Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list.

Recent debates on the number of plant species in the vast lowland rain forests of the Amazon have been based largely on model estimates, neglecting published checklists based on verified voucher data. Here we collate taxonomically verified checklists to present a list of seed plant species from lowland Amazon rain forests. Our list comprises 14,003 species, of which 6,727 are trees. These figures are similar to estimates derived from nonparametric ecological models, but they contrast strongly with predictions of much higher tree diversity derived from parametric models. Based on the known proportion of tree species in neotropical lowland rain forest communities as measured in complete plot censuses, and on overall estimates of seed plant diversity in Brazil and in the neotropics in general, it is more likely that tree diversity in the Amazon is closer to the lower estimates derived from nonparametric models. Much remains unknown about Amazonian plant diversity, but this taxonomically verified dataset provides a valid starting point for macroecological and evolutionary studies aimed at understanding the origin, evolution, and ecology of the exceptional biodiversity of Amazonian forests.

Deaf community views on paediatric cochlear implantation.

There are two models used in the literature to describe those who are d/Deaf: the medical and the cultural models. The medical model describes deafness as an unwanted disability that needs to be treated through the use of medical devices like cochlear implants (CIs). The cultural model describes the word "Deaf" (written with a capital) as a culture and membership of the Deaf community as a privilege. It also places emphasis on the importance of sign language in Deaf culture. Historically, the Deaf community has been opposed to cochlear implantation in children, but little is known about current attitudes, or the attitudes of the Deaf community in New Zealand. This research used an online questionnaire to ask deaf, hard-of-hearing (HoH) and culturally Deaf people in New Zealand about their views on paediatric cochlear implants. Culturally Deaf respondents were compared to those who were not. The study's findings were mixed, suggesting that there are still reservations about the benefits of CIs for children born deaf. It identified key areas for consideration: a bilingual/bicultural approach to CI habilitation in children, and the need to fully inform parents of all of their options. The study also highlighted the multitude of cultural and non-cultural factors that need to be considered in both the decision-making and habilitation processes for treatment of a deaf child. An understanding of how the Deaf community's perspective differs from that of health professions in New Zealand is important in considering what is best for deaf children.

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immune effector cell-related adverse events.

Immune effector cell (IEC) therapies offer durable and sustained remissions in significant numbers of patients with hematological cancers. While these unique immunotherapies have improved outcomes for pediatric and adult patients in a number of disease states, as 'living drugs,' their toxicity profiles, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), differ markedly from conventional cancer therapeutics. At the time of article preparation, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved tisagenlecleucel, axicabtagene ciloleucel, and brexucabtagene autoleucel, all of which are IEC therapies based on genetically modified T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), and additional products are expected to reach marketing authorization soon and to enter clinical development in due course. As IEC therapies, especially CAR T cell therapies, enter more widespread clinical use, there is a need for clear, cohesive recommendations on toxicity management, motivating the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) to convene an expert panel to develop a clinical practice guideline. The panel discussed the recognition and management of common toxicities in the context of IEC treatment, including baseline laboratory parameters for monitoring, timing to onset, and pharmacological interventions, ultimately forming evidence- and consensus-based recommendations to assist medical professionals in decision-making and to improve outcomes for patients.