Applying a new ensemble approach to estimating stock status of marine fisheries around the world:Estimating global fisheries status

The exploitation status of marine fisheries stocks worldwide is of critical importance for food security, ecosystem conservation, and fishery sustainability. Applying a suite of data-limited methods to global catch data, combined through an ensemble modeling approach, we provide quantitative estimates of exploitation status for 785 fish stocks. Fifty-three percent (414 stocks) are below B-MSY and of these, 265 are estimated to be below 80% of the B-MSY level. While the 149 stocks above 80% of B-MSY are conventionally considered "fully exploited," stocks staying at this level for many years, forego substantial yield. Our results enable managers to consider more detailed information than simply a categorization of stocks as "fully" or "over" exploited. Our approach is reproducible, allows consistent application to a broad range of stocks, and can be easily updated as new data become available. Applied on an ongoing basis, this approach can provide critical, more detailed information for resource management for more exploited fish stocks than currently available

What do Cochrane systematic reviews say about non-surgical interventions for urinary incontinence in women?

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is a highly prevalent condition that impacts self-esteem and overall quality of life. Many non-surgical treatment options are available, ranging from pharmacological approaches to pelvic exercises. We aimed to summarize the available evidence regarding these non-surgical interventions. DESIGN AND SETTING: Review of systematic reviews, conducted in the Discipline of Evidence-Based Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP). METHODS: A sensitive search was conducted to identify all Cochrane systematic reviews that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Titles and abstracts were screened by two authors. RESULTS: We included 20 Cochrane systematic reviews: 4 assessing methods of vesical training, 3 evaluating pharmacological interventions, 4 studying pelvic floor muscle training approaches and 9 aimed at other alternatives (such as urethral injections, weighted vaginal cone use, acupuncture, biostimulation and radiofrequency therapy). The reviews found that the evidence regarding the benefits of these diverse interventions ranged in quality from low to high. CONCLUSIONS: This review included 20 Cochrane systematic reviews that provided evidence (of diverse quality) for non-pharmacological interventions for patients with urinary incontinence. Moderate to high quality of evidence was found favoring the use of pelvic floor muscle training among women with urinary incontinence. To establish solid conclusions for all the other comparisons, further studies of good methodological quality are needed.Univ Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Discipline Evidence Based Hlth, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Gynecol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Discipline Evidence Based Hlth, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Gynecol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

In vitro evaluation of the precision of working casts for implant-supported restoration with multiple abutments

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of two working cast fabrication techniques using strain-gauge analysis. METHODS: Two working cast fabrication methods were evaluated. Based on a master model, 20 working casts were fabricated by means of an indirect impression technique using polyether after splinting the square transfer copings with acrylic resin. Specimens were assigned to 2 groups (n=10): Group A (GA): type IV dental stone was poured around the abutment analogs in the conventional way; Group B (GB), the dental stone was poured in two stages. Spacers were used over the abutment analogs (rubber tubes) and type IV dental stone was poured around the abutment analogs in the conventional way. After the stone had hardened completely, the spacers were removed and more stone was inserted in the spaces created. Six strain-gauges (Excel Ltd.), positioned in a cast bar, which was dimensionally accurate (perfect fit) to the master model, recorded the microstrains generated by each specimen. Data were analyzed statistically by the variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey's test (α= 5%). RESULTS: The microstrain values (µepsilon) were (mean±SD): GA: 263.7±109.07µepsilon, and GB: 193.73±78.83µepsilon. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical difference between the two methods studied

Treatment-Resistant Hypertension: An Update in Device Therapy

Resistant hypertension (RH) is a clinical condition in which the hypertensive patient has become resistant to drug therapy and is often associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Several signaling pathways have been studied and related to the development and progression of RH: modulation of sympathetic activity by leptin and aldosterone, primary aldosteronism, arterial stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, and variations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)

Novel Human Crygd Rare Variant In A Brazilian Family With Congenital Cataract.

To describe a novel polymorphism in the γD-crystallin (CRYGD) gene in a Brazilian family with congenital cataract. A Brazilian four-generation family was analyzed. The proband had bilateral lamellar cataract and the phenotypes were classified by slit lamp examination. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and coding regions and intron/exon boundaries of the αA-crystallin (CRYAA), γC-crystallin (CRYGC), and CRYGD genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. Sequencing of the coding regions of CRYGD showed the presence of a heterozygous A→G transversion at c.401 position, which results in the substitution of a tyrosine to a cysteine (Y134C). The polymorphism was identified in three individuals, two affected and one unaffected. A novel rare variant in CRYGD (Y134C) was detected in a Brazilian family with congenital cataract. Because there is no segregation between the substitution and the phenotypes in this family, other genetic alterations are likely to be present.172207-1

LIN28A expression reduces sickling of cultured human erythrocytes

Induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) has therapeutic importance for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and the beta-thalassemias. It was recently reported that increased expression of LIN28 proteins or decreased expression of its target let-7 miRNAs enhances HbF levels in cultured primary human erythroblasts from adult healthy donors. Here LIN28A effects were studied further using erythrocytes cultured from peripheral blood progenitor cells of pediatric subjects with SCD. Transgenic expression of LIN28A was accomplished by lentiviral transduction in CD34(+) sickle cells cultivated ex vivo in serum-free medium. LIN28A over-expression (LIN28A-OE) increased HbF, reduced beta (sickle)-globin, and strongly suppressed all members of the let-7 family of miRNAs. LIN28A-OE did not affect erythroblast differentiation or prevent enucleation, but it significantly reduced or ameliorated the sickling morphologies of the enucleated erythrocytes

Petrografia e geoquímica de pegmatitos básicos da Província Ígnea do Paraná, no sudoeste do estado do Paraná

No sudoeste do estado do Paraná ocorre grande concentração de pegmatitos básicos hospedados em derrames da Província Ígnea do Paraná. Apesar de estudos de detalhe recentes com esses pegmatitos, há a necessidade de compreender as características e os processos de formação, realizando uma correlação em escala regional. Dados petrográficos e geoquímicos de trabalhos anteriores foram reunidos em um banco de dados. Juntamente com cristais 5 a 20 vezes maiores que cristais do basalto hospedeiro, é possível observar que os pegmatitos possuem associação mineral muito similar, com plagioclásio, augita e minerais opacos como principais fases minerais. Nos pegmatitos, esses minerais ocorrem sob a forma de fenocristais e microfenocristais juntamente com micrólitos derivados da devitrificação da matriz. Também possuem cristais com hábito esqueletal, augita em leque e intercrescimento simplectito, além de mesóstase vítrea, evidenciando rápido resfriamento. Geoquimicamente, os pegmatitos são rochas mais evoluídas, formadas por fracionamento do plagioclásio, augita, óxidos de Fe-Ti e apatita. Com a ajuda da análise de componentes principais e diagramas multielementares foi possível definir seis grupos de pegmatitos geoquimicamente semelhantes e espacialmente próximos. Todos os pegmatitos estudados estão hospedados em derrames do Tipo 1 (baixo SiO2, Zr, TiO2 e P2O5), sendo a maioria nos derrames de Tipo 1 Centro-Norte e raros de Tipo 1 Sul. Derrames desse tipo são comumente pahoehoe, essencial para a formação dos pegmatitos, enquanto derrames basálticos de outros tipos, mais evoluídos, costumam ter maior ocorrência de derrame rubbly pahoehoe ou a’a’, o que poderia explicar a falta de ocorrências descobertas em derrames desses tipos.In the southwest of the Paraná State, there is a great concentration of basic pegmatites hosted in lava flows of the Paraná Igneous Province. Despite several recent detailed studies, there is a need to understand the characteristics and formation processes of these pegmatites, with a regional correlation study. Petrographic and geochemical data from previous works were compiled in a database. Along with crystal sizes 5 to 20 times larger than the basalt host, pegmatites have a mineral association very similar to the basalts, with plagioclase, augite, and opaque minerals as the main mineral phases. In the pegmatites, these minerals occur in the form of phenocrysts and microphenocrysts together with microlites derived from the devitrification of the matrix. The pegmatites have skeletal crystals, fan-like plumose augite, symplectite intergrowth, and a vitreous mesostasis, evidencing a rapid cooling. On geochemical grounds, the pegmatites are more evolved rocks, formed by fractionation labradorite, augite, Fe-Ti oxides, and apatite. With the help of principal component analysis and multielement diagrams, it was possible to define six groups of geochemically similar and spatially close pegmatites. All the pegmatites studied are hosted in Type 1 flows (low SiO2, Zr, TiO2, and P2O5), especially in Type 1 Central-North flows. Lava flows of this type are commonly pahoehoe, essential for the formation of pegmatites, while flows of other types tend to have a higher occurrence of rubbly pahoehoe or a’a’ flows, which could explain the lack of occurrences discovered in spills of these types