BACKGROUND:Polysensitization to inhalant allergens is an important determinant of disease progression and severity in allergic conditions. Although microbial dysbiosis has been implicated in various allergic conditions, the association between nasal microbiome composition and polysensitization remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the nasal microbiome and airborne allergen sensitization burden in adults. METHODS:In this cross-sectional observational study, 278 adults were categorized into four groups based on the number of sensitizations (range: 0-9): zero, mono (1), oligo (2-3), and poly (≥4). Allergen-specific IgE levels were measured in blood samples. Nasal swabs were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize microbial composition and predict functional pathways. RESULTS:Age was inversely correlated with the number of sensitizations, while both total IgE levels and allergic rhinitis prevalence increased across groups. Corynebacterium, a dominant commensal genus in the nasal microbiome, was significantly reduced in the polysensitized group and was inversely correlated with sensitization burden. Although overall microbial diversity remained stable, the abundance and co-occurrence patterns of key genera, including Corynebacterium, were altered in polysensitized individuals. Functional predictions revealed reduced activity in pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism (e.g., d-galactose degradation), cofactor biosynthesis (e.g., biotin and folate), and amino acid metabolism, all essential for epithelial integrity and repair. CONCLUSIONS:Polysensitized individuals exhibit Corynebacterium depletion along with altered microbial interactions and metabolic potential. Thus, nasal microbiome dysbiosis may impair epithelial barrier function and contribute to allergen sensitization, serving as a potential target for preventive strategies.
The kinetics of Ag photo-diffusion into amorphous GeS2 layer on SiO2 and Si substrates have been studied by specular neutron reflection and off-specular neutron scattering. It was found from the specular neutron reflection that the metastable Ag-rich reaction layer was formed between the Ag and GeS2 layers first by the Ag dissolution from the Ag layer, and then, subsequent Ag diffusion occurred from the Ag-rich reaction layer to the GeS2 host layer until the two layers merged into one uniform layer. The reaction process is the same as Ag/Ge20S80/ Si substrate, but it is different from GeS2/ Ag/ Si substrate. It was found from off-specular neutron scattering that the reaction interface was roughened at the early stage of the photoreaction, and that the photo-oxidized surface layer was significantly roughened by the extended light illumination after completion of Ag-diffusion.
Mechano-signal transduction is a process in which cells perceive extracellular mechanical signals, convert them into intracellular biochemical signals, and produce a response. Integrins are cell surface receptors that sense the extracellular mechanical cues and bind to the extracellular matrix (ECM). This binding induces integrin clustering and activation. Cytoplasmic tails of activated integrins interact and induce cytoskeleton tensions via several adaptor proteins. Integrins monitor extracellular stiffness via cytoskeleton tensions and modulate ECM stiffness via downstream signaling pathways regulating the expression of genes of ECM components. Integrin-mediated mechano-transduction is very crucial for the cell as it regulates the cell physiology both in normal and diseased conditions according to extracellular mechanical cues. It regulates cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Abnormal mechanical cues such as extreme and prolonged mechanical stress result in pathological conditions including fibrosis, cancers, skin, and autoimmune disorders. This paper aims to explore the role of integrins and their associated proteins in mechano-signal transduction. It highlights the integrins and their associated proteins as targets for therapy development. Furthermore, it also presents the challenges to the targeted drug development, which can be drug resistance and cytotoxicity. It is concluded in this paper that research on integrin-mediated mechano-signal transduction and its relationship with cell physiology and pathologies will be an important step towards the development of effective therapies.
When walking freely, humans prefer maintaining a nearly constant walk ratio (WR) (step length/cadence). An unnatural WR requires greater metabolic energy expenditure, with mechanical power demands underlying the metabolic response. To investigate the effects of WR on the effectiveness of mechanical energy utilization during walking, this study compared the average total absolute mechanical power during the stance ( P - total, stance ) and swing ( P - total, swing ) phases between preferred and unnatural WRs at a fixed walking speed. Twenty healthy participants walked at their preferred WR and at six types of unnatural WRs at a preferred walking speed. The unnatural WRs comprised six cadence conditions (±10, ±15 and ±20 of preferred cadence). P - total, stance was significantly higher at high WRs (slower cadence) than at the preferred WR (p < 0.05) owing to an increased braking ground reaction force and shorter relative stance phase duration. P - total, swing was significantly higher at low WRs (faster cadence) than at the preferred WR (p < 0.05) owing to the hip and knee joint powers being applied strongly and synchronously to prevent excessive knee flexion and extension. The preferred WR can optimize the effectiveness of mechanical work production, which may help to minimize metabolic energy expenditure.
Our research question aims to clarify why people who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) enjoy singing. In this paper, as the first step toward answering the research question, we conducted a group interview with four DHH participants and analyzed their data using inductive coding to derive three overarching themes and categories and codes under each of them. One theme, Singing Background, revealed that all four participants sing on a daily basis. Songs used in Vocaloid, a singing synthesizer; anime; and movies are triggers that prompt our participants to sing and empathize with the lyrics. The theme Situations for Singing clarified that they sing 10 or 20 songs at karaoke bars and practice the songs repeatedly every day. The theme of Changes Felt through Singing indicated that the scores given by a karaoke machine, the natural swaying of the body to the rhythm, improving singing techniques, and singing along in the atmosphere created by the lyrics let them know their singing has improved and helps them to enjoy singing. Namely, the objective evaluations given by karaoke scores, the subjective evaluation of feelings within their bodies, and a deeper understanding of the lyrics and music achieved by singing the same songs repeatedly were the factors that made them find singing enjoyable.
