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Maintenance of an aggregated population structure implies within-species communication. In mixed-species environments, species-specific aggregations may reduce interspecific competition and promote coexistence. We studied whether movement and aggregation behavior of three entomopathogenic nematode species changed when isolated, as compared to mixed-species arenas. Movement and aggregation of Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae and S. glaseri were assessed in sand. Each species demonstrated significant aggregation when alone. Mixed-species trials involved adding two species of nematodes, either combined in the center of the arena or at separate corners. While individual species became less aggregated than in single-species conditions when co-applied in the same location, they became more aggregated when applied in separate corners. This increased aggregation in separate-corner trials occurred even though the nematodes moved just as far when mixed together as they did when alone. These findings suggest that maintenance of multiple species within the same habitat is driven, at least in part, by species-specific signals that promote conspecific aggregation, and when the species are mixed (as occurs in some commercial formulations involving multiple EPN species), these signaling mechanisms are muddled.

BACKGROUND:The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) has developed a series of guidelines on the treatment of adults with metastatic brain tumors, including systemic therapy and supportive care topics. ASCO has a policy and set of procedures for endorsing clinical practice guidelines that have been developed by other professional organizations. METHODS:Two CNS Guidelines were reviewed for developmental rigor by methodologists and an independent multi-disciplinary Expert Panel was formed to review the content and assess agreement with the recommendations. The expert panel voted to endorse the two guidelines and ASCO and SNO independently reviewed and approved the ASCO/SNO guideline endorsement. RESULTS:The ASCO/SNO Expert Panel determined that the recommendations from the CNS anticonvulsants and steroids guidelines, published January 9, 2019, are clear, thorough, and based upon the most relevant scientific evidence. ASCO/SNO endorsed these two CNS guidelines, with minor alterations. CONCLUSIONS:Key recommendations include: prophylactic anti-epileptic drugs were not recommended for routine use; corticosteroids (specifically dexamethasone) were recommended for temporary symptomatic relief in patients with neurologic symptoms and signs related to mass effect from brain metastases.

The internationalization of local Extension programs has long been a source of debate among Extension educators. Often, international work is seen as extravagant during difficult economic times. Extension also faces challenges attracting qualified young people into our profession. We report the results of a combined international Extension training and student education program. This program was popular with agents and students, improved student knowledge of Extension, and made long-term contributions to the programs of agents who participated. Building the cost for agent participation into study abroad courses may benefit students, Extension agents, and teaching faculty while controlling cost to Extension programs.

Purpose: Distinguishing radiation necrosis from tumor progression among patients with brain metastases previously treated with stereotactic radiosurgery represents a common diagnostic challenge. We performed a prospective pilot study to determine whether PET/CT with 18F-fluciclovine, a widely available amino acid PET radiotracer, repurposed intracranially, can accurately diagnose equivocal lesions. Methods: Adults with brain metastases previously treated with radiosurgery presenting with a follow-up tumor-protocol MRI brain equivocal for radiation necrosis versus tumor progression underwent an 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT of the brain within 30 days. The reference standard for final diagnosis consisted of clinical follow-up until multidisciplinary consensus or tissue confirmation. Results: Of 16 patients imaged from 7/2019 to 11/2020, 15 subjects were evaluable with 20 lesions (radiation necrosis, n = 16; tumor progression, n = 4). Higher SUVmax statistically significantly predicted tumor progression (AUC = 0.875; p = 0.011). Lesion SUVmean (AUC = 0.875; p = 0.018), SUVpeak (AUC = 0.813; p = 0.007), and SUVpeak-to-normal-brain (AUC = 0.859; p = 0.002) also predicted tumor progression, whereas SUVmax-to-normal-brain (p = 0.1) and SUVmean-to-normal-brain (p = 0.5) did not. Qualitative visual scores were significant predictors for readers 1 (AUC = 0.750; p < 0.001) and 3 (AUC = 0.781; p = 0.045), but not for reader 2 (p = 0.3). Visual interpretations were significant predictors for reader 1 (AUC = 0.898; p = 0.012) but not for reader 2 (p = 0.3) or 3 (p = 0.2). Conclusions: In this prospective pilot study of patients with brain metastases previously treated with radiosurgery presenting with a contemporary MRI brain with a lesion equivocal for radiation necrosis versus tumor progression, 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT repurposed intracranially demonstrated encouraging diagnostic accuracy, supporting the pursuit of larger clinical trials which will be necessary to establish diagnostic criteria and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]