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ObjectivePhysical distancing and stay-at-home measures implemented to slow transmission of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may intensify feelings of loneliness in older adults, especially those living alone. Our aim was to characterize the extent of loneliness in a sample of older adults living in the community and assess characteristics associated with loneliness.DesignOnline cross-sectional survey between May 6 and May 19, 2020SettingOntario, CanadaParticipantsConvenience sample of the members of a national retired educators’ organization.Primary outcome measuresSelf-reported loneliness, including differences between women and men.Results4879 respondents (71.0% women; 67.4% 65-79 years) reported that in the preceding week, 43.1% felt lonely at least some of the time, including 8.3% that felt lonely always or often. Women had increased odds of loneliness compared to men, whether living alone (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 1.52 [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.13-2.04]) or with others (2.44 [95% CI 2.04-2.92]). Increasing age group decreased the odds of loneliness (aOR 0.69 [95% CI 0.59-0.81] 65-79 years and 0.50 [95% CI 0.39-0.65] 80+ years compared to ConclusionsWhile many older adults reported feeling lonely during COVID-19, several characteristics – such as being female and living alone – increased the odds of loneliness. These characteristics may help identify priorities for targeting interventions to reduce loneliness.Strengths and limitations of this studyThis survey study leveraged a strong community-based partnership to obtain timely data from a large sample of older Canadians on the impacts of COVID-19.This study identified several characteristics that increased the odds of loneliness, which may help to identify priorities for targeted interventions to reduce loneliness.The data were based on a convenience sample of retired, educational staff, who are not fully representative of the Canadian population. The perspectives of vulnerable groups who may be at greater risk for loneliness (e.g. those with severe mental health illness, low income, no home internet access, etc.) are likely underrepresented in this sample.

Context\ud \ud Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene are responsible for a subset of familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) cases and sporadic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs).\ud \ud \ud \ud Objective\ud \ud To compare prospectively diagnosed AIP mutation-positive (AIPmut) PitNET patients with clinically presenting patients and to compare the clinical characteristics of AIPmut and AIPneg PitNET patients.\ud \ud \ud \ud Design\ud \ud 12-year prospective, observational study.\ud \ud \ud \ud Participants & Setting\ud \ud We studied probands and family members of FIPA kindreds and sporadic patients with disease onset ≤18 years or macroadenomas with onset ≤30 years (n = 1477). This was a collaborative study conducted at referral centers for pituitary diseases.\ud \ud \ud \ud Interventions & Outcome\ud \ud AIP testing and clinical screening for pituitary disease. Comparison of characteristics of prospectively diagnosed (n = 22) vs clinically presenting AIPmut PitNET patients (n = 145), and AIPmut (n = 167) vs AIPneg PitNET patients (n = 1310).\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut PitNET patients had smaller lesions with less suprasellar extension or cavernous sinus invasion and required fewer treatments with fewer operations and no radiotherapy compared with clinically presenting cases; there were fewer cases with active disease and hypopituitarism at last follow-up. When comparing AIPmut and AIPneg cases, AIPmut patients were more often males, younger, more often had GH excess, pituitary apoplexy, suprasellar extension, and more patients required multimodal therapy, including radiotherapy. AIPmut patients (n = 136) with GH excess were taller than AIPneg counterparts (n = 650).\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut patients show better outcomes than clinically presenting cases, demonstrating the benefits of genetic and clinical screening. AIP-related pituitary disease has a wide spectrum ranging from aggressively growing lesions to stable or indolent disease course.

Graphitization in fault zones is associated both with fault weakening and orogenic gold mineralization. We examine processes of graphitic carbon emplacement and deformation in the active Alpine Fault Zone, New Zealand by analysing samples obtained from Deep Fault Drilling Project (DFDP) boreholes. Optical and scanning electron microscopy reveal a microtextural record of graphite mobilization as a function of temperature and ductile then brittle shear strain. Raman spectroscopy allowed interpretation of the degree of graphite crystallinity, which reflects both thermal and mechanical processes. In the amphibolite-facies Alpine Schist, highly crystalline graphite, indicating peak metamorphic temperatures up to 640°C, occurs mainly on grain boundaries within quartzo-feldspathic domains. The subsequent mylonitization process resulted in the reworking of graphite under lower temperature conditions (500–600°C), resulting in clustered (in protomylonites) and foliation-aligned graphite (in mylonites). In cataclasites, derived from the mylonitized schists, graphite is most abundant (

These data are supplementary material to “Bedrock Geology of DFDP-2B, Central Alpine Fault, New Zealand” (Toy et al., 2017, http://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2017.1375533). The data tables SF3 and SF4 are provided as well as Excel as well as CSV and PDF versions (in the zip folder). The table numbers below are referring to Toy et al. (2017): Toy_SF1.pdf (Data Description): Supplementary Data to “Bedrock Geology of DFDP-2B, Central Alpine Fault, New Zealand”, including supplementary methods, Information on reference frames and corrections, and protocols for thin section preparation and scanning electron microscopic analyses. Toy_SF2: Table S1. Time vs. depth during drilling, with lag dip corrections Toy_SF3: Table S2. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) data acquired using a TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) and phases detected by mineral liberation analysis (MLA) Toy_SF4: Table S3. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) grain sizes

Context:Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) due to aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene mutations is an autosomal dominant disease with incomplete penetrance. Clinical screening of apparently unaffected AIP mutation (AIPmut) carriers could identify previously unrecognized disease.Objective:To determine the AIP mutational status of FIPA and young pituitary adenoma patients, analyzing their clinical characteristics, and to perform clinical screening of apparently unaffected AIPmut carrier family members.Design:This was an observational, longitudinal study conducted over 7 years.Setting:International collaborative study conducted at referral centers for pituitary diseases.Participants:FIPA families (n = 216) and sporadic young-onset (≤30 y) pituitary adenoma patients (n = 404) participated in the study.Interventions:We performed genetic screening of patients for AIPmuts, clinical assessment of their family members, and genetic screening for somatic GNAS1 mutations and the germline FGFR4 p.G388R variant.Main Outcome Measure(s):We assessed clinical disease in mutation carriers, comparison of characteristics of AIPmut positive and negative patients, results of GNAS1, and FGFR4 analysis.Results:Thirty-seven FIPA families and 34 sporadic patients had AIPmuts. Patients with truncating AIPmuts had a younger age at disease onset and diagnosis, compared with patients with nontruncating AIPmuts. Somatic GNAS1 mutations were absent in tumors from AIPmut-positive patients, and the studied FGFR4 variant did not modify the disease behavior or penetrance in AIPmut-positive individuals. A total of 164 AIPmut-positive unaffected family members were identified; pituitary disease was detected in 18 of those who underwent clinical screening.Conclusions:A quarter of the AIPmut carriers screened were diagnosed with pituitary disease, justifying this screening and suggesting a variable clinical course for AIPmut-positive pituitary adenomas.

Summary Background The benefit of statins in patients with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage is unclear. We aimed to determine whether simvastatin 40 mg could improve the long-term outcome in patients with this disorder. Methods In this international, multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial, we enrolled patients aged 18–65 years with confirmatory evidence of an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and presenting less than 96 h from ictus from 35 acute neurosurgical centres in nine countries. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive either simvastatin 40 mg or placebo once a day for up to 21 days. We used a computer-generated randomisation code to randomise patients in every centre by blocks of ten (five simvastatin, five placebo). Participants and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary outcome was the distribution of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score obtained by questionnaire at 6 months. Analyses were done on the intention-to-treat population. This trial has been completed and is registered with Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN75948817. Findings Between Jan 6, 2007, and Feb 1, 2013, apart from the period between May 15, 2009, and Feb 8, 2011, when recruitment was on hold, 803 patients were randomly assigned to receive either simvastatin 40 mg (n=391) or placebo (n=412). All patients were included in the intention-to-treat population. 782 (97%) patients had outcome data recorded at 6 months, of whom 560 (72%) were classed as having a favourable outcome, mRS 0–2 (271 patients in the simvastatin group vs 289 in the placebo group). The primary ordinal analysis of the mRS, adjusted for age and World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade on admission, gave a common odds ratio (OR) of 0·97, 95% CI 0·75–1·25; p=0·803. At 6 months, we recorded 37 (10%) deaths in the simvastatin group compared with 35 (9%) in the placebo group (log-rank p=0·592). 70 (18%) serious adverse events were reported in the simvastatin group compared with 74 (18%) in the placebo group. No suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions were reported. Interpretation The STASH trial did not detect any benefit in the use of simvastatin for long-term or short-term outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Despite demonstrating no safety concerns, we conclude that patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage should not be treated routinely with simvastatin during the acute stages. Funding British Heart Foundation.