Specialist breast cancer nurses (BCNs) have improved the psychological care and follow-up rates of breast cancer (BC) patients. This study sought to determine if breast cancer research workers (BCRWs) as de facto BCNs impacted patients' adherence to treatment by comparing groups with and without these patient navigators; hence assessing our need for BCNs.
 
  Two groups BC patients booked for primary chemotherapy compared.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/4u8c.html  Study group 1 (SG1) no BCRWs/BCNs. Study group 2 (SG2) BCRWs involvement. Assessment of numbers completing primary chemotherapy, undergoing surgery post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy and BCRWs interventions.
 
  SG1 n = 281, 25-89y, mean 52.7y, Stage 4 35.6%, Stage 3 64.4%. SG2 n = 154, 21-85y, mean 52.6y, Stage 4 47.4%, Stage 3 43.3%, Stage 2 9%. Primary chemotherapy not completed SG1 40.2% (113) versus SG2 13.5% (21); p < 0.00001. SG1 88% not completing were lost to follow-up. Excluding peri-chemotherapy deaths and discontinuation SG1 37.1% did not complete chemotherapy versus SG2 2.6%, p < 0.00001. SG2 BCRWs 107 interventions for 58 (37.7%) patients. Therapeutic breast surgery SG1 103/181 (56.9%) versus SG2 66/81 (81.5%); p < 0.0001. SG1 main reasons for not having surgery lost to follow-up during (n = 58) or after (n = 9) chemotherapy. Follow-up SG2 12-43months, mortality 52% (80/154), no lost to follow-ups. SG1 No mortality data.
 
  In our setting, BC patients often do not attend or complete treatments. In this study, BCRWs as de-facto BCNs were beneficial for BC patient care, improving chemotherapy compliance and therapeutic surgical interventions. This highlights the need for BCNs for the management of BC patients in South Africa.
 In our setting, BC patients often do not attend or complete treatments. In this study, BCRWs as de-facto BCNs were beneficial for BC patient care, improving chemotherapy compliance and therapeutic surgical interventions. This highlights the need for BCNs for the management of BC patients in South Africa.Air pollution in the environment and in households is responsible worldwide for almost 9 million preventable premature deaths per year and almost 800,000 such deaths within Europe. Air pollution therefore shortens life expectancy worldwide by almost 3 years. Smoking, a proven cardiovascular risk factor, shortens the mean life expectancy by 2.2 years. Epidemiological studies have shown that air pollution from fine and coarse particulate matter is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Responsible for this are mainly cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, hypertension and also diabetes, which are mainly caused or aggravated by fine particulate matter. After inhalation fine particulate matter can reach the brain directly and also reach the bloodstream via a transition process. There, the particles are absorbed by the blood vessels where they stimulate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vascular wall. They therefore promote the formation of atherosclerotic changes and in this way increase the cardiovascular risks, especially an increase in chronic ischemic heart disease and stroke. Recent studies also reported that in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients a high degree of air pollution is correlated with severe disease courses with cardiovascular complications and pulmonary diseases. This necessitates preventive measures, such as lowering of the upper limits for air pollutants. Individual measures to mitigate the health consequences of fine particulate matter are also discussed.Understanding the dynamics of plant-associated microbial communities within agriculture is well documented. However, the ecological processes that assemble the plant microbiome are not well understood. This study elucidates the relative dominance of assembly processes across plant compartments (root, stem, and leaves) and developmental stages (emergence, growth, flowering, and maturation). Bacterial community composition and assembly processes were assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Null models that couple phylogenetic community composition and species distribution models were used to evaluate ecological assembly processes of bacterial communities. All models highlighted that the balance between the assembly process was modulated by compartments and developmental stages. Dispersal limitation dominated amongst the epiphytic communities and at the maturation stage. Homogeneous selection dominated assembly across plant compartments and development stages. Overall, both sets of models were mostly in agreement in predicting the prevailing assembly processes. Our results show, for the first time, that even though niche-based processes dominate in the plant environment, the relative influence of dispersal limitation in community assembly is important.
  The association of long-term acute kidney injury (AKI) risk with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use in neonates/infants is poorly understood. We examined this association to identify potential AKI risk factors.
 
  We retrospectively evaluated 119 children aged < 2years (72 boys; median age, 5.0months) who received ACE inhibitors for congenital heart disease for ≥ 6months between January 2009 and June 2019. We monitored the occurrence of AKI, defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records. Risk factors associated with AKI onset were identified by a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis of variables previously identified as risk factors of AKI and those significant in a univariate analysis.
 
  Thirty-three of 119 patients (28%) developed AKI at a median follow-up of 1.3years (interquartile range, 0.8-3.2years). AKI incidence was 1257 events per 10,000 patient-years. Concomitant tolvaptan useve underlying CKD in a non-acute setting. Therefore, they should be administered to such patients with caution.
  Up to 50% of children with posterior urethral valves (PUV) progress to kidney failure. This study aimed to evaluate polyuria and polydipsia and other established variables with later development of kidney failure in children with PUV.
 
  Retrospective analysis of 297 children with PUV who underwent ablation of valves between January 1992 and January 2015 at our tertiary care center. Patients were divided into two groups those who developed kidney failure (group 1) and those who did not (group 2). Specific prognostic factors for progression to kidney failure were analyzed including age at presentation < 1 year, nadir serum creatinine > 1.0 mg/dl, bilateral grade 3 or higher VUR at diagnosis, recurrent febrile UTIs, severe bladder dysfunction, polyuria, and polydipsia.
 
  Thirty-eight (12.8%) patients progressed to kidney failure. Twenty-four and 64 patients were polyuric in group 1 and group 2 respectively (p < 0.001, Z-4.4666). Twenty-two and 61 patients were polydipsic in both groups respectively (p < 0.