Population‐wide single‐pollen nuclei genotyping in rye sheds light on the genetic basis and environmental plasticity of meiotic recombination

Summary The core molecular machinery of meiosis is conserved deep across eukaryotic lineages. Nevertheless, recombination landscapes vary at multiple scales, from chromosomes to populations, caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. To improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of this variation, we need to identify the underlying genetic architecture. In this work, we explored the genetic basis and environmental plasticity of meiotic recombination in a large rye population grown under control and nutrient‐deficient conditions. We used single‐pollen nuclei (SPN) genotyping to directly measure male meiotic crossovers in 3136 pollen nuclei from 584 individuals. We detected a significant reduction of crossovers in response to nutrient deficiency. Using genome‐wide association scans, we uncovered the genetic basis of crossover count, crossover interference, and intrachromosomal shuffling. The presence of multiple additive loci with small to intermediate explained phenotypic variance suggested a polygenic architecture of crossover traits. Loci associated with crossover traits were unique to control or nutrient‐deficient conditions, suggesting that alleles regulating crossover traits are dependent on genotype‐by‐environment interactions, which strongly emphasizes the environmental plasticity of meiotic recombination. Finally, we revealed differences in recombination landscapes measured in gametophytes and sporophytes, which may be explained by a postmeiotic survivorship bias.

Beyond species means – the intraspecific contribution to global wood density variation

Summary Wood density is central for estimating vegetation carbon storage and a plant functional trait of great ecological and evolutionary importance. However, the global extent of wood density variation is unclear, especially at the intraspecific level. We assembled the most comprehensive wood density collection to date, including 109 626 records from 16 829 plant species across woody life forms and biomes (GWDD v.2, available here: doi: 10.5281/zenodo.16919509). Using the GWDD v.2, we explored the sources of wood density variation within individuals, within species and across environmental gradients. Intraspecific variation accounted for c . 15% of overall wood density variation (SD = 0.068 g cm −3 ). Variance was 50% smaller in sapwood than heartwood, and 30% smaller in branchwood than trunkwood. Individuals in extreme environments (dry, hot and acidic soils) had higher wood density than conspecifics elsewhere (+0.02 g cm −3 , c . 4% of the mean). Intraspecific environmental effects strongly tracked interspecific patterns ( r  = 0.83) but were 70–80% smaller and varied considerably among taxa. Individual plant wood density was difficult to predict (root mean square error > 0.08 g cm −3 ; single‐measurement R 2  = 0.59). We recommend: (1) systematic sampling of multiple individuals and tissues for local applications; and (2) expanded taxonomic coverage combined with integrative models for robust estimates across ecological scales.

Stems and leaves of angiosperms follow a convex trade‐off to optimise hydraulic safety and efficiency

Safety Outcomes of Hybrid Open Chest Transvenous Lead Extraction: A Multicenter Experience

ABSTRACT Background Hybrid open chest transvenous lead extraction (TLE), combining surgical and endovascular techniques, may be utilized in patients requiring concomitant cardiac surgery or with high‐risk features for endovascular extraction. Outcome data in this population remains sparse. Aims To evaluate procedural outcomes and identify predictors of complications in patients undergoing elective hybrid open chest TLE. Methods A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted, including 40 patients between 2017 and 2025 across three UK tertiary centers. Patients undergoing emergency surgical conversion were excluded. Baseline, procedural, and outcome data were collected. Primary outcomes were in‐hospital mortality and complications, graded using a modified Delphi classification. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of any or severe (Delphi grade ≥3) complications. Results The mean age was 61.9 ± 17 years; 62.5% were male. Median lead dwell time was 10.5 years. The indication was infection in 65% of cases. Concomitant valve intervention was performed in 77.5% of cases. Clinical procedural success was 97.5%. In‐hospital mortality was 2.5%, with a rate of severe complications of 15%, and an overall complication rate of 37.5%. Multivariable analysis identified chronic lung disease as an independent predictor of severe complications (OR 102.2, p  = 0.03). Atrial fibrillation was an independent predictor of any complication (OR 5.83, p  = 0.04), driven primarily by post‐procedure rhythm intervention. Lead dwell time and EROS classification were not associated with adverse outcomes. Conclusion Hybrid open chest TLE demonstrates high procedural success and despite significant morbidity, has acceptable mortality rates. Chronic lung disease independently predicts complications and should guide patient selection and perioperative planning.

Disease‐causing STAT3 variants can be discriminated by a functional flow cytometry test

Abstract Background Heterozygous STAT3 variants acting by dominant negative (DN), gain‐of‐function (GOF), or haploinsufficiency (HI) mechanisms that have been associated with different inborn errors of immunity. However, the biological impact of STAT3 variants is complex to determine and it generally involves vector‐generation, transfection, and multiple iterations for definition. Objective To establish a single, reliable test to functionally characterize putative disease‐causing STAT3 variants in patient primary cells. Methods We recruited patients carrying previously published/validated STAT3‐DN ( n  = 13), STAT3‐GOF ( n  = 4), and STAT3‐HI ( n  = 5) variants. We functionally evaluated the IL‐10‐mediated/STAT3‐dependent inhibition ratio of LPS‐induced TNF‐α production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using flow cytometry to evaluate the biologic impact of STAT3 variants. Optimization and threshold definition were performed by bootstrapping and k‐fold cross‐validation of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC)–area under the curve (AUC). Results The inhibition ratio of TNF‐α production was significantly diminished in STAT3‐DN (−3.44‐fold, p  < .0001) and STAT3‐HI samples (−2.28‐fold, p  < .0001), while significantly augmented in STAT3‐GOF samples (+1.47‐fold, p  = .002) when compared to healthy controls (HC, n  = 16). Optimizing the combinations of IL‐10 concentrations discriminated between HC and STAT3‐DN (ROC‐AUC = 1), and STAT3‐GOF (ROC‐AUC = 0.89). Further test optimization allowed discrimination between STAT3‐HI variants when compared to HC (ROC‐AUC = 1) and to STAT3‐DN (ROC‐AUC = 0.92). Conclusion Determination of the IL‐10 mediated, STAT3‐dependent TNFα inhibition ratio in PBMC‐derived monocytes by flow cytometry is a sensitive and specific method to functionally assess and discriminate STAT3‐DN, ‐GOF, and ‐HI variants. This test can be used in research and clinical laboratory settings.

Comparison Over Two Eras of Perioperative Adverse Outcomes in Children With and Without Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery

ABSTRACT Background Despite advances in medical care, noncardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) remains associated with considerable perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study evaluates trends in postoperative outcomes after noncardiac surgery in children with and without CHD across two time periods. Aims We aimed to determine and compare the incidence of adverse outcomes following noncardiac surgery in a large cohort of children without CHD, in children with minor CHD, major CHD, and severe CHD, across two time periods (2012–2016 and 2017–2022, excluding 2020). Methods Children undergoing noncardiac surgery from 2012 to 2022 were identified from the ACS‐NSQIP Pediatric database, excluding 2020. Patients were stratified by CHD severity (none, minor, major, severe) and by era (2012–2016 vs. 2017–2022). Outcomes included 30‐day mortality, cardiac arrest, reintubation, reoperation, and readmission. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare outcomes across eras, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and procedural variables. Results Among 1 023 638 children, there were 88.3% patients with no CHD and 11.7% with CHD (5.9% minor, 5.2% major, 0.6% severe). Improvements were seen across all CHD subgroups, particularly in reintubation and readmission rates. The most consistent improvement was in reintubation, including in severe CHD (aOR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.89; p  = 0.005). Conclusion These findings demonstrate meaningful improvements in postoperative outcomes over time, notably reduced rates of 30‐day mortality, reintubation, and readmission in the non‐CHD group. Patients with minor and major CHD experienced significant declines in reintubation and readmission, while those with severe CHD showed reduced reintubation. Despite rising CHD prevalence and complexity, improvements likely reflect advances in perioperative care, risk stratification, and multidisciplinary management at specialized centers for children undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Response to: Should We Consider Erector Spinae Plane Block for Herpes Zoster Pain Management? Letter to the Editor: 8. Herpes Zoster and Post Herpetic Neuralgia

Response to the Letter to the Editor—The Potential Action of Botulinum Toxin on TRPV 1 and CGRP Receptors and Its Use in Headaches. Letter to the Editor: 15. Cluster Headache

Management of a Hypoglossal Nerve, Upper Airway Stimulator in the Pain Patient: Safety Considerations

ABSTRACT Background Upper airway stimulation (UAS) is an emerging neuromodulatory treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It involves stimulating the motor fibers of the hypoglossal nerve to prevent airway collapse. Patients with OSA and pain may require radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or electrocautery during surgery. Due to the proximity of UAS leads to cervical facet joints, careful procedural considerations are necessary to prevent complications. This report summarizes best practices for performing RFA or electrocautery in patients with UAS implants, guided by manufacturer safety recommendations and expert consensus statements. Case Presentation An elderly patient with OSA, successfully treated with Inspire UAS, and chronic cervical facet‐mediated pain presented for repeat cervical RFA. The procedure followed manufacturer safety recommendations, including turning off the UAS device prior to the intervention, positioning the grounding pad to avoid current passage through the implant, maintaining distance from the device leads, and using bipolar RFA. The RFA was performed without complications, and the patient experienced significant pain relief without adverse effects. Conclusion This case underscores the importance of thorough preprocedural planning when performing RFA in patients with implanted neuromodulation devices. Adhering to manufacturer guidelines can reduce the risk of device interference and associated complications.

Molecular Mapping of QTL for a Transformation‐Related Trait and FHB Resistance in a Recombinant Inbred Population of Bobwhite × PI 277012

ABSTRACT Bobwhite is one of the wheat cultivars that have been widely used for wheat transformation, but the genetic mechanism underlying its high transformability is not understood. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with plant regeneration capability (PRC) in Bobwhite, a mapping population of 186 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed from the cross between Bobwhite and PI 277012, a wheat accession exhibiting high resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) but low PRC. Immature embryos were used as explants for tissue culture to induce calli, and plant regeneration rates from the calli were recorded for the parents and RILs. The average regeneration rate was 0% and 42.5% for PI 277012 and Bobwhite, respectively. The RILs had an average regeneration rate ranging from 0% to 33%. Using a genotyping‐by‐sequencing approach, a genetic linkage map was constructed with 3779 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers distributed on all 21 chromosomes, spanning 2291 cM. QTL analysis detected two QTL controlling PRC in Bobwhite, which were mapped on chromosomes 1A ( Qprc.ndwp‐1A ) and 6D ( Qprc.ndwp‐6D ) and accounted for 10.5% and 9.8% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. To confirm the FHB resistance QTL ( Qfhb.rwg‐5A.1 and Qfhb.rwg‐5A.2 ) previously identified in PI 277012, the RIL population was also phenotyped for FHB resistance in greenhouse (GH) and field experiments. However, only one QTL overlapping with Qfhb.rwg‐5A.2 on chromosome 5AL was identified from PI 277012 in this population, which explained 36.2% and 33.0% of the phenotypic variance for FHB resistance under the GH and field environments, respectively. The information from this study may facilitate the transfer of the transformability QTL into other wheat varieties that are difficult to transform. This study also confirmed that Qfhb.rwg‐5A.2 in PI 277012 is a major QTL for FHB resistance stably expressed in different genetic backgrounds.