Effects of age, sex, and ENSO phase on foraging and flight performance in Nazca boobies.

Age-related changes in survival and reproduction are common in seabirds; however, the underlying causes remain elusive. A lack of experience for young individuals, and a decline in foraging performance for old birds, could underlie age-related variation in reproduction because reproductive success is connected closely to provisioning offspring. For seabirds, flapping flight during foraging trips is physiologically costly; inexperience or senescent decline in performance of this demanding activity might cap delivery of food to the nest, providing a proximate explanation for poor breeding success in young and old age, respectively.

Erratum: Urine-derived stem cells accelerate the recovery of injured mouse hepatic tissue.

[This corrects the article on p. 5131 in vol. 12, PMID: 33042410.

The relationship between abdominal fat and change in left ventricular ejection fraction in cancer patients.

Objectives: Prior studies have identified a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and intraperitoneal (IP) fat with heart failure; however, in prior studies of cancer patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy, elevations in BMI have not necessarily been associated with decrements in heart function. This study tested the hypothesis that IP fat may be associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decline among cancer patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy.

Methods: In this prospective study of 61 cancer patients (23 breast cancer, 32 lymphoma, and 6 sarcoma), IP fat and other assessments of body composition, and changes in LVEF from pre- to postcancer treatment using noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging was ascertained.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF RANGE OF MOTION, HIP SHOULDER SEPARATION, AND PITCHING KINEMATICS.

Background: When pitching a baseball, pelvic and trunk pitching kinematics play an integral role in momentum transfer from the lower extremity to the upper extremity. However, it is unknown how hip and trunk ROM and hip shoulder separation interplay with pelvic and trunk pitching kinematics.

Hypothesis/purpose: To determine the relationship between clinical trunk and hip range of motion (ROM) and pitching biomechanical pelvis and trunk kinematics, and kinematic sequencing.

Risedronate to Prevent Bone Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Study Design and Feasibility Report of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Unlabelled: Mounting evidence implicates bariatric surgery as a cause of increased skeletal fragility and fracture risk. Bisphosphonate therapy reduces osteoporotic fracture risk and may be effective in minimizing bone loss associated with bariatric surgery. The main objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT; Clinical Trial No.

Urine-derived stem cells accelerate the recovery of injured mouse hepatic tissue.

Urine-derived stem cells (USCs) are autologous stem cells that exhibit self-renewal ability and multi-lineage differentiation potential. These characteristics make USCs an ideal cell source for hepatocellular transplantation. Here, we investigated the biological characteristics of USCs and their potential use for the treatment of chronic liver injury.

Organic Field-Effect Transistors as Flexible, Tissue-Equivalent Radiation Dosimeters in Medical Applications.

Radiation therapy is one of the most prevalent procedures for cancer treatment, but the risks of malignancies induced by peripheral beam in healthy tissues surrounding the target is high. Therefore, being able to accurately measure the exposure dose is a critical aspect of patient care. Here a radiation detector based on an organic field-effect transistor (RAD-OFET) is introduced, an in vivo dosimeter that can be placed directly on a patient's skin to validate in real time the dose being delivered and ensure that for nearby regions an acceptable level of low dose is being received.

CSF glucose tracks regional tau progression based on Alzheimer's disease risk factors.

Introduction: Glucose hypometabolism and tau formation are key features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Less is known about the relationship between fasting glucose and regional tau accumulation.

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose was linearly regressed on regional tau (flortaucipir) among 169 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI3) participants.

Combined effects of mesenchymal stem cells carrying cytosine deaminase gene with 5-fluorocytosine and temozolomide in orthotopic glioma model.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, and current standard therapy provides modest improvements in progression-free and overall survival of patients. Innate tumor resistance and presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) require the development of multi-modal therapeutic regimens. Previously, cytosine deaminase (CD)-expressing mesenchymal stem cells (MSC/CD) were found to exhibit anticancer activity with a wide therapeutic index by converting 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), a nontoxic prodrug into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a potent anticancer drug.

Sex-dependent associations between addiction-related behaviors and the microbiome in outbred rats.

Background: Multiple factors contribute to the etiology of addiction, including genetics, sex, and a number of addiction-related behavioral traits. One behavioral trait where individuals assign incentive salience to food stimuli ("sign-trackers", ST) are more impulsive compared to those that do not ("goal-trackers", GT), as well as more sensitive to drugs and drug stimuli. Furthermore, this GT/ST phenotype predicts differences in other behavioral measures.

Childhood/Adolescent Smoking and Adult Smoking and Cessation: The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium.

Background Despite declining US adolescent smoking prevalence from 40% among 12th graders in 1995 to around 10% in 2018, adolescent smoking is still a significant problem. Using the International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium, which includes 7 international cohorts recruited in childhood and followed into adulthood, the present study was designed to confirm the important relation between adolescent smoking and daily adult smoking and present new data on adult smoking into the forties and comparison of smoking in the United States, Finland, and Australia. Methods and Results Childhood smoking experience during ages 6 to 19 in the 1970s and 1980s was classifiable in 6687 i3C participants who also provided smoking status in their twenties and forties through 2011-2018.

Fatty Acid Binding Protein-4 and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

Background FABP-4 (fatty acid binding protein-4) is a lipid chaperone in adipocytes and has been associated with prognosis in selected clinical populations. We investigated the associations between circulating FABP-4, risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and risk of CVD mortality among older adults with and without established CVD. Methods and Results In the Cardiovascular Health Study, we measured FABP4 levels in stored specimens from the 1992-993 visit and followed participants for incident CVD if they were free of prevalent CVD at baseline and for CVD mortality through June 2015.

Effects of human urine-derived stem cells on the cementogenic differentiation of indirectly-cocultured periodontal ligament stem cells.

Human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have been widely applied as seed cells and cell sheets in periodontal tissue regeneration. Despite significant progress in PDLSCs application, it is a major challenge to promote cell proliferation and multiple differentiations of PDLSCs because cell numbers at the initial obtaining are limited. The goal of study was to determine the paracrine effects of human urine-derived stem cells (USCs) on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs when USCs were indirectly-co-cultured with PDLSCs.

Silver nanoparticles selectively treat triple-negative breast cancer cells without affecting non-malignant breast epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show promise for treatment of aggressive cancers including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in preclinical cancer models. For clinical development of AgNP-based therapeutics, it will be necessary to clearly define the specific physicochemical features of the nanoparticles that will be used, and to tie these properties to biological outcomes. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed thorough structure/function, mechanistic, safety, and efficacy studies to assess the potential for AgNPs to treat TNBC.

Refugees in the media: Exploring a vicious cycle of frustrated psychological needs, selective exposure, and hostile intergroup attitudes.

Two research objectives underlay the present research. First, we tested how frustrated psychological needs caused by the refugee-influx influence the endorsement and selection of refugee-relevant information. Second, we tested how information selection processes contribute to the development of exclusionary attitudes that counteract the integration of refugees into host countries.

Cardiac Biomarkers and Risk of Incident Heart Failure in Chronic Kidney Disease: The CRIC (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort) Study.

Background Cardiac biomarkers may signal mechanistic pathways involved in heart failure (HF), a leading complication in chronic kidney disease. We tested the associations of NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT), galectin-3, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and soluble ST2 (sST2) with incident HF in chronic kidney disease. Methods and Results We examined adults with chronic kidney disease enrolled in a prospective, multicenter study.

Cardiac Biomarkers and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Kidney Disease: The CRIC Study.

Background We tested associations of cardiac biomarkers of myocardial stretch, injury, inflammation, and fibrosis with the risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in a prospective study of chronic kidney disease patients. Methods and Results The study sample was 3053 participants with chronic kidney disease in the multicenter CRIC (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort) study who were not identified as having AF at baseline. Cardiac biomarkers, measured at baseline, were NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), high-sensitivity troponin T, galectin-3, growth differentiation factor-15, and soluble ST-2.

Impact of Body Weight Dynamics Following Intentional Weight Loss on Fracture Risk: Results from The Action for Health in Diabetes Study.

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of body weight change following intentional weight loss on incident fracture and bone mineral density (BMD) in overweight and obese adults with diabetes. A total of 1885 individuals with type 2 diabetes (baseline age: 58.5 ± 6.

Metabolomics Profiling of Visceral Adipose Tissue: Results From MESA and the NEO Study.

Background Identifying associations between serum metabolites and visceral adipose tissue ( VAT ) could provide novel biomarkers of VAT and insights into the pathogenesis of obesity-related diseases. We aimed to discover and replicate metabolites reflecting pathways related to VAT . Methods and Results Associations between fasting serum metabolites and VAT area (by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) were assessed with cross-sectional linear regression of individual-level data from participants in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis; discovery, N=1103) and the NEO (Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity) study (replication, N=2537).

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: The teaching.

Objective Of The Review: Robot assisted Radical prostatectomy (RARP) has generated a new trend in the binomial teaching/learning, grouping these techniques in training modules such as theoretical learning, practice, personalized counseling, and modern tools like simulation and practice in virtual models. This review summarizes the current trend in the teaching process of RARP. RECENT FINDINGS: Current trends in the acquisition of the RARP learning curve is to provide the Urologist with a well-structured teaching process, implementing gradual training modules, which make possible to understand all aspects of the development of prostate surgery with a robotic system.

Circulating Very Long-Chain Saturated Fatty Acids and Heart Failure: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

Background Circulating very-long-chain saturated fatty acids ( VLSFAs ) are integrated biomarkers of diet and metabolism that may point to new risk pathways and potential targets for heart failure ( HF ) prevention. The associations of VLSFA to HF in humans are not known. Methods and Results Using a cohort study design, we studied the associations of serially measured plasma phospholipid VLSFA with incident HF in the Cardiovascular Health Study.