Invasive Removal Research Articles

601Is in-situ melanoma a precursor of invasive melanoma; a New Zealand study

Abstract Background Melanoma is diagnosed as either in-situ or invasive disease. The relationship between the two diseases is unclear. If every in-situ is an early stage of invasive melanoma, diagnosis and removal of in-situ lesions should reduce the incidence of invasive melanoma. If the association is more complex, the excision of in-situ lesions might not effectively prevent invasive disease and may represent overdiagnosis. Methods A population-based cohort study involved all patients diagnosed with either in-situ or invasive melanoma from the New Zealand Cancer Registry between 2001 and 2017. The pattern of in-situ and invasive melanoma was compared by incidence, trends, and key patient characteristics (age at diagnosis, sex, body site, and ethnicity). Results The incidence of in-situ melanoma increased annually by 3.77% whereas that of invasive melanoma was relatively stable (annual increase 0.04%) over the study period. The pattern of in-situ and invasive melanoma was similar by sex and ethnicity but differed by body site. Since the distribution of melanoma for age at diagnosis was highly influenced by body site and sex, it was difficult to compare between the two diseases. The observed risk of invasive melanoma among in-situ cohort was four times higher than that expected among general population. Conclusions Not every in-situ was a precursor of invasive melanoma, but some did progress to an invasive lesion. Key-messages Plans should be considered to compare the potential harms and benefits of the screening and excision of in-situ melanoma.

Minimally invasive removal of obstructive ureteral stones by lithotripsy in horses: Three cases

Minimally invasive removal of obstructive ureteral stones by lithotripsy in horses: Three cases

Plant diversity and community composition in managed humid coastal dune slacks in NW England.

Humid coastal dune slacks are an endangered habitat in Northwestern Europe. In the UK, dune slacks are currently classified as being in ‘unfavourable’ condition, with projected decrease in England of up to 30% by 2036. Studies in mainland Europe suggest that regional factors (e.g. slack area, age, and isolation) are more important than local factors (e.g. soil, pH, soil nutrient and water status) in driving successional vegetation processes in coastal slacks. However, this has never been tested for the UK, where approximately 14% of European slacks occur. We used previously established survey protocols to test whether regional factors are more important than local factors in UK coastal slacks, along the Sefton Coast in NW England. We found that slack area and slack age were more important than local factors in driving plant community composition and species richness. We also showed that higher levels of management, such as active grazing and invasive shrub and tree removal, are effective in increasing soil moisture levels in slacks. Our results suggest that similar successional processes are likely to be important in slacks in the NW of England, compared to mainland Europe.

Characteristics of fish-bone foreign bodies in the upper aero-digestive tract: The importance of identifying the species of fish.

BackgroundFish bones are common foreign bodies in the upper aero-digestive tract, but their clinical features in relation to fish species have not been confirmed. We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of fish-bone foreign bodies and their location and removal methods depending on the fish species.Study designRetrospective, observational, monocentric study.MethodsFrom October 2015 to May 2020, 368 patients visited the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Tohoku University Hospital complaining of dysphagia, sore throat, or pharyngeal discomfort after eating fish. We analyzed the patients’ sex and age distribution, foreign-body location, type of the fish, and the techniques used for removing the foreign body.ResultsFish bones were confirmed in the upper aero-digestive tract in 270 cases (73.4%), of which 236 (87.4%) involved fish-bone foreign bodies in the mesopharynx. The most frequently involved site was the palatine tonsil (n = 170). Eel was the most frequently observed fish species (n = 39), followed by mackerel (n = 33), salmon (n = 33), horse mackerel (n = 30), and flounder (n = 30). Among the 240 cases in which the bones did not spontaneously dislocate, 109 (45.4%) were treated by endoscopic removal (103 cases) or surgery (6 cases). In pediatric cases (<12 years old), almost all fish bones were found in the mesopharynx (138/139, 99.3%), and 31 cases (22.3%) required endoscopic removal. Flounder fish bones were often lodged in the hypopharynx and esophagus (9/30, 30%), hindering spontaneous dislocation and frequently necessitating endoscopic or surgical removal (19/29, 65.5%).ConclusionThe characteristics of fish-bone foreign bodies differed depending on the fish species. Flounder bones were often stuck in the hypopharynx and esophagus and were likely to require more invasive removal methods. Confirming the species of the fish could facilitate appropriate diagnosis and treatment of fish-bone foreign bodies.

Integrated Tick Management in South Central Wisconsin: Impact of Invasive Vegetation Removal and Host-Targeted Acaricides on the Density of Questing Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Nymphs.

As tick-borne disease incidence increases and pathogens expand into new areas, the need for effective tick management strategies is paramount. In this 5-yr study (2014-2018) conducted in south central Wisconsin, we assessed whether an integrated tick management approach, deployed during peak tick activity (May-August), was more effective at reducing black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae)), than individual interventions. Using a factorial design, invasive vegetation removal (Amur honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii Ruprecht (Dipsacales: Caprifoliaceae) and common buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica Linnaeus (Rosales: Rhamnaceae)) was coupled with deployments of permethrin-treated cotton nesting materials (tick tubes) that target the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque (Rodentia: Cricetidae)). Results show that the probability of encountering a larval tick by drag sampling was unaffected by treatments at the cumulative 5-yr level. However, vegetation removal significantly reduced larval encounters in 2014, 2015, and 2018, by 33%, 57%, and 61% respectively, and reduced the density of questing nymphal (DON) ticks by 45% in 2015 compared to controls. Despite the limited effect on DON, vegetation removal significantly reduced the cumulative 5-yr density of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto infected nymphs (DIN) (70%) compared to controls as a result of decreased nymphal infection prevalence. Sites treated with tick tubes had lower DIN (66%) and DON (54%) across the study and nymphs were reduced every year following the initial year of deployment compared to controls. Combining treatments did not further reduce DIN or DONs. We conclude that long-term integration of tick tubes with invasive vegetation removal does not provide additional benefit over individual treatments alone.

The Seasonal Influence of Invasive Shrubs on Light and Temperature in an Eastern Deciduous Forest Understory

Invasive shrubs are flourishing in temperate, deciduous forest understories of eastern North America where resources, especially light, are limited. However, understory light is more available before the overstory canopy leaves emerge in the spring and after fall senescence. Extended leaf phenology of invasive shrubs in the spring and fall compared to native shrubs and the overstory canopy is conspicuous, as well as higher foliage abundance of invasive compared to native shrubs. Extended leaf phenology of invasive shrubs provides photosynthetic benefits, but also seasonally novel shade. Light and temperature regulate life history characteristics across taxa and influence ecosystem processes. Here, a long-term invasive shrub removal experiment is used to quantify the effect on light and air temperature over 3–4 y. There was a pattern of reduced maximum air temperature in the presence of invasive shrubs during the growing season of most years. We find less light energy infiltration (lumens m–2) below invasive shrubs than native shrubs with mean differences largest in the spring (–1981 [–2604, –1380], a 26.8% reduction relative to below natives). Differences diminish through summer (–1038 [–1221, –845]), fall (–547 [–660, –429]), and winter (–257 [–372, –151]). Invasive shrubs also filter more photosynthetically active radiation than natives (58.4 [38.5, 78.7] µmol m–2 s–1, a 39.4% reduction), but seasonal differences were not detected indicating denser canopy structure for invasive shrubs throughout the year. When compared to the native understory community, the presence of invasive shrubs seasonally reduces temperature and light availability near the forest floor, which could affect resident plant and animal species.

State of the ART: Using artificial refuge traps to control invasive crayfish in southern California streams.

Invasive species are a widespread threat to stream ecosystems across the planet. In Southern California, USA, the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) poses a significant threat to native aquatic fauna. Studies have suggested that artificial refuge traps (ARTs) resembling crayfish burrows can be used to remove invasive crayfish, but, to date, no studies have focused on optimizing ART design and deployment to maximize crayfish catch. This month-long study tested the effect of modifications on ART diameter, color, and soak time on P. clarkii catch effectiveness across 160 traps. We evaluated catch data by creating multiple candidate generalized linear mixed models predicting P. clarkii catches with different modeling parameterizations and a priori hypothesized predictor variables. During the study period, ARTs removed a total of 240 red swamp crayfish with no incidental bycatch. Larger P. clarkii (2-6-cm carapace length) were found more frequently in 5.1-cm-diameter traps, and smaller P. clarkii (1-4 cm) were found more frequently in 2.5-cm-diameter traps. Catch numbers varied between trap types, with black-colored 5.1-cm-diameter traps removing the greatest amount of the total P. clarkii caught in the study (mean = 0.27, SD = 0.29; 35% of the total caught) and black-colored 2.5-cm-diameter traps removing the least amount (mean = 0.09, SD = 0.55; 12% of the total). Further, ART deployment duration was an important predictor variable for candidate models, where ARTs with 4-d and 7-d deployment durations had lower catch/unit effort than traps with 1-d and 2-d deployments. This factorial experiment is the 1st study to suggest specific design modifications to ARTs that optimize invasive red swamp crayfish removal without incurring non-target incidental bycatch. This study demonstrates that ARTs can be a valuable tool for conservation managers interested in restoring streams through invasive crayfish removal, especially where there are sensitive biological resources.

To Establish a Healthy Forest: Restoration of the Forest Herb Layer on a Reclaimed Mine Site

Restoration efforts, such as invasive species removal and establishment of native flora, can be resource intensive. Therefore, understanding the effectiveness of restoration efforts can provide land managers with the confidence to pursue restoration. This study evaluated the effects of invasive species removal and compared active revegetation to passive revegetation in enhancing forest integrity on reclaimed surface coal mine land in southeastern Ohio. Surface coal mining occurred in the area from the 1940s to the 1980s, leaving a near continuous disturbance footprint of 3704.5 ha. This study occurred within 3.6 ha of the larger disturbance footprint where mining activity ceased and reclamation with tree planting occurred in the 1960s. Due to the disturbance, the site was prone to invasive species until their removal began in 2017. In spring 2019, 2 y following invasive species removal and 1 y following seeding and planting, we completed vegetation and bloom surveys across three treatments: managed forest with invasive species removed and subsequent native plantings (planted), managed forest with invasive species removed only (unplanted), and unmanaged forest (control). Our study found vegetative species diversity, vegetative species richness, and floral species richness and bloom time were enhanced for treatments in which invasive species were removed. The planted and unplanted treatments also supported understories comprising a different community composition when compared to control plots. However, no difference was found in community composition between planted and unplanted treatments despite application of active revegetation to support understory regeneration. Overall, results after 2 y support invasive species removal to improve the herbaceous layer of an understory, with more time likely needed for planted material to establish in order to distinguish between revegetation methods.

Recent Updates in Neurosurgical Interventions for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Minimally Invasive Surgery to Improve Surgical Performance.

The efficacy and safety of surgical treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have long been subjects of investigation and debate. The recent results of the minimally invasive surgery plus alteplase for intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation (MISTIE) III trial demonstrated the safety of the procedure and a reduction in mortality compared to medical treatment. Although no improvement in functional outcomes was shown, the trial elucidated that benefits of intervention depend on surgical performance: a greater ICH reduction, defined as ≤ 15 mL end of treatment ICH volume or ≥70% volume reduction, correlated with significant functional improvement. Recent meta-analyses suggested the benefits of neurosurgical hematoma evacuation, especially when performed earlier and done using minimally invasive procedures. In MISTIE III, to confirm hemostasis and reduce the risk of rebleeding, the mean time from onset to surgery and treatment completion took 47 and 123 h, respectively. Theoretically, the earlier the hematoma is removed, the better the outcome. Therefore, a higher rate of hematoma reduction within an earlier time course may be beneficial. Neuroendoscopic surgery enables less invasive removal of ICH under direct visualization. Minimally invasive procedures have continued to evolve with the support of advanced guidance systems and devices in favor of better surgical performance. Ongoing randomized controlled trials utilizing emerging minimally invasive techniques, such as the Early Minimally Invasive Removal of Intra Cerebral Hemorrhage (ENRICH) trial, Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgical Treatment with Apollo/Artemis in Patients with Brain Hemorrhage (INVEST) trial, and the Dutch Intracerebral Hemorrhage Surgery Trial (DIST), may provide significant information on the optimal treatment for ICH.

Can the native faunal communities be restored from removal of invasive plants in coastal ecosystems? A global meta-analysis.

Coastal ecosystems worldwide are being threatened by invasive plants in the context of global changes. However, how invasive plants influence native faunal communities and whether native faunal communities can recover following the invader removals/controls across global coastal ecosystems are still poorly understood. Here, we present the first global meta-analysis to quantify the impacts of Spartina species invasions on coastal faunal communities and further to evaluate the outcomes of Spartina species removals on faunal community recovery based on 74 independent studies. We found that invasive Spartina species generally decreased the biodiversity (e.g., species richness), but increased coastal faunal abundance (e.g., individual number) and fitness (e.g., biomass), though the effect on abundance was insignificant. The pattern of influence was strongly dependent on habitat types, faunal taxa, trophic levels, and feeding types. Specifically, Spartina species invasion of mudflats caused greater impacts than invasion of vegetated habitats. Insects and birds at higher trophic levels were strongly affected by invasive Spartina, indicating that invasive plant effects can cascade upward along the food chain. Additionally, impacts of Spartina invasions were more obvious on food specialists such as herbivores and carnivores. Furthermore, our analyses revealed that invader removals were overall beneficial for native faunal communities to recover from the displacement caused by Spartina invasions, but this recovery process depended on specific removal measure and time. For example, the long-term waterlogging had strong negative impacts on faunal recovery, so it should not be encouraged. Our findings suggest that invasive plants could have contrasting effects on functional responses of native faunal communities. Although invasive plant removals could restore native faunal communities, future functional restorations of invaded ecosystems should take the legacy effects of invasive species on native communities into account. These findings provide insightful implications for future scientific controls of invasive species and ecosystem restoration under intensifying global changes.

Immediate and long-term effects of invasive plant species on soil characteristics

Invasive plant species may alter soil characteristics or interact with the soil microbial community resulting in a competitive advantage. Our objectives were to determine: i) if invasive plant species alter soil properties; and ii) the long-term effects of invasive plant species on soil properties and subsequent implications on ecological restoration efforts. We focused on Lespedeza cuneata, a plant that may be allelopathic. Soil samples were collected from four locations in Central Missouri, USA: an old-field with abundant L. cuneata, two reconstructed sites, and a remnant prairie that has never been plowed. Soil health indictors were used to characterize soil properties at these sites. Nearly every soil property differed significantly between the unplowed prairie reference site and the other three sites. The reconstructed sites, however, generally did not differ from the invaded old-field. These results indicate that the reconstructed prairies are not fully recovered. Although above-ground traits, such as the plant community structure, appear similar to the prairie, the soil microbial community structure still resembles that of an invaded old-field site. These results indicate that more time may be needed before soil microbial populations fully recover after invasive plant removal.

Optical Signature Analysis of Liver Ablation Stages Exploiting Spatio-Spectral Imaging

Background and Objective: Thermal ablation modalities such as Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) / Microwave ablation (MWA) are deliberately used for marginally invasive tumor removal by escalating tissue temperature. For precise tumor extinguish, thermal ablation outcomes need routine monitoring for tissue necrosis in a challenging research task. The study aims to exploit hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to evaluate the impact of the liver tissue ablation. Materials and Methods: RFA with temperature range (≥80 °C) was accomplished on the ex vivo animal liver and evaluated using a spectral camera (400~1000 nm). The spectral signatures were extracted from the HSI data after the following processing steps: capturing three spectral data cubes for each liver sample with total 7-samples (before ablation, after ablation, and after ablation with sample slicing) using an HSI optical configuration. The custom HSI processing comprises “Top-hat and Bottom-hat transform” combined with “watershed transform” image segmentation to increase the intensity for a region of interest (ROI) of the investigated tissue, linking spectral and spatial data. Additionally, statistical analysis for HSI data was performed to exclusively select the best spectral band that discriminates between the normal, thermally-damaged, and ablated liver regions. Results: The variation of the optical parameters for the investigated liver samples provides variable interaction with the light diffuse reflection (Ŗd) over the spectrum range (400~1000 nm). Where, the extracting spectral information of the various tissue zones from the induced RFA linked to the hemoglobin, methemoglobin, and water permits variations. The generated spectral image after image enhancement utilizing “Top-hat and Bottom-hat transform” followed by “watershed segmentation”, showed high contrast between normal and thermal regions at a wavelength (600 nm). However, the wavelength (900 nm) shows a high variance between the normal and ablated regions. Finally, delineation of the thermal and ablated regions on the complemented enhanced image. Conclusion: HSI is considered a promising optical noninvasive technique for monitoring the RFA toward enhancing the ablation-based treatment for liver tumor outcomes.

Minimally invasive removal of a deep-positioned cannulated screw from the femoral neck: A case report

BACKGROUNDClinical femoral neck fracture is common. Based on patient age and fracture type, different surgical methods can be selected, including cannulated screw fixation of the femoral neck and artificial total hip joint or semi-hip joint replacement. When patients with femoral neck fracture are treated with cannulated screw fixation, a cannulated screw may be positioned too deep. The excessively deep-placed screw is difficult to remove and causes major trauma to the patient.CASE SUMMARYA patient with poliomyelitis and femoral neck fracture was treated with a cannulated screw that was placed too deep. A self-made auxiliary tool (made of a steel sternal wire) was used to remove the cannulated screw near the pelvic cavity.CONCLUSIONThe depth of the cannulated screw can be estimated before screw placement using an improved hollow screwdriver with a scale mark, thus improving the safety of screw placement and facilitating clinical use.

Laparoscopic removal of intravesically inserted transobturator tape.

The aim of this video is to provide a step-by-step description of our approach to the surgical management of intravesically localized transobturator tape after previous failure of repeated cystoscopic tape resection. This video presents a patient with tape erosion to the urinary bladder after repeated cystoscopic tape resection, recurrent stone formation, and repeated lithotripsy, with recurrent urinary tract infections and overactive bladder (OAB) with urgency incontinence. During the laparoscopy procedure tape was identified in the left obturator muscle, cut near the obturator muscle, and dissected up to the bladder wall. Afterward, a vertical 2-cm incision was made in the bladder wall, the stone was removed, and the rest of the tape was dissected from the bladder wall. A two-layer suture of the bladder wall was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. In follow-up visits 3 and 6months after surgery the patient was continent with no symptoms of OAB. Cystoscopic resection of protruded mesh is inadequate in many cases. In such cases the mesh should be removed from the urinary bladder wall completely. Laparoscopy allows minimally invasive complete removal of the tape, combining resection of the extravesical and intravesical parts of the tape.

Using meta-population models to guide conservation action

Biodiversity conservation is limited by resources, data, and time for execution. To maximize efficacy, it is best if conservation plans are strategically evaluated for cost, feasibility, and likely impact prior to implementation. We present a framework to systematically examine the likely impact of proposed conservation plans for threatened taxa. As a case study of this framework we use the national Action Plan for Seabird Conservation in New Zealand and 27 threatened seabirds identified for conservation interventions. To evaluate impact, we applied a recently developed seabird meta-population viability analysis model (seabird mPVA) that employs the most current population and adjustable demographic data to assess threatened seabird viability at a global scale under various management scenarios. This publicly available, web-based tool is intended to meet the needs of threatened seabird managers at the initial phase of conservation planning. We used the seabird mPVA to model population trends and potential seabird viability gains from conservation actions that include: bycatch mitigation, invasive species removal, and seabird translocation prescribed in the action plan for individual species. Our model’s ranking of New Zealand seabirds by current quasi-extinction vulnerability roughly correlated with the seabirds’ IUCN Red List status and New Zealand Threat Classification System. We found modeled conservation impact of proposed actions and assigned priority to be generally positively correlated, but variable in magnitude. If all prescribed conservations actions were implemented, our model predicted significant mitigation of quasi-extinction risk for nine species (Antipodean Albatross, Auckland Island Shag, Black-fronted Tern, Fairy Tern, Rough-faced Shag, Northern Royal Albatross, Pitt Island Shag, Stewart Island Shag, Yellow-eyed Penguin). This approach, and our model, can be adapted to other taxonomic groups to provide a consistent framing for the prioritization of species for conservation investment and predictions about the benefits of specific conservation actions for those species.

Invasion byAmmophila arenariaalters soil chemistry, leaving lasting legacy effects on restored coastal dunes in California

AbstractMany restoration projects rely on invasive plant removal to restore ecosystems. However, success of restoration efforts relying on invasive removal can be jeopardized, because in addition to displacing native plants, invasives can also dramatically impact soils. Many studies have documented invasives’ effects on soil chemistry and microbiota. While European beachgrass [Ammophila arenaria(L.) Link] is a worldwide invasive problem in coastal dunes outside northern Europe, little attention has been paid to effects of this species on soil chemistry following invasion, even though it establishes persistent, dense monocultures. In our study, we evaluated effects ofA. arenariainvasion on soil chemistry of coastal dunes at Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS); persistence of effects following removal by mechanical or herbicide treatment (legacy effects); and effects of treatment independent of invasion. Dune restoration efforts at PRNS have met with mixed success, especially in herbicide-treated backdunes, where decomposition of deadA. arenariahas been greatly delayed. Based on results, invasion impacted 74% of 19 variables assessed, although there was a significant interaction in many cases with successional status (earlier vs. later). Almost 60% of invasion effects persisted after restoration, with legacy effects prevalent in herbicide-treated backdunes where sand deposition from adjacent beaches could not mitigate effects as it could in herbicide-treated foredunes. Mechanical removal—or inversion of invaded surface soils with less-contaminated subsoils—resulted in fewer legacy effects, but more treatment effects, primarily in backdunes. Soil chemistry may decelerate decomposition ofA. arenariadue to the limited nitrogen (N) available to enable microbial breakdown of the high carbon(C):N (70.8:1) material, but microbial factors probably play a more important role. Success of restoration at PRNS may not be fully realized until legacy effects are resolved through additional actions such as inoculation with healthy microbiomes or necromass reduction through controlled burning.

Comparing Restoration Treatments and Time Intervals to Determine the Success of Invasive Species Removal at Three Coastal Dune Sites in Northern California, U.S.A.

Pickart, A.J.; Maslach, W.R.; Parsons, L.S.; Jules, E.S.; Reynolds, C.M., and Goldsmith, L.M., 2021. Comparing restoration treatments and time intervals to determine the success of invasive species removal at three coastal dune sites in Northern California, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(3), 557–567. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Dune systems worldwide have been greatly altered by the introduction and spread of invasive species. On the western coast of North America Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link is the most widely introduced species and now represents the dominant vegetation type in the region. In this study, three dune restoration projects in northern California completed between 1997 and 2011 were surveyed, all of which involved the removal of A. arenaria with the aim of increasing native plant cover and richness. Each site underwent a different restoration treatment: manual removal, herbicide application, and the use of heavy equipment to excavate and bury A. arenaria. Species composition and vegetation structure in restored and reference (i.e. uninvaded) areas were recorded at each site. Reference and restored plots differed in species composition at the herbicide-treated site and the heavy-equipment site, but not at the manually treated site. Similarly, plant species richness was similar in restored and reference plots at the manually treated site, but was greater in the reference plots at the other two sites. Vascular plant cover was similar in restored and reference plots at the manually treated site, whereas the herbicide site exhibited higher cover in restored plots and the heavy-equipment site was characterized by lower cover in restored plots. Differences were attributed to a combination of treatment type and time since restoration, with the manually treated plots best meeting goals, but also having the longest time since treatment. Short-term monitoring may fail to identify that a project is on a restoration trajectory and may lead to an inaccurate conclusion of failure to meet goals.

Assessing changes to ecosystem structure and function following invasion by Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis: a meta-analysis

Biological invasions resulting from anthropogenic activities are one of the greatest threats to maintaining ecosystem functioning and native biodiversity. Invasions are especially problematic when the invading species behaves as an ecosystem engineer that is capable of transforming ecosystem structure, function, and community dynamics. Of particular concern is the spread of emergent wetland grasses whose root systems alter hydrology and structural stability of soils, modify ecosystem functions, and change community dynamics and species richness. To address the threats posed to ecosystems across the globe, management practices focus on the control and removal of invasive grasses. However, it remains unclear how severely invasive grasses alter ecosystem functions and whether alterations persist after invasive grass removal, limiting our ability to determine if management practices are truly sufficient to fully restore ecosystems. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantify ecological alterations and the efficacy of management following the invasion of Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis, two common and pervasive invaders in coastal wetlands. Our results indicate that S. alterniflora and P. australis significantly alter measures of ecosystem functioning and organismal abundance. Invaded ecosystems had significant elevations in abiotic carbon and nitrogen fixation and uptake in areas with invasive grasses, with differential photosynthetic pathways of these two grass species further explaining carbon fluxes. Moreover, evidence from our analyses indicates that management practices may not adequately promote recovery from invasion, but more data are needed to fully assess management efficacy. We call for future studies to conduct pairwise comparisons between uninvaded, invaded, and managed systems and provide research priorities.

Frequency, Progression, and Current Management: Report of 16 New Cases of Nonfunctional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Comparison With Previous Reports.

Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic condition that causes benign tumors to grow in multiple organ systems. Nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are a rare clinical feature of TSC with no specific guidelines outlined for clinical management at this time. Our purpose is to calculate the frequency of nonfunctional PNETs as well as characterize the presentation, current clinical management, and assess the impact of systemic mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) on nonfunctional PNETs in TSC.Methods: This retrospective chart review was performed by a query of the TS Alliance's Natural History Database and the Cincinnati Children's Hospital TSC Database for patients with nonfunctional PNET. Clinical data from these two groups was summarized for patients identified to have a nonfunctional PNET and compared to previously reported cases with TSC and nonfunctional PNETs.Results: Our calculated frequency of nonfunctional PNETs is 0.65%. We identified 16 individuals, nine males and seven females, with a median age of 18.0 years (interquartile range: −15.5 to 25.5). Just over half (56.3%, n = 9) of the patients provided results from genetic testing. Six had pathogenic variants in TSC2 whereas three had pathogenic variants in TSC1. The average age at PNET diagnosis was 15.0 years (range: 3–46 years). Almost all individuals were diagnosed with a PNET during routine TSC surveillance, 56.3% (n = 9) by MRI, 12.5% (n = 2) by CT, 25% (n = 4) by ultrasound, and 6.2% (n = 1) through a surgical procedure. Follow up after diagnosis involved 68.8% (n = 11) having serial imaging and nine of the sixteen individuals proceeding with surgical removal of the PNET. Eight individuals had a history of using systemic mTOR inhibitors. Tumor growth rate was slightly less in individuals taking an mTOR inhibitor (−0.8 mm/yr, IQR: −2.3 to 2.2) than those without (1.6 mm/yr; IQR: −0.99 to 5.01, p > 0.05).Conclusions: Nonfunctional PNETs occurred at younger ages in our TSC cohort and more commonly compared to ages and prevalence reported for the general population. PNETs in patients on systemic mTOR inhibitors had lower rates of growth. The outcome of this study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of mTOR inhibitor therapy in conjunction with serial imaging as medical management for nonfunctional PNETs as an alternative option to invasive surgical removal.

Environmental and periphyton response to stream revitalization – A pilot study from a tufa barrier

The formation of tufa barriers is driven by specific physicochemical and biological factors which make them very sensitive to environmental changes. The barriers provide great microhabitat complexity and are therefore inhabited by various periphytic organisms, whose metabolic activity alters the microenvironment, directly or indirectly affecting the physicochemical conditions of calcite precipitation. After the invasive plant species Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swinge was identified as one of the main factors causing current dryness of streams at the Skradinski buk barrier (Krka National Park, Croatia), the invasive species was removed, resulting in changes in the hydromorphology of the barrier and reactivating previously dry streams. The objective of this study was to determine potential differences between control and revitalized sites (reactivated streams) with regards to periphyton and the associated environmental changes over an annual cycle. Clear patterns were observed between sites reflecting the substantial changes in the landscape following invasive species removal. Revitalized sites had lower flow velocity, conductivity, pH, alkalinity and total water hardness values while exhibiting higher values of dissolved organic matter, nitrites and orthophosphates due to the presence of soil-derived organic material and intensive soil drainage. Organic matter content was generally higher at revitalized sites but did not inhibit tufa deposition. The influence of the surrounding forest soil was reflected not only in the mineralogical analysis of tufa sediment, but also in the abundance and diversity of periphyton. Revitalized site communities exhibited higher abundance and diversity and were dominated by bacterivorous and omnivorous ciliates and cercozoans due to the abundant food resources of the soil. The results presented show that ecosystem responses to hydromorphological changes generated by invasive species removal can be efficiently detected and monitored at microscale (i.e., periphyton scale) through a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach. As the first study to examine the relationship between aquatic ecosystems and sediments in the context of tufa stream revitalization, this pilot study provides data and guidelines for future management plans applicable to various tufa depositing systems facing invasive species propagation, allowing better understanding and protection of this unique and vulnerable karstic feature.