Analysis of nonsynonymous SNPs in candidate genes that influence bovine temperament and evaluation of their effect in Brahman cattle.

BACKGROUND: Temperament is an important production trait in cattle and multiple strategies had been developed to generate molecular markers to assist animal selection. As nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms are markers with the potential to affect gene functions, they could be useful to predict phenotypic effects. Genetic selection of less stress-responsive, temperamental animals is desirable from an economic and welfare point of view. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms identified in HTR1B and SLC18A2 candidate genes for temperament were analyzed in silico to determine their effects on protein structure. Those nsSNPs allowing changes in proteins were selected for a temperament association analysis in a Brahman population. Transversion effects on protein structure were evaluated in silico for each amino acid change model, revealing structural changes in the proteins of the HTR1B and SLC18A2 genes. The selected nsSNPs were genotyped in a Brahman population (n = 138), and their genotypic effects on three temperament traits were analyzed: exit velocity, pen score, and temperament score. Only the SNP rs209984404-HTR1B (C/A) showed a significant association (P = 0.0144) with pen score. The heterozygous genotype showed a pen score value 1.17 points lower than that of the homozygous CC genotype. CONCLUSION: The results showed that in silico analysis could direct the selection of nsSNPs with the potential to change the protein. Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms causing structural changes and reduced protein stability were identified. Only rs209984404-HTR1B shows that the allele affecting protein stability was associated with the genotype linked to docility in cattle.

Minimal Clinically Important Differences in Hand Pain Intensity (Numerical Pain Rate Scale) and Related-Function (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire) in Women With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) for hand pain intensity and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) in a sample of women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A Hospital Rehabilitation Unit. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty women with clinical and electromyographic diagnosis of CTS who were randomly assigned into 2 groups (N=120). INTERVENTIONS: One group received 3 sessions of manual physical therapy (n=60) and the other group received surgery (n=60). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean and the worst pain intensity (numerical pain rate scale, 0-10 points) and functional status and symptoms' severity subscales of the BCTQ questionnaire were assessed before and 1 month after treatment. The Global Rating of Change (GROC) was used as the anchor variable for determining the MCID. RESULTS: A change of 1.5 and 2.5 points in mean and the worst pain intensity represents the MCID for Numerical Pain Rating Scale, whereas a change of 0.23 and 0.64 points in functional status and symptoms' severity represents the MCID for each subscale of the BCTQ. All variables showed acceptable discrimination between patients classified as "improved" and those classified as "stable/not improved" (area under the curve≥0.72). Mean pain intensity (Youden index, 0.53; sensitivity: 73.3%; specificity: 80%) and symptoms' severity (Youden index, 0.69; sensitivity: 90%; specificity: 77.8%) showed the best discriminative ability expressed as a percentage of prediction. Participants classified as "improved" had significantly greater improvements in pain intensity, functional status, and symptoms' severity compared with those classified as "stable/not improved". CONCLUSION: A change of 1.5 and 2.5 points in mean and the worst pain and a change of 0.23 and 0.64 points in functional status and symptoms' severity represents the MCID for pain intensity and BCTQ in women with CTS 1 month after treatment.

Women's experiences of primary dysmenorrhea symptoms: a systematic review of qualitative evidence and meta-aggregation.

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) has a significant impact on women's lives, especially among young women who miss school and work due to painful periods. Experiences and how women manage PD have been explored to some extent, but the evidence has not been systematically collated and reviewed to allow health professionals to better understand women's experiences of and perceptions about PD. Hence, we aim to synthesize the qualitative evidence related to women's experiences of PD and associated symptoms. For this purpose, seven databases (Ovid MEDLINE®, PubMed, Embase, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL and OpenGrey) were searched for relevant papers published in English, Spanish, Greek and Chinese between January 1997 and May 2021. All studies investigating women's experiences with PD were included; besides, The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for qualitative studies was used to critically appraise the papers. A data extraction form was developed using JBI template and findings from the papers were analyzed and synthesized using meta-aggregation. Sixteen articles were included and during the analysis five themes were identified: Experiencing pain and associated symptoms, the psychological dimension of PD, knowledge and support, day-to-day living with PD, and coping strategies. We concluded taboos and deeply rooted beliefs around menstruation can potentially lead to gender inequalities; hence, women's common concerns and their experiences with PD need to be considered. Training and treatment protocols for health practitioners are needed. Future research should focus on development and testing of protocols for diagnosis, pharmacological and non-pharmacological management and men's perceptions of menstruation of their lovers.

Fatigue and Dyspnoea as Main Persistent Post-COVID-19 Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized Patients: Related Functional Limitations and Disability.

BACKGROUND: Multicentre studies focussing on specific long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms are scarce. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of fatigue and dyspnoea, repercussions on daily life activities, and risk factors associated with fatigue or dyspnoea in COVID-19 survivors at long term after hospital discharge. METHODS: Age, gender, height, weight, symptoms at hospitalization, pre-existing medical comorbidity, intensive care unit admission, and the presence of cardio-respiratory symptoms developed after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection were collected from patients who recovered from COVID-19 at 4 hospitals in Madrid (Spain) from March 1 to May 31, 2020 (first COVID-19 wave). The Functional Impairment Checklist was used for evaluating fatigue/dyspnoea levels and functional limitations. RESULTS: A total of 1,142 patients (48% women, age: 61, standard deviation [SD]: 17 years) were assessed 7.0 months (SD 0.6) after hospitalization. Fatigue was present in 61% patients, dyspnoea with activity in 55%, and dyspnoea at rest in 23.5%. Only 355 (31.1%) patients did not exhibit fatigue and/or dyspnoea 7 months after hospitalization. Forty-five per cent reported functional limitations with daily living activities. Risk factors associated with fatigue and dyspnoea included female gender, number of pre-existing comorbidities, and number of symptoms at hospitalization. The number of days at hospital was a risk factor just for dyspnoea. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue and/or dyspnoea were present in 70% of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors 7 months after discharge. In addition, 45% patients exhibited limitations on daily living activities. Being female, higher number of pre-existing medical comorbidities and number of symptoms at hospitalization were risk factors associated to fatigue/dyspnoea in COVID-19 survivors 7 months after hospitalization.

Understanding the Psychophysiological Mechanisms Related to Widespread Pressure Pain Hyperalgesia Underpinning Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Network Analysis Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Current evidence suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) involves widespread pressure pain sensitivity as a manifestion of central sensitization. This study aimed to quantify mechanisms driving widespread pressure pain hyperalgesia in CTS by using network analysis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Urban hospital. SUBJECTS: Women with CTS (n=120) who participated in a previous randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Pain intensity, related function, symptom severity, depressive levels, and pressure pain threshold (PPTs) over the median, radial, and ulnar nerves, as well as the cervical spine, the carpal tunnel, and the tibialis anterior, were collected. Network analysis was used to quantify the adjusted correlations between the modeled variables and to determine the centrality indices of each variable (i.e., the degree of connection with other symptoms in the network). RESULTS: The estimated network showed several local associations between clinical variables and the psychophysical outcomes separately. The edges with the strongest weights were those between the PPT over the median nerve and the PPT over the radial nerve (P=0.34), between function and depressive levels (P=0.30), and between the PPT over the carpal tunnel and the PPT over the tibialis anterior (P=0.29 ). The most central variables were PPT over the tibialis anterior (the highest Strength centrality) and PPT over the carpal tunnel (the highest Closeness and Betweenness centrality). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to apply network analysis to understand the multivariate mechanisms of individuals with CTS. Our findings support a model in which clinical symptoms, depression, and widespread pressure pain sensitivity are connected, albeit within separate clusters. The clinical implications of the present findings, such as the development of treatments targeting these mechanisms, are also discussed.

Is Dry Needling Effective for the Management of Spasticity, Pain, and Motor Function in Post-Stroke Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of muscle dry needling alone or combined with other interventions on post-stroke spasticity (muscle tone), related pain, motor function, and pressure sensitivity. DATABASES AND DATA TREATMENT: Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials including post-stroke patients where at least one group received dry needling and outcomes were collected on spasticity and related pain. Secondary outcomes included motor function and pressure pain sensitivity. Data were extracted by two reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, methodological quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database score, and the quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Between-groups mean differences (MDs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated. RESULTS: Seven studies (three within the lower extremity, four in the upper extremity) were included. The meta-analysis found significantly large effect sizes of dry needling for reducing spasticity (SMD: -1.01, 95%confidence interval [CI] -1.68 to -0.34), post-stroke pain (SMD -1.01, 95%CI -1.73 to -0.30), and pressure pain sensitivity (SMD 1.21, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.80) as compared with a comparative group at short-term follow-up. The effect on spasticity was found mainly in the lower extremity (MD -1.05, 95% CI: -1.32 to -0.78) at short-term follow-up. No effect on spasticity was seen at 4 weeks. No significant effect on motor function (SMD 0.16, 95% CI: -0.13 to 0.44) was observed. The risk of bias was generally low, but the imprecision of the results downgraded the level of evidence. CONCLUSION: Moderate evidence suggests a positive effect of dry needling on spasticity (muscle tone) in the lower extremity in post-stroke patients. The effects on related pain and motor function are inconclusive.

Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity decreases in Mediterranean pine forests adapted to recurrent fires.

Fire is a major disturbance linked to the evolutionary history and climate of Mediterranean ecosystems, where the vegetation has evolved fire-adaptive traits (e.g., serotiny in pines). In Mediterranean forests, mutualistic feedbacks between trees and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, essential for ecosystem dynamics, might be shaped by recurrent fires. We tested how the structure and function of ECM fungal communities of Pinus pinaster and Pinus halepensis vary among populations subjected to high and low fire recurrence in Mediterranean ecosystems, and analysed the relative contribution of environmental (climate, soil properties) and tree-mediated (serotiny) factors. For both pines, local and regional ECM fungal diversity were lower in areas of high than low fire recurrence, although certain fungal species were favoured in the former. A general decline of ECM root-tip enzymatic activity for P. pinaster was associated with high fire recurrence, but not for P. halepensis. Fire recurrence and fire-related factors such as climate, soil properties or tree phenotype explained these results. In addition to the main influence of climate, the tree fire-adaptive trait serotiny recovered a great portion of the variation in structure and function of ECM fungal communities associated with fire recurrence. Edaphic conditions (especially pH, tightly linked to bedrock type) were an important driver shaping ECM fungal communities, but mainly at the local scale and probably independently of the fire recurrence. Our results show that ECM fungal community shifts are associated with fire recurrence in fire-prone dry Mediterranean forests, and reveal complex feedbacks among trees, mutualistic fungi and the surrounding environment in these ecosystems.

Non-synonymous polymorphisms in candidate gene associated with growth traits in Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, Rafinesque, 1818).

Resequencing of Myostatin, Growth Hormone, Follistatin-A-like, Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) and Myogenin (MYOG) genes was completed to discover novel genetic variations and assess non synonymous (ns) polymorphisms (SNPs) effect on growth related traits of channel catfish. Wild and farmed animals were used as a discovering population. Resequencing lead to the identification of 59 new variants in the five analyzed genes; 66% found in introns and 34% in coding regions. From coding regions, 14 variants were synonyms and six were ns variations. A mutation rate of one in 129 bp was estimated. Four ns variations were selected for validation and association analysis. In IGF-I two ns polymorphisms, at IGF-I19 the G wild type allele was fixed in population and for IGF-I63 the C allele had a frequency of 0.972 and for mutate allele G of 0.027. In MYOG two ns SNPs were assessed. MYOG131 presented a frequency of alleles T and A, of 0.754 and 0.246, respectively and MYOG233, with a frequency of G and C of 0.775 and 0.225, respectively. Only MYOG131 (g.529T>A) was significantly associated (P < 0.04) to some growth traits. Results suggest MYOG131 g.529T>A as candidate locus for genetic enhancement of growth traits in channel catfish.

Changes in Muscle Tone, Function, and Pain in the Chronic Hemiparetic Shoulder after Dry Needling Within or Outside Trigger Points in Stroke Patients: A Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of applying dry needling into a trigger point (TrP) or non-TrP area in people who have suffered a stroke and to investigate if the effects of dry needling are maintained at six-week follow-up. METHODS: A controlled, repeated-measures, crossover, double-blinded randomized trial was conducted. Nineteen patients with hemiparetic shoulder pain after a stroke event were randomly assigned to receive a single multimodal treatment session combined with TrP dry needling or non-TrP dry needling. The neuro-rehabilitation session included modulatory interventions targeting the central nervous system. Spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale), shoulder pain intensity (numerical pain rate scale, 0-10), and upper extremity function (Motor Evaluation Scale for Upper Extremity in Stroke [MESUPES], Reaching Performance Scale [RPS]) were assessed before (baseline) and one, two, three, four, five, and six weeks after the treatment session by a blinded assessor. All participants received both sessions in a randomized order where they were followed up for six weeks before receiving the opposite treatment and then followed up for another six weeks. RESULTS: Changes in muscle tone (all P > 0.266) and upper extremity function (MESUPES: F = 0.544, P = 0.465; RPS close task: F = 0.820, P = 0.371; RPS far task: 0.830, P = 0.368) were similar after both interventions at all follow-up periods. The decrease in shoulder pain was higher within the TrP dry needling group as compared with the non-TrP dry needling group, particularly at two and four weeks (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of dry needling on muscle tone (spasticity) and upper extremity function is not related to its application in or outside of a TrP area. The effect of dry needling on shoulder pain was slightly superior when applied over a TrP in poststroke people. These effects were maintained six weeks after treatment.

Pelvic floor muscle training adapted for urinary incontinence in multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect up to 80% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present randomized, open-label, clinical trial examines the effectiveness, as a conservative treatment for LUTS, of a physiotherapist-guided pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program adapted for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and urinary incontinence (UI). METHODS: Forty-eight patients with RRMS were randomly assigned to a 12-week PFMT program with or without physiotherapist guidance. The primary endpoint was the reduction in urinary leakages after 12 weeks of following the program. The secondary variables assessed were quality of life (QoL), UI severity, LUTS, and treatment adherence. RESULTS: Forty patients completed the program. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were seen between the two treatment groups. At 12 weeks, both groups reported a significantly reduced number of leakages compared with baseline (P < 0.001), with no significant differences seen between groups (P = 0.210). In the physiotherapist-guided group, significant differences were found in QoL, UI severity, and LUTS between baseline and 12 weeks, for both male and female subjects. No significant differences in adherence were seen between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: No difference in leakage reduction was seen between physiotherapist-guided and unguided PFMT. However, the physiotherapist-guided program was associated with improvements in UI severity, QoL, and LUTS in women and men. The guided PFMT group also showed a trend towards better adherence to treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: No. NCT03000647; Title: "Guided Versus Non-Guided Pelvic Floor Exercises for Urinary Incontinence in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis."

Perceived Pain Extent Is Not Associated with Physical, Psychological, or Psychophysical Outcomes in Women with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Our aims were 1) to investigate whether perceived pain extent, assessed from the pain drawing, relates to clinical, psychological, and psychophysical outcomes in women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS); 2) to assess differences in pain extent depending on the presence of median or extramedian symptoms; and 3) to investigate differences in pain extent according to severity (minimal, moderate, or severe) or laterality (unilateral or bilateral) of CTS. METHODS: One hundred forty (N = 140) women with CTS completed pain drawings, which were subsequently digitized, allowing pain extent to be calculated. Clinical features including pain intensity (numerical pain rating scale, 0-10) and disability (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire), psychological features including depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and psychophysical variables (pressure pain and thermal pain thresholds) were assessed. Spearman rho correlation coefficients were used to reveal the correlations between pain extent and other outcomes. Differences in pain extent according to severity (minimal, moderate, severe) or laterality (unilateral, bilateral) and the presence of extramedian symptoms were also evaluated. RESULTS: No significant associations were identified between pain extent and clinical, psychological, or psychophysical outcomes. Women with extramedian symptoms (88%) exhibited a larger (P < 0.001) pain extent (total: 24.2% ± 13.5%) than women with median symptoms (12%; total: 12.2% ± 6.9%). Pain extent was not significantly different depending on the severity or laterality of the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Pain extent in the upper extremity was not associated with clinical, psychological, or psychophysical variables and was not related to the severity or laterality of the symptoms in women with CTS.

Signatures of selection in Charolais beef cattle identified by genome-wide analysis.

Charolais cattle are one of the most important breeds for meat production worldwide; in México, its selection is mainly made by live weight traits. One strategy for mapping important genomic regions that might influence productive traits is the identification of signatures of selection. This type of genomic features contains loci with extended linkage disequilibrium (LD) and homozygosity patterns that are commonly associated with sites of quantitative trait locus (QTL). Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the signatures of selection in Charolais cattle genotyped with the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler Bovine HD panel consisting of 77 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A total 61,311 SNPs and 819 samples were used for the analysis. Identification of signatures of selection was carried out using the integrated haplotype score (iHS) methodology implemented in the rehh R package. The top ten SNPs with the highest piHS values were located on BTA 4, 5, 6 and 14. By identifying markers in LD with top ten SNPs, the candidate regions defined were mapped to 52.8-59.3 Mb on BTA 4; 67.5-69.3 on BTA 5; 39.5-41.0 Mb on BTA 6; and 26.4-29.6 Mb on BTA 14. The comparison of these candidate regions with the bovine QTLdb effectively confirmed the association (p < 0.05) with QTL related to growth traits and other important productive traits. The genomic regions identified in this study indicated selection for growth traits on the Charolais population via the conservation of haplotypes on various chromosomes. These genomic regions and their associated genes could serve as the basis for haplotype association studies and for the identification of causal genes related to growth traits.

Influence of Clinical, Psychological, and Psychophysical Variables on Long-term Treatment Outcomes in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Evidence From a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of clinical, psychological, and psychophysical variables on long-term clinical outcomes after the application of either physical therapy or surgery in women presenting with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial investigating the efficacy of manual therapy including desensitization maneuvers of the central nervous system against surgery in 120 women with CTS was performed. Clinical outcomes including pain intensity, function, or symptom severity were assessed at 6 and 12 months post-intervention. Participants completed at baseline several clinical (pain intensity, function, and symptom severity), psychological (depression), and psychophysical (pressure pain thresholds and pain extent) variables, which were included as predictors. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between baseline variables and clinical outcomes at 6 and 12 months post-intervention. RESULTS: The regression models indicated that higher scores of each clinical outcome (ie, intensity of pain or symptom severity) at baseline predicted better outcomes at 6 and 12 months post-intervention (from 15% to 65% of variance) in both groups. Lower pressure pain thresholds over the carpal tunnel at baseline predicted poorer clinical outcomes at 6 and 12 months post-intervention (from 5% to 20% of variance) in the physical therapy group, whereas higher depressive symptoms at baseline contributed to poorer outcomes at 6 and 12 months post-intervention (from 5% to 15% of the variance) within the surgery group. CONCLUSION: This study found that baseline localized pressure pain sensitivity and depression were predictive of long-term clinical outcomes in women with CTS following physical therapy or surgery, respectively.

Choice Behavior Guided by Learned, But Not Innate, Taste Aversion Recruits the Orbitofrontal Cortex.

The ability to select an appropriate behavioral response guided by previous emotional experiences is critical for survival. Although much is known about brain mechanisms underlying emotional associations, little is known about how these associations guide behavior when several choices are available. To address this, we performed local pharmacological inactivations of several cortical regions before retrieval of an aversive memory in choice-based versus no-choice-based conditioned taste aversion (CTA) tasks in rats. Interestingly, we found that inactivation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), but not the dorsal or ventral medial prefrontal cortices, blocked retrieval of choice CTA. However, OFC inactivation left retrieval of no-choice CTA intact, suggesting its role in guiding choice, but not in retrieval of CTA memory. Consistently, OFC activity increased in the choice condition compared with no-choice, as measured with c-Fos immunolabeling. Notably, OFC inactivation did not affect choice behavior when it was guided by innate taste aversion. Consistent with an anterior insular cortex (AIC) involvement in storing taste memories, we found that AIC inactivation impaired retrieval of both choice and no-choice CTA. Therefore, this study provides evidence for OFC's role in guiding choice behavior and shows that this is dissociable from AIC-dependent taste aversion memory. Together, our results suggest that OFC is required and recruited to guide choice selection between options of taste associations relayed from AIC. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Survival and mental health depend on being able to choose stimuli not associated with danger. This is particularly important when danger is associated with stimuli that we ingest. Although much is known about the brain mechanisms that underlie associations with dangerous taste stimuli, very little is known about how these stored emotional associations guide behavior when it involves choice. By combining pharmacological and immunohistochemistry tools with taste-guided tasks, our study provides evidence for the key role of orbitofrontal cortex activity in choice behavior and shows that this is dissociable from the adjacent insular cortex-dependent taste aversion memory. Understanding the brain mechanisms that underlie the impact that emotional associations have on survival choice behaviors may lead to better treatments for mental disorders characterized by emotional decision-making deficits.

Functional outcomes of fungal community shifts driven by tree genotype and spatial-temporal factors in Mediterranean pine forests.

Fungi provide relevant ecosystem services contributing to primary productivity and the cycling of nutrients in forests. These fungal inputs can be decisive for the resilience of Mediterranean forests under global change scenarios, making necessary an in-deep knowledge about how fungal communities operate in these ecosystems. By using high-throughput sequencing and enzymatic approaches, we studied the fungal communities associated with three genotypic variants of Pinus pinaster trees, in 45-year-old common garden plantations. We aimed to determine the impact of biotic (i.e., tree genotype) and abiotic (i.e., season, site) factors on the fungal community structure, and to explore whether structural shifts triggered functional responses affecting relevant ecosystem processes. Tree genotype and spatial-temporal factors were pivotal structuring fungal communities, mainly by influencing their assemblage and selecting certain fungi. Diversity variations of total fungal community and of that of specific fungal guilds, together with edaphic properties and tree's productivity, explained relevant ecosystem services such as processes involved in carbon turnover and phosphorous mobilization. A mechanistic model integrating relations of these variables and ecosystem functional outcomes is provided. Our results highlight the importance of structural shifts in fungal communities because they may have functional consequences for key ecosystem processes in Mediterranean forests.

Compartmentalized and contrasted response of ectomycorrhizal and soil fungal communities of Scots pine forests along elevation gradients in France and Spain.

Fungi are principal actors of forest soils implied in many ecosystem services and the mediation of tree's responses. Forecasting fungal responses to environmental changes is necessary for maintaining forest productivity, although our partial understanding of how abiotic and biotic factors affect fungal communities is restricting the predictions. We examined fungal communities of Pinus sylvestris along elevation gradients to check potential responses to climate change-associated factors. Fungi of roots and soils were analysed at a regional scale, by using a high-throughput sequencing approach. Overall soil fungal richness increased with pH, whereas it did not vary with climate. However, when representative sub-assemblages, i.e. Ascomycetes/Basidiomycetes, and families were analysed, they differentially answered to climatic and edaphic variables. This response was dependent on where they settled, i.e. soil versus roots, and/or on their lifestyle, i.e. mycorrhizal or not, suggesting different potential functional weights within the community. Our results revealed a highly compartmentalized and contrasted response of fungal communities in forest soils. The different response of fungal sub-assemblages indicated a range of possible selective direct and indirect (i.e. via host) impacts of climatic variations on these communities, of unknown functional consequences, that helps in understanding potential fungal responses under future global change scenarios.

Associations of SNPs located at candidate genes to bovine growth traits, prioritized with an interaction networks construction approach.

BACKGROUND: For most domestic animal species, including bovines, it is difficult to identify causative genetic variants involved in economically relevant traits. The candidate gene approach is efficient because it investigates genes that are expected to be associated with the expression of a trait and defines whether the genetic variation present in a population is associated with phenotypic diversity. A potential limitation of this approach is the identification of candidates. This study used a bioinformatics approach to identify candidate genes via a search guided by a functional interaction network. RESULTS: A functional interaction network tool, BosNet, was constructed for Bos taurus. Predictions for candidate genes were performed using the guilt-by-association principle in BosNet. Association analyses identified five novel markers within BosNet-prioritized genes that had significant effects on different growth traits in Charolais and Brahman cattle. CONCLUSIONS: BosNet is an excellent tool for the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms that are potentially associated with complex traits.

Habitat Fragmentation can Modulate Drought Effects on the Plant-soil-microbial System in Mediterranean Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) Forests.

Ecological transformations derived from habitat fragmentation have led to increased threats to above-ground biodiversity. However, the impacts of forest fragmentation on soils and their microbial communities are not well understood. We examined the effects of contrasting fragment sizes on the structure and functioning of soil microbial communities from holm oak forest patches in two bioclimatically different regions of Spain. We used a microcosm approach to simulate the annual summer drought cycle and first autumn rainfall (rewetting), evaluating the functional response of a plant-soil-microbial system. Forest fragment size had a significant effect on physicochemical characteristics and microbial functioning of soils, although the diversity and structure of microbial communities were not affected. The response of our plant-soil-microbial systems to drought was strongly modulated by the bioclimatic conditions and the fragment size from where the soils were obtained. Decreasing fragment size modulated the effects of drought by improving local environmental conditions with higher water and nutrient availability. However, this modulation was stronger for plant-soil-microbial systems built with soils from the northern region (colder and wetter) than for those built with soils from the southern region (warmer and drier) suggesting that the responsiveness of the soil-plant-microbial system to habitat fragmentation was strongly dependent on both the physicochemical characteristics of soils and the historical adaptation of soil microbial communities to specific bioclimatic conditions. This interaction challenges our understanding of future global change scenarios in Mediterranean ecosystems involving drier conditions and increased frequency of forest fragmentation.

Single and composite influence of growth-related candidate gene polymorphisms on additive genetic variation of birth weight in Charolais beef cattle.

The objective of the present experiment work was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of genomic information on the additive genetic variance of birth weight (BW) of Charolais cattle in Mexico. Variance components and heritability were estimated using four linear models. The first model was the base model (BM) from which single and composite effects of selected single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were evaluated (BM1, BM2, and a composite BM3). Genetic markers were included in a regression model and analyzed by stepwise regression against adjusted BW from a panel of growth-related traits candidate gene markers. After two regression rounds, two SNPs (R (2) > 0.02) were chosen to include into the animal models as fixed effects. Growth hormone receptor gene GHR 4.2 and GHR 6.1 SNPs were selected from a panel of 39 SNPs. GHR 4.2 had a negligible effect on BW, whilst GHR6.1, interestingly, explained ∼9 % of genetic variance (p = 0.0877) with an αG>A = 0.509. The inclusion of markers in M2 and M3 reduced 19 and 15 % of the additive genetic variance, respectively. Both adjusted significantly better the linear model (LRT = p < 0.01). Results obtained suggest that the previous selection of markers in a candidate gene approach and subsequent inclusion of selected SNPs into animal model might provide a better fit, avoiding the overestimation of genetic variance components and breeding values for BW.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for central post-stroke pain: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Although rare, central post-stroke pain remains one of the most refractory forms of neuropathic pain. It has been reported that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be effective in these cases of pain. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of rTMS in patients with central post-stroke pain (CPSP). Methods: We included randomized controlled trials or Controlled Trials published until October 3rd, 2022, which studied the effect of rTMS compared to placebo in CPSP. We included studies of adult patients (>18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of stroke, in which the intervention consisted of the application of rTMS to treat CSP. Results: Nine studies were included in the qualitative analysis; 6 studies (4 RCT and 2 non-RCT), with 180 participants, were included in the quantitative analysis. A significant reduction in CPSP was found in favor of rTMS compared with sham, with a large effect size (SMD: -1.45; 95% CI: -1.87; -1.03; p < 0.001; I2: 58%). Conclusion: The findings of the present systematic review with meta-analysis suggest that there is low quality evidence for the effectiveness of rTMS in reducing CPSP. Systematic review registration: Identifier (CRD42022365655).