Cholelithiasis prevalence and risk factors in individuals with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and risk factors of cholelithiasis in individuals with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities (SPIMD) are poorly characterised. Thus, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk determinants of cholelithiasis in a cohort with SPIMD under medical care in a residential facility. METHODS: We categorised 84 patients in a residential hospital for persons with SPIMD into groups: those with (Group CL) and without (Group N) cholelithiasis. Gallstones were detected via computed tomography, ultrasonography or both. We evaluated gastrostomy status, nutritional and respiratory support, constipation, and bladder and kidney stones. Data were significantly analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of cholelithiasis in our SPIMD cohort was 27%. There were no significant differences in sex, age, weight, height, or Gross Motor Function Classification System between the two groups. However, more patients received enteral nutrition (39.13% vs. 6.56%; P = 0.000751) and were on ventilator support (56.52% vs. 19.67%; P = 0.00249) in Group CL than in Group N. Enteral nutrition [odds ratio (OR) 10.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.98-54.7] and ventilator support (OR 20.0, 95% CI 1.99-201.0) were identified as independent risk factors for the prevalence of cholelithiasis in patients with SPIMD. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SPIMD demonstrated an increased prevalence of cholelithiasis, with a notable association between nutritional tonic use and respiratory support. Therefore, to emphasise the need for proactive screening, it is crucial to devise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies specific to patients with SPIMD. Further investigation is essential to validate our findings and explore causative factors.

Effects of mechanical stress and deficiency of dihydrotestosterone or 17ß-estradiol on Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To observe and analyze the interaction between excessive mechanical stress (MS) and decreased sex hormones on Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA), and to discover TMJ-OA disease susceptibility genes by molecular biological analysis to elucidate part of the mechanism of TMJ-OA onset. DESIGN: For experimental groups, orchiectomy (ORX) or ovariectomy (OVX) was performed on sexually mature 8-week-old mice. A metal plate was attached to the posterior surface of the maxillary incisors to apply excessive MS on mandibular condyles. Male mice were divided into control, ORX, MS, and ORX + MS groups, while female mice were divided into control, OVX, MS, and OVX + MS groups. Mandibular condyles were evaluated by histology and molecular biology. RESULTS: Histomorphometric analysis of the TMJ in ORX + MS and OVX + MS groups revealed the thinnest chondrocyte layers, highest modified Mankin scores, and significant increases in the number of osteoclasts. Gene expression analysis indicated upregulation of Angptl7 and Car1 genes in the mandibular condyles of mice subjected to the combined effects of excessive MS and reduced sex hormones. In vitro analysis suggested that cartilage-like cells overexpressing Angptl7 enhanced calcification, and osteoblast-like cells overexpression Car1 suppressed cell proliferation and calcification. CONCLUSIONS: A severe TMJ-OA mouse model was successfully developed by applying excessive MS on the mandibular condyle of male and female mice with reduced sex hormones. Disease-susceptibility genes Angptl7 and Car1 were newly discovered in the experimental groups, suggesting their involvement in the onset mechanism of TMJ-OA.

Right hepatic venous system variation in living donors: a three-dimensional CT analysis.

BACKGROUND: The right hepatic venous system consists of the right hepatic vein (RHV) and inferior RHVs (IRHVs). When the right posterior section is used as a graft for liver transplantation, understanding variations and relationships between the RHV and IRHVs is critical for graft venous return and hepatic vein reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate variations in the hepatic veins and the relationships between them. METHODS: The medical records and CT images of patients who underwent hepatectomy as liver donors were assessed retrospectively. The relationship between the veins was evaluated by three-dimensional CT. RESULTS: The configuration of the posterior section was classified into one of eight types based on the RHV and IRHVs in 307 patients. Type 1a (103 of 307), type 1b (139 of 307) and type 2a (40 of 307) accounted for 91·9 per cent of the total. The diameter of the RHV extending towards the inferior vena cava had a significant inverse correlation with that of the IRHV (r2  = -0·615, P < 0·001). Type 1a, which had no IRHVs, had the RHV with the largest diameter; conversely, type 2a, which had a large IRHV, had the RHV with the smallest diameter. CONCLUSION: The hepatic venous system of the right posterior section was classified into eight types, with an inverse relationship between RHV and IRHV sizes. This information is useful for segment VII resection or when the right liver is used as a transplant graft.

ANTECEDENTES: El sistema venoso hepático derecho consiste en la vena hepática derecha (right hepatic vein, RHV) y las RHVs inferiores (IRHVs). Cuando se utiliza la sección posterior derecha hepática como injerto para el trasplante hepático, es fundamental conocer las variaciones e interrelaciones entre la RHV y las IRHVs para el retorno venoso del injerto y la reconstrucción de la vena hepática. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las variaciones en las venas hepáticas y sus interrelaciones. MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron retrospectivamente las historias clínicas y las imágenes de la tomografía computarizada de los pacientes que se sometieron a una hepatectomía como donantes vivos para trasplante hepático. La interrelación entre las venas se evaluó mediante imágenes de CT tridimensional. RESULTADOS: La configuración de la sección posterior clasificó a 307 pacientes en base a la RHV y a las IRHVs. Se clasificaron en 8 tipos, de los cuales el Tipo 1a (103/307), el Tipo 1b (139/307) y el Tipo 2a (40/307) representaron el 92% del total. El diámetro de la RHV que se extiende hacia la vena cava inferior presentó una correlación inversa significativa con la de las IRHV (r2: −0,632, P < 0,0001). El diámetro mayor de la RHV se observó en el Tipo 1a, que no presentaba IRHVs; por el contrario, el diámetro más pequeño se observó en el Tipo 2a que presentaba una IRHV grande. CONCLUSIÓN: El sistema venoso hepático de la sección posterior derecha se clasificó en 8 subtipos con una relación inversa entre los tamaños de la RHV y las IRHV. Esta información es útil cuando se practica una resección del segmento 7 o cuando se utiliza el hígado derecho como injerto para el trasplante.

The performance of mobile screening units in a breast cancer screening program in Brazil.

PURPOSE: In Brazil, access to breast cancer screening outside of urban centers is limited. This study aims to describe the coverage and performance of a breast cancer screening program implemented with Mobile Screening Units (MSU) in northern São Paulo state. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of a population-based mammography program targeting women ages 40-69 in 108 municipalities from 12/2010 to 07/2015. Screening coverage rates were estimated using the Brazil 2010 census data. We calculated performance measures for the number of exams, recalls, and detected cases of cancer. Screen-detected cases were compared to clinically detected cases using hospital cancer registry data and a propensity-score matching method. The down-staging of screen-detected cases relative to clinically detected cases was assessed using logistic regression to calculate risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: 122,634 women were screened through the MSU program, representing a cumulative coverage rate of 54.8% in the target population. For initial and subsequent rounds, recall rates were 12.25 and 6.10% and cancer detection rates were 3.63 (95% CI 3.23-4.10) and 1.94 (95% CI 1.59-2.41), respectively. 92.51% of referrals were successful. Screen-detected cases had more favorable prognoses than clinically detected cases, including smaller tumor size and a decreased risk of late-stage detection (RR 0.14 95% CI 0.074-0.25). CONCLUSIONS: MSUs are a feasible method for the delivery of mammography services in this setting. Patients who had breast cancer detected on an MSU had favorable prognostic factors when compared with clinically detected cases arising from the same target population.

Plasma D-dimer levels and ischaemic lesions in multiple vascular regions can predict occult cancer in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cancer patients with cryptogenic stroke often have high plasma D-dimer levels and lesions in multiple vascular regions. Hence, if patients with cryptogenic stroke display such characteristics, occult cancer could be predicted. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of cryptogenic stroke as the first manifestation of occult cancer and to determine whether plasma D-dimer levels and lesions in multiple vascular regions can predict occult cancer in patients with cryptogenic stroke. METHODS: Between January 2006 and October 2015, data on 1225 patients with acute ischaemic stroke were extracted from the stroke database of Osaka University Hospital. Among them, 184 patients were classified as having cryptogenic stroke, and 120 patients without a diagnosis of cancer at stroke onset were identified. Clinical variables were analyzed between cryptogenic stroke patients with and without occult cancer. RESULTS: Among 120 cryptogenic stroke patients without a diagnosis of cancer, 12 patients had occult cancer. The body mass index, hemoglobin levels and albumin levels were lower; plasma D-dimer and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were higher; and lesions in multiple vascular regions were more common in patients with than in those without occult cancer. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma D-dimer levels (odds ratio, 3.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-8.33; P = 0.002) and lesions in multiple vascular regions (odds ratio, 7.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-39.45; P = 0.01) independently predicted occult cancer. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma D-dimer levels and lesions in multiple vascular regions can be used to predict occult cancer in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Effects of bisphosphonates on human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell survival.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most malignant cancers in Japan. Anticancer chemotherapy has been useful for ESCC treatment. However, therapeutic options are limited. Recently, bisphosphonates (BPs), which are osteoporosis drugs, have shown anticancer effects in several cancer cell lines, but the effects against ESCC cell lines are unknown. In this study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of BPs and their mechanisms of cytotoxicity in human ESCC cell lines. A first-generation BP (etidronate), two second-generation BPs (alendronate and pamidronate), and two third-generation BPs (risedronate and zoledronate) were used in this study. All BPs, except etidronate, were cytotoxic, as indicated by increased caspase-3/7 activity and numbers of Annexin-fluorescein isothiocyanate positive cells in ESCC cell lines. From cell cycle analysis, G0/G1-phase arrest was observed upon treatment with second- and third-generation BPs. In addition, Cyclin D1 protein expression levels were decreased by second- and third-generation BP treatment. Although squalene and trans, trans-farnesol minimally affected BP cytotoxicity, treatment with geranylgeraniol inhibited BP cytotoxicity almost completely. We concluded that second- and third-generation BPs are cytotoxic to ESCC cell lines as they induce apoptosis and inhibit the cell cycle through mevalonate pathway inhibition. Therefore, BP treatment may be a beneficial therapy in ESCC patients.

A mixed carcinoma of the uterus arising from an atypical polypoid adenomyoma: a case report.

An atypical polypoid adenomyoma (APAM) is a benign mixed epithelial and mesenchymal uterine tumor. Patients typically present with hypermenorrhea or abnormal uterine bleeding, and the tumor is most commonly found in nulliparous or infertile women of reproductive age. The natural pathological course of an APAM remains unclear because of the rarity of the disease. The coexistence or sequential development of low-grade malignant endometrial tumors has been reported; however, reports of a mixed carcinoma arising from an APAM have not been published yet. In this report, the authors describe the case of a woman with a mixed carcinoma of the uterus arising from an APAM. This case extends our knowledge of the natural pathological course of an APAM and its etiological relationship with a mixed carcinoma of the uterus, which may contribute to the development of management strategies for an APAM.

Utility of T2 mapping and dGEMRIC for evaluation of cartilage repair after allograft chondrocyte implantation in a rabbit model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of quantitative Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluating the quality of cartilage repair over time following allograft chondrocyte implantation using a three-dimensional scaffold for osteochondral lesions. DESIGN: Thirty knees from 15 rabbits were analyzed. An osteochondral defect (diameter, 4 mm; depth, 1 mm) was created on the patellar groove of the femur in both legs. The defects were filled with a chondrocyte-seeded scaffold in the right knee and an empty scaffold in the left knee. Five rabbits each were euthanized at 4, 8, and 12 weeks and their knees were examined via macroscopic inspection, histological and biochemical analysis, and quantitative MRI (T2 mapping and dGEMRIC) to assess the state of tissue repair following allograft chondrocyte implantation with a three-dimensional scaffold for osteochondral lesions. RESULTS: Comparatively good regenerative cartilage was observed both macroscopically and histologically. In both chondrocyte-seeded and control knees, the T2 values of repair tissues were highest at 4 weeks and showed a tendency to decrease with time. ΔR1 values of dGEMRIC also tended to decrease with time in both groups, and the mean ΔR1 was significantly lower in the CS-scaffold group than in the control group at all time points. ΔR1 = 1/r (R1post - R1pre), where r is the relaxivity of Gd-DTPA(2-), R1 = 1/T1 (longitudinal relaxation time). CONCLUSION: T2 mapping and dGEMRIC were both effective for evaluating tissue repair after allograft chondrocyte implantation. ΔR1 values of dGEMRIC represented good correlation with histologically and biochemically even at early stages after the implantation.

Hidden osteophyte formation on plain X-ray is the predictive factor for development of knee osteoarthritis after 48 months--data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the detection of osteophytes anywhere in the knee could serve as a pre-radiographic biomarker for osteoarthritis (OA) development. METHODS: Baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) of 132 participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) were studied. Based on radiographs, 66 knees were assessed as osteoarthritis-free (no-osteoarthritis [NOA], or Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] severity grade 0/1 both at baseline and 48 months), and another 66 knees were assessed as having radiographic OA changes (pre-radiographic osteoarthritis [PROA], or with K/L grade 0/1 at baseline and grade ≥ 2 at 48 months). Using baseline MRI data, we examined eight sites of osteophyte formation: the medial and lateral femoral condyle (MFC and LFC, respectively); medial and lateral tibial plateau (MTP and LTP, respectively); medial and lateral facets of the patellofemoral joint (PM and PL, respectively); tibial spine (TS); and femoral intercondylar notch (IC). Knee joint osteophyte size was assessed via the 8-point marginal osteophytes item of the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS). The frequencies and distributions of osteophytes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Mild-size osteophytes (defined as score ≥ 2) were observed more frequently at the MFC (P = 0.00278), MTP (P = 0.0046), TS (P = 0.0146), PM (P < 0.0001), PL (P = 0.0012), and IC (P < 0.0001) in PROA knees than in NOA knees. Moderate-size osteophytes (defined as score ≥ 4) were more frequently observed in PROA knees than in NOA knees only at the IC (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Knees with osteophyte formation at the IC, even those of K/L severity grade 0/1, are at risk for the development of radiographic OA by 48 months.

Electromyogram biofeedback training for daytime clenching and its effect on sleep bruxism.

Bruxism contributes to the development of temporomandibular disorders as well as causes dental problems. Although it is an important issue in clinical dentistry, no treatment approaches have been proven effective. This study aimed to use electromyogram (EMG) biofeedback (BF) training to improve awake bruxism (AB) and examine its effect on sleep bruxism (SB). Twelve male participants (mean age, 26·8 ± 2·5 years) with subjective symptoms of AB or a diagnosis of SB were randomly divided into BF (n = 7) and control (CO, n = 5) groups to undergo 5-h daytime and night-time EMG measurements for three consecutive weeks. EMG electrodes were placed over the temporalis muscle on the habitual masticatory side. Those in the BF group underwent BF training to remind them of the occurrence of undesirable clenching activity when excessive EMG activity of certain burst duration was generated in week 2. Then, EMGs were recorded at week 3 as the post-BF test. Those in the CO group underwent EMG measurement without any EMG BF training throughout the study period. Although the number of tonic EMG events did not show statistically significant differences among weeks 1-3 in the CO group, events in weeks 2 and 3 decreased significantly compared with those in week 1, both daytime and night-time, in the BF group (P < 0·05, Scheffé's test). This study results suggest that EMG BF to improve AB tonic EMG events can also provide an effective approach to regulate SB tonic EMG events.

RISING beamline (BL28XU) for rechargeable battery analysis.

The newly installed BL28XU beamline at SPring-8 is dedicated to in situ structural and electronic analysis of rechargeable batteries. It supports the time range (1 ms to 100 s) and spatial range (1 µm to 1 mm) needed for battery analysis. Electrochemical apparatus for battery charging and discharging are available in experimental hutches and in a preparation room. Battery analysis can be carried out efficiently and effectively using X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption fine-structure analysis and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Here, the design and performance of the beamline are described, and preliminary results are presented.

Glucoamylase is a major allergen of Schizophyllum commune.

BACKGROUND: Schizophyllum commune is one of the causative agents of basidiomycosis including disorders such as allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis, allergic fungal sinusitis, and mucoid impaction of bronchi, the incidence of those of which has been increasing. These mycoses are difficult to diagnose because only a limited number of diagnostic tools are currently available. The biggest problem is that no specific antigens of S. commune have been identified to enable serodiagnosis of the disease. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we attempted to identify a major antigen of S. commune to establish a reliable serodiagnostic method. METHODS: We used mass spectrometry to identify an antigen that reacted with the serum of a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis caused by S. commune. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, highly purified, and the patient sera IgG and IgE titres against the protein were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The protein identified as a major antigen of S. commune was named Sch c 1; it was a homolog of glucoamylase. The IgG and IgE titres against Sch c 1 in patient sera were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteer sera (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sch c 1 is recognized by the host immune system of patients as an antigen/allergen. The purified glucoamylase Sch c 1 is a promising candidate antigen for the serodiagnosis of S. commune-induced mycosis.

The utility of cranial ontogeny for phylogenetic inference: a case study in crocodylians using geometric morphometrics.

The degree to which the ontogeny of organisms could facilitate our understanding of phylogenetic relationships has long been a subject of contention in evolutionary biology. The famed notion that 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny' has been largely discredited, but there remains an expectation that closely related organisms undergo similar morphological transformations throughout ontogeny. To test this assumption, we used three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods to characterize the cranial morphology of 10 extant crocodylian species and construct allometric trajectories that model the post-natal ontogenetic shape changes. Using time-calibrated molecular and morphological trees, we employed a suite of comparative phylogenetic methods to assess the extent of phylogenetic signal in these trajectories. All analyses largely demonstrated a lack of significant phylogenetic signal, indicating that ontogenetic shape changes contain little phylogenetic information. Notably, some Mantel tests yielded marginally significant results when analysed with the morphological tree, which suggest that the underlying signal in these trajectories is correlated with similarities in the adult cranial morphology. However, despite these instances, all other analyses, including more powerful tests for phylogenetic signal, recovered statistical and visual evidence against the assumption that similarities in ontogenetic shape changes are commensurate with phylogenetic relatedness and thus bring into question the efficacy of using allometric trajectories for phylogenetic inference.

Walking the talk. Implementation of transitional care guidance in a UK paediatric and a neighbouring adult facility.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the quality of transitional care in a paediatric and adult hospital by investigating (i) adherence to national transition guidance and (ii) whether implementation is associated with better patient/carer experiences. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a UK paediatric hospital (PH) and neighbouring adult hospital. Clinics completed a questionnaire to determine characteristics of their transitional care provision and invited patients aged 11-21 years and parents/carers to complete a questionnaire ('Mind the Gap') to assess their satisfaction. RESULTS: Twenty-three clinics participated. Fourteen (70%) reported delivering a transition programme, but only 5 (25%) indicated this was holistic (addressing medical, psychosocial and vocational issues). Participants included 457 young people and 330 parents, 71% and 88% respectively attending the PH. Ratings of current care were significantly lower than ratings of best care. These 'gap' scores were not excessive, although some participants were very dissatisfied. Better satisfaction was associated with attending clinics that provided transitional care, especially when defined as 'holistic' and youth-friendly. CONCLUSIONS: Transition programmes that adhere to current guidance are associated with better satisfaction, but variations in provision suggest barriers to implementation. Attention is required to how youth-friendly transitional care is defined with particular reference to the specific clinic model.

Epistatic relationship between Waardenburg syndrome genes MITF and PAX3.

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a hereditary disorder that causes hypopigmentation and hearing impairment. Depending on additional symptoms, WS is classified into four types: WS1, WS2, WS3 and WS4. Mutations in MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) and PAX3, encoding transcription factors, are responsible for WS2 and WS1/WS3, respectively. We have previously shown that MITF transactivates the gene for tyrosinase, a key enzyme for melanogenesis, and is critically involved in melanocyte differentiation. Absence of melanocytes affects pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes, and hearing function in the cochlea. Therefore, hypopigmentation and hearing loss in WS2 are likely to be the results of an anomaly of melanocyte differentiation caused by MITF mutations. However, the molecular mechanism by which PAX3 mutations cause the auditory-pigmentary symptoms in WS1/WS3 remains to be explained. Here we show that PAX3, a transcription factor with a paired domain and a homeodomain, transactivates the MITF promoter. We further show that PAX3 proteins associated with WS1 in either the paired domain or the homeodomain fail to recognize and transactivate the MITF promoter. These results provide evidence that PAX3 directly regulates MITF and suggest that the failure of this regulation due to PAX3 mutations causes the auditory-pigmentary symptoms in at least some individuals with WS1.

Determination of daytime clenching events in subjects with and without self-reported clenching.

To confirm the validity of self-awareness of daytime clenching, specific electromyogram (EMG) characteristics of clenching behaviour were determined using surface EMG recordings. Temporal muscle EMGs were recorded for 5 h in 13 subjects with self-reported clenching (clenching group: 27·5 ± 3·8 years old) and 12 subjects without self-reported clenching (control group: 28·6 ± 7·1 years old). All EMG data were recorded and stored on a portable EMG apparatus. The device was similar in size to a hearing aid, and suitable to record daytime EMG without restriction of daily activities. A clenching event was defined as muscle activity exceeding 10% of the maximum voluntary contraction. Furthermore, simultaneous voice recording was also performed to identify the corresponding EMG event as functional or parafunctional. The mean number of clenching events was 192·8 ± 228·8 and 24·8 ± 26·5 in the clenching and the control groups, respectively (P < 0·05, Mann-Whitney U-test); the number of functional events was not significantly different between the groups. Because there was a significant difference in the number of clenching events between the groups, self-reported daytime clenching is considered to be a reliable screening parameter for awake bruxism.

Reproductive characteristics in an understory bamboo and gradual environmental changes after its dieback provide an extended opportunity for overstory tree regeneration in a mixed cool-temperate forest in central Japan.

The reproductive characteristics of understory bamboo and the effects of dieback on overstory tree seedlings through temporal changes in the environment at the forest floor have only been examined in a few bamboo species, due to the unpredictable occurrence of flowering events and long intervals between them but provide valuable information on tree regeneration and succession in a forest with dense dwarf bamboo cover. We investigated environmental conditions and assessed seedlings (< 30-cm tall) of the dwarf bamboo Sasa borealis and overstory tree species at 44-50 measurement points during 2016-2021, which included a S. borealis mass flowering event in 2017. We also conducted seed germination tests to determine germination rates and patterns in S. borealis. Environmental factors affecting seedling recruitment of S. borealis and of overstory trees were analysed using spatiotemporal generalized linear mixed models in the Bayesian framework. We observed gradual temporal changes in the environment, including increasing canopy openness and decreasing maximum height of dead S. borealis culms. The seeds germinated slowly and the emergence of current-year S. borealis seedlings peaked in spring-summer in 2019. The tree seedling density after 2019 increased significantly compared to that before the dieback. The model results suggest that tree seedling establishment was enhanced by increased light availability. Continuous field observation beginning before S. borealis dieback revealed gradually enhanced tree recruitment in response to slow decay of the remaining dead culms and slow recovery of S. borealis. The seedling regeneration pattern of understory bamboo partly contributes to a prolonged opportunity for overstory tree regeneration.

High-Density Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Intraspecific Cranial Integration in the Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica) and Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis).

How do phenotypic associations intrinsic to an organism, such as developmental and mechanical processes, direct morphological evolution? Comparisons of intraspecific and clade-wide patterns of phenotypic covariation could inform how population-level trends ultimately dictate macroevolutionary changes. However, most studies have focused on analyzing integration and modularity either at macroevolutionary or intraspecific levels, without a shared analytical framework unifying these temporal scales. In this study, we investigate the intraspecific patterns of cranial integration in two squamate species: Natrix helvetica and Anolis carolinensis. We analyze their cranial integration patterns using the same high-density three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach used in a prior squamate-wide evolutionary study. Our results indicate that Natrix and Anolis exhibit shared intraspecific cranial integration patterns, with some differences, including a more integrated rostrum in the latter. Notably, these differences in intraspecific patterns correspond to their respective interspecific patterns in snakes and lizards, with few exceptions. These results suggest that interspecific patterns of cranial integration reflect intraspecific patterns. Hence, our study suggests that the phenotypic associations that direct morphological variation within species extend across micro- and macroevolutionary levels, bridging these two scales.

Topical erythritol combined with L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate inhibits staphylococcal growth and alleviates staphylococcal overgrowth in skin lesions of canine superficial pyoderma.

Erythritol (ERT) and L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (APS) are bacteriostatic, but their effects on staphylococcal skin infections remain unknown. We aimed to determine whether ERT combined with APS inhibits the growth of staphylococci that are commonly isolated from pyoderma skin lesions in dogs. We investigated the individual and combined effects of ERT and APS on the growth of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, S. schleiferi, and S. aureus using turbidity assays in vitro. Skin lesions from 10 dogs with superficial pyoderma were topically treated with 5% ERT and 0.1% APS for 28 days, and swabbed skin samples were then analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results showed that ERT inhibited S. pseudintermedius growth regardless of harboring the mecA gene, and APS increased the inhibitory effects of ERT against S. pseudintermedius, S. schleiferi, and S. aureus in vitro. Moreover, combined ERT and APS decreased the prevalence of staphylococci on canine skin lesions at the genus level. The combination slightly increased the α-diversity but did not affect the ß-diversity of the microbiota. The qPCR results revealed that the combination significantly decreased S. pseudintermedius and S. schleiferi in skin lesions. Topical administration of EPS combined with APS can prevent staphylococcal colonization on the surface of mammalian skin. The results of this study may provide an alternative to systemic antibiotics for treating superficial pyoderma on mammalian skin surfaces.