Ideal Time Research Articles

Is There an Ideal Time to Start Ovarian Stimulation?

Is There an Ideal Time to Start Ovarian Stimulation?

Methodologies to determine the ripening stage of coffee fruits

The asynchronous flowering of coffee trees results in uneven ripening, which makes harvesting ripe fruit crops difficult. To determine the ideal time for harvesting, representative sampling is required. However, existing sampling processes are labor-intensive. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimal number of plants and most efficient methodology to evaluate coffee fruit ripening. The experiment was conducted in Inconfidentes, state of Minas Gerais, with trials carried out on Catuaí Vermelho and Icatu Vermelho cultivars. The results of the fruit quantities were subjected to analysis of variance. An individual statistical analysis was performed and, if the homogeneity of residual variances was lower than seven, a joint analysis of variance was performed on the two crops. Each experiment had four treatments and six repetitions. We then performed a joint analysis of the data and used simulation to determine the optimal number of plants to be evaluated. The interaction between treatments and cultivars showed a significant difference in the green and cherry stages, but not in unripe, ripe, and dry fruits, and the optimal number of plants to sample varied by cultivar and treatment. It was found that the optimal number of plants to sample is 13 for the Icatu cultivar and 14 for the Catuaí cultivar using the central rosette harvesting treatment

측두골 골절에서 안면신경 감압술과 동시에 이소골 성형술을 시행한 환자 1예

Skull fracture to the temporal bone is responsible for 5%-10% of facial paralysis. It happens because the facial nerve travels through a small bony channel where the nerve can get crushed either by a blow to the head, or the swelling afterwards. This can result in temporary or permanent damage to one or both of the facial nerves. In the case of facial paralysis caused by trauma, conservative treat-ment or surgical treatment can be considered depending on the time of onset and severity of facial paralysis. Conductive hearing loss due to temporal bone fracture could be observed because it is mainly caused by a middle ear hematoma. However, if the ossicle is disrupted by a fracture, it must be corrected surgically. Here we present a case in which surgical facial nerve decompression was per-formed on a patient with facial paralysis after trauma. After a 2.5 m fall, he developed left-sided facial paralysis of House-Brackmann grade IV. The facial nerve decompression with ossicular reconstruc-tion surgery was completed. Reporting this case, we want to discuss about the importance of ideal time for surgical intervention and the appropriate surgical approach for patients with facial paralysis with ossicular disruption after temporal bone fractures.

A15Video review after simulation-based education – perception of participants

Simulation debriefing plays an important role in knowledge synthesis [1]. Although there is evidence to suggest that video-assisted debriefing improves outcomes, at least in nursing simulations, there is a wide variability in the practice and perceived effectiveness of video-assisted debriefing [2,3]. There is a paucity of literature about participants’ perspectives on the use of video review for simulation debriefing. The aim of this study is to explore participants’ perceptions and experience of the use of video review post-simulation. The study received ethical approval from the ethics committee at Anglia Ruskin University. We used qualitative research methodology to answer our research question. Foundation year trainees attending simulation as part of the curriculum were included in the study. This study involved focus group interviews with simulation participants prior to their simulation-based education. Post-simulation training, participants reviewed their simulation video clip in their own time and filled in a structured qualitative questionnaire about their video review experience. This is an ongoing research and initial results are presented here. Data were collected from 13 participants over a period of 3 months from February 2023 to April 2023 in the simulation centre of a tertiary teaching hospital in the UK. The audio recording and the questionnaire were pseudonymized and analysed using inductive thematic content analysis. Important themes identified were the emotional aspects of watching their video, the learning opportunities available with video review, level of support needed for video review and ideal time to review the video. Unexpected emergent themes included foundation doctors’ views about simulation education, reflective practice post-simulation and peer pressure during simulation. This study explored foundation trainees’ perceptions (cognitive, kinetic and affective) about video review after simulation and several interesting themes were identified. We believe this study adds value to simulation-based medical education in helping to understand foundation doctors’ views about simulation and video-assisted debriefing. Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.

The impact of chronotype on VO2max in university students at two different times of the day

Background and Study Aim. To choose the ideal training or performance times, it is crucial to assess VO2 max performance across different time-of-day particular chronotypes. This study aimed to investigate the differences in VO2 max between the chronotype of university students during the morning and evening time of the day. Material and Methods. Fifty-two university students (26 morning type and 26 evening type) with mean age 23.05± 2.07 years, weight 66.71±4.31Kg and height of 170.90±5.18 cm and BMI of 22.75±1.91kg/m2 were recruited based on the results of the Horne-Ostberg Morningness- Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQs) participated in this Cross-over study. VO2 max was measured directly by gas collected using mouth tube breath to breath through the use of the gas analyzer the AD instrument (model-ML206) with an incremental graded maximal exercise test done on the treadmill. Results. The morning type group's VO2 max was significantly better in the morning hour than it was in the evening (p=.013), and when the VO2 max of the evening type group was measured in the morning and evening hours and compared, there was a statistically significant difference in favour of the evening hours (p=.004). Additionally, there is no discernible difference between the VO2 max of the morning type and the evening type group either in the morning hours or the evening hours, but trends indicate that the morning type group has a higher VO2max in the morning hour and the same is true for the evening type group in the evening hour. Conclusion. The findings of this study showed an interaction between chronotype and time of the day in VO2 max. For endurance training, trainers should consider the individual's chronotype and time of the day for exercise prescription.

Renal Transplantation in Patients With Tuberculosis: A Single-center Experience From an Endemic Region.

Despite being a common infection in end-stage kidney disease patients, there are no evidence-based guidelines to suggest the ideal time of transplantation in patients on antitubercular therapy (ATT). This study aimed to examine the outcome of transplantation in patients while on ATT compared with those without tuberculosis (TB). This was a retrospective study. Renal transplant recipients transplanted while on ATT were compared with a 1:1 matched group (for age, sex, diabetic status, and type of induction agent) of patients without TB at the time of transplant. Patient outcomes included relapse of TB and graft and patient survival. There were 71 patients in each group. The mean duration for which ATT was given pretransplant was 3.8 ± 2.47 mo. The average total duration of ATT received was 12.27 ± 1.25 mo. Mortality in both the groups was similar (8.4% in the TB group versus 4.5% in the non-TB group; P = 0.49). None of the surviving patients had recurrence of TB during the follow-up. Death-censored graft survival (98.5% in the TB group versus 97% in the non-TB group; P = 1) and biopsy-proven acute rejection rates (9.86% in the TB group versus 8.45% in the non-TB group; P = 1) were also similar in both the groups. Successful transplantation in patients with end-stage kidney disease on ATT is possible without any deleterious effect on patient and graft survival and no risk of disease recurrence. Multicentric prospective studies are needed.

Traumatic Brain Bleeds: Optimizing the Duration of Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Therapy

Traumatic brain injuries affect an estimated 69 million individuals worldwide each year. Direct head trauma can lead to traumatic brain bleeds, which carry life-threatening consequences if not promptly addressed. While the current body of research suggests utilizing antithrombotic therapy for treatment, the optimal duration of such treatment remains a subject of debate in neurosurgery. This paper critically examines recommendations for the ideal timing of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in conditions such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, skull fractures, cerebral contusions, and diffuse axonal injury. Additionally, it explores the role of these medications in the context of prosthetic valves and stents and assesses their impact on bleeding time and platelet aggregation. The review underscores potential directions for future research in this area, emphasizing the limitations inherent in the current body of literature. While reinitiating appropriate AAT after an interval of cessation to mitigate the risks of ICH is the standard of care in the context of bleeds in TBI, clinicians differ on the timeline and modality of treatment. Various studies demonstrate that reinitiating AAT decreases the long-term risks of thrombotic events and ischemic stroke, but this benefit must be balanced with the risk of developing ICH if AAT is reinitiated too quickly. The timeline for AAT resumption should be based on interdisciplinary risk stratification that takes into consideration patient risk factors and comorbidities that may predispose them to the thromboembolic complications of prolonged AAT cessation.

Penile implants in low flow priapism.

Priapism is a persistent or prolonged erection, in the absence of sexual stimulation, that fails to subside. Prolonged ischaemic or low flow priapism is defined as a full or partial erection persisting for more than 4 h and unrelated to sexual interest or stimulation, characterised by little or no cavernous blood flow. Low flow priapism leads to progressive corporal fibrosis, which could, in turn, lead to long-lasting erectile dysfunction if left untreated. Penile prosthesis implantation is recognised as a management option in refractory and delayed low flow priapism for restoring erectile function with high patient satisfaction rates. However, the ensuing corporal fibrotic scarring poses a surgical challenge to clinicians, given the higher complication rates in this patient subset. Postoperative patient satisfaction has been closely linked to preoperative expectations and perceived loss of penile length. Therefore, thorough patient counselling concerning the risk and benefits of penile implants should be a priority for all clinicians. Moreover, there is a lack of consensus on the ideal prosthesis choice and procedural timing in refractory low flow priapism. In this review, we will examine the existing literature on penile implants in patients with priapism and discuss the options for managing complications associated with penile prosthesis surgery.

When should a premature neonate (24-35 weeks) be discharged? five-year experience from a single-center neonatal intensive care unit in Türkiye.

The survival rate among preterm infants has improved, and hospital stays have been prolonged, consistent with positive developments in perinatal and neonatal care. The aim of this study was to provide evidence-based information for healthcare professionals concerning the ideal time for discharge by evaluating the reasons for prolonged hospital stays. Six hundred eighty-one premature babies born at 24-35 weeks at the Mersin University Medical Faculty Hospital between January 2016 and May 2020 and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were included in the study following a retrospective file examination. Date of birth (gestational age) and discharge week (duration of hospital stay) calculated from the date of final discharge were recorded. Based on the literature, the ideal discharge time was determined to be 40 weeks according to postmenstrual age (week of birth + length of hospital stay). The primary variable was whether the infants were discharged before the ideal discharge week. The secondary variable was the effect of the presence of comorbidity on the length of hospital stay and ideal discharge time. The mean hospital stay of preterm neonate born at 250-7-260-7, 270-7-280-7 and 290-7-300-7 weeks was significantly shorter in the absence of comorbidity than in the presence of comorbidity (p = 0.001, 0.004, and 0.008, respectively). More than half (53.5%) were discharged before the expected date of birth as gestational weeks increased, despite the prolonged length of stay in the presence of comorbidity. Health professionals can inform families that, in the absence of comorbidity, discharge is possible at an average of 36 weeks for 250-7-280-7-week gestational ages, and at an average of 34 weeks for 290-7-320-7-week gestational ages.

Variations and Associated Factors in Symptom-to-Balloon (STB) Time and Door-to-Balloon (DTB) Time Before and After the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, India saw a major restriction in the movement of people. Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) required early interventions and follow-up of independent predictors like symptom-to-balloon (STB) time and door-to-balloon (DTB) time. This study aimed to determine changes in STB and DTB time before and after the COVID-19 lockdown and its associated risk factors. A hospital-based cross-sectional study of 105 patients admitted to the cardiac care units (CCU) of two tertiary care centers in a district of Southern India for six months was conducted to compare the changes in STB and DTB time before and after the COVID-19 lockdown (three months before March 2020 and three months after March 2020), and data was collected from medical records. The data collected was then entered into Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Washington, USA), numerically coded, and analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 21 (IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). The Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests assessed the association between the dependent and independent variables. The STB/DTB time (before and after the COVID-19 lockdown) was the dependent variable, while the age, gender, co-morbidities, smoking status, and date of admission of patients (before and after the COVID-19 lockdown) were taken as the independent variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The predictor variables were identified using the regression method, where all variables with a significance of <0.2 were taken. The overall mean (±SD) STB time was 408.7 (±307.1) minutes, and the mean (±SD) DTB time was 161.7 (±261.6) minutes. The pre-lockdown mean STB time was 404.6 minutes, and the mean DTB time was 153 minutes, whereas the post-lockdown mean STB and DTB time were higher at 413.3 minutes and 171.6 minutes, respectively. Out of the total 105 patients, 95 (90.5%) had an STB time of ≥120 minutes, and 77 (73.3%) had an ideal DTB time of <90 minutes. There was no statistically significant variation in the STB and DTB time before and after the lockdown. Only the age group >60 years (38 (97.4%)) was found to be statistically significant with an STB time of ≥120 minutes after the lockdown (p-value=0.040), and patients referred from primary and secondary care centers (AOR (95% CI)=4.669 (1.129-19.298)) were found to be an independent factor in reducing DTB time before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. The efficiency of the health system, irrespective of the COVID-19 lockdown, was observed; nevertheless, a delay in the overall recognition of symptoms of MI was perceived. The importance of time factors in identifying the symptoms of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially MI and stroke, has to be ascertained among the general population.

Analysing Associations between the Actual, Ideal and Maximum Willingness to Commute Time, as well as Satisfaction with Commuting: A Case Study of Jounieh, Lebanon

Many studies have been conducted worldwide to study travel behavior, specifically commuting times. Nevertheless, few or none have been conducted in the Middle East and North Africa region. The main objective of this paper is to understand the relationship between the actual, ideal and maximum willingness to commute times, and satisfaction with commuting in the city of Jounieh, Lebanon. Socio-economic and land use factors were included to investigate whether they influence commuting times. The average commuting time of the sample is 48.2 minutes, longer than their ideal commute time by about 20 minutes, while their maximum willingness to commute time is 53.46 minutes. The sample was neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their commutes. After performing multivariate Ordinary Least Squares model, and fixing the socio-economic and land use variables, the model proved that the actual and ideal commuting times as well as the actual and maximum commuting times are positively correlated, but the actual commuting time and satisfaction are negatively correlated. A univariate Ordinary Least Square model was performed to determine the correlation between ideal and maximum commuting times; they are highly positively correlated. Finally, the average commuting times and satisfaction were compared for some categories. Women spend almost 13% less time commuting than men, yet they have lower level of satisfaction. Lebanese commuters are also shown to commute more than non-Lebanese ones by approximately 22%. University level commuters commute about 36% more than non-university level people, while unemployed and employed respondents commute for the same time.

O067 Comparison of Sleep Quantity and Quality during Watchkeeping Schedules

Abstract Watchkeeping schedules expose workers to sleep and wake opportunities which are not at biologically ideal times, thus impacting sleep quantity and quality. This study investigated the impact of different watchkeeping schedules on sleep. N=29 healthy participants (16F; aged 18-34y) took part in a 10-day laboratory study. Participants were allocated to one of four schedules; 8h-on/8h-off/4h-on/4h-off (day-sleep 09:30-16:00; n=8; Condition A), 6h-on/6h-off (day-sleep 08:30h-12:30, nap 21:30-00:00; n=7; Condition B), and 4h-on/4h-on-call/4h-off/4h-on/8h-off (evening-sleep 18:00-00:30; n=7; Condition C; or night-sleep 01:30h-08:00; n=7; Condition D). Participants had 8h time in bed (TIB) for sleep at baseline and recovery. Every 24h during the schedule, participants received a 6.5h TIB. Sleep was measured using standard polysomnography and scored by a trained sleep technician. Linear mixed models found that Condition D (night sleep) had significantly longer total sleep time (TST) than Condition B (p=.003; split sleep). Participants obtained significantly less TST on Day 2 compared to remaining experimental days (Day 3 to Day 8; p&amp;lt;.05). Sleep onset latency was longer on Day 8, than Days 2 and 3 (p&amp;lt;.01). Time spent in REM sleep was shorter on Days 2 and 3 than any other days (p&amp;lt;.05). There were no differences in sleep stages between conditions, except for TST. The split sleep in Condition B resulted in less sleep. Shorter TST at the beginning of the study may indicate the adjustment period of the new sleep/wake schedule. These results reveal that there are implications for sleep when sleep periods are reduced during watchkeeping.

Mobile Applications for Family Planning.

Family planning reduces maternal and child morbidity and mortality by promoting pregnancy spacing. The postpartum period is an ideal time for patients to access family planning services. Mobile applications can aid in accessing information about family planning. A review was conducted on PubMed from 2012 to 2022, using keywords "mobile app," "family planning, "contraception,". Numerous studies have found as randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of mobile applications such as Decide + Be Ready in contraception. Other studies focused on healthcare providers' use of mobile apps for postpartum care and monitoring contraceptive methods. Mobile applications in family planning can assist healthcare providers in clinical care delivery is feasible and acceptable, saving time and providing accessible information.

Adaptive Type-II Hybrid Progressive Censoring Samples for Statistical Inference of Comparative Inverse Weibull Distributions

Recently, there has been a lot of interest in comparative life testing for items under jointly censored schemes for products from multiple production lines. The inverse Weibull distribution (IWD) is commonly used in life testing and reliability theory. In this paper, we address the problem of statistical inference from comparative inverse Weibull distributions under joint samples. An adaptive type-II hybrid progressive censoring scheme (HPCS) is used to save the balance between the ideal test time and the number of observed failures. Under the adaptive type-II HPCS, unknown parameters of the inverse Weibull populations are estimated using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Asymptotic confidence intervals are established using the observed Fisher information matrix and bootstrap confidence intervals. We suggest using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques to compute credible intervals under independent gamma priors. Using Monte Carlo simulations, all theoretical conclusions are tested and contrasted. For illustration purposes, an actual sample from comparative populations is analysed.

Contraceptive Intentions and Use throughout the Extended Postpartum Period: A Panel Study in Ethiopia.

The postpartum period is an ideal time for women to access contraception, but the prevalence of postpartum contraceptive use remains low in sub-Saharan Africa. To better understand the gap between women's desires to space or limit births and their contraceptive behaviors, intention to use contraception has been proposed as a person-centered measure of contraceptive demand. Using data from a panel study of Ethiopian women aged 15-49 who were interviewed at six weeks, six months, and one year postpartum, we examined the dynamics of contraceptive intention in the first year postpartum and its relationship with contraceptive use. Contraceptive intention fluctuated considerably in the year after childbirth. At six weeks, 60.9 percent of women intended to use a contraceptive method in the next year; 23.2% did not. By one year, less than half (43.5 percent) were using a method, and those who had no intention to use doubled (44.5 percent). Women who developed or sustained their intention to use a method in the postpartum period were more likely to adopt a method by one year than those who did not, showing that contraceptive intention is a strong predictor of use and has the potential to inform person-centered reproductive health programming in the extended postpartum period.

The applicability of the “surprise question” as a prognostic tool in patients with severe chronic comorbidities in a university teaching outpatient setting

BackgroundLife expectancy in recent decades has increased the prevalence of chronic diseases in the population, requiring an approach to new health topics, such as discussions on quality of life and expectations about death and dying. The concept of advance directives (ADs) gives individuals the opportunity to make known their decisions about the treatments they would like to receive at the end of life. Despite the recognition of relevance in clinical practice, the applicability of the concept presents challenges, including establishing the appropriate prognosis for each patient and the ideal time to approach the patient. Some prognostic tools were developed, such as the surprise question (SQ): “Would you be surprised if your patient died in 12 months?”, which is used in some clinical settings to predict patient deaths and to make decisions regarding ADs. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of second-year resident physicians (PGY-2) when the SQ was applied.MethodIn our observational study, from July 1, 2016, to February 28, 2017, (PGY-2) in the Internal Medicine Residency Program (IMRP) applied SQ to all patients with multiple and varied chronic no communicable comorbidities, who were followed up at the general medicine outpatient clinic (GMOC) of a tertiary university hospital in São Paulo- Brazil. The frequency of the outcome (death or non-death within 12 months) was analyzed by correlating it with the clinical data (impact of the studied variables).ResultsEight hundred forty patients entered the study. Fitfty-two of them (6.2%) died within one year. PGY-2 predicted that two hundred and fourteen patients (25.5% of total) would die within a year (answer No to SQ), of which, 32 (14.9%) did so. The correct residents’ prognosis for the subgroup of 626 patients (answer “Yes” to SQ) was NPV = 96.8% (CI = 95.4%-98.2%) and PPV = 14.9% (CI 10.1%-19, 6%). Answering “Yes” to SQ correlated negatively to addressing AD while the outcomes death and the answer No to SQ were positively correlated, according to the number of comorbidities.ConclusionThe SQ, in addition to care, contributed to health education, communication and care planning shared by the doctor and patient.

The Present and Future Aspects of Life-Long Pertussis Prevention: Narrative Review with Regional Perspectives for Türkiye.

Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains one of the most widespread, contagious, and vaccine-preventable diseases. It results in notable morbidity and mortality as well as severe medical, social, and economic burden. Despite high global vaccine coverage, pertussis continues to be a significant epidemiologic problem, with outbreak episodes every few years just as in the pre-vaccination era. In Türkiye, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the current burden of pertussis in different age and risk groups, leading to underdiagnosis and underreporting of the disease, especially in adults who are often not considered at risk. Available data from Türkiye also reveal inadequate levels of protective antibodies in preterm newborns, emphasizing the need for additional preventive measures. Authors stated that improving physician awareness of pertussis symptoms in patients with prolonged cough, increasing access to routine pertussis tests, and conducting surveillance studies would aid in accurate diagnosis and reporting in Türkiye. As the Turkish Ministry of Health Antenatal Care Management Guide suggests routine second and thirdpregnancy check-up visits at weeks 18-24 and 28-32 correspondingly,this period can be considered the ideal vaccination time for Türkiye. Introducing a booster dose of Tdap at around 10years of age or during national military service would reduce transmission and protect susceptible individuals. Identifying individuals at high risk of severe pertussis and prioritizing them for a booster dose is also crucial in Türkiye. Enhancing surveillance systems, increasing healthcare professionals' awareness through training, and organizing catch-up visits for missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic are mentioned as additional strategies to improve pertussis prevention in Türkiye. This review focuses on the global and regional burden of pertussis and obstacles to effective prevention and evaluates existing strategies to achieve lifelong pertussis prevention. Literature and current strategies were also discussed from a Turkish national standpoint.

Ramadan Fasting and Short-Term Maximal Physical Performance: Searching for Optimal Timing of the Last Meal "Suhoor" in Female Pre-University Handball Players.

Aiming to identify the ideal suhoor timing for maintaining optimal physical performance and health indicators during Ramadan intermittent fasting, the present study compares the effects of early vs. late Suhoor on short-term high-intensity physical exercise while controlling the body mass index (BMI) oral temperature (OT), dietary intake, and sleep patterns. In a randomized design, 19 female pre-university handball players (age: 16.8 ± 0.4 y; height: 1.70 ± 0.9 m; and body mass: 61.5 ± 6.9 kg) underwent two test sessions (at 08:00 a.m. and 05:00 p.m.) at four different conditions: ten days prior to Ramadan (R - 10), the final ten days of Ramadan (R) including both Early Suhoor R(ES) and Late Suhoor R(LS) conditions, and the ten days immediately following Ramadan (R + 10). A recovery period of at least 48 h has been set between successive test sessions at each period. Outcome measures included the Countermovement Jumps Test (CMJ), Modified Agility t-Test (MATT), Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), OT, BMI, and daily diary intake were assessed across the three periods. The total scores of PSQI decreased significantly during R and R + 10 compared to R - 10. When performed in the afternoon, CMJ, MATT, and RSA performance decreased significantly at R(ES) and R(LS) conditions compared to R - 10. However, these performances decreased only after R(ES) when performed in the morning. Furthermore, performances were lower during R(ES) compared to R(LS) in the afternoon for all tests and the morning for MATT and RSA tests. These findings support prior research showing a deterioration of physical performance during Ramadan fasting and indicate a more pronounced impact following early Suhoor condition. Therefore, consuming a late suhoor, closer to pre-dawn time, could be suggested as an effective strategy to minimize physical performance decline during short-term high-intensity exercise.

Prevalence of Legionella in a Public Building Water Plumbing System During COVID-19 Lockdown.

Although water stagnation is widely accepted as an essential factor supporting Legionella growth in plumbing systems and "water flashing" has become a common action for water quality control, additional monitoring data in practical spaces are still needed to back up this recommendation. The lockdown of public buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic provided an ideal time window to collect such data on a large scale. This study investigated how the long-term lockdown of a public building and the subsequent water stagnation impact water quality and the population of Legionella in water. From June 2020 to May 2021, 192 water samples were collected from a public building during the lockdown and reopening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each water sample was assessed for common physicochemical characteristics. Concentrations of Legionella and three species of free-living amoeba (FLA) (Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri, and Hartmannella vermiformis) were monitored by qPCR. The data suggest that long-term stagnation promotes the population of Legionella spp., Acanthamoeba spp., and N. fowleri. Notable associations were observed between Legionella and FLA. These relationships were impacted by stagnation. These results provide important evidence that can inform future water quality management actions to minimize the risk of Legionella outbreaks by avoiding the occurrence of water stagnation.

Discovery and verification of anti-inflammatory-related quality markers in the aerial part of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and in RAW 264.7 cells and a zebrafish model.

The root of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. (BS) is officially recognized in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In contrast, the aerial part of BS (ABS), accounting for 80% of BS, is typically discarded, causing potential waste of medicinal resources. ABS has shown benefits in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases in China and Spain, and the material basis underlying its anti-inflammatory effects must be systematically elucidated for the rational use of ABS. We aimed to screen and validate the anti-inflammatory quality markers (Q-markers) of ABS and to confirm the ideal time for ABS harvesting. The chemical components and anti-inflammatory effects of ABS from 10 extracted parts were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell model. Anti-inflammatory substances were screened by Pearson bivariate analysis and gray correlation analysis, and the anti-inflammatory effects were verified in a zebrafish tail-cutting inflammation model. HPLC was applied to measure the Q-marker contents of ABS in different harvesting periods. Ten ABS extracts effectively alleviated the increase in LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells. Forty components were identified from them, among which 27 were common components. Eight components were correlated with anti-inflammatory effects, which were confirmed to reverse the expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors in a zebrafish model. Chlorogenic acid, hypericin, rutin, quercetin, and isorhamnetin can be detected by HPLC, and the maximum contents of these five Q-markers were obtained in the sample harvested in August. The anti-inflammatory Q-markers of ABS were elucidated by chromatographic-pharmacodynamic-stoichiometric analysis, which served as a crucial basis for ABS quality control.