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BackgroundResearch suggest that mind-body movement programs have beneficial effects on cognitive outcomes for older adults with cognitive decline. However, few studies have directly compared specific approaches to mind-body movement or studied the impact of remote program delivery.MethodsIn a 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) for older adults with cognitive impairment, we are comparing a multidomain mind-body program that emphasizes movement, body awareness, personal meaningfulness, and social connection, and a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise (Tai Chi) to a health and wellness education control condition. All 3 interventions are delivered remotely two times per week (onehour per session) for 12 weeks. The two active interventions are live-streamed. Outcomes are assessed prior to, after, and 6-months after the interventions. The co-primary outcomes are changes on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) and brain functional connectivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN). Secondary outcomes include measures of specific cognitive domains (e.g., executive function, attention), mobility, and self-report measures of general well-being, quality of life, social engagement, self- and attention-regulation.ConclusionThis RCT will directly compare the effects of two mind-body movement programs versus an education control delivered remotely over 12 weeks on cognitive, neuroimaging, and participant-reported outcomes. If successful, these programs may provide scalable strategies for slowing cognitive decline, which could potentially delay dementia onset in some individuals.Trial registration idNCT05217849.

BackgroundYoga may be an ideal early intervention for those with modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) development.ObjectiveTo examine the effects of Kundalini yoga (KY) training versus memory enhancement training (MET) on the resting-state connectivity of hippocampal subregions in women with subjective memory decline and cardiovascular risk factors for AD.MethodsParticipants comprised women with subjective memory decline and cardiovascular risk factors who participated in a parent randomized controlled trial (NCT03503669) of 12-weeks of KY versus MET and completed pre- and post-intervention resting-state magnetic resonance imaging scans (yoga: n = 11, age = 61.45±6.58 years; MET: n = 11, age = 64.55±6.41 years). Group differences in parcellated (Cole-anticevic atlas) hippocampal connectivity changes (post- minus pre-intervention) were evaluated by partial least squares analysis, controlling for age. Correlations between hippocampal connectivity and perceived stress and frequency of forgetting (assessed by questionnaires) were also evaluated.ResultsA left anterior hippocampal subregion assigned to the default mode network (DMN) in the Cole-anticevic atlas showed greater increases in connectivity with largely ventral visual stream regions with KY than with MET (p

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are highly evolved obligate parasites threatening global food security. These parasites have a remarkable ability to establish elaborate feeding sites in roots, which are their only source of nutrients throughout their life cycle. A wide range of nematode effectors have been implicated in modulation of host pathways for defense suppression and/or feeding site development. Plants produce a diverse array of peptide hormones including PLANT PEPTIDE CONTAINING SULFATED TYROSINE (PSY)-family peptides, which promote root growth via cell expansion and proliferation. A sulfated PSY-like peptide RaxX (required for activation of XA21 mediated immunity X) produced by the biotrophic bacterial pathogen (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) has been previously shown to contribute to bacterial virulence. Here, we report the identification of genes from root-knot nematodes predicted to encode PSY-like peptides (MigPSYs) with high sequence similarity to both bacterial RaxX and plant PSYs. Synthetic sulfated peptides corresponding to predicted MigPSYs stimulate root growth in Arabidopsis. MigPSY transcript levels are highest early in the infection cycle. Downregulation of MigPSY gene expression reduces root galling and egg production, suggesting that the MigPSYs serve as nematode virulence factors. Together, these results indicate that nematodes and bacteria exploit similar sulfated peptides to hijack plant developmental signaling pathways to facilitate parasitism.

The invasive fish, Amur sleeper, poses a significant and growing threat to Central European freshwater ecosystems. Despite its rapid spread, the ecological implications of its invasion have been poorly explored. Recent findings confirm its presence in various Estonian freshwater systems, raising concerns about its imminent expansion into larger lakes. To better understand its potential ecological impacts, we explored the isotopic niche of the Amur sleeper in comparison with native fish species co-existing in three Estonian freshwater ecosystems. We employed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses alongside gut content analyses. Our findings show that the Amur sleeper’s diet in newly-invaded Estonian water bodies predominantly comprises benthic macroinvertebrates, although it may also include fish, confirming its role as a predator in the local food web. Notably, Amur sleeper populations exhibited clear isotopic niche partitioning in three invaded ecosystems. A logistic regression model, based on stomach content analyses, revealed an ontogenetic diet shift from benthivorous to piscivorous feeding habits from small to large specimens. Amur sleeper exhibits voracious, non-selective feeding habits, which can negatively impact native freshwater communities. The ability to occupy a distinct isotopic niche, with minimal overlap with native fish populations, may reduce interspecific competition, facilitating the spread and establishment of Amur sleeper in newly-invaded habitats. Managing the spread of this invasive species thus becomes even more critical to safeguard the integrity of native aquatic ecosystems.

ABSTRACT Virulence screens have indicated potential roles during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection for the one-carbon metabolism pathway component Fhs and proline synthesis mediated by ProABC. To define how these metabolic pathways affect S. pneumoniae virulence, we have investigated the phenotypes, transcription, and metabolic profiles of Δfhs and ΔproABC mutants. S. pneumoniae capsular serotype 6B BHN418 Δfhs and ΔproABC mutant strains had strongly reduced virulence in mouse sepsis and pneumonia models but could colonize the nasopharynx. Both mutant strains grew normally in complete media but had markedly impaired growth in chemically defined medium, human serum, and human cerebrospinal fluid. The BHN418 ΔproABC strain also had impaired growth under conditions of osmotic and oxidative stress. The virulence role of proABC was strain specific, as the D39 ΔproABC strain could still cause septicemia and grow in serum. Compared to culture in broth, in serum, the BHN418 Δfhs and ΔproABC strains showed considerable derangement in global gene transcription that affected multiple but different metabolic pathways for each mutant strain. Metabolic data suggested that Δfhs had an impaired stringent response, and when cultured in sera, BHN418 Δfhs and ΔproABC were under increased oxidative stress and had altered lipid profiles. Loss of proABC also affected carbohydrate metabolism and the accumulation of peptidoglycan synthesis precursors in the BHN418 but not the D39 background, linking this phenotype to the conditional virulence phenotype. These data identify the S. pneumoniae metabolic functions affected by S. pneumoniae one-carbon metabolism and proline biosynthesis, and the role of these genetic loci for establishing systemic infection.IMPORTANCERapid adaptation to grow within the physiological conditions found in the host environment is an essential but poorly understood virulence requirement for systemic pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. We have now demonstrated an essential role for the one-carbon metabolism pathway and a conditional role depending on strain background for proline biosynthesis for S. pneumoniae growth in serum or cerebrospinal fluid, and therefore for systemic virulence. RNAseq and metabolomic data demonstrated that the loss of one-carbon metabolism or proline biosynthesis has profound but differing effects on S. pneumoniae metabolism in human serum, identifying the metabolic processes dependent on each pathway during systemic infection. These data provide a more detailed understanding of the adaptations required by systemic bacterial pathogens in order to cause infection and demonstrate that the requirement for some of these adaptations varies between strains from the same species and could therefore underpin strain variations in virulence potential.

One hundred twenty-nine protein kinases, selected to represent the diversity of the rice (Oryza sativa) kinome, were cloned and tested for expression in Escherichia coli. Forty of these rice kinases were purified and screened using differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) against 627 diverse kinase inhibitors, with a range of structures and activities targeting diverse human kinases. Thirty-seven active compounds were then tested for their ability to modify primary root development in Arabidopsis. Of these, 14 compounds caused a significant reduction of primary root length compared with control plants. Two of these inhibitory compounds bind to the predicted orthologue of Arabidopsis PSKR1, one of two receptors for PSK, a small sulfated peptide that positively controls root development. The reduced root length phenotype could not be rescued by the exogenous addition of the PSK peptide, suggesting that chemical treatment may inhibit both PSKR1 and its closely related receptor PSKR2. Six of the compounds acting as root growth inhibitors in Arabidopsis conferred the same effect in rice. Compound RAF265 (CHIR-265), previously shown to bind the human kinase BRAF (B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase), also binds to nine highly conserved rice kinases tested. The binding of human and rice kinases to the same compound suggests that human kinase inhibitor sets will be useful for dissecting the function of plant kinases.

ObjectivesTwo-thirds of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease are women. Declining estrogen levels influence mood and cognition. Cumulative lifetime estrogen exposure (CLEE) correlates with cognition later in life. We examined the relationship of CLEE to depression and cognition in older women with major depression compared to non-depressed women.DesignOlder women (age ≥60 years) with depression were compared to non-depressed women using a lifetime estrogen exposure questionnaire. CLEE was defined as combined durations of reproductive span (age of menopause minus age of menarche) and any post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy use. Higher vs lower CLEE groups were based on a median of 474 months of estrogen exposure.SettingUniversity hospital outpatient research program.Participants135 women ≥60 years; 64 depressed and 71 non-depressed.MeasurmentsParticipants completed a comprehensive cognitive test battery. General linear models were used to examine the association between cognitive domain scores and CLEE in depressed and non-depressed women, controlling for age, education, and ethnicity.ResultsDepressed and non-depressed groups had significantly different levels of CLEE, measured in months: mean 495.7 (SD 108.6) vs 456.4 (SD 66.0) months, F(1,130) = 5.01, p = .03. Within the non-depressed participants, higher CLEE was associated with improved delayed recall (F(1,59) = 5.94, p = .02, effect size = .61), while no such relationship was observed in the depressed group.ConclusionHigher CLEE was associated with improvement in delayed recall among non-depressed, but not among depressed participants. This suggests a protective role of estrogen on memory in non-depressed older postmenopausal women. Further research should examine the role of the CLEE in antidepressant response and cognitive decline.

BackgroundAs an adjunct to antidepressant treatment, Tai Chi Chih (TCC) is superior to health education and wellness (HEW) training in improving the general health of patients with geriatric depression (GD). This study investigated the brain connectivity changes associated with TCC and HEW in combination with antidepressant treatment in patients with GD.MethodsForty patients with GD under stable antidepressant treatment underwent TCC training (n = 21) or HEW training (n = 19) for 12 weeks, and completed baseline and 3-month follow-up resting state magnetic resonance imaging scans. Within-group and between-group differences in parcel-to-parcel connectivity changes with intervention were evaluated by general linear modeling. Relationships between significant connectivity changes and symptom/resilience improvement were evaluated by partial least squares correlation analysis.ResultsSignificantly greater increases in connectivity with TCC than with HEW (FDR-corrected p

Climate change and invasive alien species pose a significant threat to biodiversity and the survival of native species. This study considered the impact of drought conditions on the escape behaviour through terrestrial dispersal ability of two invasive freshwater crayfish species, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Using an experimental design simulating drought conditions and Mediterranean summer temperatures, we tested the hypothesis that P. clarkii exhibits a greater tendency to terrestrial migration and a higher land-walking speed than the P. leniusculus. The results indicated that both species demonstrated strong escape behaviour, with P. clarkii showing escape success higher than P. leniusculus, and increasing with decreasing mean night temperature and crayfish weight. Although drought conditions did not trigger escape, invasive species showed increased resistance and the ability to move to more favourable environments, suggesting that drought is not an effective geographic barrier against the spread of these species. These results underline the importance of considering invasive species' ability to escape and climb as part of management and control strategies.

This narrative review describes the state of the art in the management of anastomotic leakage in ovarian cancer. Multiple surgical procedures, including bowel resection, are often required to achieve “optimal” cytoreduction in locally advanced ovarian cancer. Intestinal anastomosis is currently the most common way to restore bowel continuity. However, in some patients, a temporary protective stoma is indicated to prevent anastomotic leakage. This is an important issue to improve surgical outcomes and until recently there has been a lack of objective data to clarify the risk factors for anastomotic leakage. This review describes the risk factors for AL associated with surgery and compares the results of recent studies. We also review the current indications for placement of a protective ileostomy and treatment options for conservative management of AL. We present two examples of practical clinical AL risk calculators, in addition to the most assessed AL risk factor. To date, the decision-making processes that lead surgeons to perform a protective ileostomy are quite heterogeneous and based on the personal experience of the surgeon, mainly depending on individual training. Three different management options after colorectal anastomosis in OC are described: conservative management, diversion ileostomy and ghost ileostomy.

ObjectivesGeriatric depression is difficult to treat and frequently accompanied by treatment resistance, suicidal ideations and polypharmacy. New adjunctive mind-body treatment strategies can improve clinical outcomes in geriatric depression and reduce risk for side-effects of pharmacological treatments.MethodsWe conducted a 3-month randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and tolerability of combining Tai Chi Chih (TCC) or Health Education and Wellness training (HEW) with the stable standard antidepressant treatment on mood and cognitive functioning in depressed older adults (NCT02460666). Primary outcome was change in depression as assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) post-treatment. Remission was defined as HAM-D ≤ 6; naturalistic follow-up continued for 6 months. We also assessed psychological resilience, health-related quality of life and cognition.ResultsOf the 178 randomized participants, 125 completed the 3-month assessment and 117 completed the 6-month assessment. Dropout and tolerability did not differ between groups. Remission rate within TCC was 35.5% and 33.3%, compared to 27.0% and 45.8% in HEW, at 3 and 6 months respectively (χ2(1) = 1.0, p = 0.3; χ2(1) = 1.9, p =0.2). Both groups improved significantly on the HAM-D at 3 and 6 months. TCC demonstrated a greater improvement in general health compared to HEW.ConclusionsBoth TCC and HEW combined with a standard antidepressant treatment improved symptoms of depression in older adults. While TCC was superior to HEW in improving general health, we did not find group differences in improvement in mood and cognition.

In this article, we describe the development of the plant immunity field, starting with efforts to understand the genetic basis for disease resistance, which ∼30 y ago led to the discovery of diverse classes of immune receptors that recognize and respond to infectious microbes. We focus on knowledge gained from studies of the rice XA21 immune receptor that recognizes RaxX (required for activation of XA21 mediated immunity X), a sulfated microbial peptide secreted by the gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. XA21 is representative of a large class of plant and animal immune receptors that recognize and respond to conserved microbial molecules. We highlight the complexity of this large class of receptors in plants, discuss a possible role for RaxX in Xanthomonas biology, and draw attention to the important role of sulfotyrosine in mediating receptor-ligand interactions.

BackgroundFemale sex, subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are known risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously demonstrated that yoga improved depression, resilience, memory and executive functions, increased hippocampal choline concentrations, and modulated brain connectivity in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.ObjectiveIn this study (NCT03503669), we investigated brain gray matter volume (GMV) changes in older women with SCD and CVRFs following three months of yoga compared to memory enhancement training (MET).MethodsEleven women (mean age = 61.45, SD = 6.58) with CVRF and SCD completed twelve weeks of Kundalini Yoga and Kirtan Kriya (KY + KK) while eleven women (mean age = 64.55, SD = 6.41) underwent MET. Anxiety, resilience, stress, and depression were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks, as were T1-weighted MRI scans (Siemens 3T Prisma scanner). We used Freesurfer 6.0 and tested group differences in GMV change, applying Monte-Carlo simulations with alpha = 0.05. Region-of-interest analysis was performed for hippocampus and amygdala.ResultsCompared to KY + KK, MET showed reductions in GMV in left prefrontal, pre- and post-central, supramarginal, superior temporal and pericalcarine cortices, right paracentral, postcentral, superior and inferior parietal cortices, the banks of the superior temporal sulcus, and the pars opercularis. Right hippocampal volume increased after yoga but did not survive corrections.ConclusionYoga training may offer neuroprotective effects compared to MET in preventing neurodegenerative changes and cognitive decline, even over short time intervals. Future analyses will address changes in functional connectivity in both groups.