Evaluating the effect of nuclear inclusion X (NIX) infections on Pacific razor clam populations.

Nuclear inclusion X (NIX), the etiological agent of bacterial gill disease in Pacific razor clams Siliqua patula, was associated with host mortality events in coastal Washington State, USA, during the mid-1980s. Ongoing observations of truncated razor clam size distributions in Kalaloch Beach, Washington, raised concerns that NIX continues to impact populations. We conducted a series of spatial and longitudinal NIX surveillances, examined archived razor clam gill tissue, and used population estimates from stock assessments to test whether (1) the prevalence and intensity of NIX infections is higher at Kalaloch Beach relative to nearby beaches, (2) infected gill tissue has features consistent with historical descriptions of NIX-associated histopathology, and (3) annual clam survival is inversely related to NIX infection prevalence and intensity.

Association of vision loss and depressive symptomatology in older adults assessed for ocular health in senior living facilities.

Purpose: People with vision loss are at increased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) and subclinical depression. However, screening for depression is rarely done in eye care settings or among groups in the general population known to have vision disorders.

Methods: We examined the prevalence of depression, using the Patient Health Questionnaire - 2 (PHQ-2), among a group of older adults (N = 204; mean age = 82.

Retinal Microvasculature in Schizophrenia.

Purpose: Schizophrenia is associated with alterations in neural structure and function of the retina that are similar to changes seen in the retina and brain in multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Preliminary evidence suggests that retinal microvasculature may also be compromised in schizophrenia. The goal of this study was to determine, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), whether 1) schizophrenia is associated with alterations in retinal microvasculature density; and 2) microvasculature reductions are associated with retinal neural layer thinning and performance on a measure of verbal IQ.

Latitudinal variation in long-term stability of North American rocky intertidal communities.

Although long-term ecological stability is often discussed as a community attribute, it is typically investigated at the species level (e.g. density, biomass), or as a univariate metric (e.

Novel diagnostic tests for the putative agent of bacterial gill disease in Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula).

Nuclear inclusion X (NIX) is a gamma proteobacteria that infects the nuclei of gill epithelial cells in Pacific razor clams. NIX has been associated with clam die-offs in coastal Washington. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed to detect NIX in Pacific razor clams, and assay specificity was confirmed by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH).

Absence of Excess Intra-Individual Variability in Retinal Function in People With Schizophrenia.

People with schizophrenia exhibit increased intra-individual variability in both behavioral and neural signatures of cognition. Examination of intra-individual variability may uncover a unique functionally relevant aspect of impairment that is not captured by typical between-group comparisons of mean or median values. We and others have observed that retinal activity measured using electroretinography (ERG) is significantly reduced in people with schizophrenia; however, it is currently unclear whether greater intra-individual variability in the retinal response can also be observed.

Schizophrenia and the retina: Towards a 2020 perspective.

Background: Differences between people with schizophrenia and psychiatrically healthy controls have been consistently demonstrated on measures of retinal function such as electroretinography (ERG), and measures of retinal structure such as optical coherence tomography (OCT). Since our 2015 review of this literature, multiple new studies have been published using these techniques. At the same time, the accumulation of data has highlighted the "fault lines" in these fields, suggesting methodological considerations that need greater attention in future studies.

Adolescents and young adults with cancer: How multidisciplinary health care teams adapt their practices to better meet their specific needs.

Objective: Dedicated adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer units have emerged from the early 1990s to address multiple challenges faced by AYA patients with cancer. Specific needs of AYA patients have been considered in an increasing number of studies. However, few describe how the health care professionals (HCPs) perceive their patients' needs and how they actually adjust their day-to-day practices to meet such needs.

Prefrontal high gamma during a magnetoencephalographic working memory task.

In human electrophysiology research, the high gamma part of the power spectrum (~>60 Hz) is a relatively new area of investigation. Despite a low signal-to-noise ratio, evidence exists that it contains significant information about activity in local cortical networks. Here, using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we found high gamma activity when comparing data from an n-back working memory task to resting data in a large sample of normal volunteers.

Large-scale impacts of sea star wasting disease (SSWD) on intertidal sea stars and implications for recovery.

Disease outbreaks can have substantial impacts on wild populations, but the often patchy or anecdotal evidence of these impacts impedes our ability to understand outbreak dynamics. Recently however, a severe disease outbreak occurred in a group of very well-studied organisms-sea stars along the west coast of North America. We analyzed nearly two decades of data from a coordinated monitoring effort at 88 sites ranging from southern British Columbia to San Diego, California along with 2 sites near Sitka, Alaska to better understand the effects of sea star wasting disease (SSWD) on the keystone intertidal predator, Pisaster ochraceus.

Ochre star mortality during the 2014 wasting disease epizootic: role of population size structure and temperature.

Over 20 species of asteroids were devastated by a sea star wasting disease (SSWD) epizootic, linked to a densovirus, from Mexico to Alaska in 2013 and 2014. For Pisaster ochraceus from the San Juan Islands, South Puget Sound and Washington outer coast, time-series monitoring showed rapid disease spread, high mortality rates in 2014, and continuing levels of wasting in the survivors in 2015. Peak prevalence of disease at 16 sites ranged to 100%, with an overall mean of 61%.

Densovirus associated with sea-star wasting disease and mass mortality.

Populations of at least 20 asteroid species on the Northeast Pacific Coast have recently experienced an extensive outbreak of sea-star (asteroid) wasting disease (SSWD). The disease leads to behavioral changes, lesions, loss of turgor, limb autotomy, and death characterized by rapid degradation ("melting"). Here, we present evidence from experimental challenge studies and field observations that link the mass mortalities to a densovirus (Parvoviridae).

[The prevention of the hypercoagulation syndrome during the combined treatment of lung cancer patients using artificial hyperglycemia].

Status of hemostasis system and occurrence of postoperative thromboembolic complications were assessed in 246 lung cancer patients in whom combined treatment included artificial hyperglycemia. The latter condition contributed to higher blood coagulability resulting in lung artery thromboembolism in some cases. Administration of a combination of heparin, curantil and nicotinic acid was followed by a decrease in blood coagulability, increase in anticoagulation function, decrease in platelet aggregability, activation of fibrinolysis and regression of biochemical signs of DIC syndrome thereby assuring a drop in the occurrence of thromboembolic complications.

[Radionuclide studies on the hormonal manifestations of heat stress in cancer patients under controlled total hyperthermia].

The results of the investigations of ACTH, HGH, hydrocortisone, glucagon, C-peptide, insulin in 180 patients with advanced and metastatic melanomas, soft tissue sarcomas, lung cancers and renal cell carcinomas testify to the development of the syndrome of endocrine hyperfunction in patients under whole-body guided hyperthermia as well as of functional pancreas insufficiency. The data presented form a biochemical basis for working out measures to optimally carry out whole-body hyperthermia treatment, aimed at increasing the range of indications for its use in clinical oncology.

[Complex treatment of locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the limbs].

The experience of treatment of 40 patients with locally-advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the limbs. Treatment included preoperative chemoradiotherapy in combination with electromagnetic hyperthermia. As a result, 38 (95%) patients showed marked response which allowed radical limb-saving surgery whereas in 2 (5%) amputation was performed.

[The effect of whole-body controlled hyperthermia on the energy resources of cancer patients].

The results of examination of 120 patients with advanced malignant melanoma, soft tissue sarcomas and lung and renal cancer suggest disturbance in mechanisms of energy supply during whole-body guided hyperthermia. Cell glucose uptake was inhibited in hyperglycemic patients. High energy loss in due to utilization of such alternative substrates as lipids and proteins which, in turn, potentiates peroxidation of lipids toxic to cell membranes.

[General hyperthermia in the chemoradiotherapy of small-cell lung cancer].

Treatment results were compared in 2 groups of patients with advanced small-cell lung cancer. Group 1 (52 cases) received chemoradiation treatment alone whereas in group 2 (41 patients) it was combined with general hyperthermia (temperature 40-41.8 degrees C during 3-4 hours).

[Infusion therapy in sessions of general artificial hyperthermia using large doses of insulin in cancer patients].

A scheme of infusion correction of water-electrolyte shifts occurring during general artificial hyperthermia sessions (rectal t degrees-40-42 degrees C) employing large insulin doses (100-1120 U) in cancer patients has been suggested. The infusion therapy according to the technique described was used during 103 general artificial hyperthermia sessions in 58 patients. This made it possible to maintain physiologically normal blood plasma levels of glucose, Na+, K+, calcium, inorganic phosphates, normal acid-base balance, adequate hydration and circulating blood volume.

[Whole-body artificial controlled hyperthermia and hyperglycemia in the combined treatment of metastatic kidney cancer].

The attempt of treatment for metastatic renal cancer has not been a success as all the methods known failed to produce any significant effect on the development of metastases. So the search for the means which could potentiate the antitumor activity of the drugs or radiation therapy is still a problem. Various physicochemical methods, including hyperthermia and hyperglycemia, have been used as modifiers of tumor cell responses.

[Antiarrhythmic therapy in extreme conditions of artificial whole-body hyperthermia and artificial hyperglycemia in cancer patients].

It has been shown that sessions of total body hyperthermia (rectal temperature - 40.0-41.8 degrees C) and artificial hyperglycemia (22-23 mmol/l) in combination with chemotherapy in cancer patients with severe cardiac arrhythmias should follow antiarrhythmic pretreatment and should be accompanied by injections of lidocaine and lidocaine combined with amiodarone, that in most cases prevent or arrest life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

[Diagnosis and treatment of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma].

Eight cases of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (3 males and 5 females aged 15-65) are described. Morphological examination revealed in all cases biphasal tumor consisting of the chondroid tissue of varying maturity and undifferentiated tissue. Combination and complex treatment was given to 6 patients.

[Immune status of patients with malignant melanoma during combined therapy including local ultra-high frequency hyperthermia].

Immune status was evaluated in patients with clinical stage I malignant melanoma randomized to receive either preoperative irradiation (27 Gy) alone or in combination with local microwave hyperthermia (before or after it). Mononuclear, total T-lymphocyte, T-helper, T-suppressor, B-lymphocyte and blood-immune complex levels were assayed. The analysis of immunologic parameters dynamics pointed to beneficial changes occurring in immunoregulating T-lymphocytes in patients receiving hyperthermia as a component of combined treatment.

[Pathomorphosis of cancer of the breast during thermoradiotherapy].

Local UHF-hyperthermia in combined therapy of breast cancer patients as compared to preoperative radiotherapy used alone, resulted in more noticeable therapeutic changes in a tumor. This fact was established during a study of tumor pathomorphosis in 206 patients with stage II breast cancer. A degree of therapeutic tumor pathomorphosis showed good correlation with the frequency and duration of a recurrence-free period of disease.