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- Fabian, ID, et al.
(author)
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Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries
- 2021
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In: The British journal of ophthalmology. - : BMJ. - 1468-2079 .- 0007-1161. ; 105:10, s. 1435-1443
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries.ResultsCapture rate was 42.2% of expected patients from Africa and 108.8% from Europe. African patients were older (95% CI −12.4 to −5.4, p<0.001), had fewer cases of familial retinoblastoma (95% CI 2.0 to 5.3, p<0.001) and presented with more advanced disease (95% CI 6.0 to 9.8, p<0.001); 43.4% and 15.4% of Africans had extraocular retinoblastoma and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis, respectively, compared to 2.9% and 1.0% of the Europeans. To reach a retinoblastoma centre, European patients travelled 421.8 km compared to Africans who travelled 185.7 km (p<0.001). On regression analysis, lower-national income level, African residence and older age (p<0.001), but not travel distance (p=0.19), were risk factors for advanced disease.ConclusionsFewer than half the expected number of patients with retinoblastoma presented to African referral centres in 2017, suggesting poor awareness or other barriers to access. Despite the relatively shorter distance travelled by African patients, they presented with later-stage disease. Health education about retinoblastoma is needed for carers and health workers in Africa in order to increase capture rate and promote early referral.
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- Werren, John H, et al.
(author)
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Functional and evolutionary insights from the genomes of three parasitoid Nasonia species.
- 2010
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 327:5963, s. 343-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report here genome sequences and comparative analyses of three closely related parasitoid wasps: Nasonia vitripennis, N. giraulti, and N. longicornis. Parasitoids are important regulators of arthropod populations, including major agricultural pests and disease vectors, and Nasonia is an emerging genetic model, particularly for evolutionary and developmental genetics. Key findings include the identification of a functional DNA methylation tool kit; hymenopteran-specific genes including diverse venoms; lateral gene transfers among Pox viruses, Wolbachia, and Nasonia; and the rapid evolution of genes involved in nuclear-mitochondrial interactions that are implicated in speciation. Newly developed genome resources advance Nasonia for genetic research, accelerate mapping and cloning of quantitative trait loci, and will ultimately provide tools and knowledge for further increasing the utility of parasitoids as pest insect-control agents.
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| 6. |
- Desjardins, L, et al.
(author)
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Correlation of plasma coagulation parameters with thromboprophylaxis, patient characteristics, and outcome in the MEDENOX study
- 2004
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In: Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine. - 0003-9985. ; 128:5, s. 519-526
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 0 Context.-Plasma anti-Xa and anti-IIa activities correlate with the dose of low-molecular-weight heparin, and D-dimer and thrombin-antithrombin complexes are markers of procoagulant activity. Objective.-To investigate the relationship between plasma coagulation parameters and patient characteristics, including renal function, thromboprophylaxis, and incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the MEDENOX study population. Design.-Controlled, multicenter, double-blind, randomized study. Patients.-Two hundred twenty-four acutely ill medical patients. Interventions.-Either 20 or 40 mg of enoxaparin administered subcutaneously or a placebo once daily for 10 (+/-4) days. ain Outcome Measures.-VTE and plasma anti-Xa and anti-IIa activities, D-dimer, and thrombin-antithrombin levels in blood collected before prophylaxis was given (day 0) and after the last injection of the study drug. Results and Conclusions.-Anti-Xa activity correlated with the dose of enoxaparin. In patients with mild or moderate renal impairment, there was no significant relationship between anti-Xa activity and the creatinine clearance rate. D-dimer concentrations were lower at day 10 (+/-4) in the 40-mg group, which had a 63% lower VTE incidence, than at day 0. No venographically confirmed thromboses were found in patients with a normal D-dimer I concentration (<0.5 mug/mL [0.5 mg/L]). D-dimer levels were higher in patients with VTE than in those without VTE, but no predictive value could be demonstrated for individual patients.
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| 7. |
- Alikhan, R, et al.
(author)
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Prevention of venous thromboembolism in medical patients with enoxaparin: a subgroup analysis of the MEDENOX study
- 2003
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In: Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis. - 1473-5733. ; 14:4, s. 341-346
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Medical Patients with Enoxaparin (MEDENOX) trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled study that defined the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acutely ill, immobilized, general medical patients and the efficacy of the low-molecular-weight heparin, enoxaparin, in preventing thrombosis. We performed a post-hoc analysis to evaluate the effect of 40 mg enoxaparin once daily on MEDENOX patient outcome in different types of acute medical illness (heart failure, respiratory failure, infection, rheumatic disorder and inflammatory bowel disease) and pre-defined risk factors (chronic heart and chronic respiratory failure, age, immobility, previous VTE and cancer). The primary outcome was the occurrence of documented VTE between days 1 and 14. The relative risk reduction [95% confidence intervals (CI)] for VTE comparing 40 mg enoxaparin with placebo in the subgroups were: acute heart failure, 0.29 (95% CI, 0.10-0.84); acute respiratory failure, 0.25 (95% CI, 0.10-0.65); acute infectious disease, 0.28 (95% CI, 0.09-0.81); and acute rheumatic disorder, 0.48 (95% CI, 0.11-2.16). The relative risk reduction for VTE in the pre-defined risk factor subgroups were: chronic heart failure, 0.26 (95% Cl, 0.08-0.92); chronic respiratory failure, 0.26 (95% CI, 0.10-0.68); age, 0.22 (95% CI, 0.09-0.51); immobility, 0.53 (95% CI, 0.14-1.72); previous VTE, 0.49 (95% CI, 0.15-1.68); and cancer, 0.50 (95% CI, 0.14-1.72). The beneficial effects of enoxaparin extend to a wide range of acutely ill medical patients. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.
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| 8. |
- Alikhan, R, et al.
(author)
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Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients with acute medical illness - Analysis of the MEDENOX study
- 2004
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In: Archives of Internal Medicine. - 0003-9926. ; 164:9, s. 963-968
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: There is limited information about risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acutely ill hospitalized general medical patients. Methods: An international, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial (MEDENOX) has previously been conducted in 1102 acutely ill, immobilized general medical patients and has shown the efficacy of using a low-molecular-weight heparin, enoxaparin sodium, in preventing thrombosis. We performed logistic regression analysis to evaluate the independent nature of different types of acute medical illness (heart failure, respiratory failure, infection, rheumatic disorder, and inflammatory bowel disease) and predefined factors (chronic heart and respiratory failure, age, previous VTE, and cancer) as risk factors for VTE. Results: The primary univariate analysis showed that the presence of an acute infectious disease, age older than 75 years, cancer, and a history of VTE were statistically significantly associated with an increased VTE risk. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that these factors were independently associated with VTE. Conclusions: Several independent risk factors for VTE were identified. These findings allow recognition of individuals at increased risk of VTE and will contribute to the formulation of an evidence-based risk assessment model for thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized general medical patients.
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| 9. |
- Cubaynes, T., et al.
(author)
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Highly coherent spin states in carbon nanotubes coupled to cavity photons
- 2019
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In: npj Quantum Information. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2056-6387. ; 5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Spins confined in quantum dots are considered as a promising platform for quantum information processing. While many advanced quantum operations have been demonstrated, experimental as well as theoretical efforts are now focusing on the development of scalable spin quantum bit architectures. One particularly promising method relies on the coupling of spin quantum bits to microwave cavity photons. This would enable the coupling of distant spins via the exchange of virtual photons for two qubit gate applications, which still remains to be demonstrated with spin qubits. Here, we use a circuit QED spin-photon interface to drive a single electronic spin in a carbon nanotube-based double quantum dot using cavity photons. The microwave spectroscopy allows us to identify an electrically controlled spin transition with a decoherence rate which can be tuned to be as low as 250 kHz. We show that this value is consistent with the expected hyperfine coupling in carbon nanotubes. These coherence properties, which can be attributed to the use of pristine carbon nanotubes stapled inside the cavity, should enable coherent spin-spin interaction via cavity photons and compare favorably to the ones recently demonstrated in Si-based circuit QED experiments. Our clean and controlled nano-assembly technique of carbon nanotubes in the cavity could be further improved by purified C-12 growth to get rid of the nuclear spins resulting in an even higher spin coherence.
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| 10. |
- Fitzpatrick, J L, et al.
(author)
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Female-mediated causes and consequences of status change in a social fish.
- 2008
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In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Biological Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 0962-8452 .- 1471-2954. ; 275:1637
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In highly social species, dominant individuals often monopolize reproduction, resulting in reproductive investment that is status dependent. Yet, for subordinates, who typically invest less in reproduction, social status can change and opportunities to ascend to dominant social positions are presented suddenly, requiring abrupt changes in behaviour and physiology. In this study, we examined male reproductive anatomy, physiology and behaviour following experimental manipulations of social status in the cooperatively breeding cichlid fish, Neolamprologus pulcher. This unusual fish species lives in permanent social groups composed of a dominant breeding pair and 1-20 subordinates that form a linear social dominance hierarchy. By removing male breeders, we created 18 breeding vacancies and thus provided an opportunity for subordinate males to ascend in status. Dominant females play an important role in regulating status change, as males successfully ascended to breeder status only when they were slightly larger than the female breeder in their social group. Ascending males rapidly assumed behavioural dominance, demonstrated elevated gonadal investment and androgen concentrations compared with males remaining socially subordinate. Interestingly, to increase gonadal investment ascending males appeared to temporarily restrain somatic growth. These results highlight the complex interactions between social status, reproductive physiology and group dynamics, and underscore a convergent pattern of reproductive investment among highly social, cooperative species.
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| 11. |
- Fitzpatrick, John L., et al.
(author)
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Female promiscuity promotes the evolution of faster sperm in cichlid fishes
- 2009
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 106:4, s. 1128-1132
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sperm competition, the contest among ejaculates from rival males to fertilize ova of a female, is a common and powerful evolutionary force influencing ejaculate traits. During competitive interactions between ejaculates, longer and faster spermatozoa are expected to have an edge; however, to date, there has been mixed support for this key prediction from sperm competition theory. Here, we use the spectacular radiation of cichlid fishes from Lake Tanganyika to examine sperm characteristics in 29 closely related species. We provide phylogenetically robust evidence that species experiencing greater levels of sperm competition have faster-swimming sperm. We also show that sperm competition selects for increases in the number, size, and longevity of spermatozoa in the ejaculate of a male, and, contrary to expectations from theory, we find no evidence of trade-offs among sperm traits in an interspecific analysis. Also, sperm swimming speed is positively correlated with sperm length among, but not within, species. These different responses to sperm competition at intra-and interspecific levels provide a simple, powerful explanation for equivocal results from previous studies. Using phylogenetic analyses, we also reconstructed the probable evolutionary route of trait evolution in this taxon, and show that, in response to increases in the magnitude of sperm competition, the evolution of sperm traits in this clade began with the evolution of faster (thus, more competitive) sperm.
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| 14. |
- Lee-Smith, Matthew L., et al.
(author)
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Data as a material for design : alternative narratives, divergent pathways, and future directions
- 2023
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In: CHI EA '23. - : ACM Digital Library. - 9781450394222
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This one-day workshop will bring together a diverse group of practitioners and researchers within the CHI community to discuss and explore data's increasing use as a material for design. This workshop encourages the submission of design exemplars, i.e., physical or digital works (in progress), design processes, or provocative or controversial pieces on the topic of data as a design material. If we are to continue to explore what data means as a design material and how we will continue to co-exist with them in our everyday lives through new and exciting ways and means, we must develop new strategies, tactics, tools, and outcomes. By bringing together products, processes, and provocations, this workshop will nurture and extend the continuation of research inquiring into data as a design material in its many forms. Our workshop will be conducted through physical and digital activities before, during, and after the onsite event at CHI 2023.
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| 17. |
- Ruiz-Puerta, Emily J., et al.
(author)
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Holocene deglaciation drove rapid genetic diversification of Atlantic walrus
- 2023
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In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. - 1471-2954. ; 290:2007, s. 1-11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rapid global warming is severely impacting Arctic ecosystems and is predicted to transform the abundance, distribution and genetic diversity of Arctic species, though these linkages are poorly understood. We address this gap in knowledge using palaeogenomics to examine how earlier periods of global warming influenced the genetic diversity of Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus), a species closely associated with sea ice and shallow-water habitats. We analysed 82 ancient and historical Atlantic walrus mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), including now-extinct populations in Iceland and the Canadian Maritimes, to reconstruct the Atlantic walrus’ response to Arctic deglaciation. Our results demonstrate that the phylogeography and genetic diversity of Atlantic walrus populations was initially shaped by the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), surviving in distinct glacial refugia, and subsequently expanding rapidly in multiple migration waves during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The timing of diversification and establishment of distinct populations corresponds closely with the chronology of the glacial retreat, pointing to a strong link between walrus phylogeography and sea ice. Our results indicate that accelerated ice loss in the modern Arctic may trigger further dispersal events, likely increasing the connectivity of northern stocks while isolating more southerly stocks putatively caught in small pockets of suitable habitat.
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