Low sink demand caused net photosynthetic rate decrease is closely related to the irrecoverable damage of oxygen-releasing complex and electron receptor in peach trees.

Source sink balance is one of the major determinants of carbon partitioning in plants. However, its effects on photosynthesis in fruit trees are largely unknown. In this work, the effects of low sink demand on net photosynthetic rate (P) and chlorophyll fluorescence after fruit removal (-fruit) in peach (Prunus persica (L.

The incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational studies.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is associated with a prothrombotic state. We performed a meta-analysis of proportions to estimate the weighted average incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: We searched various medical databases for relevant studies from 31 December 2019 till 30 September 2020.

Carboxylic acid-functionalized polycarbonates as bone cement additives for enhanced and sustained release of antibiotics.

Despite the good clinical outcomes of total joint replacements, prosthetic joint infections still remain a significant cause of implant failure. Primary prophylaxis is key to stemming this burgeoning problem and its associated complications. In this study, a series of bone cement formulations with enhanced antibacterial performance have been developed through the addition of carboxylic acid-functionalized polycarbonate block copolymers to commercially available bone cement.

A Macromolecule Reversing Antibiotic Resistance Phenotype and Repurposing Drugs as Potent Antibiotics.

In order to mitigate antibiotic resistance, a new strategy to increase antibiotic potency and reverse drug resistance is needed. Herein, the translocation mechanism of an antimicrobial guanidinium-functionalized polycarbonate is leveraged in combination with traditional antibiotics to afford a potent treatment for drug-resistant bacteria. Particularly, this polymer-antibiotic combination approach reverses rifampicin resistance phenotype in demonstrating a 2.

Emergency Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery in the COVID-19-Positive Patient.

The case spectrum in hand surgery is one of extremes-purely elective day surgery cases under local anesthesia to mangling limb injuries that require immediate, and frequently, lengthy, surgery. Despite the cancellation of most elective orthopedic and plastic surgical procedures, hand surgeons around the world continue to see a steady stream of limb-threatening cases such as severe trauma and infections that require emergent surgical care. With the increase in community-spread, an increasing number of COVID-19-infected patients may be asymptomatic or have mild, nonspecific or atypical symptoms.

Pandemics and Their Impact on Medical Training: Lessons From Singapore.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has hit Singapore hard. As of February 25, 2020, Singapore had the fourth highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections outside of China, only trailing behind South Korea, Italy, and Japan. This has had reverberating effects on Singapore's health care system, and has, consequently, also affected medical education all the way from the undergraduate to the postgraduate level.

Stromal vascular fraction promotes fibroblast migration and cellular viability in a hyperglycemic microenvironment through up-regulation of wound healing cytokines.

Diabetic wounds have impaired healing and a propensity for further morbidity, which may result in amputations. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is an autologous source of heterogeneous cell population obtained from adipose tissue, which is rich in stem cells and presents little immunogenicity to the host. In this study, we hypothesized that murine fibroblasts subjected to hyperglycemic conditions co-treated with SVF exhibit greater functional activity through the colorimetric MTT assay and a cell-monolayer in-vitro scratch assay.

A macromolecular approach to eradicate multidrug resistant bacterial infections while mitigating drug resistance onset.

Polymyxins remain the last line treatment for multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. As polymyxins resistance emerges, there is an urgent need to develop effective antimicrobial agents capable of mitigating MDR. Here, we report biodegradable guanidinium-functionalized polycarbonates with a distinctive mechanism that does not induce drug resistance.

Nanomaterials in the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infections.

Despite the tremendous advancements that have been made in biomedical research, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) still remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, outpacing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus as a leading cause of death from an infectious disease. In the light of such significant disease burden, tremendous efforts have been made worldwide to stem this burgeoning spread of disease. The use of nanomaterials in TB management has increased in the past decade, particularly in the areas of early TB detection, prevention, and treatment.

Broad Spectrum Macromolecular Antimicrobials with Biofilm Disruption Capability and In Vivo Efficacy.

In this study, antimicrobial polymers are synthesized by the organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of an eight-membered heterocyclic carbonate monomer that is subsequently quaternized with methyl iodide. These polymers demonstrate activity against clinically relevant Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and fungus Candida albicans with fast killing kinetics. Importantly, the polymer efficiently inhibits biofilm growth and lyses existing biofilm, leading to a reduction in biomass and cell viability.

Highly potent antimicrobial polyionenes with rapid killing kinetics, skin biocompatibility and in vivo bactericidal activity.

Effective antimicrobial agents are important arsenals in our perennial fight against communicable diseases, hospital-acquired and surgical site multidrug-resistant infections. In this study, we devise a strategy for the development of highly efficacious and skin compatible yet inexpensive water-soluble macromolecular antimicrobial polyionenes by employing a catalyst-free, polyaddition polymerization using commercially available monomers. A series of antimicrobial polyionenes are prepared through a simple polyaddition reaction with both polymer-forming reaction and charge installation occurring simultaneously.

Short Synthetic β-Sheet Antimicrobial Peptides for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Burn Wound Infections.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is often implicated in burn wound infections; its inherent drug resistance often renders these infections extremely challenging to treat. This is further compounded by the problem of emerging drug resistance and the dearth of novel antimicrobial drug discovery in recent years. In the perennial search for effective antimicrobial compounds, the authors identify short synthetic β-sheet folding peptides, IRIKIRIK (IK8L), IRIkIrIK (IK8-2D), and irikirik (IK8D) as prime candidates owing to their high potency against Gram-negative bacteria.

Construction of a high-density genetic map and QTLs mapping for sugars and acids in grape berries.

Background: QTLs controlling individual sugars and acids (fructose, glucose, malic acid and tartaric acid) in grape berries have not yet been identified. The present study aimed to construct a high-density, high-quality genetic map of a winemaking grape cross with a complex parentage (V. vinifera × V.

Type 1 Bland Sutton colonic atresia complicated by fetalis hydrops in a premature neonate.

Colonic atresia (CA) is an unusual cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction where a section of the colon has failed to form, leading to blockage or absence. A premature baby was delivered at 32 weeks of gestation via caesarian section following fetal distress. She was grossly oedematous and diagnosed with severe fetalis hydrops secondary to anaemia.

Cobalt chromium alloy with immobilized BMP peptide for enhanced bone growth.

Cobalt chromium (CoCr) alloys are widely used in orthopedic practice, however, lack of integration into the bone for long-term survival often occurs, leading to implant failure. Revision surgery to address such a failure involves increased risks, complications, and costs. Advances to enhancement of bone-implant interactions would improve implant longevity and long-term results.

The effects of UV-B radiation on photosynthesis in relation to Photosystem II photochemistry, thermal dissipation and antioxidant defenses in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings at different growth temperatures.

To study the UV-B effect on photosynthesis in winter wheat at different day/night temperatures, biologically effective UV-B radiation at 4.2 (L) and 10.3 (H) kJ m d was provided on the seedlings at 25/20°C or 10/5°C.