Possible viral agents to consider in the differential diagnosis of blepharoconjunctivitis

BACKGROUND Blepharoconjunctivitis poses a diagnostic challenge due to its diverse etiology,including viral infections.Blepharoconjunctivits can be acute or chronic,selflimiting,or needing medical therapy.AIM To review possible viral agents crucial for accurate differential diagnosis in cases of blepharoconjunctivitis.METHODS The PubMed database was searched for records relating to viral blepharoconjunctivitis.The search string generated was“("virally"[All Fields]OR"virals"[All Fields]OR"virology"[MeSH Terms]OR"virology"[All Fields]OR"viral"[All Fields])AND"Blepharoconjunctivitis"[All Fields]".RESULTS A total of 24 publications were generated from the search string.Reference lists from each relevant article were also searched for more information and included in this review.Viral etiologies such as adenovirus,herpes simplex virus(HSV),varicella-zoster virus(VZV),and Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)are frequently implicated.Adenoviral infections manifest with follicular conjunctivitis and preauricular lymphadenopathy,often presenting as epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.HSV and VZV infections can result in herpetic keratitis and may exhibit characteristic dendritic corneal ulcers.EBV,although less common,can cause unilateral or bilateral follicular conjunctivitis,particularly in immunocompromised individuals.Other potential viral agents,such as enteroviruses and molluscum contagiosum virus,should also be considered,especially in pediatric cases.CONCLUSION Prompt recognition of these viral etiologies is essential for appropriate management and prevention of complications.Thus,a thorough understanding of the clinical presentation,epidemiology,and diagnostic modalities is crucial for accurate identification and management of viral blepharoconjunctivitis.

Proof of concept of a self-tightening needle-less suture using a NiTi shapememory alloy

Among surgical procedures,suturing is considered simple.However,in some situations,suturing is not easy or feasible.Here,we present proof of concept of a new self-tightening needle-less suture made of a NiTi alloy.The new device is designed to overcome two demanding steps of traditional suturing:needle introduction and manual knotting.Our novel suture is composed only of a short NiTi wire that is able to change shape by exploiting a thermoelastic phase transition.This shape change is achieved by increasing the temperature from that of the operating room(e.g.,20-22℃)to 32℃using warm water.Suturing consists of two steps:suture introduction,in which the suture is in an open configuration,and shape recovery(i.e.,closed configuration).The closed configuration is maintained at human body temperature thanks to peculiar pseudoelastic properties of the NiTi material.Finally,thermal and functional characterization verified the simplicity and effectiveness of the proposed device.

Seed-Specific Expression of Apolipoprotein A-IMilano Dimer in Engineered Rice Lines

Apolipoprotein A-IMilano(ApoA-IM)has been shown to significantly reduce coronary atherosclerotic plaques.However,the preparation of cost-effective pharmaceutical formulations of ApoA-IM is limited by the high cost and difficulty of purifying the protein and producing the highly effective dimeric form.The aim of this study was to create an expression cassette that specifically drives the expression of dimeric ApoA-IM in the protein bodies of rice seeds.The ApoA-IM protein under control of the 13 kDa prolamin promoter is expressed exclusively in its dimeric form within the seeds,and immunocytochemical and immunogold analyses confirmed its expression in different caryopsis tissue such as seed coat,aleurone cell and endosperm,particularly in amyloplast and storage vacuoles.A plant-based ApoA-IM production system offered numerous advantages over current production systems,including the direct production of the most therapeutically effective dimeric ApoA-IM forms,long-term protein storage in seeds,and ease of protein production by simply growing plants.Therefore,seeds had the potential to serve as a costeffective source of therapeutic ApoA-IM.

随机填充型多孔介质的表面燃烧现象

为研究随机填充型多孔介质尾流区域的流动状态和预混气体在其表面燃烧的火焰特性,设计一种新型随机填充结构尾流燃烧器以及可视化实验装置,分析入口流量对填充型多孔介质表面流场的影响,以及甲烷/空气预混气体在其表面燃烧的火焰形态和排放特性。结果表明:冷态流场整体平均空气流量增大20 L/min,流场平均速度增大,涡量和应变率随之增大50%左右;靠近填充床表面区域平均轴向速度高且波动幅度大,远离填充床区域的速度波动幅度减小且趋于均匀分布;当量比对速度分布影响较大,但其对火焰传播的影响相对较小;烟气中CO的含量在空气流量50 L/min、当量比0.91时达到最低值。本文的研究结果对于开发多孔介质表面燃烧器有一定的指导作用。

Biological activities of gastropods secretions:snail and slug slime

Gastropods,a mollusk class including slugs and snails,represent an extraordinarily diverse and ecologically significant group of organisms featuring the largest class of invertebrates.They can be classified as aquatic and terrestrial animals having coiled shells,although some species have reduced or absent shells.Their unique body structure includes a muscular foot for locomotion,a visceral mass containing essential organs,and a distinct head region with sensory organs such as tentacles and eyes.They are used to secrete a complex mixture of glycoproteins,enzymes,peptides,mucus and other bioactive compounds,namely slime,which represents a tool to allow locomotion,protection,and interaction within different habitats.The biological activities of the slime have attracted considerable interest due to their diverse and potentially valuable properties ranging from defense mechanisms to potential therapeutic applications in wound healing,antimicrobial therapy,management of inflammation,and neurological disorders.This review aims at exploring the beneficial effects of snail and slug slime focusing,in particular,on the improvement of the biological processes underlying them.Continued exploration of the intricate components of these slimy secretions promises to discover new bioactive molecules with diverse applications in various scientific and industrial fields.

Clinical Significance of Topical Spermidine Hyaluronate in Vestibulodynia: An Early Appraisal

Background: The most common subtype of chronic vulvar pain is provoked vestibulodynia. The entry of the vagina is the site of acute and recurrent pain in this highly prevalent and debilitating condition, which is characterized by pressure application or attempted vaginal penetration. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of topical spermidine in patients with vestibulodynia. Methods: Topical gels containing spermidine in hyaluronate complexes Ubi1 and Ubi2 endowed with differentiated release ratio and viscosity were applied at 3 doses/week during 4-weeks, then at 2 doses/week during the next 4-weeks in two groups of patients. Pain relief was measured by visual analogic score (VAS) and dyspareunia score expressed as percent improvement from baseline to posttreatment. Results: Group 1 treated with Ubi1 provided improvement in pain (46%) and dyspareunia (27%). However, the treatment in Group 2 resulted in a superior amelioration: VAS of pain (76%) and dyspareunia (50%) as Ubi2 gel provided higher dose and viscosity along with improved local application. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that preparation 2 resulted in greater reduction in symptoms as compared to preparation 1 as measured by the VAS and Marinoff scale. These early, yet outstanding clinical outcomes in vestibulodynia through to the stimulation of tissue mechanosensor and their relevant downstream effects are reviewed hereafter.

Plant microbiomes and their role in plant health

Microorganisms are integral inhabitants of plants,playing a crucial role in plant growth,development,and health.The composition and diversity of microorganisms in plants can be influenced by several factors,including environmental factors such as soil type,temperature,and water availability.The plant microbiome serves essential functions,including nutrient acquisition,disease resistance,and stress tolerance,achieved through complex interactions between microorganisms and plants.Understanding these interactions and the impact of environmental factors can provide valuable insights into developing sustainable agricultural practices.The use of plant microbiomes in agriculture has the potential to improve crop yield,reduce fertilizer and pesticide use,and enhance soil health and sustainability,but scaling up these technologies poses several challenges.The potential benefits of using plant microbiomes in agriculture are significant and could revolutionize the industry.However,scaling up these technologies presents several challenges that require further research and innovation.In conclusion,studying plant microbiomes has the potential to bring about positive impacts for farmers,consumers,and the environment.

Comparison among Classical,Probabilistic and Quantum Algorithms for Hamiltonian Cycle Problem

The Hamiltonian cycle problem(HCP),which is an NP-complete problem,consists of having a graph G with n nodes and m edges and finding the path that connects each node exactly once.In this paper we compare some algorithms to solve a Hamiltonian cycle problem,using different models of computations and especially the probabilistic and quantum ones.Starting from the classical probabilistic approach of random walks,we take a step to the quantum direction by involving an ad hoc designed Quantum Turing Machine(QTM),which can be a useful conceptual project tool for quantum algorithms.Introducing several constraints to the graphs,our analysis leads to not-exponential speedup improvements to the best-known algorithms.In particular,the results are based on bounded degree graphs(graphs with nodes having a maximum number of edges)and graphs with the right limited number of nodes and edges to allow them to outperform the other algorithms.

含氨燃料预混火焰的层流火焰速度及NO排放特性

将甲烷或氢气与氨气共燃可以克服NH_(3)火焰的点火能量高、燃烧速度慢的缺点。为了解NH_(3)作为燃料的燃烧特性,对含NH_(3)燃料进行一维层流预混火焰数值模拟,研究其层流火焰速度及NO排放特性。采用文献中5个简化反应机理进行数值计算,发现Okafor机理模拟NH_(3)/CH_(4)/air火焰精度更高;Xiao机理模拟NH_(3)/H_(2)/air、NH_(3)/air精度适中,计算时间较短。此外,开展了当量比、燃料混合物组分比例、压力等参数对含NH_(3)燃料燃烧时烟气中NO浓度影响的研究。研究发现:含NH_(3)燃料燃烧时NO主要通过OH、H、O自由基和O_(2)分子的消耗而生成,主要通过与NH_(i)(i=0,1,2)自由基反应消耗;含NH_(3)燃料在富燃状态下燃烧可有效减少NO排放,但富燃燃烧效率低,可采用富燃-贫燃分级燃烧技术来提高燃烧效率,同时保持NO的低排放;掺有较多NH_(3)的含NH_(3)燃料在中高压下燃烧时可有效减少NO排放。

Improved method of plasma 8-Isoprostane measurement and association analyses with habitual drinking and smoking

AIM: To develop a simple and accurate method for quantifying 8-isoprostane in plasma by employing a combination of two-step solid-phase extraction of samples and a commercially available ELISA kit, and by this method to examine the effects of drinking and smoking habits against the levels of plasma 8-isoprostane in healthy Japanese volunteers.METHODS: Plasma 8-isoprostane was extracted with ODS gel suspension followed by NH2 Sep-Pak column. The 8-isoprostane fractions were assayed using a commercially available ELISA kit. We measured plasma 8-isoprostane levels in 157 healthy Japanese volunteers divided into three groups (64 non-habitual drinkers, 56 moderate drinkers and 37 habitual drinkers) according to their alcohol consumption per week. Genotypes of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) were also determined to investigate the plasma 8-isoprostane levels with reference to drinking habits. In addition, the plasma 8-isoprostane levels of 96 non-smokers and 61 smokers from the same subjects were compared.RESULTS: Our method fulfilled all the requirements for use in routine clinical assays with respect to sensitivity, intra- and inter-assay reproducibility, accuracy and dynamic assay range. Significant increases of plasma 8-isoprostane levels were observed in female habitual drinkers when compared with those of non-habitual drinkers (t = 5.494, P < 0.0001) as well as moderate drinkers (t = 3.542, P < 0.005), and 8-isoprostane levels were also significantly different between ALDH2*2/1 and ALDH2*1/1 in the female habitual drinkers (t = 6.930, P < 0.0001), suggesting that excessive drinking of alcohol may increase oxidization stress, especially in females. On the contrary, no significant difference of the plasma 8-isoprostane levels was observed between non-smokers and smokers.CONCLUSION: Our present method was proved to be a simple and accurate tool for measuring plasma 8-isoprostane. However, the clinical utility of plasma 8-isoprostane for drinking and smoking habits was limited since elevated 8-isoprostane levels were observed in female heavy drinkers, and no association was found between smokers and nonsmokers.

Safety Evaluation of a Standardized <i>Macleaya cordata</i>Extract in a Ninety Day Feeding Study in Weaned Piglets

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Sangrovit?, a standardized preparation of Macleaya cordata extract (MCE), on the health status and performance in weaned piglets. A total of 128 weaned piglets were randomly divided into four groups (n = 32, 16/sex/group) and fed either a control feed (T1) or the control feed supplemented with 100 mg/kg (T2), 500 mg/kg (T3), or 1000 mg/kg (T4) Sangrovit? (resulting in 0, 3.5, 17.5, 35 mg MCE/kg feed, respectively) for ninety days. The parameters for growth and health status were evaluated during the trial and blood was collected on Day 0 and Day 91 for hematology and biochemistry analysis. After the animals were sacrificed, the weight of the major organs and tissues was measured and histopathological examination on the organs from 8 animals in each group (4/sex/group) was performed. The results showed no statistically significant differences in live weight, feed intake, and average daily weight gain between the treatment and control groups. The feed containing 100, 500, or 1000 mg/kg Sangrovit? was well tolerated by piglets, with no adverse effects noted during the feeding period or in the histopathological results. The majority of the hematological and blood biochemistry parameters displayed no significant changes between the control and treatment groups. Compared to the control group, some hematological parameters including MCV, platelets concentration, and APTT were modified in some but not all treatment groups. Some significant changes in the blood biochemistry parameters were found in the treatment groups including levels in bile acid, haptoglobin, total serum protein, and GTT, as well as creatine kinase activity, but those changes were not toxicologically significant because no observed changes were seen in other similar biomarkers. In sum, this study demonstrated that the addition of Sangrovit? to swine feed at up to 1000 mg/kg does not result in any toxicological effects to the health status and growth of weaned piglets.

Metabolomics profile in gastrointestinal cancers:Update and future perspectives

Despite recent progress in diagnosis and therapy,gastrointestinal(GI)cancers remain one of the most important causes of death with a poor prognosis due to late diagnosis.Serum tumor markers and detection of occult blood in the stool are the current tests used in the clinic of GI cancers;however,these tests are not useful as diagnostic screening since they have low specificity and low sensitivity.Considering that one of the hallmarks of cancer is dysregulated metabolism and metabolomics is an optimal approach to illustrate the metabolic mechanisms that belong to living systems,is now clear that this-omics could open a new way to study cancer.In the last years,nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)metabolomics has demonstrated to be an optimal approach for diseases’diagnosis nevertheless a few studies focus on the NMR capability to find new biomarkers for early diagnosis of GI cancers.For these reasons in this review,we will give an update on the status of NMR metabolomic studies for the diagnosis and development of GI cancers using biological fluids.

Decrease of reactive-oxygen-producing granulocytes and release of IL-10 into the peripheral blood following leukocytapheresis in patients with active ulcerative colitis

AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy of leukocytapheresis (LCAP) in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC), and to elucidate the mechanisms by determining the changes in the cytokine levels in the peripheral blood and of the functions of the peripheral blood leukocytes in these patients. METHODS: The subjects were 19 patients with active UC, with a mean clinical activity index (CAI) of 9.2. The LCAP was conducted using Cellsorba E. In each session of LCAP, 2-3 L of blood at the flow rate of 30-50 mL/min was processed. The treatment was carried out in approximately 1-h sessions, once a week, for 5-10 wk. Blood samples for determination of the cytokine levels were collected from the inflow side of the column (site of dehematization; at the start of LCAP) and outflow side of the column (at the end of LCAP). Blood samples for the determination of reactive-oxygen-producing cells were collected from the peripheral blood before and after LCAP. RESULTS: LCAP resulted in clinical improvement in all the 19 patients of UC recruited for this study. Remission (CAI: ≤4) was noted in 15 (79%) of the 19 patients. The blood level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 was found to be decreased following treatment by LCAP, and the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 at the outflow side of the LCAP column was found to be significantly elevated as compared to that at the inflow side of the column. The reactive-oxygen-producing granulocytes in the peripheral blood of UC patients was increased as compared to that in healthy persons and the increase was found to be decreased following treatment by LCAP. CONCLUSION: LCAP exerted a high therapeutic efficacy in patients with active UC. Our findings suggest that LCAP is associated with enhanced production of the inhibitory cytokine IL-10 to indirectly inhibit the functions of the inflammatory leukocytes, and that inflammation is also considerably attenuated by the direct removal of reactive-oxygen-producing neutrophils from the peripheral blood.

Molecular Characterization of Peruvian Fowl Adenovirus (FAdV) Isolates

Forty seven clinical samples of Fowl adenovirus (FAdV) associated with Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) from Peruvian broilers received between July 2006 and April 2013 were genotyped using sequencing of L1 Loop of Hexon gene. All 47 clinical samples presented macroscopic and histopathology lesions consistent with IBH, and amplified a specific fragment of Hexon gene by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A unique nucleotide sequence of 789 base pairs of Hexon gene (position 273 to 1061) was obtained in all 47 clinical samples analyzed. This sequence showed a high level of conservation in amino acid and nucleotide sequence (>99%) with a Fowl Adenovirus C serotype 4 previously identified. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicate no genotypic variation in Peruvian isolates. The presence of a unique genotype very closely related with genotype C1 previously reported in Peru and Ecuador (>99%), suggests the presence of FAdV C serotype 4 genotype C1 in clinical cases of IBH from Peruvian broilers.

氨气/甲烷贫预混旋转湍流火焰稳定性及NO生成

为了研究氨气/甲烷掺混燃气在贫预混旋转湍流状态下的火焰稳定性及NO的排放特性,设计建造了一个可视化的旋转湍流燃烧装置,开展了一系列的实验测量研究。研究表明:随着当量比增大,氨气火焰稳定燃烧的范围有所扩大,但当氨气掺混比大于0.60时火焰出现上下振荡现象,继续增加将导致火焰吹熄;NO的排放水平随当量比增加而提高;但在相同的当量比下,NO的排放随氨气掺混比的增加先升高再下降。此外,分别采用化学反应器网络(CRN)方法和一维层流预混火焰计算方法,对相应的火焰状态进行了数值计算分析,虽然计算结果与实验结果误差较大,但其预测的NO排放特性随氨气掺混比、当量比的变化趋势是一致的,对三者之间误差的来源进行了分析。

Fluidised bed granulation of two APIs:QbD approach and development of a NIR in-line monitoring method

The study focused on the fluid-bed granulation process of a product with two active pharmaceutical ingredients,intended for coated tablets preparation and further transfer to industrial scale.The work aimed to prove that an accurate control of the critical granulation parameters can level the input material variability and offer a user-friendly process control strategy.Moreover,an in-line Near-Infrared monitoring method was developed,which offered a real time overview of the moisture level along the granulation process,thus a reliable supervision and control process analytical technology(PAT)tool.The experimental design’s results showed that the use of apparently interchangeable active pharmaceutical ingredients(APIs)and filler sorts that comply with pharmacopoeial specifications,lead to different end-product critical attributes.By adapting critical granulation parameters(i.e.binder spray rate and atomising pressure)as a function of material characteristics,led to granules with average sizes comprised in a narrow range of 280–320μm and low nongranulated fraction of under 5%.Therefore,the accurate control of process parameters according to the formulation particularities achieved the maintenance of product within the design space and removed material related variability.To complete the Quality by design(QbD)strategy,despite its limited spectral domain,the microNIR spectrometer was successfully used as a robust PAT monitoring tool that offered a real time overview of the moisture level and allowed the supervision and control of the granulation process.

Coping with uncertainties through an automated workflow for 3D reservoir modelling of carbonate reservoirs

Reliable 3D modelling of underground hydrocarbon reservoirs is a challenging task due to the complexity of the underground geological formations and to the availability of different types of data that are typically affected by uncertainties. In the case of geologically complex depositional environments, such as fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs, the uncertainties involved in the modelling process demand accurate analysis and quantification in order to provide a reliable confidence range of volumetric estimations. In the present work, we used a 3D model of a fractured carbonate reservoir and populated it with different lithological and petrophysical properties. The available dataset also included a discrete fracture network(DFN) property that was used to model the fracture distribution. Uncertainties affecting lithological facies, their geometry and absolute positions(related to the fault system), fracture distribution and petrophysical properties were accounted for. We included all different types of uncertainties in an automated approach using tools available in today’s modelling software packages and combining all the uncertain input parameters in a series of statistically representative geological realizations. In particular, we defined a specific workflow for the definition of the absolute permeability according to an equivalent, single porosity approach, taking into account the contribution of both the matrix and the fracture system. The results of the analyses were transferred into a 3D numerical fluid-dynamic simulator to evaluate the propagation of the uncertainties associated to the input data down to the final results, and to assess the dynamic response of the reservoir following a selected development plan. The "integrated approach" presented in this paper can be useful for all technicians involved in the construction and validation of 3D numerical models of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs and can potentially become part of the educational training for young geoscientists and engineers, since an integrated and well-constructed workflow is the backbone of any reservoir study.

The emerging role of probiotics in neurodegenerative diseases:new hope for Parkinson’s disease?

Neurodegenerative disease etiology is still unclear,but different contributing factors,such as lifestyle and genetic factors are involved.Altered components of the gut could play a key role in the gut-brain axis,which is a bidirectional system between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system.Variations in the composition of the gut microbiota and its function between healthy people and patients have been reported for a variety of human disorders comprising metabolic,autoimmune,cancer,and,notably,neurodegenerative disorders.Diet can alter the microbiota composition,affecting the gutbrain axis function.Different nutraceutical interventions have been devoted to normalizing gut microbiome dysbiosis and to improving biological outcomes in neurological conditions,including the use of probiotics.Preclinical and clinical investigations discussed in this review strengthen the correlation between intestinal microbiota and brain and the concept that modifying the microbiome composition may improve brain neurochemistry,modulating different pathways.This review will discuss the potential use of probiotics for Parkinson’s disease prevention or treatment or as adjuvant therapy,confirming that gut microbiota modulation influences different pro-survival pathways.Future investigations in Parkinson’s disease should consider the role of the gut-brain axis and additional comprehension of the underlying mechanisms is extremely necessary.

服务能力解放了当地居民:玻利维亚马迪迪国家公园的恰拉兰生态旅馆

作者们介绍了有关恰拉兰生态旅馆发展的最新信息,它是玻利维亚亚马孙地区马迪迪国家公园综合管理自然区的一个社区项目.能力建设的最初阶段（1997-98）对于巩固恰拉兰（马迪迪）生态旅馆的新旅游胜地地位和确保社区在可持续发展自行管理项目中独立自主地进行决策是最根本的.作者们把这个项目看作是玻利维亚和亚马孙地区生态旅游发展的模范.

Polyethoxylation and polypropoxylation reactions：Kinetics,mass transfer and industrial reactor design

Ethoxylation and propoxylation reactions are performed in the industry to produce mainly non-ionic surfactants and ethylene oxide(EO)–propylene oxide(PO) copolymers.Both the reactions occur in gas–liquid reactors by feeding gaseous EO,PO or both into the reactor containing a solution of an alkaline catalyst(KOH or Na OH).Non-ionic surfactants are produced by using liquid starters like fatty alcohols,fatty acids or alkyl-phenols,while when the scope is to prepare EO–PO copolymers the starter can be a mono-or multi-functional alcohol of low molecular weight.Both reactions are strongly exothermic,and EO and PO,in some conditions,can give place to runaway and also to explosive side reactions.Therefore,the choice of a suitable reactor is a key factor for operating in safe conditions.A correct reactor design requires:(i) the knowledge of the kinetic laws governing the rates of the occurring reactions;(ii) the role of mass and heat transfer in affecting the reaction rate;(iii) the solubility of EO and PO in the reacting mixture with the non-ideality of the reacting solutions considered;(iv) the density of the reacting mixture.All these aspects have been studied by our research group for different starters of industrial interest,and the data collected by using semibatch well stirred laboratory reactors have been employed for the simulation of industrial reactors,in particular Gas–Liquid Spray Tower Loop Reactors.