De huidige status van <i>Hemigrapsus sanguineus</i> (De Haan, 1835) en <i>H. penicillatus</i> (De Haan, 1835) in de noordelijke Atlantische Oceaan, in het bijzonder in Nederland, met opmerkingen over hun biologie (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura)

Two species of East Asian crabs of the genus Hemigrapsus, viz. the 'Asian shore crab' H. sanguineus (de Haan, 1835) and the 'brush shore crab' H. penicillatus (de Haan, 1835) have been found in the Delta area in the south-west of the Netherlands. The occurrence of H. sanguineus is currently only attested by two specimens found in 1999 in the Eastern Scheldt (Oosterschelde), while H. penicillatus, found for the first time in early 2000, has already established a breeding population in a large part of the Eastern Scheldt and has been collected in the Western Scheldt as well. A summary of the currently available information on the biology of both crabs is given, and their possible impact on the native fauna and flora is discussed

Patterns and Predictors of Healthcare Use among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors versus a Community Comparison Group.

Healthcare use (HCU) during survivorship can mitigate adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors' (aged 15-39 years) risk of medical and psychosocial late effects, but this is understudied. We surveyed 93 Australian AYA post-treatment cancer survivors (Mage = 22.0 years, SD = 3.5; 55.9% female) and a comparison sample of 183 non-matched AYAs (Mage = 19.7, SD = 3.2; 70.5% female) on their HCU, medication use, depression/anxiety, and general functioning. Relative to our comparison AYAs, a higher proportion of our survivor group reported medical HCU (community-delivered: 65.6% versus 47.0%, p = 0.003; hospital-delivered: 31.2% versus 20.3%, p = 0.044) and mental HCU (53.8% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.0001) in the past six months. A higher proportion of our survivors reported taking medications within the past six months than our comparison AYAs (61.3% vs. 42.1%, p = 0.003) and taking more types (p < 0.001). Vitamin/supplement use was most common followed by psychotropic medications. Our survivor group reported lower depression (p = 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (p = 0.003), but similar work/study participation (p = 0.767) to our comparison AYAs. Across groups, psychological distress was associated with higher mental HCU (p = 0.001). Among survivors, those who were female, diagnosed with brain/solid tumors and who had finished treatment more recently reported greater HCU. Future research should establish whether this level of HCU meets AYAs' survivorship needs

Levothyrox® new and old formulations: are they switchable for millions of patients?

International audienceIn France, more than 2.5 million patients are currently treated with levothyroxine, mainly as the marketed product Levothyrox ®. In March 2017, at the request of French authorities, a new formulation of Levothyrox ® was licensed, with the objective of avoiding stability deficiencies of the old formulation. Before launching this new formulation, an average bioequivalence trial, based on European Union recommended guidelines, was performed. The implicit rationale was the assumption that the two products, being bioequivalent, would also be switchable, allowing substitution of the new for the old formulation, thus avoiding the need for individual calibration of the dosage regimen of thyroxine, using the thyroid-stimulating hormone level as the endpoint, as required for a new patient on initiating treatment. Despite the fact that both formulations were shown to be bioequivalent, adverse drug reactions were reported in several thousands of patients after taking the new formulation. In this opinion paper, we report that more than 50% of healthy volunteers enrolled in a successful regulatory average bioequivalence trial were actually outside the a priori bioequivalence range. Therefore, we question the ability of an average bioequivalence trial to guarantee the switchability within patients of the new and old levothyroxine formulations. We further propose an analysis of this problem using the conceptual framework of individual bioequivalence. This involves investigating the bioavailability of the two formulations within a subject, by comparing not only the population means (as established by average bioequivalence) but also by assessing two variance terms, namely the within-subject variance and the variance estimating subject-by-formulation interaction. A higher within individual variability for the new formulation would lead to reconsideration of the appropriateness of the new formulation. Alternatively, a possible subject-by-formulation interaction would allow a judgement on the ability, or not, of doctors to manage patients effectively during transition from the old to the new formulation

Potential pathways of invasion and dispersal of Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz 1865 in the Baltic Sea

The rapid spread of Mnemiopsis leidyi across the entire Baltic Sea after its first observation in 2006 gave rise to the question of its invasion pathway and the possible vector of its transport. To investigate pathways of M. leidyi invasion, the years 2005–2008 have been simulated by a three-dimensional coupled sea ice-ocean model of the Baltic Sea. In addition, a Lagrangian particle-tracking model has been utilized to test possible transport routes of this invader for 2006/2007. Based on the model, we exclude advection from the Kattegat as the main area of origin of M. leidyi and further spreading through the entire Baltic Sea. To explain the dispersion of M. leidyi in 2007 an earlier invasion already in 2005 is most probable. Alternatively, an invasion originating from main harbors with high ship traffic could also be a potential pathway. Drift simulations with drifter release in the main harbors are in good agreement with the observed distribution pattern of M. leidyi

Radiologist experience and CT examination quality determine metastasis detection in patients with esophageal or gastric cardia cancer

We aimed to separate the influence of radiologist experience from that of CT quality in the evaluation of CT examinations of patients with esophageal or gastric cardia cancer. Two radiologists from referral centers ('expert radiologists') and six radiologists from regional non-referral centers ('non-expert radiologists') performed 240 evaluations of 72 CT examinations of patients diagnosed with esophageal or gastric cardia cancer between 1994 and 2003. We used conditional logistic regression analysis to calculate odds ratios (OR) for the likelihood of a correct diagnosis. Expert radiologists made a correct diagnosis of the presence or absence of distant metastases according to the gold standard almost three times more frequently (OR 2.

BMP Signaling Modulates Hepcidin Expression in Zebrafish Embryos Independent of Hemojuvelin

Hemojuvelin (Hjv), a member of the repulsive-guidance molecule (RGM) family, upregulates transcription of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin by activating the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway in mammalian cells. Mammalian models have identified furin, neogenin, and matriptase-2 as modifiers of Hjv's function. Using the zebrafish model, we evaluated the effects of hjv and its interacting proteins on hepcidin expression during embryonic development. We found that hjv is strongly expressed in the notochord and somites of the zebrafish embryo and that morpholino knockdown of hjv impaired the development of these structures. Knockdown of hjv or other hjv-related genes, including zebrafish orthologs of furin or neogenin, however, failed to decrease hepcidin expression relative to liver size. In contrast, overexpression of bmp2b or knockdown of matriptase-2 enhanced the intensity and extent of hepcidin expression in zebrafish embryos, but this occurred in an hjv-independent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrated that zebrafish hjv can activate the human hepcidin promoter and enhance BMP responsive gene expression in vitro, but is expressed at low levels in the zebrafish embryonic liver. Taken together, these data support an alternative mechanism for hepcidin regulation during zebrafish embryonic development, which is independent of hjv

Searching for Community and Safety: Evaluating Common Information Shared in Online Ex-Vaxxer Communities

This study examines a collection of artifacts passed on from some closed Facebook groups of anti-vaxxers. The study conducted a thematic analysis to determine whether or not the group is a community of practice, evaluate and categorize the types of information shared in these groups, and determine the sources of over 1,100 links across two compiled documents to address a series of questions related to claims of ex-vaxxers when compared to anti-vaxxers and the types of data commonly referenced. Findings indicated that ex-vaxxers and anti-vaxxers have separate and distinct claims, abstracts are the most commonly shared scholarly document, and select information is most often taken out of context. This data set can be analyzed for valence and language use in future studies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate information shared in among anti- and ex-vaxxer parents. This study does not seek to validate a specific position or point of view, nor does the researcher want to explore or determine correctness of beliefs

Occurrence of the Asian shrimp <i>Palaemon macrodactylus</i> in the Southern Bight of the North Sea, with a key to the Palaemonidae of north-western Europe (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridae)

The Asian shrimp Palaemon macrodactylus is native to the north-western Pacific Ocean. After introduction in the USA it has spread rapidly. The species has recently been found in two distant regions along the European Atlantic coasts: south-western Spain and the southern North Sea. In the present paper the first records of the species in the southern bight of the North Sea are presented and discussed. The morphology and colour pattern of P. macrodactylus is described and illustrated, based on European specimens. A detailed identification key to the Palaemonidae of northwestern Europe, southwards down to the Bay of Biscay, is given. In the field, adult and subadult specimens of P. macrodactylus can be readily identified by the presence of a whitish longitudinal dorsal stripe running all along their back