Guiding microscale swimmers using teardrop-shaped posts.

The swimming direction of biological or artificial microscale swimmers tends to be randomised over long time-scales by thermal fluctuations. Bacteria use various strategies to bias swimming behaviour and achieve directed motion against a flow, maintain alignment with gravity or travel up a chemical gradient. Herein, we explore a purely geometric means of biasing the motion of artificial nanorod swimmers. These artificial swimmers are bimetallic rods, powered by a chemical fuel, which swim on a substrate printed with teardrop-shaped posts. The artificial swimmers are hydrodynamically attracted to the posts, swimming alongside the post perimeter for long times before leaving. The rods experience a higher rate of departure from the higher curvature end of the teardrop shape, thereby introducing a bias into their motion. This bias increases with swimming speed and can be translated into a macroscopic directional motion over long times by using arrays of teardrop-shaped posts aligned along a single direction. This method provides a protocol for concentrating swimmers, sorting swimmers according to different speeds, and could enable artificial swimmers to transport cargo to desired locations

On-farm performance of genetically-improved rohu (Labeo rohita) in Bangladesh

Introduction: Rohu (Labeo rohita Hamilton) is a globally significant aquaculture species for which genetically improved strains are increasingly available. In 2020, a multiplier population, comprised of highly–ranked generation-three (G3) families from the WorldFish Rohu Genetic Improvement Program, was released to hatcheries in Bangladesh for development into broodstock. Methods: To estimate realised genetic gain for harvest weight in the G3-multiplier population, one pond from each of 19 Bangladeshi semi-commercial farms (ten in Jashore and nine in Natore–Rajshahi districts) were stocked with equal numbers of tagged fish from each of three strains. Strains included in the study were the ‘G3-multiplier’ released to hatcheries, a ‘control’ (putatively genetically equivalent to the unimproved base population which was spawned from fish of river origin) and fish sourced from a ‘commercial’ hatchery. Once stocked, fish were managed according to each farmer’s normal practices. Results: The G3-multiplier was found to be the most rapidly growing strain. Back-transformed means for harvest weight across farms for the commercial, control and G3-multiplier strains were 594 g, 659 g and 914 g, respectively, in Jashore, and 545 g, 626 g and 845 g in Natore–Rajshahi. Discussion: These results equate to realised genetic gains of 38.6% (Jashore) and 34.9% (Natore–Rajshahi) for the G3-multiplier over the control strain and provide evidence that a family-based (i.e. pedigree-based) approach to genetic improvement is able to generate substantial levels of genetic gain in rohu. Furthermore, the clear growth advantages exhibited by the G3-multiplier strain over the control and commercial strains in this study, should encourage more Bangladeshi hatcheries, nurseries and farmers to adopt genetically improved rohu

On-farm trials of WorldFish Genetically Improved Rohu

Rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) is an economically and culturally significant aquaculture species in Bangladesh. However, until recently, genetically improved rohu strains have not been available to Bangladeshi farmers. In 2020, a multiplier population comprised of highly-ranked families from the third selected generation of the WorldFish Rohu Genetic Improvement Program (the ‘G3 multiplier’) was released to commercial hatcheries as spawn. This spawn was subsequently developed into broodstock by these hatcheries and sale of this genetically improved product commenced in 2022. To assess the performance of (i.e. estimate realised genetic gain in) the G3 multiplier population, on-farm trials were undertaken in 2021-22. One pond, in each of 19 Bangladeshi semi-commercial farms, was stocked with equal numbers of tagged fish from three treatments – the ‘G3 multiplier’, a ‘control’ strain (putatively genetically equivalent to unimproved riverine stocks) and a ‘commercial’ strain – and managed according to each farmer’s normal practices. At harvest, the G3 multiplier had the greatest mean harvest weight in each of the 19 farms and exhibited a mean realised genetic gain of 37% over the control. The growth rate of the commercial strain was similar to that of the control. The greater harvest weight exhibited by the G3-multiplier over the control and commercial strains in this study verified that the WorldFish Rohu Genetic Improvement Program has attained a rate of genetic gain comparable to that achieved in other family-based (i.e. pedigree-based) finfish programs over its first three generations

Outcomes after Total Skin-sparing Mastectomy and Immediate Reconstruction in 657 Breasts

ABSTRACT Background. Total skin-sparing mastectomy (TSSM), a technique comprising removal of all breast and nipple tissue while preserving the entire skin envelope, is increasingly offered to women for therapeutic and prophylactic indications. However, standard use of the procedure remains controversial as a result oft concerns regarding oncologic safety and risk of complications. Methods. Outcomes from a prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing TSSM and immediate breast reconstruction from 2001 to 2010 were reviewed. Outcome measures included postoperative complications, tumor involvement of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) on pathologic analysis, and cancer recurrence. Results. TSSM was performed on 657 breasts in 428 patients. Indications included in situ cancer [111 breasts (16.9 %)], invasive cancer [301 breasts (45.8 %)], and prophylactic risk-reduction [245 breasts (37.3 %)]. A total of 210 patients (49 %) had neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 78 (18.2 %) had adjuvant chemotherapy, and 114 (26.7 %) had postmastectomy radiotherapy. Nipple tissue contained in situ cancer in 11 breasts (1.7 %) and invasive cancer in 9 breasts (1.4 %); management included repeat excision (7 cases), NAC removal (9 cases), or radiotherapy without further excision (4 cases). Ischemic complications included 13 cases (2 %) of partial nipple loss, 10 cases (1.5 %) of complete nipple loss, and 78 cases (11.9 %) of skin flap necrosis. Overall locoregional recurrence rate was 2 % (median follow-up 28 months), with a 2.4 % rate observed in the subset of patients with at least 3 years' follow-up (median 45 months). No NAC skin recurrences were observed. Conclusions. In this large, high-risk cohort, TSSM was associated with low rates of NAC complications, nipple involvement, and locoregional recurrence. Mastectomy with complete preservation of the skin envelope has been developed as an extension of skin-sparing mastectomy to improve aesthetic and psychological outcomes for patients. Nipple-sparing, or total skin-sparing, mastectomy techniques entail complete removal of all breast tissue with excision of the nipple tissue while preserving the entire skin envelope. The technique of total skin-sparing mastectomy (TSSM) is differentiated from subcutaneous mastectomy in that minimal, if any, nipple tissue is left behind. However, as with the initial reaction to skin-sparing mastectomy, there is still significant concern that preservation of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) skin may increase locoregional recurrence rates. Although this concern has limited the widespread adoption of the technique, the recent publication of several studies with longer follow-up describing recurrence rates similar to those after skin-sparing mastectomy demonstrate that the technique does not appear to jeopardize oncologic safety

Intracutaneous and intravesical immunotherapy with keyhole limpet hemocyanin compared with intravesical mitomycin in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: results from a prospective randomized phase III trial.

Contains fulltext : 108422.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)PURPOSE: Despite current treatment after transurethral resection of a bladder tumor, recurrences and progression remain a problem. Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was beneficial in earlier studies. In this study, safety and efficacy of KLH were compared with that of mitomycin (MM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) without carcinoma in situ were enrolled in a randomized phase III trial. In all, 283 patients were randomly assigned for 16 adjuvant intravesical instillations with KLH after preimmunization, and 270 patients were randomly assigned for 11 adjuvant intravesical instillations with MM. Primary outcome measurement was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Secondary outcome measurements were progression-free survival, adverse events (AEs), and the effect of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response on clinical outcome. RESULTS: There were significantly more pT1 tumors in the MM group (P = .01). In a log-rank test, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, KLH was less effective than MM regarding RFS (all P < .001). Progression was uncommon (n = 20). In univariate Cox regression analyses, KLH tended to prevent progression more effectively than MM, but in multivariate Cox regression analyses, this could not be shown. AEs were common but mild. Fever, flu-like symptoms, and fatigue occurred significantly more after KLH treatment. Allergic reactions and other skin disorders occurred significantly more after MM treatment. Significantly more DTH-positive patients developed a recurrence than DTH-negative patients. CONCLUSION: KLH had a different safety profile and was inferior to MM in preventing NMIBC recurrences. KLH tended to be more effective than MM in preventing progression. More research is needed to clarify the immunologic effects of KLH and the effects of KLH on progression

Using Time-Resolved Fluorescence to Measure Serum Venom-Specific IgE and IgG

We adapted DELFIA™ (dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay), a time resolved fluorescence method, to quantitate whole venom specific and allergenic peptide-specific IgE (sIgE), sIgG1 and sIgG4 in serum from people clinically allergic to Australian native ant venoms, of which the predominant cause of allergy is jack jumper ant venom (JJAV). Intra-assay CV was 6.3% and inter-assay CV was 13.7% for JJAV sIgE. DELFIA and Phadia CAP JJAV sIgE results correlated well and had similar sensitivity and specificity for the detection of JJAV sIgE against intradermal skin testing as the gold standard. DELFIA was easily adapted for detecting sIgE to a panel of other native ant venoms

Differential radiosensitisation by ZD1839 (Iressa), a highly selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor in two related bladder cancer cell lines

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in a wide variety of epithelial tumours including carcinoma of the bladder. Stimulation of the EGFR pathway is blocked by ZD1839 (Iressa), a highly selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Radical radiotherapy is an established organ sparing treatment option for muscle invasive bladder cancer and this study has explored the possibility for the use of ZD1839 as a radiosensitiser in this scenario. The effect of combination treatment with ZD1839 (0.01 μM) and ionising radiation in the established bladder cancer cell lines MGH-U1 and its radiosensitive mutant clone S40b was measured by clonogenic assays. A highly significant radiosensitising effect was seen in both cell lines (P<0.001 for MGH-U1 and S40b cell lines). This effect was independent of the concentration of the drug and the duration of exposure prior to treatment with ionising radiation. Cell cycle kinetics of both cell lines was not significantly altered with ZD1839 (0.01 μM) as a single agent. A modest induction of apoptosis was observed with ZD1839 (0.01 μM) as a single agent, but a marked induction was observed with the combination treatment of ZD1839 and ionising radiation. These results suggest a potentially important role for ZD1839 in combination with radiotherapy in the treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer

Can electronic search engines optimize screening of search results in systematic reviews: an empirical study

BACKGROUND: Most electronic search efforts directed at identifying primary studies for inclusion in systematic reviews rely on the optimal Boolean search features of search interfaces such as DIALOG(® )and Ovid™. Our objective is to test the ability of an Ultraseek(® )search engine to rank MEDLINE(® )records of the included studies of Cochrane reviews within the top half of all the records retrieved by the Boolean MEDLINE search used by the reviewers. METHODS: Collections were created using the MEDLINE bibliographic records of included and excluded studies listed in the review and all records retrieved by the MEDLINE search. Records were converted to individual HTML files. Collections of records were indexed and searched through a statistical search engine, Ultraseek, using review-specific search terms. Our data sources, systematic reviews published in the Cochrane library, were included if they reported using at least one phase of the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy (HSSS), provided citations for both included and excluded studies and conducted a meta-analysis using a binary outcome measure. Reviews were selected if they yielded between 1000–6000 records when the MEDLINE search strategy was replicated. RESULTS: Nine Cochrane reviews were included. Included studies within the Cochrane reviews were found within the first 500 retrieved studies more often than would be expected by chance. Across all reviews, recall of included studies into the top 500 was 0.70. There was no statistically significant difference in ranking when comparing included studies with just the subset of excluded studies listed as excluded in the published review. CONCLUSION: The relevance ranking provided by the search engine was better than expected by chance and shows promise for the preliminary evaluation of large results from Boolean searches. A statistical search engine does not appear to be able to make fine discriminations concerning the relevance of bibliographic records that have been pre-screened by systematic reviewers