Chromosome-scale assembly of the African yam bean genome.

Genomics-informed breeding of locally adapted, nutritious, albeit underutilised African crops can help mitigate food and nutrition insecurity challenges in Africa, particularly against the backdrop of climate change. However, utilisation of modern genome-assisted crop improvement tools including genomic selection and genome editing for many African indigenous crops is hampered by the scarcity of genomic resources. Here we report on the assembly of the genome of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), a tuberous legume crop that is indigenous to Africa.

Complex Reconstruction with Flaps After Abdominoperineal Resection and Groin Dissection for Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Difficult Case Involving Many Specialities.

BACKGROUND Anal squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 2-4% of all lower gastrointestinal malignancies, with a distant disease reported in less than 5%. Although surgical treatment is rarely necessary, this often involve large dissections and difficult reconstructive procedures. CASE REPORT We present a complex but successful case of double-flap reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection and groin dissection for anal squamous cell carcinoma (cT3N3M0) with metastatic right inguinal lymph nodes and ipsilateral threatening of femoral vessels.

Elicitation of Protective Antibodies against a Broad Panel of H1N1 Viruses in Ferrets Preimmune to Historical H1N1 Influenza Viruses.

Most preclinical animal studies test influenza vaccines in immunologically naive animal models, even though the results of vaccination may not accurately reflect the effectiveness of vaccine candidates in humans that have preexisting immunity to influenza. In this study, novel, broadly reactive influenza vaccine candidates were assessed in preimmune ferrets. These animals were infected with different H1N1 isolates before being vaccinated or infected with another influenza virus.

Quantification of carotid plaque lipid content with magnetic resonance T2 mapping in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Background And Purpose: Techniques to stratify subgroups of patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease are urgently needed to guide decisions on optimal treatment. Reliance on estimates of % luminal stenosis has not been effective, perhaps because that approach entirely disregards potentially important information on the pathological process in the wall of the artery.

Methods: Since plaque lipid is a key determinant of plaque behaviour we used a newly validated, high-sensitivity T2-mapping MR technique for a systematic survey of the quantity and distribution of plaque lipid in patients undergoing endarterectomy.

Design and Characterization of a Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Hemagglutinin Vaccine for H1N1 Influenza Viruses.

Unlabelled: One of the challenges of developing influenza A vaccines is the diversity of antigenically distinct isolates. Previously, a novel hemagglutinin (HA) for H5N1 influenza was derived from a methodology termed computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA). This COBRA HA elicited a broad antibody response against H5N1 isolates from different clades.

Efficacy and Safety of Augmenting the Preclose Technique with a Collagen-Based Closure Device for Percutaneous Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Purpose: To report our experience of selectively augmenting the preclose technique for percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair (p-EVAR) with an Angio-Seal device as a haemostatic adjunct in cases of significant bleeding after tensioning the sutures of the suture-mediated closure devices.

Materials And Methods: Prospectively collected data for p-EVAR patients at our institute were analysed. Outcomes included technical success and access site complications.

Management of a ruptured mycotic pseudo-aneurysm following pancreas-kidney transplantation.

Background: Simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation (SPK) is accepted as a therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes and coexisting renal failure. Mycotic pseudoaneurysm formation is a life-threatening complication of transplantation, despite this however, little has been published with regards to its occurrence following SPK transplantation.

Case Report: We describe the case of a 35 year old patient who 18 days after receiving a SPK transplant developed an iliac-enteric fistula, following mycotic pseudoaneurysm formation.

Results of a seven-year, single-centre experience of the long-term outcomes of bovine ureter grafts used as novel conduits for haemodialysis fistulas.

Purpose: To report the long-term outcomes of bovine ureter grafts as novel conduits for haemodialysis fistulas.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five patients underwent placement of a total of 40 SynerGraft 100 (SG100; CryoLife Europa(®), Guildford, UK) bovine ureter grafts between April 2002 and February 2009. Prospective data were collected on all patients, including active surveillance with blood flow studies and 6-monthly duplex ultrasound studies.

Characterization of microRNAs involved in embryonic stem cell states.

Studies of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) reveal that these cell lines can be derived from differing stages of embryonic development. We analyzed common changes in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs in 9 different human ESC (hESC) lines during early commitment and further examined the expression of key ESCenriched miRNAs in earlier developmental states in several species. We show that several previously defined hESC-enriched miRNA groups (the miR-302, -17, and -515 families, and the miR-371-373 cluster) and several other hESC-enriched miRNAs are down-regulated rapidly in response to differentiation.

The pathology of depopulated bovine ureter xenografts utilized for vascular access in haemodialysis patients.

Aims: Vascular access for long-term haemodialysis is obtained through the surgical fashioning of arteriovenous fistulae, utilizing the patients' native blood vessels, or by insertion of synthetic grafts or non-synthetic gluteraldehyde cross-linked biological xenografts. These non-native grafts have high complication rates and a depopulated bovine ureter xenograft has recently been developed as an alternative. The aim was to undertake the first systematic review of the histopathology of bovine ureter xenografts (n = 25) utilized for haemodialysis vascular access in humans.

Impact of pulsatile perfusion on postoperative outcome of kidneys from controlled donors after cardiac death.

Pulsatile perfusion (PP) might be a cost-effective cold preservation technique to reduce the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) in kidneys from deceased donors. With the aim to address whether PP can reduce the incidence of DGF in kidneys from controlled donors after cardiac death (cDCD), we compared the clinical outcome of 30 recipients of kidneys from cDCD preserved by static cold storage (cDCD-SCS) with 30 recipients of cDCD kidneys preserved by PP (cDCD-PP). The end-points were the incidence of primary nonfunction (PNF), DGF and acute rejection (AR), the length of hospitalization, 1, 3, 6 and 12-months graft function, graft survival and patient survival.

Diagnostic imaging of and radiologic intervention for bovine ureter grafts used as a novel conduit for hemodialysis fistulas.

Objective: The objectives of our study were to review the appearances on diagnostic imaging and amenability to imaging-guided intervention of a novel bovine ureter graft (Syner-Graft 100 [SG 100]) for use as a conduit for hemodialysis fistulas.

Conclusion: The SG 100 shows initial promise as a conduit for hemodialysis fistulas in patients with difficult vascular access. The SG 100 has characteristic appearances on diagnostic imaging and is prone to similar pathologic processes that affect autogenous venous and synthetic grafts.

Major effects of delayed graft function and cold ischaemia time on renal allograft survival.

Background: There is mounting evidence from experimental and clinical studies that the quality of organs from cadaver donors may be influenced by events occurring around the time of brain death, and that these may affect transplant outcome. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of donor factors on renal allograft outcome in a homogeneous cohort of 518 patients transplanted in a single centre over a 9 year period.

Methods: Endpoints of the study were delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection (AR), 1 year graft survival and long-term survival of those grafts that reached 1 year.

Low-dose valaciclovir prophylaxis against cytomegalovirus disease in renal transplant recipients.

High-dose valaciclovir at up to 8 g/day has been shown to be effective in prophylaxis against cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in renal transplant recipients. We report our experience with low-dose valaciclovir prophylaxis of up to 3 g/day, adjusted to creatinine clearance. A group of patients at high risk of developing CMV disease who received prophylaxis were selected as the study group.

The myth of secure computing.

Few senior executives pay a whole lot of attention to computer security. They either hand off responsibility to their technical people or bring in consultants. But given the stakes involved, an arm's-length approach is extremely unwise.