Health-related quality of life and emotional problems in children surviving brain tumor treatment: A descriptive study of 2 cohorts

The survival of childhood brain tumors has improved in the past 30years, but acquired brain injury due to damage caused by tumor invasion and side effects of different treatment modalities frequently occurs. This study focused on residual impairments, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and emotional and behavioral problems in 2 cohorts of survivors diagnosed and treated for various types of brain tumors. Survivors in the 2004 cohort visited the Erasmus Medical Centre for standardized follow-up between 2003 and 2004, and in the 2014 cohort, between 2012 and 2014. Data of neurologically impairments of all children were extracted from medical records. Parents and survivors filled out questionnaires on quality of life and emotional and behavioral problems. In both cohorts, approximately 55% of the survivors displayed neurologic impairments. In comparison with the healthy reference group, a reduced parent-reported quality of life was found on the Motor, Cognition, and Autonomy (Cohort 2004) scales. Comparison between the cohorts showed that parents in the 2004 cohort reported a higher HRQoL on the Motor and Cognitive functioning scales. In the 2014 cohort, children reported less negative emotions than healthy children. No increase in emotional or behavioral problems were reported by children in both cohorts, whereas parents reported problems in social functioning and isolation related to a delay in emotional development. Children surviving brain tumor treatment have a reduced quality of life. The authors therefore recommend regular screening of HRQoL and emotional and behavioral problems and referral to specific aftercare

High-flow Nasal Cannula therapy: A feasible treatment for vulnerable elderly COVID-19 patients in the wards

Background: Invasive mechanical ventilation is the treatment of choice in COVID-19 patients when hypoxemia persists, despite maximum conventional oxygen administration. Some frail patients with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure are deemed not eligible for invasive mechanical ventilation. Objectives: To investigate whether High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in the wards could serve as a rescue therapy in these frail patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included frail COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital between March 9th and May 1st 2020. HFNC therapy was started in the wards. The primary endpoint was the survival rate at hospital discharge. Results: Thirty-two patients with a median age of 79.0 years (74.5–83.0) and a Clinical Frailty Score of 4 out of 9 (3–6) were included. Only 6% reported HFNC tolerability issues. The overall survival rate was 25% at hospital discharge. Conclusions: This study suggests that, when preferred, HFNC in the wards could be a potential rescue therapy for respiratory failure in vulnerable COVID-19 patients

High-flow Nasal Cannula therapy

Background: Invasive mechanical ventilation is the treatment of choice in COVID-19 patients when hypoxemia persists, despite maximum conventional oxygen administration. Some frail patients with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure are deemed not eligible for invasive mechanical ventilation. Objectives: To investigate whether High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in the wards could serve as a rescue therapy in these frail patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included frail COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital between March 9th and May 1st 2020. HFNC therapy was started in the wards. The primary endpoint was the survival rate at hospital discharge. Results: Thirty-two patients with a median age of 79.0 years (74.5–83.0) and a Clinical Frailty Score of 4 out of 9 (3–6) were included. Only 6% reported HFNC tolerability issues. The overall survival rate was 25% at hospital discharge. Conclusions: This study suggests that, when preferred, HFNC in the wards could be a potential rescue therapy for respiratory failure in vulnerable COVID-19 patients.</p

Identification of seventeen microsatellite loci for conservation genetic studies of the endemic wrasse Coris bulbifrons

Coral reefs around the world are in decline, in part due to various anthropogenic factors, including fishing pressure. Coris bulbifrons is a large wrasse endemic to only four oceanic locations off Australia’s east coast: Middleton Reef, Elizabeth Reef, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN due to the potential threat of overfishing. Although these remote locations, some within Marine protected Areas, experience limited fishing pressure, populations may quickly decline with minimal fishing effort as seen in the overfishing of other large wrasses. We developed primers for 17 microsatellite loci to examine gene flow, population genetic structure, and genetic diversity within and among these four locations. Observed heterozygosities ranged 0.126–0.752 in 37 individuals from Lord Howe Island indicating that these loci will be useful in C. bulbifrons population genetic studies.Martin H. van der Meer, Michael G. Gardner, Michael L. Berumen, Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Lynne van Herwerde

Identification of twenty one microsatellite loci for conservation genetic studies of the endemic butterflyfish Chaetodon tricinctus

Coral reef habitats are increasingly under threat from global warming and this has influenced the associated reef fish communities. Chaetodon tricinctus is a butterflyfish endemic to the offshore reefs of Elizabeth Reef, Middleton Reef, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island off Australia's east coast. It is a highly specialised coral reef fish that is thought to rely on Acroporid coral species exclusively for food and shelter. We developed primers for twenty one microsatellite loci to reveal gene flow, population genetic structure and genetic diversity within and among these three reefs. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.185 to 0.964 and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.230 to 0.889 in 30 individuals from Middleton Reef. When cross tested with Chaetodon trifascialis, a closely related species, there was poor amplification success and only a moderate level of polymorphism. Therefore, although these loci will be useful in C. tricinctus, it is unlikely that they can be used on other related butterflyfishes

Isolation and characterization of twenty microsatellite markers for the study of hybridization in butterflyfish of the genus Chaetodon

Twenty polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed via 454 sequencing for two hybridizing sister species of butterflyfish: the spot-band butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus) and peppered butterflyfish (Chaetodon guttatissimus), which are widely distributed in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, respectively. All loci were genotyped in samples collected from Christmas Island: C. guttatissimus (n = 25), C. punctatofasciatus (n = 17) and hybrids (n = 16). Mean alleles per locus (N a ) were: 9.05 for C. guttatissimus, 9.95 for C. punctatofasciatus and 9.45 for hybrids. Observed heterozygosity (H O ) ranged from 0.00 to 1.00 for C. guttatissimus; from 0.08 to 0.88 for C. punctatofasciatus; and from 0.19 to 0.94 for hybrids. Most loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg expectations, were in linkage equilibrium, and did not contain null alleles. These markers will be useful for testing population genetic hypotheses including patterns of hybridization in this pair of butterflyfishes.Stefano R. Montanari, Michael G. Gardner, Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Morgan S. Pratchett, Line K. Bay, Lynne van Herwerde

Genetic connectivity and self-replenishment of inshore and offshore populations of the endemic anemonefish, Amphiprion latezonatus

Globally, marine species are under increasing pressure from human activities, including ocean warming, acidification, pollution, and overfishing. Species most vulnerable to these pressures tend to be ecological specialists that have low abundance and small distribution ranges (endemics). Marine endemics often exist as meta-populations distributed among few isolated locations. Determining genetic connectivity among these locations is essential to understanding the recovery potential of endemics after local extinction events. This study examined connectivity in the endemic anemonefish, Amphiprion latezonatus, a habitat specialist with low abundance at most locations. Evolutionary and contemporary migration, genetic diversity, and self-replenishment among the four main locations (Sunshine Coast, North Solitary Island, Lord Howe Island, and Norfolk Island) that comprise the entire A. latezonatus geographic range were assessed using mtDNA and microsatellite markers. Though historical gene flow inferred from mtDNA appeared high, population genetic differentiation was evident and contemporary gene flow inferred from microsatellites was limited, alongside very high (=89 %) self-replenishment at all locations. Together, these data suggest prolonged recovery times following severe population decline (or extirpation) and indicate a need to protect this species at all locations, particularly Norfolk Island and Sunshine Coast where marine protected areas are lacking