Search

We aimed to clarify the impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a platform to drive hemodialysis (HD) for ammonia clearance on outcomes of neonates with severe hyperammonemia. All neonates treated for hyperammonemia at a single children’s hospital between 1992 and 2016 were identified. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between those receiving medical management or ECMO/HD. Twenty-five neonates were treated for hyperammonemia, of which 13 (52%) received ECMO/HD. Peak ammonia levels among neonates treated with ECMO/HD were significantly higher than those medically managed (1041 [IQR 902–1581] μmol/L versus 212 [IQR 110–410] μmol/L; p= 0.009). Serum ammonia levels in the ECMO/HD cohort declined to the median of medically managed within 4.5 (IQR 2.9–7.0) hours and normalized within 7.3 (IQR 3.6–13.5) hours. All neonates survived ECMO/HD, and nine (69.2%) survived to discharge. ECMO/HD is an effective adjunct to rapidly clear severe hyperammonemia in newborns, reducing potential neurodevelopmental morbidity.

An arterio-esophageal fistula (AEF) is an abnormal communication between an artery and the esophagus. While a rare complication, patients are at risk of disastrous hemorrhage. The goal of this study is to highlight endovascular management options of AEF in children.

Traction-induced growth (Foker procedure) is a method for esophageal lengthening when primary anastomosis is not feasible in long-gap type A esophageal atresia (EA). We sought to identify the source of esophageal vascularization after thoracoscopic internal traction by analyzing markers of angiogenesis in resected esophageal pouch tips.

At a critical juncture in the Canadian theatre landscape, we are faced with how to consciously cast racialized performers in plays, and how to have plays written by racialized playwrights consciously produced and taught more often. Before 2020, there were many calls to achieve these actions, and since then, these calls have only been heightened. The 'problem' is how to do all of this without offending or appropriating, while at the same time championing some incredible actors and plays. Through personal anecdotes and current global contexts, this article attempts some approaches to solving this conscious-casting conundrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that the Department of Theatre at York University presented a series of panel discussion titled "(Re)Setting the Stage: The Past, Present, and Future of Casting Practices" on May 31st and June 1st, 2021. The panels featured prominent Canadian theatre professionals discussing the legacy, present-day issues, and potential future of casting in Canada, with a focus on both educational and professional theatre settings.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses several articles published within issue on topics including casting practices, and conferences and symposia hosted by theatre schools.

We evaluated the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition on prostate cancer by evidence triangulation. Using Mendelian randomization, we found that genetically proxied SGLT2 inhibition reduced the risk of overall (odds ratio = 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38 to 0.82; 79,148 prostate cancer cases and 61,106 controls), advanced, and early-onset prostate cancer. Using electronic healthcare data (nSGLT2i = 24,155; nDPP4i = 24,155), we found that the use of SGLT2 inhibitors was associated with a 23% reduced risk of prostate cancer (hazard ratio = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61 to 0.99) in men with diabetes. Using data from two prospective cohorts (n4C = 57,779; nUK_Biobank = 165,430), we found little evidence to support the association of HbA1cwith prostate cancer, implying a non-glycemic effect of SGLT2 inhibition on prostate cancer. In summary, this study provides multiple layers of evidence to support the beneficial effect of SGLT2 inhibition on reducing prostate cancer risk. Future trials are warranted to investigate whether SGLT2 inhibitors can be recommended for prostate cancer prevention.

As a coach, I get asked all the time: 'What should I expect from my controller?' Your controller should be a person on your management team who provides you with [...]

The human proteome is a major source of therapeutic targets. Recent genetic association analyses of the plasma proteome enable systematic evaluation of the causal consequences of variation in plasma protein levels. Here we estimated the effects of 1,002 proteins on 225 phenotypes using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization. Of 413 associations supported by evidence from MR, 130 (31.5%) were not supported by results of colocalization analyses, suggesting that genetic confounding due to linkage disequilibrium is widespread in naïve phenome-wide association studies of proteins. Combining MR and colocalization evidence in cis-only analyses, we identified 111 putatively causal effects between 65 proteins and 52 disease-related phenotypes (https://www.epigraphdb.org/pqtl/). Evaluation of data from historic drug development programs showed that target-indication pairs with MR and colocalization support were more likely to be approved, evidencing the value of this approach in identifying and prioritizing potential therapeutic targets.

Last issue, we discussed the use of arpeggios in the title track from my new album Playing To Win. We looked at an alternative way of using arpeggios outside of [...]

The article reviews a 2007 Honda CBR600RR motorcycle owned and built by Jamie Robinson.

The article focuses on the four-day and four-night 2010 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix of Moto GP motorcycle racing at the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey County, California. It states that Jorge Lorenzo of Spain was the overall winner of the Grand Prix, followed by Australia's Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, and Nicky Hayden. It mentions the spectators as well as the exhibited motorcycles at the race. Photographs of the event are also provided.

Tracheal duplication cysts are extremely uncommon, with only a few cases reported in the literature. In some cases, symptoms are ambiguous or absent, making the diagnosis challenging. Due to its rarity, there are no formal guidelines on the management of this congenital malformation. We present the case of a 31-year-old female with chronic neck and chest symptoms secondary to a tracheal duplication cyst that had undergone two prior attempts at resection with persistence of symptoms. Multidisciplinary management by pediatric surgical specialists, careful surgical planning, and neck dissection with recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring allowed for an accurate diagnosis, safe surgery, and relief of symptoms.

Objectives: To compare objective and quality of life (QOL) outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in aspirin (ASA)‐tolerant patients and ASA‐intolerant patients over intermediate and long‐term follow‐up.

Background As the population ages, the mean age of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) likely will increase as will the frequency of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in the older population. The purpose of this study was to compare symptom presentation, CT scores, endoscopy scores, and quality of life (QOL) measures in patients <60 years of age as compared with younger patients.Methods A prospective cohort of 18 patients >60 years and 121 patients ≤60 years undergoing ESS for CRS were studied. Patient factors, symptom severity, and CT scores were examined preoperatively. Endoscopy and QOL scores were compared pre- and postoperatively between the two groups.Results The prevalence of allergies, polyps, asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and revision surgery was similar in each age group. There was no statistically significant difference in the visual analog scale scores of symptom severity in each age group. Older patients had scores that were similar to younger patients with regard to CT (13.11 versus 11.63; p = 0.419), preoperative endoscopy (8.22 versus 7.96; p = 0.828), postoperative endoscopy (3.06 versus 4.82; p = 0.100), and change in endoscopy (−5.17 versus −3.15; p = 0.083). Older patients had similar preoperative, postoperative, and change scores when compared with younger patients on the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (−15.33 versus −20.63; p = 0.318) and Chronic Sinusitis Survey (14.35 versus 23.11; p = 0.126).Conclusion Older patients with CRS present with symptoms and patient factors that are comparable with younger patients and have a similar degree of improvement on endoscopy scores and QOL measures after ESS.

Conventional paper-based scientific publications are limited in the amount of data and interaction they can provide. Simply placing an electronic copy of such a publication on the web makes for easier distribution, but more can be achieved by making use of the technology to navigate through the paper, to show the links between calculated parameters and the data, and provide access to the chain of calculated results all the way back to the raw data and ultimately the laboratory notebook. While the paper version of this publication is in a relatively conventional form, an interactive demonstrator version (available at http://epaper.combe.chem.soton.ac.ukand as an installable package) illustrates the concepts of publication@source, whereby all the figures and data presented in the paper are linked back to the original raw data together with a description of the processes by which the raw data were analysed. This level of interactivity is achieved using semantic technologies, which have the additional advantage of making the final document subsequently available and navigable by automated techniques. We present the combined information from experimental studies of surface tension and second harmonic generation (SHG) on the behaviour of benzo-15-crown-5 at the solution/air interface, together with a molecular dynamics computer simulation, to demonstrate how the simulation aids the interpretation of the SHG experiment. The adsorption isotherm was determined using SHG and fitted to a Langmuir isotherm giving ΔadsG026kJmol−1.

Abstract: Softwood residues are the most abundant feedstock available for bioconversion in many northern countries. However, the high costs for delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis currently deter commercialization of softwood bioconversion processes. This study evaluates the abilities of two novel fungal preparations (MSUBC1 and MSUBC2) and two commercial cellulase preparations (TR1 and TR2) to hydrolyze cellulose in Douglas-fir pretreated by steam explosion or ethanol organosolv process. MSUBC1 showed significantly better performance than the other preparations on both lignocellulosic substrates. In particular, MSUBC1 achieved >76% cellulose conversion for hydrolysis of steam-exploded Douglas-fir (∼44% lignin) after 72 h at low enzyme loading (10 filter paper units/g of cellulose) and without β-glucosidase supplementation.

Objectives:Schwannomas are benign, slow‐growing tumors that arise from nerves. Those originating from the sympathetic cervical chain are rare. We describe our experience with the clinical presentation, surgical management, and outcomes of patients with this pathology.

Historically, states have used Certificate of Need (CON) programs to review proposals for new construction and expanded services in an effort to control costs and to improve the quality of and promote access to health care services. Congressional funding for CON ended in 1987. However, today, 26 states use CON to regulate cardiac surgery. There has been little evidence of the impact of CON on the quality of services. Pennsylvania is in a unique position to study the impact of CON on the quality and outcomes of care because the state terminated CON in 1996 and has publicly reported quality and outcomes data on coronary bypass graft (CABG) surgeries since 1992. Using a state-wide inpatient data-reporting system, the volumes and outcomes of CABG surgeries at all Pennsylvania hospitals were examined in the 3 years prior to and the 3 years after the termination of CON. In the 3 years following the elimination of CON, the number of open-heart surgery programs increased 25%, yet there was no significant increase in the number of CABG surgeries performed. Quality, as measured by mortality rate, was not impacted by the real-location of the relatively stable CABG volume in the short term; this may be due, in part, to itinerant surgeons and statewide public performance monitoring. The long-term implications of deregulation are unclear and deserve future study.

The hemicellulose sugar recovery and ethanol production obtained from SO2‐catalyzed steam explosion of a mixed white fir (70%) and ponderosa pine (30%) feedstock containing bark (9% dry weight/dry weight) was assessed. More than 90% of the available hemicellulose sugars could be recovered in the hydrolysate obtained after steam explosion at 195 °C, 2.38 min, and 3.91% SO2, with 59% of the original hemicellulose sugars detected in a monomeric form. Despite this high sugar recovery, this hydrolysate showed low ethanol yield (64% of theoretical yield) when fermented with a spent sulfite liquor‐adapted strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast, most hydrolysates prepared at higher steam explosion severity showed comparable or higher ethanol yields. Furthermore, the hydrolysates prepared from bark‐free feedstock showed better fermentability (87% of theoretical yield) despite containing higher concentration of known inhibitors. The ethanol yield from the hydrolysate prepared from a bark‐containing wood sample could be improved to 81% by an extra stage acid hydrolysis (121 °C for 1 h in 3% sulfuric acid). This extra stage acid hydrolysis and steam explosion at higher severity conditions seem to improve the fermentability of the hydrolysates by transforming certain inhibitory compounds present in the hydrolysates prepared from the bark‐containing feedstock and thus lowering their inhibitory effect on the yeast used for the ethanol fermentation.

Steam explosion ofDouglas fir wood chips under low-severity conditions (log Ro = 3.08 corresponding to 175°C, 7.5 min, and 4.5% SO2) resulted in the recovery of around 87% of the original hemicellulose component in the water-soluble stream. More than 80% of the recovered hemicellulose was in a monomeric form. As the pretreatment severity increased from 3.08 to 3.76, hemicellulose recovery dropped to 43% of the original hemicellulose found in Douglas fir chips while the concentration of glucose originating from cellulose hydrolysis increased along with the concentration of sugar degradation products such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural. Despite containing a higher concentration of hexose monomers (mainly glucose originating from cellulose degradation), the water-soluble fraction prepared under high-severity conditions (log Ro = 3.73 corresponding to 215°C, 2.38 min, and 2.38% SO2) was not readily fermented. Only the two hydrolyzates obtained at low and medium (195°C, 4.5 min, and 4.5% SO2) severities were fermented to ethanol using a spent sulfur liquor adapted strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. High ethanol yields were obtained for these two hydrolyzates with 0.44 g of ethanol produced per gram of hexose utilized (86% of theoretical). However, the best results of hemicellulose recovery and fermentability were obtained for the low-severity water-soluble fraction which was fermented significantly faster than the fraction obtained after medium-severity treatment probably because it contained higher amounts of fermentation inhibitors. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 64: 284–289, 1999.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of having a trip of a lifetime, a summer adventure motorcycle tour, for three major Moto racing events in three European countries including the Moto Grand Prix in Mugello, Italy.

The article presents the author's views on the symposium "Fashion in Museums: Past, present & Future," held in the Netherlands in April 2016, and discusses whether such events are good for museums and collection-based shows.

The article offers information on the Back-to-Basics: Upholstery Conservation Workshop hosted conservator Heather Porter the Bowes Museum in County Durham, England in February 2016.

The article evaluates the Suzuki GSXR1000 motorcycle from Suzuki Motor Corp.

The article evaluates the Honda Gold Wing sport bike.

Information about spring 2009 High Point Home Furnishings Market in High Point, South Carolina is presented. According to the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), the exhibition shows trends in the furniture and home furnishing markets that includes the increased availability of eco-friendly home furnishings, new furniture with organizing options and solutions for low budget decorating projects. Details and illustrations of products showcased are also offered.

The article evaluates the 2013 Ducati Panigale R motorcycle.

The article discusses the use of arpeggios in music rhythm and lead playing styles.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses his obsession with motorcycles, the periodical's model search winner and biker Sarah Gildea, and motorcycle helmets.

The editorial team invited faculty from theatre training institutions across the country to share their approaches to play selection and casting. Their responses address a variety of topics, from building play databases and commissioning plays to engaging students in conversations about casting decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]