Determination of albendazole and ivermectin residues in cattle and poultry-derived samples from India by micellar liquid chromatography

2021

We have developed a method, based on micellar liquid chromatography, to determine albendazole and ivermectin in dairy products and biological waste from bovine, as well as edible tissues from poultry. Anthelmitics were resolved in less than 10 min using a C18 column and a mobile phase of 0.15 mol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate – 6% 1-pentanol at buffered at pH 7 with a 0.01 M phosphate salt, running under isocratic mode at 1 mL/min. Detection was by absorbance at 292 nm. Method was successfully validated following official validation guidelines, in terms of: selectivity, sensitivity, calibration range (0.0125−0.5 mg/kg to 25−50 mg/kg), linearity (r2 > 9990), trueness (86.3–105.6%), precision (<12…

Flavonoids in Lemon and Grapefruit IntegroPectin

2021

Abstract Following the analysis of terpenes present in new lemon and grapefruit “IntegroPectin” pectins obtained via the hydrodynamic cavitation of industrial lemon and grapefruit processing waste, the HPLC‐MS analysis of flavonoid and other phenolic compounds reveals the presence of eriocitrin, naringin, hesperidin and kaempferol typical of the respective citrus fruits. The pectic fibers rich in rhamnogalacturonan‐I regions act as chemical sponges adsorbing and concentrating at their outer surface highly bioactive citrus flavonoids and terpenes. These findings, together with the unique molecular structure of these new whole citrus pectins, provide preliminary insight into the broad‐scope b…

Simplified Model of PC Concrete Beams with Corroded Strands in Highway Viaduct: Case Study and Analytical Modeling

2021

AbstractIn this paper, several cases of failure of prestressed reinforced concrete (PC) beams of a viaduct in Italy due to cable corrosion are presented. Therefore, a simplified model to determine ...

Metabolic comorbidities of adrenal insufficiency: Focus on steroid replacement therapy and chronopharmacology

2021

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is characterized by higher mortality and morbidity compared with the general population. Conventional replacement steroid therapy, currently recommended for the treatment of AI, is associated with increased frequency of metabolic comorbidities due to daily overexposure. By contrast, dual-release hydrocortisone is associated with a decreased risk of metabolic comorbidities, providing an adequate release of hydrocortisone and mimicking the physiological profile of cortisol. These favorable effects are due to a reduced daily steroid exposure that does not affect the expression of the clock genes which are involved in metabolic pathways and are regulated by the normal…

Is kidney a new organ target in patients with obstructive sleep apnea? Research priorities in a rapidly evolving field.

2021

Abstract The bidirectional relationship between sleep disordered breathing and chronic kidney disease (CKD) has recently gained a lot of interest. Several lines of evidence suggest the high prevalence of coexistent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In addition, OSA seems to result in loss of kidney function in some patients, especially in those with cardio-metabolic comorbidities. Treatment of CKD/ESRD and OSA can alter the natural history of each other; still better phenotyping with selection of appropriate treatment approaches is urgently needed. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an update of recent studies on epidemiologic…

Epistemic independence and speaker roles: Highlighting the role of second speaker and mitigating the role of first speaker

2021

Abstract Definitions of attenuation tend to place their emphasis on different aspects of the communication process, especially facework, propositional content, illocutionary force and the roles of speech participants. This paper concentrates on the latter of these aspects. Although studies mention the possibility that attenuation applies to more than one participant, the analysis of particular examples within those studies shows that authors tend to refer mostly (or even only) to the speaker's role (e.g., Briz, 1998, 2003; Briz and Albelda, 2013; Villalba Ibanez, 2016). This study explores the possibility that attenuation of the role of another participant (i.e. a participant other than the…

Developmental trajectories of experiential avoidance and depressive symptoms and association to health behaviors among adolescents during brief guide…

2021

Abstract While many children and adolescents experience psychological problems with up to 20 percent estimated to develop a mental health problem, only few receive treatment. Online interventions can help respond to the need of support among young people without requiring considerable resources. However, relatively few studies have examined the efficacy of online interventions for youth and more research is needed to understand individual differences in benefiting from these interventions. The current study sought to examine different developmental trajectories of experiential avoidance and depressive symptoms and their association to health behaviors measured at baseline during a brief gui…

Clinical and Brain Imaging Findings in a Child with Vitamin B12 Deficiency

2021

Vitamin B12 (Vit-B12) deficiency is a rare and treatable cause of failure to thrive and delayed development in infants who are exclusively breastfed. Apart from genetic causes, it can be related to a malabsorption syndrome or when the mother follows a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, causing a low hepatic storage of Vit-B12 in the infant at birth. As the neurological symptoms are nonspecific, a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam is usually performed to rule out primary causes of neurodevelopmental delay. Findings related to brain atrophy are usually observed. A favorable response is achieved with Vit-B12 therapy, and neurological symptoms dramatically improve within a few days afte…

Integrated CGH/WES Analyses Advance Understanding of Aggressive Neuroblastoma Evolution: A Case Study

2021

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extra-cranial malignancy in preschool children. To portray the genetic landscape of an overly aggressive NB leading to a rapid clinical progression of the disease, tumor DNA collected pre- and post-treatment has been analyzed. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), whole-exome sequencing (WES), and pharmacogenetics approaches, respectively, have identified relevant copy number alterations (CNAs), single nucleotide variants (SNVs), and polymorphisms (SNPs) that were then combined into an integrated analysis. Spontaneously formed 3D tumoroids obtained from the recurrent mass have also been characterized. The results prove the power of combining C…

Comparison of One-Year Outcomes Between the ihtDEStiny BD Stent and the Durable-Polymer Everolimus- and Zotarolimus-Eluting Stents: A Propensity-Scor…

2021

Abstract Objectives We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients treated with the drug-eluting stent ihtDEStiny BD. Background The ihtDEStiny BD stent is a metallic sirolimus eluting stent with a biodegradable polymer with both drug and polymer coating the abluminal surface of the stent and balloon. Methods In this study, the clinical outcomes of a multicenter prospective registry of patients treated with this stent (DEStiny group) were analyzed and compared with those of a control group of patients treated with durable polymer everolimus or zotarolimus eluting stents (CONTROL group) paired by propensity score matching . Primary outcome was the target vessel failure (TVF) at 12 month…

Robot passes the mirror test by inner speech

2021

Abstract The mirror test is a well-known task in Robotics. The existing strategies are based on kinesthetic-visual matching techniques and manipulate perceptual and motion data. The proposed work attempts to demonstrate that it is possible to implement a robust robotic self-recognition method by the inner speech, i.e. the self-dialogue that enables reasoning on symbolic information. The robot self-talks and conceptually reasons on the symbolic forms of signals, and infers if the robot it sees in the mirror is itself or not. The idea is supported by the existing literature in psychology, where the importance of inner speech in self-reflection and self-concept emergence for solving the mirror…

Performance of disc diffusion, MIC gradient tests and Vitek 2 for ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam susceptibility testing of Pseudomo…

2021

AbstractObjectivesTo assess performance of disc diffusion, gradient tests and Vitek 2 system to determine the susceptibility of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) and ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA).MethodsTwo-hundred non-duplicate P. aeruginosa strains isolated by 47 French medical laboratories were selected to cover a wide range of C/T and CZA MICs. Performance of C/T disc (30/10 μg, Bio-Rad), CZA discs (10/4 μg) (Thermo Fisher and Bio-Rad), C/T and CZA gradient tests (Etest, BioMérieux; MIC Test Strip, Liofilchem), and AST-XN12 card of Vitek 2 system (BioMérieux) were compared with a broth microdilution (BMD) method (Thermo Fisher). MIC and disc results w…

The Association of Body Image Self-Discrepancy With Female Gender, Calorie-Restricted Diet, and Psychological Symptoms Among Healthy Junior High Scho…

2021

Background: Body image self-discrepancy reflects a preference for weight loss regardless of normal body size and is a distorted cognition that may be a precursor to eating disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with body image self-discrepancy among healthy junior high school students in Japan.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at one junior high school in Saitama, Japan, in December 2016. After excluding obese participants (defined as 20% above their ideal weight), 304 students (mean age, 13.9years; n=181 girls, 59.5%) who fell into underweight (n=22, 7.2%) and normal weight categories were selected. Body image self-discrepancy was measured usi…

One-Year Outcome of Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Myocardial Infarction-Related Cardiogenic Shock

2021

Background: We aimed to evaluate the effect of intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors (GPIs) on in-hospital survival and mortality during and at the 1-year follow-up in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS), who were included in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS). Methods: From 2003 to 2019, 466,566 MI patients were included in the PL-ACS registry. A total of 10,193 patients with CS received PCI on admission. Among them, GPIs were used in 3934 patients. Results: The patients treated with GPIs were younger, had lower systolic blood pressure on admission, required i…

Inside a Shell—Organometallic Catalysis Inside Encapsulin Nanoreactors

2021

Abstract Compartmentalization of chemical reactions inside cells are a fundamental requirement for life. Encapsulins are self‐assembling protein‐based nanocompartments from the prokaryotic repertoire that present a highly attractive platform for intracellular compartmentalization of chemical reactions by design. Using single‐molecule Förster resonance energy transfer and 3D‐MINFLUX analysis, we analyze fluorescently labeled encapsulins on a single‐molecule basis. Furthermore, by equipping these capsules with a synthetic ruthenium catalyst via covalent attachment to a non‐native host protein, we are able to perform in vitro catalysis and go on to show that engineered encapsulins can be used …

Acorn Ants May Create and Use Two Entrances to the Nest Cavity

2021

Many ant species construct large nests that are inhabited by numerous workers, but other species dwell in ready-for-use cavities and live in small colonies. Ants of the genus Temnothorax inhabit small cavities, e.g., in acorns, twigs, and under rocks. Although a preference for nest sites with a narrower entrance is known, recent studies have shown that they also use cavities with wider entrances and may modify the size of such entrances. As good cavities for nest sites are a limited resource, the possibility to modify a potential nest site, including a reduction in the size of the hole, should be a favorable matter for the ants. Through field and laboratory experiments, I studied the acorn …

Spanish validation of the Empirically Developed Clinical Staging Model (EmDe-5) for patients with bipolar disorder

2021

Abstract Introduction Bipolar disorder (BD) has been reconceptualised as a progressive disorder that develops from mild to severe presentations. An empirical staging model – the Empirically Developed Clinical Staging Model for BD (EmDe-5) – was developed in a previous study. This study aims to further validate that model using a larger and more representative Spanish sample. Material and methods 183 BD outpatients were recruited at 11 sites in Spain. Assessment included clinical characteristics of the BD (number of hospitalisations, number of suicide attempts, comorbid personality disorders), physical health (BMI, metabolic syndrome, number of physical illnesses), cognition (SCIP), function…

Long-Term Data Reveal the Associations of the Egg Quality With Abiotic Factors and Female Traits in the Baltic Herring Under Variable Environmental C…

2021

In fish, the lipid resources of the female form a link between the environment and progeny, contributing to the contents of the egg yolk. Variation of the environmental conditions is therefore expected to affect the egg quality via maternal pathways, reflecting the female’s response to the environmental factors before spawning. We investigated the content of lipids and thyroid hormones in the ovary and eggs of the Baltic herring during 1988–2019, when salinity of the Baltic Sea first declined and then stabilized to a lower level, and winters varied between severe and mild. The total lipid resources of spawning females decreased by 40–50% during the study, and the ovarian lipid concentration…

La transparencia y la rendición de cuentas en redes sociales. Un caso de conflictos mineros en Latinoamérica

2021

Diversos estudios muestran un creciente uso del Internet y las redes por parte de grandes empresas para divulgar información social y medioambiental, ampliando la rendición de cuentas y la transparencia. No obstante, aún no existe claridad sobre los pros y contras de dicho proceso. Este trabajo plantea la necesidad de una reinterpretación crítica de la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas sociales y medioambientales a través de las redes sociales. Para ello, retoma algunos argumentos de la perspectiva dialógica de la rendición de cuentas, así como planteamientos del filósofo coreano Byung-Chul Han. Se estudia el caso de la compañía minera Vale, caracterizando la forma en qu…

A novel clustering-based algorithm for solving spatially-constrained robotic task sequencing problems

2021

The robotic task sequencing problem (RTSP) appears in various forms across many industrial applications and consists of developing an optimal sequence of motions to visit a set of target points defined in a task space. Developing solutions to problems involving complex spatial constraints remains challenging due to the existence of multiple inverse kinematic solutions and the requirements for collision avoidance. So far existing studies have been limited to relaxed RTSPs involving a small number of target points and relatively uncluttered environments. When extending existing methods to problems involving greater spatial constraints and large sets of target points, they either require subst…

089 Autofluorescence imaging for non-invasive visualization and quantification of skin lesions of patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum

2021

A Long-Term Extension Study of Bevacizumab in Patients With Solid Tumors

2021

Abstract Background Bevacizumab has been studied in numerous clinical trials in multiple types of cancer; however, patients may receive bevacizumab over an extended period of time. This study assessed the long‐term safety and tolerability of bevacizumab among patients with solid tumors. Materials and Methods Patients enrolled in a Roche/Genentech‐sponsored trial who had derived benefit from bevacizumab therapy as monotherapy or in combination with anticancer drugs were eligible for continuation of bevacizumab in this long‐term extension (LTE) study. The primary endpoints were the incidence of adverse events (AEs) of Common Terminology Criteria for AEs (CTCAE) grade ≥3 related to bevacizumab…

Genetic variants associated with human eye size are distinct from those conferring susceptibility to myopia

2021

Purpose: Emmetropization requires coordinated scaling of the major ocular components, corneal curvature and axial length. This coordination is achieved in part through a shared set of genetic variants that regulate eye size. Poorly coordinated scaling of corneal curvature and axial length results in refractive error. We tested the hypothesis that genetic variants regulating eye size in emmetropic eyes are distinct from those conferring susceptibility to refractive error.Methods: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) for corneal curvature in 22,180 adult emmetropic individuals was performed as a proxy for a GWAS for eye size. A polygenic score created using lead GWAS variants was tested for…

Complete analysis of the epidemiological scenario around a SARS-CoV-2 reinfection: previous infection events and subsequent transmission

2021

9 páginas, 3 figuras. The data that support the findings of this study (Fastq files) are publicly available. Fastq files above the GISAID thresholds were deposited at GISAID (hCoV-19/Spain/MD-IBV-99007733/2020, hCoV-19/Spain/MD-IBV-99007151/2020, hCoV-19/Spain/MD-IBV-99007734/2020, and hCoV-19/Spain/MDIBV-99007170/2020). All sequences were also deposited at the ENA (European Nucleotide Archive; https:// www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/home) (ERR5698024, ERR5697187, ERR6459974, ERR5698025, and ERR5697254).

Vena cava resection and bypass for recurrent cervical cancer

2021

A 42-year-old woman was diagnosed with a second para-aortic cervical cancer. The patient had undergone a radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for FIGO stage IB1 squamous cervical cancer 3 years prior to current presentation. No adjuvant treatment was performed after the primary surgery

Performance of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Thyroid Nodules: Review of Current State and Future Perspectives

2021

Simple Summary Ultrasound has been used as baseline imaging for thyroid nodules for decades; nevertheless, no single feature is sensitive or specific enough to exclude or confirm thyroid malignancy. Therefore, clinical practice and research still focus on less invasive diagnostic patterns to reduce unnecessary fine-needle aspiration biopsies or surgery. The main advantage of CEUS is the ability to assess the sequence and intensity of vascular perfusion and hemodynamics in the thyroid nodule, thus providing real-time characterization of nodule features, and considered a valuable new approach in the determination of benign vs. malignant nodules. In addition, contrast agents used in CEUS can h…

Highly Stable Thin Films Based on Novel Hybrid 1D (PRSH)PbX3 Pseudo-Perovskites

2021

In this study, the structure and morphology, as well as time, ultraviolet radiation, and humidity stability of thin films based on newly developed 1D (PRSH)PbX3 (X = Br, I) pseudo-perovskite materials, containing 1D chains of face-sharing haloplumbate octahedra, are investigated. All films are strongly crystalline already at room temperature, and annealing does not promote further crystallization or film reorganization. The film microstructure is found to be strongly influenced by the anion type and, to a lesser extent, by the DMF/DMSO solvent volume ratio used during film deposition by spin-coating. Comparison of specular X-ray diffraction and complementary grazing incidence X-ray diffract…

Discipline del Design e “Slow Journalism”: un antidoto alle fake-news

2021

L’articolo sviluppa una riflessione a partire da un’esperienza di ricerca maturata all’interno dell’Università degli Studi di Palermo nell’ambito del progetto PO FERS “Fake News” che aveva come obiettivo quello di elaborare nuovi e più efficaci meccanismi automatici di valutazione dell’autenticità, originalità e rilevanza dell’informazione prodotta dal giornalismo etico e partecipativo a partire da metodologie e strumenti progettuali propri del design della comunicazione e dell’informazione. The article develops a reflection on a research experience gained within the University of Palermo in the context of the PO FERS “Fake News” project, which aimed to develop new and more effective automa…

Sentinel Lymph Node in Aged Endometrial Cancer Patients “The SAGE Study”: A Multicenter Experience

2021

ObjectiveThe incidence of endometrial cancer is increasing in elderly people. Considering that aging progressively affects lymphatic draining function, we aimed to define its impact on IGC uptake during SLN mapping.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort of endometrial cancer patients with apparently early-stage endometrial cancer undergoing complete surgical staging with SLN dissection was identified in four referral cancer centers from May 2015 to March 2021. Patients were classified in Group 1 (&amp;lt;65 years old) and Group 2 (≥65 years old). The primary endpoint was the assessment of the overall, bilateral, and unsuccessful SLN mapping in the two groups. Secondary outcomes were the …

Immunonutritive Scoring for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization: Evaluation of the CALLY Index

2021

The novel CRP–albumin–lymphocyte (CALLY) index is an improved immunonutritive scoring system, based on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin, and the lymphocyte count. It has shown promise as a prognostic index for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing resections. This study evaluated the prognostic ability of the CALLY index for patients with HCC undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). We retrospectively identified 280 treatment-naïve patients with HCC that underwent an initial TACE at our institution, between 2010 and 2020. We compared the CALLY index to established risk factors in univariate and multivariate regression analyses for associations with m…

Does aspirin save lives in patients with COVID-19?

2021

‘An aspirin a day keeps the heart attack away’, is this also true in the prevention of thrombotic events associated with COVID-19? The rising COVID-19 pandemic has led to much work in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. COVID-19 infection is thought to be an endothelial disease. Supporting this concept, it has been suggested that infection with SARS-CoV-2, the aetiological agent for COVID-19 infection, leads to a state mimicking Virchow’s triad, that is, vascular endothelial injury, blood stasis and clotting in concert with systemic inflammation resulting in systemic thrombosis. In keeping with this concept, moderately and critically ill patients with COVID-19 have been…

Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Dental Students—RULA Applied to Objective Kinematic Data

2021

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is already prevalent in dental students despite their young age and the short duration of dental practice. The current findings state that the causes of MSD are related to posture during dental work. This study aims to investigate the ergonomic risk of dental students. In order to analyze the ergonomic risk of dental students, 3D motion analyses were performed with inertial sensors during the performance of standardized dental activities. For this purpose, 15 dental students and 15 dental assistant trainees (all right-handed) were measured in a team. Data were analyzed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), which was modified to evaluate objective data.…

Transition probabilities in 31P and 31S : A test for isospin symmetry

2021

International audience; Excited states in the mirror nuclei 31P and 31S were populated in the 1p and 1n exit channels of the reaction 20Ne + 12C, at a beam energy of 33 MeV. The 20Ne beam was delivered for the first time by the Piave-Alpi accelerator of the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. Angular correlations of coincident γ-rays and Doppler-shift attenuation lifetime measurements were performed using the multi-detector array GASP in conjunction with the EUCLIDES charged particle detector. In the observed B(E1) strengths, the isoscalar component, amounting to 24% of the isovector one, provides strong evidence for breaking of the isospin symmetry in the A=31 mass region. Self-consistent bey…

Anaesthesia protocol evaluation of the videolaryngoscopy with the McGrath MAC and direct laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation in 1000 patients underg…

2021

IntroductionRapid sequence induction of anaesthesia is indicated in patients with an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration. The main objective of the technique is to reduce the critical time period between loss of airway protective reflexes and rapid inflation of the cuff of the endotracheal tube to minimise the chance of aspiration of gastric contents. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of first-pass intubation success to ensure patient and healthcare worker safety. The aim of this study is to compare the first-pass intubation success rate (FPS) using the videolaryngoscopy compared with conventional direct laryngoscopy in surgical patients with a high risk of pulmonary as…

The buffer effect of canopy-forming algae on vermetid reefs' functioning: A multiple stressor case study.

2021

Abstract Biodiversity plays a key role for our planet by buffering ongoing and future changes in environmental conditions. We tested if canopy-forming algae enhancing biodiversity (CEB) in a Mediterranean intertidal reef ecological community could alleviate the effect of stressors (heat waves and pollution from sewage) on community metabolic rates (as expressed by oxygen consumption) used as a proxy of community functioning. CEB exerted a buffering effect related to the properties of stressor: physical-pulsing (heat wave) and chronic-trophic (sewage). After a simulated heat wave, CEB was effective in buffering the impacts of detrimental temperatures on the functioning of the community. In r…

237 Selected global health assessment tools significantly predict postoperative clinical outcome in elderly patients with ovarian cancer

2021

Introduction/Background* This study evaluated the impact of the global health status on the rate of postoperative clinical complications in patients with ovarian cancer (OC) older than 60 years. Methodology Selected global health status assessment tools were retrospectively determined in a cohort of OC patients older than 60 years, treated at our institution between 2008 and 2019. The primary outcome was the incidence and type of postoperative clinical complications in accordance with the Veteran Affairs’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Differences in binary and ordinal variables between independent groups were analyzed by the chi-square test. Furthermore, rank correl…