Objective: This article addresses the complex clinical scenario where patients present to otolaryngologists with symptoms typically ascribed to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) or migraines which may in fact stem from elevations in intracranial pressure. We aim to clarify the diagnostic challenges and emphasize the importance of considering elevated intracranial pressure (eICP) as its symptoms overlap with both CRS and migraines. Design: This narrative review synthesizes clinical experiences and literature to discuss the differential diagnoses involving facial pain/pressure, migraines, and eICP. Key discussion points include symptomatology of eICP and its management in otolaryngological practice. Results: Patients presenting with symptoms of CRS or migraine may exhibit overlapping signs that makes diagnosis challenging. Patients with symptoms of facial pain and pressure, or other findings such as ear fullness, muffled hearing, and tinnitus, that do not resolve with conventional topical intranasal therapies or migraine management should be worked up for eICP. Conclusion: The overlap in clinical presentations among patients with concern for CRS, migraines, and ICP elevations poses a diagnostic challenge. It is crucial for otolaryngologists and neurologists to collaborate closely to ensure accurate diagnoses and appropriate management. Enhanced awareness and understanding of the broader spectrum of symptoms associated with eICP can prevent misdiagnosis and promote better patient outcomes.

Background Hospitalization for sepsis may be associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. We aim to explore the relationship between sepsis hospitalization and long-term of cardiovascular events, and describe risk factors for cardiovascular events in adults sepsis survivors. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, and CNKI were searched, from inception to Aug 2023, and no language limitation. Cumulative incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the strength of the association. Results 25 observational studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled cumulative incidence of major cardiovascular was 9.0%, myocardial infarction was 2.4%, stroke was 4.9% and congestive heart failure was 8.6%. Sepsis hospitalization was associated with a higher long-term risk of major cardiovascular (HR, 1.54; 95% CI 1.32- 1.79), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.41; 95% CI 1.29- 1.54), stroke (HR, 1.45; 95% CI 1.32- 1.60) and congestive heart failure (HR, 1.51; 95% CI 1.46- 1.56) compared to non-sepsis controls. Pooled analysis indicate that age≤ 45 years, male gender, hyperlipidaemia, and some comorbidities were significantly associated with increased hazards of cardiovascular events. Conclusions Adults sepsis survivors may be experience a higher hazard of cardiovascular events compared to non-sepsis controls. And both common cardiovascular risk factors and sepsis-related variables can significantly increase this correlation.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Emberiza buntings (Aves: Emberizidae) exhibit extensive diversity and rapid diversification within the Old World, particularly in the eastern Palearctic, making them valuable models for studying rapid radiation among sympatric species. Despite their ecological and morphological diversity, there remains a significant gap in understanding the genomic underpinnings driving their rapid speciation. To address this gap, we assembled high-quality chromosome-level genomes of five representative Emberiza species (E. aureola, E. pusilla, E. rustica, E. rutila, and E. spodocephala). Comparative genomic analysis revealed distinct migration-related evolutionary adaptations in their genomes, including variations in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress response, locomotor ability, and circadian regulation. These changes may facilitate the rapid occupation of emerging ecological niches and provide opportunities for species diversification. Additionally, these five species exhibited abnormal abundances of long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTRs), comprising over 20% of their genomes, with insertion times corresponding to their divergence (~2.5 million years ago). The presence of LTRs influenced genome size, chromosomal structure, and single-gene expression, suggesting their role in promoting the rapid diversification of Emberiza species. These findings offer valuable insights into the adaptive radiation of Emberiza and establish a robust theoretical foundation for further exploration of the patterns and mechanisms underlying their diversification.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause epithelial cancers. Persistent oral HPV infection is a significant risk factor for head and neck cancers (HNCs). While prevalence of oral HPV infection has been studied in Western populations where HPV-related OPC incidence is high, less is known in populations elsewhere. This study assessed oral HPV prevalence and genotypes among a large group of Taiwanese men and women. The ”Prevalence of oral human papILLOmavirus infection among adult men and women in Taiwan (PILLOT)” study involved Otorhinolaryngology departments at six medical centers. Adults aged 20-60 who visited hospital clinics between Sep. 2021to Oct. 2022 were eligible. Oral rinse samples were analyzed for oral HPV infection. Participants’ demographics and behaviors were gathered via questionnaires. 2,545 (1,269 men; 1,276 women) had valid samples. 1.6% females and 2.1% of males had a prevalent oral HPV infection. Oral HPV infection showed a moderate association with smoking, betel nuts chewing, and higher lifetime number of male oral sex partners in men. Among those testing positive for oral HPV, 59.6% carried high-risk subtypes, with HPV 18 (23.4%) and HPV 52 (17.0%) being the most prevalent genotypes. This survey unveiled oral HPV prevalence, the most frequent genotypes, and associated factors in Taiwanese.

This study demonstrates the existence of stationary solutions for the three-dimensional fractional Navier-Stokes-Coriolis system in critical Fourier-Besov Morrey spaces. Initially, the focus is on the non-stationary fractional Navier-Stokes-Coriolis system, and the existence of stationary solutions is then established within this framework. In addition, the study outlines a form of stability for these non-stationary solutions, which when applied to the stationary case, leads to the conclusion that, under appropriate conditions, non-stationary solutions converge to the stationary ones as time approaches infinity. Finally, a relationship between the external force and the Coriolis parameter is established to obtain a unique solution for the stationary system.

Kombucha is one of the most popular fermented beverages, made from sweetened tea that is fermented by bacteria, and yeast. These microorganisms produce a variety of bioactive compounds. Researchers continue to look for new base drinks for making kombucha. In this study, we tested herbs characterized by a high content of health-promoting substances: field horsetail, linden, chamomile, nettle, St. John’s wort and rockrose. The aim of study was to analyze the qualitative and quantitative composition as well as the antioxidant and antibiotic properties of kombucha prepared on the basis of herbs. The analyzed herbs turned out to be a good substrate for the production of a fermented beverage containing a number of both antibacterial and antioxidant compounds. Particularly noteworthy was the rockrose kombucha, which had the best ability to scavenge the free hydroxyl radicals, showed high antioxidant and antibiotic activity. Moreover, this drink had the highest concentration of succinic acid.

BACKGROUND: 5-10% of patients with asthma have severe disease. Many patients experience persistent symptoms despite being T2-low. Obesity is associated with increased asthma symptoms. Eicosanoids have well-described roles in the pathophysiology of asthma and may contribute to persistent symptoms in T2-low severe asthma. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between urinary eicosanoids, asthma symptoms, obesity and T2-biomarkers in severe asthma. METHODS: Urine samples were collected during a randomized controlled trial assessing corticosteroid optimization using T2-biomarker directed care at scheduled study visits (n=728) and at exacerbation (n=103). Eicosanoid concentrations were quantified from urine samples using mass-spectrometry. Metabolite concentrations were log 2-transformed, z-scored and concentrated by pathway to generate 6 pathway scores. Results were stratified by T2-biomarker status (T2-Low: fractional-exhaled nitric-oxide [FeNO]<20ppb AND blood eosinophil count [BEC]<0.15x10 9cells/L) vs T2-high: (FeNO≥20ppb AND BEC≥0.15x10 9cells/L), symptoms (symptom-low: Asthma control Questionnaire-7 (ACQ-7)<1.5)] vs symptom-high [ACQ-7≥1.5]), and obesity. RESULTS: The cysteinyl-leukotriene (CysLT) pathway score was elevated in T2-high versus T2-low participants (P=0.0007), regardless of symptom burden. The isoprostane pathway score was higher in symptom-high versus symptom-low participants, regardless of T2-status (P=0.01). Higher isoprostane (P=0.02) and thromboxane (P=0.04) pathway scores were associated with increased symptoms in T2-low participants. Corticosteroid exposure, obesity and exacerbations were not associated with raised pathway scores (P≥0.05). CONCLUSION: Thromboxane pathway metabolites were elevated in symptom-high/T2-low participants whereas isoprostane pathway metabolites were associated with increased symptoms, regardless of T2-status. These pathways are not affected by CS exposure. Further research is needed to define the role of eicosanoids in T2-low severe asthma using interventions to perturb these pathways.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of three ephedrine psychoactive substances in water. By optimizing chromatography conditions, mass spectrometry parameters, and solid-phase extraction (SPE) conditions (including the SPE column, sample pH, washing, and elution), the optimal treatment conditions were determined. Poly-Sery MCX was selected as the extraction column, with samples loaded at pH 3. A 4 mL solution of 2% formic acid in water was used as the eluent, and a 5 mL solution of 5% ammonia in acetonitrile was used to elute the target compounds. The best results were obtained when the residue was redissolved in acetonitrile after nitrogen evaporation. The method exhibited a good linear relationship in the range of 0-50.00 μg/L, with determination coefficients (R 2) greater than 0.9990. The detection limit and quantitation limit were 0.05-0.10 μg/L and 0.20-0.50 μg/L, respectively. Recovery rates of the target compounds in blank sewage at three different concentration levels ranged from 92.37% to 106.31%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 0.77-4.83% (n=7). This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of surface water and domestic sewage, demonstrating stable treatment effects and practical significance for detecting ephedrine psychoactive substances in water.

Background Cancer-associated depression is a multifaceted condition that arises from the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in individuals diagnosed with cancer. Understanding the background of this condition involves exploring how cancer and its treatments can precipitate depressive symptoms and the mechanisms behind this association. Objective To describe and synthesize information on the complicated interactions between chronic stress, inflammation, immunological responses, and cancer development. To review the existing evidence regarding mechanisms that may include neurotransmitter imbalances, structural brain changes, and genetic predispositions as key contributors to depression in cancer. Methods Literature searches on Cancer-associated Depression were conducted in electronic databases like APA PsycINFO, Medline, Google Scholar, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to understand the potential relationship between stress-induced depression and cancer. Research on the neurochemical, anatomical, immunological, genetic, and psychological changes that support cancer-related depression was collected, together with study features and findings, and the impact of depression on cancer was extracted. Results The literature search revealed a compilation of quantitative and qualitative studies about depression in cancer patients. Findings suggested the possibility of a link between cancer-induced stress and depression. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (like IL-6) and dysregulation of the neurotransmitters including serotonin had shown links to the onset of depression in cancer patients. Lastly, antidepressants along with psychological interventions were found to be effective in treating depression in cancer patients. Conclusions This Narrative review contributes insights into the need for integrating oncology and mental health services to address the psychosocial needs of cancer patients. Future research should focus on the bidirectional interactions between stress and cancer, aiming to improve cancer care by incorporating mental health support, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.

We present a case of a 74-year-old male with symptomatic premature ventricular complexes (PVC) localized to the proximal coronary sinus (CS). Despite initial mapping identifying the basal inferoseptal left ventricle, the closest electrogram was found within the CS, confirmed during a spontaneous PVC. Ablation at this site resulted in immediate PVC suppression, sustained at 3-month follow-up. This case underscores the utility of advanced mapping techniques, including intracardiac echocardiography and activation mapping, in identifying and successfully ablating PVCs at unusual sites such as the proximal CS.

Animals disperse the seeds of 60-90% of trees in tropical rainforests, which are among the most structurally complex ecosystems on Earth. Here, we investigated how 3D rainforest structure influences the movements of large, frugivorous birds and resulting spatial patterns of seed dispersal. We GPS-tracked white-thighed (Bycanistes albotibialis) and black-casqued hornbills (Ceratogymna atrata) in southern Cameroon and found that both species preferred areas of greater canopy height, and white-thighed hornbill preferred areas of greater vertical complexity. In addition, 33% of the hornbills preferred areas close to canopy gaps, while 16.7% and 27.8% avoided large and small gaps, respectively. White-thighed hornbills avoided swamp habitats, while black-casqued preferred them during the hottest temperatures. We mapped spatial probabilities of seed dispersal by hornbills, showing that 3D structural attributes shape this ecological process by influencing hornbill behavior. These results provide evidence of a possible feedback loop between rainforest vegetation structure and seed dispersal by animals.

Background: Basal serum tryptase (bST) is the main marker of the mast cell compartment. In spite of the importance of mast cells regarding allergic manifestations, the relationship between bST and allergy-related outcomes has been seldomly described, particularly during early life. In addition, circulating tryptase concentrations depend of mast cell load, genetic determinants, and several physiological, pathological, and exposure factors. This study aimed to assess the potential association between bST and allergy-related outcomes in teenagers from a birth cohort. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 610 teenagers at 15/16 years participating to a French ongoing population-based prospective birth cohort. Participants answered to self-administered questionnaires, received a health check-up and blood sampling. Considered allergy-related outcomes consisted of sensitization by skin prick test and specific IgE measurements, fraction of exhaled NO measurements, and standardized diagnosis of allergy-related morbidities. Results: At 15 years , higher bST was associated with higher prevalence of sensitization to inhalants and foods. Furthermore, bST was positively associated with intermediate-to-high FeNO levels, even after adjustments for covariates including sensitization and eosinophils. After controlling for potential confounders, higher bST was also associated to higher risk of displaying any hypersensitivity reactions, reactions to drugs, and to asthma with associated sensitization. Furthermore, higher bST was associated with poorer control scores among sensitization-associated asthma. Conversely, higher bST was associated with lower risk of presenting dermatitis without associated sensitization. Conclusion: In teenagers from a birth cohort, higher bST was associated with more frequent sensitization, intermediate-to-high FeNO values, and allergy-related morbidities, including asthma.

Polysorbate 80 is an important excipient in therapeutic monoclonal antibody drugs. Excessive use can lead to hemolysis and other adverse consequences. Therefore, its content should be strictly controlled during drug release for safety considerations. Colorimetric methods, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography are most commonly used for analysis. Colorimetric methods are gradually being replaced by other methods due to their poor sensitivity and accuracy. The preliminary treatment step for gas chromatography is complex and time-consuming. Liquid chromatography has been used for traditional Chinese medicine and chemical drugs. Here, we established a method to determine the content of polysorbate 80 in monoclonal antibodies and verified the methodology. The results show that the method has high specificity, good accuracy, good precision, and reasonable robustness. It can determine the polysorbate 80 content in therapeutic monoclonal antibody drugs.

Grasslands cover between 30 and 40% of the world’s land surface and, despite providing numerous ecosystem services and being rich in biodiversity, are increasingly under threat and shrinking in coverage. As such, the development and application of monitoring techniques are of vital importance. The use of remotely sensed imagery for the monitoring of both biodiversity and functional traits in grassland ecosystems has increased substantially in the last few decades. More recently, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) have begun to play an increasingly important role, acting as a bridge between the decameter satellite imagery and the point scale data collected on the ground. The use of UAV-mounted hyperspectral sensors, covering up to hundreds of spectral bands, has become particularly popular as the senor sizes have reduced, and UAV technology has improved. Here, we provide a review of the latest remotely sensed monitoring methods for both biodiversity and functional traits using multispectral and hyperspectral sensors. We highlight the key innovations that have occurred (e.g., use of point cloud data, identification of error sources), the bottlenecks to and opportunities for further development. UAV surveys show particular promise for monitoring functional traits. We conclude that UAV methods offer the opportunity to scale surveys from individual sites to regional areas, and can aid in refining satellite-based observations to improve the monitoring of grassland ecosystems at national and global scales.

This is the first report on the detailed structural architecture of Anthereaea assamensis Helfer, an endemic and unique species belonging to the Brahmaputra valley of Assam and adjoining hilly areas. Herein this study , Silk gland was dissected out and divided into three distinctive parts posterior (PSG), middle (MSG) and anterior (ASG) silk gland. Various microscopic techniques were adopted to understand the histological and ultrastructural components of the silk gland along with the flow of liquid silk in it. The fluorescence microscopic examination of the three silk gland parts showed nuclear ramification with an increasing pattern during the 4 th and 5 th instar. Light microscopic study of the PSG and MSG showed a tight secretory nuclear structure with a distinct epithelium and an unorganized, thin epithelial structure with large secretory vesicles respectively. The ultrastructural study of the 5 th instar matured larval PSG displayed a uniformed and thick layer of basement membrane. MSG showed similar characteristics with the occurrence of sparsely distributed infoldings. This comprehensive organizational study of the silk gland parts of A. assamensis Helfer revealed the structural features responsible for silk synthesis, storage, and its secretion.

The vertebrate skull is a complex structure, and studies of skull shape have yielded considerable insight into the evolutionary forces shaping specialized phenotypes in organisms as diverse as bats, frogs, and fossorial animals. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative analyses of CT scans of male skulls from 57 species of Sceloporus lizards to explore patterns of skull evolution in a group of generalist species. We found that most interspecific variation is in terms of skull and snout elongation such that some species have long, narrow snouts, whereas others exhibit more compact snouts and wide jaws. We also found strong links to overall body size, with evolutionary shifts to larger bodies being associated with more compact skulls and slower evolutionary rates. This is the opposite of the pattern in mammals in which larger-bodied species have longer snouts (likely reflecting developmental processes), and more like the pattern in frogs in which function has played a more important evolutionary role. Also, unlike other vertebrates, the jaw, anterior, and posterior parts of the Sceloporus skull are largely integrated, having evolved independently of each other only to a limited, albeit significant, degree. Our results emphasize the importance of body size in evolutionary shaping of the skull and suggest that additional studies of behavioral function in a generalist group are warranted.

High seed quality is a prerequisite for successful crop production, making maintenance of seed viability and vigour during storage important. The effects of temperature and humidity on seed ageing are well known, while the negative effect of oxygen in the seed storage environment has been studied less. Here we report on experiments to study the quantitative effect of oxygen on the ageing of seeds. Primed celery seeds were chosen as a model, because of their relatively short shelf life. After equilibration at four relative humidity levels (16, 33, 43 and 60% RH), the seeds were stored at four temperatures (5, 13, 20 and 30°C) and six oxygen levels (1, 5.2, 10, 21, 50 and 99%) for a period up to seven years. Germination tests after storage confirmed a strong shelf life-extending effect of low oxygen conditions, at all four temperatures and the three lower humidity levels. Modelling the viability data revealed a linear double logarithmic relationship between the oxygen concentration and the storage time till a 50% decline in viability (p50), for seeds pe-equilibrated at 16, 33 or 43% RH. The models also showed that each halving of the oxygen concentration increased seed longevity by around 77%. This means that a reduction of the environmental oxygen concentration to a level below 1% increased the shelf life of the primed celery seeds by a factor of twelve. For seeds pre-equilibrated at 60% RH, the effect of lowering the oxygen concentration below 21% was much less or even absent at 30°C, likely due to a different physical or physiological condition of the seeds at this higher humidity level. The large and logarithmic effect of reducing the oxygen level during the dry storage of seeds provides additional opportunities to prolong the shelf life of seeds either for commercial or genebank storage. To estimate the effect of these factors, a model is provided describing the quantitative effect of all three factors, temperature, equilibrium relative humidity and oxygen concentration. Several options for practical application are discussed.

The ability to detect and monitor errors enables us to maintain optimal performance across tasks. One neurophysiological index of error monitoring is the error-related negativity (ERN), a fronto-central negative deflection peaking between 0-150 ms following an erroneous response. The developmental literature has illustrated age-related differences in the ERN and its association with anxiety during development. However, this literature focuses on the between-person differences of the ERN and cannot speak to whether there exist meaningful within-person changes in the ERN throughout a task. We examined the within-person variations of the ERN in 115 community-dwelling nine-to-12-year-olds (66 girls; Mean age/SD=11.00/1.16 years), a critical period for the development of error processing and anxiety psychopathology. Participants completed an EEG Go/No-Go task and reported their anxiety symptoms. Multilevel growth analyses yielded significant within-person, curvilinear changes in the ERN throughout the task. Youths’ trial-level ERN increased (i.e., became more negative) as more errors were made earlier in the task, but decreased as subsequent errors were committed later in the task. This curvilinear pattern was evident in older, but not younger, youths. Age further interacted with anxiety symptoms: younger youths with higher anxiety showed a continuous increase in the ERN throughout the task, whereas older youths with higher anxiety showed an increase in the ERN with early errors, followed by a decline in the ERN in later error trials. Our study contributed novel evidence for the development of the ERN and the underlying mechanisms of the ERN-anxiety relationship that cannot be captured by between-person approaches.

Approximately 22% of moderately to severely affected atopic dermatitis (AD) patients have a history of eczema herpeticum, a disseminated rash primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Reduced activity of antimicrobial peptides may contribute to the increased susceptibility of AD patients to HSV-1. We previously demonstrated that the antimicrobial protein RNase 7 promotes self-DNA sensing by human keratinocytes, thereby strengthening their resistance to HSV-1 infection. Here, we investigated the effects of RNase 7 in the absence of exogenously added costimulatory DNA. Recombinant RNase 7 restricted HSV-1 gene expression, genome replication, and plaque formation in human keratinocytes. It decreased HSV-1 immediate-early transcripts independently of the induction of interferon-stimulated genes. Its main effect was on intracellular infection processes and not on extracellular virions or virus binding to cells. RNase 7 reduced the amount of cell-associated capsids and the HSV-1 envelope glycoprotein D at 3 but not at 0.5 h post-infection, suggesting that it promoted the degradation of incoming viral particles. Our data show that RNase 7 directly restricts HSV-1 infection of human keratinocytes, suggesting that it limits HSV-1 spread in the skin, and thereby disseminated infection. Previously described mechanisms that reduce RNase 7 activity in the lesional skin of AD patients may increase their susceptibility to eczema herpeticum.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Drought is a critical risk factor that impacts rice growth and yields. Previous studies have focused on the regulatory roles of individual transcription factors in response to drought stress. However, there is limited understanding of multi-factor stresses gene regulatory networks and their mechanisms of action. In this study, we utilized data from the jaspar database to compile a comprehensive dataset of transcription factors and their binding sites in rice, Arabidopsis, and barley genomes. We employed the pytorch framework for machine learning to develop a 9-layer convolutional deep neural network TFBind; its accuracy was 90% through literature review and dual-luciferase assay validation. Subsequently, we obtained rice RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data related to abiotic stress from the public database. Utilizing integrative analysis of WGCNA and ATAC-seq, we effectively identified transcription factors associated with open chromatin regions in response to drought. Interestingly, only 81% of the transcription factors directly bound to the opened genes by testing with TFBind model. By this approach we identified 15 drought-responsive transcription factors corresponding to open chromatin regions of targets, which enriched in the terms related to protein transport, protein allocation, nitrogen compound transport. This approach provides a valuable tool for predicting TF-TAG modules during biological processes.

Lethal Congenital Contracture Syndromes (LCCS): An In-Depth Review Article on Unraveling Genetic Associations, Phenotypic Manifestations, and Therapeutic Perspectives with a Case Report

A document by Ikesinachi Osuorah. Click on the document to view its contents.

Background: Spirometry is the gold standard for assessing airway function for clinical studies; however, obtaining high quality data in young children remains challenging. Since the forced oscillation technique (FOT) requires less subject cooperations, there has been increasing interest in FOT, particularly in young children. We evaluated whether spirometry and FOT in young children provides comparable ability to detect a treatment effect. Methods: We recently reported in a randomized controlled trial that vitamin C compared to placebo treatment of mothers who smoked during pregnancy (MSDP) results in the offspring having significantly higher forced expiratory flows at 5-years of age, as well as significantly less wheeze at 4-6 years of age. In these same offspring, we also measured FOT at 8-Hz impedance at 3, 4, and 5 years of age. Results: Although spirometry demonstrated significantly increased forced expiratory flows (FEFs) in the vitamin C compared to placebo treatment group at 5-years of age (p < 0.001), we were not able to detect a similar treatment effect using FOT impedance. Conclusions: It may be challenging to obtain technically successful spirometry in pre-school children; however, forced expiratory flows may provide a better outcome than single frequency FOT impedance to assess improvements in airway function in these young subjects.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown 1) DNA metabarcoding has been successful for the rapid identification of species in ecological assemblages, including identifying interspecific interactions among species. However, advances in metabarcoding plants have been hampered due to a lack of universal gene regions that work across all taxa, limiting the applications of metagenomics in ecology more broadly. 2) To circumvent these limitations, we propose a spatio-temporal approach that combines multi-gene barcoding with existing plant occurrence databases, species distribution models, and phenological analyses to generate a shortened list of candidate species to increase metabarcoding accuracy. To validate the ecological accuracy of our methodological framework, we compared the results of the DNA metabarcoding from pollen loads of wild bumble bees to long-term field observations of bee-plant interactions, and visual pollen identification. 3) We show that DNA metabarcoding of the plant species included in bumble bee pollen loads was most accurate when combined with a candidate taxa list of plant species flowering in the area when the bumble bees were foraging, which improved the accuracy and taxonomic precision of 77.5% of samples. 4) With the recent proliferation of species occurrence and phenology data in tandem with advances in computing and software development, we believe that spatio-temporal filtering provides a simple approach for interpreting metagenomic studies globally. Additionally, we demonstrate that the Angiosperms 353 probes offer significant promise for metagenomics projects globally, including metabarcoding to reveal species interactions within complex communities. Further, our approach demonstrates that integrating DNA metabarcoding is most accurate and powerful when combined with local ecological data.