Multiomics approach to profiling Sertoli cell maturation during development of the spermatogonial stem cell niche.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the basis of spermatogenesis, a complex process supported by a specialized microenvironment, called the SSC niche. Postnatal development of SSCs is characterized by distinct metabolic transitions from prepubertal to adult stages. An understanding of the niche factors that regulate these maturational events is critical for the clinical application of SSCs in fertility preservation. To investigate the niche maturation events that take place during SSC maturation, we combined different '-omics' technologies. Serial single cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed changes in the transcriptomes indicative of niche maturation that was initiated at 11 years of age in humans and at 8 weeks of age in pigs, as evident by Monocle analysis of Sertoli cells and peritubular myoid cell (PMC) development in humans and Sertoli cell analysis in pigs. Morphological niche maturation was associated with lipid droplet accumulation, a characteristic that was conserved between species. Lipidomic profiling revealed an increase in triglycerides and a decrease in sphingolipids with Sertoli cell maturation in the pig model. Quantitative (phospho-) proteomics analysis detected the activation of distinct pathways with porcine Sertoli cell maturation. We show here that the main aspects of niche maturation coincide with the morphological maturation of SSCs, which is followed by their metabolic maturation. The main aspects are also conserved between the species and can be predicted by changes in the niche lipidome. Overall, this knowledge is pivotal to establishing cell/tissue-based biomarkers that could gauge stem cell maturation to facilitate laboratory techniques that allow for SSC transplantation for restoration of fertility.

Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion and access to primary-care based smoking cessation assistance among cancer survivors: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Smoking among cancer survivors can increase the risk of cancer reoccurrence, reduce treatment effectiveness and decrease quality of life. Cancer survivors without health insurance have higher rates of smoking and decreased probability of quitting smoking than cancer survivors with health insurance. This study examines the associations of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid insurance expansion with smoking cessation assistance and quitting smoking among cancer survivors seen in community health centers (CHCs). METHODS: Using electronic health record data from 337 primary care community health centers in 12 states that expanded Medicaid eligibility and 273 CHCs in 8 states that did not expand, we identified adult cancer survivors with a smoking status indicating current smoking within 6 months prior to ACA expansion in 2014 and ≥ 1 visit with smoking status assessed within 24-months post-expansion. Using an observational cohort propensity score weighted approach and logistic generalized estimating equation regression, we compared odds of quitting smoking, having a cessation medication ordered, and having ≥6 visits within the post-expansion period among cancer survivors in Medicaid expansion versus non-expansion states. RESULTS: Cancer survivors in expansion states had higher odds of having a smoking cessation medication order (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.54, 95%CI = 1.61-4.03) and higher odds of having ≥6 office visits than those in non-expansion states (aOR = 1.82, 95%CI = 1.22-2.73). Odds of quitting smoking did not differ significantly between patients in Medicaid expansion versus non-expansion states. CONCLUSIONS: The increased odds of having a smoking cessation medication order among cancer survivors seen in Medicaid expansion states compared with those seen in non-expansion states provides evidence of the importance of health insurance coverage in accessing evidence-based tobacco treatment within CHCs. Continued research is needed to understand why, despite increased odds of having a cessation medication prescribed, odds of quitting smoking were not significantly higher among cancer survivors in Medicaid expansion states compared to non-expansion states.

Prevalent Multimorbidity Combinations Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Seen in Community Health Centers.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic diseases) is associated with greater disability and higher treatment burden, as well as difficulty coordinating self-management tasks for adults with complex multimorbidity patterns. Comparatively little work has focused on assessing multimorbidity patterns among patients seeking care in community health centers (CHCs). OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize prevalent multimorbidity patterns in a multi-state network of CHCs over a 5-year period. DESIGN: A cohort study of the 2014-2019 ADVANCE multi-state CHC clinical data network. We identified the most prevalent multimorbidity combination patterns and assessed the frequency of patterns throughout a 5-year period as well as the demographic characteristics of patient panels by prevalent patterns. PARTICIPANTS: The study included data from 838,642 patients aged ≥ 45 years who were seen in 337 CHCs across 22 states between 2014 and 2019. MAIN MEASURES: Prevalent multimorbidity patterns of somatic, mental health, and mental-somatic combinations of 22 chronic diseases based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Multiple Chronic Conditions framework: anxiety, arthritis, asthma, autism, cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, dementia, depression, diabetes, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, osteoporosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and stroke. KEY RESULTS: Multimorbidity is common among middle-aged and older patients seen in CHCs: 40% have somatic, 6% have mental health, and 24% have mental-somatic multimorbidity patterns. The most frequently occurring pattern across all years is hyperlipidemia-hypertension. The three most frequent patterns are various iterations of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes and are consistent in rank of occurrence across all years. CKD-hyperlipidemia-hypertension and anxiety-depression are both more frequent in later study years. CONCLUSIONS: CHCs are increasingly seeing more complex multimorbidity patterns over time; these most often involve mental health morbidity and advanced cardiometabolic-renal morbidity.

Rapidly progressive hearing loss occurring over weeks: review of differential diagnoses.

BACKGROUND: Sudden hearing loss, or progressive hearing loss occurring over months to years, are well-established presentations. However, little is described in the medical literature on how to approach patients presenting with a rapidly progressive hearing loss occurring over weeks. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of patients presenting with rapidly progressive hearing loss. METHODS: A case of rapidly progressive hearing loss occurring over 12 weeks is presented. A PubMed literature review was performed to determine the evidence-based differential diagnoses for rapidly progressive hearing loss. RESULTS: Fifteen causes were identified for rapidly progressive hearing loss: intracranial aetiologies (meningioma, lymphoma, metastatic deposit, cavernous angioma, meningitis, superficial siderosis); paraneoplastic syndrome (small cell lung carcinoma, thymoma); inflammatory or autoimmune disorders (autoimmune inner-ear disease, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, Sjögren's syndrome); infective disorders (syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus); and medication-induced causes. CONCLUSION: Rapidly progressive hearing loss should be considered a 'red flag' symptom that warrants urgent action. Most causes are systemic or sinister in nature, and the patient's hearing loss can potentially be reversed.

Bovine Sperm Sexing Alters Sperm Morphokinetics and Subsequent Early Embryonic Development.

In artificial insemination the use of sex-sorted bovine sperm results in reduced conception, the causes of which are only partly understood. Therefore, we set out to investigate the effects of sexing on bovine sperm function and early embryonic development. Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) of sperm of the same bulls (n = 5), before and after sexing, demonstrated significantly reduced fast (A) and slow (B) progressively motile sperm (p < 0.05) after sexing. Sexed-sperm also revealed significantly less hyperactivated sperm (p < 0.05). As shown by time-lapse videomicroscopy of in vitro produced embryos (n = 360), embryos derived from sexed-sperm displayed significantly increased incidences of arrest at the 4-cell stage (p < 0.05). The relative risk for shrinkage/fusion of blastomeres with subsequent lysis was 1.71 times higher in the embryos derived from sexed-sperm as compared to conventional embryos (p < 0.05) resulting in significantly reduced blastocyst rates (p < 0.001). The relative risk for cleavage was 2.36 times lower in the embryos derived from sex-sorted sperm (p < 0.001). Additionally, sexed-sperm-derived embryos showed reduced survival times (hazard ratio HR = 1.54, p < 0.001) which were bull dependent (p < 0.001). However, the percentage of apoptotic cells was similar to conventional embryos. Furthermore, embryos derived from sexed-sperm were found to reach developmental stages at similar timings as conventional embryos. Our results suggest that reduced conception rates after sexing are due to altered sperm morphokinetics, decreasing the chance of sperm to reach and fertilise the oocyte, and aberrant early embryonic development.

Monitoring of single and double lipid membrane formation with high spatiotemporal resolution using evanescent light scattering microscopy.

Formation and quality of single solid supported lipid membranes and double lipid membranes were investigated with single vesicle resolution using label-free evanescence light scattering microscopy (EvSM). For the formation of double lipid membranes we made use of electrostatic interaction between charged lipids and oppositely charged cations.

Frequency of rare recessive mutations in unexplained late onset cerebellar ataxia.

Sporadic late onset cerebellar ataxia is a well-described clinical presentation with a broad differential diagnosis that adult neurologists should be familiar with. However, despite extensive clinical investigations, an acquired cause is identified in only a minority of cases. Thereafter, an underlying genetic basis is often considered, even in those without a family history. Here we apply whole exome sequencing to a cohort of 12 patients with late onset cerebellar ataxia. We show that 33% of 'idiopathic' cases harbor compound heterozygous mutations in known ataxia genes, including genes not included on multi-gene panels, or primarily associated with an ataxic presentation.

A novel de novo STXBP1 mutation is associated with mitochondrial complex I deficiency and late-onset juvenile-onset parkinsonism.

Mutations in STXBP1 have recently been identified as a cause of infantile epileptic encephalopathy. The underlying mechanism of the disorder remains unclear and, recently, several case reports have described broad and progressive neurological phenotypes in addition to early-onset epilepsy. Herein, we describe a patient with early-onset epilepsy who subsequently developed a progressive neurological phenotype including parkinsonism in her early teens. A de novo mutation in STXBP1 (c.416C>T, p.(Pro139Leu)) was detected with exome sequencing together with profound impairment of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain on muscle biopsy. These findings implicate a secondary impairment of mitochondrial function in the progressive nature of the disease phenotype.

Isolation and characterization of a metagenome-derived and cold-active lipase with high stereospecificity for (R)-ibuprofen esters.

We report on the isolation and biochemical characterization of a novel, cold-active and metagenome-derived lipase with a high stereo-selectivity for pharmaceutically important substrates. The respective gene was isolated from a cosmid library derived from oil contaminated soil and designated lipCE. The deduced aa sequence indicates that the protein belongs to the lipase family l.3, with high similarity to Pseudomonas fluorescens lipases containing a C-terminal secretion signal for ABC dependent transport together with possible motifs for Ca(2+)-binding sites. The overexpressed protein revealed a molecular weight of 53.2kDa and was purified by refolding from inclusion bodies after expression in Escherichia coli. The optimum temperature of LipCE was determined to be 30 degrees C. However, the enzyme still displayed 28% residual activity at 0 degrees C and 16% at -5 degrees C. Calcium ions strongly increased activity and thermal stability of the protein. Further detailed biochemical characterization of the recombinant enzyme showed an optimum pH of 7 and that it retained activity in the presence of a range of metal ions and solvents. A detailed analysis of the enzyme's substrate spectrum with more than 34 different substrates indicated that the enzyme was able to hydrolyze a wide variety of substrates including the conversion of long chain fatty acid substrates with maximum activity for pNP-caprate (C(10)). Furthermore LipCE was able to hydrolyze stereo-selectively ibuprofen-pNP ester with a high preference for the (R) enantiomer of >91% ee and it demonstrated selectivity for esters of primary alcohols, whereas esters of secondary or tertiary alcohols were nearly not converted.

Isolation and biochemical characterization of two novel metagenome-derived esterases.

The metagenomes of uncultured microbial communities are rich sources for novel biocatalysts. In this study, esterase EstA3 was derived from a drinking water metagenome, and esterase EstCE1 was derived from a soil metagenome. Both esterases are approximately 380 amino acids in size and show similarity to beta-lactamases, indicating that they belong to family VIII of the lipases/esterases. EstA3 had a temperature optimum at 50 degrees C and a pH optimum at pH 9.0. It was remarkably active and very stable in the presence of solvents and over a wide temperature and pH range. It is active in a multimeric form and displayed a high level of activity against a wide range of substrates including one secondary ester, 7-[3-octylcarboxy-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyloxy)]-coumarin, which is normally unreactive. EstCE1 was active in the monomeric form and had a temperature optimum at 47 degrees C and a pH optimum at pH 10. It exhibited the same level of stability as EstA3 over wide temperature and pH ranges and in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide, isopropanol, and methanol. EstCE1 was highly enantioselective for (+)-menthylacetate. These enzymes display remarkable characteristics that cannot be related to the original environment from which they were derived. The high level of stability of these enzymes together with their unique substrate specificities make them highly useful for biotechnological applications.

Characterization of a metagenome-derived halotolerant cellulase.

Metagenomes of uncultured microorganisms represent a sheer unlimited resource for discovery of novel biocatalysts. Here, we report on the biochemical characterisation of a novel, soil metagenome-derived cellulase (endoglucanase), Cel5A. The deduced amino acid sequence of Cel5A was similar to a family 5, single domain cellulase with no distinct cellulose binding domain from Cellvibrio mixtus. The 1092bp ORF encoding Cel5A was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the corresponding 42.1 kDa protein purified using three-step chromatography. The recombinant Cel5A protein was highly active against soluble cellulose substrates containing beta-1,4 linkages, such as lichenan and barley beta-glucan, and not active against insoluble cellulose. Glucose was not among the initial hydrolysis products, indicating an endo mode of action. Cel5A displayed a wide range of pH activity with a maximum at pH 6.5 and at least 60% activity at pH 5.5 and 9.0. The enzyme was highly stable at 40 degrees C for up to 11 days, and retained 86-87% activity after incubation with 3M NaCl, 3M RbCl or 4M KCl for 20 h. Cel5A was also active in the presence of diverse divalent cations, detergents and EDTA. This highly stable, salt and pH tolerant cellulase is an ideal candidate for industrial applications.

The evacuation of British children during World War II: a preliminary investigation into the long-term psychological effects.

The authors used attachment theory to hypothesize about the possible long-term psychological effects of evacuation during World War II, focusing on children who were evacuated unaccompanied by their parents. The study aimed to establish whether this experience had long-term effects on psychological well-being, and to investigate mediating and moderating factors. The study utilized a retrospective non-randomized design, comparing 169 former evacuees with 43 people who were children during the war but not evacuated. No differences between the groups were found in terms of demographic variables or exposure to war-related events. All participants completed a range of standardized self-report questionnaires. Findings indicated that former evacuees were more likely to have insecure attachment styles and lower levels of present psychological well-being. Satisfaction with, but not quantity of, current social support was found to mediate the relationship between attachment style and present psychological well-being. Conclusions are limited due to the method of measurement of attachment style, non-randomized design and method of recruitment. Nevertheless, findings offer an indication that the experience of evacuation is associated with long-term psychological vulnerability through its relationship with insecure attachment.

Subcutaneous fibrosarcoma in an aged guinea pig.

A 9-year-old, female guinea pig was diagnosed with a subcutaneous fibrosarcoma overlying the ventral thorax. The mass was invasive within the subcutis without extension into surrounding structures or organ systems. Other findings included cystic ovaries, renal cortical cysts, nodular hyperplasia of the liver, and myocardial fibrosis with pulmonary hypertension.

Vertical profiles of aerosol volume from high-spectral-resolution infrared transmission measurements. I. Methodology.

The wavelength-dependent aerosol extinction in the 800-1250-cm(-1) region has been derived from ATMOS (atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy) high-spectral-resolution IR transmission measurements. Using models of aerosol and cloud extinction, we have performed weighted nonlinear least-squares fitting to determine the aerosol-volume columns and vertical profiles of stratospheric sulfate aerosol and cirrus cloud volume. Modeled extinction by use of cold-temperature aerosol optical constants for a 70-80% sulfuric-acid-water solution shows good agreement with the measurements, and the derived aerosol volumes for a 1992 occultation are consistent with data from other experiments after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. The retrieved sulfuric acid aerosol-volume profiles are insensitive to the aerosol-size distribution and somewhat sensitive to the set of optical constants used. Data from the nonspherical cirrus extinction model agree well with a 1994 mid-latitude measurement indicating the presence of cirrus clouds at the tropopause.

Attachment in anorexia nervosa: a transgenerational perspective.

Both clinical and empirical studies suggest that insecure attachment is common in eating disordered populations. Clinical studies have addressed mother-daughter interactions, but there has been little empirical research into the mother's own attachment patterns and whether there might be intergenerational transmission of these patterns. We aimed to examine the attachment status of patients with severe anorexia nervosa and their mothers, using the 'gold standard' Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). We predicted: (1) a high level of insecurity among the patients (women with anorexia nervosa with or without bulimic behaviours); (2) that the mothers would show a higher rate of insecurity than predicted by population norms; and (3) that there might be attachment style associations within mother-daughter pairs. Twenty consecutive in-patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of anorexia nervosa were interviewed using the AAI, as were 12 of their mothers. The mental state of daughters was rated by experienced clinicians, and that of mothers by the Clinical Interview Schedule (Revised). AAIs were transcribed and rated by expert raters. Nineteen (95%) daughters and 10 (83%) mothers were rated insecure on the AAI. Of these, 15 (79%) daughters and seven (70%) mothers were dismissive in type. We did not find an association between mothers' and daughters' attachment style. The incidence of unresolved loss was high among the mothers (67%). Idealization scores were high and reflective functioning scores low in both mother and daughter groups. Women with anorexia nervosa and their mothers commonly have a dismissive attachment style. Low levels of reflective functioning and high idealization scores are found in both groups, and may be learned (or transmitted) from mother to daughter. A difficulty in emotional processing, exemplified by unresolved loss, may be transmitted to daughters, and act as a risk factor for the development of anorexia nervosa.

Attachment representations in adolescence: further evidence from psychiatric residential settings.

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) has afforded the opportunity to profile the various ways in which people make sense of early experience. While the initial research with the AAI was primarily based on non-clinical populations, this paper extends the growing body of knowledge concerning attachment representations in clinical samples, specifically among severely emotionally disturbed adolescents. The study investigated 39 adolescents resident on five regional adolescent units in the south-east of England. As predicted, the number of adolescents presenting as securely attached was low (n = 4), whilst the incidence of insecure attachment patterns in the sample was high (n = 35). When interviews were rated additionally in terms of lack of resolution, 59% of the sample were unresolved with respect to experiences of trauma or loss. Discussion addresses the possible uses of the AAI in therapeutic interventions for severely disturbed adolescents, which are centrally based on the formation of a secure, safe relationship with a non-threatening adult.

The contributions of behavioural genetic studies to attachment theory.

This review considers the ways in which the methods and theories of behavioural genetics and attachment theory are mutually informative. Four issues are discussed. First, the benefits of the adoptive and twin research designs for testing attachment theory proposals are examined. Second, the ways in which attachment research may elucidate the behavioural genetic concepts of 'shared' and 'non-shared' environment are assessed. Third, the methods use to clarify the role of child effects on child-parent attachment quality are addressed. Finally, the limitations and data analytic considerations of synthesizing behavioural genetic and attachment research are outlined.