The Val66Met variant of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is linked to reduced telomere length in a military population: a pilot study.

In military populations, gene-environment interactions can influence performance and health outcomes. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a central nervous system protein that is important for neuronal function and synaptic plasticity. A BDNF single nucleotide polymorphism, rs6265, leads to an amino acid substitution of valine (Val) with methionine (Met) at codon 66 (Val66Met), which may influence an individual's response to occupational stress, and predispose military members to psychological disorders.

Multicentre Validation of the RESECT-90 Prediction Model for 90-Day Mortality After Lung Resection.

Background: The RESECT-90 model was developed to predict 90-day mortality for patients undergoing lung resection but hasn't been externally validated. The aim of this study was to validate the RESECT-90 clinical prediction model using multicentre patient data from across the United Kingdom (UK).

Materials And Methods: Data from 12 UK thoracic surgery centers for patients undergoing lung resection between 2016 and 2020 with available 90-day mortality status were used to externally validate the RESECT-90 model.

Cognition mediates the relationship between white matter hyperintensity and motor function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is a common neuroimaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and a critical independent predictor of motor dysfunction, which increases the risk of disability, morbidity, and mortality. However, the mechanism underlying the relationship between WMH and motor function has not yet been fully clarified. It was hypothesized that cognitive impairment mediates the relationship between WMH and motor dysfunction in patients with SVD, which were considered predictor and outcome variables, respectively.

Salivary C-reactive protein exhibits a diurnal pattern and relates to biobehavioral health in military men.

C-reactive protein is a systemic inflammatory biomarker that is positively associated with the development of disease. Salivary C-reactive protein (sCRP) has previously been reported to have a diurnal rhythm with higher levels upon awakening and lower levels thereafter. The aims of this study were to evaluate the stability of sCRP across two days, characterize the daily sCRP pattern, compute morning sCRP parameters, and evaluate associations with biobehavioral health in US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians.

Pre-Operative Measures of Systemic Inflammation Predict Survival After Surgery for Primary Lung Cancer.

Background: Measures of systemic inflammation (MSIs) have been developed and shown to help predict prognosis in patients with lung cancer. However, studies investigating the impact of MSIs on outcomes solely in cohorts of patients undergoing curative-intent resection of NSCLC are lacking. In the era of individualized therapies, targeting inflammatory pathways could represent a novel addition to the armamentarium of lung cancer treatment.

Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis after Surgical Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer-An Analysis of Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a rare but significant complication of lung cancer surgery. Its effect on survival remains unclear. Our aim was to describe the outcomes of the patients who developed CPA following the surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), identify the risk factors associated with its development following lung resection, and evaluate its impact on survival.

A systematic review of cardiac surgery clinical prediction models that include intra-operative variables.

Background: Most cardiac surgery clinical prediction models (CPMs) are developed using pre-operative variables to predict post-operative outcomes. Some CPMs are developed with intra-operative variables, but none are widely used. The objective of this systematic review was to identify CPMs with intra-operative variables that predict short-term outcomes following adult cardiac surgery.

An optogenetic method for the controlled release of single molecules.

We developed a system for optogenetic release of single molecules in cells. We confined soluble and transmembrane proteins to the Golgi apparatus via a photocleavable protein and released them by short pulses of light. Our method allows for a light dose-dependent delivery of functional proteins to the cytosol and plasma membrane in amounts compatible with single-molecule imaging, greatly simplifying access to single-molecule microscopy of any protein in live cells.

On the multiphoton ionisation photoelectron spectra of phenol.

The phenol molecule is a prototype for non-adiabatic dynamics and the excited-state photochemistry of biomolecules. In this article, we report a joint theoretical and experimental investigation on the resonance enhanced multiphoton ionisation photoelectron (REMPI) spectra of the two lowest ionisation bands of phenol. The focus is on the theoretical interpretation of the measured spectra using quantum dynamics simulations.

Outcomes after Conversion from Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy to Thoracotomy.

Background:  Lung cancer resections are increasingly being performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Conversion to thoracotomy can occur for many reasons and may affect outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of VATS conversion on short- and mid-term outcomes and identify reasons for conversion.

Safety of curative-intent lung cancer surgery in older patients (octogenarians): A contemporary multicentre cohort study.

Introduction: Despite octogenarians representing an ever-increasing proportion of patients with lung cancer, there is a paucity of evidence describing outcomes after lung resection for these patients. We aimed to evaluate short and mid-term outcomes for octogenarians after lung resection.

Materials And Methods: A total of 5,470 consecutive patients undergoing lung resection for primary lung cancer from 2012-2019 in two UK centres were included.

Myddosome clustering in IL-1 receptor signaling regulates the formation of an NF-kB activating signalosome.

IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling can activate thresholded invariant outputs and proportional outputs that scale with the amount of stimulation. Both responses require the Myddosome, a multiprotein complex. The Myddosome is required for polyubiquitin chain formation and NF-kB signaling.

Impact of skip mediastinal lymph node metastasis on outcomes after resection for primary lung cancer.

Objectives: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer and nodal disease are a heterogeneous group with varied patterns of disease. The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcomes of patients with skip N2 disease in comparison to those with N1 or non-skip N2 disease.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of 445 patients undergoing anatomical lung resection for primary lung cancer between 2012 and 2019 with post-operative histological confirmation of nodal disease was undertaken.

A Novel Scale to Assess Psychological Strategies in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians.

Purpose: This report describes the development and validation of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Combat Mindset Scale-Training (CMS-T), a population-specific measure of psychological strategy use in EOD training environments.

Current Status of Simulation in Thoracic Surgical Training.

Background: Simulation is playing an increasingly important role in surgical training but is not yet a mandatory part of most surgical curricula. A simulator must undergo rigorous validation to verify it as a reliable tool. The aim of this study was to review the literature to identify simulators that are currently available to augment thoracic surgical training and to analyze any evidence supporting or validating them.

Visualization of Myddosome Assembly in Live Cells.

The Myddosome is an oligomeric protein complex composed of MyD88 and members of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) family that transduce signals from Toll-like and IL-1 family receptors. The molecular dynamics of Myddosome formation and how the Myddosome organizes downstream signaling reactions provide insight into how TLR/IL-1Rs activate a decisive cellular response critical for the induction of inflammation. Supported lipid membranes formed on a continuous glass coverslip have been extensively used to study the molecular dynamics of receptor signaling.

Individual differences in selective attention and engagement shape students' learning from visual cues and instructor presence during online lessons.

Although some researchers recommend minimizing extraneous visual information in multimedia lessons, others have demonstrated that features such as visual cues and instructor videos can enhance learning. However, variability in selective attention skills may influence students' ability to benefit from these additional features. This study investigated links between college students' selective attention skills and their learning from video lessons that varied in the use of visual cues and the instructor video.

Risk Prediction Models for Long-Term Survival after Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: The reporting of alternative postoperative measures of quality after cardiac surgery is becoming increasingly important as in-hospital mortality rates continue to decline. This study aims to systematically review and assess risk models designed to predict long-term outcomes after cardiac surgery.

Methods: The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for articles published between 1990 and 2020.

Science of interdisciplinary salivary bioscience: history and future directions.

Salivary bioscience is noteworthy in its history, as well as in the breadth and scope of its impact. The minimally invasive nature of sampling oral fluid allows for evaluation of individual and intra-individual change in biological processes in ways and settings not possible with traditional biospecimens. The range of measurements is expansive (e.

Pre-existing pulmonary fibrosis is associated with adverse outcomes after lung resection.

Introduction: Pulmonary fibrosis is a risk factor for the development of lung cancer. However, the low incidence of the pathology means that it is not well represented in thoracic surgery risk scoring systems. We aimed to assess whether short and long-term outcomes after lung resection for primary lung cancer were worse in patients with pre-existing pulmonary fibrosis.

Feasibility and outcomes of a real-world regional lung cancer prehabilitation programme in the UK.

Background: Prehabilitation, or multimodality patient optimisation before major treatment, has demonstrated meaningful improvements in patients' outcomes. In the setting of lung cancer surgery, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay are reduced, but there is currently limited access to prehabilitation. Prehab4Cancer (P4C) is an innovative regional programme serving all areas of Greater Manchester (GM).

Axillary intra-aortic balloon pump, biventricular assist device implantation and subsequent orthotopic heart transplantation in a patient with sickle cell trait.

A 38-year-old male with sickle cell trait and acute refractory heart failure received an axillary intra-aortic balloon pump and short-term biventricular assist device. He underwent orthotopic heart transplantation 45 days later, which was complicated by major bleeding necessitating significant intra-operative transfusion. Support with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was provided and successfully weaned five days later.

Wound hematoma after radial artery harvest caused by digital blood pressure monitoring cuff.

An 85-year-old male developed a hematoma over his radial artery harvest scar 6 weeks after coronary artery bypass grafting. This occurred immediately after his blood pressure was checked using a digital blood pressure monitor with the cuff applied to his left arm. The swelling resolved over the next 5 months.

Targeting prostate lesions on multiparametric MRI with HDR brachytherapy: Optimal planning margins determined using whole-mount digital histology.

Purpose: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has demonstrated the ability to localize intraprostatic lesions. It is our goal to determine how to optimally target the underlying histopathological cancer within the setting of high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT).

Methods And Materials: Ten prostatectomy patients had pathologist-annotated mid-gland histology registered to pre-procedural mpMRI, which were interpreted by four different observers.