The Experts below are selected from a list of 543 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Mark Christian - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Chunling Xiao - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Fine particulate matter alters the Microecology of the murine respiratory tract
    Environmental science and pollution research international, 2019
    Co-Authors: Biao Yang, Yu Zhang, Yang Zou, Chunling Xiao
    Abstract:

    Fine particulate matter is a global challenge to human health. We investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of fine particulate matter on respiratory tract Microecology in a lung injury mouse model. BALB/c mice were randomized into exposed and control groups. We found that the levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I was increased following the PM2.5 exposure. 16S rRNA sequencing of respiratory tract lavage fluid confirmed that the composition of the respiratory tract Microecology was altered by the exposure. Lactobacillus was the most abundant of bacterial species present. Collectively, these results establish a link between exposure to fine particulate matter and alterations to the respiratory tract Microecology. Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms may lead to treatment strategies in lung injury.

Zhenyu Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Luis Mauricio Bini - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • SAM: A comprehensive application for Spatial Analysis in Macroecology
    Ecography, 2010
    Co-Authors: Thiago F. Rangel, José Alexandre F. Diniz-filho, Luis Mauricio Bini
    Abstract:

    SAM (Spatial Analysis in Macroecology) is a freeware application that offers a comprehensive array of spatial statistical methods, focused primarily on surface pattern spatial analysis. SAM is a compact, but powerful stand-alone software, with a user-friendly, menu-driven graphical interface. The methods available in SAM are the most commonly used in macroecology and geographical ecology, and range from simple tools for exploratory graphical analysis (e.g. mapping and graphing) and descriptive statistics of spatial patterns (e.g. autocorrelation metrics), to advanced spatial regression models (e.g. autoregression and eigenvector filtering). Download of the software, along with the user manual, can be downloaded online at the SAM website: (permanent URL at ).

  • towards an integrated computational tool for spatial analysis in macroecology and biogeography
    Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2006
    Co-Authors: Thiago F. Rangel, Jose Alexandre Felizola Dinizfilho, Luis Mauricio Bini
    Abstract:

    Because most macroecological and biodiversity data are spatially autocorrelated, special tools for describing spatial structures and dealing with hypothesis testing are usually required. Unfortunately, most of these methods have not been available in a single statistical package. Consequently, using these tools is still a challenge for most ecologists and biogeographers. In this paper, we present sam (Spatial Analysis in Macroecology), a new, easy-to-use, freeware package for spatial analysis in macroecology and biogeography. Through an intuitive, fully graphical interface, this package allows the user to describe spatial patterns in variables and provides an explicit spatial framework for standard techniques of regression and correlation. Moran's I autocorrelation coefficient can be calculated based on a range of matrices describing spatial relationships, for original variables as well as for residuals of regression models, which can also include filtering components (obtained by standard trend surface analysis or by principal coordinates of neighbour matrices). sam also offers tools for correcting the number of degrees of freedom when calculating the significance of correlation coefficients. Explicit spatial modelling using several forms of autoregression and generalized least-squares models are also available. We believe this new tool will provide researchers with the basic statistical tools to resolve autocorrelation problems and, simultaneously, to explore spatial components in macroecological and biogeographical data. Although the program was designed primarily for the applications in macroecology and biogeography, most of sam's statistical tools will be useful for all kinds of surface pattern spatial analysis. The program is freely available at http://www.ecoevol.ufg.br/sam (permanent URL at http://purl.oclc.org/sam/).

Paolo Vercellini - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • probiotics and vaginal Microecology fact or fancy
    BMC Women's Health, 2019
    Co-Authors: Laura Buggio, Edgardo Somigliana, Alessandra Borghi, Paolo Vercellini
    Abstract:

    Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, should confer a health benefit to the host. Media sources tend to present probiotics as an appealing health promotion method able to prevent or treat a wide variety of clinical conditions. In obstetrics and gynaecology, Lactobacilli species are mainly used to restore the physiologic vaginal microbiota in order to treat bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and prevent preterm birth. Several RCTs investigated the potential benefits of probiotics in gynaecological and obstetrics conditions. For all potential indications, recent specific meta-analyses have been published. Considering vulvovaginal candidiasis in non-pregnant women, probiotics slightly improved the short-term clinical and mycological cure, and reduced the 1-month relapse. However, no important impact of probiotic use was observed on long-term clinical or mycological cure. Similarly, the addition of probiotics to metronidazole for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis was not shown to provide any additional benefit. In obstetrics, using probiotics during pregnancy neither decreased nor increased the risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks or before 37 weeks. Similarly, no benefits emerged for gestational diabetes, preterm premature rupture of membrane, and small and large for gestational age infants. Despite increasing marketing of probiotics for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis and prevention of preterm birth robust evidence demonstrating a beneficial effect is scarce. Moreover, there was considerable heterogeneity among the different studies in terms of route of administration, strain/s of probiotic adopted, and length of probiotic use. Before recommending the systematic use of probiotics to treat bacterial vaginosis and VVC and prevent preterm birth, high-quality research is needed. Professional medical associations should issue recommendations defining if, when, and how probiotics should be used for gynaecological disorders.