Psoriasis at high-impact sites: shifting the paradigm.

Coastal wetlands worldwide have been negatively impacted by humans, causing decreases in the vegetation used as a refuge from predation by juveniles of many species. This study examined juvenile fiddler crab densities and species composition (Uca pugnax, Uca pugilator, and Uca minax), and their use of gastropod shells (Littorina littoraria), at three low and three high impact sites on barrier islands in southeast Georgia. On six dates in June–August 2010, samples were taken from 10 quadrats (1 m2) at each site to determine juvenile fiddler crab densities and species composition, as well as gastropod shell densities and percent shell use. Multiplex PCR was used to identify juvenile fiddler crabs to species. Juvenile fiddler crab densities were lower at high impact sites, while gastropod shell densities and shell use were similar at both low and high impact sites. Species compositions differed between low and high impact sites on the substrate and in shells, with more U. pugilator and U. minax at high impact sites. A change in fiddler crab densities and species composition could cause a substantial change in southeastern salt marshes.

Exploring the use of nuclear alterations, motility and ecological guilds in epipelic diatoms as biomonitoring tools for water quality improvement in urban impacted lowland streams

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of microarrays as a biomonitoring tool in field studies. A 15,000-oligonucleotide microarray was used to measure the hepatic gene expression of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) caged in four Nebraska, USA watersheds - the Niobrara and Dismal Rivers (low-impact agricultural sites) and the Platte and Elkhorn Rivers (high-impact agricultural sites). Gene expression profiles were site specific and fish from the low- and high-impact sites aggregated into distinct groups. Over 1500 genes were differentially regulated between fish from the low- and high-impact sites. Many gene expression differences (1218) were also noted when the Platte and Elkhorn minnows were compared to one another and Platte fish experienced a higher degree of transcript alterations than Elkhorn fish. These findings indicate that there are differences between the low-impact and high-impact sites, as well as between the two high-impact sites. Historical water quality data support these results as only trace levels of agrichemicals have been detected at the low-impact sites, while substantial levels of agrichemicals have been reported at the high-impact sites with agrichemical loads at the Platte generally exceeding those at the Elkhorn. Overall, this study demonstrates that microarrays can be utilized to discriminate sites with different contaminant loads from one another.

AIM: This study evaluated the use of oligochaetes at different levels of taxonomic resolution as environmental indicators in Argentine lowland streams affected by different land uses. METHODS: Sampling sites were grouped based on the physicochemical and habitat characteristics (low-, moderate-, and high-impact disturbance). Collection of the oligochaetes samples was carried out seasonally in sediment and vegetation habitats. RESULTS: The increases in nutrients and organic matter produced elevated densities of the Oligochaeta, but when the disturbance also involved changes in the physical habitat or enhancements in toxic substances, the abundance decreased significantly to values even lower than those of non-impacted environments. The responses of Naidinae and Tubificinae were similar. The density of the Pristininae decreased with increasing impact, but those of the Enchytraeidae and Rhyacodrilinae increased at the most highly impacted sites. The Opistocystidae were not recorded in high-impact sites. Species richness and diversity (H') were lower in high-impact sites and even lower in sediments. Some species presented no restrictions in the habitat type or with the contamination level: Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Dero furcatus, D. digitata, D. pectinata, Pristina longiseta, and P. aequiseta. Moreover, Trieminentia corderoi, Slavina appendiculata, and Aulodrilus pigueti exhibited the highest abundances at low-impact sites and were not registered in high-impact sites. CONCLUSIONS: The Oligochaeta show a relatively wide ecological valence through their extensive number of species. Although lower taxonomic levels can give information about environmental status, test-species' sensitivities to different types and degrees of contamination will be of utmost relevance to the evaluation of ecological quality.

Patients with psoriasis affecting a low percentage of their body surface area (BSA) are underrepresented in clinical studies and may face substantial disease burden if high-impact sites are affected. SPECTREM is a Phase 3b, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating guselkumab efficacy and safety in participants with low BSA (2%-15%), moderate (Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA]=3) plaque psoriasis involving ≥1 high-impact site (scalp, face, genitals, intertriginous areas). Eligible participants were randomized 2:1 to receive guselkumab 100 mg or placebo at Week 0 and Week 4, then every 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants achieving IGA 0/1 (cleared/minimal) at Week 16. Major secondary endpoints included the proportion of participants achieving ≥90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90), IGA 0, and PASI 100; mean percent improvements from baseline to Week 16 in BSA and PASI; and proportions of participants achieving site-specific IGA or Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) 0/1 among those with scalp, facial, genital, or intertriginous site-specific IGA/PGA ≥3 at baseline. Among the 338 (guselkumab, n=225; placebo, n=113) randomized participants, mean (SD) baseline BSA was 7.6% (3.7) and PASI was 9.0 (3.8). At Week 16, all primary and major secondary endpoints were met, with guselkumab demonstrating superiority versus placebo (all p<0.001) in the proportions of participants achieving IGA 0/1 (74.2% vs 12.4%), IGA 0 (40.4% vs 3.5%), PASI 90 (52.9% vs 6.2%), and PASI 100 (32.4% vs 2.7%), and mean percent improvement from baseline in BSA (80.6% vs 6.1%) and PASI (82.6% vs 13.7%). Site-specific IGA/PGA 0/1 response rates for guselkumab versus placebo were: scalp, 75.0% (114/152) versus 14.5% (11/76); face, 87.8% (79/90) versus 28.6% (12/42); genital, 78.0% (64/82) versus 37.5% (15/40); and intertriginous, 86.5% (96/111) versus 28.8% (15/52). In the guselkumab and placebo groups, respectively, 37.8% and 39.8% experienced ≥1 adverse event; no new safety signals were identified. Through Week 16, guselkumab was effective and well tolerated in participants with low BSA, moderate plaque psoriasis with involvement of high-impact sites. Statistically significant improvements across multiple clearance measures, irrespective of baseline BSA, support the effectiveness of guselkumab across a broad range of patients. NCT06039189.

BackgroundPlaque psoriasis involving high-impact sites is difficult to treat. Icotrokinra, a targeted oral peptide that selectively binds interleukin-23 receptors, is a new treatment being investigated for this condition.MethodsThis phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomly assigned participants 12 years of age and over with plaque psoriasis {with a body surface area ≥1%; an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score ≥2 [clear (0), minimal (1), mild (2), moderate (3), and severe (4)] for overall skin; and at least moderate psoriasis involving the scalp, genitalia, and/or hands and feet} to receive either icotrokinra 200 mg daily or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. The primary end point at week 16 was the proportion of participants achieving an overall IGA score of 0 or 1 and an improvement of 2 points or more from baseline (IGA score of 0 or 1), reported as the between-group difference adjusted for high-impact site involvement, geographic region, and body surface area category using Mantel–Haenszel weights. Absent/clear or minimal/almost clear scalp, genital, and/or hand and foot psoriasis at 16 weeks were secondary end points. Adverse events were recorded.ResultsThe trial randomly assigned 311 participants (icotrokinra, n=208; placebo, n=103) with scalp (n=252: icotrokinra, n=167; placebo, n=85), genital (n=140: icotrokinra, n=98; placebo, n=42), and/or hand and foot (n=71: icotrokinra, n=48; placebo, n=23) psoriasis. The proportions of participants achieving an IGA score of 0 or 1 in the icotrokinra and placebo groups were 56.7% and 5.8%, respectively [adjusted difference, 51.1 percentage points; 95% confidence interval (CI), 42.1 to 58.8; P<0.001]. The proportions of icotrokinra-treated and placebo-treated participants achieving absence/clear or minimal/almost clear high-impact site psoriasis were as follows: scalp, 65.9% and 10.6% (difference, 55.5 percentage points; 95% CI, 44.8 to 64.4; P<0.001); genitalia, 76.5% and 21.4% (difference, 55.4 percentage points; 95% CI, 39.1 to 68.0; P<0.001); and hand and foot, 41.7% and 26.1% (difference, 16.7 percentage points; 95% CI, –6.2 to 36.8; P=0.144). Adverse events occurred among 50% and 42% of participants in the icotrokinra and placebo groups, respectively.ConclusionsAt 16 weeks, significantly higher proportions of participants 12 years of age and over with at least moderate psoriasis involving high-impact sites treated with icotrokinra versus placebo achieved clearance or minimal psoriasis in their skin overall and in the scalp and genital areas, but not in their hands and feet. No safety signals were identified. (Funded by Johnson & Johnson; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT06095102.)

The Atlantic ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata) is a widely distributed predator and scavenger along Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Coast beaches. A long-term study was initiated on the Bolivar Peninsula of Texas in 2006 to assess the impact of human activity on ghost crabs. Line transects were used to determine crab burrow arrangement at a high-impact site and a low-impact site. Differences were found between the two sites in number of active burrows per transect, burrow density, the diameter of burrow openings, burrow distance to the high-water line, and nearest-neighbor distances. In Fall 2008, Hurricane Ike struck the study sites. Re-examinations of the sites in 2010 showed changes in ghost crab burrows. The high-impact site experienced a decline in human activity – beach width increased by > 50%, the number of burrows/transect tripled, and nearest-neighbor distances decreased by one-third. The hurricane also reshaped the low-impact site on the western tip of the peninsula as beach width decreased by two-thirds, burrow density increased by sevenfold, and nearest-neighbor distances decreased by one-half. Sampling in 2012, 2014, and 2016 show that some of the physical characteristics of the beach gradually returned to near pre-hurricane status. However, reduced beach space at the low-traffic site remained, with higher burrow density and reduced crab size persisting 8 years after the hurricane, and the post-storm reduction in human traffic in the high-impact site has maintained higher burrow density there even as traffic increased. Monitoring the ecological impact of hurricanes is of growing importance as global climate change could lead to increased frequency and severity of tropical storms.

A pathogenic, soil‐borne fungus has been gradually spreading through the jarrah forest of Western Australia for most of this century. On some sites this fungus can cause almost total forest destruction. Infection is incurable and the effects are irreversible. This paper develops a means for evaluating disease control measures and identifying the optimal level of protection. Standard protection measures are warranted for high and moderate impact sites, over a wide range of risks. Increased expenditure on forest protection is warranted for high and moderate impact sites at especially high risk.

A microscopic, soil-borne fungus has been gradually spreading through the Jarrah forest of W.A. for most of this century. On some sites this fungus can cause almost total forest destruction. Infection is incurable and the effects are irreversible. This paper develops a means for evaluating disease control measures and identifying the optimal level of protection. Standard protection measures are warranted for high and moderate impact sites, over a wide range of risks. Increased expenditure on forest protection is warranted for high and moderate impact sites at especially high risk.

Influence of sunlight on DNA damage in mussels exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The effects of trampling on Hawaiian corals along a gradient of human use

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of a major source of airborne fluorides on the geographical distribution of total fluoride in soils. Total fluoride determinations were made on soil samples collected from the same pastures at different distances from the source in spring and fall of 1973 and 1974. Samples were collected at depths of 0–5, 5–15, and 15–30 cm. Forage fluoride levels were used to determine areas of relatively high and low airborne fluoride impact, and soil sampling locations within these respective areas were segregated accordingly. Total soil fluoride increased with depth at low fluoride impact sites, but decreased with depth at high impact sites. This was a result of significantly (p = 0.05) elevated fluoride levels at the 0–5 cm depth on high impact sites compared to low impact areas. Total soil fluoride for all depths decreased with distance from the fluoride source, and approximated background levels at about 10 km. It is concluded that the observed magnitude of atmospheric fluoride contribution to total soil fluoride will probably have no significant impact on agriculture.

In the late 1990s, the City of Portland, Oregon in the United States decided to explore the potential for attracting tourists in its urbanized areas. It therefore carried out a study in select urban areas in the country to identify transport oriented features that would enhance access to urban tourist attraction sites. A transport service design was developed and when it was completed, one of the unexpected outcomes was a thematic nature for selected service routes. A uniquely painted bus (hence referred to as “the cultural bus”) along with select customer friendly drivers were assigned on a route to cater for tourists. The number of tourists using the thematic bus route shot up and so was patronage of businesses along the route. But unlike the Portland example, the tourist industry in Kenya, along with its stakeholders have traditionally focused tourist infrastructure on a few large attractors (high impact sites), and very little has been done to maximize on the marginal sites (low impact sites), especially in urbanized areas. The objective of this paper is to provide a context for conceptualizing natural and infrastructural structures for urban tourism and entrepreneurial opportunities in Kenya by; 1) reviewing the premises and design contexts of urban tourism, 2) presenting transport oriented guiding principles for urban tourism, and 3) documenting pertinent transport design and practices case studies from the United States. The paper is an applied case study based on some of the projects in which the authors were previously either directly engaged in or responsible for documenting the practices. It also conceptualizes the nature of urban spatial structure and analysis pertinent to urban tourism. Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in Africa Vol. 1 (2) 2009: pp. 36-45

Fluoride distribution in soils in the vicinity of a point emission source in Greece

Water quality following extensive beetle-induced tree mortality: Interplay of aromatic carbon loading, disinfection byproducts, and hydrologic drivers