Nowadays apparently harmless Candida species especially rare ones, cause a rising number of infections. We report the first case of conjunctivitis due to Candida metapsilosis obtained from the eye discharge of 40-day-old girl with congenital heart disease admitted in the ICU. The isolate was resistant to fluconazole, anidulafungin and micafungin.

Abstract: Duplicity of the appendices are very rare. A 32-year-old man presented with type B2 duplicity of the appendix and acute appendicitis. An appendectomy was done for both. Intraoperative incidental finding, is the only chance to avoid missing appendix duplicity and appendicectomy should be done for both.

A novel mathematical formulation is presented for describing growth of phase in solid-to-solid phase transformations and it is applied for describing austenite to ferrite transformation. The formulation includes the effects of transformation eigenstrains, the local strains, as well as partitioning and diffusion. In the current approach the phase front is modelled as diffuse field, and its propagation is shown to be described by the advection equation, which reduces to the level-set equation when the transformation proceeds only to the interface normal direction. The propagation is considered as thermally activated process in the same way as in chemical reaction kinetics. In addition, connection to the Allen-Cahn equation is made. Numerical tests are conducted to check the mathematical model validity and to compare the current approach to sharp interface partitioning and diffusion model. The model operation is tested in isotropic two-dimensional plane strane condition for austenite to ferrite transformation, where the transformation produces isotropic expansion, and also for austenite to bainite transformation, where the transformation causes invariant plane strain condition. Growth into surrounding isotropic austenite, as well as growth of the phase which has nucleated on a grain boundary are tested for both ferrite and bainite formation.

In this paper, a Higher-order Heisenberg spin chain system with quintic terms in selfconsistent potential is investigated, which is one of a generalization of the Heisenberg ferromagnetic equations and is integrable. We firstly obtain the Lax representation of the Higher-order Heisenberg spin chain system with quintic terms in self-consistent potential. Secondly, we discuss integrable Heisenberg ferromagnetic equations motioning curves in (1+1) dimension. Further, the Darboux transformation of the Heisenberg spin chain system with quintic terms in self-consistent potential is constructed, and we discuss a soliton solution by Darboux transformation.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small to medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder is rare, accounting for only 2-3% of all primary cutaneous lymphomas. In this report, we describe the case of a 50-year-old man with an asymptomatic, small, round nodule on his temple area.

Objectives: To date, there is no consensus on optimal speed for rotational atherectomy (RA) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Here, we aimed to investigate interventional outcomes of RA at different rotational speeds and analyze its clinical effect in the patients with CHD. Methods: A total of 372 CHD patients were retrospectively analyzed between February 2017 and December 2021. The patients received RA at different rotational speeds. The patients were divided into four groups based on the maximum RA speed: group 1 (˂150,000rpm, 76 cases), group 2 (150,000rpm, 156 cases), group 3 (160,000rpm, 90 cases) and group 4 (≥170,000rpm, 50 cases). The perioperative endpoints included hypotension, vasospasm, dissection, slow flow, perforation, bradyarrhythmia, burr entrapment, rotawire fracture during RA as well as the incidence of heart failure, stent thrombosis, and cardiac death during hospitalization. Six-months incidence of major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) such as a composite of myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization (TVR), cardiogenic death, all-cause death or stroke were the long-term primary endpoints. On the other hand, long-term secondary endpoint was chronic heart failure. Results: Our analysis showed that patients in group 4 had a higher incidence of slow flow during the RA operation (P=0.025). There was no significant difference in other complications among the four groups. Besides, there was no significant difference in six-month MACCE among the four groups (P=0.452). After adjusting for confounding factors, increase in rotational speed led to a higher probability of slow flow (P for non-linearity = 0.131; adjusted model) and MACCE (P for non-linearity = 0.183; adjusted model). Logistic regression analysis showed that rotational speed was a predictor of slow flow during RA operation (OR=1.24, 95%CI:1.05~1.47, P=0.013), as well as six-month incidence of MI (OR=2.22, 95%CI:1.04~4.71,p=0.038). Moreover, the analysis demonstrated that a rotational speed of ˂150,000rpm was a predictor of vasospasm during RA operation (OR=3.62, 95% CI:1.21~10.8, P=0.021). Conclusion: Our findings showed that CHD patients treated with RA at a rotational speed of ≥170,000rpm had a higher risk of slow flow. In contrast, a rotational speed of ˂150,000rpm was shown to be an independent risk factor for spasm during RA in CHD patients. Moreover, rotational speed is an independent risk factor for slow flow and six-month MI in CHD patients. There was no significant difference in six-month outcomes in comparison to elective CHD patients with different rotational speeds, and the probability of MACCE was intensified with increase in rotational speed.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a rare congenital anomaly, and has four anatomical subtypes of which the mixed type represents diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Herein, we present a rare case of obstructed mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with successful surgical repair

Using inequalities is a good way of studying topological indices. Chemical graph theory is one of the nontrivial applications of graph theory. In this paper, we examine and calculate another degree-based topological index for silicon-carbide structures. The Sombor index, which is a degree-based index, was introduced by Gutman in late 2020. In this paper, we first calculate and compare the Sombor index, then the decreasing Sombor index, and finally the mean Sombor index for a group of silicon-carbide structures.

Biodesulfurization (BDS) enables the gentle removal of organosulfur compounds using environmentally friendly enzymes. Even though researchers are committed to engineering the biodesulfurization-specific 4S pathway for improving BDS efficiency, the industrial BDS application of BDS is still difficult. Recently, sulfur metabolism of Rhodococcus has begun to attract attention due to its BDS potential. In this review, we introduce the regulation of the 4S pathway and summarize different aspects of sulfur metabolism, including sulfur absorption, sulfur reduction, and sulfur assimilation. The stress response to sulfur starvation and the influence of sulfur metabolism on BDS efficiency are also discussed. The latest advancements in genetic engineering have enabled gene control in Rhodococcus. An improved understanding of the relationship between sulfur metabolism and desulfurization will enable the industrial application of BDS.

Mandibular osteosarcomas are relatively rare compared to those occurring in the long bones. We report a case of giant mandibular osteosarcoma in a 52-year-old woman that we realized a complete resection. An early diagnosis and a complete resection of the lesion are necessary for a better prognosis.

IntroducciónEn este trabajo se pretende dar un resumen de el desarrollo y la evolución de las tecnologías de sensores de imágenes CCD y CMOS, desde su desarrollo en la década del 80 hasta la actualidad.Para el estudio del desarrollo histórico se utilizó como fuentes de primera mano los testimonios de sus autores, cuando sea posible, en base a los artículos publicados oportunamente en revistas reconocidas. Para analizar el estado del arte, se analizó la oferta en el mercado profesional y hogareño, y la reseña de profesionales en el área.Sensores CCDGeorge Smith cuenta en su artículo sobre la invención del CCD \cite{RevModPhys.82.2307}  que en el tiempo del desarrollo de esta tecnología había 3 otras en las cuales había interés:Esta fundamentado en las siguientes tres tecnologías de la época: Memoria de burbujas magnética, cámara de tubo de matriz de diodos de silicio y tecnología CMOS (que desarrollaremos más adelante).Memoria de Burbujas MagnéticasSe solían armar colocandole  un campo eléctrico vertical a un bloque de algún granate (aunque podía ser algún otro material magnético) . Como el granate al ser un material magnético  tiene dipolos magnéticos que deben contrarrestar el efecto del campo que hemos aplicado, lo que ocurre es que se forma otro campo magnético en la placa de modo que minimice la energía (por lo cual algunos quedan alineados en dirección al campo y otros quedan en dirección opuesta a éste). Entonces el resultado que se da es que existen áreas del granate con la forma que se puede observar en la figura 1 a las cuales se las llamaba burbujas. Al aumentar el campo externo algunos dipolos van a rotar y quedar apuntando para el lado opuesto o se van a mover sobre la placa de forma que se van a deformar las burbujas. En un caso extremo tenemos el segundo esquema de la figura 1.

A 31-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with progressive intermittent headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting over two weeks. BP: 120/78mmHg. Brain MRI considers brain abscess. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed: Atrial ortho position, left ventricular loop, enlarged right ventricle, narrow left ventricle, aorta in the anterior left (AO=16mm), a pulmonary artery in the posterior right (PA=35mm), both connected to the right ventricle, mitral and tricuspid valves at the same level, both opening into the right ventricle, mitral regurgitation (1+), tricuspid regurgitation (1+), Continuous interruption of the upper interventricular septum, about 25mm in size; The atrial septum is continuous and intact. The echo and opening of the aortic and pulmonary valves were normal. Ventricular septum and right ventricular wall thickened, left ventricular wall thickness normal range, normal range of motion. No strange echo was observed in the pericardium—Aorta right arch descending right (Figure 1). Ultrasonic diagnosis: Complex Congenital Heart Disease: Right ventricular double exports, in a double entry, abnormal arteries relations, a right aortic arch, ventricular septal defect (pulmonary valve type), right ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular dysplasia, pulmonary hypertension (semi), the proper ventricular systolic function is normal, mitral valve regurgitation (1 +), tricuspid regurgitation (1 +), at the same time further cardiac CTA confirmed echocardiographic diagnosis (Figure 2).

Much recent work has focused on characterising the mutualistic elements of the plant microbiome, often aiming to identify bacterial strains that can increase plant fitness. Although most work has focused on terrestrial plants, Lemna minor, a floating aquatic angiosperm, is increasingly used as a model in host-microbe interactions. Here we assess the fitness and phenotypic consequences of the full microbiome for L. minor by assaying plants from eight natural sites, with and without their microbiomes, over a range of environmental conditions. We find that the microbiome supresses plant fitness, for all genotypes and across all environmental conditions. This decrease in fitness was accompanied by phenotypic changes, with plants forming smaller colonies and producing smaller fronds and shorter roots with the microbiome present. Although the L. minor microbiome clearly includes important symbionts, our findings suggest that we cannot discount the important pathogenic, parasitic, and competitive interactions, whose influence can override that of mutualists.

A document by Mohammed E. Abo El-Fetoh. Click on the document to view its contents.

Glioma seriously endangers human lives and health, and precise SNPs genotyping is the key to modern clinical theranostics. A single nucleic acid signal amplification strategy cannot effectively ensure sensitivity and specificity detection. Herein, a multiplex signal amplification platform based on collaborative chain reaction (LCR, HCR) and cascaded rolling circle reaction (RCA) was first presented for specific and sensitive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) enhanced genotyping. The elongation HCR products were G-quadruplex and enriched on the magnetic nanoparticles (MBs). As the fluorescent intercalator, the thioflavin T (ThT) ligand was significantly embedded G-quadruplex structure for fluorescence enhancement, to indicate the mutation occurrence. Making use of the multiplex signal amplification strategy, as low as 1×10 -17 mol/L mutated strands can be detected, and the allele frequency determined was accurately achieved at 0.5%, indicating high sensitivity and high fidelity. Furthermore, this portable LCR-HCR-RCA multiplex signal cascade fluorescent biosensing (LHRCA) was combined with the efficient enrichment and rapid separation of magnetic nanoparticles (MBs), and suitable for glioma cell lysate samples analysis, making it a promising candidate for disease-associated SNPs discrimination.

There is strong evidence that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have cardioprotective effects. n-3 PUFAs cause vasodilation in hypertensive patients, in part controlled by increased membrane conductance to potassium. As KATP play a major role in vascular tone regulation and are involved in hypertension, we aimed to verify whether n-3 PUFA-mediated vasodilation involved the opening of KATP channels. We used a murine model in which the KATP channel subunit, Kir6.1, is deleted in vascular smooth muscle. The vasomotor response of preconstricted arteries to physiologically relevant concentrations of DHA and EPA was measured using wire myography, using the channel blocker PNU-37883A. The effect of n-3 PUFAs on potassium currents in wild-type native smooth muscle cells was investigated using whole-cell patch clamping. DHA and EPA induced vasodilation in mouse aorta and mesenteric arteries; relaxations in the aorta were sensitive to KATP blockade with PNU-37883A. Endothelium removal didn’t affect relaxation to EPA and caused a small but significant inhibition of relaxation to DHA. In the knock-out model, relaxations to DHA and EPA were unaffected by channel knockdown but were still inhibited by PNU-37883A, indicating that the action of PNU-37883A on relaxation may not reflect inhibition of KATP. In native aortic smooth muscle cells DHA failed to activate KATP currents. We conclude that DHA and EPA cause vasodilation in mouse aorta and mesenteric arteries. Relaxations in blocker-treated arteries from knock-out mice demonstrate that KATP channels are not involved in the n-3 PUFA-induced relaxation.

Background and purpose: Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is important for the function of many cell types. It is controlled by the interaction between ER Ca2+ sensor STIM1 and the plasma membrane Ca2+ channel Orai1. CAD of STIM1 is required for SOCE. It contains two putative coiled-coil regions (CC2 and CC3). The role of CC3 remains to be elucidated. Experimental approach: various plasmids carrying different fluorescent protein genes were constructed for better understanding the influence of S417G mutation in CC3 on SOCE activation; Confocal imaging system, calcium imaging technique and FRET technique were employed to examine the actions of 2-APB on the interaction between STIM1 C terminus and Orai1. Key results: Single-point mutation of the residue (S417G) abolishes STIM1 C-terminus interactions with Orai1. Mutation of S417 also abolished CAD-Orai1 binding and Orai1 channel activation, eliminated STIM1 puncta formation and co-localization with Orai1 and SOCE. 2-APB were found to restore the binding of STIM1 C-terminus mutant(S417G) to Orai1 and dose-dependently activated Orai1 channel. Both CBD and NBD of Orai1 is required for 2-APB-induced coupling between Orai1 and STIM1 C terminus mutant(S417G) and CRAC channel activation. We also demonstrated 2-APB lead to delayed activation of Orai1-K85E channel, although Orai1-K85E obviously impair 2-APB-induced STIM1 C-terminus mutant(S417G)-Orai1 coupling. Conclusions and implications: Our data suggest that S417 in the CC3 domain of STIM1 is critical for STIM1-Orai1 binding and CRAC channel activation. We also proposed experimental models of combined STM1 or Orai1 mutants with 2-APB to better understand the activation mechanism of CRAC.

Thermobifida fusca cutinase ( TfC ) is a carboxylesterase (CE) that degrades the environmental pollutant, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). TfC also acts upon PET’s degradation intermediates (DIs), such as oligoethylene terephthalate (OET), and bis-/mono-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET/MHET), to convert these into terephthalic acid (TPA), the terminal product of PET degradation. We examined TfC’s surface, compared it to that of other CEs, and performed molecular docking and MD simulations with an OET, 2HE-(MHET) 3, to understand interactions between TfC’s surface and the OET, at TfC’s active site as well as vicinal regions. We mutated 17 residues on TfC’s surface, mostly individually, but sometimes using pairs of mutations, to see how these modulate TfC’s activity. Most mutants/variants showed a decrease in activity against solid PET. Some killed activity completely. However, three mutations (L90F, F209I and F249R), made using a background mutation (G62A) already reported to improve activity by almost ~2.0-fold, yielded increases in activity that were between ~1.3- and ~2.0-fold higher than that of G62A TfC (which we found to display a ~1.7-fold increase in activity over TfC, in our own experiments). TfC variants, G62A/F249R, and G62A/F209I, exhibit the highest activities yet observed in any TfC mutants/variants, against PET, and BHET, respectively.

Autologous cell therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for hematological malignancies. Cell therapies for solid tumors are on the horizon, however the high cost and complexity of manufacturing these therapies remain a challenge. Routinely used open steps to transfer cells and reagents through unit operations further burden the workflow reducing efficiency and increasing the chance for human error. Here we describe a fully closed, autologous bioprocess generating MAGE-B2 TCR-T cells. This bioprocess yielded 5 – 12e9 MAGE-B2-specific TCR-expressing T cells, transduced at low MOIs, within 7 to 10 days, and cells exhibited an enriched memory T cell phenotype and enhanced metabolic fitness. It was demonstrated that activating, transducing, and expanding leuko-apheresed cells in a single bioreactor without a T cell enrichment step promoted lentivirus transduction efficiency while resulting in comparable level of T cell purity (~97%) as that of leukopak cells that went through CD8+ and CD4+ positive selection. The critical process parameters of the bioreactor, including culturing at a high cell density (7e6 cells/mL), adjusting rocking agitations during phases of scale up, lowering glycolysis through addition of 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), and modulating IL-2 levels, were shown to positively regulate TCR expression and cell doubling time, and promote resistance to effector-associated apoptosis of TCR-T cells. The bioprocess described herein supports scale-out feasibility by enabling processing of multiple patients’ batches in parallel within a Grade C cleanroom.

The Mini Electrode-equipped Catheter: Utility for Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia Ablation

Objective: To investigate the association between transaminase elevation during the first trimester and early pregnancy loss (EPL) in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Further, the contributing risk factors for transaminase elevation in early pregnancy in RSA patients were analyzed Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: China Population: RSA patients during the first trimester Methods: Patients were divided into EPL group and N-EPL group as well as transaminase-elevated group (TE group) and transaminase-normal group (TN group). The relationship between transaminase level and EPL and the risk factors of elevated transaminase were investigated via student’s t test, Pearson chi-square test and logistic regression analyses. Main outcome measure: The association between transaminase elevation and EPL and the risk factors for elevated transaminase. Results: Higher serum transaminase levels were observed in EPL group than in the N-EPL group (p <0.05). Comparing with TN group, EPL is more common in TE group (p =0.018). There is still a correlation between elevated transaminases and EPL in RSA patients after adjusting for covariates (AST: OR, 1.018; 95% CI, 1.007-1.029; p, 0.001; ALT: OR, 1.006; 95%CI, 1.001-1.011; p, 0.018). The higher the transaminases, the greater the likelihood of EPL (p <0.05). Multivariate regression analysis found that the use of IVIG was an independent risk factor for elevated transaminase in RSA patients (OR, 0.374; 95% CI, 0.162-0.864; p =0.021). Conclusion: Serum transaminase levels are significantly correlated with RSA early pregnancy loss. Moreover, medication use is significantly correlated with transaminase elevation in the first trimester in RSA patients, especially IVIG.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is one of the most common mitochondrial disease subtypes, caused by mutations in either the nuclear or mitochondrial genomes. TMEM126B was identified as a mitochondrial complex I assembly factor. Here, we identified a novel intronic mutation (c.82-2A>G) and a novel exonic insertion mutation (c.290dupT) in TMEM126B from a Chinese patient with clinical manifestations of LS. In silico predictions, minigene splicing assays and patients’ RNA analyses determined that the c.82-2A>G mutation resulted in complete exon 2 skipping, and the c.290dupT mutation provoked partial and complete exon 3 skipping, leading to translational frameshifts and premature termination. Functional analysis revealed the impaired mitochondrial function in patient-derived lymphocytes due to the complex I content and assembly defect. Although TMEM126B mutations have been related to multi-symptoms (exercise intolerance, severe muscle weakness, hyperlactic acidemia, pure myopathy, chronic renal failure and cardiomyopathy), we found the patient carrying these two mutations developed an middle-onset LS. Altogether, this is the first report that the patient carrying TMEM126B mutations was diagnosed with LS. Our data uncover the functional effect and the molecular mechanism of the pathogenic variants c.82-2A>G and c.290dupT, which expand gene mutation spectrum of LS and clinical spectrum caused by TMEM126B mutations.

Objectives: The relative contributions of vitamin D status to pregnancy complications are not fully understood. We investigated the correlation between vitamin D status and pregnancy outcomes. Design: Prospective analysis of cases Setting: China Population or Sample: A total of 1766 pregnant women admitted to The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University and Guangdong Women and Children Hospital between January 2019 and December 2020. Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed on women who paid antennal visits during their whole gestation. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were measured among women before 24 weeks of gestation. Associations between maternal vitamin D status, maternal characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes were assessed. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for adverse pregnancy outcomes was calculated using the logistic regression analysis. Results: Among all the participants ,192(10.87%), 1023(57.93%) and 551(31.20%) were defined as vitamin D sufficiency, insufficiency, and deficiency, respectively. There was no significant difference in vitamin D between pregnant women with adverse pregnancy outcomes and those without adverse pregnancy outcome. Neither vitamin D deficiency nor insufficiency was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with vitamin D sufficiency. Risks of adverse outcomes were as follows: GDM (OR=0.72 95%CI 0.46-1.14; OR=0.86 95%CI 0.57-1.30), SGA (OR=1.38 95%CI 0.73-2.60; OR=1.28 95%CI 0.70-2.34), early preterm delivery (OR=0.59 95%CI 0.13-2.70; OR=0.84 95%CI 0.23-3.00), PE (OR=3.44 95%CI 0.43-27.52; OR=2.40 95%CI 0.31-18.50), and postpartum hemorrhage (OR=0.58 95%CI 0.33-1.03; OR=0.81 95%CI 0.49-1.35). Conclusions: Low vitamin D status may not be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Vitamin D screening in all pregnant women seems not reasonable.

Objective: This review analyzed available studies on biomechanical changes during the pre-, in-, and post-pregnancy periods. Data sources: in the electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane from inception until June 2, 2021 Study eligibility criteria: 1) the research object of the literature is healthy pregnant women; 2) the research direction is in the range of biomechanics, which can be related to the trunk, lumbar spine, hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, wrist joint, foot, muscle strength, muscle endurance, joint strength, plantar pressure, and motion analysis; 3) with full text; 4) written in English or Chinese；and 5) cohort studies comparing pregnant women with the same group of women in the pre-pregnancy period or with nonpregnant women. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Using National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies to assessment the quality of the reviewed articles.Synthesized the general information(authors,publication years,country where the studies were conducted etc.),age of the studied subjects,investigated periods,sample size,objectives,study ammetersers,measurement tools,and outcomes of reviewed studies. Results: Duplicate results were removed,the search returned 2918 reports.Fourteen studies met the selection criteria. Conclusion: These studies revealed biomechanical deviations in body stability, motion patterns, and gait modes during these three periods. Regarding research content, there are insufficient studies on certain critical biomechanical aspects, such as the kinetic parameters of the inner body, which are the most direct factors related to musculoskeletal problems. According to quality assessment tool , a more comprehensive and explicit understanding of pregnancy biomechanics can be expected.