A thousand total colonoscopies: what is the relationship between distal and proximal findings?

BACKGROUND: Flexible sigmoidoscopy is indicated for colorectal cancer screening. The decision about who needs total colonoscopy based on distal findings is still controversial because of the uncertainty of the associations between distal and proximal findings. AIM: The purpose of the study was to characterize distal findings in patients with total colonoscopy, to investigate its importance as markers of advanced proximal lesions and to evaluate the usefulness of a clinical Predictive Index, already published in the literature, in the identification of these lesions. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the patients submitted to total colonoscopy between January 2006 and February 2007, with selection of 1000 consecutive cases with reference to polyps. We analysed demographic data, indication for the exam and morphological and histological characteristics of the polyps. Advanced lesion was defined as any adenoma larger than 10 mm or any polyp with villous characteristics, high grade dysplasia or cancer. The Predictive Index was obtained through the assignment of points to 3 categories: sex, age and distal findings, which result in 3 groups: low, intermediate and high risk. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64,69 years and 65,1% were male. Distal and proximal polyps were identified in 829 (82,9%) and 369 (36,9%) patients, respectively. Advanced distal lesion was found in 342 patients (34,2%) and advanced proximal lesion in 98 (9,8%). 587 patients (58,7%) were in the high risk group. In the group of patients with advanced proximal lesion, a third presented low and intermediate risk, 52% had no distal polyps, 88,7% had less than three distal polyps and 71,4% had no advanced distal lesion. Sensitivity values for these four categories ranged between 11,2% and 66,6%. CONCLUSION: If the decision to perform total colonoscopy is based on distal colonic findings or on the Predictive Index, the ability to identify advanced proximal lesion is markedly reduced, endangering the aim of a screening program

Rpgrip1 is required for rod outer segment development and ciliary protein trafficking in zebrafish

The authors would like to thank the Royal Society of London, the National Eye Research Centre, the Visual Research Trust, Fight for Sight, the W.H. Ross Foundation, the Rosetrees Trust, and the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for supporting this work. This work was also supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this research (Research Project) grant number ‘RGP – VPP – 219’.Mutations in the RPGR-interacting protein 1 (RPGRIP1) gene cause recessive Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), juvenile retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and cone-rod dystrophy. RPGRIP1 interacts with other retinal disease-causing proteins and has been proposed to have a role in ciliary protein transport; however, its function remains elusive. Here, we describe a new zebrafish model carrying a nonsense mutation in the rpgrip1 gene. Rpgrip1homozygous mutants do not form rod outer segments and display mislocalization of rhodopsin, suggesting a role for RPGRIP1 in rhodopsin-bearing vesicle trafficking. Furthermore, Rab8, the key regulator of rhodopsin ciliary trafficking, was mislocalized in photoreceptor cells of rpgrip1 mutants. The degeneration of rod cells is early onset, followed by the death of cone cells. These phenotypes are similar to that observed in LCA and juvenile RP patients. Our data indicate RPGRIP1 is necessary for rod outer segment development through regulating ciliary protein trafficking. The rpgrip1 mutant zebrafish may provide a platform for developing therapeutic treatments for RP patients.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Transthyretin interacts with actin regulators in a Drosophila model of familial amyloid polyneuropathy

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is a neurodegenerative disorder whose major hallmark is the deposition of mutated transthyretin (TTR) in the form of amyloid fibrils in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The exposure of PNS axons to extracellular TTR deposits leads to an axonopathy that culminates in neuronal death. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying TTR-induced neurodegeneration are still unclear, despite the extensive studies in vertebrate models. In this work we used a Drosophila FAP model, based on the expression of the amyloidogenic TTR (V30M) in the fly retina, to uncover genetic interactions with cytoskeleton regulators. We show that TTR interacts with actin regulators and induces cytoskeleton alterations, leading to axonal defects. Moreover, our study pinpoints an interaction between TTRV30M and members of Rho GTPase signaling pathways, the major actin regulators. Based on these findings we propose that actin cytoskeleton alterations may mediate the axonopathy observed in FAP patients, and highlight a molecular pathway, mediated by Rho GTPases, underlying TTR-induced neurodegeneration. We expect this work to prompt novel studies and approaches towards FAP therapy.This work was supported by: FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020—Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior in the framework of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028336 (PTDC/MED-NEU/28336/2017), to MAL; and Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000008—Porto Neurosciences and Neurologic Disease Research Initiative at I3S, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through FEDER, to CSL and MAL. MIOS is a FCT fellow (SFRH/ BD/118728/2016). CSL is funded by DL 57/2016/CP1355/CT0022. MAL is an FCT Investigator. Flies expressing wild-type and mutant alleles of TTR were kindly provided by Malgorzata Pokrzywa and Per Hammarström. The DCAD2, PDF and Rho1 monoclonal antibodies were obtained from the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, created by the NICHD of the NIH and maintained at The University of Iowa, Department of Biology, Iowa City, IA 52242. We would like to thank the SEM facility at CEMUP (University of Porto) for technical help and Mónica M Sousa and Fernando Casares for comments on the manuscript

The relationship between construction sector and the national economy of Sri Lanka

The causal relationship between construction and a country’s economy has received much attention in the past. However, the results provide contrasting views on the nature of this relationship. This paper therefore investigates the direction of the causal relationship between construction and the economy of a developing country, Sri Lanka. It uses empirical data for selected economic and construction indicators for the period 1990–2009. The pattern of the causal relationship was determined using Granger causality test. The findings reveal that for all indicators except construction investment, national economic activities precede that of construction. The study therefore concludes and strengthens the body of knowledge on Sri Lanka that the causal relationship between its construction sector and national economy tend towards a uni-directional relationship with the national economy inducing growth in the construction sector and not vice versa

Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal

Search for direct pair production of the top squark in all-hadronic final states in proton-proton collisions at s√=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The results of a search for direct pair production of the scalar partner to the top quark using an integrated luminosity of 20.1fb−1 of proton–proton collision data at √s = 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC are reported. The top squark is assumed to decay via t˜→tχ˜01 or t˜→ bχ˜±1 →bW(∗)χ˜01 , where χ˜01 (χ˜±1 ) denotes the lightest neutralino (chargino) in supersymmetric models. The search targets a fully-hadronic final state in events with four or more jets and large missing transverse momentum. No significant excess over the Standard Model background prediction is observed, and exclusion limits are reported in terms of the top squark and neutralino masses and as a function of the branching fraction of t˜ → tχ˜01 . For a branching fraction of 100%, top squark masses in the range 270–645 GeV are excluded for χ˜01 masses below 30 GeV. For a branching fraction of 50% to either t˜ → tχ˜01 or t˜ → bχ˜±1 , and assuming the χ˜±1 mass to be twice the χ˜01 mass, top squark masses in the range 250–550 GeV are excluded for χ˜01 masses below 60 GeV

Fresh-blood-free diet for rearing malaria mosquito vectors

Mosquito breeding depends on the supply of fresh vertebrate blood, a major bottleneck for large-scale production of Anopheles spp. Feeding alternatives to fresh blood are thus a priority for research, outdoor large-cage trials and control interventions. Several artificial meal compositions were tested and Anopheles oogenesis, egg laying and development into the next generation of adult mosquitoes were followed. We identified blood-substitute-diets that supported ovarian development, egg maturation and fertility as well as, low progeny larval mortality, and normal development of offspring into adult mosquitoes. The formulated diet is an effective artificial meal, free of fresh blood that mimics a vertebrate blood meal and represents an important advance for the sustainability of Anopheles mosquito rearing in captivity.Agência financiadora / Número do subsídio Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1138841 Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia GHTM - UID/Multi/04413/201 CCMAR - UID/Multi/04326/2013 UID/Multi/04326/2013 RF SFRH/BPD/89811/2012 FAPEAM, Brazil 19716.UNI472.2459.20022014info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New combined CFH/MCP mutations and a rare clinical course in atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome

Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, life-threatening, chronic, genetic disease due to uncontrolled alternative pathway complement activation. In this report, we discuss the case of a heterozygous carrier of a mutation on both factor H and membrane cofactor protein, who persistently presents haemolytic anaemia without need for blood transfusions, normal platelet count, normal renal function and no signs or symptoms of organ injury due to thrombotic microangiopathy 4 years after the diagnosis of aHUS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biology and conservation of freshwater bivalves : past, present and future perspectives

Freshwater bivalves have been highly threatened by human activities, and recently their global decline has been causing conservational and social concern. In this paper, we review the most important research events in freshwater bivalve biology calling attention to the main scientific achievements. A great bias exists in the research effort, with much more information available for bivalve species belonging to the Unionida in comparison to other groups. The same is true for the origin of these studies, since the publishing pattern does not always correspond to the hotspots of biodiversity but is concentrated in the northern hemisphere mainly in North America, Europe and Russia, with regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia being quite understudied. We also summarize information about past, present and future perspectives concerning the most important research topics that include taxonomy, systematics, anatomy, physiology, ecology and conservation of freshwater bivalves. Finally, we introduce the articles published in this Hydrobiologia special issue related with the International Meeting on Biology and Conservation of Freshwater Bivalves held in 2012 in Braganc¸a, Portugal.We would like to express our gratitude to our sponsors and institutions, especially to the Polytechnic Institute of Braganca for all the logistic support. We acknowledge all keynote speakers, authors, session chairpersons and especially to all attendees whose contributions were fundamental for the success of this meeting. We would also like to thank all referees of this special issue and to Koen Martens, Editor-in-Chief of Hydrobiologia, for all the valuable comments and suggestions. The chronogram was built with the help of the expert opinion of fellow colleagues Rafael Araujo, Arthur Bogan, Kevin Cummings, Dan Graf, Wendell Haag, Karl-Otto Nagel and David Strayer to whom we are very grateful. The authors acknowledge the support provided by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and COMPETE funds-projects CONBI (Contract: PTDC/AAC-AMB/117688/2010) and ECO-IAS (Contract: PTDC/AAC-AMB/116685/2010), and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE, under the project "PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2011"

Observation of Bc+ →j /ψD (∗)K (∗) decays

A search for the decays B+c→J/ψD(*)0K+ and B+c→J/ψD(*)+K*0 is performed with data collected at the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1. The decays B+c→J/ψ0K+ and B+c→J/ψD*0K+ are observed for the first time, while first evidence is reported for the B+c→JψD*+K*0 and B+c→J/ψD+K*0 decays. The branching fractions of these decays are determined relative to the B+c→J/ψπ+ decay. The B+c mass is measured, using the J/ψD0K+ final state, to be 6274.28±1.40(stat)±0.32(syst) MeV/c2. This is the most precise single measurement of the B+c mass to date