A workflow for improving estimates of microplastic contamination in marine waters: A case study from North-Western Australia.

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous throughout the marine environment, with microplastic (i.e. <5 mm) contamination a global issue of emerging concern.

A database of chlorophyll a in Australian waters.

Chlorophyll a is the most commonly used indicator of phytoplankton biomass in the marine environment. It is relatively simple and cost effective to measure when compared to phytoplankton abundance and is thus routinely included in many surveys. Here we collate 173, 333 records of chlorophyll a collected since 1965 from Australian waters gathered from researchers on regular coastal monitoring surveys and ocean voyages into a single repository.

Eponychial lesions following bilateral upper extremity vascular composite allotransplantation: a case report.

Vascularized composite allotransplantation represents a useful addition to reconstructive options available to the plastic surgeon. Though the procedure provides beneficial functional outcomes, there remain complications, often associated with the immunosuppression necessary to maintain an allograft. We report a case of eponychial fold lesions following successful bilateral upper extremity allotransplantation.

Femoral rotational asymmetry is a common anatomical variant.

The sulcus line (SL) is a three-dimensional landmark that corrects for individual variation in the coronal alignment of the trochlear groove in contrast to the traditional Whiteside's line (WL). Femoral rotational asymmetry (FRA) is an anatomical variation in which the posterior condyles and trochlear groove are not perpendicular to each other. This study aims to measure the SL and assess its reliability relative to WL, in addition to measuring and classifying the FRA.

Sense and Immunity: Context-Dependent Neuro-Immune Interplay.

The sensory nervous and immune systems, historically considered autonomous, actually work in concert to promote host defense and tissue homeostasis. These systems interact with each other through a common language of cell surface G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases as well as cytokines, growth factors, and neuropeptides. While this bidirectional communication is adaptive in many settings, helping protect from danger, it can also become maladaptive and contribute to disease pathophysiology.

Intraspecific evolutionary relationships among peregrine falcons in western North American high latitudes.

Subspecies relationships within the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) have been long debated because of the polytypic nature of melanin-based plumage characteristics used in subspecies designations and potential differentiation of local subpopulations due to philopatry. In North America, understanding the evolutionary relationships among subspecies may have been further complicated by the introduction of captive bred peregrines originating from non-native stock, as part of recovery efforts associated with mid 20th century population declines resulting from organochloride pollution. Alaska hosts all three nominal subspecies of North American peregrine falcons-F.

A novel web-support intervention to promote recovery following Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction: A pilot randomised controlled trial.

Background: Self-efficacy is positively associated with adherence behaviours and rehabilitation outcomes following Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction. An internet resource can be an effective way to provide information, goal setting, patient monitoring and hence support overall self-management.

Purpose: This study examined the feasibility of a three month 'internet-based intervention' (mobile-oriented site) to enhance recovery for patients following ACL reconstruction.

Avascular necrosis of the humeral head following bilateral upper extremity vascular composite allotransplantation: a case report.

Vascularised composite allotransplantation (VCA) represents an exciting and emerging field in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Despite the generally good functional and psychosocial outcomes, multiple complications can be associated with the procedure. The authors describe a case of avascular necrosis of the humeral head following successful upper extremity VCA.

Experience With Patient Referrals for Upper Extremity Transplantation at a U.S. Academic Medical Center.

Purpose: To date, there have been over 100 upper extremity transplantations (UET) performed worldwide. However, little data are available regarding institutional screening practices or description of the population of patients that seek transplantation as a treatment modality for their upper extremity disabilities. We performed a review of our institutional experience in an attempt to better understand our referral patterns and identify factors that may be associated with successful screening.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the proportion of patients with breast cancer who develop bone metastases.

A systematic literature review was conducted to quantify populations of patients with primary breast cancer in whom bone metastases were detected at study start or during follow-up. Searches were performed in PubMed and EMBASE using terms related to breast cancer and bone metastases. Articles had to have been published 01/01/99-31/12/13, and to report data on the proportion of patients with bone metastases among patients with breast cancer.

An optimized lentiviral vector system for conditional RNAi and efficient cloning of microRNA embedded short hairpin RNA libraries.

RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR-Cas9-based screening systems have emerged as powerful and complementary tools to unravel genetic dependencies through systematic gain- and loss-of-function studies. In recent years, a series of technical advances helped to enhance the performance of virally delivered RNAi. For instance, the incorporation of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) into endogenous microRNA contexts (shRNAmiRs) allows the use of Tet-regulated promoters for synchronous onset of gene knockdown and precise interrogation of gene dosage effects.

Averaging rotational landmarks during total knee arthroplasty reduces component malrotation caused by femoral asymmetry.

Background: Femoral component malrotation is a common cause of patient dissatisfaction after total knee arthroplasty. The sulcus line (SL) is more accurate than Whiteside's line as it corrects for variation in the coronal orientation of the groove. The hypothesis is that averaging the SL and posterior condylar axis (PCA) will reduce femoral malrotation.

The Sheep Grimace Scale as an indicator of post-operative distress and pain in laboratory sheep.

The EU Directive 2010/63/EU changed the requirements regarding the use of laboratory animals and raised important issues related to assessing the severity of all procedures undertaken on laboratory animals. However, quantifiable parameters to assess severity are rare, and improved assessment strategies need to be developed. Hence, a Sheep Grimace Scale (SGS) was herein established by observing and interpreting sheep facial expressions as a consequence of pain and distress following unilateral tibia osteotomy.

Substance P activates Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors to induce itch.

Background: Substance P (SP) is linked to itch and inflammation through activation of receptors on mast cells and sensory neurons. There is increasing evidence that SP functions through Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors (Mrgprs) in addition to its conventional receptor, neurokinin-1.

Objective: Because Mrgprs mediate some aspects of inflammation that had been considered mediated by neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), we sought to determine whether itch induced by SP can also be mediated by Mrgprs.

Legacy or colonization? Posteruption establishment of peregrine falcons () on a volcanically active subarctic island.

How populations and communities reassemble following disturbances are affected by a number of factors, with the arrival order of founding populations often having a profound influence on later populations and community structure. Kasatochi Island is a small volcano located in the central Aleutian archipelago that erupted violently August 8, 2008, sterilizing the island of avian biodiversity. Prior to the eruption, Kasatochi was the center of abundance for breeding seabirds in the central Aleutian Islands and supported several breeding pairs of peregrine falcons ().

Pathologic fracture and healthcare resource utilisation: A retrospective study in eight European countries.

Background: Skeletal-related events (SREs; pathologic fracture [PF], spinal cord compression and radiation or surgery to bone) are common complications of bone metastases or bone lesions and can impose a considerable burden on patients and healthcare systems. In this study, the healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) associated with PFs in patients with bone metastases or lesions secondary to solid tumours or multiple myeloma was estimated in eight European countries.

Methods: Eligible patients were identified in Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland.

Copy number gain of 11q13.3 genes associates with pathological stage in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinomas of the hypopharynx (HPSCC) and oropharynx (OPSCC) have markedly different patient outcomes. Differences in HPV prevalence between these two patient groups may account for some of this difference, but other molecular markers of prognosis or pathological phenotype have not been established. Copy number gain of oncogenes is a well-established molecular change contributing to HNSCC development.

Dual action of neurokinin-1 antagonists on Mas-related GPCRs.

The challenge of translating findings from animal models to the clinic is well known. An example of this challenge is the striking effectiveness of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) antagonists in mouse models of inflammation coupled with their equally striking failure in clinical investigations in humans. Here, we provide an explanation for this dichotomy: Mas-related GPCRs (Mrgprs) mediate some aspects of inflammation that had been considered mediated by NK-1R.

Successful Recovery and Transplantation of 11 Organs Including Face, Bilateral Upper Extremities, and Thoracic and Abdominal Organs From a Single Deceased Organ Donor.

We report on the to date largest recovery of 11 organs from a single deceased donor with the transplantation of face, bilateral upper extremities, heart, 1 lung, liver (split for 2 recipients), kidneys, pancreas, and intestine. Although logistically challenging, this case demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the recovery of multiple thoracic and abdominal organs with multiple vascular composite allotransplants and tissues. Our experience of 8 additional successful multiple vascular composite allotransplants, thoracic, and abdominal organ recoveries suggests that such procedures are readily accomplishable from the same deceased donor.

Innovative Techniques for Maximizing Limb Salvage and Function.

Concurrent injuries to multiple extremities present unique challenges to the reconstructive surgeon. The primary goal in such scenarios is to optimize functional outcomes. The goal of this article is to present an overview of various techniques necessary to provide sufficient soft tissue and preserve amputation limb lengths and function.

Gracilis Flap Reconstruction of the Perineum: An Outcomes Analysis.

Background: Immediate reconstruction of perineal defects secondary to abdominoperineal resection (APR) or pelvic exenteration with pedicled flaps decreases postoperative wound complications when compared with direct closure in high-risk patients. Although some authors have been proponents of abdominal-based flaps, here we evaluate the role for thigh-based flaps founded on acceptable outcomes and low morbidity.

Study Design: Consecutive patients referred to a single surgeon between January 2012 and August 2015 who underwent perineal reconstruction with a pedicled gracilis flap were identified.

Innervated Free Gracilis Muscle Transfer: An Experimental Model.

Background: Although rodent models have been used extensively for surgical research, their use is limited in microsurgical tissue transfer due to their small size and the small size of their vessels and nerves. Also, fundamental anatomic differences may make rodent surgical models hard to extrapolate to humans.

Methods: In this report, the authors present a rabbit model for studying free tissue transfer and nerve regeneration using the innervated free gracilis muscle flap.