Transabdominal pre-peritoneal repair procedure (TAPP) versus open hernia repair (OHR) in the treatment of inguinal hernia

Inguinal hernia is a common condition, with about 30% of men and 6% of women developing this condition throughout their lifetime. Laparoscopic hernia repair procedures have become more and more important lately, due to the advantages of a fast recovery and reduced postoperative pain. The paper presents our clinical experience involving the TAPP repair procedure, compared to open hernia repair (OHR). We retrospectively compared our first 50 cases comprising patients who underwent the TAPP hernia repair procedure between January 2018 and June 2020, with 50 cases who underwent the OHR procedure in the same period. The total operation duration was 102.5 minutes in the TAPP group and 78.4 minutes in the OHR group. The average hospital stay in the TAPP group was 1.5 days with six patients requiring reinterventions for postoperative bleeding and who were discharged seven to nine days later. There is still no consensus regarding the use of tacks and/or the surgical glue, the surgeon\u27s experience and the intraoperative findings representing a cornerstone in choosing the best repair method for each case. Laparoscopic hernia repair has some advantages over the open technique, but it can be followed by complications that can further raise parameters

High-level dietary cadmium exposure is associated with global DNA hypermethylation in the gastropod hepatopancreas

5-methylcytosine (5mC) is a key epigenetic mark which influences gene expression and phenotype. In vertebrates, this epigenetic mark is sensitive to Cd exposure, but there is no information linking such an event with changes in global 5mC levels in terrestrial gastropods despite their importance as excellent ecotoxicological bioindicators of metal contamination. Therefore, we first evaluated total 5mC content in DNA of the hepatopancreas of adult Cantareus aspersus with the aim to determine whether this epigenetic mark is responsive to Cd exposure. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions and involved a continuous exposure, multiple dose- and time-point (14, 28, and 56 days) study design. Hepatopancreas cadmium levels were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and the percentage of 5-mC in samples using an ELISA-based colorimetric assay. Snail death rates were also assessed. Our results, for the first time, reveal the presence of 5mC in C. aspersus and provide evidence for Cd-induced changes in global 5mC levels in DNA of gastropods and mollusks. Although less sensitive than tissue accumulation, DNA methylation levels responded in a dose- and time-dependent manner to dietary cadmium, with exposure dose having a much stronger effect than exposure duration. An obvious trend of increasing 5mC levels was observed starting at 28 days of exposure to the second highest dose and this trend persisted at the two highest treatments for close to one month, when the experiment was terminated after 56 days. Moreover, a strong association was identified between Cd concentrations in the hepatopancreas and DNA methylation levels in this organ. These data indicate an overall trend towards DNA hypermethylation with elevated Cd exposure. No consistent lethal effect was observed, irrespective of time point and Cd-dosage. Overall, our findings suggest that the total 5mC content in DNA of the hepatopancreas of land snails is responsive to sublethal Cd exposure and give new insights into invertebrate environmental epigenetics

Indoor Hibernation of <em>Helix aspersa</em> Juveniles

The “Italian” outdoor snailfarming technology assumes that both mature and juvenile snails hibernate outdoor, protected by a thin sheet of unweaved coverlet (agryl sheet). In contrast, the “French” snailfarming technology implies that only mature brown garden snails (Helix aspersa) hibernate indoor, in strictly controlled microenvironmental parameters (temperature, humidity, and ventilation). This technology may also be viable for H. aspersa juveniles. Extremely high death rates occurring in Romanian outdoor snailfarms during colder winters (>80%) imposed the need to find alternative paths for a proper hibernation of H. aspersa. Using statistical analyses, close surveillance of technological flow, and controlled microenvironmental parameters, we assessed the possibility to adapt indoor hibernation for H. aspersa juveniles. The experiments lasted for 2 years (2006–2008) and were carried out on 34,000 H. aspersa juveniles and 15,000 mature ones, using different technological flows and microenvironmental parameters (temperature, humidity, and ventilation). They were performed in two stages and involved five case studies, conducted independently in three different locations: Floreşti (Mehedinţi county), Sântuhalm (Hunedoara county), and Muntenii de Sus (Vaslui county). The first stage tested the hypothesis in relation to survival rate of mature snails, H. aspersa, in the same conditions, whereas the second stage improved the technological flow, before its extensive application. We demonstrated that noncontrolled microclimate parameters (temperature, humidity, and ventilation) and the use of straw as hibernation support induced significant differences (P < 0.01) concerning death levels of H. aspersa juveniles as compared to their indoor hibernation in semicontrolled microclimate (temperature and ventilation). In the same hibernation microclimate, mature snails exhibited higher survival levels than the juvenile ones, irrespective of technological flow and origin (P < 0.0001). We also demonstrated that juveniles’ weight loss displays a relatively constant variation (16.33–20.51%). In addition, the correlations between the individual average weight before and after hibernation were described by the same logarithmic regression. Furthermore, significantly higher survival rates of H. aspersa juveniles (P < 0.0001) have been registered when they had not been awakened during hibernation. Finally, we proved that indoor hibernation of H. aspersa juveniles in strictly controlled microenvironmental parameters (temperature, humidity, and ventilation) could represent a viable technology that improves the technological flow in outdoor snailfarming during wintertime in colder climates

Changes in the quality in tomato fruit due to home-scale freezing

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of home-scale freezing in the quality of tomato fruit cultivated in field conditions, in Romanian west area.Freezing is one of the oldest and most widely used methods of vegetables preservation.Tomatoes were analyzed fresh and stored frozen in domestic freezer at -180C for 2-6 months until analysis. Tomatoes were analyzed regarding moisture, sugar, lycopene content,ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds and total antioxidant capacity. Most important losses due to 6 months home-scale freezing were recorded for lycopene content (47%) followed by vitamin C content (20%), total antioxidant capacity (16%) and phenolic compounds content (13%). The freezing process has no to much effect on the nutritional compounds but for the best quality, use the tomato fruit within short time

Evaluation of tomato yield using statistical tests

The main objective of this study is to calculate the correlation existed between the NPK mineral fertilization doses on tomato yield using statistical tests (multiple regression analysis of variance, the F-test, value of R and R2 , Durbin–Watson test). A field experiment was using two tomatoes samples in different precocity steady (Export II and Ace Royal) cultivated in Romanian west area. Multiple regression analysis of variance on the influence of fertilization on the yield of Export II cultivar show that 90.28% of the production variability is due to the influence of these three macronutrients (NPK) while the yield of Ace Royal cultivar the percentage is 97.78%. The tomato yield increases with the fertilization doses and nitrogen fertilization has a major influence distinctly significant on achieving production, while the fertilization with potassium is lower but superior to phosphorus fertilization for two tomato cultivar

COVID-19: disease pathways and gene expression changes predict methylprednisolone can improve outcome in severe cases.

MOTIVATION: COVID-19 has several distinct clinical phases: a viral replication phase, an inflammatory phase, and in some patients, a hyper-inflammatory phase. High mortality is associated with patients developing cytokine storm syndrome. Treatment of hyper-inflammation in these patients using existing, approved therapies with proven safety profiles could address the immediate need to reduce mortality. RESULTS: We analyzed the changes in the gene expression, pathways and putative mechanisms induced by SARS-CoV2 in NHBE, and A549 cells, as well as COVID-19 lung vs. their respective controls. We used these changes to identify FDA approved drugs that could be repurposed to help COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms related to hyper-inflammation. We identified methylprednisolone (MP) as a potential leading therapy. The results were then confirmed in five independent validation data sets including Vero E6 cells, lung and intestinal organoids, as well as additional patient lung sample vs. their respective controls. Finally, the efficacy of MP was validated in an independent clinical study. Thirty-day all-cause mortality occurred at a significantly lower rate in the MP-treated group compared to control group (29.6% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.027). Clinical results confirmed the in silico prediction that MP could improve outcomes in severe cases of COVID-19. A low number needed to treat (NNT = 5) suggests MP may be more efficacious than dexamethasone or hydrocortisone. AVAILABILITY: iPathwayGuide is available at https://ipathwayguide.advaitabio.com/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online

Short-term effects of very low dose cadmium feeding on copper, manganese and iron homeostasis:A gastropod perspective

The available information on the interplay between low-dose cadmium intake and copper, manganese, and iron homeostasis in invertebrates is limited. We have currently studied the accumulation of these trace metals in the hepatopancreas of adult snails, Cantareus aspersus, following 14 and 28 days of exposure to low doses of dietary cadmium, up to 1 mg/kg dw (dry weight). The cadmium dose, but not the duration of exposure, had a significant effect on hepatopancreas copper deposition, the values being significantly elevated compared to controls. A significant peak in manganese levels at 14 days was found in snails administered the lowest cadmium dose. These increases occurred even in the absence of cadmium increase in the hepatopancreas. Our data suggest that low dose cadmium feeding can produce a transient disturbance in hepatopancreas copper and manganese homeostasis. Such responses may serve as early biomarkers of physiological changes occurring during the initial stages of cadmium intoxication

The influence of total chromium soil content on the maize zinc levels, in a polluted area

Chromium compounds are highly toxic to plants and are detrimental to their growth and development. Cr is toxic to most higher plants at 100 µMKg-1 dry weight, while Zn is an essential plant nutrient. The essentiality of Zn in plants was first shown in maize. The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of Cr contamined soils on the accumulation of Zn in maize (Zea mays L.) grains, sampled from Tarnaveni area (Mures County, Romania), a well known industrial center. The heavy metals contents in soils and maize were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using a ContrAA 300 spectrophotometer with high resolution continuum source. In soil, Cr contents ranged from 9.7 ppm to 80.73 ppm and Zn from 21.77 to 99.87 ppm. In corn, the values for Cr are between 0.081 to 0,11 ppm and for Zn between 44.74 to 132.66 ppm. Mathematical modeling indicates that chromium in the soil might be the one which is determining the evolution of zinc corn content

Evaluation of copper content in soil and Zea mays l. grains, in a Romanian polluted area

The heavy metal contamination of soil is one of the most pressing concerns in the debate about food security and food safety in Europe. Maize, also known as corn, constitute a staple food in many regions of the world. The aim of this paper was to determine the capacity of maize (Zea mays L.) grainstoaccumulate Cu, in order to evaluate the potential risk for human consume and to obtained informations regarding the soil pollution in this area. The studied area was Tarnaveni (Mures County, Romania). In soil, the copper content, calculated on the dry basis, ranged from 13.17 ppm to 52.96 ppm for 0-20 cm depth and from 14.01 to 44.82 ppm for 20-40 cm depth. The soil copper contents are exceeding the value of 20 ppm (the normal contents in soil, for Romania) but do not exceed the value of 100 ppm (the Alert threshold values for Romania). Regarding the copper content (mgKg-1 dry weight) in corn, the values are between 4.87 to 25.40 ppm, and five from seven samples exceed the permissible limit of copper for plants (10 mg/kg recommended by WHO). This study allows to obtain informations regarding the copper pollution level in this area

Influence of termic treatment on armoracia rusticana roots and leaves, total polyphenols content

The studies were conducted on Romanian horseradish originated from three domestic farms, located in the plains, hills and mountain areas. The localization of the horseradish plant as well as processing and temperature treatment seems to have a big effect on total polyphenols content (TPPC) of roots and leaves. The modifications of TPPC are due to the increasing and decreasing of temperature and they maintain the same profile irrespective of the locations