Wood Anatomical and Demographic Similarities Between Self-Standing Liana and Tree Seedlings in Tropical Dry Forests of Colombia.

Canopy lianas differ considerably from trees in terms of wood anatomical structure, and they are suggested to have a demographic advantage-faster growth and higher survival-than trees. However, it remains unclear whether these anatomical and demographic differences persist at the seedling stage, when most liana species are self-standing and, consequently, might be ecologically similar to trees. We assessed how self-standing liana and tree seedlings differ in relation to wood anatomy, growth, and survival.

Linking seedling wood anatomical trade-offs with drought and seedling growth and survival in tropical dry forests.

Wood anatomy plays a key role in plants' ability to persist under drought and should therefore predict demography. Plants balance their resource allocation among wood cell types responsible for different functions. However, it remains unclear how these anatomical trade-offs vary with water availability, and the extent to which they influence demographic rates.

Gaining influence: Developing a Healthy Public Policy Unit at Vancouver Coastal Health.

Setting: Regional Public Health Unit (Office of the Chief MHO, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, BC, Canada).

Intervention: Recognizing the need to invest resources that strategically move public health work "upstream" where policies and investments can shape the determinants of health, the Office of the Chief MHO for Vancouver Coastal Health embarked on a process in 2019 to develop a population health team designed to engage in Healthy Public Policy (HPP) and Health in All Policies (HiAP) approaches to health promotion. The mission and design of this unit was informed by internal and external research and engagement which continued even through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Decreased availability of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide is a hallmark of COVID-19.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is involved in a global outbreak affecting millions of people who manifest a variety of symptoms. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 is increasingly associated with cardiovascular complications requiring hospitalizations; however, the mechanisms underlying these complications remain unknown. Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (HS) are gasotransmitters that regulate key cardiovascular functions.

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) delivered via a modified perfusion system for peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin.

Background And Purpose: The long-term survival of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin has been achieved with cytoreductive surgery, which removes all macroscopic implants, combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The current technology for administering intraperitoneal heated chemotherapy is expensive and, for some institutions, unaffordable. We conducted this study to assess the temperature stability provided by a modified, inexpensive system, to offer a simple and low cost alternative to the standard HIPEC delivery equipment.

Colitis induces enteric neurogenesis through a 5-HT4-dependent mechanism.

Background: The intestine is known to contain enteric neuronal progenitors, but their precise identity and the mechanisms that activate them remain unknown. Based on the evidence for the neurogenic role of serotonin (5-HT) in the postnatal gut and the observation of enteric neuronal hyperplasia in inflammatory bowel disease, we hypothesized that colitis induces a neurogenic response through 5-HT4 receptor signaling.

Methods: We examined the effects of 5-HT4 agonism on colonic neurogenesis and gliogenesis in vitro and in vivo in adult mice using dextran sodium sulfate to experimentally induce colitis.