On-Table Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety/Distress during Radiation Treatments: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

We report the first randomized trial of a virtual reality (VR) headset used on-table during external beam radiation therapy (RT) treatments to reduce anxiety/distress during receipt of RT. A small pilot study was conducted among 10 patients, with VR randomized to start in the first week ("immediate VR") versus the second week ("delayed VR") of treatment. All patients (100%) in the immediate VR group had declines in measured distress scores after their first radiation treatment, compared to only 1 patient (16.

The massive 340 megabase genome of Anisogramma anomala, a biotrophic ascomycete that causes eastern filbert blight of hazelnut.

Background: The ascomycete fungus Anisogramma anomala causes Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) on hazelnut (Corylus spp.) trees. It is a minor disease on its native host, the American hazelnut (C.

Genetic Diversity Analysis of in the Pacific Northwest and New Jersey.

, a biotrophic ascomycete, causes eastern filbert blight (EFB) of hazelnuts ( spp.). EFB is endemic in eastern North America, preventing the commercial production of European hazelnut ( L.

2021 U.S. Virgin Islands Zika health brigade: Providing recommended pediatric health screenings for children born to mothers with laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

Background: The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Department of Health (DOH) conducted a second Zika health brigade (ZHB) in 2021 to provide recommended Zika-related pediatric health screenings, including vision, hearing, neurologic, and developmental screenings, for children in the USVI. This was replicated after the success of the first ZHB in 2018, which provided recommended Zika-related pediatric health screenings to 88 infants and children exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy.

Methods: Ten specialty pediatric care providers were recruited and traveled to the USVI to conduct the screenings.

Spatial, Sociodemographic, and Weather Analysis of the Zika Virus Outbreak: U.S. Virgin Islands, January 2016-January 2018.

The first Zika virus outbreak in U.S. Virgin Islands identified 1031 confirmed noncongenital Zika disease ( = 967) and infection ( = 64) cases during January 2016-January 2018; most cases (89%) occurred during July-December 2016.

Ocular Findings and Visual Function in Children Examined during the Zika Health Brigade in the US Virgin Islands, March 2018.

Among children born with laboratory-confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, visual impairment (VI) can occur despite normal ocular structure. The objective of this report is to describe ocular findings and visual function among children examined during the Department of Health Zika Health Brigade (ZHB) in the United States Virgin Islands in March 2018. This analysis is based on a retrospective chart review of children eligible to participate in the ZHB (i.

Identification of an RNA Silencing Suppressor Encoded by a Symptomless Fungal Hypovirus, Cryphonectria Hypovirus 4.

Previously, we have reported the ability of a symptomless hypovirus Cryphonectria hypovirus 4 (CHV4) of the chestnut blight fungus to facilitate stable infection by a co-infecting mycoreovirus 2 (MyRV2)-likely through the inhibitory effect of CHV4 on RNA silencing (Aulia et al., Virology, 2019). In this study, the N-terminal portion of the CHV4 polyprotein, termed p24, is identified as an autocatalytic protease capable of suppressing host antiviral RNA silencing.

In-Tree Behavior of Diverse Viruses Harbored in the Chestnut Blight Fungus, .

The ascomycete causes destructive chestnut blight. Biological control of the fungus by virus infection (hypovirulence) has been shown to be an effective control strategy against chestnut blight in Europe. To provide biocontrol effects, viruses must be able to induce hypovirulence and spread efficiently in chestnut trees.

2018 Zika Health Brigade: Delivering Critical Health Screening in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused significant damage to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), heightening the challenges many residents faced in accessing adequate healthcare and receiving recommended Zika virus screening services. To address this challenge, the USVI Department of Health (DOH) requested technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to organize a health brigade to bring needed medical care to an underserved population. It also established the development of important partnerships between federal and private partners as well as between clinical providers and public health entities such as the Epidemiology & Disease Reporting, Maternal Child Health (MCH), and Infant and Toddlers Programs within the DOH, and local clinicians.

Assessment of the Radiology Support, Communication and Alignment Network to Reduce Medical Imaging Overutilization: A Multipractice Cohort Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether participation in Radiology Support, Communication and Alignment Network (R-SCAN) results in a reduction of inappropriate imaging in a wide range of real-world clinical environments.

Methods: This quality improvement study used imaging data from 27 US academic and private practices that completed R-SCAN projects between January 25, 2015, and August 8, 2018. Each project consisted of baseline, educational (intervention), and posteducational phases.

Genome Sequence of the Chestnut Blight Fungus EP155: A Fundamental Resource for an Archetypical Invasive Plant Pathogen.

is the causal agent of chestnut blight, a fungal disease that almost entirely eliminated mature American chestnut from North America over a 50-year period. Here, we formally report the genome of EP155 using a Sanger shotgun sequencing approach. After finishing and integration with simple-sequence repeat markers, the assembly was 43.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: .

Members of the family are isometric, non-enveloped viruses with segmented, linear, dsRNA genomes. There are 3-7 genomic segments, each of which is individually encapsidated. Chrysoviruses infect fungi, plants and possibly insects, and may cause hypovirulence in their fungal hosts.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: .

is a family of non-enveloped spherical viruses with dsRNA genomes of two linear segments, each of 7.2-8.9 kbp, comprising 16.

PiRV-2 stimulates sporulation in Phytophthora infestans.

Phytophthora infestans is the causal agent of potato and tomato late blight. This pathogen, which caused the Irish potato famine, is of profound historical significance and still poses a major threat in today's agroecosystems. Research on late blight epidemics usually focuses on pathogen virulence, host resistance, environmental factors and fungicide resistance.

A symptomless hypovirus, CHV4, facilitates stable infection of the chestnut blight fungus by a coinfecting reovirus likely through suppression of antiviral RNA silencing.

Field-collected US strain C18 of Cryphonectria parasitica, the chestnut blight fungus, was earlier reported to be infected by a double-stranded RNA virus, mycoreovirus 2 (MyRV2). Next-generation sequencing has revealed co-infection of C18 by a positive-strand RNA virus, hypovirus 4 (CHV4). The current molecular and genetic analyses showed interesting commensal interactions between the two viruses.

Effect of time of day and daily endoscopic workload on outcomes of endoscopic mucosal resection for large sessile colon polyps.

Background: Endoscopic mucosal resection of large non-pedunculated colon polyps is challenging.

Objective: To determine if the time of day or daily endoscopic workload play a role in outcomes of endoscopic mucosal resection for large non-pedunculated colon polyps greater than 20 mm.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent endoscopic mucosal resection of large non-pedunculated colon polyps.

Investigation of Host Range of and Host Defense against a Mitochondrially Replicating Mitovirus.

Mitoviruses (genus , family ) are mitochondrially replicating viruses that have the simplest positive-sense RNA genomes of 2.2 to 4.4 kb with a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Population Differentiation Within in North America.

, a biotrophic ascomycete in the order Diaporthales, causes eastern filbert blight (EFB) of hazelnuts ( spp.). Until recently, little has been documented on its genetic diversity and population structure.

Phytophthora infestans RNA virus 2, a novel RNA virus from Phytophthora infestans, does not belong to any known virus group.

Phytophthora infestans is the causal agent of potato and tomato late blight. In this study, we obtained the complete genome sequence of a novel RNA virus from this plant pathogen, tentatively named "Phytophthora infestans RNA virus 2" (PiRV-2). The PiRV-2 genome is 11,170 nt in length and lacks a polyA tail.

Vital Signs: Zika-Associated Birth Defects and Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities Possibly Associated with Congenital Zika Virus Infection - U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, 2018.

Introduction: Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes serious birth defects and might be associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities in children. Early identification of and intervention for neurodevelopmental problems can improve cognitive, social, and behavioral functioning.

Methods: Pregnancies with laboratory evidence of confirmed or possible Zika virus infection and infants resulting from these pregnancies are included in the U.