Evidence of taxonomic bias in public databases: The example of the genus Borrelia

The taxon names used in public databases are of critical importance in all areas of biology because they are needed for linking organisms to sequence data and other information. Since most users of taxonomic classifications may be unprepared for dealing with synonyms, the names that are preferred in such databases are of high impact. Using the genus Borrelia as an example, we here show how simplistic approaches for determining the preferred synonym may lead to biases regarding the preferences for taxonomic opinions. We highlight that in this and other cases where genera were split, for reverting to the previous “merged” genus it is neither possible nor necessary to generate validly published and legitimate names that are newer than those that were proposed as new combinations when the genus was split. The policy to always prefer the latest validly published name in a public database may thus render this database oblivious to reversals in taxonomic opinion. We emphasize that users of public databases should be aware of such potential shortcomings, and that curators of databases which provide nomenclatural information should be open-minded about taxonomic views expressed in the literature.     

Epidemiological study of post-traumatic ankle osteoarthritis after ankle sprain in 195,393 individuals over middle age using the National Health Insurance Database: A retrospective design

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the risk of ankle OA onset after an incidence of sprain, relative to the risk of onset in healthy population, and to investigate the effect of gender, age, BMI, and exercise on the development of ankle OA after sprain.DesignRetrospective cohort study.MethodsUsing a sample cohort dataset from 2002 to 2013 provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Sharing Service, we calculated the mean survival time and cumulative incidence rate in sprained and healthy populations using Kaplan-Meier analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of sprain for the development of OA with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Adjusted HRs of gender, age, BMI, and exercise (yes/no) were analyzed in the sprained group.ResultsAmong the selected population of 195,393 individuals, 40,876 (20.9%) were diagnosed with an ankle sprain, and 1543 (3.85%) of those individuals developed ankle OA. Of the 154,517 healthy individuals (79.1%), 4062 (2.66%) cases had progressed to OA. The sprained group had 46% (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.38–1.55) greater rate of progression to ankle OA than did healthy individuals. In the sprain group, individuals who were female, obese, and overweight had 40% (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.26–1.55), 43% (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.12–1.82), and 22% (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10–1.35) higher incidence to develop ankle OA, respectively, compared to those who were male, underweight and normal.ConclusionsThis study found that ankle sprain was a significant risk factor for a diagnosis of early OA. Female gender and high BMI increased the incidence of ankle OA after sprain.     

Genomic variants within chromosome 14q32.32 regulate bone mass through MARK3 signaling in osteoblasts

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a highly heritable predictor of osteoporotic fracture. GWAS have identified hundreds of loci influencing BMD, but few have been functionally analyzed. In this study, we show that SNPs within a BMD locus on chromosome 14q32.32 alter splicing and expression of PAR-1a/microtubule affinity regulating kinase 3 (MARK3), a conserved serine/threonine kinase known to regulate bioenergetics, cell division, and polarity. Mice lacking Mark3 either globally or selectively in osteoblasts have increased bone mass at maturity. RNA profiling from Mark3-deficient osteoblasts suggested changes in the expression of components of the Notch signaling pathway. Mark3-deficient osteoblasts exhibited greater matrix mineralization compared with controls that was accompanied by reduced Jag1/Hes1 expression and diminished downstream JNK signaling. Overexpression of Jag1 in Mark3-deficient osteoblasts both in vitro and in vivo normalized mineralization capacity and bone mass, respectively. Together, these findings reveal a mechanism whereby genetically regulated alterations in Mark3 expression perturb cell signaling in osteoblasts to influence bone mass.     

Exploring Mothers’ Perspectives About Why Grandparents in Appalachia Give Their Grandchildren Cariogenic Foods and Beverages: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundDental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Past studies revealed that grandparents provide their grandchildren with cariogenic foods and beverages (eg, those with free sugars and/or modified starches). Qualitative research can help identify what drives this phenomenon.ObjectiveOur aim was to examine mothers’ explanations for why grandparents in north central and central Appalachia give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages.DesignA qualitative study on children’s oral health in Pennsylvania and West Virginia from 2018 through 2020 was performed. In-person, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative data from interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using NVivo. Data analysis for this study was performed using thematic analysis with iterative theme development.Participants/settingThe participants were 126 mothers of children aged 3-5 years from West Virginia (n = 66) and Pittsburgh, PA (n = 60).Main outcome measuresMothers’ perspectives about why grandparents give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages were analyzed.ResultsIn the study sample, 85% of mothers (n = 107/126) named at least 1 of their children’s grandparents as a member of their social network responsible for their children’s oral health. From these interviews, 85% of mothers (n = 91/107) discussed that grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages. The mothers described the following 4 themes to explain why grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages: privilege of the grandparent role; responsibilities of the grandparent role; symbol of care and affection; and limited consideration or understanding of the detrimental impact.ConclusionsGrandparents play a role in giving their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages, which could potentially contribute to childhood caries. Research is needed to develop effective social interventions to help some grandparents understand the implications of a cariogenic diet on their grandchildren’s oral health and/or decrease their provision of cariogenic foods and beverages.     

Altered movement strategy of chronic ankle instability individuals with postural instability classified based on Nyquist and Bode analyses

BackgroundThe aim of the current study was to assess movement strategies during a single leg balance in chronic ankle instability individuals with unstable postural control strategy identified by Nyquist and Bode analyses in conjunction with sample entropy.MethodsThirty-three participants with self-reported chronic ankle instability and 22 healthy controls performed single-leg eyes closed static balance trials. The sagittal and frontal plane kinematics in the lower extremity and trunk as well as center of pressure trajectories were recorded during three, 20-second trials. The Nyquist and Bode stability analyses, which classify center of pressure waveforms as stable based on the resulting gain and phase margins, were performed to identify the presence of postural control deficits. Sample entropy was implemented to analyze movement strategies during the task.FindingsBased on the Nyquist and Bode stability analyses, we included 19 out of 33 chronic ankle instability participants with unstable postural control strategy and 16 out of 22 controls with stable postural control strategy in the final analyses. Chronic ankle instability participants demonstrated a significantly lower sample entropy value in sagittal and frontal plane trunk kinematics and sagittal plane hip kinematics compared to the controls. No between-group differences existed in other kinematic measures.InterpretationThe lower sample entropy values in participants with chronic ankle instability indicates that those with postural control deficits may increase reliance on the trunk and hip joint contributions to the maintenance of postural control, reflecting changes in the sensorimotor constraints on movement patterns during the task.