Congenital Riedel's lobe of the liver: A case report.

Riedel's lobe of the liver is a rare anatomical variant often incidentally found on imaging or through the presence of hepatomegaly on physical examination. While patients are usually asymptomatic, the presentation of this condition can vary, ranging from nonspecific symptoms to more severe issues such as torsion, obstruction, rupture, and bleeding. We present a case of a patient with asymptomatic hepatomegaly who was incidentally found to have Riedel's lobe of the liver, accompanied by an elevated IgG mitochondrial antibody. The range of symptoms associated with this rare anatomical variation underscores its importance in diagnosis and surveillance within this patient population.

Leopard density and the ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing density in a mixed-use landscape in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Large carnivores face numerous threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, direct killing, and prey depletion, leading to significant global range and population declines. Despite such threats, leopards (Panthera pardus) persist outside protected areas throughout most of their range, occupying diverse habitat types and land uses, including peri-urban and rural areas. Understanding of leopard population dynamics in mixed-use landscapes is limited, especially in South Africa, where the majority of leopard research has focused on protected areas. We use spatially explicit capture-recapture models to estimate leopard density across a mixed-use landscape of protected areas, farmland, and urban areas in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Data from 86 paired camera stations provided 221 independent captures of 25 leopards at 50 camera trap stations with a population density estimate of 0.64 leopards per 100 km2 (95% CI: 0.55-0.73). Elevation, terrain ruggedness, and vegetation productivity were important drivers of leopard density in the landscape, being highest on elevated remnants of natural land outside of protected areas. These results are similar to previous research findings in other parts of the Western Cape, where high-lying natural vegetation was shown to serve as both a refuge and a corridor for leopard movement in otherwise transformed landscapes. Given the low leopard density and the prevalence of transformed land intermixed with patches of more suitable leopard habitat, prioritising and preserving connectivity for leopards is vital in this shared landscape. Ecological corridors should be developed in partnership with private landowners through an inclusive and multifaceted conservation strategy which also incorporates monitoring of and rapid mitigation of emerging threats to leopards.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Cancer Patients With Venous Thromboembolic Events After Treatment With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) after Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), focusing on patients with gastrointestinal (GI) immune-related adverse events (irAE). METHODS: In this retrospective, single-center study, we report the clinical outcomes of adult cancer patients who developed a VTE within 2 years of ICI initiation. Patients were excluded if alternate causes of VTE were present apart from malignancy and cancer therapy. The cohort was classified into those with GI-irAE, non-GI-irAE, and no irAE. A control group with ICI exposure without irAE and VTE was selected for comparative analysis. RESULTS: Of all ICI-treated patients, 1891 (17.2%) were diagnosed with VTE. In all, 501 (4.6%) had no etiology for VTE aside from malignancy and cancer therapy. Of these, 137 patients were included and classified as: 44 GI-irAE, 42 non-GI-irAE, and 51 no irAE. Chemotherapy within 6 months of ICI therapy was associated with increased VTE risk. There was no difference in the clinical course between those exposed to chemotherapy versus ICI therapy alone, time from ICI initiation to VTE, and VTE type, recurrence, or related hospitalization. While there was no difference in VTE-related mortality, the GI-irAE group was associated with lower all-cause mortality and superior overall survival. CONCLUSION: Combined ICI and chemotherapy use increased VTE risk. There is a similar disease course of VTE after ICI exposure, regardless of other irAEs. Co-existing GI-irAE with VTE is associated with superior overall survival. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between ICI therapy and VTE and irAE impact on VTE outcomes.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-related lower GI adverse effects.

PURPOSE: A variety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are currently approved for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological cancers. However, TKIs are often associated with gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects (AEs), especially diarrhea. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to describe the clinical features and outcomes of TKI-associated lower GI AEs. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center cohort study of patients with cancer treated with TKIs from March 2016 to September 2020 who experienced diarrhea without other identifiable causes. Basic and GI AE-related characteristics and outcomes were compared using χ2 and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Of 2172 patients who received TKIs over the study period, we included 228 in the final analysis. Of these, 166 (72.8%) had hematological cancers. Besides diarrhea, GI symptoms included nausea (36.4%), vomiting (21.9%), abdominal pain (15.4%), and bleeding (3.1%). Symptoms were typically mild, with 209 patients (91.7%) presenting with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 1-2 diarrhea. Only 5 patients (2.2%) received immunosuppressants for diarrhea treatment, 83 (36.4%) received no treatment, 29 (12.7%) received antibiotics, 101 (44.3%) received supportive antidiarrheal medications, and 17 patients (7.5%) needed TKI dose reduction or cessation of TKI use. When compared with patients with hematological cancers, those with solid tumors had a higher rate of hospitalization (29.0% vs. 7.2%; p < 0.001) and mortality (75.8% vs. 43.4%; p < 0.001) but a lower rate of recurrence of GI AEs (21.0% vs. 42.8%; p = 0.003. Only 15 patients (6.6%) underwent colonoscopy, with normal endoscopic findings in 8 patients (53.3%) and nonulcerative inflammation in 5 patients (33.3%). The inflammation universally involved the left colon. Twelve of the 15 patients who underwent colonoscopy had active colitis. In the hematological cancer group, patients with acute myeloid leukemia had a lower GI AE recurrence rate than did patients with other hematological cancers (7.2% vs. 30.1%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ten percent of cancer patients receiving TKIs experienced lower GI AEs, which were usually mild. Symptoms TKI-related GI adverse effects were nonspecific, often overlapping those of other cancer therapy-related GI AEs. Treatment of GI AEs was largely supportive, with limited roles for antibiotics and immunosuppressants.

Acute liver injury and IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibro-inflammatory disease that can affect multiple organs. Autoimmune pancreatitis type 1 is a manifestation of IgG4-RD and can often mimic tumor-like masses. Autoimmune phenomena following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination are being increasingly reported. Currently, there are no cases in which IgG4-RD involving the hepatobiliary system has been reported following the COVID-19 vaccination. We present the first case of IgG4-RD and AIP type 1 to be associated with the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination.

Cytomegalovirus infection among patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), used for the treatment of solid and hematologic malignancies, come with the risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Opportunistic infections (e.g., cytomegalovirus [CMV]) mimic irAE symptoms and are understudied in this population. We aimed to describe the incidence, characteristics, treatment and outcomes of CMV infection in ICI-treated patients. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of all adult patients who were CMV-positive after ICI therapy between 06/2011 and 05/2020. A CMV-positive non-ICI cohort was matched to the ICI group based on age, sex and cancer type. Variables of interest were collected through electronic medical records. Results: The study population comprised 192 patients overall. CMV infection incidence was 7.7% in ICI patients and 12.9% in non-ICI patients (P<0.001). Rates of infection clearance (83% vs. 50%, P=0.002) and recurrence (20% vs. 3%, P=0.037) were higher in ICI patients with hematologic vs. solid tumors, despite similar treatments. All-cause mortality was higher in solid rather than hematologic malignancies in ICI patients (83% vs. 54%, P=0.009); CMV-related mortality was low (3-4%) in both groups. Conclusions: CMV infection occurred in about 7.7% of the ICI-treated cancer population. The infection can be disseminated in multiple organs and has a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms. ICI-treated patients with a hematologic malignancy had higher viral clearance and recurrence than those with solid tumors. In this study, CMV itself did not lead to high mortality in cancer patients. Further study is needed to investigate the role of CMV infection in patients' irAEs and cancer outcome.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related gastrointestinal toxicity in patients with malignancy involving the luminal gastrointestinal tract and its impact on cancer outcomes.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are known to cause immune-related adverse events (irAE) with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract among the most affected. Our knowledge of GI irAE in patients with luminal GI malignancies is poor. We aimed to characterize the incidence, clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of these GI irAEs. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with malignancies involving the luminal GI tract and GI irAEs at MD Anderson Cancer Center from January 2010 to June 2020. Clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results: Eighteen patients with luminal GI tract malignancies treated with ICIs had evidence of GI irAEs based on clinical symptoms and/or histology. The predominant GI irAE symptom was diarrhea (78%). Ten had non-ulcerative inflammation (56%) and 5 had ulcerative inflammation (28%) on endoscopy. Histologically, 3 patients (17%) had evidence of acute inflammation, 4 (22%) had chronic inflammation, and 9 (50%) had both. Ten patients (56%) received immunosuppressant treatment, which included steroids alone (n=2, 20%), steroids with biologics (infliximab or vedolizumab) (n=7, 70%), or biologics alone (n=1, 10%), with clinical remission in all cases. Of the 6 patients who previously had stable or ICI-responsive cancer and received immunosuppressants, none developed progression of GI luminal malignancy during the study period. Conclusions: GI irAEs occurred in 2.4% of patients treated with ICI for cancer involving the luminal GI tract. Immunosuppressant therapies (e.g., vedolizumab) appear to be effective for GI irAEs, showing no association with further GI luminal cancer progression, recurrence, or a subsequent poor response to ICI therapy.

Clostridioides difficile infection in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, but are associated with immune-mediated diarrhea and colitis (IMDC). Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) can cause infectious diarrhea with overlapping symptoms. Thus, we sought to elucidate the characteristics of CDI in patients treated with ICI, in the context of IMDC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of adult cancer patients (N=421) with ICI exposure from 2015-2020 and a positive stool nucleic acid amplification test and/or enzyme immunoassay for CDI. Baseline characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were compared between patients with and without concurrent IMDC. Results: Forty-one eligible patients were included, 27 with concurrent IMDC and 14 without. Twenty-seven patients were taking programmed death-1 or its ligand inhibitors and 14 were taking cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 inhibitors. Patients with concurrent CDI and IMDC had a longer symptom duration (20 vs. 5 days, P=0.003) and a higher rate of grade 3-4 diarrhea (41% vs. 7%, P=0.033). Among patients with concurrent IMDC, preceding antibiotics (P=0.050) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) (P=0.038) were used more frequently among individuals who developed CDI after immunosuppressant exposure. Thirty-eight patients received antibiotics for CDI, while 5 required fecal microbiota transplantation for concurrent CDI & IMDC. Conclusions: CDI is common in ICI-treated cancer patients, especially those with IMDC requiring immunosuppressants. Antibiotics did not alter the need for immunosuppressants in those with concurrent IMDC. Use of PPI and antibiotics while receiving immunosuppressants for IMDC was associated with a greater risk of CDI. Further large-scale studies are warranted to clarify the role of CDI, antibiotics and immunosuppression treatment in IMDC patients.

Laying low: Rugged lowland rainforest preferred by feral cats in the Australian Wet Tropics.

Invasive mesopredators are responsible for the decline of many species of native mammals worldwide. Feral cats have been causally linked to multiple extinctions of Australian mammals since European colonization. While feral cats are found throughout Australia, most research has been undertaken in arid habitats, thus there is a limited understanding of feral cat distribution, abundance, and ecology in Australian tropical rainforests. We carried out camera-trapping surveys at 108 locations across seven study sites, spanning 200 km in the Australian Wet Tropics. Single-species occupancy analysis was implemented to investigate how environmental factors influence feral cat distribution. Feral cats were detected at a rate of 5.09 photographs/100 days, 11 times higher than previously recorded in the Australian Wet Tropics. The main environmental factors influencing feral cat occupancy were a positive association with terrain ruggedness, a negative association with elevation, and a higher affinity for rainforest than eucalypt forest. These findings were consistent with other studies on feral cat ecology but differed from similar surveys in Australia. Increasingly harsh and consistently wet weather conditions at higher elevations, and improved shelter in topographically complex habitats may drive cat preference for lowland rainforest. Feral cats were positively associated with roads, supporting the theory that roads facilitate access and colonization of feral cats within more remote parts of the rainforest. Higher elevation rainforests with no roads could act as refugia for native prey species within the critical weight range. Regular monitoring of existing roads should be implemented to monitor feral cats, and new linear infrastructure should be limited to prevent encroachment into these areas. This is pertinent as climate change modeling suggests that habitats at higher elevations will become similar to lower elevations, potentially making the environment more suitable for feral cat populations.

Population size, density, and ranging behaviour in a key leopard population in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Globally, leopards are the most widespread large felid. However, mounting anthropogenic threats are rapidly reducing viable leopard populations and their range. Despite the clear pressures facing this species, there is a dearth of robust and reliable population and density estimates for leopards across their range, which is particularly important in landscapes that consist of protected and non-protected areas. We conducted a camera trapping survey between 2017 and 2018 in the Western Cape, South Africa to estimate the occupancy, density, and population size of a leopard population. Leopards were recorded at 95% of camera trapping sites, which resulted in a high occupancy that showed no significant variation between seasons, habitat types, or along an altitudinal gradient. Our results indicated a low leopard density in the study area, with an estimated 1.53 leopards/100 km2 in summer and 1.62 leopards/100 km2 in winter. Mean leopard population size was therefore estimated at 107 and 113 individuals in the winter and summer respectively. Leopard activity centres for female ranges were centred in the core study area and could be predicted with good certainty, while males appeared to move out of the study area during winter which resulted in a higher uncertainty in locations of activity centres. Interestingly, livestock depredation events in the surrounding farmlands were significantly higher in winter, which coincides with male leopards moving outside the core protected area into the surrounding farmlands. To reduce livestock losses and retaliatory leopard killings, we suggest that human-carnivore conflict mitigation measures be intensely monitored during the winter months in the study area. We also suggest that future leopard conservation efforts should focus on privately-owned land as these non-protected areas contain the majority of the remaining suitable leopard habitat and may provide important dispersal corridors and buffer zones on which the long-term sustainability of leopard populations depends.

Patterns and determinants of elephant attacks on humans in Nepal.

Attacks on humans by Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is an extreme form of human-elephant conflict. It is a serious issue in southern lowland Nepal where elephant-related human fatalities are higher than other wildlife. Detailed understanding of elephant attacks on humans in Nepal is still lacking, hindering to devising appropriate strategies for human-elephant conflict mitigation. This study documented spatiotemporal pattern of elephant attacks on humans, factors associated with the attacks, and human/elephant behavior contributing to deaths of victims when attacked. We compiled all the documented incidences of elephant attacks on humans in Nepal for last 20 years across Terai and Chure region of Nepal. We also visited and interviewed 412 victim families (274 fatalities and 138 injuries) on elephant attacks. Majority of the victims were males (87.86%) and had low level of education. One fourth of the elephant attacks occurred while chasing the elephants. Solitary bulls or group of subadult males were involved in most of the attack. We found higher number of attacks outside the protected area. People who were drunk and chasing elephants using firecrackers were more vulnerable to the fatalities. In contrast, chasing elephants using fire was negatively associated with the fatalities. Elephant attacks were concentrated in proximity of forests primarily affecting the socioeconomically marginalized communities. Integrated settlement, safe housing for marginalized community, and community grain house in the settlement should be promoted to reduce the confrontation between elephants and humans in entire landscape for their long-term survival.

Clinicopathologic Features, Treatment Response, and Outcomes of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have provided practice-changing outcomes in treating many cancers, ICI-related gastrointestinal toxicity can limit their use. Upper gastrointestinal toxicity is not common nor as well described as lower gastrointestinal toxicity. We aimed to characterize the clinical presentation, endoscopic and histologic features, treatment response, and outcomes of ICI-related esophagitis. METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in whom esophagitis developed after receiving ICIs from June 2011 through January 2020. We included patients with endoscopic evidence of esophagitis and excluded those with other obvious causes of esophagitis. A chi-square test was used to assess associations between categorical variables. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences between continuous variables. RESULTS: Of 657 consecutive patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) during or within 6 months of completing ICI-based therapy, 21 (3%) had esophagitis deemed to be from ICIs. Of these patients, 1 (5%) received an inhibitor of CTLA-4 alone, 15 (71%) received anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 monotherapy, and 5 (24%) received a combination of these. Median time from ICI initiation to onset of esophagitis was 4 months. Upon evaluation with EGD, only 3 patients (14%) had isolated esophageal involvement; 18 (86%) had concurrent involvement of the stomach, duodenum, or both. Most patients (67%) were treated with proton pump inhibitors, and 4 (19%) received steroids (prednisone or budesonide). The mortality rate was 38% (median follow-up, 15 months). CONCLUSIONS: Esophagitis associated with ICI use is rare. The diagnosis is one of exclusion because its clinical presentation appears similar to that of inflammation resulting from other causes. It often occurs in conjunction with other upper gastrointestinal toxicity. Symptoms are mild and respond well to nonimmunosuppressive treatment, with few severe complications.

A new subspecies of giant sengi (Macroscelidea: Rhynchocyon) from coastal Kenya.

A new subspecies of giant sengi or elephant-shrew, first documented in 2008, is described from northern coastal Kenya. All five currently described species and most known subspecies of Rhynchocyon are compared to this new lineage. Molecular analyses using mitochondrial and nuclear markers from the single DNA sample available for the new lineage show differences from other forms and reveal a close relationship with the allopatric golden-rumped sengi R. chrysopygus (0.43% divergence at the 12S mitochondrial locus). This level of 12S divergence is similar to that between other subspecies pairs within Rhynchocyon. Based on three voucher specimens and 843 images from camera traps, the new lineage is similar to R. chrysopygus in the rufous-maroon sides and shoulders but is distinguished by the lack of the golden rump, the presence of jet-black distal rump and thighs, dark dorsal line, and a pronounced nuchal crest of hairs. Though it also shows superficial pelage similarities to two Tanzania species, R. udzungwensis and the dark coastal form of R. cirnei macrurus, the new form has differences in pelage coloration that are clearly diagnosable from all other taxa. This new lineage has an allopatric distribution to all known Rhynchocyon taxa, with the closest congener being R. chrysopygus located 140 km apart. We estimate a potential range size for the new taxon of ~1980 km2 in the Boni and Dodori National Reserves with habitat consisting of mixed thickets and dry forests. Because of its close genetic relationship with R. chrysopygus, its allopatric distribution, and divergent coloration, the new subspecies is designated Rhynchocyon chrysopygus mandelai. The previously described populations of R. chrysopygus from southern coastal Kenya are now designated R. chrysopygus chrysopygus. As the current severe political insecurity in the area threatens the new taxon, we hope that its description will help establish immediate conservation priorities and action for the subspecies and its habitat.

Analysis of payments to GI physicians in the United States: Open payments data study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The purpose of this study was to review and analyze the nature of industry payments to gastroenterology and hepatology (GI) physicians. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of open payments (OP) data for the year 2017. Payments to individual physicians were aggregated using a unique physician profile identification number. General payments to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regions were also analyzed. The nature of financial transactions in general payments was reported overall and per physician payment. Research, ownership, and general payments were aggregated and analyzed by drug/device companies. RESULTS: During the study period, more GI physicians received contributions in the form of general payments compared to ownership or research payments. A small percentage of physicians received contributions greater than $100 000. The most frequent contributions were for food and beverages. Only 10 manufacturers made about 71% ($43 271 938) of general payments. CONCLUSIONS: We found that only a small number of GI physicians received a significant portion of industry payments. A large portion of those payments came from drug or device companies. The impact of these payments on gastroenterologists needs to be examined further.

Software to facilitate and streamline camera trap data management: A review.

Improving technology and increasing affordability mean that camera trapping-the use of remotely triggered cameras to photograph wildlife-is becoming an increasingly common tool in the monitoring and conservation of wild populations. Each camera trap study generates a vast amount of data, which need to be processed and labeled before analysis. Traditionally, processing camera trap data has been performed manually by entering data into a spreadsheet. This is time-consuming, prone to human error, and data management may be inconsistent between projects, hindering collaboration. Recently, several programs have become available to facilitate and quicken data processing. Here, we review available software and assess their ability to better standardize camera trap data management and facilitate data sharing and collaboration. To identify available software for camera trap data management, we used internet searches and contacted researchers and practitioners working on large camera trap projects, as well as software developers. We tested all available programs against a range of software characteristics in addition to their ability to record a suite of important data variables extracted from images. We identified and reviewed 12 available programs for the management of camera trap data. These ranged from simple software assisting with the extraction of metadata from an image, through to comprehensive programs that facilitate data entry and analysis. Many of the programs tested were developed for use on specific studies and so do not cover all possible software or data collection requirements that different projects may have. We highlight the importance of a standardized software solution for camera trap data management. This approach would allow all possible data to be collected, enabling researchers to share data and contribute to other studies, as well as facilitating multi-project comparisons. By standardizing camera trap data collection and management in this way, future studies would be better placed to guide conservation policy on a global level.

Polypectomy versus surgery in early colon cancer: size and location of colon cancer affect long-term survival.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The colon cancer survival rate is significantly affected by location, stage, and size of the cancer. Polypectomy was shown be as equally effective as surgery in early-stage colon cancer, but there have been no established clinical guidelines in the management of colon cancer based on the size of the polyp or the tumor location. The aim of our study was to assess the early-stage colon cancer-specific survival rate in patients who underwent endoscopic polypectomy versus surgery, based on size and location of tumor in early-stage colon cancer. METHODS: This is a population-based nationwide study in the USA. RESULTS: Of 13,157 patients, 15.5% underwent endoscopic treatment and 84.5% underwent surgical therapy. For early cancer tumors located in the left colon, polypectomy yielded comparable 5-year survivals to surgery irrespective of size of the tumors. Five-year early cancer-specific survivals were similar for tumors located in the right colon that were < 20 mm in size (94.5 vs 94.3%, p value = 0.94). However, tumors > 20 mm in size that were located in the right colon had better survivals when treated surgically compared to those treated with polypectomy (20-39 mm: 91.8 vs 74.2%; ≥ 40 mm: 92.4 vs 60%, both p values < 0.01). Similar results were obtained on propensity score analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Polypectomy was as effective as surgical therapy for small tumors. For larger tumors, surgical therapy is better than polypectomy for right-sided tumors, but both are equally effective for left-sided tumors.

Demographic drivers of a refugee species: large-scale experiments guide strategies for reintroductions of hirola.

Effective reintroduction strategies require accurate estimates of vital rates and the factors that influence them. The hirola (Beatragus hunteri) is the rarest antelope on Earth, with a global population size of <500 individuals restricted to the Kenya-Somali border. We estimated vital rates of hirola populations exposed to varying levels of predation and rangeland quality from 2012 to 2015, and then built population matrices to estimate the finite rate of population change (λ) and demographic sensitivities. Mean survival for all age classes and population growth was highest in the low-predation-high-rangeland-quality setting (λ = 1.08 ± 0.03 [mean ± SE]), and lowest in the high-predation-low-rangeland-quality setting (λ = 0.70 ± 0.22). Retrospective demographic analyses revealed that increased fecundity (the number of female calves born to adult females annually) and female calf survival were responsible for higher population growth where large carnivores were absent. In contrast, variation in adult female survival was the primary contributor to differences in population growth attributable to rangeland quality. Our analyses suggest that hirola demography is driven by a combination of top-down (predation) and bottom-up (rangeland quality) forces, with populations in the contemporary geographic range impacted both by declining rangeland quality and predation. To enhance the chances of successful reintroductions, conservationists can consider rangeland restoration to boost both the survival and fecundity of adult females within the hirola's historical range.

Early Esophageal Cancer Specific Survival Is Unaffected by Anatomical Location of Tumor: A Population-Based Study.

Background. Approximately one-fifth of all esophageal cancer cases are defined as early esophageal cancer (EEC). Although endoscopic therapy (ET) has been shown to be equally effective as esophagectomy (EST) in patients with EEC, there is little information comparing the survival outcomes of the two therapies based on anatomical location. Methods. A population-based study was conducted and the data was obtained from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Patients with EEC (i.e., stages Tis and T1a) and treated with either ET or EST were analyzed to compare EEC-related survival for three different locations of tumor. Results. The overall EEC-specific 1-year and 5-year mean (±SE) survival rates were 11.66 ± 0.05 and 52.80 ± 0.58 months, respectively. Tumors located in lower third had better 5-year survival compared to those located in middle third (83.50% versus 73.10%, p < 0.01). However, when adjusted for age, race, gender, marital status, grade, stage of tumor, histological type, and treatment modality, there was no significant difference. Conclusion. The EEC-specific 1-year or 5-year adjusted survival did not differ by anatomic location of the tumor. Therefore, ET might serve as a minimally invasive yet effective alternative to EST to treat EEC.

Remotely-sensed active fire data for protected area management: eight-year patterns in the Manas National Park, India.

The Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands, which once extended along most of the Himalayan foothills, now only remain in a number of protected areas. Within these localities, grassland burning is a major issue, but data on frequency and distribution of fires are limited. Here, we analysed the incidence of active fires, which only occur during the dry season (Nov.-Mar.), within a significant area of Terai grasslands: the Manas National Park (MNP), India. We obtained locations of 781 fires during the 2000-2008 dry seasons, from the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) that delivers global MODIS hotspot/fire locations using remote sensing and GIS technologies. Annual number of fires rose significantly from around 20 at the start of the study period to over 90 after 2002, with most (85%) detected between December and January. Over half of the fires occurred in tall grasslands, but fire density was highest in wetland and riverine vegetation, dry at the time. Most burning took place near rivers, roads and the park boundary, suggesting anthropogenic origins. A kernel density map of all recorded fires indicated three heavily burnt areas in the MNP, all within the tall grasslands. Our study demonstrates, despite some technical caveats linked to fire detection technology, which is improving, that remote fire data can be a practical tool in understanding fire concentration and burning temporal patterns in highly vulnerable habitats, useful in guiding management.