Beardwells9306
Objective To predict skull base osteomyelitis in patients with necrotising otitis externa using diffusion-weighted imaging. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of 25 necrotising otitis externa patients with skull base osteomyelitis (n = 10) or without skull base involvement (n = 14) who underwent a single-shot diffusion-weighted imaging of the skull base. Results The respective mean apparent diffusion coefficient values of the skull base, as determined by two reviewers, were 0.851 ± 0.15 and 0.841 ± 0.14 ×10-3mm2/s for the skull base osteomyelitis patients, and 1.065 ± 0.19 and 1.045 ± 0.20 ×10-3mm2/s for the necrotising otitis externa patients without skull base involvement. The difference in apparent diffusion coefficients between the groups was significant, for both reviewers (p = 0.008 and 0.012). The optimal threshold apparent diffusion coefficient for predicting skull base osteomyelitis in necrotising otitis externa patients was 0.945 ×10-3mm2/s and 0.915 ×10-3mm2/s, with an area under the curve of 0.825 and 0.800, accuracy of 87.5 and 83.3 per cent, sensitivity of 85.7 and 90.0 per cent, and specificity of 90.0 and 78.6 per cent, for each reviewer respectively. Conclusion Apparent diffusion coefficient is a non-invasive imaging parameter useful for predicting skull base osteomyelitis in necrotising otitis externa patients.Parasites cause harm to their hosts and represent pervasive causal agents of natural selection. Understanding host proximate responses during interactions with parasites can help predict which genes and molecular pathways are targets of this selection. In the current study, we examined transcriptional changes arising from interactions between Drosophila melanogaster and their naturally occurring ectoparasitic mite, Gamasodes queenslandicus. Shifts in host transcript levels associated with behavioural avoidance revealed the involvement of genes underlying nutrient metabolism. These genetic responses were reflected in altered body lipid and glycogen levels in the flies. Mite infestation triggered a striking immune response, while male accessory gland protein transcript levels were simultaneously reduced, suggesting a trade-off between host immune responses to parasite challenge and reproduction. Comparison of transcriptional analyses during mite infestation to those during nematode and parasitoid attack identified host genes similarly expressed in flies during these interactions. Validation of the involvement of specific genes with RNA interference lines revealed candidates that may directly mediate fly-ectoparasite interactions. Our physiological and molecular characterization of the Drosophila-Gamasodes interface reveals new proximate mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions, specifically host transcriptional shifts associated with behavioural avoidance and infestation. The results identify potential general mechanisms underlying host resistance and evolutionarily relevant trade-offs.Lameness is a very important disorder of periparturient dairy cows with implications on milk production and composition as well as with consequences on reproductive performance. The aetiology of lameness is not clear although there have been various hypotheses suggested over the years. The objective of this study was to metabotype the urine of dairy cows prior to, during and after the onset of lameness by evaluating at weeks -8, -4 pre-calving, the week of lameness diagnosis, and +4 and +8 weeks post-calving. We used a metabolomics approach to analyse urine samples collected from dairy cows around calving (6 cows with lameness v. 20 healthy control cows). A total of 153 metabolites were identified and quantified using an in-house MS library and classified into 6 groups including 11 amino acids (AAs), 39 acylcarnitines (ACs), 3 biogenic amines (BAs), 84 glycerophospholipids, 15 sphingolipids and hexose. A total of 23, 36, 40, 23 and 49 metabolites were observed to be significantly different between the lame anlevated at both -8 weeks pre-calving and the week of lameness diagnosis. Data showed that urinary fingerprinting might be a reliable methodology to be used in the future to differentiate lame cows from healthy ones.The current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic offers a unique opportunity to conduct an infodemiological study examining patterns in online searching activity about a specific disease and how this relates to news media within a specific country. Google Trends quantifies volumes of online activity. The relative search volume was obtained for 'Coronavirus', 'handwashing', 'face mask' and symptom related keywords, for the United Kingdom, from the date of the first confirmed case until numbers peaked in April. The relationship between online search traffic and confirmed case numbers was examined. Search volumes varied over time; peaks appear related to events in the progression of the epidemic which were reported in the media. Search activity on 'Coronavirus' correlated well against confirmed case number as did 'face mask' and symptom-related keywords. User-generated online data sources such as Google Trends may aid disease surveillance, being more responsive to changes in disease occurrence than traditional disease reporting. The relationship between media coverage and online searching activity is rarely examined, but may be driving online behavioural patterns.Objective News media play a role in politics through the portrayal of policies, influencing public and policymaker perceptions of appropriate solutions. This study explored the portrayal of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes in UK national newspapers. Findings aid understanding of the role newspapers play in shaping understanding and acceptance of policies such as the UK Soft Drink Industry Levy (SDIL). Design Articles discussing sugar or SSB taxes published in six UK national newspapers between 1 April 2016 and 1 May 2019 were retrieved from the LexisNexis database. Articles were thematically analysed to reveal policy portrayal. SIS3 mouse Setting/participants Analysis of UK newspaper articles. Results Two hundred and eighty-six articles were assessed. Sugar and SSB taxes were discussed across the sample period but publication peaked at SDIL announcement and introduction. Themes were split according to support for or opposition to taxation. Supportive messaging consistently highlighted the negative impacts of sugar on health and the need for complex actions to reduce sugar consumption.