Publications by authors named "R Alexander Martino"
Biofilms are critical in the persistence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, particularly in cystic fibrosis patients. This study explores the adaptive mechanisms behind the phenotypic switching between Small Colony Variants (SCVs) and revertant states in P. aeruginosa biofilms, emphasizing hypermutability due to Mismatch Repair System (MRS) deficiencies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Brachial artery aneurysms are rare entities that have typically been associated with trauma, infection, arterio-venous fistula creation or connective tissue disorders. These aneurysms are often asymptomatic, but they can also cause local tenderness or thrombo-embolic events. Due to the very low incidence of true brachial artery aneurysms, there are no standardized guidelines on their optimal management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aimed to develop a prediction model for feeding tube dependence in a large homogenous cohort of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV + OPSCC) patients receiving chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We further aimed to externally validate three previously published feeding tube prediction models on this cohort.
Materials And Methods: p16-confirmed HPV + OPSCC patients treated with definitive CRT at a tertiary cancer centre between April 2017 and February 2022 were identified.
Article Synopsis
- Microbial evolution can occur in positive inter-species interactions, leading to different evolutionary outcomes.
- In a study, four microbe species were evolved in both monocultures and communities to see how they interacted under the presence of a toxic pollutant.
- After 44 weeks, some species evolved to rely on each other less and showed signs of resource specialization, contradicting the Black Queen Hypothesis which suggested they would develop stronger mutualistic relationships.
- Ultimately, the co-evolved community was less effective at degrading the pollutant compared to their ancestors, indicating that collaboration among species can lead to weaker interactions and hinder adaptation.
Article Synopsis
- Early palliative care (EPC) is essential for improving the quality of life for advanced cancer patients and their caregivers, but research on psychological evaluations in EPC is limited.
- A study at the Veneto Institute of Oncology evaluated psychological needs and symptoms in 753 patients, finding that over half reported psychological symptoms, with significant instances of depression and anxiety.
- The study revealed discrepancies between oncologists' estimates of patients' psychological symptoms and the patients’ self-reports, highlighting the need for better integration of psychological support in the palliative care team.