Monitoring of the central blood pressure waveform via a conformal ultrasonic device.

Continuous monitoring of the central-blood-pressure waveform from deeply embedded vessels, such as the carotid artery and jugular vein, has clinical value for the prediction of all-cause cardiovascular mortality. However, existing non-invasive approaches, including photoplethysmography and tonometry, only enable access to the superficial peripheral vasculature. Although current ultrasonic technologies allow non-invasive deep-tissue observation, unstable coupling with the tissue surface resulting from the bulkiness and rigidity of conventional ultrasound probes introduces usability constraints. Here, we describe the design and operation of an ultrasonic device that is conformal to the skin and capable of capturing blood-pressure waveforms at deeply embedded arterial and venous sites. The wearable device is ultrathin (240 μm) and stretchable (with strains up to 60%), and enables the non-invasive, continuous and accurate monitoring of cardiovascular events from multiple body locations, which should facilitate its use in a variety of clinical environments

Superior survival with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation <i>versus</i> chemotherapy for high-risk adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a PDT-ALL-2016 pediatric-inspired cohort

Not available

Vedolizumab plus basiliximab as second-line therapy for steroid-refractory lower gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease

BackgroundSteroid-resistant (SR) lower gastrointestinal (LGI) tract graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality from GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The role of vedolizumab in the treatment of SR-LGI acute GVHD (aGVHD) remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab combined with basiliximab as second-line therapy for SR-LGI-aGVHD.MethodsThis study aimed to explore the efficacy of vedolizumab combined with basiliximab for SR-LGI-aGVHD. The primary endpoint was the overall response (OR) on day 28. Secondary and safety endpoints included durable OR at day 56, overall survival (OS), chronic GVHD (cGVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM), failure-free survival (FFS), and adverse events.ResultsTwenty-eight patients with SR-LGI-aGVHD were included. The median time to start of combination therapy after SR-LGI-aGVHD diagnosis was 7 (range, 4–16) days. The overall response rate (ORR) at 28 days was 75.0% (95% CI: 54.8%–88.6%), and 18 achieved a complete response (CR) (64.3%, 95% CI: 44.1%–80.7%). The durable OR at day 56 was 64.3% (95% CI: 44.1%–80.7%). The 100-day, 6-month, and 12-month OS rates for the entire cohort of patients were 60.7% (95% CI: 45.1%–81.8%), 60.7% (95% CI: 45.1%–81.8%), and 47.6% (95% CI: 31.4%–72.1%), respectively. The median failure-free survival was 276 days; (95% CI: 50–not evaluable) 12-month NRM was 42.9% (95% CI: 24.1%–60.3%). The 1-year cumulative incidence of cGVHD was 35.7%. Within 180 days after study treatments, the most common grade 3 and 4 adverse events were infections. Nine (32.1%) patients developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation complicated with bacterial infections (25.0%, CMV infection; 7.1%, CMV viremia). Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) reactivation occurred in five patients (17.9%, 95% CI: 6.8%–37.6%). Only three patients (10.7%, 95% CI: 2.8%–29.4%) in our study developed pseudomembranous colitis.ConclusionsVedolizumab plus basiliximab demonstrated efficacy in severe SR-LGI-aGVHD and was well-tolerated. Vedolizumab plus basiliximab may be considered a potential treatment option for patients with LGI-aGVHD

The Rice HGW Gene Encodes a Ubiquitin-Associated (UBA) Domain Protein That Regulates Heading Date and Grain Weight

Heading date and grain weight are two determining agronomic traits of crop yield. To date, molecular factors controlling both heading date and grain weight have not been identified. Here we report the isolation of a hemizygous mutation, heading and grain weight (hgw), which delays heading and reduces grain weight in rice. Analysis of hgw mutant phenotypes indicate that the hemizygous hgw mutation decreases latitudinal cell number in the lemma and palea, both composing the spikelet hull that is known to determine the size and shape of brown grain. Molecular cloning and characterization of the HGW gene showed that it encodes a novel plant-specific ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain protein localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and functions as a key upstream regulator to promote expressions of heading date- and grain weight-related genes. Moreover, co-expression analysis in rice and Arabidopsis indicated that HGW and its Arabidopsis homolog are co-expressed with genes encoding various components of ubiquitination machinery, implying a fundamental role for the ubiquitination pathway in heading date and grain weight control

100 essential questions for the future of agriculture

Publication history: Accepted - 8 March 2023; Published online - 11 April 2023.The world is at a crossroad when it comes to agriculture. The global population is growing, and the demand for food is increasing, putting a strain on our agricultural resources and practices. To address this challenge, innovative, sustainable, and inclusive approaches to agriculture are urgently required. In this paper, we launched a call for Essential Questions for the Future of Agriculture and identified a priority list of 100 questions. We focus on 10 primary themes: transforming agri-food systems, enhancing resilience of agriculture to climate change, mitigating climate change through agriculture, exploring resources and technologies for breeding, advancing cultivation methods, sustaining healthy agroecosystems, enabling smart and controlled-environment agriculture for food security, promoting health and nutrition-driven agriculture, exploring economic opportunities and addressing social challenges, and integrating one health and modern agriculture. We emphasise the critical importance of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that integrates both basic and applied sciences and bridges the gaps among various stakeholders for achieving sustainable agriculture. Key points Growing demand and resource limitations pose a critical challenge for agriculture, necessitating innovative and sustainable approaches. The paper identifies 100 priority questions for the future of agriculture, indicating current and future research directions. Sustainable agriculture depends on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that harmonises basic and applied sciences and fosters collaboration among different stakeholders

Allee effect increasing the final density of the species subject to the Allee effect in a Lotka–Volterra commensal symbiosis model

Abstract A Lotka–Volterra commensal symbiosis model with first species subject to the Allee effect is proposed and studied in this paper. Local and global stability property of the equilibria are investigated. An amazing finding is that with increasing Allee effect, the final density of the species subject to the Allee effect is also increased. Such a phenomenon is different from the known results, and it is the first time to be observed. Numeric simulations are carried out to show the feasibility of the main results

Stability analysis of a single species logistic model with Allee effect and feedback control

Abstract A single species logistic model with Allee effect and feedback control dxdt=rx(1−x)xβ+x−axu,dudt=−bu+cx, $$\begin{aligned}& \frac{dx}{dt} = rx(1-x)\frac{x}{\beta+x}-axu, \\& \frac{du}{dt} = -bu+cx, \end{aligned}$$ where β, r, a, b, and c are all positive constants, is for the first time proposed and studied in this paper. We show that, for the system without Allee effect, the system admits a unique positive equilibrium which is globally attractive. However, for the system with Allee effect, if the Allee effect is limited ( βbrac $\beta>\frac{br}{ac}$), the system has no positive equilibrium, which means the extinction of the species. The Allee effect reduces the population density of the species, which increases the extinction property of the species. The Allee effect makes the system “unstable” in the sense that the system could collapse under large perturbation. Numeric simulations are carried out to show the feasibility of the main results

JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY &amp; ONCOLOGY REVIEW

Diagnosis and treatment of viral diseases in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantatio