The TopClosure® 3S System, for skin stretching and a secure wound closure

The principle of stretching wound margins for primary wound closure is commonly practiced and used for various skin defects, leading at times to excessive tension and complications during wound closure. Different surgical techniques, skin stretching devices and tissue expanders have been utilized to address this issue. Previously designed skin stretching devices resulted in considerable morbidity. They were invasive by nature and associated with relatively high localized tissue pressure, frequently leading to necrosis, damage and tearing of skin at the wound margins. To assess the clinical effectiveness and performance and, to determine the safety of TopClosure® for gradual, controlled, temporary, noninvasive and invasive applications for skin stretching and secure wound closing, the TopClosure® device was applied to 20 patients for preoperative skin lesion removal and to secure closure of a variety of wound sizes. TopClosure® was reinforced with adhesives, staples and/or surgical sutures, depending on the circumstances of the wound and the surgeon’s judgment. TopClosure® was used prior to, during and/or after surgery to reduce tension across wound edges. No significant complications or adverse events were associated with its use. TopClosure® was effectively used for preoperative skin expansion in preparation for dermal resection (e.g., congenital nevi). It aided closure of large wounds involving significant loss of skin and soft tissue by mobilizing skin and subcutaneous tissue, thus avoiding the need for skin grafts or flaps. Following surgery, it was used to secure closure of wounds under tension, thus improving wound aesthetics. A sample case study will be presented. We designed TopClosure®, an innovative device, to modify the currently practiced concept of wound closure by applying minimal stress to the skin, away from damaged wound edges, with flexible force vectors and versatile methods of attachment to the skin, in a noninvasive or invasive manner

Data from: Genome scan identifies flowering-independent effects of barley HsDry2.2 locus on yield traits under water deficit

Increasing crop productivity under climate change requires the identification, selection and utilization of novel alleles for breeding. We analyzed the genotype and field phenotype of the barley HEB-25 multi-parent mapping population under well-watered and water-limited (WW and WL) environments for two years. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) for genotype by-environment interactions was performed for ten traits including flowering time (HEA) and plant grain yield (PGY). Comparison of the GWAS for traits per-se to that for QTL-by-environment interactions (QxE), indicates the prevalence of QxE mostly for reproductive traits. One QxE locus on chromosome 2, Hordeum spontaneum Dry2.2 (HsDry2.2), showed a positive and conditional effect on PGY and grain number (GN). The wild allele significantly reduced HEA, however this earliness was not conditioned by water deficit. Furthermore, BC2F1 lines segregating for the HsDry2.2 showed the wild allele confers an advantage over the cultivated in PGY, GN and harvest index as well as modified shoot morphology , longer grain filling period and reduced senescence (only under drought), therefore suggesting adaptation mechanism against water deficit other than escape. This study highlights the value of evaluating wild relatives in search of novel alleles and clues to resilience mechanism underlying crop adaptation to abiotic stress

Differentiating between bacterial and viral infections by estimated CRP velocity

Purpose Differentiating between acute viral and bacterial infection is challenging due to the similarity in symptom presentation. Blood tests can assist in the diagnosis, but they reflect the immediate status and fail to consider the dynamics of an inflammatory response with time since symptom onset. We applied estimated C-reactive protein (CRP) velocity (eCRPv), as derived from the admission CRP level divided by time from symptom onset, in order to better distinguish between viral and bacterial infections. Methods This cross-sectional study included patients admitted to the emergency department with a confirmed viral (n = 83) or bacterial (n = 181) infection. eCRPv was defined as the ratio between the absolute CRP level upon admission to time from symptom onset (in hours). Absolute CRP and eCRPv values were compared between the 3 groups. Results Bacterial patients presented with higher CRP levels (133 mg/L) upon admission compared to viral patients (23.31 mg/L) (P 4 mg/L/h represents only bacterial patients. Conclusions During an acute febrile illness, the eCRPv value can be used for rapid differentiation between bacterial and viral infection, especially in patients with high CRP values. This capability can potentially expedite the provision of appropriate therapeutic management. Further research and validation may open new applications of the kinetics of inflammation for rapid diagnosis of an infectious vs. a viral source of fever

LOM et al JXB_PHENO_GENO-2

Genotypic and phenotypic data for the HEB-25 barley mapping population grown under well-watered (WW) and water-limited (WL) environments for two years (2015 and 2016). The genotypic data: 11, homozygous for the cultivated Hordeum vulgare allele; 12, heterozygous; 22, homozygous for the wild donor (H. spontaneum). Phenotype: Heading time (HEA), defined as the time between sowing to time at which the first spike of 50% of the plants in a plot reaches BBCH49 (first awns visible), was recorded based on daily inspection. Days from sowing to stage BBCH87 (hard dough: grain content solid: fingernail impression held) was recorded as maturity (MAT). At maturity, plant height (HEI) was measured from the soil surface to the base of the three first spikes per plot. At full grain maturity and after plants were fully dried, all aboveground biomass was harvested and weighed to determine total dry matter (TDM). Notably, all the free-thrashing material (app. ¼ of the material) was caged between BBCH49 and BBCH87 to avoid loss of spikes. Spikes were then threshed and weighed to determine plant grain yield (PGY). Finally, grains were counted to estimate grain number per mini-plot (GN) and average grain weight (GW). Harvest index (HI) was calculated as the ratio between PGY and TDM. Vegetative dry matter (VDW) was calculated by subtracting PGY from TDM. The grain-filling period (GFP) was calculated by subtracting HEA from MAT. Trait values were adjusted based on the ratio between population mean values in the two years. The adjusted HEB means across years were used in the GWAS