Imatinib, which inhibits tyrosine kinase activity of Bcr-Abl protein, is a standard form of treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Through its immunomodulatory effect it affects T cell function in a number of ways. It inhibits antigen-induced T cell activation and proliferation. Antigen-specific T-cells and macrophages are vital for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here we present a case of renal tuberculosis associated with imatinib therapy in the maintenance phase of CML. With granulomatous interstitial nephritis and positive tubercular DNA on renal biopsy, the condition was successfully treated with anti-tubercular therapy. This case provides support to the hypothesis that imatinib therapy in CML increases the susceptibility to tuberculosis and strict vigilance is required to enable its early detection and treatment.INTRODUCTION The increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease has increased the demand for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) care. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between some risk factors for AVF failure (advanced age, female sex, diabetes, obesity, central venous catheter, previous fistula, and hospitalization) and having a Doppler ultrasound performed preoperatively. METHODS A prospective study was performed with 228 dialysis patients from Imperatriz, Maranhão. Half of the sample was randomly selected to receive preoperative Doppler ultrasound and the other half did not, from the period of October 2016 to September 2018. RESULTS There were 53 total failures corresponding to 23.2% of our sample, which is almost double that of the patients in the clinical group. Considering the failures and risk factors associated with the overall sample, there was a statistically significant association between a central venous catheter on the same side of the AVF with P = 0.04 (Odds Ratio 1.24) and obesity with P = 0.05 (Odds Ratio 1.36), which was not repeated in the Doppler ultrasound group individually. There was no statistically significant difference between the Doppler group and clinical group with respect to the amount of days of previous AVF hospitalization and failure. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that the reduction of failures with an introduction of the Doppler was statistically significant in the overall sample, but establishing a relationship between specific risk factors and failure was only possible with two of the risk factors in the study - obesity and central venous catheter on the same side of the AVF.Phylogenetic niche conservatism can be investigated at multiple scales on an explicit geographical context. Haplotype-based comparative analyses of lineages occupying the same region, and thus subjected to similar environmental factors, allow decoupling shared evolutionary and ecological patterns, as well as multiple dimensions of adaptive diversification. Here we aimed to assess the role of environmental drivers on diversification of subtropical grassland, based on haplotypic diversity of two plant genera. We sampled two closely related and co-distributed grassland plant genera, Petunia and Calibrachoa, across their entire distribution area. Eigenvectors extracted from pairwise distances based on chloroplast DNA haplotypes were used to fit Phylogenetic Signal-Representation (PSR) curves to estimate evolutionary patterns in 19 bioclimatic variables and altitude. The PSR curves showed that altitude, precipitation, and temperature variables changed at different rates with haplotype differentiation. Altitude and temperature traits evolved under conditions closer to a neutral dynamics, whereas precipitation traits differentiated following more complex models. Our results indicated that the diversification in the two genera was more limited by precipitation conditions. Based on these novel findings, we suggest that future studies should test the possible impact of precipitation variables on the process of ecological differentiation in these genera.Given its high-valued wood, the African mahogany (Khaya grandifoliola) has been envisaged as a renewable source of tropical hardwoods in Brazil. However, there are concerns about the hypothesized low diversity among the few K. grandifoliola germplasm sources introduced in the country. Using eight microsatellite markers, we evaluated the genetic diversity and divergence among 53 superior trees selected from three provenances of K. grandifoliola located in the state of Para. These populations are among the oldest plantations (>15 years) in Brazil and, therefore, the country's main seed sources. The average number of alleles per locus was 5.9, expected heterozygosity was moderate (^=0.56) and lower than the high observed heterozygosity (HO=0.74). https://www.selleckchem.com/TGF-beta.html Therefore, the intrapopulation fixation index was negative (f=-0.31) indicating the possibility that selection of superior trees might have favored heterozygous plants with heterosis. No genetic structure was observed between provenances. The genetic diversity observed within selected trees, with an effective population size (Ne) of 30.4, is comparable to that of natural populations of African and Brazilian mahoganies. Therefore, our results contradict the idea that the genetic diversity of K. grandifoliola introduced in Brazil is low and show that our germplasm can be exploited for breeding purposes.Psidium cattleyanum Sabine is an Atlantic Forest native species that presents some populations with red fruits and others with yellow fruits. This variation in fruit pigmentation in this species is an intriguing character that could be related to species evolution but still needs to be further explored. Our goal was to provide genomic information for these morphotypes to understand the molecular mechanisms of differences in fruit colour in this species. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of red and yellow morphotypes of P. cattleyanum, considering two stages of fruit ripening. The transcriptomic analysis performed encompassing leaves, unripe and ripe fruits, in triplicate for each morphotype. The transcriptome consensus from each morphotype showed 301,058 and 298,310 contigs from plants with yellow and red fruits, respectively. The differential expression revealed important genes that were involved in anthocyanins biosynthesis, such as the anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) and UDP-glucoseflavonoid-o-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) that were differentially regulated during fruit ripening.

Despite the advancement in the healthcare system, the impact of surgical interventions on public health systems will continue to grow. But predicting the outcome is challenging. Concerns related to unexpected outcomes and delays in the diagnosis of postoperative complications are the major issue. Intestinal obstruction is a common life-threatening surgical condition followed by fatal and nonfatal postoperative complications. This study was aimed at assessing results after surgery for intestinal obstruction in a hospital of Ethiopia.
. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 254 postoperative patients admitted with intestinal obstruction from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2017. Data were coded and entered into EpiData 4.2.0.0 software and exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22 for analysis. A binary logistic regression model was used for analysis. All variables with a
value < 0.25 during bivariable analysis were considered for multivariable e and older patients.
To elucidate the characteristics of symptomatic attack of rudimentary uteri in MRKH syndrome and highlight the rare and unexpected possibilities.

A cohort of 202 Chinese MRKH syndrome patients admitted to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from Jan 2009 to Dec 2016 was analyzed retrospectively. Based on the symptoms of abdominal pain before vaginoplasty, the patients were categorized into the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups.

Totally, 21 patients had their uteri removed due to obstructive bleeding, 19 of them had symptoms of abdominal pain before vaginoplasty, the mean duration of abdominal pain before artificial vaginoplasty was 5.0 years (range, 0.5-10 years), and the mean age at first onset of recurrent abdominal pain was 14.3 years old (range 11-18). Two special cases showed unusual long incubation periods up to 23 years. Ultrasound detected endometrioid echo in four asymptomatic patients. Among the symptomatic group, 7 patients had no imaging evidence for endometrial cavities despite clinical pain. Two of them developed severe symptoms over the next two or four years and eventually had their uteri removed. Two patients reported persistent abdominal pain with a visual analog scale (VAS) score of 4-5, still under observation. Three patients were lost to follow-up.

More than 10% of the patients with MRKH syndrome had surgical indication to remove the rudimentary uteri. The discrepancy between clinical symptoms and imaging calls for the vigilance for prophylactic surgery or prolonged follow-up.
More than 10% of the patients with MRKH syndrome had surgical indication to remove the rudimentary uteri. The discrepancy between clinical symptoms and imaging calls for the vigilance for prophylactic surgery or prolonged follow-up.We investigated the role of Akt1, one of the three isoforms of Akt, in renal fibrosis using the murine model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). https://www.selleckchem.com/products/bx-795.html We subjected wild type and Akt1-/- mice to UUO. The Akt1 gene was silenced in vitro using short hairpin RNA delivered via a lentiviral vector in human proximal tubular cells (HK2 cells) and kidney fibroblasts (NRK-49F cells). The obstructive kidneys of Akt1-/- mice showed more severe tubulointerstitial fibrosis than those of wild type mice. The expression of fibronectin and type I collagen was significantly increased in obstructed kidneys of Akt1-/- mice compared to those of wild type mice. The important finding was that the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) was significantly increased in the Akt1-/- mice compared to the wild type mice. The knockdown of Akt1 enhanced the expression of TGFβ1 in HK2 cells. Interestingly, the upregulation of TGFβ1 due to genetic knockdown of Akt1 was associated with activation of signal transducer and activator of transcript 3 (STAT3) independently of the Smad pathway in NRK-49F and HK2 cells. Immunohistochemical staining also showed that expression of phosphorylated STAT3 was more increased in Akt1-/- mice than in wild type mice after UUO. Additionally, the deletion of Akt1 led to apoptosis of the renal tubular cells in both in vivo and in vitro studies. Conclusively, these results suggest that the deletion of Akt1 may contribute to renal fibrosis via induction of the TGFβ1/STAT3 pathway in a murine model of UUO.We are witnessing a tremendous outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) across the globe. Upon exposure to different population and changing environment, the viral strain might experience different mutational bias that leads to genetic diversity among the viral population. Also, the diversification can be influenced by distinct selection pressure on different viral genomes. We have carried out a comparative genomic analysis of 82 SARS-CoV2 genomes. We have evaluated their evolutionary divergence, substitution pattern, and rates. Viral genomes under distinct selection pressure have been identified. Sites that experience strong selection pressure also have been identified. Our result shows that the translational preference of a few codons is strongly correlated with the mutational bias imposed by genome compositional constraint and influenced by natural selection. Few genomes are evolving with a higher mutational rate with a distinct signature of nucleotide substitution in comparison to others. Four viral strains are under the effect of purifying selection, while nine SARS-CoV2 genomes are under strong positive selection bias. Site analysis indicates a strong positive selection pressure on two codon positions at 3606th and 8439th positions. Our study elucidates adaptation of few SARS-CoV2 viral strain during the outbreak shaping by natural selection and genomic compositional constraints.
Treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered one of the public health priorities in the past decade. So far, probiotics have represented promising results in controlling the signs and symptoms of NAFLD. However, attempts to find the ideal probiotic strain are still ongoing. The present study is designed to find the best strain amongst suitable probiotic strains according to their ability to ameliorate histopathological and oxidative stress biomarkers in hepatic steatosis-induced rats.

Initially, four probiotics species, including
(
)
,
,
, and
, were cultured and prepared as a lyophilized powder for animals. The experiment lasted for fifty days. Initially, hepatic steatosis was induced by excessive ingestion of D-fructose in rats for eight weeks, followed by eight weeks of administering probiotics and D-fructose concurrently. Forty-two six-week-old male rats were alienated to different groups and were supplemented with different probiotics (1∗10
 CFU in 500 mL drinking water).

The differential patterns uncovered from mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers suggest that most long-distance ant dispersal is male-biased and that females (and concomitantly the fungus) have more limited dispersal capabilities. Consequently, the limited female dispersal is likely an important bottleneck for the fungal symbiont. This bottleneck could slow fungal genetic diversification, which has significant implications for both ant hosts and fungal symbionts regarding population genetics, species distributions, adaptive responses to environmental change, and coevolutionary patterns.Climate change can affect biotic interactions, and the impacts of climate on biotic interactions may vary across climate gradients. Climate affects biotic interactions through multiple drivers, although few studies have investigated multiple climate drivers in experiments. We examined the effects of experimental watering, warming, and predator access on leaf water content and herbivory rates of woolly bear caterpillars (Arctia virginalis) on a native perennial plant, pacific silverweed (Argentina anserina ssp. pacifica), at two sites across a gradient of precipitation in coastal California. Based on theory, we predicted that watering should increase herbivory at the drier end of the gradient, predation should decrease herbivory, and watering and warming should have positive interacting effects on herbivory. Consistent with our predictions, we found that watering only increased herbivory under drier conditions. However, watering increased leaf water content at both wetter and drier sites. Warming increased herbivory irrespective of local climate and did not interact with watering. Predation did not affect herbivory rates. Given predictions that the study locales will become warmer and drier with climate change, our results suggest that the effects of future warming and drying on herbivory may counteract each other in drier regions of the range of Argentina anserina. Our findings suggest a useful role for range-limit theory and the stress-gradient hypothesis in predicting climate change effects on herbivory across stress gradients. Specifically, if climate change decreases stress, herbivory may increase, and vice versa for increasing stress. In addition, our work supports previous suggestions that multiple climate drivers are likely to have dampening effects on biotic interactions due to effects in different directions, though this is context-dependent.Animals monitor surrounding dangers independently or cooperatively (synchronized and coordinated vigilance), with independent and synchronized scanning being prevalent. Coordinated vigilance, including unique sentinel behavior, is rare in nature, since it is time-consuming and limited in terms of benefits. No evidence showed animals adopt alternative vigilance strategies during antipredation scanning yet. Considering the nonindependent nature of both synchronization and coordination, we assessed whether group members could keep alert synchronously or in a coordinated fashion under different circumstance. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/as1517499.html We studied how human behavior and species-specific variables impacted individual and collective vigilance of globally threatened black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) and explored behavior-based wildlife management. We tested both predation risk (number of juveniles in group) and human disturbance (level and distance) effects on individual and collective antipredation vigilance of black-necked crane familiessidered in future tourist management.We document white-nose syndrome (WNS), a lethal disease of bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), and hibernacula microclimate in New Brunswick, Canada. Our study area represents a more northern region than is common for hibernacula microclimate investigations, providing insight as to how WNS may impact bats at higher latitudes. To determine the impact of the March 2011 arrival of Pd in New Brunswick and the role of hibernacula microclimate on overwintering bat mortality, we surveyed bat numbers at hibernacula twice a year from 2009 to 2015. We also collected data from iButton temperature loggers deployed at all sites and data from HOBO temperature and humidity loggers at three sites. Bat species found in New Brunswick hibernacula include Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat) and M. septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat), with small numbers of Perimyotis subflavus (Tricolored Bat). All known hibernacula in the province were Pd-positive with WNS-positive bats by winter 2013. A 99% decrease in the overwintering bat population in New Brunswick was observed between 2011 and 2015. We did not observe P. subflavus during surveys 2013-2015 and the species appears to be extirpated from these sites. Bats did not appear to choose hibernacula based on winter temperatures, but dark zone (zone where no light penetrates) winter temperatures did not differ among our study sites. Winter dark zone temperatures were warmer and less variable than entrance or above ground temperatures. We observed visible Pd growth on hibernating bats in New Brunswick during early winter surveys (November), even though hibernacula temperatures were colder than optimum for in vitro Pd growth. This suggests that cold hibernacula temperatures encountered near the apparent northern range limit for Pd do not sufficiently slow fungal growth to prevent the onset of WNS and associated bat mortality over the winter.Heat waves cause mass mortality of animals, including humans, across the globe annually, which has drawn new attention to how animals cope with high air temperatures. Recent field research has explored behavioral responses to high air temperatures, which can influence reproductive success and mortality.Less well studied are the effects of high air temperatures on cognition, which may underlie behavioral changes. Specifically, it is poorly known if cognitive declines occur at high temperatures, and if cognitive and motor components of behavior are similarly affected.We tested how well zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), a model for cognition research, performed two learned foraging tasks (color association and detour-reaching) at mild (22°C) and high (43 and 44°C) air temperatures that occur naturally in their range. We habituated birds to the trial conditions and temperatures on days preceding the test trials and at the trial temperature for 30 min immediately prior to each test trial. Trials lasted less than 10 min.

The Immobiliser Ghost and Vehicle Tracker Reduce the Risk of Car Theft

Car theft is a constant problem with thieves constantly evolving their strategies. But, with additional security measures like an immobiliser ghost and a Thatcham approved vehicle tracker you can lessen the chance of your car being stolen.



A ghost immobiliser, like CAN Phantom or Autowatch Ghost prevents you from starting your car unless you activate a disarming procedure that you are aware of. This is made up of a number of buttons located on the steering wheel, door panels, and centre console.

Invisible

The Autowatch Ghost is the first aftermarket CAN-immobiliser in the world to be approved by TASSA for insurance purposes, is a perfect solution for cars with modern factory immobilisers. It is directly connected to the data network of your vehicle's and requires a PIN to begin the vehicle. This code is entered by pressing buttons on your dashboard or steering wheel. The code is entered by you as the owner, and no one else will know it - this can be changed at any time for additional security. This feature is beneficial when you have to take your car to a service center or valet parking. it prevents anyone other than the owner starting the car.

This cutting-edge technology can safeguard your pride and joy from theft, particularly in areas with high risk. It works by detecting any attempts to tamper or steal the vehicle, and then alerts you immediately via mobile phone. Additionally, it can be connected to an Thatcham Approved tracker to give you added peace of mind whenever your car is parked.

Its hidden nature makes it nearly impossible to spot even by professional thieves. It also does not emit any radio frequencies, so it isn't affected by signal cloning or jamming techniques. This makes it a fantastic alternative for those with luxury cars who want to preserve the design and performance of their vehicle while increasing security.

The Ghost immobiliser can also disable the starter motor of the vehicle. This is a great feature for luxury cars as it helps to prevent thieves from stealing your entire car. The system is easy to use and won't allow the engine to begin until the PIN code is entered.

The Ghost immobiliser can be installed without marking the body of the car, and it can be used with a wide range of vehicle makes and models. It is easy to install and is removable if you decide to sell your vehicle. It is also compatible with key fobs as well as remote start systems.

Simple to use

The Ghost Immobiliser is an anti-theft device that can be fitted to nearly every vehicle. It prevents the vehicle from starting unless a specific PIN code is entered. It connects to the CAN system (Controller Area Network) which is a network of electronic control unit inside the vehicle. It can intercept the signals from your key fob and prevent thieves from using their own methods to copy and hack to start your vehicle.

The owner of the vehicle assigns the PIN number, so only you know it. You can also change it if you wish to increase the security of the device. The device can be concealed in your vehicle and is weatherproof, making it almost impossible for thieves to locate.

The "relay attack" is among the most popular methods thieves are able to steal cars. They amplify the signal sent by the key fob and then interpret it by ECUs to unlock and start the car. The ghost immobiliser stops these attacks by connecting to the CAN data network, and preventing the car from starting when the incorrect PIN code is entered.

Our experts can install the Ghost immobiliser in your vehicle to protect you from thieves. Contrary to traditional alarms Ghost immobiliser does not rely on LED indicators or key fobs and operates silently to shield your vehicle from attack.

It can be easily installed without the need for wiring. The device is small and can be placed virtually anywhere inside of your car and makes it difficult for thieves to see it. It will not cause damage to your vehicle, nor does it interfere with the operation of your vehicle. It's also not a danger to your safety and won't void your warranty.

Contact us for a price for protection of your vehicle by installing Ghost's immobiliser. We have the expertise to install this advanced security system and make sure that it is completely secure from thieves.

No key fobs or LED indicators

Autowatch Ghost is a hidden car immobiliser that guards your joy and pride from key cloning, hacking, and ECU swapping. This system connects to the CAN data network of your vehicle and then programs it with a unique code sequence you select. This is then programmed into the vehicle's buttons, so that only you can use it. The device also uses your smartphone to communicate with it, so it can arm and disarm it remotely. It's even capable of sending you alerts in the event that your vehicle is stolen.

Installing the ghost CAN-immobiliser is simple and you don't require any additional keys or remotes. It's completely silent and connects to your vehicle's CAN system via the buttons that are already present on the steering wheel or dashboard, or on the door panels. This makes it inaccessible to diagnostic tools used by thieves. It also doesn't have any LED indicators to alert thieves.

Ghost is not just invisibly, but it also has several features that make Ghost more secure than any other immobiliser on the market. For one, it prevents OBD port hacking, which is the most advanced method used by professional thieves. OBD port hacking is a relatively new technique to steal vehicles, and it uses a laptop and mobile app to gain access to the vehicle's information. In addition to stopping OBD port hacking, Ghost can also stop cloning and signal relay attacks.

Another advantage of the Ghost immobiliser is that it's compatible with all electric cars, vans and motorhomes. https://finch-haynes.federatedjournals.com/11-faux-pas-that-are-actually-okay-to-create-with-your-how-to-install-ghost-immobiliser works with a variety of mobile apps that let you arm or disarm the device from anywhere. It also sends notifications if your vehicle is being stolen or has been relocated without permission.

Autowatch's Ghost 2 has been approved by insurance companies and is TASSA accredited. Its ability for it to function without the need for additional remotes or keys and be hidden inside your vehicle makes it among the most secure security systems for vehicles. It's also extremely versatile and can be set up to turn off the system in certain situations such as when you take your car for valet parking.

Can be removed if selling your car

There will be a point when you need to take out your Ghost Immobiliser, perhaps to maintain or upgrade the car. This can be done without the expense of replacements and with little damage. If you decide to take off the immobiliser, it is important to follow the correct procedure in order to avoid any problems. Also, ensure that all wires are securely joined and don't cause a short circuit.

The Ghost Immobiliser is the ultimate aftermarket security system for vehicles that provides peace of mind for responsible car owners. It safeguards vehicles from key hacking, signal cloning and traditional theft methods such as bumping and tow-away as well as aiding in the recovery of your vehicle by connecting to your vehicle's GPS tracker.

It works in a subtle manner using the buttons and wiring in your car. There are no LED indicators, therefore it is undetectable to thieves. Instead of using a keyfob, it creates a unique PIN sequence that has to be entered to start your engine. The unique code can be modified at any time by the owner, which will increase the likelihood of theft and add an additional layer of security to your vehicle.

In addition to its unique ability to prevent thieves from starting your car, the Ghost Immobiliser can also be used in conjunction with various other security devices and accessories to further enhance your vehicle's protection. This includes the hidden GPS tracking device, as well as an alarm that can be activated with the unique code set at the time of installation.

It is crucial to keep in mind that not all immobilisers are created equal. Certain immobilisers are more susceptible to specific types of attacks than others. This could be due to a variety of factors. For instance, certain criminals employ jamming devices to interfere with or alter the signals between your vehicle and its CAN Bus immobiliser. This is difficult to detect but diligence and vigilance, along with the latest anti-jamming technology, can mitigate the threat.

The Ghost Immobiliser is a reliable and efficient security device that has been independently tested by TASSA. It's compatible with a wide range of automobiles, such as motorhomes, vans, and cars. It can also protect your plants and bikes.

Micro-SWIFT SPRAY (MSS) is a 3D Lagrangian particle dispersion model that maintains a good balance between accuracy and computational cost. However, its capabilities for air dispersion modeling in the presence of both complex topography and high building densities have not been investigated for nuclear emergency response. In this study, MSS is systematically evaluated against two wind tunnel experiments that simulate a typical Chinese nuclear power plant with the above two features. The MSS predictions are compared with both 2D horizontal and vertical measurements. Sensitivity studies are performed with respect to the particle number, the lower bound of the turbulence intensity, and the horizontal and vertical grid size. The results demonstrate that ground-level predictions of both wind and radionuclide concentrations are in satisfactory agreement with the measurements under optimized parameter values. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/orforglipron-ly3502970.html The vertical predictions exhibit site-dependent accuracy, but generally consistent tendencies. The default lower bound of the turbulence intensity in MSS may be insufficient for reproducing the correct plume width observed in the wind tunnel experiments. An increased lower bound is suggested to solve this problem. In addition, artificially high concentrations may arise near steep slopes if large horizontal/vertical grid sizes are used. Suitable parameters for preventing this problem are also provided.
Bioceramic-containing root canal sealers are the most recently introduced sealers in endodontics. The present work reported experiments on a bioceramic-based root canal sealer with the objective of improving its physiochemical properties via reinforcement with each one of the three different nanomaterials multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTS), titanium carbide (TC) or boron nitride (BN) in two weight percentages (1wt% and 2wt%).

Each nanomaterial was added to a definite weight of BioRoot root canal sealer (BioRoot™ RCS, Septodont, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France). Three composite groups of each weight percentage were prepared for evaluation BioRoot/MWCNTS, BioRoot/TC and BioRoot/BN. The initial and final setting times, solubility, elution and pH values of the freshly-mixed and set samples were evaluated and compared to pristine BioRoot™ RCS. Setting times were evaluated using Gilmore needles. Solubility and elution were determined after immersion in water for 24h. Scanning electron microscopy was used to e may be developed by incorporation of nanomaterials.To identify the seasonal variability of body-size spectrum for monitoring surveys based on periphytic protozoa, a one-year baseline survey was carried out in a coastal region of Yellow Sea, northern China. A total of 240 glass slides were collected after immersion times of 3, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days in a four season cycle, i.e., winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Body-size ranks S2 and S5 dominated the periphytic protozoan communities from the initial stage (from day 3) to the next periods in spring and autumn, while body-size ranks S7, S8 and S4 showed high variety at the equilibrium stages (from day 10) in summer and winter. The expectation analysis revealed that the samples had different patterns of departure from the anticipated body-size spectrum in each season. This study shows that an ideal sampling approach needs to be established when protozoa is used as bioindicators of marine water quality.
COVID-19 presented an unprecedented challenge for healthcare workers and systems around the world. Healthcare systems have adapted differently in terms of pandemic planning of regular services, adopting infection control measures and prioritising essential hospital services in the context of a burgeoning COVID-19 patient load and inevitable surge.

We performed a review on current evidence and share our practices at a teaching hospital in Singapore.

We outline principles and make recommendations for continuity of delivering essential thoracic surgical services during this current outbreak.

The maintenance and provision of thoracic surgery services in this context requires good preplanning and vigilance to infection control measures across all levels.
The maintenance and provision of thoracic surgery services in this context requires good preplanning and vigilance to infection control measures across all levels.Symptomatic hyperviscosity is an oncologic emergency which is suspected when patients with certain hematogical malignancies present with neurological symptoms. Hyperviscosity syndrome is a rare clinical manifestation in multiple myeloma. We describe a case of a 61 year old lady who developed pulmonary infiltrates after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Treated as an infection with antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin, she had neurological symptoms which suggested the possibility of hyperviscosity syndrome. The patient received one session of plasma exchange with which her symptoms improved and chest infiltrates resolved (high output pulmonary edema). The case highlights a known but rare manifestation of multiple myeloma, which when diagnosed and treated quickly can have gratifying results.Riboflavin plus UV light pathogen reduction technology (RF-PRT) is an effective method for inactivating donor-derived leukocytes (DDLs) in blood components. Literature data have shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased in lymphocytes after RF-PRT treatment. Sustained high levels of ROS may abolish the endogenous antioxidant system, leading to damage to proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, resulting in cell apoptosis. Nevertheless, whether riboflavin plus UV light can trigger leukocyte apoptosis remains obscure. In this study, a pool-and-split design, ABO/D-matched lymphocytes treated with RF-PRT or UV light or left untreated. After treatment, the level of ROS and intracellular calcium were measured in samples. Changes in the protein expression of cleaved PARP, Bax, and Bcl-2 and the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were determined by immunoblot analysis or luminometer, respectively. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. The effect of ROS on apoptosis was assessed. The RF-PRT treatment significantly augmented ROS production, intracellular calcium concentration.