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Background context: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are at increased risk of infections and suffer from poor bone quality due to their disseminated malignant bone disease. Therefore, postoperative complications may occur following surgical treatment of MM lesions. Purpose: In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of postoperative complications and retreatments after spinal surgery in MM patients. Additionally, we sought to identify risk factors associated with complications and retreatments. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Patient sample.: In total, 270 patients with MM who received surgical treatment for spinal involvement between 2008 and 2021 were included. Outcome measures.: The incidence of perioperative complications within 6 weeks and reoperations within 2.5 years and individual odds ratios for factors associated with these complications and reoperations. Methods: Data were collected through manual chart review. Hosmer and Lemeshow's purposeful regression method was used to identify risk factors for complications and reoperations. Results: The median age of our cohort was 65 years (SD = 10.8), and 58% were male (n = 57). Intraoperative complications were present in 24 patients (8.9%). The overall 6-week complication rate after surgery was 35% (n = 95). The following variables were independently associated with 6-week complications: higher Genant grading of a present vertebral fracture (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.04–1.95; p =.031), receiving intramuscular or intravenous steroids within a week prior to surgery (OR 3.97; 95% CI 1.79–9.06; p =.001), decompression surgery without fusion (OR 6.53; 95% CI 1.30–36.86; p =.026), higher creatinine levels (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.19–5.60; p =.014), and lower calcium levels (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.37–0.88; p =.013). A secondary surgery was indicated for 53 patients (20%), of which 13 (4.8%) took place within two weeks after the initial surgery. We additionally discovered factors associated with retreatments, which are elucidated within the manuscript. Conclusion: The goal of surgical treatment for MM bone disease is to enhance patient quality of life and reduce symptom burden. However, postoperative complication rates remain relatively high after spine surgery in patients with MM, likely attributable to both inherent characteristics of the disease and patient comorbidities. The risk for complications and secondary surgeries should be explored and a multidisciplinary approach is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The recent literature suggests that a cardiac origin in ischaemic stroke is more frequent than previously assumed. However, it is not always clear which patients benefit from additional cardiac investigations if obvious cardiac pathology is absent. Methods: A single‐center retrospective observational study was performed with 7454 consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery in the period 2006–2015 and who had postoperative brain imaging. Cerebral imaging was studied for the occurrence of stroke including subtype and involved vascular territory. It was assumed that all perioperative thromboembolic strokes are of cardiac origin. Data obtained from a hospital cohort of consecutive patients who received a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke were used for comparison. Results: Thromboembolic stroke occurred in 135 cardiac surgery patients in 56 (41%) of whom the posterior cerebral circulation was involved. In the control group, 100 out of 503 strokes (20%) were located in the posterior cerebral circulation. The relative risk for a posterior location for stroke after cardiac surgery compared to patients with ischaemic stroke without prior cardiac surgery was 2.09; 95% confidence interval 1.60–2.72. Conclusions: Thromboembolic stroke after cardiac surgery occurs twice as often in the posterior cerebral circulation compared to ischaemic strokes in the general population. If confirmed in general stroke cohorts, the consequence of this finding may be that in patients with an ischaemic stroke that involves the posterior cerebral circulation the chance of a cardiac origin is increased and therefore might trigger additional cardiac investigations such as long‐term heart rhythm monitoring or echocardiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Plant species from various taxa ‘escape’ from low oxygen conditions associated with submergence by a suite of traits collectively called the low oxygen escape syndrome (LOES). The expression of these traits is associated with costs and benefits. Thus far, remarkably few studies have dealt with the expected benefits of the LOES. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT Plants sense neighbours even before these cause a decrease in photosynthetic light availability. Light reflected by proximate neighbours signals a plant to adjust growth and development, in order to avoid suppression by neighbour plants. These phenotypic changes are known as the shade-avoidance syndrome and include enhanced shoot elongation and more upright-positioned leaves. In the present study it was shown that these shade-avoidance traits in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum ) are also induced by low concentrations of ethylene. Furthermore, it was shown that transgenic plants, insensitive to ethylene, have a delayed appearance of shade-avoidance traits. The increase in both leaf angles and stem elongation in response to neighbours are delayed in ethylene-insensitive plants. These data show that ethylene is an important component in the regulation of neighbour-induced, shade-avoidance responses. Consequently, ethylene-insensitive plants lose competition with wild-type neighbours, demonstrating that sensing of ethylene is required for a plant to successfully compete for light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro cultivated pear, Pyrus communis L. cv. Beurré Hardy, pedicels cut above their primary abscission layer can form a secondary abscission layer, especially under the influence of auxins or cytokinins in the culture medium. The maximum percentage of abscission reached by auxin application was always higher than that by cytokinin. The presence of the flower was of no consequence to the abscission. Characteristic differences in abscission were observed between pear and apple pedicels. In contrast to apple (1) secondary abscission in pear could also be induced by cytokinins, and (2) the site of abscission in pear was dependent on the auxin concentration. At lower auxin concentrations abscission was induced in the basal parts of the pedicels inserted in the medium, whereas at higher auxin concentrations the abscission layer was formed in the terminal parts of the pedicels above the culture medium. A clear effect of gibberellins, ABA and CEPA could not be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro cultivated apple pedicels without a primary abscission layer can form a secondary (adventitious) abscission layer, especially under the influence of auxins. In the apple cv. Cox's Orange Pippin abscission can only be induced by auxins, while the site of the abscission layer, a few millimetres from the basal ends of the pedicels, is fixed and independent of the auxin concentration. The auxin treatment has to last at least 5-6 days to induce abscission, which is not affected by the presence of a flower. A secondary layer does not occur when pedicels are placed inverted on the media. Although abscission occurs both in light and in darkness, it is strongly promoted by light. Abscission is also accelerated by raising the temperature from 9°C to 21-25°C. High concentrations of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid reduce the percentage of auxin-induced abscission. Sugar is required, but the presence of macro-elements is not essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of various growth substances on regeneration and growth of bulblets on excised bulb scale segments of Hyacinthus orientalis L. cv. Pink Pearl was studied. Bulblet formation was promoted by the auxins IAA and IBA but was inhibited by NAA at high concentrations. IAA hardly affected bulblet weight, whereas IBA and NAA at high concentrations decreased it. Cytokinins bad hardly any effect on bulblet regeneration and bulblet weight. Gibberellins inhibited both bulblet regeneration and bulblet weight; GA4+7 acted much stronger than GA3. ABA and ethephon decreased bulblet regeneration and bulblet growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last 3 years a method has been developed to reproduce Anthurium andraeanum Lind, through callus cultures. The procedural sequence is as follows: callus induction on excised leaf fragments, callus subculture on solid and in liquid media, adventitious sprout formation in callus on solid media, and rooting of excised sprouts. Recently 20 adult genotypes were propagated by this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A system of two dynamic plant chambers and a downstream reaction chamber has been set up to investigate the emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) and possible effects from pollutants such as ozone. The system can be used to compare BVOC emissions from two sets of differently treated plants, or to study the photochemistry of real plant emissions under polluted conditions without exposing the plants to pollutants. The main analytical tool is a proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) which allows online monitoring of biogenic emissions and chemical degradation products. The identification of BVOCs and their oxidation products is aided by cryogenic trapping and subsequent in situ gas chromatographic analysis. The data presented in the paper demonstrates the good performance of the setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The exploitation of natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) provides a huge potential for the identification of the molecular mechanisms underlying this variation as a result of the availability of a vast array of genetic and genomic resources for this species. Eighty-six Arabidopsis accessions were screened for natural variation in flooding tolerance. This forms the first step towards the identification and characterization of the role of candidate genes contributing to flooding tolerance. • Arabidopsis accessions at the 10-leaf stage were subjected to complete submergence in the dark. Survival curves were plotted to estimate median lethal times as a measure of tolerance. Flooding-associated survival parameters, such as root and shoot oxygen content, initial carbohydrate content and petiole elongation under water, were also measured. • There was a significant variation in submergence tolerance among Arabidopsis accessions. However, the order of tolerance did not correlate with root and shoot oxygen content or initial amounts of shoot starch and total soluble sugars. A negative correlation was observed between submergence tolerance and underwater petiole elongation. • Arabidopsis accessions show considerable variation in the ability to tolerate complete submergence, making it a good species in which to identify and characterize genes and to study mechanisms that contribute to survival under water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents Summary 213 I. Introduction 213 II. Sensing of submergence 214 III. Internal aeration and underwater photosynthesis 217 IV. Stimulated shoot elongation 219 V. Perspectives 221 Acknowledgements 222 References 222 Flooding is a widespread phenomenon that drastically reduces the growth and survival of terrestrial plants. The dramatic decrease of gas diffusion in water compared with in air is a major problem for terrestrial plants and limits the entry of CO2 for photosynthesis and of O2 for respiration. Responses to avoid the adverse effects of submergence are the central theme in this review. These include underwater photosynthesis, aerenchyma formation and enhanced shoot elongation. Aerenchyma facilitates gas diffusion inside plants so that shoot-derived O2 can diffuse to O2-deprived plant parts, such as the roots. The underwater gas-exchange capacity of leaves can be greatly enhanced by a thinner cuticle, reorientation of the chloroplasts towards the epidermis and increased specific leaf area (i.e. thinner leaves). At the same time, plants can outgrow the water through increased shoot elongation, which in some species is preceded by an adjustment of leaf angle to a more vertical position. The molecular regulatory networks involved in these responses, including the putative signals to sense submergence, are discussed and suggestions made on how to unravel the mechanistic basis of the induced expression of various adaptations that alleviate O2 shortage underwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flooding tolerance of Carex species was studied in relation to their field distribution and their capacity to form root aerenchyma under controlled conditions. In an alpine meadow, six Carex species were selected which were distributed in a clear zonation correlating with water content of the soil. Carex sempervirens and C. ferruginea were only found on nonflooded soil, the latter species preferring moister conditions. Carex davalliana and C. nigra were both associated with water-saturated soil, whereas C. limosa and C. rostrata preferred partially submerged conditions. Carex davalliana and C. limosa were bound to flooded soils with a relatively high redox potential and horizontally flowing groundwater. Carex rostrata and C. nigra grew in stagnant soil-flooded conditions with low soil redox potentials. The amount of aerenchyma in the roots of all species increased when grown in oxygen-deficient stagnant agar. This increase in root porosity, combined with increased root diameter, presumably improved internal aeration of the roots. Although all species survived experimental soil flooding, partial submergence was lethal to C. sempervirens and, surprisingly, also to the wetland species C. davalliana. Carex ferruginea showed a reduced growth rate during partial submergence. The three other species, all wetland plants, reached highest biomass production under soil-flooded and partially submerged conditions, with slower growth on free-draining soil. It is concluded that aerenchyma is not constitutive in the Carex species under study, and is best developed in Carex species from wetlands. Species with less aerenchyma perform poorly when soil-flooded, but conditions of partial submergence could even affect species with a considerable amount of root aerenchyma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses acute myocardial infarction associated with sildenafil, registered in the United States for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Case study of a 65-year-old man admitted complaining of acute severe left-sided chest pain; Suggestion that the number of reported adverse reactions to sildenafil is likely to increase when it is taken by large numbers of men.