Development of the conditional moment closure method for modelling turbulent combustion

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on the in vitro growth characteristics and in vivo pathogenicity of Candida albicans in a murine model in the absence of a photosensitizer. Background data: C. albicans is an opportunistic commensal organism that causes a wide variety of diseases in human beings, ranging from superficial infections to life-threatening invasive candidiasis. The incidence of C. albicans infection is increasing, because of the greater frequency of acquired immunodeficiency conditions. A high recurrence rate has been reported for vulvovaginal and oral candidiasis, despite the best available treatments. Therefore, the search for new treatment modalities seems quite rational. Methods: Candida culture plates were exposed to common clinical energies of LLLI: 3, 5, 10, and 20 J at 685 nm (BTL Laser 5000, Medicinos Projektai, Czech Republic, Prague, max power output 50 mW) and 3, 5, 10, 30, and 50 J at 830 nm (BTL Laser 5000, Medicinos Projektai, Czech Republic, Prague, max power output 400 mW). Results: Following LLLI with energies >10 J at both 685 and 830 nm wavelengths, statistically significant effects were observed in vitro on the turbidimetric growth kinetics of C. albicans and in vivo on the survival rate of infected mice (p value </=0.05). Therefore, this energy could be considered a threshold for clinical investigation. Conclusions: Translating our data into the clinical setting, it can be proposed that a direct laser-based approach without using a photosensitizing dye can significantly reduce the pathogenicity of Candida albicans. It can also be concluded that laser light at specific wavelengths could be a possible promising novel treatment for superficial and mucocutaneous C. albicans infections

Association between abnormal maternal serum levels of Vitamin B12and preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Context: Some evidence has shown an association between maternal Vitamin B12 levels and the development of preeclampsia in pregnant women, but the relationship between preeclampsia and Vitamin B12 is not clear. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to compare serum Vitamin B12 levels in women with preeclampsia with those in normotensive pregnant women. Data Sources: The PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched up to August 2019, along with the reference lists of included articles. Study Selection: The literature was searched for observational studies that investigated Vitamin B12 levels in women with preeclampsia. Data Extraction: Data were extracted independently by 2 authors. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: Vitamin B12 levels in women with preeclampsia were significantly lower than those in healthy women (mean,-15.24 pg/mL; 95CI,-27.52 to-2.954; P < 0.015), but heterogeneity between studies was high (I2â=â97.8; P = 0.0103). Subgroup analyses based on folic acid supplementation, homocysteine concentrations, and gestational age at the time of sampling for Vitamin B12 assessment did not identify the sources of heterogeneity. Conclusions: Women with preeclampsia had significantly lower Vitamin B12 concentrations than normotensive pregnant women. © 2020 The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved