The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and zolmitriptan) and cardiovascular (CV) adverse events with data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). FAERS database was used to collect data on triptans from 1997 to 2023. Disproportionality methods were utilized to quantify triptan-associated CV events and to identify the potential risk. The reporting odds ratio was used to identify the risk signals. CV outcomes related to age, sex, clinical results, and other factors were also examined for triptans; 820 reports involving the triptans were recognized as CV adverse events out of total of 12 699 reports that were gathered from on FAERS database. Women reported more CV adverse events with rizatriptan and zolmitriptan as compared to men. The CV adverse event risk was highest among individuals aged 18–64. Clinical outcome analysis showed that sumatriptan carries a higher CV risk than rizatriptan and zolmitriptan, and most deaths and serious cases have been documented for sumatriptan. The patients prescribed sumatriptan or zolmitriptan were at a higher risk of reporting CV events for chest pain and chest discomfort, compared to rizatriptan. This finding may provide support for the clinical observation and risk evaluation of triptan treatment.

Organisms in seasonal environments respond to both resources in the summer and environmental conditions in winter. Small mammals, in particular, respond quickly to changes in their environment, with many species reliant on the thermal refuge of the subnivium in the winter. However, there has been little research exploring how resources and cold exposure drive the seasonal dynamics of small mammal populations. We studied the populations of three subnivium-specialist small mammal species in seasonally snow-covered forests in Wisconsin, USA across 5 years during summer and winter. In summer, mast availability and canopy cover governed white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque, 1818) populations, coarse woody debris drove short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda Say, 1823) populations, and rainfall influenced red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi (Vigors, 1830)) abundance. Dietary analysis via stable isotopes revealed that shrews primarily consumed arthropods, and mice predominately consumed hard mast despite interannual changes in availability. In winter, white-footed mice and red-backed vole abundances were negatively related to cold exposure. Short-tailed shrew winter population was positively related to their abundances the previous summer. These small mammals responded to species-specific drivers during the growing and snow seasons. Consequently, shorter snow seasons from climate change appear to be restructuring communities by creating a less hospitable environment for winter-adapted species, likely contributing to their regional declines.

Arsenic accumulation in fish poses concerns for subsistence and recreational fishers worldwide. However, the toxicity of arsenic to consumers strongly depends on the chemical forms, or species, present. Risk assessments often rely on total arsenic concentrations ([As]), adjusting for assumed small percentages of the most harmful inorganic species. While studies on arsenic speciation in marine fish are widespread, and commonly report less toxic arsenobetaine (AsB) as the dominant form, fewer studies have been conducted on freshwater fish, where arsenic speciation may be more variable. To assess these findings, we conducted a systematic literature review on arsenic speciation in freshwater fish using Covidence^© review management software. From over 1100 screened studies, 41 were selected for inclusion based on predefined criteria. These studies reported highly variable arsenic speciation patterns in freshwater fish, calling into question the assumption that AsB is the dominant form present. Sites with suspected or known arsenic contamination issues were prominent, with >50% of data reviewed originating from a contaminated river or lake, but the effect of contamination on arsenic speciation was variable. Although AsB and other organic forms typically dominated, some studies (6/41; 15%) identified fish with elevated concentrations of inorganic arsenic (>1 mg/kg dry wt.), most often corresponding to over 20% of total arsenic. Furthermore, arsenic speciation results accounted for a highly variable proportion of total [As] in fish, often less than 50%. Assuming 20% inorganic arsenic appears to be a poor approximation that cannot be applied to all fish. Based on this considerable variability, we recommend the direct measurement of arsenic species whenever possible, especially when total [As] is elevated above relevant guidelines for the most toxic species (e.g., 0.1–2 mg/kg inorganic arsenic wet wt.). We also recommend that future works communicate their results in more detail, including complete description of quality assurance and control protocols, to improve the potential for future meta-analyses. Additional work is needed to characterize arsenic speciation in freshwater fish and assess the toxicity of various arsenic species to accurately evaluate the environmental and human health risks associated with arsenic in fish.

Using 10 m diameter mesocosms in a Canadian boreal lake, we investigated the effects of microplastic (MP) exposure on the body weight and diet of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and the fatty acid composition of yellow perch and zooplankton. We exposed the aquatic ecosystem within seven mesocosms for 10 weeks to a mixture of polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate fragments, ranging in nominal addition concentrations from 6 to 29 240 particles L⁻¹ (although realized water column concentrations were lower), as well as two negative controls. Increasing MP exposure did not affect yellow perch body weight (growth) or diet, or the overall fatty acid composition of yellow perch muscle or zooplankton. Results were highly variable across mesocosms. Despite high levels of MP ingestion by yellow perch, we did not find evidence of MPs leading to food dilution or any other effect where we could anticipate impacts on food web structure.

Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are cultivated crop plants worldwide and they are still gaining importance. However, a common uniform description of the phenological development was missing so far. In this work, a specific code is presented, based on the decimal BBCH scale. The BBCH scale comprises the macrostages 0–9, with macrostage 4 being omitted here, because it has no relevance for blueberry crops grown in the field. Each macrostage is subdivided in several microstages, each describing a notable developmental stage. The BBCH code takes special reference to the fruit development, fruit ripening, and several fruit pickings, which are typical for blueberries. For each macrostage the main development as well as cultivation characteristics are explained in more detail. The new BBCH code is compared with other descriptions of phenotypical development of highbush blueberries and transformations are suggested. The BBCH code is developed for cultivated highbush blueberries and is therefore applicable to northern, southern, and rabbiteye blueberries as well.