Cryophysiology of coral microfragments: effects of chilling and cryoprotectant toxicity.

Coral reefs are being degraded at alarming rates and decisive intervention actions are urgently needed. One such intervention is coral cryopreservation. Although the cryopreservation of coral sperm and larvae has been achieved, preservation of coral fragments including both its tissue and skeleton, has not.

Dynamic Morphology of Dilated Ascending Aorta and its Implications for Proximal Landing During Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Introduction: To improve the outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), we investigated the dynamic morphology of dilated and nondilated ascending aortas (AAs) to determine whether an appropriate proximal landing zone for TEVAR exists if the middle AA is dilated.

Materials And Methods: Patients with dilated (diameter 40-50 mm) and nondilated (<40 mm) AAs underwent electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography angiography of the entire AA in the systolic and diastolic phases. For each plane of each AA segment, the maximal and minimal diameters in systole and diastole were recorded.

Evaluating the coral microbiome during cryopreservation.

Coral reefs are threatened by various local and global stressors, including elevated ocean temperatures due to anthropogenic climate change. Coral cryopreservation could help secure the diversity of threatened corals. Recently, isochoric vitrification was used to demonstrate that coral fragments lived to 24 hr post-thaw; however, in this study, they were stressed post-thaw.

A Semi-Automated Workflow for the Cryopreservation of Coral Sperm to Support Biobanking and Aquaculture.

Coral reefs are facing a crisis as the frequency of bleaching events caused by ocean warming increases, resulting in the death of corals on reefs around the world. The subsequent loss of genetic diversity and biodiversity can diminish the ability of coral to adapt to the changing climate, so efforts to preserve existing diversity are essential to maximize the resources available for reef restoration now and in the future. The most effective approach to secure genetics long-term is cryopreservation and biobanking, which permits the frozen storage of living samples at cryogenic temperatures in liquid nitrogen indefinitely.

Simulation of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in a perfused patient-specific model of type B aortic dissection.

Purpose: Complicated type B Aortic dissection is a severe aortic pathology that requires treatment through thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). During TEVAR a stentgraft is deployed in the aortic lumen in order to restore blood flow. Due to the complicated pathology including an entry, a resulting dissection wall with potentially several re-entries, replicating this structure artificially has proven to be challenging thus far.

Prospective study validating a multidimensional treatment decision score predicting the 24-month outcome in untreated patients with clinically isolated syndrome and early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, the ProVal-MS study.

Introduction: In Multiple Sclerosis (MS), patients´ characteristics and (bio)markers that reliably predict the individual disease prognosis at disease onset are lacking. Cohort studies allow a close follow-up of MS histories and a thorough phenotyping of patients. Therefore, a multicenter cohort study was initiated to implement a wide spectrum of data and (bio)markers in newly diagnosed patients.

Cryopreservation of the collector urchin embryo, Tripneustes gratilla.

The collector urchin, Tripneustes gratilla, is an ecologically important member of the grazing community of Hawai'i's coral reefs. Beyond its ability to maintain balance between native seaweeds and corals, T. gratilla has also been used as a food source and a biocontrol agent against alien invasive algae species.

Standing the test of time: total aortic remodeling 13 years after TEVAR for acute type B aortic dissection.

Long-term outcome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of acute type B aortic dissection (aTBAD) is still underreported in current literature. This case report shows persistence of aortic remodeling without secondary complication or need of reintervention 13 years after TEVAR. A 45-year-old woman was referred to the emergency room with aTBAD.

Cryopreservation and revival of Hawaiian stony corals using isochoric vitrification.

Corals are under siege by both local and global threats, creating a worldwide reef crisis. Cryopreservation is an important intervention measure and a vital component of the modern coral conservation toolkit, but preservation techniques are currently limited to sensitive reproductive materials that can only be obtained a few nights per year during spawning. Here, we report the successful cryopreservation and revival of cm-scale coral fragments via mL-scale isochoric vitrification.

Evaluation of Facial Vitiligo Severity with a Mixed Clinical and Artificial Intelligence Approach.

Vitiligo is the most common depigmenting skin disorder. Given the ongoing development of new targeted therapies, it has become important to evaluate adequately the surface area involved. Assessment of vitiligo scores can be time consuming, with variations between investigators.

Tank fouling community enhances coral microfragment growth.

Anthropogenic stressors threaten reefs worldwide and natural coral reproduction may be inadequate to meet this challenge. Land-based culture can provide increased coral growth, especially with microfragments. We tested whether culture methods using different algal fouling communities could improve the growth and health metrics of microfragments of the Hawaiian coral, Culture method fouling communities were: (1) similar to a reef environment (Mini Reef); (2) clean tanks managed to promote crustose coralline algae (Clean Start); and (3) tanks curated beforehand with poorly-competing algae (Green Film) assessed in winter and summer months.

Generation of Chimeric Antigen Receptors against Tetraspanin 7.

Adoptive transfer of antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) has shown promising results in the treatment of autoimmune diseases; however, the use of polyspecific Tregs has limited effects. However, obtaining a sufficient number of antigen-specific Tregs from patients with autoimmune disorders remains challenging. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) provide an alternative source of T cells for novel immunotherapies that redirect T cells independently of the MHC.

Recruitment of both the ESCRT and autophagic machineries to ejecting Mycobacterium marinum.

Cytosolic Mycobacterium marinum are ejected from host cells such as macrophages or the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum in a non-lytic fashion. As described previously, the autophagic machinery is recruited to ejecting bacteria and supports host cell integrity during egress. Here, we show that the ESCRT machinery is also recruited to ejecting bacteria, partially dependent on an intact autophagic pathway.

Dynamic Morphology of the Ascending Aorta and Its Implications for Proximal Landing in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

In this study, we assessed the dynamic segmental anatomy of the entire ascending aorta (AA), enabling the determination of a favorable proximal landing zone and appropriate aortic sizing for the most proximal thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Methods: Patients with a non-operated AA (diameter < 40 mm) underwent electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography angiography (ECG-CTA) of the entire AA in the systolic and diastolic phases. For each plane of each segment, the maximum and minimum diameters in the systole and diastole phases were recorded.

Solar radiation, temperature and the reproductive biology of the coral Lobactis scutaria in a changing climate.

Coral reefs worldwide are at risk due to climate change. Coral bleaching is becoming increasingly common and corals that survive bleaching events can suffer from temporary reproductive failure for several years. While water temperature is a key driver in causing coral bleaching, other environmental factors are involved, such as solar radiation.

PREDICT-juvenile-stroke: PRospective evaluation of a prediction score determining individual clinical outcome three months after ischemic stroke in young adults - a study protocol.

Background: Although of high individual and socioeconomic relevance, a reliable prediction model for the prognosis of juvenile stroke (18-55 years) is missing. Therefore, the study presented in this protocol aims to prospectively validate the discriminatory power of a prediction score for the 3 months functional outcome after juvenile stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) that has been derived from an independent retrospective study using standard clinical workup data.

Methods: PREDICT-Juvenile-Stroke is a multi-centre (n = 4) prospective observational cohort study collecting standard clinical workup data and data on treatment success at 3 months after acute ischemic stroke or TIA that aims to validate a new prediction score for juvenile stroke.

Unified methods in collecting, preserving, and archiving coral bleaching and restoration specimens to increase sample utility and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Coral reefs are declining worldwide primarily because of bleaching and subsequent mortality resulting from thermal stress. Currently, extensive efforts to engage in more holistic research and restoration endeavors have considerably expanded the techniques applied to examine coral samples. Despite such advances, coral bleaching and restoration studies are often conducted within a specific disciplinary focus, where specimens are collected, preserved, and archived in ways that are not always conducive to further downstream analyses by specialists in other disciplines.

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) First in Patients with Lower Limb Ischemia in Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection: Clinical Outcome and Morphology.

Acute Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) can cause organ malperfusion, e.g., lower limb ischemia (LLI).

Contrasting reproductive strategies of two Hawaiian Montipora corals.

Sessile invertebrates often engage in synchronized spawning events to increase likelihood of fertilization. Although coral reefs are well studied, the reproductive behavior of most species and the relative influence of various environmental cues that drive reproduction are not well understood. We conducted a comparative examination of the reproduction of the well-studied Hawaiian coral Montipora capitata and the relatively unknown reproduction of its congener, Montipora flabellata.

Different factors limit early- and late-season windows of opportunity for monarch development.

Seasonal windows of opportunity are intervals within a year that provide improved prospects for growth, survival, or reproduction. However, few studies have sufficient temporal resolution to examine how multiple factors combine to constrain the seasonal timing and extent of developmental opportunities. Here, we document seasonal changes in milkweed ()-monarch () interactions with high resolution throughout the last three breeding seasons prior to a precipitous single-year decline in the western monarch population.