Publications by authors named "Griffiths E"

Millerettidae are a group of superficially lizard-like Permian stem reptiles originally hypothesized as relevant to the ancestry of the reptile crown group, and particularly to lepidosaurs and archosaurs. Since the advent of cladistics, millerettids have typically been considered to be more distant relatives of crown reptiles as the earliest-diverging parareptiles and therefore outside of 'Eureptilia'. Despite this cladistic consensus, some conspicuous features of millerettid anatomy invite reconsideration of their relationships.

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  • The long-term survival rates for patients with node negative gastric cancer after surgery are unclear, especially with the emergence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  • A study analyzed data from patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection to compare survival rates between those who received adjuvant chemotherapy and those who did not.
  • Results showed that patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had a median survival of 150 months compared to 125 months for those who did not, indicating a statistically significant survival benefit that warrants further investigation.
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For older unfit patients receiving venetoclax-based induction, data on the significance of interim bone marrow biopies (BMBx) findings on clinical outcomes is lacking. We retrospectively evaluated interim BMBx results performed on Cycle 1 days 21-28 of venetoclax-based therapy in 69 adults with myeloid malignancies to determine whether blast clearance was associated with overall survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR). Median age was 75 years (range 69-78).

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Background: Oesophago-gastric cancer surgery negatively affects quality of life with a high postoperative symptom burden. Several conditions that may be diagnosed and treated after surgery are recognised. However, consensus regarding their definition and management is lacking.

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  • Microbial data sharing is crucial for effective public health research and pathogen analysis, evidenced by its importance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
  • There is currently a lack of universal guidelines for the secondary use of microbial data, despite general data-sharing principles existing.
  • The proposed PHA4GE Microbial Data-Sharing Accord outlines seven key principles to encourage responsible sharing and use of microbial data, aiming to enhance trust and prevent misuse in research.
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  • Cancer patients, particularly those with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), show higher rates of clonal hematopoiesis, which could influence their treatment and outcomes.
  • The study examines how immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy impacts the hematopoietic clonal architecture and whether changes in clonal expansion affect hematopoietic health in these patients.
  • Findings suggest that mutations within the hematopoietic system increase with extended ICB therapy, raising questions about the potential for clonal hematopoiesis to predict therapy responses and the long-term risks of developing myeloid malignancies.
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Fundoplication is a durable, effective, and well-accepted treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Nonetheless, troublesome postoperative symptoms do occasionally occur with management varying widely among centers. In an attempt to standardize definition and management of postfundoplication symptoms, a panel of international experts convened by the Guidelines Committee of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus devised a list of 33 statements across 5 domains through a Delphi approach, with at least 80% agreement to establish consensus.

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global public health, with the potential to cause millions of deaths annually by 2050. Effective surveillance of AMR pathogens is crucial for monitoring and predicting their behaviour in response to antibiotics. However, many public health professionals lack the necessary bioinformatics skills and resources to analyse pathogen genomes effectively.

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Brønsted acids, such as phosphoric acids derived from chiral 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL), are important catalysts in the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds, for example. The catalytic activity of these Brønsted acids is strongly linked to their acidity, and as such, the evaluation of compounds to determine pK values provides insight into their catalytic activity. Herein, a F{H} NMR methodology is detailed to determine the pK of a fluorinated binaphthyl-derived phosphinic acid, rac-1, in acetonitrile and in the presence of a fluorinated sulfonamide reference compound (2-4).

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  • The COVID-19 pandemic spurred global efforts to sequence SARS-CoV-2 genomes to monitor its evolution and guide public health decisions, resulting in millions of genome sequences being shared worldwide.
  • The Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN - VirusSeq) launched the Canadian VirusSeq Data Portal to provide open access to genomic sequences and standardized contextual data while adhering to FAIR standards.
  • The portal emphasizes data quality, privacy compliance, and security, and is used alongside tools like Viral AI and the CoVaRR-Net to facilitate ongoing research and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Canada.
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  • The WHO and International Consensus Classification 2022 aim to improve diagnosis and treatment decisions for myelodysplastic syndromes, but disparities in their implementation exist.
  • A panel of experts used a data-driven method and the Delphi consensus process to align the two classifications, focusing on genomic features to create harmonized labels for distinct clusters.
  • Key findings identified nine genomic clusters, with the most significant linked to biallelic TP53 inactivation, and highlighted the inadequacy of traditional morphological assessments in capturing the complexity of these diseases.
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  • Myelodysplastic neoplasms/syndromes (MDS) are a diverse set of diseases marked by ineffective blood cell production.
  • Recent classification systems by the World Health Organization and the International Consensus have provided more detailed categorizations of MDS based on morphology and genetics.
  • A comprehensive and systematic approach is essential for the accurate diagnosis and classification of MDS, as outlined by the International Consortium for MDS (icMDS).
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  • A study examined the relationship between post-operative ECG changes, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and negative outcomes in patients who underwent Systemic to Pulmonary Artery shunt surgery.
  • Patients' ECGs were classified into three grades based on repolarization abnormalities, with only a small percentage showing Grade 2 abnormalities.
  • The analysis revealed no link between ECG changes or low DBP levels and adverse outcomes; however, high DBP levels above 34 mmHg appeared to increase the risk of complications in certain patients.
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Background: In 2022, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education updated its competencies for residents in all specialties to include health policy advocacy. A recent systematic review shows that while a growing number of residency curricula include policy advocacy, few programs join in policy advocacy efforts with community partners.

Aim: To create a community-engaged advocacy curriculum for residents that is part of a mutually beneficial partnership with community-based organizations (CBOs).

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Background: CDH1 (E-cadherin) genetic mutations are associated with a 30%-70% increased lifetime risk of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). Although prophylactic total gastrectomy (PTG) reduces long-term risk of gastric cancer, the associated morbidity and mortality remain unclear. This systematic review aims to characterise postoperative surgical outcomes in patients undergoing total gastrectomy.

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Technological advances in analytics, as well as scientific and regulatory knowledge and experience gained from biosimilar development/approvals over the last decade, enabled the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 to revise its guidelines on the evaluation of biosimilars. Among the revisions, there is more reliance on analytical and functional aspects to prove similarity (and likely fewer clinical requirements). WHO international reference standards for biosimilars provide additional confidence to regulators looking for evidence- and data-based regulatory convergence in scientific and technical measures of quality attributes.

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Significant atrioventricular valve dysfunction can be associated with mortality or need for transplant in functionally univentricular heart patients undergoing staged palliation. The purposes of this study are to characterize the impact of concomitant atrioventricular valve intervention on outcomes at each stage of single ventricle palliation and to identify risk factors associated with poor outcomes in these patients. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database was queried for functionally univentricular heart patients undergoing single ventricle palliation from 2013 through 2022.

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  • The study investigated the risks of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and treatment outcomes in patients with early esophago-gastric (EG) adenocarcinoma, focusing on the effectiveness of endoscopic resection (ER) versus radical surgery.
  • A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from 1,601 patients across 26 UK centers, revealing that the overall LNM rate was 13.5% and highlighting certain tumor characteristics that may indicate higher risks, although these factors did not predict LNM rates or survival outcomes significantly.
  • The findings suggest a need to reevaluate the predictive factors for LNM in early EG adenocarcinoma and emphasize the importance of further research to better identify patients suitable for either organ-preserving
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Background: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, chronic blood disorder. Symptoms such as fatigue can have a substantial impact on patients' physical activity levels, sleep, quality of life, and work productivity. Ravulizumab treatment can reduce thrombosis risk, improve survival and quality of life, and reduce fatigue in PNH, but information is limited on how it impacts sleep and physical activity.

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  • Various anastomotic and reconstruction techniques were assessed in patients undergoing minimally invasive total (miTG) and distal gastrectomy (miDG) to understand their impact on postoperative complications.
  • A study involving over 4,200 patients found that miTG had significantly higher rates of complications like anastomotic leakage and overall morbidity compared to miDG.
  • The findings suggest that miDG is preferable for patients needing surgery, while linear stapled techniques should be favored in miTG to minimize risks.*
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Clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS) represents a distinct disease entity characterized by myeloid-related somatic mutations with a variant allele fraction of ≥2% in individuals with unexplained cytopenia(s) but without a myeloid neoplasm (MN). Notably, CCUS carries a risk of progressing to MN, particularly in cases featuring high-risk mutations. Understanding CCUS requires dedicated studies to elucidate its risk factors and natural history.

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  • The study aimed to establish international consensus on optimal Textbook Outcomes for patients undergoing emergency laparotomies, focusing on both trauma and non-trauma cases.
  • A modified Delphi exercise was conducted with 337 participants globally, which involved multiple rounds to refine the outcome criteria based on expert and patient input.
  • The agreed outcomes include short-term goals, such as being discharged without serious complications, and long-term goals, which involve restoring quality of life one year post-surgery; these findings will need clinical validation.
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In recent years, there has been a surge in annual plastic production, which has contributed to growing environmental challenges, particularly in the form of microplastics. Effective management of plastic and microplastic waste has become a critical concern, necessitating innovative strategies to address its impact on ecosystems and human health. In this context, catalytic degradation of microplastics emerges as a pivotal approach that holds significant promise for mitigating the persistent effects of plastic pollution.

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Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and adaptive T lymphocytes promote tissue homeostasis and protective immune responses. Their production depends on the transcription factor GATA3, which is further elevated specifically in ILC2s and T helper 2 cells to drive type-2 immunity during tissue repair, allergic disorders, and anti-helminth immunity. The control of this crucial up-regulation is poorly understood.

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