Decline in subarachnoid haemorrhage volumes associated with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased volumes of stroke admissions and mechanical thrombectomy were reported. The study\u27s objective was to examine whether subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions demonstrated similar declines. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study across 6 continents, 37 countries and 140 comprehensive stroke centres. Patients with the diagnosis of SAH, aneurysmal SAH, ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions and COVID-19 were identified by prospective aneurysm databases or by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, codes. The 3-month cumulative volume, monthly volumes for SAH hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling procedures were compared for the period before (1 year and immediately before) and during the pandemic, defined as 1 March-31 May 2020. The prior 1-year control period (1 March-31 May 2019) was obtained to account for seasonal variation. FINDINGS: There was a significant decline in SAH hospitalisations, with 2044 admissions in the 3 months immediately before and 1585 admissions during the pandemic, representing a relative decline of 22.5% (95% CI -24.3% to -20.7%, p\u3c0.0001). Embolisation of ruptured aneurysms declined with 1170-1035 procedures, respectively, representing an 11.5% (95%CI -13.5% to -9.8%, p=0.002) relative drop. Subgroup analysis was noted for aneurysmal SAH hospitalisation decline from 834 to 626 hospitalisations, a 24.9% relative decline (95% CI -28.0% to -22.1%, p\u3c0.0001). A relative increase in ruptured aneurysm coiling was noted in low coiling volume hospitals of 41.1% (95% CI 32.3% to 50.6%, p=0.008) despite a decrease in SAH admissions in this tertile. INTERPRETATION: There was a relative decrease in the volume of SAH hospitalisations, aneurysmal SAH hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm embolisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings in SAH are consistent with a decrease in other emergencies, such as stroke and myocardial infarction

Effect of resin liners on the microleakage of class V dental composite restorations Efeito do uso de forradores resinosos sobre a microinfiltração de restaurações classe V em compósito odontológico

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an adhesive applied in layers of different thickness or in association with a filled adhesive or with a low viscosity composite liner on the microleakage of composite restorations. METHODS: Forty bovine incisors were prepared with round cavities (4mm diameter X 2mm depth) on the cementoenamel junction. The teeth were assigned to four groups according to the liner used: 1 (control) - application of 1 layer of the Scotchbond Multi Purpose adhesive system (SBMP); 2 - application of 3 layers of SBMP; 3 - application of 1 layer of SBMP followed by application of one layer of Optibond FL adhesive; 4 - application of one layer of SBMP followed by application of flowable composite Flow-it. All cavities were restored using composite resin Z100. The microleakage test was conducted according to ISO (TR11405). Data were analyzed by Kruskall-Wallis test (a=0.05). RESULTS: Group 4 showed less leakage than Group 1. Groups 2 and 3 showed intermediate values and there were no statistical differences when they were compared to the values of Groups 1 and 4 CONCLUSION: The use of resin liners with flowable composites can reduce the microleakage of composite restorations.<br>OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de um adesivo em diferentes espessuras ou em associação com um adesivo com carga ou com compósito de baixa viscosidade na microinfiltração marginal de restaurações com compósito odontológico. MÉTODOS: Quarenta incisivos bovinos foram selecionados e cavidades circulares (4mm de diâmetro X 2mm de profundidade) foram preparadas na região da junção cemento-esmalte. Os dentes foram então divididos em quatro grupos de acordo com o forramento utilizado: 1: (controle) aplicação do sistema de união Scotchbond Multi Uso (SBMU) - 1 camada de adesivo; 2: aplicação de 3 camadas do adesivo SBMU; 3: aplicação do SBMU, seguido pela aplicação de uma camada do adesivo Optibond FL; 4: aplicação do SBMU seguido pela aplicação de forramento com o compósito de baixa viscosidade Flow-it. Todas as cavidades foram restauradas com o compósito Z100. O teste de microinfiltração foi conduzido de acordo com a ISO (TR11405). Os dados foram analisados pelo teste de Kruskall-Wallis (p>0,05). RESULTADOS: O grupo 4 apresentou redução significativa dos níveis de infiltração quando comparado ao grupo 1. Os grupos 2 e 3 apresentaram valores intermediários e não foram detectadas diferenças significativas quando estes grupos foram comparados aos grupos 1 e 4. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de forramento com compósito de baixa viscosidade pode reduzir os níveis de infiltração marginal, possibilitando melhora na qualidade das restaurações em compósito odontológico

Identification of a splicing coactivator gene that affects the production of ochratoxin a in Aspergillus carbonarius

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced by some fungi species. Among them, Aspergillus carbonarius is considered a powerful producer. Genes involved in the ochratoxin A biosynthesis pathway have been identified in some producer species. However, there are few studies that purpose to identify these genes in A. carbonarius. The use of insertion mutants to identify genes associated with certain properties has been increased in the literature. In this work, the region of T-DNA integration was investigated in one A. carbonarius ochratoxin-defective mutant previously obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, in order to find an association between interrupted gene and the biosynthesis of ochratoxin A. The integration occurred in a gene that possibly encodes a splicing coactivator protein. The analysis of the relative expression of the splicing coativator gene from A. carbonarius wild type strain in four different media showed high correlation between the transcript levels and the ochratoxin A production.<br>A ocratoxina A é uma micotoxina frequentemente encontrada em uma grande variedade de produtos alimentares e apresenta efeitos nefrotóxicos e potencial carcinogênico para animais e humanos. É naturalmente produzida por algumas espécies fúngicas, como Aspergillus carbonarius, que é considerado um potente produtor. Apesar disso, o número de estudos que visam identificar genes que são essenciais para a biossíntese de ocratoxina em A. carbonarius é ainda reduzido. Um mutante de A. carbonarius com baixa produção de ocratoxina A previamente obtido por transformação mediada por Agrobacterium tumefaciens foi investigado com o objetivo de encontrar uma associação entre o gene interrompido e a biossíntese desta micotoxina. Os resultados mostraram a ocorrência de uma junção não exata entre o T-DNA e o DNA genômico do fungo durante o evento de integração. A integração do T-DNA no genoma do mutante T188 provocou deleção de 727 nucleotídeos. Esta deleção inclui uma porção final do gene coativador de splicing e uma região não-codificante entre este gene e o gene F-actina. A expressão relativa do gene coativador de splicing na linhagem selvagem cultivada em quatro diferentes meios mostrou associação entre a quantidade de ocratoxina A e os níveis dos transcritos

Measurement of the branching fractions of Bˉ→D(∗)K−K(S)(∗)0\bar{B}\to D^{(*)} K^- K^{(*)0}_{(S)} and Bˉ→D(∗)Ds−\bar{B}\to D^{(*)}D_s^{-} decays at Belle II

International audienceWe present measurements of the branching fractions of eight $\overline B{}^0\to D^{(*)+} K^- K^{(*)0}_{(S)}$, $B^{-}\to D^{(*)0} K^- K^{(*)0}_{(S)}$ decay channels. The results are based on data from SuperKEKB electron-positron collisions at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance collected with the Belle II detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $362~\text{fb}^{-1}$. The event yields are extracted from fits to the distributions of the difference between expected and observed $B$ meson energy, and are efficiency-corrected as a function of $m(K^-K^{(*)0}_{(S)})$ and $m(D^{(*)}K^{(*)0}_{(S)})$ in order to avoid dependence on the decay model. These results include the first observation of $\overline B{}^0\to D^+K^-K_S^0$, $B^-\to D^{*0}K^-K_S^0$, and $\overline B{}^0\to D^{*+}K^-K_S^0$ decays and a significant improvement in the precision of the other channels compared to previous measurements. The helicity-angle distributions and the invariant mass distributions of the $K^- K^{(*)0}_{(S)}$ systems are compatible with quasi-two-body decays via a resonant transition with spin-parity $J^P=1^-$ for the $K^-K_S^0$ systems and $J^P= 1^+$ for the $K^-K^{*0}$ systems. We also present measurements of the branching fractions of four $\overline B{}^0\to D^{(*)+} D_s^-$, $B^{-}\to D^{(*)0} D_s^-$ decay channels with a precision compatible to the current world averages

Test of light-lepton universality in τ\tau decays with the Belle II experiment

We present a measurement of the ratio $R_\mu = \mathcal{B}(\tau^-\to \mu^-\bar\nu_\mu\nu_\tau) / \mathcal{B}(\tau^-\to e^-\bar\nu_e\nu_\tau)$ of branching fractions $\mathcal{B}$ of the $\tau$ lepton decaying to muons or electrons using data collected with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. The sample has an integrated luminosity of 362 fb$^{-1}$ at a centre-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV. Using an optimised event selection, a binned maximum likelihood fit is performed using the momentum spectra of the electron and muon candidates. The result, $R_\mu = 0.9675 \pm 0.0007 \pm 0.0036$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic, is the most precise to date. It provides a stringent test of the light-lepton universality, translating to a ratio of the couplings of the muon and electron to the $W$ boson in $\tau$ decays of $0.9974 \pm 0.0019$, in agreement with the standard model expectation of unity