Tadpoles rely on mechanosensory stimuli for communication when visual capabilities are poor.

The ways in which animals sense the world changes throughout development. For example, young of many species have limited visual capabilities, but still make social decisions, likely based on information gathered through other sensory modalities. Poison frog tadpoles display complex social behaviors that have been suggested to rely on vision despite a century of research indicating tadpoles have poorly-developed visual systems relative to adults. Alternatively, other sensory modalities, such as the lateral line system, are functional at hatching in frogs and may guide social decisions while other sensory systems mature. Here, we examined development of the mechanosensory lateral line and visual systems in tadpoles of the mimic poison frog (Ranitomeya imitator) that use vibrational begging displays to stimulate egg feeding from their mothers. We found that tadpoles hatch with a fully developed lateral line system. While begging behavior increases with development, ablating the lateral line system inhibited begging in pre-metamorphic tadpoles, but not in metamorphic tadpoles. We also found that the increase in begging and decrease in reliance on the lateral line co-occurs with increased retinal neural activity and gene expression associated with eye development. Using the neural tracer neurobiotin, we found that axonal innervations from the eye to the brain proliferate during metamorphosis, with little retinotectal connections in recently-hatched tadpoles. We then tested visual function in a phototaxis assay and found tadpoles prefer darker environments. The strength of this preference increased with developmental stage, but eyes were not required for this behavior, possibly indicating a role for the pineal gland. Together, these data suggest that tadpoles rely on different sensory modalities for social interactions across development and that the development of sensory systems in socially complex poison frog tadpoles is similar to that of other frog species.

Exploring the Limits of Artificial Intelligence for Referencing Scientific Articles.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of three artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots (ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Chatsonic) in generating accurate references from existing obstetric literature. STUDY DESIGN: Between mid-March and late April 2023, ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Chatsonic were prompted to provide references for specific obstetrical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2020. RCTs were considered for inclusion if they were mentioned in a previous article that primarily evaluated RCTs published by the top medical and obstetrics and gynecology journals with the highest impact factors in 2020 as well as RCTs published in a new journal focused on publishing obstetric RCTs. The selection of the three AI models was based on their popularity, performance in natural language processing, and public availability. Data collection involved prompting the AI chatbots to provide references according to a standardized protocol. The primary evaluation metric was the accuracy of each AI model in correctly citing references, including authors, publication title, journal name, and digital object identifier (DOI). Statistical analysis was performed using a permutation test to compare the performance of the AI models. RESULTS: Among the 44 RCTs analyzed, Google Bard demonstrated the highest accuracy, correctly citing 13.6% of the requested RCTs, whereas ChatGPT and Chatsonic exhibited lower accuracy rates of 2.4 and 0%, respectively. Google Bard often substantially outperformed Chatsonic and ChatGPT in correctly citing the studied reference components. The majority of references from all AI models studied were noted to provide DOIs for unrelated studies or DOIs that do not exist. CONCLUSION: To ensure the reliability of scientific information being disseminated, authors must exercise caution when utilizing AI for scientific writing and literature search. However, despite their limitations, collaborative partnerships between AI systems and researchers have the potential to drive synergistic advancements, leading to improved patient care and outcomes. KEY POINTS: · AI chatbots often cite scientific articles incorrectly.. · AI chatbots can create false references.. · Responsible AI use in research is vital..

Outpatient cervical ripening and labor induction with low-dose vaginal misoprostol reduces the interval to delivery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have summarized the evidence on the efficacy and safety of various outpatient cervical ripening methods. However, the method with the highest efficacy and safety profile has not been determined conclusively. We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy and safety of cervical ripening methods currently employed in the outpatient setting. DATA SOURCES: With the assistance of an experienced medical librarian, we performed a systematic search of the literature using MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We systematically searched electronic databases from inception to January 14, 2020. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We considered randomized controlled trials comparing a variety of methods for outpatient cervical ripening. METHODS: We conducted a frequentist random effects network meta-analysis employing data from randomized controlled trials. We performed a direct, pairwise meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of various outpatient cervical ripening methods, including placebo. We employed ranking strategies to determine the most efficacious method using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve; a higher surface under the cumulative ranking curve value implied a more efficacious method. We assessed the following outcomes: time from intervention to delivery, cesarean delivery rates, changes in the Bishop score, need for additional ripening methods, incidence of Apgar scores <7 at 5 minutes, and uterine hyperstimulation. RESULTS: We included data from 42 randomized controlled trials including 6093 participants. When assessing the efficacy of all methods, 25 µg vaginal misoprostol was the most efficacious in reducing the time from intervention to delivery (surface under the cumulative ranking curve of 1.0) without increasing the odds of cesarean delivery, the need for additional ripening methods, the incidence of a low Apgar score, or uterine hyperstimulation. Acupressure (surface under the cumulative ranking curve of 0.3) and primrose oil (surface under the cumulative ranking curve of 0.2) were the least effective methods in reducing the time to delivery interval. Among effective methods, 50 mg oral mifepristone was associated with the lowest odds of cesarean delivery (surface under the cumulative ranking curve of 0.9). CONCLUSION: When balancing efficacy and safety, vaginal misoprostol 25 µg represents the best method for outpatient cervical ripening.

Water birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to conduct a thorough and contemporary assessment of maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with water birth in comparison with land-based birth. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and gray literature sources, from inception to February 28, 2023. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included randomized and nonrandomized studies that assessed maternal and neonatal outcomes in patients who delivered either conventionally or while submerged in water. METHODS: Pooled unadjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effects model (restricted maximum likelihood method). We assessed the 95% prediction intervals to estimate the likely range of future study results. To evaluate the robustness of the results, we calculated fragility indices. Maternal infection was designated as the primary outcome, whereas postpartum hemorrhage, perineal lacerations, obstetrical anal sphincter injury, umbilical cord avulsion, low Apgar scores, neonatal aspiration requiring resuscitation, neonatal infection, neonatal mortality within 30 days of birth, and neonatal intensive care unit admission were considered secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 20,642 articles identified, 52 were included in the meta-analyses. Based on data from observational studies, water birth was not associated with increased probability of maternal infection compared with land birth (10 articles, 113,395 pregnancies; odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-1.14). Patients undergoing water birth had decreased odds of postpartum hemorrhage (21 articles, 149,732 pregnancies; odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.94). Neonates delivered while submerged in water had increased odds of cord avulsion (10 articles, 91,504 pregnancies; odds ratio, 1.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-2.24) and decreased odds of low Apgar scores (21 articles, 165,917 pregnancies; odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.82), neonatal infection (15 articles, 53,635 pregnancies; odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.97), neonatal aspiration requiring resuscitation (19 articles, 181,001 pregnancies; odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.84), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (30 articles, 287,698 pregnancies; odds ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.70). CONCLUSION: When compared with land birth, water birth does not appear to increase the risk of most maternal and neonatal complications. Like any other delivery method, water birth has its unique considerations and potential risks, which health care providers and expectant parents should evaluate thoroughly. However, with proper precautions in place, water birth can be a reasonable choice for mothers and newborns, in facilities equipped to conduct water births safely.

Methods for the induction of labor: efficacy and safety.

This review assessed the efficacy and safety of pharmacologic agents (prostaglandins, oxytocin, mifepristone, hyaluronidase, and nitric oxide donors) and mechanical methods (single- and double-balloon catheters, laminaria, membrane stripping, and amniotomy) and those generally considered under the rubric of complementary medicine (castor oil, nipple stimulation, sexual intercourse, herbal medicine, and acupuncture). A substantial body of published reports, including 2 large network meta-analyses, support the safety and efficacy of misoprostol (PGE1) when used for cervical ripening and labor induction. Misoprostol administered vaginally at doses of 50 µg has the highest probability of achieving vaginal delivery within 24 hours. Regardless of dosing, route, and schedule of administration, when used for cervical ripening and labor induction, prostaglandin E2 seems to have similar efficacy in decreasing cesarean delivery rates. Globally, although oxytocin represents the most widely used pharmacologic agent for labor induction, its effectiveness is highly dependent on parity and cervical status. Oxytocin is more effective than expectant management in inducing labor, and the efficacy of oxytocin is enhanced when combined with amniotomy. However, prostaglandins administered vaginally or intracervically are more effective in inducing labor than oxytocin. A single 200-mg oral tablet of mifepristone seems to represent the lowest effective dose for cervical ripening. The bulk of the literature assessing relaxin suggests this agent has limited benefit when used for this indication. Although intracervical injection of hyaluronidase may cause cervical ripening, the need for intracervical administration has limited the use of this agent. Concerning the vaginal administration of nitric oxide donors, including isosorbide mononitrate, isosorbide, nitroglycerin, and sodium nitroprusside, the higher incidence of side effects with these agents has limited their use. A synthetic hygroscopic cervical dilator has been found to be effective for preinduction cervical ripening. Although a pharmacologic agent may be administered after the use of the synthetic hygroscopic dilator, in an attempt to reduce the interval to vaginal delivery, concomitant use of mechanical and pharmacologic methods is being explored. Combining the use of a single-balloon catheter with dinoprostone, misoprostol, or oxytocin enhances the efficacy of these pharmacologic agents in cervical ripening and labor induction. The efficacy of single- and double-balloon catheters in cervical ripening and labor induction seems similar. To date, the combination of misoprostol with an intracervical catheter seems to be the best approach when balancing delivery times with safety. Although complementary methods are occasionally used by patients, given the lack of data documenting their efficacy and safety, these methods are rarely used in hospital settings.

Activity of FoxP2-positive neurons correlate with tadpole begging behavior.

Motor function is a critical aspect of social signaling in a wide range of taxa. The transcription factor FoxP2 is well studied in the context of vocal communication in humans, mice, and songbirds, but its role in regulating social signaling in other vertebrate taxa is unclear. We examined the distribution and activity of FoxP2-positive neurons in tadpoles of the mimetic poison frog (Ranitomeya imitator). In this species, tadpoles are reared in isolated plant nurseries and are aggressive to other tadpoles. Mothers provide unfertilized egg meals to tadpoles that perform a begging display by vigorously vibrating back and forth. We found that FoxP2 is widely distributed in the tadpole brain and parallels the brain distribution in mammals, birds, and fishes. We then tested the hypothesis that FoxP2-positive neurons would have differential activity levels in begging or aggression contexts compared to non-social controls. We found that FoxP2-positive neurons showed increased activation in the striatum and cerebellum only during begging. Overall, this work suggests a generalizable role for FoxP2 in social signaling across terrestrial vertebrates.

Intrapartum amnioinfusion reduces meconium aspiration syndrome and improves neonatal outcomes in patients with meconium-stained fluid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to reassess the effect of prophylactic transcervical amnioinfusion for intrapartum meconium-stained amniotic fluid on meconium aspiration syndrome and other adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. DATA SOURCES: From inception to November 2021, a systematic search of the literature was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases and gray literature sources. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We identified randomized controlled trials of patients with intrapartum moderate to thick meconium-stained amniotic fluid that evaluated the effect of amnioinfusion on adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. METHODS: Of note, 2 reviewers independently abstracted data and gauged study quality by assigning a modified Jadad score. Meconium aspiration syndrome constituted the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were meconium below the cords, Apgar scores of <7 at 5 minutes, neonatal acidosis, cesarean delivery, cesarean delivery for fetal heart rate abnormalities, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and postpartum endometritis. This study calculated the odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for categorical outcomes and weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals for continuous outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 24 randomized studies with 5994 participants met the inclusion criteria. The overall odds of meconium aspiration syndrome was reduced by 67% in the amnioinfusion group (pooled odds ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.51). Except for postpartum endometritis, amnioinfusion was associated with a significant reduction in all secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our study found that the use of intrapartum amnioinfusion in the setting of meconium-stained amniotic fluid significantly reduces the odds of meconium aspiration syndrome and other adverse neonatal outcomes.

Argentine ant extract induces an osm-9 dependent chemotaxis response in C. elegans.

Many ant species are equipped with chemical defenses, although how these compounds impact nervous system function is unclear. Here, we examined the utility of Caenorhabditis elegans chemotaxis assays for investigating how ant chemical defense compounds are detected by heterospecific nervous systems. We found that C. elegans respond to extracts from the invasive Argentine Ant ( Linepithema humile ) and the osm-9 ion channel is required for this response. Divergent strains varied in their response to L. humile extracts, suggesting genetic variation underlying chemotactic responses. These experiments were conducted by an undergraduate laboratory course, highlighting how C. elegans chemotaxis assays in a classroom setting can provide genuine research experiences and reveal new insights into interspecies interactions.

Albino Xenopus laevis tadpoles prefer dark environments compared to wild type.

Tadpoles display preferences for different environments but the sensory modalities that govern these choices are not well understood. Here, we examined light preferences and associated sensory mechanisms of albino and wild-type Xenopus laevis tadpoles. We found that albino tadpoles spent more time in darker environments compared to the wild type, although they showed no differences in overall activity. This preference persisted when the tadpoles had their optic nerve severed or pineal glands removed, suggesting these sensory systems alone are not necessary for phototaxis. These experiments were conducted by an undergraduate laboratory course, highlighting how X. laevis tadpole behavior assays in a classroom setting can reveal new insights into animal behavior.

Uncommon aetiology of lymphadenopathy in a healthy child: a sporotrichosis case with painless lymphadenopathy.

A 6-year-old boy was referred to the paediatric infectious disease clinic with a 2-month history of enlarged, erythematous, painless cervical lymph nodes. He initially presented to his paediatrician with a painless lesion. At that time, he was treated empirically with clindamycin and azithromycin due to a history of cat exposure. Despite treatment, the lesion evolved into a non-healing linear ulcer with painless, ascending cervical lymphadenopathy. Serologies were negative for Bartonella henselae antibodies. Additional laboratory studies revealed eosinophilia and negative Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. After no improvement following a course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, further questioning revealed that the patient had fallen into a haystack 1 month before the initial cervical lesion. The patient's parents opted to treat the infection empirically for sporotrichosis with itraconazole rather than undergo lymph node biopsy. At the 2-week follow-up, his lymphadenopathy had resolved and had returned to baseline activity.

Neural correlates of winning and losing fights in poison frog tadpoles.

Aggressive competition for resources among juveniles is documented in many species, but the neural mechanisms regulating this behavior in young animals are poorly understood. In poison frogs, increased parental care is associated with decreased water volume of tadpole pools, resource limitation, and aggression. Indeed, the tadpoles of many poison frog species will attack, kill, and cannibalize other tadpoles. We examined the neural basis of conspecific aggression in Dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) tadpoles by comparing individuals that won aggressive encounters, lost aggressive encounters, or did not engage in a fight. We first compared patterns of generalized neural activity using immunohistochemical detection of phosphorylated ribosomes (pS6) as a proxy for neural activation associated with behavior. We found increased neural activity in the medial pallium and preoptic area of loser tadpoles, suggesting the amphibian homologs of the mammalian hippocampus and preoptic area may facilitate loser-associated behaviors. Nonapeptides (arginine vasotocin and mesotocin) and dopamine have been linked to aggression in other vertebrates and are located in the preoptic area. We next examined neural activity specifically in nonapeptide- and tyrosine-hydroxylase-positive cells using double-label immunohistochemistry. We found increased neural activity specifically in the preoptic area nonapeptide neurons of winners, whereas we found no differences in activity of dopaminergic cells among behavioral groups. Our findings suggest the neural correlates of aggression in poison frog tadpoles are similar to neural mechanisms mediating aggression in adults and juveniles of other vertebrate taxa.

Lovastatin inhibits oxidized L-A-phosphatidylcholine B-arachidonoyl-gamma-palmitoyl (ox-PAPC)-stimulated interleukin-8 mRNA and protein synthesis in human aortic endothelial cells by depleting stores of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.

Human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) exposed to 50 microg/ml oxidized L-A-phosphatidylcholine B-arachidonoyl-gamma-palmitoyl (ox-PAPC) for 6h increased in interleukin-8 mRNA and protein levels. Preincubation of HAEC with the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG CoA) inhibitor, (20 microM), significantly inhibited ox-PAPC-stimulated interleukin-8 mRNA and protein levels. Mevalonate (200 microM) reversed the inhibition of ox-PAPC-stimulated mRNA and protein levels by lovastatin, indicating the inhibitory effect of lovastatin was due to inhibition of mevalonate synthesis. Addition of the geranylgeraniol (GGOL, 10 microM) but not farnesol (FOL, 10 microM), reversed the inhibitory effect of lovastatin on interleukin-8 mRNA and protein levels stimulated by ox-PAPC, indicating that lovastatin exerted its effect by inhibiting stores of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) which are necessary for geranylgeranylation of proteins. These results suggest a new mechanism for lovastatin in preventing atherosclerosis by inhibiting the inflammatory response that takes place in the vascular wall.