Publications by authors named "R Newcomb"
Major evolutionary transitions, such as the shift of cetaceans from terrestrial to marine life, can put pressure on sensory systems to adapt to a new set of relevant stimuli. Relatively little is known about the role of smell in the evolution of mysticetes (baleen whales). While their toothed cousins, the odontocetes, lack the anatomical features to smell, it is less clear whether baleen whales have retained this sense, and if so, when the pressure on olfaction diverged in the cetacean evolutionary lineage.
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- * A study analyzing 667 bone marrow harvests between 1999 and 2021 found a 13% contamination rate, primarily from common skin bacteria, with male donors showing significantly higher contamination rates (18% vs. 6.8% for females).
- * The research is notable for being the largest single-center study to explore contamination rates and highlights male donor sex as a key factor, potentially due to differences in skin flora.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how positive psychological well-being (PPWB) relates to mood and quality of life in people who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), using data from 158 recipients.
- - Results indicate that older age, greater social support, and certain health conditions correspond with higher PPWB levels, which are linked to improved quality of life and reduced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- - The researchers suggest that future studies should explore these associations over time to better understand how PPWB affects HSCT recovery and to develop targeted interventions for improving patient outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- - Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is a serious lung condition that can develop after receiving a stem cell transplant, and this study tested the effectiveness of ruxolitinib in treating it.
- - The trial involved 49 adult participants divided into two groups based on how recently they were diagnosed with BOS; results showed that 27.8% of newly diagnosed patients improved, while 92.3% of those with established BOS maintained stable lung function after treatment.
- - Overall, ruxolitinib had a lung-specific response rate of 34.7% among all participants with most positive outcomes seen in patients with mild to moderate disease, indicating it could be a beneficial treatment option for BOS
Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a significant complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Although recent advancements in GVHD prophylaxis have resulted in successful HCT across HLA barriers and expanded access to HCT for racial minorities, less is known about how race affects the severity and outcomes of acute GVHD. This study examines differences in the clinical course of acute GVHD and the prognostic value of GVHD biomarkers for Black and White recipients.
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