Assessing the current and future biological control potential of Trichogramma ostriniae on its hosts Ostrinia furnacalis and Ostrinia nubilalis.

Background: Understanding interactions between biocontrol agents and their pest hosts under climate change should assist implementation of biocontrol strategies, by identifying appropriate biocontrol agents for release or determining the optimal timing of releases. Species distribution models (SDMs) were applied to evaluate the distributions of Trichogramma ostriniae and its native host, Ostrinia furnacalis, in southeastern Asia, and a non-native host, Ostrinia nubilalis, in a novel range, North America, using MAXENT and CLIMEX modelling approaches.

Results: The models led to similar predictions about the expected distribution of the two species in Asia, and emphasized likely mismatches between host and natural enemy.

Daily Activity Measured With Wearable Technology as a Novel Measurement of Treatment Effect in Patients With Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: Substudy of a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.

Background: Digital wearable devices provide a "real-world" assessment of physical activity and quantify intervention-related changes in clinical trials. However, the value of digital wearable device-recorded physical activity as a clinical trial outcome is unknown.

Objective: Because late sodium channel inhibition (ranolazine) improves stress laboratory exercise duration among angina patients, we proposed that this benefit could be quantified and translated during daily life by measuring digital wearable device-determined step count in a clinical trial.

Effects of a museum-based social prescription intervention on quantitative measures of psychological wellbeing in older adults.

Aims: To assess psychological wellbeing in a novel social prescription intervention for older adults called Museums on Prescription and to explore the extent of change over time in six self-rated emotions ('absorbed', 'active', 'cheerful', 'encouraged', 'enlightened' and 'inspired').

Methods: Participants ( n = 115) aged 65-94 years were referred to museum-based programmes comprising 10 weekly sessions, by healthcare and third sector organisations using inclusion criteria (e.g.

Comparison of the Coronary Artery Calcium Score and Number of Calcified Coronary Plaques for Predicting Patient Mortality Risk.

Multiple coronary artery calcium (CAC) parameters have recently been proposed to improve risk prediction in patients with intermediate clinical risk based on CAC scoring, but outcome data that assess these variables are relatively sparse. We analyzed data from 11,633 consecutive asymptomatic patients undergoing CAC scanning that were followed for 8.8 ± 3.

Role of Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Women with Suspected Ischemia but No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: Signs and symptoms of ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is often a diagnostic dilemma in women. The use of stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) for advanced diagnostic assessment in these patients is a non-ionizing radiation option, but the diagnostic utility in this population is unknown. We examined the diagnostic role of stress CMRI in our patient population of these women.

Signatures of selection in mammalian clock genes with coding trinucleotide repeats: Implications for studying the genomics of high-pace adaptation.

Climate change is predicted to affect the reproductive ecology of wildlife; however, we have yet to understand if and how species can adapt to the rapid pace of change. Clock genes are functional genes likely critical for adaptation to shifting seasonal conditions through shifts in timing cues. Many of these genes contain coding trinucleotide repeats, which offer the potential for higher rates of change than single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at coding sites, and, thus, may translate to faster rates of adaptation in changing environments.

Museum-based programs for socially isolated older adults: Understanding what works.

This paper presents research findings that help to understand how museum programs created opportunities to enhance wellbeing and health, and changed experiences of social isolation in older adults. The research conceptualized how program elements enabled both individual experiences and relational processes to occur. These components operated within a context that was enriched by the museum as a place to support wellbeing and enhance social interaction.

Responsive monitoring of mitochondrial redox states in heart muscle predicts impending cardiac arrest.

Assessing the adequacy of oxygen delivery to tissues is vital, particularly in the fields of intensive care medicine and surgery. As oxygen delivery to a cell becomes deficient, changes in mitochondrial redox state precede changes in cellular function. We describe a technique for the continuous monitoring of the mitochondrial redox state on the epicardial surface using resonance Raman spectroscopy.

Unregistered health care staff's perceptions of 12 hour shifts: an interview study.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore unregistered health care staff's perceptions of 12 hour shifts on work performance and patient care.

Background: Many unregistered health care staff work 12 hour shifts, but it is unclear whether these are compatible with good quality care or work performance.

Method: Twenty five health care assistants from a range of care settings with experience of working 12 hour shifts took part in interviews or focus groups.

Hemodynamic Effects of Lipid-Based Oxygen Microbubbles via Rapid Intravenous Injection in Rodents.

Purpose: Low oxygen levels, or hypoxemia, is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Hypoxemia is typically addressed by increasing the fraction of inspired oxygen, the use of mechanical ventilation, or more invasive measures. Recently, the injection of oxygen gas directly into the bloodstream by packaging it within lipid-based oxygen microbubbles (LOMs) has been explored.

Typical angina is associated with greater coronary endothelial dysfunction but not abnormal vasodilatory reserve.

Background: Typical angina (TA) is defined as substernal chest pain precipitated by physical exertion or emotional stress and relieved with rest or nitroglycerin. Women and elderly patients are usually have atypical symptoms both at rest and during stress, often in the setting of nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Hypothesis: To further understand this, we performed subgroup analysis comparing subjects who presented with TA vs nontypical angina (NTA) using baseline data of patients with nonobstructive CAD and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) enrolled in a clinical trial.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition may reduce diastolic function in women with ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: Ischemia, in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease, is prevalent in women, and associated with increased risk for major cardiovascular events. Coronary microvascular dysfunction is prevalent in these patients, and associated with impaired diastolic function. Despite our general understanding, however, optimal treatment of this cohort remains elusive.

Impact of Exercise on the Relationship Between CAC Scores and All-Cause Mortality.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the correlations among coronary artery calcium (CAC), self-reported exercise, and mortality in asymptomatic patients.

Background: The interaction between reported exercise habits and CAC scores for predicting clinical risk is not yet well known.

Methods: We followed 10,690 asymptomatic patients who underwent CAC scanning.

The decision-making threshold and the factors that affect it: A qualitative study of patients' decision-making in knee replacement surgery.

Background: Osteoarthritis is a significant cause of burden to the ageing population and knee replacement is a common operation for treatment of end-stage disease. We aimed to explore these factors to help understand patients' decision-making, which is critical in informing patient-centred care. These can be used to enhance decision-making and dialogue between clinicians and patients, allowing a more informed choice.

Improving our understanding of the modelling of psychotic disorders: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Psychosis represents a set of symptoms against which current available treatments are not universally effective and are often accompanied by adverse side effects. Clinical management could potentially be improved with a greater understanding of the underlying biology and subsequently with the introduction of novel treatments. Since many clinical drug candidates are identified through modelling, a deeper understanding of the pre-clinical field, might help us understand why translation of results from animal models to inform mental health clinical practice has so far been weak.

N-acetylcysteine improves the quality of red blood cells stored for transfusion.

Storage inflicts a series of changes on red blood cells (RBC) that compromise the cell survival and functionality; largely these alterations (storage lesions) are due to oxidative modifications. The possibility of improving the quality of packed RBC stored for transfusion including N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in the preservation solution was explored. Relatively high concentrations of NAC (20-25 mM) were necessary to prevent the progressive leakage of hemoglobin, while lower concentrations (≥2.

Cold Pressor Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Myocardial Flow Reserve Is Not Useful for Detection of Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in Women with Signs and Symptoms of Ischemia and No Obstructive CAD.

Background: Coronary endothelial function testing using acetylcholine is not routinely available, while non-pharmacological cold pressor testing (CPT) is considered an endothelial stressor. Noninvasive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) can detect coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). We evaluated if CPT stress CMRI MPRI could detect invasive coronary endothelial dysfunction.

Myocardial tissue deformation is reduced in subjects with coronary microvascular dysfunction but not rescued by treatment with ranolazine.

Background: Patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) often have diastolic dysfunction, representing an important therapeutic target. Ranolazine-a late sodium current inhibitor-improves diastolic function in animal models and subjects with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that ranolazine would beneficially alter diastolic function in CMD.

Timing of fracture fixation from an Intensive Care Unit perspective: the obstacles to early fracture fixation.

Trauma is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with road traffic accidents being the leading cause of death in the age group of 15-29 years However, with modern advances in management and the introduction of specialised trauma centres, more and more are surviving severe and life-threatening trauma. The ideal timing of fracture fixation has been the subject of debate for a number of decades. There is evidence to suggest that fracture fixation in the patient with polytrauma is best achieved early on to reduce the incidence of morbidity and mortality, with damage control surgery in the more appropriate option in those patients who are haemodynamically unstable.

GAPTrap: A Simple Expression System for Pluripotent Stem Cells and Their Derivatives.

The ability to reliably express fluorescent reporters or other genes of interest is important for using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) as a platform for investigating cell fates and gene function. We describe a simple expression system, designated GAPTrap (GT), in which reporter genes, including GFP, mCherry, mTagBFP2, luc2, Gluc, and lacZ are inserted into the GAPDH locus in hPSCs. Independent clones harboring variations of the GT vectors expressed remarkably consistent levels of the reporter gene.

Unexpected active tuberculosis on Post Mortem CT: A case report and review of the literature.

Unexpected active tuberculosis (TB) at autopsy represents a serious transmissible health risk to mortuary and laboratory staff. Post Mortem CT (PMCT) is widely accepted as a valuable adjunct to autopsy throughout the world, but the uptake and implementation varies from country to country. We present a case of unexpected active TB on PMCT and review the literature on the incidence of and risks from the condition.

Diastolic dysfunction measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in women with signs and symptoms of ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: Women with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease often have coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), diagnosed by invasive coronary reactivity testing (CRT). The relationship between CMD and diastolic function measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is not well described.

Methods: 41 women with suspected CMD underwent CRT and CMR.