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  • Sims posted an update 7 months, 1 week ago

    Successful treatment of cats with hypersomatotropism by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is described in small numbers of cats.

    To describe the endocrine profile, survival, and remission rates of hypersomatotropism and diabetes mellitus in a cohort of cats with hypersomatotropism that underwent hypophysectomy between 2008 and 2020.

    Twenty-five client-owned cats with spontaneous hypersomatotropism.

    Retrospective study. Diagnosis of hypersomatotropism was based on clinical signs, plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration, and imaging of the pituitary gland. Growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 concentrations were measured repeatedly after surgery. Survival times were calculated based on follow-up information from owners and referring veterinarians.

    Median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days (range, 3-18 days). One cat died within 4 weeks of surgery. learn more Median plasma GH concentration decreased significantly from 51.0 ng/mL (range, 5.0-101.0 ng/mL) before surgery to 3.8 ng/mL (range, 0.6-13.0 ng/mL) at 5 hours after surgery. Remission of hypersomatotropism, defined as normalization of plasma IGF-1 concentration, occurred in 23/24 cats (median, 34 ng/mL; range, 14-240 ng/mL) and 22/24 cats entered diabetic remission. Median survival time was 1347 days (95% confidence interval, 900-1794 days; range, 11-3180 days) and the overall 1-, 2-, and 3-year all-cause survival rates were 76%, 76%, and 52%, respectively.

    This study shows the beneficial outcome of hypophysectomy in cats with hypersomatotropism, marked by low death rate and a high percentage of diabetic remission and definitive cure.

    This study shows the beneficial outcome of hypophysectomy in cats with hypersomatotropism, marked by low death rate and a high percentage of diabetic remission and definitive cure.

    Maternal weight before and during pregnancy influences the health of offspring. Several observational studies have investigated a link between the risk of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) and prepregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG), but the conclusions of these studies were inconsistent. The aim of this review was to evaluate the association between the risk of childhood AD and prepregnancy maternal BMI and GWG.

    The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched from inception to February 2, 2021. Observational studies investigating the association between the risk of childhood AD and prepregnancy maternal BMI and GWG were included. Fixed- or random-effects models with inverse variance weights were used to calculate pooled risk estimates. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were used to explore the sources of heterogeneity.

    Thirteen studies with a total of 114485 participants were included. Ten studies reported prepregnancy materhood AD.

    Maternal underweight, high GWG, and excessive GWG relative to recommendations are associated with an elevated risk of childhood AD, while low GWG and inadequate GWG relative to recommendations decreased the risk. Weight management before and during pregnancy is encouraged for primary prevention of childhood AD.When the stakes are doubled in a wager, a player must correctly place two consecutive bets to win, but the payout is larger. Similarly, two B sites in combination dictate the properties of A2 BB’X6 (A=monocation, X=halide) double perovskites. Correctly picking two B sites is more challenging than picking just one, as in the AI BII X3 single perovskites, but the options are greater and, we believe, the rewards are higher when the stakes are doubled. In this Minireview, we emphasize fundamental aspects of halide double perovskites to provide a foundation for interested readers to explore this extraordinary class of materials. In particular, we highlight the differences and similarities between double and single perovskites and describe how the double perovskite structure potentially offers greater control over photophysical properties.Amino acid and peptide couplings are widely used in fields related to pharma and materials. Still, current peptide synthesis continues to rely on the use of expensive, water sensitive, and waste-generating coupling reagents, which are often prepared in multi-step sequences and used in excess. Herein is described a peptide coupling reaction design that relies mechanistically on sun-light activation of a 4-dimethylamino-pyridine-alkyl halide charge-transfer complex to generate a novel coupling reagent in situ. The resulting coupling method is rapid, does not require dry solvents or inert atmosphere, and is compatible with all the most common amino acids and protecting groups. Peptide couplings can be run on gram-scale, without the use of special equipment. This method has a significantly reduced environmental and financial footprint compared to standard peptide coupling reactions. Experimental and computational studies support the proposed mechanism.

    Statistical process control tools such as control charts were recommended by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 218 for radiotherapy quality assurance. However, the tools needed to analyze multivariate, correlated data that are often encountered in treatment plan quality measures, are lacking. In this study, we develop quality control tools that can model multivariate plan quality measures with correlations and account for patient-specific risk factors, without adding a significant burden to clinical workflow.

    A multivariate, quality control chart is developed that includes a risk-adjustment model, Hotelling’s T

    statistic, and principal component analysis (PCA). Principal component analysis accounts for correlations among a set of organ-at-risk (OAR) dose-volume histogram (DVH) points that serves as proxies for plan quality. Risk-adjustment models estimate the principal components from PCA using a set of patient- and treatment-specific risk factors. The resulting residurol chart can detect unusual plans after accounting for the correlations. By replanning, improvements are shown on an unusual plan identified by both risk-adjusted methods.

    The multivariate risk-adjusted control chart developed here enables quality control of plans prior to delivery. This methodology is generic and can be readily applied for other radiotherapy quality assurance protocols, such as gamma analysis pass rates.

    The multivariate risk-adjusted control chart developed here enables quality control of plans prior to delivery. This methodology is generic and can be readily applied for other radiotherapy quality assurance protocols, such as gamma analysis pass rates.

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