14th Day Research Articles

Temporal restriction of biomedical research on human embryos created in vitro

The article is devoted to the study of temporal limitation of biomedical research ofhuman embryos created in vitro. The author has investigated various models of settingtemporal restrictions, in particular, the most widespread in the world model of 14 daystemporal limitation. The article examines the validity of various models of temporal limitations(in particular, models that provide for temporal limitation of 7 days, 14 days, 28days) and their ability to maintain a balance between protection of a human embryo, interestsof a human, society, state, and science.Having studied the practice of establishing temporal limitations in various countries,including Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, theauthor reached a conclusion. The research focused on issues related to the status of thehuman embryo and the scientific potential of studying embryos created in vitro more than14 days since their creation. The author concluded that the existing models, particularlythe 14-day rule, do not maintain a balance of interests. Therefore, it is necessary to establisha model that provides for multiple temporal limitations. The author has proposed atwo-level model of temporal limitation. The first level provides for the possibility of cultivatinga human embryo created in vitro up to the 14th day of its development from themoment of creation and carrying out biomedical research of such embryos up to the 14thday of their development from the moment of creation. The second level, which in exceptionalcases and in the presence of stricter conditions provides for the possibility of cultivatinga human embryo created in vitro up to the 28th day of its development from themoment of creation and carrying out biomedical research of such embryos up to the 28thday of their development from the moment of creation. Such a model is a compromise andwill ensure the balance between proper protection of a human embryo and interests of aperson, society, state, and science.

Influences of Salt Stress on Cotton Metabolism and Its Consequential Effects on the Development and Fecundity of Aphis gossypii Glover.

The degree of global soil salinization is gradually deepening, which will inevitably affect agricultural ecology. It has been found that salt stress induces the resistance of host plants to phytophagous pests. However, little is known about the effects of salt-stressed cotton plants on the fitness of cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover). In this study, we investigated the differences between cotton metabolomes under mild (75 mM NaCl) and moderate (150 mM NaCl) salinity conditions and their effects on the fitness of cotton aphids. The results showed that 49 metabolites exhibited significant upregulation, while 86 metabolites were downregulated, with the increasing NaCl concentration. The duration of nymphal aphids under 150 mM NaCl significantly extended to 6.31 days when compared with the control (0 mM NaCl, 4.10 days). Meanwhile, the longevity of adult aphids decreased significantly under 75 and 150 mM NaCl, with an average of 10.38 days (0 mM NaCl) reduced to 8.55 and 4.89 days, respectively. Additionally, the total reproduction number of single females decreased from 31.31 (0 mM NaCl) to 21.13 (75 mM NaCl) and 10.75 (150 mM NaCl), whereas the survival rate of aphids decreased from 81.25% (0 mM NaCl) to 56.25% (75 mM NaCl) and 34.38% (150 mM NaCl) on the 12th day. These results support the hypothesis that plants growing under salt stress are better defended against herbivores. Furthermore, 49 differential metabolites were found to be negatively correlated with the longevity and fecundity of adult aphids, while 86 different metabolites showed the opposite trend. These results provide insights into the occurrence and control of cotton aphids amidst the escalating issue of secondary salinization.

Comparative Analysis of Ligninolytic Potential among Pleurotus ostreatus and Fusarium sp. with a Special Focus on Versatile Peroxidase

Lignocellulosic biomass is contemplated to be an inexpensive and copious feedstock that can be used for numerous industrial applications. However, lignin forms the lignin sheath and provides a physical barrier to enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, lignin physically blocks cellulase, preventing it from being combined with the substrate in a process known as non-productive binding. Therefore, the depletion of lignin is a crucial method for obtaining fermentable sugars from the lignocellulosic biomass. Different white-rot fungi secrete different sets of lignin-mineralizing enzymes and each fungus secretes one or more of the three enzymes essential for lignin degradation. Among efficient redox enzymes, versatile peroxidase is extensively studied for its ability to degrade aromatics without the need for a mediator or polyvalent catalytic site. However, the presence of versatile peroxidase in F. spp. has not been studied. This study was planned with the objective of screening and comparing the production of versatile peroxidase enzymes from F. spp. and a standard culture of Pleurotus ostreatus MTCC-142. These fungal strains were first screened on solid media containing tannic acid, malachite green, or bromocresol green. The potency index for the tannic acid, malachite green, and bromocresol green on the 16th day of incubation was reported to be 1.28, 1.07, 1.09, and 1.10, respectively. Versatile peroxidase production patterns were investigated under solid state fermentation conditions for a period of 25 days at different temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 °C. The highest versatile peroxidase activity (592 UL−1) in F. sp. was observed at 30 °C after the 7th day of incubation. The molecular confirmation showed the presence of the vp gene in F. sp. along with Pleurotus ostreatus MTCC-142. The results determined that F. sp. possesses a versatile peroxidase enzyme and is able to degrade lignin efficiently, and thus it could be utilized as an alternative to other ligninolytic enzyme-producing fungi.

Performance of Different Spray Nozzles in the Application of Defoliant on Cotton Plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Defoliant spraying is an important link in the mechanized cotton harvest because adequate and uniform spraying can improve defoliation quality and reduce cotton trash content. In defoliant application, application volume and spraying technology are extremely important. In this study, the effectiveness of defoliant application to cotton plant that has come to harvest with two different application volumes and three different types of nozzles with a standard field crop sprayer was determined. Application rates were 250 and 400 L/ha and spraying nozzles were: (1) standard flat fan nozzle (TP8006), (2) air induction nozzle (AI 11002-VS) and (3) dual pattern nozzle (AI307003VP). A tracer (BSF) and defoliant were applied to mature cotton with approximately 60% open bolls and samplings for BSF deposition and spray coverage on cotton plant were done at two plant height (upper layer, lower layer) of plant. Before and after spraying, bolls open and leaves rate on cotton plants were calculated and filter papers were used to detect BSF deposition and water sensitive papers (WSP) were used to measure coverage rate of spraying methods used. Spectrofluorophotometer was used to detect the amount of tracer deposition on targets and an image process computer program was used to measure coverage rate on WSP. In analysis conclusions showed that air induction nozzle (AI 11002-VS), achieved better results than the dual pattern and standard flat fan nozzles in terms of higher depositions, coverages and leaf defoliations and boll opening rates. AI nozzles operating at 250 L/ha application rate provide the highest deposition and coverage rate on applications of defoliant, in addition, BSF as an indicator of the defoliant used reached on leaf beneath in merely this spray nozzle. After defoliation boll opining rate was 85-% on the 7th and 12th days after spraying and falling rate of leaves was 76-% at application rate of 250 L/ha with air induction (AI1102) nozzle.

Regional use of extracellular microvesicles of mesenchymal stromal cells in acute necrotizing pancreatitis in an experiment

Background. The significance of the problem of treatment of acute pancreatitis is due to an increase in the incidence with an increase in the number of necrotizing forms, accompanied by a high incidence of severe complications and high mortality.Objective. To identify the impact of regionally used extracellular microvesicles of mesenchymal stromal cells on the endogenous intoxication markers in acute necrotizing pancreatitis in the experiment.Material and methods. Acute pancreatitis was induced by the introduction of a 0.3 ml of 5% solution of non-ionic polyethylene glycol octylphenol ether detergent into the caudal part of the rat pancreas. The study was conducted on 42 adult Wistar rats, which were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group I (n=6) included intact animals, Group II (control group) (n=12) included rats with pancreatitis without treatment, Group III (n=12) consisted of rats with pancreatitis treated with analgesia + infusions of 0.9% sodium chloride solution (saline), Group IV (n=12) included rats with pancreatitis treated with analgesia+ saline infusions + regional application of extracellular microvesicles of mesenchymal stromal cells. Cells were obtained from the bone marrow of healthy animals. Microvesicles were obtained by differential centrifugation under sterile conditions. Microvesicles were administered one day after the pancreatitis induction through the catheter installed into the pathologically altered part of the pancreas. The dose of microvesicles was calculated as equivalent to (derived from) 1 million mesenchymal stromal cells. The hematological parameters, markers of the systemic manifestation of the pathological process (alpha-amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase), the endogenous intoxication markers (lipid peroxidation activity, nitric oxide level), the systemic inflammatory response markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6) were studied on the 3rd and 7th day from the start of disease modeling.Results. Regional use of extracellular microvesicles of mesenchymal stromal cells in the treatment of acute experimental necrotizing pancreatitis at an early stage helped to normalize the level of blood platelets, reduce enzymeemia, elements of endogenous intoxication (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and the nitric oxide level.Conclusion. The early application of extracellular microvesicles of mesenchymal stromal cells in the treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in an experiment has a positive effect on parameters, which are key links of pathogenesis and leading markers of this disease severity.

Management of Hand Eczema with Unani Medicine: A Case Study

Background: Eczema, is a common chronic skin condition that can lead to recurrent infections and poor quality of life if left untreated. This paper presents the case of a 30-year-old male patient, who came to the outpatient department (OPD) of the Kashmir Tibbia College Hospital and Research Centre, Shilvath, Bandipora, Kashmir, India. Clinical presentation: His chief complaints were lesions on the palm of his left hand for one year. The patient also complains that his skin is black and thickened with severe itching on the affected area. Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed clinically with hand eczema resembling Nar-e-Farsi in the Unani system of medicine. Interventions: For 30 days, Marham Kafoor was topically applied twice a day at a dose of 8-10 gm. Outcome: The patient was assessed before, the 15th day and 30th day of treatment based on the EASI, POEM, and VAS. Results: After the intervention, significant improvement was observed in all scales from baseline to 30th day. EASI changes from 18 (moderate) to 5 (mild), POEM changes from 19 (severe) to 7(mild), and VAS from 8 (severe) to 1 (mild). Conclusion: Marham Kafoor has been proven beneficial in treating hand eczema and enhancing patients' quality of life Keywords: Eczema; Marham Kafoor; Unani Medicine

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Promotes Burn Wound Healing by Inducing FGF and VEGF in Diabetic Rat.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The hBM-MSCs have a high level of differentiation and proliferation in the healing process of cuts and burns. This study aimed to determine the role of hBM-MSCs in the formation of granulation tissue in diabetic burnt rats. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Thirty rats were divided into two groups; phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a control group and a treatment group (BM-MSCs 2×10<sup>6</sup> cells/mL). Both groups were treated as hyperglycaemia by injecting alloxan. Rats were anesthetized using xylazine and ketamine and given full-depth burns on the dorsal using a heated plate. Rat skin tissue was excised on the 3rd, 7th and 14th day and histopathological preparations were made using immunohistochemical staining to determine the expression of the growth factors of FGF and VEGF. The results were analyzed using Tukey's t-test advanced. <b>Results:</b> The FGF level increased statistically significantly on day 3, 7 and 14 in the treatment group. Otherwise, on day 14 there was a significant difference between the control group and the treatment group (p = 0.017). The VEGF expression also showed an increase on days 3 and 7 but decreased on day 14. The VEGF level was not statistically significant between the control and treatment groups. <b>Conclusion:</b> The hBM-MSCs increased the formation of granulation tissue by expressing a high level of FGF which plays a role at the beginning of new blood vessel formation and VEGF affects the end of the formation of new blood vessels.

Silk-enriched hydrogels with ROS-scavenging dendrimers for advanced wound care

This study explores the development of novel hydrogel composites for wound care, incorporating silk fibroin and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging dendrimers into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix. Utilizing ionizing gamma radiation, we fabricated pristine PVA, silk-PVA (SPVA) binary, and dendrimer-silk-PVA (DSPVA) ternary hydrogel composites, with their composition confirmed via UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy analyses indicated complex interactions between the hydrogel components, enhancing their structural and biocompatible properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that dendrimer integration in DSPVA hydrogels significantly increased surface porosity, vital for tissue regeneration. The DSPVA hydrogels demonstrated effective ROS scavenging, reducing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations by approximately 70 % within 24 h. In vivo wound healing studies in a diabetic mouse model showed enhanced wound closure in the DSPVA group, with a relative wound area reduction to 30 ± 4.3 % on day 10, compared to 56.5 ± 2.7 % in the control group. By the 16th day, the treated group exhibited near-complete wound contraction, markedly outperforming the control group. These findings underscore the potential of DSPVA hydrogels in diabetic wound management, combining silk fibroin's mechanical support, dendrimers' antioxidative properties, and PVA's structural benefits. Thus, DSPVA hydrogels are promising candidates for advanced wound care applications.

Orthopedic Skin Closure in South India: Sutures Versus Staples and Their Postoperative Outcomes.

Introduction Skin closure is an essential step in deciding the success of a surgery. Despite this, the choice of skin closure material is frequently overlooked when making surgical decisions. Skin closure plays an important role in promoting rapid wound healing and decreasing the length of hospital stay, especially in orthopedic surgeries. Our study focused on comparing the outcome of wound closure in orthopedic surgeries with sutures and staples in a South Indian population. Materials and methods We enrolled 120 patients undergoing orthopedic procedures at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute from July 2023 to February 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to skin closure with either staples or sutures. Wound inspection was done on the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 12th post-operative days. The patients were evaluated at six months using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Hollander Wound Evaluation Score (HWES). Results Staple closure significantly reduced mean closure time (5.2 ± 0.9 minutes) compared to sutures (12.6 ± 1.5 minutes, p < 0.0001). Pain during staple removal was less (VAS score 1.41 ± 0.15) than with suture removal (VAS score 1.57 ± 0.2, p = 0.024). Although patient satisfaction was similar between the groups (Staples: 8.35 ± 0.45 vs. Sutures: 8.0 ± 0.5, p = 0.062), staples provided superior cosmetic outcomes (HWES: 4.1 ± 0.7) compared to sutures (HWES: 3.3 ± 0.6, p = 0.003). Complication rates, including infection, discharge, and hypertrophic scar formation, were comparable between the two methods. Conclusion Staple closure in orthopedic surgeries offers several advantages over sutures, including reduced operative time, less pain during removal, and superior cosmetic results. These benefits occur without an increased risk of wound complications. This study suggests that staples may be a preferable option for skin closure in orthopedic procedures, though further research with extended follow-up is needed to fully assess long-term outcomes.

Effect of Blending Cashew Apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) and Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) Juice on Fermentation of Wine

A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed to assess nine different treatment combinations, varying in juice ratios and fermentation conditions. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of blending cashew apple and aonla juices on the quality and fermentation characteristics of the resulting wine. While studying the chemical composition of cashew apple and aonla juice, cashew apple juice had a maximum value for T.S.S., reducing sugars, total sugars and pH. Aonla aonla juice had a maximum value for titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and tannin content. The T.S.S. of must was adjusted to 24 ºBrix and pH kept natural. The T.S.S. and pH was found to be decreased during fermentation of must. The treatment T5 i.e. 60 % cashew apple: 40 % aonla juice (6.13 ºBrix) recorded lowest T.S.S. and T9 i.e. 20 % cashew apple: 80 % aonla juice (10.53 ºBrix) recorded highest T.S.S. at 12th day of fermentation. The lowest pH recorded in treatment T9 i.e. 20 % cashew apple: 80 % aonla juice (2.10) and highest recorded in T1 i.e. 100 % cashew apple juice (3.38) at 12th day of fermentation. On the other hand, titratable acidity of must was found to be increased during fermentation of must. The minimum titratable acidity was found in treatment T1 i.e. 100 % cashew apple juice (0.62 %) and maximum was recorded in T9 i.e. 20 % cashew apple: 80 % aonla juice (1.74 %) at 12th day of fermentation. The yeast count increases rapidly until the 3rd day (1524 x 103) and after that yeast count subsequently declined until the fermentation reaches the 12th day (36.07 x 103), irrespective of treatments. At the end of fermentation (12th day) highest yeast count was recorded by treatment T5 i.e. 60 % cashew apple: 40 % aonla juice (60 x 103) and lowest yeast count was recorded by treatment T9 i.e. 20 % cashew apple: 80 % aonla juice (21 x103). Wine recovery from must ranged between 73.86 and 83.20 per cent. As a result, treatment T5 (60 % cashew apple juice: 40 % aonla juice) showed better fermentation among all other treatments.

A comparative analysis of postoperative morbidity and alveolar bone regeneration following surgical extraction of ımpacted lower third molar teeth using piezosurgery and conventional ınstruments: a split-mouth clinical ınvestigation

Background-objective(s)This randomized, split-mouth study aimed to compare postoperative complications following the surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars using piezosurgery versus conventional rotary instruments.Materials and methodsTwenty-one patients, aged 18–35 years, with bilaterally and symmetrically impacted lower third molars, were randomly assigned to undergo extraction using piezosurgery on one side and conventional rotary instruments on the other.ResultsThe piezosurgery method required a longer operation time. However, it resulted in quicker resolution of postoperative swelling by the 7th day compared to the conventional method, where swelling persisted longer. Mandibular angle-tragus measurements were significantly higher with the conventional method on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days. Although mouth opening decreased significantly after piezosurgery, it returned to preoperative levels by the 7th day, outperforming the conventional method. Postoperative pain was notably higher with the conventional method during the first four days but showed no significant difference from the 5th day onward. Alveolar bone healing was significantly better with piezosurgery at the 3rd and 6th months. Temporary paresthesia occurred in one patient from the conventional group, resolving within four weeks. Neither method resulted in alveolar osteitis.Conclusion(s)Within the study's limitations, piezosurgery demonstrated a reduction in postoperative discomfort, suggesting its advantage in enhancing patient recovery following lower third molar extractions.Clinical significancePiezosurgery, when used appropriately, can reduce postoperative complications compared to conventional methods. Clinicians should be aware of its indications, benefits, and potential challenges.Trial registration This study was registered as a clinical trial to the ClinicalTrials.gov, and the registration ID is NCT06262841 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06262841).

A Comparative Study of Pigtail Catheter and Malecots Chest Tube Thoracostomy in the Management of Empyema Thoracis at a Tertiary Care Center in North India

Background: The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of pigtail catheter vs. malecot chest tube thoracostomy in the management of empyema thoracis and pyopneumothorax. Methods : This prospective randomised interventional study was conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at a tertiary care centre in north India between September 2020 and August 2021. One hundred patients, qualified as per inclusion criteria, were included in the study, and randomization was done using the random number table method. After allocation concealment and randomization, the intervention was done in the sense that Group A (51 cases) received a pigtail catheter (14F) and Group B (49 cases) received a malecot chest tube (28F) (a total of 100 cases). After the intervention, both groups were observed for 14 days. On the 14th day, the data for the primary observations (radiological clearance on day 1, day 7, day 14th, and mean duration of hospital stay) and secondary observations (postoperative pain score, post-procedure complications) were noted, and statistical analysis was done. Results: Radiological clearance in the malecot chest tube group (28F) is better on days 1 (0.55±0.13) and 7 (0.75±0.08) than in the pigtail catheter group on day 1 (0.52±0.18) and day 7 (0.72±0.11). But, radiological clearance on day 14 in the malecot chest tube group (0.91±0.06) and the pigtail catheter group (0.91±0.08) is comparatively equal (p&lt;0.05). The mean duration of hospital stay and pain scores were better in the pigtail catheter group than in the malecot chest tube group. Conclusions: Our study suggests pigtail catheters are a safe and effective method and should be considered in the management of empyema thoracis and pyopneumothorax

Severe Antiphospholipid Syndrome in a Child with Chicken Pox: Clinical Case

Background. Antiphospholipid syndrome develops at autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, or genetic predisposition, and it is characterized by high risk of thrombosis in arterial, venous, and capillary vessels. This syndrome in children is rare, and necrotic skin lesions occur in the most extreme cases. Clinical case description. A child, 1 year old, with chicken pox has developed hemorrhagic rash on his back, swelling of the left shoulder and forearm on the 4th day of the disease. Medical treatment included acyclovir, ceftriaxone, sodium heparin. Aggravation of hemorrhagic rash over the body, spread of edema from the left shoulder to upper arm and neck, formation of flaccid bubble and necrosis locus (75 cm) on the outer upper third of the left shoulder were noted on the 5th-6th day. Increase in the levels of antibodies to 2-glycoprotein I (IgG — 48.9 U/ml, IgM — &gt; 100 U/ml) and cardiolipin (IgM — 73.0 U/ml) was revealed. The diagnosis “antiphospholipid syndrome” was established. All necrotized tissues were removed on the 11th day, and the wound defect (86 cm) was subsequently covered by mesh skin grafts. The levels of antibodies (IgG + IgM) to 2-glycoprotein I remained high, 45.2 U/mL, 12 weeks after the onset of the disease. Thus, it has confirmed the development of antiphospholipid syndrome. The child continued treatment with warfarin (3.75 mg/day) with INR control. Conclusion. Hemorrhagic skin lesions in children with infectious diseases requires laboratory diagnostics of antiphospholipid syndrome, early prescription of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy, and surgical support.

Effect of capsaicin on monocyte differentiation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. It is known that monocytes and derived macrophages play an important role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Previously, we found that cigarette smoke-sensitive TRPV1 channels have higher expression on monocytes and macrophages of COPD patients.Aim. To investigate the effect of chronic TRPV1 activation on the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages in vitro.Materials and methods. The study included 11 patients with COPD and 7 healthy non-smoking volunteers (control). Monocytes were obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by plastic adhesion. Cells were cultured for 10 days in the presence of granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or GM-CSF and the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin. On the 11th day, the cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Expression of the genes encoding the transcription factors STAT1, STAT6, IRF3, JUN, MAF, RELA, cytokines IL1B, IL6, IL8, and three reference genes B2M, RACK1 and HPRT1 was assessed by quantitative PCR with reverse transcription.Results. Initially, macrophages of COPD patients differentiated in the presence of GM-CSF had higher expression of STAT1 (2.98-fold, p=0.03) and JUN (1.6-fold, p=0.02). LPS stimulation was accompanied by upregulation of IRF3 (4.3-fold, p=0.04), RELA (1.3-fold, p=0.05) and interleukin genes. Under the action of LPS COPD macrophages had 3.2-fold higher expression of IRF3 as compared to the control (p=0.05). Capsaicin also caused upregulation of IRF3 in cells from COPD patients, thus the expression of this factor became 3.2-fold higher than in the control group (p=0.03). Differentiation with capsaicin sensitized macrophages to LPS. Under these conditions JUN expression increased both in COPD patients (1.8-fold, p=0.01) and in the control group (2.2-fold, p=0.02) as compared with cells differentiated with GM-CSF alone.Conclusion. The obtained results indicate that in resting state macrophages from COPD patients are mostly characterized by a proinflammatory M1 polarization. LPS probably leads to an additional polarization towards M2b phenotype, when compared with the control, as indicated by an increase in the level of IRF3 transcripts. Capsaicin also promotes M2b polarization of COPD macrophages and may enhance the inflammatory response of cells to LPS.

En Bloc Palmar Desquamation in Extensive Chickenpox

A 25-year-old man presented with fever and rash which progressed to extensive vesicular eruptions all over the body by the 4th day (Figure 1A).

Native valve endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium striatum without underlying structural heart disease or indwelling cardiovascular medical devices: a case report

BackgroundCorynebacterium striatum (C. striatum) is a gram-positive, anaerobic bacillus found both environmentally and in human skin and nasal mucosa flora. It is reportedly the etiologic agent of community-acquired and nosocomial diseases and is significantly associated with bacteremia and medical endovascular devices. This is the rare case of mitral valve native valve endocarditis (NVE) caused by C. striatum occurring in a young adult without underlying structural heart disease or indwelling cardiovascular medical devices successfully treated with multidisciplinary therapy.Case presentationThe patient was a 28-year-old female with no medical history. She was transferred our hospital due to sudden onset of vertigo and vomit. A computed tomography on day 2 revealed the hydrocephalus due to the cerebellar infarction, and she underwent posterior fossa decompression for cerebellar infarction. An angiography on day 8 revealed a left vertebral artery dissection, which was suspected be the etiology. Afterwards, a sudden fever of 39 degrees developed on day 38. She was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia and treated with ampicillin/sulbactam but was still febrile at the time of transfer for rehabilitation. Treatment continued with levofloxacin, the patient had no fever decline, and she was readmitted to our hospital. Readmission blood cultures (3/3 sets) revealed C. striatum, and an echocardiogram revealed an 11 mm long mitral valve vegetation, leading to NVE diagnosis. On the sixth illness day, cardiac failure symptoms manifested. Echocardiography revealed mitral valve rupture. She was transferred again on the 11th day of illness, during which time her mitral valve was replaced. C. striatum was detected in the vegetation. Following surgery, she returned to our hospital, and vancomycin administration continued. The patient was discharged after 31 total days of postoperative antimicrobial therapy. The patient experienced no exacerbations thereafter.ConclusionsWe report the rare case of C. striatum mitral valve NVE in a young adult without structural heart disease or indwelling cardiovascular devices.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

SAME day amBulatory Appendectomy (SAMBA): a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial protocol

BackgroundA recent meta-analysis concluded that outpatient appendectomy appears feasible and safe, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence and a randomized trial is needed. The aim of this trial is to demonstrate that outpatient appendectomy is non-inferior to conventional inpatient appendectomy in terms of overall morbi-mortality on the 30th postoperative day (D30).MethodsSAMBA is a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter non-inferiority trial. We will include 1400 patients admitted to 15 French hospitals between January 2023 and June 2025. Inclusion criteria are patients aged between 15 and 74 years presenting acute uncomplicated appendicitis suitable to be operated by laparoscopy.Patients will be randomized to receive outpatient care (day-surgery) or conventional inpatient care with overnight hospitalization in the surgery department. The primary outcome is postoperative morbi-mortality at D30. Secondary outcomes include time from diagnosis to appendectomy, length of total hospital stay, re-hospitalization, interventional radiology, re-interventions until D30, conversion from outpatient to inpatient, and quality of life and patient satisfaction using validated questionnaires.DiscussionThe SAMBA trial tests the hypothesis that outpatient surgery (i.e., without an overnight hospital stay) of uncomplicated acute appendicitis is a feasible and reliable procedure in establishments with a technical platform able to support this management strategy.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05691348. Registered on 20 January 2023.

RNA Sequencing Reveals the Involvement of Serum Exosomal miRNAs in Early Pregnancy in Cattle.

Low fertility is the main cause of the low productivity in beef cattle and is mainly associated with a lack of conception after fertilization. The establishment of early pregnancy in cattle is a complex physiological process, and embryo implantation is crucial for the successful establishment of pregnancy. Exosomal miRNAs play an important role in regulating mammalian embryo implantation and development. This study used synchronous estrus technology to extract exosomes from bovine serum at 0, 14, and 21 days of early pregnancy and analyzed the expression profile of exosomal miRNAs through RNA-seq technology. We identified 472 miRNA precursor sequences and 367 mature miRNA sequences in the three sample groups, with the majority of the miRNAs having high abundance. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were screened, and 20 DEmiRNAs were obtained. The differential expression analysis results show that compared to day 0, there were 15 DEmiRNAs in the serum on day 14 and 5 on day 21 of pregnancy. Compared to the 14th day of pregnancy, there were eight DEmiRNAs in the serum on the 21st day of pregnancy. Bioinformatics analysis shows that the target genes of DEmiRNAs regulated the signaling pathways closely related to early pregnancy, including the VEGF, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways. In addition, the newly discovered miRNAs were bta-miR-3604, bta-miR-2889, bta-miR-3432a, and bta-miR-409b. These results provide a theoretical reference for screening the molecular markers for early pregnancy establishment and maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in cattle and new ideas for shortening the calving interval in cows.

Neonatal cardiorespiratory failure caused by splenic hemorrhages: a case report on a fatal and a rescued case

Two cases of neonatal splenic hemorrhage with acute cardiorespiratory failure are described in this report. The first case involves a full-term neonate who was found unresponsive without any witnesses and could not be successfully resuscitated. A postmortem diagnosis revealed a splenic hemorrhage. Second case is an extremely premature neonate who experienced a witnessed cardiovascular collapse on the 14th day of life. Rapid cardiovascular support was administered, resulting in a positive outcome. While splenic hemorrhage is commonly associated with traumatic events, these cases highlight the need of considering spontaneous splenic hemorrhages as a potential cause of acute neonatal compromise, even in the absence of birth-related trauma (e.g., asphyxia, prolonged labor, clavicle fractures, brachial plexus injuries). This report emphasizes the importance of including splenic hemorrhage timely in the differential diagnosis of neonatal cardiorespiratory instability, especially in the absence of more common diagnoses, and discusses the challenges associated with its recognition and treatment.

Simultaneous Production of Biogas and Electricity from Anaerobic Digestion of Pine Needles: Sustainable Energy and Waste Management.

Power scarcity and pollution can be overcome with the use of green energy forms like ethanol, biogas, electricity, hydrogen, etc., especially energy produced from renewable and industrial feedstocks. In hilly areas, pine needles are the most abundant biomass that has a low possibility of valorization due to high lignin content. On the other hand, anaerobic digestion (AD) of lignin and animal waste has low biogas yield due to poor conductivity. This study focuses on the simultaneous production of biogas and electricity through the co-digestion of cow dung and pine needles. The digester was initially established and stabilized in the lab to ensure a continuous supply of inoculum throughout the experiment. The optimization process involved the determination of an ideal cow dung-to-water ratio and selecting the appropriate conductive material that can enhance the energy generation from the feedstock. Afterward, both batch and continuous anaerobic digestion experiments were conducted. The results revealed that the addition of powdered graphite (5 mM), activated charcoal (15 mM), and biochar (25 mM) exhibited maximum voltage of 0.71 ± 0.013 V, 0.56 ± 0.013 V, and 0.49 ± 0.011 V on the 30th, 25th and 20th day of AD, respectively. The batch experiment showed that 5 mM graphite powder enhanced electron transfer in the AD process and generated a voltage of 0.77 ± 0.014 V on the 30th day, indicating an increase of ~1.5-fold as compared to the control (0.56 ± 0.019 V). The results from the continuous AD process showed that the digester with cow dung, pine needle, and a conductive material in combination exhibited the maximum voltage of 0.76 ± 0.012 V on the 21st day of AD, while the digester with cow dung only exhibited a maximum voltage of 0.62 ± 0.015 V on the 22nd day of AD, representing a 1.3-fold increase over the control. Furthermore, the current work used discarded plastic items and electrodes from spent batteries to emphasize waste management and aid in attaining sustainable energy and development goals.