Author: Latest Results

Abstract

Purpose

Actinic conjunctivitis (AC), along with cheilitis (AChe), is part of the clinical spectrum of actinic prurigo (AP), a rare photo dermatosis that affects high-risk populations. We analyzed the clinical manifestations and onset of actinic conjunctivitis (AC), and its relationship with prurigo (AP) in a susceptible population.

Methods

This prospective observational cohort study was performed on Indigenous populations from the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Thorough dermatological and ophthalmological examinations were performed in patients attending a primary health care center. The clinical features, labor and environmental factors, onset timing, and clinical staging of AC and AP were analyzed.

Results

Of the 2913 patients studied, 54 patients (108 eyes) (1.8%) had AC, and 14 patients (25.9%) had AP. The mean age at diagnosis was 36.18 ± 18.52 years (6–70 years). The mean residential altitude was 1884 ± 434.2 m above sea level. Mean self-reported sun exposure was 5.14 ± 3.1 h a day (0.5—12 h). A total of 90.7% reported exposure to biomass fuels during cooking, and 50% to farm animals. AC was the sole manifestation in 70% of the cases. All patients had nasal and temporal photo-exposed conjunctiva. Among the eyes, 12.9% were classified as stage-1, 64.8% as stage-2, and 22.2% stage-3. A total of 83.3% of the patients had hyperpigmented lesions, and 35.1% had evaporative dry eye disease.

Conclusions

AC may be the initial or sole manifestation of AP. Most AC cases (87%) were initially observed at the advanced stages of the disease. Although solar exposure was not associated with late AC stages, a positive association was found with farm animal exposure. Evaporative dry eye associated with meibomian gland dysfunction has not been previously reported in patients with AC.

Abstract

This paper proposes an archaeometric contribution to the study of the Inca pottery style from the southeastern frontier of Tawantinsuyu, also known as the Inca Empire, located in Central Western Argentina (CWA). In complementing previous research, a geochemical and mineralogical characterisation of ceramics from various Inca and local sites is carried out by combining X-ray fluorescence analysis (WD-XRF), powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX). The exhaustive statistical treatment and discussion of the chemical data, complemented by mineralogical and microstructural data gathered through PXRD and SEM-EDX techniques, provide significant insights into the provenance of raw materials, paste recipes, firing conditions, estimated firing temperature and post-depositional contaminations. A complex structure comprising six meaningful ceramic groups has been identified, with some of them attributed to hypothetical provenance areas defined by previous research. Additionally, many ceramics remained ungrouped. Despite the identified compositional variability, certain technological attributes exhibit a higher degree of homogeneity. The estimated firing temperature and microstructure of the pottery denote some control over firing conditions to produce vessels with high mechanical strength and toughness suitable for storage and short-distance distribution. The results of both compositional and technological analyses point to the existence of multiple production loci within a domestic or communitarian model of production sharing the same pottery tradition.

Abstract

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) are popular salmonid species that are reared for sport and recreational activities worldwide. In India, they were introduced and successfully established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the European settlers. However, until now, no studies have analysed the genetic integrity of wild trout populations in India. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the genetic integrity of the wild rainbow trout populations from south India, one wild rainbow trout population from north India, and one wild brown trout population from north India. Genetic diversity studies revealed low genetic diversity in all the population with genetic bottlenecks in two trout populations from south India and disruption of alleles in the populations from north India. The results showed that the south Indian trout populations are in a comparatively poor condition than the north Indian trout populations, and stocking efforts have recently been carried out to enhance the genetic diversity of south Indian trout populations.

Abstract

Background

African ancestry populations have the highest burden of stroke worldwide, yet the genetic basis of stroke in these populations is obscure. The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a multicenter study involving 16 sites in West Africa. We conducted the first-ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of stroke in indigenous Africans.

Methods

Cases were consecutively recruited consenting adults (aged > 18 years) with neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic stroke. Stroke-free controls were ascertained using a locally validated Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. DNA genotyping with the H3Africa array was performed, and following initial quality control, GWAS datasets were imputed into the NIH Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) release2 from BioData Catalyst. Furthermore, we performed fine-mapping, trans-ethnic meta-analysis, and in silico functional characterization to identify likely causal variants with a functional interpretation.

Results

We observed genome-wide significant (P-value < 5.0E−8) SNPs associations near AADACL2 and miRNA (MIR5186) genes in chromosome 3 after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiac status in the base model as covariates. SNPs near the miRNA (MIR4458) gene in chromosome 5 were also associated with stroke (P-value < 1.0E−6). The putative genes near AADACL2, MIR5186, and MIR4458 genes were protective and novel. SNPs associations with stroke in chromosome 2 were more than 77 kb from the closest gene LINC01854 and SNPs in chromosome 7 were more than 116 kb to the closest gene LINC01446 (P-value < 1.0E−6). In addition, we observed SNPs in genes STXBP5-AS1 (chromosome 6), GALTN9 (chromosome 12), FANCA (chromosome 16), and DLGAP1 (chromosome 18) (P-value < 1.0E−6). Both genomic regions near genes AADACL2 and MIR4458 remained significant following fine mapping.

Conclusions

Our findings identify potential roles of regulatory miRNA, intergenic non-coding DNA, and intronic non-coding RNA in the biology of ischemic stroke. These findings reveal new molecular targets that promise to help close the current gaps in accurate African ancestry-based genetic stroke’s risk prediction and development of new targeted interventions to prevent or treat stroke.

Abstract

This conversation between Terri Friedline and Matt Remle took place in November 2022. The conversation occurred as private banks were increasing their investments in fossil fuels and organizers were calling to establish new, publicly accountable financial institutions that would not underwrite climate devastation. As a Hunkpapa Lakota man and member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, Matt has actively participated in and led fossil fuel divestment and public banking campaigns. He has also protested militarism, wars, economic sanctions, and toxic waste sites. In addition to recognizing many people’s long-held appreciation for Matt’s perspectives, my intentions in having this conversation were to move the study of financial well-being markedly beyond its common individualized focus and to consider the ways that systems of oppression and domination shape families’ financial lives. Along these lines, we talked about settler colonialism, fossil fuel divestment, and public banking advocacy. Our conversation concludes with a call to build authentic relationships, with humility and genuineness, as a path toward truly dismantling settler colonialism.

Abstract

More and more individuals are realizing the need to take time away from their regular lives to recharge their bodies and minds by visiting new places. That's why we reasoned that drinking tea while on holiday would be the most significant element in promoting the growth of the tea tourism sector. We want to bring attention to how, via the medium of tastescape, the ritual of drinking tea may help one better understand the notion of unconventional tourism in India. A tastescape is a combination of physical elements, social norms, and geographical settings. One kind of nature tourism that includes visits to tea plantations is an example of a niche market. Without a question, if you're looking for a place to visit that serves excellent tea, you should make your way to India. If the right marketing campaigns are launched to attract eco-travelers, and if the necessary efforts are made to enhance the quality of the area, the Indian Tea Estates have the potential to become a leading destination for tea tourism. The novelty of this study lies in its exploration of tea tourism prospects in India and the investigation into how the fascination with tea influences the decisions of foreign tourists visiting the country. The research aims to promote travel to India so that more people may learn about and appreciate the tea culture there. Both primary and secondary sources are used in this qualitative study. Features and advertising tactics for luring tourists are described in this research. At this point, we analyze the research data and use it to inform a set of preliminary marketing strategies. The study also found that enhancing a customer's overall impression of a company is one of the most effective ways to encourage repeat business. It is difficult to advance plans to combine the tourism and tea industries due to a lack of personnel and expertise. The difficulty may be overcome if the two parties can work together to mutual benefit. Achieving future achievements will require strengthening the connection between tea and tourism, establishing collaborations, encouraging a higher degree of local engagement, and highlighting local benefits as a way of life.

Abstract

This fifth annual edition of MycoNews starts with an editorial on the critical importance of International Mycological Congresses (IMCs) to the health of mycology. Items on Counting down to IMC12, the State of the World’s Plants and Fungi 2023, and progress towards Improving nomenclatural stability in medically important fungi follow. Reports are provided of several mycological meetings in 2023: the Asian Mycological Congress, XIX Congress of European Mycologists, a meeting of European Mycological Groups and Societies, the XI Latin American Mycological Congress, Westerdijk Spring Symposium on Fungal Evolution, the Brazilian Society of Mycology, the Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of China, and the Fifth Iranian Mycological Congress. Information is provided on how to make nominations for the various IMA Awards due to be presented at IMC12 in August, the new Future is Fungi Award launched in 2023, and the Adel-Azeem and Stamets Award for work on Psilocybe in Africa. The Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute Awards for 2023 were made to Andrey Yurkov and Cathie Aime and the citations to those awards are provided. We include tributes to the passing of two eminent mycologists, Lorelei Norvell and Takashi Matsushima, and also send birthday greetings to Bryce Kendrick who turned 90, and Maria Ławrynowicz, Yu Li, and Anthony Whalley who all became octogenarians. Reviews of seven mycological books published in 2022–2023 are included in the Book News section.