Short-term Events Research Articles

Examining prognostic scores for short-term major adverse cardiovascular events prediction following primary PCI: a comparative analysis

Abstract Background Accurately predicting short-term MACE (major adverse cardiac events) following primary PCI remains a clinical challenge. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of four established risk scores in predicting short-term MACE after primary PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention). Methodology We enrolled a cohort of consecutive adult patients diagnosed with STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) undergoing primary PCI in this prospective observational study. Patients were followed at the interval of 3 months up for up to 12 months, and MACE events were recorded. Additionally, we obtained TIMI, PAMI, CADILLAC, and GRACE scores. Results A total of 2839 patients (79.3% male, mean age 55.6 ± 11.2 years) were included. Over a median follow-up of 244 days, the composite MACE rate was 18.3% (519). All-cause mortality was 13.5% (384), re-infarction requiring revascularization was 4.3% (121), heart failure-related re-hospitalization was 2.6% (74), stent thrombosis occurred in 5.6% (160), and CVA (cerebrovascular accident) events were documented in 1% (28). The AUC (area under the curve) for TIMI, PAMI, CADILLAC, and GRACE scores were 0.658 [0.630-0.685], 0.658 [0.632-0.684], 0.669 [0.644-0.695], and 0.675 [0.649-0.701], respectively, for the prediction of MACE. On multivariable Cox regression, medium and high-risk categories based on GRACE score were independent predictors of MACE with adjusted HR (hazard ratio) of 1.52 [1.21-1.92]; p<0.001 and 1.92 [1.34-2.75]; p<0.001, respectively. Conclusion A significant proportion of patients experienced short-term MACE after primary PCI. While none of the assessed scores demonstrated significant predictive power, the GRACE score exhibited comparatively better predictive ability than TIMI, PAMI, and CADILLAC scores

Effect of empagliflozin on no-reflow in patients with st elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract Background Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) restores myocardial tissue perfusion successfully in over 90 % of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients .However there remains a small proportion of patients who exhibit no-reflow.(1) Empagliflozin is a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that acts as a powerful anti-oxidant and has beneficial effects on endothelial function and reducing burden of ischemia in-vitro.(2) Aim and Objectives: To Assess the effect of Empagliflozin preloading in non-diabetic STEMI patients before PPCI on procedural, in-hospital outcomes and short-term Major Adverse Cardiovascular events (MACE) in a single tertiary center. Patients and Methods: The study was carried out on 200 non-diabetic STEMI patients presenting to our university hospital within the first 8 hours of symptom onset. Patients were randomised into 2 groups , the intervention group received 10mg Empagliflozin before PPCI with the standard medical therapy while the control group received only the standard medical therapy. Patients were assessed for demographic data, risk factors, procedural outcomes, clinical and in-hospital outcomes, and short-term MACE up to 1 month. Results: Our study found a significant difference between the intervention and control groups regarding contrast volume with a mean of 131 ml in the intervention group and 144 ml in control group with a p value of 0.009, incidence of no-reflow with 34.5% in the control group and only 18.2% in the intervention group and a p value of 0.014 and myocardial blush grade (MBG) were 84.1% of the patients in intervention group had MBG III after PCI while only 65.5% of the patients in the control group showed the same results with a p value of 0.019. Also, there was a significant difference in St-segment resolution post PCI as 59.1% of patients in the intervention group had complete ST segment resolution and only 39.1% of the patients in the control group had complete resolution with a p-value of 0.027, and total MACE in the first month which affected 44.8% of the patients in the control group and only 28.4% of those in the intervention group with a p-value of 0.024. Conclusion Our study showed that pre-loading of STEMI patients with Empagliflozin resulted in improvement in procedural outcomes, decreasing the incidence of coronary no-reflow, improvement in patient’s course during hospital stay and short-term MACE. Improvement in MACE was mainly due to reduced HF hospitalisations and anginal symptoms.

Safety and Potential Efficacy of Expanded Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Luminal Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by periods of flare-ups and remission. It is likely to be an autoimmune in origin, presenting persistent therapeutic challenges despite current therapies. This study aims to investigate the potential of umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UCMSCs) in treating ulcerative colitis (UC). This study is a prospective phase 1 pilot, open-label, single-arm, and single-center study. UCMSCs were cultured under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) conditions and intravenously administered to six patients with UC. Safety and efficacy were evaluated using the Mayo Score/Disease Activity Index. Among the six enrolled adult patients, five completed long-term follow-ups. All exhibited at diagnosis active UC confirmed through comprehensive assessment methods. Each patient received three injections intravenously 2 weeks apart with a dose of 100 million UCMSC each. No significant short-term or intermediate-term adverse events were detected post-UCMSC administration. Long-term follow-up at 12 and 24 months showed sustained safety and no adverse events. Notably, three out of five patients achieved a Mayo score of 0 for UC, maintained at both 12 and 24 months, indicating a highly significant response (P < 0.001). This study demonstrates the safety and potential efficacy of UCMSCs in active UC. However, larger trials are warranted to validate these preliminary findings and to establish the role of UCMSC therapy as an option for managing UC.

Editorial preface to special issue: Response of marine and terrestrial environments to Triassic–Paleogene hyperthermals

The Mesozoic–Paleogene hyperthermals represent critical intervals of rapid global warming associated with abrupt carbon cycle perturbations. These events can provide valuable deep-time insights into how climate might respond to the current rise in temperatures driven by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This special issue comprises 17 publications that cover a broad spectrum of the research on hyperthermals, and these can be grouped into four main themes: (1) carbon-cycle perturbations, (2) environmental changes and biogeochemical extremes, (3) biotic responses to warming, and (4) long-term climatic and environmental changes in greenhouse climates. By integrating sedimentological, geochemical, and paleontological methods, the studies in this issue explore carbon sources and release mechanisms, provide insights into the initiation, development, and termination of hyperthermal events, and elucidate their longer-term impacts. The studies provide new insights into the interactions between short-term extreme events and long-term climate trends, offering valuable perspectives on the future trajectory of Earth's climate in response to ongoing anthropogenic warming.

Climate Change Effects in Stock Markets

Climate change significantly impacts global stock markets through both short-term extreme weather events and long-term climate shifts. This study examines the relationship between CO2 emissions and stock returns across 19 countries from 2001 to 2020 using regression analysis. The findings also reveal a positive correlation between CO2 emissions and stock returns, indicating that investors anticipate higher returns to offset climate-related risks. This suggests that higher CO2 emissions drive investor expectations for increased returns to compensate for potential economic losses. The study highlights the importance of balanced emission reduction strategies and promoting green finance to support sustainable economic growth. Additionally, it underscores the need to integrate climate risks into financial decision-making, offering valuable insights into the financial implications of climate change and guiding policymakers and investors in addressing these challenges. By providing empirical evidence on the link between CO2 emissions and stock returns, this research enriches existing knowledge and emphasizes the financial risks and opportunities presented by climate change. The study's results align with the carbon risk premium theory, which posits that investors demand higher returns from companies with higher carbon emissions. This study advocates for policies that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability, promoting green finance initiatives to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on financial markets.

Integrated urban and riverine flood risk management in the Fujiang River Basin-Mianyang city

China’s monsoon climate, characterized by hot summers and substantial rainfall, leads to significant seasonal water accumulation in river basins. This often results in short-term heavy rainfall events, causing rapid water flow into river basins and subsequent flooding. River embankments, which narrow channels, exacerbate downstream flooding and pose severe safety threats. This study explores integrated urban and riverine flood risk management strategies within the Fujiang River Basin, focusing on Mianyang City. The research addresses the growing challenges of global climate change and rapid urbanization, which have intensified flood risks. Utilizing the one-dimensional Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and two-dimensional hydrodynamic Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation (RRI) model, the study simulates flood events and urban flooding in Mianyang City and the Fujiang River Basin. These models were validated with data from hydrological stations and satellite imagery. The study evaluates extreme flood events in Mianyang City between 2015 and 2021. The findings highlight the significant role of sponge city initiatives and low-impact development (LID) facilities in mitigating flood impacts. Despite their benefits, these measures have limitations under extreme flood conditions. This study contributes to understanding the interactions between urban and riverine systems and provides a basis for improving flood risk management and resilience in rapidly urbanizing river basins. It supports ongoing efforts to implement sponge city concepts in China, offering crucial insights into effective strategies for managing flood risks in similar geographic and climatic contexts.

Methylation-based immune deconvolution in prostate cancer patients before and after radical prostatectomy.

Surgery, an established short-term immunosuppressive event, may spur dissemination of circulating tumor cells and promote the growth of micrometastases. Whether surgical treatment for prostate cancer (i.e., radical prostatectomy) leads to long-term immune changes is unknown. We characterized intra-individual changes in circulating immune cell subsets across a six-month period using serial blood samples from prostate cancer patients pre- and post-radical prostatectomy (n = 11), and from a comparison group managed with active surveillance (n = 8). Immune cell subsets for each patient at each time point were deconvoluted using genome-wide methylation data. There were no statistically significant intra-individual changes in immune cell proportions from pre- to six months post-radical prostatectomy. There were also no intra-individual changes in immune cell proportions in the active surveillance group, and no differences between treatment groups in immune cell changes over time. We observed no meaningful changes in circulating immune cell subsets six months after radical prostatectomy, suggesting that surgery-induced immune changes may not be long-lasting.

МАҢҒЫСТАУ ОБЛЫСЫНДА ХАЛЫҚТЫ ЖҰМЫСПЕН ҚАМТУ САЯСАТЫН БАСҚАРУДЫ ЖЕТІЛДІРУ НӘТИЖЕЛЕРІНЕ ТҰРАҚТЫ МОНИТОРИНГ ЖӘНЕ ТАЛДАУ

This article is a study for continuous monitoring and analysis of the results of activities to improve the management of employment policy in the Mangystau region. The study examines the main aspects of employment policy management, as well as methods for monitoring and analyzing the results of this activity. The purpose of the work is to identify effective strategies and tools to improve the management of employment policy in the region. The results obtained can be used to develop recommendations on optimizing existing management mechanisms and improving the effectiveness of employment policy in the Mangystau region. One of the relevant topics for the Mangystau region that hinder economic development is the labor market, in particular, issues of ensuring employment and reducing unemployment. This employment of the population affects incomes and expenses, and the social stability of the Mangystau region. With high employment in the commodity markets of this area, relatively high consumer demand is ensured, which, in turn, leads to an increase in GDP and GRP, and unemployment leads to incomplete income generation. The change in these indicators is influenced by processes taking place not only in the country, but also in the world. In the Mangystau region, over the past three years, some progress has been made in labor market indicators: only in the period 2020-2022, the number of people employed in the economy increased by 112.3%, the unemployment rate decreased by 1.9%. In order to increase employment and reduce unemployment in all regions of the country, including the Mangystau region, the country has implemented a state "labor program" for 2021-2023. The contribution of this state program to the Mangystau region was great. This is due to the fact that on the basis of the program, not only jobs were created, but also short-term training events were held in order for the population to carry out their business and provide themselves with work.

TCT-809 Examining Prognostic Scores for Short-Term Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Prediction After Primary PCI: A Comparative Analysis

TCT-809 Examining Prognostic Scores for Short-Term Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Prediction After Primary PCI: A Comparative Analysis

Summer primary production of Arctic kelp communities is more affected by duration than magnitude of simulated marine heatwaves.

Fjord systems in the Norwegian Arctic are experiencing an increasing frequency and magnitude of marine heatwaves. These episodic heat stress events can have varying degrees of acute impacts on primary production and nutrient uptake of mixed kelp communities, as well as modifying the biogeochemical cycling in nearshore systems where vast areas of kelp create structural habitat. To assess the impact of future marine heatwaves on kelp communities, we conducted a 23 day mesocosm experiment exposing mixed kelp communities to warming and heatwave scenarios projected for the year 2100. Three treatments were considered: a constant warming (+1.8°C from the control), a medium magnitude and long duration heatwave event (+2.8°C from the control for 13 days), and two short-term, more intense, heatwaves(5 day long scenarios with temperature peaks at +3.9°C from the control). The results show that both marine heatwave treatments reduced net community production, whereas the constant warm temperature treatment displayed no difference from the control. The long marine heatwave scenario resulted in reduced accumulated net community production, indicating that prolonged exposure had a greater severity than two high magnitude, short-term heatwave events. We estimated an 11°C temperature threshold at which negative effects to primary production appeared present. We highlight that marine heatwaves can induce sublethal effects on kelp communities by depressing net community production. These results are placed in the context of potential physiological resilience of kelp communities and implications of reduced net community production to future Arctic fjord environmental conditions.

Land saving and promising seasonal performance in novel spiral wetland

Constructed wetlands have been widely employed as an ecological treatment technology. However, compared to conventional wastewater treatment methods, constructed wetlands require a larger land area, which is incompatible with the limited urban land resources where every inch is valuable. To address this issue, this study proposed and constructed a space-saving spiral constructed wetland. Through optimized structural design, the spiral wetland effectively reduced land occupation and maximizes the utilization of each elevation space to 70 %−80 %. Under the same wetland plane area, spiral wetland only uses 1/3 and 2/3 of the land resources of traditional wetland and the slope wetland, respectively. By utilizing high water head, it resolved dynamic issues faced by traditional wetlands. Additionally, aeration and re-aeration occurred during the transfer of rainwater between each layer of the wetland, enhancing its treatment performance. During summer, the average purification rate of COD is 82 %, and the purification efficiency of ammonia nitrogen is almost 100 % in the spiral wetland where it can accommodate large volumes of stormwater resulting from short-term heavy rainfall events while handling greater pollution loads, which challenges associated with significant amounts of storm runoff and instantaneous water flow during summer periods. In winter seasons, overflow from the spiral wetland combined with multi-stage purification alleviated clogging issues commonly encountered by traditional wetlands and enhanced treatment efficiency which remained above 90 %. The spiral wetlands provided a novel approach to resolving conflicts related to land use in urban areas.

Association Between Statin Use and Dementia, and Related Mechanisms: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2007 to 2023.

Emerging evidence suggests the potential of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA, statins) as a therapeutic option for dementia. The primary objective of this study is to assess the current state of research on statins use in dementia, with a focus on identifying pivotal questions within the field. A systemic search for publications on statin use in dementia between 2007 and 2023 was conducted, utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection. The scientific output was analyzed from various perspectives through VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrics website (https://bibliometric.com/). 560 articles authored by 2,977 individuals and 999 institutions across 58 countries were included, which were published in 295 periodicals and cited 21,176 references from 16,424 authors. The annual publication output remained steady, while the number of citations increased consistently. The U.S. and Mayo Clinic emerged as the most significant country and institution, respectively. B. McGuinness and D.L. Sparks were the most eminent authors. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease was the most influential journal. Three sets of keywords and the top 10 references were identified, suggesting pivotal questions within the field. While statins show promising potential as a treatment option for dementia, their use remains uncertain due to the reported short-term cognitive impairment events and questionable long-term protective effects against dementia. The pivotal question is to ascertain the association between statins and cognition. The mechanisms underlying the effects of statins on cognition are multifaceted. This study provides insights into the current status within the field of statin use in dementia.

CLINICAL AND ANGIOGRAPHIC OUTCOMES OF PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSION PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) presents a unique challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), requiring specialised techniques to achieve successful revascularisation. Despite the complexity, PCI in CTO cases has evolved significantly, showing promising outcomes. Objectives: To assess percutaneous coronary intervention's clinical and angiographic outcomes in chronic total occlusion patients. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at NICVD Karachi, Pakistan, following approval from the hospital's ethical committee. It reviewed the medical records of 150 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) from January 2024 to July 2024. Data was collected retrospectively from electronic medical records, including demographic details (age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidities), baseline clinical characteristics (presentation, symptoms, angina status, and prior cardiac history), and angiographic data (pre- and post-procedural findings, including the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade). Clinical outcomes were assessed for both short-term and long-term results, including major adverse cardiac events (MACE) such as myocardial infarction, repeat revascularisation, target lesion revascularisation, and all-cause mortality. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 25. Results: 150 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 54.81±8.97 years. The cohort included 54.7% males (82 patients) and 45.3% females (68 patients). Before PCI, 87.3% of patients (131) had no blood flow in the occluded artery, while 12.7% (19) had minimal flow. Post-PCI, 91.3% (137 patients) achieved full blood flow (TIMI Flow Grade 3), and 8.7% (13 patients) had partial flow. The procedural success rate was 91.3%. In terms of short-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE), 116(77.3%) patients had no events, while 22.7% (34 patients) experienced a myocardial infarction (MI). For long-term MACE, 84.0% (126 patients) had no adverse events, 10.0% (15 patients) required target lesion revascularisation, 4.7% (7 patients) underwent repeat revascularisation, and 1.3% (2 patients) experienced mortality. Conclusion: This study confirms the efficacy and safety of PCI for CTO patients, demonstrating high procedural success rates, significant clinical improvements, and relatively low long-term adverse events. However, advancing procedural techniques and fostering specialised training are essential to enhance patient outcomes due to the risks and complexities involved. Further research, including large-scale randomised controlled trials, is needed to validate these results and refine patient selection and management strategies for CTO PCI.

The impact of acute low salinity stress on Antarctic echinoderms.

Climate change is causing increased coastal freshening in Antarctica, leading to reduced salinity. For Antarctica's endemic echinoderms, adapted to the stable polar environment, the impact of rapid reductions in coastal salinity on physiology and behaviour is currently unknown. Six common Antarctic echinoderms (the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri; the sea star Odontaster validus; the brittle star Ophionotus victoriae; and three sea cucumbers Cucumaria georgiana, Echinopsolus charcoti and Heterocucumis steineni), were directly transferred from ambient salinity (34.5‰) to a range of salinity dilutions (29-9‰) for 24 h. All species showed reduced activity and the establishment of a temporary osmotic gradient between coelomic fluid and external seawater. Most species exhibited a depression in oxygen consumption across tolerated salinities; however, at very low salinities that later resulted in mortality, oxygen consumption increased to levels comparable to those at ambient. Low salinity tolerance varied substantially between species, with O. victoriae being the least tolerant (24 h LC50 (lethal for 50% of animals) = 19.9‰) while E. charcoti and C. georgiana demonstrated the greatest tolerance (24 h LC50 = 11.5‰). These findings demonstrate the species-specific response of Antarctica's endemic echinoderms to short-term hypoosmotic salinity events, providing valuable insight into this phylum's ability to respond to an underreported impact of climate change.

On the origin and evolution of deuterium enrichment in type 1 and 2 chondritic organic solids

Rotationally resonant Deuterium Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (D MAS NMR) was applied to IOM isolated from a CR1 chondrite Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95577 and a CM2 chondrite (Murchison). It is shown that in IOM D strongly prefers the aliphatic hydrogen reservoir over the aromatic hydrogen reservoir. For GRO 95577, that has a bulk δD of 3303 ‰ (Alexander et al., 2010), the average δD value of the aromatic reservoir is 1740 ± 128 ‰ and the aliphatic reservoir is 4477 ± 105 ‰, i.e., D/H enrichments of 1.27 and 0.64, respectively, relative to the bulk. For Murchison IOM, that has a bulk δD of 811 ‰ (Alexander et al., 2010), the average δD of the aromatic reservoir is 512 ± 88 ‰ and the aliphatic reservoir is 1033 ± 64 ‰ i.e., D/H enrichments of 1.12 and 0.82, respectively, relative to the bulk. D-H exchange between D-enriched water and a type III kerogen reveals nearly equivalent D up take by both aromatics and aliphatics. Laboratory synthesis of IOM-like material in the presence of D2O reveals a high degree of deuteration with a strong preferential deuteration of the aliphatic hydrogen reservoir indicating that the δD of the water during IOM synthesis is the primary determinant of syn-IOM’s δD. The IOM in GRO 95577 and Murchison (FA and H/C × 100) lie on the molecular evolution line as defined by the IOM of the Tagish Lake clasts and Murchison IOM has experienced more molecular evolution relative to that exhibited by GRO 95577 IOM. A forward prediction derived from the D/H ratios for the aliphatic and aromatic hydrogen reservoirs in Murchison and GRO 95577, relative to their bulk D/H ratios, derived from D MAS NMR, is applied to explain the origin of the Tagish Lake trend of δD vs molecular evolution (H/C × 100). The results of this forward prediction suggest that the Tagish Lake isotopic trend results from a combination of molecular evolution (loss of predominantly aliphatic H and D) and partial D-H exchange with D depleted chondritic water during a short-term hydrothermal alteration event. Such events may be faithfully identified in chondritic organic solids and be a common occurrence, but not necessarily revealed in the mineralogy of type 1 and 2 carbonaceous chondrites.

Re-exploration for bleeding and long-term survival after adult cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data.

Postoperative bleeding requiring re-exploration is a serious complication that occurs in 2.8-4.6% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Re-exploration has previously been associated with a higher risk of short-term mortality. However, a comprehensive analysis of long-term outcomes after re-exploration for bleeding has not been published. The authors performed a systematic, three databases search to identify studies reporting long-term outcomes in patients who required re-exploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery compared to patients who did not, with at least 1-year of follow-up. Long-term survival was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were operative mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, renal and respiratory complications, and hospital length of stay. Random-effects models was used. Individual patient survival data was extracted from available survival curves and reconstructed using restricted mean survival time. Six studies totaling 135456 patients were included. The average follow-up was 5.5 years. In the individual patient data, patients who required re-exploration had a significantly higher risk of death compared with patients who did not [hazard ratio (HR): 1.21; 95% CI: 1.14-1.27; P <0.001], which was confirmed by the study-level survival analysis (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.12-1.56; P <0.01). Re-exploration was also associated with a higher risk of operative mortality [odds ratio (OR): 5.25, 95% CI: 4.74-5.82, P <0.0001], stroke (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.72-2.43, P <0.0001), renal (OR: 4.13, 95% CI: 3.43-4.39 P <0.0001) respiratory complications (OR: 3.91, 95% CI: 2.96-5.17, P <0.0001), longer hospital length of stay (mean difference: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.68-3.69, P <0.0001), and myocardial infarction (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.30-2.65, P =0.0007). Postoperative bleeding requiring re-exploration is associated with lower long-term survival and increased risk of short-term adverse events including operative mortality, stroke, renal and respiratory complications, and longer hospital length of stay. To improve both short-term and long-term outcomes, strategies to prevent the need for re-exploration are necessary.

Chronic and acute thermal stressors have non-additive effects on fertility.

Climate change is driving both higher mean temperatures and a greater likelihood of heatwaves, which are becoming longer and more intense. Previous work has looked at these two types of thermal stressors in isolation, focusing on the effects of either a small, long-term increase in temperature or a large, short-term increase in temperature. Yet, a fundamental gap in our understanding is the combined effect of chronic and acute thermal stressors and, in particular, its impact on vital processes such as reproduction. Here, we investigated the independent and interactive effects of higher constant temperatures and short-term heatwave events on reproductive success and offspring fitness in an insect study system, the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. We found a substantial reduction in key fitness traits (fecundity, hatching success and offspring size) after exposure to both a heatwave and higher constant temperatures, but not after exposure to only one of these thermal stressors. This indicates that the effects of chronic and acute thermal stressors are amplified when they act in combination, as is very likely to occur in natural populations. Our findings, therefore, suggest that, by not considering the potential multiplicative effects of different types of thermal stressors, we may be underestimating the effects of climate change on animal fertility.

Association Between Sarcopenia, Clinical Outcomes, and Survival in Patients with Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with First-Line Immunochemotherapy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

To investigate the association between sarcopenia, short-term efficacy, and long-term survival in patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with standard first-line immunochemotherapy. A total of 63 patients initially diagnosed with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer were enrolled in the prospective study from December 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. The clinical characteristics, body composition, blood test results, and image data were obtained before treatment. Patients were divided into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups according to the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group 2019. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) and comprehensive survival analyses were performed. Secondary outcomes included short-term efficacy and adverse events associated with first-line immunochemotherapy. The median age of the 63 patients enrolled in our study was 63.0 years (40-80 years). The incidence of sarcopenia was 19.0% (12/63) in patients with extensive SCLC. Compared with non-sarcopenia patients, extensive-stage SCLC patients with sarcopenia were significantly older (69.0 vs. 62.0, P = 0.017), and had lower body mass index (BMI) (20.29 vs. 24.27, P < 0.001), hand grip strength (HGS) (20.42 vs. 30.75, P < 0.001), and albumin (35.9 vs. 41.40, P < 0.001). The objective response rate after two cycles of standard first-line immunochemotherapy in the sarcopenia group was lower than in the non-sarcopenia group (30.0 vs. 78.9%, P = 0.012). There was no significant difference in chemotherapy-related hematological toxicity between the two groups. During a median follow-up of 15 months (3-33 months), patients with extensive SCLC had a median OS of 24 months, with 1-year survival of 75% and 2-year survival of 52%, respectively. Compared to non-sarcopenia patients, the median OS in the sarcopenia group was significantly shorter (9 vs. 24 months, P = 0.0014). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for OS in patients with extensive SCLC (HR = 4.993, 95%CI = 1.106-22.538, P = 0.037). Patients with Extensive SCLC and sarcopenia had worse clinical outcomes and shorter OS. Sarcopenia is a prognostic factor affecting first-line treatment efficacy and long-term survival of patients with SCLC in the era of immunotherapy.

Interpretation of Soil Characteristics and Preferential Water Flow in Different Forest Covers of Karst Areas of China

Soil hydrology seriously affects the prevention of desertification in karst areas. However, water infiltration in the different soil layers of secondary forests and artificial forests in karst areas remains uncertain. This lack of clarity is also the factor that constrains local vegetation restoration. Therefore, monitoring and simulating the priority transport of soil moisture will help us understand the shallow soil moisture transport patterns after artificial vegetation restoration in the local area, providing a reference for more scientific restoration of the ecological environment and enhancement of carbon storage in karst areas. The integration of soil physical property assessments, computed tomography (CT) scanning, dye tracing studies, and HYDRUS-2D modeling was utilized to evaluate and contrast the attributes of soil macropores and the phenomenon of preferential flow across various forestland categories. This approach allowed for a comprehensive analysis of how the soil structure and water movement are influenced by different forest ecosystems and infiltration head simulations (5 mm, 15 mm, 35 mm, and 55 mm) to elucidate the dynamics of water movement across diverse soil types within karst regions, to identify the causes of water leakage due to preferential flow in secondary forests, and to understand the mechanisms of water conservation and reduction in artificial forests adopting a multifaceted approach. This study demonstrated that (1) the soil hydrological capacity of a plantation forest was 20% higher than a natural forest, which may be promoted by the clay content and distribution. (2) Afforestation-enhanced soils in karst regions demonstrate a significant capacity to mitigate the loss of clay particles during episodes of preferential flow and then improve the soil erosion resistance by about 5 times, which can effectively control desertification in karst area. (3) The uniform distribution of macropores in plantation forest soil was conducive to prevent water leakage more effectively than the secondary forest but was incapable of hindering the occurrence of preferential flow. The secondary forest had a very developed preferential flow phenomenon, and soil clay deposition occurred with an increase in depth. (4) Moreover, the results for preferential flow showed that the matrix flow depth did not increase with the increase in water quantity. Short-term and high-intensity heavy rainfall events facilitated the occurrence of preferential flow. Infiltration along the horizontal and vertical directions occurred simultaneously. These results could facilitate a further understanding of the contribution of the plantation to soil amelioration and the prevention of desertification in karst areas, and provide some suggestions for the sustainable development of forestry in karst areas where plantation restoration is an important ingredient.

Reconstructing deep-sea oxygenation in the Western Alboran Sea Basin during Late Pleistocene-Holocene (last 37 kyrs): Insights from a multiproxy approach

A deep-sea sediment record from the Western Alboran Basin spanning the last 37 kyr has been analysed using a multiproxy approach, integrating sediment colour, magnetic susceptibility, elemental ratios, benthic foraminiferal assemblages and bioturbation, gaining new insights into Alboran Basin deep-sea environments and palaeoceanographic conditions since the Last Glacial Maximum. The combination of a diverse set of proxies made it possible to recognise the diagenetic signals and reconstruct new low-frequency events in the deep basin, recording the significant fluctuations in deep water oxygenation occurred during the studied period. From the studied data, short-term periodic low-oxygen events are recognised during Heinrich Stadials 2 and 3 (HS2 and HS3) and Greenland Interstadial GI8, showing important responses of the deep sea environments to climate climate change. Furthermore, the presence of a not previously well-defined Organic Rich Layer 2 (ORL 2) can be defined from the observations as a sequence of events transitioning between low oxygen (associated with humid conditions and Heinrich Events) and oxygenated conditions, and not as a singular low oxygenation event. In addition, the Organic Rich Layer 1 (ORL1), associated with the most recent low oxygen event has been also recognised in the record, with low oxygen conditions starting as early as 16 kyr before the present (BP) during the HS1 and spanning to 8 kyr BP with important fluctuations in environmental conditions and oxygenation. Several climate events that have been previously recognised in the Northern Hemisphere and the Mediterranean Basin can be linked to the observed changes in oxygen conditions during ORL1 deposition, for instance reoxygenation that occurred during the pre-ORL1, between the demise of Heinrich Event 1.1 (HE1.1) and the end of HS1 and the inception of the Bølling-Allerød (BA); the start of ORL1 deposition during BA with the onset of low oxygen conditions. Interestingly, the BA is punctuated by short duration reoxygenation events that can be recognised in the record and correlated to cold events observed in the North Atlantic records. In addition, there is a partial discontinuous reoxygenation during the Younger Dryas (YD), observed also in the Eastern Mediterranean and in other Mediterranean sites which was followed by the return to lower-oxygen conditions after the YD, coinciding with the start of S1 deposition. Finally, the final reoxygenation event occurs at around 8 kyr BP along with the demise of the ORL1.