Topical Anesthetic Gel Interferes with Antibacterial Efficacy of Povidone-Iodine Both In Vitro and In Vivo

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of viscous lidocaine gel on the antimicrobial efficacy of povidone-iodine (PI) and their order of application in both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: In vitro antibacterial effects were tested against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with disc diffusion methods for application of lidocaine alone, PI alone, PI before lidocaine, and lidocaine before PI. Zones of inhibition were measured after incubation at 37°C overnight. Mouse eyes were colonized with S. aureus for in vivo study to which PI and/or lidocaine were applied in various combinations. Eyes were then rinsed with saline, and the runoff fluid was collected, diluted, and plated on agar. Viable bacterial estimation was performed after incubation overnight at 37°C. Results: In vitro studies demonstrated a significantly smaller (PP\u3e0.05). In vivo studies showed that mouse eyes treated with lidocaine prior to PI had significantly more (PS. aureus growth compared to eyes that had PI applied prior to lidocaine. Conclusions: Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that lidocaine gel interfered with PI’s antiseptic properties when placed between the surface and PI. Our results are consistent with previous in vitro studies and provide greater evidence for applying PI before lidocaine gel if a viscous anesthetic agent is used

Functional biogeography: Stoichiometry and thresholds for interpreting nutrient limitation in aquatic plants

Atmospheric N pollution may shift nutrient limitations in aquatic autotrophs from N to P or cause an intensification of P limitation in formerly pristine areas. Small changes in nutrient supply in oligotrophic lakes and rivers could lead to large changes in relative plant growth and yield with possible knock on effects on ecosystem carbon cycling through changes in the decomposition rate of their tissue. Previous biogeographical studies have shown inconsistent responses of plant nutrient tissue content and stoichiometry (functional traits) to external nutrient availability. Here we used a single species, Juncus bulbosus, to test the interplay between plant tissue nutrient (content and stoichiometry) and external environmental factors (local and catchment scale). We developed a comparative approach applicable globally to assess the thresholds for nutrient limitation in aquatic plants in the wild. Phosphorus in Juncus bulbosus tissue was negatively related to sediment organic matter (Fe root plaque limiting P uptake) and catchment vegetation cover (less P leaching to lakes). Our comparative approach revealed that the lack of increase in N plant tissue along the strong gradient in external N concentration may be explained by P limitation and strict plant tissue N:P ratio. Our comparative approach further showed that the nutrient content and stoichiometry of Juncus bulbosus was similar to other submerged aquatic plants growing in nutrient poor aquatic ecosystems. In southern Norway, mass development of Juncus bulbosus may be primarily triggered by changes in P availability, rather than CO2 or inorganic N, as previously thought, although co-limitations are also possible. If so, the mass development of Juncus bulbosus in oligotrophic aquatic ecosystems could be an early indicator of increasing P fluxes through these ecosystems which are less limited by N due to high atmospheric N deposition

Anisotropic flow in Xe–Xe collisions at sNN=5.44 TeV

The first measurements of anisotropic flow coefficients vn for mid-rapidity charged particles in Xe–Xe collisions at sNN=5.44 TeV are presented. Comparing these measurements to those from Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV, v2 is found to be suppressed for mid-central collisions at the same centrality, and enhanced for central collisions. The values of v3 are generally larger in Xe–Xe than in Pb–Pb at a given centrality. These observations are consistent with expectations from hydrodynamic predictions. When both v2 and v3 are divided by their corresponding eccentricities for a variety of initial state models, they generally scale with transverse density when comparing Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb, with some deviations observed in central Xe–Xe and Pb–Pb collisions. These results assist in placing strong constraints on both the initial state geometry and medium response for relativistic heavy-ion collisions