Summary
Photosynthetic sensitivity to drought is a fundamental constraint on land‐plant evolution and ecosystem function. However, little is known about how the sensitivity of photosynthesis to ...nonstomatal limitations varies among species in the context of phylogenetic relationships.
Using saplings of 10 Eucalyptus species, we measured maximum CO2‐saturated photosynthesis using A–ci curves at several different leaf water potentials (ψleaf) to quantify mesophyll photosynthetic sensitivity to ψleaf (MPS), a measure of how rapidly nonstomatal limitations to carbon uptake increase with declining ψleaf. MPS was compared to the macroclimatic moisture availability of the species’ native habitats, while accounting for phylogenetic relationships.
We found that species native to mesic habitats have greater MPS but higher maximum photosynthetic rates during non‐water‐stressed conditions, revealing a trade‐off between maximum photosynthesis and drought sensitivity. Species with lower turgor loss points have lower MPS, indicating coordination among photosynthetic and water‐relations traits.
By accounting for phylogenetic relationships among closely related species, we provide the first compelling evidence that MPS in Eucalyptus evolved in an adaptive fashion with climatically determined moisture availability, opening the way for further study of this poorly explored dimension of plant adaptation to drought.
Our objective was to evaluate the presence and microbiological characteristics of Shigella in children with acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD), attended at the Paediatric Hospital of Posadas, Misiones ...between 2016 and 2019. All ADEs documented in the laboratory were included. Standardised microbiological techniques were used. We considered age groups: infants (L)≤ 2 years, preschool (PE): 3-5 years, school (E): 5- 14 years. We recorded 106/2128 (5%) Shigella spp. isolates, with a higher frequency in summer (54.5%). S. flexneri (64; 60.4% serotypes 02(54), 03(3), AA479(2) and 01(1)) and S. sonnei (37; 34.9%) predominated. Mean age: 4.2 years (1.2 m-11a). Those < 5 years old were the most affected (70 %). Hospitalisation was required in 7.7%. S. flexneri/S. sonnei were: in L (42.9% vs 27.7%) and in E (27 vs 42.9%). Overall resistance to AMP was 72.7% and 58.1% to TMS. 97% were sensitive to furazolidone (FUR), cefpodoxime and fluorinated quinolones. In S. flexneri the % resistance to AMP/TMS was (78.7/44.8) and in S. sonnei (61.8/80.6) p< 0.05). We detected 6 resistance phenotypes with low multi-resistance (2.6%). FUR remains an empirical therapeutic option in outpatients.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the National Health Service in United Kingdom. The UK Ocular Oncology Services evaluated the impact on the adult eye cancer care in the UK. ...All four adult Ocular Oncology centres participated in a multicentre retrospective review comparing uveal melanoma referral patterns and treatments in a 4-month period during the national lockdown and first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with corresponding periods in previous 2 years. During the national lockdown, referral numbers and confirmed uveal melanoma cases reduced considerably, equalling to ~120 fewer diagnosed uveal melanoma cases compared to previous 2 years. Contrary to the recent trend, increased caseloads of enucleation and stereotactic radiosurgery (p > 0.05), in comparison to fewer proton beam therapy (p < 0.05), were performed. In the 4-month period following lockdown, there was a surge in clinical activities with more advanced diseases (p < 0.05) presenting to the services. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to mount pressure and reveal its hidden impact on the eye cancer care, it is imperative for the Ocular Oncology Services to plan recovery strategies and innovative ways of working.
PurposeTo share our initial experience in the use of intralesional interferon alpha-2a at primary presentation in ocular surface tumours as a method of immunoreduction prior to definitive surgical ...management.MethodsCase series of patients referred to Sheffield Ocular Oncology Service with rapidly growing ocular surface tumours, treated with intralesional interferon alpha-2a at first presentation prior to definitive surgical management.ResultsAll three patients, two with conjunctival melanoma and one with ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) demonstrated immunoreduction of tumour without any adverse side effects.ConclusionsInterferon alpha-2a is effective in conjunctival melanoma and OSSN. Intralesional interferon at first presentation may be used for immunoreduction prior to definitive surgical management. This may improve surgical and long-term outcomes, improve patient experience, and help meet cancer treatment targets.
The polyamines spermine, spermidine and putrescine are ubiquitous cell components. If they accumulate excessively within the cells, due either to very high extracellular concentrations or to ...deregulation of the systems which control polyamine homeostasis, they can induce toxic effects. These molecules are substrates of a class of enzymes that includes monoamine oxidases, diamine oxidases, polyamine oxidases and copper containing amine oxidases. Polyamine concentrations are high in growing tissues such as tumors. Amine oxidases are important because they contribute to regulate levels of mono- and polyamines. These enzymes catalyze the oxidative deamination of biogenic amines and polyamines to generate the reaction products H2O2 and aldehyde(s) that are able to induce cell death in several cultured human tumor cell lines. H2O2 generated by the oxidation reaction is able to cross the inner membrane of mitochondria and directly interact with endogenous molecules and structures, inducing an intense oxidative stress. Since amine oxidases are involved in many crucial physiopathological processes, investigations on their involvement in human diseases offer great opportunities to enter novel classes of therapeutic agents.
To evaluate changes occurring in central corneal thickness (CCT) immediately after uneventful cataract surgery.
Thirteen consecutive patients who had uneventful phacoemulsification surgery by the ...same experienced surgeon were prospectively evaluated for CCT measurements 1 hour preoperatively and 1 hour, 1 day, and 1 week postoperatively. The unoperated eye also had CCT measurements simultaneously on all occasions and served as a control. All patients provided informed consent.
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, UK RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 69 years. Central corneal thickness was 550.34 microm preoperatively, 626.39 microm at 1 hour, 585.80 microm at 1 day, and 553.80 microm at 1 week. In the control group, CCT remained stable, within +/-2 microm of preoperative readings.
Central corneal thickness increased by approximately 13.81% in the immediate postoperative period (at 1 hour). It remained increased by 6.44% on day 1 compared with preoperative values and gradually reduced to preoperative levels by the 1-week postoperative period (0.57% difference). Intraocular pressure (IOP) measured postoperatively in the first week may be falsely elevated to some extent because of the increased corneal thickness in the immediate postoperative period; thus, not all IOP rises have be treated in this period in healthy uncompromised eyes.
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•Microwave assisted three phase partitioning (MTPP) for extraction of epoxide hydrolase.•Highest recovery 142.6 %; purification fold 2.38 with MTPP.•1.17 times increase in % recovery ...in MTPP as compared to TPP.•With MTPP significant decrease by 7.5 times in extraction time from 60 min to 8 min.•MTPP novel, rapid and effective technique for extraction of epoxide hydrolase.
Epoxide hydrolase from Glycine max was partially purified and recovered in a single step using three phase partitioning (TPP). It was found to be exclusively partitioned in the interfacial precipitate phase. TPP was explored for the extraction of epoxide hydrolase using dimethyl carbonate as an organic phase and ammonium sulfate as a salt phase. It was then combined with microwave irradiation for process intensification, and the effect of microwave irradiation on the extent of extraction recovery was studied. The % percent recovery and purification fold achieved in TPP were 121.2 ± 1.6 % and 2.14 ± 0.03, respectively, under the optimized conditions of 40 % ammonium sulfate precipitation, 1:1.5 (v/v) crude extract to solvent ratio at 45 °C. These optimized conditions were further operated under microwave irradiation reducing the contact time from 1 h to 8 min with 20 W microwave power and 50 % duty cycle achieving recovery of 142.6 ± 1.9 % and purification fold of 2.38 ± 0.02. The percent recovery was enhanced up to 1.17 times with the use of microwave-assisted TPP (MTPP). The combined microwave-assisted TPP was found to be a green and effective technique for the recovery and partial purification of epoxide hydrolase from Glycine max.
The majority of Northern Irish uveal melanoma (UM) patients are diagnosed in Sheffield. This study aims to present incidence and survival outcomes for UM patients from Northern Ireland (NI).
...Collaborative retrospective study between Sheffield and Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR). For UM cases not on both databases, outcomes and survival rates (via Kaplan-Meier analysis) were compared. Anonymised NICR data were used to calculate whole-population incidence of UM for NI.
In total, 161 patients from NI were diagnosed in Sheffield, 90 of which were not registered with NICR at the start of this study. Data-omissions were not consistent across patient groups, leading to significant differences between those patients registered and those not. Registered patients had an all-cause 5-year survival rate of only 68.9% compared to 92.5% of those not registered (p < 0.01) and were >17x more likely to have systemic metastases than those not registered (p < 0·001). Following rectification of data-omissions, the European age-standardised incidence rate of UM for NI was 8·6 per million.
This study illustrates the impact of incomplete population-wide data, serving as a real-world lesson in case-identification bias. Rare cancers are at higher risk of omission due to systemic failures as the small numbers involved are not detected by system-wide validation procedures. Following this study, data-transfer agreements between England and NI were actioned, preventing future data-omissions. We present survival and incidence data for UM in NI for the first time, showing the incidence is amongst the highest in Europe, with good survival rates.
Background: Papilloedema and visual failure can occur as a consequence of vestibular schwannoma without evidence of hydrocephalus on imaging. Conventional treatment usually includes CSF diversion ...procedures. We describe here the novel use of optic nerve sheath fenestration in these patients.
Methods: A case series of three patients who underwent optic nerve sheath fenestration for visual complications of vestibular schwannoma.
Results: Patients A and B were both 23 year old females, with visual symptoms and papilloedema at the time of presentation with a large vestibular schwannoma. Patient A had progressive, severe visual failure despite treatment with an external ventricular drain and tumour resection. She therefore went on to have bilateral optic nerve sheath fenestration surgery, which restored central vision, improved peripheral vision and resolved papilloedema. Patient B underwent optic nerve sheath fenestration as first line surgical management for visual symptoms from a large vestibular schwannoma. This resulted in resolution of visual symptoms and papilloedema and she went on to have the lesion resected at a later date. Patient C was a 54 year old male who developed visual symptoms and papilloedema following the resection of a vestibular schwannoma. This was found to be secondary to a transverse venous sinus thrombosis and he underwent an optic nerve sheath fenestration to treat the complications of this. He also had restored vision and resolution of papilloedema.
Conclusion: We demonstrate, with 3 differing cases, that optic nerve sheath fenestration can be a useful and safe treatment choice for patients with visual failure and papilloedema secondary to vestibular schwannoma.