Long-Term Volumetric Stability of Maxillary Sinus Floor Augmentation Using a Xenograft Bone Substitute and Its Combination with Autologous Bone: A 6+ Year Retrospective Follow-Up Study Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Deproteinised bovine bone (DBB) is widely used as bone substitute in maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) surgery. No previous studies have shown the long-term volumetric changes in the augmented bone when using DBB. The selected patients had MFSA performed using a lateral window technique and a xenograft, alone or in combination with the patient's autologous bone from the mandible. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were used to compare the volumetric changes in the augmented bone for patients over a period of 6 or more years. No significant bone reduction was seen in the augmented bone region when comparing MSFA after 7 months and 6 or more years after dental implantation.

The Emergence of the Family Scirtidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Lotic Karst Habitats: A Case Study over 15 Years

Due to ongoing changes and a decline in biodiversity, science today should rely on long-term species-based ecological studies. We have conducted a long-term ecological dynamics study on the water beetle family Scirtidae, which, although it is very abundant in benthic communities, is still poorly studied. The main objective of this study was to investigate the population aspects (composition, diversity, sex ratio) and ecological aspects (emergence patterns, seasonal dynamics and preferences for environmental factors) of the family Scirtidae over 15 years in Plitvice Lakes NP, Croatia. The study was conducted at three sites and in five different substrate types. A total of three taxa with different distributions were recorded in the study area: Hydrocyphon novaki and H. deflexicollis on the tufa barriers and the Elodes sp. in the spring area. The sex ratio was in favour of males in spring and early summer, while it shifted in favour of females towards the end of autumn. The abundance and emergence of the family were primarily determined by the environmental parameters which showed the greatest fluctuations over a period of 15 years: water temperature, water discharge and oxygen saturation. Our results clearly show that Scirtidae can be used as indicators of stream zonation and habitat quality. Based on the methodology and the results of this study, we conclude that Scirtidae should be used in future monitoring and protection measures in karst freshwater habitats in southeastern Europe.

Long-term evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a novel 20% oxybutynin hydrochloride lotion for primary palmar hyperhidrosis: An open-label extension study

The long-term safety and efficacy of 52-week application of oxybutynin hydrochloride 20% lotion (20% OL) for the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPHH) in Japanese patients aged ≥12 years were evaluated in an open-label extension (OLE) of a 4-week, randomized, double-blind (DB) study. The OLE included 114 patients who completed the DB study and wished to continue treatment and 12 new patients. In the safety analysis population (125 patients), the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was 79.2% and 36.0%, respectively. Serious AEs were observed in two patients but were considered unrelated to the investigational drug. The incidence of AEs that led to study discontinuation was 1.6%. The incidence of application site AEs and ADRs was 35.2% and 26.4%, respectively. The severity of most events was mild. The incidence of anticholinergic AEs related to dry mouth was 3.2% for thirst and 0.8% for dry throat. The long-term efficacy of 20% OL was confirmed by a long-lasting reduction in sweat volume and improvement in the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale and Dermatology Life Quality Index. This study has several limitations: First the results may include some bias because most of the participants were from the prior DB study; second, the results may not be generalizable because only a few participants were in the age group most susceptible to PPHH (i.e., < 15 years old); and third, the study did not obtain safety information from treatment for more than 52 weeks, so this information must be collected in clinical practice in the future. No reduced therapeutic effect was observed in patients with PPHH in this study after 52-week application of 20% OL. Also, few patients experienced serious AEs or AEs that led to study treatment discontinuation.

Age-specific impacts of vegetation functional traits on gastrointestinal nematode parasite burdens in a large herbivore

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites play an important role in the ecological dynamics of many animal populations. Recent studies suggest that fine-scale spatial variation in GIN infection dynamics is important in wildlife systems, but the environmental drivers underlying this variation remain poorly understood. We used data from over two decades of GIN parasite egg counts, host space use, and spatial vegetation data from a long-term study of Soay sheep on St Kilda to test how spatial autocorrelation and vegetation in an individual's home range predict parasite burden across three age groups. We developed a novel approach to quantify the plant functional traits present in a home range to describe the quality of vegetation present. Effects of vegetation and space varied between age classes. In immature lambs, strongyle parasite faecal egg counts (FEC) were spatially structured, being highest in the north and south of our study area. Independent of host body weight and spatial autocorrelation, plant functional traits predicted parasite egg counts. Higher egg counts were associated with more digestible and preferred plant functional traits, suggesting the association could be driven by host density and habitat preference. In contrast, we found no evidence that parasite FEC were related to plant functional traits in the host home range in yearlings or adult sheep. Adult FEC were spatially structured, with highest burdens in the north-east of our study area, while yearling FEC showed no evidence of spatial structuring. Parasite burdens in immature individuals appear more readily influenced by fine-scale spatial variation in the environment, highlighting the importance of such heterogeneity for our understanding of wildlife epidemiology and health. Our findings support the importance of fine-scale environmental variation for wildlife disease ecology and provides new evidence that such effects may vary across demographic groups within a population.

Harvester ant colonies differ in collective behavioural plasticity to regulate water loss

Collective behavioural plasticity allows ant colonies to adjust to changing conditions. The red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus), a desert seed-eating species, regulates foraging activity in response to water stress. Foraging ants lose water to evaporation. Reducing foraging activity in dry conditions sacrifices food intake but conserves water. Within a year, some colonies tend to reduce foraging on dry days while others do not. We examined whether these differences among colonies in collective behavioural plasticity persist from year to year. Colonies live 20-30 years with a single queen who produces successive cohorts of workers which live only a year. The humidity level at which all colonies tend to reduce foraging varies from year to year. Longitudinal observations of 95 colonies over 5 years between 2016 and 2021 showed that differences among colonies, in how they regulate foraging activity in response to day-to-day changes in humidity, persist across years. Approximately 40% of colonies consistently reduced foraging activity, year after year, on days with low daily maximum relative humidity; approximately 20% of colonies never did, foraging as much or more on dry days as on humid days. This variation among colonies may allow evolutionary rescue from drought due to climate change.

Ecological genetics of local adaptation in Arabidopsis: An 8-year field experiment

There is considerable evidence for local adaptation in nature, yet important questions remain regarding its genetic basis. How many loci are involved? What are their effect sizes? What is the relative importance of conditional neutrality versus genetic trade-offs? Here we address these questions in the self-pollinating, annual plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We used 400 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from two locally adapted populations in Italy and Sweden, grew the RILs and parents at the parental locations, and mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) for mean fitness (fruits/seedling planted). We previously published results from the first 3 years of the study, and here add five additional years, providing a unique opportunity to assess how temporal variation in selection might affect QTL detection and classification. We found 10 adaptive and one maladaptive QTL in Italy, and six adaptive and four maladaptive QTL in Sweden. The discovery of maladaptive QTL at both sites suggests that even locally adapted populations are not always at their genotypic optimum. Mean effect sizes for adaptive QTL, 0.97 and 0.55 fruits in Italy and Sweden, respectively, were large relative to the mean fitness of the RILs (approximately 8 fruits/seedling planted at both sites). Both genetic trade-offs (four cases) and conditional neutrality (seven cases) contribute to local adaptation in this system. The 8-year dataset provided greater power to detect QTL and to estimate their locations compared to our previous 3-year study, identifying one new genetic trade-off and resolving one genetic trade-off into two conditionally adaptive QTL.

Complex relationships between climate and reproduction in a resident montane bird

Animals use climate-related environmental cues to fine-tune breeding timing and investment to match peak food availability. In birds, spring temperature is a commonly documented cue used to initiate breeding, but with global climate change, organisms are experiencing both directional changes in ambient temperatures and extreme year-to-year precipitation fluctuations. Montane environments exhibit complex climate patterns where temperatures and precipitation change along elevational gradients, and where exacerbated annual variation in precipitation has resulted in extreme swings between heavy snow and drought. We used 10 years of data to investigate how annual variation in climatic conditions is associated with differences in breeding phenology and reproductive performance in resident mountain chickadees (Poecile gambeli) at two elevations in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, USA. Variation in spring temperature was not associated with differences in breeding phenology across elevations in our system. Greater snow accumulation was associated with later breeding initiation at high, but not low, elevation. Brood size was reduced under drought, but only at low elevation. Our data suggest complex relationships between climate and avian reproduction and point to autumn climate as important for reproductive performance, likely via its effect on phenology and abundance of invertebrates.

Cracking Behavior and Deflections in Recycled-Aggregate Beams Reinforced with Waste Fibers Subjected to Long-Term Constant Loading

This report presents the results of long-term tests on concrete beams reinforced with steel cord. In this study, natural aggregate was wholly replaced with waste sand or with wastes from the production of ceramic products and ceramic hollow bricks. The amounts of individual fractions used were determined in accordance with guidelines for reference concrete. A total of eight mixtures were tested; these differed in terms of the type of waste aggregate used. Elements with various fiber-reinforcement ratios were made for each mixture. Steel fibers and waste fibers were used in amounts of 0.0%, 0.5%, and 1.0%. Compressive strength and modulus of elasticity were determined experimentally for each mixture. The main test was a four-point beam bending test. Beams with dimensions of 100 mm × 200 mm × 2900 mm were tested on a stand, which was specially prepared so that three beams could be tested simultaneously. Fiber-reinforcement ratios were 0.5% and 1.0%. Long-term studies were conducted for 1000 days. During the testing period, beam deflections and cracks were measured. The obtained results were compared with values calculated using several methods, considering the influence of dispersed reinforcement. The results enabled the best methods for calculating individual values for mixtures with different types of waste materials to be determined.

Integrating advances in population and evolutionary ecology with conservation strategy through long-term studies of red-billed choughs

Conceptual and methodological advances in population and evolutionary ecology are often pursued with the ambition that they will help identify demographic, ecological and genetic constraints on population growth rate (λ), and ultimately facilitate evidence-based conservation. However, such advances are often decoupled from conservation practice, impeding translation of scientific understanding into effective conservation and of conservation-motivated research into wider conceptual understanding. We summarise key outcomes from long-term studies of a red-billed chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax population of conservation concern, where we proactively aimed to achieve the dual and interacting objectives of advancing population and evolutionary ecology and advancing effective conservation. Estimation of means, variances and covariances in key vital rates from individual-based demographic data identified temporal and spatial variation in subadult survival as key constraints on λ, and simultaneously provided new insights into how vital rates can vary as functions of demographic structure, natal conditions and parental life history. Targeted analyses showed that first-year survival increased with prey abundance, implying that food limitation may constrain λ. First-year survival then decreased dramatically, threatening population viability and prompting emergency supplementary feeding interventions. Detailed evaluations suggested that the interventions successfully increased first-year survival in some years and additionally increased adult survival and successful reproduction, thereby feeding back to inform intervention refinements and understanding of complex ecological constraints on λ. Genetic analyses revealed novel evidence of expression of a lethal recessive allele, and demonstrated how critically small effective population size can arise, thereby increasing inbreeding and loss of genetic variation. Population viability analyses parameterised with all available demographic and genetic data showed how ecological and genetic constraints can interact to limit population viability, and identified ecological management as of primacy over genetic management to ensure short-term persistence of the focal population. This case study demonstrates a full iteration through the sequence of primary science, evidence-based intervention, quantitative evaluation and feedback that is advocated in conservation science but still infrequently achieved. It thereby illustrates how pure science advances informed conservation actions to ensure the (short-term) stability of the target population, and how conservation-motivated analyses fed back to advance fundamental understanding of population processes.

Long-Term Survivorship of Modular Cementless Femoral Stem in Complex Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Concise Minimum 15-Year Follow-Up Report

BACKGROUND

S-ROM hip is a well-established and versatile prosthesis that offers extensive metaphyseal and diaphyseal geometries providing solutions for a variety of surgical scenarios. The aim of this study is to report on long-term survivorship and radiographic outcomes of complex primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a modular cementless stem (S-ROM).

METHODS

Retrospective consecutive study was conducted of 167 patients (167 hips): 97 males and 70 females with average age at the time of surgery of 55 years (range 22-76). All patients underwent complex THA by the senior author from 1987 to 1999. Patients were identified using a prospective database. Demographic, clinical, and surgical data were collected from health records. All patients received a cementless acetabular component with a standard polyethylene liner. The primary outcome measure was survivorship beyond 15 years using stem revision for any cause as an end point. Secondary outcome measure was rate of radiographic loosening using Engh classification.

RESULTS

Only 3 patients required stem revision for aseptic loosening and 1 for periprosthetic fracture. Isolated acetabular revision was undertaken in 23 of 167 patients (13.8%) due to polythene wear, osteolysis, and aseptic loosening. Proximal femoral stress shielding (zone 1, 7) was noted in 34 of 167 hips (20.4%). Stable bony ingrowth was noted in 144 hips (86.2%) and the remaining 23 hips had stable fibrous ingrowth (13.8%). Using stem "any-cause revision" as an endpoint, the mean stem survivorship was 31.5 years (95% confidence interval 31.007-31.985) with 30-year estimated survivorship of 97.6%.

CONCLUSION

In a single designer surgeon series, S-ROM stem has stood the test of time with long-term, 30-year survivorship of 97.6% and continues to play an important role in modern hip surgery providing longevity and versatility. However, further comparative long-term studies from independent centers are needed for a definitive conclusion.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Invasive populations of Spiraea tomentosa (Rosaceae) are genetically diverse but decline during succession in forest habitats

Population genetic and ecological data may help to control invasive plants, which are considered a major threat to natural habitats. In contrast to expected bottleneck events, genetic diversity of such invasive populations may be high due to extensive propagule pressure or admixture. The ecological impact of invasive species has been broadly evaluated in the field; however, long-term studies on the fate of invasive plants are scarce. We analysed genetic diversity and structure in invasive Spiraea tomentosa populations in eastern Germany and western Poland using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism. Potential hybridization between co-occurring diploid Sp. tomentosa and tetraploid Sp. douglasii was investigated using Flow Cytometry. The genetic analyses were complemented by data from a 13-year vegetation study in an area invaded by these Spiraea species. We found no evidence for hybridization between Spiraea species. In populations of Sp. tomentosa both genetic diversity (He = 0.26) and genetic structure (ΦPT = 0.27) were high and comparable to other outcrossing woody plants. Low levels of clonality, presence of seedlings and new patches in sites that had been colonized over the last 13 years imply that populations spread via sexual reproduction. In all habitat types, native species diversity declined following Sp. tomentosa invasion. However, detailed aerial mapping of a forest reserve with ongoing succession revealed that Spiraea spp. populations have declined over a 10-year period. Despite its potential for dispersal and negative effects on native plant communities, invasive Spiraea populations may be controlled by increasing canopy cover in forest habitats.

Two long-term phase 3 studies of enarodustat (JTZ-951) in Japanese anemic patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis or on maintenance hemodialysis: SYMPHONY ND-Long and HD-Long studies

Enarodustat (JTZ‐951) is an oral hypoxia‐inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor developed for treating anemia in chronic kidney disease. Two open‐label, uncontrolled phase 3 studies evaluated the 52‐week safety and efficacy of enarodustat in Japanese anemic patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis (n = 132) [SYMPHONY ND‐Long study] or on maintenance hemodialysis (n = 136) [SYMPHONY HD‐Long study]. The most frequent adverse events were viral upper respiratory tract infection (25.8%) followed by chronic kidney disease (8.3%) in the SYMPHONY ND‐Long study, and viral upper respiratory tract infection (49.3%) followed by contusion (16.9%) and diarrhea (16.9%) in the SYMPHONY HD‐Long study. The incidence of any adverse events did not increase over time. Mean hemoglobin levels and 95% confidence intervals were maintained within the target range (10.0–12.0 g/dl) over 52 weeks in both studies. The long‐term safety and efficacy of enarodustat were confirmed in Japanese anemic patients with chronic kidney disease.

Long-term persistence of experimental populations beyond a species' natural range

Ecological experiments usually infer long-term processes from short-term data, and the analysis of geographic range limits is a good example. Species' geographic ranges may be limited by low fitness due to niche constraints, a hypothesis most directly tested by comparing the fitness of populations transplanted within and beyond the range. Such studies often fail to find beyond-range fitness declines strong enough to conclude that geographic range limits are solely imposed by niche limits. However, almost all studies only follow transplants for a single generation, which will underestimate the importance of niche limitation because critical but infrequent range-limiting events may be missed and methodological issues may artificially boost the fitness of beyond-range transplants. Here, we present the first multi-generation beyond-range transplant experiment that involves adequate replication and proper experimental controls. In 2005, experimental populations of the coastal dune plant Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia were planted at four sites within and one site beyond the northern limit. Fitness of initial transplants was high beyond the limit, suggesting that the range was limited by dispersal and not niche constraints. To better address the niche-limitation hypothesis, we quantified density and fitness of descendant C. cheiranthifolia populations 12-14 yr (˜10 generations) after transplant. Average annual fruit production and density of reproductive individuals were as high beyond the range as at four comparable experimental populations and eight natural populations within the range, and the beyond-range population had more than tripled in size since it was planted. This provides unprecedented support for the conclusion that northern range limit of C. cheiranthifolia results from something other than niche limitation, likely involving constraints on local dispersal.

A fish tale: a century of museum specimens reveal increasing microplastic concentrations in freshwater fish

Plastic is pervasive in modern economies and ecosystems. Freshwater fish ingest microplastics (i.e., particles <5 mm), but no studies have examined historical patterns of their microplastic consumption. Measuring the patterns of microplastic pollution in the past is critical for predicting future trends and for understanding the relationship between plastics in fish and the environment. We measured microplastics in digestive tissues of specimens collected from the years 1900-2017 and preserved in museum collections. We collected new fish specimens in 2018, along with water and sediment samples. We selected four species: Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass), Notropis stramineus (sand shiner), Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish), and Neogobius melanostomus (round goby) because each was well represented in museum collections, are locally abundant, and collected from urban habitats. For each individual, we dissected the digestive tissue from esophagus to anus, subjected tissue to peroxide oxidation, examined particles under a dissecting microscope, and used Raman spectroscopy to characterize the particles' chemical composition. No microplastics were detected in any fish prior to 1950. From mid-century to 2018, microplastic concentrations showed a significant increase when data from all fish were considered together. All detected particles were fibers, and represented plastic polymers (e.g., polyester) along with mixtures of natural and synthetic textiles. For the specimens collected in 2018, microplastics in fish and sediment showed similar patterns across study sites, while water column microplastics showed no differences among locations. Overall, plastic pollution in common freshwater fish species is increasing and pervasive across individuals and species, and is likely related to changes in environmental concentrations. Museum specimens are an overlooked source for assessing historical patterns of microplastic pollution, and for predicting future trends in freshwater fish, thereby helping to sustain the health of commercial and recreational fisheries worldwide.

Septic Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Is Associated With Significantly Higher Mortality Than Aseptic Revisions: Long-Term Single-Center Study (1254 Patients)

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to examine the differences in long-term mortality rates between septic and aseptic revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) in a single specialist center over 17-year period.

METHODS

Retrospective consecutive study of all patients who underwent rTKA at our tertiary center between 2003 and 2019 was carried out. Revisions were classified as septic or aseptic. We identified patients' age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, and body mass index. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 5 years, 10 years, and over the whole study period of 17 years. Death was identified through both local hospital electronic databases and linked data from the National Joint Registry/NHS Personal Demographic Service. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate time to death.

RESULTS

In total, 1298 consecutive knee revisions were performed on 1254 patients (44 bilateral revisions) with 985 aseptic revisions in 945 patients (75.4%) and 313 septic revisions in 309 patients (24.6%). Average age was 70.6 years (range 27-95) with 720 females (57.4%). Septic revisions had higher mortality rates; patients' survivorship for septic vs aseptic revisions was 77.6% vs 89.5% at 5 years, 68.7% vs 80.2% at 10 years, and 66.1% vs 75.0% at 17 years; these differences were all statistically significant (P < .0001). The unadjusted 10-year risk ratio of death after septic revision was 1.59 (95% confidence interval 1.29-1.96) compared to aseptic revisions.

CONCLUSION

rTKA performed for infection is associated with significantly higher long-term mortality at all time points compared with aseptic revision surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Descriptive Analysis of Real-World Data on Fingolimod Long-Term Treatment of Young Adult RRMS Patients

Background: Fingolimod (Gilenya®) is approved for adult and pediatric patients with highly active relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Objectives: The objective was to describe the effectiveness of fingolimod in young adults compared to older patients in clinical practice.

Methods: PANGAEA is the largest prospective, multi-center, non-interventional, long-term study evaluating fingolimod in RRMS. We descriptively analyzed demographics, MS characteristics, and severity in two subgroups of young adults (≤20 and >20 to ≤30 years) and older patients (>30 years).

Results: Young adults had lower Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores compared to older patients (1.8 and 2.3 vs. 3.2) at baseline. The mean EDSS scores remained stable over 5 years in all subgroups. Young adults had higher annual relapse rates (2.0 and 1.7 vs. 1.4) at study entry, which were reduced by approximately 80% in all subgroups over 5 years. The proportion of patients with no clinical disease activity in year 4 was 52.6 and 73.4 vs. 66.9% in patients ≤20, >20 to ≤30 years and >30 years, respectively. The symbol digit modalities test score increased by 15.25 ± 8.3 and 8.3 ± 11.3 (mean ± SD) from baseline in patients >20 to ≤30 and >30 years.

Conclusions: Real-world evidence suggests a long-term treatment benefit of fingolimod in young RRMS patients.

Sex ratio of Western Bluebirds Sialia mexicana is mediated by phenology and clutch size

Mothers may produce more of one sex to maximize their fitness if there are differences in the cost of producing each sex or there are differences in their relative reproductive value. Breeding date and clutch size are known to influence offspring sex ratios in birds through sex differences in dispersal, social behaviours, differential mortality, and available food resources. We tested if breeding date, clutch size and drought conditions influenced offspring sex ratios in a sexually size-monomorphic species, the Western Bluebird, by interrogating a 21-year dataset. After controlling for differential mortality, we found that hatch dates late in the breeding season were associated with the production of more females, suggesting that the value of producing males declines as the breeding season progresses. When clutch size was taken into account, small clutches yielded significantly more females late in the breeding season compared to the early and middle parts of the breeding season that produced significantly more males. Large clutches early in the season tended to produce more females, although this was not significant. Drought severity was not correlated with sex ratio adjustment. We propose and discuss several explanations for these patterns, including male offspring, but not female offspring, acting as helpers, increased female nestling provisioning late in the breeding season, differences in food abundance, and egg-laying order. Future work will help to uncover the mechanisms leading to these patterns. Identifying patterns and mechanisms of sex ratio skew from long-term datasets is important for informing predictions regarding life-history trade-offs in wildlife populations.

No evidence for fitness signatures consistent with increasing trophic mismatch over 30 years in a population of European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

As temperatures rise, timing of reproduction is changing at different rates across trophic levels, potentially resulting in asynchrony between consumers and their resources. The match-mismatch hypothesis (MMH) suggests that trophic asynchrony will have negative impacts on average productivity of consumers. It is also thought to lead to selection on timing of breeding, as the most asynchronous individuals will show the greatest reductions in fitness. Using a 30-year individual-level dataset of breeding phenology and success from a population of European shags on the Isle of May, Scotland, we tested a series of predictions consistent with the hypothesis that fitness impacts of trophic asynchrony are increasing. These predictions quantified changes in average annual breeding success and strength of selection on timing of breeding, over time and in relation to rising sea surface temperature (SST) and diet composition. Annual average (population) breeding success was negatively correlated with average lay date yet showed no trend over time, or in relation to increasing SST or the proportion of principal prey in the diet, as would be expected if trophic mismatch was increasing. At the individual level, we found evidence for stabilising selection and directional selection for earlier breeding, although the earliest birds were not the most productive. However, selection for earlier laying did not strengthen over time, or in relation to SST or slope of the seasonal shift in diet from principal to secondary prey. We found that the optimum lay date advanced by almost 4 weeks during the study, and that the population mean lay date tracked this shift. Our results indicate that average performance correlates with absolute timing of breeding of the population, and there is selection for earlier laying at the individual level. However, we found no fitness signatures of a change in the impact of climate-induced trophic mismatch, and evidence that shags are tracking long-term shifts in optimum timing. This suggests that if asynchrony is present in this system, breeding success is not impacted. Our approach highlights the advantages of examining variation at both population and individual levels when assessing evidence for fitness impacts of trophic asynchrony.

The Relationship between Hunting Methods and the Sex, Age and Body Mass of Wild Boar Sus scrofa

Simple Summary

Wild boar Sus scrofa is a widely distributed species, the global population of which is continuously growing and its ecological impact is substantial. The increasing number of wild boars results in many conflicts with people, as they cause serious crop damage and are reservoirs of many epidemiologically and economically important diseases. That’s why in many countries to reduce these pressure, hunting for wild boars is carried out. Different methods of hunting and individual preferences of hunters may influence the effectiveness of such population control. We analyzed hunting data from the survey area in Western Poland from the years 1965–2016 and showed that individual hunters and team hunters usually hunt wild boars of different sex and age. Understanding these differences may help future planning of hunting operations, which will ensure an effective reduction of the number of wild boars, without causing untoward changes in the age- and sex structure of the population.

Abstract

Increases in the wild boar Sus scrofa population create many conflicts that must be managed, especially because hunting represents a major cause of mortality in this game species. However, hunting effort is not distributed randomly and is influenced by many factors, including hunting methods. This can be especially important in understanding the nature of hunting pressure for both theoretical (ecological and evolutionary) and applied reasons (for management purposes, especially during infectious diseases, for example, African swine fever, outbreaks). We analyzed hunting data from the survey area in Western Poland from the years 1965–2016. In this period a total of 2335 wild boar were culled using two hunting methods: by individual hunters (43.8%) and by teams of hunters (52.0%). During the study period, the number of wild boars increased significantly but in a non-linear manner. More adult males and yearlings of both sexes were shot during individual hunts; more adult females were culled during team hunting. Moreover, the body mass of culled wild boars was positively influenced by the distance to a forest and during the team hunts heavier females and males were shot. To effectively control populations of wild boars, programs to reduce the number of individuals should be better planned and ensure the maintenance of proper age- and sex structure in the wild boar population.

Long-Term Determinants of the Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in a Wild Ungulate Community

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan which infects warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans, worldwide. In the present study, the epidemiology of T. gondii was studied in the wild ungulate host community (wild boar, red deer, and fallow deer) of Doñana National Park (DNP, south-western Spain) for 13 years (2005-2018). We assessed several variables which potentially operate in the medium and long-term (environmental features, population, and stochastic factors). Overall, the wild ungulate host community of DNP had high seroprevalence values of T. gondii (STG; % ± confidence interval (CI) 95%; wild boar (Sus scrofa) 39 ± 3.3, n = 698; red deer (Cervus elaphus) 30.7 ± 4.4, n = 423; fallow deer (Dama dama) 29.7 ± 4.2, n = 452). The complex interplay of hosts and ecological/epidemiological niches, together with the optimal climatic conditions for the survival of oocysts that converge in this area may favor the spread of the parasite in its host community. The temporal evolution of STG oscillated considerably, mostly in deer species. The relationships shown by statistical models indicated that several factors determined species patterns. Concomitance of effects among species, indicated that relevant drivers of risk operated at the community level. Our focus, addressing factors operating at broad temporal scale, allows showing their impacts on the epidemiology of T. gondii and its trends. This approach is key to understanding the epidemiology and ecology to T. gondii infection in wild host communities in a context where the decline in seroprevalence leads to loss of immunity in humans.

Fecal Klebsiella pneumoniae Carriage Is Intermittent and of High Clonal Diversity

The Klebsiella pneumoniae complex comprises several closely related entities, which are ubiquitous in the natural environment, including in plants, animals, and humans. K. pneumoniae is the major species within this complex. K. pneumoniae strains are opportunistic pathogens and a common cause of healthcare-associated infections. K. pneumoniae can colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, which may become a reservoir for infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the fecal K. pneumoniae carriage in six healthy individuals during a 1 year period. Stool samples were obtained once a week. Using direct and pre-enriched cultures streaked on ampicillin-supplemented agar plates, up to eight individual colonies per positive sample were selected for further characterization. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed for strain characterization. Sequence type (ST), core genome complex type (CT), K and O serotypes, virulence traits, antibiotic resistance profiles, and plasmids were extracted from WGS data. In total, 80 K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from 48 positive cultures of 278 stool samples from five of the six test subjects. The samples of the five colonized volunteers yielded at most two, three, four (two persons), and five different strains, respectively. These 80 K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to 60 STs, including nine new STs; they were of 70 CTs, yielded 48 K serotypes, 11 O serotypes, and 39 wzc and 51 wzi alleles. Four of the five subjects harbored serotypes K20 and K47, as well as STs ST37, ST101, ST1265, and ST20, which had previously been linked to high-risk K. pneumoniae clones. In total, 25 genes conferring antibiotic resistance and 42 virulence genes were detected among all 80 isolates. Plasmids of 15 different types were found among 65 of the isolates. Fecal carriage of individual strains was of short duration: 70 strains were found on a single sampling day only, and 5 strains were isolated in samples collected over two consecutive weeks. Two of the five colonized individuals—working colleagues having meals together—shared identical K. pneumoniae types four times during the study period. Our findings point toward the potential role of food as a reservoir for K. pneumoniae in humans.

Long-Term Determinants of Tuberculosis in the Ungulate Host Community of Doñana National Park

Animal tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama) and cattle in south and central Spain. In order to clarify the processes that operate in the medium and long-term, we studied TB at the wildlife–livestock interface in Doñana National Park for 14 years (2006–2018) in relation to host density, stochastic factors (rainfall) and environmental features (e.g., aggregation points such as waterholes). Wild boar showed the highest prevalence of TB (76.7%), followed by red deer (42.5%), fallow deer (14.4%) and cattle (10.7%). We found evidence of relevant epidemiological processes which operate over the long-term and interact with host and community ecology. Interestingly, the effect of high wild boar population density on increased TB rates was mediated by sows, which could determine high incidence in young individuals already in maternal groups. Rainfall significantly determined a higher risk of TB in male red deer, probably mediated by sex-related differences in life history traits that determined more susceptibility and/or exposure in comparison to females. The positive association between the prevalence of TB in fallow deer and cattle may indicate significant interspecies transmission (in either direction) and/or similar exposure to risk factors mediated by ecological overlapping of grazing species. The identification of long-term drivers of TB provided evidence that its control in extensive pastoral systems can only be achieved by targeting all relevant hosts and integrating measures related to all the factors involved, such as: population abundance and the aggregation of wild and domestic ungulates, environmental exposure to mycobacteria, cattle testing and culling campaigns and adjustments of appropriate densities.

Impact of climate change on the small mammal community of the Yukon boreal forest

Long‐term monitoring is critical to determine the stability and sustainability of wildlife populations, and if change has occurred, why. We have followed population density changes in the small mammal community in the boreal forest of the southern Yukon for 46 years with density estimates by live trapping on 3–5 unmanipulated grids in spring and autumn. This community consists of 10 species and was responsible for 9% of the energy flow in the herbivore component of this ecosystem from 1986 to 1996, but this increased to 38% from 2003 to 2014. Small mammals, although small in size, are large in the transfer of energy from plants to predators and decomposers. Four species form the bulk of the biomass. There was a shift in the dominant species from the 1970s to the 2000s, with Myodes rutilus increasing in relative abundance by 22% and Peromyscus maniculatus decreasing by 22%. From 2007 to 2018, Myodes comprised 63% of the catch, Peromyscus 20%, and Microtus species 17%. Possible causes of these changes involve climate change, which is increasing primary production in this boreal forest, and an associated increase in the abundance of 3 rodent predators, marten (Martes americana), ermine (Mustela ermine) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Following and understanding these and potential future changes will require long‐term monitoring studies on a large scale to measure metapopulation dynamics. The small mammal community in northern Canada is being affected by climate change and cannot remain stable. Changes will be critically dependent on food–web interactions that are species‐specific.

Long-term safety and tolerability of aripiprazole lauroxil in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

Safety and tolerability of long-term treatment with the long-acting antipsychotic aripiprazole lauroxil (AL) were evaluated in patients with schizophrenia.

METHODS

This was an international, multicenter, phase 3, 52-week safety study of 2 fixed doses of AL (441 mg or 882 mg intramuscular every 4 weeks). Safety endpoints included adverse events (AEs) and extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) including akathisia, injection-site reactions (ISRs), and clinically relevant changes in metabolic and endocrine values.

RESULTS

Of 478 patients entering this study, 236 (49%) continued from a previous 12-week, phase 3 efficacy study of AL, and 242 (51%) were newly enrolled. Overall, 77% and 23% of patients received AL 882 mg (N = 368) and 441 mg (N = 110), respectively. AEs occurred in 50.4% of patients; most were mild (28.7%) or moderate (18.2%). The most common AEs were insomnia (8.4%) and increased weight (5.0%). Akathisia was reported as an AE in 3.8% of the overall population, with higher rates in patients initiating AL on study entry than those continuing on AL. EPS-related AEs occurred in 9.4% of patients, and AEs related to metabolic parameters were reported in 4.6% of patients. Weight gain was minimal (0.8 kg), and no clinically relevant changes were observed for metabolic parameters. The overall incidence of ISRs was 3.8%; most were associated with the initial injections in patients receiving their first injection in this study.

CONCLUSION

Long-term treatment with AL is generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with that of oral aripiprazole. It is a suitable option for patients with schizophrenia.

Effectiveness and safety of pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the long-term effectiveness of pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment and to establish its adverse effects profile.

METHODS

Retrospective observational study in patients with IPF who initiated treatment with pirfenidone between 2011 and 2016. We collected demographic variables (age, sex); date of first and last treatment; reason for discontinuation; pulmonary function measures (forced vital capacity (FVC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), and 6 min walk test (6MWT)) at treatment initiation (baseline) and at 1, 2 and 3 year follow-up; adherence to pirfenidone treatment; recorded adverse effects; and mortality.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients treated with pirfenidone were included; mean±SD age was 69±8 years, 74% were men, and 59% had a smoking history. Mean baseline values were: FVC 2.43±0.66 L (61.8±12.1%); DLCO 46.1±19.4%; and 6MWT 334±125 m. Median duration of treatment was 14±13 months, and treatment was discontinued in 58% of patients. The most frequently observed adverse effects were gastrointestinal disturbances and photosensitivity. Twenty (65%) patients were evaluated at 1 year, when mean FVC was 2.41±0.86 L (64.7±20.3%); DLCO 50.8±26.8%; and 6MWT 341±139 m. At 2 years' follow-up, 11 patients (36%) who were still taking pirfenidone were evaluated. Mean FVC was 2.34±0.79 L (66.2±14.7%); DLCO 50.0±28.3%; and 6MWT 265±121 m. At 3 years, five patients were still taking the treatment. Mean FVC was 2.71±0.84 L (71.0±24.7%); DLCO 52.6±26.7%; and 6MWT 286±139 m. Nineteen per cent of patients were non-adherent to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Pirfenidone seems to be effective for long-term control of IPF despite substantial variability in response among individual patients. The most frequent adverse effects were digestive and cutaneous, prompting in some cases a reduction in dose or even discontinuation of the treatment.

[Levels of structural integration in adolescents and the relationship to later mental disorders - A longitudinal study]

Levels of structural integration in adolescents and the relationship to later mental disorders - A longitudinal study Abstract. Objective: Psychological disorders frequently manifest during adolescence. Because of the multifactorial influencing factors, the courses of the diseases are heterogeneous, from relapsing-remitting to chronic. This study investigated whether the level of structural integration of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics in Childhood and Adolescence (OPD-CA) correlates with later symptomatic burden. Method: This long-term study assessed the levels of structural integration according to the OPD-CA of 60 adolescents (mean age = 15.6; SD = 0.9). Seven years later, we then measured symptomatic burden (SCID axis I and II) and overall burden (GAF, BSI-GSI) (73.3 % follow-up participation rate). Results: The results showed high correlations between deficient structural integration in adolescence and later symptoms and overall burden in early adulthood. Conclusion: The follow-up examination after a 7-year time period showed significant correlations, which argue for the predictive value of structural integration. This suggests that early specific treatment, e.g., in the form of intensive psychotherapy, be urgently recommended in order to influence this course.

Social influences on survival and reproduction: Insights from a long-term study of wild baboons

For social species, the environment has two components: physical and social. The social environment modifies the individual's interaction with the physical environment, and the physical environment may in turn impact individuals' social relationships. This interplay can generate considerable variation among individuals in survival and reproduction. Here, I synthesize more than four decades of research on the baboons of the Amboseli basin in southern Kenya to illustrate how social and physical environments interact to affect reproduction and survival. For immature baboons, social behaviour can both mitigate and exacerbate the challenge of survival. Only c. 50% of live-born females and c. 44% of live-born males reach the median age of first reproduction. Variation in pre-adult survival, growth and development is associated with multiple aspects of the social environment. For instance, conspecifics provide direct care and are a major source of social knowledge about food and the environment, but conspecifics can also represent a direct threat to survival through infanticide. In adulthood, both competition (within and between social groups) and cooperative affiliation (i.e. collective action and/or the exchange of social resources such as grooming) are prominent features of baboon social life and have important consequences for reproduction and survival. For instance, adult females with higher social dominance ranks have accelerated reproduction, and adult females that engage in more frequent affiliative social interactions have higher survival throughout adulthood. The early life environment also has important consequences for adult reproduction and survival, as in a number of other bird and mammal species. In seasonal breeders, early life effects often apply to entire cohorts; in contrast, in nonseasonal and highly social species such as baboons, early life effects are more individual-specific, stemming from considerable variation not only in the early physical environment (even if they are born in the same year) but also in the particulars of their social environment.

Clines in traits compared over two decades in a plant hybrid zone

Background and Aims

Clines in traits across hybrid zones reflect a balance between natural selection and gene flow. Changes over time in average values for traits, and especially the shapes of their clines, are rarely investigated in plants, but could result from evolution in an unstable hybrid zone. Differences in clines between floral and vegetative traits could indicate different strengths of divergent selection.

Methods

Five floral and two vegetative traits were measured in 12 populations along an elevational gradient spanning a natural hybrid zone between Ipomopsis aggregata and Ipomopsis tenuituba. We compared clines in the floral traits with those measured 25 years ago. Observed changes in mean trait values were compared with predictions based on prior estimates of natural selection. We also compared the steepness and position of clines between the floral and vegetative traits.

Key Results

Corolla length has increased over five generations to an extent that matches predictions from measurements of phenotypic selection and heritability. The shape of its cline, and that of other traits, has not changed detectably. Clines varied across traits, but not all floral traits showed steeper clines than did vegetative traits. Both suites of morphological traits had steeper clines than did neutral molecular markers.

Conclusions

The increase in corolla length provides a rare example of a match between predicted and observed evolution of a plant trait in natural populations. The clinal properties are consistent with the hypothesis that habitat-mediated divergent selection on vegetative traits and pollinator-mediated selection on floral traits both maintain species differences across the hybrid zone.

Retrospective radiographic observational study of 1692 Straumann tissue-level dental implants over 10 years. II. Marginal bone stability

BACKGROUND

Despite accumulating evidence for the longitudinal stability of the marginal bone level around an implant, there is limited evidence of predisposing risk factors for marginal bone loss based on some implants in a relatively large patient population.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to retrospectively determine the marginal bone loss around Straumann tissue-level dental implants during follow-up periods among which the maximum lasts up to 10 years, as well as the predisposing risk factors for peri-implant marginal bone loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study analyzed 1692 Straumann tissue-level dental implants in 881 patients, and relevant data were collected. The peri-implant marginal bone level was measured on periodic radiographs, and the changes in bone level were analyzed cumulatively from surgery until up to 10 years later. The log-rank test was used to select candidate critical risk factors for marginal bone loss, and multivariate analysis using Cox regression with the shared frailty model was performed.

RESULTS

The overall peri-implant bone loss was 0.07 ± 0.21mm, 0.09 ± 0.26mm, 0.14 ± 0.41mm, and 0.17 ± 0.45mm at 3, 5, 7, and 9 years, respectively. Only 14 implants showed pathologic marginal bone loss exceeding 2mm during the follow-up period. While 2 implants were removed with continuous progressive marginal bone loss, 5 of the 14 implants showed early bone loss exceeding 1mm within the first year but then subsequently tended to show a stable marginal bone level. In the other seven implants, bone loss started after the first year and progressed continuously. Multivariate analysis revealed that diameter of the implant affected the peri-implant marginal bone loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Straumann tissue-level dental implants showed only slight peri-implant marginal bone loss, with a very low incidence of pathologic marginal bone loss exceeding 2mm.

Human-induced environmental changes influence habitat use by an ungulate over the long term

Habitat use and preferences may be subject to spatial and temporal changes. However, long-term studies of species–habitat relationships are the exception. In the present research, long-term trends in habitat use by an alpine ungulate, the Tatra chamois Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica, were analyzed. We examined how environmental changes attributable to climate change, removal of sheep, and habituation to hikers, which took place over the last half-century have changed the spatial distribution of animals. Data on the localities of groups sighted between 1957 and 2013 during autumnal population surveys were used to evaluate habitat associations: these were correlated with year, group size, population size, and climatic conditions. The results indicate that the Tatra chamois is tending, over the long term, to lower its altitude of occurrence, reduce its average distance to hiking trails, and stay less often on slopes with a southerly aspect. These trends are independent of group size, population size, and the weather conditions prevailing during observations, though not for altitude, where increases in air temperature are related to finding chamois at higher elevations. The proportion of alpine meadows and slope in the places used by chamois is correlated with population size, while the proportion of areas with trees and/or shrubs is correlated with group size and air temperature, though long-term changes were not evident for these variables. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to document long-term trends in habitat use by ungulates. It shows that a species’ ecology is influenced by human-induced changes: abandonment of pasturage, high-mountain tourism, and climate changes, which constitute the most probable reasons for this aspect of behavioral evolution in the Tatra chamois.

An up to 17-year follow-up retrospective analysis of a minimally invasive, flapless approach: 18 945 implants in 7783 patients

BACKGROUND

This study investigates gender, age, jaw, implant position, loading protocol (immediate vs delayed), smoking, and type of surgery (punch vs flap) as influential factors of implant survival in a large patient collective.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the survival rates of implants in patients using a mucoperiosteal punch for flapless implantation in the majority of cases in order to evaluate its medical efficacy and safety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1994 and 2015 all patients with complete data treated at the Wienerberg Dental Clinic, Vienna, Austria, were included and statistically analyzed in Cox proportional hazard (PH) models. As patients with multiple implants were included, a clustering term was added to the Cox PH model to respect pooled failures in patients.

RESULTS

Of the initial 24 282 ANKYLOS/Dentsply implants placed in 8137 patients a total of 7783 patients with 18 945 implants were finally included. The mean follow-up was 2.8 ± 3.2 up to 17.9 years. Cumulative survival rates (CSRs) after 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 98.5%, 97.7%, 96.7%, and 93.0%, respectively. Of these, 17 517 (92.5%) implants were placed minimally invasive via a flapless approach by use of the ATP-Punch with comparable survival rates as observed for flap surgery. The Cox PH models proved smoking (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.2) and implant position as significant factors of implant survival. In the maxilla, canines and third molars were identified as low risk sites in comparison to the most frequently implanted first premolar site. In the mandible, the central incisor and second premolar were identified as high-risk sites, the canine as low risk site in comparison to the most frequently placed first molar site.

CONCLUSION

The analyzed data concludes the safety and medical efficacy of the ATP-Punch. The CSRs using this flapless technique are comparable to the classic surgical flap approach.

A 104-week pulmonary toxicity assessment of long and short single-wall carbon nanotubes after a single intratracheal instillation in rats

We compared long-term pulmonary toxicities after a single intratracheal instillation of two types of dispersed single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), namely, those with relatively long or short linear shapes with average lengths of 8.6 and 0.55 µm, respectively. Both types of SWCNTs were instilled intratracheally in male F344 rats at 0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg (long SWCNTs) or 1.0 mg/kg (short SWCNTs). Pulmonary responses were characterized at 26, 52 and 104 weeks after a single instillation. Inflammatory changes, test substance deposition, test substance engulfment by macrophages, and alveolar wall fibrosis were observed in the lungs of almost all test rats at 52 and 104 weeks after short nanotube instillation. The incidences of these changes were much lower in the long nanotube-treated groups. In almost all rats of the long nanotube-treated groups, fibrosis and epithelium loss in the terminal bronchiole with test substance deposition were observed. These bronchiolar changes were not observed after administering short nanotubes. Both bronchiolo-alveolar adenoma and carcinoma were found in the negative-control group, the high-dose long-nanotube group, and the short-nanotube group at 104 weeks post-instillation, although the incidences were not statistically different. The genotoxicity of the SWCNTs was also evaluated by performing in vivo comet assays with lung cells obtained 26 weeks post-instillation. No significant changes in the percent tail deoxyribonucleic acid were found in any group. These findings suggested that most long SWCNTs were deposited at the terminal bronchioles and that a considerable amount of short SWCNTs reached the alveolus, resulting in chronic inflammatory responses, but no genotoxicity in the lungs.

Unexpected population response to increasing temperature in the context of a strong species interaction

Climate change is driving large changes in the spatial and temporal distributions of species, with significant consequences for individual populations. Community- and ecosystem-level implications of altered species distributions may be complex and challenging to anticipate due to the cascading effects of disrupted interactions among species, which may exhibit threshold responses to extreme climatic events. Toxic, bloom-forming cyanobacteria like Microcystis are expected to increase worldwide with climate change, due in part to their high temperature optima for growth. In addition, invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have caused an increase in Microcystis aeruginosa, a species typically associated with eutrophication, in low-nutrient lakes. We conducted a 13-yr study of a M. aeruginosa population in a low-nutrient lake invaded by zebra mussels. In 10 of the 13 years, there was a significant positive relationship between M. aeruginosa biomass and accumulated degree days, which are projected to increase with climate change. In contrast, Microcystis biomass was up to an order of magnitude lower than predicted by the above relationship during the other three years, including the warmest in the data set, following repeated heat-induced mass mortality of D. polymorpha. Thus, the positive relationship between Microcystis biomass and temperature was negated when its facilitating species was suppressed during a series of exceptionally warm summers. Predicting the net response of a species to climate change may therefore require, at minimum, quantification of responses of both the focal species and species that strongly interact with it over sufficiently long time periods to encompass the full range of climatic variability. Our results could not have been predicted from existing data on the short-term responses of these two interacting species to increased temperature.

Learning from single extreme events

Extreme climatic events (ECEs) have a disproportionate effect on ecosystems. Yet much of what we know about the ecological impact of ECEs is based on observing the effects of single extreme events. We examined what characteristics affect the strength of inference that can be drawn from single-event studies, which broadly fell into three categories: opportunistic observational studies initiated after an ECE, long-term observational studies with data before and after an ECE and experiments. Because extreme events occur rarely, inference from such single-event studies cannot easily be made under the usual statistical paradigm that relies on replication and control. However, single-event studies can yield important information for theory development and can contribute to meta-analyses. Adaptive management approaches can be used to learn from single, or a few, extreme events. We identify a number of factors that can make observations of single events more informative. These include providing robust estimates of the magnitude of ecological responses and some measure of climatic extremeness, collecting ancillary data that can inform on mechanisms, continuing to observe the biological system after the ECE and combining observational data with experiments and models. Well-designed single-event studies are an important contribution to our understanding of biological effects of ECEs.This article is part of the themed issue 'Behavioural, ecological and evolutionary responses to extreme climatic events'.

Quality and Survival of Direct Light-Activated Composite Resin Restorations in Posterior Teeth: A 5- to 20-Year Retrospective Longitudinal Study

PURPOSE

To analyze the clinical success of direct light-activated composite resin restorations in posterior teeth. The quality of the margins and occlusal surfaces were evaluated, as well as their survival, according to their extensions and locations. The clinical performance of posterior composite resin restorations with different compositions were compared. All restorations were performed by the first author in his private practice, in a 5- to 20-year period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Several types of composite resins, provided by different manufacturers, were placed in posterior teeth, after isolation with rubber dams. To be included in the study, the restorations had to have been in function for at least 5 years and had to have been placed between October 1993 and October 2008 by the first author. The established failure criteria were: tooth and/or restoration fracture, secondary caries, endodontic treatment, or tooth loss. Included patients must have been treated in the first author's office for at least 7 years and still in the practice through 2013; all patients had complete dental arches. Patients with removable dental prostheses or disabilities, who had moved, or who had died were excluded. Of 210 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 138 randomly selected subjects were clinically examined between November 2013 and April 2014. Of these 138 patients, 61 had received 105 direct-light-activated composite resin restorations in posterior teeth, which met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine patients (47.5%) underwent annual maintenance therapy. The patient-based data collected from clinical exams and personal records were recorded on a specially designed form. Age, gender, period of clinical attendance, tooth preparation, location, size, quality and longevity of the restorations, restorative materials, adhesive systems, parafunctional habits, secondary caries, and maintenance therapy were the variables evaluated. Authors were blinded to the clinical assessments. Cohen's Kappa coefficient of the quality analysis of the margins and occlusal surfaces of the restorations ranged from 0.78 to 1. Data processing was performed using Epidat software, v3.1, developed by the Consellería de Sanidade de la Xunta de Galicia with the support of PAHO-WHO and SPSS software v13.0. If the number of complete values was too small, a Kaplan-Meier curve could not be used. Therefore the Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney non-parametric test were indicated to analyze significant differences.

RESULTS

At the time of the examinations, 103 (98%) restorations were in function, and 98 (95.1%) were rated as clinically successful. Two restorations failed (2%). The observed mean survival time of restorations that remained functional was 11 years and 7 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present report, direct light-activated composite resin restorations in posterior teeth showed a high clinical success rate and long-term mean survival time. These composite resins might be considered the material of choice to restore medium, extended, and in some clinical situations, large preparations in posterior teeth.

How family interactions about lifestyle changes affect adolescents' possibilities for maintaining weight loss after a weight-loss intervention: a longitudinal qualitative interview study

AIM

This study aims to examine how family interactions related to lifestyle changes influence adolescents' potential for maintaining weight loss after participating in a weight-loss treatment programme.

BACKGROUND

Obesity among adolescents is a large and complex health problem worldwide. Family support is crucial if adolescents are to benefit from weight-loss intervention.

DESIGN

Qualitative research interviews with families who participated in a weight-loss programme.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 10 families selected among participants in a 1-year multidisciplinary family-based weight-loss programme. Three rounds of semi-structured interviews stretching over 5 years (2010-2015) were transcribed verbatim, then analyzed using Kvale and Brinkmann's framework for working with qualitative research interviews.

FINDINGS

Five years after the intervention ended, we found that a family's interactions were a key factor in how the family handled challenges involved in changing its diet and increasing physical activity and that daily activities in modern families influenced their interaction, as activities demanded so much of the family that it was difficult to sustain the lifestyle changes necessary for the adolescent to maintain achieved weight loss. Supporting the adolescent was far more difficult than families expected; more time-consuming and also a cause of family conflicts. Siblings who did not need to lose weight played a major, but overlooked, role.

CONCLUSION

The family's interactions and its handling of lifestyle changes were important to the adolescent's maintained weight loss. It is fundamental that the entire family is supportive, regardless of family structure and these issues ought to be addressed in future interventions.

Amphibian breeding phenology trends under climate change: predicting the past to forecast the future

Global climate warming is predicted to hasten the onset of spring breeding by anuran amphibians in seasonal environments. Previous data had indicated that the breeding phenology of a population of Fowler's Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) at their northern range limit had been progressively later in spring, contrary to generally observed trends in other species. Although these animals are known to respond to environmental temperature and the lunar cycle to commence breeding, the timing of breeding should also be influenced by the onset of overwintering animals' prior upward movement through the soil column from beneath the frost line as winter becomes spring. I used recorded weather data to identify four factors of temperature, rainfall and snowfall in late winter and early spring that correlated with the toads' eventual date of emergence aboveground. Estimated dates of spring emergence of the toads calculated using a predictive model based on these factors, as well as the illumination of the moon, were highly correlated with observed dates of emergence over 24 consecutive years. Using the model to estimate of past dates of spring breeding (i.e. retrodiction) indicated that even three decades of data were insufficient to discern any appreciable phenological trend in these toads. However, by employing weather data dating back to 1876, I detected a significant trend over 140 years towards earlier spring emergence by the toads by less than half a day/decade, while, over the same period of time, average annual air temperature and annual precipitation had both increased. Changes in the springtime breeding phenology for late-breeding species, such as Fowler's Toads, therefore may conform to expectations of earlier breeding under global warming. Improved understanding of the environmental cues that bring organisms out of winter dormancy will enable better interpretation of long-term phenological trends.

Zirconia abutments for single-tooth implant restorations: a 10- to 11-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical outcome of custom-made zirconia abutments for implant-supported single-tooth restorations 10-11 years after insertion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study comprises a clinical examination of 23 patients with 30 restorations placed 10-11 years ago. Oral surgeons placed the implants. The prosthodontic treatment was provided at a prosthodontic specialist clinic. The restoration was either an all-ceramic crown for cementation or a screw-retained one-piece restoration with the veneering porcelain baked directly to the zirconia abutment. Besides the clinical and radiographic examination at the 10- to 11-year follow-up, the patients' records were scrutinized regarding clinical and radiographic data from insertion of the restoration up to the last visit at the clinic.

RESULTS

The zirconia abutments performed well. Both technical and biological complications were rare; most patients were in general extremely satisfied with the restorations. No all-ceramic crowns fractured during the observation period. One implant was lost after 5½ years in service. There were no significant differences for changes in any of the soft tissue registrations or the peri-implant marginal bone level between the conventional two-piece abutment-crown restoration and the one-piece restoration. The peri-implant bone level changes from placement to the clinical examination 10-11 years later were small (mean 0.26 mm, SD 0.6 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

Zirconia abutments for single-implant crowns demonstrated excellent technical and biological results over 10-11 years of function, and most patients were extremely satisfied with the aesthetics and the function of their single-implant restorations.

Spring temperatures influence selection on breeding date and the potential for phenological mismatch in a migratory bird

Climate change has affected the seasonal phenology of a variety of taxa, including that of migratory birds and their critical food resources. However, whether climate-induced changes in breeding phenology affect individual fitness, and how these changes might therefore influence selection on breeding date remain unresolved. Here, we use a 36-yr dataset from a long-term, individual-based study of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) to test whether the timing of avian breeding seasons is associated with annual changes in temperature, which have increased to a small but significant extent locally since the onset of the study in 1980. Increasing temperature was associated with an advancement of breeding date in the population, as the onset of breeding within years was closely associated with daily spring temperatures. Warmer springs were also associated with a reduced incubation period, but reduced incubation periods were associated with a prolonged duration of nestling provisioning. Nest productivity, in terms of fledgling production, was not associated with temperature, but wetter springs reduced fledging success. Most years were characterized by selection for earlier breeding, but cool and wet years resulted in stabilizing selection on breeding date. Our results indicate that climate change and increasing spring temperatures can affect suites of life-history traits, including selection on breeding date. Increasing temperatures may favor earlier breeding, but the extent to which the phenology of populations might advance may be constrained by reductions in fitness associated with early breeding during cool, wet years. Variability in climatic conditions will, therefore, shape the extent to which seasonal organisms can respond to changes in their environment.

Long-term administration of escitalopram in patients with social anxiety disorder in Japan

PURPOSE

To investigate the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of escitalopram in patients with social anxiety disorder in Japan.

METHODS

A 52-week, open-label study was conducted in Japanese patients with social anxiety disorder with a total score ≥60 on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale - Japanese Version (LSAS-J) and ≥4 on the Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale. Escitalopram 10 mg/day was administered for the first week and could be increased to 20 mg/day.

RESULTS

The study included 158 patients: 81.0% (128/158) completed 52 weeks of escitalopram treatment, 68.4% (108/158) increased their dose to 20 mg/day, and 56.3% (89/158) remained on 20 mg/day. Adverse drug reactions were reported by 57.6% (91/158) of patients. The most common (incidence ≥10%) were somnolence and nausea. The incidence of adverse drug reactions was similar in extensive and poor metabolizers of cytochrome P450 2C19. No adverse drug reactions increased in incidence by >5% after week 12. The incidence of serious adverse events was 1.3% (2/158). No deaths occurred. The LSAS-J total scores improved until week 52. The LSAS-J response rate (≥30% improvement in LSAS-J) was 69.0%, the Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale response rate (≤2) was 73.0%, and the LSAS-J remission rate (≤30) was 27.0%.

CONCLUSION

In this first 52-week clinical study of social anxiety disorder, escitalopram 10-20 mg/day was safe, well tolerated, and effective in Japanese patients.

In vivo risk evaluation of carbon-coated iron carbide nanoparticles based on short- and long-term exposure scenarios

BACKGROUND

While carbon-encapsulated iron carbide nanoparticles exhibit strong magnetic properties appealing for biomedical applications, potential side effects of such materials remain comparatively poorly understood. Here, we assess the effects of iron-based nanoparticles in an in vivo long-term study in mice with observation windows between 1 week and 1 year.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Functionalized (PEG or IgG) carbon-encapsulated platinum-spiked iron carbide nanoparticles were injected intravenously in mice (single or repeated dose administration).

RESULTS

One week after administration, magnetic nanoparticles were predominantly localized in organs of the reticuloendothelial system, particularly the lung and liver. After 1 year, particles were still present in these organs, however, without any evident tissue alterations, such as inflammation, fibrosis, necrosis or carcinogenesis. Importantly, reticuloendothelial system organs presented with normal function.

CONCLUSION

This long-term exposure study shows high in vivo compatibility of intravenously applied carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles suggesting continuing investigations on such materials for biomedical applications.

Influences of extreme weather, climate and pesticide use on invertebrates in cereal fields over 42 years

Cereal fields are central to balancing food production and environmental health in the face of climate change. Within them, invertebrates provide key ecosystem services. Using 42 years of monitoring data collected in southern England, we investigated the sensitivity and resilience of invertebrates in cereal fields to extreme weather events and examined the effect of long-term changes in temperature, rainfall and pesticide use on invertebrate abundance. Of the 26 invertebrate groups examined, eleven proved sensitive to extreme weather events. Average abundance increased in hot/dry years and decreased in cold/wet years for Araneae, Cicadellidae, adult Heteroptera, Thysanoptera, Braconidae, Enicmus and Lathridiidae. The average abundance of Delphacidae, Cryptophagidae and Mycetophilidae increased in both hot/dry and cold/wet years relative to other years. The abundance of all 10 groups usually returned to their long-term trend within a year after the extreme event. For five of them, sensitivity to cold/wet events was lowest (translating into higher abundances) at locations with a westerly aspect. Some long-term trends in invertebrate abundance correlated with temperature and rainfall, indicating that climate change may affect them. However, pesticide use was more important in explaining the trends, suggesting that reduced pesticide use would mitigate the effects of climate change.

Population Dynamics of an Insect Herbivore over 32 Years are Driven by Precipitation and Host-Plant Effects: Testing Model Predictions

The interaction between the arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis Bentham, and its specialist herbivore, the arroyo willow stem-galling sawfly, Euura lasiolepis Smith (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), was studied for 32 yr in Flagstaff, AZ, emphasizing a mechanistic understanding of insect population dynamics. Long-term weather records were evaluated to provide a climatic context for this study. Previously, predictive models of sawfly dynamics were developed from estimates of sawfly gall density made between 1981 and 2002; one model each for drier and wetter sites. Predictor variables in these models included winter precipitation and the Palmer Drought Severity Index, which impact the willow growth, with strong bottom-up effects on sawflies. We now evaluate original model predictions of sawfly population dynamics using new data (from 2003-2012). Additionally, willow resources were evaluated in 1986 and in 2012, using as criteria clone area, shoot density, and shoot length. The dry site model accounted for 40% of gall population density variation between 2003 and 2012 (69% over the 32 yr), providing strong support for the bottom-up, mechanistic hypothesis that water supply to willow hosts impacts sawfly populations. The current drying trend stressed willow clones: in drier sites, willow resources declined and gall density decreased by 98%. The wet site model accounted for 23% of variation in gall population density between 2003 and 2012 (48% over 30 yr), consistent with less water limitation. Nonetheless, gall populations were reduced by 72%.

A Retrospective Clinical Study with Regard to Survival and Success Rates of Zirconia Implants up to and after 7 Years of Loading

PURPOSE

The study aims to retrospectively investigate the clinical performance of first-generation zirconia implants with a sandblasted surface up to and after 7 years of loading.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical records of patients treated with zirconia implants between 2004 and 2009 were screened. Consequently, adequate patients were invited to a clinical and radiographic investigation to classify each implant according to strict success criteria.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients receiving 161 implants were available for the evaluation. Overall, 36 implants (22.4%) were lost due to early (n = 14) and late failures (n = 4) or fractures (n = 18). All surviving 125 implants fulfilled the success criteria. None of the investigated implants had a history of peri-implant infections. Mean values with regard to gingival index, plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, and probing depth were 0.03, 0.23, 0.59, and 2.80 mm, respectively. The radiographically evaluated mean crestal bone loss was 0.97 ± 0.07 mm. Diameter-reduced implants (3.25 mm) showed lower survival (58.5%) compared with implants with a diameter of 4.0 mm (88.9%) and 5.0 mm (78.6%). The overall longitudinal survival rate was 77.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

First-generation zirconia implants showed low overall survival and success rates. The evaluated clinical and radiographic parameters were consistent with healthy peri-implant tissues. Additionally, nonfractured failures were not associated with peri-implant infections.

Comparison of hamstring transfer with hamstring lengthening in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: further follow-up

BACKGROUND

Overactivity or contractures of the hamstring muscles in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP) can lead to either a jump gait (knee flexion associated with ankle plantar flexion) or a crouch gait (knee flexion associated with ankle dorsiflexion). Hamstring lengthening is performed to decrease stance knee flexion. However, this procedure carries the potential risk of weakening hip extension power as well as recurrence over time; therefore, surgeons have adopted a modified procedure wherein the semitendinosus and gracilis are transferred above the knee joint, along with lengthening of the semimembranosus and biceps femoris.

PURPOSE

The purpose of our study is to evaluate the differences between hamstring lengthening alone (HSL group) and hamstring lengthening plus transfer (HST group) in the treatment of flexed knee gait in ambulatory children with CP. We hypothesized that recurrence of increased knee flexion in the stance phase will be less in the HST group at long-term follow-up, and hip extensor power will be better preserved.

METHODS

Fifty children with CP who underwent hamstring surgery for flexed knee gait were retrospectively reviewed. All subjects underwent a pre-operative gait study, a follow-up post-operative gait study, and a long-term gait study. The subjects were divided into two groups; HSL group (18 subjects) or HST group (32 subjects). The mean age at surgery was 9.9 ± 3.3 years. The mean follow-up time was 4.4 ± 0.9 (2.7-6.3) years.

RESULTS

On physical examination, both groups showed improvement in straight leg raise, knee extension, popliteal angle, and maximum knee extension in stance at the first post-op study, and maintained this improvement at the long-term follow-up, with the exception of straight leg raise, which slightly worsened in both groups at the final follow-up. Both groups improved maximum knee extension in stance at the initial follow-up, and maintained this at the long-term follow-up. Only the HST group showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the peak hip extension power in stance at the first post-op study, and this increased further at the final follow-up. In the HSL group, there was an initial slight decrease in the hip extension power, which subsequently increased to pre-operative values at the long-term study. Only the HST group showed increase of the average anterior pelvic tilt at the long-term follow-up study, although this was small in magnitude. There were two subjects who developed knee recurvatum at the post-op study, and both were in the HST group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no clear benefit in regards to recurrence when comparing HST to HSL in the long term. In both HSL and HST, there was reduction of stance phase knee flexion in the long term, with no clear advantage in either group. Longer follow-up is needed for additional recurrence information. There was greater improvement of hip extension power in the HST group, which may justify the additional operative time of the transfer.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study helps pediatric orthopedic surgeons choose between two different techniques to treat flexed knee gait in patients with CP by showing the long-term outcome of both procedures.

Phase III, multicenter, open-label, long-term study of the safety of abatacept in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to conventional or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Objectives

To examine the long-term safety of intravenous (IV) abatacept treatment in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX) or other conventional or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Methods

This Phase III, open-label, long-term study (NCT00484289) comprised Japanese patients with RA who had completed abatacept Phase I or Phase II studies, and new patients intolerant to MTX. Patients from Phase I and Phase II studies received a weight-tiered dosing equivalent of 10 mg/kg abatacept, with MTX at doses up to 8 mg/week; newly enrolled patients received weight-tiered 10 mg/kg abatacept monotherapy. Safety and efficacy were assessed.

Results

A total of 217 patients (Phase I, n = 13; Phase II, n = 178; newly enrolled, n = 26) were treated with IV abatacept for a mean of 3 years. Serious adverse events occurred in 67/217 (30.9%) patients. Most adverse events were mild or moderate. For all cohorts combined, American College of Rheumatology 20% response rates ranged from 61.3 to 81.8% for as-observed and last observation carried forward analyses over 192 weeks. Following initial response, clinical and functional outcomes were maintained for up to 3 years.

Conclusions

In Japanese patients with RA, IV abatacept with and without background MTX showed tolerable safety and sustained efficacy over 3 years.

Radial shortening osteotomy for Kienböck disease: minimum 10-year follow-up

PURPOSE

To clarify long-term clinical and radiological results more than 10 years after radial shortening osteotomy for Kienböck disease.

METHODS

Eleven wrists of 10 patients that had been classified as Lichtman stages 3A (2 wrists), 3B (8 wrists), and 4 (1 wrist) underwent radial shortening for Kienböck disease. The mean follow-up period was 14.3 years (range, 10-21 y). Clinical outcomes were quantified using the Japanese version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire and the modified Mayo wrist score. Radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed for 9 of the 10 patients preoperatively and all 10 patients at follow-up.

RESULTS

At follow-up, 6 wrists were asymptomatic and the remaining 5 had mild occasional pain. The mean range of extension and grip strength significantly improved. The mean modified Mayo wrist score and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores were 92 (range, 80-100) and 5 (range, 0-18), respectively. At follow-up, no progression of the Lichtman stage was found in any patient. There was no significant progressive lunate collapse in any patient. The magnetic resonance imaging in 7 wrists showed increased signal intensity of the lunate; the remaining 3 wrists had no alteration in signal intensity of the bone.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated satisfactory clinical results after 10 or more years in patients who underwent radial shortening for Kienböck disease. Although we found no improvement in signal intensity of the lunate in 3 wrists, unloading of the diseased lunate after radial shortening gives long-lasting symptom relief and may prevent lunate collapse.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF DISEASE

Therapeutic IV.

Infaunal macrobenthic community dynamics in a manipulated hyperhaline ecosystem: a long-term study

BACKGROUND

Understanding the responses of ecological communities to human-induced perturbations is crucial for establishing conservation goals. Ecological communities are dynamic entities undergoing fluctuations due to their intrinsic characteristics as well as anthropogenic pressures varying over time. In this respect, long-term studies, based on large spatial and temporal datasets, may provide useful information in understanding patterns and processes influencing the communities' structure. Theoretical evidence suggests that a role of biodiversity is acting as a compensatory buffer against environmental variability by decreasing the temporal variance in ecosystem functioning and by raising the level of community response to perturbations through the selection of better performing species. Therefore, the spatial and temporal changes in the specialization of the community components may be used as an effective tool to monitor the effects of natural and anthropogenic alterations of the environment in dynamic systems. We examined the temporal dynamics of macroinvertebrate community structure in the hyperhaline habitat of Tarquinia Saltworks (central Italy). We aimed at: (i) investigating the relationships between the level of community specialization and the alterations of the environment across fourteen years; (ii) comparing the ability of aggregate community parameters such as the average abundance vs. species specialization in describing patterns of community composition.

RESULTS

We arranged the data in three sub-sets according to three periods, each characterized by different environmental conditions. The mean abundance of sampled macroinvertebrates showed a significant change (p < 0.01) only in the community inhabiting the saltwork basin closely connected to the sea, characterized by the highest environmental variation (i.e. the coefficient of variation, CV, of the aggregate environmental variability over the study period, CVrange = 0.010 - 0.2). Here we found marine species like Modiolus adriaticus (Lamarck, 1819), Neanthes irrorata (Malmgren, 1867), and Amphiglena mediterranea (Leydig, 1851), which inhabited the saltworks during the halt period but disappeared during the subsequent eutrophication phase. Conversely, species specialization showed a significant decrease for each sampled community in the presence of habitat degradation and a recovery after ecological restoration. The widest fluctuations of specialization were recorded for the community inhabiting the saltwork basin with the highest long-term environmental variability.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent advances have shown how the increased temporal and spatial variability of species' abundance within the communities may be a signal of habitat disturbance, even in the absence of an apparent decline. Such approach could also be used as a sensitive monitoring tool, able to detect whether or not communities are subjected to increasing biotic homogenization. Also, the increased functional similarity triggered by habitat degradation may impact on species at higher trophic levels, such as the waterbirds wintering in the area or using it as a stopover during migration.

Long-Term Results of Cartilage Repair after Allogeneic Transplantation of Cartilaginous Aggregates Formed from Bone Marrow-Derived Cells for Large Osteochondral Defects in Rabbit Knees

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of cartilage repair after allogeneic transplantation of cartilaginous aggregates formed from bone marrow-derived cells.

METHODS

Bone marrow cells were harvested from 12-day-old rabbits. The cells were subjected to a monolayer culture, and the spindle-shaped cells attached to the flask surface were defined as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells. After the monolayer culture, a 3-dimensional cartilaginous aggregate was formed using a bioreactor with chondrogenesis. We created osteochondral defects, measuring 5 mm in diameter and 4 mm in depth, at the femoral trochlea of 10-week-old rabbits. Two groups were established, the transplanted group in which the cartilaginous aggregate was transplanted into the defect, and the control group in which the defect was left untreated. Twenty-six and 52 weeks after surgery, the rabbits were sacrificed and their tissue repair status was evaluated macroscopically (International Cartilage Repair Society [ICRS] score) and histologically (O'Driscoll score).

RESULTS

The ICRS scores were as follows: at week 26, 7.2 ± 0.5 and 7.6 ± 0.8; at week 52, 7.6 ± 1.1 and 9.7 ± 0.7, for the transplanted and control groups, respectively. O'Driscoll scores were as follows: at week 26, 12.6 ± 1.9 and 10.1 ± 1.9; at week 52, 9.6 ± 3.0 and 14.0 ± 1.4, each for transplanted and control groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that allogeneic transplantation of cartilaginous aggregates formed from bone marrow-derived cells produces comparable long-term results based on macroscopic and histological outcome measures when compared with osteochondral defects that are left untreated.

Clarifying carcinogenicity of ethylbenzene

Ethylbenzene has been evaluated for carcinogenic activity in Fischer rats and B6C3F1 mice exposed by inhalation (Chan et al., 1998; Chan, 1999) and in Sprague-Dawley rats after oral exposure (Maltoni et al., 1985,1997). Bioassay findings are summarized below to expand on those not stated clearly or completely in Saghir et al. (2010). Overall in these three studies animals exposed to ethylbenzene had increased tumors in rats for kidneys, testes, head (including rare neuroesthesioepitheliomas), and total malignant tumors, whilst in mice tumor incidences were increased in the lung and liver (Huff, 2002). Thus ethylbenzene was carcinogenic by two exposure routes to both sexes of two species of rodents, two strains of rats, and one strain of mice, causing collectively tumors in five different target organs and a composite of "total malignant" tumors.