Search

Laparoscopic rectal surgery within the confines of a narrow pelvis may be associated with a high rate of open conversion. In the obese and morbidly obese patient, the complexity of laparoscopic surgery increases substantially. Robotic technology is known to reduce the risk of conversion, but it is unclear if it can overcome the technical challenges associated with obesity. The ACS NSQIP database was used to identify obese patients who underwent elective laparoscopic or robotic-assisted rectal resection from 2015 to 2016. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. Morbid obesity was defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 35 kg/m2. The primary outcome was unplanned conversions to open. Other outcomes measures assessed included anastomotic leak, operative time, surgical site infections, length of hospital stay, readmissions and mortality. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0 (IBM SPSS, USA). 1490 patients had robotic-assisted and 4967 patients had laparoscopic rectal resections between 2015 and 2016. Of those patients, 561 obese patients had robotic-assisted rectal resections and 1824 patients underwent laparoscopic rectal surgery. In the obese cohort, the rate of unplanned conversion to open in the robotic group was 14% compared to 24% in the laparoscopic group (P P 2), the rate of unplanned conversion to open in the robotic group was 19% compared to 26% in the laparoscopic group (P P

Rectal intussusception is often observed in patients with faecal incontinence and obstructed defaecation. The aim of this study is to assess if pelvic floor training improves faecal incontinence and obstructed defaecation in patients with rectal intussusception.Case notes of all patients referred to Bankstown Hospital Pelvic Floor Clinic between 2013 and 2018 for the management of faecal incontinence and obstructed defaecation and rectal intussusception were retrospectively reviewed using a prospectively maintained database. St Mark's faecal incontinence and Cleveland clinic constipation scores were obtained from patients before and after they underwent pelvic floor training.One hundred and thirty-one patients underwent pelvic floor training at Bankstown Hospital Pelvic Floor Clinic between 2013 and 2018. Sixty-one patients had rectal intussusception (22 low-grade and 39 high-grade). Median St Marks score improved following pelvic floor training from 8 to 1 (P 0.001). Median Cleveland Clinic constipation score improved from 8 to 5 (P 0.001). In patients with low grade rectal intussusception, pelvic floor training improved median St Mark's score from 3 to 0 (P = 0.003), whereas Cleveland Clinic constipation score improved from 9 to 7 (P 0.001). In patients with high-grade rectal intussusception, pelvic floor training improved median St Mark's score from 9 to 2 (P 0.001), whereas median Cleveland Clinic constipation score improved from 8 to 4 (P 0.001).Pelvic floor training without biofeedback therapy improves faecal incontinence and obstructed defaecation. Improvement in symptoms is unrelated to rectal intussusception observed on proctography or at examination under anaesthesia in these patients.

The free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri causes the highly fatal disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. N. fowleri is found globally in the environment but has been increasingly detected in engineered water systems, such as drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs), with fatal infections recorded from Pakistan, USA and Australia. N. fowleri's presence in DWDSs appears to be regulated by a combination of physical, chemical and biological conditions. Suboptimal chlorine residuals enable the increase of the microbial richness and the presence of specific microbial taxa (i.e. Meiothermus) may also influence the presence and persistence of N. fowleri. The use of ‘biological tools’ has the potential to be applied as biomarkers in combination with other currently used detection methods (chlorine residual and temperature). These combined tools could be key to enabling the better prediction of N. fowleri colonisable sites, thus allowing for pre-emptive management of N. fowleri in the DWDS.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to help the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GSCM) evaluate, quantify and potentially modify the Girl Scouts Fierce & Fit program. METHODS: From 2018–2019, our Public Health Informatics, Computational and Operations Research (PHICOR) team, developed a computational simulation model representing the 250 adolescent girls participating in the Fierce & Fit program and how their diets and physical activity affected their body mass indices, and subsequent outcomes including costs. RESULTS: Changing the Fierce & Fit program from a 6 week program meeting twice a week, with 5 minutes of physical activity each session to a 12 week program meeting twice a week with 30 minutes of physical activity saved an additional $84,828 ($80,130, $89,526), in lifetime direct medical costs, $81,365 ($76,528, $86,184) in lifetime productivity losses, and 7.85 (7.38, 8.31) QALYs. The cost-benefit of implementing this program is $95,943. Based on these results, the GSCM then implemented these changes in the program. CONCLUSIONS: This is an example of using computational modeling to help evaluate and revise the design of a program aimed at increasing the physical activity among girls.

Understanding the cumulative risk of chemical mixtures at environmentally realistic concentrations is a key challenge in honey bee ecotoxicology. Ecotoxicogenomics, including transcriptomics, measures responses in individual organisms at the molecular level which can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying phenotypic responses induced by one or more stressors and link impacts on individuals to populations. Here, fifth instar honey bee larvae were sampled from a previously reported field experiment exploring the phenotypic impacts of environmentally realistic chronic exposures of the pesticide imidacloprid (5 μg.kg

Drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) can host pathogenic amoebae, but the role of biofilms in supporting the occurrence of these organisms needs to be fully explored in the UK systems. The presence of amoebae and associated bacteria in biofilms attached to inner pipe surfaces was studied in an experimental full-scale chlorinated distribution system in the UK. Quantitative polymerase change reaction (qPCR) was used to identify and quantify amoebae, whilst the bacterial communities in the biofilms were characterised by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Despite the maintenance of a chlorine residual in the network (free chlorine ≥ 0.24 mg/L), several species of amoebae belonging to the genera Acanthamoeba, Vermamoeba, and Naegleria were identified in 30-day-old biofilm samples, however, no amoebae were detected in the water samples analysed. The dominant bacterial communities present in the biofilm samples were Variovorax, Pseudomonas, and Aquabacterium. These results indicate that the biofilm samples contained potential pathogenic amoebae and bacteria, such as Acanthamoeba and Pseudomonas, respectively, which implies a potential public health risk if the biofilms are mobilised into the bulk water. Several of the amoebae identified in this study are able to support the presence of resistant bacteria that can remain viable within these prokaryotic organisms until they reach people’s taps. The identification of the microorganisms associated with the pathogenic amoeba species in biofilms could be used to improve the surveillance of DWDS in order to protect public health.

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is a global problem which can cause long-term environmental damage and impacts water security. Natural source zone depletion (NSZD) is the natural degradation of such contaminants. Chemotaxis is an aspect of NSZD which is not fully understood, but one that grants microorganisms the ability to alter their motion in response to a chemical concentration gradient potentially enhancing petroleum NSZD mass removal rates. This study investigates the distribution of potentially chemotactic and hydrocarbon degrading microbes (CD) across the water table of a legacy petroleum hydrocarbon site near Perth, Western Australia in areas impacted by crude oil, diesel and jet fuel. Core samples were recovered and analysed for hydrocarbon contamination using gas chromatography. Predictive metagenomic profiling was undertaken to infer functionality using a combination of 16 S rRNA sequencing and PICRUSt2 analysis. Naphthalene contamination was found to significantly increase the occurrence of potential CD microbes, including members of the Comamonadaceae and Geobacteraceae families, which may enhance NSZD. Further work to explore and define this link is important for reliable estimation of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon fuels. Furthermore, the outcomes suggest that the chemotactic parameter within existing NSZD models should be reviewed to accommodate CD accumulation in areas of naphthalene contamination, thereby providing a more accurate quantification of risk from petroleum impacts in subsurface environments, and the scale of risk mitigation due to NSZD.

[Background] The opportunistic pathogen Naegleria fowleri establishes infection in the human brain, killing almost invariably within 2 weeks. The amoeba performs piece-meal ingestion, or trogocytosis, of brain material causing direct tissue damage and massive inflammation. The cellular basis distinguishing N. fowleri from other Naegleria species, which are all non-pathogenic, is not known. Yet, with the geographic range of N. fowleri advancing, potentially due to climate change, understanding how this pathogen invades and kills is both important and timely., [Results] Here, we report an -omics approach to understanding N. fowleri biology and infection at the system level. We sequenced two new strains of N. fowleri and performed a transcriptomic analysis of low- versus high-pathogenicity N. fowleri cultured in a mouse infection model. Comparative analysis provides an in-depth assessment of encoded protein complement between strains, finding high conservation. Molecular evolutionary analyses of multiple diverse cellular systems demonstrate that the N. fowleri genome encodes a similarly complete cellular repertoire to that found in free-living N. gruberi. From transcriptomics, neither stress responses nor traits conferred from lateral gene transfer are suggested as critical for pathogenicity. By contrast, cellular systems such as proteases, lysosomal machinery, and motility, together with metabolic reprogramming and novel N. fowleri proteins, are all implicated in facilitating pathogenicity within the host. Upregulation in mouse-passaged N. fowleri of genes associated with glutamate metabolism and ammonia transport suggests adaptation to available carbon sources in the central nervous system., [Conclusions] In-depth analysis of Naegleria genomes and transcriptomes provides a model of cellular systems involved in opportunistic pathogenicity, uncovering new angles to understanding the biology of a rare but highly fatal pathogen., EKH was supported by an AHFMR Fulltime Graduate Studentship and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. JBD is the Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Cell Biology. Work in the Eliáš Lab is supported by CePaViP (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000759) and Czech Science Foundation project 18-18699S. This work was supported by CSIRO Land and Water (Australia).

During the 1991 Gulf War, oil wells in the oil fields of Kuwait were set aflame and destroyed. This resulted in severe crude oil pollution of the countries only fresh water aquifers. Here, for the first time the natural attenuation and biodegradation of the persisting groundwater contamination was investigated to assess potential processes in the aquifer. Biodegradation experiments were conducted under aerobic and multiple anaerobic conditions using microcosms of the contaminated groundwater from Kuwait. Under the conditions tested, a portion of the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) component was degraded, however there was only a slight change in the bulk concentration of the contaminant measured as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), suggesting the presence of a recalcitrant pollutant. Changes in the associated microbial community composition under different reduction-oxidation conditions were observed and known hydrocarbon degraders identified. The results of this study indicate that lingering contaminant still persists in the groundwater and is recalcitrant to further biodegradation, which presents challenges for future remediation plans.

Of the 40 describedNaegleriaspecies, onlyN. fowlerican establish infection in humans, killing almost invariably within two weeks. In the brain, the amoeba performs piece-meal ingestion, or trogocytosis, of brain material causing massive inflammation. Conversely, its close relativeNaegleria gruberi, which is used as a laboratory model organism, is non-pathogenic. The exact pathogenicity factors distinguishingN. fowlerifrom its harmless relatives are unclear. We have here taken an -omics approach to understandingN. fowleribiology and infection at the system level. We provide the first analysis of genomic diversity between strains, finding little conservation in synteny but high conservation in protein complement. We also demonstrate that theN. fowlerigenome encodes a similarly complete cellular repertoire to that found inN. gruberi. Our comparative genomic analysis, together with a transcriptomic analysis of low versus high pathogenicityN. fowlericultured in a mouse infection model, allowed us to construct a model of cellular systems involved in pathogenicity and furthermore provides ~500 novel candidate pathogenicity factors in this currently rare but highly fatal pathogen.

Objective Local control is a major challenge in treating canine nasal tumors, and cytoreduction following radiation therapy has been recommended to extend survival and to delay local recurrence. Our objective was to compare the effect of definitive radiotherapy on the tumor volume of intranasal carcinomas compared to sarcomas. We evaluated 15 dogs that received radiotherapy within 1 month of initial CT scan, and post radiation CT scans performed within 3 months of completing full course definitive megavoltage radiation. Tumor reduction volume based on CT scans were obtained and compared between carcinoma and sarcoma groups. Results The following tumor types were treated; carcinoma (8/15), sarcoma (7/15). The mean nasal tumor size before radiation therapy was 24.5 cm3 and tumor size after radiation therapy was 13.5 cm3 resulting in a mean reduction of 55.1% reduction in tumor size for both carcinomas and sarcomas. The carcinoma group displayed a volume reduction of 67.1% (SD ± 16.9) and the sarcoma group displayed a volume reduction of 21.3% (SD ± 39.7). Within the study period carcinomas were more responsive in the reduction of volume than sarcomas with fractionated megavoltage radiation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3190-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aim Laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) is a nerve-sparing technique for the treatment of rectal prolapse. Concerns about the use of synthetic meshes in the pelvis and the associated risk of erosion have led to the recent use of biological meshes in some colorectal units. This retrospective study aims to assess the outcomes of patients undergoing LVR using a noncross-linked nondermal biological mesh. Method The medical notes of all patients who underwent LVR between 1 December 2011 and 31 May 2014 were reviewed. The rate of obstructed defaecation before surgery was retrospectively determined from medical records using the Rome III criteria. The rates of obstructed defaecation and faecal incontinence following surgery were determined using a self-reported questionnaire. Results A total of 51 patients had LVR between 1 December 2011 and 31 May 2014. Their mean age was 57.3 ± 2.5 years and the mean follow-up was 23 ± 1 months. There were seven (13.7%) postoperative complications. In total, 45 (88%) patients completed the functional outcome questionnaires. Before surgery, 33 (73.3%) patients complained of symptoms of obstructed defaecation. At the end of follow-up, 22 (48.8%, P = 0.001) patients continued to have some symptoms of obstructed defaecation. Before surgery, 12 (26.7%) patients complained of faecal incontinence. At the end of follow-up, only three (6.7%, P = 0.004) patients reported faecal incontinence. At the end of follow-up, recurrence of symptoms had occurred in six (13.3%) patients. Conclusion LVR using a biological mesh is safe and results in significant reduction in symptoms associated with external rectal prolapse and rectal intussusception.

Introduction Colorectal involvement occurs in up to 12% of cases of endometriosis. Various surgical options for its management have been described, including segmental resection and disc excision, with debate surrounding indications for surgery and the impact of such procedures. The current study aimed to describe the experiences of three Australian gynaecologists regarding laparoscopic bowel surgery for colorectal endometriosis. Methods The records of three gynaecological surgeons were analysed for patients who underwent surgical removal of colorectal endometriosis by way of appendicectomy, bowel disc excision and/or segmental resection, between 1999 and 2012. Results A total of 307 patients were identified. Sixteen (5.2%) underwent appendicectomy, 146 (47.6%) underwent disc excision, 126 (41.0%) underwent segmental resection and 19 (6.2%) underwent simultaneous procedures. The majority of procedures were performed laparoscopically (265 of 307; 86.3%). Nineteen procedures (6.2%) were planned laparotomies due to the known extent of disease. Twenty-three procedures were converted from laparoscopy to laparotomy (conversion rate of 7.5%). Complications occurred in 35 of the 307 cases (11.4%). Sixty-seven women amongst the 122 wishing to conceive post-operatively achieved at least one pregnancy (pregnancy rate of 54.9%). Of the 84 pregnancies achieved amongst the 67 women who conceived, 49 (58.3%) were achieved through assisted reproductive technologies, and 31 pregnancies (36.9%) were conceived spontaneously. This information was unavailable for 4 pregnancies (4.8%). Conclusions The current series demonstrates that laparoscopic surgery for severe disease is feasible in specialised centres. Furthermore, such surgery may have a positive impact upon post-operative fertility.

Obtaining exposure of the total mesorectal excision plane via a laparoscopic approach is technically challenging due to instrument limitations. Use of an articulating fan retractor is a relatively simple, cost-effective and easily accessible instrument that allows the surgeon to gain improved retraction and exposure in what is an otherwise technically challenging dissection.

Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVR) is a treatment with promising results in external rectal prolapse, rectal intussusception, and rectocele. Because of the emergence of robotic-assisted surgery and the technical advantage it provides, we examined the potential role and place of robotic surgery in ventral rectopexy. MEDLINE, PubMed, and other databases were searched, by two independent reviewers, to identify studies comparing robotic to laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy. The primary outcome was the rate of unplanned conversion to open. The secondary outcomes were morbidity, length of hospital stay and recurrence rate. Five studies (4% male, n = 259) met the inclusion criteria. All 5 studies reported on conversion rate and showed no significant difference between the conversion rate of robotic and laparoscopic groups [OR 0.58 (95% CI 0.09–3.77)]. Robotic surgery was also similar to laparoscopic surgery for both morbidity [OR 0.71 (95% CI 0.34–1.48)] and recurrence rate [OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.18–1.75)]. Operative time was longer in the robotic group with a MWD of 22.88 minutes (CI 5.73–40.04, p

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is an uncommon cause of duodenal obstruction due to the extrinsic compression of the third part of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) as it passes anterior to it. We present a case of a 70-year old lady with abdominal pain, postprandial vomiting and decreased oral intake following laparoscopic low anterior resection with endoscopic and radiological findings suggesting SMAS. The cause was the traction on the transverse mesocolon and the middle colic artery to place the transverse colon in the deep pelvis. This, in turn, has lead to traction and flattening of the SMA against the aorta causing SMAS. The patient was successfully managed conservatively with enteral feeding and surgery was avoided.

Petroleum contaminants are exposed to weathering when released into environment, resulting in the alteration of their chemical composition. Here, we investigated microbial communities through the soil profile at an industrial site, which was exposed to various petroleum products for over 50 years. The petroleum is present as light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) and is undergoing natural source zone depletion (NSZD). Microbial community composition was compared to the contaminant type, concentration, and its depth of obtained soil cores. A large population of Archaea, particularly Methanomicrobia and Methanobacteria and indication of complex syntrophic relationships of methanogens, methanotrophs and bacteria were found in the contaminated cores. Different families were enriched across the LNAPL types. Results indicate methanogenic or anoxic conditions in the deeper and highly contaminated sections of the soil cores investigated. The contaminant was highly weathered, likely resulting in the formation of recalcitrant polar compounds. This research provides insight into the microorganisms fundamentally associated with LNAPL, throughout a soil depth profile above and below the water table, undergoing NSZD processes at a legacy petroleum site. It advances the potential for integration of microbial community effects on bioremediation and in response to physicochemical partitioning of LNAPL components from different petroleum types.

The management strategy for retrorectal tumours is complex. Due to their rarity, few surgeons have expertise in management.A systematic literature review was conducted using the PubMed database. English language publications in the years 2011-2015 that assessed preoperative management, surgical strategies and chemoradiotherapy for presacral tumours were included. Two hundred and fifty-one abstracts were screened of which 88 met the inclusion criteria. After review of the full text, this resulted in a final list of 42 studies eligible for review.In all, 932 patients (63.2% female, 36.8% male; P < 0.01) with a retrorectal tumour were identified. Most were benign (65.9% vs. 33.7%, P < 0.01). Imaging distinguished benign from malignant lesions in 88.1% of cases; preoperative biopsy was superior to imaging in providing an accurate definitive diagnosis (91.3% vs. 61.4%, P < 0.05) with negligible seeding risk. Biopsy should be performed in solid tumours. It is useful in guiding neoadjuvant therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumours, sarcomas and desmoid type fibromatosis and may alter the management strategy in cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and metastases. Biopsies for cystic lesions are not recommended. The gold standard in imaging is MRI. The posterior Kraske procedure is the most common surgical approach. Overall, the reported recurrence rate was 19.7%.This review evaluated the management strategies for retrorectal tumours. A preoperative biopsy should be performed for solid tumours. MRI is the most useful imaging modality. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. There is limited information on robotic surgery, single-port surgery, transanal endoscopic microsurgery, chemoradiotherapy and reconstruction.

During the First Gulf War (1991) a large number of oil wells were destroyed and oil fires subsequently extinguished with seawater. As a result Kuwait's sparse fresh groundwater resources were severely contaminated with crude oil. Since then limited research has focused on the microbial community ecology of the groundwater and their impact on the associated contamination. Here, the microbial community ecology (bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic) and how it relates to the characteristics of the hydrocarbon contaminants were examined for the first time since the 1991 event. This study was conducted using 15 wells along the main groundwater flow direction and detected several potential hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms such as Hyphomicrobiaceae, Porphyromonadaceae and Eurotiomycetes. The beta diversity of the microbial communities correlated significantly with total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations and salinity. The TPH consisted mainly of polar compounds present as an unresolved complex mixture (UCM) of a highly recalcitrant nature. Based on the proportions of TPH to dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the results indicate that some minor biodegradation has occurred within highly contaminated aquifer zones. However, overall the results from this study suggest that the observed variations in TPH concentrations among the sampled wells are mainly induced by mixing/dilution with pristine groundwater rather than by biodegradation of the contaminants. The findings make an important contribution to better understand the fate of the groundwater pollution in Kuwait, with important implications for the design of future remediation efforts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the discrepancy between true distance of tibial tuberosity advancement (tTTA) and the most commonly used cages. The null hypothesis was that tTTA would be within 1.5 mm difference of the cage size. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Eight foam cortical shell specimens modeled from canine tibias. METHODS: Modified tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) was performed to allow repeated measurement of the tTTA. The Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the relationships of tTTA and cage sizes (P

Objective Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is a common cause of pelvic limb lameness in dogs. The tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) is a well-described surgical procedure that treats CCL ruptures. The objective of this study was to compare the risk of tibial tuberosity fractures from TPLO procedures using a TPLO reduction pin in situ versus patients with a TPLO reduction pin removed at the time of surgery. Our hypothesis is that patients with a TPLO reduction pin left in situ will have a decreased incidence of tibial tuberosity fractures. Results A total of 400 dogs that fitted the criteria of 200 consecutive TPLO surgeries performed with each group were included in the study. The Student’s t-test revealed a statistically significant difference in fractures observed in group 1 (in situ pin) and group 2 (no pin). In univariate logistic regression analysis, only the covariate for the presence of the reduction pin was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the likelihood of tibial tuberosity fracture. In the multivariate model, the presence of the reduction pin was associated with an approximate 92% reduction in the likelihood of tibial tuberosity fracture. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3474-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The amoeba Naegleria fowleri is the causative agent of the highly fatal disease, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, and estimated to cause 16 deaths per year in the United States alone. Colonisation of drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) by the N. fowleri is a significant public health issue. Understanding the factors which enable this pathogen to colonise and thrive in DWDSs is critical for proper management. The microbial ecology within DWDSs may influence the ability of N. fowleri to colonise DWDSs by facilitating the availability of an appropriate food source. Using biofilm samples obtained from operational DWDSs, 16S rRNA amplicon metabarcoding was combined with genus-specific PCR and Sanger sequencing of intracellular associated bacteria from isolated amoeba and their parental biofilms to identify Meiothermus chliarophilus as a potential food source for N. fowleri. Meiothermus was confirmed as a food source for N. fowleri following successful serial culturing of axenic N. fowleri with M. chliarophilus or M. ruber as the sole food source. The ability to identify environmental and ecological conditions favourable to N. fowleri colonisation, including the detection of appropriate food sources such as Meiothermus, could provide water utilities with a predictive tool for managing N. fowleri colonisation within the DWDS.

International audience; Injury to the adult central nervous systems (CNS) can result in severe long-term disability because damaged CNS connections fail to regenerate after trauma. Identification of regulators that enhance the intrinsic growth capacity of severed axons is a first step to restore function. Here, we conducted a gain-of-function genetic screen in Drosophila to identify strong inducers of axonal growth after injury. We focus on a novel axis the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (Dscam1), the de-ubiquitinating enzyme Fat Facets (Faf)/Usp9x and the Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway transcription factor Kayak (Kay)/Fos. Genetic and biochemical analyses link these genes in a common signaling pathway whereby Faf stabilizes Dscam1 protein levels, by acting on the 3′-UTR of its mRNA, and Dscam1 acts upstream of the growth-promoting JNK signal. The mammalian homolog of Faf, Usp9x/FAM, shares both the regenerative and Dscam1 stabilizing activities, suggesting a conserved mechanism.

DNA-derived measurements of biological composition have the potential to produce data covering all of life, and provide a tantalizing proposition for researchers and managers. We used metabarcoding to compare benthic eukaryote composition from five estuaries of varying condition. In contrast to traditional studies, we found biotic richness was greatest in the most disturbed estuary, with this being due to the large volume of extraneous material (i.e. run-off from aquaculture, agriculture and other catchment activities) being deposited in the system. In addition, we found strong correlations between composition and a number of environmental variables, including nutrients, pH and turbidity. A wide range of taxa responded to these environmental gradients, providing new insights into their sensitivities to natural and anthropogenic stressors. Metabarcoding has the capacity to bolster current monitoring techniques, enabling the decisions regarding ecological condition to be based on a more holistic view of biodiversity.

Both black (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (U. arctos) are known to rub on trees and other objects, producing a network of repeatedly used and identifiable rub sites. In 2012, we used a resource selection function to evaluate hypothesized relationships between locations of 887 bear rubs in northwestern Montana, USA, and elevation, slope angle, density of open roads and distance from areas of heightened plant-productivity likely containing forage for bears. Slope and density of open roads were negatively correlated with rub presence. No other covariates were supported as explanatory variables. We also hypothesized that bear rubs would be more strongly associated with closed roads and developed trails than with game trails. The frequencies of bear rubs on 30 paired segments of developed tracks and game trails were not different. Our results suggest bear rubs may be associated with bear travel routes, and support their use as “random” sampling devices for non-invasive spatial capture–recapture ...

Injury to the adult central nervous systems (CNS) results in severe long-term disability because damaged CNS connections rarely regenerate. Although several axon regeneration regulators have been proposed, intrinsic regenerative mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, we use aDrosophilaCNS injury model to identify a novel pro-regeneration signaling pathway. We conducted a genetic screen of approximately three hundred candidate genes and identified three strong inducers of axonal growth and regeneration: the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (Dscam1), the de-ubiquitinating enzyme Fat Facets (Faf)/Usp9x and the Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway transcription factor Kayak (Kay)/Fos. Genetic and biochemical analyses link these genes in a common signaling pathway whereby Faf stabilizes Dscam1 protein levels, by acting on the 3’-UTR of its mRNA, and Dscam1 acts upstream of the growth-promoting JNK signal. The mammalian homolog of Faf, Usp9x/FAM, shares both the regenerative and Dscam1 stabilizing activities, suggesting a conserved mechanism.

Comparing sea otter recovery in California (CA) and British Columbia (BC) reveals key ecosystem properties that shape top-down effects in seagrass communities. We review potential ecosystem drivers of sea otter foraging in CA and BC seagrass beds, including the role of coastline complexity and environmental stress on sea otter effects. In BC, we find greater species richness across seagrass trophic assemblages. Furthermore, Cancer spp. crabs, an important link in the seagrass trophic cascade observed in CA, are less common. Additionally, the more recent reintroduction of sea otters, more complex coastline, and reduced environmental stress in BC seagrass habitats supports the hypotheses that sea otter foraging pressure is currently reduced there. In order to manage the ecosystem features that lead to regional differences in top predator effects in seagrass communities, we review our findings, their spatial and temporal constraints, and present a social-ecological framework for future research.

Background Restoration of bowel continuity following Hartmann's procedure may be performed using a laparoscopic or open technique. This study is the first of its kind comparing laparoscopic with open reversal of Hartmann's procedure in Australasia. Methods This is a retrospective review of 107 patients who underwent either a laparoscopic (n = 43) or open (n = 64) reversal of Hartmann's procedure between 2001 and 2012. Outcome measures were perioperative clinical outcomes and post-operative complications. Results Patients in the two groups were comparable in age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score and number of previous operations. The most common indication for the original Hartmann's operation in both groups was diverticular disease. Total theatre time was longer for the laparoscopic group (276.4 versus 242.0 min; P = 0.02). Three patients in the laparoscopic group required conversion to laparotomy (7%). Laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann's procedure was associated with shorter time to passage of flatus (2.8 versus 4.0 days; P < 0.001) and faeces (4.2 versus 5.6 days; P = 0.002), and shorter overall length of hospital stay (6.7 versus 10.8 days; P < 0.001). There were fewer patients in the laparoscopic group who had post-operative complications (14% versus 31%; P = 0.04), including fewer cases of post-operative ileus (2% versus 17%; P = 0.02). There were no cases of anastomotic leak or in-hospital mortality in either group. Conclusion Laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann's procedure is a safe and feasible alternative to open Hartmann's reversal and may be associated with significantly faster recovery time and fewer post-operative complications.

Floodplain ecosystems are characterized by alternating wet and dry phases and periodic inundation defines their ecological character. Climate change, river regulation and the construction of levees have substantially altered natural flooding and drying regimes worldwide with uncertain effects on key biotic groups. In southern Australia, we hypothesized that soil eukaryotic communities in climate change affected areas of a semi-arid floodplain would transition towards comprising mainly dry-soil specialist species with increasing drought severity. Here, we used 18S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing to measure the eukaryote community composition in soils that had been depleted of water to varying degrees to confirm that reproducible transitional changes occur in eukaryotic biodiversity on this floodplain. Interflood community structures (3 years post-flood) were dominated by persistent rather than either aquatic or dry-specialist organisms. Only 2% of taxa were unique to dry locations by 8 years post-flood, and 10% were restricted to wet locations (inundated a year to 2 weeks post-flood). Almost half (48%) of the total soil biota were detected in both these environments. The discovery of a large suite of organisms able to survive nearly a decade of drought, and up to a year submerged supports the concept of inherent resilience of Australian semi-arid floodplain soil communities under increasing pressure from climatic induced changes in water availability.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are common components of microbial communities in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). FLA are of clinical importance both as pathogens and as reservoirs for bacterial pathogens, so identifying the conditions promoting amoebae colonisation of DWDSs is an important public health concern for water utilities. We used high-throughput amplicon sequencing to compare eukaryotic and bacterial communities associated with DWDS biofilms supporting distinct FLA species (Naegleria fowleri, N. lovaniensis or Vermamoeba sp.) at sites with similar physical/chemical conditions. Eukaryote and bacterial communities were characteristics of different FLA species presence, and biofilms supporting Naegleria growth had higher bacterial richness and higher abundance of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes (bacteria), Nematoda and Rotifera (eukaryota). The eukaryotic community in the biofilms had the greatest difference in relation to the presence of N. fowleri, while the bacterial community identified individual bacterial families associated with the presence of different Naegleria species. Our results demonstrate that ecogenomics data provide a powerful tool for studying the microbial and meiobiotal content of biofilms, and, in these samples can effectively discriminate biofilm communities supporting pathogenic N. fowleri. The identification of microbial species associated with N. fowleri could further be used in the management and control of N. fowleri in DWDS.

Global incidence of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis cases associated with domestic drinking water is increasing. The need for understanding disinfectant regimes capable of eliminating the causative microorganism, Naegleria fowleri, from bulk water and pipe wall biofilms is critical. This field study demonstrated the successful elimination of N. fowleri from the bulk water and pipe wall biofilm of a persistently colonised operational drinking water distribution system (DWDS), and the prevention of further re-colonisation. A new chlorination unit was installed along the pipe line to boost the free chlorine residual to combat the persistence of N. fowleri. Biofilm and bulk water were monitored prior to and after re-chlorination (RCl), pre-rechlorination (pre-RCl) and post-rechlorination (post-RCl), respectively, for one year. A constant free chlorine concentration of > 1 mg/L resulted in the elimination of N. fowleri from both the bulk water and biofilm at the post-RCl site. Other amoeba species were detected during the first two months of chlorination, but all amoebae were eliminated from both the bulk water and biofilm at post-RCl after 60 days of chlorination with free chlorine concentrations > 1 mg/L. In addition, a dynamic change in the biofilm community composition and a four log reduction in biofilm cell density occurred post-RCl. The pre-RCl site continued to be seasonally colonised by N. fowleri, but the constant free chlorine residual of > 1 mg/L prevented N. fowleri from recolonising the bulk and pipe wall biofilm at the post-RCl site. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate successful removal of N. fowleri from both the bulk and pipe wall biofilm and prevention of re-colonisation of N. fowleri in an operational DWDS. The findings of this study are of importance to water utilities in addressing the presence of N. fowleri and other amoeba in susceptible DWDSs.

Free-living amoebae, such as Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., and Vermamoeba spp., have been identified as organisms of concern due to their role as hosts for pathogenic bacteria and as agents of human disease. In particular, N. fowleri is known to cause the disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and can be found in drinking water systems in many countries. Understanding the temporal dynamics in relation to environmental and biological factors is vital for developing management tools for mitigating the risks of PAM. Characterizing drinking water systems in Western Australia with a combination of physical, chemical and biological measurements over the course of a year showed a close association of N. fowleri with free chlorine and distance from treatment over the course of a year. This information can be used to help design optimal management strategies for the control of N. fowleri in drinking-water-distribution systems.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Molecular imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) is now an integral part of multidisciplinary cancer care. In this review, we discuss the role of PET in CRC including well established indications in the assessment of recurrent disease and emerging applications such as initial staging, monitoring therapy efficacy and using PET for radiotherapy planning. With rapid advancement in imaging technology, we also discuss the future potential of combining PET and magnetic resonance imaging and the use of novel radiotracers.

That homologies exist and can be recognized and discovered is of central importance to comparative and evolutionary biology. Traditionally, homology assessment for both molecular and morphological data has been treated as a two-step process involving the generation of a proposition of homology and then the evaluation of that hypothesis through the test of congruence in a phylogenetic analysis. An alternative phylogenetic method, direct optimization, combines these into a one-step process in which positional homology and cladograms are co-estimated simultaneously. Here we examine the use of the term “homology” as it is applied to molecular data, and critique the concept of molecular homology one must accept if cladograms are to be interpreted as phylogenetic estimates. The test of congruence alone cannot be used to determine homologous (historically identical) features, and character analysis and the proposition of primary homology hypotheses is the only procedure that can identify correspondences between features justified as retaining phylogenetic information. The practical ramifications for phylogenetic analysis, such as data exclusion and the interpretation of tree-like diagrams as phylogenies, are discussed.

This study examined the correlation between depth of local invasion in colon cancer and tumor spread and patient survival. A cohort of 796 patients with a complete set of TNM staging information following an elective resection for colon cancer was selected. The rates of lymph node and distant metastasis, tumor differentiation, and extramural venous invasion for different tumor (T) categories were compared. The effects of initial tumor (T) category on overall patient survival were studied. The depth of local tumor invasion correlated strongly with nodal involvement (P = 0.0001), rates of extramural venous invasion (P = 0.0002), poor differentiation (P = 0.0001), and distant metastasis (P = 0.0001). Fifty-seven percent of the patients remained lymph node-negative and distant metastasis-negative irrespective of their depth of tumor invasion had no impact on overall survival (P = 0.49). For patients with lymph node or distant metastasis (43 percent), depth of tumor invasion had significant impact on overall survival (P = 0.001). Thirteen percent of T3N1, 33 percent of T3N2, 40 percent of T4N1, and 68.percent of T4N2 cases had distant metastasis at presentation. Two types of colon cancer were observed: locally active and tendency to metastasize. For the latter, overall mortality and the risk of metastasis increased with depth of tumor invasion.

Intestinal involvement in endometriosis is thought to occur in up to 12% of all endometriosis cases. While colorectal resection is being increasingly advocated as a feasible management option in patients with severe disease, there still remains significant resistance towards this surgery. This article aims to review the current literature to determine the pain and fertility outcomes following segmental bowel resection for colorectal endometriosis.