Full-waveform inversion reveals diverse origins of lower mantle positive wave speed anomalies.

Determining Earth's structure is paramount to unravel its interior dynamics. Seismic tomography reveals positive wave speed anomalies throughout the mantle that spatially correlate with the expected locations of subducted slabs. This correlation has been widely applied in plate reconstructions and geodynamic modelling.

Poor Prognostic Factors in Long-Term Survivors of Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: An International, Multicenter Cohort Study.

Objective: To measure the rate of LTS in resected PDAC and determine the association between predictors of OS and LTS.

Summary Background Data: Long-term survival (>5 y, LTS) remains rare in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Multiple predictors of overall survival (OS) are known but their association with LTS remains unclear.

Perineural Invasion is an Important Prognostic Factor in Patients With Radically Resected (R0) and Node-negative (pN0) Pancreatic Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the association between perineural invasion (PNI) and overall survival (OS) in a nationwide cohort of patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), stratified for margin negative (R0) or positive (R1) resection and absence or presence of lymph node metastasis (pN0 or pN1-N2, respectively).

Background: Patients with R0 and pN0 resected PDAC have a relatively favorable prognosis. As PNI is associated with worse OS, this might be a useful factor to provide further prognostic information for patients counselling.

The Modified Reactive Strength Index Is a Valid Measure of Lower-Body Explosiveness in Male and Female High School Athletes.

Witte, BC, Schouten, TC, Westphal, JA, VanZile, AW, Jones, DD, Widenhoefer, TL, Dobbs, WC, Jagim, AR, Luedke, JA, and Almonroeder, TG. The modified reactive strength index is a valid measure of lower-body explosiveness in male and female high school athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): 1428-1432, 2024-The modified reactive strength index (mRSI) is a commonly used metric to quantify lower-body explosiveness during countermovement jump (CMJ) performance.

Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes After Resection in Patients with Locally Advanced versus (Borderline) Resectable Pancreatic Cancer.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes following pancreatectomy in patients with LAPC compared to (B)RPC patients.

Summary Background Data: Selected patients diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) are increasingly undergoing resection following induction chemotherapy. To evaluate the benefit of this treatment approach, it is helpful to compare outcomes in resected patients with primary LAPC to outcomes in resected patients with primary (borderline) resectable pancreatic cancer ((B)RPC).

The Value of Biological and Conditional Factors for Staging of Patients with Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Upfront Resection: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: Novel definitions suggest that resectability status for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) should be assessed beyond anatomical criteria, considering both biological and conditional factors. This has, however, yet to be validated on a nationwide scale. This study evaluated the prognostic value of biological and conditional factors for staging of patients with resectable PDAC.

Prolonged use of closed-loop inspired oxygen support in preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: This randomised study in preterm infants on non-invasive respiratory support investigated the effectiveness of automated oxygen control (A-FiO) in keeping the oxygen saturation (SpO) within a target range (TR) during a 28-day period compared with manual titration (M-FiO).

Design: A single-centre randomised control trial.

Setting: A level III neonatal intensive care unit.

Predicting Long-term Disease-free Survival After Resection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: To develop a prediction model for long-term (≥5 years) disease-free survival (DFS) after the resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Background: Despite high recurrence rates, ~10% of patients have long-term DFS after PDAC resection. A model to predict long-term DFS may aid individualized prognostication and shared decision-making.

Risk Models for Developing Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreatoduodenectomy: Validation in a Nationwide Prospective Cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of published fistula risk models by external validation, and to identify independent risk factors for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).

Background: Multiple risk models have been developed to predict POPF after pancreatoduodenectomy. External validation in high-quality prospective cohorts is, however, lacking or only performed for individual models.

Influenza Infection in Ferrets with SARS-CoV-2 Infection History.

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to contain the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic drastically reduced human-to-human interactions, decreasing the circulation of other respiratory viruses, as well. Consequently, influenza virus circulation, which is normally responsible for 3 to 5 million hospitalizations per year globally, was significantly reduced. With the downscaling of the NPI countermeasures, there is a concern for increased influenza disease, particularly in individuals suffering from postacute effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Pancreatic Cancer Resection in Elderly Patients: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: The number of elderly patients with pancreatic cancer is growing, however clinical data on the short-term outcomes, rate of adjuvant chemotherapy, and survival in these patients are limited and we therefore performed a nationwide analysis.

Methods: Data from the prospective Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Audit were analyzed, including all patients undergoing pancreatic cancer resection between January 2014 and December 2016. Patients were classified into two age groups: <75 and ≥75 years.

Nationwide Validation of the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM Staging System and Five Proposed Modifications for Resected Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: The prognostic value of four proposed modifications to the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system has yet to be evaluated. This study aimed to validate five proposed modifications.

Methods: Patients who underwent pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma resection (2014-2016), as registered in the prospective Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Audit, were included.

Fit testing and comfort evaluation of prophylactic dressing use for healthcare workers under N95/P2 respirators in one health service district in Australia.

Background: This study evaluated the use of prophylactic dressings (silicone foam, silicone tape, hydrocolloid) under N95/P2 respirators to determine which dressings fit successfully.

Aim: The aim was to develop a health service protocol for one state in Australia.

Methods: Data were collected during August and September 2021 as part of the Respiratory Protection Programme on 600 health workers using three types of prophylactic dressings.

Pathology and Immunity After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Male Ferrets Is Affected by Age and Inoculation Route.

Improving COVID-19 intervention strategies partly relies on animal models to study SARS-CoV-2 disease and immunity. In our pursuit to establish a model for severe COVID-19, we inoculated young and adult male ferrets intranasally or intratracheally with SARS-CoV-2. Intranasal inoculation established an infection in all ferrets, with viral dissemination into the brain and gut.

Dutch Brain Research Registry for study participant recruitment: Design and first results.

Introduction: The Dutch Brain Research Registry aims to facilitate online recruitment of participants for brain disease studies.

Methods: Registrants were primarily recruited through an online social media campaign. The registration process included a short questionnaire, which was subsequently used in the prescreening process to match participants to studies.

Intramedullary nailing versus sliding hip screw for A1 and A2 trochanteric hip fractures.

Aims: This study evaluated variation in the surgical treatment of stable (A1) and unstable (A2) trochanteric hip fractures among an international group of orthopaedic surgeons, and determined the influence of patient, fracture, and surgeon characteristics on choice of implant (intramedullary nailing (IMN) versus sliding hip screw (SHS)).

Methods: A total of 128 orthopaedic surgeons in the Science of Variation Group evaluated radiographs of 30 patients with Type A1 and A2 trochanteric hip fractures and indicated their preferred treatment: IMN or SHS. The management of Type A3 (reverse obliquity) trochanteric fractures was not evaluated.

Classification using fractional anisotropy predicts conversion in genetic frontotemporal dementia, a proof of concept.

Frontotemporal dementia is a highly heritable and devastating neurodegenerative disease. About 10-20% of all frontotemporal dementia is caused by known pathogenic mutations, but a reliable tool to predict clinical conversion in mutation carriers is lacking. In this retrospective proof-of-concept case-control study, we investigate whether MRI-based and cognition-based classifiers can predict which mutation carriers from genetic frontotemporal dementia families will develop symptoms ('convert') within 4 years.

Microscopic resection margin status in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma - A nationwide analysis.

Introduction: First, this study aimed to assess the prognostic value of different definitions for resection margin status on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Second, preoperative predictors of direct margin involvement were identified.

Materials And Methods: This nationwide observational cohort study included all patients who underwent upfront PDAC resection (2014-2016), as registered in the prospective Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Audit.