Willumsenmonrad9895
Venous anastomosis remains to be a challenging step in microsurgical tissue transfer and venous complications constitute to a common reason for free flap failure. While several studies have compared mechanical vs. hand-sewn venous anastomoses, there is no large-series study comparing the type of anastomosis exclusively in DIEP flap breast reconstructions.
Between 2011 and 2019, 3926 female patients underwent 4577 free DIEP-flap breast reconstructions in 22 different breast cancer centers. Patient data was collected via an online database, files were screened and cases were divided into a hand- (HA) and a coupler-anastomosis (CA) group. Complications were accounted for and the two groups were then compared.
Mean ischemia time was significantly shorter in the CA group (46.88 ± 26.17 vs. 55.48 ± 24.70 min; p < .001), whereas mean operative time was comparable (316 ± 134.01 vs. 320.77 ± 120.29 minutes; p = .294). We found no significant difference between both groups regarding the rate of partial (CA 1.0% vs. HA 1.3%) and total flap loss (CA 2.2% vs. HA 1.8%). However, revision rates were significantly higher in the CA group (CA 10.5% vs. HA 7.9%; p = .003), with higher numbers of arterial (2.3 vs. 0.9%; p < .001) and venous thromboses (3.4 vs. 1.8%; p = .001) accounting for this finding.
All taken into account, our findings do support the feasibility of venous coupler anastomoses in principle, however the inflationary use of coupler devices should be evaluated critically.
All taken into account, our findings do support the feasibility of venous coupler anastomoses in principle, however the inflationary use of coupler devices should be evaluated critically.SARS-CoV-2 is the virus causing COVID-19 and is spread through close person-to-person contact. The use of face masks has been described as an important strategy to slow its transmission. We evaluated the effects of coaching caregivers via telehealth technologies to teach face mask wearing to children with autism spectrum disorder. Six participants with a history of challenging behavior associated with mask wearing were recruited from different parts of the world, and trained using graduated exposure, shaping, and contingent reinforcement. By the end of the intervention, all participants wore a face mask for a period of 10 min without exhibiting challenging behavior. The skills generalized to a novel mask or a community setting. Mask wearing did not affect the percentage of oxyhemoglobin saturation of participants, and caregivers found the intervention useful. The findings support previous tolerance training treatment evaluations in children with developmental disorders exhibiting resistance to healthcare routines.Transfer across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a significant hurdle for the development of biopharmaceuticals with therapeutic effects within the central nervous system. We established a functional selection method to identify high affinity single domain antibodies to the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) with efficient biotherapeutic delivery across the BBB. A synthetic phage display library based on the variable domain of new antigen receptor (VNAR) was used for in vitro selection against recombinant human TfR1 ectodomain (rh-TfR1-ECD) followed by in vivo selection in mouse for brain parenchyma penetrating antibodies. TXB2 VNAR was identified as a high affinity, species cross-reactive VNAR antibody against TfR1-ECD that does not compete with transferrin or ferritin for receptor binding. IV dosing of TXB2 when fused to human Fc domain (TXB2-hFc) at 25 nmol/kg (1.875 mg/kg) in mice resulted in rapid binding to brain capillaries with subsequent transport into the brain parenchyma and specific uptake into TfR1-positive neurons. Likewise, IV dosing of TXB2-hFc fused with neurotensin (TXB2-hFc-NT) at 25 nmol/kg resulted in a rapid and reversible pharmacological response as measured by body temperature reduction. TXB2-hFc did not elicit any acute adverse reactions, bind, or deplete circulating reticulocytes or reduce BBB-expressed endogenous TfR1 in mice. There was no evidence of target-mediated clearance or accumulation in peripheral organs except lung. In conclusion, TXB2 is a high affinity, species cross-reactive, and brain-selective VNAR antibody to TfR1 that rapidly crosses the BBB and exhibits a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile and can be readily adapted to carry a wide variety of biotherapeutics from blood to brain.Recently, a novel group of CD34+ and S100+ spindle cell tumors with distinctive stromal and perivascular hyalinization showing recurrent gene fusions involving RAF1, BRAF, NTRK1/2/3, and RET has been identified. ALK rearrangements have been rarely reported in this group of tumors. We report a 24-year-old woman with a 1.5-cm pink mass of the scalp. The tumor was made of spindle cells organized in fascicles or haphazardly arranged in a patternless architecture, with areas of stromal and perivascular hyalinization. The tumor cells diffusely expressed CD34 and S100, without SOX-10 expression. The tumor showed diffuse immunopositivity for ALK. Glycochenodeoxycholic acid RNA sequencing using next-generation sequencing (NGS) detected an EML4-ALK fusion. This case extends the spectrum of this newly described group of CD34+/S100+ spindle cell tumors at the molecular-genetic level. Dermatopathologists should be aware of this recent entity, as it may fall in the differential diagnosis of many other spindle cell tumors with CD34 expression. NGS-based techniques should be performed when facing spindle cell tumors with similar morphology and immunophenotype. Identification of kinase fusions is essential for the precise classification and better knowledge of these tumors, and for targeted therapy in rare aggressive cases.The interpretation of 36 charge neutral 'contact pairs' from the IsoStar database was supported by DFT calculations of model molecules 1-12, and bimolecular adducts thereof. The 'central groups' are σ-hole donors (H2 O and aromatic C-I), π-hole donors (R-C(O)Me, R-NO2 and R-C6 F5 ) and for comparison R-C6 H5 (R=any group or atom). The 'contact groups' are hydrogen bond donors X-H (X=N, O, S, or R2 C, or R3 C) and lone-pair containing fragments (R3 C-F, R-C≡N and R2 C=O). Nearly all the IsoStar distributions follow expectations based on the electrostatic potential of the 'central-' and 'contact group'. Interaction energies (ΔEBSSE ) are dominated by electrostatics (particularly between two polarized molecules) or dispersion (especially in case of large contact area). Orbital interactions never dominate, but could be significant (∼30 %) and of the n/π→σ*/π* kind. The largest degree of directionality in the IsoStar plots was typically observed for adducts more stable than ΔEBSSE ≈-4 kcal⋅mol-1 , which can be seen as a benchmark-value for the utility of an interaction in crystal engineering. This benchmark could be met with all the σ- and π-hole donors studied.This study aimed to use a predictive simulation framework to examine shoulder kinematics, muscular effort, and task performance during functional upper limb movements under simulated selective glenohumeral capsulorrhaphy. A musculoskeletal model of the torso and upper limb was adapted to include passive restraints that simulated the changes in shoulder range of motion stemming from selective glenohumeral capsulorrhaphy procedures (anteroinferior, anterosuperior, posteroinferior, posterosuperior, and total anterior, inferior, posterior, and superior). Predictive muscle-driven simulations of three functional movements (upward reach, forward reach, and head touch) were generated with each model. Shoulder kinematics (elevation, elevation plane, and axial rotation), muscle cost (i.e., muscular effort), and task performance time were compared to a baseline model to assess the impact of the capsulorrhaphy procedures. Minimal differences in shoulder kinematics and task performance times were observed, suggesting that task performance could be maintained across the capsulorrhaphy conditions. Increased muscle cost was observed under the selective capsulorrhaphy conditions, however this was dependent on the task and capsulorrhaphy condition. Larger increases in muscle cost were observed under the capsulorrhaphy conditions that incurred the greatest reductions in shoulder range of motion (i.e., total inferior, total anterior, anteroinferior, and total posterior conditions) and during tasks that required shoulder kinematics closer to end range of motion (i.e., upward reach and head touch). The elevated muscle loading observed could present a risk to joint capsule repair. Appropriate rehabilitation following glenohumeral capsulorrhaphy is required to account for the elevated demands placed on muscles, particularly when a significant range of motion loss presents.
Nearly 20 years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, multiple studies have documented the adverse mental consequences among World Trade Center (WTC) rescue, recovery, and clean-up workers. However, scarce research has examined mental health stigma and barriers to care in WTC-exposed individuals, and no known study has examined whether rates of endorsement may differ between police and "nontraditional" responders, the latter comprising a heterogeneous group of workers and volunteers.
To identify the prevalence and correlates of mental health stigma and barriers to care in WTC responders.
Mental health stigma and barriers to care and their correlates were examined in 6,777 police and 6,272 nontraditional WTC responders.
Nontraditional responders endorsed more stigma or barriers to care concerns than police responders. Within a subsample who screened positive for a psychiatric disorder, police were more likely than nontraditional responders to endorse "concerns that negative job consequences might result" (17.9% vs. 9.1%), while nontraditional responders were more likely to endorse "I don't know where to go to find counseling services" (18.4% vs.6.6%). Within this subsample, mental health service need and more severe WTC-related posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were associated with increased likelihood of endorsing stigma or barriers; pre-9/11 psychiatric history and non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity were associated with lower likelihood of endorsing stigma or barriers.
Results of this study underscore the burden of mental health stigma and barriers to care in WTC responders, and highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these concerns and promote mental healthcare utilization in this population.
Results of this study underscore the burden of mental health stigma and barriers to care in WTC responders, and highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these concerns and promote mental healthcare utilization in this population.Recent comparative studies show that cooperative breeding is positively correlated with harsh and unpredictable environments and it is suggested that this association occurs because helpers buffer the negative effects of adverse ecological conditions on fitness. In the Kalahari, rainfall varies widely between- and within years, affecting primary production and the availability of the principal prey of cooperatively breeding Kalahari meerkats, Suricata suricatta. Our study aimed to establish whether the presence and number of helpers buffer the negative effects of variation in rainfall on the fecundity and body mass of breeding females, and the survival and growth of pups. We investigate the relationship between group size and variation in rainfall on dominant female fecundity, body mass, and offspring survival and growth using an additive modelling approach on 21 years of individual-based records of the life histories of individual meerkats. We show that breeding female fecundity is reduced during periods of low rainfall but that the effects of low rainfall are mitigated by increases in group size and body mass because heavier females and those in larger groups have increased fecundity and reduced interbirth intervals.