Historical Connectivity and Demography of the Ferocious Reef Crab, Eriphia ferox (Crustacea; Eriphiidae), Demonstrate That Taoyuan Algal Reef Is an Essential Population Source Along the East Taiwan Strait

The east Taiwan Strait is largely fringed by sandy and muddy habitats. However, a massive algal reef made of crustose coralline algae has been found along the coast off Taoyuan city in northwestern Taiwan. The porous structure of Taoyuan Algal Reef harbors high abundance and diversity in marine organisms, including the ferocious reef crab, Eriphia ferox. Such a pivotal geographic location and unique ecological features make Taoyuan Algal Reef a potential stepping stone connecting biotic reefs in the east Taiwan Strait, South China Sea to the south, and even the high latitude of Japan to the north. In this study, we examined the population connectivity and historical demography of E. ferox by analyzing mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) fragments of 317 individuals sampled from 21 localities in the northwestern Pacific. Our analyses of haplotype network and pairwise FST comparisons revealed a lack of phylogeographical structure among E. ferox populations, implying the existence of a migration corridor connecting the South and East China Seas through the east Taiwan Strait. Multiple lines of evidence, including significant values in neutrality tests, unimodally shaped mismatch distributions, and Bayesian skyline plots elucidated the rapid population growth of E. ferox following the sea-level rise after Last Glacial Maximum (ca. 2–10 Ka). Such demographic expansion in E. ferox coincided with the time when Taoyuan Algal Reef started to build up around 7,500 years ago. Coalescent migration analyses further indicated that the large and continuous E. ferox population exclusively found in Datan Algal Reef, the heart of Taoyuan Algal Reef, was a source population exporting migrants both northward and southward to the adjacent populations. The bidirectional gene flow should be attributed to larval dispersal by ocean currents and secondary contact due to historical population expansion. Instead of serving as a stepping stone, our results support that Taoyuan Algal Reef is an essential population source for biotic reef-associated species along the east Taiwan Strait, and highlight the importance of conserving such a unique ecosystem currently threatened by anthropogenic development.

Study on the Evolution of the Source-Flow-Sink Pattern of China’s Chunyun Population Migration Network: Evidence from Tencent Big Data

We construct a comprehensive analysis framework of population flow in China. To do so, we take prefecture-level administrative regions as the basic research unit of population flow and use source-sink theory and flow space theory. Additionally, we reveal the dynamic differentiation of population flow patterns and the evolution of population source-flow-sink systems. We try to provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of population development policies and regional spatial governance. The results show the following: (1) The Hu Huanyong Line has a strong spatial lock-in effect on population flow. Additionally, provincial capital cities, headed by Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Hefei, have played an increasingly prominent role in population flow. (2) The developed eastern coastal areas have undertaken China’s main population outflow. The net population flow is spatially high in the middle of the region and low on the two sides, exhibiting an “inverted U-shaped” pattern. Furthermore, the borders of the central provinces form a continuous population inflow area. (3) The hierarchical characteristics of the population flow network are obvious. Strong connections occur between developed cities, and the effect of distance attenuation is weakened. The medium connection network is consistent with the traffic skeleton, and population flow exhibits a strong “bypass effect”. (4) The source and sink areas are divided into four regions similar to China’s three major economic belts. The 10 regions can be refined to identify the main population source and sink regions, and the 18 regions can basically reflect China’s level of urbanization. The network of the population flow source-flow-sink system exhibits notable nesting characteristics. As a result, it creates a situation in which the source areas on both sides of the east and the west are convective to the middle. The hierarchical differentiation of the source-flow sink system is related to the differences between the east and the west and between the north and the south, as well as local differences in China.

Available medications used as potential therapeutics for COVID-19: What are the known safety profiles in pregnancy

Background Medications already available to treat other conditions are presently being studied in clinical trials as potential treatments for COVID-19. Given that pregnant women are excluded from these trials, we aimed to investigate their safety when used during pregnancy within a unique population source. Methods Using the population-based Quebec Pregnancy Cohort, we identified women who delivered a singleton liveborn (1998–2015). Taking potential confounders into account including indications for use, the risk of prematurity, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and major congenital malformation (MCM) associated with COVID-19 repurposed drug use during pregnancy were quantified using generalized estimation equations. Results Of the 231,075 eligible pregnancies, 107 were exposed to dexamethasone (0.05%), 31 to interferons (0.01%), 1,398 to heparins (0.60%), 24 to angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB) (0.01%), 182 to chloroquine (0.08%), 103 to hydroxychloroquine (0.05%), 6,206 to azithromycin (2.70%), 230 to oseltamivir (0.10%), and 114 to HIV medications (0.05%). Adjusting for potential confounders, we observed an increased risk of prematurity related to dexamethasone (aOR 1.92, 95%CI 1.11–3.33; 15 exposed cases), anti-thrombotics (aOR 1.58, 95%CI 1.31–1.91; 177 exposed cases), and HIV medications (aOR 2.04, 95%CI 1.01–4.11; 20 exposed cases) use. An increased risk for LBW associated with anti-thrombotics (aOR 1.72, 95%CI 1.41–2.11; 152 exposed cases), and HIV medications (aOR 2.48, 95%CI 1.25–4.90; 21 exposed cases) use were also found. Gestational exposure to anti-thrombotics (aOR 1.20, 95%CI 1.00–1.44; 176 exposed cases), and HIV medications (aOR 2.61, 95%CI 1.51–4.51; 30 exposed cases) were associated with SGA. First-trimester dexamethasone (aOR 1.66, 95%CI 1.02–2.69; 20 exposed cases) and azithromycin (aOR 1.10, 95%CI 1.02–1.19; 747 exposed cases) exposures were associated with MCM. Conclusions Many available medications considered as treatments for COVID-19 are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Caution is warranted when considering these medications during the gestational period.

Asthma severity as a contributing factor to cancer incidence: A cohort study

Background A putative link between asthma and asthma severity with the occurrence of cancer has been suggested but has not been fully investigated. The objective of this study is to assess the incidence of all types of cancer in a cohort of asthmatic patients. Methods and findings A single center cohort retrospective study was conducted to investigate the role of asthma as a potential risk factor for various cancers. Participants were followed for a period of 9 years from 01/01/2010 to 30/12/2018 and cancer incidence and its determinants were collected in asthmatic patients and controls from the same population source but without any respiratory disease. Overall, 2,027 asthma patients and 1,637 controls were followed up for an average of 9 years. The statistical analysis showed that 2% of asthma patients were diagnosed with various cancers, resulting in an incidence rate of cancer of 383.02 per 100,000 persons per year which is significantly higher than the 139.01 per 100,000 persons per year observed in matched controls (p-value < 0.001). The top four cancers reported among asthmatics were breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer. Lung cancer in asthmatics had the longest diagnosis period with a mean of 36.6 years compared to the shortest with prostate cancer with 16.5 years. Conclusions This study shows that asthma patients are at increased risk of different types of cancers with asthma severity and goiter as the main factors that may increase the risk of developing cancers among asthmatic patients.

MO836INCIDENCE AND OUTCOME OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION IN THE POPULATION UNDERGOING DIALYSIS TREATMENT IN LAZIO REGION

Background and Aims Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) represent a frail population with severe co-morbidities and different degrees of immune dysfunction. These patients might be at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and might experience severe consequences of COVID-19. In March 2020, the Lazio Regional Dialysis and Transplantation Registry (LRDTR) implemented a questionnaire to obtain information on dialysis patients who have developed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aims of this study is to evaluate the incidence and the short-term lethality of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the population undergoing dialysis treatment in Lazio Region. Method A cohort of patients treated in the dialysis units of Lazio Region was enrolled. Prevalent dialysis patients at 1/1/2020 and incident patients during the period 01/01/2020-08/01/2020 were included. The LRDTR collects information on dialysis patients from the start of chronic dialysis treatments with biannual update and immediately informing about the end of dialytic treatment (death, renal transplant, etc). Infection was traced in the LRDTR from March 2020 to 08/13/2020. The information on vital status was obtained from LRDTR and the mortality Lazio registry up to 10/30/2020. Poisson models, crude and adjusted for sex and age, were used to estimate incident rate of infection and mortality rate on dialysis patients and on dialysis patients who have developed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and respective confidence intervals of 95% (CI95%). Results During the study period, the estimate of the number of patients undergoing dialysis treatment was 5196 in Lazio Region, 65% were males with mean age of 70 years. Thirty-seven patients were infected with SARS-CoV-2: 70% males, mean age 73 years. These patients were treated in 24 different dialysis units. The cumulative incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 0.71% (95% CI 0.52-0.98) and the adjusted incidence rate was 3.3 *100,000 Person Days (PD) (95% CI 2.4-4.7). The distribution of positive swabs by month was: 21 in March 7 in April, 6 in May, 1 in June, 2 in July. Twenty-seven patients had symptoms while 10 patients, who have had contact with infected individuals, had positive swabs in absence of symptoms. Infected and hospitalised dialysis patients were 78%. Of the 29 hospitalized patients: 6 were in sub-intensive care, 16 in intensive care, of these 7 needed intubations, 9 underwent non-invasive ventilation. The adjusted cumulative mortality rate in dialysis patients was 6.8% (95% CI 6.0-7.6), the same measure for SARS-CoV-2 infected patients was 37.4% (95% CI 19.8-70.4) with an average follow-up of 205 PD. The adjusted mortality rate was 3.3 * 10,000PD (95% CI: 2.9-3.7) among dialysis patients and 21.2*10,000PD (95% CI: 11.1-40.7) among infected dialysis patients. Conclusion This study highlights a greater susceptibility of dialysis patients to SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a rate three times higher than that observed in the general population (source: Civil Protection Department). Mortality risk for dialysis patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection is about 6 times higher than in the dialysis patients it suggesting a major impact of infection on this fragile population.

Identification of the population source of free-ranging cats threatening endemic species on Tokunoshima Island, Japan

Free-ranging cats Felis silvestris catus are harmful to endemic species, especially on islands. Effective management practices require an understanding of their habitat use and population source at the landscape level. We aimed to identify the source of the free-ranging cat population on Tokunoshima Island, Japan, which harbors a variety of endemic organisms as well as human settlements. Trapping data for the whole island were provided by local governments, and landscape factors (residential, agricultural, and woodlot areas and cattle barn density) affecting cat density were explored. An analysis of live-capture data indicated that the density (per 1 km2) of free-ranging cats was positively correlated with the densities of cattle barns and woodlot areas and negatively correlated with residential areas. An interview survey revealed that nearly half of the cattle barns feed free-ranging cats. The source habitat of free-ranging cats appears to be areas with a high density of cattle barns and a high percentage of woodlots in human-dominated landscapes. Feeding cats in cattle barns may strengthen the bottom-up process of population growth on the island. To reduce the impact of cats on endemic species on Tokunoshima Island, efforts to stop feeding cats in cattle barns are important. Reaching a consensus with stakeholders will require further studies of the ecological risks posed by free-ranging cats.

West Asian sources of the Eurasian component in Ethiopians: a reassessment

SummaryPrevious genome-scale studies of populations living today in Ethiopia have found evidence of recent gene flow from an Eurasian source, dating to the last 3,000 years1,2,3,4. Haplotype1 and genotype data based analyses of modern2,4 and ancient data (aDNA)3,5 have considered Sardinia-like proxy2, broadly Levantine1,4 or Neolithic Levantine3 populations as a range of possible sources for this gene flow. Given the ancient nature of this gene flow and the extent of population movements and replacements that affected West Asia in the last 3000 years, aDNA evidence would seem as the best proxy for determining the putative population source. We demonstrate, however, that the deeply divergent, autochthonous African component which accounts for ∼50% of most contemporary Ethiopian genomes, affects the overall allele frequency spectrum to an extent that makes it hard to control for it and, at once, to discern between subtly different, yet important, Eurasian sources (such as Anatolian or Levant Neolithic ones). Here we re-assess pattern of allele sharing between the Eurasian component of Ethiopians (here called “NAF” for Non African) and ancient and modern proxies area after having extracted NAF from Ethiopians through ancestry deconvolution, and unveil a genomic signature compatible with population movements that affected the Mediterranean area and the Levant after the fall of the Minoan civilization.