From unusual suspect to serial killer: Cyanotoxins boosted by climate change may jeopardize megafauna.

The recent mass mortality event of more than 330 African elephants in Botswana has been attributed to biotoxins produced by cyanobacteria; however, scientific evidence for this is lacking. Here, by synthesizing multiple sources of data, we show that, during the past decades, the widespread hypertrophic waters in Southern Africa have entailed an extremely high risk and frequent exposure of cyanotoxins to the wildlife within this area, which functions as a hotspot of mammal species richness. The hot and dry climatic extremes have most likely acted as the primary trigger of the recent and perhaps also of prehistoric mass mortality events.

Prevention and control strategies of general surgeons under COVID-19 pandemic.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease caused by it, COVID-19, have spread to virtually all countries worldwide within just a few months. The economic and sanitary impact has been enormous. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Nature of Cardiac Rehabilitation Around the Globe.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a clinically-effective but complex model of care. The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature of CR programs around the world, in relation to guideline recommendations, and compare this by World Health Organization (WHO) region.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a piloted survey was administered online to CR programs globally.

Cardiac rehabilitation delivery in low/middle-income countries.

Objective: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) availability, programme characteristics and barriers are not well-known in low/middle-income countries (LMICs). In this study, they were compared with high-income countries (HICs) and by CR funding source.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to CR programmes globally.

Implications from China patient safety incidents reporting system.

Objective: We aimed to explain the operational mechanism of China National Patient Safety Incidents Reporting System, analyze patterns and trends of incidents reporting, and discuss the implication of the incidents reporting to improve hospital patient safety.

Design: A nationwide, registry-based, observational study design.

Data Source: The database of China National Patient Safety Incidents Reporting System.

Wet Chemical Method for Black Phosphorus Thinning and Passivation.

Layered black phosphorus (BP) has been expected to be a promising material for future electronic and optoelectronic applications since its discovery. However, the difficulty in mass fabricating layered air-stable BP severely obstructs its potential industry applications. Here, we report a new BP chemical modification method to implement all-solution-based mass production of layered air-stable BP.

Pragmatic studies for acute kidney injury: Consensus report of the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) 19 Workgroup.

Purpose: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has become a major medical and financial burden in China along with the rest of the world. There have been considerable advances in the understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of AKI. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal care for patients.

Surgery management for sporadic small (≤2 cm), non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a consensus statement by the Chinese Study Group for Neuroendocrine Tumors (CSNET).

The incidence of small (≤2 cm), non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-pNETs) increased in the last decades. Before making appropriate strategy for patients with NF-pNETs ≤2 cm, pathological confirmation is vital. Incidentally diagnosed, sporadic small NF-pNETs may bring aggressive behavior and poor prognosis, such as extrapancreatic extension, lymph nodal metastasis, distant metastasis and recurrence, even causing disease-related death.

Research advances on animal genetics in China in 2015.

Chinese scientists have made significant achievements in the field of animal genetics in 2015. Incomplete statistics show that among all the publications of 2015 involving nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans), fly (Drosophila melanogaster), zebrafish (Danio rerio), African clawed frog (Xenopus) or mice (Mus musculus), about 1/5 publications are from China. Many innovative studies were published in high-impact international academic journals by Chinese scientists, including the identification of a putative magnetic receptor MagR, the genetic basis for the regulation of wing polyphenism in the insect brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), DNA N-methyladenine (6mA) modification in the Drosophila genome, a novel molecular mechanism regarding the dendritic spine pruning and maturation in the mammals, the mechanism for the CREB coactivator CRTC2 in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism, the control of systemic inflammation by neurotransmitter dopamine, the role of Gasdermin protein family in triggering pyroptosis, a parvalbumin-positive excitatory visual pathway to trigger fear responses in mice, etc.

[Clinicopathological characteristics of malignant transformation in 85 cases of oral leukoplakia].

Objective: To investigate the histological features of oral leukoplakia which underwent malignant transformation and its correlation with the clinical manifestation.

Methods: A total of 1832 cases of oral leukoplakia were reviewed and the clinicopathological characteristics of malignant transformation were analyzed.

Results: Malignant transformation occurred in 85 cases (4.

[Osteoclastic bone destruction and its regulating factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the osteoclastic activity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) invading the jaws and to observe the expression of RANKL and OPG, the two bone resorption related cytokines, in these cases.

Methods: Twelve cases of OSCC invading the mandible were studied. After pathological diagnosis, operations were done to remove part of the mandible depending upon the X-ray findings.