All Articles in november, 2022

Background: A large body of evidence suggests that child abuse and neglect by a caregiver is a recurrent event linked to increased psychopathology symptoms. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) is commonly used to assess abuse/neglect during childhood. However, even though the Minimization-Denial (MD) subscale was originally designed to assess response bias (i.e., underreporting of childhood maltreatment), it is possible that the scale may reflect coping strategies that play an effective role in the relationship between childhood trauma and their negative outcomes. Also, even though MD has been associated with decreased psychopathology symptoms, it is also strongly associated with other scales of the CTQ. Method: This study (n = 133) examined whether (1) the MD-scale is negatively associated with alexithymia, emotion dysregulation and psychopathology, if (2) these associations will hold when adjusting for different subtypes of abuse and neglect and (3) and the role of MD as a possible moderator in these relationships. Results: The analyses showed that, although MD scores have relatively strong and (mostly) significant (negative) associations with the CTQ, emotion dysregulation strategies and psychopathology symptoms, these associations were weak and failed to remain significant when adjusting for the effect of CTQ. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the MD scores should be viewed as an accurate reflection of the absence (or little) of exposure to childhood abuse/neglect. 

Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) pyramiding breeding combined with traditional breeding techniques has become an important method for molecular breeding in wheat. In recent years, with the continuous discovery of disease-resistance genes and the development of molecular markers associated with related genes in wheat, the research of MAS pyramiding disease-resistance genes has made great progress. The progress on the study of MAS pyramiding resistance genes in wheat powdery mildew, rust, and Fusarium head blight (Fhb) was reviewed. The aims of pyramiding breeding were discussed in order to promote the research on MAS pyramiding breeding in wheat.

The pandemic the new Coronavirus infection has brought changes in the health status of a large number of our citizens. The consequence of this has been a higher rate of employees seeking medical care and subsequent sick leave. Crisis phenomena in the economic and social life of society are associated with the consequences of the pandemic, moreover, the stress burden on the population increases with the consequences of the pandemic. All this affects the level of performance. The transferred COVID-19 has increased the number of patients with complaints of pain in joints and muscles, with the phenomena of cardiovascular pathology, as well as in breathing, increased frequency of asthma attacks, etc. That is, complications affected a wide range of diseases [1-4]. All this is the consequence, including neurological pathology, which is closely related to stress. According to surveys of several large industrial enterprises, 31.7% of those seeking medical help report anxiety, sleep problems, and a feeling of fatigue [5]. Exacerbation of chronic diseases was recorded in more than 50% of patients with COVID-19. The figures show that more than 1/3 of the population is chronically unwell, and more often than usual they apply for sick leave, which inevitably leads to a decrease in economic indicators [6-10].

The impact of culture on the communication of pain becomes visible in a comparative perspective when individuals with two different cultures meet.Regardless of the physiological cause, it is through lived experience, in social life, that it is decided how, where, when and for whom pain is to be communicated. Age and gender, situation and context as well as the type of pain are essential ingredients in communication. The communication is always adapted to expectations from those present, their own experiences of pain and the specific circumstances, the cause of the pain. The impact of culture on the communication of pain becomes visible in a comparative perspective when individuals with two different cultures meet.

Approximately 73.4% of global deaths are caused by chronic non-communicable diseases, among them, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, tumors, and chronic respiratory diseases ranked in the top 3 respectively [1]. An accumulating body of evidence showed that the risk of all-cause mortality in cancer patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) was 3.78 times higher than that of those without CVD and 8.8% of cancer survivors died of CVD [2]. Heart failure (HF) is a serious manifestation or terminal stage of various heart diseases. Although myocardial damage and dysfunction are the main causes of HF, the cardiovascular injury caused by the tumor itself and the detrimental effect of cancer treatment also play an important role. More recently, the data has suggested that up to 25% - 30% of patients with HF have histories of cancer for about 10 years; and cancer also determines the prognosis of heart HF [3]. 

Polyploidization is a process that generates genetic variability and therefore one of the engines of biological evolution. Since polyploidization produces important changes in the phenotype, mainly an increase in the size of the organs (i.e.: flowers and fruits), it is also a very important and powerful tool for plant improvement. Despite its intense use in breeding programs for various species, very little is known so far about the nature of this phenomenon. This work presents a brief review of the results obtained by the use of this tool in plant breeding and also raises some reflections on its mechanism of action.

Specific quantification of therapeutic tissue stem cells (TSCs) is a major challenge. We recently described a computational simulation method for accurate and specific counting of TSCs. The method quantifies TSCs based on their unique asymmetric cell kinetics, which is rate-limiting for TSCs’ production of transiently-amplifying lineage-committed cells and terminally arrested cells during serial cell culture. Because of this basis, the new method is called kinetic stem cell (KSC) counting. Here, we report further validations of the specificity and clinical utility of KSC counting. First, we demonstrate its quantification of the expected increase in the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) fraction of CD34+-selected preparations of human-mobilized peripheral blood cells, an approved treatment product routinely used for HSC transplantation therapies. Previously, we also used the KSC counting technology to define new mathematical algorithms with the potential for rapid determination of TSC-specific fractions without the need for serial culture. A second important HSC transplantation treatment, CD34+-selected umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells, was used to investigate this prediction. We show that, with an input of only simple population doubling time (PDT) data, the KSC counting-derived “Rabbit algorithms” can be used to rapidly determine the specific HSC fraction of CD34+-selected UCB cell preparations with a high degree of statistical confidence. The algorithms define the stem cell fraction half-life (SCFHL), a new parameter that projects stem cell numbers during expansion culture. These findings further validate KSC counting’s potential to meet the long-standing unmet need for a method to determine stem cell-specific dosage in stem cell medicine.

Background: Having claimed lives, HIV/AIDS is still a significant global public health concern. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is now widely available, and this rapid expansion of access is dramatically improving HIV epidemic survival rates worldwide.Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the mortality risk factors and survival status of ART patients attending Hawassa Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in 2020.Methods: In a five-year retrospective cohort research, all patients seen between January 2015 and December 2019 were analyzed. The data were analyzed with SPSS 25.0. The Kaplan-Meier Log-rank model was employed to gauge the survival time of ART patients based on explanatory variables. Both bivariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to identify the independent causes of mortality.Results: Patients on ART had a 74% overall survival probability. With a median survival of 34 months, there are 0.135 deaths for every 100 person-years. Hemoglobin level (HR = 2.38; 95% CI = 3.3-6.3), WHO clinical stage III and IV (HR = 3; 95% CI = 2.2-9.5, p = 0.04), Age >=60 (HR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.3-2, p = 0.04) and Functional status bed ridden (HR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.2-9.4,p = 0.04) were all independent predictors of death among RVI patients.Conclusion: In comparison to trials conducted in wealthy countries, the survival rate of ART patients in this study was low. Patients who are anemic; WHO advanced clinical stage; old age, and functional status bedridden should be closely followed and monitored.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM) is characterized by an adenomatoid proliferation of bronchiole-like structures and cysts formation. The condition is most commonly found in newborns and children and may be associated with other malformations; rarely, the presentation is delayed until adulthood. We herein report two cases of CCAM in adult patients. 22 years old healthy female with pre-employment health screening chest x-Ray showed a lesion in the upper lobe of the right lung. In another case, a computed tomographic scan of the thorax (CT) confirmed a mass in the upper right lung. A 28-year-old male presented with recurrent respiratory tract infection resistant to antimicrobial therapy. CT scan of the thorax showed a mass in the left lung upper zone. Surgical resection was performed in both cases, and histopathology of the resected specimen showed both cases were consistent with the CCAM.

Background: Elite handball female players are at high risk of injury to the lower limbs. The modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) is efficient in detecting players with a risk of injury. However, performed once before the season, the mSEBT cannot determine with precision when the injury will occur. Purpose: The objective of the study was to investigate if a repeated measure of mSEBT across the season would help in identifying with precision the period at risk of injury for each player.Methods: Eleven elite female handball players took part in the study. The mSEBT was measured weekly for 25 weeks and the injuries were recorded. Composite Scores (CS) and distances on each axis were computed for both legs of each player. The 94% cut-off on the composite score and the 4 cm difference between the right and left leg on the anteroposterior axis (ANT) was investigated for each player.Results: Five players reported injury. The 94% cut-off on the CS and the 4 cm difference on ANT were not significant indicators of risk of injury in our study. However, for each injured player, a drop in the composite score was noticed the week before the injury.Conclusion: We propose the drop of CS as an indicator for the detection of the risk of injury in a follow-up of elite athletes using repeated mSEBT. This indicator allows the detection of injury a week before it occurs. Further work is needed to confirm, investigate and validate this indicator.

Pulmonary edema is a rare but potentially life-threatening iatrogenic complication after treatment through therapeutic thoracentesis of a collapsed lung due to a hydro- or pneumo-thorax. 

Invagination or intussusception is the protrusion of proximal intestinal segments through the distal segments, Transient Intussusception can be easily diagnosed by Abdominal CT.In this report, an incidentally found ‘’Duodeno-jejunal Invagination’’ tilted case, was presented with CT images.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is a notoriously underdiagnosed cause of severe pulmonary hypertension. It is a form of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) that results from intraluminal thrombus organization and fibrous formation which ultimately results in the complete obliteration of pulmonary arteries, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular resistance which leads to the development of pulmonary hypertension and as a result right heart failure. The mechanism involves the narrowing of the pulmonary artery which increases blood pressure within the lungs and impairs blood flow which increases the workload of the right side of the heart ultimately causing right heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension can also cause arrhythmias, blood clots, and bleeding in the lungs. Even though CTEPH is a deadly condition, among all forms of pulmonary hypertension, CTEPH is the only curable form. Echocardiography is the initial assessment tool for suspected PH. A right heart catheterization may be performed to confirm the presence of pulmonary hypertension. Confirmation of CTEPH requires a V/Q scan. Although ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy has a major role in the evaluation of patients with suspected CTEPH, nowadays CTA chest is being used widely as it produces much better-quality images compared to V/Q scan. Without treatment, the prognosis is very poor. Out of three treatment modalities such as; pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery, balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), and medical therapy, surgery is the gold standard. The physician must be familiar with the disease entity, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment to improve survival. Here we present a literature review on this topic.

Malignancy of the small bowel is exceedingly rare, accounting for 3% - 5% of all gastrointestinal malignancies [1-3]. However, in recent years because of improved diagnostic accuracy, the incidence of small bowel cancer is rising. It is estimated that 10, 470 new cases of primary SI cancer will be diagnosed in the US with 1450 cancer-related deaths [4]. The most frequent histologic types of small bowel malignant tumors include adenocarcinomas, carcinoids, lymphomas, and sarcomas. Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine is the second most common histologic type of SI cancer. The most frequent location of SI adenocarcinoma is the duodenum (57%), followed by the jejunum (29%) and ileum (13%) [5]. SI cancers are more common in men than women [6]. They occur more commonly in the African-American population and after 60 years of age [7].

Natural products are becoming increasingly important as an unlimited source for obtaining chemical substances with possible pharmacological potential. Current existing drugs for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniosis produce major side effects; therefore the search for new drugs is justified. The stem bark of Zanthoxylum chiloperone var. Angustifolium Engl. (Rutaceae) is traditionally used in Paraguay for its antiparasitic properties. The leaf extract was evaluated for the first time to determine its leishmanicidal activity in BALB/c mice infected with amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (PH8). The mice were treated orally with the extract at three concentrations (100, 50 and 10 mg/mL), intralesional (50 mg/mL), and subcutaneously using glucantime as a control (100 mg/mL). The percentage of decrease in parasite load was measured and with intralesional 50 mg/kg a reduction of 72% occurred, with the reference drug (Glucantime) a reduction of 62% was obtained with the same oral dose a reduction of 50%, while with an oral dose of 10 mg/mL the percentage of reduction was 55%. When the oral dose was increased to 100 mg/mL, the reduction percentage of the parasitic load was only 16%. These results indicated that the leaf extract of Z. chiloperone var. angustifolium Engl. at low oral concentrations (50 and 10 mg/mL) had very good activity against L. amazonensis, and it was even more efficacious intralesionally at 50 mg/mL but at the oral dose of 100 mg/kg has very reduced antiparasitic activity. This study showed the efficacy of the extract leaves of Z. chiloperone in reducing the parasite load in an in vivo test, so its use as a potential leishmanicidal could be suggested to develop and evaluate new drugs for the oral treatment of leishmaniosis disease with fewer side effects and lower cost.

Determining the extent of immunity induced by booster doses of COVID-19 vaccinations is crucial for informing recommendations for booster dose regimens as well as constant adjustments of immunization strategies amongst different groups of people within the population. The study involved 31 healthy volunteers (majority were healthcare professionals) who completed either vaccination course with Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines and received a third dose of the vaccine. Here we report results on the evaluation of an antibody response to four different SARS-CoV-2 antigens: RBD, S1, S2 and nucleocapsid prior to third dose and two and four weeks after a booster vaccination. We detected a peak of high titers of antibodies after the third dose with a gradual decline after four weeks. No significant differences were seen between the two vaccines in terms of antibody response. There were no gender discrepancies between the two vaccines. Our results suggest that: third doses are necessary due to the emergence of different SARS-CoV-2 variants and postvaccination antibody testing continues be essential in determining possible standardization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines regimens.

The study aimed to examine the chemical composition of Acacia melanoxylon wood as a potential raw material for pulp and paper manufacturing. Samples of Acacia melanoxylon were taken systematically based on tree height at the bottom (10%), middle (50%), and top (90%) of market height. The sample was sorted, dried, milled, and sieved, and all chemical compositions were determined by the standards outlined in ASTM except cellulose and hemicellulose, which were determined by the Kurschner-Hoffer and alkali extraction methods, respectively. The results of the study showed that the overall average values of chemical composition along tree height levels were 45.02%, 21.94%, 23.79%, 5.52%, 3.24% and 0.48% for cellulose, hemicellulose, Klason lignin, hot-water solubility, alcohol-benzene extracts, and ash content, respectively. Except for hot-water extractives, the chemical composition of the bottom and top portions differed significantly. Generally, this study suggests that the chemical composition of Acacia melanoxylon wood is well suited for pulp and paper production.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a rare, slow, and insidious neurodegenerative disease caused by measles. This disease mostly has a classic course. However, sometimes it can be presented with atypical manifestations. In this paper, we aim to present a six years old male patient that was hospitalized due to seizures and ataxia. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging was normal on the first day of admission, but within a few days, the patient started to be apathetic. On the seventh day, magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintense lesions in the thalamic, brainstem, and periventricular areas. Periodic epileptiform discharges were detected in the repeated electroencephalogram. Investigations from the cerebrospinal fluid showed markedly elevated measles virus IgG at 230U/ml consistent with the diagnosis of SSPE which should always be ruled out when a patient comes in with uncontrollable seizures, ataxia and apathy.

Background: One of the types of the complex control system is medico-biological, which includes a set of methods and measures aimed at assessing the health, and functional state of the athlete’s body, taking into account the reaction of his systems to various loads. CrossFit is a constantly varied and high-intensity functional training program in which with increasing the training load, the pulse rate increases.The context and purpose of the study: The research was aimed to find out the frequency of heart rate of adolescent judokas in the presence of CrossFit-trainings in the process of physical fitness, for which a pedagogical scientific experiment was held at the youth sports and cultural training center after V. Zakaryan (Hrazdan city). From the groups of 10-12-year-olds practicing judo at the sports school, one experimental and control group was formed, each with 10 athletes. During CrossFit-trainings “Tabata”, “AMRAP”, “21-15-9” and “WOD” methods were mainly used. Athletes’ pulse rate was measured manually at the wrist before training, during training, and immediately after training in order to control the athletes’ feelings toward the training load.Results: In the September-June period, with the implementation of the CrossFit-training program, the heart rate of athletes before training was on average 102,2 bpm, during training 158,3 bpm and immediately after training – 157,8 bpm.Conclusion: The indicators obtained as a result of the research correspond to the norms suggested in literature sources.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines anemia as a global public health problem. It is a medical condition in which the number of red blood cells or the hemoglobin concentration within them is below the physiological range. We present a case of a 40-year-old woman with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) accompanied by malaise, weakness, and tachycardia. The patient reported heavy menstrual bleeding for the past 14 days. Speculum examination revealed that the bleeding was from the uterus. There were no pathological findings during a gynecological and transvaginal ultrasound examination. A complete blood count performed at the time of her arrival showed a low hemoglobin level of 24 g/L, a low hematocrit level of 7,4%, a mean corpuscular volume of 98,7 fL and a number of red blood cells 0,75 x 1012/L. Due to the severity of the anemia, she was given 6 units of red blood cell transfusion, 2 fresh frozen plasmas and tranexamic acid accompanied with calcium carbonate. The curettage was performed. The pathohistological finding was endometrium in proliferation. Afterward, the hemoglobin level increased to 90 g/L. Their past medical history revealed that she abused alcohol. On an abdominal CT scan, Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (ARLD) was confirmed. We should keep in mind that coagulopathy could be the underlying cause of abnormal uterine bleeding and that anemia must be analyzed for successful treatment. A multidisciplinary approach to anemia caused by AUB is required in cases of severe anemia.

Background: Stroke is the most common cause of permanent disability and the third most common cause of death in Palestine. We aimed to examine patterns of stroke presentation, causes, management and outcomes at the largest public Mistry of health hospitals in Palestine.Methods: Comprehensive data from all patients with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to al-Shifa hospital between November 2021 and July 2022 and treated with alteplase alone or endovascular intervention with or without alteplase were prospectively collected and compare with acute ischemic stroke patients who were treated with medical care alone at Palestine medical complex hospital at 2018. Acute ischemic stroke presentation patterns, in-hospital evaluation and management, mortality, and morbidity were evaluated. Results: Medical care alone group: 138 patients with acute ischemic stroke, mean age was 65 ± 14 years and 49% were women. Most of the patients received antiplatelet therapy (98%), although none received thrombolysis. Only 17% received physical therapy evaluation. In-hospital mortality was 13%, and a modified ranking score of 0 -2 was in 44 patients (32%). Endovascular intervention with/without alteplase group: 56 patients with acute ischemic stroke. The mean age was 61 ± 12 years and 41% were women. All patients received brain computed tomography scans, although few received other investigations such as carotid Doppler (13%). Most patients with ischemic stroke received antiplatelet therapy (99%), although 39 patients (70%) received thrombolysis. Only 61% received physical therapy evaluation. In-hospital mortality was 7%. The modified ranking score 0 - 2: 32 patients (57%).Conclusion: This study conducted in Palestine showed that among patients with acute ischemic stroke, functional outcomes according to modified ranking score 0 - 2 were better by endovascular therapy with/without alteplase than with medical care alone.

The utilization of the Internet and wireless communication reaches its pinnacle from one side of the planet to the other. Marking the rise of criminal activity in recent years sees enormous growth in security breaches and data theft-related cases in mobile phones. To mitigate them, the implementation of security patches, safety fixes, and updates in mobile devices is of high priority for the organization. The need to foster techniques and procedures in the field to be able to extract and precisely dissect digital crime cases, providing valuable tactical data about the investigation. Mobile forensics is a developing branch assisting the investigator in criminal trials and investigations. Acquisition, Collection, and Analysis of mobile phones settle the purpose of recovering cumulative and corroborative evidence. Upgradation and innovation of mobile devices with time imposed a challenge to mobile forensic technology to extract information from such devices. The study aims at extracting comparative and statistical approaches in the analysis of Physical data acquisition utilizing significant versatile mobile criminological proprietary tools. The proposed study also introduces newly developed utility tools along with their characteristic features which help in successful data extraction from mobile devices.

Infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing bacteria in particular Klebsiella Pneumoniae (KPE+), are on a constant rise and are a noted cause of outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). In the NICU of Policlinico di Foggia, an outbreak of infections in 2018 brought to the start of a serial check of presence and favorable conditions associated with KPE+ diffusion. The outbreak was controlled by improving basic hygiene measures such as hand washing, the use of disposable gloves and gowns, and removing a potential environmental contamination source such as the water bottle warmer.

Aim and objective:1.    To study the manifestations of fungal corneal ulcer in different age groups and sex 2.    To study the distribution of fungal corneal ulcer in relation to occupation3.    To know the effect of Natamycin and Fluconazole as anti-fungal agents.Materials and methods: This is a retrospective analysis of microbiology records of patients presenting with suspected microbial keratitis seen between January 2021 and June 2021. Patients with positive fungal cultures were analyzed in detail for the type of fungus isolated.Results: 90 patients with suspected microbial keratitis were reviewed. A microbiological diagnosis of mycotic keratitis was established 9 (10%) patients over a period of 6 months, based on positive fungal cultures. Filamentous fungi were isolated more often than yeasts. Aspergillus species followed by Fusarium species were the commonest filamentous fungi isolated. Conclusion: Over a period of 6 months, the cumulative incidence of mycotic keratitis was 10%. The pathogenic organisms most frequently responsible for mycotic keratitis were Aspergillus species. When beginning an empirical therapy for mycotic keratitis, etiological factors were helpful. Eight of the 90 patients with corneal ulcers who were admitted to the patient department for treatment had positive fungal cultures in Sabouraud’s media. The age range of 50 to 60 years had a high prevalence of illness. There were 90 total cases of corneal ulcers. Out of those there were 8 (8.8%) incidences of fungal ulcers. More men than women were impacted. Workers in agriculture are more impacted than others. The main cause of a fungus-induced corneal ulcer was trauma.Natamycin was the better option for the treatment of fungal keratitis. Filamentous fungi (Aspergillus species, fusarium, and curvularia) responded effectively to Natamycin 5% eyedrop.

Trying to understand the causes of climate change can be confusing. On the one hand, methane (CH4) emissions from cattle, and methane emissions from food wastes in landfills, are said to contribute to greenhouse gases (GHGs) that drive climate change.  People are working on feed additives for dairy cows to reduce their methane emissions. But, at the same time, cattle manure and food wastes can be fed into anaerobic digesters to convert these organic wastes to biogas; the resulting “renewable methane” or “renewable natural gas” (RNG), can be used in place of fossil natural gas and avoid extra GHG emissions and stop global warming. Can we have it both ways?  Burning gasoline in our cars and trucks generates carbon dioxide (CO2), which is said to contribute to climate change. But more than 8 billion people on planet Earth, breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide every minute of the day. And so do all the other animals who live on this planet, breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Is our breathing also contributing to climate change, just as the emissions from our automobile tailpipes?It is time to step back from all the hype, evaluate the various sources of CO2 and CH4 being generated and review the “mass balance” of these gases in our atmosphere. Some of these are part of the natural biogenic carbon cycle and some are simply adding to the overall mass balance. What is driving climate change - excess GHGs from the biogenic carbon cycle, excess emissions from other sources, or both? Let’s take a fresh look at the available data.  (Of course, water vapor also plays a part in the climate change story, as a “positive feedback” effect. As non-condensable GHGs rise in concentration and slightly warm the planet, slightly warming oceans add a bit more water vapor to the story and push the warming up a bit more).  During the past few decades, a great deal of pertinent data has been carefully observed and recorded, by world-class scientists and engineers. This data is available in the public domain and is now easily available on the internet. These data sources come from reputable organizations, such as NASA (National Atmospheric and Space Administration), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), USGS (United States Geological Survey) and international organizations such as the “Global Carbon Project” and “Our-World-in-Data”.  How much of the growing concentration of CO2 (and CH4) in our atmosphere can be attributed to out-of-control emissions of biogenic carbon? How much of the CO2 rise can be attributed to fossil fuel emissions: 10%, 50%, 90%, or more?  The available data appear to show that the emissions from burning fossil fuels, more than account for all of the rise of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere during the past 60 years, or longer.  In comparison, the biogenic carbon cycle data seem to be very consistent, year after year, decade after decade and have little or no impact on climate change. But, let’s have a closer look at the available data, and let the data speak for itself.

Cotton crop is infested with different kinds of insects in the production cycle. Jassids, thrips, aphids and whiteflies are among the sucking pests, and bollworms (American and spotted) and Spodoptera caterpillars attack leaves and bolls. Bollworms can cause up to 40% - 50% crop losses in severe incidences.

Purpose: The extrusion of implant material is a rare complication but has been reported in several cases following anterior cervical spine surgery. A posterior spontaneous percutaneous rod extrusion after rigid occipitocervical (OC) instrumentation (screw and rod construct) has not been reported yet. The authors discuss potential complications after cervical spine surgery and its clinical management.Methods: This is a case report of a 56-year-old patient after posterior OC spine surgery with initially unobserved implant failure and posterior percutaneous rod extrusion. The implant failure with a missing rod has been documented 4 years later during a routine follow-up visit.Results: At the four-year follow-up, the asymptomatic patient presented with a stable occipitocervical junction and an improved range of motion after generalized sepsis with an epidural spinal abscess, decompression and posterior OC instrumentation. A computed tomography scan of the implant failure of a broken rod was noticed two years postoperatively. The patient failed to return to the clinic. For years postoperatively he returned to the clinic and the broken rod could not be detectable in-situ on the X-rays anymore. Conclusion: The posterior percutaneous rod extrusion following an OC instrumentation not noticed by the patient, is a very rare complication that has not been described in the literature yet. Once seen back in the clinic, the patient unexpectedly reported an improved ROM without neck pain. Usually, revision surgery or implant removal is recommended if an implant failure is documented.

Indole acetic acid (AIA) is the most important plant growth hormone since it intervenes in the mechanisms of cell growth and differentiation and is produced mostly in the meristematic zones of the plant for apical dominance or root growth. AIA is also produced in root nodules and plant galls. In the latter cases, its presence is associated with endophytic bacteria. Although it is a plant growth hormone, it is also produced by bacteria such as Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium japonicum. These species live in the soil (rhizosphere) or can colonize the roots (endophytic) of their hosts. From these bacteria, there are also isolates that are nitrogen fixers, which in addition to providing growth factors to plants, contribute by releasing nitrogenous molecules that improve plant nutrition.

The impact of vitamin D on the musculoskeletal system is well known. The diverse role of vitamin D is well supported by the functionality of vitamin D receptors and vitamin D activating enzymes (hydroxylase) present in tissues and cells. Hypovitaminosis D causes rickets, osteomalacia, hyperparathyroidism, and an increased risk of bone fracture. Vitamin D has immune-stimulatory effects on both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Vitamin D induces antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin and defensin that can inhibit viral replication of pro-inflammatory cytokines that regulate inflammatory encasement. Moreover, several studies on vitamin D have shown its interdictory role in the immune and respiratory systems. This global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic condition has increased the risk of acute respiratory tract infection by immune dysregulation along with cytokine storm, which further progress into acute respiratory distress syndrome. Vitamin D has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties which are effective against respiratory viral infections. Vitamin D supplementation has shown a compatible effect on viral infection. This review article discusses the role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of respiratory infections including the severity of COVID-19 infections. This review focuses on the therapeutic role of vitamin D to improve clinical outcome during COVID-19 infection and suggest its possible role in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections.

Dynamic Knee Valgus (DKV) is correlated with both, Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and hip and ankle disorders in female athletes and has a more significant prevalence compared with male athletes because of numerous factors. The aim of this study is to determine if the connexion between DKV, landing errors, and non-contact ACL injury and re-injury in high-performance, adult, female team sport athletes can be eliminated by changing the frontal plane movement pattern and the landing errors during the rehabilitation process (RHB), a process which was focussed on dynamic knee stability with multidimensional single-leg jump landing training, on 3D knee balance improvement and multistimulus perturbation challenges and tasks,+ eccentric & concentric exercise, strength & conditioning, aerobic training that lasted from 26 - 44 weeks.Assessing and eliminating-reducing DKV during the RHB is mandatory in lowering the re-rupture rates in female professional athletes after ACL surgery and in preventing opposite knee trauma.

Background: Public health policies in the area of food and diets tend to separate recommendations on food safety and nutrition. However, food products can simultaneously have risks and benefits. Risk-benefit assessment (RBA) seeks to integrate the assessment of both risks and benefits to aid complex decision-making using a multidisciplinary approach. In this study, a systematic literature review of recent RBA studies was performed, focusing on food consumption and human health following earlier reviews by Boué, et al. (2015) and Thomsen, et al. (2021). Results: A total of 50 new RBA studies were reviewed since 20 May 2014. Our current literature review shows that the majority of RBA studies conducted in recent years remain focused on seafood, with studies on fish alone comprising 34% of all studies; the focus being on the benefits of fish consumption versus contaminant exposure. Most of the studies have been conducted in Europe (n = 31) and Asia (n = 11). Conclusion: RBA has the potential to be applied more widely to other food choices such as alternative proteins, yet application remains limited to specific applications and contaminant/nutrient case studies. In recent years, a few RBA studies have been reported on less mainstream food sources and one specifically on novel foods. Novel foods offer a unique application space for RBA as their development is focused heavily on the benefits to the consumer, society, and environment, yet there remains uncertainty as to their safety. 

Objective: To evaluate the effects on quality of life and body composition of a Ketogenic Diet (KD) in a woman with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Methods: Physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health conditions were evaluated with the SF-36 questionnaire; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to determine body composition; parameters were determined at baseline and after 12 weeks of KD.Results: At baseline PCS and MCS were 20.6 and 20.7 respectively with 37.9% fat mass. After 12 weeks SF-36 values significantly improved: PCS 55 and MCS 66.1 with 33.9% fat mass. Conclusion: KD improved the patient’s quality of life and decreased fat mass. Further studies will be needed to better elucidate the beneficial effects of KD among people with CMT.

Background: One of the common causes of chronic allograft nephropathy is nonadherence to medications, contributing to 30% of graft loss in the developed world. The non-adherence is attributed predominantly to pill burden.Once-daily dosing of tacrolimus instead of conventional twice-daily dosing may enhance adherence to medication and improve long-term outcomes. The present study is a retrospective analysis comparing the safety and effectiveness of De Novo (use from day 1) once daily (OD) Tacrolimus (extended-release capsules) to conventional twice-a-day (BD) tacrolimus, in renal transplant recipients operated at Suguna Hospital Bangalore India. Material and Methods: Records of 24 Transplant patients on De novo OD Tacrolimus were analyzed and compared retrospectively to 24 transplant patients treated De Novo with conventional BD tacrolimus on a regular follow-up for at least 2 yrs. post-transplant at our center. Results: Various parameters recorded till the last follow-up were analyzed and compared. The average weight of the cohort (64.6 kg vs. 66.6 kg), average tacrolimus dose (2.7 mg vs. 2.15 mg), average Tac dose/kg body weight (0.04 mg vs. 0.03 mg), average Sr.Creatinine, at Last, Follow up (1.2 mg/dl vs. 1.32 mg/dl) were comparable in both groups and were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). However, there was a higher incidence of Post-Transplant Diabetes Mellitus (PTDM) noted in the Conventional BD Tacrolimus group (20.83%) compared to the OD Tacrolimus group (4.1%) and it was statistically significant (p = 0.17). The Infection rate of 41.67% in the conventional BD Tacrolimus group was much higher compared to the OD Tacrolimus group (4.17%) which was statistically significant (p = 0.01). There was 100% patient and graft survival at the end of two years in both groups. Tacrolimus Dose for OD and Conventional BD dosing were similar, unlike earlier studies recommending a 10% increase in dose for OD tacrolimus compared to BD dosing.Conclusion: OD Tacrolimus dose is comparable to conventional BD dose Tacrolimus in its safety and Efficacy; however, it scores over conventional BD dose Tacrolimus in terms of post-transplant infections and post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) and a more stable serum trough level. 

The post-harvest health and microbial safety of plant products and foods continue to be a global concern to farmers, consumers, regulatory agencies and food industries. A study was carried out to evaluate the pathogenicity of fungi associated with post-harvest rot of oranges, watermelons and bananas in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Healthy fruits inoculated with fungal spores obtained from rotted fruit tissues were incubated at ambient temperature conditions and observed daily for the appearance and development of tissue rot. Oranges and Watermelons had the highest number of fungal isolates (3) compared to banana (2). Fungi belonging to the genus Curvularia were the most isolated (37.50%), followed by both Aspergillus and Colletotrichum (25.00% respectively) and lastly Alternaria (12.50%). The highest tissue rot diameter of sweet orange (2.40 cm) was induced by Alternaria sp. followed by Curvularia geniculate (1.40 cm) and lastly Colletotrichum sp. (1.28 cm). The highest rot of banana fruit tissues was produced by A. niger (3.90 cm), followed by Curvularia geniculate (3.40 cm). Aspergillus sp. produced the highest tissue rot diameter on watermelon fruits (1.93 cm), followed by Colletotrichum sp. (1.30 cm) and lastly Curvularia geniculate (1.20 cm). Differences in the susceptibilities of different fruits to rot by fungal pathogens were significant (p ≤ 0.05). There is need for improved handling of fruits after harvest to prevent losses due to bacterial and fungal rots in the study area.

Many advances have been made in recent years in the development of hearing and cochlear implants. These use acoustic and electrical stimulation technologies to improve speech intelligibility for the hearing impaired. However, for cochlear prostheses, the results are not very promising and vary from one patient to another. Certain technical and sometimes physiological problems have limited the expected performances of these devices, especially for children and the elderly. These problems include cochlear malformation and ossification of the auditory channels. This led us to reduce the number of electrodes in order to allow quality deep insertion while preserving the low-frequency acoustic bands of the operated patient.

Neurological disorders are a significant cause of mortality and disability across the world. The current aging population and population expansion have seen an increase in the prevalence of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. These pose a significant societal burden, especially in low - and middle-income countries. Many neurological disorders have complex mechanisms and lack definitive cures; thus, improving our understanding of them is essential. The pathophysiology of neurological disorders often includes inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress processes, especially the generation of reactive oxygen species, are key mechanisms in the development of neurological disorders. Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants that can counteract them. Through their impacts on the pathophysiology of neurological disorders, nutrients with anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and antioxidative properties have been suggested to prevent or mitigate these disorders. Certain vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and flavonoids may have therapeutic effects as adjuvant treatments for neurological disorders. Diet quality is also a risk factor for some neurological and psychiatric disorders and addressing nutritional deficiencies may alleviate symptoms. Therefore, optimizing nutritional intake may represent a potential treatment or prevention strategy. This review summarizes a selection of promising nutrients for the prevention and amelioration of neurological disorders to provide a summary for scientists, clinicians and patients, which may improve understanding of the potential benefits of nutrients in the treatment of neurological disorders.

A 37-year-old woman suffered from a painful and swelling lesion of the base of the tongue, with no history of smoking or medical history of tumours.

Spine degenerative surgeries are very common but carry multiple complications such as dural tears, CSF leak, pseudomeningocele and very rarely meningitis. Here we report such a case and discuss the possible causes, management and review of the literature.It’s a case of a 68-year-old man who underwent a posterior laminectomy that was complicated by a CSF leak and pseudomeningocele. Twelve days later the patient developed a severe bifrontal headache and then altered sensorium. CSF studies revealed severe meningitis with Pseudomonas stutzeri. It was multi-sensitive and after initiation of gram-negative coverage the patient markedly improved. However, the meningitis was further complicated by cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and he was also started on anticoagulation.Conclusion: Pseudomonas stutzeri has rarely been reported as a cause of meningitis and has never been reported post-laminectomy. Meningitis symptoms and signs could be obscured by the use of steroids in the postoperative period. Hence, it is of paramount importance to look for any subtle signs of infection in the postoperative period and question the use of high-dose steroids that could easily mask them.

Light is an important regulator of plant morphogenesis and plant-pathogen interactions via specific photoreceptors and signaling pathways. Besides visible light, other electromagnetic radiations may play roles, notably ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV part of the electromagnetic spectrum includes UV-A (315 nm - 400 nm), UV-B (280 nm - 315 nm) and UV-C radiations (200 nm -280 nm). UV-B and UV-C have been reported to increase plant resistance to plant pathogens after the UV perception and signaling stages. The perception of UV-B radiation is achieved by the dimer protein UVR8 (UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8). Even though the action spectrum of this photoreceptor overlaps in the UV-C domain, it has never been formally demonstrated that UVR8 could also act as a photoreceptor of UV-C light. We provide here original observations showing that UVR8 can indeed perceive UV-C light provided that the latter is in the form of flashes (1s) and not continuous illuminations (the 60s). Our observations also show that the response of UVR8 to flashes of UV-C light is dose-dependent. They could explain why flashes of UV-C light are more effective for stimulating plant defenses than continuous illuminations for the same amount of energy delivered to plants (J/m2). Eventually, our observations support ongoing trials that aim at using UV-C light as an environmental-friendly plant resistance inducer in field conditions.

Introduction: In recent years the increased utilization of imaging modalities has led to an accelerated diagnosis of renal masses. Initial diagnoses and staging are commonly done with the abdominal Computed Tomography (CT). This study evaluates the various aspects to consider when utilizing CT scan for the diagnosis of renal masses.Discussion: CT scan is the most important imaging modality to evaluate renal neoplasms. Postcontrast acquisitions can be tailored according to the indication for the study. This alongside various techniques, imaging modalities and classification systems may help differentiate the malignant Renal Cell Carcinoma, from benign or metastatic lesions, lymphomas or renal pseudotumor. Finally CT can also be utilized alongside other tools for staging the tumor. Conclusion: Certain CT imaging features are pertinent to evaluate the malignancy potential of renal lesions. However the CT alone may be inconclusive in diagnosing the majority of renal neoplasms, excluding AML with macroscopic fat. Hence it is recommended that the CT aid additional imaging modalities and tools to reach an accurate diagnosis.

The COVID-19 pandemic appeared in late 2019 and became a major health concern with rapid transmission and very high mortality rates across the globe. Although precautionary, preventive, protective and therapeutic measures have been adopted against COVID-19, still the disease has drastically affected people. In order to overcome the challenges of the pandemic, the understanding of the route of transmission, its fusion with receptors and invasion into the human body and hacking the immune system, the viral genome was sequenced. The viral genome keeps on mutating and altering its original form into its subtypes. Moreover, age and comorbid conditions had their impact on developing the disease differing from individual to individual due to interaction varying between the host genome and virus. Considering the pathogenesis of the virus, neutralizing antibodies reduced the viral impact and severity. This review is focused on highlighting the COVID-19 genome, host genetic factors, the pathogenesis of the disease and available therapeutic measures to overcome the pandemic.

Indigenous food processing and preservation methods are on the verge of collapse, yet they proved promising and sustainable. The study assessed the indigenous methods of shea butter processing among rural women in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, examined the shea butter processing techniques used and identified the information sources of shea butter processors in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 100 respondents. Descriptive (such as frequency count, percentage, charts and tables) and inferential statistics (such as Pearson correlation and chi-square) were used to analyze the data. Findings showed the mean age of respondents was 45.61 ± 11.82, with mean years of experience of 20.39 ± 12.96, the majority (85%) were married and the major sources of information on indigenous shea butter processing came from family members and friends. At p ≤ 0.01 there was a significant association between respondents’ usage of indigenous methods and their marital status (ᵡ2 = 84.24; p ≤ 0.01), membership in cooperative society (ᵡ2 = 40.43; p ≤ 0.01), and community membership (ᵡ2 = 53.21; p ≤ 0.01). However, there was a significant relationship between respondents’ usage of indigenous methods and household size (b = 0.290; p ≤ 0.05), quantity produced (b = 0.616; p ≤ 0.10) and annual income (b = -0.765; p ≤ 0.05). It was concluded that indigenous methods of processing shea butter are widespread among respondents; knowledge is acquired through family and friends. Among others, the study recommends that extension agents be posted to rural areas to educate rural women and build on their indigenous knowledge of processing shea butter to introduce high-quality butter.

Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal parasitic infection caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis. It is endemic in rural tropical and subtropical areas with a prevalence of 100 million people worldwide [1]. In Spain, we find endemic areas at several points on the Mediterranean coast [2].

In line with what is defined by W.H.O. (World Health Organization) the objective of the work is to observe and define the interconnection between a healthy lifestyle and the quality of life perceived by people.For this purpose, 30 healthy subjects, who had never practiced sports at a competitive level, were recruited. All individuals were evaluated at T0 and T1 through clinical evaluation and specific functional tests to define the psycho-physical well-being of the person. For three months they were followed with a personalized diet. Subjects were divided into two randomized groups: group A called experimental that followed the protocol for the duration of the study, and group B said evaluation group that performed only evaluations at the same time as group A. both groups were evaluated twice, the first immediately after the last training session, the second evaluation was performed after 30 days from the first.The objective of the project was to analyze, after three months, the cognitive changes in memory and concentration skills, stress experienced at work or study, and psycho-physical well-being perceived by interested parties. The data collected during the evaluations showed that the interconnection between a healthy lifestyle and the quality of life perceived by people is evident.

The 1H NMR technique is used to study the behaviour of the poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains grafted chemically on silica in the presence or not of solvent. A noticeable influence of the different physicochemical parameters on the conformation of the grafted macromolecules is evinced. Different models are proposed for different lengths of grafted polymer chains on the surface in the absence and presence of a solvent. Without solvent, the macromolecules lie very flat and the layer is more organized. In the presence of a solvent, the chains spread out and adopt a more extended conformation and the local concentration of monomers decreases.

Ms X is a 40-year-old gravida 12, para 2+9 woman, who was admitted for an elective caesarean section at 38 weeks gestation following the previous two caesarean sections. Ms X had abdominal distension and generalised abdominal tenderness in the postoperative period. On investigation, she was found to have an elevated white cell count (WCC), C - Reactive Protein (CRP) and creatinine with free fluid in the abdomen on imaging but there was no evidence of perforation of any visceral organ. Ms X was treated conservatively for sepsis, an Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and post-operative ileus and her symptoms gradually resolved. This is a case of idiopathic ascites post caesarean delivery with no clear cause.