Sex-specific associations between AD genotype and the microbiome of human amyloid beta knock-in (hAβ-KI) mice

INTRODUCTION

Emerging evidence links changes in the gut microbiome to late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), necessitating examination of AD mouse models with consideration of the microbiome.

METHODS

We used shotgun metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics to study the human amyloid beta knock-in (hAβ-KI) murine model for LOAD compared to both wild-type (WT) mice and a model for early-onset AD (3xTg-AD).

RESULTS

Eighteen-month female (but not male) hAβ-KI microbiomes were distinct from WT microbiomes, with AD genotype accounting for 18% of the variance by permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Metabolomic diversity differences were observed in females, however no individual metabolites were differentially abundant. hAβ-KI mice microbiomes were distinguishable from 3xTg-AD animals (81% accuracy by random forest modeling), with separation primarily driven by Romboutsia ilealis and Turicibacter species. Microbiomes were highly cage specific, with cage assignment accounting for more than 40% of the PERMANOVA variance between the groups.

DISCUSSION

These findings highlight a sex-dependent variation in the microbiomes of hAβ-KI mice and underscore the importance of considering the microbiome when designing studies that use murine models for AD.

HIGHLIGHTS

Microbial diversity and the abundance of several species differed in human amyloid beta knock-in (hAβ-KI) females but not males. Correlations to Alzheimer's disease (AD) genotype were stronger for the microbiome than the metabolome. Microbiomes from hAβ-KI mice were distinct from 3xTg-AD mice. Cage effects accounted for most of the variance in the microbiome and metabolome.

End-to-end stapled technique for Kono-S anastomosis

PURPOSE

Our aim was to develop a Kono-S anastomotic technique using surgical staplers.

METHODS

Two patients underwent stapled Kono-S anastomosis, one via abdominal and one transanal approach.

RESULTS

The approach for an abdominal and transanal stapled Kono-S anastomosis is detailed.

CONCLUSION

The Kono-S anastomosis can be safely configured using common surgical staplers.

RNA Viromics of Southern California Wastewater and Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Single-Nucleotide Variants

Municipal wastewater provides an integrated sample of a diversity of human-associated microbes across a sewershed, including viruses. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising strategy to detect pathogens and may serve as an early warning system for disease outbreaks. Notably, WBE has garnered substantial interest during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to track disease burden through analyses of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, tracking SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has been an important tool for understanding the spread of the virus. Unlike traditional sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from clinical samples, which adds testing burden to the health care system, in this study, metatranscriptomics was used to sequence virus directly from wastewater. Here, we present a study in which we explored RNA viral diversity through sequencing 94 wastewater influent samples across seven wastewater treatment plants (WTPs), collected from August 2020 to January 2021, representing approximately 16 million people in Southern California. Enriched viral libraries identified a wide diversity of RNA viruses that differed between WTPs and over time, with detected viruses including coronaviruses, influenza A, and noroviruses. Furthermore, single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) of SARS-CoV-2 were identified in wastewater, and we measured proportions of overall virus and SNVs across several months. We detected several SNVs that are markers for clinically important SARS-CoV-2 variants along with SNVs of unknown function, prevalence, or epidemiological consequence. Our study shows the potential of WBE to detect viruses in wastewater and to track the diversity and spread of viral variants in urban and suburban locations, which may aid public health efforts to monitor disease outbreaks. IMPORTANCE Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can detect pathogens across sewersheds, which represents the collective waste of human populations. As there is a wide diversity of RNA viruses in wastewater, monitoring the presence of these viruses is useful for public health, industry, and ecological studies. Specific to public health, WBE has proven valuable during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to track the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) without adding burden to health care systems. In this study, we used metatranscriptomics and reverse transcription-droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) to assay RNA viruses across Southern California wastewater from August 2020 to January 2021, representing approximately 16 million people from Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. We found that SARS-CoV-2 quantification in wastewater correlates well with county-wide COVID-19 case data, and that we can detect SARS-CoV-2 single-nucleotide variants through sequencing. Likewise, wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) harbored different viromes, and we detected other human pathogens, such as noroviruses and adenoviruses, furthering our understanding of wastewater viral ecology.

Intravascular Ultrasound—Guided Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement in the Military Multitrauma Patients: A Single-Center Experience

Background: High velocity fragments have resulted in a multitude of complex injuries in the military patients, placing them at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided bedside inferior vena cava (IVC) filters placed between August 2003 and October 2007. Results: Fourteen patients had bedside IVUS-guided retrievable filter placement. Thirteen males and one female and the mean (+SD) injury severity scores (ISS) was 37.2 (+9.9). The most common causes of injury were explosive devices (57%), gunshot wounds (28%), rocket-propelled grenades (7%), and motor vehicle crashes (7%). Indications for filter insertion were deep venous thrombosis in 36% of patients and pulmonary embolus in 28%. Thirty five percent had filters inserted prophylactically. Conclusions: Military trauma population ISS is considerably higher than what is reported in the civilian population. The bedside IVUS-guided IVC filter insertion is particularly useful in this population.

Giant viscosity enhancement in a spin-polarized fermi liquid

The viscosity is measured for a Fermi liquid, a dilute 3He-4He mixture, under extremely high magnetic field/temperature conditions (B<or=14.8 T, T>or=1.5 mK). The spin-splitting energy microB is substantially greater than the Fermi energy kBTF; as a consequence the polarization tends to unity and s-wave quasiparticle scattering is suppressed for T<<TF. Using a novel composite vibrating-wire viscometer an enhancement of the viscosity is observed by a factor of more than 500 over its low-field value. Good agreement is found between the measured viscosity and theoretical predictions based upon a t-matrix formalism.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen managed laparoscopically. Can preoperative imaging establish the diagnosis? Case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen, or inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, is an uncommon condition easily mistaken for a malignant process. Patients may be asymptomatic or may present with nonspecific abdominal complaints. Mild constitutional symptoms have also been reported. The ability to diagnose this entity radiographically preoperatively may allow the uniform application of laparoscopy to manage this condition and spare patients open splenectomy.

METHODS

Chart review and literature review.

RESULTS

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen was successfully managed laparoscopically. Preoperative evaluation suggested but could not confirm the diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A hypovascular solid splenic mass by Doppler ultrasound or CT scan suggests the diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor. Stellate central calcifications seen on CT scan make the diagnosis very likely. Laparoscopic splenectomy can be used for definitive diagnosis and symptomatic relief with minimal morbidity and mortality.

The Management of Trauma Venous Injury: Civilian and Wartime Experiences

The management of venous trauma continues to be debated. Historically, ligation of injured veins is the most common modality of surgical treatment. In the past half-century, additional techniques have been used, including primary repair, interposition graft, and occasionally endovascular techniques. Venous repair, whether in the acute or chronic setting, is believed to prevent or ameliorate the complications of pain, edema, and phlegmasia. Venous repair in civilian trauma and in wartime is commonplace; however, overall treatment strategies remain largely unchanged since the Vietnam War.

Quantization of the diagonal resistance: density gradients and the empirical resistance rule in a 2D system

We have observed quantization of the diagonal resistance, R(xx), at the edges of several quantum Hall states. Each quantized R(xx) value is close to the difference between the two adjacent Hall plateaus in the off-diagonal resistance, R(xy). Peaks in R(xx) occur at different positions in positive and negative magnetic fields. Practically all R(xx) features can be explained quantitatively by a 1%/cm electron density gradient. Therefore, R(xx) is determined by R(xy) and unrelated to the diagonal resistivity rho(xx). Our findings throw an unexpected light on the empirical resistivity rule for 2D systems.

Tilt-induced localization and delocalization in the second Landau level

We have investigated the behavior of electronic phases of the second Landau level under tilted magnetic fields. The fractional quantum Hall liquids at nu=2+1/5 and 2+4/5 and the solid phases at nu=2.30, 2.44, 2.57, and 2.70 are quickly destroyed with tilt. This behavior can be interpreted as a tilt driven localization of the 2+1/5 and 2+4/5 fractional quantum Hall liquids and a delocalization through the melting of solid phases in the top Landau level, respectively. The evolution towards the classical Hall gas of the solid phases is suggestive of antiferromagnetic ordering.

Electron correlation in the second Landau level: a competition between many nearly degenerate quantum phases

At a very low-temperature of 9 mK, electrons in the second Landau level of an extremely high-mobility two-dimensional electron system exhibit a very complex electronic behavior. With a varying filling factor, quantum liquids of different origins compete with several insulating phases leading to an irregular pattern in the transport parameters. We observe a fully developed nu=2+2/5 state separated from the even-denominator nu=2+1/2 state by an insulating phase and a nu=2+2/7 and nu=2+1/5 state surrounded by such phases. A developing plateau at nu=2+3/8 points to the existence of other even-denominator states.

New evidence for zero-temperature relaxation in a spin-polarized fermi liquid

Spin-echo experiments are reported for 3He-4He solutions under extremely high B/T conditions, B=14.75 T and T>or=1.73 mK. The 3He concentration x(3) was adjusted close to the value x(c) approximately 3.8% at which the spin-rotation parameter muM0 vanishes. In this way the transverse and longitudinal spin-diffusion coefficients D( perpendicular ),D( parallel ) were measured while keeping |muM(0)|<1. It is found that the temperature dependence of D( perpendicular ) deviates strongly from 1/T(2), with anisotropy temperature T(a)=4.26(+0.18)(-0.44) mK. This value is close to the theoretical prediction for dilute solutions and suggests that spin current relaxation remains finite as the temperature tends to zero.

Splenic infarction following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication: management strategies

Techniques for mobilizing the greater curve of the stomach during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) include division of the short gastric vessels (SGV). The splenic artery and vein lie directly posterior to the proper plane of dissection. Uncontrolled bleeding during SGV division places the splenic vessels at risk for inadvertent injury or ligation. We report herein on 2 patients referred to our institution who had left upper quadrant pain and radiographic evidence of segmental splenic infarction (SI) that resulted from a peripheral splenic artery branch injury during LNF. Management strategies included a trial of conservative management and splenectomy for persistent symptoms or complications resulting from SI. Intense inflammation and adhesion formation making laparoscopic splenectomy difficult should be anticipated when operating on the infarcted spleen.

Novel magnetism in 3He nanoclusters

The magnetic susceptibility of 3He nanoclusters embedded in a 4He matrix has been measured from 0.5 to 10 mK at pressures from 2.88 to 3.54 MPa. Even the lowest pressure clusters have a solid fraction in the region of the phase diagram where bulk solid is unstable. At 3.54 MPa, straight theta = -250 microK, equal to that of bulk 3He for v = 21.3 cm3/mole. For 2.88 MPa, straight theta = 140 microK, indicating a ferromagnetic tendency, similar to 2D films at some coverages. At intermediate pressures, chi has a peak near 1.05 mK, but with no discontinuity. Magnetic ordering in nanoclusters appears to be different than the U2D2 phase of bulk 3He.

Parasitic infections in Asian refugees in Fort Worth

This report describes parasitic infections recorded from April 1984 to December 1987 in refugees using services of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Public Health Department. Infections with 1,601 parasitic infections were documented in 824 laboratory specimens obtained from refugees. Ascariasis and giardiasis were more prevalent than other parasitic infections. The highest attack rates occurred in refugees from Cambodia (70.0%), Laos (69.7%), and Vietnam (54.3%). Information from this study supports published data on high attack rates and endemicity of infections in refugees from Southeast Asia. Continued surveillance and treatment of these refugees should improve their health conditions and prevent the development of endemic foci in the United States.

Non-01 Vibrio cholerae bacteremia--complication of a LeVeen shunt

Vibrio cholerae bacteremia occurred in a patient with cirrhosis after placement of a LeVeen shunt. At the time of bacteremia, cultures of peritoneal fluid were negative and fluid dynamics did not suggest spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Despite apparent successful treatment of the bacteremia, relapse and death occurred with culture positivity of peritoneal fluid for V. cholerae. Simultaneously, blood cultures were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. Agglutination studies demonstrated the V. cholerae to be a non-01 strain. Insertion of a LeVeen shunt, which bypasses the hepatic clearance mechanisms, appeared to have allowed bacteremia to occur with this bacterium that is rarely isolated from blood. In patients with LeVeen shunts, bacteremia with noninvasive pathogens may occur, and in coastal areas, Vibrios should be considered when bacteremia occurs.

Sterilization of complete dentures with sodium hypochlorite

It is important to give the patient a denture that is clean and free from cross-contamination. This study was made to determine if Clorox could be used as a rapid, safe, and clinically effective way to sterilize complete dentures. The data obtained from this study indicate that a 5-minute immersion of dentures in undiluted Clorox accomplished sterilization against a variety of microorganisms, including a spore-forming bacteria and C. albicans.

Isolation of oxidase-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa from urine culture

An isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lacking characteristic indophenol oxidase was recovered from a catheterized urine specimen.