The Journal of Physiology, Volume 596, Issue 10, Page 1829-1832, 15 May 2018.
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Δευτέρα 14 Μαΐου 2018
Shared and unique aspects of ligand‐ and voltage‐gated ion‐channel gating
CrossTalk at a crossroads
The Journal of Physiology, Volume 596, Issue 10, Page 1779-1779, 15 May 2018.
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Issue Information
The Journal of Physiology, Volume 596, Issue 10, Page 1777-1778, 15 May 2018.
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Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Clinical Bovine Mastitis in Tunisia
Microbial Drug Resistance, Ahead of Print.
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Bed II Sequence Stratigraphic context of EF-HR and HWK EE archaeological sites, and the Oldowan/Acheulean succession at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Ian G. Stanistreet, Lindsay J. McHenry, Harald Stollhofen, Ignacio de la Torre
Archaeological excavations at EF-HR and HWK EE allow reassessment of Bed II stratigraphy within the Junction Area and eastern Olduvai Gorge. Application of Sequence Stratigraphic methods provides a time-stratigraphic framework enabling correlation of sedimentary units across facies boundaries, applicable even in those areas where conventional timelines, such as tephrostratigraphic markers, are absent, eroded, or reworked. Sequence Stratigraphically, Bed II subdivides into five major Sequences 1 to 5, all floored by major disconformities that incise deeply into the underlying succession, proving that simple "layer cake" stratigraphy is inappropriate. Previous establishment of the Lemuta Member has invalidated the use of Tuff IIA as the boundary between Lower and Middle Bed II, now redefined at the disconformity between Sequences 2 and 3, a lithostratigraphic contact underlying the succession containing the Lower, Middle, and Upper Augitic Sandstones. HWK EE site records Oldowan technology in the Lower Augitic Sandstone at the base of Sequence 3, within Middle Bed II. We suggest placement of recently reported Acheulean levels at FLK W within the Middle Augitic Sandstone, thus emphasizing that handaxes are yet to be found in earlier stratigraphic units of the Olduvai sequence. This would place a boundary between the Oldowan and Acheulean technologies at Olduvai in the Tuff IIB zone or earliest Middle Augitic Sandstone. A major disconformity between Sequences 3 and 4 at and near EF-HR cuts through the level of Tuff IIC, placing the main Acheulean EF-HR assemblage at the base of Sequence 4, within Upper rather than Middle Bed II. Sequence stratigraphic methods also yield a more highly resolved Bed II stratigraphic framework. Backwall and sidewall surveying of archaeological trenches at EF-HR and HWK EE permits definition of "Lake-parasequences" nested within the major Sequences that record downcutting of disconformities associated with lake regression, then sedimentation associated with lake transgression, capped finally by another erosional disconformity or hiatal paraconformity caused by the next lake withdrawal. On a relative time-scale rather than a vertical metre scale, the resulting Wheeler diagram framework provides a basis for recognizing time-equivalent depositional episodes and the position of time gaps at various scales. Relative timing of archaeological assemblage levels can then be differentiated at a millennial scale within this framework.
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Technological behaviour in the early Acheulean of EF-HR (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania)
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Ignacio de la Torre, Rafael Mora
Technological strategies of early humans are discussed in the light of a recently excavated stone tool assemblage from EF-HR, an archaeological site older than 1.33 Ma at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Renewed fieldwork at EF-HR has unearthed a lithic collection containing over 2300 artefacts (including a hundred handaxes in stratigraphic position), which represents one of the largest assemblages for the early Acheulean in East Africa. Our technological study shows co-occurrence of two distinctive reduction sequences in the same assemblage, one aimed at obtaining small flakes and the other focused on the production of large, thick, heavy flakes that were then used as blanks for handaxe shaping. Flaking of small cores is expedient and low intensity, and knapping methods are similar to those observed in earlier Oldowan assemblages. Large Cutting Tools (LCTs) show no evidence of planform and biconvex symmetry, and shaping sequences are brief and discontinuous, indicating short use-lives for handaxes. Bifaces are rare and atypical. Recurrent morphotypes are knives, which are poorly-shaped, scraper-like, large-sized handaxes. Despite the apparent expediency of EF-HR handaxe production, a closer inspection of the interplay between debitage and façonnage stages reveals remarkably standardized procedural patterns. Large Cutting Tool blanks were produced following fixed knapping rules resulting in flakes with a specific morphology and mass distribution. Adapted to the idiosyncrasies of each blank, shaping was almost invariably imposed over the same areas in all LCTs and sought to produce morphotypes that, technologically, are remarkably identical to each other. This strongly supports the existence of mental templates and technical rules that were systematically practiced in LCT production at EF-HR, and underscore the structured nature of technological behaviour at the onset of the Acheulean in East Africa.
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Editorial Board
Source:Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 119
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Frank Brown (1943–2017)
Source:Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 119
Author(s): Craig S. Feibel, Bernard Wood
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Patterns of lateral enamel growth in Homo naledi as assessed through perikymata distribution and number
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg, Mackie C. O'Hara, Adeline Le Cabec, Lucas K. Delezene, Donald J. Reid, Matthew M. Skinner, Lee R. Berger
Perikymata, incremental growth lines visible on tooth enamel surfaces, differ in their distribution and number among hominin species, although with overlapping patterns. This study asks: (1) How does the distribution of perikymata along the lateral enamel surface of Homo naledi anterior teeth compare to that of other hominins? (2) When both perikymata distribution and number are analyzed together, how distinct is H. naledi from other hominins? A total of 19 permanent anterior teeth (incisors and canines) of H. naledi were compared, by tooth type, to permanent anterior teeth of other hominins: Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, Paranthropus boisei, Homo ergaster/Homo erectus, other early Homo, Neandertals, and modern humans, with varying sample sizes. Repeated measures analyses of the percentage of perikymata per decile of reconstructed crown height yielded several statistically significant differences between H. naledi and other hominins. Canonical variates analysis of percentage of perikymata in the cervical half of the crown together with perikymata number revealed that, in 8 of 19 cases, H. naledi teeth were significantly unlikely to be classified as other hominins, while exhibiting least difference from modern humans (especially southern Africans). In a cross-validated analysis, 68% of the H. naledi teeth were classified as such, while 32% were classified as modern human (most often southern African). Of 313 comparative teeth use for this analysis, only 1.9% were classified as H. naledi. What tends to differentiate H. naledi anterior tooth crowns from those of most other hominins, including some modern humans, is strongly skewed perikymata distributions combined with perikymata numbers that fall in the middle to lower ranges of hominin values. H. naledi therefore tends toward a particular combination of these features that is less often seen in other hominins. Implications of these data for the growth and development of H. naledi anterior teeth are considered.
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Mesopithecus pentelicus from the Turolian locality of Kryopigi (Kassandra, Chalkidiki, Greece)
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Georgios Lazaridis, Evangelia Tsoukala, Todd C. Rae, Asier Gómez-Olivencia, Doris Nagel, Antonis Bartsiokas
New material of the Mio-Pliocene colobine Mesopithecus from the Turolian locality of Kryopigi (Greece) is described here. It includes a complete skull with the atlas attached and other dental and postcranial elements representing at least five individuals (four males and one female). The material is compared with Mesopithecus delsoni, Mesopithecus pentelicus, Mesopithecus monspessulanus and intermediate forms from more than a dozen Turolian localities of the Greco-Iranian province. These comparisons support the attribution of the Kryopigi material to M. pentelicus. The chronostratigraphic distribution of Mesopithecus species and intermediate forms suggests that the Kryopigi fauna could be dated as younger than the Perivolaki locality with M. delsoni/pentelicus (7.1–7.3 Ma, MN12) and older than the Dytiko localities with M. aff. pentelicus, M. cf. pentelicus and M. cf. monspessulanus (?middle MN13). The dimensions of the atlas are within the distribution of extant colobines. The skull shows bite-marks, probably caused by the hyaena Adcrocuta eximia.
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Reevaluation of ‘endocostal ossifications’ on the Kebara 2 Neanderthal ribs
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Daniel García-Martínez, Manuel Campo Martín, Armando González Martín, Óscar Cambra-Moo, Alon Barash, Markus Bastir
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The effect of ontogeny on estimates of KNM-WT 15000's adult body size
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Deborah L. Cunningham, Ronda R. Graves, Daniel J. Wescott, Robert C. McCarthy
The Homo erectus specimen KNM-WT 15000 has played a critical role in our understanding of body size evolution. New interpretations suggest that KNM-WT 15000 had a younger age-at-death and a more rapid ontogenetic trajectory than previously suggested. Recent fossil discoveries and new interpretations suggest a wide range of body size and shape variation in H. erectus. Based on these new insights, we argue that KNM-WT 15000's adult stature and body mass could have been much smaller than has been traditionally presented in the literature. Using chimpanzee and modern human growth trajectories, we bracketed the range of possibilities for KNM-WT 15000's adult body size between 160.0 and 177.7 cm (5′3″–5′10″) for stature and 60.0 and 82.7 kg (132–182 lbs.) for body mass. These estimates put KNM-WT 15000 near the mean rather than among the largest known H. erectus specimens.
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A new tephrochronology for early diverse stone tool technologies and long-distance raw material transport in the Middle to Late Pleistocene Kapthurin Formation, East Africa
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Nick Blegen, Brian R. Jicha, Sally McBrearty
The Middle to Late Pleistocene (780–10 ka) of East Africa records evidence of significant behavioral change, early fossils of Homo sapiens, and the dispersals of our species across and out of Africa. Studying human evolution in this time period thus requires an extensive and precise chronology relating behavioral evidence from archaeological sequences to aspects of hominin biology and evidence of past environments from fossils and geological sequences. Tephrochronology provides the chronostratigraphic resolution to achieve this through correlation and dating of volcanic ashes. The tephrochronology of the Kapthurin Formation presented here, based on tephra correlations and 40Ar/39Ar dates, provides new ages between 395.6 ± 3.5 ka and 465.3 ± 1.0 ka for nine sites showing diverse blade and Levallois methods of core reduction. These are >110 kyr older than previously known in East Africa. New 40Ar/39Ar dates provide a refined age of 222.5 ± 0.6 ka for early evidence of long-distance (166 km) obsidian transport at the Sibilo School Road Site. A tephra correlation between the Baringo and Victoria basins also provides a new date of ∼100 ka for the Middle Stone Age site of Keraswanin. By providing new and older dates for 11 sites containing several important aspects of hominin behavior and extending the chronology of the Kapthurin Formation forward by ∼130,000 years, the tephrochronology presented here contributes one of the longest and most refined chronostratigraphic frameworks of Middle through Late Pleistocene East Africa. This tephrochronology thus provides the foundation to understand the process of modern human behavioral evolution as it relates to biological and paleoenvironmental circumstances.
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From the Oldowan to the Acheulean at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania – An introduction to the special issue
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Ignacio de la Torre, Lindsay McHenry, Jackson Njau
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Was the last common ancestor aping a chimp or just monkeying around?
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Scott A. Williams
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Human-like hip joint loading in Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Timothy M. Ryan, Kristian J. Carlson, Adam D. Gordon, Nina Jablonski, Colin N. Shaw, Jay T. Stock
Adaptations indicative of habitual bipedalism are present in the earliest recognized hominins. However, debate persists about various aspects of bipedal locomotor behavior in fossil hominins, including the nature of gait kinematics, locomotor variability across different species, and the degree to which various australopith species engaged in arboreal behaviors. In this study, we analyze variation in trabecular bone structure of the femoral head using a sample of modern humans, extant non-human hominoids, baboons, and fossil hominins attributed to Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, and the genus Homo. We use μCT data to characterize the fabric anisotropy, material orientation, and bone volume fraction of trabecular bone to reconstruct hip joint loading conditions in these fossil hominins. Femoral head trabecular bone fabric structure in australopiths is more similar to that of modern humans and Pleistocene Homo than extant apes, indicating that these australopith individuals walked with human-like hip kinematics, including a more limited range of habitual hip joint postures (e.g., a more extended hip) during bipedalism. Our results also indicate that australopiths have robust femoral head trabecular bone, suggesting overall increased loading of the musculoskeletal system comparable to that imposed by extant apes. These results provide new evidence of human-like bipedal locomotion in Pliocene hominins, even while other aspects of their musculoskeletal systems retain ape-like characteristics.
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A biplanar X-ray approach for studying the 3D dynamics of human track formation
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Kevin G. Hatala, David A. Perry, Stephen M. Gatesy
Recent discoveries have made hominin tracks an increasingly prevalent component of the human fossil record, and these data have the capacity to inform long-standing debates regarding the biomechanics of hominin locomotion. However, there is currently no consensus on how to decipher biomechanical variables from hominin tracks. These debates can be linked to our generally limited understanding of the complex interactions between anatomy, motion, and substrate that give rise to track morphology. These interactions are difficult to study because direct visualization of the track formation process is impeded by foot and substrate opacity. To address these obstacles, we developed biplanar X-ray and computer animation methods, derived from X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM), to analyze the 3D dynamics of three human subjects' feet as they walked across four substrates (three deformable muds and rigid composite panel). By imaging and reconstructing 3D positions of external markers, we quantified the 3D dynamics at the foot-substrate interface. Foot shape, specifically heel and medial longitudinal arch deformation, was significantly affected by substrate rigidity. In deformable muds, we found that depths measured across tracks did not directly reflect the motions of the corresponding regions of the foot, and that track outlines were not perfectly representative of foot size. These results highlight the complex, dynamic nature of track formation, and the experimental methods presented here offer a promising avenue for developing and refining methods for accurately inferring foot anatomy and gait biomechanics from fossil hominin tracks.
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New hominin postcranial remains from locality OMO 323, Shungura Formation, Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Guillaume Daver, Gilles Berillon, Caroline Jacquier, Yann Ardagna, Meklit Yadeta, Tiphaine Maurin, Antoine Souron, Cécile Blondel, Yves Coppens, Jean-Renaud Boisserie
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Large mammal diets and paleoecology across the Oldowan–Acheulean transition at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania from stable isotope and tooth wear analyses
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Kevin T. Uno, Florent Rivals, Faysal Bibi, Michael Pante, Jackson Njau, Ignacio de la Torre
The well-dated Pleistocene sediments at Olduvai Gorge have yielded a rich record of hominin fossils, stone tools, and vertebrate faunal remains that, taken together, provide insight to hominin behavior and paleoecology. Since 2008, the Olduvai Geochronology and Archaeology Project (OGAP) has undertaken extensive excavations in Bed II that have yielded a large collection of early Pleistocene stone tools and fossils. The strata of Lower, Middle and Upper Bed II at Olduvai Gorge capture the critical transition from Oldowan to Acheulean technology and therefore provide an opportunity to explore the possible role of biotic and abiotic change during the transition. Here, we analyze newly discovered and existing fossil teeth from Bed II sites using stable isotope and tooth wear methods to investigate the diets of large mammals. We reconstruct the dietary ecology of Bed II mammals and evaluate whether vegetation or hydroclimate shifts are associated with the technological change. Combined isotope and tooth wear data suggest most mammals were C4 grazers or mixed feeders. Carbon isotope data from bulk enamel samples indicate that a large majority of Bed II large mammals analyzed had diets comprising mostly C4 vegetation (>75% of diet), whereas only a small number of individuals had either mixed C3–C4 or mostly C3 diets (<25% C4). Mesowear generally indicates an increase of the abrasiveness of the diet between intervals IIA and IIB (∼1.66 Ma), probably reflecting increased grazing. Microwear indicates more abrasive diets in interval IIA suggesting stronger seasonal differences at the time of death during this interval. This is also supported by the intratooth isotope profiles from Equus oldowayensis molars, which suggest a possible decrease in seasonality across the transition. Neither stable isotope nor tooth wear analyses indicate major vegetation or hydrological change across the Oldowan–Acheulean transition.
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Reconstruction, endocranial form and taxonomic affinity of the early Homo calvaria KNM-ER 42700
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Simon Neubauer, Philipp Gunz, Louise Leakey, Meave Leakey, Jean-Jacques Hublin, Fred Spoor
When first described, the small calvaria KNM-ER 42700 from Ileret, Kenya, was considered a late juvenile or young adult and assigned to Homo erectus. However, this species attribution has subsequently been challenged because the specimen's neurocranial shape differs substantially from that of H. erectus adults. Here, (1) we describe the postmortem damage and deformation that could have influenced previous shape analyses, (2) present digital reconstructions based on computed tomographic scans correcting for these taphonomic defects, and (3) analyze the reconstructed endocranial shape and form, considering both static allometry among adults and ontogenetic allometry. To this end, we use geometric morphometrics to analyze the shape of digital endocasts based on landmarks and semilandmarks. Corroborating previous studies of the external surface, we find that the endocranial shape of KNM-ER 42700 falls outside the known adult variation of H. erectus. With an endocranial volume estimate between 721 and 744 ml, size cannot explain its atypical endocranial shape when static allometry within H. erectus is considered. However, the analysis of ontogenetic allometry suggests that it may be a H. erectus individual that is younger than previously thought and had not yet reached adult endocranial shape. Future work should therefore comprehensively review all cranial indicators of its developmental age, including closure of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis. An alternative hypothesis is that KNM-ER 42700 represents an as yet unidentified species of early Homo. Importantly, KNM-ER 42700 should not be included in the adult hypodigm of H. erectus.
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Is there a Developed Oldowan A at Olduvai Gorge? A diachronic analysis of the Oldowan in Bed I and Lower-Middle Bed II at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Tomos Proffitt
Debates regarding the validity of the Developed Oldowan as separate cultural facies within the Oldowan techno-complex have primarily concentrated on the Developed Oldowan B/Acheulean transition, with little attention paid to the validity of the Developed Oldowan A (DOA) as a valid technological differentiation. This study presents a diachronic technological analysis and comparison of Oldowan and DOA lithic assemblages from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, dated between 1.84 and 1.6 Ma, to test the validity of Leakey's original distinction between these two cultural facies. The results from this comparative analysis show very few technological differences between the lithic assemblages previously assigned to the DOA and Classic Oldowan. Significant diachronic variation in raw material availability and use is, however, identified between Bed I and Lower/Middle Bed II of Olduvai Gorge, which may go some way to explaining the originally perceived techno-cultural differences. The results suggest an increase in hominin knapping and percussive activities, as well as a clear ability to preferentially select high quality raw materials stratigraphically above Tuff IF. Technological innovation and complexity, however, does not seem to vary significantly between the Classic Oldowan and DOA assemblages. The results of this analysis along with similar studies from the wider eastern African region lead to the conclusion that the term Developed Oldowan A should no longer be used.
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The costs of living at the edge: Seasonal stress in wild savanna-dwelling chimpanzees
Publication date: Available online 21 April 2018
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Erin G. Wessling, Hjalmar S. Kühl, Roger Mundry, Tobias Deschner, Jill D. Pruetz
Adaptations associated with shifting from a predominately forested habitat to a more open environment are considered a crucial step in hominin evolution. Understanding how chimpanzees, one of our closest-living relatives, are exposed to the selection pressures associated with living in a relatively sparse, hot, and dry environment can inform us about the relative importance of potential environmental stressors involved in adaptations to drier environments. We investigated the extent to which chimpanzees living in an extreme savanna habitat experience seasonal variability in either energy balance or thermoregulation (dehydration and heat exposure), as well as whether these potential environmental constraints are taxing to chimpanzee individuals. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that savanna environments impose seasonally-relevant costs to chimpanzees. To this end, we collected 368 urine samples from one community of chimpanzees at Fongoli, Senegal, and measured c-peptide, creatinine, and cortisol as measures of physiological responses to environmental food, water, and heat constraints, respectively. We then evaluated the influence of climatic and phenological factors on these indicators. Results illustrated significant seasonal variation in all biomarkers, which corresponded to relevant ecological correlates. Furthermore, creatinine but not c-peptide correlated with cortisol levels, suggesting that chimpanzees in this environment endure periods of heat and dehydration stress, but are able to avoid stressful levels of negative energy balance. Using savanna chimpanzees as a referential model, our research lends support to the notion that thermoregulatory challenges were a significant factor in hominin evolution, and suggests these challenges may have overshadowed the challenges of maintaining adequate energetic balance during the expansion of the hominin range from wetter to drier environments.
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Mandibular ramus shape variation and ontogeny in Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Claire E. Terhune, Terrence B. Ritzman, Chris A. Robinson
As the interface between the mandible and cranium, the mandibular ramus is functionally significant and its morphology has been suggested to be informative for taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses. In primates, and particularly in great apes and humans, ramus morphology is highly variable, especially in the shape of the coronoid process and the relationship of the ramus to the alveolar margin. Here we compare ramus shape variation through ontogeny in Homo neanderthalensis to that of modern and fossil Homo sapiens using geometric morphometric analyses of two-dimensional semilandmarks and univariate measurements of ramus angulation and relative coronoid and condyle height. Results suggest that ramus, especially coronoid, morphology varies within and among subadult and adult modern human populations, with the Alaskan Inuit being particularly distinct. We also identify significant differences in overall anterosuperior ramus and coronoid shapes between H. sapiens and H. neanderthalensis, both in adults and throughout ontogeny. These shape differences are subtle, however, and we therefore suggest caution when using ramus morphology to diagnose group membership for individual specimens of these taxa. Furthermore, we argue that these morphologies are unlikely to be representative of differences in masticatory biomechanics and/or paramasticatory behaviors between Neanderthals and modern humans, as has been suggested by previous authors. Assessments of ontogenetic patterns of shape change reveal that the typical Neanderthal ramus morphology is established early in ontogeny, and there is little evidence for divergent postnatal ontogenetic allometric trajectories between Neanderthals and modern humans as a whole. This analysis informs our understanding of intraspecific patterns of mandibular shape variation and ontogeny in H. sapiens and can shed further light on overall developmental and life history differences between H. sapiens and H. neanderthalensis.
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A High-Resolution Genetic Map for the Laboratory Rat
An accurate and high-resolution genetic map is critical for mapping complex traits, yet the resolution of the current rat genetic map is far lower than human and mouse, and has not been updated since the original Jensen-Seaman map in 2004. For the first time, we have refined the rat genetic map to sub-centimorgan (cM) resolution (<0.02 cM) by using 95,769 genetic markers and 870 informative meiosis from a cohort of 528 heterogeneous stock (HS) rats. Global recombination rates in the revised sex-averaged map (0.66 cM/Mb) did not differ compared to the historical map (0.65 cM/Mb); however, substantial refinement was made to the localization of highly recombinant regions within the revised map. Also for the first time, sex-specific rat genetic maps were generated, which revealed both genomewide and fine-scale variation in recombination rates between male and female rats. Reanalysis of multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) using the historical and refined rat genetic maps demonstrated marked changes to QTL localization, shape, and effect size. As a resource to the rat research community, we have provided revised centimorgan positions for all physical positions within the rat genome and commonly used genetic markers for trait mapping, including 44,828 SSLP markers and the RATDIV genotyping array. Collectively, this study provides a substantial improvement to the rat genetic map and an unprecedented resource for analysis of complex traits and recombination in the rat.
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A Dense Linkage Map of Lake Victoria Cichlids Improved the Pundamilia Genome Assembly and Revealed a Major QTL for Sex-Determination
Genetic linkage maps are essential for comparative genomics, high quality genome sequence assembly and fine scale quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. In the present study we identified and genotyped markers via restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing and constructed a genetic linkage map based on 1,597 SNP markers of an interspecific F2 cross of two closely related Lake Victoria cichlids (Pundamilia pundamilia and P. sp. 'red head'). The SNP markers were distributed on 22 linkage groups and the total map size was 1,594 cM with an average marker distance of 1.01 cM. This high-resolution genetic linkage map was used to anchor the scaffolds of the Pundamilia genome and estimate recombination rates along the genome. Via QTL mapping we identified a major QTL for sex in a ~1.9 Mb region on Pun-LG10, which is homologous to Oreochromis niloticus LG 23 (Ore-LG23) and includes a well-known vertebrate sex-determination gene (amh).
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Survey of Human Chromosome 21 Gene Expression Effects on Early Development in Danio rerio
Trisomy for human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) results in Down syndrome (DS), one of the most genetically complex conditions compatible with human survival. Assessment of the physiological consequences of dosage-driven overexpression of individual Hsa21 genes during early embryogenesis and the resulting contributions to DS pathology in mammals are not tractable in a systematic way. A recent study looked loss-of-function of C. elegans orthologues of Hsa21 genes and identified ten candidates with behavioral phenotypes, but the equivalent over-expression experiment has not been done. We turned to zebrafish as a developmental model and, using a number of surrogate phenotypes, we screened Hsa21 genes for dosage sensitive effects on early embyrogenesis. We prepared a library of 164 cDNAs of conserved protein coding genes, injected mRNA into early embryos and evaluated up to 5 days post-fertilization (dpf). Twenty-four genes produced a gross morphological phenotype, 11 of which could be reproduced reliably. Seven of these gave a phenotype consistent with down regulation of the sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway; two showed defects indicative of defective neural crest migration; one resulted consistently in pericardial edema; and one was embryonic lethal. Combinatorial injections of multiple Hsa21 genes revealed both additive and compensatory effects, supporting the notion that complex genetic relationships underlie end phenotypes of trisomy that produce DS. Together, our data suggest that this system is useful in the genetic dissection of dosage-sensitive gene effects on early development and can inform the contribution of both individual loci and their combinatorial effects to phenotypes relevant to the etiopathology of DS.
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The Protein Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT-5 Regulates SER-2 Tyramine Receptor-Mediated Behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans
G protein-coupled receptors are 7-pass transmembrane receptors that couple to heterotrimeric G proteins to mediate cellular responses to a diverse array of stimuli. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate G protein-coupled receptors is crucial to manipulating their signaling for therapeutic benefit. One key regulatory mechanism that contributes to the functional diversity of many signaling proteins is post-translational modification. Whereas phosphorylation remains the best studied of such modifications, arginine methylation by protein arginine methyltransferases is emerging as a key regulator of protein function. We previously published the first functional evidence that arginine methylation of G protein-coupled receptors modulates their signaling. We report here a third receptor that is regulated by arginine methylation, the Caenorhabditis elegans SER-2 tyramine receptor. We show that arginines within a putative methylation motif in the third intracellular loop of SER-2 are methylated by PRMT5 in vitro. Our data also suggest that this modification enhances SER-2 signaling in vivo to modulate animal behavior. The identification of a third G protein-coupled receptor to be functionally regulated by arginine methylation suggests that this post-translational modification may be utilized to regulate signaling through a broad array of G protein-coupled receptors.
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Effects of reward context on feedback processing as indexed by time‐frequency analysis
Psychophysiology, EarlyView.
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Issue Information
Psychophysiology, Volume 55, Issue 6, June 2018.
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Neural activation and memory for natural scenes: Explicit and spontaneous retrieval
Psychophysiology, EarlyView.
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Comparison of endoscopic and percutaneous drainage of symptomatic necrotic collections in acute necrotizing pancreatitis
Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery, EarlyView.
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Pure laparoscopic hepatectomy with augmented reality‐assisted indocyanine green fluorescence versus open hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis: A propensity analysis at a single center
Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery, EarlyView.
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Laparoscopic nephrectomy in a patient with severe scoliosis: A case report
Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery, EarlyView.
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Robotic resection of recurrent pediatric lipoblastoma
Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery, EarlyView.
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Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for remnant gastric cancer: A single‐institution experience
Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery, EarlyView.
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Genetic variant spectrum in 265 Chinese patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: Molecular analyses of PRF1, UNC13D, STX11, STXBP2, SH2D1A, and XIAP
Clinical Genetics, EarlyView.
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New case of bilateral pheochromocytomas involving the homozygous TMEM127 mutation
Clinical Genetics, EarlyView.
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Phenotypic variability in xeroderma pigmentosum group G: An uncommon case with severe prenatal‐onset Cockayne syndrome features
Clinical Genetics, EarlyView.
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Polymorphisms of genes involved in inflammation and blood vessel development influence the risk of varicose veins
Clinical Genetics, EarlyView.
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Systematic reanalysis of genomic data improves quality of variant interpretation
Clinical Genetics, EarlyView.
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TASP1 is deleted in an infant with developmental delay, microcephaly, distinctive facial features, and multiple congenital anomalies
Clinical Genetics, EarlyView.
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p.D313Y is more than just a polymorphism in Fabry disease
Clinical Genetics, Volume 93, Issue 6, Page 1258-1258, June 2018.
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Issue Information ‐ Editorial Board
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A healthy measure of monitoring fundamentals!
Pediatric Anesthesia, EarlyView.
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Dexmedetomidine for the reduction of emergence delirium in children undergoing tonsillectomy with propofol anesthesia: A double‐blind, randomized study
Pediatric Anesthesia, EarlyView.
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Propofol anesthesia exposure and nonaversive memory retrieval and the expression of molecules involved in memory process in the dorsal hippocampus in peripubertal rats
Pediatric Anesthesia, EarlyView.
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Perioperative factors associated with persistent opioid use after extensive abdominal surgery in children and adolescents: A retrospective cohort study
Pediatric Anesthesia, EarlyView.
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Enhanced recovery after surgery in children: Promising, evidence‐based multidisciplinary care
Pediatric Anesthesia, EarlyView.
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Correlation between duration of preoperative fasting and emergence delirium in pediatric patients undergoing ophthalmic examination under anesthesia: A prospective observational study
Pediatric Anesthesia, EarlyView.
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Procedural sedation in children with autism spectrum disorders: A survey of current practice patterns of the society for pediatric sedation members
Pediatric Anesthesia, EarlyView.
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GNA11 differentially mediates fibroblast growth factor 2‐ and vascular endothelial growth factor A‐induced cellular responses in human fetoplacental endothelial cells
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Moderate and severe hypoxia elicit divergent effects on cardiovascular function and physiological rhythms
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Circadian alignment in a foster mother improves the offspring's pathological phenotype
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Sympathetic control of cardiac output by noradrenaline: quasi‐synaptic quantal release or interstitial diffusion and spillover?
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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‘Stiffening the sinews of the heart’
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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What's off‐key in the brain of musicians with focal task‐specific dystonia?
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Like sheep, like humans? Right ventricular remodelling in a preterm‐born ovine model
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Can night shift workers benefit from light exposure?
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Using dynamic clamp to quantify pathological changes in the excitability of primary somatosensory neurons
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Rac1 muscle knockout exacerbates the detrimental effect of high‐fat diet on insulin‐stimulated muscle glucose uptake independently of Akt
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Influence of group III/IV muscle afferents on small muscle mass exercise performance: a bioenergetics perspective
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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Pericardial application as a new route for implanting stem‐cell cardiospheres to treat myocardial infarction
The Journal of Physiology, EarlyView.
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The first reported case of an inherited pathogenic CHD2 variant in a clinically affected mother and daughter
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, EarlyView.
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Two Angelman families with unusually advanced neurodevelopment carry a start codon variant in the most highly expressed UBE3A isoform
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, EarlyView.
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Tissue‐specific mosaicism in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: Implications for genetic testing in families
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, EarlyView.
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Novel PLS3 variants in X‐linked osteoporosis: Exploring bone material properties
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, EarlyView.
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Timothy syndrome‐like condition with syndactyly but without prolongation of the QT interval
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, EarlyView.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus in a patient with Noonan syndrome‐like disorder with loose anagen hair 1: More than a chance association
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, EarlyView.
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Sexual dimorphism of substrate utilization: Differences in skeletal muscle mitochondrial volume density and function
Experimental Physiology, EarlyView.
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Increased skeletal muscle mitochondrial free radical production in peripheral arterial disease despite preserved mitochondrial respiratory capacity
Experimental Physiology, EarlyView.
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emt - First response Ems
Basic Ems duties: - patient care - vital signs - medical transport - report writting - policy compliance - and much much more!!! please contact for job details
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Efficacy of epinephrine‐free articaine compared to articaine with epinephrine (1:100 000) for maxillary infiltration, a randomised clinical trial
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, EarlyView.
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Comparison of wear between occlusal splint materials and resin composite materials
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, EarlyView.
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Comparison of stomach microRNA transcriptomes of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs by deep sequencing
Abstract
MiRNAs regulate the expression of target genes in diverse cellular processes and hence play important roles in different physiological processes, yet little is known about the stomach microRNAome (miRNAome) of the Tibetan pig. The objective of this experiment was to investigate differentially expressed stomach miRNAs participating in digestion. Firstly, we isolated total RNA by Trizol reagent from three Tibetan and three Yorkshire purebred pigs stomach samples at 90-day-old. Secondly, a comprehensive analysis of Tibetan and Yorkshire pig stomach miRNAomes was performed by small RNA sequencing in the Illumina HiSeq 2000 system. Finally, SYBR Green Real-time RT-PCR was performed to validate the differentially expressed miRNAs. We identified 318 unique miRNAs, 260 were co-expressed in both libraries, 17 and 31 miRNAs were specifically expressed in Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs respectively. Fifty six differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by the identifying differentially expressed genes 6 (IDEG6). Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis revealed that some of the differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with protein and fat digestion. Two differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-214-3p and ssc-un39) participating in the digestion of lipid were identified. Additionally, qRT-PCR results suggested that a higher expression of miR-214-3p in the Tibetan pig stomach could lead to relatively lower expression of calcium-dependent phospholipase A2, which is an enzyme important for the digestion of glycerol phospholipid. This study has delineated the different stomach miRNAs expression patterns of Tibetan and Yorkshire pigs, which would help explain the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in digestion of Tibetan pigs, and contribute to utilize a the unique digestion merits of Tibetan pig in future porcine hybridization breeding.
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How to use the FBI's Behavioral Change Stairway Model to influence like a pro
This five-step crisis communication process can improve interactions with both partners and patients
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Primary paraesophageal hernia repair with Gore® Bio-A® tissue reinforcement: long-term outcomes and association of BMI and recurrence
Abstract
Background
Laparoscopic repair remains the gold-standard treatment for paraesophageal hernia (PEH). We analyzed long-term symptomatic outcomes and surgical reintervention rates after primary PEH repair with onlay synthetic bioabsorbable mesh (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ) and examined body mass index (BMI) as a possible risk factor for poor outcomes and for recurrence.
Methods
We queried a prospectively maintained database to identify patients who underwent laparoscopic primary PEH repair with onlay patch of a bioprosthetic absorbable mesh (Bio-A® Gore®) between 05/28/2009 and 12/31/2013. Electronic health records were accessed to record demographic and operative data and were reviewed up to the present to identify any repeat procedures. Patients were grouped according to preoperative BMI (A: BMI < 25; B: BMI = 25–29.9; C: BMI = 30–34.9; D: BMI ≥ 35). Patients completed standardized satisfaction and symptom surveys.
Results
In total, 399 patients were included. Most patients (n = 261; 65.4%) were women. Mean age was 59.6 ± 13.4 years; mean BMI was 29.9 ± 5.0 kg/m2. The patients were grouped as follows: A, 53 patients (13.3%); B, 166 (41.6%); C, 115 (28.8%); D: 65 (16.3%). Four procedures (1.0%) were converted from laparoscopy to open procedures. All patients underwent an antireflux procedure (225 Nissen, 170 Toupet, 4 Dor). A mean follow-up of 44.7 ± 22.8 months was available for 305 patients (76.4%). 24/305 patients (7.9%) underwent reoperation, and the number of reoperations did not differ among groups (P = 0.64). Long-term symptomatic outcomes were available for 217/305 patients (71.1%) at a mean follow-up of 54.0 ± 13.1 months; no significant difference was observed among groups. 194/217 patients (89.4%) reported good to excellent satisfaction, with no significant differences among the groups.
Conclusions
Laparoscopic primary PEH repair with onlay Bio-A® mesh is a safe and feasible procedure with excellent long-term patient-centered outcomes and acceptable symptomatic recurrence rate. BMI does not appear to be related to the need for surgical reintervention.
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Recurrence patterns after laparoscopic resection of colorectal liver metastases
Abstract
Background
The major issue after liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is the high incidence of recurrence. Unlike open liver resection (OLR), recurrence following laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is not well documented. The aim of this study was to analyze recurrence patterns and treatment following LLR for CRLM.
Study design
All patients who underwent LLR for CRLM from 2000 to 2016 were reviewed. Patients who presented with recurrence were compared to those who did not. Recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and risk of recurrence and survival prognostic factors were analyzed.
Results
Overall, 273 patients were included, of which 157 (57.5%) were treated for one liver metastasis (LM). Median follow-up was 41 (12–187) months and associated extrahepatic disease was present in 27% of patients (mainly pulmonary, 65%). After a median of 16 (3–151) months, 197 (72%) patients presented with recurrence. Recurrences were early (< 6 months) in 22.8% of cases, occured in a single site in 66% and were intrahepatic, extrahepatic, or both in 44, 30, and 26%, respectively. Recurrences were treated with surgery or chemotherapy only in 45 and 47%, respectively. 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS was 82, 71, and 43%, respectively. Independent risk factors for recurrence were node-positive primary tumor, extrahepatic disease before hepatectomy, and R1 resection.
Conclusion
LLR for CRLM does not seem to be associated with distinctive recurrence patterns. LLR for CRLM yielded satisfying RFS and OS and should therefore be considered whenever possible.
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Does robotic rectal cancer surgery improve the results of experienced laparoscopic surgeons? An observational single institution study comparing 168 robotic assisted with 184 laparoscopic rectal resections
Abstract
Background
The role of robotic assistance in colorectal cancer surgery has not been established yet. We compared the results of robotic assisted with those of laparoscopic rectal resections done by two surgeons experienced in laparoscopic as well as in robotic rectal cancer surgery.
Methods
Two surgeons who were already experienced laparoscopic colorectal surgeons in 2005 started robotic surgery with the daVinci SI system in 2012. All their rectal cancer resections between 2005 and 2015 were retrieved from a prospectively recorded colorectal database of routinely collected patient data. Multi-organ resections were excluded. Patient data, diagnostic data, data on preceding operations and neoadjuvant treatment, perioperative and operative data, logistic data, and short-term outcomes were gathered. Multivariable analyses (multiple linear and logistic regression) were used to assess differences in several outcomes between the two resection methods while adjusting for all potential confounders we could identify. Results are presented as adjusted mean differences for continuous outcome variables or as adjusted odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous outcome variables.
Results
Three hundred and fifty-two patients with rectal cancers were identified: 168 robotic and 184 conventional laparoscopic cases, 178 operated by surgeon A and 174 operated by surgeon B. Adjusted mean operation time was 215 min in the robotic group which was 40 min (95% CI 24–56; p < 0.0005) longer than the 175 min in the laparoscopic group. Robotic treatment had significantly lesser numbers of conversions (OR 0.09 (0.03–0.32); p < 0.0005) and other complications (SSI and anastomic leakage excluded) (OR 0.32 (0.15–0.69); p = 0.004), adjusted for potential confounders.
Conclusions
Our study suggests that robotic surgery in the hands of experienced laparoscopic rectal cancer surgeons improves the conversion rate and complication rate drastically compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, but operation time is longer.
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Laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair in patients with previous lower abdominal surgery
Abstract
Background
We have performed laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair for inguinal hernia repair for the last 20 years. We use two balloon dilators (sphere and kidney type) to dissect the preperitoneal space for the TEP repair. It may be difficult to obtain exposure in patients who previously underwent lower abdominal surgery, because of adhesions to the abdominal wall. We reviewed our experience with inguinal hernia repairs to retrospectively analyze factors that limit the laparoscopic TEP approach.
Methods
From 2006 to 2016, 313 patients (281 men and 32 women) underwent laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair at Yuki Hospital. The medical records of these patients were reviewed, and data for patients who previously underwent lower abdominal surgery were analyzed.
Results
Eighty-four patients previously underwent lower abdominal surgery including appendectomy (N = 23), inguinal hernia repair [N = 45; including contralateral TEP repair (N = 26), ipsilateral anterior approach (N = 11)], and laparotomy with a lower abdominal midline incision (N = 22). TEP repair was successfully completed in 75 patients (75/84; 89%) and the procedure changed in nine patients to an anterior approach (N = 5), or transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair (N = 4). The reasons for changing the procedure included difficulty to develop the operative field (N = 5), violation of the integrity of the peritoneal envelope (N = 2), and intraoperative bleeding (N = 2). Seven patients had a contralateral inguinal hernia after TEP repair.
Conclusion
The majority of patients with an inguinal hernia and previous lower abdominal surgery underwent successful laparoscopic TEP repair. There is no need to avoid the laparoscopic TEP approach, even in patients with a history of previous lower abdominal surgery. However, patients after TEP repair of a contralateral inguinal hernia may be at increased risk for peritoneal injury and the approach may need to be changed.
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Lower intra-abdominal pressure has no cardiopulmonary benefits during laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Background
Higher intra-abdominal pressure may impair cardiopulmonary functions during laparoscopic surgery. While 12–15 mmHg is generally recommended as a standard pressure, the benefits of lower intra-abdominal pressure are unclear. We thus studied whether the low intra-abdominal pressure compared with the standard pressure improves cardiopulmonary dynamics during laparoscopic surgery.
Methods
Patients were randomized according to the intra-abdominal pressure and neuromuscular blocking levels during laparoscopic colorectal surgery: low pressure (8 mmHg) with deep-block (post-tetanic count 1–2), standard pressure (12 mmHg) with deep-block, and standard pressure with moderate-block (train-of-four count 1–2) groups. During the laparoscopic procedure, we recorded cardiopulmonary variables including cardiac index, pulmonary compliance, and surgical conditions. We also assessed postoperative pain intensity and recovery time of bowel movement. The primary outcome was the cardiac index 30 min after onset of laparoscopy.
Results
Patients were included in the low pressure with deep-block (n = 44), standard pressure with deep-block (n = 44), and standard pressure with moderate-block (n = 43) groups. The mean (SD) of cardiac index 30 min after laparoscopy was 2.7 (0.7), 2.7 (0.9), and 2.6 (1.0) L min−1 m−2 in each group (P = 0.715). The pulmonary compliance was higher but the surgical condition was poorer in the low intra-abdominal pressure than the standard pressure (both P < 0.001). Other variables were comparable between groups.
Conclusion
We observed few cardiopulmonary benefits but poor surgical conditions in the low intra-abdominal pressure during laparoscopy. Considering cardiopulmonary dynamics and surgical conditions, the standard intra-abdominal pressure may be preferable to the low pressure for laparoscopic surgery.
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Treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer: can endoscopic thyroidectomy via a chest-breast approach achieve similar therapeutic effects as open surgery?
Abstract
Background
An analysis of some special factors was performed to further evaluate and discuss whether endoscopic surgery and traditional open surgery have similar therapeutic outcomes for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).
Methods
A retrospective study was performed on 76 patients undergoing surgery to treat DTC. Forty patients were treated by endoscopic thyroidectomy via the chest-breast approach (endoscopic group) and thirty-six patients were treated by open surgery (open group). Serum thyroglobulin (sTg), radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU), radioactive technetium uptake (RATU), radionuclide imaging of the thyroid residual area (RITRA), radionuclide imaging of suspicious lymph nodes metastasis (RISLNM), and other general indexes were analyzed and compared between the two groups.
Results
All surgeries were successfully completed in both groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding gender (P = 0.120), postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.766), operation time (P = 0.065), intra-operative blood loss (P = 0.064), tumor diameter (P = 0.059), and overall complications (P = 0.828). Among these complications, there was no significant difference between the two approaches in transient hypoparathryoidism (P = 0.771), transient recurrent laryngeal injury (P = 0.474) and serious neck skin traction sensation (2.5 vs. 0%, P = 1.000). Age and body mass index were lower in the endoscopic group than the open group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in special factors between two groups concerning surgical range (P = 0.872), RAIU-2 h/24 h (P = 0.660/P = 0.955), RATU (P = 0.116), number of dissected lymph nodes (P = 0.157), sTg before radioiodine therapy (P = 0.188), sTg after radioiodine therapy (P = 0.159), RITRA at different time points (99mTc 15 min: P = 0.144; 131I 24 h: P = 0.243; 131I 72 h: P = 0.624) and RISLNM (none: P = 0.805; central: P = 0.744; lateral: P = 1.000; central + lateral: P = 0.958).
Conclusion
Endoscopic total thyroidectomy and central lymph nodes dissection via a chest-breast approach are safe and effective. Through the detection of the postoperative special factors, a well-trained surgeon can achieve similar therapeutic results for selected patients with DTC, compared with open surgery.
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Quantitative transrectal shear wave elastography undergoing salvage extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy following failed radiotherapy
Abstract
Background
To evaluate pre-surgical quantitative transrectal shear wave elastography (SWE) in the detection and characterisation of radioresistant prostate cancer.
Methods
Twelve men with recurrent prostate cancer following external beam radiotherapy were included in a prospective protocol-driven study. All underwent MR imaging and quantitative shear wave elastographic assessment of recurrent disease prior to salvage laparoscopic radical prostatectomy procedures. Images were used to construct 3D mold printing and histopathological processing of surgical specimen. Statistical analyses including ROC were generated using software programmes.
Results
There were 48 cancer foci identified on final histopathology using patient-specific mold-based approach in 12 patients. Mean number of lesion was 3.4 (range 2–4). Quantitative transrectal SWE showed a sensitivity and specificity 0.77 (95% CI 0.627–0.880) and 0.82 (95% CI 0.642–0.942), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy increased with increasing size of the lesions with overall AUC of 0.89.
Conclusions
In our series, quantitative transrectal SWE showed a good diagnostic accuracy in the detection and characterisation of recurrent prostate cancer following failed radiotherapy treatment. These findings may help in targeting biopsies or future focal treatment options.
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A randomised trial of observational learning from 2D and 3D models in robotically assisted surgery
Abstract
Background
Advances in 3D technology mean that both robotic surgical devices and surgical simulators can now incorporate stereoscopic viewing capabilities. While depth information may benefit robotic surgical performance, it is unclear whether 3D viewing also aids skill acquisition when learning from observing others. As observational learning plays a major role in surgical skills training, this study aimed to evaluate whether 3D viewing provides learning benefits in a robotically assisted surgical task.
Methods
90 medical students were assigned to either (1) 2D or (2) 3D observation of a consultant surgeon performing a training task on the daVinci S robotic system, or (3) a no observation control, in a randomised parallel design. Subsequent performance and instrument movement metrics were assessed immediately following observation and at one-week retention.
Results
Both 2D and 3D groups outperformed no observation controls following the observation intervention (ps < 0.05), but there was no difference between 2D and 3D groups at any of the timepoints. There was also no difference in movement parameters between groups.
Conclusions
While 3D viewing systems may have beneficial effects for surgical performance, these results suggest that depth information has limited utility during observational learning of surgical skills in novices. The task constraints and end goals may provide more important information for learning than the relative motion of surgical instruments in 3D space.
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Endoscopic Interventions in the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes
Abstract
Obesity is a global health problem which is on the rise and is strongly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and other comorbidities. Bariatric surgery is now an established treatment for both these conditions, leading to impressive results in weight loss and glycemic control. More recently, we have seen the development of various endoscopic devices as potential alternatives or adjuncts to bariatric surgery. In this state-of-the-art review, we outline the current landscape of endoscopic treatments available for the management of both obesity and diabetes, including the clinical evidence supporting their use, efficacy, safety, and potential mechanisms of action.
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Functional emergence of a column-like architecture in layer 5 of mouse somatosensory cortex in vivo
Abstract
To investigate how the functional architecture is organized in layer 5 (L5) of the somatosensory cortex of a mouse in vivo, the input–output relationship was investigated using an all-optical approach. The neural activity in L5 was optically recorded using a Ca2+ sensor, R-CaMP2, through a microprism inserted in the cortex under two-photon microscopy, while the L5 was regionally excited using optogenetics. The excitability was spread around the blue-light irradiated region, but the horizontal propagation was limited to within a certain distance (λ < 130 μm from the center of the illumination spot). When two regions were photostimulated with a short interval, the excitability of each cluster was reduced. Therefore, a column-like architecture had functionally emerged with reciprocal inhibition through a minimal number of synaptic relays. This could generate a synchronous output from a region of L5 with simultaneous enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio by silencing of the neighboring regions.
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Prevalence and predictors of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background
The reported prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) among individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is highly variable. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence and identify predictors of SIBO in IBS.
Methods
PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE through July 2017 were searched to identify studies evaluating the prevalence of SIBO in IBS. The pooled prevalence of SIBO among individuals with IBS and the pooled odds ratio (OR) of SIBO among those with IBS compared with healthy controls were calculated. Predictors of SIBO among IBS patients were also evaluated.
Results
Fifty studies (8398 IBS, 1432 controls) met the inclusion criteria. Overall pooled prevalence of SIBO in IBS was 38% (95% CI 32–44) and was higher among individuals with IBS (OR 4.7, 95% CI 3.1–7.2) compared with controls. The pooled prevalence of SIBO in IBS was higher in studies diagnosed by breath tests (40%, 95% CI 33–46) compared with cultures (19%, 95% CI 8–30). Among those with IBS, female gender (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0–2.1), older age (standard mean difference 3.1 years, 95% CI 0.9–5.4), and IBS-diarrhea (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.3) compared with other IBS subtypes increased the odds of SIBO; proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7–1.7) was not associated with SIBO.
Conclusions
More than one-third of IBS patients tested positive for SIBO, and the odds of SIBO in IBS were increased by nearly fivefold. The prevalence of SIBO varied according to the diagnostic modality performed. Female gender, older age, and IBS-diarrhea, but not PPI use, were associated with SIBO among individuals with IBS.
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Characteristics of patients with a relatively greater minimum VE/VCO 2 against peak VO 2 % and impaired exercise tolerance
Abstract
Purpose
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is used to evaluate functional capacity and assess prognosis in cardiac patients. Ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2) reflects ventilation–perfusion mismatch; the minimum VE/VCO2 value (minVE/VCO2) is representative of pulmonary arterial blood flow in individuals without pulmonary disease. Usually, minVE/VCO2 has a strong relationship with the peak oxygen uptake (VO2), but dissociation can occur. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between minVE/VCO2 and predicted peak VO2 (peak VO2%) and evaluated the parameters associated with a discrepancy between these two parameters.
Methods
A total of 289 Japanese patients underwent CPX using a cycle ergometer with ramp protocols between 2013 and 2014. Among these, 174 patients with a peak VO2% lower than 70% were enrolled. Patients were divided into groups based on their minVE/VCO2 [Low group: minVE/VCO2 < mean − SD (38.8–5.6); High group: minVE/VCO2 > mean + SD (38.8 + 5.6)]. The characteristics and cardiac function at rest, evaluated using echocardiography, were compared between groups.
Results
The High group had a significantly lower ejection fraction, stroke volume, and cardiac output, and higher brain natriuretic peptide, tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient, right ventricular systolic pressure, and peak early diastolic LV filling velocity/peak atrial filling velocity ratio compared with the Low group (p's < 0.01). In addition, the Low group had a significantly higher prevalence of pleural effusion than did the High group (26 vs 11%, p < 0.01).
Conclusions
Patients with a relatively greater minVE/VCO2 in comparison with peak VO2 had impaired cardiac output as well as restricted pulmonary blood flow increase during exercise, partly due to accumulated pleural effusion.
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Recovery of upper-body muscle power after short intensive exercise: comparing boys and men
Abstract
Purpose
Boys' lower-body muscle power generation (PO) recovers faster than men's following intensive exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine whether boys differ from adult men in recovering from upper-body muscle power generation following intensive exercise.
Methods
Fifteen prepubertal boys (M ± SD age 10.6 ± 1.0 years) and 13 men (31.1 ± 5.0 years) performed two upper-body Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnT), separated by either 2-min or 10-min recovery intervals. WAnT parameters, pre-and post-WAnT heart rates (HR), and blood lactate ([La]) were measured during recovery from the WAnTs.
Results
Boys' mean power (MP) of the repeated WAnT (WAnT2) following 2- and 10-min recoveries was 97.3 ± 7.2% and 99.4 ± 3.9%, respectively, compared to MP of the first test (WAnT1) (p > 0.05 for both tests). In contrast, in men's MP of the WAnT2 following the 2-min recovery, was significantly lower than that of the WAnT1 (84.4 ± 6.7%, p = 0.0001). While boys' and men's HR recovery after 2 min differed significantly (p = 0.046), no between-group differences were found following the 10-min recovery. Peak [La] in boys was 37–44% lower than that in men (p = 0.002).
Conclusions
The faster recovery of PO in boys after supra-maximal upper-body exercise is partially explained by the lower power generated by boys, attributed in part to a lower anaerobic capacity and to the greater relative contribution of aerobic processes to performance and recovery from anaerobic-type tasks. Further research is needed to determine the physiologic, neurologic and biochemical basis of the rapid muscle power recovery in children.
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Comparison of fatigue responses and rapid force characteristics between explosive- and traditional-resistance-trained males
Abstract
Purpose
To compare maximal and rapid force characteristics, as well as fatigability, between traditional (TRT) and explosive (ERT) resistance-trained men.
Methods
Fourteen TRT (mean age = 25 years) and twelve ERT (mean age = 22 years) men performed rapid maximal contractions followed by an isokinetic fatigue protocol consisting of 50 maximal knee extension (KE) and flexions (KF) at a moderate speed (180° s−¹). Baseline measures included: isokinetic peak torque (PT), isometric rate of torque development (RTD0–50), peak acceleration (ACCmax), and peak velocity (Vmax). Changes in torque with fatigue were used to calculate a fatigue index (FI%).
Results
The ERT group (M ± SD; 1199.05 ± 404.12) displayed a significantly higher isometric RTD0–50 (p = 0.049) during KE than the TRT group (931.73 ± 244.75). No other significant differences in the dependent variables (PT, FI%, ACCmax,Vmax; all p ≥ 0.05) were observed between groups (TRT vs. ERT) for either of the muscle groups (KE and KF).
Conclusions
The results of the present study indicated that only knee extension RTD was able to discriminate between the two groups. These findings suggest that rapid force production may be more sensitive at distinguishing training-specific muscular adaptations than peak acceleration or velocity.
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Testing and Treating Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Reduces Symptoms in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Abstract
Background
Common mechanisms against small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), including an intact ileocecal valve, gastric acid secretion, intestinal motility, and an intact immune system, are compromised in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and therefore, a relatively high incidence of SIBO has been reported in this population.
Aims
We aimed to determine whether an improvement in IBD clinical activity scores is seen after testing and treating SIBO.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study of 147 patients with inflammatory bowel disease who were referred for SIBO breath testing from 1/2012 to 5/2016 was performed. Characteristics of SIBO positive and treated patients were compared to SIBO negative patients, including the changes in Partial Mayo Score or Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI), using Student's t test for continuous variables and Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables.
Results
61.9% were SIBO positive and treated, and 38.1% were SIBO negative. In Crohn's disease, the median HBI decreased from 5 to 3 and 5 to 4, in the SIBO positive and negative groups, respectively (p = 0.005). In ulcerative colitis, the Partial Mayo Score decreased from 2 to 1.5 and 2 to 1, respectively (p = 0.607).
Conclusions
This study examines the clinical effect of testing and treating for SIBO in an IBD population. We see a significant reduction in HBI after testing for and treating SIBO. Future prospective studies are necessary to further investigate the role of SIBO in the evaluation and management of IBD.
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Effects of running a marathon on irisin concentration in men aged over 50
Abstract
Our aim was to verify whether running a marathon is associated with changes in irisin concentration in healthy, endurance-trained men. In an observational study, we assessed baseline biochemical and fitness parameters of 28 middle-aged runners (mean ± SD age, BMI, VO2max: 58 ± 8 years; 24.5 ± 3 kg/m2; 51.1 ± 1.7 ml/kg/min). We evaluated irisin before, immediately after, and 7 days after the marathon. Irisin concentration decreased from a baseline value of 639 ± 427 to 461 ± 255 ng/ml immediately after the marathon (p < 0.05). After 7 days, it was still significantly lower than before the race, at 432 ± 146 ng/ml (p < 0.05). We found no correlations between irisin concentration and the training history of the studied subjects. We conclude that a long-distance run may have a negative impact on irisin release in men. This effect was not correlated with the training history of runners.
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Circulating exosomal miR-27a and miR-130a act as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
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Psoriatic patients with chronic viral hepatitis do not have an increased risk of liver cirrhosis despite long-term methotrexate use: Real-world data from a nationwide cohort study in Taiwan
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
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A 5-serum miRNA panel for the early detection of colorectal cancer
OncoTargets and Therapy
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