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In South Africa, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) occur as a relictual, unmanaged population of 'free‐roamers', a managed metapopulation across fenced reserves, and in various captive facilities. To ensure that the Cheetah Metapopulation Project (CMP) is not at risk of losing overall genetic variation to drift or inbreeding, we propose various interventions, including exchanges between free‐roamers and the metapopulation or supplementation with unrelated individuals from captivity. Simulated trajectories of genetic diversity under such intervention strategies over time could directly inform conservation action and policy towards securing the long‐term genetic integrity of the CMP. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped for 172 adult cheetahs across the free‐roamer population, the metapopulation, and three major captive facilities. Management intervention trajectory models were tested including, (1) no intervention, (2) genetic exchange between free‐roamers and the metapopulation, (3) translocation from a single captive facility and (4) translocation from several captive facilities into the metapopulation. Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) showed that two captive populations are highly differentiated from the metapopulation and each other, whilst the third captive and free‐roamer populations are genetically more similar to the metapopulation. Simulated genetic variation over 25 generations indicated that models 1 and 2 show significant losses of heterozygosity due to genetic drift and present a proportional increase in the frequencies of 1st‐ and 2nd‐degree relatives, whilst this variation and pairwise relatedness remain relatively constant under models 3 and 4. We emphasise the potential importance of captive facilities as reservoirs of genetic diversity in metapopulation management and threatened species recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of this study is to analyze results according to postoperative pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) mismatch in the management of adult spine deformity (ASD) patients. Recently, it has been reported that in addition to lumbar lordosis amount, lordosis repartition between its proximal and distal parts was crucial. Methods. We enrolled 77 consecutive ASD patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion and deformity correction between 2015 and 2018. On preoperative and 1-year follow-up radiographs, we analyzed different parameters such as L1-S1 lumbar lordosis, L1-L4 proximal lordosis (PLL), L4-S1 distal lordosis (DLL), pelvic tilt (PT), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and PI-LL mismatch. Comparisons were performed according to postoperative PI-LL mismatch (defined as "aligned" when PI-LL was <10°). The relationship between lordosis distribution and postoperative alignment status was investigated. Results. On the whole series, average lumbar lordosis, SVA, and PI-LL improved (28.2° vs.43.5°, 82 vs. 51 mm, and 26°vs. 14°, all p < 0.001 , respectively). On the other hand, PT remained unchanged (30° vs. 28°, p > 0.05). 35 patients were classified as "aligned" and 42 as "not aligned." Patients from the "aligned" group had a significantly lower PI than patients from the "not aligned" group (52° vs. 61°, p = 0.009). Postoperative PLL was not different between groups (18° vs. 16° p > 0.05), whereas DLL was significantly higher in the "aligned" group (31° vs. 22°, p = 0.003). PI-LL was significantly correlated to DLL (rho = 0.407, p < 0.001) but not with PLL (rho = 0.110, p = 0.342). Conclusions. Our results revealed that in ASD patients, postoperative malalignment was associated with a lack of DLL restoration. "Not aligned" patients had also a significantly higher pelvic incidence. Specific attention must be paid to restore optimal distal lumbar lordosis in order to set the amount and the distribution of optimal postoperative lumbar lordosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical management of adult spinal deformities remains challenging, and one of the major goals is to restore sagittal alignment. Spinal rods used for posterior fixation are usually delivered straight and bended manually during surgery. This manual bending can be responsible for undercorrection of the deformity. In the last years, prebended patient-specific rods have been developed and might be a valuable tool in order to optimize surgical results. The objective is therefore to use the time between surgical decision and operative room in order to realize a precise surgical planning and obtain patient-specific rods. We describe here the planning process and our preliminary experience with patient-specific rods in the management of adult deformity about 77 cases. On the 77 cases, PSR were used without further modifications of the shape. Based on 3-month postoperative evaluation, a significant decrease of sagittal vertical axis (−41%, p < 0.0001) and pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (−62%, p < 0.0001) was reported. Pelvic tilt was not significantly corrected, except in patients with Parkinson's disease. In this subgroup of patients, measurements revealed a significant correction of SVA and PI-LL (−53%, p = 0.005 , and −81%, p < 0.0001 , respectively) but also of PT (−23%, p < 0.001). The use of PSR, in our experience, was feasible and provided satisfactory short-term results. It can be a valuable tool in the management of adult spinal deformities. Further studies will be needed in order to confirm these preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Owing to recent advances in cancer therapy, updated data are required for clinicians counselling patients on treatment of spinal metastases.Objective: To analyse the outcomes of surgical treatments of spinal metastases.Methods: Prospective and multicentric study that included consecutively patients operated on for spinal metastases between January 2016 and January 2017. Overall survival was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) analysing mortality risk according to preoperative Karnofsky performance status (KPS), mobility level and neurological status.Results: A total of 252 patients were included (145 males, 107 females) aged a mean 63.3 years. Median survival was 450 days. Primary cancer sites were lung (21%) and breast (19%). Multiple spinal metastases involved 122 patients (48%). Concomitant skeletal and visceral metastases were noted in 90 patients (36%). Main procedure was laminectomy and posterior fixation (57%). Overall, pain and mobility level were improved postoperatively. Most patients had normal preoperative motor function (50%) and remained so postoperatively. Patients "bedbound" on admission were the less likely to recover. In-hospital death rate was 2.4% (three disease progression, one septic shock, one pneumonia, one pulmonary embolism). Complication rate was 33%, deep wound infection was the most frequent aetiology. Higher mortality was observed in patients with poorest preoperative KPS (KPS 0-40%, HR = 3.1, p < 0.001) and mobility level ("bedbound", HR = 2.16, p < 0.001). Survival seemed also to be linked to preoperative neurological function.Conclusion: Surgical treatments helped maintain reasonable condition for patients with spinal metastases. Intervention should be offered before patients' condition worsen to ensure better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Phoenicians emerged in the Northern Levant around 1800 BCE and by the 9th century BCE had spread their culture across the Mediterranean Basin, establishing trading posts, and settlements in various European Mediterranean and North African locations. Despite their widespread influence, what is known of the Phoenicians comes from what was written about them by the Greeks and Egyptians. In this study, we investigate the extent of Phoenician integration with the Sardinian communities they settled. We present 14 new ancient mitogenome sequences from pre-Phoenician (~1800 BCE) and Phoenician (~700–400 BCE) samples from Lebanon (n = 4) and Sardinia (n = 10) and compare these with 87 new complete mitogenomes from modern Lebanese and 21 recently published pre-Phoenician ancient mitogenomes from Sardinia to investigate the population dynamics of the Phoenician (Punic) site of Monte Sirai, in southern Sardinia. Our results indicate evidence of continuity of some lineages from pre-Phoenician populations suggesting integration of indigenous Sardinians in the Monte Sirai Phoenician community. We also find evidence of the arrival of new, unique mitochondrial lineages, indicating the movement of women from sites in the Near East or North Africa to Sardinia, but also possibly from non-Mediterranean populations and the likely movement of women from Europe to Phoenician sites in Lebanon. Combined, this evidence suggests female mobility and genetic diversity in Phoenician communities, reflecting the inclusive and multicultural nature of Phoenician society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Adaptable Multiple Power Source (AMPS) system has been designed and constructed. The AMPS system can provide up to 16 direct current (DC) (±400 V; 5 mA), 4 radio frequency (RF) (two 500 VPP sinusoidal signals each, 0.5-5 MHz) channels, 2 high voltage sources (±6 kV), and one ~40W, 250 °C temperature-regulated heater. The system is controlled by a microcontroller, capable of communicating with its front panel or a computer. It can assign not only pre-saved fixed DC and RF signals but also profiled DC voltages. The AMPS system is capable of driving many mass spectrometry components and ancillary devices and can be adapted to other instrumentation/engineering projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conventional and robotic-assisted laparoscopy is being used for more and more complex urological procedures in children. There have recently been reports of laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted appendicovesicostomies in children. We report a case of combined laparoscopic-assisted nephrectomy, augmentation ureterocystoplasty and Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy in a 5-year-old boy with valve bladder syndrome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: TGFbeta has pleiotropic effects that range from regulation of proliferation and apoptosis to morphological changes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Some evidence suggests that these effects may be interconnected. We have recently reported that P53, P21Cip1 and pRB, three critical regulators of the G1/S transition are variably involved in TGFbeta-induced cell cycle arrest in hepatocytes. As these proteins are also involved in the regulation of apoptosis in many circumstances, we investigated their contribution to other relevant TGFbeta-induced effects, namely apoptosis and EMT, and examined how the various processes were interrelated.Methods: Primary mouse hepatocytes deficient in p53, p21 and/or Rb, singly or in combination were treated with TGFbeta for 24 to 96 hours. Apoptosis was quantified according to morphology and by immunostaining for cleaved-capsase 3. Epithelial and mesenchymal marker expression was studied using immunocytochemistry and real time PCR.Results: We found that TGFbeta similarly induced morphological changes regardless of genotype and independently of proliferation index or sensitivity to inhibition of proliferation by TGFbeta. Morphological changes were accompanied by decrease in E-cadherin and increased Snail expression but the mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, SMAalpha and Vimentin) studied remained unchanged. TGFbeta induced high levels of apoptosis in p53-/-, Rb-/-, p21cip1-/- and control hepatocytes although with slight differences in kinetics. This was unrelated to proliferation or changes in morphology and loss of cell-cell adhesion. However, hepatocytes deficient in both p53 and p21cip1were less sensitive to TGFbeta-induced apoptosis.Conclusion: Although p53, p21Cip1 and pRb are well known regulators of both proliferation and apoptosis in response to a multitude of stresses, we conclude that they are critical for TGFbeta-driven inhibition of hepatocytes proliferation, but only slightly modulate TGFbeta-induced apoptosis. This effect may depend on other parameters such as proliferation and the presence of other regulatory proteins as suggested by the consequences of p53, p21Cip1 double deficiency. Similarly, p53, p21Cip1 and pRB deficiency had no effect on the morphological changes and loss of cell adhesion which is thought to be critical for metastasis. This indicates that possible association of these genes with metastasis potential would be unlikely to involve TGFbeta-induced EMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Décrire l'évolution des paramètres pelvi-rachidiens sagittaux (PPRS) après une chirurgie de décompression chez des patients (pts) avec un canal lombaire rétréci symptomatique (CLR) et identifier les variables prédictives de cette évolution. Dans cette étude monocentrique rétrospective observationnelle, nous avons inclus, tous les pts ≥ 40 ans opérés entre 2015 et 2022 d'un CLR avec clichés radiographiques EOS de profil pré- et postopératoires. Les PPRS d'intérêt étaient : lordose lombaire (LL) anatomique (L1–S1), LL proximale (L1–L4), LL distale (L4–S1). Nous avons comparé l'évolution des PPRS avant et après chirurgie par un test de Student. Nous avons évalué les facteurs associés suivants par des tests Chi2 et non paramétrique de Kruskall–Wallis, après ajustement sur le type de chirurgie : âge > 70 ans, IMC ≥ 30, score ASA > 2 (American Society of Anesthesiologists, échelle de classification de l'état de santé préopératoire d'un patient en fonction de ses antécédents médicaux), l'antécédent de chirurgie rachidienne, le score de Schizas (SS) et le score Goutallier évalués sur les IRM préopératoires et le nombre de niveaux décomprimés > 1. Au total, 73 pts opérés d'un CLR ont été inclus : 47,9 % étaient des femmes, âge moyen 67,6 ans (10,1). Les CLR étaient sévères (SS C et D) dans 63,8 % des cas avec un périmètre de marche moyen à 101 m (122,8). Trente et un pts (42,5 %) ont eu une laminectomie vs 39 pts (53,4 %) une laminarthrectomie. Quatre-vingt-dix pour cent des patients avec une laminarthrectomie ont eu une ostéosynthèse. La LL anatomique et la LLD sont significativement augmentées dans le groupe des laminectomies : 4,1 (10,6), IC95 % (0,6–7,5), p = 0,022 ; 4,9 (10,2), IC95 % (1,6–8,2), p = 0,005. Les laminarthrectomies ne modifient pas les PPRS. Le score ASA strictement supérieur à 2 était significativement associé à une augmentation de la DLL en post-chirurgie (6,3, IC 95 % (0,2, 12,5), p = 0,043). Les autres variables suivantes : âge > 70 ans ; l'IMC > ou égal à 30 ; antécédent de chirurgie rachidienne ; le score Goutallier et un nombre de niveaux décomprimés > 1 n'étaient pas associées à une modification significative des paramètres pelvi-rachidiens en postopératoire. Les laminectomies augmentent la LL anatomique L1–S1 et la lordose lombaire distale L4–S1. Seul le score ASA > 2 était prédictif d'une évolution des PPRS (augmentation de la DLL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]