Frontal Recess Cells in International Frontal Sinus Anatomy Classification (IFAC); Prevalence, Infection Incidence, and Relation to Frontal Sinus Infection in Chronic Sinusitis Patients

Frontal recess cells have many types with different sizes, arrangement, and extend. It plays an important role in successful functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) as most causes of failure are related to it. Outline the prevalence of the frontal recess cells, pathological incidence of each cell regarding to frontal sinus pathology. Prospective study on 100 consecutive patients (200 sides) complaining from nasal and sinus symptoms which did not respond to medical management and indicated for FESS. Anterior group was infected in 30.8%; agger nasi cell (ANC) present in 97% (25.8% infected, 74.2% not infected), supra agger cell (SAC) present in 48% (39.6% infected, 60.4% not infected), supra agger frontal cell (SAFC) present in 11% (36.4% infected, 63.6% not infected). Posterior group was infected in 24.8%; supra bulla cell (SBC) present in 72% (30.6% infected, 69.4% not infected), supra bulla frontal cell (SBFC) present in 23% (17.4% infected, 82.6% not infected), supra orbital ethmoid cell (SOEC) present in 42% of cases (19% infected, 81% not infected). Medial group [frontal septal cell (FSC)] was present in 21% (33.3% infected, 66.7% not infected). FSC, SAC, SAFC, and SBC showed high infection rate in association with infected frontal sinus, while, the SOEC, ANC, and SBFC did not have such high infection rate. Frontal recess cells show no difference in their prevalence either if the frontal sinus infected or not, however their infection rate show significant difference.

Inpatient COVID-19 Mortality Rates: What are the predictors?

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between registered nurses and hospital-based medical specialties staffing levels with inpatient COVID-19 mortality rates. Methods: We rely on data from AHA Annual Survey Database, Area Health Resource File, and UnitedHealth Group Clinical Discovery Database. We use linear regression to analyze the association between hospital staffing levels and bed capacity with inpatient COVID-19 mortality rates from March 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. Results: Higher staffing levels of registered nurses, hospitalists, and emergency medicine physicians were associated with lower COVID-19 mortality rates. Moreover, a higher number of ICU and skilled nursing beds were associated with better patient outcomes. Hospitals located in urban counties with high infection rates had the worst patient mortality rates. Conclusion: Higher staffing levels are associated with lower inpatient mortality rates for COVID-19 patients. A future assessment is needed to establish benchmarks on the minimum staffing levels for nursing and hospital-based medical specialties during pandemics.

A Retrospective Study of the Proportion of Women at High and Low Risk of Intrauterine Infection Meeting Sepsis Criteria

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign recently recommended that qSOFA not be used as a single parameter for identification of sepsis. Thus, we evaluated the efficacy of SIRS and qSOFA scores in identifying intrauterine infection. This case–control study evaluates SIRS and qSOFA criteria fulfillment in preterm premature rupture of membranes (n = 453)—at high infection risk—versus elective cesarean—at low infection risk (n = 2004); secondary outcomes included intrauterine infection and positive culture rates. At admission, 14.8% of the study group and 4.6% of control met SIRS criteria (p = 0.001), as did 12.5% and 5.5% on post-operation day (POD) 1 (p = 0.001), with no significant differences on POD 0 or 2. Medical records did not suffice for qSOFA calculation. In the study group, more cultures (29.8% versus 1.9%—cervix; 27.4% versus 1.1%—placenta; 7.5% versus 1.7%—blood; p = 0.001—all differences) and positive cultures (5.5% versus 3.0%—urine—p = 0.008; 4.2% versus 0.2%—cervix—p = 0.001; 7.3% versus 0.0%—placenta—p = 0.001; 0.9% versus 0.1%—blood—p = 0.008) were obtained. Overall, 10.6% of the study group and 0.4% of control met the intrauterine infection criteria (p = 0.001). Though a significant difference was noted in SIRS criteria fulfillment in the study group versus control, there was considerable between-group overlap, questioning the utility of SIRS in intrauterine infection diagnosis. Furthermore, the qSOFA scores could not be assessed.

New Records of Neobenedenia Girellae (Hargis, 1955) (Monogenea: Capsalidae) In Marine Ornamental Fish Imported To Yucatan, Mexico

We detected N. girellae infections in 40 species belonging to 12 families of imported marine ornamental fish from a public aquarium in the Mexican state of Yucatan in January 2018 to December 2020 and carried out their identification to the species level using morphological and molecular analyses. Monogeneans were corroborated morphologically and molecularly using a partial sequence of 28S (region D1–D3) ribosomal DNA and analyzed in a molecular phylogenetic context in combination with data derived from other species of N. girellae available in GenBank. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the specimen found consistently belonged to the N. girellae clade. High infection parameters were detected of N. girellae in the hosts. This identification is relevant to aquarists and aquaculturists in the Gulf of Mexico because N. girellae is considered highly pathogenic in confined fish. Clearly, this work demonstrates that the importation of ornamental fish, coupled with deficient sanitary measures (lack of quarantine areas in distribution centres) contributes to the introduction of parasites and their establishment and dispersal within Mexico.

Prevalence of Psychological Disorders in Patients with COVID-19 Syndrome

The coronavirus 2019 first broke out on December 17, 2019 in Wuhan, China, and on March 11, 2020, it was announced as a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. Despite nutritious diets and promising vaccines, health tips such as wearing a mask, social distancing, home quarantine, and not traveling are still the best ways to control the spread of COVID-19.While the widespread prevalence of COVID-19, severe restrictions, lack of definitive treatment, and the high infection and mortality rates have led to cognitive psychological disorders among the general population of the world. One of the epidemic consequences of COVID-19 syndrome in people who have defeated the coronavirus was psychological disorders. Considering the role of mental health in boosting the immune system, improving the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and accelerating the treatment process of patients, it is suggested that in the post-COVID era, more attention be paid to the psychological health of the community.

Co-evolution of Leptospira and Tenrecidae (Afrotheria) on Madagascar

Leptospirosis is one of the most prevalent bacterial zoonoses in the world. The disease is caused by pathogenic Leptospira that are maintained in the kidney lumen of infected animals, mostly mammals, acting as reservoirs and contaminating the environment via infected urine. The investigation of leptospirosis through a One Health framework has been stimulated by notable genetic diversity of pathogenic Leptospira together with a high infection prevalence in certain animal reservoirs. Extensive sampling and associated microbiological and molecular studies of Madagascar's native mammal fauna have revealed a diversity of pathogenic Leptospira with high levels of host-specificity. Native rodents, tenrecids, and bats shelter a number of distinct lineages and species of Leptospira, some of which have also been detected in acute human cases. Specifically, L. mayottensis, first discovered in humans on Mayotte, an island neighboring Madagascar, was subsequently identified in a few species of Malagasy tenrecids, an endemic family. Distinct L. mayottensis lineages were identified in shrew tenrecs (Microgale cowani and Nesogale dobsoni) on Madagascar, and later in spiny tenrecs (Tenrec ecaudatus) on Mayotte. These findings suggest that L. mayottensis (i) has experienced co-evolutionary processes during the radiation of tenrecids on Madagascar, and (ii) has recently emerged in human populations on Mayotte following the introduction of T. ecaudatus from Madagascar. Hitherto, L. mayottensis has not been detected in spiny tenrecs on Madagascar. In the present study, we broaden the investigation of Malagasy tenrecids and describe the presence of L. mayottensis in Malagasy populations of T. ecaudatus, as well as in M. thomasi. These results confirm the hypothesis that L. mayottensis was introduced to Mayotte, presumably via T. ecaudatus, and provide additional data on the co-evolution of Leptospira and Tenrecidae.

Delta variant with P681R critical mutation revealed by ultra-large atomic-scale ab initio simulation: Implications for the fundamentals of biomolecular interactions

ABSTRACTSARS-CoV-2 Delta variant is emerging as a globally dominant strain. Its rapid spread and high infection rate are attributed to a mutation in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 allowing the virus to invade human cells much faster and with increased efficiency. Particularly, an especially dangerous mutation P681R close to the furin cleavage site has been identified as responsible for increasing the infection rate. Together with the earlier reported mutation D614G in the same domain, it offers an excellent instance to investigate the nature of mutations and how they affect the interatomic interactions in the spike protein. Here, using ultra large-scale ab initio computational modeling, we study the P681R and D614G mutations in the SD2-FP domain including the effect of double mutation and compare the results with the wild type. We have recently developed a method of calculating the amino acid-amino acid bond pairs (AABP) to quantitatively characterize the details of the interatomic interactions, enabling us to explain the nature of mutation at the atomic resolution. Our most significant find is that the mutations reduce the AABP value, implying a reduced bonding cohesion between interacting residues and increasing the flexibility of these amino acids to cause the damage. The possibility of using this unique mutation quantifiers in a machine learning protocol could lead to the prediction of emerging mutations.

Retrospective analysis of the incidence of toxocarosis

Целью данной работы явился ретроспективный анализ заболеваемости населения Астраханской области токсокарозом за 2012-2019 гг. Проанализированы 48 эпидемиологических карт лиц, инвазированных токсокарами. Диагноз «токсокароз» подтверждался данными клинического осмотра, жалобами пациентов, эпидемиологическим анамнезом и результатами иммуноферментного анализа с применением тест-систем для выявления антител к антигенам токсокар класса G. Случаи токсокароза отмечались у лиц от 3 до 75 лет, из которых дети составили 18,8% (n = 9). По результатам эпидемиологического анамнеза выяснилось, что большая часть инвазированных – 91,7% (n = 44) не соблюдала правила личной гигиены (употребляла грязные немытые фрукты и овощи – 89,6% (n = 43), не мыла руки перед едой – 16,7% (n = 8), контактировала с недегельминтизированными животными – 58,4% (n = 28): собаками – 43,8% (n = 21), в т. ч. домашними – 90,5% (n = 19), кошками – 14,6% (n = 7), в т. ч. домашними – 85,7% (n = 6). Склонность к геофагии (привычка есть почву) отмечалась у 68,8% (n = 33) инвазированных. А привычка грызть ногти на руках и ногах (онихофагия) отмечалась у 18,8% (n = 9) детей. После установления окончательного диагноза все пациенты проходили курс химиотерапии препаратом албендазол. Таким образом, высокие цифры зараженности лиц, проживавших в Ленинском и Трусовском районах г. Астрахани, связаны с тем, что данные районы являются густонаселенными с большим числом домовладений частного сектора, в котором находятся домашние животные (кошки и собаки). Основные причины заражения токсокарами – несоблюдение правил личной гигиены, употребление в пищу плохо вымытых фруктов и овощей, контакт с животными и геофагия. Титр антител к антигенам токсокар выше разведения 1:800 свидетельствует о наличии висцерального токсокароза у обследуемого лица. The purpose of this work was a retrospective analysis of the incidence of toxocars in the population of the Astrakhan region for 2012-2019. 48 epidemiological maps of persons infected with toxocars were analyzed. The clinical diagnosis of «Toxocarosis» was confirmed by clinical examination data, patient complaints, collected epidemiological history, and data from the enzyme immunoassay method using test systems to detect antibodies to toxocar class G antigens. Cases of toxocarosis were observed in persons aged 3 to 75 years, of which children accounted for 18,8% (n = 9). An epidemiological history was collected, as a result of which it was found that most of the infected – 91,7% (n = 44) did not follow the rules of personal hygiene (this category of patients had such bad habits as: eating dirty unwashed fruits and vegetables – 89,6% (n = 43), unwashed dirty hands before eating – 16,7% (n = 8), contact with non – dehelminthized animals – 58,4% (n = 28): dogs – 43,8% (n = 21), including domestic – 90,5% (n = 19), cats – 14,6% (n = 7), including domestic-85,7% (n = 6). The tendency to geophagy (the habit of eating the soil) was observed in 68,8% (n = 33) of the infected. And the habit of biting the nails on the hands and feet (onychophagia) was observed in 18,8% (n = 9) of children. After the final diagnosis, all patients underwent a course of chemotherapy with albandazole. Thus, the high infection rates of people who lived in the Leninsky and Trusovsky districts of Astrakhan are associated with the fact that these areas are densely populated with a large number of private sector, in which there are domestic animals (cats and dogs). Presumably, one of the main causes of human infection with toxocars was not following the rules of personal hygiene, eating poorly washed fruits and vegetables, contact with animals and geophagy. The presence of a titer of antibodies to toxocar antigens above a dilution of 1: 800 indicates the presence of the disease «Visceral toxocarosis» in the examined person.