Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gwang-Hoon Lee, KilSoo Kim, Woori Jo
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of different environments on animal stress and found that an environment with better ventilation and provision of enrichment toys can reduce animal stress. The impact of the presence or absence of a companion on animals remains inconclusive. The findings provide meaningful guidance for the creation of suitable environments for laboratory animals.
Article
Surgery
Anitha Kammili, Jonathan Cools-Lartigue, David Mulder, Liane S. Feldman, Lorenzo E. Ferri, Carmen L. Mueller
Summary: The study found that under appropriate conditions, an established approach to open en bloc esophagectomy can be safely transferred to MIE without compromising surgical quality. LN retrieval, R0 resection rate, morbidity, and mortality were comparable between MIE and OE in the study.
SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY AND OTHER INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ziyin Shang, Mohamed Abdalla, Longlong Xia, Feng Zhou, Wenjuan Sun, Pete Smith
Summary: Smart cropland management practices can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing crop yield, such as replacing synthetic nitrogen with organic fertilizer in rice paddies. However, intermittent irrigation may lead to increased emissions and decreased yield. Therefore, it is important to manage croplands carefully to sequester soil organic carbon, maintain yield, and control methane emissions effectively.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Reeghan Osmond, Olivia H. Margoto, Ibrahim Alper Basar, Tina Olfatbakhsh, Cigdem Eskicioglu, Kevin Golovin, Abbas S. Milani
Summary: Biomaterials are being increasingly used for structural applications due to their superior mechanical property-to-weight ratios, low cost, biodegradability, and CO2 capture. Bamboo, with its unique anatomy of long tube-like vessels, can be enhanced for structural applications by filling these vessels with resin. An improved plastination method was developed in this study, which resulted in faster impregnation and increased strength of bamboo without altering its biodegradability.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Francoise Pol, Adeline Huneau-Salaun, Sarah Gallien, Yannick Ramonet, Nicolas Rose
Summary: The algae-based cylinder enrichment material did not have any negative effects on pig health, performance, or body condition, and did not significantly improve pig welfare compared to metal chains. Despite being categorized as suboptimal, algae cylinders showed similar results to metal chains and wood logs in terms of welfare indicators.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lena Bohn, Louisa Bierbaum, Niklas Kaestner, Vanessa Tabea von Kortzfleisch, Sylvia Kaiser, Norbert Sachser, S. Helene Richter
Summary: This study investigated the effect of novelty when applying structural enrichment to laboratory mice. The results showed that mice with access to structurally enriched environments spent more time in the enriched cages and entered them faster than mice without any structural enrichment. There was only one significant difference between novelty and complexity conditions, with novelty mice spending more time in their extra cages during week 3. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of novelty beyond complexity.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Nienke van Staaveren, Jennifer Ellis, Christine F. Baes, Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analysis to confirm the effectiveness of environmental enrichment in reducing feather pecking (FP) and feather damage (FD) in laying hens. The results showed that flocks without enrichment had higher frequencies of FP and FD, and that older age and cage housing systems were also associated with increased FP and FD.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yueyang He, Daniel Jun Chung Hii, Nyuk Hien Wong, Thian-Guan Peck
Summary: This study aims to explore alternative ventilation strategies for high-density laboratories, with the goal of optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining safety and comfort. The findings suggest that coordinating general and local exhausts can reduce ventilation requirements and achieve significant energy savings.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alice M. M. Dancer, Maria Diez-Leon, Jennifer K. Bizley, Charlotte C. Burn
Summary: This study investigated the housing and environmental enrichment (EE) provided for ferrets worldwide. The results suggest that there is room for improvement in ferret housing and EE provision to enhance their welfare.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helin Sertkaya, Mattia Ficarelli, Nathan P. Sweeney, Hannah Parker, Conrad A. Vink, Chad M. Swanson
Summary: Many lentiviral vectors for gene therapy are derived from HIV-1, and through systematic deletion analysis, it has been found that significant portions of the gag and env regions can be removed without compromising transduction efficiency. Long-read sequencing has also been utilized to study splice site usage, showing that specific deletions in the env sequence can reduce splicing events per transcript. These findings allow for the creation of lentiviral vectors with minimal HIV-1 sequence, potentially improving safety and reducing viral sequence transfer to patients' DNA.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kyle M. Dittmer, Sabrina Rose, Sieglinde S. Snapp, Yodit Kebede, Sarah Brickman, Sadie Shelton, Cecelia Egler, Milena Stier, Eva Wollenberg
Summary: We assessed the outcomes of smallholder agricultural systems and practices in low- and middle-income countries, and found that the use of organic nutrient sources, system diversification with legumes, and integrated pest management contribute to climate change adaptation in multiple contexts. However, information on climate change mitigation is lacking. Widespread adoption of agroecological practices and system transformations show promise for climate change services and food security in these countries.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jessica Cait, Alissa Cait, R. Wilder Scott, Charlotte B. Winder, Georgia J. Mason
Summary: This study analyzed the difference in health conditions of mice and rats between conventional housing and 'enriched' housing. The results showed that conventional housing exacerbated disease severity and increased mortality rates, while animals in 'enriched' housing had better health conditions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoyu Chen, Yueqiao Kong, Shan Zhang, Jindong Zhao, Sheng Li, Meng Yao
Summary: The study evaluates the performance of different types of sorbents and filter membranes for capturing eDNA in aquatic environments. Glass fiber filters (GF) were found to be the most effective in both laboratory and field experiments, capturing a high quantity of amphibian and fish eDNA within a short time.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
James O. Marx, Kenneth O. Jacobsen, Nicolette A. Petervary, Donald B. Casebolt
Summary: The survey indicates that most laboratory animal veterinarians believe that the welfare of mice is good, but there is still room for improvement, including the training of researchers, monitoring of mice in experimental procedures, and enhancement of environmental enrichment.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gwang-Hoon Lee, Woori Jo, Tae-Ku Kang, Taeho Oh, KilSoo Kim
Summary: This study aimed to find a suitable environment to reduce the stress of captive dogs and concluded that social housing and environmental enrichment can effectively reduce stress levels in dogs. It provides valuable insights for improving the welfare of kenneled dogs in captive animal organizations.
Article
Biology
Justine Chee, Louise Lanoue, Dave L. Clary, Kendall Higgins, Lynette Bower, Ann Flenniken, Ruolin Guo, David Adams, Fatima Bosch, Robert E. Braun, Steve D. M. Brown, H. -J. Genie Chin, Mary Dickinson, Chih-Wei Hsu, Michael Dobbie, Xiang Gao, Sanjeev Galande, Anne Grobler, Jason Heaney, Yann Herault, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Fabio Mammano, Lauryl M. J. Nutter, Helen Parkinson, Chuan Qin, Toshi Shiroishi, Radislav Sedlacek, J-K Seong, Ying Xu, Brian Brooks, Colin McKerlie, K. C. Kent Lloyd, Henrik Westerberg, Ala Moshiri
Summary: This study identified new genes and pathways associated with eye development through screening of mouse genes. These findings provide insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of eye development and could potentially contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital blinding diseases.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Vibeke Fosse, Emanuela Oldoni, Florence Bietrix, Alfredo Budillon, Evangelos P. Daskalopoulos, Maddalena Fratelli, Bjoern Gerlach, Peter M. A. Groenen, Sabine M. Holter, Julia M. L. Menon, Ali Mobasheri, Nikki Osborne, Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, Bettina Ryll, Elmar Schmitt, Anton Ussi, Antonio L. Andreu, Emmet McCormack
Summary: Personalized medicine aims to provide tailor-made prevention and treatment strategies for specific groups, but there are challenges in clinical relevance and model validity. Researchers have developed a set of recommendations to improve the robustness of preclinical methods in translational research for personalized medicine through literature review, expert discussions, and consensus meetings.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grace Png, Raffaele Gerlini, Konstantinos Hatzikotoulas, Andrei Barysenka, N. William Rayner, Lucija Klaric, Birgit Rathkolb, Juan A. Aguilar-Pimentel, Jan Rozman, Helmut Fuchs, Valerie Gailus-Durner, Emmanouil Tsafantakis, Maria Karaleftheri, George Dedoussis, Claus Pietrzik, James F. Wilson, Martin Hrabe Angelis, Christoph Becker-Pauly, Arthur Gilly, Eleftheria Zeggini
Summary: In this study, a protein quantitative trait locus (pQTL) analysis was performed on two Greek cohorts, identifying 301 independently associated pQTL variants for 170 proteins related to cardiometabolic processes. The study also discovered rare variants and observed changes in frequency of certain pQTL variants in the isolated populations. Additionally, the study identified proteins causally associated with cardiometabolic traits and described a knock-out Mep1b mouse model.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lillian Garrett, Dietrich Truembach, Nadine Spielmann, Wolfgang Wurst, Helmut Fuchs, Valerie Gailus-Durner, Martin Hrabe De Angelis, Sabine M. Hoelter
Summary: Neuropsychiatric diseases represent a significant global disease burden and require innovative approaches for pathogenic understanding, biomarker identification, and therapeutic strategies. The malfunction of the heart/brain axis, particularly through the autonomic nervous system and brain central autonomic network interaction, plays a crucial role in the etiology of these diseases. This inter-relationship offers potential avenues for novel diagnosis and treatment approaches.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Long Guo, Smrithi Salian, Jing-yi Xue, Nicola Rath, Justine Rousseau, Hyunyun Kim, Sophie Ehresmann, Shahida Moosa, Norio Nakagawa, Hiroshi Kuroda, Jill Clayton-Smith, Juan Wang, Zheng Wang, Siddharth Banka, Adam Jackson, Yan-min Zhang, Zhen-jie Wei, Irina Huening, Theresa Brunet, Hirofumi Ohashi, Molly F. Thomas, Caleb Bupp, Noriko Miyake, Naomichi Matsumoto, Roberto Mendoza-Londono, Gregory Costain, Gabriele Hahn, Nataliya Di Donato, Goekhan Yigit, Takahiro Yamada, Gen Nishimura, K. Mark Ansel, Bernd Wollnik, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Andre Megarbane, Jill A. Rosenfeld, Vigo Heissmeyer, Shiro Ikegawa, Philippe M. Campeau
Summary: ERI1 is a 30-to-50 exoribonuclease involved in RNA metabolic pathways. Bi-allelic ERI1 variants are associated with a phenotypic dichotomy, causing a severe spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia in some individuals with missense variants, while individuals with null variants show mild intellectual disability and digital anomalies. The missense variants lead to a loss of exoribonuclease activity, resulting in defective 5.8S rRNA processing and decreased degradation of histone mRNAs. This study establishes the importance of ERI1-mediated RNA metabolism in human skeletal patterning and chondrogenesis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patricia da Silva-Buttkus, Nadine Spielmann, Tanja Klein-Rodewald, Christine Schuett, Antonio Aguilar-Pimentel, Oana V. Amarie, Lore Becker, Julia Calzada-Wack, Lillian Garrett, Raffaele Gerlini, Markus Kraiger, Stefanie Leuchtenberger, Manuela A. Oestereicher, Birgit Rathkolb, Adrian Sanz-Moreno, Claudia Stoeger, Sabine M. Hoelter, Claudia Seisenberger, Susan Marschall, Helmut Fuchs, Valerie Gailus-Durner, Martin Hrabe de Angelis
Summary: Rare diseases pose challenges in medicine due to their diverse clinical manifestations and low prevalence. The lack of specific treatments for the majority of rare diseases highlights the need for research. Genome sequencing technology allows for the identification of potential disease-causing genes, but further confirmation is required. Mouse knockout models are crucial for studying the genetics of rare diseases and the German Mouse Clinic is a pioneer in this field. Collaboration between research institutions, clinicians, and patient groups is necessary to advance the understanding and treatment of rare diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marie-Christin Schilloks, Isabella-Maria Giese, Arne Hinrichs, Lucia Korbonits, Stefanie M. Hauck, Eckhard Wolf, Cornelia A. Deeg
Summary: This study investigated the effects of impaired GHR signaling on immune functions and immunometabolism in GHR-KO pigs. The results showed significant differences in the relative proportion of the CD4(+)CD8a(-) subpopulation and IFN-a levels between GHR-KO pigs and WT controls. However, no significant difference was found in the respiratory capacity and the capacity for polyclonal stimulation in PBMCs between the two groups. Proteome analysis revealed multiple significant protein abundance differences related to amino acid metabolism, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, insulin secretion signaling, and oxidative phosphorylation between GHR-KO pigs and WT pigs.
Article
Biology
Esther Stroo, Leen Janssen, Olga Sin, Wytse Hogewerf, Mirjam Koster, Liesbeth Harkema, Sameh A. Youssef, Natalie Beschorner, Anouk H. G. Wolters, Bjorn Bakker, Lore Becker, Lilian Garrett, Susan Marschall, Sabine M. Hoelter, Wolfgang Wurst, Helmut Fuchs, Valerie Gailus-Durner, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Amanth Thathiah, Floris Foijer, Bart van de Sluis, Jan van Deursen, Matthias Jucker, Alain de Brun, Ellen A. A. Nollen
Summary: In age-related neurodegenerative diseases, disease-specific proteins form amyloid-like deposits. Depletion of SERF proteins can ameliorate this process. However, it is unknown whether SERF modifies amyloid pathology in mammalian brain.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jennifer Maurer, Xinjie Zhao, Martin Irmler, Anders Gudiksen, Nanna S. Pilmark, Qi Li, Thomas Goj, Johannes Beckers, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Andreas L. Birkenfeld, Andreas Peter, Rainer Lehmann, Henriette Pilegaard, Kristian Karstoft, Guowang Xu, Cora Weigert
Summary: Metformin treatment leads to lactate production and secretion, as well as reduced glucose consumption. It inhibits respiratory chain complex I and alters cellular redox state, decreasing pyruvate oxidation. These findings suggest that metformin induces dose-dependent lactate production in skeletal muscle by shifting the equilibrium of lactate dehydrogenase reaction.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Howard T. Jacobs, Marten Szibor, Birgit Rathkolb, Patricia da Silva-Buttkus, Juan Antonio Aguilar-Pimentel, Oana V. Amarie, Lore Becker, Julia Calzada-Wack, Nathalia Dragano, Lillian Garrett, Raffaele Gerlini, Sabine M. Hoelter, Tanja Klein-Rodewald, Markus Kraiger, Stefanie Leuchtenberger, Susan Marschall, Manuela A. Oestereicher, Kristina Pfannes, Adrian Sanz-Moreno, Claudia Seisenberger, Nadine Spielmann, Claudia Stoeger, Wolfgang Wurst, Helmut Fuchs, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Valerie Gailus-Durner
Summary: The alternative oxidase (AOX) can delay the onset and progression of respiratory-chain diseases, but it does not provide long-term benefit.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marie Lucienne, Raffaele Gerlini, Birgit Rathkolb, Julia Calzada-Wack, Patrick Forny, Stephan Wueest, Andres Kaech, Florian Traversi, Merima Forny, Celine Burer, Antonio Aguilar-Pimentel, Martin Irmler, Johannes Beckers, Sven Sauer, Stefan Koelker, Joseph P. Dewulf, Guido T. Bommer, Daniel Hoces, Valerie Gailus-Durner, Helmut Fuchs, Jan Rozman, D. Sean Froese, Matthias R. Baumgartner, Martin Hrabe de Angelis
Summary: Inherited disorders of mitochondrial metabolism, such as isolated methylmalonic aciduria, disrupt energy-producing pathways and pose challenges to energetic homeostasis. The study on a mouse model of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (Mmut)-type methylmalonic aciduria revealed reduced appetite, energy expenditure, body mass, and altered adipose tissue functioning. The findings provide insights into energy imbalance in methylmalonic aciduria and have implications for disease understanding and patient management.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Arvid Sandforth, Reiner Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, Elsa Vazquez Arreola, Robert L. Hanson, Gencer Sancar, Sarah Katzenstein, Karl Lange, Hubert Preissl, Simon Dreher, Cora Weigert, Robert Wagner, Kostantinos Kantartzis, Fritz Schick, Rainer Lehmann, Andreas Peter, Nikoletta Katsouli, Vasilis Ntziachristos, Corinna Dannecker, Louise Fritsche, Nikolaos Perakakis, Martin Heni, Peter Paul Nawroth, Stefan Kopf, Andreas F. H. Pfeiffer, Stefan Kabisch, Michael Stumvoll, Peter E. H. Schwarz, Hans Hauner, Andreas Lechner, Jochen Seissler, Iryna Yurchenko, Andrea Icks, Michele Solimena, Hans-Ulrich Haering, Julia Szendroedi, Annette Schuermann, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Matthias Blueher, Michael Roden, Stefan R. Bornstein, Norbert Stefan, Andreas Fritcher, Andreas Birkenfeld
Summary: This study investigates the mechanisms of weight loss-induced remission in people with prediabetes. The results suggest that weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce visceral adipose tissue, and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The authors propose that remission of prediabetes should be the primary therapeutic aim.
LANCET DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Meriem Ouni, Fabian Eichelmann, Markus Jaehnert, Christin Krause, Sophie Saussenthaler, Christiane Ott, Pascal Gottmann, Thilo Speckmann, Peter Huypens, Stefan Wolter, Oliver Mann, Martin Hrabe De Angelis, Johannes Beckers, Henriette Kirchner, Matthias B. Schulze, Annette Schuermann
Summary: Better disease management can be achieved by identifying novel epigenetic biomarkers that determine the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) at an early stage. This study found that differences in gene expression and DNA methylation in the liver could be used as potential biomarkers for T2D. The downregulation of the HAMP gene, associated with elevated DNA methylation, was identified as a potential early marker for T2D.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Bachuki Shashikadze, Libera Valla, Salvo Danilo Lombardo, Cornelia Prehn, Mark Haid, Fabien Riols, Jan Bernd Stoeckl, Radwa Elkhateib, Simone Renner, Birgit Rathkolb, Joerg Menche, Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Eckhard Wolf, Elisabeth Kemter, Thomas Froehlich
Summary: This study investigates the effects of maternal hyperglycemia on the liver of neonates using multi-omics analysis. The findings suggest that maternal hyperglycemia can lead to lipid accumulation and abnormal choline metabolism in the liver of newborns.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2023)