Search

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. The acquisition of multimodal magnetic resonance-based brain development data is central to the studys core protocol. However, application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods in this population is complicated by technical challenges and difficulties of imaging in early life. Overcoming these challenges requires an innovative and harmonized approach, combining age-appropriate acquisition protocols together with specialized pediatric neuroimaging strategies. The HBCD MRI Working Group aimed to establish a core acquisition protocol for all 27 HBCD Study recruitment sites to measure brain structure, function, microstructure, and metabolites. Acquisition parameters of individual modalities have been matched across MRI scanner platforms for harmonized acquisitions and state-of-the-art technologies are employed to enable faster and motion-robust imaging. Here, we provide an overview of the HBCD MRI protocol, including decisions of individual modalities and preliminary data. The result will be an unparalleled resource for examining early neurodevelopment which enables the larger scientific community to assess normative trajectories from birth through childhood and to examine the genetic, biological, and environmental factors that help shape the developing brain.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which promoting sense of community moderates the relationship between servant leadership style and socially responsible leadership (SRL) of public universities in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted cross-sectional survey design to collect data at one point in time using self-administered questionnaires from 214 respondents to examine the relationship between servant leadership and socially responsible leadership with promoting sense of community as a moderator. The study used statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) PROCESS MACRO to establish clusters among the surveyed public universities and later a model was derived. Findings: The study found a significant moderating effect of promoting sense of community on servant leadership and socially responsible leadership. Implying that investment in promoting sense of community creates awareness about the socially responsible leadership in public universities. Practical implications: Managers of public universities need to pay keen interest in promoting sense of community to boost socially responsible leadership by building a strong servant leadership style through promoting sense of community for senior managers and leaders especially heads of departments, faculty deans and principals in public universities. Originality/value: This study contributes to socially responsible leadership literature by advancing the idea that SRL is an important resource that enhances through instituting servant leadership and promoting sense of community in a complex environment. Ideally, servant leadership and promoting sense of community is one of the drivers of customer value, efficiency and effectiveness of public universities.

Reforming the professionalization experiences of future faculty members, including their undergraduate experience, provides a possible means to create scalable change in higher education. However, this requires an understanding of where faculty undergraduate training occurs. We analyze data from 7748 tenure-line faculty members across 611 U.S. physics departments, including their undergraduate alma mater and their employer university. The resulting undergraduate professionalization network reveals a prestige hierarchy similar in strength to those previously found in hiring networks at the Ph.D. level, indicating that the road to faculty jobs begins during undergraduate admissions. Furthermore, 42% of physics faculty members earned their undergraduate degrees from institutions outside of the United States. These results reinforce the importance of institutional prestige in academia and offer a potential strategy for driving systemic change.

This research is a large study over an extended period of time involving hundreds of general chemistry students and multiple instructors at the US Naval Academy. The purpose was to investigate whether a combination of clicker content and confidence questions would improve the performance and metacognition of students of different achievement groups (top, middle, bottom). Results showed no statistical difference in exam achievement between students who used clickers and those who did not when other active teaching methods were employed in both groups. Within the clicker participants, statistical differences in confidence on clicker questions were found by student achievement group, question type (algorithmic and conceptual), and question difficulty for both semesters of general chemistry. Students in the top achievement group were the most confident. All students were more confident on algorithmic and easy questions, though a significant interaction was found between question type and difficulty in the second semester. Metacognition was measured by calibration (confidence when the answer is corrector lack of confidence when incorrect). Overall, students of all achievement groups were well calibrated with students in the top group being confident in correct answers and students in the bottom group nonconfident within correct answers. Students in the middle group displayed calibration between those of the top and bottom groups. Evidence of calibration for middle and bottom students may indicate the beginning of metacognitive awareness. A positive trend was found in student perceived value of confidence questions over the two semesters of general chemistry.

Here we provide the 'Global Spectrum of Plant Form and Function Dataset', containing species mean values for six vascular plant traits. Together, these traits -plant height, stem specific density, leaf area, leaf mass per area, leaf nitrogen content per dry mass, and diaspore (seed or spore) mass - define the primary axes of variation in plant form and function. The dataset is based on ca. 1 million trait records received via the TRY database (representing ca. 2,500 original publications) and additional unpublished data. It provides 92,159 species mean values for the six traits, covering 46,047 species. The data are complemented by higher-level taxonomic classification and six categorical traits (woodiness, growth form, succulence, adaptation to terrestrial or aquatic habitats, nutrition type and leaf type). Data quality management is based on a probabilistic approach combined with comprehensive validation against expert knowledge and external information. Intense data acquisition and thorough quality control produced the largest and, to our knowledge, most accurate compilation of empirically observed vascular plant species mean traits to date.

Introduction A better understanding of the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could expedite the development or administration of treatments. Large population biobanks hold the promise to identify individuals at an elevated risk of AD and related dementias based on health registry information. Here, we establish the protocol for an observational clinical recall and biomarker study called TWINGEN with the aim to identify individuals at high risk of AD by assessing cognition, health and AD-related biomarkers. Suitable candidates were identified and invited to participate in the new study among THL Biobank donors according to TWINGEN study criteria.Methods and analysis A multi-centre study (n=800) to obtain blood-based biomarkers, telephone-administered and web-based memory and cognitive parameters, questionnaire information on lifestyle, health and psychological factors, and accelerometer data for measures of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep. A subcohort is being asked to participate in an in-person neuropsychological assessment (n=200) and wear an Oura ring (n=50). All participants in the TWINGEN study have genome-wide genotyping data and up to 48 years of follow-up data from the population-based older Finnish Twin Cohort (FTC) study of the University of Helsinki. The data collected in TWINGEN will be returned to THL Biobank from where it can later be requested for other biobank studies such as FinnGen that supported TWINGEN.Ethics and dissemination This recall study consists of FTC/THL Biobank/FinnGen participants whose data were acquired in accordance with the Finnish Biobank Act. The recruitment protocols followed the biobank protocols approved by Finnish Medicines Agency. The TWINGEN study plan was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (number 16831/2022). THL Biobank approved the research plan with the permission no: THLBB2022_83.

Growth hormone (GH) has been used for over 35 years, and its safety and efficacy has been studied extensively. Experimental studies showing the permissive role of GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) in carcinogenesis have raised concerns regarding the safety of GH replacement in children and adults who have received treatment for cancer and those with intracranial and pituitary tumours. A consensus statement was produced to guide decision-making on GH replacement in children and adult survivors of cancer, in those treated for intracranial and pituitary tumours and in patients with increased cancer risk. With the support of the European Society of Endocrinology, the Growth Hormone Research Society convened a Workshop, where 55 international key opinion leaders representing 10 professional societies were invited to participate. This consensus statement utilized: (1) a critical review paper produced before the Workshop, (2) five plenary talks, (3) evidence-based comments from four breakout groups, and (4) discussions during report-back sessions. Current evidence reviewed from the proceedings from the Workshop does not support an association between GH replacement and primary tumour or cancer recurrence. The effect of GH replacement on secondary neoplasia risk is minor compared to host- and tumour treatment-related factors. There is no evidence for an association between GH replacement and increased mortality from cancer amongst GH-deficient childhood cancer survivors. Patients with pituitary tumour or craniopharyngioma remnants receiving GH replacement do not need to be treated or monitored differently than those not receiving GH. GH replacement might be considered in GH-deficient adult cancer survivors in remission after careful individual risk/benefit analysis. In children with cancer predisposition syndromes, GH treatment is generally contraindicated but may be considered cautiously in select patients.

Measurement(s) milk yield • milk somatic cell quantity • mid-infrared spectroscopy • Fat content • Protein content • milk fatty acid C4:0 amount • milk fatty acid C6:0 amount • milk fatty acid C8:0 amount • milk fatty acid C10:0 amount • milk fatty acid C12:0 amount • milk fatty acid C16:0 amount • milk fatty acid cis-9-C18:1 amount • milk fatty acid cis-9,trans-11-C18:2 amount • milk fatty acid C18:3(n-3) amount • milk alpha-S2-casein amount • milk alpha-S1-casein amount • milk beta-casein amount • milk kappa-casein amount • milk alpha-lactalbumin amount • milk beta-lactoglobulin amount Technology Type(s) Weighted milk quantity per day • Fossomatic cell counter • Milko-ScanTM FT6000 • Prediction from mid-infrared spectroscopy Factor Type(s) Genetic lines • Year of sampling • Batch • Parity • Days in milk • Litter size • Total number of sequences • Sampling order • Sampling hour Sample Characteristic - Organism Ovis aries Sample Characteristic - Environment Experimental Unit - Indoor conditions Sample Characteristic - Location La Fage, 12250 Sant-Jean-et-Saint-Paul

Abstract Turner syndrome (TS; ORPHA 881) is a rare condition in which all or part of one X chromosome is absent from some or all cells. It affects approximately one in every 1/2500 liveborn girls. The most frequently observed karyotypes are 45,X (40–50%) and the 45,X/46,XX mosaic karyotype (15–25%). Karyotypes with an X isochromosome (45,X/46,isoXq or 45,X/46,isoXp), a Y chromosome, X ring chromosome or deletions of the X chromosome are less frequent. The objective of the French National Diagnosis and Care Protocol (PNDS; Protocole National de Diagnostic et de Soins) is to provide health professionals with information about the optimal management and care for patients, based on a critical literature review and multidisciplinary expert consensus. The PNDS, written by members of the French National Reference Center for Rare Growth and Developmental Endocrine disorders, is available from the French Health Authority website. Turner Syndrome is associated with several phenotypic conditions and a higher risk of comorbidity. The most frequently reported features are growth retardation with short adult stature and gonadal dysgenesis. TS may be associated with various congenital (heart and kidney) or acquired diseases (autoimmune thyroid disease, celiac disease, hearing loss, overweight/obesity, glucose intolerance/type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular complications and liver dysfunction). Most of the clinical traits of TS are due to the haploinsufficiency of various genes on the X chromosome, particularly those in the pseudoautosomal regions (PAR 1 and PAR 2), which normally escape the physiological process of X inactivation, although other regions may also be implicated. The management of patients with TS requires collaboration between several healthcare providers. The attending physician, in collaboration with the national care network, will ensure that the patient receives optimal care through regular follow-up and screening. The various elements of this PNDS are designed to provide such support.

To evaluate the effects of an intradialytic aerobic exercise training program on the expression of transcription factors nuclear factor κappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), related to inflammatory and antioxidant pathways, respectively, in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis. This was a longitudinal, randomized clinical trial with a washout period and crossover performed with 33 patients randomized into two groups: Exercise (individualized intradialytic aerobic exercise on an adapted stationary exercise bike) three times per week for three months and control (without exercise). After the washout period (1 month), the exercise group became the control, and the other group performed the exercises for another three months. Blood sample collection, food intake, and anthropometry were evaluated at the beginning and end of each study phase. Nrf2, its target gene NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and NF-κB transcription factors were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by ELISA assay. Eighteen patients [11 men, 44.1 ± 8.4 years, 17.3 (6.6–124) months on HD] completed all the study. The obtained data revealed that the intervention did not affect Nrf2, NQO1, and NF-κB mRNA expression. Also, TNF-α levels were not changed. However, IL-6 showed a tendency to decrease after the exercise intervention (p = 0.054). In hemodialysis patients, three months of intradialytic aerobic exercise did not modulate the transcription factors associated with inflammation (NF-κB) and antioxidant activity (Nrf2 and NQO1). NCT04375553. • CKD patients usually have an increase in NF-ĸB expression and a decrease in Nrf2. • 12 weeks of aerobic exercise did not modulate the expression of NF-ĸB, Nrf2 or NQO1. • There was a trend towards a reduction in IL-6 after 12 weeks of aerobic exercise. • The exercise proved to be safe and should be encouraged with proper monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The new outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected and caused the death of millions of people worldwide. Intensive efforts are underway around the world to establish effective treatments. Immunoglobulin from immunized animals or plasma from convalescent patients might constitute a specific treatment to guarantee the neutralization of the virus in the early stages of infection, especially in patients with risk factors and a high probability of progressing to severe disease. Worldwide, a few clinical trials using anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins from horses immunized with the entire spike protein or fragments of it in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 are underway. Here, we describe the development of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 equine F(ab′)2 immunoglobulin using a newly developed SARS-CoV-2 viral antigen that was purified and inactivated by radiation. Cell-based and preclinical assays showed that the F(ab′)2 immunoglobulin successfully neutralizes the virus, is safe in animal models, and reduces the severity of the disease in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease.

Background:. Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) entered the market in the early 2000s and their use has increased thereafter. Several retrospective cohort studies and single surgeon series reported benefits with the use of ADMs. However, robust evidence supporting these advantages is lacking. There is the need to define the role for ADMs in implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) after mastectomy. Methods:. A panel of world-renowned breast specialists was convened to evaluate evidence, express personal viewpoints, and establish recommendation for the use of ADMs for subpectoral one-/two-stage IBBR (compared with no ADM use) for adult women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer treatment or risk reduction using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results:. Based on the voting outcome, the following recommendation emerged as a consensus statement: the panel members suggest subpectoral one- or two-stage IBBR either with ADMs or without ADMs for adult women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer treatment or risk reduction (with very low certainty of evidence). Conclusions:. The systematic review has revealed a very low certainty of evidence for most of the important outcomes in ADM-assisted IBBR and the absence of standard tools for evaluating clinical outcomes. Forty-five percent of panel members expressed a conditional recommendation either in favor of or against the use of ADMs in subpectoral one- or two-stages IBBR for adult women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer treatment or risk reduction. Future subgroup analyses could help identify relevant clinical and pathological factors to select patients for whom one technique could be preferable to another.

The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of sports participation in Brazilian children and adolescents through a systematic literature review. A search was carried out in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, WEB OF SCIENCE, BIREME, SCIELO, and SCOPUS for manuscripts published until 2020, combining the keywords: “children”, “adolescents”, “prevalence”, and “sports participation”, in Portuguese and English. Twenty-six articles published between 2003 and 2020 were included in the review, with the aim of estimating the prevalence of participation in organized sports in Brazilian children and adolescents. Considering the regions where the studies were carried out, the majority were developed in the south (57.7%; n=15), followed by the southeast (19.2%; n=05), and northeast (15.4%; n=04), in addition to 7.7% (n=02) in all regions of the country. The data showed prevalence of sports participation ranging from 15.0% to 73.2% (mean of 44.8%) among children and adolescents, being higher in males (63.1%). From the results found, the need to develop public policies is evident, in order to favor adherence and maintenance of young people to sports practice, especially among those of the female sex.

Summary: Background: Previous Randomised controlled trials (RCT) evaluating chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients have found no significant difference in hospitalisation rates. However, low statistical power precluded definitive answers. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, RCT in 56 Brazilian sites. Adults with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 presenting with mild or moderate symptoms with ≤ 07 days prior to enrollment and at least one risk factor for clinical deterioration were randomised (1:1) to receive hydroxychloroquine 400 mg twice a day (BID) in the first day, 400 mg once daily (OD) thereafter for a total of seven days, or matching placebo. The primary outcome was hospitalisation due to COVID-19 at 30 days, which was assessed by an adjudication committee masked to treatment allocation and following the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle. An additional analysis was performed only in participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by molecular or serology testing (modified ITT [mITT] analysis). This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04466540. Findings: From May 12, 2020 to July 07, 2021, 1372 patients were randomly allocated to hydroxychloroquine or placebo. There was no significant difference in the risk of hospitalisation between hydroxychloroquine and placebo groups (44/689 [6·4%] and 57/683 [8·3%], RR 0·77 [95% CI 0·52–1·12], respectively, p=0·16), and similar results were found in the mITT analysis with 43/478 [9·0%] and 55/471 [11·7%] events, RR 0·77 [95% CI 0·53–1·12)], respectively, p=0·17. To further complement our data, we conducted a meta-analysis which suggested no significant benefit of hydroxychloroquine in reducing hospitalisation among patients with positive testing (69/1222 [5·6%], and 88/1186 [7·4%]; RR 0·77 [95% CI 0·57–1·04]). Interpretation: In outpatients with mild or moderate forms of COVID-19, the use of hydroxychloroquine did not reduce the risk of hospitalisation compared to the placebo control. Our findings do not support the routine use of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 in the outpatient setting. Funding: COALITION COVID-19 Brazil and EMS.

BackgroundViolence against women and girls (VAWG) is a human rights violation with social, economic, and health consequences for survivors, perpetrators, and society. Robust evidence on economic, social, and health impact, plus the cost of delivery of VAWG prevention, is critical to making the case for investment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where health sector resources are highly constrained. We report on the costs and health impact of VAWG prevention in 6 countries.Methods and findingsWe conducted a trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis of VAWG prevention interventions using primary data from 5 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in South Asia. We evaluated 2 school-based interventions aimed at adolescents (11 to 14 years old) and 2 workshop-based (small group or one to one) interventions, 1 community-based intervention, and 1 combined small group and community-based programme all aimed at adult men and women (18+ years old). All interventions were delivered between 2015 and 2018 and were compared to a do-nothing scenario, except for one of the school-based interventions (government-mandated programme) and for the combined intervention (access to financial services in small groups). We computed the health burden from VAWG with disability-adjusted life year (DALY). We estimated per capita DALYs averted using statistical models that reflect each trial's design and any baseline imbalances. We report cost-effectiveness as cost per DALY averted and characterise uncertainty in the estimates with probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEACs), which show the probability of cost-effectiveness at different thresholds. We report a subgroup analysis of the small group component of the combined intervention and no other subgroup analysis. We also report an impact inventory to illustrate interventions' socioeconomic impact beyond health. We use a 3% discount rate for investment costs and a 1-year time horizon, assuming no effects post the intervention period. From a health sector perspective, the cost per DALY averted varies between US$222 (2018), for an established gender attitudes and harmful social norms change community-based intervention in Ghana, to US$17,548 (2018) for a livelihoods intervention in South Africa. Taking a societal perspective and including wider economic impact improves the cost-effectiveness of some interventions but reduces others. For example, interventions with positive economic impacts, often those with explicit economic goals, offset implementation costs and achieve more favourable cost-effectiveness ratios. Results are robust to sensitivity analyses. Our DALYs include a subset of the health consequences of VAWG exposure; we assume no mortality impact from any of the health consequences included in the DALYs calculations. In both cases, we may be underestimating overall health impact. We also do not report on participants' health costs.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that investment in established community-based VAWG prevention interventions can improve population health in LMICs, even within highly constrained health budgets. However, several VAWG prevention interventions require further modification to achieve affordability and cost-effectiveness at scale. Broadening the range of social, health, and economic outcomes captured in future cost-effectiveness assessments remains critical to justifying the investment urgently required to prevent VAWG globally.

Background: Self-collected saliva samples can increase the diagnostic efficiency and benefit healthcare workers, patient care, and infection control. This study evaluated the performance of self-collected saliva samples compared to nasopharyngeal swabs using three commercial kits for the qualitative detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods: Matched nasopharyngeal and saliva samples were collected from 103 patients with either asymptomatic or symptomatic COVID-19. Both samples were evaluated using three commercial kits (TaqCheck, Allplex, and TaqPath). To evaluate sample stability, viral RNA extraction was performed in the presence or absence of an RNA-stabilizing solution. Storage conditions, including the duration, temperature, and stability after freezing and thawing of the samples, were also evaluated. Results: All the saliva samples showed 100% concordance with the nasopharyngeal swab results using TaqCheck and Allplex kits, and 93% using TaqPath kit. No difference was observed in the samples that used the RNA-stabilizing solution compared to the group without the solution. The Ct values of the freeze–thawed samples after 30 days were higher than those on day 0; however, the results were consistent the fresh samples. Conclusion: The high concordance of SARS-CoV-2 detection via reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in matched saliva and nasopharyngeal samples using different commercial assays reinforces the concept that self-collected saliva samples are non-invasive, rapid, and reliable for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection.

No trabalho em questão, apresentamos um tipo de sequência relacionada à sequência de Jacobsthal-Lucas, fundamentada nas sequências de Jacobsthal e de Lucas. Nesse sentido, evidenciamos a sequência hiperbólica de Jacobsthal-Lucas. Ao longo do texto são discutidas as principais definições e proposições relativas ao tópico e ainda a sua forma matricial.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The management of penetrating abdominal wounds has greatly benefited from the development of computed tomography (CT), particularly in stable patients. In this setting, the scanner is the reference examination. Our study aims to evaluate the performance of preoperative CT in the assessment of penetrating abdominal lesions. Between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2022, 81 patients were hospitalized following penetrating abdominal trauma at the Army Training Hospitals of Sainte-Anne and Laveran. Fifty-one stable patients who had an abdominopelvic CT scan and thereafter underwent abdominal surgery (laparotomy or laparoscopy) were included. Radiological and surgical data were collected from the electronic record and compared by a descriptive analysis (calculation of the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the CT for the detection of lesions of the various organs) and by a correlation of the CT findings with surgical findings using Kripendorff's alpha coefficient. The cohort was largely male (n = 45; 88%), with injuries by knife wound in 62.7% of cases (n = 32) and gunshot in 35.3% (n = 18) of cases. The median age was 36 years (25–47). The median index of severity score (ISS) was 17 (10–26). Excellent agreement between predicted and actual findings was obtained for solid organs (α = 0.801) with high sensitivity and specificity (81.8% and 96.6%, respectively). The largest discrepancies were observed for the hollow organs (α = 26.2%, sensitivity of 53.3% and specificity of 76.2%) and the diaphragm (α = 67.3%, sensitivity 75%, specificity 92.3%). Surgical exploration was non-therapeutic for five patients (9.8%). The failure rate for non-operative treatment was 10% (n = 1). CT detection of solid organ lesions in patients with penetrating abdominal wounds is excellent. However, the detection of hollow organ and diaphragmatic wounds remains a challenge with a risk of over- and underdiagnosis. Laparoscopic exploration should be able to fill in the gaps in the CT findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlantic coast of South America supports many Nearctic shorebirds during their non-breeding season where they use a network of stop-over and wintering sites. To quantify the importance of French Guiana among those sites, we surveyed and resighted banded birds in the Kourou River estuary during two periods: 1989–1997 and 2005–2008. Twenty species were recorded, among which 15 were observed every year, during migration and/or boreal wintering. The most abundant species was Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), accounting for 57% of all observations. In most Nearctic shorebird species, we observed dramatic changes in numbers and phenology between both survey periods. In the 1990s, the Kourou River estuary was mainly a post-breeding stop-over site; in the common shorebird species the largest numbers were observed in September and October. In the 2000s, only few species still occurred in significant post-breeding numbers, and migration peaks occured later for some of them. Observations of 304 banded individuals of five shorebird species indicated that some staging birds stopped in southern Canada and over-wintered in Brazil or Argentina. Many of our resighted birds stopped over in Delaware Bay in spring. Our results indicate the importance of French Guiana as a fall stop-over for Nearctic shorebirds using Western Atlantic Flyway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ciencia, Cuidado e Saude is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Demand for nipple- and skin- sparing mastectomy (NSM/SSM) with immediate breast reconstruction (BR) has increased at the same time as indications for post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) have broadened. The aim of the Oncoplastic Breast Consortium initiative was to address relevant questions arising with this clinically challenging scenario. A large global panel of oncologic, oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgeons, patient advocates and radiation oncologists developed recommendations for clinical practice in an iterative process based on the principles of Delphi methodology. The panel agreed that surgical technique for NSM/SSM should not be formally modified when PMRT is planned with preference for autologous over implant-based BR due to lower risk of long-term complications and support for immediate and delayed-immediate reconstructive approaches. Nevertheless, it was strongly believed that PMRT is not an absolute contraindication for implant-based or other types of BR, but no specific recommendations regarding implant positioning, use of mesh or timing were made due to absence of high-quality evidence. The panel endorsed use of patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice. It was acknowledged that the shape and size of reconstructed breasts can hinder radiotherapy planning and attention to details of PMRT techniques is important in determining aesthetic outcomes after immediate BR. The panel endorsed the need for prospective, ideally randomised phase III studies and for surgical and radiation oncology teams to work together for determination of optimal sequencing and techniques for PMRT for each patient in the context of BR • Autologous breast reconstruction is increasingly preferred over implants in the setting of radiation therapy. • Use of patient-reported outcomes is endorsed. • Shape and size of reconstructed breasts can hinder radiotherapy planning. • There is a need for randomised phase III trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics is the property of Dental Press International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)