This multicenter cohort study investigated the differences between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related symptoms and post-COVID symptoms between male and female COVID-19 survivors. Clinical ...and hospitalization data were collected from hospital medical records in a sample of individuals recovered from COVID-19 at five public hospitals in Spain. A predefined list of post-COVID symptoms was systematically assessed, but patients were free to report any symptom. Anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were also assessed. Adjusted multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the association of sex with post-COVID related-symptoms. A total of 1969 individuals (age: 61, SD: 16 years, 46.4% women) were assessed 8.4 months after discharge. No overall significant sex differences in COVID-19 onset symptoms at hospital admission were found. Post-COVID symptoms were present in up to 60% of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors eight months after the infection. The number of post-COVID symptoms was 2.25 for females and 1.5 for males. After adjusting by all variables, female sex was associated with ≥3 post-COVID symptoms (adj OR 2.54, 95%CI 1.671-3.865,
< 0.001), the presence of post-COVID fatigue (adj OR 1.514, 95%CI 1.040-2.205), dyspnea (rest: adj OR 1.428, 95%CI 1.081-1.886, exertion: adj OR 1.409, 95%CI 1.109-1.791), pain (adj OR 1.349, 95%CI 1.059-1.720), hair loss (adj OR 4.529, 95%CI 2.784-7.368), ocular problems (adj OR 1.981, 95%CI 1.185-3.312), depressive levels (adj OR 1.606, 95%CI 1.002-2.572) and worse sleep quality (adj OR 1.634, 95%CI 1.097-2.434). Female sex was a risk factor for the development of some long-term post-COVID symptoms including mood disorders. Healthcare systems should consider sex differences in the management of long haulers.
Background
To present the outcomes of arthroscopic electrothermal shrinkage for partial scapholunate (SL) ligament tears, isolated or with associated triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) ...injuries.
Methods
A prospective study of 20 patients with symptomatic instability of SL ligament (14 of them also with TFCC wrist injuries) treated with arthroscopic electrothermal shrinkage was conducted using a monopolar radiofrequency probe. No patient showed radiologic signs of static dissociation (mean SL interval 2.2 ± 0.6 mm; mean SL angle 41.4° ± 6.7°) before surgery. All patients underwent follow-up at our clinic regularly for an average of 50.6 months (range 29–80 months).
Results
The modified Mayo wrist score improved from a mean of 59 ± 17.1 points preoperatively to 88.3 ± 16.2 points at the final follow-up. At the final clinical examination, a painful Watson scaphoid shift test was found in 3 patients (15%). The mean flexion–extension arc was unchanged (132° ± 19°), and mean grip strength improved 12 kg. No patient showed radiologic signs of arthritis or instability after surgery (mean SL interval 1.9 ± 0.7 mm; mean SL angle 42.7° ± 7.3°). Of the 14 patients with combined TFCC injuries, 3 patients continued complaining of ulnar-sided point tenderness. At the end of the follow-up, 80% of the subjects were satisfied or very satisfied.
Conclusions
SL ligament and TFCC electrothermal shrinkage effectively provided pain relief and grip strength increase for most of the patients treated.
Level of evidence
Level IV.
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•Synthesis by reverse microemulsions makes more efficient catalysts than impregnation.•Catalytic activity and stability depend on the metal and the synthesis method.•Deactivated ...catalysts activity can be regenerated by oxidative treatment.•Synthesis method influences nature of deposited carbon and catalyst regenerability.•Unexpected effect of regeneration found for bimetallic NiCo-CeO2 catalyst.
The catalytic behavior of nanostructured catalysts based on nickel, cobalt and cerium oxide in ethanol steam reforming (ESR) was studied to investigate the effect of the nature of the metal, their combination and the method of preparation. Mono- and bimetallic catalysts with equal metal content (M:Ce=4:6, M=Ni, Co, or Ni/Co=1) were prepared by two methods, impregnation and coprecipitation within reverse microemulsions, characterized by SBET, XRD, TPO and HRTEM, and tested for ESR at 500°C. The nickel catalyst prepared from microemulsions exhibited the best performance in terms of catalytic activity (close to 100% conversion), stability and hydrogen yield. Al the other catalysts deactivated at different paces due to formation of carbon deposits. The oxidative regeneration treatment of the deactivated catalysts recovered the initial activity of the impregnated catalysts but increased markedly those of catalysts from microemulsions. Thus, the catalytic behavior in ESR of the (Ni, Co)-Ce-O system depends on the preparation method, its composition and the catalyst history.
...FIA hospitalization rates increased across almost all patient demographics and hospital characteristics (Table I). ...the average hospital length of stay did not change (2.3 vs 1.9 days; P = .52).
Grapevine berry quality for winemaking depends on complex and dynamic relationships between the plant and the environment. Winemakers around the world are demanding a better understanding of the ...factors that influence berry growth and development. In the last decades, an increment in air temperature, CO
concentration and dryness occurred in wine-producing regions, affecting the physiology and the biochemistry of grapevines, and by consequence the berry quality. The scientific community mostly agrees in a further raise as a result of climate change during the rest of the century. As a consequence, areas most suitable for viticulture are likely to shift into higher altitudes where mean temperatures are suitable for grape cultivation. High altitude can be defined as the minimum altitude at which the grapevine growth and development are differentially affected. At these high altitudes, the environments are characterized by high thermal amplitudes and great solar radiations, especially ultraviolet-B (UV-B). This review summarizes the environmental contribution of global high altitude-related climatic variables to the grapevine physiology and wine composition, for a better evaluation of the possible establishment of vineyards at high altitude in climate change scenarios.
Recent clinical trials showed that targeting of inhibitory receptors on T cells induces durable responses in a subset of cancer patients, despite advanced disease. However, the regulatory switches ...controlling T-cell function in immunosuppressive tumours are not well understood. Here we show that such inhibitory mechanisms can be systematically discovered in the tumour microenvironment. We devised an in vivo pooled short hairpin RNA (shRNA) screen in which shRNAs targeting negative regulators became highly enriched in murine tumours by releasing a block on T-cell proliferation upon tumour antigen recognition. Such shRNAs were identified by deep sequencing of the shRNA cassette from T cells infiltrating tumour or control tissues. One of the target genes was Ppp2r2d, a regulatory subunit of the PP2A phosphatase family. In tumours, Ppp2r2d knockdown inhibited T-cell apoptosis and enhanced T-cell proliferation as well as cytokine production. Key regulators of immune function can therefore be discovered in relevant tissue microenvironments.
A copper-chromium mixed oxide with Cu:Cr 1:2 ratio has been prepared by a microemulsion method and employed as support of CeO2 in different amounts from 5 to 80 wt%. The catalysts have been ...characterized by XRD, HRTEM/XEDS, H2-TPR and XPS. The characterization results have been examined in correlation with their catalytic properties for the CO-PROX process complemented by operando-DRIFTS. The catalysts are formed by composites of CuCr2O4 and CuO on which aggregates of CeO2 nanoparticles are dispersed. Incorporation of CeO2 onto the CuCr mixed oxide appreciably enhances the CO-PROX performance of the catalyst. This is related to a promotion of the generation and stabilization of active partially reduced copper sites during the course of the interaction of the catalysts with the reactant mixture and which are evidenced to be formed on both CuCr oxide and CeO2 components of the catalysts.
•Cu-Cr mixed oxide prepared by microemulsion is constituted by CuCr2O4-CuO composite.•CeO2 deposited on Cu-Cr mixed oxide promotes the CO-PROX activity.•Promoting effect of CeO2 related to formation and stabilization of active Cu+ centers.
The application to soils of energy co-products derived from forest biomass (biochar BC and wood ash WA) with the aim of regulating soil hydraulic conductivity and water availability, thereby reducing ...soil erosion and increasing resilience to drought, has been suggested as a strategy for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BC and WA application on the hydraulic properties of contrasting afforested soils in the Atlantic region of the Iberian Peninsula. Two experimental sites were established on acidic soils: site ES-K was established on a loamy soil (SOC% 3.9; pH: 4.8) and site ES-O on a sandy loam soil (SOC% 10.8; pH: 3.8). Biochar derived from Miscanthus sp. (pyrolysed at 450°C: containing 87% C) was applied at rates of 0, 3.5 and 10Mgha−1 to soil in ES-K and at rates of 0, 10 and 20Mgha−1 to soil in ES-O. Pine WA (30% C) was applied at rates of 0, 1.5 and 4.5Mgha−1 to ES-K, and at rates of 0, 4.5 and 9Mgha−1 to ES-O. Nitrogen- enriched (0.8% N) BC and WA were also applied at rates of respectively 10Mgha−1 and 4.5Mgha−1 in both experimental sites. Bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), porosity and aggregate size distribution were determined and soil water retention curves (SWRCs) constructed. In ES-K, application of N-enriched WA (4.5Mgha−1) led to alterations in the SWRCs and reduced the available water capacity (AWC) by 11.5%; the lowest dose of WA (1.5Mgha−1) reduced Ks due to pore-clogging. In ES-O, changes were observed in the soil structure after application of BC (20Mgha−1) and WA (9Mgha−1) as well as after application of the N-enriched materials. However, no effects on available water content or saturated hydraulic conductivity were observed fifteen months after the treatments. Further field research is required to determine the soil specific, long-lasting effects of BC and WA on soil structure and soil hydraulic properties.
•N-enriched biochar and wood ash altered the shape of SWRC of a Typic Udorthent.•Low dose of wood ash (1.5Mgha−1) caused pore clogging in a Typic Udorthent.•Biochar at 20Mgha−1 changed soil structure but not SWRC in a Typic Dystrudept.•Wood ash at 9Mgha−1 changed soil structure and SWRC in a Typic Dystrudept.•Nitrogen effect in soil structure and hydraulic properties is soil specific.
Official guidelines for the on-site treatment of domestic sewage have recently been published by the Danish Ministry of Environment as a consequence of new treatment requirements for single houses ...and dwellings in rural areas. This paper summarises the guidelines for vertical constructed wetland systems (planted filter beds) that will fulfil demands of 95% removal of BOD and 90% nitrification. The system can be extended with chemical precipitation of phosphorus with aluminium polychloride in the sedimentation tank to meet requirements of 90% phosphorus removal. The necessary surface area of the filter bed is 3.2
m
2/person equivalent and the effective filter depth is 1.0
m. The filter medium must be filtersand with a
d
10 between 0.25 and 1.2
mm, a
d
60 between 1 and 4
mm, and a uniformity coefficient (
U
=
d
60/
d
10) less than 3.5. The sewage is, after sedimentation, pulse-loaded onto the surface of the bed using pumping and a network of distribution pipes. The drainage layer in the bottom of the bed is passively aerated through vertical pipes extending into the atmosphere in order to improve oxygen transfer to the bed medium. Half of the nitrified effluent from the filter is recirculated to the first chamber of the sedimentation tank or to the pumping well in order to enhance denitrification and to stabilise the treatment performance of the system. A phosphorus removal system is installed in the sedimentation tank using a small dosing pump. The mixing of chemicals is obtained by a simple airlift pump, which also circulates water in the sedimentation tank. The vertical flow constructed wetland system is an attractive alternative to the common practice of soil infiltration and provides efficient treatment of sewage for discharge into the aquatic environment.
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