Inter-rater reliability and prognostic value of baseline Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) scores in observational cohort studies of inpatients with COVID-19.

Objectives: To reliably quantify the radiographic severity of COVID-19 pneumonia with the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) score on clinical chest X-rays among inpatients and examine the prognostic value of baseline RALE scores on COVID-19 clinical outcomes.

Setting: Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 in dedicated wards and intensive care units from two different hospital systems.

Participants: 425 patients with COVID-19 in a discovery data set and 415 patients in a validation data set.

Efficacy of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Versus Nuclear Perfusion Stress in Preventing Downstream Imaging and Prolonged Inpatient Length of Stay in Low to Medium Risk Patients With Chest Pain.

Background  The first-line imaging for low to medium-risk patients presenting to the emergency department with stable chest pain is often a matter of debate. Chest pain is the second most common presentation to the emergency department. Non-invasive imaging has been useful in assisting in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) Scores are Highly Reproducible and Prognostic of Clinical Outcomes for Inpatients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Chest imaging is necessary for diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, but current risk stratification tools do not consider radiographic severity. We quantified radiographic heterogeneity among inpatients with COVID-19 with the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) score on Chest X-rays (CXRs).

Methods: We performed independent RALE scoring by ≥2 reviewers on baseline CXRs from 425 inpatients with COVID-19 (discovery dataset), we recorded clinical variables and outcomes, and measured plasma host-response biomarkers and SARS-CoV-2 RNA load from subjects with available biospecimens.

Influence of Non-conventional Sperm Quality Parameters on Field Fertility in Ovine.

The prediction of the fertilizing ability of a seminal dose continues to be a primary aim in the field of artificial insemination (AI). To achieve this goal, in this study we have included the evaluation of some non-conventional sperm quality markers. A total of 3,906 ewes from 52 different farms were inseminated with 357 refrigerated seminal doses obtained from 45 mature rams.

Semen Quality of Rasa Aragonesa Rams Carrying the Allele of the Gene.

The mutation is a variant of the ovine gene in the Rasa Aragonesa breed. Information on the physiological importance of carrying the polymorphism in rams is limited. The aim of this study was to compare semen quality, testicle characteristics, and fertility rate of rams that carry the allele.

Cervical artificial insemination in sheep: sperm volume and concentration using an antiretrograde flow device.

There has been development of an antiretrograde flow device (DARIO), for sheep cervical artificial insemination (CAI). There, however, needs to be optimization of sperm volume and concentration of insemination doses when the DARIO is used for CAI. Objectives were to compare fertility rates (proportion of ewes lambing as a result of CAI) when there was use of the DARIO for CAI: two sperm volumes containing equal numbers of spermatozoa: 0.

Abdomino-pelvic packing revisited: An often forgotten technique for managing intractable venous obstetric haemorrhage.

Background: Surgical packing should not be seen as a 'bail out' for the less skilled obstetrician who is unable to control obstetric haemorrhage using conventional techniques. Rather, this should be considered in cases of coagulopathy or where haemorrhage persists from raw surfaces, venous plexuses and inaccessible areas.

Materials And Methods: Data from seven women who underwent abdomino-pelvic packing for intractable postpartum bleeding were collected.

[Role of Bacterial Adhesin RAPA1 in Formation of Efficient Symbiosis of Rhizobium leguminosarum with Bean Plants].

Bacterial adhesins, the proteins responsible for attachment of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria to plant roots, are involved in formation of stable associative symbioses. In the present work enhanced expression of the rapA1 adhesin gene in Rhizobium leguminosarum PVu5 was shown to improve the efficiency of nodulation on bean roots inoculated with the modified strain. The rapA1 gene was cloned into the pJN105Turbo plasmid, this construct was used for transformation of R.

Temperature and rainfall are related to fertility rate after spring artificial insemination in small ruminants.

A total number of 1092 artificial inseminations (AIs) performed from March to May were documented over four consecutive years on 10 Payoya goat farms (36° N) and 19,392 AIs on 102 Rasa Aragonesa sheep farms (41° N) over 10 years. Mean, maximum, and minimum ambient temperatures, mean relative humidity, mean solar radiation, and total rainfall on each insemination day were recorded. Overall, fertility rates were 58 % in goats and 45 % in sheep.

First Report of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri' Causing Peach Yellow Leaf Roll (PYLR) in Spain.

'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum,' which causes European stone fruit yellows (ESFY), is the prevalent phytoplasma affecting Prunus spp. in Europe. It is closely related to 'Ca.

Multilocus sequence analysis reveals the genetic diversity of European fruit tree phytoplasmas and supports the existence of inter-species recombination.

The genetic diversity of three temperate fruit tree phytoplasmas 'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum', 'Ca. P. mali' and 'Ca.

Effects of melatonin implants during non-breeding season on sperm motility and reproductive parameters in Rasa Aragonesa rams.

The effect of melatonin implants administered during non-breeding season in Rasa Aragonesa rams on sperm motility parameters and other reproductive traits was assessed. In a first experiment, two Rasa Aragonesa rams were implanted (with melatonin group M), remaining other two males as control group (C). Semen of each group was collected from 1 May to 23 June, twice or three times a week, and motility parameters were assessed using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system.

A 17 bp deletion in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 (BMP15) gene is associated to increased prolificacy in the Rasa Aragonesa sheep breed.

Different mutations in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 (BMP15) and the Growth Differentiation Factor 9 (GDF9) genes cause increased ovulation rate and infertility in a dosage-sensitive manner in sheep. They cause increased ovulation rate and twin and triplet births in heterozygotes, and complete primary ovarian failure in homozygotes resulting in total infertility. We are here presenting a novel mutation in the second exon of the ovine BMP15 gene, found in the Spanish breed Rasa Aragonesa.

Pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckling, and vitrectomy surgery in the management of pseudophakic retinal detachments.

Background: To review the indications for and results of pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckling, combined pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckling surgery, and primary pars plana vitrectomy in the management of pseudophakic retinal detachment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a series of 100 pseudophakic retinal detachments in 98 patients who were referred to a tertiary care centre for management over a 3-year period.

Results: Forty-one cases were treated with retinopexy procedures; 38 underwent scleral buckling surgery; 19 underwent combined pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckling procedures; and 2 cases underwent vitrectomy only.

First Report of Phytoplasmas Associated with the Degeneration Syndrome of Artichoke in Catalonia (Spain).

Spain is the second largest producer of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) in the world with 230,000 tons produced annually. The region of Catalonia, located in northeast Spain, has 3,500 ha dedicated to this crop.

Infantile infection and diabetes insipidus in children with optic nerve hypoplasia.

Background: Bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia (BONH) is often associated with other central nervous system midline abnormalities (septo-optic dysplasia). Hormonal dysfunction, caused by anterior (cortisol) and posterior (ADH) pituitary involvement, can be sudden, severe, and life threatening.

Methods: Case series.

The correlation between height of macular detachment and visual outcome in macula-off retinal detachments of < or = 7 days' duration.

Objective: To determine the relationship between the height of macular detachment and visual recovery after treatment of macula-off retinal detachments (RDs) of < or = 7 days' duration.

Design: Prospective comparative case series.

Participants: Fifty-two eyes of 52 consecutive patients who presented to one institution with macula-off RDs of < or = 7 days' duration were prospectively enrolled in the study.

Focal inner retinal hemorrhages in patients with drusen: an early sign of occult choroidal neovascularization and chorioretinal anastomosis.

Purpose: To present evidence that superficial retinal hemorrhage in the macula of patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) may be an early sign of occult chorioretinal anastomosis (OCRA) and type 1 occult choroidal neovascularization (OCNV).

Methods: Retrospective follow-up study of 16 patients presenting with a small focal area of superficial retinal hemorrhages and drusen in the juxtafoveolar area in 24 eyes.

Results: OCRA and OCNV occurred in an older subset of patients with ARMD (mean age, 75 years).

Prevention and treatment of common eye injuries in sports.

Sports have become increasingly popular and account for numerous eye injuries each year. The sports that most commonly cause eye injuries, in order of decreasing frequency, are basketball, water sports, baseball, and racquet sports. Sports are classified as low risk, high risk, and very high risk.

First Report of Stolbur Phytoplasma in Avocado in Spain.

Since its introduction to southern Spain in the late 1970s, avocado (Persea americana Mill.) has become an alternative irrigation crop to more traditional and less productive dry land crops such as olive, almond, and grapevine. Avocado orchards in this region currently cover an area of 7,500 ha, producing 58,000 tons of fruit in 2000, with 42,000 tons exported annually to the European Union.

Posterior repositioning of glaucoma implants for anterior segment complications.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of repositioning Baerveldt aqueous implant tubes from the anterior chamber into the vitreous cavity in the management of anterior chamber tube-related complications.

Design: Noncomparative case series.

Participants: Nine eyes of eight consecutive subjects with anterior segment problems (corneal decompensation with a shallow anterior chamber or recurrent tube erosion unresponsive to conventional revision).

Outcome of surgical management of superior oblique palsy: a study of 123 cases.

Purpose: To determine the outcome of the surgical management of superior oblique palsy at our institution.

Subjects And Methods: Retrospective review of 123 patients who underwent surgical correction of superior oblique paresis at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from 1976 to 1996. Subject-Patients: 67% were male and 33% female.