Risk scores' performance and their impact on operative decision‑making in left‑sided endocarditis: a cohort study

Theaccuracy of contemporary risk scores in predicting perioperative mortality in infective endocarditis (IE) remains controversial. The aim is to evaluate the performance of existent mortality risk scores for cardiovascular surgery in IE and the impact on operability at high-risk thresholds. A single-center retrospective review of adult patients diagnosed with acute left-sided IE undergoing surgery from May 2014 to August 2019 (n = 142) was done. Individualized risk calculation was obtained according to the available mortality risk scores: EuroScore I and II, PALSUSE, Risk-E, Costa, De Feo-Cotrufo, AEPEI, STS-risk, STS-IE, APORTEI, and ICE-PCS scores. A cross-validation analysis was performed on the score with the best area under the curve (AUC). The 30-day survival was 96.5% (95%CI 91-98%). The score with worse area under the curve (AUC = 0.6) was the STS-IE score, while the higher was for the RISK-E score (AUC = 0.89). The AUC of the majority of risk scores suggested acceptable performance; however, statistically significant differences in expected versus observed mortalities were common. The cross-validation analysis showed that a large number of survivors (> 75%) would not have been operated if arbitrary high-risk threshold estimates had been used to deny surgery. The observed mortality in our cohort is significantly lower than is predicted by contemporary risk scores. Despite the reasonable numeric performance of the analyzed scores, their utility in judging the operability of a given patient remains questionable, as demonstrated in the cross-validation analysis. Future guidelines may advise that denial of surgery should only follow a highly experienced Endocarditis Team evaluation

Screening of Microorganisms for Biodegradation of Simazine Pollution (Obsolete Pesticide Azotop 50 WP)

The capability of environmental microorganisms to biodegrade simazine—an active substance of 2-chloro-s-triazine herbicides (pesticide waste since 2007)—was assessed. An enormous metabolic potential of microorganisms impels to explore the possibilities of using them as an alternative way for thermal and chemical methods of utilization. First, the biotope rich in microorganisms resistant to simazine was examined. Only the higher dose of simazine (100 mg/l) had an actual influence on quantity of bacteria and environmental fungi incubated on substrate with simazine. Most simazine-resistant bacteria populated activated sludge and biohumus (vermicompost); the biggest strain of resistant fungi was found in floral soil and risosphere soil of maize. Compost and biohumus were the sources of microorganisms which biodegraded simazine, though either of them was the dominant considering the quantity of simazine-resistant microorganisms. In both cases of periodic culture (microorganisms from biohumus and compost), nearly 100% of simazine (50 mg/l) was degraded (within 8 days). After the repeated enrichment culture with simazine, the rate of its degradation highly accelerated, and just after 24 h, the significant decrease of simazine (20% in compost and 80% in biohumus) was noted. Although a dozen attempts of isolating various strains responsible for biodegradation of simazine from compost and biohumus were performed, only the strain identified as Arthrobacter urefaciens (NC) was obtained, and it biodegraded simazine with almost 100% efficiency (within 4 days)

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor in Rat Fetal Lung Development: Expression and Functional Studies

Background: Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are members of the family of the glycoprotein 130 (gp130)-type cytokines. These cytokines share gp130 as a common signal transducer, which explains why they show some functional redundancy. Recently, it was demonstrated that IL-6 promotes fetal lung branching. Additionally, LIF has been implicated in developmental processes of some branching organs. Thus, in this study LIF expression pattern and its effects on fetal rat lung morphogenesis were assessed. Methodology/Principal Findings: LIF and its subunit receptor LIFRa expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot in fetal rat lungs of different gestational ages, ranging from 13.5 to 21.5 days post-conception. Throughout all gestational ages studied, LIF was constitutively expressed in pulmonary epithelium, whereas LIFRa was first mainly expressed in the mesenchyme, but after pseudoglandular stage it was also observed in epithelial cells. These results point to a LIF epithelium-mesenchyme cross-talk, which is known to be important for lung branching process. Regarding functional studies, fetal lung explants were cultured with increasing doses of LIF or LIF neutralizing antibodies during 4 days. MAPK, AKT, and STAT3 phosphorylation in the treated lung explants was analyzed. LIF supplementation significantly inhibited lung growth in spite of an increase in p44/42 phosphorylation. On the other hand, LIF inhibition significantly stimulated lung growth via p38 and Akt pathways

The effect of different optical zone diameters on the results of high-order aberrations in femto-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis

Purpose: To evaluate the postoperative high-order aberration differences of femto-LASIK surgery in 6.5 and 7?mm optic zones. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 80 eyes of 40 patients with myopia or myopia with astigmatism who underwent femtosecond LASIK surgery. Q values, z3, 3 (h. trefoil), z3, –3 (v. trefoil), z3, 1 (h. coma), z3, –1 (vertical coma), z4, 0 (spherical aberration), z5, –1 (second other v. coma), aberration coefficients were evaluated 3?months after surgery. Central corneal thicknesses, intraocular pressures, patient ages and genders, optical zone diameters and ablation depths are collected from patients’ medical records. Results: The mean age was 28.4?±?0.69?years (range, 20–47?years). Lower z4, 0 spherical aberrations and aberration coefficient values were associated with larger optical zones (7?mm) (z4, 0 spherical aberrations?=?1.25, p?=?0.01; coefficient value?=?–1.21, p?<?0.01). Although a smaller optical zone (6.5?mm) was associated with an increase in most of the wave-front aberration variables, measurements were not statistically different between the two groups other than z4, 0 spherical aberrations and aberration coefficients. Discussion: LASIK treatment with 6.5 and 7?mm optical zones is safe and effective for correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism and has statistically similar visual outcomes. Moreover, larger optical zone (7?mm) was found to be associated with lower spherical aberration induction and smaller aberration coefficient values compared to 6.5?mm optical zone. This can be important for decision-making in femto-LASIK surgery for better postoperative results

Evaluación de la tolerancia a Monilia en cultivares de melocotonero

6 Pags.- 4 Figs.- 1 Tabl.El melocotonero [Prunus persica (L.) Batch] pertenece a la familia Rosaceae, subgénero Amygdalusy género Prunus. Dentro de la familia de las Rosáceas, en el año 2011 fue la tercera especie frutal en importancia a nivel mundial, en términos de producción, por detrás del manzano (75,5. 106 t). La producción mundial de melocotonero ese año fue de 21 ,5• 106 toneladas en una superficie cultivada de 1,57 106 hectáreas (Faostat, 2013).Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Mineco y el Gobierno de Aragón con los proyectos AGL2O1 1-24576 y A44, respectivamente, cofinanciados con fondos FEDER.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of Monilia [(Monilinia laxa (Aderh et Rulh) Honey)] tolerance in peach cultivars

4 Pags.- 1 Fig.- 1 Tabl.[ES] Monilinia laxa (Aderhold et Rulhand) Honey es una de las especies fúngicas causantes de la podredumbre parda en especies del género Frunzrs. En este trabajo se presenta una metodología para la evaluación de la tolerancia & sitj, a esta enfermedad en cultivares de melocotonero [Priinus persica (L.) Batschj). El objetivo principal fue la optimización de un método para la inoculación de los frutos y su posterior evaluación en condiciones controladas, En los frutos inoculados individualmente se midieron la intensidad de la lesión y la expansión de la esporulación como dos parámetros de incidencia de la enfermedad. Resultados preliminares de la evaluación de tolerancia a la podredumbre parda mostraron diferencias en los genotipos estudiados, siendo el cultivar Calante el que mostró la mayor tolerancia.[EN] Mon!linia ¡axa (Aderhold et Ruhland) l-loney is one of the fungal species causing brown rot in Prunus spp. This paper presents a methodology for Ihe ex situ evaluation of tolerance to this disease in peach cultivars [Pruntis persica (L.) Bastch]. The main objective was to optirnize a method for inoculation of the fruit and its subsequent evaluation under controlled conditions. Individually inoculated fruits were measured for lesion intensity and sporulation expansion as two pararneters of disease incidence. Preliminary results of the evaluation of tolerance to brown rot showed differences in the genotypes studied, with Calante cv. indicating the greatest tolerance.Peer reviewe