Candida albicans endophthalmitis following penetrating corneal graft: case report

The authors report a case of a patient submitted to penetrating corneal graft for keratoconus with an exaggerated inflammatory response during the postoperative period. The patient was suspected of having an atypical rejection to the donor button. There were periods of improvement, followed by periods of worsening of the inflammation at each attempt of reducing the topical corticosteroid. After initiating immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin and high doses of topical corticosteroid, the patient developed Candida albicans endophthalmitis affecting the anterior segment of the eye and the vitreous body, but sparing the chorioretina. The patient improved after three injections of 5 µg intravitreal amphotericin B, 400 mg oral ketoconazole daily and topical clotrimazole every four hours. The authors also discuss the main possibilities of contamination of the patient, the infectious picture probably being related to the surgical procedure.Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente submetida a transplante penetrante de córnea por ceratocone que evoluiu com resposta inflamatória exacerbada durante o período pós-operatório, suspeitando-se, inicialmente, de rejeição atípica e intensa ao botão doador. Houve períodos de melhora, seguidos por períodos de piora a cada tentativa de se reduzir o corticóide tópico. Iniciou-se terapia imunossupressora com ciclosporina via oral e altas doses de corticóide tópico, porém, a paciente desenvolveu endoftalmite por Candida albicans com acometimento do segmento anterior do olho e do corpo vítreo, mas sem surgimento de lesões coriorretinianas. Evoluiu de forma satisfatória após três injeções de anfotericina B 5µg intravítrea, cetoconazol 400 mg/dia via oral e clotrimazol tópico de 4/4 horas. Os autores discutem também as principais possibilidades de contaminação da paciente, sendo o quadro infeccioso provavelmente relacionado ao procedimento cirúrgico.Hospital de Olhos do ParanáInstituto de Pesquisas MédicasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal do ParanáFaculdade Evangélica do ParanáUNIFESPSciEL

EDUKASI KESEHATAN FAKTOR PENYEBAB HIPERTENSI DUSUN I MADYO DESA SIDODADI, KECAMATAN SIBIRU-BIRU, KABUPATEN DELI SERDANG

Hypertension is high blood pressure of a long duration with blood pressure exceeding ≥ 140/90 mmHg, in general normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. Symptoms that appear in hypertension are headaches, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, shortness of breath, anxiety, blurred vision which occurs due to damage to the brain, eyes, heart and kidneys. Many people do not fully understand the symptoms of hypertension. With the target organ in the brain being stroke, hypertension is the main cause of stroke which carries a high death rate. Hypertension is an important factor that triggers non-communicable diseases such as heart disease. Hamlet I Sidodadi Village receives a monthly report from the local health service's health research that hypertension is the biggest disease problem. This extension education began with a location survey in Sidodadi Village, Sibiru-Biru District, Deli Serdang Regency, so that data was obtained on 232 KK. And the results of educational outreach activities through discussions and questions and answers of ongoing outreach activities, it was found that 57 residents or 95% experienced an increase in hypertension and how to prevent hypertension. It was obtained from the results of the counseling that the occurrence of hypertension was caused by 3 main factors, namely that the dominant residents of Sidodadi Village, Sibiru-Biru District had a smoking habit, there were still many residents who consumed excessive salt, and the dominant age of the residents was over 40 years, classified as susceptible to hypertension

Growth, production and food preference of rohu Labeo rohita (H.)in monoculture and in polyculture with common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.) under fed and non-fed ponds

An experiment was carried out in 18 earthen ponds to investigate the effects of the addition of common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.) and artificial feed on natural food availability, food utilization and fish production in rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) ponds. Ponds were fertilized fortnightly with cow manure, urea and triple super phosphate. Rohu was stocked in all ponds at a density of 1.5 rohu m-2. All treatments were carried out in triplicate. Treatments were: rohu with and without formulated feed, rohu plus 0.5 common carp m-2 with and without feed, and rohu plus 1 common carp m-2 with and without feed. The time period between stocking and harvesting was four and half months. Stocking 0.5 common carp m-2 enhanced natural food availability in the pond, food utilization and rohu growth and production (P0.05) but increased zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrate availability (P<0.001). Feed administration also enhanced growth of rohu and common carp (P<0.001). Rohu naturally ingests more phytoplankton than zooplankton but in the presence of formulated feed rohu shifted its natural food preference from phytoplankton to zooplankton. Common carp naturally ingests mainly zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrate and small quantities of phytoplankton. However, when offered formulated feed, the latter becomes the preferred food item

A Conceptual Design Framework based on TRIZ Scientific Effects and Patent Mining

Conceptual design represents a critical initial design stage that involves both technical and creative thinking to develop and derive concept solutions to meet design requirements. TRIZ Scientific Effects (TRIZSE) is one of the TRIZ tools that utilize a database on functional, transformation, parameterization of scientific effects to provide conceptual solutions to engineering and design problems. Although TRIZSE has been introduced to help engineers solve design problems in the conceptual design phase, the current TRIZSE database presents general scientific concept solutions with a few examples of solutions from patents which are very abstract and not updated since its introduction. This research work explores the derivation of a novel framework that integrates TRIZ scientific effects to the current patent information (USPTO) using data mining techniques to develop a better design support tool to assist engineers in deriving innovative design concept solutions. This novel framework will provide better, updated, relevant and specific examples of conceptual design ideas from patents to engineers. The research used Python as the base programming platform to develop a conceptual design software prototype based on this new framework where both the TRIZSE Database and Patents Database (USPTO) are searched and processed in order to build a Doc2Vec similarity model. A case study on the corrosion of copper pipelines by seawater is presented to validate this novel framework and results of the novel TRIZSE Database and patents examples are presented and further discussed in this paper. The results of the case study indicated that the Doc2Vec model is able to perform its intended similarity queries. The patent examples from results of the case study warrant further consideration in conceptual design activities

Understanding the Mechanism of Abrasive-Based Finishing Processes Using Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Simulation

Recent advances in technology and refinement of available computational resources paved the way for the extensive use of computers to model and simulate complex real-world problems difficult to solve analytically. The appeal of simulations lies in the ability to predict the significance of a change to the system under study. The simulated results can be of great benefit in predicting various behaviors, such as the wind pattern in a particular region, the ability of a material to withstand a dynamic load, or even the behavior of a workpiece under a particular type of machining. This paper deals with the mathematical modeling and simulation techniques used in abrasive-based machining processes such as abrasive flow machining (AFM), magnetic-based finishing processes, i.e., magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process, magnetorheological finishing (MRF) process, and ball-end type magnetorheological finishing process (BEMRF). The paper also aims to highlight the advances and obstacles associated with these techniques and their applications in flow machining. This study contributes the better understanding by examining the available modeling and simulation techniques such as Molecular Dynamic Simulation (MDS), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Method (FEM), Discrete Element Method (DEM), Multivariable Regression Analysis (MVRA), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Response Surface Analysis (RSA), Stochastic Modeling and Simulation by Data Dependent System (DDS). Among these methods, CFD and FEM can be performed with the available commercial software, while DEM and MDS performed using the computer programming-based platform, i.e., "LAMMPS Molecular Dynamics Simulator," or C, C++, or Python programming, and these methods seem more promising techniques for modeling and simulation of loose abrasive-based machining processes. The other four methods (MVRA, ANN, RSA, and DDS) are experimental and based on statistical approaches that can be used for mathematical modeling of loose abrasive-based machining processes. Additionally, it suggests areas for further investigation and offers a priceless bibliography of earlier studies on the modeling and simulation techniques for abrasive-based machining processes. Researchers studying mathematical modeling of various micro- and nanofinishing techniques for different applications may find this review article to be of great help

Geographic Clustering of Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil1

Different forms of this disease are spreading rapidly in distinct geographic clusters in this region

Adaptation of Brucella melitensis Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing to the ISO 20776 Standard and Validation of the Method

This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Themes in Brucella and Brucellosis.Brucellosis, mainly caused by Brucella (B.) melitensis, is associated with a risk of chronification and relapses. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) standards for B. melitensis are not available, and the agent is not yet listed in the EUCAST breakpoint tables. CLSI recommendations for B. melitensis exist, but they do not fulfill the requirements of the ISO 20776 standard regarding the culture medium and the incubation conditions. Under the third EU Health Programme, laboratories specializing in the diagnostics of highly pathogenic bacteria in their respective countries formed a working group within a Joint Action aiming to develop a suitable method for the AST of B. melitensis. Under the supervision of EUCAST representatives, this working group adapted the CLSI M45 document to the ISO 20776 standard after testing and validation. These adaptations included the comparison of various culture media, culture conditions and AST methods. A Standard Operation Procedure was derived and an interlaboratory validation was performed in order to evaluate the method. The results showed pros and cons for both of the two methods but also indicate that it is not necessary to abandon Mueller–Hinton without additives for the AST of B. melitensis.This research was funded by the EU Health Programme 2014–2020, through the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA, European Commission), the Joint Action EMERGE (CHAFEA n° 677 066) and the Joint Action SHARP (848096-SHARP JA).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An assessment of the levels of phthalate esters and metals in the Muledane open dump, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This work reports the determination of the levels of phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP)) and metals (lead, cadmium, manganese, zinc, iron, calcium) in composite soil samples. The soil samples were collected randomly within the Muledane open dump, Thohoyandou, Limpopo province, South Africa. Control samples were collected about 200 m away from the open dump. The phthalate esters were separated and determined by capillary gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector, whilst the metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Open dump values for the phthalate esters and metals to be generally higher in comparison to control samples for DMP, DEP, DBP and DEHP – the mean values calculated were 0.31 ± 0.12, 0.21 ± 0.05, 0.30 ± 0.07, and 0.03 ± 0.01 mg/kg, respectively, for the open dump soil samples. Nonetheless, the mean open dump values for lead, cadmium, manganese, zinc, iron and calcium were 0.07 ± 0.04, 0.003 ± 0.001, 5.02 ± 1.92, 0.31 ± 0.02, 11.62 ± 9.48 and 0.12 ± 0.13 mg/kg, respectively. The results were compared statistically.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results revealed that the discarding of wastes into the open dump is a potential source of soil contamination in the immediate vicinity and beyond, <it>via </it>dispersal. Increased levels of phthalate esters and metals in the soil pose a risk to public health, plants and animals. Sustained monitoring of these contaminants is recommended, in addition to upgrading the facility to a landfill.</p

Genome-wide association study identifies the first germline genetic variant associated with Erdheim Chester disease

[Objective] Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is rare histiocytosis with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Somatic mutations are key to the pathogenesis of the disease; however, the relationship between germline genetic variants and ECD has not been examined so far. The present study aims to explore the inherited genetic component of ECD by performing the first genome-wide association study.[Methods] After quality controls, a cohort of 255 ECD patients and 7,471 healthy donors was included in this study. Afterwards, a logistic regression followed by in silico functional annotation was performed.[Results] A signal at the 18q12.3 genomic region was identified as a new susceptibility locus for ECD (p-value=2.75x10-11; OR=2.09). This association was annotated to the SETBP1 gene, which is involved in clonal haematopoiesis. Functional annotation of this region and of the identified suggestive signals revealed additional genes that could be potentially involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.[Conclusion] Overall, this work demonstrates that germline genetic variants can impact on the development of ECD and suggests new pathways with a potential pathogenic role.This work was supported by the project “Genome-wide and epigenome-wide association study in patients with Erdheim-Chester Disease”, funded by by Histio UK, and supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute and Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) (RD21/0002/0039). M.A.H. is a recipient of a Miguel Servet fellows hip (CP21/00132) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III. L.O.F. was supported by a Juan de la Cierva Incorporación fellowship (IJC2019-040746-I) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.Peer reviewe