Local practices and production confer resilience to rural Pacific food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resilience of food systems is key to ensuring food security through crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented shock that reveals varying levels of resilience of increasingly interconnected food systems across the globe. We contribute to the ongoing debate about whether increased connectivity reduces or enhances resilience in the context of rural Pacific food systems, while examining how communities have adapted to the global shocks associated with the pandemic to ensure food security.

Controlling urinary tract infections associated with intermittent bladder catheterization in geriatric hospitals.

Background: Controlling urinary tract infections (UTIs) associated with intermittent catheterization in geriatric patients.

Aim: After a local epidemiological study identified high rates of UTI, a multi-disciplinary working group implemented and evaluated corrective measures.

Methods: In 2009, a one-month prospective study measured the incidence of UTI, controlled for risk factors and exposure, in six geriatric hospitals.

Association of anti-E1E2 antibodies with spontaneous recovery or sustained viral response to therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C virus.

Unlabelled: The monoclonal antibody (mAb) D32.10 recognizes a discontinuous epitope encompassing three regions E1 (amino acids 297-306), E2A (amino acids 480-494), and E2B (amino acids 613-621) juxtaposed on the surface of serum-derived hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles (HCVsp). The mAb D32.

Monozygotic twins discordant for trisomy 21 and maternal 21q inheritance: a complex series of events.

We report on a monochorionic/diamniotic twin pregnancy discordant for trisomy 21. Amniocentesis (at 13(5/7) weeks) was performed following ultrasound signs of hydrops and cystic hygroma in twin 1 (T1). Prenatal karyotype showed non-mosaic trisomy 21 in T1 (47,XX,+21[7]), and low-grade mosaic trisomy 21 in twin 2 (T2) (47,XX,+21[2]/46,XX[19]).

Analysis of HCV co-infection with occult hepatitis B virus in patients undergoing IFN therapy.

Background/aim: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is characterized by the presence of HBV DNA in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the patient serum. Although such infections have been identified in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the clinical significance of those co-infections is still not understood. Our aim was, therefore, to assess the prevalence and clinical consequences of occult HBV infection in chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing antiviral therapy.