Distal Location Research Articles

Obesity Is Associated with Distal Migration of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma to Body and Tail: A Multi-Center Study.

(1) Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is one of the most lethal types of cancer. Most cases of PAC occur in the head of the pancreas. Given the proximity of the pancreatic head to the bile duct, most patients present clinically during early stages of the disease, while distally located PAC could have delayed clinical presentation. (2) Aims: To assess predictors of non-head PAC. (3) Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted, including all patients who had endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for pancreatic masses and who had histologic confirmation of PAC. (4) Results: Of the 151 patients included, 92 (60.9%) had pancreatic head cancer, and 59 (39.1%) had distal pancreatic cancer. PAC at body was the most common location in the distal PAC group (31 patients (52.5%)). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association of obesity with distal migration of PAC (OR 4.44, 95% CI 1.15-17.19, p = 0.03), while none of the other assessed parameters showed a significant association. Notably, abdominal pain was more significantly associated with distal PAC vs. head location (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.32-6.16, p = 0.008). (5) Conclusions: Obesity shows a significant association as a clinical predictor of distal PAC. Further studies are needed to better explore this association.

Endovascular reconstruction of high cervical and long-segment carotid artery dissections with Leo plus stent.

Endovascular reconstruction has emerged as a viable alternative for carotid artery dissections (CADs) that are unresponsive to antithrombotic therapy. However, high cervical and long-segment CADs pose challenges during endovascular treatment due to their distal location and tortuous anatomy. We presented our experiences using endovascular reconstruction with the Leo plus stent for this type of CAD. We conducted a retrospective review of patients with high cervical and long-segment CADs treated using the Leo plus stent. We analyzed patient demographics, clinical presentations, procedural features, complications, and follow-up outcomes. A total of 17 patients (mean age, 48.1years) with 17 CADs were identified. Seven of these dissections were accompanied by pseudoaneurysm. The mean length of the dissection was 5.7cm, and the mean degree of stenosis was 92.3%. A single Leo plus stent was deployed in 15 patients, while another Wallstent carotid stent was used in 2 cases. All stents were successfully positioned in their intended sites. The average degree of residual stenosis was 22.2%. There were no perioperative complications. With a median follow-up duration of 29months, no ischemic stroke events occurred. All but one Leo plus stent remained patent during follow-up, and all 7 pseudoaneurysms had disappeared at the last radiological assessment. Our experience in treating high cervical and long-segment CADs with the Leo plus stent demonstrates that this approach is practical, safe, and effective, as evidenced by long-term observations. The Leo Plus stent appears to be a suitable option for managing this type of CAD.

Prevalence and predictors of stone passage after double J stenting for symptomatic ureteral stones: a cross-sectional, real-life study.

To evaluate the rate of and predictors of stone passage (SP) after urgent retrograde stenting for symptomatic ureteral stones. We retrospectively analysed data from 249 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department for symptomatic ureteral stones and treated with retrograde stenting. Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected. Stones parameters were collected before stenting and SP was evaluated at 1month with computerized tomography. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models tested the association between predictors and SP. Overall, median (IQR) age and stone diameter were 56 (45-68) years and 7.1 (4.4-9.8) mm, respectively. Stones were located in the proximal, mid and distal ureter in 102 (41.0%), 48 (19.3%) and 99 (39.8%) cases. SP was observed in 65 (26.2%) individuals. Stone diameter (3.2 vs. 7.7mm, p < 0.001) and stone density (416 vs. 741, p < 0.001) were lower and a higher rate of distal stones (76.9% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.001) was found in the SP group compared to that with persistent stones. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that distal ureteral stone location (OR 7.9, p < 0.01) and lower HU (OR 0.9, p < 0.01) were associated with SP, after accounting for stone volume. Patients with a distal stone of 500 HU had a 75% probability of SP. Stone passage occurred in 26% of patients with indwelling stent due to symptomatic ureteral stones. Lower stone density and distal stone location were independent predictors of stone passage. Patients with these criteria should be managed with follow-up imaging and stent removal instead of ureteroscopy.

A mini-review: valuable allies for human health: probiotic strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri

The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. One of the most well studied probiotics is Limosilactobacillus reuteri, a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that colonizes the mucosal surfaces of mammals and birds and is considered autochthonous to the human microbiome. Genetic analyses have confirmed that this microorganism has co-evolved with its host, a prerequisite for the development of a mutualistic relation. On the one hand, L. reuteri contributes to the health of the host by releasing antimicrobial compounds, such as reuterin, and numerous active metabolites that can cross the epithelial barrier and reach different targets. Secondly, it can directly prevent the mucosal colonization by pathogenic bacteria helping in the prevention and restoration of dysbiosis due to the capability of forming biofilm. The characterization of numerous effector molecules produced by L. reuteri has provided a broad understanding of the mechanisms by which it not only displays antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities within the gastrointestinal tract but can also influence the correct balance of distal locations of the body. This mini-review carries out a brief overview relating to the most well-known properties of L. reuteri highlighting the main biological processes involved.

Endovenous laser ablation of great saphenous vein and pharmacotherapy of acute ascending thrombophlebitis: results of a three-month follow-up

Aim. In patients with acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein and/or its large tributaries, assess the incidence of venous thrombosis progression over 3 months with 1,5-month fondaparinux sodium therapy and endovenous laser ablation of the saphenofemoral junction in combination with short-term (7-day) anticoagulant therapy or without anticoagulation.Material and methods. This single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label study included data from 91 patients with acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein and/or its large tributaries, of which 30 were in the group of endovenous laser ablation without anticoagulation, 32 — in the group of endovenous laser ablation in combination with 7-day fondaparinux therapy, and 29 — in the 1,5-month fondaparinux therapy group. Venous thrombosis progression rate within 90±2 days was assessed. Compression ultrasonography of lower limb veins was performed on days 7±2, 45±2 and 90±2 after randomization, as well as in case of thrombosis progression suspicion.Results. The mean age of patients was 49,4±14,2 years. There were more women (73,6%). There was a low prevalence of risk factors for the development and progression of venous thrombosis: obesity — 6,6%, type 2 diabetes — in 2 patients, class 2 heart failure — in 1, autoimmune disease (scleroderma in remission) — in 1, prior cancer — in 1. Previous episodes of thrombophlebitis were noted in 3 cases (3,3%). Following external factors provoking venous thrombosis were identified in 19 patients (20,9%): lower leg injury in 14, high physical activity in 3, long flight in 1, recent coronavirus disease 2019 in 1. Median duration of thrombophlebitis manifestations was 6 days. Thrombosis was located in the trunk of the great saphenous vein in 96,7% of patients, while large tributaries were involved in 29,7%. The median distance from the thrombus proximal part to the saphenofemoral junction was 42,5 cm. Over 90±2 days, there were no cases of involvement of the suprafascial segment of the perforating vein in thrombosis to the fascia level, spread of thrombosis to the deep veins, or pulmonary embolism. Subsequently, a new episode of superficial vein thrombosis was noted only in 2 patients from the pharmacotherapy group with a history of thrombophlebitis.Conclusion. In patients with a low risk of venous thrombosis progression and predominantly distal location of acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein and/or its large tributaries after endovenous laser ablation, progression of venous thrombosis is not expected over the next 3 months, despite an anticoagulation reduction to 7 days or its refusal.

Pretreatment parameters associated with hemorrhagic transformation among successfully recanalized medium vessel occlusions.

Although pretreatment radiographic biomarkers are well established for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) following successful mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes, they are yet to be explored for medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) acute ischemic strokes. We aim to investigate pretreatment imaging biomarkers representative of collateral status, namely the hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) index, and their association with HT in successfully recanalized MeVOs. A prospectively collected registry of acute ischemic stroke patients with MeVOs successfully recanalized with MT between 2019 and 2023 was retrospectively reviewed. A multivariate logistic regression for HT of any subtype was derived by combining significant univariate predictors into a forward stepwise regression with minimization of Akaike information criterion. Of 60 MeVO patients successfully recanalized with MT, HT occurred in 28.3% of patients. Independent factors for HT included: diabetes mellitus history (p = 0.0005), CBV index (p = 0.0071), and proximal versus distal occlusion location (p = 0.0062). A multivariate model with these factors had strong diagnostic performance for predicting HT (area under curve [AUC] 0.93, p < 0.001). Lower CBV indexes, distal occlusion location, and diabetes history are significantly associated with HT in MeVOs successfully recanalized with MT. Of note, HIR was not found to be significantly associated with HT.

Comparative Characterization of Pseudoroegneria libanotica and Pseudoroegneria tauri Based on Their Repeatome Peculiarities.

Pseudoroegneria species play an important role among Triticeae grasses, as they are the putative donors of the St genome in many polyploid species. Satellite repeats are widely used as a reliable tool for tracking evolutionary changes because they are distributed throughout the genomes of plants. The aim of our work is to perform a comparative characterization of the repeatomes of the closely related species Ps. libanotica and Ps. tauri, and Ps. spicata was also included in the analysis. The overall repeatome structures of Ps. libanotica, Ps. tauri, and Ps. spicata were similar, with some individual peculiarities observed in the abundance of the SIRE (Ty1/Copia) retrotransposons, Mutator and Harbinger transposons, and satellites. Nine new satellite repeats that have been identified from the whole-genome sequences of Ps. spicata and Ps. tauri, as well as the CL244 repeat that was previously found in Aegilops crassa, were localized to the chromosomes of Ps. libanotica and Ps. tauri. Four satellite repeats (CL69, CL101, CL119, CL244) demonstrated terminal and/or distal localization, while six repeats (CL82, CL89, CL168, CL185, CL192, CL207) were pericentromeric. Based on the obtained results, it can be assumed that Ps. libanotica and Ps. tauri are closely related species, although they have individual peculiarities in their repeatome structures and patterns of satellite repeat localization on chromosomes. The evolutionary fate of the identified satellite repeats and their related sequences, as well as their distribution on the chromosomes of Triticeae species, are discussed. The newly developed St genome chromosome markers developed in the present research can be useful in population studies of Ps. libanotica and Ps. tauri; auto- and allopolyploids that contain the St genome, such as Thinopyrum, Elymus, Kengyilia, and Roegneria; and wide hybrids between wheat and related wild species.

Clinical features of pulmonary embolism in patients with previous recent COVID-19 infection

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most significant thromboembolic complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several studies have demonstrated the clinical features of PE in patients in the acute phase of COVID-19. The features of the course of PE diagnosed after an acute infection have not been sufficiently studied.&#x0D; AIM: To study the clinical picture of PE that occurred within 3 months after COVID-19.&#x0D; METHODS: A retrospective study was completed. Patients were hospitalized with a diagnosis of PE between January 2020 and December 2021. Two subgroups were formed: with a history of recent (up to 3 months) COVID-19 infection and without a history of COVID-19.&#x0D; RESULTS: Of the 278 patients hospitalized with PE, 44 had anamnesis of COVID-19, and 69 had no anamnesis of infection. In the remaining 165 patients with PE, determining the presence or absence of a history of COVID-19 was impossible. In the analysis of the clinical picture and examination results of 44 patients with COVID-19, distal localization of thrombotic lung lesions was predominant, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities was lower, and right heart lesions were noted. A tendency toward the presence of diabetes mellitus, anemia, and thrombocytopenia was found.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: Patients with PE and history of COVID-19 have features of clinical presentation. The identified signs are consistent with the results of studies that have evaluated the course and clinical signs of PE in the acute period of COVID-19. Similar manifestations may indicate a significant effect of COVID-19 on PE signs both during and after the acute period of COVID-19. Clinical features were determined by the severity of the previous infection.

The impact of sex on treatment and outcome in relation to histological subtype in patients with resectable gastric cancer: Results from the randomized CRITICS trial.

This study aims to investigate the impact of sex on outcome measures stratified by histological subtype in patients with resectable gastric cancer (GC). A post-hoc analysis of the CRITICS-trial, in which patients with resectable GC were treated with perioperative therapy, was performed. Histopathological characteristics and survival were evaluated for males and females stratified for histological subtype (intestinal/diffuse). Additionally, therapy-related toxicity and compliance were compared. Data from 781 patients (523 males) were available for analyses. Female sex was associated with a distal tumor localization in intestinal (p = 0.014) and diffuse tumors (p < 0.001), and younger age in diffuse GC (p = 0.035). In diffuse GC, tumor-positive resection margins were also more common in females than males (21% vs. 10%; p = 0.020), specifically at the duodenal margin. During preoperative chemotherapy, severe toxicity occurred in 327 (63%) males and 184 (71%) females (p = 0.015). Notwithstanding this, relative dose intensities were not significantly different between sexes. Positive distal margin rates were higher in females with diffuse GC, predominantly at the duodenal site. Females also experience more toxicity, but this neither impacts dose intensities nor surgical resection rates. Clinicians should be aware of these different surgical outcomes when treating males and females with GC.

Low incidence of microsatellite instability in gastric cancers and its association with the clinicopathological characteristics: a comparative study

Gastric cancer is a complex heterogeneous disease with different molecular subtypes that have clinical implications. It is characterized by high mortality rates and limited effective therapies. Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been recognized as a subgroup with a good prognosis based on TCGA and ACRG categorizations. Besides its prognostic and predictive value, gastric cancers with high MSI exhibit different clinical behaviors. The prevalence of high MSI has been assessed in gastric cancer worldwide, especially in East Asia, but there is a lack of such information in the Middle East. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the incidence and status of MSI in Iranian gastric cancer patients using 53 samples collected from 2015 to 2020 at Taleghani Hospital Medical Center. DNA from tumoral and normal tissues were extracted and assessed through multiplex-PCR based on five mononucleotide repeats panel. Clinicopathological variables, including age, sex, Lauren classification, lymph node involvement, TNM stage, differentiation, localization, and tumor size, were also analyzed. With 2 males and 2 females, high microsatellite instability represented a small subgroup of almost 7.5% of the samples with a median age of 60.5 years. High microsatellite instability phenotypes were significantly associated with patients aged 68 years and older (p‑value of 0.0015) and lower lymph node involvement (p‑value of 0.0004). Microsatellite instability was also more frequent in females, with distal gastric location, bigger tumor size, and in the intestinal type of gastric cancer rather than the diffuse type.

The Safety and Efficacy of Leo Stents with Coiling or Alone for Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysms.

Treatment of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysms is still not well established. The Leo stent with blood flow direction is a retrievable stent for intracranial aneurysms, whereas it needs to be studied clearly in patients with ACA aneurysms. Consecutive patients with ACA aneurysms were retrospectively enrolled in three neurosurgical centers between January 2016 and October 2021. The data on demographics, aneurysm characteristics, symptom resolution, and postoperative course were collected and analyzed. The aneurysm occlusion status was appraised by Raymond-Ray Occlusion Class (RROC). A total of 57 patients with ACA aneurysms were included in our study. Immediate postprocedural angiograms showed that 20 aneurysms (35.1%) were in complete occlusion (RROC 1), 26 aneurysms (45.6%) were in near-complete occlusion (RROC 2), 11 aneurysms (19.3%) were in incomplete occlusion (RROC 3). The angiographic follow-up found that the rate of complete occlusion increased to 57.9%, and near-completion and incomplete occlusion dropped to 29.8% and 12.3%, respectively. The angiographic result of the last follow-up improved significantly (Z=- 2.805, P=0.005). Univariate analysis indicated that distal location of aneurysms (Z=4.538, P=0.033) and ruptured aneurysms (χ2=.6120, P=0.032) were potential risk factors for intra-parent artery narrowing. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis found that A3 aneurysms (95% CI 1.427~32.744, P=0.016) are the key risk factor for intra-parent artery narrowing. The Leo stent is safe and effective for aneurysms located in ACA circulations. The overall occlusion degree improved during follow-up. A distal, small artery was the risk factor for intra-parent artery narrowing.

The effect of amplitude-modulation methods and speaker gender on monosyllable articulation by distantly-presented bone-conducted ultrasound

Bone-conducted ultrasound (BCU) can be heard and can transmit speech information using amplitude-modulation (AM). Additionally, BCU can be heard even on distal-parts of the body; e.g., the neck, trunk, and upper limbs. Since transmission path of the distantly-presented BCU is much longer and complicated than the ordinary-BCU presented to the head, it may contain tissues with strong nonlinearity like cartilages and generate some amount of self-demodulation components. Previous studies have indicated that the self-demodulation components contribute to improve the hearing of distantly-presented AM-BCU, however, self-demodulation components are thought to be affected by AM-methods and modulator characteristics. In this study, effects of the AM-methods and the speaker-gender on distantly-presented AM-BCU hearing were assessed by Japanese mono-syllable articulation testsin seven normal-hearing subjects. The articulation generally decreased as the presentation location moved away from the head, whereas the neck showed higher than the mastoid in some conditions. Effects of AM-methods on the articulationwere similarto those observed in the previous study on ordinary-BCU (DSB-TC ≒ Transposed ≫ SSB, DSB-SC). Also, female-voice showed higher articulation than male-voice, especially in the distal locations. The results suggested that self-modulation components have significant effect, although the AM-methods affect dominantly on hearing of the distantly-presented AM-BCU.

Clinical consequence of vessel perforations during endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke can be complicated by vessel perforation. We studied the incidence and determinants of vessel perforations. In addition, we studied the association of vessel perforations with functional outcome, and the association between location of perforation on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and functional outcome, using a large EVT registry. We included all patients in the MR CLEAN Registry who underwent EVT. We used DSA to determine whether EVT was complicated by a vessel perforation. We analyzed the association with baseline clinical and interventional parameters using logistic regression models. Functional outcome was measured using the modified Rankin Scale at 90days. The association between vessel perforation and angiographic imaging features and functional outcome was studied using ordinal logistic regression models adjusted for prognostic parameters. These associations were expressed as adjusted common odds ratios (acOR). Vessel perforation occurred in 74 (2.6%) of 2794 patients who underwent EVT. Female sex (aOR 2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.2)) and distal occlusion locations (aOR 2.2 (95% CI 1.3-3.5)) were associated with increased risk of vessel perforation. Functional outcome was worse in patients with vessel perforation (acOR 0.38 (95% CI 0.23-0.63)) compared to patients without a vessel perforation. No significant association was found between location of perforation and functional outcome. The incidence of vessel perforation during EVT in this cohort was low, but has severe clinical consequences. Female patients and patients treated at distal occlusion locations are at higher risk.

Activity-dependent ectopic action potentials in regular-spiking neurons of the neocortex.

Action potentials usually travel orthodromically along a neuron's axon, from the axon initial segment (AIS) toward the presynaptic terminals. Under some circumstances action potentials also travel in the opposite direction, antidromically, after being initiated at a distal location. Given their initiation at an atypical site, we refer to these events as "ectopic action potentials." Ectopic action potentials (EAPs) were initially observed in pathological conditions including seizures and nerve injury. Several studies have described regular-spiking (RS) pyramidal neurons firing EAPs in seizure models. Under nonpathological conditions, EAPs were reported in a few populations of neurons, and our group has found that EAPs can be induced in a large proportion of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons in the neocortex. Nevertheless, to our knowledge there have been no prior reports of ectopic firing in the largest population of neurons in the neocortex, pyramidal neurons, under nonpathological conditions. We performed in vitro recordings utilizing the whole-cell patch clamp technique. To elicit EAPs, we triggered orthodromic action potentialswith either long, progressively increasing current steps, or with trains of brief pulses at 30, 60, or 100 Hz delivered in 3 different ways, varying in stimulus and resting period duration. We found that a large proportion (72.7%) of neocortical RS cells from mice can fire EAPs after a specific stimulus in vitro, and that most RS cells (56.1%) are capable of firing EAPs across a broad range of stimulus conditions. Of the 37 RS neurons in which we were able to elicit EAPs, it took an average of 863.8 orthodromic action potentials delivered over the course of an average of ~81.4 s before the first EAP was seen. We observed that some cells responded to specific stimulus frequencies while less selective, suggesting frequency tuning in a subset of the cells. Our findings suggest that pyramidal cells can integrate information over long time-scales before briefly entering a mode of self-generated firing that originates in distal axons. The surprising ubiquity of EAP generation in RS cells raises interesting questions about the potential roles of ectopic spiking in information processing, cortical oscillations, and seizure susceptibility.

Abstract 002: Examining Pulling Force Using Combined Stentreiver and Aspiration Technique in a Medium Vessel Thrombectomy Model

Introduction With the advent of smaller stent retrievers (SR) and aspiration catheters (AC) capable of accessing more distal locations, distal and medium vessel occlusions (DMVO) are emerging as promising targets for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). However, considering the vulnerability of distal vessels to injury, it is imperative to understand the safety of various frontline techniques in these challenging scenarios. Using a vascular flow model, we sought to investigate the optimal size, strategy, and positioning of a stent retriever and aspiration catheter to minimize the pulling force exerted on the M2 vasculature. Methods We used a silicone vascular flow model with moderate tortuosity that replicated the left‐sided anterior circulation, including middle cerebral artery (MCA) branches in the M2 territory. An 8 French Cook Shuttle guide sheath was inserted coaxially with a Catalyst 7‐132 cm aspiration catheter and TrevoTrak 21 microcatheter. To measure pulling force, an Imada force gauge DST‐1A was placed at the M2 and a DST‐11A at the proximal end of the microcatheter. The Solitaire 4x20 mm Solitaire stent‐retriever was pulled at 4 mm/sec with the AC in the proximal cavernous carotid segment (NoAsp), proximal M1 (M1P), and distal M1 (M1D), a total of 8 times per AC position, using the ingestion technique. The pinching technique was also examined using the 4x20mm stent. Results The average pulling force measured on M2 using the 4x20mm stent was 169.1mN with the AC docked in the proximal NoAsp position, 26.5mN with the AC at M1P, and 23.0mN at M1D (p&lt;0.0001). The difference in pulling force between M1P and M1D was not significant (p=0.472). The average pulling force exerted on M2 from pinching the 4x20mm stent with the AC at M1D, rather than ingestion of the stent at M1D, was 62.9mN. Average pulling force was noted to decrease from the first to the last run in most cases, with an average drop of 26.4% at the fourth run. Conclusion ADAPT and stent‐retrieval have recently been shown to be comparable in DMVO (1), however some studies have suggested a combined approach may reduce bleeding complications compared to stent‐retrieval alone (2). In our in‐vitro model, we demonstrated that positioning the AC in M1 (M1D or M1P) reduced the pulling force exerted by the stent‐retriever on M2 compared with AC placement in the cavernous carotid (NoAsp). The pulling force exerted from pinching the 4x20mm stent with the AC at M1D was higher than with the ingestion technique, for which the explanation is uncertain, but may be due to the additional friction in the M1 segment. Taken together, these findings suggest a combined approach decreases frictional pulling force during stent‐retrieval and is safer than SR alone. We also note that the pulling force of each stent decreased after its third usage, in line with the manufacturer’s instructions for use, which suggest no more than 3 retrievals per stent (3). Future experiments will compare a wider range of techniques using stents of varying sizes to better clarify factors associated with decreased pulling force in EVT.

In vitro effect of horseshoe length on hoof wall deformation, expansion, and strain

Abstract Shoeing techniques have the potential to affect hoof growth, causing abnormal hoof conformations, which in turn put affected horses at risk for lameness and injury. Racehorses are often shod with shorter shoe branches which may predispose them to underrun heel hoof conformation. Horseshoe branch length was tested to determine the effect on hoof wall deformations, expansion, strain and fetlock extension during midstance limb loading. Our hypotheses were that shortening of the shoe branch length would increase fetlock extension, increase compressive strains at the heel, and change principal strain directions in a proximodorsal direction. Nine cadaveric forelimbs were loaded in vitro to simulate mid-stance from walk to canter loads. Analysis of variance was used to assess the effect of horseshoe (no shoe, short shoe, full shoe, and long shoe) on outcome variables. Hoof wall expansion and lateral hoof wall distortion did not differ among treatments. Principal compressive hoof wall strain magnitudes were greater than principal tensile strain magnitudes. As shoe length increased principal compressive strains decreased, except for the middle quarter location; shear strains increased for distal locations and decreased at the proximal heel location; and principal strain directions viewed on the lateral side of the right hoof rotated in a counterclockwise direction at middle and distal quarter locations. Results do not provide evidence that a shorter shoe increases fetlock extension. Additionally, as the shorter shoe had similar strain results to that of an unshod hoof, it is unclear if a shorter shoe could lead to the development of abnormal hoof conformations. Other factors that may play a role in changes of hoof conformation including surface type, amount of exercise and frequency of trimming as well as other planes within the xyz coordinate system for the fetlock and hoof should be investigated.

Origin of the Saibo-Lamasu Skarn Cu deposit, Western Tianshan, Xinjiang, NW China: Evidence from geology, mineral chemistry, fluid inclusions, stable isotopes, and organic geochemistry

The Saibo-Lamasu Cu deposit is the largest skarn Cu deposit in Western Tianshan, Xinjiang, NW China. The Cu orebodies are predominantly hosted in the contact zone between the oxidized granodiorite porphyry (lg fO2 = FMQ + 1.4 to 4.4) and reduced carbonaceous limestones (effective source rocks, TOC = 0.19 to 0.32 %). Three hydrothermal stages have been recognized: (1) The pre-ore stage skarn minerals in the proximal locations are dominated by andradite (And84Gro15Pyr1) and diopside (Di76-81Hd17-23Jo1-2), while that in the distal locations are mainly wollastonite, grossular (And15Gro83Pyr2), and hedenbergite (Di31-35Hd64-68Jo1-2). The coexistence of halite-bearing multiphase and vapor-rich fluid inclusions have similar total homogenization temperatures (Th) indicating that fluid boiling happened during this stage. (2) The syn-ore stage is typified by abundant sulfides and quartz. The coexistence of fluid inclusions representing trapped vapor (vapor-rich fluid inclusions) and liquid phases (liquid-rich fluid inclusions) showing similar Th implies the occurrence of a later boiling. (3) The non-boiling fluid inclusions in post-ore stage calcite are dominated by the liquid-rich fluid inclusions that have variable Th and relatively consistent salinities. The hydrothermal fluids are mainly magmatic water, the positive δ34S values of sulfides could reflect magmatic sulfur influenced by the interaction with wall rocks. The CH4 generated by the thermal pyrolysis of organic matter in carbonaceous limestones was dissolved in oxidized magmatic fluids that contributed to the change of skarn mineral assemblage and fluid characteristics on the temporal and spatial scales at the Saibo-Lamasu skarn Cu deposit.

In vitro efficacy of a topical antimicrobial mousse and shampoo at proximal and distal hair locations against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi.

Topical therapy is essential in assisting with the resolution of pyoderma. (i) Evaluate the in vitro efficacy and residual activity of two different hair segments treated with shampoo and mousse against meticillin-sensitive and meticillin-resistant staphylococci; (ii) compare proximal and distal hair portions treated with the products and (iii) describe a new disc diffusion method for assessing residual efficacy. Eleven privately owned, medium-haired dogs. In this randomised, blinded and negatively controlled study, dogs were treated once with a 3% chlorhexidine digluconate-0.5% ophytrium shampoo on the lateral thorax, and the corresponding mousse on the opposite side. Hairs were plucked before treatment, two hours post-treatment, and day (D)2, D4, D7, D10 and D14. Hairs were weighed (0.01 g) and cut (1.0 cm) from the proximal portion, moistened with saline and placed on a sterile diffusion disc to absorb the solution. Proximal and distal hair bundles and diffusion discs were placed onto agar inoculated with an isolate of meticillin-sensitive or meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius or Staphylococcus schleiferi. Inhibition zones were measured following incubation. Distal hairs had larger (p < 0.001) inhibition zones compared to proximal hairs. Mousse had significant differences (p < 0.05) between time points and locations for both the hair bundles and discs, while shampoo only had a significant difference (p < 0.001) between time points for the hairs. Mousse was effective, and shampoo was only minimally effective in inhibiting bacterial growth in vitro, with the greatest effect occurring at the two hours time point. The distal hair shafts had greater inhibition.

Colorectal Cancer: From Risk Factors to Oncogenesis.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Numerous pathophysiological mechanisms, such as abnormal cell proliferation, cell differentiation, resistance to apoptosis, invasion of structures adjacent to colorectal tumor cells, and distant metastasis, are involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. These processes are initiated by the complex interaction of a number of genetic and environmental factors, including sedentary lifestyle, obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking, or gut microbiota. Despite the significant progress achieved in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with colorectal cancer, there has been recently a noteworthy increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in individuals below the age of 50 years. Early-onset colorectal cancer has a different frequency of oncogenic mutations, a higher prevalence of mucinous histology, a distinct deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation profile, a more distal location, and lower survival rates. A significant improvement in the prognosis of these patients can be achieved through the detection and removal of modifiable risk factors, along with the implementation of personalized screening strategies for individuals at high risk for this malignancy. Furthermore, gaining comprehension of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which these risk factors contribute to the process of oncogenesis may facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.

Effects of racket moment of inertia on racket head speed, impact location and shuttlecock speed during the badminton smash

How the racket properties impact performance of the badminton smash is relatively unknown, and further insight could help players/coaches select the most appropriate racket. Three-dimensional position data of the racket and shuttlecock were collected (500 Hz) for 20 experienced badminton players performing a series of forehand smashes with five swingweight ({I}_{s}) perturbed rackets, ranging from 85–106 kg·cm2. {I}_{s} was calculated using a balance board and simple pendulum method, and modal analysis was performed using laser vibrometry to capture the fundamental frequency and distal node location for each racket. As {I}_{s} increased a reduction in racket head speed was found with on average a 0.7 m·s−1 decrease per 5 kg·cm2 increase in {I}_{s}, however this did not lead to slower shuttlecock speeds. The impact location tended to move closer to the tip as the fundamental frequency node moved closer to the tip (as {I}_{s} increased), providing some evidence that participants may subconsciously strike the shuttlecock at the node location to provide desirable sensory feedback. The increase in racket head speed but not shuttlecock speed was likely due to the distal increase in longitudinal impact location as {I}_{s} increased, as well as an increase in effective mass for a given impact location. Additionally, removal of the deformation component (additional racket head speed due to the racket noticeably bending and recovering) of racket head speed increased the effect size of the relationship with {I}_{s}, where rackets with greater {I}_{s} had larger deformation velocities. The research provides further insight into the smash performance characteristics of experienced badminton players, particularly based on racket properties. Further research is required to confirm the coincidence between node location and longitudinal impact location.