Microplastics in Swiss Floodplain Soils

Microplastics (MPs) are small (<5 mm diameter) but have clear implications for the environment. These artificial particles are found in and pose threats to aquatic systems worldwide. MPs have terrestrial sources, but their concentrations and fates in the terrestrial environment are poorly understood. While global plastic production continues to increase, so do the environmental concentrations and impacts of MPs. In this first study of MPs in floodplain soils, we developed a method for identifying, quantifying, and measuring the sizes of most commonly produced MPs in soil by FT-IR microscopy. For small MP (<1 mm) analysis, MP were separated by density separation and oxidation of organic matter. In this study we analyzed 29 floodplains in Swiss nature reserves associated with catchments covering 53% of Switzerland. We found evidence that 90% of Swiss floodplain soils contain MPs. The highest MP concentrations were associated with the concentration of mesoplastics (5 mm − 2.5 cm diameter), indicating plastic waste as source. Furthermore, MP concentration was correlated with the population of the catchment. The wide distribution of MPs, their presence in remote unsettled high mountain areas, decoupling of MEP and MP compositions, and the dominance of MPs by small (<500 μm diameter) particles, indicate that MPs enter soils via diffuse aeolian transport

Update on thyroid eye disease and management

Thyroid eye disease is a heterogeneous autoimmune orbital reaction typically manifesting in middle age. The inflammation may parallel or remain isolated from a related inflammatory cascade in the thyroid called Graves’ disease. The orbital manifestations can lead to severe proptosis, dry eyes, strabismus, and optic neuropathy. In this article, we will discuss this unique condition including the ophthalmic findings and management

High Court Recruitment of Female Clerks: A Comparative Analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada

In this article, we systematically analyze the available data on SCOTUS clerk appointments to more thoroughly investigate the gender disparity in the hiring practices of its justices across the time period, 1941 to 2011, and compare this data, whenever possible, to that collected for the SCC from 1967 to 2007. In doing so, we are especially interested in exploring the impact of justice ideology and justice gender on individual decisions to hire female clerks. We maintain that the gender imbalance that has characterized the U.S. Supreme Court's composition might, at least partially, account for the discrepancy between the number of male and female clerks that have worked for this Court. It may also explain the notable relationship between a justice's ideology and his or her decision to hire female clerks.</p

Computer-Assisted Analysis of Oral Antifungal Therapy in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Airway Mycosis: a Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Environmental fungi are etiologically related to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with airway mycosis, but their infectious role remains uncertain, in part because of potentially inadequate methods of disease quantitation. Our objective was to determine objective radiographic and symptomatic outcomes of oral antifungal therapy in adult patients with CRS and airway mycosis by using computer-assisted analysis. We conducted a retrospective study of 65 patients with CRS and culture-proven airway mycosis in a single-center referral-based academic practice, comparing paired sinus computed tomography (CT) scans and symptom scores prior to and during chronic oral antifungal therapy using computer-assisted analysis of sino-mucosal area (CAASMA). A comparator group received standard therapy without antifungals. Administration of antifungals was associated with significantly reduced sinus mucosal thickening as assessed by CAASMA (-6.85% absolute reduction; 95% confidence interval [CI], -11.8283 to -1.8717

Absolute quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for the measurement of human papillomavirus E7 mRNA in cervical cytobrush specimens

BACKGROUND: Few reports of the utilization of an accurate, cost-effective means for measuring HPV oncogene transcripts have been published. Several papers have reported the use of relative quantitation or more expensive Taqman methods. Here, we report a method of absolute quantitative real-time PCR utilizing SYBR-green fluorescence for the measurement of HPV E7 expression in cervical cytobrush specimens. RESULTS: The construction of a standard curve based on the serial dilution of an E7-containing plasmid was the key for being able to accurately compare measurements between cervical samples. The assay was highly reproducible with an overall coefficient of variation of 10.4%. CONCLUSION: The use of highly reproducible and accurate SYBR-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays instead of performing Taqman-type assays allows low-cost, high-throughput analysis of viral mRNA expression. The development of such assays will help in refining the current screening programs for HPV-related carcinomas

Effects on performance, carcass and meat quality of replacing maize silage and concentrate by grass silage and corn-cob mix in the diet of growing bulls

Grass silage is barely used in intensive beef production, but it is unclear if its lower energy supply compared to maize-silage feeding really impairs growth performance. Diets with 100, 300, 500 or 750 g grass silage/kg dry matter replacing maize silage and concentrate were tested with or without dried corn-cob mix (CCM). Performance, carcass and meat quality were studied in 30 Limousin-sired bulls. Feeding grass silage, CCM, and concentrate in a ratio of 500:300:200 allowed to maintain a similar animal performance, carcass and meat quality compared to a conventional maize silage/concentrate diet. Increasing the dietary grass silage proportion to 750 g/kg decreased the shear force of the meat. The proportion of n–3 fatty acids in intramuscular fat increased with dietary grass silage proportion. Consequently, a strategic combination of grass silage with energyrich forages may facilitate grassland-based feeding strategies in intensive beef production with favourable meat fatty acid profiles and a performance comparable to that with maize-silage based diets

Antifungal Prophylaxis and Risk for Invasive Mold Infections in Children with Hematologic Malignancies

Introduction: Invasive mold infections (IMI) are a leading cause of mortality in immunocompromised hosts. Children diagnosed with hematologic malignancies experience profound, prolonged neutropenia following intensive chemotherapy, and are at increased risk for infection-related outcomes. Depending on the anticipated therapeutic intensity, antimicrobial prophylaxis may be employed to mitigate risk for infection. We conducted a retrospective review of children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), or lymphoma between 2006-2015 and determined the incidence of IMI to be 4.8% (47/976), with an exceptionally high incidence observed in patients with AML (8.1%). This observation prompted a change in clinical practice that broadened prophylaxis for high risk patients to include coverage of molds, and resulted in development of a risk-stratified algorithm for antifungal prophylaxis in children with hematologic malignancies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the change in IMI incidence post-implementation of this algorithm, and to identify host factors contributing to risk for IMI in children with hematologic malignancies. Objective: The objective was to compare the incidence of IMI pre/post implementation of antifungal prophylaxis decision tree. Also, it was planned to evaluate the impact of race/ethnicity on the development of IMI in children with hematologic malignancies. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of children ≤ 21 years old and diagnosed with ALL, AML, or lymphoma between 2016-2019, and were treated for IMI between 2016 and June 2020. To identify potential cases, we employed a strategy identical to the one used in the 2006-2015 review, specifically, a search of the electronic medical record utilizing ICD9 codes broadly inclusive of relevant cancer and fungal diagnoses. Each potentially eligible case was then reviewed for the following inclusion/exclusion criteria (also identical to the prior review): diagnosis and treatment of ALL, AML, or lymphoma at Texas Children’s Hospital, diagnosis of IMI that met criteria for ‘proven’ or ‘probable’ per the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group and occurring prior to stem cell transplant, and no underlying immunodeficiency or history of solid organ transplant. Host and disease-related factors, as well as IMI incidence, were compared for 2006-2015 vs. 2016-2020 using a Chi-square, Fisher, or Student t-test as appropriate, and host factors predictive of IMI were assessed by multivariable linear regression. Results: The overall incidence of proven/probable IMI in children diagnosed with hematological malignancies between 2006-2019 was 4.2% (61/1456). The incidence of IMI decreased from 4.8% to 2.9% between 2006-2015 and 2016-2020. For specific diagnoses, the rate of IMI decreased from 5.0% to 3.6% (ALL, 35/705 vs. 10/276), from 1.9% to 1.4% (lymphoma, 47/976 vs. 14/480), and from 8.1% to 3.2% (AML, 9/111 vs. 2/62). No significant differences in host factor or disease-related characteristics were noted when comparing IMI cases in 2006-2015 vs. 2016-2020, nor were there differences in the proportion of patients in relapse at the time of IMI or taking antifungal prophylaxis. Substantial differences in representative mold species were noted between the two-time periods, e.g. Aspergillus spp. accounted for 19/47 IMI from 2006-2015, but accounted for none of the IMIs diagnosed 2016-2020. In 2016-2020, 5/14 IMI were due to Trichosporon spp., with 4/14 Rhizopus spp., 2/14 Fusarium spp., 1/14 Curvularia spp., 1/14 Histoplasma spp., and 1 that met criteria for probable IMI. In multivariable analyses (Table 1), Hispanics were more likely to develop an IMI than non-Hispanics (p=0.04, OR 1.94, CI 1.03-3.66), and those with lymphoma were less likely to develop an IMI than those with ALL (p=0.03, OR 0.33, CI 0.12-0.87). Patients diagnosed between 2016- 2019 were substantially less likely to develop IMI than those diagnosed 2006-2015 (p=0.003, OR 0.33, CI 0.16-0.69). Discussion and Conclusion: In this single institution study, risk for IMI in children with hematologic malignancies declined significantly after implementation of an antifungal prophylaxis algorithm that broadened coverage for high risk populations. Hispanics were at higher risk for IMI than non-Hispanics, suggesting a need to investigate relevant factors contributing to this disparity. This project can be used to further investigate the factors that contributed to invasive mold infections using a larger study populations. We can then continue to explore the potential contributing factors to the racial and ethnic disparities by including potential contributing factors such as socioeconomic factors and genetic risk

SchussenAktivplus: reduction of micropollutants and of potentially pathogenic bacteria for further water quality improvement of the river Schussen, a tributary of Lake Constance, Germany

The project focuses on the efficiency of combined technologies to reduce the release of micropollutants and bacteria into surface waters via sewage treatment plants of different size and via stormwater overflow basins of different types. As a model river in a highly populated catchment area, the river Schussen and, as a control, the river Argen, two tributaries of Lake Constance, Southern Germany, are under investigation in this project. The efficiency of the different cleaning technologies is monitored by a wide range of exposure and effect analyses including chemical and microbiological techniques as well as effect studies ranging from molecules to communities