Replenishing IRAK-M expression in retinal pigment epithelium attenuates outer retinal degeneration.

Chronic inflammation is a constitutive component of many age-related diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here, we identified interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase M (IRAK-M) as a key immunoregulator in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that declines during the aging process. Rare genetic variants of IRAK3, which encodes IRAK-M, were associated with an increased likelihood of developing AMD. In human samples and mouse models, IRAK-M abundance in the RPE declined with advancing age or exposure to oxidative stress and was further reduced in AMD. Irak3-knockout mice exhibited an increased incidence of outer retinal degeneration at earlier ages, which was further exacerbated by oxidative stressors. The absence of IRAK-M led to a disruption in RPE cell homeostasis, characterized by compromised mitochondrial function, cellular senescence, and aberrant cytokine production. IRAK-M overexpression protected RPE cells against oxidative or immune stressors. Subretinal delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-expressing human IRAK3 rescued light-induced outer retinal degeneration in wild-type mice and attenuated age-related spontaneous retinal degeneration in Irak3-knockout mice. Our data show that replenishment of IRAK-M in the RPE may redress dysregulated pro-inflammatory processes in AMD, suggesting a potential treatment for retinal degeneration.

Circumferential Pannus at C1-C2 Causing Spinal Cord Compression.

Periodontoid pannus formation is a pathologic condition caused by a multitude of different etiologies, however, it is most commonly due to rheumatoid arthritis. In these cases, the pannus is typically located in the retro-odontoid space ventral to the spinal cord, leading to progressive neural compression. We describe in this report, a patient who presented with progressive high cervical myelopathy, who on imaging revealed both a retro-odontoid pannus and a posterior C1-C2 mass causing severe circumferential compression of the spinal cord. The patient was successfully treated with a C1-C2 laminectomy and occipitocervical fusion. Periodontoid pannus is a common entity; however, the presence of a C1-C2 posterior pannus is a unique finding. To our knowledge, circumferential pannus at C1-C2 causing neural compression is a clinical entity that has not been previously reported.

Insights into hydrothermal treatment of biomass blends: Assessing energy yield and ash content for biofuel enhancement.

This study explores the Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) treatment of lignocellulosic biomass blends, delving into the influence of several key parameters: temperature, additive nature and dosage, residence time, and biomass composition. Rapeseeds, Pinus radiata sawdust, oat husks, and pressed olive served as the studied biomasses. One hundred twenty-eight experiments were conducted to assess the effects on mass yield (MY), energy yield (EY), higher heating value (HHV), and final ash content (ASH) by a Factorial Experimental Design. The derived model equations demonstrated a robust fit to the experimental data, averaging an R2 exceeding 0.94, affirming their predictive accuracy. The observed energy yield ranged between 65% and 80%, notably with sawdust and olive blends securing EY levels surpassing 70%, while rapeseed blends exhibited the highest HHV at 25 MJ/kg. Temperature emerged as the most influential factor, resulting in an 11% decrease in MY and a substantial 2.20 MJ/kg increase in HHV. Contrastingly, blend composition and additive presence significantly impacted ASH and EY, with all blends exhibiting increased ASH in the presence of additives. Higher initial hemicellulose and aqueous extractive content in raw biomass correlated proportionally with heightened HHV.

Hypertension as predictive factor for bevacizumab-containing first-line therapy in metastatic breast and colorectal cancer in BRECOL (GEICAM/2011-04) study.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective data suggest an association between bevacizumab efficacy and the incidence of arterial hypertension (AHT). Additionally, epigenetic mechanisms have been related to AHT. METHODS: This prospective observational study conducted by GEICAM Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group included metastatic breast (MBC) or colorectal (mCRC) cancer patients treated with bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy as first-line treatment. Blood pressure (BP) levels were measured (conventional and 24-h Holter monitoring) at baseline and up to cycle 3. Primary endpoint assessed BP levels increase as predictive factor for progression-free survival (PFS). Germline DNA methylation profile was explored in pre-treatment blood samples; principal component analysis was used to define an epigenetic predictive score for increased BP levels. RESULTS: From Oct-2012 to Jul-2016, 143 (78 MBC and 65 mCRC) patients were included. The incidence of AHT according to guidelines was neither predictive of PFS nor of best overall tumor response (BOR). No statistically significant association was observed with systolic BP nor diastolic BP increment for PFS or BOR. Grade 3 and 4 adverse events were observed in 37 and 5% of patients, respectively. We identified 27 sites which baseline methylation status was significantly associated to BP levels increase secondary to bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the frequency of AHT nor the increase of BP levels were predictive of efficacy in MBC and mCRC patients treated with bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01733628.

Genetic and clinical characterization of a novel FH founder mutation in families with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary syndrome. Previously, we published the largest cohort of FH mutation carriers in Spain and observed a highly recurrent missense heterozygous variant, FH(NM_000143.4):c.1118A > G p.(Asn373Ser), in 104 individuals from 31 apparently unrelated families. Here, we aimed to establish its founder effect and characterize the associated clinical phenotype. RESULTS: Haplotype analysis confirmed that families shared a common haplotype (32/38 markers) spanning 0.61-0.82 Mb, indicating this recurrent variant was inherited from a founder ancestor. Cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis were diagnosed in 64.6% (64/99) and 98% (50/51) of patients, respectively, and renal cell cancer was present in 10.4% (10/96). The pathogenic FH_c.1118A > G variant is a Spanish founder mutation that originated 12-26 generations ago. We estimate that the variant may have appeared between 1370 and 1720. Individuals carrying this founder mutation had similar frequency of renal cell cancer and a higher frequency of renal cysts and leiomyomas than those in other cohorts of this syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: In the Spanish province of Alicante there is a high prevalence of HLRCC because of the founder mutation FH c.1118A > G; p.(Asn373Ser). The characterization of founder mutations provides accurate and specific information regarding their penetrance and expressivity. In individuals with suspected HLRCC from the province of Alicante, genetic testing by direct analysis of the founder FH c.1118A > G; p.(Asn373Ser) mutation may be a faster and more efficient diagnostic tool compared with complete gene sequencing.

Autologous Cranioplasty with Bone Flap Preserved in Conventional Freezers: An Adequate Option in Low Resource Settings.

BACKGROUND: Autologous cranioplasty has been used for decades and is the gold standard treatment in patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy (DC). One of the most common methods to store the cranial bone flap is cryopreservation at very low temperatures (-70 to -80°). The only way to achieve these low temperatures is by using special freezers which are not always available in all medical facilities, especially in low-resource centers. This paper describes our experience with the storage of cranial bone flaps in freezers of conventional refrigerators. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients treated with autologous cranioplasty, operated between 2015 and 2020. The cranial bone flap was stored at -18°C in the freezer of conventional refrigerators. Complications and outcomes were analyzed and compared with reports of patients in whom ultra-low temperature freezers were used for bone flap preservation. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included. The average follow-up period was 33 months. Trauma was the most common cause of DC, followed by stroke. The mean age was 36.7. Aseptic bone flap resorption was observed in 4 cases (16%). No cases of infection were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of freezers from conventional refrigerators may be an acceptable alternative for the preservation of the cranial bone flap in facilities where special freezers are not available. The rate of aseptic bone necrosis and infections observed in this paper was similar to the incidence of these complications reported in studies where ultra-low temperatures were used.

Robotic-assisted single-position lateral for multilevel circumferential lumbar interbody fusion: how I do it.

BACKGROUND: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion supplemented with insertion of pedicle screws is a surgical procedure that has gained popularity in the last years, becoming an important tool in the armamentarium of spine surgeons. In recent years, there is a trend to complete both procedures in a single position, thus avoiding flipping the patient prone to insert the pedicle screws. METHODS: We describe a step-by-step workflow of the robotic-assisted technique for multilevel lateral lumbar interbody fusion supplemented with posterior instrumentation. The surgical procedure is performed in a single lateral position. For access to L4-5 or L5-S1, an oblique abdominal incision is performed in the same position, and the desired disc space is approached through an oblique or anterior corridor in the retroperitoneal space. CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted single-position lateral for multilevel circumferential lumbar interbody fusion is a safe and effective procedure in patients where lumbar stabilization is required. This technique provides patients with a faster recovery and low risk of complications.

Replenishing Age-Related Decline of IRAK-M Expression in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Attenuates Outer Retinal Degeneration.

Unchecked, chronic inflammation is a constitutive component of age-related diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here we identified interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)-M as a key immunoregulator in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that declines with age. Rare genetic variants of IRAK-M increased the likelihood of AMD. IRAK-M expression in RPE declined with age or oxidative stress and was further reduced in AMD. IRAK-M-deficient mice exhibited increased incidence of outer retinal degeneration at earlier ages, which was further exacerbated by oxidative stressors. The absence of IRAK-M disrupted RPE cell homeostasis, including compromised mitochondrial function, cellular senescence, and aberrant cytokine production. IRAK-M overexpression protected RPE cells against oxidative or immune stressors. Subretinal delivery of AAV-expressing IRAK-M rescued light-induced outer retinal degeneration in wild-type mice and attenuated age-related spontaneous retinal degeneration in IRAK-M-deficient mice. Our data support that replenishment of IRAK-M expression may redress dysregulated pro-inflammatory processes in AMD, thereby treating degeneration.

Hybrid porous media gasification of urban solid waste pre-treated by hydrothermal carbonization.

Global population growth and rising consumption levels have significantly increased resource use and energy demand, leading to higher greenhouse gas concentrations and increased waste output. As a result, alternative waste treatment methods for sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management are crucial. This research evaluates the efficiency of integrating hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and gasification for an optimized MSW biomass blend. HTC was conducted for one hour at 220°C in a 5 L reactor, followed by gasification in a hybrid porous medium gasifier. The study investigated the effects of different filtration speeds on combustion temperature and hydrogen concentrations. The results showed that a filtration speed of 35 cm/s resulted in a maximum combustion temperature of 1035.7°C. The temperature remained consistent across filter speeds, while higher velocities yielded higher hydrogen concentrations. Additionally, increasing the filtration velocity raised temperatures in the hybrid bed while increasing the volumetric fraction of biomass decreased maximum temperatures. This research contributes to the understanding of merging HTC and gasification for MSW biomass blend treatment, aiming to reduce environmental impacts and costs while promoting renewable resources for long-term energy production.

Efficiency and Safety of CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery in the Multimodal Management of Patients with Acromegaly.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze, in a cohort of acromegalic patients, the results of the efficiency and safety of radiosurgery (CyberKnife), as well as the prognostic factors associated with disease remission. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, retrospective, longitudinal, and analytical study that included acromegalic patients with persistent biochemical activity after initial medical-surgical treatment, who received treatment with CyberKnife radiosurgery. GH and IGF-1 levels at baseline after one year and at the end of follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: 57 patients were included, with a median follow-up of four years (IQR, 2-7.2 years). The biochemical remission rate was 45.6%, 33.33% achieved biochemical control, and 12.28% attained biochemical cure at the end of follow-up. A progressive and statistically significant decrease was observed in the comparison of the concentrations of IGF-1, IFG-1 x ULN, and baseline GH at one year and at the end of follow-up. Both cavernous sinus invasion and elevated baseline IGF-1 x ULN concentrations were associated with an increased risk of biochemical non-remission. CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery (CyberKnife) is a safe and effective technique in the adjuvant treatment of GH-producing tumors. Elevated levels of IGF x ULN before radiosurgery and invasion of the cavernous sinus by the tumor could be predictors of biochemical non-remission of acromegaly.

Unexpected Findings in Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome: Low-Level Constitutional Mosaicism in BRCA2.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) is a clinical entity characterized by an increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The genetic diagnosis is based on the identification of heterozygous germinal variants in HBOC susceptibility genes. However, it has recently been described that constitutional mosaic variants can contribute to the aetiology of HBOC. In constitutional mosaicism, individuals have at least two genotypically distinct populations of cells that arise from an early post-zygote event. The mutational event occurs early enough in development to affect several tissues. It is detected in germinal genetic studies as low variant allele frequency (VAF) variants (<30%) that are generally overlooked during the prioritization process. Constitutional mosaic variants can affect both somatic and germinal cells, and thus can be passed to the offspring and have important consequences for genetic counselling. In this work, we report the c.9648+1G>A mosaic variant in the BRCA2 gene and propose a diagnostic algorithm to deal with potential mosaic findings identified by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Seizure-Induced Spinal Fractures: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Patients with epilepsy have a higher risk of skeletal injuries, and some of these fractures occur in the spine during a seizure. Seizure-induced spinal fractures (SISF) are unusual injuries that typically occur in the thoracolumbar spine. Because these skeletal injuries are not well described in the literature, this article aims to analyze the characteristics of this uncommon clinical entity. METHODS: A PubMed and Scopus search adhering to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines was performed to include studies reporting patients with SISF. The data gathered from this review were analyzed to characterize this condition. RESULTS: The search yielded 34 articles with a total of 38 patients with SISF. All studies were case reports (level 5 evidence). Most fractures occurred in the thoracic and lumbar spine, and the most common injuries were type A1 and A4 fractures according to the AO spine classification system. Different characteristics of SISF are described including demographics, clinical findings, imaging, and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: SISF should be ruled out in patients who have a recent history of seizures and who report persistent dorsolumbar pain or neurological deficit. SISF usually occurs in the thoracolumbar spine and less frequently in the cervical spine. This review shows that different patterns of neurological deficits, some of them severe, may occur in approximately a quarter of patients with SISF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides awareness of an uncommon spine condition. Physicians should suspect SISF in patients with persistent dorsolumbar pain after a seizure.

Infección de cavidad anoftálmica por Scedosporium sp. en paciente inmunocompetente: Reporte de caso / Anophthalmic socket infection caused by Scedosporium sp. in immunocompetent patient: Case Report

Resumen Scedosporium sp. es un género de hongos filamentosos que de forma infrecuente se relaciona a infecciones localizadas o diseminadas en pacientes inmunocom prometidos, o inmunocompetentes con trauma penetrante contaminado. Reportamos el caso de un paciente masculino de 31 años con antecedente de trauma penetrante por arma de fuego requiriendo enucleación de su ojo izquierdo, quien 12 años posterior al trauma inicial presenta necrosis de la cavidad anoftálmica con extrusión del implante y lisis del párpado inferior, finalmente identificando Scedosporium sp. como germen causal, y un mucocele en el seno frontal como reservorio. El paciente recibió tratamiento médico con voriconazol sistémico, desbridamiento quirúrgico amplio, y resección endoscópica del quiste de retención mucoso, con una evolución satisfactoria. Las infecciones micóticas de la cavidad anoftálmica son infrecuentes, requiriendo una alta sospecha diagnóstica y trata miento agresivo para evitar consecuencias potencialmente devastadoras.

Abstract Scedosporium sp. is a genus of filamentous fungi that is infrequently related to localized or disseminated infections in either immunocompromised patients, or immunocompetent patients with penetrating contaminated trauma. We report the case of a 31-year-old patient with a history of penetrating gunshot wound that required enucleation of his left eye, who 12 years after initial trauma presents necrosis of the anophthalmic socket with implant extrusion and lysis of inferior eyelid, finally identifying the causal agent to be Scedosporium sp. The patient received medical treatment with systemic voriconazole, and wide surgical debridement, with a satisfactory evolution. Fungal infections of anophthalmic sockets are infrequent, requiring a high diagnostic suspicion and aggressive treatment to avoid potentially devastating consequences.

Microstructure and Hydrophobicity of the External Surface of a Sonoran Desert Beetle.

We have studied the external surface (elytra) of the Sonoran Desert beetle (Eleodes eschscholtzii). Our aim was to assess whether this species has similar traits to some beetles from the Namibian Desert that are known to have hierarchical micropatterns that allow for water harvesting. We have conducted scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and apparent contact angle experiments on specimens collected at two sampling sites with different ambient humidity. The results show that the beetle's external surface microstructure is composed of a compact array of polygons with randomly scattered protuberances. The density of the polygons in the microstructure is different for individuals collected in different sites: the polygon array is denser in the more humid site and less dense in the drier site. The measured contact angles also depend on the sampling site. For individuals collected in the drier site, the average apparent contact angle is 70°, whereas for the more humid site, the average apparent contact angle is 92°. FT-IR experiments are consistent with the presence of hydrophobic wax compounds in the studied surfaces. Our investigation opens new questions that are currently being addressed by experiments that are underway. For instance, it would be interesting to know whether the observed nanopatterns could be used in biomimetic devices for water harvesting purposes.

An environmental assessment for municipal organic waste and sludge treated by hydrothermal carbonization.

Climate change is the world's greatest challenge today, the reason why it is urgent to optimize industrial processes and find new renewable energy sources. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is one of the Waste-to-Energy technologies with greater projections due to its operative advantages. However, for its large-scale implementation, there are challenges related to the variability of the composition of the waste biomass and the seasonal and geographical availability. This research applied the Life Cycle Analysis methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts caused by three biomasses blends as raw material in the HTC process at laboratory scale. The blends analyzed considered different organic fractions of municipal solid waste (food and pruning) and sewage sludge. The results showed that blend 1 had a lower environmental impact for the case of production in the experimental laboratory level, compared with blends 2 and 3. This is mainly due to its greater calorific value and mass yield, which allows obtaining more hydrochar compared with the other blends, increasing the energy efficiency of the process. Also, between 87.94% and 98.00% of the energy reduction is required to obtain neutral impacts regarding the energy requirements in the experimental laboratory level scenario and the Chilean energy matrix. The processing of blends in HTC has excellent potential in a context where municipal solid wastes have been disposed in sanitary landfills or dumps, as in most emerging countries. Since this study incorporated data from the literature, future studies should perform an elemental analysis to provide experimental and differentiated data.

Hypertensive primary intraventricular hemorrhage: a systematic review.

Primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is a special subtype of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) without a hemorrhagic parenchymal component. Different conditions may cause this uncommon hemorrhage including trauma, vascular anomalies, coagulation disorders, and others. Frequently, PIVH is associated with structural vascular anomalies such as aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and dural fistulas. Traditionally, hypertension has been considered a predisposing factor for PIVH. A wide variety of studies have been published describing patients with PIVH; however, studies describing exclusively patients with hypertensive PIVH are lacking in the literature. For this reason, the features of PIVH secondary to hypertension are not well described. The purpose of this study is to analyze and describe the characteristics of hypertensive PIVH. A PubMed and Scopus search adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed to include studies reporting patients with hypertensive PIVH. The search yielded 19 articles reporting retrospective case series. The diagnosis of hypertensive PIVH should be established in patients meeting the following criteria: (a) elevation of blood pressure is observed at admission, (b) a cerebral angiography is negative for vascular anomalies, and (c) other causes of intracranial hemorrhage are ruled out. The prognosis is poorer in patients who present with low Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), old age, hydrocephalus, or more extensive intraventricular bleeding. The results of this study show that hypertension is the most common cause of PIVH, followed by hemorrhage caused by vascular anomalies. Hypertension may be a direct cause of PIVH, but also it may be a predisposing factor for bleeding in cases of an associated vascular anomaly.

Upfront primary tumour resection and survival in synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer according to primary tumour location and RAS status: Pooled analysis of the Spanish Cooperative Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumours (TTD).

INTRODUCTION: Retrospective studies and meta-analyses suggest that upfront primary tumour resection (UPTR) confers a survival benefit in patients with asymptomatic unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) undergoing chemotherapy, however a consensus of its role in routine clinical practice in the current era of targeted therapies is lacking. This retrospective study aimed to analyse the survival benefit of UPTR in terms of tumour location and mutational status, in patients with synchronous mCRC receiving chemotherapy and targeted therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Survival was analysed in a pooled cohort of synchronous mCRC patients treated with a first-line anti-VEGF or anti-EGFR inhibitor in seven trials of the Spanish TTD group, according to UPTR, tumour-sidedness and mutational profiling. RESULTS: Of 1334 eligible patients, 642 (48%) had undergone UPTR. UPTR was associated with significantly longer overall survival (OS; 25.0 vs 20.3 months; HR 1.30, 95%CI 1.15-1.48; p < 0.0001). UPTR was associated with significant OS benefit in both left-sided (HR 1.38, 95%CI 1.13-1.69; p = 0.002) and right-sided (HR 1.39, 95%CI 1.00-1.94; p = 0.049) tumours, RASwt (HR 1.29, 95%CI 1.05-1.60; p = 0.016) and BRAFwt (HR 1.49, 95%CI 1.21-1.84; p = 0.0002) tumours, and treatment with anti-EGFRs (HR 1.47, 95%CI 1.13-1.92; p = 0.004) and anti-VEGFs (HR 1.25, 95%CI 1.08-1.44; p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis identified number of metastatic sites, RAS status, primary tumour location and UPTR as independent prognostic factors for OS. CONCLUSION: Considering the selection bias inherent to this study, our results support UPTR before first-line anti-EGFR or anti-VEGF targeted therapy in right and left-sided asymptomatic unresectable synchronous mCRC patients. RAS/BRAF mutational status may also influence UPTR function.

Orbito-cranial gunshot injury: the case of the missing entrance wound.

This paper presents the case of a 68 years old male who was admitted to the hospital after being attacked by another person. The main clinical signs were confusion and severe periorbital edema, findings of gunshot injury were not evident initially. However, a CT scan showed findings compatible with an orbito-cranial perforating gunshot injury. To the best of the author's knowledge, cases like this have not been reported in the literature. This report shows us that an orbito-cranial gunshot injury should be ruled out in cases of severe periorbital edema, especially if the cause of the injury remains unidentified.

Environmental performance of commercial beef production systems utilizing conventional productivity-enhancing technologies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of using conventional productivity-enhancing technologies (PETs) with or without other natural PETs on the growth performance, carcass traits, and environmental impacts of feedlot cattle. A total of 768 cross-bred yearling steers (499 ±â€…28.6 kg; n = 384) and heifers (390 ±â€…34.9 kg; n = 384) were offered a barley grain-based basal diet and divided into implanted or non-implanted groups. Steers were then allocated to diets that contained either: (i) no additive (control); natural feed additives including (ii) fibrolytic enzymes (Enz), (iii) essential oil (Oleo), (iv) direct-fed microbial (DFM), (v) DFM + Enz + Oleo combination; conventional feed additives including (vi) Conv (monensin, tylosin, and beta-adrenergic agonists [ßAA]); or Conv with natural feed additives including (vii) Conv + DFM + Enz; (viii) Conv + DFM + Enz + Oleo. Heifers received one of the first three dietary treatments or the following: (iv) probiotic (Citr); (v) Oleo + Citr; (vi) Melengesterol acetate (MGA) + Oleo + ßAA; (vii) Conv (monensin, tylosin, ßAA, and MGA); or (viii) Conv + Oleo (ConvOleo). Data were used to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions, as well as land and water use. Implant and Conv-treated cattle exhibited improvements in growth and carcass traits as compared to the other treatments (P < 0.05). Improvements in the performance of Conv-cattle illustrated that replacing conventional feed additives with natural feed additives would increase both the land and water required to satisfy the feed demand of steers and heifers by 7.9% and 10.5%, respectively. Further, GHG emission intensity for steers and heifers increased by 5.8% and 6.7%, and NH3 emission intensity by 4.3% and 6.7%, respectively. Eliminating the use of implants in cattle increased both land and water use by 14.6% and 19.5%, GHG emission intensity by 10.5% and 15.8%, and NH3 emission intensity by 3.4% and 11.0% for heifers and steers, respectively. These results demonstrate that the use of conventional PETs increases animal performance while reducing the environmental impacts of beef production. Restricting use would increase the environmental footprint of beef produced for both domestic and international markets.