Search

Hundreds of large whales have been tracked using consolidated (Type‐C) satellite tags, yet there have been few studies on their impacts on whale health. In 2011, we initiated the first study designed to evaluate the effects of these tags on a baleen whale. Between 2011 and 2018, we tagged 79 North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Gulf of Maine. We initially deployed commonly‐used tags with an articulation between the anchor and transmitter (n = 35, 2011–12), before evidence of breakage prompted the development and use of more robust, integrated tags (n = 45). Tagged individuals were photographed immediately before, during and up to 11 years after tagging. They were re‐encountered on an average of 41.3 days (SD = 44.3), yielding 2,971 photographed sightings through 2022. An objective scoring system was developed to characterise tag‐site tissue responses based on photographs and to identify risk factors for prolonged healing. The initial tissue response to tagging was minimal, followed by skin loss around the tag, sometimes a degree of subcutaneous swelling, occasional extrusion of blubber, changes in skin colour, local depression formation around the implant site, tag loss and skin healing over the tag site, sometimes with a depression remaining. At last sighting, most non‐integrated and integrated tag sites exhibited small, shallow skin depressions (58.8% and 66.7%, respectively). Some exhibited deeper depressions with differing adjacent skin coloration (26.5% and 15.6%, respectively) or barely detectable marks (11.8% and 15.6%, respectively). Mild subcutaneous swellings occasionally persisted at the tag site, but this was uncommon for both tag designs (2.9% and 2.2%, respectively). More severe tissue responses were associated with non‐integrated tags and placements lower on the body. This study highlights the importance of using robust tag designs to minimise negative effects from Type‐C tags. Furthermore, because tag placement was shown to affect outcome, precision equipment, experienced taggers and vessel operators are critical for optimal deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells are highly dynamic and adopt variable shapes and sizes. These variations are biologically important but challenging to investigate in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Micropatterning, confining cells on microfabricated substrates with defined geometries and molecular compositions, is a powerful tool for controlling cell shape and interactions. However, conventional binary micropatterns are static and fail to address dynamic changes in cell polarity, spreading, and migration. Here, a method for dynamic micropatterning is reported, where the non‐adhesive surface surrounding adhesive micropatterns is rapidly converted to support specific cell‐matrix interactions while allowing simultaneous imaging of the cells. The technique is based on ultraviolet photopatterning of biotinylated polyethylene glycol‐grafted poly‐L‐lysine, and it is simple, inexpensive, and compatible with a wide range of streptavidin‐conjugated ligands. Experiments using biotinylation‐based dynamic micropatterns reveal that distinct extracellular matrix ligands and bivalent integrin‐clustering antibodies support different degrees of front‐rear polarity in human glioblastoma cells, which correlates to altered directionality and persistence upon release and migration on fibronectin. Unexpectedly, however, neither an asymmetric cell shape nor centrosome orientation can fully predict the future direction of migration. Taken together, biotinylation‐based dynamic micropatterns allow easily accessible and highly customizable control over cell morphology and motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rate of incisional hernia after closure of a temporary loop ileostomy is significant. Synthetic meshes are still commonly avoided in contaminated wounds. The Preloop trial was a multicentre RCT designed to evaluate the benefits of synthetic mesh in incisional hernia prevention, and its safety for use in a contaminated surgical site compared with biological mesh. Methods: Study patients who underwent closure of a loop ileostomy after anterior resection for rectal cancer were assigned to receive either retrorectus synthetic or biological mesh to prevent incisional hernia. The primary outcomes were surgical-site infections within 30 days, and clinical or radiological incisional hernia incidence at 10 months. Secondary outcomes were reoperation rate, operating time, duration of hospital stay, other complications within 30 days of surgery, 5-year quality of life measured by RAND-36, and incisional hernia incidence within 5 years of follow-up. Results: Between November 2018 and September 2021, 102 patients were randomised, of whom 97 received the intended allocation. At 10-month follow-up, 90 patients had undergone clinical evaluation and 88 radiological evaluation. One patient in each group (2 per cent) had a clinical diagnosis of incisional hernia (P = 0.950) and one further patient in each group had a CT-confirmed incisional hernia (P = 0.949). The number of other complications, reoperation rate, operating time, and duration of hospital stay did not differ between the study groups. Conclusion: Synthetic mesh appeared comparable to biological mesh in efficacy and safety for incisional hernia prevention at the time of loop ileostomy closure. Registration number: NCT03445936 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov). Preloop was a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicentre feasibility trial to show that synthetic mesh is non-inferior in incisional hernia prevention, safe for use in a contaminated surgical site, and a comparable alternative to biological mesh. One patient in each study group (2 per cent) had clinical suspicion of incisional hernia (P = 0.950). Two other patients, one in each group, had a CT-confirmed incisional hernia (P = 0.949). Synthetic mesh is equally effective and safe for incisional hernia prevention at contaminated surgical sites, and is comparable to biological mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]