An intronic enhancer of Bmp6 underlies evolved tooth gain in sticklebacks.

Threespine stickleback fish offer a powerful system to dissect the genetic basis of morphological evolution in nature. Marine sticklebacks have repeatedly invaded and adapted to numerous freshwater environments throughout the Northern hemisphere. In response to new diets in freshwater habitats, changes in craniofacial morphology, including heritable increases in tooth number, have evolved in derived freshwater populations.

Convergent evolution of gene expression in two high-toothed stickleback populations.

Changes in developmental gene regulatory networks enable evolved changes in morphology. These changes can be in cis regulatory elements that act in an allele-specific manner, or changes to the overall trans regulatory environment that interacts with cis regulatory sequences. Here we address several questions about the evolution of gene expression accompanying a convergently evolved constructive morphological trait, increases in tooth number in two independently derived freshwater populations of threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus).

Genetic Dissection of a Supergene Implicates in Craniofacial Evolution of Threespine Sticklebacks.

In nature, multiple adaptive phenotypes often coevolve and can be controlled by tightly linked genetic loci known as supergenes. Dissecting the genetic basis of these linked phenotypes is a major challenge in evolutionary genetics. Multiple freshwater populations of threespine stickleback fish () have convergently evolved two constructive craniofacial traits, longer branchial bones and increased pharyngeal tooth number, likely as adaptations to dietary differences between marine and freshwater environments.

Sequence-Based Mapping and Genome Editing Reveal Mutations in Stickleback Cause Oculocutaneous Albinism and the Phenotype.

Here, we present and characterize the spontaneous X-linked recessive mutation , which causes oculocutaneous albinism in threespine sticklebacks (). In humans, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome results in pigmentation defects due to disrupted formation of the melanin-containing lysosomal-related organelle (LRO), the melanosome. mutants display not only reduced pigmentation of melanosomes in melanophores, but also reductions in the iridescent silver color from iridophores, while the yellow pigmentation from xanthophores appears unaffected.

The Effects of a Crosslinked, Modified Hyaluronic Acid (xCMHA-S) Gel on Equine Tendon Healing.

Objective: To assess the effects of a crosslinked, modified hyaluronic acid (xCMHA-S) gel on equine tendon healing using an in vivo surgical model.

Study Design: In vivo experimental study.

Animals: Adult horses (n = 5).

Mechanical characterization of matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI®) grafts in an equine model at 53 weeks.

There has been much interest in using autologous chondrocytes in combination with scaffold materials to aid in cartilage repair. In the present study, a total of 27 animals were used to compare the performance of matrix-assisted chondrocyte implantation (MACI®) using a collagen sponge as a chondrocyte delivery vehicle, the sponge membrane alone, and empty controls. A total of three distinct types of mechanical analyses were performed on repaired cartilage harvested from horses after 53 weeks of implantation: (1) compressive behavior of samples to measure aggregate modulus (HA) and hydraulic permeability (k) in confined compression; (2) local and global shear modulus using confocal strain mapping; and (3) boundary friction coefficient using a custom-built tribometer.

A 190 base pair, TGF-β responsive tooth and fin enhancer is required for stickleback Bmp6 expression.

The ligands of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) family of developmental signaling molecules are often under the control of complex cis-regulatory modules and play diverse roles in vertebrate development and evolution. Here, we investigated the cis-regulatory control of stickleback Bmp6. We identified a 190bp enhancer ~2.

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of fibrin pad as an adjunct to control soft tissue bleeding during abdominal, retroperitoneal, pelvic, and thoracic surgery.

Background: This study evaluated the hemostatic effectiveness and safety of Fibrin Pad (Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.) vs absorbable hemostat in patients undergoing nonemergent surgery. Fibrin Pad is a topical absorbable hemostat designed to be effective in a variety of soft tissues and across multiple bleeding intensities.

Spiral colon impaction in juvenile alpacas: 12 cases (2006-2010).

Objective: To describe clinical signs and treatment outcomes for juvenile alpacas with spiral colon impaction (SCI).

Design: Retrospective case series. Animals-12 juvenile (< 6 months old) camelids with SCI.

Safety and hemostatic efficacy of fibrin pad in partial nephrectomy: results of an open-label phase I and a randomized, standard-of-care-controlled phase I/II study.

Background: Bleeding severity, anatomic location, tissue characteristics, and visibility are common challenges encountered while managing intraoperative bleeding, and conventional hemostatic measures (suture, ligature, and cautery) may sometimes be ineffective or impractical. While topical absorbable hemostats (TAH) are useful hemostatic adjuvants, each TAH has associated disadvantages.

Methods: We evaluated the safety and hemostatic efficacy of a new advanced biologic combination product-fibrin pad-to potentially address some gaps associated with TAHs.

A randomized trial of aprotinin-free fibrin sealant versus absorbable hemostat.

Background: This study evaluated the safety and hemostatic effectiveness of a tranexamic acid- and aprotinin-free fibrin sealant versus an absorbable hemostat in soft tissue during elective retroperitoneal or intra-abdominal surgery.

Materials And Methods: This randomized, active-controlled, multicenter study enrolled patients who were undergoing elective retroperitoneal or intra-abdominal surgery and required adjunctive hemostatic measures at the target bleeding site (TBS). Patients were randomized (time = 0 minutes) to receive fibrin sealant or absorbable hemostat.

Patient outcomes associated with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate topical skin adhesive in coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is an important cause of morbidity and occasionally death after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. These infections also are associated with higher costs and poorer surgical outcomes. We used a retrospective observational database to examine and quantify the effects of the topical skin adhesive 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, used as the final layer of site closure in patients undergoing CABG surgery, on the incidence of post-operative SSI.

Rates of venous thromboembolism among patients with major surgery for cancer.

Background: Previous studies have reported VTE rates during surgical stays in hospitals or by diagnoses over extended periods without being linked to specific surgical events. The purpose of this project was to assess the potential rate of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer after a surgical procedure within the immediate posthospital admission period of 30 days, with special emphasis in increased sensitivity of detection.

Methods: Patients with cancer who had a major surgery were identified in a large commercial (non-Medicare) database containing data from more than 22 million patients in the United States.

Partial carpal arthrodesis in a 2-year-old alpaca.

A 2-year-old alpaca was presented for acute onset right forelimb lameness. Clinical findings included bilateral carpal valgus (more severe in the affected forelimb) and medial instability of the right radio-carpal joint. Surgical treatment consisted of radio-carpal joint arthrodesis, which is presented as a therapeutic option for severe carpal instability secondary to injury to the supporting ligamentous structures of the carpus.

The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's activities in patient safety research.

Purpose: To update the international community on the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) recent and current activities in improving patient safety.

Data Sources: Review of the literature concerning the importance of patient safety as a health care quality issue, international perspectives on patient safety, a review of research solicitations, and early results of funded studies.

Study Selection: A representative sample of patient safety studies from those currently being funded by AHRQ.

After repair, atrioventricular valve regurgitation during cardiac extracorporeal membrane oxygenation predicts survival.

Background: When echocardiography is used to follow up cardiac patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), ejection fraction as a measure of ventricular function has been used to determine likelihood of survival after decannulation. We hypothesized that systemic atrioventricular (AV) valve regurgitation while on ECMO may be a better predictor of survival.

Methods: From February 1995 to March 2001, 64 patients required ECMO postoperatively.

Maintaining hemodynamic stability and myocardial performance during off-pump coronary bypass surgery.

Patients presenting for coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery are now older and have more comorbid conditions. Off-pump (OPCAB) methods may reduce morbidity and mortality in these higher risk patients. Multivessel surgery has been limited by the difficulty in maintaining hemodynamic stability during lateral wall vessel grafting.

Off-pump coronary revascularization: current state of the art.

Patients presenting for surgical coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are older and have more comorbidity than patients in prior decades. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may add to the elevated morbidity and mortality seen in these higher-risk patients. After the re-introduction of single-vessel bypass without CPB, surgeons have developed techniques for multivessel off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) through sternotomy.