Factors Facilitating Acceptable Mammography Services for Women with Disabilities

Prior research has described general barriers to breast cancer screening for women with disabilities (WWD). We explored specific accommodations described as necessary by WWD who have accessed screening services, and the presence of such accommodations in community based screening programs

Reduction of anti-K-mediated hemolytic disease of newborns after the introduction of a matched transfusion policy:A nation-wide policy change evaluation study in the Netherlands

Background: During pregnancy, maternal red blood cell (RBC) antibodies can lead to life-threatening fetal hemolysis and anemia. Women can become immunized by a pregnancy or an unmatched transfusion. Our aim was to quantify the effect of a nationwide K-matched transfusion policy for women of childbearing age potential to prevent K-immunization in pregnancy. Study Design and Methods: In this nation-wide policy change evaluation study we determined the occurrence of RBC antibodies before and after introduction of a K-matched transfusion policy and evaluated the cause K alloimmunization 10 years after introduction of this measure. K-matched transfusion for females under 45 years of age is advised in the Dutch transfusion guideline since 2004. We used laboratory data from pregnancies with RBC antibodies identified in the period 1999-2018 obtained as part of a population-based screening program in the Netherlands. Results: Tests of 36 286 pregnancies produced a positive antibody screening result which concerned anti-K in 1550 pregnancies. The occurrence of anti-K decreased from 67.9 to 20.2 per 100 000 pregnancies. The relative risk reduction was 0.70 which largely exceeded the relative risk reduction of 0.27 for antibodies against RBC antigens for which no preventive matching is required. The number of pregnancies at risk for anti-K-mediated disease decreased from 9.7 to 4.2 per 100 000 pregnancies. Conclusions: A K-matched transfusion policy is associated with a major decrease in a number of pregnant women with anti-K and pregnancies at risk for anti-K-mediated disease. A relatively simple measure is now shown to impact prevention of hemolytic disease in the fetus and newborn

The damage-associated molecular pattern HMGB1 is released early after clinical hepatic ischemia/reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Activation of sterile inflammation after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) culminates in liver injury. The route to liver damage starts with mitochondrial oxidative stress and cell death during early reperfusion. The link between mitochondrial oxidative stress, damage-associate molecular pattern (DAMP) release, and sterile immune signaling is incompletely understood and lacks clinical validation. The aim of the study was to validate this relation in a clinical liver I/R cohort and to limit DAMP release using a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant in I/R-subjected mice. METHODS: Plasma levels of the DAMPs high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), mitochondrial DNA, and nucleosomes were measured in 39 patients enrolled in an observational study who underwent a major liver resection with (N = 29) or without (N = 13) intraoperative liver ischemia. Circulating cytokine and neutrophil activation markers were also determined. In mice, the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ was intravenously infused in an attempt to limit DAMP release, reduce sterile inflammation, and suppress I/R injury. RESULTS: In patients, HMGB1 was elevated following liver resection with I/R compared to liver resection without I/R. HMGB1 levels correlated positively with ischemia duration and peak post-operative transaminase (ALT) levels. There were no differences in mitochondrial DNA, nucleosome, or cytokine levels between the two groups. In mice, MitoQ neutralized hepatic oxidative stress and decreased HMGB1 release by ±50%. MitoQ suppressed transaminase release, hepatocellular necrosis, and cytokine production. Reconstituting disulfide HMGB1 during reperfusion reversed these protective effects. CONCLUSION: HMGB1 seems the most pertinent DAMP in clinical hepatic I/R injury. Neutralizing mitochondrial oxidative stress may limit DAMP release after hepatic I/R and reduce liver damage

Discovery of a pulsar-powered bow shock nebula in the Small Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant DEMS5

We report the discovery of a new Small Magellanic Cloud pulsar wind nebula (PWN) at the edge of the supernova remnant (SNR) DEMS5. The pulsar powered object has a cometary morphology similar to the Galactic PWN analogues PSR B1951+32 and ´the mouse´. It is travelling supersonically through the interstellar medium.We estimate the pulsar kick velocity to be in the range of 700-2000 km s-1 for an age between 28 and 10 kyr. The radio spectral index for this SNR-PWN-pulsar system is flat (-0.29 ± 0.01) consistent with other similar objects. We infer that the putative pulsar has a radio spectral index of -1.8, which is typical for Galactic pulsars. We searched for dispersion measures up to 1000 cm-3 pc but found no convincing candidates with an S/N greater than 8. We produce a polarization map for this PWN at 5500 MHz and find a mean fractional polarization of P ∼ 23 per cent. The X-ray power-law spectrum (τ ∼ 2) is indicative of non-thermal synchrotron emission as is expected from PWN-pulsar system. Finally, we detect DEMS5 in infrared (IR) bands. Our IR photometric measurements strongly indicate the presence of shocked gas that is expected for SNRs. However, it is unusual to detect such IR emission in an SNR with a supersonic bow shock PWN.We also find a low-velocity HI cloud of ∼107 km s-1 that is possibly interacting with DEMS5. SNR DEMS5 is the first confirmed detection of a pulsar-powered bow shock nebula found outside the Galaxy.Fil: Alsaberi, Rami Z. E.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Maitra, C.. Max Planck Institut Für Extraterrestrische Physik; AlemaniaFil: Filipovic, M. D.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Bozzetto, L.M.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Haberl, F.. Max Planck Institut Für Extraterrestrische Physik; AlemaniaFil: Maggi, P.. Université de Strasbourg; FranciaFil: Sasaki, M.. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; AlemaniaFil: Manjolovic, P.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Velovic, V.. University Of Belgrade; SerbiaFil: Kavanagh, P.. Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies; IrlandaFil: Maxted, N. I.. University Of New South Wales (unsw) Australia; AustraliaFil: Urosevic, D.. Isaac Newton Institute Of Chile; ChileFil: Rowell, G. P.. University of Adelaide; AustraliaFil: Wong, G. F.. University Of New South Wales (unsw) Australia; AustraliaFil: For, B. Q.. The University Ofwestern Australia; AustraliaFil: O'Brien, A. N.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Galvin, T. J.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Staveley-Smith, L.. The University Ofwestern Australia; AustraliaFil: Norris, R. P.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Jarrett, T.. University Of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Kothes, R.. National Research Council Canada; CanadáFil: Luken, K. J.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Hurley-Walker, N.. Curtin University; AustraliaFil: Sano, H.. Nagoya University; JapónFil: Onic, D.. University Of Belgrade; SerbiaFil: Dai, S. T.. Australia Telescope National Facility; AustraliaFil: Pannuti, G.. Morehead State University; Estados UnidosFil: Tothill, N. F. H.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Crawford, Evan. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Yew, M.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Bojicic, I.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Dénes, H.. Netherlands Foundation For Research In Astronomy; BélgicaFil: McClure-Griffiths, N.. Australian National University; AustraliaFil: Gurovich, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Fukui, Y.. Nagoya University; Japó

Extensive red blood cell matching considering patient alloimmunization risk

Background and Objectives: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions pose a risk of alloantibody development in patients. For patients with increased alloimmunization risk, extended preventive matching is advised, encompassing not only the ABO-D blood groups but also the most clinically relevant minor antigens: C, c, E, e, K, Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, S and s. This study incorporates patient-specific data and the clinical consequences of mismatching into the allocation process. Materials and Methods: We have redefined the MINimize Relative Alloimmunization Risks (MINRAR) model to include patient group preferences in selecting RBC units from a finite supply. A linear optimization approach was employed, considering both antigen immunogenicity and the clinical impact of mismatches for specific patient groups. We also explore the advantages of informing the blood bank about scheduled transfusions, allowing for a more strategic blood distribution. The model is evaluated using historical data from two Dutch hospitals, measuring shortages and minor antigen mismatches. Results: The updated model, emphasizing patient group-specific considerations, achieves a similar number of mismatches as the original, yet shifts mismatches among patient groups and antigens, reducing expected alloimmunization consequences. Simultaneous matching for multiple hospitals at the distribution centre level, considering scheduled demands, led to a 30% decrease in mismatches and a 92% reduction in shortages. Conclusion: The reduction of expected alloimmunization consequences by incorporating patient group preferences demonstrates our strategy's effectiveness for patient health. Substantial reductions in mismatches and shortages with multi-hospital collaboration highlights the importance of sharing information in the blood supply chain

The Evolutionary Map of the Universe Pilot Survey

We present the data and initial results from the first pilot survey of the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU), observed at 944 MHz with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope. The survey covers 270 deg2 of an area covered by the Dark Energy Survey, reaching a depth of 25–30 μJy beam−1 rms at a spatial resolution of ∼11–18 arcsec, resulting in a catalogue of ∼220 000 sources, of which ∼180 000 are single-component sources. Here we present the catalogue of single-component sources, together with (where available) optical and infrared cross-identifications, classifications, and redshifts. This survey explores a new region of parameter space compared to previous surveys. Specifically, the EMU Pilot Survey has a high density of sources, and also a high sensitivity to low surface brightness emission. These properties result in the detection of types of sources that were rarely seen in or absent from previous surveys. We present some of these new results here

Unexpected circular radio objects at high Galactic latitude

Large scale structure and cosmolog