Political donations and the gender gap during COVID-19.

What effect has the COVID-19 pandemic had on the political donations gender gap in Canada? Drawing on data from two national surveys conducted in May and August 2020, as well as Elections Canada data from 2019 and 2020, we find an overall decline in contributions to political parties and a reduced but still significant gender gap, with women less likely to donate to political parties than men.

Current antimicrobial susceptibility of first-episode melioidosis Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from the Northern Territory, Australia.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a saprophytic Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the tropical infectious disease melioidosis. Melioidosis is endemic to northern Australia and Southeast Asia. In this study, 234 isolates of B.

Reliability of automated biochemical identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei is regionally dependent.

Misidentifications of Burkholderia pseudomallei as Burkholderia cepacia by Vitek 2 have occurred. Multidimensional scaling ordination of biochemical profiles of 217 Malaysian and Australian B. pseudomallei isolates found clustering of misidentified B.

Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, enhances the response of melanoma to regional chemotherapy.

Melanoma responds poorly to standard chemotherapy due to its intrinsic chemoresistance. Multiple genetic and molecular defects, including an activating mutation in the BRaf kinase gene, are associated with melanoma, and the resulting alterations in signal transduction pathways regulating proliferation and apoptosis are thought to contribute to its chemoresistance. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor that targets BRaf kinase, is Food and Drug Administration approved for use in advanced renal cell and hepatocellular carcinomas.

A phase 1 study of systemic ADH-1 in combination with melphalan via isolated limb infusion in patients with locally advanced in-transit malignant melanoma.

Background: Isolated limb infusion with melphalan is a well-tolerated treatment for patients with in-transit extremity melanoma with an approximately 30% complete response (CR) rate. ADH-1 is a cyclic pentapeptide that disrupts N-cadherin adhesion complexes and when given systemically in a preclinical model of regional melphalan therapy demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity. A phase 1 dose escalation study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of systemic ADH-1 in combination with melphalan via isolated limb infusion in patients with in-transit extremity melanoma was performed.

A multi-institutional experience of isolated limb infusion: defining response and toxicity in the US.

Background: Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a minimally invasive approach for treating in-transit extremity melanoma, with only two US single-center studies reported. Establishing response and toxicity to ILI as compared with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion is important for optimizing future regional chemotherapeutic strategies in melanoma.

Study Design: Patient characteristics and procedural variables were collected retrospectively from 162 ILIs performed at 8 institutions (2001 to 2008) and compared using chi-square and Student's t-test.

Isolated limb infusion for in-transit malignant melanoma of the extremity: a well-tolerated but less effective alternative to hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion.

Background: Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a recently described minimally invasive technique developed in Australia for delivering regional chemotherapy. This study examined the efficacy and toxicity of ILI, compared to hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP), in treating extremity in-transit melanoma.

Methods: Variables from a prospective single institution database of 120 regionally treated melanoma patients (1995-2007) were compared using chi-square analysis.

A mechanical study of rigid plate configurations for sternal fixation.

Rigid metal plates are a promising alternative to wires for reapproximating the sternum after open-heart surgery due to their potential ability to reduce motion at the wound site and thereby reduce the likelihood of post-operative healing complications. Despite initial clinical success, the use of plates has been limited, in part, by insufficient knowledge about their most effective placement. This study compares the ability of five plate configurations to provide stable closure by limiting sternal separation.

In vitro comparison of wire and plate fixation for midline sternotomies.

Background: The incidence of severe sternal wound complications in high-risk cardiac patients presents a significant need for more stabile sternal fixation techniques after median sternotomy procedures. Rigid metal plates, a potential alternative to wire fixation, are thought to promote faster sternal healing by reducing motion at the wound site. The goal of this study was to compare the stability provided by commercially available sternal plates with standard wires using an in vitro model.