Longitudinal study of paralytic shellfish toxins along Canada's coast.

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) in shellfish products have led to severe risks to human health. To monitor the risk, the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program has been collecting longitudinal PST measurements in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) samples in six coastal provinces of Canada. The spatial distributions of major temporal variation patterns were studied via Functional Principal Component Analysis. Seasonal increases in PST contamination were found to vary the most in terms of magnitude along the coastlines, which provides support for location-specific management of the time-sensitive PST contamination. In British Columbia, the first functional principal component (FPC1) indicated the variance among the magnitudes, while FPC2 indicated the seasonality of the PST levels. The temporal variations tended to be positively correlated with the abundance of dianoflagellates Alexandrium spp., and negatively with precipitation and inorganic nutrients. These findings indicate the underlying mechanism of PST variation in various geographical settings. In New Brunswick, Prince Edward, and Nova Scotia, the top FPCs indicated that the PST contamination differed mostly in the seasonal increase of the PST level during summer.

Implementation and impact of the World Health Organization integrated care for older people (ICOPE) program in China: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Fragmentation of services increases health and social care burden as people live longer with higher prevalence of diseases, frailty and dependency. Local evidence for implementing person-centred integrated care is urgently needed to advance practice and policies to achieve healthy ageing. OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility and impact of World Health Organization's (WHO) Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach in China. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial examining the feasibility of implementing ICOPE approach, evaluating its impact on health outcomes and health resource utilisation. SETTING: Primary care setting in urban and suburban communities of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. SUBJECTS: Community-dwelling older adults screened as at-risk of functional declines and randomised into intervention (537) and control (1611) groups between September 2020 and February 2021. METHODS: A 6-month intervention program following WHO's ICOPE care pathways implemented by integrated care managers compared to standard available care. RESULTS: After 1 to 1 propensity score matching, participants in intervention and control groups (totally 938) had comparable baseline characteristics, demonstrated feasibility of implementing ICOPE with satisfaction by participants (97-99%) and providers (92-93%). All outcomes showed improvements after a 6-month intervention, while statistically significant least-squares mean differences (control-intervention) in vitality (Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short Form to measure vitality, -0.21, 95% CI, -0.40-0.02), mobility (Short Physical Performance Battery to measure mobility, -0.29, 95% CI, -0.44-0.14) and psychological health (Geriatric Depression Scale five items to measure psychological health, 0.09, 95% CI, 0.03-0.14) were observed (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to localise and implement WHO's ICOPE approach in regions with fragmented resources such as China. Preliminary evidence supports its acceptance among key stakeholders and impact on health outcomes.

Place-value and physical size converge in automatic processing of multi-digit numbers.

Previous research has shown that multi-digit number processing is modulated by both place-value and physical size of the digits. By pitting place-value against physical size, the present study examined whether one of the attributes had a greater impact on the automatic processing of multi-digit numbers. In three experiments, participants were presented with two-digit number pairs that appeared in frames. They were instructed to select the larger frame while ignoring the numbers within the frames. Importantly, we manipulated the physical size of the digits (i.e., both decade/unit digits were physically larger) within the frames, the unit-decade compatibility (i.e., the relationship between the numerical values of both decade and unit digits was consistent or inconsistent), and the congruity between the numerical values of the decade digits and the frames' physical size (i.e., decade-value-frame-size congruity). In Experiment 1, where all pairs were unit-decade compatible, a decade-value-frame-size congruity effect emerged for pairs with physically larger decade, but not unit, digits. However, when adding unit-decade incompatible pairs (Experiments 2-3), in unit-decade compatible pairs, there was a decade-value-frame-size congruity effect regardless of the digits' physical size. In contrast, in unit-decade incompatible pairs, there was no decade-value-frame-size congruity effect, even when the physically larger digit (i.e., unit) contradicted the place-value information, presumably due to the cancellation of the opposing influences of the digits' physical sizes their place-values. Overall, these findings suggest that place-value and physical size are intertwined in the Hindu-Arabic numerical system and are processed as one.

Setting restorative goals with a regional outlook: Mine-rehabilitation outcomes influence landscape connectivity.

Mining is increasing worldwide and is typically associated with highly negative environmental impacts, such as habitat loss and fragmentation. To counteract these effects and improve restoration practices, decisions, such as setting mine rehabilitation goals, could incorporate the assessment and restoration of landscape connectivity into their regional and local-scale planning. The overarching goal of this work was to assess landscape connectivity for flora and fauna and explore mine-rehabilitation scenarios that can be used as a tool for prioritising biodiversity outcomes. Our study area comprised the Fitzroy Basin (Queensland, Australia), where the disturbance footprints from mining cover a cumulative area of 121,239 ha. We considered two scenarios: rehabilitation to agriculture and restoration to native ecosystems. To compare these scenarios, we created differential maps, which highlighted that restoring to native ecosystems represented connectivity gains over agricultural rehabilitation goals. These maps revealed three ways to prioritise rehabilitation outcomes, giving priority to mines that: 1) presented medium to high connectivity values, 2) covered a large area of influence (contributing to connectivity on a larger scale, regardless of current flow values), and 3) showed a gain of important paths/corridors. We explored four case studies and found that three benefited from restoration outcomes, while the fourth did not benefit by either scenario. Our methods can be used for decision-making in restoration ecology and conservation, including mine rehabilitation priorities and goals, as well as for evaluating connectivity gains or losses.

The European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) and the Decade of the KidneyTM.

The European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) is an advocacy organization that defends the case of the kidney patients and the nephrological community at the level of the European Union (EU), and from there, top to bottom, also at the national level of the EU member states and the EU-associated countries. The Decade of the KidneyTM is a global initiative launched by the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) to create greater awareness and organize patient demands for long overdue innovation in kidney care. This article describes the medical and patient burden of kidney disease, the history of EKHA, its major activities and tools for policy action, and the need for innovation of kidney care. We then describe the Decade of the KidneyTM initiative, the rationale behind why EKHA joined this activity to emanate parallel action at the European side, the novel professionalized structure of EKHA, and its immediate targets. The final aim is to align all major stakeholders for an action plan on kidney disease comparable to Europe's successful Beating Cancer Plan, with the additional intent that the EKHA model is applied also by the respective national kidney-related societies to create a broad mobilization at all levels. The ultimate aims are that the EU considers chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a major health and health-economic problem, to consequently have CKD included as a key health research target by the European Commission, and to improve quality of life and outcomes for all kidney patients.

Subjective expectation of reaching age 85: agreement with population statistics and association with behavioral and psychological factors.

BACKGROUND: It is not clearly known how well Danes estimate their chances of reaching the average life expectancy and whether identifiable population subgroups misestimate their life expectancy, and potentially also investments and savings in health and pensions. Therefore, in this study, we examined on the individual level whether subjective life expectancy is in line with the statistically calculated chance of reaching age 85, and further explored the psychological and behavioral factors associated with under or overestimation. METHODS: We opted for a cross-sectional survey design based on a sample of 5,379 Danish citizens aged 50-70 years, returning a web-based questionnaire with socio-demographic data supplemented from a national registry. Average participant estimates of their chance of reaching age 85 for each age range and sex group were compared with actuarial data. We then performed multiple linear regression analyses to examine factors associated with the subjective expectancy of reaching age 85 years. RESULTS: We found that 32% of females and 23% of males reported 100% certainty of reaching age 85, and average expected survival chance exceeded the statistically predicted survival chance for 23% of males and 16% for females in age-ranges 50-60 and 61-70. Our multivariable analysis found that health literacy, internal health locus of control, willingness to take health risks, self-rated health, and health and life satisfaction all showed a significant positive association with expectation of reaching age 85. Moreover, those on daily medications, ex- or current smokers, and heavy drinkers were significantly less optimistic about reaching age 85. CONCLUSIONS: Particularly for the population groups with inaccurate life expectancies, the significant associations with psychological and behavioral factors open a way for initiatives based on behavior change theories to reach a better agreement between subjective and statistical life expectancy.

Revegetation through seeding or planting: A worldwide systematic map.

Roughly 2 billion ha of land are degraded and in need of ecological restoration worldwide. Active restoration frequently involves revegetation, which leads to the dilemma of whether to conduct direct seeding or to plant nursery-grown seedlings. The choice of revegetation method can regulate plant survival and performance, with economic implications that ultimately feed back to our capacity to conduct restoration. We followed a peer-reviewed protocol to develop a systematic map that collates, describes and catalogues the available studies on how seeding compares to planting in achieving restoration targets. We compiled a database with the characteristics of all retrieved studies, which can be searched to identify studies of particular locations and habitats, objectives of restoration, plant material, technical aspects, and outcomes measured. The search was made in eight languages and retrieved 3355 publications, of which 178 were retained. The systematic map identifies research gaps, such as a lack of studies in the global South, in tropical rainforests, and covering a long time period, which represent opportunities to expand field-based research. Additionally, many studies overlooked reporting on important technical aspects such as seed provenance and nursery cultivation methods, and others such as watering or seedling protection were more frequently applied for planting than for seeding, which limits our capacity to learn from past research. Most studies measured outcomes related to the target plants but avoided measuring general restoration outcomes or economic aspects. This represents a relevant gap in research, as the choice of revegetation method is greatly based on economic aspects and the achievement of restoration goals goes beyond the establishment of plants. Finally, we identified a substantial volume of studies conducted in temperate regions and over short periods (0-5 y). This research cluster calls for a future in-depth synthesis, potentially through meta-analysis, to reveal the overall balance between seeding and planting and assess whether the response to this question is mediated by species traits, environmental characteristics, or technical aspects. Besides identifying research clusters and gaps, the systematic map database allows managers to find the most relevant scientific literature on the appropriateness of seeding vs. planting for particular conditions, such as certain species or habitats.

Improved survival of patients with myelofibrosis in the last decade: Single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The management of myelofibrosis (MF) has changed over the last several years and could have an impact on patient outcome. This study evaluates the survival of patients with MF at the authors' institution to determine whether it changed in the last decade. METHODS: This retrospective study consists of 844 patients (64% male; median age, 66 years; range, 20-90 years) who were examined between 2000 and 2020 with a new diagnosis of MF. Only patients with available marrow biopsy who had reticulin fibrosis of grade 2 or higher were included. Patients were compared by year of presentation: 2000-2010 (n = 373) and 2011-2020 (n = 471). RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement in median survival in the last decade was noted: from 48 months (95% CI, 42-54 months) to 63 months (95% CI, 55-71 months) (P < .001; HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.64-0.95]). Improved survival was observed also in patients 65 years old or older and those having intermediate 2 or high-risk Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS) or DIPSS-Plus risk scores. Among 532 patients treated with MF-directed therapy, patients exposed to JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib had superior outcomes with median overall survival of 84 months (95% CI, 70-94 months). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that survival of patients with MF has improved in the last decade. This improvement is likely due to increased disease awareness, advances in supportive care, and the development of effective treatments.

The UN Decade of healthy ageing: strengthening measurement for monitoring health and wellbeing of older people.

Over the past 100 years, life expectancy has increased dramatically in nearly all nations. Yet, these extra years of life gained have not all been healthy, particularly for older people aged 60 years and over. In 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations (UN) member states embraced a sweeping 10-year global plan of action to ensure all older people can live long and healthy lives, formally known as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). With the adoption of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing resolution, countries are committed to implementing collaborative actions to improve the lives of older people, their families and the communities in which they reside. The Decade addresses four interconnected areas of action. Adopting the UN's resolution on the Decade of Healthy Ageing has caused excitement, but a question that has weighed on everyone's mind is how governments will be held accountable? Besides, there have been no goals or targets set for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing from a programmatic perspective for the action areas, and guidance on measures, data collection, analysis and reporting are urgently needed to support global, regional and national monitoring of the national strategies, programmes and policies. To this end, WHO in collaboration with UN agencies and international agencies established a Technical Advisory Group for Measurement of Healthy Ageing (TAG4MHA) to provide advice on the measurement, monitoring and evaluation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing at the global, regional and national levels.

Cognitive control in number processing: new evidence from number compatibility effects in task-switching.

A growing body of research suggests that basic numerical abilities such as number magnitude processing are influenced by cognitive control processes. So far, evidence for number processing being affected by cognitive control processes stems primarily from observed adaptations of numerical effects to stimulus set characteristics (e.g. order or ratio of specific stimulus types). Complementing previous research on adaptation to stimulus set characteristics as an index of influences of cognitive control, the present study employed a task-switching paradigm to examine how cognitive control processes influence number processing. Participants were presented with a two-digit number and had to either judge its parity or compare its magnitude to a standard depending on a preceding cue. We expected numerical congruency effects (i.e. the unit-decade compatibility effect for magnitude comparisons and the parity congruity effect for parity judgements) to be larger in switch trials, as persisting activation of the task set of the preceding trial should increase interference. In contrast to our expectations, both numerical congruity effects were reduced following task switches as compared to repetitions. This interaction of task-switching with numerical congruency effects suggests an influence of cognitive control on basic number processing in form of persisting inhibition of previously abandoned task sets, so that these exert less influence on current number processing demands.

Decade-low aerosol levels over the Bohai and Yellow Seas amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has crucially influenced anthropogenic activities, which in turn impacts upon the environment. In this study, we investigated the variations on aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 550 nm over the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea during the COVID-19 lockdown (from February to March in 2020) of China mainland based on Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observation by comparing with historical AOD records (2011-2019). Our results show that with the lockdown implementation, the decade-low AOD levels are achieved in February and March 2020 (0.39 ± 0.18 and 0.37 ± 0.19, respectively), which are 22% and 28% (p < 0.01) lower than the average AOD between 2011 and 2019 (0.50 ± 0.08 and 0.52 ± 0.05, respectively). After the lockdown restrictions were relaxed and industrial production gradually resumed, the AOD in April 2020 rebounded to the historical average level. Besides, compared with historical observations (2011-2019), the AOD temporal variability from February to April 2020 showed different pattern, with the decade-high increase from March to April (+0.11) and decade-low increase from February to March (-0.01). Independent observations and simulation, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from ground-based measurements, wind field from Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform, satellite-derived aerosol type, and back trajectories calculation by Hybird Single Paricle Lagrangian Intergrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, indicated that the above abnormal AOD variation can be attributed to reduction of anthropogenic emissions during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The results of this paper, therefore, indicate that aerosols over the Bohai and Yellow Seas are strongly influenced by human activities, and the public health events such as the epidemic may alter the intensity of human activities and thus the spatio-temporal pattern of aerosol over ocean. With the global spread of the epidemic and the corresponding significant changes in human behavior patterns (restrictions on human activities, etc.), more studies should be carried out in the future about the aerosol variability and its potential impact on the marine environment.

The World of Immunization: Achievements, Challenges, and Strategic Vision for the Next Decade.

Immunization is among the most cost-effective public health interventions available and is estimated to have averted at least 37 million deaths between 2000 and 2019. Since the establishment of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1974, global vaccination coverage increased and the coverage gap between rich and poor countries decreased. Creation of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in 2000 allowed the poorest countries in the world to benefit from new, life-saving vaccines and expand the breadth of protection against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite this progress, inequities in access to and uptake of vaccines persist. Opportunities to realize the full potential of vaccines are within reach but require focused, tailored and committed action by Governments and immunization stakeholders. The Immunization Agenda 2030 provides a framework for action during the next decade to attain a world where everyone, everywhere, at every age fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being.

Now we are 30: 10 more years of MASCC.

This paper chronicles the third decade of MASCC from 2010. There was a generational change in this decade, building on the solid foundation of the founders. It included the first female President, and a new Executive Director with a background in strategy and business development and operations as applied to healthcare. The headquarters moved from Copenhagen to Toronto. The first meeting to be held outside of Europe or North America was held in Adelaide, Australia, and the membership in the Asia Pacific region expanded. A program of international affiliates saw national supportive care organisations formally link with MASCC. In cancer supportive care, there was a raft of new toxicities to manage as immunotherapies were added to conventional cytotoxic treatment. There was also a greater emphasis on the psychosocial needs of patients and families. New MASCC groups were formed to respond to this evolution in cancer management. The MASCC journal, Supportive Care in Cancer, continued to grow in impact, and MASCC published two editions of a textbook of supportive care and survivorship. The decade ended with the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that served to highlight the importance of good supportive care to patients with cancer.

Unilateral premature osteoarthritis of the hip with excessive anteversion of the femoral neck developing in the early second decade: two surgical cases.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip rarely develops in the early second decade. As the incidence of this disease is low, no treatment method has been established. We report two patients with unilateral OA in their early teens in whom the anteversion angle of the femoral neck on the affected side was greater than that on the unaffected side. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1 was an 11-year-old girl with left coxalgia and limited range of motion. There was no history of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) or developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Plain X-rays revealed the disappearance of the Y cartilage, joint space narrowing of the left hip, and acetabular/femoral head osteosclerosis. In CT images, the anteversion angle of the femoral neck (lt/rt) was 45/35 degrees. As osteoarthritis was severe, proximal femoral flexional derotational varus osteotomy (PFFDVO) and triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) were performed. Case 2 was a 13-year-old girl with left coxalgia and limited range of motion. There was no history of FAI or DDH. Plain X-ray revealed irregularity of the left anterolateral femoral head, and a subcartilaginous cyst. In CT images, the anteversion angle of the femoral neck (lt/rt) was 30/20 degrees. As osteoarthritis was severe, PFFDVO was performed. In addition, we resected bone spurs on the femoral head because flexion was limited owing to the presence of osteophytes. In both patients, coxalgia and claudication/gait disorder resolved postoperatively, and joint space narrowing and osteosclerosis improved. However, in Case 1, there was a 3-cm difference in the leg length, and in Case 2, range-of-motion limits remained. CONCLUSIONS: We present the findings in two patients with unilateral OA in their early second decade in whom the femoral anteversion angle on the affected side was greater than that on the unaffected side. PFFDVO + TPO was performed in Case 1, and PFFDVO + bone spur resection on the femoral head was performed in Case 2. Coxalgia resolved, and plain X-ray demonstrated improvements in OA; however, a difference in the leg length and range-of-motion limits remained.

We Know Even More Things: A Decade Review of Parenting Research.

In this article, we highlight the important ideas that have emerged from research on parenting and adolescent development over the past decade. Beginning with research on authoritative parenting, we examine key elements of this parenting style and its influence across diverse contexts and populations. We turn our attention to four topics that have generated much research in the past decade: (1) how parenting contributes to adolescent peer and romantic relationships; (2) the impact of parenting on adolescent brain development; (3) gene-environment interactions in parenting research; and (4) parents' involvement in adolescents' social media use. We discuss contemporary challenges and ways parents can promote healthy development. We consider the integration of research, practice, and policy that best supports parents and adolescents.

Advancing nature-based approaches to address the biodiversity and climate emergency.

Biodiversity loss and climate change are often considered as intertwined issues. However, they do not receive equal attention. Even in the context of nature-based climate solutions, which consider ecosystems to be crucial to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, the potential role of biodiversity has received little attention. Here this essay emphasizes biodiversity as the cause-not only the consequence-to help society and nature face challenges associated with the changing climate. Reconsidering and emphasizing the linkages between these twin environmental crises is urgently needed to make collective efforts for the environment truly effective.

Decreasing Trends in Road Traffic Injury Incidence and Mortality in Nigeria: A Ten-Year Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents constitute a significant public health burden in Nigeria. In this study, we aim to (1) characterize the temporal burden of road traffic injury (RTI) and mortality rates in Nigeria over a decade, (2) identify regional RTI incidence, mortality trends, and high-risk regions, and (3) assess the impact of state population on injury and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed aggregate state-level RTI incidence and mortality counts reported by the Federal Road Safety Corps from January 2001 through December 2010. We also reviewed population data from the National Population Commission. In addition to national analyses, regional analyses were performed in Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and one Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Regression analysis was also performed to determine the relationship between population and RTI incidence and mortality. RESULTS: The national median RTI incidence and mortality rates declined by 53% and 75%, respectively, between 2001 and 2010. Analysis by geopolitical zone yielded the greatest increases for both injury and mortality in the FCT and the greatest decreases for both in the South-South region. The average geopolitical zone, apart from the FCT, experienced a 24% decrease in the incidence rate and a 69% decrease in the mortality rate. An analysis of variance, run to assess potential differences in RTI incidence and mortality rates by state population, yielded significant values of P = 0.0023 for injury and P = 0.0002 for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Acknowledging the potential for underreporting, a more holistic surveillance approach would generate more accurate data for future policy creation to improve clinical outcomes.

Doing more with less: our decade of experience with laparo-endoscopic single site Heller myotomy supports its application.

BACKGROUND: Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder that affects 1 in 100,000 individuals. Currently, laparoscopic Heller myotomy with anterior fundoplication is the 'gold standard' therapy for achalasia, alleviating symptoms by de-functionalizing the lower esophageal sphincter mechanism. The advent of the Laparo-Endoscopic Single Site (LESS) technique provides a more minimally invasive approach to Heller myotomy. METHODS: With IRB approval, 179 patients who underwent LESS Heller myotomy with anterior fundoplication since 2007 have been prospectively followed. Patients self-assessed symptom frequency and severity preoperatively and postoperatively using a Likert scale (0 = never/not bothersome to 10 = always/very bothersome). Patients scored their scar satisfaction (1 = revolting to 10 = beautiful). Data are presented as median (mean ± SD). Significance was accepted with 95% probability. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of patients were men, of age 55 (53 ± 17) years and BMI of 25 (25 ± 6.1) kg/m2. Patients had an operative time of 134 (135 ± 34.3) minutes with an estimated blood loss (EBL) of 50 mL. Postoperative complications occurred in 18% of patients (e.g., urinary retention, capnothorax). Length of stay was 1 (2 ± 2.1) day. Preoperatively, symptoms (e.g., dysphagia, regurgitation) were frequent and severe; following myotomy, all symptoms queried were significantly less frequent and severe with follow-up of 28 (34 ± 18.4) months (p < 0.0001 for all, paired Student's t test). Eighty-seven percent of patients reported they were 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with their experience and 95% of patients would undergo the operation again knowing what they know now. Patients scored their satisfaction with their scar as 10 (9 ± 1.6). CONCLUSION: Heller myotomy with anterior fundoplication undertaken via the LESS approach provides efficacious, satisfactory, and durable amelioration of symptoms. Patients reported significant symptom resolution as well as satisfaction with their overall experience. Our decade of experience documenting the salutary benefits of LESS Heller myotomy should be more than enough to encourage surgeons to incorporate the approach into their armamentarium.

Advances in the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids and Natural Analogues Isolated in the Last Decade.

Amaryllidaceae are bulbous wild and cultivated plants well known for their beautiful flowers and pharmaceutical applications, essentially due to the alkaloids and flavonoids content. Hundreds of alkaloids have been isolated until now and several scientific publications reported their sources, chemical structures, and biological activities. During the last decade, some unstudied Amaryllidaceae plants were the object of in-depth investigations to isolate and chemically and biologically characterize new and already known alkaloids as well as some analogues. This review describes the isolation and chemical and biological characterization of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, and their analogues obtained in the last decade, focusing the discussion on the new ones.

Sex hormones and number processing. Progesterone and testosterone relate to hemispheric asymmetries during number comparison.

Like many visual stimuli, multi-digit numbers are of a hierarchical nature, with whole number magnitudes depending on individual digit magnitudes. Accordingly, multi-digit numbers can be processed in a holistic (whole number magnitudes) or decomposed manner (digit magnitudes). The compatibility effect during number comparison serves as an indicator of decomposed processing. It is characterized by impaired performance for items where the larger number contains the smaller unit-digit. We were recently able to demonstrate, that the compatibility effect indeed depends on an individual's tendency to process visual hierarchical stimuli on a global or local level. Accordingly, factors affecting global-local processing, should also affect number magnitude processing, i.e. the compatibility effect. Among these factors are hemispheric asymmetries, sex differences and sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone). In the present study 39 men and 37 naturally cycling women in their luteal cycle phase completed a number comparison task with stimuli randomly presented to the left and right hemifield. As in previous studies, we observed a larger compatibility effect in the right hemifield (left hemisphere) than in the left hemifield (right hemisphere) and in men than in women. However, this is the first study to evaluate the effects of sex hormones on hemispheric asymmetries during number comparison. We found progesterone to relate to increased hemispheric asymmetries in men, but decreased hemispheric asymmetries in women. Additionally, testosterone was negatively related to hemispheric asymmetries in women's compatibility effect in reaction times. These results add to the growing evidence that sex hormones relate to hemispheric asymmetries in cognitive functions.