autotaxin a possible new biological marker of endometrial cancer

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MiRNA dysregulation underlying common pathways in type 2 diabetes and cancer development. an Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)/Italian Association of Medical Diabetologists (AMD)/Italian Society of Diabetology (SID)/Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE)/Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) multidisciplinary critical view

Increasing evidence suggests that patients with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D), are characterized by an increased risk of developing different types of cancer, so cancer could be proposed as a new T2D-related complication. On the other hand, cancer may also increase the risk of developing new-onset diabetes, mainly caused by anticancer therapies. Hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and chronic inflammation typical of T2D could represent possible mechanisms involved in cancer development in diabetic patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a subset of non-coding RNAs, ⁓22 nucleotides in length, which control the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression through both translational repression and messenger RNA degradation. Of note, miRNAs have multiple target genes and alteration of their expression has been reported in multiple diseases, including T2D and cancer. Accordingly, specific miRNA-regulated pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of both conditions. In this review, a panel of experts from the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), Italian Association of Medical Diabetologists (AMD), Italian Society of Diabetology (SID), Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE), and Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) provide a critical view of the evidence about the involvement of miRNAs in the pathophysiology of both T2D and cancer, trying to identify the shared miRNA signature and pathways able to explain the strong correlation between the two conditions, as well as to envision new common pharmacological approaches

Video analysis of ex vivo beating hearts during preservation on the TransMedics® organ care system

BackgroundReliable biomarkers for assessing the viability of the donor hearts undergoing ex vivo perfusion remain elusive. A unique feature of normothermic ex vivo perfusion on the TransMedics® Organ Care System (OCS™) is that the donor heart is maintained in a beating state throughout the preservation period. We applied a video algorithm for an in vivo assessment of cardiac kinematics, video kinematic evaluation (Vi.Ki.E.), to the donor hearts undergoing ex vivo perfusion on the OCS™ to assess the feasibility of applying this algorithm in this setting.MethodsHealthy donor porcine hearts (n = 6) were procured from Yucatan pigs and underwent 2 h of normothermic ex vivo perfusion on the OCS™ device. During the preservation period, serial high-resolution videos were captured at 30 frames per second. Using Vi.Ki.E., we assessed the force, energy, contractility, and trajectory parameters of each heart.ResultsThere were no significant changes in any of the measured parameters of the heart on the OCS™ device over time as judged by linear regression analysis. Importantly, there were no significant changes in contractility during the duration of the preservation period (time 0–30 min, 918 ± 430 px/s; time 31–60 min, 1,386 ± 603 px/s; time 61–90 min, 1,299 ± 617 px/s; time 91–120 min, 1,535 ± 728 px/s). Similarly, there were no significant changes in the force, energy, or trajectory parameters. Post-transplantation echocardiograms demonstrated robust contractility of each allograft.ConclusionVi.Ki.E. assessment of the donor hearts undergoing ex vivo perfusion is feasible on the TransMedics OCS™, and we observed that the donor hearts maintain steady kinematic measurements throughout the duration

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative sars-cov-2 infection: An international cohort study

Background The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (740%) had emergency surgery and 280 (248%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (261%) patients. 30-day mortality was 238% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (512%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 380% (219 of 577), accounting for 817% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 175 [95% CI 128-240], p<00001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (230 [165-322], p<00001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3-5 versus grades 1-2 (235 [157-353], p<00001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (155 [101-239], p=0046), emergency versus elective surgery (167 [106-263], p=0026), and major versus minor surgery (152 [101-231], p=0047). Interpretation Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

The Influence of Information Sources on Inter- and Intra-Firm Diffusion: Evidence from UK Farming

We study the effect of different information sources on diffusion between and within companies. Our model of economically optimising farmers replicates results from dual process persuasion theory, and predicts that inter-firm diffusion will be primarily affected by reliable, easily accessible information while intra-firm diffusion will be influenced by technical information. The results are tested on UK farming data. Consistent with our model, information from agents, suppliers, farmers, and agricultural magazines influences inter-firm adoption, from buyers influences intra-firm adoption, and from crop consultants, academics, government, and an industry body influences both

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Search for B → μ μ And B0 → μ+ μ- Decays

A search for the rare decays B → μ μ and B → μ μ is performed in pp collisions at ps = 7TeV, with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 fb collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. In both decays, the number of events observed after all selection requirements is consistent with the expectation from background plus standard model signal predictions. The resulting upper limits on the branching fractions are B(B → μ μ-) < 7:7 × 10 and B(B → μ μ ) < 1:8 × 10 at 95% confidence level

Scanning the rice Global MAGIC population for dynamic genetic control of seed traits under vegetative drought

Abstract Grain size and shape are important yield components in rice (Oryza sativa L.), and their genetic control under adverse environmental conditions, such as drought stress, remains uncertain. This lack of knowledge is due to the laborious, time‐consuming phenotyping of seed attributes in large rice populations. We developed a new high‐throughput phenotyping method based on a desktop scanner and the open‐source package Plant Computer Vision (PlantCV). We used this method to investigate seed size and shape variability within the rice Global multi‐parent advanced generation intercross population, grown under well‐watered and vegetative drought conditions. Besides being affordable, rapid, and accurate, our method captured the phenotypic divergence between drought and well‐watered samples, expressed as 12 different traits, including new grain shape metrics. Our method facilitates the identification of outperforming genotypes under drought stress so is potentially very valuable for crop breeders seeking to make selection based on kernel attributes. We ran a marker–trait association analysis for the measured seed traits, demonstrating that our method also provides adequate phenotypes for genetic studies. We observed dynamic genetic control of seed‐related traits under vegetative drought stress, highlighting the importance of understanding the contribution of genotype × environment interactions on trait variation to develop resilient, high‐yielding rice cultivars

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Costa Rica (Short report)

Artículo científico (reporte corto) -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, 1989Cutaneous leishmaniasis occurs in people exposed to wet, forested regions of Costa Rica. Although it is a reportable disease, there is no definitive information on prevalence of either present or past infection in rural communities. In 1987, we made a house-tohouse survey of 3 different rural communities where leishinsniasis is endemic. In contrast to previous studies based on selected hospital or clinic patients, we examined a sample of families in each community. Each consenting subject received an interview, physical examination, and a skin test (the leishmanin or Montenegro intradermal reaction).Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud.Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USADuke University Medical Center. Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USAUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA