Novel, Deep-Branching Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations Recovered from Thermal Spring Metagenomes.

Thermal spring ecosystems are a valuable resource for the discovery of novel hyperthermophilic Bacteria and Archaea, and harbor deeply-branching lineages that provide insight regarding the nature of early microbial life. We characterized bacterial populations in two circumneutral (pH ~8) Yellowstone National Park thermal (T ~80°C) spring filamentous "streamer" communities using random metagenomic DNA sequence to investigate the metabolic potential of these novel populations. Four de novo assemblies representing three abundant, deeply-branching bacterial phylotypes were recovered.

Assembly and Succession of Iron Oxide Microbial Mat Communities in Acidic Geothermal Springs.

Biomineralized ferric oxide microbial mats are ubiquitous features on Earth, are common in hot springs of Yellowstone National Park (YNP, WY, USA), and form due to direct interaction between microbial and physicochemical processes. The overall goal of this study was to determine the contribution of different community members to the assembly and succession of acidic high-temperature Fe(III)-oxide mat ecosystems. Spatial and temporal changes in Fe(III)-oxide accretion and the abundance of relevant community members were monitored over 70 days using sterile glass microscope slides incubated in the outflow channels of two acidic geothermal springs (pH = 3-3.

Ischemic QRS prolongation as a biomarker of severe myocardial ischemia.

Background: Previous studies have shown that QRS prolongation is a sign of depressed collateral flow and increased rate of myocardial cell death during coronary occlusion. The aims of this study were to evaluate ischemic QRS prolongation as a biomarker of severe ischemia by establishing the relationship between prolongation and collateral flow experimentally in a dog model, and test if the same pattern of ischemic QRS prolongation occurs in man.

Methods: Degree of ischemic QRS prolongation was measured using a novel method in dogs (n=23) and patients (n=52) during coronary occlusion for 5min.

Jejunal Interposition after Failed Esophageal Atresia Repair.

Background: The early outcomes of using jejunal interpositions to establish esophageal continuity in patients who have had a failed repair of esophageal atresia (EA) were determined.

Study Design: This was a retrospective review of all patients treated at our institution with a jejunal interposition after a failed EA repair from 2010 to 2015. Demographics, anatomy encountered, operative techniques, requirement for microvascular support, and length of stay were analyzed.

Prioritization of self-relevant perspectives in ageing.

This study investigated whether age-related sensitivity to self-relevance may benefit perspective taking, despite generally poorer perspective-taking capacity in older adults. In one perceptual matching task and two visual perspective-taking paradigms, we examined age differences in sensitivity to avatars representing self and other. In the matching task, older (60-83 years) and younger (18-20 years) adults were similarly biased toward the self- versus other-associated avatar.

Antenatal Ultrasound Detection of Cleft in Western Australia from 2003 to 2012: A Follow-Up Study.

Aim: To investigate trends in the rate of antenatal detection of cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients referred to the CLP Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Western Australia during the period 2003-2012 and compare data with a previously published report covering the years 1996-2003.

Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective survey of antenatal transabdominal ultrasound screenings of mothers of infants born between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2012 that were referred to the CLP Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Results: Detection rates of oral clefts increased significantly when compared with outcomes reported in the same population between 1996 and 2003 (P < .

Human pancreas development.

A wealth of data and comprehensive reviews exist on pancreas development in mammals, primarily mice, and other vertebrates. By contrast, human pancreatic development has been less comprehensively reviewed. Here, we draw together those studies conducted directly in human embryonic and fetal tissue to provide an overview of what is known about human pancreatic development.

Bowtie filters for dedicated breast CT: Analysis of bowtie filter material selection.

Purpose: For a given bowtie filter design, both the selection of material and the physical design control the energy fluence, and consequently the dose distribution, in the object. Using three previously described bowtie filter designs, the goal of this work is to demonstrate the effect that different materials have on the bowtie filter performance measures.

Methods: Three bowtie filter designs that compensate for one or more aspects of the beam-modifying effects due to the differences in path length in a projection have been designed.

Paravertebral nerve block catheters using chloroprocaine in infants with prolonged mechanical ventilation for treatment of long-gap esophageal atresia.

Background: Infants with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) undergo repeated thoracotomies for staged surgical repair known as the Foker process (FP). Associated prolonged mechanical ventilation results in exposure to high doses of opioids and benzodiazepines, and prolonged weaning times and ICU stays.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of short-term paravertebral nerve block (PVNB) catheters in reducing opioid/benzodiazepine exposure and effects on clinical variables.

Rethinking the dispersal of Homo sapiens out of Africa.

Current fossil, genetic, and archeological data indicate that Homo sapiens originated in Africa in the late Middle Pleistocene. By the end of the Late Pleistocene, our species was distributed across every continent except Antarctica, setting the foundations for the subsequent demographic and cultural changes of the Holocene. The intervening processes remain intensely debated and a key theme in hominin evolutionary studies.

Increasing access to healthful foods: a qualitative study with residents of low-income communities.

Background: Inadequate access to healthful foods has been identified as a significant barrier to healthful dietary behaviors among individuals who live in low-income communities. The purpose of this study was to gather low-income community members' opinions about their food purchasing choices and their perceptions of the most effective ways to increase access to healthful foods in their communities.

Methods: Spanish and English focus groups were conducted in low-income, ethnically-diverse communities.

Characterization of scatter magnitude and distribution in dedicated breast computed tomography with bowtie filters.

Scatter contamination of projection images in cone-beam computed tomography (CT) degrades the image quality. The use of bowtie filters in dedicated breast CT can decrease this scatter contribution. Three bowtie filter designs that compensate for one or more aspects of the beam-modifying effects due to differences in path length in a projection were studied.

Ecophysiology of an uncultivated lineage of Aigarchaeota from an oxic, hot spring filamentous 'streamer' community.

The candidate archaeal phylum 'Aigarchaeota' contains microorganisms from terrestrial and subsurface geothermal ecosystems. The phylogeny and metabolic potential of Aigarchaeota has been deduced from several recent single-cell amplified genomes; however, a detailed description of their metabolic potential and in situ transcriptional activity is absent. Here, we report a comprehensive metatranscriptome-based reconstruction of the in situ metabolism of Aigarchaeota in an oxic, hot spring filamentous 'streamer' community.

High incidence of fracture events in patients with Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia (LGEA): A retrospective review prompting implementation of standardized protocol.

Purpose: To identify factors associated with an increased risk of fractures in Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia (LGEA) patients. Following implementation of a risk-stratified program, we hypothesized a reduction in fracture incidence within this potentially high-risk population.

Methods: A retrospective review of LGEA-patients admitted between 2005 and 2014 was conducted.

Relationship of T2-Weighted MRI Myocardial Hyperintensity and the Ischemic Area-At-Risk.

Rationale: After acute myocardial infarction (MI), delineating the area-at-risk (AAR) is crucial for measuring how much, if any, ischemic myocardium has been salvaged. T2-weighted MRI is promoted as an excellent method to delineate the AAR. However, the evidence supporting the validity of this method to measure the AAR is indirect, and it has never been validated with direct anatomic measurements.

Upper Airway Anomalies in Congenital Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Esophageal Atresia Patients.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of upper airway anomalies in patients diagnosed with congenital tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia (TEF/EA).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all TEF/EA patients seen at a tertiary pediatric hospital between January 2008 and December 2013. Inclusion criteria included evaluation by the otolaryngology service.

Altered Phenotype of β-Cells and Other Pancreatic Cell Lineages in Patients With Diffuse Congenital Hyperinsulinism in Infancy Caused by Mutations in the ATP-Sensitive K-Channel.

Diffuse congenital hyperinsulinism in infancy (CHI-D) arises from mutations inactivating the KATP channel; however, the phenotype is difficult to explain from electrophysiology alone. Here we studied wider abnormalities in the β-cell and other pancreatic lineages. Islets were disorganized in CHI-D compared with controls.

TEAD and YAP regulate the enhancer network of human embryonic pancreatic progenitors.

The genomic regulatory programmes that underlie human organogenesis are poorly understood. Pancreas development, in particular, has pivotal implications for pancreatic regeneration, cancer and diabetes. We have now characterized the regulatory landscape of embryonic multipotent progenitor cells that give rise to all pancreatic epithelial lineages.

Restoring esophageal continuity following a failed colonic interposition for long-gap esophageal atresia.

The Foker process is a method of esophageal lengthening through axial tension-induced growth, allowing for subsequent primary reconstruction of the esophagus in esophageal atresia (EA). In this unique case, the Foker process was used to grow the remaining esophageal segment long enough to attain esophageal continuity following failed colonic interpositions for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). Initially developed for the treatment of LGEA in neonates, this case demonstrates that (i) an active esophageal lengthening response may still be present beyond the neonate time-period; and, (ii) the Foker process can be used to restore esophageal continuity following a failed colonic interposition if the lower esophageal segment is still present.

Acellular bi-layer silk fibroin scaffolds support functional tissue regeneration in a rat model of onlay esophagoplasty.

Surgical management of long-gap esophageal defects with autologous gastrointestinal tissues is frequently associated with adverse complications including organ dysmotility, dysphagia, and donor site morbidity. In order to develop alternative graft options, bi-layer silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds were investigated for their potential to support functional tissue regeneration in a rodent model of esophageal repair. Onlay esophagoplasty was performed with SF matrices (N = 40) in adult rats for up to 2 m of implantation.

Foker process for the correction of long gap esophageal atresia: Primary treatment versus secondary treatment after prior esophageal surgery.

Purpose: The Foker process (FP) uses tension-induced growth for primary esophageal reconstruction in patients with long gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). It has been less well described in LGEA patients who have undergone prior esophageal reconstruction attempts.

Methods: All cases of LGEA treated at our institution from January 2005 to April 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.

Direct tracheobronchopexy to correct airway collapse due to severe tracheobronchomalacia: Short-term outcomes in a series of 20 patients.

Purpose: Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is associated with esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistulas, and congenital heart disease. TBM results in chronic cough, poor mucous clearance, and recurrent pneumonias. Apparent life-threatening events or recurrent pneumonias may require surgery.