I-motif sensor for the fluorometric detection of Monkeypox.

In this study, we developed an isothermal fluorometric diagnostic method for DNA virus-generating disorders such as Mpox. Our results showed that the release of a large number of protons during multiplex-LAMP markedly lowered the pH level, which transformed the retinoblastoma (Rb) linear ssDNA into i-motifs. Consequently, thiazole orange (TO; a fluorometric probe sensitive to the i-motif) boosted the signal-on fluorescence because of its ability to bind selectively to i-motifs. This multiplex-LAMP/i-motif-TO system enabled simultaneous detection aimed at numerous potential targets with remarkable sensitivity (1.47 pg per mL) and efficiency (30 minutes). Our method is expected to enable DNA-virus-related diseases to be efficiently and accurately assessed.

Microbial-transcriptome integrative analysis of heat stress effects on amino acid metabolism and lipid peroxidation in poultry jejunum.

Despite the significant threat of heat stress to livestock animals, only a few studies have considered the potential relationship between broiler chickens and their microbiota. Therefore, this study examined microbial modifications, transcriptional changes and host-microbiome interactions using a predicted metabolome data-based approach to understand the impact of heat stress on poultry. After the analysis, the host functional enrichment analysis revealed that pathways related to lipid and protein metabolism were elevated under heat stress conditions. In contrast, pathways related to the cell cycle were suppressed under normal environmental temperatures. In line with the transcriptome analysis, the microbial analysis results indicate that taxonomic changes affect lipid degradation. Heat stress engendered statistically significant difference in the abundance of 11 microorganisms, including Bacteroides and Peptostreptococcacea. Together, integrative approach analysis suggests that microbiota-induced metabolites affect host fatty acid peroxidation metabolism, which is correlated with the gene families of Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase long chain (ACADL), Acyl-CoA Oxidase (ACOX) and Acetyl-CoA Acyltransferase (ACAA). This integrated approach provides novel insights into heat stress problems and identifies potential biomarkers associated with heat stress.

Computed tomography Scan Size Analysis of stapedius and tensor tympani muscles in middle ear myoclonic tinnitus.

Objectives: To analyze the sizes of the stapedius and tensor tympani (TT) muscles using a temporal bone CT (TBCT) scan in patients with middle ear myoclonic tinnitus (MEMT) and investigate their value for the diagnosis of this rare cause of tinnitus. Methods: Medical records and TBCT of patients with MEMT or vascular tinnitus (VT) at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2022 were reviewed. The stapedius and TT muscles were analyzed. Results: Thirty-eight patients with unilateral MEMT and 39 patients with VT were included. More males were in the MEMT group compared to the VT group (MEMT: n = 24, VT: n = 8, p = .001). The mean age of the MEMT group was younger compared to the VT group (MEMT: 35 ± 12 years, VT: 44 ± 14.3 years, p = .005). The mean BMI for the MEMT group was less than the VT group (MEMT: 22.3 ± 2.5, VT: 24.8 ± 4.36, p = .010). The mean length and width of the stapedius in the MEMT group were larger than those of the VT group (Length MEMT: 1.47 ± 0.60 mm, VT: 0.98 ± 0.24 mm, p = .001; Width MEMT: 0.89 ± 0.32 mm, VT: 0.72 ± 0.19 mm, p = .009). The mean length and width of the TT in the MEMT group were larger than that of the VT group (Length MEMT: 3.10 ± 0.50 mm, VT: 2.27 ± 0.42, p = .001; Width MEMT: 2.02 ± 0.36, VT: 1.75 ± 0.26 p = .001). Conclusion: The mean length and width of the stapedius and TT muscles measured in the MEMT group were longer and wider than the VT group. This suggests the use TBCT scan as a diagnostic tool for MEMT. Further studies with a larger study group to validate the results of this study are recommended.Level of Evidence: 4.

Trends in Distributions of Hearing Threshold Levels by Ages: A Comparison of the ISO 7029 and Newly Available Country-Specific Data.

Hearing thresholds provide essential information and references about the human auditory system. This study aimed to identify changing trends in distributions of hearing threshold levels across ages by comparing the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7029 and newly available data after publishing ISO 7029. To compare ISO 7029 and newly available hearing threshold data after publishing ISO 7029, four country-specific datasets that presented average hearing threshold levels under conditions similar to ISO 7029 were utilized. For frequencies between 125 Hz and 8,000 Hz, the deviations of hearing threshold values by ages from the hearing threshold of the youngest age group for each data point were utilized. For frequencies from 9,000 Hz to 12,500 Hz, the median threshold information was utilized. Hearing threshold data reported after publishing ISO 7029 from the four countries were mostly similar to the ISO 7029 data but tended to deviate in some age groups and sexes. As national hearing threshold trends change, the following ISO 7029 revision suggests the need to integrate hearing threshold data from different countries.

Association of serum uric acid Levels with metabolic syndromes in Korean adolescents.

Introduction: The study findings investigated uric acid reference values and their association with a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using the KNHANES database from 2016 to 2018, involving a total of 2,462 participants aged between 10 and 18 years. Based on age- and sex-specific percentile curves for serum uric acid (SUA) levels from the KNHANES, we examined the correlation between cardiometabolic risk factors and serum uric acid levels. Results: The percentile values of SUA varied with sex and age. In male subjects, SUA levels tended to increase from 10 to 14 years of age and plateaued after 14 years of age. Moreover, the overall uric acid level in females was found to be lower than that in males; the levels tended to increase at approximately 10 to 12 years old but were relatively consistent according to age. Mean uric acid levels increased according to obesity status in both males and females. However, correlation analysis revealed that SUA levels were associated with several metabolic risks even after adjusting for obesity. The detailed metabolic syndrome (MetS) components that were observed to be associated with an increase in uric acid levels were different between males and females, but overall, high uric acid levels increased MetS risk. Additionally, a significant increase in MetS-related odds ratio (OR) for components, including waist circumference (WC), triglyceride (TG) levels, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), was observed. However, differences between sexes were apparent, with a more pronounced increase in OR based on SUA levels in girls. Discussion: SUA levels were closely associated with MetS and its components, even in nonobese subjects. Therefore, high SUA levels in children and young adolescents should be closely monitored to prevent MetS.