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Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have demonstrated impressive activity in metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and have become standard treatment options for patients with advanced disease. Data supporting the effectiveness of ICI-based therapy in advanced non-clear cell RCC (nccRCC) is more limited. We performed a retrospective analysis using the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) to evaluate the outcomes of patients with advanced nccRCC. Patients were classified into three groups based on first-line therapy: ICI-based therapy (monotherapy or combination), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor monotherapy, or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor monotherapy. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were time to treatment failure (TTF) and objective response rate (ORR). We used the Kaplan–Meier method to compare OS and TTF between treatment groups and Cox proportional hazards models to adjust for prognostic covariates. We identified a total of 1145 patients with metastatic nccRCC. The most common subtype was papillary RCC (54.9%). For first-line therapy, 74.3% received VEGF monotherapy, 15% received mTOR monotherapy, and 10.7% received ICI-based therapy. Median OS in the ICI group was 28.6 months, versus 16.4 months in the VEGF group and 12.2 months in the mTOR group. Median TTF in the ICI group was 6.9 months, versus 5.0 months in the VEGF group and 3.9 months in the mTOR group. ORR was 27.2% in the ICI group, 14.5% in the VEGF group, and 9% in the mTOR group. After adjusting for the IMDC risk group, histological subtype, and age, the hazard ratio for OS was 0.57 (95% CI 0.42–0.78, p < 0.0001) for ICI versus VEGF and 0.50 (95% CI 0.36–0.71, p < 0.0001) for ICI versus mTOR. In advanced nccRCC, first-line ICI-based treatment appears to be associated with improved OS compared to VEGF and mTOR targeted therapy. These results should be confirmed in prospective randomised trials. • Non-clear cell RCC refers to a group of diverse kidney cancer subtypes. • Evidence for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) use in nccRCC is limited. • Based on this retrospective study, first-line ICI therapy has activity in nccRCC. • The benefit was driven primarily by the papillary RCC subgroup. • Our results should be confirmed in prospective trials in variant histology RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabozantinib, an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has demonstrated efficacy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The association between toxicity and therapeutic effectiveness has been established with other TKIs. We investigated whether cabozantinib dose reductions, a surrogate for toxicity and adequate drug exposure, were associated with improved clinical outcomes in mRCC. Employing the CKCis database, we analyzed patients treated with cabozantinib in the second line or later between 2011 to 2021. The cohort was stratified into those needing dose reductions (DR) during treatment and those not (no-DR). Outcomes, including objective response rate (ORR), time to treatment failure (TTF), and overall survival (OS), were compared based on dose reduction status. The influence of the initial dose on outcomes was also explored. Among 319 cabozantinib-treated patients, 48.3% underwent dose reductions. Response rates exhibited no significant difference between the DR and no-DR groups (15.1% vs. 18.2%, P =.55). Patients with DR had superior median OS (26.15 vs. 15.47 months, P =.019) and TTF (12.74 vs. 6.44 months, P =.022) compared to no-DR patients. These differences retained significance following adjustment for IMDC risk group (OS HR = 0.67, P =.032; TTF HR = 0.65, P =.008). There was no association between the initial dose and ORR, OS, or TTF. This study highlights the link between cabozantinib dose reductions due to toxicity and improved survival and time to treatment failure in mRCC patients. These findings underscore the potential of using on-treatment toxicity as an indicator of adequate drug exposure to individualize dosing and optimize treatment effectiveness. Larger studies are warranted to validate these results and develop individualized strategies for cabozantinib when given alone or in combination with immunotherapy. This retrospective study assessed the impact of cabozantinib dose reductions on outcomes in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Patients requiring dose reductions experienced significantly better overall survival and time to treatment failure. These findings underscore the potential of using on-treatment toxicity as an indicator of adequate drug exposure to individualize dosing and optimize treatment effectiveness. Further validation through larger studies is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the outcomes and safety of active surveillance (AS) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We identified 853 patients who met the criteria for AS. We compared them to a cohort of patients who received immediate systemic therapy. Our data demonstrated that a large subset of patients with mRCC can be safely observed without immediate initiation of systemic therapy for a significant period of time. Background: Active surveillance (AS) is a commonly used strategy in patients with slow-growing disease. We aimed to assess the outcomes and safety of AS in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Patients and Methods: We used the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) to identify patients with mRCC diagnosed between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016. The AS strategy was defined as (1) the start of systemic therapy = 6 months after diagnosis of mRCC, or (2) never receiving systemic therapy for mRCC with an overall survival (OS) of =1 year. Patients starting systemic treatment < 6 months after diagnosis of mRCC were defined as receiving immediate systemic treatment. OS and time until first-line treatment failure (TTF) were compared between the two cohorts. Results: A total of 853 patients met the cr iter ia for AS (cohort A). Of these, 364 started treatment > 6 months after their initial diagnosis (cohort A1) and 489 never started systemic therapy (cohort A2); 827 patients received immediate systemic treatment (cohort B). The 5-year OS probability was significantly greater for cohort A than for cohort B (70% vs. 33.6%; P < .0001). After adjusting for International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium r isk cr iter ia and age, both OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.70; P < .0001) and TTF (HR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.85; P = .0002) were greater in cohort A1 compared with B. For cohort A1, the median time on AS was 14.2 months (range, 6-71). Conclusions: Based on the largest analysis of AS in mRCC to date, our data suggest that a subset of patients may be safely observed without immediate initiation of systemic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) selectively for patients who show a favorable response to upfront systemic therapy may be an approach to select optimal candidates with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who are most likely to benefit. We sought to characterize outcomes of deferred CN (dCN) after upfront sunitinib, outcomes relative to sunitinib alone, and outcomes of CN followed by sunitinib. We used the prospectively maintained International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) database to identify patients with newly diagnosed mRCC (2006–2018). Sunitinib alone, upfront CN followed by sunitinib, sunitinib followed by dCN. Outcomes were overall survival (OS) and time to sunitinib treatment failure (TTF). Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed; dCN was analyzed as a time-varying covariate to account for immortal time bias. We evaluated 1541 patients, of whom 651 (42%) received sunitinib alone, 805 (52%) underwent CN followed by sunitinib, and 85 (5.5%) received sunitinib followed by dCN, at a median of 7.8 mo from diagnosis. Median OS periods for patients treated with sunitinib alone, CN followed by sunitinib, and sunitinib followed by dCN were 10, 19, and 46 mo, respectively, while the median TTF values were 4, 8, and 13 mo, respectively. In multivariable regression analyses, sunitinib followed by dCN was significantly associated with improved OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.60, p < 0.001) and TTF (HR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.46–0.85, p = 0.003) versus sunitinib alone. Among CN-treated patients, sunitinib followed by dCN was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.39–0.70, p < 0.001) and TTF (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.56–0.90, p = 0.005) compared with upfront CN followed by sunitinib. In various sensitivity analyses, dCN remained significantly associated with improved OS and TTF. Patients who received dCN were carefully selected and achieved long OS. With these benchmark outcomes, optimal selection criteria need to be identified and confirmation of the role of dCN in a clinical trial is warranted. We characterized benchmark survival outcomes for patients with metastatic kidney cancer treated with sunitinib alone, nephrectomy (kidney removal) followed by sunitinib, and sunitinib followed by nephrectomy. Patients who had their nephrectomy after an initial course of sunitinib had prolonged survival. In this international cohort study, patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who underwent deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy after upfront sunitinib achieved prolonged survival. Deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy should be considered for selected patients with a favorable response to upfront systemic therapy. Prospective trials examining deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy with immuno-oncology combination therapies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (mRCC), recent data have shown efficacy of first-line ipilimumab and nivolumab (ipi-nivo) as well as immuno-oncology (IO)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor combinations. Comparative data between these strategies are limited. To compare the efficacy of ipi-nivo versus IO-VEGF (IOVE) combinations in mRCC, and describe practice patterns and effectiveness of second-line therapies. Using the International Metastatic Renal-cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) dataset, patients treated with any first-line IOVE combination were compared with those treated with ipi-nivo. All patients received first-line IO combination therapies. First- and second-line response rates, time to treatment failure (TTF), time to next treatment (TNT), and overall survival (OS) were analysed. Hazard ratios were adjusted for IMDC risk factors. In total, 113 patients received IOVE combinations and 75 received ipi-nivo. For IOVE combinations versus ipi-nivo, first-line response rates were 33% versus 40% (between-group difference 7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] –8% to 22%, p = 0.4), TTF was 14.3 versus 10.2 mo (p = 0.2), TNT was 19.7 versus 17.9 mo (p = 0.4), and median OS was immature but not statistically different (p = 0.17). Adjusted hazard ratios for TTF, TNT, and OS were 0.71 (95% CI 0.46–1.12, p = 0.14), 0.65 (95% CI 0.38–1.11, p = 0.11), and 1.74 (95% CI 0.82–3.68, p = 0.14), respectively. Sixty-four (34%) patients received second-line treatment. In patients receiving subsequent VEGF-based therapy, second-line response rates were lower in the IOVE cohort than in the ipi-nivo cohort (15% vs 45%; between-group difference 30%, 95% CI 3–57%, p = 0.04; n = 40), though second-line TTF was not significantly different (3.7 vs 5.4 mo; p = 0.4; n = 55). Limitations include the study's retrospective design and sample size. There were no significant differences in first-line outcomes between IOVE combinations and ipi-nivo. Most patients received VEGF-based therapy in the second line. In this group, second-line response rate was greater in patients who received ipi-nivo initially. There were no significant differences in key first-line outcomes for patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma receiving immuno-oncology/vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor combinations versus ipilimumab and nivolumab. Using the International Metastatic Renal-cell Carcinoma Database Consortium database, we reviewed 188 patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma who received first-line ipilimumab and nivolumab (ipi-nivo) versus immuno-oncology/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combinations. There were no significant differences in first-line outcomes between groups. Response rates to second-line VEGF-based treatments were higher in patients who received ipi-nivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several drugs have demonstrated clinical activity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The identification of key metabolic pathways has led to the development of novel targeted therapies which have drastically changed the treatment paradigm of mRCC. Moreover, immune-checkpoint inhibitors have recently shown significant activity in advanced disease. Despite these advancements, the role of adjuvant therapy in localized, non-metastatic RCC remains unclear. The utility of many of these agents in the adjuvant setting is currently being actively explored. In this review, we will summarize the main clinical trials investigating adjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma, focusing primarily on immunotherapy and targeted agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We conducted a systematic literature review to identify evidence for cabozantinib activity in patients with solid tumors after prior checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy.Methods: The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021259873). MEDLINE®, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched on 19 May 2021 to identify publications reporting the efficacy/effectiveness and safety/tolerability of cabozantinib in patients with solid tumors who had received prior CPI-based therapy. Publications were screened by one reviewer with uncertainties resolved by a second and/or the full author group. Risk of bias was assessed using Gradingof Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) for clinical trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies.Results: Of 669 publications screened, 21 were eligible: 18 reported data on renal cell carcinoma, and one each for hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic urothelial carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. Of six trial publications, three reported moderate-quality evidence and three low-quality evidence. Of 15 observational studies, NOS scores ranged from 3 to 6, suggesting a high potential for uncertainty. The studies consistently reported clinical activity for cabozantinib after CPI therapy, across treatment lines and tumor types, with no new safety signals. The findings were limited by the quality and quantity of available data.Conclusion: Cabozantinib appears to have anti-tumor activity after prior CPI therapy in patients with solid tumors. Our results are driven largely by studies in renal cell carcinoma. Evidence from ongoing phase 3 trials is required to establish further the role of cabozantinib after CPI therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data on the comparative efficacy of fulvestrant and other endocrine treatments are inconsistent. Clinical markers predictive of greater benefit from fulvestrant compared to the alternate endocrine agents have not been identified.Methods: We searched the literature from inception to May 2015, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and major conference proceedings. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared fulvestrant containing arm to either tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitors (AI) and presented results for subgroup analyses as Hazard Ratios (HR) for Time to Progression (TTP) or Progression Free Survival (PFS). Subgroup analyses reported in at least two RCTs were included. Data were then weighted using generic inverse variance approach and pooled in meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 software. Difference between sub-groups was tested with chi(2) statistics.Results: Analysis included 4 RCTs comparing fulvestrant-based therapy to AI alone and comprising 2382 patients (1190 on fulvestrant and 1192 on control arms). TTP/PFS was the primary endpoint in all included studies. Four sub-groups fulfilled our criteria. Fulvestrant was associated with greater benefit in patients with visceral metastasis (HR 0.85 vs 1.02 for no visceral disease, p for difference=0.05) and in those patients with a time to recurrence >5 years (HR 0.80 vs 1.09 for recurrence ⩽5 years, p for difference=0.02). There was no apparent difference in benefit based on age >65 years (HR 0.86 vs 0.96, p for difference=0.32) or HER2/neu status (HR 0.36 vs 0.92, p for difference=0.09).Conclusion: Patients with advanced breast cancer with visceral involvement and longer time from diagnosis to recurrence had significantly better TTP/PFS with the use of fulvestrant. These results may have implications for selection of patients in the design of future clinical trials and to inform treatment decisions in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture, and in particular Atlantic salmon culture, is expected to deliver n − 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n − 3 LC-PUFA) rich products. Nevertheless, the availability of n − 3 LC-PUFA rich raw materials for aquafeed is dwindling, and at an ever increasing market price. Thus, there is the need to better understand the in vivo n − 3 LC-PUFA biosynthetic capabilities of cultured fish to enable the possible maximization of dietary 18:3n − 3 (ALA) bioconversion to 20:5n − 3 (EPA) and 22:6n − 3 (DHA). The cofactors and coenzymes involved in this metabolic pathway have so far received limited research attention. In this study, juvenile Atlantic salmon were fed an ALA-rich diet with no, normal, or over-fortified inclusion of those micronutrients reported to be essential cofactors (iron; zinc; magnesium) and coenzymes (riboflavin; biotin; niacin) for the fatty acid elongase and desaturase enzymes. The results showed that reduced dietary inclusion of these micronutrients impaired the normal n − 3 LC-PUFA biosynthetic capabilities of fish, whereas the over fortification did not provide any additional benefit. This study provides new knowledge on micronutrients and lipid metabolism interactions in a commercially important cultured species, and is envisaged to be a useful contribution towards developing more sustainable and commercially viable aquafeed for the future. Statement of relevance This work is the continuation and extension of a previous study (Lewis et al., 2013, Aquaculture 412/413, 215–222) in which we explored the physiological roles and potential effects of micronutrients on fatty acid metabolism in cultured fish. The present study differed from the previous in the blend of minerals and vitamins used, the species, the fatty acid composition of the test diet, and the inclusion also of a negative control. The results are most interesting, showing that riboflavin (B 2 ), biotin (B 7 ), and niacin (B 3 ), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg) and Zinc (Zn) are all required for proper fatty acid bioconversion, but also that a dietary over-fortification does not translate into proportional improved bioconversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the aftereffects of anticipating future self-control and motivation on self-control strength depletion patterns. Design: Single blind, randomized 2 (autonomy-supportive motivation/controlling motivation) × 2 (anticipation/no anticipation) factorial. Method: Participants (N = 72) performed four sequential self-control strength challenges: an initial endurance handgrip squeeze followed by the Stroop task and two additional endurance handgrip squeezes. A sequential randomization procedure was used to allocate participants to one of four conditions: anticipation/autonomy-supportive motivation (n = 19), anticipation/controlling motivation (n = 17), no anticipation/autonomy-supportive motivation (n = 18), and no anticipation/controlling motivation (n = 18). Results: Participants who anticipated future self-control depletion conserved resources on the second task by completing fewer words on a Stroop task compared to controls. Participants who received autonomy-supportive instructions performed significantly better than controls on a third task (endurance handgrip squeeze), but worse than controls on the fourth task (another endurance handgrip squeeze). There were no significant interactions between anticipation and motivation (p > .05). Conclusions: Results support previous findings reflecting conservation and motivation effects on self-control strength. This was the first study to show that autonomy-supportive instructions may assist self-control performance in the short term but ultimately depletes self-control strength and impairs performance in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development of a new Psychology Specific Critical Thinking (CT) Assessment. • A huge sample of L1, English as an additional language, & international student. • International students kept the pace with their peers by the end of the year. • Highlighting the need for integrating CT instruction in subject-specific programming. • Underscoring the language barriers facing international English learners. Research on critical thinking (CT) has developed over the last several decades to encompass both general CT ability and subject-specific CT, but a paucity of research exists on how this relates to English Language Learners (ELLs). This study examined the CT skills of undergraduate students enrolled in a first-year psychology course at a Canadian university. It examined the extent to which language ability played a role in student performance on standardized CT tests, subject-specific CT tests, and students' own perspectives on reading self-assessment. In total, 721 students participated in the study, divided into three groups: those with English as a first language (L1), those with English as an additional language but four years of English learning in a Canadian high school (L2c), and those who had English as an additional language who were taught internationally (L2i). Findings from this study showed that L2i students performed lower on Form A of Psychology Specific Critical Thinking Assessment (PS-CTA), but by the end of the yearlong course, they were able to make PS-CTA improvements, allowing them to demonstrate at the same level as their peers. However, L2i students still had significant problems with general CT as measured by the Watson-Glaser Practice Test (WG-PT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper traces the research history of fish ventilation from its origins in the early 1700s to the present with emphasis on the work of George M. Hughes, who is considered by many to be the founder of the modern era of fish respiratory science. A particularly important year in the timeline for fish respiratory studies was 1960, when Hughes presented the currently accepted biomechanical model driving fish ventilation. He showed that both bony and cartilaginous fishes breathe through the use of a dual-pumping mechanism: a buccal or orobranchial pressure pump to force water over the gills and an opercular or parabranchial suction pump to pull water through the branchial chambers. Hughes divided this mechanism into four stages and demonstrated that during each the pressure of the buccal cavity usually exceeded that of the opercular chamber, thus indicating the continuous, or nearly continuous, nature of the ventilatory stream. Studies by Hughes and later researchers focused on variation in the four stages and related these to interspecific differences in fish habitat and activity level. Differences noted in the respiration of pelagic and benthic species largely led to the description and quantification of ram ventilation. Hughes further made significant contributions to the correlation of gill structure and function and was one of the first to examine gill morphometrics in relation to the ventilatory stream and the diffusivity of oxygen from the water into the blood. Such pioneering measurements paved the way toward the modern analyses of gill hydromechanics and the modeling of respiratory gas exchange in fishes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sturgeons are primitive bony fishes and their hearts have structural features found in other primitive fishes. Sturgeons have a pericardioperitoneal canal (PPC), a one-way conduit into the peritoneum. A PPC also occurs in elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and studies with that group demonstrate that pericardial pressure and pericardial fluid loss via the PPC affect stroke volume. A study of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) heart function was conducted to test for a comparable PPC and pericardial effects. White sturgeon-elasmobranch heart-function similarities include biphasic ventricular filling, a comparable operational pericardial pressure (-0.03 kPa), and a strongly negative pressure (-0.2 to -0.6 kPa) with complete pericardial fluid withdrawal. Differences include the white sturgeon''s relatively smaller atrium and ventricle but a larger conus arteriosus. Although white sturgeon heart size is also smaller, its pericardial volume is disproportionately less (2.4 to 2.7 vs. 3.5 to 5.4 ml kg-1 in elasmobranchs), meaning it has less scope for increasing stroke volume upon PPC fluid release. These differences may reflect the phylogenetic progression from the less complex operation of the elasmobranch heart, which lacks sympathetic innervation and has a mechanically mediated (PPC) stroke volume, to the condition in the more derived bony fishes which have sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation of both stroke volume and heart rate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new method called focused electrode leak location system (FELL-41) was developed in Europe for identifying potential leaks in sanitary sewers (mainline and service connections at the mainline). The chief advantages of the FELL-41 technology include: (1) identifying leaking joints on mainline during dry weather; (2) prioritising leak repairs by intensity of leaks; (3) determining leaks in service lateral mainline connections; (4) an alternative to air-pressure testing for acceptance of new and rehabilitated sanitary sewers. The FELL-41 method measures electrical current flow between a probe that travels in the pipe and a surface electrode. Pipe defects that allow liquids to flow into or out of the pipe cause a spike in the electrical signal, thereby locating the sources of infiltration or exfiltration. The intensity of the measured current can be correlated to the magnitude of the leaks. The purpose of this paper is to discuss this technology as well as its limitations. The results of the FELL-41 technology will be validated through several case studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) region of the midbrain. Oxidative damage in this region has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Human neurons have been discovered to contain hemoglobin, with an increased concentration seen in the neurons of the SN. High affinity hemoglobin is a clinical entity resulting from mutations that create a functional increase in the binding of hemoglobin to oxygen and an inability to efficiently unload it to tissues. This can result in a number of metabolic compensatory changes, including an elevation in circulating hemoglobin and an increase in the molecule 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). Population based studies have revealed that patients with PD have elevated hemoglobin as well as 2,3-DPG levels. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that the oxidative damage seen in PD is related to an underlying high affinity hemoglobin subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was a non-blinded, randomized control trial examining the relationship between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and various indicators of mental health. First, we examined the effects of HIIT on anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and resting-state proinflammatory cytokines relative to placebo-exercise control. Then, we examined whether baseline anxiety status moderates the relationship between HIIT and cardiorespiratory improvements to explore a potential non-responder phenotype linked to mental health. Young adults (age 18–30) were randomized to either nine weeks of HIIT (n = 28) or placebo-exercise (PLACEBO; n = 32). Randomization and allocation were conducted using a computer-generator program. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, proinflammatory cytokines, and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention period. HIIT and PLACEBO groups (n = 46) experienced similar reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms (p <.001) and no change in resting-state proinflammatory cytokines (p >.05). Anxiety severity moderated the effects of HIIT on cardiorespiratory fitness (p <.05), such that individuals with low anxiety at baseline experienced greater improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness than those with higher anxiety. These findings suggest that nine weeks of HIIT may not alter physiological indicators of mental health. Furthermore, anxiety status may be a potential non-responder phenotype. Further research is needed to examine whether these results generalize to other HIIT protocols and how the effects of HIIT compare to the consistent and robust effects of moderate-intensity continuous training on mental health. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04118309. Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant [grant number 296518]. • HIIT and PLACEBO exercise led to similar changes in mental health and inflammation. • Cardiorespiratory fitness changes were moderated by baseline anxiety severity. • The suitability of HIIT for those with mental illness requires further inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The air-breathing organ (ABO) of the Atlantic tarpon is formed by four parallel ridges of alveolar-like respiratory tissue that extend along the length of the physostomous gas bladder. The large and complex surface of each ridge is formed by a cartilage matrix that is completely infiltrated by a thin respiratory epithelium. Comparison of a size series of specimens demonstrates isometric growth of the ABO, and histological and SEM studies show comparable levels of tissue complexity. These findings suggest that air-breathing capacity, which is required for the survival of juvenile fish in their hypoxic nursery habitat, is retained in older tarpon inhabiting more oxygenated marine coastal habitats. The retention of air breathing in adult tarpon may be related to their occasional occurrence in hypoxic waters and their high rates of aerobic metabolism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Artisanal fisheries account for up to 80% of elasmobranch fishing activity in Mexican waters, yet details associated with fishing effort and species composition are generally unavailable. This paper describes a survey of the artisanal elasmobranch fishery of the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico from 2006 to 2008. The objectives were to determine the geographic extent, size, and targets of the artisanal fishery, and to describe the catch characteristics at Laguna Manuela, an artisanal camp where elasmobranchs are the primary target. For the latter, we used a combination of beach surveys and a novel survey method involving the identification of discarded carcasses. Forty-four artisanal fishing camps were identified, of which 29 (66%) targeted elasmobranchs at least seasonally, using primarily bottom-set gillnets and longlines. At Laguna Manuela 25 species of elasmobranchs were documented. Gillnetting accounted for 60% of fishing effort, and the most commonly captured species were Rhinobatos productus, Zapteryx exasperata, and Myliobatis californica. Longline fishing accounted for 31% of fishing effort, and the most commonly captured species were Prionace glauca and Isurus oxyrhinchus. Catch was composed of mainly juveniles for many species, indicating that the immediately surrounding area (Bahia Sebastian Vizcaino) may be an important elasmobranch nursery habitat. The results of this study will serve as a baseline for determining future changes in the artisanal fishery, as well as changes in species demography and abundance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A comparative echocardiographic study was carried out on five shark species that differ in heart morphology and in aspects of their behavior and natural history. The study contrasted the ventricular function in the highly active mako shark (heart type IV) and four other sharks (heart type III) that differ in activity levels (i.e. the sedentary horn and swell sharks vs. the moderately active blue and smooth-hound sharks). All five species exhibited biphasic ventricular filling characterized by an early (conduit) and late (atrial systole) phase. In the mako shark, early filling was dominant as indicated by a higher early flow peak velocity, a greater early:late velocity ratio, and a greater early velocity time integral. In contrast, the late filling phase was the more important filling agent in the other species. Indices of systolic function such as ventricular ejection fraction and ventricular fractional shortening also reflect a more efficient cardiac pumping capacity in mako shark relative to the other four sharks. The comparative echocardiographic assessment of in vivo ventricular function integrates structural and functional features with shark activity level to arrive at a new perspective blending the occurrence of biphasic filling with functional concepts based on heart morphological typology and changing views regarding the role of factors such as central filling pressure and pericardial pressure on end-diastolic ventricular volume. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]