Genome-wide SNPs of vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae: insights into the recent Australian invasion

Liriomyza sativae, the vegetable leafminer, is a serious agricultural pest originally from the Americas which has now colonized all continents except Antarctica. In 2015, L. sativae arrived on the Australian mainland and established on the Cape York Peninsula in the northeast of the country. Here, we assessed genetic variation in L. sativae based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated by double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) to uncover the potential origin(s) of this pest in Australia and contribute to reconstructing its global invasion history. Our principal component analyses (PCA) results suggested that Australian mainland populations were genetically close to populations from the Torres Strait and had connections to Bali and Papua New Guinea (PNG), whereas populations from Asia and Africa were more distantly related. Hawaii was genetically distinct from populations from Asia, Africa and Australia. Co-ancestry analyses pointed to signals of gene flow from the Torres Strait into the Australian mainland, while Indonesia/PNG were the likely sources of the initial invasion into the Torres Strait. Admixture analyses further revealed that L. sativae from the Torres Strait had genetic diversity originating from multiple sources, which has now spread to the Australian mainland. The L. sativae lineages from Asia/Africa appear closely related and may share co-ancestry. Isolation by distance (IBD) was found at a broad global scale, but not within small regions, suggesting human-mediated factors contribute to the local spread of this pest. Overall, our findings highlight the challenges in quarantine measures aimed at restricting the distribution of this global pest.

Imaging of Gastric Carcinoma. Part One: Diagnosis and Staging

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of death from malignancy. Despite the enormous advancement in medical oncology over the past decade, surgical resection of early tumors remains the most effective treatment. Accurate interpretation of radiologic imaging studies is crucial for staging local disease spread, predicting possible lymphatic involvement, and identifying metastatic disease, thereby guiding management plans. This article reviews imaging patterns of the normal stomach along with appearances of gastric cancer, its local spread patterns and distant metastasis, and also describes key features pertaining to preoperative staging.

Genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Oxford during United Kingdom’s first national lockdown

Epidemiological efforts to model the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are crucial to understanding and containing current and future outbreaks and to inform public health responses. Mutations that occur in viral genomes can alter virulence during outbreaks by increasing infection rates and helping the virus evade the host immune system. To understand the changes in viral genomic diversity and molecular epidemiology in Oxford during the first wave of infections in the United Kingdom, we analyzed 563 clinical SARS-CoV-2 samples via whole-genome sequencing using Nanopore MinION sequencing. Large-scale surveillance efforts during viral epidemics are likely to be confounded by the number of independent introductions of the viral strains into a region. To avoid such issues and better understand the selection-based changes occurring in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, we utilized local isolates collected during the UK’s first national lockdown whereby personal interactions, international and national travel were considerably restricted and controlled. We were able to track the short-term evolution of the virus, detect the emergence of several mutations of concern or interest, and capture the viral diversity of the region. Overall, these results demonstrate genomic pathogen surveillance efforts have considerable utility in controlling the local spread of the virus.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Imported COVID-19 Cases, March to December 2020, Chengdu, China: Implication for Quarantine and Isolation of International Travelers

International flights have accelerated the global spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Determination of the optimal quarantine period for international travelers is crucial to prevent the local spread caused by imported COVID-19 cases. We performed a retrospective epidemiological study using 491 imported COVID-19 cases in Chengdu, China, to describe the characteristic of the cases and estimate the time from arrival to confirmation for international travelers using nonparametric survival methods. Among the 491 imported COVID-19 cases, 194 (39.5%) were asymptomatic infections. The mean age was 35.6 years (SD=12.1 years) and 83.3% were men. The majority (74.1%) were screened positive for SARS-CoV-2, conducted by Chengdu Customs District, the People’s Republic of China. Asymptomatic cases were younger than presymptomatic or symptomatic cases (P<0.01). The daily number of imported COVID-19 cases displayed jagged changes. 95% of COVID-19 cases were confirmed by PT-PCR within 14 days (95% CI: 13-15) after arriving in Chengdu. A 14-day quarantine measure can ensure non-infection among international travelers with a 95% probability. Policymakers may consider an extension of the quarantine period to minimize the negative consequences of the COVID-19 confinement and prevent the international spread of COVID-19. Nevertheless, the government should consider the balance between COVID-19 and socioeconomic development, which may cause more serious social and health crises.

A Forgotten Bishop: Lutsk Bishop Ostafy (Eugene) Yelo-Malynsky in the Shadow of His Outstanding Contemporaries

The article deals with the activity of the Union Bishop Ostafy (Eugene) Yelo-Malynsky, who headed the Lutsk Episcopal Chair in 1607–1620. The questions of the origin of the Yelo-Malynsky family, their formation in the status of large landowners in Volhynia; the peculiarities of the secular period of the future bishop’s life are also analyzed. It is noted that Ostafy Yelo-Malynsky was, figuratively speaking, a member of the “club of Volhynian magnates”, owned numerous estates and distinguished himself as a successful businessman. At the same time, from a young age he proved to be an extremely controversial person. On the one hand, Yelo-Malynsky was a recognized lawyer and city judge in Volhynia, while on the other hand, he was involved in a crime including at least two high-profile murders. That circumstance had a great impact on the formation of his reputation and created serious problems in his further activity as a bishop. The issue of national and religious values of Ostafy Yelo-Malynsky is considered separately. It is mentioned that he belonged to the wealthy elite, who followed the Eastern rite at the turn of the 16th–17th centuries. Having opted for the union, he took part in the Lublin Declaration of 1603, which aimed to provide political support to the Union Church and members of the church. Since then, Ostafy Yelo-Malynsky had become one of the few large landowners in Volhynia who professed the Union and had real opportunities to support it.It is noted that granting the privilege to Ostafy Yelo-Malynsky at the Lutsk Diocese met with mass protests of the Volhynian nobility. The aristocratic community mainly did not perceive him as a pastor due to the ambiguous past of the new bishop. This, in turn, was the main reason for the local spread of the Union in the Lutsk-Ostroh diocese.The author made the conclusion that Ostafy (Eugene) Yelo-Malynsky combined in his person contradictory features of his time (aristocratic arbitrariness and the connection with crime, as well as the education, talent of a businessman and the practice of a lawyer). Becoming a bishop, he showed the abilities of an administrator, but did not realize his material potential in the field of philanthropy, and thus remained in the shadow of his prominent contemporaries.

Experience of using scleroobliteration in venous angiodysplasia (results of 12-month follow-up)

AIM: To evaluate the results of using the minimally-invasive technique of scleroobliteration in patients with venous malformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2006 to 2020, 41 interventions were performed for venous-cavernous angiomatosis of various localization through scleroobliteration. Nineteen patients (46.3%) underwent complex treatment, which included a combination of this minimally-invasive technique with other surgical interventions (resection of angiomatous tissues, laser coagulation, and radiofrequency obliteration). RESULTS: Clinical improvement was achieved in 38 (92.7%) patients. According to the data of ultrasound control, 25 patients (61%) experienced no blood flow in the obliteration zone, and there was regression of the initial symptoms within 1 year of observation following intervention. The results of treatment were better due to the local spread of the angiomatous process. With diffuse forms, it was not possible to achieve a positive effect in 3 patients (11.1%). CONCLUSION: Scleroobliteration can provide a positive result in the treatment of patients with venous-cavernous angiodysplasia, both as an independent method and in combination with other minimally-invasive techniques.

Cult of the Domestic Animals in the Green Week Rites of the Historical -Ethnographic Volhynia

The article deals with the cattle-breeding component of customs and rites of the Green Holidays cycle in historical and ethnographic Volhynia. The main cattle-breeding rituals fell on the Sunday of Pentecost (Orthodox Trinity). On the eve of Trinity Sunday, on Green Saturday, Volhynians decorated their homes with greenery and flowers. They sporadically adorned with twigs cattlesheds as well. In some areas, in order to protect livestock from witches and all sorts of evil spirits, these byres were decorated with aspen and other plants endowed with apotropaic properties. In the territory of Pulyn, Khoroshiv, and Cherniakhiv districts of Zhytomyr Region, there was a custom of stealing cows on Trinity Sunday. On Green Sunday night, shepherds stole cattle from their owners and grazed them in the field. After grazing, those thieves-cowherds put woven wreaths on the cows’ horns and returned them home well fed, with receiving a ransom from the cows’ owners. In the Volyn part of Rivne Region, on the day of the Green Holidays, cows were decorated with wreaths. For Western Volhynia (a northern strip of modern Lviv Region, namely Zolochiv, Busk, and Kamyanka-Buzka districts), cattle-breeding customs and rituals on the Trinity are almost uncharacteristic. Unlike other districts, here they are represented on the Catholic feast of the Holy Eucharist. It was on this day that local Volynians consecrated wreaths in churches, which were later used during cattle-breeding occasions. Sporadically, potions consecrated on the Trinity were also used for this purpose. Wreaths were thrown mostly into a cow’s slops after her calving. Despite the local spread of the custom of stealing cows, in historical and ethnographic Volhynia, the Green Holidays were not accompanied by cowherd entertainments, full of ritual actions, which was typical of the customs of other Ukrainian ethnic lands and other Slavonic ethnic groups. On this day, the local population was wary primarily of the harmful effects of witches. To protect cows from the evil influence of witches, Volhynian homemakers fumigated them with sacred potions. In general, in historical and ethnographic Volhynia, the Trinity Sunday-related cattle-breeding theme had a typical apotropaic nature.

A Locally Advanced Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma Arising from Vaginal Endometriosis: Management and Review of the Literature

Endometrioid adenocarcinoma associated with endometriosis at extrauterine or extraovarian localization is a rare entity. Often presenting with local spread without nodal and distant metastasis, this entity has no specific staging system nor treatment guidelines. In the case of nodal and distant spread, the treatment decision requires personalization. In this article, we present the diagnosis and surgical and systemic treatment of a 56-year-old woman diagnosed with an endometriosis-associated advanced endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the vagina with nodal involvement. Following an extensive review of the scarce data reported to guide the treatment choices in this rare setting, we proposed a multidisciplinary treatment with laparoscopic surgical cytoreduction, four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel, and radiotherapy with brachytherapy. Due to an anaphylactic reaction on the first administration, paclitaxel was replaced with nab-paclitaxel. Despite many negative prognostic factors, the patient is free from relapse after 48 months. We report the case of a locally advanced endometrioid adenocarcinoma associated with endometriosis of the vagina, with pelvic nodal spread, and the relevant literature review of similar cases.