A first phase in the habitat classification for the Zeeschelde: Bed form classification

Within the scope of the long term vision of the Schelde Estuary and the Development Outline 2010 low dynamic intertidal and shallow water areas are considered to be of high ecological value. Little is known about the occurrence of such valuable reas in the Schelde Estuary, nor are the physical and morphological processes which determine the occurrence of these areas fully understood. Based on the results and recommendations of a 2008-2009 research project in the Westerschelde, a new research project was defined to determine relationships between abiotic (bedforms, hydrodynamics, sediment) and biotic (benthos) characteristics in the Zeeschelde (Belgium) and to set up a classification of deep and undeep subtidal areas. A first phase in the habitat classification comprises of the analysis of bed form occurrence and the setup of a bed form classification based on multibeam echo sounding data. Results show within the different sub areas a variation in bed forms going from hard bed layers to no bed forms to ripples (H ~ 0,1 to 0,3 m | L ~ 10 m) and smaller dunes (H ~ 0,5 to 1 m | L ~ 15 to 25 m). On-going research investigates relationships between the bed form characteristics and flow and sediment characteristics. Preliminary results

Loss of Col3a1, the Gene for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type IV, Results in Neocortical Dyslamination

It has recently been discovered that Collagen III, the encoded protein of the type IV Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) gene, is one of the major constituents of the pial basement membrane (BM) and serves as the ligand for GPR56. Mutations in GPR56 cause a severe human brain malformation called bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria, in which neurons transmigrate through the BM causing severe mental retardation and frequent seizures. To further characterize the brain phenotype of Col3a1 knockout mice, we performed a detailed histological analysis. We observed a cobblestone-like cortical malformation, with BM breakdown and marginal zone heterotopias in Col3a1−/− mouse brains. Surprisingly, the pial BM appeared intact at early stages of development but starting as early as embryonic day (E) 11.5, prominent BM defects were observed and accompanied by neuronal overmigration. Although collagen III is expressed in meningeal fibroblasts (MFs), Col3a1−/− MFs present no obvious defects. Furthermore, the expression and posttranslational modification of α-dystroglycan was undisturbed in Col3a1−/− mice. Based on the previous finding that mutations in COL3A1 cause type IV EDS, our study indicates a possible common pathological pathway linking connective tissue diseases and brain malformations

Update of the ICUD-SIU consultation on upper tract urothelial carcinoma 2016: treatment of low-risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Introduction The conservative management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) has historically been offered to patients with imperative indications. The recent International Consultation on Urologic Diseases (ICUD) publication on UTUC stratified treatment allocations based on high- and low-risk groups. This report updates the conservative management of the low-risk group. Methods The ICUD for low-risk UTUC working group performed a thorough review of the literature with an assessment of the level of evidence and grade of recommendation for a variety of published studies in this disease space. We update these publications and provide a summary of that original report. Results There are no prospective randomized controlled studies to support surgical management guidelines. A risk-stratified approach based on clinical, endoscopic, and biopsy assessment allows selection of patients who could benefit from kidney-preserving procedures with oncological outcomes potentially similar to radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision, with the added benefit of renal function preservation. These treatments are aided by the development of high-definition flexible digital URS, multi-biopsies with the aid of access sheaths and other tools, and promising developments in the use of adjuvant topical therapy. Conclusions Recent developments in imaging, minimally invasive techniques, multimodality approaches, and adjuvant topical regimens and bladder cancer prevention raise the hope for improved risk stratification and may greatly improve the endoscopic treatment for low-risk UTUC