An allometry perspective on crops.

Understanding trait-trait coordination is essential for successful plant breeding and crop modeling. Notably, plant size drives variation in morphological, physiological, and performance-related traits, as described by allometric laws in ecology. Yet, as allometric relationships have been limitedly studied in crops, how they influence and possibly limit crop performance remains unknown.

Clinical Subphenotypes of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a clinically heterogeneous disease. The ability to identify subgroups of patients with shared traits (subphenotypes) is an unmet need to allow patient stratification for clinical management and research. We aimed to test the hypothesis that clinically relevant subphenotypes can be reproducibly identified among patients with SAB.

"Catheter replacement in catheter-associated urinary tract infection: current state of evidence ".

Purpose: Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common healthcare associated infection. A significant knowledge gap exists regarding the necessity of catheter replacement as part of CAUTI treatment. Current guidelines recommend replacement for faster recovery and to prevent recurrences, but adherence is low.

Evolutionary pathways to lower biomass allocation to the seed coat in crops: insights from allometric scaling.

Crops generally have seeds larger than their wild progenitors´ and with reduced dormancy. In wild plants, seed mass and allocation to the seed coat (a proxy for physical dormancy) scale allometrically so that larger seeds tend to allocate less to the coats. Larger seeds and lightweight coats might thus have evolved as correlated traits in crops.

[Soft tissue infections].

Soft tissue infections are common, but can be difficult to diagnose and manage. In this article, the classification of soft tissue infections is discussed, as well as the diagnostic possibilities and treatment options. Furthermore, the management of recurrent infections and necrotizing soft tissue infections are discussed.

Eradication of community-onset Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage: a narrative review.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization increases infection risk in both patients and healthy individuals. Decolonization therapy has been proven to reduce S. aureus infections, but data on the effectiveness of individual decolonization strategies in community-onset MRSA carriage are scarce.

The association of female sex with management and mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

Objectives: The association of biological female sex with outcome in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to determine the independent association of female sex with management and mortality in patients with S. aureus bacteraemia.

Global Differences in the Management of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: No International Standard of Care.

Background: Despite being the leading cause of mortality from bloodstream infections worldwide, little is known about regional variation in treatment practices for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). The aim of this study was to identify global variation in management, diagnostics, and definitions of SAB.

Methods: During a 20-day period in 2022, physicians throughout the world were surveyed on SAB treatment practices.

Leaf starch metabolism sets the phase of stomatal rhythm.

In leaves of C3 and C4 plants, stomata open during the day to favor CO2 entry for photosynthesis and close at night to prevent inefficient transpiration of water vapor. The circadian clock paces rhythmic stomatal movements throughout the diel (24-h) cycle. Leaf transitory starch is also thought to regulate the diel stomatal movements, yet the underlying mechanisms across time (key moments) and space (relevant leaf tissues) remain elusive.

Persistent Methicillin-Resistant Bacteremia: Host, Pathogen, and Treatment.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is a devastating pathogen responsible for a variety of life-threatening infections. A distinctive characteristic of this pathogen is its ability to persist in the bloodstream for several days despite seemingly appropriate antibiotics. Persistent MRSA bacteremia is common and is associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Exploring the Barriers in the Uptake of the Dutch MRSA 'Search and Destroy' Policy Using the Cascade of Care Approach.

The Dutch 'search and destroy' policy consists of screening patients with an increased risk of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) carriership and subsequent decolonization treatment when carriership is found. Decolonization therapy of individual MRSA carriers is effective. However, the effectiveness of the national 'search and destroy' policy is dependent on the entire cascade of care, including identification, referral, and subsequent treatment initiation in MRSA carriers.

Erratum to "Measles outbreaks - potential threat for health care professionals" Infect Prev Pract, Volume 2, Issue 3, September 2020, 100074.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.infpip.

Solving the grand challenge of phenotypic integration: allometry across scales.

Phenotypic integration is a concept related to the cascade of trait relationships from the lowest organizational levels, i.e. genes, to the highest, i.

Classification of rheumatoid arthritis into active or inactive with a modified Disease Activity score, for future use as a treat-to-target tool, with a HandScan score replacing joint counts.

Objectives: To establish the value of a modified Disease Activity score with Optical Spectral Transmission score (DAS-OST) without joint counts but with a HandScan score, versus that of DAS28, to classify rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as active versus inactive, with as reference standard the rheumatologist's clinical classification.

Methods: RA patients with at least one HandScan and DAS28 measurement performed at the same visit were included. Data was extracted from medical records, as was the clinical interpretation as active or inactive RA by the rheumatologist.

Hypokalaemia in patients treated with intravenous flucloxacillin: Incidence and risk factors.

Introduction: Hypokalaemia is a potentially life-threatening adverse event of flucloxacillin with unknown incidence. The risk of flucloxacillin-induced hypokalaemia has recently been suggested to be increased among females compared to males. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence and to determine the influence of sex and other risk factors on flucloxacillin-induced hypokalaemia.

Measles outbreaks - potential threat for health care professionals.

The ongoing spread of measles is a major concern for public health. Optimal vaccination coverage amongst health care professionals (HCP) is essential for individual protection. This is illustrated by our two cases of measles infection in HCP during the 2018 outbreak in Europe.

Complicated Carriage with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Decolonization Regimens Advised in the Dutch National Guideline.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization leads to increased infection rates and mortality. Decolonization treatment has been proven to prevent infection and reduce transmission. As the optimal antimicrobial strategy is yet to be established, different regimens are currently prescribed to patients.

Development and Validation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Indices Including HandScan (Optical Spectral Transmission) Scores.

Objective: To develop and validate a composite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity index using optical spectral transmission (OST) scores obtained with the HandScan, replacing tender and swollen joint counts.

Methods: RA patients from a single center routinely undergoing HandScan measurements with at least 1 concurrent OST score and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) were included. Data were extracted from medical records.

Utility of the HandScan in monitoring disease activity and prediction of clinical response in rheumatoid arthritis patients: an explorative study.

Objectives: The aims were to determine the ability of the HandScan [assessing inflammation in hand and wrist joints using optical spectral transmission (OST)] to measure RA disease activity longitudinally, compared with DAS28, and to determine whether short-term (i.e. 1 month) changes in the OST score can predict treatment response at 3 or 6 months.