Diversification trajectories and paleobiogeography of Neogene chondrichthyans from Europe

Despite the rich fossil record of Neogene chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks, rays, and skates) from Europe, little is known about the macroevolutionary processes that generated their current diversity and geographical distribution. We compiled 4368 Neogene occurrences comprising 102 genera, 41 families, and 12 orders from four European regions (Atlantic, Mediterranean, North Sea, and Paratethys) and evaluated their diversification trajectories and paleobiogeographic patterns. In all regions analyzed, we found that generic richness increased during the early Miocene, then decreased sharply during the middle Miocene in the Paratethys, and moderately during the late Miocene and Pliocene in the Mediterranean and North Seas. Origination rates display the most significant pulses in the early Miocene in all regions. Extinction rate pulses varied across regions, with the Paratethys displaying the most significant pulses during the late Miocene and the Mediterranean and North Seas during the late Miocene and early Pliocene. Overall, up to 27% and 56% of the European Neogene genera are now globally and regionally extinct, respectively. The observed pulses of origination and extinction in the different regions coincide with warming and cooling events that occurred during the Neogene globally and regionally. Our study reveals complex diversity dynamics of Neogene chondrichthyans from Europe and their distinct biogeographic composition despite the multiple marine passages that connected the different marine regions during this time

Evaluación de los procesos de pretratamiento en un sistema de depuración de efluentes líquidos industriales del sector lácteo: Evaluation of the pre-treatment processes in a system for the purification of industrial liquid effluents from the dairy sector

The discharge of industrial wastewater, especially from industrial food processing, contributes to the contamination of natural water bodies because of high content of organic and inorganic substances. To avoid this action, wastewater treatment plants are designed and built to remove pollutants presence. However, for different reasons, many of these systems can fail, causing discharges of pollution agents, directly affecting environment. The main objective of this research was evaluate the operation of the preliminary units of a dairy product industry wastewater treatment plant, located in Táchira, Venezuela. To carry out this evaluation, a methodology integrated by the following stages was applied: description of the pre-treatment units, quantitative and qualitative characterization of the liquid effluents, and description of the pre-treatment system actual conditions. Being able to determine that pre-treatment does not ensure the physical-chemical conditions for the optimal functioning of the subsequent units.El vertido de aguas residuales industriales, especialmente las provenientes de la elaboración de alimentos a nivel industrial, contribuyen a la contaminación de los cuerpos de aguas naturales debido a su contenido elevado de sustancias orgánicas e inorgánicas. Para evitar esta acción, se diseñan y construyen plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales, que remuevan, hasta cierto grado, los contaminantes presentes. No obstante, por diversas razones, muchos de estos sistemas pueden fallar, provocando descargas de agentes causantes de polución, afectando directamente al ambiente. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo principal evaluar el funcionamiento de las unidades de preliminares de una planta de tratamiento de efluentes en una industria de elaboración de productos lácteos, ubicada en Táchira, Venezuela; para llevar a cabo dicha evaluación, se aplicó una metodología integrada por las siguientes etapas: descripción de las unidades del pre-tratamiento, caracterización cuantitativa y cualitativa de los efluentes líquidos, y descripción de las condiciones existentes en el sistema de pre-tratamiento. Se determinó que el pretratamiento no asegura las condiciones físico-químicas para el óptimo funcionamiento de las unidades posteriores

Evaluación de los procesos de pretratamiento en un sistema de depuración de efluentes líquidos industriales del sector lácteo: Evaluation of the pre-treatment processes in a system for the purification of industrial liquid effluents from the dairy sector

The discharge of industrial wastewater, especially from industrial food processing, contributes to the contamination of natural water bodies because of high content of organic and inorganic substances. To avoid this action, wastewater treatment plants are designed and built to remove pollutants presence. However, for different reasons, many of these systems can fail, causing discharges of pollution agents, directly affecting environment. The main objective of this research was evaluate the operation of the preliminary units of a dairy product industry wastewater treatment plant, located in Táchira, Venezuela. To carry out this evaluation, a methodology integrated by the following stages was applied: description of the pre-treatment units, quantitative and qualitative characterization of the liquid effluents, and description of the pre-treatment system actual conditions. Being able to determine that pre-treatment does not ensure the physical-chemical conditions for the optimal functioning of the subsequent units.El vertido de aguas residuales industriales, especialmente las provenientes de la elaboración de alimentos a nivel industrial, contribuyen a la contaminación de los cuerpos de aguas naturales debido a su contenido elevado de sustancias orgánicas e inorgánicas. Para evitar esta acción, se diseñan y construyen plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales, que remuevan, hasta cierto grado, los contaminantes presentes. No obstante, por diversas razones, muchos de estos sistemas pueden fallar, provocando descargas de agentes causantes de polución, afectando directamente al ambiente. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo principal evaluar el funcionamiento de las unidades de preliminares de una planta de tratamiento de efluentes en una industria de elaboración de productos lácteos, ubicada en Táchira, Venezuela; para llevar a cabo dicha evaluación, se aplicó una metodología integrada por las siguientes etapas: descripción de las unidades del pre-tratamiento, caracterización cuantitativa y cualitativa de los efluentes líquidos, y descripción de las condiciones existentes en el sistema de pre-tratamiento. Se determinó que el pretratamiento no asegura las condiciones físico-químicas para el óptimo funcionamiento de las unidades posteriores

The Florida pancreas collaborative next-generation biobank: Infrastructure to reduce disparities and improve survival for a diverse cohort of patients with pancreatic cancer

Background: Well-annotated, high-quality biorepositories provide a valuable platform to support translational research. However, most biorepositories have poor representation of minority groups, limiting the ability to address health disparities. Methods: We describe the establishment of the Florida Pancreas Collaborative (FPC), the first state-wide prospective cohort study and biorepository designed to address the higher burden of pancreatic cancer (PaCa) in African Americans (AA) compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and Hispanic/Latinx (H/L). We provide an overview of stakeholders; study eligibility and design; recruitment strategies; standard operating procedures to collect, process, store, and transfer biospecimens, medical images, and data; our cloud-based data management platform; and progress regarding recruitment and biobanking. Results: The FPC consists of multidisciplinary teams from fifteen Florida medical institutions. From March 2019 through August 2020, 350 patients were assessed for eligibility, 323 met inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 305 (94%) enrolled, including 228 NHW, 30 AA, and 47 H/L, with 94%, 100%, and 94% participation rates, respectively. A high percentage of participants have donated blood (87%), pancreatic tumor tissue (41%), computed tomography scans (76%), and questionnaires (62%). Conclusions: This biorepository addresses a critical gap in PaCa research and has potential to advance translational studies intended to minimize disparities and reduce PaCa-related morbidity and mortality

Pancreatic and Gastric Heterotopia with Associated Submucosal Lipoma Presenting as a 7-cm Obstructive Tumor of the Ileum: Resection with Double Balloon Enteroscopy

Pancreatic and gastric heterotopias are rare clinical entities which have been identified throughout the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract. Combined gastric and pancreatic heterotopias, although unusual, have been described in the duodenum and jejunum, and in other structures, including Meckel's diverticulum and the ampulla of Vater. We report a novel case of pancreatic and gastric heterotopia with an associated submucosal lipoma in a 38-year-old female with a recent history of rectal cancer and chronic crampy abdominal pain. On computed tomography, a 7-cm luminal polypoid mass extending into the distal ileum was discovered. The mass was successfully resected using retrograde double balloon enteroscopy. We believe this is the first report of all three histological entities co-existing in an obstructive ileal lesion in an adult. It highlights endoscopic resection trough double enteroscopy as a safe alternative to more invasive surgical approaches for this type of lesion

Overview of oxidative stress and the role of micronutrients in critical illness

Inflammation and oxidative stress represent physiological response mechanisms to different types of stimuli and injury during critical illness. Its proper regulation is fundamental to cellular and organismal survival and are paramount to outcomes and recovery from critical illness. A proper maintenance of the delicate balance between inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune response is crucial for resolution from critical illness with important implications for patient outcome. The extent of inflammation and oxidative stress under normal conditions is limited by the antioxidant defense system of the human body, whereas the antioxidant capacity is commonly significantly compromised, and serum levels of micronutrients and vitamins significantly depleted in patients who are critically ill. Hence, the provision of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients may help to reduce the extent of oxidative stress and therefore improve clinical outcomes in patients who are critically ill. As existing evidence of the beneficial effects of antioxidant supplementation in patients who are critically ill is still unclear, actual findings about the most promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidative candidates selenium, vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin D will be discussed in this narrative review. The existing evidence provided so far demonstrates that several factors need to be considered to determine the efficacy of an antioxidant supplementation strategy in patients who are critically ill and indicates the need for adequately designed multicenter prospective randomized control trials to evaluate the clinical significance of different types and doses of micronutrients and vitamins in selected groups of patients with different types of critical illness

Tumor regression grade in gastric cancer: Predictors and impact on outcome.

BACKGROUND: The clinical value and prognostic implications of histologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer is unknown. METHODS: Tumor regression grade (TRG) was recorded in 58 gastric cancer patients identified from two institutional surgical databases. TRG 1a/b represented histologic responders (10% viable tumor). RESULTS: TRG 1a/b was recorded in 10 patients (17%), while 48 patients (83%) had a TRG 2/3 response. Larger tumor size (OR 0.24; 95%CI 0.09, 0.64; P = 0.004) and clinical downstaging (OR 30.0; 95%CI 3.26, 276; P = 0.003) were the only factors predictive of histologic response. TRG 1a/b responders had 3-year survival of 70.0% and an estimated overall survival of \u3e69.8 months compared to 38.2% and 22.8 months in non-responders; however, this trend was not statistically significant (P = 0.535). While TRG could not predict survival (OR 2.40; 95%CI 0.46, 12.57; P = 0.300), patient age (OR 1.06; 95%CI 1.00, 1.11; P = 0.035), and the number of positive lymph nodes (≥7; OR 0.05; 95%CI 0.07, 0.27; P \u3c 0.001) were independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Few gastric cancers demonstrate histologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. While TRG may be a valid marker for treatment response, its predictive value and clinical application in gastric cancer remains unclear. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:434-439. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Ratio of intra-operative fluid to anesthesia time and its impact on short term perioperative outcomes following gastrectomy for cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the short-term impact of fluid administration during gastrectomy for cancer. METHODS: A multi-institutional database of patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer from three tertiary centers was reviewed. Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: 205 patients were included. The majority of patients (n = 116, 57%) underwent proximal or total gastrectomy. Median anesthesia time was 280 min (range 95-691 min). Median intraoperative crystalloid administration was 2901 ml (range 500-10,700 ml). Median colloid administration was 0 (range 0-3835 ml), although only 66 patients (32%) received colloid. On multivariate analysis, patients who received CONCLUSIONS: Restricting intra-operative fluid resuscitation tocancer