Search

Virus-like particle (VLP) and live virus assays were used to investigate neutralizing immunity against Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants in 259 samples from 128 vaccinated individuals. Following Delta breakthrough infection, titers against WT rose 57-fold and 3.1-fold compared with uninfected boosted and unboosted individuals, respectively, versus only a 5.8-fold increase and 3.1-fold decrease for Omicron breakthrough infection. Among immunocompetent, unboosted patients, Delta breakthrough infections induced 10.8-fold higher titers against WT compared with Omicron (p= 0.037). Decreased antibody responses in Omicron breakthrough infections relative to Delta were potentially related to a higher proportion of asymptomatic or mild breakthrough infections (55.0% versus 28.6%, respectively), which exhibited 12.3-fold lower titers against WT compared with moderate to severe infections (p= 0.020). Following either Delta or Omicron breakthrough infection, limited variant-specific cross-neutralizing immunity was observed. These results suggest that Omicron breakthrough infections are less immunogenic than Delta, thus providing reduced protection against reinfection or infection from future variants.

Researchers’ obligations to disclose genetic incidental findings (GIFs) have been widely debated, but there has been little empirical study of the engagement of institutional review boards (IRBs) with this issue. This article presents data from the first extensive (n = 796) national survey of IRB professionals’ understanding of, experience with, and beliefs surrounding GIFs. Most respondents had dealt with questions about GIFs (74%), but only a minority (47%) felt prepared to address them. Although a majority believed that there is an obligation to disclose GIFs (78%), there is still not consensus about the supporting ethical principles. Respondents generally did not endorse the idea that researchers’ additional time and effort (7%), and lack of resources (29%), were valid reasons for diminishing a putative obligation. Most (96%) supported a right not to know, but this view became less pronounced (63%) when framed in terms of specific case studies. IRBs are actively engaged with GIFs but have not yet reached consensus. Respondents were uncomfortable with arguments that could be used to limit an obligation to return GIFs. This could indicate that IRBs are providing some of the impetus for the trend toward returning GIFs, although questions remain about the relative contribution of other stakeholders. Genet Med 18 7, 705–711.

Mass extinction events are characterized by major losses in faunal diversity and are associated with several other ecological effects, e.g., reductions in tiering, selective losses of ecological lifestyles, and body size reductions. The latter has received considerable attention and debate, as to whether the reduced size of post-extinction organisms is due to the selective extinction of large species, absence of large species as a stochastic effect of low-diversity faunas (the Gulliver absence effect), a size decrease within surviving genera and species (the Lilliput effect), or a combination of these factors. Here, we investigated both evolutionary and ecophenotypic controls on body size distributions following the end-Permian mass extinction event by investigating size changes in bivalves (Claraia, “Unionites”, and Neoschizodus) from the Werfen Formation (Dolomites, Italy) and the Bodvaszilas Sandstone Formation (Aggtelek Karst, Hungary). Our results show that the Early Triassic shell size increase of bivalve genera was driven by both evolutionary and ecophenotypic responses. First, genera Claraia and “Unionites” show significant increases in body size with the appearance of the new species C. clarai and “U”. canalensis, respectively, suggesting that evolution played a role on Early Triassic bivalve body size dynamics. Further, the same genera record significant within-species increases in average and maximum body size into the late Griesbachian and Dienerian stages (the Brobdingnag effect), indicating that within-species ecophenotypic changes were also involved on observed long-term body size trends. These increases are associated with invigorated ocean circulation, improved oxygenation of the seafloor, and probably increased food supply. We, therefore, hypothesize that both growth-limiting environmental conditions (deoxygenation and reduced primary productivity) and the extinction-induced absence of large species led to small-sized species dominating early Griesbachian benthic invertebrate communities.

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine producing neuroendocrine tumors that can be adrenal or extra-adrenal in origin. The classic symptoms of pheochromocytoma are headache, palpitation, anxiety and diaphoresis and the tumor can occur at any age with equal gender distribution. In patients with an established mutation or hereditary syndrome the condition may manifest at a younger age than in those with sporadic disease. Pheochromocytoma can be associated with certain genetic syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), neurofibromatosis (NF) and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. Pheochromocytoma is diagnosed with biochemical confirmation of hormonal excess followed by anatomical localization (CT or MRI). The mainstay of definitive therapy is surgical resection. In this review, we discuss in detail about the symptomatology, diagnosis, genetic aspects and management of pheochromocytoma.

This publication presents the results of the “Dioxins Measurement Programme of North Rhine-Westphalia” which has been initiated and sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment in North Rhine-Westphalia. Only 14 plants emitting more than 1 ng I-TEQ/m 3 were found to account for almost the entire quantity emitted annually in North Rhine-Westphalia which according to the measurements amounted to 500 g I-TEQ/a. For about 70 % of the more than 50 plants included in the study which were thought to emit increased amounts of dioxins and furans this minitial assumption could not be confirmed; in these cases the concentrations were below 0.1 ng I-TEQ/m 3 . Thus the entry of dioxins into the atmosphere was caused by few large plants and not by numerous small ones which would have been difficult to monitor. Imeddiately initiated abatement measures which instantly reduced the entry of PCDD/PCDF into the environment can be considered as the most important success of the programme. Moreover, the results on the measurement programme funishes important information on the efficiency of waste gas cleaning methods and on the influence which input materials and operating conditions exert on the emissions of dioxins.

The Impact of Colonscopic Electrocautery on Pacemaker Function Navin Kumar, Hemant Roy, Alan Zunamon, Eva Gliwa, Mick Meiselman, Michael Goldberg, Tat-Kin Tsang, Randall Brand Background: While some guidelines advocate inactivation of pacemakers prior to use of electrocautery for colonoscopic polypectomy, this is not done by most endoscopists. These recommendations are based upon expert opinion, small non-blinded studies and anecdotal case reports. In order to provide evidencebased insight into this issue, we performed a pilot study analyzing the risk of electrocardiographic abnormalities during cautery. Methods: A total of 19 patients were enrolled in this study. Each patient had rhythm strips run preand post-colonoscopy, when the cecum was reached and during all episodes of cautery use. Continuous ECG rhythm monitoring was also performed during the colonoscopy. The technique (continuous vs. brief, short bursts) of cautery was dependent on the endoscopist preference. The grounding electrode was placed on the patient’’s buttock or thigh. Identified preand post-procedure strips along with either an unidentified cecal (control) or cautery strip were grouped together and evaluated by a cardiologist blinded to the cautery status of the third strip. Results: Eight of the 19 patients underwent a total of 18 polypectomies using electrocautery. No incidence of pacemaker dysfunction or change in cardiac rhythm occurred in the control or cautery groups. All 19 patients tolerated each colonoscopy without any other adverse cardiac events or complications. Conclusion: This study suggests that electrocautery use is safe in patients with pacemakers as along as the electrocautery pad is positioned on the lower part of the body away from the pacemaker. To our knowledge this is the first blinded, prospective trial demonstrating the safety of performing electrocautery during colonoscopy in patients with a pacemaker. If confirmed with larger patient numbers, this would strongly argue for new practice recommendations.