Age at menopause and lung function: a Mendelian randomisation study

In observational studies, early menopause is associated with lower forced vital capacity (FVC) and a higher risk of spirometric restriction, but not airflow obstruction. It is, however, unclear if this association is causal. We therefore used a Mendelian randomisation (MR) approach, which is not affected by classical confounding, to assess the effect of age at natural menopause on lung function.We included 94\u200a742 naturally post-menopausal women from the UK Biobank and performed MR analyses on the effect of age at menopause on forced expiratory volume in 1\u2005s (FEV1), FVC, FEV1/FVC, spirometric restriction (FV

Xylella fastidiosa : An in vivo system to study possible survival strategies within citrus xylem vessels based on global gene expression analysis

Abstract Xylella fastidiosa inhabits the plant xylem, a nutrient-poor environment, so that mechanisms to sense and respond to adverse environmental conditions are extremely important for bacterial survival in the plant host. Although the complete genome sequences of different Xylella strains have been determined, little is known about stress responses and gene regulation in these organisms. In this work, a DNA microarray was constructed containing 2,600 ORFs identified in the genome sequencing project of Xylella fastidiosa 9a5c strain, and used to check global gene expression differences in the bacteria when it is infecting a symptomatic and a tolerant citrus tree. Different patterns of expression were found in each variety, suggesting that bacteria are responding differentially according to each plant xylem environment. The global gene expression profile was determined and several genes related to bacterial survival in stressed conditions were found to be differentially expressed between varieties, suggesting the involvement of different strategies for adaptation to the environment. The expression pattern of some genes related to the heat shock response, toxin and detoxification processes, adaptation to atypical conditions, repair systems as well as some regulatory genes are discussed in this paper. DNA microarray proved to be a powerful technique for global transcriptome analyses. This is one of the first studies of Xylella fastidiosa gene expression in vivo which helped to increase insight into stress responses and possible bacterial survival mechanisms in the nutrient-poor environment of xylem vessels

QUANTIFICATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION BY EXOTIC TREE SPECIES IN AN ARAUCARIA FOREST FRAGMENT IN LAGES, SANTA CATARINA STATE

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a contamina\ue7\ue3o biol\uf3gica ao longo do tempo em uma comunidade arb\uf3rea em est\ue1gio sucessional avan\ue7ado/tardio da Floresta Ombr\uf3fila Mista Montana, adjacente a um plantio de Pinus taeda L. em Lages - SC. Para isso, foram alocadas 25 parcelas de 20 x 20 m, distribu\ueddas em cinco transe\ue7\uf5es de cinco parcelas cada, alocadas perpendiculares \ue0 borda de contato com o plantio de pinus. Em cada parcela foram mensurados (DAP 65 5 cm, medido a 1,30 m do solo), coletados e identificados todos os indiv\uedduos arb\uf3reos vivos. Quatro anos ap\uf3s o primeiro invent\ue1rio, os mesmos indiv\uedduos foram novamente inventariados, quantificando-se os indiv\uedduos mortos, sobreviventes e adicionando os recrutas. Para os dois per\uedodos foram calculados os descritores fitossociol\uf3gicos, quantificados os indicadores de invas\ue3o para a comunidade como um todo e grupos ecol\uf3gicos e calculadas as taxas demogr\ue1ficas. No primeiro ano foram amostradas 73 esp\ue9cies e no segundo 74 esp\ue9cies, dentro das quais, duas foram ex\uf3ticas: Pinus taeda e Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton. Ambas tiveram baixos valores dos indicadores de invas\ue3o para a comunidade nos dois anos, no entanto, com aumento da participa\ue7\ue3o de Pinus taeda entre as esp\ue9cies pioneiras ao longo do tempo. Os resultados das taxas demogr\ue1ficas sugerem que, para os diferentes grupos ecol\uf3gicos, o processo de invas\ue3o encontra-se em fases distintas. Conclui-se que o grupo das esp\ue9cies pioneiras foi o componente mais afetado pela invas\ue3o biol\uf3gica, o que refor\ue7a a necessidade de an\ue1lise, considerando os diferentes grupos ecol\uf3gicos.The present study aimed to evaluate the biological contamination over time in a tree community of Montane Araucaria forest, in advanced successional stage, adjacent to a Pinus taeda L. plantation, in Lages, SC state. For this sake, a total of, 20 x 20m, 25 plots, distributed in five transects with five plots each, were allocated perpendicular to the edge in contact with the pinus plantation. In each plot, all living trees were measured (cbh 65 5 cm, measured at 1.30 m above soil level), collected and identified. Four years after the first inventory, the same individuals were re-inventoried, the dead individuals and survivor quantified and recruits added. For the two evaluated years, phytosociological descriptors were calculated, indicators of biological invasion quantified for all community as well as for ecological groups and the demographic rates determined. A total of 73 and 74 species were sampled in the first and second years, among of them two exotic species: Pinus taeda and Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton. Both species showed low values of the invasion indicators, but with an increment in the participation of Pinus taeda among pioneer species over time. Results of demographic rates suggest that, for different ecological groups, the invasion process is in distinct stages. We conclude that the pioneer species was the most affected component by biological invasion, which reinforces the need for analysis considering the different ecological groups

Current gaps in sepsis immunology: new opportunities for translational research

Increasing evidence supports a central role of the immune system in sepsis, but the current view of how sepsis affects immunity, and vice versa, is still rudimentary. The European Group on Immunology of Sepsis has identified major gaps that should be addressed with high priority, such as understanding how immunological alterations predispose to sepsis, key aspects of the immunopathological events during sepsis, and the long-term consequences of sepsis on patient's immunity. We discuss major unmet topics in those three categories, including the role of key immune cells, the cause of lymphopenia, organ-specific immunology, the dynamics of sepsis-associated immunological alterations, the role of the microbiome, the standardisation of immunological tests, the development of better animal models, and the opportunities offered by immunotherapy. Addressing these gaps should help us to better understand sepsis physiopathology, offering translational opportunities to improve its prevention, diagnosis, and care

FLORISTIC-STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION ALONG AN EDGE GRADIENT IN UPPER MONTANE MIXED OMBROPHILOUS FOREST FRAGMENT IN SANTA CATARINA

O objetivo desse estudo foi caracterizar a composi\ue7\ue3o flor\uedstica e a estrutura do componente arb\uf3reo em fragmento de Floresta Ombr\uf3fila Mista Alto-Montana e avaliar a influ\ueancia do efeito de borda sobre a organiza\ue7\ue3o, estrutura, riqueza e diversidade de esp\ue9cies. Foram alocadas 50 parcelas permanentes de 10 x 20 m, divididas em cinco transe\ue7\uf5es distanciadas, no m\uednimo, 100 m entre si, em um fragmento florestal, no munic\uedpio de Bom Jardim da Serra - SC. As \ue1rvores com circunfer\ueancia 65 15,7 cm na altura do peito (CAP) foram mensuradas (CAP e altura total), identificadas e classificadas quanto \ue0s guildas de regenera\ue7\ue3o (pioneiras, clim\ue1cicas exigentes em luz e clim\ue1cicas tolerantes \ue0 sombra). Os dados foram analisados por meio dos \uedndices de valor de import\ue2ncia (IVI), NMDS (Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling), modelo aditivo generalizado e regress\uf5es lineares simples. Foram observados 1.457 indiv\uedduos arb\uf3reos, distribu\ueddos em 29 fam\uedlias, 43 g\ueaneros e 55 esp\ue9cies. A esp\ue9cie com maior valor de import\ue2ncia foi Dicksonia sellowiana Hook. N\ue3o foi observada influ\ueancia do efeito de borda sobre a organiza\ue7\ue3o, a estrutura (di\ue2metro m\ue9dio, altura m\ue9dia e densidade) da comunidade e participa\ue7\ue3o relativa das guildas de regenera\ue7\ue3o. No entanto, ficaram evidenciados maiores valores de diversidade, riqueza e equabilidade nas \ue1reas de borda. Desta forma, conclu\ued-se que parte das varia\ue7\uf5es dos valores relativos \ue0 diversidade de esp\ue9cies arb\uf3reas na Floresta Ombr\uf3fila Mista Ato-Montana foi determinada pela dist\ue2ncia da borda.The objectives of this study were to characterize the floristic and structure of the tree component in Upper Montane Araucaria Forest fragment and to evaluate the influence of the edge effects on tree species organization, structure, richness and diversity. For this, a total of 50, 10 x 20 m, permanent plots divided in five transects spaced, at least, 100 m from each other, were established in the a forest fragment, located in the municipality of Bom Jardim da Serra, SC. The trees with circumference at breast height (CBH) 65 15,7 cm were measured (CBH and total height), identified and classified according to the regeneration guilds. The data were analyzed through the index of importance values (IVI), a NMDS analysis (Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling), a generalized additive model and simple linear regressions. A total of 1,457 individuals, distributed in 29 families, 43 genera and 55 species were surveyed. The most relative important species was Dicksonia sellowiana Hook. There was no influence of edge effect on tree community organization, structure (average diameter, average height and density) and guilds participation. However, values of diversity, richness and evenness were higher at edge areas. We conclude that part of the variation in values related to tree species diversity in the Upper Montane Araucaria Forest was determined by edge distance

How to perform Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS)

"How to perform contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)" provides general advice on the use of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) for clinical decision-making and reviews technical parameters for optimal CEUS performance. CEUS techniques vary between centers, therefore, experts from EFSUMB, WFUMB and from the CEUS LI-RADS working group created a discussion forum to standardize the CEUS examination technique according to published evidence and best personal experience. The goal is to standardise the use and administration of UCAs to facilitate correct diagnoses and ultimately to improve the management and outcomes of patients

De novo mutations of KIAA2022 in females cause intellectual disability and intractable epilepsy

Background Mutations in the KIAA2022 gene have been reported in male patients with X-linked intellectual disability, and related female carriers were unaffected. Here, we report 14 female patients who carry a heterozygous de novo KIAA2022 mutation and share a phenotype characterised by intellectual disability and epilepsy. Methods Reported females were selected for genetic testing because of substantial developmental problems and/or epilepsy. X-inactivation and expression studies were performed when possible. Results All mutations were predicted to result in a frameshift or premature stop. 12 out of 14 patients had intractable epilepsy with myoclonic and/or absence seizures, and generalised in 11. Thirteen patients had mild to severe intellectual disability. This female phenotype partially overlaps with the reported male phenotype which consists of more severe intellectual disability, microcephaly, growth retardation, facial dysmorphisms and, less frequently, epilepsy. One female patient showed completely skewed X-inactivation, complete absence of RNA expression in blood and a phenotype similar to male patients. In the six other tested patients, X-inactivation was random, confirmed by a non-significant twofold to threefold decrease of RNA expression in blood, consistent with the expected mosaicism between cells expressing mutant or normal KIAA2022 alleles. Conclusions Heterozygous loss of KIAA2022 expression is a cause of intellectual disability in females. Compared with its hemizygous male counterpart, the heterozygous female disease has less severe intellectual disability, but is more often associated with a severe and intractable myoclonic epilepsy

20-Year Risks of Breast-Cancer Recurrence after Stopping Endocrine Therapy at 5 Years

The administration of endocrine therapy for 5 years substantially reduces recurrence rates during and after treatment in women with early-stage, estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Extending such therapy beyond 5 years offers further protection but has additional side effects. Obtaining data on the absolute risk of subsequent distant recurrence if therapy stops at 5 years could help determine whether to extend treatment

SYMBA: An end-to-end VLBI synthetic data generation pipeline: Simulating Event Horizon Telescope observations of M 87

Context. Realistic synthetic observations of theoretical source models are essential for our understanding of real observational data. In using synthetic data, one can verify the extent to which source parameters can be recovered and evaluate how various data corruption effects can be calibrated. These studies are the most important when proposing observations of new sources, in the characterization of the capabilities of new or upgraded instruments, and when verifying model-based theoretical predictions in a direct comparison with observational data. Aims. We present the SYnthetic Measurement creator for long Baseline Arrays (SYMBA), a novel synthetic data generation pipeline for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations. SYMBA takes into account several realistic atmospheric, instrumental, and calibration effects. Methods. We used SYMBA to create synthetic observations for the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a millimetre VLBI array, which has recently captured the first image of a black hole shadow. After testing SYMBA with simple source and corruption models, we study the importance of including all corruption and calibration effects, compared to the addition of thermal noise only. Using synthetic data based on two example general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) model images of M 87, we performed case studies to assess the image quality that can be obtained with the current and future EHT array for different weather conditions. Results. Our synthetic observations show that the effects of atmospheric and instrumental corruptions on the measured visibilities are significant. Despite these effects, we demonstrate how the overall structure of our GRMHD source models can be recovered robustly with the EHT2017 array after performing calibration steps, which include fringe fitting, a priori amplitude and network calibration, and self-calibration. With the planned addition of new stations to the EHT array in the coming years, images could be reconstructed with higher angular resolution and dynamic range. In our case study, these improvements allowed for a distinction between a thermal and a non-thermal GRMHD model based on salient features in reconstructed images

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research