Significant Decrease In Occurrence Research Articles

Effect of implementation of irrigation on raptor and corvid populations in a Mediterranean agrosystem

We analyzed changes in the composition of the community of birds of prey and corvids in a rainfed agrosystem after the transformation of 37.2 % of the sampled area into irrigated land between 2005 and 2020. We sampled 57 transects (372 km per year) and fitted generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to study changes in species occurrence. Our results showed that specific richness and the Shannon index did not vary significantly between rainfed and irrigated transects, but there was a certain positive trend when comparing the years 2005 and 2020. Regarding the differences detected for each species, the occurrence of Montagu’s harrier Circus pygargus, hen harrier Circus cyaneus, Eurasian short-toed eagle Circaetus gallicus, griffon vulture Gyps fulvus and carrion crow Corvus corone was significantly lower in irrigated land than in rainfed land, while magpie Pica pica, Western marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus, common kestrel Falco tinnunculus and black kite Milvus migrans showed a significantly higher occurrence in the irrigated transects. In addition, our findings confirm a significant decrease in occurrence between 2005 and 2020 both in rainfed and irrigated areas for Montagu’s harrier, hen harrier and magpie, while Western marsh harrier, golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos, common buzzard Buteo buteo, red kite Milvus milvus, griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, red-billed chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax and Western jackdaw Coloeus monedula were detected significantly more frequently in 2020 than in 2005. These results suggest that assessment of the impact of a new irrigation system should focus on the most characteristic species of rainfed agrosystems because the apparently positive effect on other species, equally protected but more generalist, may mask the real effect on conservation.

Alterations in the oral microbiome in HIV infection: causes, effects and potential interventions.

A massive depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes has been described in early and acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, leading to an imbalance between the human microbiome and immune responses. In recent years, a growing interest in the alterations in gut microbiota in HIV infection has led to many studies; however, only few studies have been conducted to explore the importance of oral microbiome in HIV-infected individuals. Evidence has indicated the dysbiosis of oral microbiota in people living with HIV (PLWH). Potential mechanisms might be related to the immunodeficiency in the oral cavity of HIV-infected individuals, including changes in secretory components such as reduced levels of enzymes and proteins in saliva and altered cellular components involved in the reduction and dysfunction of innate and adaptive immune cells. As a result, disrupted oral immunity in HIV-infected individuals leads to an imbalance between the oral microbiome and local immune responses, which may contribute to the development of HIV-related diseases and HIV-associated non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome comorbidities. Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a significant decrease in occurrence of the opportunistic oral infections in HIV-infected individuals, the dysbiosis in oral microbiome persists. Furthermore, several studies with the aim to investigate the ability of probiotics to regulate the dysbiosis of oral microbiota in HIV-infected individuals are ongoing. However, the effects of ART and probiotics on oral microbiome in HIV-infected individuals remain unclear. In this article, we review the composition of the oral microbiome in healthy and HIV-infected individuals and the possible effect of oral microbiome on HIV-associated oral diseases. We also discuss how ART and probiotics influence the oral microbiome in HIV infection. We believe that a deeper understanding of composition and function of the oral microbiome is critical for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for HIV infection.

The efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy compared with conventional dressing in treating infected diabetic foot ulcers: a randomized controlled trial

Despite advances made in diagnosing and controlling diabetes mellitus (DM), treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is still among challenges faced by physicians. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is one of newer modalities proposed in the treatment of DFUs. However, there is lack of evidence to support its mileage in this regard. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the efficacy of NPWT in healing process of DFUs. Sixty patients with DM were randomly allocated into two groups consisting of 30 patients each: the intervention group received sub-atmospheric pressure of − 75 to − 100 mmHg (5 min on, 2 min off) with dressings changed every 48 h, and the control group was treated with silver sulfadiazine dressings, changed twice daily. Patients were followed up until complete closure of ulcers, with a mean duration of 3 months. Of the total 60 patients, 27 patients (45%) were females. Most of the patients in both groups had DFUs of grade 2 according to Wegner’s classification. Rate of healing of the ulcers was significantly higher by using NPWT (p-value 0.01). NPWT also caused a significant reduction in ulcer surface area, depth, size, major and minor amputations, and disability duration (p-values 0.008, 0.002, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.01, respectively). No significant decrease in occurrence of complications was seen with NPWT. NPWT seems to be more efficacious than conventional dressing in treating infected DFUs.

Contribuições para a redução dos níveis de severidade dos acidentes nas vias de Brasília: riscos nas laterais das vias

Esse trabalho pressupõe que uma parcela dos acidentes de trânsito ocorridos em Brasília poderia ter sido evitada ou ter significativa diminuição dos níveis de severidade caso as vias de Brasília realmente tivessem sido projetadas, construídas e mantidas conforme as normas e padrões de segurança no trânsito. O objetivo do estudo foi o de identificar e mapear os pontos de risco alto nas áreas adjacentes das principais vias do Plano Piloto de Brasília. Foram identificados, classificados e mapeados um total de 2058 (dois mil e cinquenta e oito) pontos de risco alto. A partir desse levantamento foi possível apresentar ações para a redução da acidentalidade e dos níveis de severidade dos acidentes nas vias de Brasília.

The influence of
 omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on atrial fibrillation development after surgical myocardial revascularisation

Aim. To estimate the influence of short-term omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) treatment on the development of new cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with coronary artery disease after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with the detection of indicators of inflammation, oxidative stress, myocardial injury or dysfunction. Material and methods. The patients did not receive statins at the stage of out-patient treatment. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, troponin, NT-proBNP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were measured on admission and 3.6±1.3 days after CABG. All the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 comprised patients who did not receive omega-3 PUFA (51 patients, 86.3% males, mean age 62.8+4.0), 2 group included patients who received PUFA (51 patients, 90.2% males, mean age 62.1±4.0 years) 5 days (mean) before CABG at an average dose 2 g per day and for 3 weeks after CABG at an average dose 1 g per day. Results. Postoperative AF more often occurred in group 1 (41.2% vs 23.5%; p=0.04 ( mean 4.8±3.0 days). The patients of group 1 more often had FC-III angina pectoris (60.8% vs 51.0%, p=0.04), whereas patients of group 2 more often had the history of myocardial infarction (78.4% vs 58.8%, p=0.03) and respiratory pathology (23.5% vs 2.0%, p=0.0009). According to univariate regression analysis, omega-3 PUFA intake was associated with a decrease of new episodes of AF at the early postoperative period (odds ratio (OR) 0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.9; p=0.04). IL-6 levels were significantly higher in pre- and postoperative periods in patients of group 1 (34.8±25.5 pg/ml vs 2.9±2.5 pg/ml, p<0.0001; 54.6±44.9 pg/ml vs 39.5±29.7 pg/ml, p=0.04, respectively). Before CABG, SOD levels in both groups were higher than normal (group 1 - 3478.6±2365.7 units/g vs group 2 - 2893.4±2365.7 units/g, p>0.05). After CABG, SOD levels became lower in both groups but remained significantly higher in group 1 (2311.8±1371.6 units/g vs 662.5±572.4 units/g, р<0.0001). MPO after CABG was insignificantly raised in group 1 (before CABG - 176.8±83.8 mg/l, after CABG - 212.5±131.8 mg/l) and lowered in patients with omega-3 PUFA intake (280.4±202.1 before and 235.3±147.6 after CABG). Conclusions. The study showed that omega-3 PUFA intake in perioperative period of CABG leads to a significant decrease in occurrence of new AF cases. The patients who received omega-3 had lower IL-6 levels as a proinflammatory factor and SOD level as a marker of oxidative stress.

Species traits explain long‐term population trends of Finnish cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae)

AbstractKleptoparasitic and parasitoid insects are expected to be particularly sensitive to changes in habitat availability due to their high trophic position and small population sizes compared with their hosts, but there are only few quantitative studies on their population changes.Here, we studied the distribution and abundance of 48 kleptoparasitic and parasitoid species of cuckoo wasps (Chrysididae) and eight selected host species recorded in Finland from 1840 to 2015 based on an extensive survey of entomological collections. Population trends were assessed by studying changes in occupancy in 10 × 10 km grid squares between two study periods, 1840–1967 and 1968–2015.Statistically significant decreases in occurrence were found for 11 cuckoo wasp species and one host species, while significant increases were not observed for any species. Trends of cuckoo wasps and their hosts were positively correlated, and changes were generally stronger in cuckoo wasps than in their hosts.In a comparative analysis of species traits, abundance, body size and nesting type of host were related to occurrence changes of cuckoo wasps. Scarce and small species that use above ground‐nesting hosts declined more than abundant and large species that use ground‐nesting hosts.Cuckoo wasp species dependent on dead wood are more vulnerable to changes in the environment than species associated with open sandy habitats. While both groups of species have probably suffered from habitat loss, the emergence of secondary habitats may have benefitted species living in sandy areas and compensated for the negative impact of habitat destruction.

The Effect of Music on Preventing Intraoperative Awareness in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Open-Heart Surgery

AbstractUse of music has the potential to positively affect patient perception during of surgical treatment. Intraoperative awareness is the most frustrating complication in patient undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. Study Design was Quasi-experimental research design. Three tools were used to conduct this study namily: Preoperative assessment tool, intraoperative assessment tool and postoperative assessment tool. Method: In a prospective, randomized double blind study, patients were randomized into two equal groups; In C group (n = 25) patients acted as the control and did not listening to music, while in music group (n = 25) patients listening to music. In both groups, auditory evoked potentials index electrodes connected before induction of anesthesia at operative room to detect depth of anesthesia and occurrence of awareness. An interview with the patients and their parents to evaluate occurrence of awareness by using a semi-structured in-depth questionnaire. The main results: The results of the current study revealed that there was statistically significant decrease in occurrence of awareness in music group versus the control group (P value =0.000***). Conclusion: The application of music was highly effective in reducing awareness.

Hypocotyl-based Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean (Glycine max) and application for RNA interference

An efficient system of gene transformation is necessary for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] functional genomics and gene modification by using RNA interference (RNAi) technology. To establish such system, we improved the conditions of tissue culture and transformation for increasing the frequency of adventitious shoots and decreasing the browning and necrosis of hypocotyls. Adding N(6)-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and silver nitrate in culture medium enhanced the shoot formation on hypocotyls. BAP increased the frequency of the hypocotyls containing adventitious shoots, while silver nitrate increased the number of shoots on the hypocotyls. As a result, the number of adventitious shoots on hypocotyls cultured in medium containing both BAP and silver nitrate was 5-fold higher than the controls. Adding antioxidants in co-cultivation medium resulted in a significant decrease in occurrence of browning and necrosis of hypocotyls and increase in levels of beta-Glucuronidase (GUS) gene expression. Histochemical assays showed that the apical meristem of hypocotyls was the "target tissue" for Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation of soybean. Gene silencing of functional gene by using RNAi technology was carried out under above conditions. A silencing construct containing an inverted-repeat fragment of the GmFAD2 gene was introduced into soybean by using the A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Several lines with high oleic acid were obtained, in which mean oleic acid content ranged from 71.5 to 81.9%. Our study demonstrates that this transgenic approach could be efficiently used to improve soybean quality and productivity through functional genomics.

GLOBAL CHANGE SHIFTS VEGETATION AND PLANT–PARASITE INTERACTIONS IN A BOREAL MIRE

The aim of this study was to detect vegetation change and to examine trophic interactions in a Sphagnum-dominated mire in response to raised temperature and nitrogen (N) addition. A long-term global-change experiment was established in 1995, with monthly additions of N (30 kg x ha(-1) x yr(-1)) and sulfur (20 kg x ha(-1) x yr(-1)) during the vegetation period. Mean air temperature was raised by 3.6 degrees C with warming chambers. Vegetation responses were negligible for all treatments for the first four years, and no sulfur effect was seen during the course of the experiment. However, after eight years of continuous treatments, the closed Sphagnum carpet was drastically reduced from 100% in 1995 down to 41%, averaged over all N-treated plots. Over the same period, total vascular plant cover (of the graminoid Eriophorum vaginatum and the two dwarf-shrubs Andromeda polifolia and Vaccinium oxycoccos) increased from 24% to an average of 70% in the N plots. Nitrogen addition caused leaf N concentrations to rise in the two dwarf-shrubs, while for E. vaginatum, leaf N remained unchanged, indicating that the graminoid to a larger extent than the dwarf-shrubs allocated supplemented N to growth. Concurrent with foliar N accumulation of the two dwarf-shrubs, we observed increased disease incidences caused by parasitic fungi, with three species out of 16 showing a significant increase. Warming caused a significant decrease in occurrence of three parasitic fungal species. In general, decreased disease incidences were found in temperature treatments for A. polifolia and in plots without N addition for V. oxycoccos. The study demonstrates that both bryophytes and vascular plants at boreal mires, only receiving background levels of nitrogen of about 2 kg x ha(-1) x yr(-1), exhibit a time lag of more than five years in response to nitrogen and temperature rise, emphasizing the need for long-term experiments. Moreover, it shows that trophic interactions are likely to differ markedly in response to climate change and increased N deposition, and that these interactions might play an important role in controlling the change in mire vegetation composition, with implications for both carbon sequestration and methane emission.

Small bowel obstruction and internal hernias after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a recognized complication of open bariatric surgery; however, the incidence after laparoscopic procedures is not clearly established. This paper reviews our experience with small bowel obstruction after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Between 1995 and 2001, 711 (246 antecolic, 465 retrocolic) patients underwent a laparoscopic proximal divided Roux-en-Y gastric bypass via the linear endostapler technique. 13 patients (1.8%) developed SBO requiring surgical intervention. There were 11 females and 2 males, ages 29-60 (mean 38), with mean weight 126 kg (range 105-188), and mean BMI 50 (range 41-59). 7 obstructive patients (55%) had undergone previous open abdominal surgery. Median time to obstruction was 21 days (range 5-1095). Mean follow-up of all patients is 43 months (range 3-79). Etiology of obstruction was internal hernia - 6, adhesive bands - 5 (only 2 were related to prior open surgery), mesocolon window scarring - 1, and incarcerated ventral hernia - 1. The incidence of SBO was 4.5% (11/246) in the retrocolic group, and 0.43% (2/465) in the antecolic group, which was highly significant (P=.006). 1 adhesive patient required an open bowel resection for ischemia. There was 1 death. SBO occurred with an overall incidence of 1.8% in a large series of laparoscopic gastric bypass patients, and was associated with a high morbidity. A significant decrease in occurrence was found after adoption of antecolic placement of the Roux limb.

Beneficial effect of glucocorticoids on the course of haematogenously acquired Staphylococcus aureus nephritis.

The effect of combined antibiotic and corticosteroid treatment on the course of haematogenously acquired Staphylococcus aureus nephritis was studied. Mice were given a single injection of S. aureus producing toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in a dose capable of inducing a high frequency of inflammatory kidney lesions and divided into three groups according to a treatment regimen. In all untreated animals inflammatory infiltrates were seen in kidney cortex and medulla with high frequencies of glomerular (90%) and tubular damage (50%) as well as fibrotic changes (50%). The treatment with antibiotics alone reduced significantly only the occurrence of focal inflammatory infiltrates. In contrast, the mice treated with a combination of antibiotics and corticosteroids displayed in 64% of cases normal histological kidney appearance and a significant decrease in occurrence of glomerular (P<0.01) and tubular (P<0.05) lesions. Immunohistochemically, the combined treatment resulted in a more pronounced decrease in numbers of CD4, IL-2R (four to fivefold) and CD8 positive cells in kidney inflammatory lesions compared to antibiotics only treated group. Thus, glucocorticoids in association with antibiotics are shown to improve the outcome of septic murine nephritis, possibly due to suppression of kidney infiltrating T cells.

Recent Experience With Skin Cancer

Among 1,953 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinoma, or actinic keratosis, the average age of occurrence of actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinomas was younger than for squamous cell carcinoma. Also the occurrence of basal cell carcinoma decreased more rapidly than squamous cell carcinoma in the elderly. Of a total of 17,767 actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell epitheliomas, and keratoacanthomas, Chi-square analysis of the seasonal occurrence of these tumors indicated that there was a statistically significant decrease in occurrence of squamous and basal cell tumors during the winter months. During the last ten years (11,264 skin cancers), a steadily rising basal to squamous ratio was observed.