Multivariate Statistical Data Analysis Research Articles

Assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to potentially toxic elements in tea infusions: Determination by ICP-OES and multivariate statistical data analysis

BackgroundThe perennial evergreen tea (Camellia sinensis) plant is one of the most popular nonalcoholic drinks in the world. Fertilizers and industrial, agricultural, and municipal activities are the usual drivers of soil contamination, contaminating tea plants with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). These elements might potentially accumulate to larger amounts in the leaves of plants after being taken up from the soil. Thus, frequent monitoring of these elements is critically important. MethodsThe present study intended to determine PTEs (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in both tea leaves and infusions using ICP-OES. Various multivariate data analysis methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were employed to elucidate the potential sources of PTEs contamination, whether from anthropogenic activities or natural origins. Additionally, Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) was calculated to assess the relationships between the variables under study. ResultsThe mean contents (mg/L) of all studied elements in tea infusions decreased in order Mn (150.59 ± 1.66) > Fe (11.39 ± 0.99) > Zn (6.62 ± 0.89) > Cu (5.86 ± 0.62) > Co (3.25 ± 0.64) > Ni (1.69 ± 0.23) > Pb (1.08 ± 0.16) > Cr (0.57 ± 0.09) > Cd (0.46 ± 0.09) > Al (0.05 ± 0.008), indicating that Mn exhibits the highest abundance. The mean concentration trend in tea leaf samples mirrored that of infusions, albeit with higher concentrations of PTEs in the former. The tolerable dietary intake (TDI) value for Ni and provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) value for Cd surpassed the standards set by the WHO and EFSA. Calculated hazard index (HI < 1) and cumulative cancer risk (CCR) values suggest negligible exposure risk. ConclusionElevated levels of PTEs in commonly consumed tea products concern the public and regulatory agencies.

The coherence between PSMC6 and α-ring in the 26S proteasome is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a heterogeneous age-dependent neurodegenerative disorder. Its hallmarks involve abnormal proteostasis, which triggers proteotoxicity and induces neuronal dysfunction. The 26S proteasome is an ATP-dependent proteolytic nanomachine of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and contributes to eliminating these abnormal proteins. This study focused on the relationship between proteasome and AD, the hub genes of proteasome, PSMC6, and 7 genes of α-ring, are selected as targets to study. The following three characteristics were observed: 1. The total number of proteasomes decreased with AD progression because the proteotoxicity damaged the expression of proteasome proteins, as evidenced by the downregulation of hub genes. 2. The existing proteasomes exhibit increased activity and efficiency to counterbalance the decline in total proteasome numbers, as evidenced by enhanced global coordination and reduced systemic disorder of proteasomal subunits as AD advances. 3. The synergy of PSMC6 and α-ring subunits is associated with AD. Synergistic downregulation of PSMC6 and α-ring subunits reflects a high probability of AD risk. Regarding the above discovery, the following hypothesis is proposed: The aggregation of pathogenic proteins intensifies with AD progression, then proteasome becomes more active and facilitates the UPS selectively targets the degradation of abnormal proteins to maintain CNS proteostasis. In this paper, bioinformatics and support vector machine learning methods are applied and combined with multivariate statistical analysis of microarray data. Additionally, the concept of entropy was used to detect the disorder of proteasome system, it was discovered that entropy is down-regulated continually with AD progression against system chaos caused by AD. Another conception of the matrix determinant was used to detect the global coordination of proteasome, it was discovered that the coordination is enhanced to maintain the efficiency of degradation. The features of entropy and determinant suggest that active proteasomes resist the attack caused by AD like defenders, on the one hand, to protect themselves (entropy reduces), and on the other hand, to fight the enemy (determinant reduces). It is noted that these are results from biocomputing and need to be supported by further biological experiments.

1H NMR Metabolomics on Pigs' Liver Exposed to Antibiotics Administration: An Explorative Study.

An untargeted Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics approach was applied as a first attempt to explore the metabolome of pigs treated with antibiotics. The final goal was to investigate the possibility of discriminating between antibiotic-treated (TX group) and untreated pigs (CTRL group), with the further perspective of identifying the authentication tools for antibiotic-free pork supply chains. In particular, 41 samples of pig liver were subjected to a biphasic extraction to recover both the polar and the non-polar metabolites, and the 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis was performed on the two separate extracts. Unsupervised (principal component analysis) and supervised (orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis) multivariate statistical analysis of 1H NMR spectra data in the range 0-9 ppm provided metabolomic fingerprinting useful for the discrimination of pig livers based on the antibiotic treatment to which they were exposed. Moreover, within the signature patterns, significant discriminating metabolites were identified among carbohydrates, choline and derivatives, amino acids and some lipid-class molecules. The encouraging findings of this exploratory study showed the feasibility of the untargeted metabolomic approach as a novel strategy in the authentication framework of pork supply chains and open a new horizon for a more in-depth investigation.

Investigating the antitumor effects of a novel ruthenium (II) complex on malignant melanoma cells: An NMR-based metabolomic approach

Metals have been used for many years in medicine, particularly for the treatment of cancer. Cisplatin is one of the most used drugs in the treatment of cancer. Although platinum-containing therapeutics have unparalleled efficacy in cancer treatment, they are coupled with adverse effects and the development of tumour resistance. This has led to the exploration of other metal-based modalities including ruthenium-based compounds. Thus, in our previous study, we synthesized and characterized a novel ruthenium (II) complex (referred to herein as GA113) containing a bis-amino-phosphine ligand. The complex was subsequently screened for its anti-cancerous potential against a human malignant melanoma A375 cell line and findings revealed favourable cytotoxicity. In the current study, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based cellular metabolomics approach was applied to probe the possible mechanism of GA113 in A375 cells. In addition, other biological assays including light microscopy, Hoechst-33258 and MitoTracker Orange CM-H2TMRos stain were used to assess cellular viability and apoptosis in GA113-treated cells. Consequently, multivariate statistical data analysis was applied to the metabolomic data to identify potential biomarkers. Six signatory metabolites were altered after treatment. Changes in these metabolites were linked to two metabolic pathways, which include the alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolic pathway as well as the glycine, serine, and threonine pathway. By means of an NMR-based metabolomic approach, we identified the potential mechanism of action of complex GA113 in A375 cancer cells thus providing new insights into the metabolic pathways affected by complex GA113 and establishing a foundation for further development, research, and eventual application in cancer.

Compositional analysis of black-slipped pottery from the Hulushan and Maoershan kiln sites: Insights into social complexity in northern Fujian

When discussing the development of complex societies in China, the northern Fujian region consistently emerges as an area of significance that is often overlooked. Discoveries of kiln clusters discovered at both the Hulushan and Maoershan sites, dating to 4000–3500 BP and noted for their production of black-slipped pottery, combined with the widespread distribution of such pottery across northern Fujian, suggest the potential emergence of specialized production and social complexity in the region. However, there has been rarely systematic discussion on this topic. This paper presents the first compositional analysis of black-slipped pottery from Hulushan and Maoershan using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF). Through multivariate statistical analysis of chemical compositional data, this study reveals significant compositional uniformity in the ceramics from both kiln sites, despite being located about 150 km apart, indicating that the potters from Hulushan and Maoershan were likely part of a single, unified community of practice, sharing information and technology on how to make pottery. Our analysis further reveals that the potters at each site deliberately produced two distinct qualities of products, with evidence suggesting that this classification may have reflected social differentiation. Our research highlights the characteristics of specialized production of black-slipped pottery, revealing a unique and often overlooked aspect of the development of social complexity in northern Fujian. Additionally, this research lays the foundation for further investigation into the production and distribution patterns of black-slipped pottery in the surrounding regions in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi provinces.

Multivariate statistical analyses of 1H NMR data for binary and ternary copolymer blends to determine the chemical compositions and blending fractions of the components

Multivariate statistical analyses of 1H NMR data for binary and ternary copolymer blends to determine the chemical compositions and blending fractions of the components

Post-pubertal developmental trajectories of laryngeal shape and size in humans

Laryngeal morphotypes have been hypothesized related to both phonation and to laryngeal pathologies. Morphotypes have not been validated or demonstrated quantitatively and sources of shape and size variation are incompletely understood but are critical for the explanation of behavioral changes (e.g., changes of physical properties of a voice) and for therapeutic approaches to the larynx. This is the first study to take this crucial step and results are likely to have implications for surgeons and speech language pathologists. A stratified human sample was interrogated for phenotypic variation of the vocal organ. First, computed tomography image stacks were used to generate three-dimensional reconstructions of the thyroid cartilage. Then cartilage shapes were quantified using multivariate statistical analysis of high dimensional shape data from margins and surfaces of the thyroid cartilage. The effects of sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and body height on size and shape differences were analyzed. We found that sex, age, BMI and the age–sex interaction showed significant effects on the mixed sex sample. Among males, only age showed a strong effect. The thyroid cartilage increased in overall size, and the angulation between left and right lamina decreased in older males. Age, BMI and the age–height interaction were statistically significant factors within females. The angulation between left and right lamina increased in older females and was smaller in females with greater BMI. A cluster analysis confirmed the strong age effect on larynx shape in males and a complex interaction between the age, BMI and height variables in the female sample. The investigation demonstrated that age and BMI, two risk factors in a range of clinical conditions, are associated with shape and size variation of the human larynx. The effects influence shape differently in female and male larynges. The male–female shape dichotomy is partly size-dependent but predominantly size-independent.

Proteomic Study on Multi-Organ Metastases of Human Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Cell Line in a Xenograft Mouse Model Based on a Novel Sequence-Specific Analysis Strategy.

To investigate the gene regulation of tumor cells in the process of different organ metastasis on a xenograft mouse model and screen the genes involved in the organ-target metastasis of tumor cells. A multi-organ metastasis model was constructed with a human ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell line (ES-2) based on a severe immunodeficiency mouse strain (NCG). Differentially expressed tumor proteins among multi-organ metastases were successfully characterized by microliter liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry, sequence-specific data analysis and multivariate statistical data analysis. Liver metastases were selected as typical for subsequent bioinformatic analysis. Selected liver metastasis-specific genes in ES-2 cells were validated by sequence-specific quantitation including high resolution-multiple reaction monitoring quantification at protein level and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction at mRNA level. From the mass spectrometry data, a total of 4503 human proteins were identified using the sequence-specific data analysis strategy. Of them, 158 proteins were selected as specifically regulated genes in liver metastases for subsequent bioinformatics studies. Based on Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) pathway analysis and sequence-specific quantitation, Ferritin light chain (FTL), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and long-chain-fatty-acid-CoA ligase 1 (ACSL1) were finally validated as specifically upregulated proteins in liver metastases. Our work provides a new approach to analyze gene regulation in tumor metastasis in xenograft mouse model. In presence of a large number of mouse protein interference, we validated the up-regulation of human ACSL1, FTL and LDHA in ES-2 liver metastases, which reflects the adaptive regulation of tumor cells to the liver microenvironment through metabolic reprogramming.

Two new species of Eleutherodactylus from western and central Mexico (Eleutherodactylus jamesdixoni sp. nov., Eleutherodactylus humboldti sp. nov.).

The subgenus Syrrhophus (genus Eleutherodactylus) contains >40 species of small, direct-developing frogs that occur at low to moderate elevations from Texas through Mexico and into Guatemala and Belize, with two species in western Cuba. Morphological conservatism and phenotypic convergence have made species delimitation challenging and resulted in a complicated taxonomic history. Since 2015, molecular systematic work has uncovered eleven new species from western Mexico and one from eastern Mexico, but current taxonomy still underestimates species level diversity and there is confusion surrounding the validity and boundary of several species. We used phylogenetic analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences, multivariate statistical analysis of morphological data, and bioacoustic analysis of male advertisement calls to discover two additional unnamed species of Eleutherodactylus from Central and Western Mexico. We describe those species here. Eleutherodactylus (Syrrhophus) humboldti sp. nov. is described from the Quaternary Valle de Bravo volcanic field of the Eje Neovolcánico in Central Mexico. This species is sister to E. maurus and is 3% divergent in 16S. Eleutherodactylus (Syrrhophus) jamesdixoni sp. nov. is described from the Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico. This species is sister to E. nitidus and is 3% divergent. We provide color photographs, advertisement call recordings, and molecular diagnoses of these new species and their sister species to aid future workers.

Chironomid-Based Modern Summer Temperature Data Set and Inference Model for the Northwest European Part of Russia

Northwestern Russia remains the only region in Northern Eurasia where no regional chironomid-based inference model for quantitative palaeoclimatic reconstructions has been developed. Using palaeolimnological methods, we investigated the subfossil chironomid remains in surface sediments from a data set of 98 lakes from nine subregions of the European part of Northern Russia. We identified 143 chironomid taxa in the investigated lakes. Multivariate statistical analyses of chironomid and environmental data demonstrated that the mean July air temperature (T July), distance from the tree line, water depth, pH, and altitude explain the most significant variance in chironomid distribution. T July appeared to be the most important environmental variable. We established a chironomid-based inference model for reconstructing T July from subfossil data. The resulting West Russian two-component WA-PLS model includes 96 lakes (two lakes were excluded as outliers), 143 chironomid taxa, r2 = 0.84 (r2 boot = 0.60), RMSEP boot = 1.34 °C, and can be recommended for application in palaeoclimatic studies in the East of Northern Eurasia.

Metabolic composition of healthy and infected Grüner Veltliner grapes and wine assessed by high resolution mass spectrometry

Grapevines are susceptible to a wide range of fungal diseases that result in significant annual economic losses in the global wine industry. The present study uses a non-targeted mass spectrometry approach to explore metabolic profiles of healthy and infected Austrian Grüner Veltliner grapes and wine. The samples were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ion mobility-mass spectrometry combined with multivariate statistical data analysis. Clear differences between healthy and infected samples were observed using multivariate analysis, allowing sample classification according to infection. In total, 111 grape and wine markers were identified as a result of infection, of which 68 were identified with confidence levels 1 or 2. The statistical analysis results outlined metabolites such as (-)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, astilbin, quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, gluconic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, caftaric acid, galactaric acid, fumaric acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, indole-3-lactic acid, dipeptides and tripeptides, to be discriminant in detection of grapes and wine infection.

Ceramic raptors unearthed at the site of Shimao (2300–1800 BCE) in northern China: Production and use

Ceramic raptors were unearthed at the site of Shimao (2300–1800 BCE), a 425-ha walled settlement on the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi, China. Bird-shaped figures of similar size and age are rare in prehistoric East Asia. For the first time, the present paper conducted a compositional study on the Shimao ceramic raptors using a non-invasive handheld X-ray fluorescence (hhXRF) analyzer. The hhXRF data were compared with those of Shimao utilitarian vessels and local clays to investigate the production of these artifacts. Multivariate statistical analyses of the compositional data suggest that the ceramic raptors are primarily similar to utilitarian pottery in chemical composition but the source(s) of the clay for making them do not match those of the sampled soils. Three subgroups of the ceramic raptors are recognizable by their body color and characteristics of the exterior surface, and they demonstrate compositional variability possibly suggesting different sources of the clay. In addition, calcium-rich whitish substances are inferred as residues of a white paint intentionally applied during the production or use of ceramic raptors. Based on a discussion of archaeometric and archaeological evidence, we propose that the Shimao ceramic raptors were manufactured by multiple production units and meant to mimic a specific, culturally significant bird species (eagles). We also speculate that they were displayed during special events at restricted locales and were intentionally (even ritually) discarded after use. It is possible that the ceramic raptors constituted a part of the political landscape shaped by the Shimao elites, who possessed authority and power on a regional scale.

Metabolite Changes during the Transition from Hyperthyroidism to Euthyroidism in Patients with Graves' Disease.

An excess of thyroid hormones in Graves' disease (GD) has profound effects on systemic energy metabolism that are currently partially understood. In this study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the metabolite changes that occur when patients with GD transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism with methimazole treatment. Eighteen patients (mean age, 38.6±14.7 years; 66.7% female) with newly diagnosed or relapsed GD attending the endocrinology outpatient clinics in a single institution were recruited between January 2019 and July 2020. All subjects were treated with methimazole to achieve euthyroidism. We explored metabolomics by performing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of plasma samples of these patients and then performed multivariate statistical analysis of the metabolomics data. Two hundred metabolites were measured before and after 12 weeks of methimazole treatment in patients with GD. The levels of 61 metabolites, including palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1), were elevated in methimazole-naïve patients with GD, and these levels were decreased by methimazole treatment. The levels of another 15 metabolites, including glycine and creatinine, were increased after recovery of euthyroidism upon methimazole treatment in patients with GD. Pathway analysis of metabolomics data showed that hyperthyroidism was closely related to aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid biosynthesis and branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis pathways. In this study, significant variations of plasma metabolomic patterns that occur during the transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism were detected in patients with GD via untargeted metabolomics analysis.

Groundwaters and deep-seated fluid circulation around Aso Volcano, Southwest Japan, revealed by multivariate statistical analysis of the geochemical data

To understand the fluid circulation under volcanoes and their surrounding area, geochemical compositions of 590 groundwater and spring/river water samples from the central Kyusyu in SW Japan, including hot and mineral spring waters around Aso and Kuju Volcanoes, have been analyzed for 12 major solutes as well as oxygen‑hydrogen and helium isotopic ratios. To extract independent processes and sources involved in formation of the groundwaters, whitened data-based k-means cluster analysis (KCA) has been applied to the data set of 12 major solutes. Eight clusters have been identified by KCA, which were mapped geographically and were compared with the isotopic compositions, temperature, and pH that were not included in KCA. By the geographical mapping, a concentric zonal structure of the clusters emerges in the Aso caldera, which resulted broadly from two fluid cycling systems from caldera rim and central cones. In the entire study area including Aso and Kuju Volcanoes, the mapping also shows geographical provenance, and the distribution of each cluster shows characteristics related to geological features, such as upwelling of deep-seated fluids along the prominent tectonic lines. On the other hand, the Piper diagram-based classification is significantly different from the KCA results and exhibits neither a concentric zonal structure within the Aso caldera nor a regional geographical provenance. These results suggest that multivariate statistical analysis such as KCA is potentially useful for investigating the origins of groundwaters and shows the advantages over classical Piper diagram-based evaluations.

Untargeted GC-MS metabolomics to identify and classify bioactive compounds in Combretum platypetalum subsp. oatesii (Rolfe) Exell (Combretaceae).

Combretum platypetalum is used in traditional African healing practices against different infections. Unfortunately, no scientific knowledge of its phytochemical composition exists, except for the isolation of two compounds from the leaves. Scientific study has been limited to the leaves only, despite the applications of stems and roots in traditional medicine practice and natural product drug discovery programs. Omics was applied to identify and classify different volatile and semivolatile bioactive compounds in the leaf, stem, and root parts of C. platypetalum. The thermal stability of the plant constituents at 60-65°C extraction temperature by Soxhlet and maceration at room temperature on the type, class, and concentration of compounds in the leaf was further investigated. A GC-MS untargeted metabolomics approach, automated deconvolution by the Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System (AMDIS) for GC-MS data, preprocessing by Metab R, and multivariate statistical data analysis were employed in this study. A total of 97 phytoconstituents, including 17 bioactive compounds belonging to the terpenoids, flavonoids, long-chain fatty acids, and other unclassified structural arrangements distributed across C. platypetalum, were identified for the first time. A correlation (r = 0.782; P = 0.000) between Soxhlet and maceration extraction methods relative to resolved chromatographic peak areas of metabolites was established. Findings corroborate the reported bio-investigation of its leaf extracts, its traditional uses, and previous findings from the Combretum genus. The results substantiate the possible applications of C. platypetalum in natural product drug discovery and provide a guide for future investigations.

Relationship between Cultural Origin of Multinational Companies and Employing Expatriates in Foreign Subsidiaries in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract In the present study, we examine the question of whether the cultural characteristics of the country of the parent company are related to the posting practices of the parent company. According to our hypothesis, the management culture of the sending (parent) company influences the employment of foreign expats in local subsidiaries. In this research we use interviews and multivariate statistical analysis of survey data from five CEE countries, an important but relatively less examined region for global HR mobility. We found a significant relationship between cultural differences and expatriate assignment practices of MNCs. However, based on the strength of the relationship, we can conclude that in addition to management culture, other influencing factors typically influence posting decisions. Our results support Hofstede’s suggestion about the cultural dependence of management methods from a specific, management of expatriates, perspective.

Multivariate statistical analysis of chemical and stable isotopic data as indicative of groundwater evolution with reduced exploitation

Groundwater resources in the North China Plain (NCP) are undergoing tremendous changes in response to the operation of groundwater exploitation reduction (GWER) project. To identify groundwater evolution in this complex context, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were combined to interpret an integrated dataset of stable isotopes and chemical data from four sampling campaigns in a pilot area of groundwater control. We proposed a novel HCA approach integrating stable isotopes and chemical signals, which successfully partitioned the groundwater samples into the unconfined and the confined water samples. Stable isotopic evidence showed that the lateral inflow and the surface water may contribute more to groundwater recharge in this region than local modern precipitation. The unconfined water’s main hydrochemical types were Na type with mixed anions, and Na–Cl–SO4 type, while the confined water was mainly Na–Cl and Na–SO4 types. Geochemical processes mainly involved the dissolution/precipitation of halite, gypsum, Glauber's salt, feldspar, calcite and dolomite, as well as the cation exchange. PCA results showed that water–rock interaction (i.e., salinity-based and alkalinity-based processes) predominated the hydrochemical evolution, along with local nitrate contamination resulting from fertilizers and domestic sewage. The GWER project regulated the natural evolution of unconfined water chemistry, and significantly reduced the unconfined water’s salinity (mainly Na+, Mg2+, SO42−). This may be attributed to upward leakage from low-salinity confined water at some parts of the aquifer. Additionally, insignificant changes in the confined water’s salinity reflected that the impact of GWER on the confined aquifer was negligible. This study facilitates the groundwater classification effectively in the areas lack of geological data, and enhances the knowledge of groundwater chemical evolution in such a region where groundwater restoration is in progress, with important implications for groundwater sustainable management in similar basins worldwide.

A comprehensive characterization of volatile profiles of plum brandies using gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry

Alike in case of other spirits, specific sensory properties of plum brandies, which are associated with aromatic compounds pattern, depend not only on a fruit quality but also on technology used for raw material processing. In this study, novel approach based on the non-target screening of (semi)volatile compounds by gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) was employed. The potential of this approach to distinguish plum brandies of different origin was investigated. To involve as many compounds as possible for assessment, three different sample handling strategies prior to instrumental analysis were tested: (i) no pre-treatment direct sample injection, (ii) liquid-liquid extraction by ethyl acetate, (iii) extraction of volatiles by head-space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The latter approach was selected for obtaining GC–HRMS volatiles fingerprints of a unique set of 41 plum brandy samples produced by the distilleries from Czech Republic and from Bulgaria. Multivariate statistical data analysis enabled construction of chemometric models for unbiased authentication of plum brandies, moreover, distinguishing between premium plum brandies and other ones from the Czech Republic was achieved. In addition, volatile compounds such as p-cymene, methyl eugenol and furfural were identified among the most significant ‘markers’ responsible for reliable classification of the samples.

Use of Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Hydrochemical Data for the Identification of the Geochemical Processes in the Tirana-Fushe Kuqe Alluvial Aquifer, North-Western Albania

Use of Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Hydrochemical Data for the Identification of the Geochemical Processes in the Tirana-Fushe Kuqe Alluvial Aquifer, North-Western Albania

Characterization of the oral microbiome of children with type 1 diabetes in the acute and chronic phases

ABSTRACT Background and Aim The relationship between the oral microbiota and type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the variations in the oral microbiome in T1D and identify potentially associated bacterial factors. Methods We performed high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 area of the 16S rRNA gene to profile the oral bacterial composition of 47 healthy children (CON group), 46 children with new-onset T1D in the acute phase (NT1D group), and 10 children with T1D in the chronic phase receiving insulin treatment (CT1D group). Multivariate statistical analysis of sequencing data was performed. Results Compared to the CON group, the NT1D group was characterized by decreased diversity and increased abundance of genera harboring opportunistic pathogens, while this trend was partially reversed in the CT1D group. Differential genera between groups could distinguish the NT1D group from the CON group (AUC = 0.933) and CT1D group (AUC = 0.846), respectively. Moreover, T1D-enriched genera were closely correlated with HbA1c, FBG and WBCs levels. Conclusion Our results showed that the acute phase of T1D was characterized by oral microbiota dysbiosis, which could be partially ameliorated via glycemic control. The possible role of oral microbiota dysbiosis on oral health and systemic metabolic status in T1D warrants further mechanistic investigation.