Degradation of PET microplastic particles to monomers in human serum by PETase.

More than 8 billion tons of plastic waste has been generated, posing severe environmental consequences and health risks. Due to prolonged exposure, microplastic particles are found in human blood and other bodily fluids. Despite a lack of toxicity studies regarding microplastics, harmful effects for humans seem plausible and cannot be excluded.

The WATCH AF Trial: SmartWATCHes for Detection of Atrial Fibrillation.

Objectives: The WATCH AF (SmartWATCHes for Detection of Atrial Fibrillation) trial compared the diagnostic accuracy to detect atrial fibrillation (AF) by a smartwatch-based algorithm using photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals with cardiologists' diagnosis by electrocardiography (ECG).

Background: Timely detection of AF is crucial for stroke prevention.

Methods: In this prospective, 2-center, case-control trial, a PPG pulse wave recording using a commercially available smartwatch was obtained along with Internet-enabled mobile ECG in 672 hospitalized subjects.

First Report of the Quarantine Brown Rot Pathogen Monilinia fructicola on Imported Stone Fruits in Switzerland.

Monilinia fructicola, causal agent of fruit brown rot, is a quarantine pathogen in Europe (1). It presents a significant threat because of its aggressivity on flowers, shoots, and wood at low temperatures and propensity for sexual reproduction that increases potential for evolutionarily adaptation to new environments, hosts, and fungicides. It is common in North America, Japan, Australia, and South America.