Invasive fungal diseases in haematopoietic cell transplant recipients and in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplasia in Brazil

AbstractInvasive fungal disease (IFD) shows distinct regional incidence patterns and epidemiological features depending on the geographic region. We conducted a prospective survey in eight centres in Brazil from May 2007 to July 2009. All haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients and patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or myelodysplasia (MDS) were followed from admission until 1 year (HCT) or end of consolidation therapy (AML/MDS). The 12-month cumulative incidence (CI) of proven or probable IFD was calculated, and curves were compared using the Grey test. Among 237 AML/MDS patients and 700 HCT recipients (378 allogeneic, 322 autologous), the 1-year CI of IFD in AML/MDS, allogeneic HCT and autologous HCT was 18.7%, 11.3% and 1.9% (p <0.001), respectively. Fusariosis (23 episodes), aspergillosis (20 episodes) and candidiasis (11 episodes) were the most frequent IFD. The 1-year CI of aspergillosis and fusariosis in AML/MDS, allogeneic HCT and autologous HCT were 13.4%, 2.3% and 0% (p <0.001), and 5.2%, 3.8% and 0.6% (p 0.01), respectively. The 6-week probability of survival was 53%, and was lower in cases of fusariosis (41%). We observed a high burden of IFD and a high incidence and mortality for fusariosis in this first multicentre epidemiological study of IFD in haematological patients in Brazil

Molecular Typing of Australian Scedosporium Isolates Showing Genetic Variability and Numerous S. aurantiacum

Molecular typing showed genetic diversity, dismissed 2 suspected outbreaks of scedosporiosis, and identified multiple strains of the newly described species S. aurantiacum

Phylogenomic analysis of a 55.1 kb 19-gene dataset resolves a monophyletic Fusarium that includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user¿s needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option availabl

Lightning - Induced voltages on distribution systems: influence of ground resistivity and system topology

Most of the work on lightning-induced voltages makes reference to single or multi-conductor lines above a perfectly conducting ground. The paper is aimed at showing whether the above simplifications are appropriate for the problem of interest. Distribution systems are, indeed, of different and more complex topology, as they generally consist of one or more main feeder and several laterals, and are situated above a lossy ground. To show whether the mentioned assumptions are appropriate, first the explanation of the mechanism of lightning-induced voltages for the cases of a lossless and of a lossy ground is summarized; then a sensitivity analysis on a H-shaped network is presented, aimed at showing the influence of the presence of the network branches, of the stroke location and of the ground resistivity on the calculated lightning-induced voltages

Lightning - Induced voltages on distribution systems: influence of ground resistivity and system topology

Most of the work on lightning-induced voltages makes reference to single or multi-conductor lines above a perfectly conducting ground. Distribution systems are, however, of different and more complex topology, as they generally consist of one or more main feeder and several laterals, and are situated above a lossy ground. The paper is aimed at showing whether the above simplifications are appropriate for the problem of interest. To accomplish that, first the explanation of the mechanism of lightning-induced voltages for the case of a lossless and of a lossy ground is summarized; then a sensitivity analysis on a H-shaped network is presented, aimed at showing the influence of the presence of the network branches on the calculated lightning-induced voltages

Restoration of the system after black-out by exploiting black start-up capabilities of repowered thermal stations

The role that can be played by thermo electrical power plants in the restoration procedure after blackout events, is discussed in the paper, with particular reference to steam thermoelectric plants repowered by gas turbines (GT) that are provided with bypass valve of the GT exhaust flow. The reassessment of restoration plans, which is taking place in several countries as a consequence of the liberalization of the electrical energy market, renders the above issue of utmost interest. Some results of an investigation carried out in cooperation between University of Bologna and ENEL-CESI are reported. The black start up capability of gas turbines can be exploited by implementing adequate procedures and automatic control devices that would render it possible also for the combined cycle power plant to autonomously start up and contribute to the restoration process after black out