Identification of Chromoblastomycosis and Phaeohyphomycosis Agents through ITS-RFLP.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and phaeohyphomycosis (FEO) are infections caused by melanized filamentous fungal agents, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Both infections pose significant challenges for the correct identification of the causative agent due to their morphological similarity, making conventional methods of morphological analysis highly subjective. Therefore, molecular techniques are necessary for the precise determination of these species.

Esophagogastroduodenal Findings in Patients with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms.

The association between intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and extra-pancreatic malignancies is controversial. This cross-sectional study compared esophagogastroduodenal findings in 340 IPMN patients to those of age- and gender-matched controls without known IPMNs who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) for similar clinical reasons. The presence of gastric and esophageal cancer, Barrett's esophagus, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), gastric adenomas, and ampullary tumors was assessed.

FOXO3A-short is a novel regulator of non-oxidative glucose metabolism associated with human longevity.

Intronic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FOXO3A are associated with human longevity. Currently, it is unclear how these SNPs alter FOXO3A functionality and human physiology, thereby influencing lifespan. Here, we identify a primate-specific FOXO3A transcriptional isoform, FOXO3A-Short (FOXO3A-S), encoding a major longevity-associated SNP, rs9400239 (C or T), within its 5' untranslated region.

Introduction.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was born from the combination of a high-frequency ultrasound probe with an endoscope to assess in detail the walls of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract and surrounding organs and structures. The subsequent possibility of EUS-guided tissue acquisition has rapidly established the irreplaceable role of EUS in the management of a wide range of benign and malignant gastrointestinal diseases. The actual diagnostic armamentarium involving fine-Doppler, elastography, and contrast enhancement has significantly improved its diagnostic yield, which could be even more refined by newer ways of interrogating data and images, such as artificial intelligence.

Obtaining Bioproducts from the Studies of Signals and Interactions between Microalgae and Bacteria.

The applications of microalgae biomass have been widely studied worldwide. The classical processes used in outdoor cultivations of microalgae, in closed or open photobioreactors, occur in the presence of bacteria. Understanding how communication between cells occurs through quorum sensing and evaluating co-cultures allows the production of microalgae and cyanobacteria to be positively impacted by bacteria, in order to guarantee safety and profitability in the production process.

Direction, not detail: Progress towards consensus at the fourth intergovernmental conference on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.

After a two year delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fourth intergovernmental conference (IGC-4) in the negotiations for a new UN treaty to address the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) took place in March 2022. This meeting differed substantially from previous IGCs in terms of process, with much of the discussions occurring in 'informal informals,' or off-the-record meetings open only to delegates and registered observers. Additionally, in-person participation was extremely limited and observers only had access to web broadcasts, i.

Bone marrow aspirate concentrate quality is affected by age and harvest site.

Purpose: To compare the number and properties of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) collected from bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) obtained from different harvest sites and from patients of different ages.

Methods: BMAC was obtained from two groups of patients based on age (n = 10 per group): 19.0 ± 2.

Serum Amylase Levels is a Predictor for Negative Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for Suspected Common Bile Duct Stones.

Negative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for suspected common bile duct stones (CBDS) may be associated with significant morbidity and should be avoided. Between 2010 and 2018, 85 patients who have undergone negative ERCP for suspected CBDS were retrospectively evaluated and compared with 318 patients with positive findings. Predictors for negative ERCP were assessed.

Older age, longer procedures and tandem endoscopic-ultrasound as risk factors for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography bacteremia.

Background: Clinically significant post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) bacteremia (PEB) occurs in up to 5% of cases, while antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended only when an ERCP is unlikely to achieve complete biliary drainage. However, the current recommendations may not cover all potential risk factors for PEB.

Aim: To identify novel risk factors for PEB and evaluate appropriateness of antibiotic prophylaxis.

Clinical impact of strain histogram EUS elastography and contrast-enhanced EUS for the differential diagnosis of focal pancreatic masses: A prospective multicentric study.

Background: Recent advances in EUS techniques (real-time EUS elastography and contrast-enhanced EUS) have allowed a better characterization of focal pancreatic masses. Mean strain histograms (SHs) are considered a good parameter for the semi-quantitative evaluation of focal pancreatic masses, alongside complementary contrast-enhanced EUS parameters which can be quantified during both the early arterial and late venous phase.

Materials And Methods: The study design was prospective, blinded, and multicentric, assessing real-time EUS elastography and contrast-enhanced EUS results for the characterization of focal pancreatic masses using parametric measurements, in comparison with pathology which is the gold standard.

Wealth blindness beyond national jurisdiction.

Marine genetic resources (MGR) are a new issue in high seas management. Discussion on how to best manage these resources is currently ongoing at the United Nations, within the context of a proposed treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine 'Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction' (BBNJ), which is expected to be completed in 2020.But how accurately can states measure the potential economic value of resources that still do not have a clear market application? Developing states in particular already suffer from wealth blindness, where they lack the capacity to properly evaluate the economic value or market potential of their marine resources.

Relevance of medical comorbidities for functional mobility in people with limb loss: retrospective explanatory models for a clinical walking measure and a patient-reported functional outcome.

Objectives: Various modifiable and non-modifiable factors affect functional mobility, but subjective patient-reported and objective performance-based measures are rarely combined in explanatory analyses of functional mobility in people with limb loss. This study determined separate explanatory models for patient-reported function using the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire Mobility Subscale (PEQ-MS), and performance-based 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT).

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional observational analysis.

An international, multi-institution survey of the use of EUS in the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Background And Objectives: Currently, pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are recognized with increasing frequency and have become a more common finding in clinical practice. EUS is challenging in the diagnosis of PCLs and evidence-based decisions are lacking in its application. This study aimed to develop strong recommendations for the use of EUS in the diagnosis of PCLs, based on the experience of experts in the field.

Production and use of microbial biomass helping sustainability in tilapia production chain.

In this study, the cultivation of in fish industry effluent was carried out to cause the depollution of the by-product and generate a protein-carotenoid-rich biomass suitable to be used in tilapia feed. The bacterium was grown in the effluent (inoculum 1% v/v, 30 ± 5 °C, 2000 ± 500 lx, 7 days) and recovered as a biomass (microfiltration + centrifugation + lyophilization), resulting in a decrease of ca. 80% in the chemical oxygen demand of the industry by-product and so putting it within the required limits for wastewater discard in Brazil.

Combined versus single use 20 G fine-needle biopsy and 25 G fine-needle aspiration for endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue sampling of solid gastrointestinal lesions.

Background: Instead of choosing one endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) needle over the other, some advocate the use of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and fine-needle biopsy (FNB) consecutively. We explored the yield of combined use of 20 G FNB and 25 G FNA needles in patients with a suspicious solid gastrointestinal lesion.

Methods: Patients from the ASPRO study who were sampled with both needles during the same procedure were included.

Patient-Defined Visit Priorities in Primary Care: Psychosocial Versus Medically-Related Concerns.

Background: Primary care providers (PCPs) are often challenged to address multiple patient concerns during time-limited visits. The need for PCPs to limit the number of issues addressed may have a negative impact on discussion of patient-defined visit priorities.

Methods: Using data from a recent clinical trial (Aligning Patients and Providers, ClinicalTrials.

Agreement on endoscopic ultrasonography-guided tissue specimens: Comparing a 20-G fine-needle biopsy to a 25-G fine-needle aspiration needle among academic and non-academic pathologists.

Background And Aim: A recently carried out randomized controlled trial showed the benefit of a novel 20-G fine-needle biopsy (FNB) over a 25-G fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needle. The current study evaluated the reproducibility of these findings among expert academic and non-academic pathologists.

Methods: This study was a side-study of the ASPRO (ASpiration versus PROcore) study.

Changes in tumor vascularity depicted by contrast-enhanced EUS as a predictor of prognosis and treatment efficacy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (PEACE): A study protocol.

Patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer have a poor prognosis. The analysis of prognostic factors before treatment may be helpful in determining the best therapeutic strategies. The aim of the PEACE study is to assess the vascularity of pancreatic malignant tumors using contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS (CEH-EUS) and to clarify the prognostic value of tumor vascularity in patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Near-Complete Genome Sequences of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Indiana Laboratory Strains HR and T1026R1 and Plaque Isolates 22-20 and 22-25.

We report four near-complete genome sequences of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) Indiana obtained with Sanger and Illumina next-generation sequencing, namely, laboratory strains HR (heat resistant) and T1026R1 and isolates 22-20 and 22-25. Previously, only the M gene of these viruses had been sequenced, and these sequences were not deposited in GenBank.

A multi-institution consensus on how to perform EUS-guided biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction.

Background And Objectives: EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) was shown to be useful for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). However, there is lack of consensus on how EUS-BD should be performed.

Methods: This was a worldwide multi-institutional survey among members of the International Society of EUS conducted in February 2018.