Notes

The particular epidemiology of main venous catheter-related blood vessels an infection in our kidney devices is evolving.
BACKGROUND We investigated the prognostic value of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cell status, and their combination in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their association with PD-L1 expression and vascular formation was further explored. METHOD Using a database of 387 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC, immunohistochemical staining of PD-L1, CD8, and CD34 was performed. Additionally, we undertook an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1). RESULTS Compared with PD-L1-negative HCC patients (n=311), PD-L1-positive HCC patients (n=76) showed significantly worse overall survival (multivariate HR, 2.502; 95% CI, 1.716-3.649; P less then 0.0001). The presence of tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cells was significantly correlated with longer overall survival (multivariate HR, 0.383; 95% CI, 0.274-0.537; P less then 0.0001). Stratification based on PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cell status was also significantly associated with overall survival (log rank, P less then 0.0001). HCC with PD-L1-positive expression was significantly correlated with positivity for vessels that encapsulated tumor clusters. Serum PD-L1 levels was significantly higher in PD-L1 positive group than in PD-L1 negative group (p=0.0158). CONCLUSIONS Our large cohort study showed that PD-L1 expression in cancer cells was associated with a poor clinical outcome and vascular formation in HCC patients. Additionally, combination of PD-L1 expression with tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cell status enabled further classification of patients based on their clinical outcome. Thus, PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cell status might serve as predictive tissue biomarkers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The aim of the present study was to elucidate the pharmacokinetic profiles of amoxicillin trihydrate (AMX) in Siamese freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis). Crocodiles were administered a single intramuscular injection of AMX, at a dose of either 5 or 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Blood samples were collected at preassigned times up to 120 hr. The plasma concentrations of AMX were measured using a validated liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry method. AMX plasma concentrations were quantifiable for up to 72 hr (5 mg/kg b.w.) and 96 hr (10 mg/kg b.w.). The elimination half-life (t1/2λ z ) of AMX following dosing at 5 mg/kg b.w. (8.72 ± 0.61 hr) was almost identical to that following administration at 10 mg/kg b.w (8.98 ± 1.13 hr). The maximum concentration and area under the curve from zero to the last values of AMX increased in a dose-dependent fashion. The average binding percentage of AMX to plasma protein was 21.24%. Based on the pharmacokinetic data, susceptibility break point, and the surrogate PK-PD index (T > MIC, 0.25 μg/ml), intramuscular administration of AMX at dose of 5 mg/kg b.w. every 4 days might be appropriate for the treatment of susceptible bacterial infections in freshwater crocodiles. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.BACKGROUND Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with emotional problems, and their co-occurrence often leads to worse outcomes. We investigated the developmental associations between ADHD and emotional problems from childhood to early adolescence and examined the genetic and environmental contributions to their developmental link. We further tested whether this developmental association remained across the transition to young adulthood. METHODS We used data from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a cohort of 2,232 British twins. In childhood, ADHD and emotional problems were assessed at ages 5, 7, 10 and 12 with mothers' and teachers' reports. At age 18, we used self-reported symptoms according to DSM-5 criteria for ADHD, and DSM-IV for anxiety and depression. RESULTS Longitudinal analyses showed that earlier ADHD was associated with later emotional problems consistently across childhood. However, earlier emotional problems were not associated with later ADHD symptoms. The developmental association between ADHD and later emotional problems in childhood was entirely explained by common genetic factors. Consistent with results in childhood, earlier symptoms of ADHD were associated with later emotional problems during the transition to young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that ADHD symptoms are predictors of the development of emotional problems, from childhood up to young adulthood, through shared genetic influences. Interventions targeting ADHD symptoms might prevent the development of emotional problems. Clinicians treating youth with ADHD must be aware of their risk for developing emotional problems and ought to assess, monitor and treat emotional problems alongside ADHD symptoms from childhood to adulthood. © 2020 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.Reducing hydrogen embrittlement in the low-cost Fe─C based steels have the potential to significantly impact the development of hydrogen energy technologies. Molecular dynamics studies of hydrogen interactions with Fe─C steels provide fundamental information about the behavior of hydrogen at microstructural length scales, although such studies have not been performed due to the lack of an Fe─C─H ternary interatomic potential. In this work, the literature on interatomic potentials related to the Fe─C─H systems are reviewed with the aim of constructing an Fe─C─H potential from the published binary potentials. We found that Fe─C, Fe─H, and C─H bond order potentials exist and can be combined to construct an Fe─C─H ternary potential. Therefore, we constructed two such Fe─C─H potentials and demonstrate that these ternary potentials can reasonably capture hydrogen effects on deformation characteristics and deformation mechanisms for a variety of microstructural variations of the Fe─C steels, including martensite that results from γ to α phase transformation, and pearlite that results from the eutectic formation of the Fe3 C cementite compound. Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.Treatment strategies for asthma are changing dramatically with many novel molecules entering the market, especially within the group of biologicals. Intensive investigations continue to reveal new pathogenetic aspects of the chronic airway inflammation allowing identifying a variety of asthma subendotypes and potential therapeutic targets. Better understanding of the underlying mechanisms as well as contributing factors and triggers allows personalized therapeutic approach respecting individual characteristics of distinct patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Sensory drive Theory posits that the evolution of communication signals is shaped by the sensory systems of receivers and the habitat conditions under which signals are received. It has inspired an enormous body of research advancing our understanding of signal evolution and speciation in animals. In plants, the extreme diversification of floral signals has fascinated biologists for over a century. While processes involved in sensory drive likely play out in plant-pollinator communication, the theory has not been formally synthesized in this context. However, it has untapped potential to explain mechanisms underlying variation in pollinator preferences across populations, and how environmental conditions impact floral signal transmission and perception. I develop a framework of sensory drive for plant-pollinator interactions, identifying similarities and differences from its original conception. I then summarize studies that shed light on how the primary processes of sensory drive-habitat transmission, perceptual tuning, and signal matching-apply to the evolution of floral color and scent. Throughout, I propose research avenues and approaches to assess how sensory drive shapes floral diversity. This framework will be important for explaining patterns of extant floral diversity, and examining how altered signaling conditions under global change will impact the evolutionary trajectory of floral traits. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.A primary purpose of many prevention-oriented interventions is to improve the general well-being and quality of life for individuals and their communities. Unfortunately, well-being is often poorly defined, with definitions embracing related issues of quality of life, happiness, and physical health. Mental well-being as a concept is also poorly defined, particularly for different population groups. As part of a larger study to assess community-level prevention efforts aimed at men and boys, a participatory approach was used to operationalize mental well-being from a male-centered, community-based perspective using concept mapping. A set of 96 statements perceived as important aspects of mental well-being for men and boys were developed and sorted by 90 participants from the study communities. The 8-cluster solution was selected as the most parsimonious and the best conceptual fit in relation to the mental well-being concept, namely, positive self-worth, supportive community, community connections, positive masculinity, responsive institutions, strong social connection, dignity and respect, and safety. These eight clusters of mental well-being, which were classified into two overarching domains of socio-environmental and emotional well-being, can provide a basis by which to assess community-based programs aimed at this population. © 2020 Society for Community Research and Action.OBJECTIVES Differences in dental caries prevalence between males and females is considered a reflection of diet. However, recent syntheses argue that sex-specific variation in dental caries prevalence also reflects changes in the oral cavity attributable to variation in reproductive life histories. This study explores sex-specific variation in carious lesions using a life history perspective to understand if differences in reproductive ecology influence this process. MATERIALS AND METHODS Survival probability between 860 males and females from the Terry Collection was compared using carious lesion manifestation (absent, crown presence, root/cemento-enamel junction [CEJ] presence) and sex as covariates and age as a time series variable. A four-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) comparing carious lesion type by sex, age, and periodontal disease presence was used to evaluate interaction between these variables. RESULTS Individuals with carious lesions have greater survivorship than those without lesions. Males and females with crown lesions do not differ in survivorship from individuals without carious lesions. Females with root/CEJ lesions are characterized by the highest survivorship. A significant interaction was found for root/CEJ carious lesions by age, sex, and periodontal disease presence. Root/CEJ lesion formation in older males was not dependent upon periodontal disease presence, though dependence between these variables characterizes postmenopausal females. CONCLUSION Sex-specific variation in crown lesions is not associated with reproductive life histories and likely reflects diet. By contrast, root/CEJ lesions form through pathways attributable to reproductive life histories, particularly age-induced periodontal disease in females. These results suggest the formation of carious lesions is complex, and in some cases, rooted in reproductive life histories. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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