Physical activity recommendations for cancer survivors living with bony metastases: views of oncologic healthcare providers.

PURPOSE: The potential of physical activity to improve function and quality of life of an individual with advanced cancer is now established. The purpose of this survey of oncologic healthcare providers (OHPs) is to understand their attitude towards physical activity for individuals living with bony metastases and to assess requirements to confidently provide physical activity recommendations. METHODS: A web-based survey administered through Qualtrics™ included questions on participant demographics and attitude questions ranked on a Likert scale. Eligibility was a physician or nurse practitioner currently providing care in the cancer care system of a public healthcare system in Canada. 338 participants were identified and invited to participate in this survey. RESULTS: The response rate was 34.6%. The majority of OHPs believed physical activity is important (89%) and safe (82%) in individuals living with bony metastases. OHPs agreed that these individuals looked to them for physical activity recommendations (74%) and that these recommendations would be followed (58%). Yet, 86% of OHPs felt they required more information before they could recommend physical activity to individuals living with bony metastases, and less than half (43%) of OHPs felt confident enough to prescribe physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: OHPs agree that physical activity for individuals living with bony metastatic cancer is beneficial and safe. However, OHPs are not confident in their ability to recommend physical activity to this population. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: There is a need to create physical activity guidelines for individuals living with bony metastases and improve access to rehabilitation services.

How do we improve adolescent diet and physical activity in India and sub-Saharan Africa? Findings from the Transforming Adolescent Lives through Nutrition (TALENT) consortium.

OBJECTIVE: Adolescent diet, physical activity and nutritional status are generally known to be sub-optimal. This is an introduction to a special issue of papers devoted to exploring factors affecting diet and physical activity in adolescents, including food insecure and vulnerable groups. SETTING: Eight settings including urban, peri-urban and rural across sites from five different low- and middle-income countries. DESIGN: Focus groups with adolescents and caregivers carried out by trained researchers. RESULTS: Our results show that adolescents, even in poor settings, know about healthy diet and lifestyles. They want to have energy, feel happy, look good and live longer, but their desire for autonomy, a need to 'belong' in their peer group, plus vulnerability to marketing exploiting their aspirations, leads them to make unhealthy choices. They describe significant gender, culture and context-specific barriers. For example, urban adolescents had easy access to energy dense, unhealthy foods bought outside the home, whereas junk foods were only beginning to permeate rural sites. Among adolescents in Indian sites, pressure to excel in exams meant that academic studies were squeezing out physical activity time. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to improve adolescents' diets and physical activity levels must therefore address structural and environmental issues and influences in their homes and schools, since it is clear that their food and activity choices are the product of an interacting complex of factors. In the next phase of work, the Transforming Adolescent Lives through Nutrition consortium will employ groups of adolescents, caregivers and local stakeholders in each site to develop interventions to improve adolescent nutritional status.

[Inpatient equivalent treatment : A new form of care also in gerontopsychiatry]. / Stationsäquivalente Behandlung : Eine neue Versorgungsform auch in der Gerontopsychiatrie.

Since 2018, following a revision of the German Social Code Book V (SGB V), it has been possible for psychiatric hospitals to provide inpatient outreach treatment in the domestic environment of psychiatric patients. Special structural features and documentation requirements must be observed. In addition to a member of the medical and nursing professions, the treatment team must include at least one member of a third professional group (e.g. occupational therapy, social work, physiotherapy). The reimbursement of services is negotiated between the respective medical institution and the health insurance companies and includes regionally divergent billing on the basis of lump sums, per minute worked or mixed models. From a psychiatric psychotherapeutic point of view the treatment of gerontopsychiatric patients in their living environment and thus in their social context offers many advantages. A prerequisite for the success of this approach is a multiprofessional treatment team that is also experienced in somatic illnesses and logistically highly flexible. Under the conditions of the corona pandemic special challenges arise from the prohibition of visiting nursing homes and the risk of infection for patients and members of the treatment team associated with outreach work.

Response of Chloris truncata to moisture stress, elevated carbon dioxide and herbicide application.

Herbicide resistance has been observed in Chloris truncata, an Australian native C4 grass and a summer-fallow weed, which is common in no-till agriculture situations where herbicides are involved in crop management. To investigate the role of drought and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in determining weed growth, three trials were conducted using a 'glyphosate-resistant' and a 'glyphosate-susceptible' biotype. The first two trials tested the effect of herbicide (glyphosate) application on plant survival and growth under moisture stress and elevated CO2 respectively. A third trial investigated the effect on plant growth and reproduction under conditions of moisture stress and elevated CO2 in the absence of herbicide. In the first trial, water was withheld from half of the plants prior to application of glyphosate to all plants, and in the second trial plants were grown in either ambient (450 ppm) or elevated CO2 levels (750 ppm) prior to, and following, herbicide application. In both biotypes, herbicide effectiveness was reduced when plants were subjected to moisture stress or if grown in elevated CO2. Plant productivity, as measured by dry biomass per plant, was reduced with moisture stress, but increased with elevated CO2. In the third trial, growth rate, biomass and seed production were higher in the susceptible biotype compared to the resistant biotype. This suggests that a superior ability to resist herbicides may come at a cost to overall plant fitness. The results indicate that control of this weed may become difficult in the future as climatic conditions change.

Antibody-mediated protection against MERS-CoV in the murine model.

Murine antisera with neutralising activity for the coronavirus causative of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) were induced by immunisation of Balb/c mice with the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the viral Spike protein. The murine antisera induced were fully-neutralising in vitro for two separate clinical strains of the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). To test the neutralising capacity of these antisera in vivo, susceptibility to MERS-CoV was induced in naive recipient Balb/c mice by the administration of an adenovirus vector expressing the human DPP4 receptor (Ad5-hDPP4) for MERS-CoV, prior to the passive transfer of the RBD-specific murine antisera to the transduced mice. Subsequent challenge of the recipient transduced mice by the intra-nasal route with a clinical isolate of the MERS-CoV resulted in a significantly reduced viral load in their lungs, compared with transduced mice receiving a negative control antibody. The murine antisera used were derived from mice which had been primed sub-cutaneously with a recombinant fusion of RBD with a human IgG Fc tag (RBD-Fc), adsorbed to calcium phosphate microcrystals and then boosted by the oral route with the same fusion protein in reverse micelles. The data gained indicate that this dual-route vaccination with novel formulations of the RBD-Fc, induced systemic and mucosal anti-viral immunity with demonstrated in vitro and in vivo neutralisation capacity for clinical strains of MERS-CoV.

Do anterior catheterizable urinary channels have fewer complications than posterior channels? An international cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Appendicovesicostomy (APV) and Monti ileovesicostomy (Monti) are durable catheterizable channels. While subfascial revision rates vary by channel type, a channel implanted in the anterior (vs posterior) aspect of the bladder may have a lower subfascial revision risk, due to decreased channel mobility and better fascial fixation. The present study aimed to compare long-term durability of anteriorly compared to posteriorly implanted APV and Monti channels in a large international cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients aged ≤21 years and who underwent APV or Monti surgery with an open technique at three high-volume centers (1990-2015). The following were noted: patient demographics, stomal and subfascial revisions, stomal location, channel placement (anterior/posterior), and channel type - APV, spiral Monti to umbilicus (SMU), other Monti channels. Survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to separately examine the three channel groups. RESULTS: Of the 675 patients who met inclusion criteria, 387 had an APV (71.3% anterior), 53 had an SMU (13.2% anterior) and 235 had other Monti channels (42.1% anterior). Median age at surgery was 8.8 years for APV (median follow-up: 5.5 years), 9.2 years for other Monti (follow-up: 6.6 years) and 7.9 years for SMU (follow-up: 9.0 years). Patients originated from the USA (67.9%), Argentina (26.4%) and Chile (5.8%). Overall, 76 stomal and 77 subfascial revisions occurred. Risk of stomal revision was 9.3-12.0% at 5 years of follow-up, and was similar between channel types or location (P = 0.57). Risk of subfascial revision at 5 years was 7.4% for APV, 12.7% for all other Monti channels and 25.9% for SMU (P = 0.001). On survival analysis, stomal and subfascial revision rates were similar between anterior and posterior channels for APV (P ≥ 0.16), other Monti channels (P ≥ 0.62) and SMU (P ≥ 0.43) (Summary Fig.). On multivariate regression, channel configuration was not associated with stomal or subfascial revision for APV (P ≥ 0.18) or other Monti channels (P ≥ 0.64). Sex, age, diagnosis, country and stomal location were not associated with revision risk (P ≥ 0.06). DISCUSSION: Contrary to the hypothesis, subfascial revision rates were no different between anterior and posterior channels. Given that many reported outcomes related to genitourinary reconstruction occur rarely and require prolonged follow-up, collaborative research in this area should be encouraged. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated durable long-term results with the APV and Monti techniques in an international cohort. Risks of stomal and subfascial complications were not significantly different between anteriorly and posteriorly implanted channels. As previously reported, Monti channels, particularly SMU, were more prone to undergoing subfascial revisions.

Pollen and stigma size changes during the transition from tristyly to distyly in Oxalis alpina (Oxalidaceae).

Pollen and stigma size have the potential to influence male fitness of hermaphroditic plants, particularly in species presenting floral polymorphisms characterised by marked differences in these traits among floral morphs. In this study, we take advantage of the evolutionary transition from tristyly to distyly experienced by Oxalis alpina (Oxalidaceae), and examined whether modifications in the ancillary traits (pollen and stigma size) respond to allometric changes in other floral traits. Also, we tested whether these modifications are in accordance with what would be expected under the hypothesis that novel competitive scenarios (as in distylous-derived reproductive system) exert morph- and whorl-specific selective pressures to match the available stigmas. We measure pollen and stigma size in five populations of O. alpina representing the tristyly-distyly transition. A general reduction in pollen and stigma size occurred along the tristyly-distyly transition, and pollen size from the two anther levels within each morph converged to a similar size that was characterised by whorl-specific changes (increases or decreases) in pollen size of different anthers in each floral type. Overall, results from this study show that the evolution of distyly in this species is characterised not only by changes in sexual organ position and flower size, but also by morph-specific changes in pollen and stigma size. This evidence supports the importance of selection on pollen and stigma size, which increase fitness of remaining morphs following the evolution of distyly, and raises questions to explore on the functional value of pollen size in heterostylous systems under pollen competition.

Fee-for-service cancer rehabilitation programs improve health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Rigorously applied exercise interventions undertaken in a research setting result in improved health-related quality of life (hrqol) in cancer survivors, but research to demonstrate effective translation of that research to practice is needed. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of fee-for-service cancer rehabilitation programs in the community on hrqol and on self-reported physical activity and its correlates. METHODS: After enrolment and 17 ± 4 weeks later, new clients (n = 48) to two fee-for-service cancer rehabilitation programs completed the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (rand-36: rand Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.), the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, and questions about physical activity correlates. Normal fee-for-service operations were maintained, including a fitness assessment and individualized exercise programs supervised in a group or one-on-one setting, with no minimum attendance required. Fees were associated with the assessment and with each exercise session. RESULTS: Of the 48 participants, 36 (75%) completed both questionnaires. Improvements in the physical functioning, role physical, pain, and energy/fatigue scales on the rand-36 exceeded minimally important differences and were of a magnitude similar to improvements reported in structured, rigorously applied, and free research interventions. Self-reported levels of vigorous-intensity (p = 0.021), but not moderate-intensity (p = 0.831) physical activity increased. The number of perceived barriers to exercise (p = 0.035) and the prevalence of fatigue as a barrier (p = 0.003) decreased. Exercise self-efficacy improved only in participants who attended 11 or more sessions (p = 0.002). Exercise enjoyment did not change (p = 0.629). CONCLUSIONS: Enrolment in fee-for-service cancer rehabilitation programs results in meaningful improvements in hrqol comparable to those reported by research interventions, among other benefits. The fee-for-service model could be an effective model for delivery of exercise to more cancer survivors.

Heminefrectomía en pacientes con doble sistema renal. Experiencia en el Hospital Garrahan / Heminephrectomy in patients with a duplex kidney. Experience at the Garrahan Hospital

La heminefrectomía puede constituir el tratamiento definitivo en el 85% de los pacientes con diagnóstico de doble sistema con uno de los mismos no funcionante. Actualmente el abordaje laparoscópico es de elección tanto por sus resultados estéticos como evolución postoperatoria. Materiales y métodos: se efectuó una revisión y análisis retrospectivo de todos los pacientes operados de heminefrectomía desde el año 2000 a 2014. Resultados: 44 pacientes fueron operados de forma convencional durante el período 2000-2010 y 30 de forma laparoscópica transperitoneal durante el período 2010-2014. La media de duración del procedimiento fue menor para el grupo convencional (89,6 vs 128 min, p = 0,000) mientras que la media de estadía hospitalaria fue menor para el grupo laparoscópico (4,2 vs 5,1, p = 0,19). La tasa de reoperación fue mayor en el grupo convencional (20,4% vs 6,7%, p = 0,18) y la principal causa fue por la presencia un muñón ureteral sintomático. En los controles por centellograma DMSA (en 19 pacientes del segundo grupo) no se objetivó la pérdida de función de la unidad remanente en ningún individuo. Conclusiones: La heminefrectomía es un procedimiento seguro con baja tasa de complicaciones cuya tendencia actual es realizar la cirugía de forma laparoscópica obteniendo resultados similares y menor tasa de complicaciones que en la forma convencional (AU)

Heminephrectomy may be the definitive treatment in 85% of patients diagnosed with a duplex kidney system of which one is not working. Currently, a laparoscopic approach is the treatment of choice because of both esthetic results and postoperative outcome. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent heminephrectomy between 2000 and 2014 was conducted. Results: 44 patients underwent conventional surgery in the period 2000-2010 and 30 underwent transperitoneal laparoscopy in the period 2010-2014. Mean duration of the procedure was less in the conventional group (89.6 vs 128 min, p = 0.000), while the mean hospital stay was less in the laparoscopic group (4.2 vs 5.1, p = 0.19). Reoperation rate was higher in the conventional group (20.4% vs 6.7%, p = 0.18) and the main cause was presence of a symptomatic ureteral stump. On DMSA whole body scan controls (in 19 patients in the second group) no loss of function of the remaining unit was observed in any of the patients. Conclusions: Heminephrectomy is a safe procedure with a low complication rate and a current trend to be performed using laparoscopy with similar results and a lower complication rate than in conventional surgery (AU)

Rol de onabotulinumtoxin A en el tratamiento de niños con vejiga neurogénica / The rol of Onabotulinumtoxin A in the treatment of children with a neurogenic bladder

Introducción: Onabotulinumtoxina es una alternativa terapéutica de segunda línea en pacientes sin respuesta a los anticolinérgicos. Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos de repetidas inyecciones de onabotulinumtoxina en vejigas neurogénicas refractarias al tratamiento clásico. Pacientes y métodos: Se evaluaron 82 pacientes menores de 18 años con vejiga neurogénica, en su mayoría por disrafia espinal. Todos fueron refractarios a oxibutinina oral. Si luego del tercer mes de la primer inyección en el detrusor se constataba mejoría clínica y/o urodinámica; se reinyectaban entre los 9 y 12 meses, nuevamente. De lo contrario, se indicaba cistoplastia de aumento. En algunos casos se utilizaron otros procedimientos endoscópicos - quirúrgicos accesorios. Resultados: Se reinyectaron con Onabotulinumtoxina, dos, tres, cuatro y cinco veces: 20 casos, 7, 4 y un caso, respectivamente. En el 51% promedio se logró continencia urinaria total (score cero-seco). En la primera y segunda inyección hubo incremento significativo en la media de capacidad cistométrica: de 254 a 331 ml (p: 0.007) y de 257 a 367 ml (p: 0.014); respectivamente. En algunos casos, luego de la primer inyección mejoró significativamente la compliance: de 6,9 a 11,4 ml/cmH2O (p: 0.05). La media de presión del detrusor al final del llenado disminuyó en promedio de 37 a 34,4 cmH2O. La sobreactividad del detrusor (n:22) se atenuó en el 54,4% luego de la primer inyección. No se registraron efectos adversos mayores con las reinyecciones. En 15 pacientes refractarios a OnabotulinumtoxinA se realizó ampliación vesical. Conclusión: Luego del tratamiento con onabotulinumtoxina, la continencia urinaria alcanzada fue del 50% promedio. La capacidad cistometrica se incrementó significativamente con las dos primeras inyecciones; aunque no se acompañó paralelamente de un importante descenso de presiones endovesicales. El uso de onabotulinumtoxina ha logrado suprimir o retrasar la clásica indicación de cistoplastia de aumento en niños refractarios a los anticolinérgicos (AU)

Introduction: OnabotulinumtoxinA is a second-line alternative therapy for patients who do not respond to anticholinergics. Aim: To evaluate the impact of repeated injections of OnabotulinumtoxinA in neurogenic bladders refractory to conventional treatment. Patients and methods: 82 patients younger than 18 years with a neurogenic bladder, in the majority due to spinal dysraphism, were evaluated. All were refractory to oral oxybutynin. If in the third month after the first injection in the detrusor clinical and/or urodynamic improvement was observed, between 9 and 12 months later a second injection was given. If not, augmentation cystoplasty was indicated. In some cases other endoscopic/surgical procedures were used. Results: Twenty, seven, four, and one case were reinjected with OnabotulinumtoxinA, two, three, four, and five times, respectively. In a mean of 51% of the patients total urinary continence was achieved (score zero - completely dry). On the first and second injection a significant increase of the maximum cystometric capacity was observed: from 254 to 331 ml (p: 0.007) and from 257 to 367 ml (p: 0.014), respectively. In some cases, after the first injection compliance improved significantly: from 6.9 to 11.4 ml/cmH2O (p: 0.05). Mean end filling detrusor pressure diminished from 37 to 34.4 cmH2O. Detrusor overactivity (n: 22) attenuated in 54.4% after the first injection. No major adverse effects were recorded after the reinjections. In 15 patients that were refractory to OnabotulinumtoxinA augmentation cystoplasty was performed. Conclusion: After OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment, 50% urinary continence was achieved. Cystometric capacity increased significantly after the first two injections; however, it was not associated with an important decrease of intravesical pressure. The use of OnabotulinumtoxinA may avoid or delay the classical indication of augmentation cystoplasty in anticholinergicrefractory children (AU)

Sobrevida de pacientes e injerto en niños con trasplante renal: experiencia del Hospital Garrahan en dos períodos / Patient and graft survival in children with a kidney transplant: The experience at Garrahan Hospital over two periods

En adultos y niños con trasplante renal (TxR) la sobrevida de paciente e injerto ha mejorado. En Argentina no existen datos de sobrevida en niños con TxR en diferentes décadas. El objeto de este trabajo fue valorar en niños con TxR sobrevida de paciente e injerto y analizar causas de muerte, perdida de injerto y factores de riesgo de pérdida. Dado que desde el año 2001 se unificaron prácticas de diagnóstico y tratamiento, se compararon dos periodos: 1988-2000 y 2001-2015. Se incluyeron 773 niños. A 1, 3, 5, 7 y 10 años, En TxR de DV (n=327), la sobrevida del paciente fue de 99%, 99%, 98%, 95%, 95% vs 100% y 96%, 96%, 96% y 96% (p=0.74); la del injerto de 97%, 91%, 85%, 78% y 67% vs 95%, 88%, 85%, 81% y 76% (p=0.81). En TxR de DC (n=446) la sobrevida de paciente fue de 97%, 93%, 90%, 89% y 87% en el 1er. periodo vs. 100%, 99% y 98% 98% y 98% en el 2do (p<0.001); la del injerto de 83%, 75%, 68%, 64% y 52% vs. 95%, 87%, 83%, 76% y 61% respectivamente (p<0. 001). El Rechazo Crónico fue la 1er causa de perdida (61% vs 62%); la 2da la muerte del paciente con injerto funcionante. La sepsis bacteriana fue la 1era causa de muerte (56% vs 67%). Ningún niño falleció por neoplasia entre el 2001 y 2015. En DV, fueron predictores de perdida de injerto: DGF (HR: 4.8; p<0.001), edad al TxR > 12 años (HR: 2.7; p=0.002) y RA tardío (HR: 2.1; p=0.009). En DC la necesidad de diálisis en la 1er semana post TxR (DGF): (HR: 4.4; p<0.001), el rechazo agudo (RA) tardío (HR: 3.7; p<0.001), GSFS como causa de IRC (HR: 2.5; p=0.01), y RA temprano (HR: 2.2; p=0.02). Conclusión: En el 2do periodo la sobrevida de paciente e injerto los TxR con DC mejoro, y en los TxR con DV no tuvo cambios. El rechazo crónico continúa siendo la 1era causa de perdida. Ningún paciente tuvo neoplasia (AU)

Patient and graft survival in kidney transplantation (KTx) has improved. In Argentina there are no data comparing transplant outcomes in children over different eras. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient and graft survival in children with KTx and to analyze cause of death, graft loss, and risk factors of graft loss. As diagnostic and treatment practices were unified in 2001, two periods were compared: 1988-2000 and 2001-2015. Overall, 773 children were included. Survival at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years after a living-related donor (LRD) KTx was 99%, 99%, 98%, 95%, 95% vs 100% y 96%, 96%, 96% and 96% (p=0.74); graft survival was 97%, 91%, 85%, 78% y 67% vs 95%, 88%, 85%, 81%, and 76% (p=0.81). Patient survival after deceased donor (DD) KTx (n=446) was 97%, 93%, 90%, 89%, and 87% in the 1st period vs. 100%, 99% y 98% 98%, and 98% in the 2nd (p<0.001); graft survival was 83%, 75%, 68%, 64%, and 52% vs. 95%, 87%, 83%, 76%, and 61%, respectively (p<0. 001). Chronic rejection was the first cause of graft loss (61% vs 62%); the second was death of the patient with a functioning graft. Bacterial sepsis was the first cause of death (56% vs 67%). None of the patients died because of malignancies between 2001 and 2015. Among LRD transplants predicting factors of graft loss were: DGF (HR: 4.8; p<0.001), age at KTx >12 years (HR: 2.7; p=0.002), and late acute rejection (AR) (HR: 2.1; p=0.009). Among DD need for dialysis in the first week post-KTx (DGF): (HR: 4.4; p<0.001), late AR (HR: 3.7; p<0.001), FSGS-related CFR (HR: 2.5; p=0.01), and early AR (HR: 2.2; p=0.02). Conclusion: In the second period patient and graft survival after DD improved, while that of KTx with LRD remained unchanged. Chronic rejection continues being the first cause of graft loss. None of the patients developed malignancies.

Stent vs. tutor ureteral en el trasplante renal pediátrico / Ureteral stent vs. reimplantation in pediatric kidney transplantation

Antecedentes y Objetivos: La práctica de la colocación de stent en la anastomosis ureteral en trasplante es controvertido. Los beneficios del stent incluyen: descompresión continua del uréter con menor tensión anastomótica y alineamiento ureteral que protege de la obstrucción. Las desventajas: infección urinaria, obstrucción a largo plazo de la unión ureterovesical, hematuria por erosión mucosa y el retiro del mismo bajo sedación por vía endoscópica. Es nuestro objetivo investigar la incidencia de complicaciones con la utilización de stent ureteral vs. tutor ureteral en el trasplante renal pediátrico. Material y Métodos: Valoración retrospectiva de pacientes trasplantados renales en nuestra institución con técnica de Lich-Gregoir en el implante ureteral en el período febrero 2008 a marzo 2014. Dos grupos de pacientes para investigar complicaciones: aquellos con tutor ureteral por período de 5 dias vs. los pacientes en los que se utilizó catéter doble jota (stent) por período de 30 días. Se identificaron los pacientes con uropatía y nefropatía como causa de insuficiencia renal crónica terminal (IRCT) y se asociaron a las complicaciones que fueron divididas en no infecciosas (urológicas) y en infecciosas (infección urinaria). Resultados: Se evaluaron 183 pacientes. En el grupo con tutor ureteral (n=68) se presentaron complicaciones urológicas en 8 pacientes (11.76%), 2 urópatas y 6 nefrópatas y las complicaciones infecciosas se observaron en 15 pacientes (22.06%). En el grupo stent (n=115) se presentaron complicaciones urológicas en 3 casos (2,61%), 2 urópatas y un nefrópata y las complicaciones infecciosas se observaron en 43 pacientes (37.39%). Conclusiones: La asociación de la técnica de Lich Gregoir con stent mejora la morbilidad evitando complicaciones no infecciosas, pero aumenta la incidencia de complicaciones infecciosas independiente del origen de la causa de la IRCT (AU)

Background and aims: Stent placement in ureteral anastomosis is controversial. Benefits of the stent include: continuous decompression of the ureter with less anastomotic tension and ureteral alignment with better protection from ureteral narrowing. Disadvantages: urinary infection, long-term stricture of the vesicoureteral junction, hematuria due to mucosal erosion and its endoscopic removal under sedation. Our aim was to assess the incidence of complications of the use of a ureteral stent vs. ureteral splint in pediatric kidney transplantation. Material and methods: Retrospective assessment of kidney transplant patients in whom the Lich-Gregoir technique was used for ureteral implantation between February 2008 and March 2014. Two groups of patients were selected to assess complications: Patients with a ureteral splint for 5 days vs. patients in whom a double J catheter (stent) was used for 30 days. Patients with uropathy and nephropathy due to end-stage chronic renal failure (ESRD) were identified and associated complications were divided into non-infectious (urological) and infectious (urinary infection) complications. Results: 183 patients were evaluated. In the ureteral splint group (n=68), urological complications were observed in 8 patients (11.76%), 2 uropathic and 6 nephropathic, and infectious complications were observed in 15 patients (22.06%). In the stent group (n=115), urological complications were observed in 3 cases (2.61%), 2 uropathic and 1 nephropathic, and infectious complications were seen in 43 patients (37.39%). Conclusions: The association of the Lich Gregoir technique with stent placement improves morbidity avoiding non-infectious complications, but increases the incidence of infectious complications regardless of the cause of ESRD (AU)

An investigation of the effects of stage of ensilage on Nassella neesiana seeds, for reducing seed viability and injury to livestock.

The noxious weed Nassella neesiana is established on a wide range of productive land throughout southeastern Australia. N. neesiana seeds, when mature, are sharp, causing injury to livestock, thus posing a problem in fodder bales. To reduce infestations of agricultural weeds in situ, production of silage from weed-infested pastures is practised as part of integrated weed management (IWM). However, there is little data to demonstrate whether this process is useful to reduce infestations or the harmful properties of N. neesiana. Therefore, the minimum duration of ensilage required to reduce the viability of N. neesiana seeds was investigated, both with and without addition of ensilage inoculants in this process. Also, the decreasing propensity of the seeds to injure livestock, after various times and conditions of ensilage, was assessed. Ensilage inoculant reduced seed germination probability to zero after 35 days. When no inoculant was added, zero viability was achieved after 42 days. A qualitative assessment of the hardness of ensilaged seeds found seed husks were softer (and therefore safer) after 42 days, whether inoculant was used or not. Therefore, we suggest that both the viability of N. neesiana seeds and hardness of seed casings are significantly reduced after 42 days, thereby reducing the risks of seed dispersal and injury to livestock.

Origin of the hungry caterpillar: Evolution of fasting in slug moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Limacodidae).

Studies of caterpillar defense strategy evolution typically focus on aposematic coloration, gregarious behavior, and/or chemical defense. In the slug moth family Limacodidae, the evolution of chemical defense is coupled to the life history trait of first instar feeding behaviors. In nettle caterpillars, the first instars fast and molt into a second instar that feeds. In contrast, gelatines and monkey slug larval forms feed in the first instar. This study focused on whether the evolution of fasting associated with the nettle morphology was a derived trait of single or multiple origins. Twenty-nine species of Limacodidae (including one Chrysopolominae) representing 27 genera and four outgroup species with known first and final instar morphologies and behaviors were included. Four out-group species representing Megalopygidae (1 sp), Dalceridae (1 sp) and Aididae (2 sp) were included. These were sequenced for three molecular markers for a total of 4073 bp, mitochondrial COI (∼1500 bp), 18S (∼1900 bp) and the D2 region of 28S (approximately 670 bp). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were conducted. The resulting phylogeny and comparative analysis of feeding strategy revealed that the nettle caterpillar morphology and behavior of larval fasting may have a single origin.

Variation in heterostylous breeding systems in neighbouring populations of Oxalis alpina (Oxalidaceae).

UNLABELLED: The heterostylous reproductive system of Oxalis alpina in the Galiuro Mts. of Arizona was investigated using field surveys, controlled crosses in the greenhouse and measurements of reproductive morphs. Although populations in the Pinaleño Mts. to the immediate east and in the Santa Catalina Mts. to the immediate west have derived distylous reproductive systems, tristyly, the ancestral reproductive system in O. alpina, has been retained in the Galiuro Mts. POPULATION: Tristylous incompatibility relationships in the Galiuro population are modified from the ancestral condition, with significant loss of incompatibility differentiation between stamen whorls of both short- and long-styled morphs. Morphological adjustments of anther positions in the Galiuro population of O. alpina match those expected in light of incompatibility modification, with divergence of the mid-level anthers away from the position of the mid stigmas of the mid-styled morph. The occurrence of tristyly in an area of Arizona where distyly is found in adjacent mountain ranges is particularly remarkable, and indicates both the isolation of populations restricted to the upper elevations of these mountain ranges and variation in the tempo of evolution over short geographic distances.

Strain discrimination of Yersinia pestis using a SERS-based electrochemically driven melting curve analysis of variable number tandem repeat sequences.

Strain discrimination within genetically highly similar bacteria is critical for epidemiological studies and forensic applications. An electrochemically driven melting curve analysis monitored by SERS has been utilised to reliably discriminate strains of the bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. DNA amplicons containing Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTRs) were generated from three strains of Y. pestis: CO92, Harbin 35 and Kim. These amplicons contained a 10 base pair VNTR repeated 6, 5, and 4 times in CO92, Harbin 35 and Kim respectively. The assay also included a blocker oligonucleotide comprising 3 repeats of the 10-mer VNTR sequence. The use of the blocker reduced the effective length of the target sequence available to bind to the surface bound probe and significantly improved the sensitivity of the discrimination. The results were consistent during three replicates that were carried out on different days, using different batches of PCR product and different SERS sphere segment void (SSV) substrate. This methodology which combines low cost, speed and sensitivity is a promising alternative to the time consuming current electrophoretic methods.

Segregation of male-sterility alleles across a species boundary.

Hybrid zones may serve as bridges permitting gene flow between species, including alleles influencing the evolution of breeding systems. Using greenhouse crosses, we assessed the likelihood that a hybrid zone could serve as a conduit for transfer of nuclear male-sterility alleles between a gynodioecious species and a hermaphroditic species with very rare females in some populations. Segregation patterns in progeny of crosses between rare females of hermaphroditic Schiedea menziesii and hermaphroditic plants of gynodioecious Schiedea salicaria heterozygous at the male-sterility locus, and between female S. salicaria and hermaphroditic plants from the hybrid zone, were used to determine whether male-sterility was controlled at the same locus in the parental species and the hybrid zone. Segregations of females and hermaphrodites in approximately equal ratios from many of the crosses indicate that the same nuclear male-sterility allele occurs in the parent species and the hybrid zone. These rare male-sterility alleles in S. menziesii may result from gene flow from S. salicaria through the hybrid zone, presumably facilitated by wind pollination in S. salicaria. Alternatively, rare male-sterility alleles might result from a reversal from gynodioecy to hermaphroditism in S. menziesii, or possibly de novo evolution of male sterility. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that some species of Schiedea have probably evolved separate sexes independently, but not in the lineage containing S. salicaria and S. menziesii. High levels of selfing and expression of strong inbreeding depression in S. menziesii, which together should favour females in populations, argue against a reversal from gynodioecy to hermaphroditism in S. menziesii.

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the vampire moths and their fruit-piercing relatives (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Calpinae).

Within butterflies and moths, adult hematophagy is limited to species within the vampire moth genus Calyptra. These moths are placed within the subfamily Calpinae, whose other members are known to exhibit a broad range of feeding behaviors including those that can be considered 'piercers' of fruits or other hosts and 'tear feeders'. Here, we reconstruct a phylogenetic hypothesis of Calpinae using molecular data to test whether hematophagy in Calyptra arose from plant or animal-related behaviors. We use a Bayesian method of ancestral state reconstruction to determine the most likely feeding behaviors for the subtribes and genera within this lineage.

Changes in reciprocal herkogamy during the tristyly-distyly transition in Oxalis alpina increase efficiency in pollen transfer.

Although the spatial separation of sexual organs within a flower (herkogamy) has been interpreted as a mechanism that promotes efficient pollen transfer, there have been few attempts to relate variation in herkogamy to probabilities of pollen flow. Here, we used a heterostylous species with variation in reciprocal herkogamy to test this hypothesis. We measured legitimate and illegitimate pollen flow with fluorescent dyes in four selected populations of Oxalis alpina corresponding to the extremes of a previously reported evolutionary gradient from tristyly to distyly. After the breakdown of tristyly, the observed increment in reciprocal herkogamy between the long and short morphs was associated with a 30% increase in the proportion of dye received from compatible illegitimate pollinations. In all populations, the most likely effective pollen vectors were two Heterosarus bee species. Our results support the adaptive value of reciprocal herkogamy in promoting efficient pollen transfer in heterostylous species.