This study investigated some physiological features in a 20-year-old ‘Italia’ vineyard cropped in Apulia, Italy. Five vines with brown-wood-streaking associated to Phaeoacremonium minimum (sin. Pm. aleophilum) and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (BWSV), five with brown-wood-streaking and white-rot caused by Fomitiporia mediterranea (BWSWRV) and five healthy vines (HV) were surveyed. Bleeding xylem sap (BXS) collected at bud-break, symptomless and symptomatic leaves taken during stretched-out leaves, fruit setting, cluster closing and bunch ripening phenological phases were characterized. BXS from HV showed the highest total ascorbic acid level, while BWSWRV had the highest viscosity coefficient, glutathione concentration and growth regulators activity. Low fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll concentration and the hight leaf surface, hydrogen peroxide and cell membranes damage were detected in leaves of diseased vines. Symptomless and symptomatic leaves of BWSV and BWSWRV exhibited low concentrations of ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and redox state; moderate levels of dehydroascorbic acid and oxidized glutathione. Higher dehydroascorbate reductase and low ascorbate free radical reductase and glutathione reductase activities were showed by leaves collected from diseased vines. However, no differences were detected in ascorbate peroxidase activity. The decrease of oxidative status alters cell membranes integrity and could contribute to cell death and symptoms development on leaves.

A document by Laura Badina. Click on the document to view its contents.

This report presents real-time endoscopic observations of an unusual flat gastric lesion that would appear upon inflation of the stomach and disappear upon deflation of the stomach. Although there are some reports regarding the evaluation of gastric blood flow, little has been reported about real-time color changes in gastric lesions.

We report a case of immunotherapy associated myopericarditis in a patient treated with Nivolumab/Ipilimumab. We furthermore performed a comprehensive literature review regarding the biological mechanisms of cancer immunity, the pathophysiology behind immunotherapy related adverse effects (irAEs), current guideline, and the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors to the recurrent irAEs.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease with a rapid increase in cases and mortality all over the world. We report a neonate born to the pregnant woman with COVID tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection just 24 hours after its birth.

The purpose of this report was to describe the reverse-taper lock connection and two-stage implant treatment. The reverse-taper lock connection was designed to be narrow and strong, the superstructure could be attached by friction force. The two-stage implant allows removal of the infected upper part in the event of peri-implantitis.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common acquired vascular tumor and may appear mostly as a solitary lesions. Multiple disseminated PGs are a very rare form and mostly are seen after traumas such as burn. We presented a new case with multiple PGs secondary to scald burn due to oil.

The study was carried out with cavitated charcoal that were introduced into loamy sand and clay at rates of 1.76%, 3.5%, 7.0%, and 14.0%. The highest introduction rate of the material (14.0%) increased the content of total carbon (CTot) by 197% in the loamy sand and by 19% in the clay compared to that in the control treatments. The application of cavitated charcoal did not significantly change the total content of heavy metals. Regardless of the element and the soil used, the application of cavitated charcoal reduced the content of the CaCl2-extracted forms of heavy metals. Following the application of cavitated charcoal, the loamy sand soil presented an even lower content of the most mobile forms of the studied elements. It should also be noted that regardless of the soil texture, mobile forms of the elements decreased with the increased cavitated charcoal rate. The respiratory activity values of the soils into which cavitated charcoal was introduced were low, which indicates a large number of dormant microorganisms. Additionally, the results of dehydrogenase and urease activity indicated the low metabolic activity of the microbial population in the soils, especially with the relatively high rates (7.0% and 14.0%) of cavitated charcoal. However, the cavitated charcoal used in the study showed a significant, positive effect on the amount of biomass Sorghum saccharatum (L.), and its application significantly reduced the heavy metal content in the biomass of Sorghum saccharatum (

African swine fever is a highly contagious fatal infectious disease of pigs with a worldwide occurrence and economic importance. Two adult large white boars from two farms in Jos North, Plateau State-Nigeria kept under intensive management system were diagnosed of African swine fever between the last week of July and the first week of August 2019 at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital University of Jos. In both cases the farmers complained of sudden deaths of pigs. At post mortem examination carcasses grossly showed splenomegaly, hemorrhagic lymphadenitis, and hepatomegaly with severe congestion. The kidneys were enlarged and had generalized petechiae and blood clot in the pelvis.The heart was moderately enlarged.On microscopy, the spleen and lymph nodes, showed severe lymphocytic depletion, haemorrhage and severe haemosiderosis. The liver was severely congested with focal coagulative necrosis of the hepatocytes. The kidneys were severely congested and showed renal tubular necrosis with few tubular protein casts. Tissue samples were confirmed to be positive for ASFV by polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate belonged to genotype-I. Sequences obtained were compared and deposited in the GenBank and were accessioned MN888693 and MN888694. Keywords: African swine fever; laboratory; diagnosis; smallholder farms; pig; Nigeria

A new Respirovirus, Porcine parainfluenzavirus type 1 (PPIV-1) was first identified in 2013 in Hong Kong and later in the USA. Here, we report the first detection of PPIV-1 outside these two regions. Our research group has analyzed 15–15 (3–3 piglets from five litters) nasal swab samples obtained from three-week-old piglets originating from 22 Hungarian farms altogether from which only one farm was found to be positive. Subsequently, 20–20 nasal swab samples were obtained from 2, 4, 6 and 8-week-old piglets of this farm. Virus detection by qRT-PCR showed that although all investigated age groups were positive to PPIV-1, higher number of infected animals and higher viral loads were found among 4-year-old animals. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of partial F and L genes, the 3 Hungarian strains are almost identical and are highly similar to the very first PPIV-1 genome submitted from Hong Kong in 2013, whereas the overall genetic difference compared to the recently described North American isolates was around 10%.

To improve the bending fatigue life of gears, a novelty method of the ultrasonic rolling strengthening is proposed to process tooth roots of the spur cylindrical gears . The variations in the residual stress, surface hardness and the depth of hardened layer of the tooth root were studied. Subsequently, the bending fatigue experiments of the single tooth were performed, and the relationship among the surface residual stress σ, surface hardness Hv, the depth of the hardened layer δ and the bending fatigue life was investigated. The results exhibit that the tensile residual stress located on the tooth roots is converted to the residual compressive stress. Compared with the unreinforced condition, the bending fatigue strength of the strengthened gears is increased by 2 times, and its fatigue life is extended by 15 times.

Local adaptation to temperature is essential for woody plants to against changeable climate and safely survive the winter. To uncover the specific molecular mechanism of low temperature adaptation in woody plants, we performed selective-sweep analysis and genome-wide association study (GWAS) on a wild woody plant naturally distributed in different climate zones and latitudes. We sequenced a core collection of 134 accessions selected from 494 paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera L.), phenotyped the accessions in high latitudes of 40º N for two overwintering traits. We further performed genome-phenotype and genome-environment associations, and genome-wide scans for temperature selection. The population structure analysis indicated that accessions showed forceful geographic distribution patterns because of the adaptation to local climate. We detected 75 selective regions possibly undergone temperature selection and identified 14 trait-associated SNPs corresponded to 16 candidate genes. Meanwhile, low temperature adaptation was also supported by other three SNPs with values lower than threshold but harboring different primary genotype among geographic groups. Overall, we propose a possible network of cold signal perception and responses in woody plants, some genes are considered unique to woody plants while others have been studied in herbs, which highlighting a key hit for studying the specific molecular mechanism of low temperature adaptation or overwintering in woody plants.

Pigs (Sus scrofa) may be important surveillance targets for risk assessment and risk-based control planning against emerging zoonoses. Pigs have high-contact rates with humans and other animals, transmit similar pathogens as humans including CoVs, and serve as reservoirs and intermediate hosts for notable human pandemics. Wild and domestic pigs both interface with humans and each other but have unique ecologies that demand different surveillance strategies. Three fundamental questions shape any surveillance program: where, when, and how can surveillance be conducted to optimize the surveillance objective? Using theory of mechanisms of zoonotic spillover and data on risk factors, we propose a framework for determining where surveillance might begin initially to maximize a detection in each host species at their interface. We illustrate the utility of the framework using data from the United States. We then discuss variables to consider in refining when and how to conduct surveillance. Recent advances in accounting for opportunistic sampling designs and in translating serology samples into infection times provide promising directions for extracting spatio-temporal estimates of disease risk from typical surveillance data. Such robust estimates of population-level disease risk allow surveillance plans to be updated in space and time based on new information (adaptive surveillance) thus optimizing allocation of surveillance resources to maximize the quality of risk assessment insight.

Catheter ablation involving the left ventricle increases risk of damage to the mitral valve or chordae tendineae which can lead to acute mitral regurgitation. This may place the patient in danger whether using a transaortic approach or transseptal approach. Here we report a case diagnosed as ablation catheter entrapment by chordae of the mitral valve during radiofrequency ablation monitored by periprocedural transesophageal echocardiogram. The entrapped ablation catheter was smoothly removed by open surgery and no damage to the mitral valve complex was detected. Removal of an entrapped catheter by blinded traction is associated with damage to the mitral valve complex.

A method of predicting the fatigue life under multi-axial loads based on the Paris law and EIFS was proposed. The crack shape factor of Ni-based single crystal superalloy material with single hole was calculated. Meanwhile, the Miss stress, Max principal strain and Magnitude displacement of the specimen along the dangerous path under different load stresses, initial crack and stress ratio were investigated by Abacus. The fatigue life situation of Ni-based single crystal superalloy material with single hole has different working conditions, which were predicted and validated by test eventually. The results show that the crack propagates at a faster speed under large load stresses, leading to a lower fatigue life. The larger initial crack length results in faster the crack growth on the specimen, and the shorter its fatigue life is. For the different stress ratios, smaller stress ratio can lead to lower fatigue life. Meanwhile, the fatigue life of Ni-based single crystal superalloy material with single hole predicted by the presented method herein based on the Paris law and EIFS agrees well with the fatigue test results.

Objective: To evaluate the severe illness incidence of, predictors for, and effects on outcome by COVID-19. Methods and Results: 104 patients with COVID-19 in the Harbin Infectious Disease Hospital from Jan 15 to March 22, 2020 was retrospective include, 16.53 developed severe illness COVID-19. Patients who developed severe illness were significantly higher body-mass index (BMI), number of comorbidities, lymphocyte percentage and electrocardiogram abnormalities (P < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of developing severe illness. Independent predictors of severe illness COVID-19 were BMI and electrocardiogram abnormalities (P < 0.05). The electrocardiogram abnormalities was associated with poor outcomes (include mortality, sent to ICU or transfer to a superior hospital) (odds ratio, 7.374; 95% confidence interval, 1.365-39.846; P < 0.05). Similar results were observed in BMI. Conclusions: The higher BMI and electrocardiogram recording abnormalities on admission are the predictor of prognosis severe illness patients with the COVID-2019.

Dear Sir We congratulate Dr Guy and colleagues on their paper1which demonstrates that implementation of combined screening using the FMF algorithm2 is feasible in practice and is better than the existing NICE guidelines in prevention of preeclampsia, especially preterm preeclampsia with delivery before 34 weeks. We hope that this will lead to wider application of combined screening for prediction and prevention of preeclampsia.The authors acknowledge that treatment with aspirin will have led to underestimation of screening performance. We would like to highlight this and emphasise the importance of accounting for the effect of aspirin when assessing predictive performance. To make the point, consider the most extreme case with 100% compliance with a treatment that prevents 100% of cases. In the screen positive group, all cases would be prevented by the treatment and classified as false positives. Adopting the same analysis presented in this paper would result in a detection rate and positive predictive value of zero regardless of performance without treatment.In the data presented in this study, for the FMF algorithm with 99% compliance to aspirin at a dose of 150 mg / day and assuming 62% reduction in risk,3 99%×62% = 61.4% of cases of preterm preeclampsia would be prevented and classed as false positives. The remaining 100-61.4% = 38.6% would be classed as true positives so the 15 cases of preterm preeclampsia which led to the detection rate of 15/27 = 55.6% represent just 38.6% of the cases of preterm preeclampsia detected. An estimate of the number detected, including those prevented by aspirin is, 15/0.386 = 39. The estimated number of cases in total is therefore 39 + 12 = 51, obtained by adding the false negatives 27-15 = 12 to the estimated true positives. This gives a detection rate of 39/51 = 76% compared to the figure of 55.6% given in Table 2. Applying similar calculations to the positive predictive value (i.e. proportion of women in the screen positive group who would, without aspirin, have developed preterm preeclampsia) of 9.8%. This should be compared with the 3.8% presented in the paper. Applying the same arithmetic to the NICE group gives a detection rate of 41.6% and a positive predictive value of 2.4%. These are much closer to the figures in Table 2 of the paper because of the relatively low compliance in the NICE group. Other measures of screening performance presented on this paper including the likelihood ratios, negative predictive value the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis are also affected by this problem.The arithmetic presented above is intended for illustration; for the SPREE study4 we applied Markov chain monte carlo (MCMC) methods for inferences about screening performance. These or similar methods should be applied in future studies of screening performance.Dave Wright,1 Kypros Nicolaides2Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter, Exeter, UKHarris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King’s College Hospital, London, UK.

We report the clinical, histopathological and molecular characterization of 104 patients with congenital myopathy (CM) managed at a single center. The most common histopathological subtype was core myopathy (42%). Patients with severe endomysial fibrosis were more commonly unable to walk than patients with only a mild grade (56% vs 16%). Inability to walk was also more prevalent in patients with severe fatty replacement (44% vs 19%). The genetic etiology was more frequently identified among those patients with “specific” histologic findings (74% vs 62%). A definite molecular diagnosis was reached in 65/104 patients (62%), with RYR1 (24/104) and TTN (8/104) as the most frequent causative genes. Neonatal onset occurred in 56%. Independent ambulation was achieved by 74%. Patients who walked late were more likely to become wheelchair-dependent. Respiratory support was needed in 1/3 patients. Gastrostomy placement was required in 15%. Cardiac involvement was observed in 3%, scoliosis in 43%, and intellectual disability in 6%. This study provides an updated picture of the clinical, histopathological and molecular landscape of CMs. Independently of the causative gene, fibrosis and fatty replacement in muscle biopsy is significantly associated with clinical severity. Mutations in TTN are responsible for a higher proportion of cases than previously thought.

Abstract Objectives To systematically assess the beneficial effects of early NIPPV over NCPAP by performing a meta-analysis of current evidence. Data sources Medline, Embase, Web of science and the Cochrane Central Register of Randomized Controlled Trials(RCTs) was performed inception through 4 October 2019. Data Extraction and Synthesis Data were extracted independently by the three authors. The protocol of the systematic review was registered(number CRD42019147307). Pooled relative risk(RR) were estimated using the fixed-effects models, and the random-effects models were performed whenever more than 50% heterogeneity was shown. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 method. Results 11 RCTs met the included criteria(n=1475). The meta-analysis demonstrated that, as compared with NCPAP, early NIPPV simultaneously reduced the incidences of IV (relative risk(RR):0.51, 95% confidence interval(CI): 0.42-0.62, P<0.00001) and BPD(RR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.37-0.71, P<0.0001). Similarities were also shown in the subgroups of infants receiving surfactant(IV (RR:0.59, 95%CI:0.45-0.77, P=0.0001) and BPD (RR: 0.57, 95%CI:0.37-0.87, P=0.009)), whose gestational age(GA)>30 weeks or birth weight(BW)>1,500g(IV(RR: 0.46, 95%CI: 0.33-0.63, P<0.00001) and BPD (RR:0.37,95%CI: 0.14-0.93, P=0.03)), and BPD and/or death(IV (RR: 0.51, 95%CI:0.40-0.67,P<0.00001) and BPD(RR: 0.46; 95%CI: 0.27- 0.81 P=0.007)). However, in the subgroups of infants whose GA≤30 weeks or BW≤1,500g, the incidences of IV and BPD were not simultaneously decreased. Conclusions Early NIPPV can be superior to NCPAP for simultaneously decreasing the incidences of IV and BPD in preterm infants with RDS. Early NIPPV as a better substitute for NCPAP may help to prevent BPD.

Purpose: To examine the association of TNF related genes polymorphisms with scleritis in Chinese Han. Methods: A case-control study was carried out in 556 non-infectious scleritis patients and 742 healthy controls. A total of 28 SNPs were genotyped by the Sequenom MassArray® iPLEX GOLD Assay. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared between cases and healthy controls using the 2 or Fisher’s exact test, and P values were corrected using the Bonferroni correction method for multiple comparisons. Results: No significant association was observed between the individual SNPs in the TNF related genes and scleritis. Haplotype analysis showed a significantly decreased frequency of a TNFAIP3 CGT haplotype (order of SNPs: rs9494885, rs3799491, rs2230926) (Pc=0.021, OR=0.717, 95% CI=0.563–0.913), a significantly increased frequency of a TNFSF4 GT haplotype (order of SNPs: rs3850641, rs704840) (Pc=0.004, OR=1.691, 95% CI=1.205–2.372) and TNFSF15 CCC haplotype (order of SNPs: rs6478106, rs3810936, rs7865494) (Pc=0.012, OR=1.662, 95% CI=1.168–2.363) in scleritis patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: This study reveals that a three-SNP haplotype of the TNFAIP3 gene (CGT) may be a protective factor for the development of scleritis and that a two-SNP haplotype of the TNFSF4 gene (GT) and a three-SNP haplotype of the TNFSF15 gene (CCC) may be risk factors for scleritis in Chinese Han.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Interferon-gamma (IFN- γ) is a crucial cytokine that plays a crucial role and shows increased level in HT. Unexplained infertility (UEI) is a condition in which no cause has been found to explain the failure of conception. We aimed in this study to detect the frequency of HT patients that suffer from UEI in a sample of Egyptian women. Also, to assess the serum interferon-gamma (IFN- γ) level and expression levels of IFN- γ gene in this group of patients to find out the possibility of using them as diagnostic markers for UEI in patients with HT. This cross-sectional study included 120 women with HT. We assessed fertility in both groups in which female patients with UEI were detected. For all patients, HT was diagnosed based on clinical and laboratory measures, serum IFN- γ was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and FN- γ mRNA expression was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our results revealed that 37.5 % of studied Egyptian women with HT had UEI. There was a significant positive correlation between serum IFN- γ and IFN- γ gene expression with thyroid auto-antibodies as well as TSH, while there was a negative correlation with FT3, FT4, and AMH. Interestingly, among studied parameters, TSH and FT3 were the only variables independently associated with serum IFN- γ while FT3 was only variables independently associated with IFN- γ gene expression by linear regression analysis.

The repeated occurrence of similar phenotypes in independent lineages (i.e., parallel evolution) in response to similar ecological conditions can provide compelling insights into the process of adaptive evolution. An intriguing question is to what extent repeated phenotypic changes are underlain by repeated changes at the genomic level and whether patterns of genomic divergence differ with the geographic context in which populations evolve. Here, we combine genomic, morphological and ecological datasets to investigate the genomic signatures of divergence across populations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) that adapted to contrasting trophic niches (benthic or limnetic) in either sympatry or allopatry. We found that genome-wide differentiation (FST) was an order of magnitude higher and substantially more repeatable for sympatric benthic and limnetic specialists compared to allopatric populations with similar levels of trophic divergence. We identified 55 genomic regions consistently differentiated between sympatric ecotypes that were also associated with benthic vs. limnetic niche across allopatric populations. These candidate regions were enriched on three chromosomes known to be involved in the benthic-limnetic divergence of threespine stickleback. Some candidate regions overlapped with QTL for body shape and trophic traits such as number of gill rakers, traits that strongly differ between benthic and limnetic ecotypes. In sum, our study shows that magnitude and repeatability of genomic signatures of trophic divergence in threespine stickleback highly depend on the geographical context. The identified candidate regions provide starting points to identify functionally important genes for the adaptation to benthic and limnetic trophic niches.

Objective To investigate the risk of adverse birth outcomes for women who underwent non-obstetric abdominal surgery during pregnancy compared with that of those who did not undergo surgery. Design Retrospective cohort study Setting Korea National Health Insurance (KNHI) claims database Population A total of 8,167 women who did non-obstetric surgery and 3,710,123 women who did not undergo surgery and in 2006-2016. Methods The two groups were compared using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. The primary outcome assessed was neonatal complications and secondary outcomes were obstetric complications. Main Results Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that risk of preterm birth [hazard ratio (HR) 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.86-2.29], low birth weight (LBW) (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.49-1.82), C/S (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.19), gestational hypertension (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.19-1.56), and placenta previa (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.33-1.87) was significantly higher in women who underwent non-obstetric surgery during pregnancy compared to women who did not undergo such surgery. When comparing the laparoscopic and laparotomy groups for risk of fetal outcomes, the risk of LBW was significantly decreased in laparoscopic adnexal resection during pregnancy compared to that of laparotomy (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.40-0.95). Conclusion: Non-obstetric pelvic surgery during pregnancy was associated with higher risk of preterm birth, LBW, gestational hypertension, placenta previa, placental abruption, and C/S. Although the benefits and safety of laparoscopy during pregnancy appear similar to those of laparotomy in pregnancy outcomes, laparoscopic adnexal mass resection was associated with a lower risk of LBW.

Background Prenatal origins of wheezing are not fully understood. This study develops a model of mechanisms linking perinatal stress exposure to wheeze phenotypes in children. Methods Data were obtained from 1,849 mother-child dyads participating in ELSPAC-CZ birth cohort. Wheeze phenotypes assessed between birth and age seven years included “never wheeze”, “early-onset transient (EOT) wheeze,” “early-onset persistent (EOP) wheeze,” and “late-onset (LO) wheeze.” Prenatal and postnatal maternal stress exposures were assessed in mid-pregnancy and six months post-delivery, respectively, using an inventory of 42 life events. Results In adjusted models, children in the highest tercile (high) vs. lowest tercile (low) of prenatal life events had a 44% higher risk of EOT wheeze (relative risk ratio [RRR]=1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.06-1.95, p=0.02) and 69% higher risk of LO wheeze (RRR=1.69, 95% CI=1.13-2.52, p=0.01). High vs. low exposure to postnatal life events predicted a 74% increase in the risk of EOT wheeze (RRR=1.74, 95% CI=1.27-2.38, p<0.001) and 101% increase for EOP wheeze (RRR=2.01, 95% CI=1.23-3.26, p=0.005). Postnatal life events partially mediated between prenatal life events and any wheeze (high vs. low life events: indirect effect OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.06-1.21, p<0.001). Lower respiratory tract infections and secondary smoke partially mediated between postnatal life events and any wheeze (indirect effects OR=1.06, 95% CI=1.02-1.09, p=0.002 and OR=1.02, 95% CI 1.001-1.05, p=0.035, respectively). Conclusions Exposures to prenatal and postnatal life events are risk factors for development of wheezing. Prenatal stress contributes to wheeze directly and also through postnatal life events and respiratory infections.