Scapulothoracic fusion using nonabsorbable suture fixation: surgical technique and review of the literature.

Background: Historically, scapulothoracic fusion (STF) is performed using steel wire and plate construct fixation. The purpose of this study is to report a recent fusion achieved through ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene-reinforced suture fixation as well as to perform a systematic literature review of techniques, fusion rates, complications, and reoperation.

Methods: Patient data were gathered from chart review and clinical encounters.

Cezanne is a critical regulator of pathological arterial remodelling by targeting β-catenin signalling.

Aims: Pathological arterial remodelling including neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis is the main underlying cause for occluding arterial diseases. Cezanne is a novel deubiquitinating enzyme, functioning as a NF-кB negative regulator, and plays a key role in renal inflammatory response and kidney injury induced by ischaemia. Here we attempted to examine its pathological role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) pathology and arterial remodelling.

Endothelial NADPH oxidase 4 protects against angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis and inflammation.

Aims: Endothelial activation and inflammatory cell infiltration have important roles in the development of cardiac fibrosis induced by renin-angiotensin system activation. NADPH oxidases (Nox proteins) are expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and alter their function. Previous studies indicated that Nox2 in ECs contributes to angiotensin II (AngII)-induced cardiac fibrosis.

Genome-wide association study identifies risk loci for progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Prognostication in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is challenging due to heterogeneity in clinical course. We hypothesize that constitutional genetic variation affects disease progression and could aid prognostication. Pooling data from seven studies incorporating 842 cases identifies two genomic locations associated with time from diagnosis to treatment, including 10q26.

An end-to-end assessment on the accuracy of adaptive radiotherapy in an MR-linac.

Purpose: To develop and demonstrate an end-to-end assessment procedure for adaptive radiotherapy (ART) within an MR-guided system.

Methods And Materials: A 3D printed pelvic phantom was designed and constructed for use in this study. The phantom was put through the complete radiotherapy treatment chain, with planned internal changes made to model prostate translations and shape changes, allowing an investigation into three ART techniques commonly used.

f-Block Phospholyl and Arsolyl Chemistry.

The f-block chemistry of phospholyl and arsolyl ligands, heavier p-block analogues of substituted cyclopentadienyls (Cp , C R ) where one or more CR groups are replaced by P or As atoms, is less developed than for lighter isoelectronic C R rings. Heterocyclopentadienyl complexes can exhibit properties that complement and contrast with Cp chemistry. Given that there has been renewed interest in phospholyl and arsolyl f-block chemistry in the last two decades, coinciding with a renaissance in f-block solution chemistry, a review of this field is timely.

Indomethacin for symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.

Background: Symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is associated with mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. In these infants, prophylactic use of indomethacin, a non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, has demonstrated short-term clinical benefits. The effect of indomethacin in preterm infants with a symptomatic PDA remains unexplored.

SARS-CoV-2: characterisation and mitigation of risks associated with aerosol generating procedures in dental practices.

Introduction The objectives were to characterise the particle size distribution of aerosols generated by standard dental aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) and to assess the impact of aerosol-management interventions on 'fallow time'. Interventions included combinations of high-volume intraoral suction (HVS[IO]), high-volume extraoral suction (HVS[EO]) and an air cleaning system (ACS).Method A sequence of six AGPs were performed on a phantom head.

Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty-five-year interval.

Mires are characterized by plant communities of high conservation and societal value, which have experienced a major decline in area in many parts of the world, particularly Europe. Evidence suggests that they may be particularly vulnerable to changes in climate and nutrient addition. Although they have been the focus of extensive paleoecological research, few attempts have been made to examine the dynamics of mire vegetation during the current era of anthropogenic environmental change.

The End of a Classical Ontology for Quantum Mechanics?

In this paper, I argue that the Shrapnel-Costa no-go theorem undermines the last remaining viability of the view that the fundamental ontology of quantum mechanics is essentially classical: that is, the view that physical reality is underpinned by objectively real, counterfactually definite, uniquely spatiotemporally defined, local, dynamical entities with determinate valued properties, and where typically 'quantum' behaviour emerges as a function of our own in-principle ignorance of such entities. Call this view Einstein-Bell realism. One can show that the causally symmetric local hidden variable approach to interpreting quantum theory is the most natural interpretation that follows from Einstein-Bell realism, where causal symmetry plays a significant role in circumventing the nonclassical consequences of the traditional no-go theorems.

Barriers and enablers to the implementation of protocol-based imaging in pancreatic cancer: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework.

Background: Accurate pre-operative imaging plays a vital role in patient selection for surgery and in allocating stage-appropriate therapies to patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (PC). This study aims to: (1) understand the current diagnosis and staging practices for PC; and (2) explore the factors (barriers and enablers) that influence the use of a pancreatic protocol computed tomography (PPCT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm diagnosis and/or accurately stage PC.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with radiologists, surgeons, gastroenterologists, medical and radiation oncologists from the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, Australia.

Isolation and electronic structures of derivatized manganocene, ferrocene and cobaltocene anions.

The discovery of ferrocene nearly 70 years ago marked the genesis of metallocene chemistry. Although the ferrocenium cation was discovered soon afterwards, a derivatized ferrocenium dication was only isolated in 2016 and the monoanion of ferrocene has only been observed in low-temperature electrochemical studies. Here we report the isolation of a derivatized ferrocene anion in the solid state as part of an isostructural family of 3d metallocenates, which consist of anionic complexes of a metal centre (manganese, iron or cobalt) sandwiched between two bulky Cp ligands (where Cp is {1,2,4-CH Bu}).

Phase Selection and Structure of Low-Defect-Density γ-AlO Created by Epitaxial Crystallization of Amorphous AlO.

A multistep phase sequence following the crystallization of amorphous AlO via solid-phase epitaxy (SPE) points to methods to create low-defect-density thin films of the metastable cubic γ-AlO polymorph. An amorphous AlO thin film on a (0001) α-AlO sapphire substrate initially transforms upon heating to form epitaxial γ-AlO, followed by a transformation to monoclinic θ-AlO, and eventually to α-AlO. Epitaxial γ-AlO layers with low mosaic widths in X-ray rocking curves can be formed via SPE by crystallizing the γ-AlO phase from amorphous AlO and avoiding the microstructural inhomogeneity arising from the spatially inhomogeneous transformation to θ-AlO.

Safely reducing haemodialysis frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) are at higher risk of developing worse outcomes if they contract COVID-19. In our renal service we reduced HD frequency from thrice to twice-weekly in selected patients with the primary aim of reducing COVID 19 exposure and transmission between HD patients.

Methods: Dialysis unit nephrologists identified 166 suitable patients (38.

Surgical outcomes and complications of bedside tracheostomy in the ICU for patients on ECMO.

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly employed in the management of patients with severe cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction. Patients commonly require tracheostomy for ventilator liberation. Though bedside percutaneous tracheostomy is commonly performed, it has the potential for increased complications, both surgical and with the ECMO circuit.

Barriers and enablers to the implementation of multidisciplinary team meetings: a qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework.

Background: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines recommend discussion by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to review and plan the management of patients for a variety of cancers. However, not all patients diagnosed with cancer are presented at an MDT.

Objectives: (1) To identify the factors (barriers and enablers) influencing presentation of all patients to, and the perceived value of, MDT meetings in the management of patients with pancreatic cancer and; (2) to identify potential interventions that could overcome modifiable barriers and enhance enablers using the theoretical domains framework (TDF).

Transformation from a traditional model to a virtual model of care in orthopaedic surgery: COVID-19 experience and beyond.

Virtual encounters have experienced an exponential rise amid the current COVID-19 crisis. This abrupt change, seen in response to unprecedented medical and environmental challenges, has been forced upon the orthopaedic community. However, such changes to adopting virtual care and technology were already in the evolution forecast, albeit in an unpredictable timetable impeded by regulatory and financial barriers.

Evidence for non-methanogenic metabolisms in globally distributed archaeal clades basal to the Methanomassiliicoccales.

Recent discoveries of mcr and mcr-like genes in genomes from diverse archaeal lineages suggest that methane metabolism is an ancient pathway with a complicated evolutionary history. One conventional view is that methanogenesis is an ancestral metabolism of the class Thermoplasmata. Through comparative genomic analysis of 12 Thermoplasmata metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) basal to the Methanomassiliicoccales, we show that these microorganisms do not encode the genes required for methanogenesis.

Is There a Difference in the Diagnostic Outcomes of Calcifications Initially Identified on Synthetic Tomosynthesis Versus Full-Field Digital Mammography Screening?

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of microcalcifications recalled on full-field digital (FFDM) and FFDM and combined tomosynthesis (Combo) to synthetic (SM) screening mammograms.

Method: We reviewed medical records, radiology, and pathology reports of all patients found to have abnormal calcifications requiring further evaluation on mammography screening at our institution between 11/1/2016-11/1/2018 and collected patient demographics, calcification morphology and distribution, and mammography technique (SM, FFDM, or Combo). We used biopsy pathology or at least 1-year imaging follow-up to establish overall diagnostic outcome (benign or malignant).

Characterization of Mobile Genetic Elements Using Long-Read Sequencing for Tracking from Food Processing Environments.

Recently developed nanopore sequencing technologies offer a unique opportunity to rapidly close the genome and to identify complete sequences of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). In this study, 17 isolates of () epidemic clone II (ECII) from seven ready-to-eat meat or poultry processing facilities, not known to be associated with outbreaks, were shotgun sequenced, and among them, five isolates were further subjected to long-read sequencing. Additionally, 26 genomes of ECII isolates associated with three listeriosis outbreaks in the U.

Resonant nanodiffraction x-ray imaging reveals role of magnetic domains in complex oxide spin caloritronics.

Spin electronic devices based on crystalline oxide layers with nanoscale thicknesses involve complex structural and magnetic phenomena, including magnetic domains and the coupling of the magnetism to elastic and plastic crystallographic distortion. The magnetism of buried nanoscale layers has a substantial impact on spincaloritronic devices incorporating garnets and other oxides exhibiting the spin Seebeck effect (SSE). Synchrotron hard x-ray nanobeam diffraction techniques combine structural, elemental, and magnetic sensitivity and allow the magnetic domain configuration and structural distortion to be probed in buried layers simultaneously.

Synthesis and optimisation of P substituted vinyl sulfone-based inhibitors as anti-trypanosomal agents.

A series of lysine-based vinyl sulfone peptidomimetics were synthesised and evaluated for anti-trypanosomal activity against bloodstream forms of T. brucei. This focused set of compounds, varying in the P position, were accessed in a divergent manner from a common intermediate (ammonium salt 8).