Increased cardiovascular risk in epilepsy.

Epilepsy is associated with increased mortality. Cardiovascular disease confers a significant portion of this increased risk. Recently there is increased interest in the burden of cardiovascular mortality in people with epilepsy.

Pressure-based beat-to-beat right ventricular ejection fraction and Tau from continuous measured ventricular pressures in COVID-19 ARDS patients.

We evaluated pressure-based right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and diastolic isovolumetric relaxation time constant (Tau) from continuously (up to 30 days) invasive measured right ventricular pressures in mechanically ventilated patients with severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We retrospectively calculated beat-to-beat ejection fraction from right ventricular pressures and dp/dt maximum and minimum in 39 patients treated between October 1st, 2020 and June 30th, 2021. After performing a stepwise logistic regression with survival as a dependent variable, we divided the patients into survivors and nonsurvivors based on their 60-day mortality.

Key characteristics impacting survival of COVID-19 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: Severe COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) often requires extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Recent German health insurance data revealed low ICU survival rates. Patient characteristics and experience of the ECMO center may determine intensive care unit (ICU) survival.

Continuous long-term wireless measurement of right ventricular pressures and estimated diastolic pulmonary artery pressure in patients with severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Aims: We continuously monitored right ventricular pressures and the estimated diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (ePAD) for up to 30 days in mechanically ventilated patients with severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome in order to detect and treat right ventricular and pulmonary artery hypertension.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively evaluated right ventricular pressures and the ePAD measured in 30 invasively ventilated COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. We divided the patients into two groups, survivors and non-survivors based on their 60 day mortality.

A Champion for Chemistry: Elements of Jim Morgan's Intellectual Legacy.

James (Jim) Morgan was a leading figure in the field of environmental science and engineering. He championed the application of chemistry in the study of the environment and the design and optimization of environmental treatment processes. Jim influenced the field through his classic text , coauthored with Werner Stumm, his role as founding editor of , his seminal contribution to computational methods for the calculation of chemical equilibria, and most especially, his mentorship of his extended academic family.

Differential Alterations in Resting State Functional Connectivity Associated with Depressive Symptoms and Early Life Adversity.

Depression and early life adversity (ELA) are associated with aberrant resting state functional connectivity (FC) of the default mode (DMN), salience (SN), and central executive networks (CEN). However, the specific and differential associations of depression and ELA with FC of these networks remain unclear. Applying a dimensional approach, here we analyzed associations of FC between major nodes of the DMN, SN, and CEN with severity of depressive symptoms and ELA defined as childhood abuse and neglect in a sample of 83 healthy and depressed subjects.

Assessing the Feasibility of an Open-Source Virtual Reality Mirror Visual Feedback Module for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Pilot Usability Study.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare and severe chronic pain condition, with effective treatment options not established for many patients. The underlying pathophysiology remains unclear, but there is a growing appreciation for the role of central mechanisms which have formed the basis for brain-based therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and mirror visual feedback (MVF). MVF has been deployed in the treatment of CRPS using both conventional mirrors and virtual reality (VR).

Framing as a Concept for Health Communication: A Systematic Review.

Over the past decades, research in the fields of both framing and health communication has grown exponentially. However, to date, no systematic review has been conducted about how framing - as a concept - has been used in health communication. The present study provides a systematic review of the current research, applying a quantitative content analysis to the published literature on framing in health communication.

ZIF-8 Degrades in Cell Media, Serum, and Some-But Not All-Common Laboratory Buffers.

The emergence of drug delivery using water stable metal-organic frameworks has elicited a lot of interest in their biocompatibility. However, few studies have been conducted on their stability in common buffers, cell media, and blood proteins. For these studies, single crystal ZIF-8 approximately 1 um in diameter were synthesized, incubated with common laboratory buffers, cell media, and serum, and then characterized by PXRD, IR, DLS, and SEM.

A multi-criterion approach for prioritizing areas in urban ecosystems for active restoration following invasive plant control.

Resources for biodiversity conservation and invasive plant management are limited, and restoring invaded vegetation is labour-intensive and expensive. Managers must prioritize their actions to achieve their goals efficiently and effectively. They must distinguish between areas that require only the removal of invasive alien plants ("passive restoration") from those that require additional restoration measures ("active restoration").

Correction to: Managing Urban Plant Invasions: a Multi-Criteria Prioritization Approach.

The original version of the article unfortunately contained an error with the figure captions. The appropriate captions for Fig. 3-6 are published accordingly.

Managing Urban Plant Invasions: a Multi-Criteria Prioritization Approach.

Alien plant invasions in urban areas can have considerable impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services (ES). Managing urban plant invasions is particularly challenging given the complex interactions between ecological, economic and social elements that exist in the urban milieu. Strategic landscape-scale insights are crucial for guiding management, as are tactical site-scale perspectives to plan and coordinate control efforts on the ground.

Differences in the diagnosis of primary cutaneous melanoma in the public and private healthcare systems in Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma accounts for up to 80% of deaths caused by skin cancer. Diagnostic suspicion and access to medical care and early intervention in suspected cases is vital to the patient's prognosis.

Objectives: To compare demographic and histopathological characteristics of primary cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in the public healthcare system (Sistema Único de Saúde SUS) and the private system in Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

Perceptions of impact: Invasive alien plants in the urban environment.

Many alien plant species are introduced to urban areas to create, augment or restore ecosystem services (ES). However, many of these species spread beyond original plantings, sometimes causing negative effects on existing ES or creating novel ecosystem disservices (EDS). An understanding of the perceptions of urban residents regarding invasive alien plants (IAPs) and the ES and EDS they provide is needed for the effective prioritisation of IAP management efforts in cities.

Epidemiological and histopathological aspects of primary cutaneous melanoma in residents of Joinville, 2003-2014.

Background: The worldwide incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) has been continuously increasing over the last decades. Primary and secondary prevention, with attention to risk factors and early diagnosis, remain the cornerstone for reducing the burden of cutaneous melanoma. Detailed information with respect to clinical and pathological data on cutaneous melanoma is scarce in Brazil.

Advancing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Methods for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: An Open-Label Study of Paired Theta Burst and High-Frequency Stimulation.

Introduction: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare and severe chronic pain condition, often responds poorly to existing treatments. Previous studies demonstrated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) provided short-term pain relief for upper extremity CRPS.

Methods: Building on previous methodologies, we employed a TMS protocol that may lead to significant pain relief for upper and lower extremity CRPS in a nonrandomized open label pilot trial involving 21 participants.

A framework for engaging stakeholders on the management of alien species.

Alien species can have major ecological and socioeconomic impacts in their novel ranges and so effective management actions are needed. However, management can be contentious and create conflicts, especially when stakeholders who benefit from alien species are different from those who incur costs. Such conflicts of interests mean that management strategies can often not be implemented.

Toward a comprehensive interpretation of intravital microscopy images in studies of lung tissue dynamics.

Intravital microscopy (IVM) is a well-established imaging technique for real-time monitoring of microscale lung tissue dynamics. Although accepted as a gold standard in respiratory research, its characteristic image features are scarcely understood, especially when trying to determine the actual position of alveolar walls. To allow correct interpretation of these images with respect to the true geometry of the lung parenchyma, we analyzed IVM data of alveoli in a mouse model in comparison with simultaneously acquired optical coherence tomography images.

Imaging of nanoparticle-labeled stem cells using magnetomotive optical coherence tomography, laser speckle reflectometry, and light microscopy.

Cell transplantation and stem cell therapy are promising approaches for regenerative medicine and are of interest to researchers and clinicians worldwide. However, currently, no imaging technique that allows three-dimensional in vivo inspection of therapeutically administered cells in host tissues is available. Therefore, we investigate magnetomotive optical coherence tomography (MM-OCT) of cells labeled with magnetic particles as a potential noninvasive cell tracking method.

Novel tetrahydropyran-based bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors with potent anti-gram positive activity and improved safety profile.

Novel antibacterial drugs that are effective against infections caused by multidrug resistant pathogens are urgently needed. In a previous report, we have shown that tetrahydropyran-based inhibitors of bacterial type II topoisomerases (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) display potent antibacterial activity and exhibit no target-mediated cross-resistance with fluoroquinolones. During the course of our optimization program, lead compound 5 was deprioritized due to adverse findings in cardiovascular safety studies.

Resilience of invaded riparian landscapes: the potential role of soil-stored seed banks.

We investigated the potential role of soil-stored seed banks in driving vegetation recovery under varying intensities of invasion by the alien tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis along the Berg River in South Africa's Western Cape Province. We asked: How do richness, diversity, and composition of soil-stored seed banks vary with invasion intensity? What is the difference between the seed banks and above-ground vegetation with respect to species richness, diversity, composition, and structure? To what extent do soil-stored seed banks provide reliable sources for restoring native plant communities? Through a seedling-emergence approach, we compared seedling density, richness, and diversity in plots under varying Eucalyptus cover. Seed bank characteristics were also compared with those of the above-ground vegetation.

The impact of land abandonment on species richness and abundance in the Mediterranean Basin: a meta-analysis.

Land abandonment is common in the Mediterranean Basin, a global biodiversity hotspot, but little is known about its impacts on biodiversity. To upscale existing case-study insights to the Pan-Mediterranean level, we conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of land abandonment on plant and animal species richness and abundance in agroforestry, arable land, pastures, and permanent crops of the Mediterranean Basin. In particular, we investigated (1) which taxonomic groups (arthropods, birds, lichen, vascular plants) are more affected by land abandonment; (2) at which spatial and temporal scales the effect of land abandonment on species richness and abundance is pronounced; (3) whether previous land use and current protected area status affect the magnitude of changes in the number and abundance of species; and (4) how prevailing landforms and climate modify the impacts of land abandonment.

Defining the impact of non-native species.

Non-native species cause changes in the ecosystems to which they are introduced. These changes, or some of them, are usually termed impacts; they can be manifold and potentially damaging to ecosystems and biodiversity. However, the impacts of most non-native species are poorly understood, and a synthesis of available information is being hindered because authors often do not clearly define impact.