from 5D leads to three discrete mode corrections. This is very different from the result obtained from imposing 4D perfectly conducting conditions on the 4D massless and massive vector fields obtained by decomposing the 5D electromagnetic field. The latter only contains two discrete mode corrections, but it has a continuum mode correction that depends on the thicknesses of the plates. It is shown that under both boundary conditions, the corrections to the Casimir force make the Casimir force more attractive. The correction under 4D perfectly conducting condition is always smaller than the correction under the 5D induced perfectly conducting condition. These statements are true at any temperature.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure

Phenotypic and genotypic monitoring of Schistosoma mansoni in Tanzanian schoolchildren five years into a preventative chemotherapy national control programme

We conducted combined in vitro PZQ efficacy testing with population genetic analyses of S. mansoni collected from children from two schools in 2010, five years after the introduction of a National Control Programme. Children at one school had received four annual PZQ treatments and the other school had received two mass treatments in total. We compared genetic differentiation, indices of genetic diversity, and estimated adult worm burden from parasites collected in 2010 with samples collected in 2005 (before the control programme began) and in 2006 (six months after the first PZQ treatment). Using 2010 larval samples, we also compared the genetic similarity of those with high and low in vitro sensitivity to PZQ

Updating known distribution models for forecasting climate change impact on endangered species

To plan endangered species conservation and to design adequate management programmes, it is necessary to predict their distributional response to climate change, especially under the current situation of rapid change. However, these predictions are customarily done by relating de novo the distribution of the species with climatic conditions with no regard of previously available knowledge about the factors affecting the species distribution. We propose to take advantage of known species distribution models, but proceeding to update them with the variables yielded by climatic models before projecting them to the future. To exemplify our proposal, the availability of suitable habitat across Spain for the endangered Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) was modelled by updating a pre-existing model based on current climate and topography to a combination of different general circulation models and Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. Our results suggested that the main threat for this endangered species would not be climate change, since all forecasting models show that its distribution will be maintained and increased in mainland Spain for all the XXI century. We remark on the importance of linking conservation biology with distribution modelling by updating existing models, frequently available for endangered species, considering all the known factors conditioning the species’ distribution, instead of building new models that are based on climate change variables only.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and FEDER (project CGL2009-11316/BOS

The extraordinary evolutionary history of the reticuloendotheliosis viruses

The reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REVs) comprise several closely related amphotropic retroviruses isolated from birds. These viruses exhibit several highly unusual characteristics that have not so far been adequately explained, including their extremely close relationship to mammalian retroviruses, and their presence as endogenous sequences within the genomes of certain large DNA viruses. We present evidence for an iatrogenic origin of REVs that accounts for these phenomena. Firstly, we identify endogenous retroviral fossils in mammalian genomes that share a unique recombinant structure with REVs—unequivocally demonstrating that REVs derive directly from mammalian retroviruses. Secondly, through sequencing of archived REV isolates, we confirm that contaminated Plasmodium lophurae stocks have been the source of multiple REV outbreaks in experimentally infected birds. Finally, we show that both phylogenetic and historical evidence support a scenario wherein REVs originated as mammalian retroviruses that were accidentally introduced into avian hosts in the late 1930s, during experimental studies of P. lophurae, and subsequently integrated into the fowlpox virus (FWPV) and gallid herpesvirus type 2 (GHV-2) genomes, generating recombinant DNA viruses that now circulate in wild birds and poultry. Our findings provide a novel perspective on the origin and evolution of REV, and indicate that horizontal gene transfer between virus families can expand the impact of iatrogenic transmission events

Tuberculosis screening in the European migrant population: a scoping review of current practices

Responding to a surge in new tuberculosis (TB) cases among migrants from high-incidence countries, low-incidence European nations have heeded World Health Organization recommendations by implementing TB screening in this population. This review aims to synthesise evidence on current screening strategies for active TB and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in European high-income countries, and their main barriers and interventions. PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus were searched from March to April 2023, including articles in English, published in the last decade, pertaining to screening strategies for active TB or LTBI in Europe focused on migrants, excluding those exclusively composed of refugees, asylum seekers or other migrant populations. 32 studies fit the criteria. Screening in migrants varies between countries regarding timing, population, screening location and diagnosis. Furthermore, some barriers prevent migrants from benefiting from screening, namely physical, cultural and professional barriers. Additional research is needed to determine the patterns through which regular migrants adhere to current screening strategies in European countries. © ERS 2024