Call to Action: SARS-CoV-2 and CerebrovAscular DisordErs (CASCADE)

Background and purpose: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), now named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may change the risk of stroke through an enhanced systemic inflammatory response, hypercoagulable state, and endothelial damage in the cerebrovascular system. Moreover, due to the current pandemic, some countries have prioritized health resources towards COVID-19 management, making it more challenging to appropriately care for other potentially disabling and fatal diseases such as stroke. The aim of this study is to identify and describe changes in stroke epidemiological trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is an international, multicenter, hospital-based study on stroke incidence and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will describe patterns in stroke management, stroke hospitalization rate, and stroke severity, subtype (ischemic/hemorrhagic), and outcomes (including in-hospital mortality) in 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic, comparing them with the corresponding data from 2018 and 2019, and subsequently 2021. We will also use an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to assess the change in stroke hospitalization rates before, during, and after COVID-19, in each participating center. Conclusion: The proposed study will potentially enable us to better understand the changes in stroke care protocols, differential hospitalization rate, and severity of stroke, as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, this will help guide clinical-based policies surrounding COVID-19 and other similar global pandemics to ensure that management of cerebrovascular comorbidity is appropriately prioritized during the global crisis. It will also guide public health guidelines for at-risk populations to reduce risks of complications from such comorbidities. © 202

Effects of overhead canopy on macroinvertebrate production in a Utah stream

1. Macroinvertebrate abundance and production were compared between an open and shaded site of a stream in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah. Mean biomass was significantly higher at the open site for midges (Chironomidae), 4.6x; Baetis bicaudatus, 5.7x; Baetis tricaudatus, 2.3x; Drunella coloradensis, 12x and Cinygmula sp., L6x. Abundance of most other macroinvertebrates (except black flies: Simuliidae) was also greater at the open site, but differences were not significant. Black fly biomass was 1.7x greater at the shaded site. 2. Seasonal production, estimated by the size-frequency and instantaneous growth rate methods, was greater at the open site than the shaded site for most taxa (except black flies) and reflected differences in standing crops between the sites rather than differences in rate of growth. Excluding black flies, production at the open site was twice as high as at the shaded site. 3. The greater abundance and production of most invertebrate taxa at the open site is probably associated with either higher quality food (algae and algal detritus), or a phototactic attraction to sunlit areas. 4. Sampling of large cobbles was an efficient method of sampling all taxa except Cinygmula sp. which was more abundant on smaller substrate particles

Total hip arthroplasties in young patients under 50 years: limited evidence for current trends. A descriptive literature review

Item does not contain fulltextWe examined all reported outcomes of uncemented and cemented total hip arthroplasty in patients younger than 50 years of age listed in Medline (1966- 1 January 2009) and PubMed, and scrutinised reference lists of relevant papers. In addition, we evaluated relevant data in the Swedish hip arthroplasty register. 109 relevant articles were identified, 37 of which had a mean follow-up longer than 10 years. Although uncemented implants are widely used in patients under 50 years of age, there are only 2 reports that fulfil the criteria published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom (follow-up of >10 yrs and survival of =90%). Current trends relating to implant selection remain unsupported by survival data, and additional information about the long-term results of newer implants is essential. As matters stand, the most reliable results relate to cemented implants