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In this paper, a new microstrip triplexer is designed to work at 2.5 GHz, 4.4 GHz and 6 GHz for mid-band 5G applications. All channels are flat with three low group delays (GDs) of 0.84 ns, 0.75 ns and 0.49 ns, respectively. Compared to the previously reported works, the proposed triplexer has the minimum group delay. The designed triplexer has 18.2%, 13.7%, 23.6% fractional bandwidths (FBW%) at 2.5 GHz, 4.4 GHz and 6 GHz, respectively. The obtained insertion losses (ILs) are low at all channels. These features are obtained without a noticeable increase in the overall size. A novel and simple resonator is used to design the proposed triplexer, which includes two pairs of coupled lines combined with a shunt stub. A perfect mathematical analysis is performed to find the resonator behavior and the layout optimization. The type of shunt stub is determined mathematically. Also, the smallness or largeness of some important physical dimensions is determined using the proposed mathematical analysis. Finally, the designed triplexer is fabricated and measured, where the measurement results verify the simulations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Yahya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

What we believe to be a new architecture based on dual-branch photon-number-resolving (DB-PNR) detectors for the receiver in the hybrid quantum key distribution (QKD) is introduced. DB-PNR scheme empowers the receiver to detect both quadratures of the coherent state simultaneously. Our results show that using DB-PNR detectors, the key generation rate (KGR) is almost doubled as compared to homodyne detection which detects only one quadrature at a time. The mutual information is enhanced by around 0.85 bits/symbol using DB-PNR as compared to heterodyne detection. DB-PNR is also found to outperform the heterodyne detection against Eve's individual and collective attacks. PNR-based detection schemes require less local oscillator (LO) power compared to homodyne/heterodyne detection schemes and thereby, the power efficiency of the receiver is enhanced.

Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (tan spot) is a destructive foliar pathogen of wheat with global impact. This ascomycete fungus possesses a highly plastic open pangenome shaped by the gain and loss of effector genes. This study investigated the allelic variations in the chlorosis-encoding gene ToxB across 422 isolates representing all identified pathotypes and worldwide origins. To gain better insights into ToxB evolution, we examined its presence and variability in other Pyrenophora spp. A ToxB haplotype network was constructed, revealing the evolutionary relationships of this gene (20 haplotypes) across four Pyrenophora species. Notably, toxb , the homolog of ToxB , was detected for the first time in the barley pathogen Pyrenophora teres . The ToxB / toxb genes display evidence of selection that is characterized by loss of function, duplication, and diverse mutations. Within the ToxB / toxb open reading frame, 72 mutations were identified, including 14 synonymous, 55 nonsynonymous, and 3 indel mutations. Remarkably, a, ∼5.6-kb Copia-like retrotransposon, named Copia-1_Ptr, was found inserted in the toxb gene of a race 3 isolate. This insert disrupted the ToxB gene's function, a first case of effector gene disruption by a transposable element in P. tritici-repentis . Additionally, a microsatellite with 25 nucleotide repeats (0 to 10) in the upstream region of ToxB suggested a potential mechanism influencing ToxB expression and regulation. Exploring ToxB-like protein distribution in other ascomycetes revealed the presence of ToxB-like proteins in 19 additional species, including the Leotiomycetes class for the first time. The presence/absence pattern of ToxB-like proteins defied species relatedness compared with a phylogenetic tree, suggesting a past horizontal gene transfer event during the evolution of the ToxB gene. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Introduction: The role of internal mammary nodal irradiation (IMNI) as a component of regional nodal radiotherapy is a controversial issue in breast radiation oncology with conflicting results presented in recent landmark trials. We thus created a meta-analysis of available data to better ascertain the potential benefit of IMNI. We hypothesize that with the increased power available within a meta-analysis, IMNI will prove to improve overall survival (OS) in breast cancer., Methods: Literature search was conducted for prospective studies comparing IMNI to no IMNI. Primary endpoint was OS and secondary endpoints included local recurrence, regional recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), breast cancer mortality (BCM), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), grade 2+ skin toxicity, cardiac events, and pneumonitis events. Subgroup analyses were performed for tumor location (medial/central vs. lateral), and nodal status (pN+ vs. pN0). Fixed-effect model was used if there was no heterogeneity, random-effects model otherwise., Results: Four studies with a total of 5258 patients (IMNI: n=2592; control: n=2666) were included in the study. Pooled results showed IMNI significantly improved OS for all-comers (hazard ratio [HR]=0.89; 95% CI 0.81-0.97; P =0.008), as well as subgroups of pN+ with medial/central tumor location (HR=0.84; 95% CI 0.73-0.96; P =0.01) and pN+ with lateral tumor location (HR=0.87; 95% CI 0.77-0.99; P =0.04). There was no significant difference in OS for subgroups of pN0 and medial/central tumor location. There was no difference in local recurrence, but regional recurrence was significantly improved ( P =0.04). Endpoints of DFS (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.99 P =0.03), BCM (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.98, P =0.03), and DMFS (HR=0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.98; P =0.02) were all improved with IMNI. Grade 2+ skin toxicity, cardiac events and pneumonitis events were not significantly different between patient in the IMNI and no IMNI groups., Conclusion: Inclusion of IMN irradiation improves OS, DFS, BCM, and DMFS in breast cancer. Largest effect on OS was noted in the subgroup of patients with pN+ and medial/central tumor location., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify underlying factors associated with single versus multiple expulsions of tunneled hemodialysis catheter cuffs and their associated complications., Materials and Methods: A multicenter, five-year retrospective data analysis was conducted on hemodialysis patients with tunneled catheters. Patient data included age, gender, BMI, and associated comorbidities. The type of procedure (new tunnel insertion vs. exchange), exit site infection, and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) were also included., Results: The data of 122 patients was analyzed. Seventy-eight patients had diabetes mellitus, 102 patients had hypertension, and 24 had ischemic heart disease. Fifty-one patients were on antiplatelet therapy, and nine patients were on oral steroids. The access site for 98 patients was the right internal jugular; for 19 patients, it was the left internal jugular; five patients had a femoral dialysis catheter. Patients were grouped into two categories: those with single cuff extrusion episodes and those with multiple cuff-out episodes. Sixty-three patients had one cuff extrusion, and 59 had multiple cuff-out episodes during the study period. Patients who had CRBSI and hypertension and were aged between 61 and 95 had multiple episodes of cuff extrusion and reached statistical significance. Exit-site infection, diabetes mellitus, antiplatelet therapy, gender, catheter site, and BMI had no statistical significance between the two groups., Conclusion: Tunneled catheter cuff extrusion is a frequent phenomenon. Catheter-related bloodstream infection, hypertension, and age of 61 to 95 years are high-risk factors for multiple episodes of cuff extrusion., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Raza et al.)

Calcareous soils are characterized by a high calcium carbonate content (calcite), which plays a crucial role in the soil structure, plant growth, and nutrient availability. The high content of CaCO 3 leads to the increment of the soil alkalinity, which results in a lowering of the nutrient availability causing a challenge for the agriculture in these soils. In this study, the calcite-solubilizing potential of the diazotrophic Azotobacter salinestris YRNF3 was investigated in vitro as a probable bio-agent for enhancing the calcareous soils properties such as soil pH and nutrient availability. Twelve diazotrophic bacterial strains were isolated from wheat rhizosphere collected from different wheat-cultivated fields in five Egyptian governorates. Using Nessler's reagent, all isolated bacterial strains were found to have the ability to produce ammonia. By amplification of nifH gene, a PCR product of 450 bp was obtained for all isolated bacterial strains. For each isolate, three biological and three technical replicates were applied. All isolated diazotrophic bacteria were qualitatively screened for their calcite-solubilizing ability. To quantitatively investigate the calcite-solubilizing potential of A. salinestris YRNF3 in vitro, changes in the contents of soluble calcium (Ca 2+ ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 - ), total nitrogen (TN), total protein (TP), and pH were daily measured in its culture filtrate along 10 days of incubation. The results showed that the pH values in the culture filtrate ranged from 5.73 to 7.32. Concentration of Ca 2+ and HCO 3 - in the culture filtrate significantly decreased with the increment in the incubation time, while concentration of TN increased along the time. The highest TN concentration (0.0807 gL -1 ) was observed on days 4 and 5, compared to that of the day 0 (0.0014 gL -1 ). Content of TP in the culture filtrate also significantly increased along the incubation period. The highest TP content was recorded in day 4 (0.0505%), while no TP content was recorded on day 0. Furthermore, data obtained revealed that A. salinestris YRNF3 produced acid phosphatase at low activity (5.4 U mL -1 ). HPLC analysis of the culture filtrate indicated production of different organic acids, namely lactic acid (82.57 mg mL -1 ), formic acid (46.8 mg mL -1 ), while acetic acid was detected in a low quantity (3.11 mg mL -1 ). For each analysis, three replicates of each treatment were analyzed. Means of the tested treatments were compared using Tukey's HSD test at p ≤ 0.05. In conclusion, findings of this work suggested that A. salinestris YRNF3 has the potential to be a probable bioagent to be used for the reclamation of the calcareous soils by solubilizing CaCO 3 , improving soil fertility, and promoting plant growth. However, further studies are needed to investigate its field application and their long-term effects on the soil properties and plant productivity. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study reporting the calcite-solubilizing ability of a nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Having these two abilities by one microorganism is a unique feature, which qualifies it as a promising bioagent for reclamation of the calcareous soils., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Methylene blue (MB) dye is considered a well-known dye in many industries and the low concentration of MB is considered very polluted for all environment if it discharged without any treatment. For that reason, many researchers used advanced technologies for removing MB such as the electrochemical methods that considered very simple and give rapid response. Considering these aspects, a novel quartz crystal microbalance nanosensors based on different concentrations of PVC@SiO 2 were designed for real-time adsorption of MB dye in the aqueous streams at different pHs and different temperatures. The characterization results of PVC@SiO 2 showed that the PVC@SiO 2 have synthesized in spherical shape. The performance of the designed QCM-Based PVC@SiO 2 nanosensors were examined by the QCM technique. The sensitivity of designed nanosensors was evaluated at constant concentration of MB (10 mg/L) at different pHs (2, 7 and 11) and temperatures (20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C). From the experimental, the best concentration of PVC@SiO 2 was 3% for adsorbed 9.99 mg of cationic methylene blue at pH 11 and temperature 20 °C in only 5.6 min., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Carbon capture and utilization technology is the research stream dedicated to mitigating the pressing effect of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The present study investigates a potential environmentally conscious solvent to capture and utilize CO 2 using waste concrete and seawater under reactor conditions. Although seawater's CO 2 soubility is low due to salinity, waste concrete raises seawater's pH and alkalinity, acting as a feedstock for CO 2 dissolution and offsetting the adverse effects of salinity. To evaluate the performance of the novel natural seawater-concrete solutions for CO 2 capture, time-dependent pH changes of solutions exposed to CO 2 were measured in a microchannel using fluorescence microscopy. The concentration of dissolved CO 2 in the solution was derived from pH change, revealing a 4-fold increase in the total dissolved carbon from 0.034 to 0.13 M and a 57.54% increase in the CO 2 dissolution coefficient from 530 to 835 μm 2 /s in seawater upon concrete addition. Electrolysis further enhanced the CO 2 capture capacity of the seawater-concrete solution by increasing the pH, enabling the solid precipitation of carbonate minerals. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that electrolysis-driven precipitates are mainly amorphous calcium carbonates, useful building blocks for seashells and coral reefs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Myeongsub Kim reports financial support was provided by National Science Foundation. Abhishek Ratanpara reports financial support was provided by National Science Foundation. John G. Ricca reports financial support was provided by US Geological Survey. Myeongsub Kim reports financial support was provided by Florida Center for Environmental Studies., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although antibiotics growth promoters (AGPs), including zinc-bacitracin (ZnB), can threaten human health due to developing antimicrobial resistance, as well as drug residue in animal and poultry products, ZnB is still widely used, particularly in developing countries, for the sustainability of poultry farming. The present investigation aims to assess the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus acidophilus, with or without a prebiotic (mannooligosaccharide, MOS), as alternatives to ZnB. For this reason, 150 one-day-old chicks were grouped into six groups, designated negative control, LA, SC, ZnB, SA + MOS, and LA + MOS (5 replicates of 5 chicks for each group). Chicks kept in the control group were fed the basal diet. Chickens kept in LA and SC groups received L. acidophilus, S. cerevisiae at a 1 g/kg diet and 2 g/Kg, respectively. Chickens kept in ZnB received ZnB at 0.5 g/kg. Chicks kept in the SC + MOS and LA + MOS were fed a basal diet containing 2 g S. cerevisiae  + 1 g MOS/kg or 1 g L. acidophilus  + 1 g MOS /kg, respectively. The efficacy was assessed based on the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemistry composition during the entire trial 1-36 days of age. Results showed that chicks kept in the SC group had greater BW than the control ( p  < 0.05). Chicks kept in the SC, LA, SC + MOS, and LA + MOS consumed less feed than the control and Zn-B groups ( p  < 0.05). Supplementation with S. cerevisiae resulted in a better ( p  < 0.05) feed conversion rate (FCR) than the control group. Supplementation with L. acidophilus  + MOS significantly increased ( p  < 0.05) the relative liver weight compared to those supplemented with ZnB, S. cerevisiae , and L. acidophilus . In addition, supplementation with ZnB-induced spleen hypertrophy compared to S. cerevisiae and L. acidophilus -supplemented groups ( p  < 0.05). Plasma, meat, and liver cholesterol, as well as the cholesterol-to-lipid ratio of meat and liver, were significantly decreased ( p  < 0.05) in both SC and LA groups compared to the control group. Our research indicates that adding 2 g/kg of S. cerevisiae to broiler feed can effectively replace ZnB and enhance productive performance and economic profits, making it a viable and sustainable option for broiler farming., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Attia, Basiouni, Abdulsalam, Bovera, Aboshok, Shehata and Hafez.)

Background: Spontaneous third ventriculostomy (STV) is a rare occurrence in cases of obstructive hydrocephalus where the walls of the third ventricle rupture, communicating the ventricular system, and the subarachnoid space leading to arrest of active hydrocephalus. We aim to review our series of STVs while reviewing previous reports., Methods: A retrospective review of cases undergoing cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) from 2015 to 2022 of any age with imaging evidence of arrested obstructive hydrocephalus was performed. Patients in which aqueductal stenosis was radiologically evident and the presence of third ventriculostomy through which cerebrospinal fluid flow was detectable were included. Patients who previously underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy were excluded. Data on patient demographics, presentation, and imaging details of STV and aqueductal stenosis were collected. We searched the PubMed database using the following keyword combination: ((("spontaneous ventriculostomy") OR ("spontaneous third ventriculostomy")) OR ("spontaneous ventriculocisternostomy")) including English reports of STV published between 2010 and 2022., Results: Fourteen cases were included (7 adults, 7 pediatrics), all with history of hydrocephalus. STV occurred in the floor of the third ventricle in 57.1% of the cases, at the lamina terminalis in 35.7%, and at both sites in 1 case. Eleven publications reporting 38 cases of STV were identified from 2009 to date. Minimum follow-up period was 10 months and maximum follow-up is 77 months., Conclusions: In cases of chronic obstructive hydrocephalus, neurosurgeons should be minded with the possibility of the presence of an STV on cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging leading to arrested hydrocephalus. The delayed flow at the aqueduct of Sylvius might not be the only determinant of the necessity of cerebrospinal fluid diversion and the presence of an STV should be factored into the neurosurgeon's decision considering the patient's clinical picture., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The feasibility of percutaneous closure ventricular septal defects (VSD) in children has been previously proven. However, data on long-term outcomes are limited. We aim to evaluate the long-term outcome of our experience with percutaneous closure of VSD using various occluders., Methods: Retrospective institutional analysis of children who underwent transcatheter closure of perimembranous and muscular VSDs between September 2012 and February 2020. Patient demographics, procedural, and long-term follow-up data were comprehensively analyzed. Patients who lost to follow-up within two years post-procedure were excluded., Results: We identified 75 patients (54.7% males) with a median of 66 months (IQR, 46-96). The closure success rate at one year was 95.7%. Complete heart block was detected in two patients early post-procedure and resolved with steroids. The VSDs were perimembranous (52%), muscular (33.33%), and residual (14.67%). Implanted devices were Pfm Nit-Occlud LeˆVSD Coil (42.7%), Hyperion TM VSD Muscular Occluder (28%), Amplatzer VSD muscular occluder (10.7%), Amplatzer Duct Occluder (14.7%), Occlutech Muscular VSD Occluder (2.7%), and Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (1.3%). No new arrhythmia or valve regurgitation was detected after two years post-procedure. Persisted complications on long-term follow-up included: residual shunting in 3(4%), mild tricuspid regurgitation in 2(2.7%), and aortic regurgitation in 2(2.7%), with one immediate post-catheterization mild aortic regurgitation worsened during follow-up, requiring surgical repair of VSD three years after device implantation. No deaths were reported., Conclusion: Long-term outcomes of pediatric transcatheter VSD closure using different devices are satisfactory. Post-procedural adverse events are limited, but long-term surveillance is necessary to monitor their progression., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

ToxA is one of the most studied proteinaceous necrotrophic effectors produced by plant pathogens. It has been identified in four pathogens ( Pyrenophora tritici-repentis , Parastagonospora nodorum , Parastagonospora pseudonodorum [formerly Parastagonospora avenaria f. sp. tritici ], and Bipolaris sorokiniana ) causing leaf spot diseases on cereals worldwide. To date, 24 different ToxA haplotypes have been identified. Some P. tritici-repentis and related species also express ToxB , another small protein necrotrophic effector. We present here a revised and standardized nomenclature for these effectors, which could be extended to other poly-haplotypic genes found across multiple species., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Long-term follow-up of multiple myeloma (MM) clinical trials are needed to assess long-term outcomes. We aimed to investigate the length of follow-up of all phase III MM clinical trials. Median follow-up duration of clinical trials of newly diagnosed MM was longer when compared to relapsed/refractory MM clinical trials (42.7 vs. 20.5 months, respectively). The follow-up duration of phase III clinical trials in MM is relatively short when compared to the improved outcomes in the current era. Efforts should be made to facilitate long-term clinical trials follow-up and/or publication of results of updated results., Competing Interests: Authors declare that they have no conflict of interests., (© 2023 The Authors. eJHaem published by British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Glucose metabolism after kidney transplantation (KT) is highly dynamic with the first post-transplantation year being the most critical period for new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) occurrence. The present study aimed to analyze dynamics of glucose metabolism and report incidence/risk factors of abnormal glycemic state during the first year after KT in children., Methods: Twenty-one consecutive freshly transplanted pediatric kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) were assessed for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) weekly for 4 weeks, then every 3 months for 1 year., Results: Interpretation of OGTT test showed normal glucose tolerance (NGT) in 6 patients (28.6%) while 15 (71.4%) experienced impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) at any time point of monitoring. Seven patients had NODAT, for which three needed insulin therapy. Hyperglycemia onset was 7.8 ± 13.12 weeks (median (range) = 1 (0-24) week) after KT. Percent of patients with abnormal OGTT was significantly more than that of IFG (38.1% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.029). Patients with abnormal glycemic state had significantly elevated trough tacrolimus levels at 6 months (p = 0.03). Glucose readings did not correlate with steroid doses nor rejection episodes while positively correlating with tacrolimus doses at 3 months (p = 0.02, CC = 0.73) and 6 months (p = 0.01, CC = 0.63), and negatively correlating with simultaneous GFR at 9 months (p = 0.04, CC =  - 0.57)., Conclusions: Up to two thirds of pediatric KTRs (71.4%) experienced abnormal glycemic state at some point with peak incidence within the first week up to 6 months after KT. OGTT was a better tool for monitoring of glucose metabolism than FPG. Abnormal glycemic state was induced by tacrolimus and adversely affected graft function. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Campylobacter ( C .) jejuni is a zoonotic bacterium of public health significance. The present investigation was designed to assess the epidemiology and genetic heterogeneity of C. jejuni recovered from commercial turkey farms in Germany using whole-genome sequencing. The Illumina MiSeq ® technology was used to sequence 66 C. jejuni isolates obtained between 2010 and 2011 from commercial meat turkey flocks located in ten German federal states. Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance was determined. Phylogeny, resistome, plasmidome and virulome profiles were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing data. Genetic resistance markers were identified with bioinformatics tools (AMRFinder, ResFinder, NCBI and ABRicate) and compared with the phenotypic antimicrobial resistance. The isolates were assigned to 28 different sequence types and 11 clonal complexes. The average pairwise single nucleotide-polymorphisms distance of 14,585 SNPs (range: 0-26,540 SNPs) revealed a high genetic distinction between the isolates. Thirteen virulence-associated genes were identified in C. jejuni isolates. Most of the isolates harbored the genes fla A (83.3%) and fla B (78.8%). The wla N gene associated with the Guillain-Barré syndrome was detected in nine (13.6%) isolates. The genes for resistance to ampicillin ( bla OXA ), tetracycline [ tet (O)], neomycin [ aph (3')-IIIa], streptomycin ( aadE ) and streptothricin ( sat4 ) were detected in isolated C. jejuni using WGS. A gene cluster comprising the genes sat4, aph (3')-IIIa and aadE was present in six isolates. The single point mutation T86I in the housekeeping gene gyrA conferring resistance to quinolones was retrieved in 93.6% of phenotypically fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates. Five phenotypically erythromycin-susceptible isolates carried the mutation A103V in the gene for the ribosomal protein L22 inferring macrolide resistance. An assortment of 13 β-lactam resistance genes ( bla OXA variants) was detected in 58 C. jejuni isolates. Out of 66 sequenced isolates, 28 (42.4%) carried plasmid-borne contigs. Six isolates harbored a pTet-like plasmid-borne contig which carries the tet (O) gene. This study emphasized the potential of whole-genome sequencing to ameliorate the routine surveillance of C. jejuni . Whole-genome sequencing can predict antimicrobial resistance with a high degree of accuracy. However, resistance gene databases need curation and updates to revoke inaccuracy when using WGS-based analysis pipelines for AMR detection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 El-Adawy, Hotzel, García-Soto, Tomaso, Hafez, Schwarz, Neubauer and Linde.)

Aim: Motorised intramedullary lengthening nails are considered more expensive than external fixators for limb lengthening. This research aims to compare the cost of femoral lengthening in children using the PRECICE magnetic lengthening nail with external fixation., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 50 children who underwent femoral lengthening. One group included patients who were treated with PRECICE lengthening nails, the other group included patients who had lengthening with external fixation. Each group included 25 patients aged between 11 and 17 years. The patients in both groups were matched for age. Cost analysis was performed following micro-costing and analysis of the used resources during the different phases of the treatments., Results: Each group's mean patient age was 14.7 years. Lengthening nails were associated with longer operative times compared with external fixators, both for implantation and removal surgery ( p -values of 0.007 and < 0.0001, respectively). Length of stay following the implantation surgery, frequency of radiographs and frequency of outpatient department appointments were all lower with lengthening nails. The overall cost of lengthening nails was £1393 more than external fixators, however, this difference was not statistically significant ( p -value = 0.088)., Conclusion: The difference in the mean costs between femoral lengthening with lengthening nails versus external fixators was not statistically significant. Further research to review the effectiveness of the devices and the quality of life during the lengthening process is crucial for robust health economic evaluation., How to Cite This Article: Hafez M, Nicolaou N, Offiah A, et al. How Much Does Paediatric Femoral Lengthening Cost? A Cost Comparison between Magnetic Lengthening Nails and External Fixators. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2023;18(1):16-20., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: Dr James Alfred Fernandes is associated as the Associate Editor of this journal and this manuscript was subjected to this journal's standard review procedures, with this peer review handled independently of this editorial board member and his research group., (Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).)

Plant pathogenic Fusarium spp. are widespread and cause important diseases on a wide host range, including economically important cereal and pulse crops. A number of molecular methods have been used to detect, identify, and quantify a long list of plant pathogenic Fusarium spp. In general, these methods are much faster, highly specific, more sensitive, and more accurate than culture-based methods and can be performed and interpreted by personnel with no specialized taxonomical expertise. The accurate isolation and identification of these pathogens is required to effectively manage diseases caused by pathogenic Fusarium spp. In this chapter, we present detailed molecular methods for detection, quantification, and differentiation between many of the Fusarium spp. associated with cereal and pulse crops., (© 2023. His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.)

Cryptosporidiosis is a water- and food-borne zoonotic disease caused by the protozoon parasite of the genus Cryptosporidium. C. hominis and C. parvum are the main two species causing infections in humans and animals. The disease can be transmitted by the fecal-oral route as well as the respiratory route. The infective stage (sporulated oocysts) is resistant to different disinfectants including chlorine. Currently, no effective therapeutic drugs or vaccines are available to treat and control Cryptosporidium infection. To prevent cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals, we need to understand better how the disease is spread and transmitted, and how to interrupt its transmission cycle. This review focuses on understanding cryptosporidiosis, including its infective stage, pathogenesis, life cycle, genomics, epidemiology, previous outbreaks, source of the infection, transmission dynamics, host spectrum, risk factors and high-risk groups, the disease in animals and humans, diagnosis, treatment and control, and the prospect of an effective anti- Cryptosporidium vaccine. It also focuses on the role of the One Health approach in managing cryptosporidiosis at the animal-human-environmental interface. The summarized data in this review will help to tackle future Cryptosporidium infections in humans and animals and reduce the disease occurrence.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess serum iron, zinc, and copper in symptomatic children with Helicobacter pylori infection, to correlate their serum levels with the degree of gastritis, and to evaluate the effect of H. pylori treatment on their levels., Methods: This study was carried out on 70 children with upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by the H. pylori antigen test in the stool and histopathologic findings during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients were divided into 2 groups; H. pylori -positive and H. pylori -negative groups. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, transferrin (sTfR), zinc, and copper were assessed in all included children., Results: The hemoglobin level, serum ferritin, and zinc were significantly lower in H. pylori -positive patients compared to H. pylori -negative patients. However, the serum copper level was comparable between the 2 groups. After treatment, the hemoglobin level, serum ferritin, and serum zinc significantly increased in H. pylori -positive patients, especially in those who responded to treatment compared to their levels before treatment. There was a significant negative correlation between the severity of histopathologic abnormalities and hemoglobin level, serum ferritin, and zinc levels, but a significant positive relation with sTfR concentrations in H. pylori -positive patients., Conclusions: H. pylori -infected children had low serum ferritin and zinc levels but high sTfR level with no effect on serum copper levels. After treatment, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and zinc levels significantly improved in H. pylori -positive patients. Gastric histologic findings correlated significantly with hemoglobin, serum ferritin, zinc, and sTfR levels., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by European Society for European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Background: In fungal plant pathogens, genome rearrangements followed by selection pressure for adaptive traits have facilitated the co-evolutionary arms race between hosts and their pathogens. Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr) has emerged recently as a foliar pathogen of wheat worldwide and its populations consist of isolates that vary in their ability to produce combinations of different necrotrophic effectors. These effectors play vital roles in disease development. Here, we sequenced the genomes of a global collection (40 isolates) of Ptr to gain insights into its gene content and genome rearrangements., Results: A comparative genome analysis revealed an open pangenome, with an abundance of accessory genes (~ 57%) reflecting Ptr's adaptability. A clear distinction between pathogenic and non-pathogenic genomes was observed in size, gene content, and phylogenetic relatedness. Chromosomal rearrangements and structural organization, specifically around effector coding genes, were detailed using long-read assemblies (PacBio RS II) generated in this work in addition to previously assembled genomes. We also discovered the involvement of large mobile elements associated with Ptr's effectors: ToxA, the gene encoding for the necrosis effector, was found as a single copy within a 143-kb 'Starship' transposon (dubbed 'Horizon') with a clearly defined target site and target site duplications. 'Horizon' was located on different chromosomes in different isolates, indicating mobility, and the previously described ToxhAT transposon (responsible for horizontal transfer of ToxA) was nested within this newly identified Starship. Additionally, ToxB, the gene encoding the chlorosis effector, was clustered as three copies on a 294-kb element, which is likely a different putative 'Starship' (dubbed 'Icarus') in a ToxB-producing isolate. ToxB and its putative transposon were missing from the ToxB non-coding reference isolate, but the homolog toxb and 'Icarus' were both present in a different non-coding isolate. This suggests that ToxB may have been mobile at some point during the evolution of the Ptr genome which is contradictory to the current assumption of ToxB vertical inheritance. Finally, the genome architecture of Ptr was defined as 'one-compartment' based on calculated gene distances and evolutionary rates., Conclusions: These findings together reflect on the highly plastic nature of the Ptr genome which has likely helped to drive its worldwide adaptation and has illuminated the involvement of giant transposons in facilitating the evolution of virulence in Ptr., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is currently spreading worldwide. The pandemic has already had significant adverse effects on human civilization, the environment, and the ecosystem at national and global levels. Moreover, the various sectors of the food production chain, particularly agriculture and livestock, have also been significantly affected in terms of production sustainability and economic losses. The global pandemic has already resulted in a sharp drop in meat, milk, and egg production. Restrictions of movement at national and international levels, implemented as a part of control strategies by public health sectors, have negatively impacted business related to the supply of raw materials for livestock farmers and farm outputs, veterinary services, farmworkers, and animal welfare. This review highlights the significant impacts of COVID-19 on the sustainability of livestock performance, welfare on a global scale, and strategies for mitigating these adverse effects., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Obesity is associated with insulin resistance (IR). Identifying high-risk obese children affected with IR is crucial to apply preventive management. We aimed to assess the diagnostic value of urinary C-peptide (UCP) and urinary C-peptide creatinine ratio (UCPCR) to diagnose IR in obese children., Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 60 children with obesity as the study group. Sixty healthy children of matched age and sex with normal body mass index (BMI) served as the control group. Hemostasis model for the assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose and insulin, UCP, and UCPCR were assessed in all included children., Results: UCP and UCPCR were significantly higher in children with obesity (2.075 ± 0.783) ng/ml, (0.200 ± 0.021) nmol/mmol compared to the control group (1.012 ± 0.465) ng/ml, (0.148 ± 0.016) nmol/mmol, respectively. Both UCP and UCPCR were positively correlated with each other and with HOMA-IR, HbA1c, acanthosis nigricans, waist circumference, and BMI. At cutoff ≥2.45, the sensitivity of UCP to diagnose IR in obese children was 71.4%. At cutoff ≥0.20, the sensitivity of UCPCR to diagnose IR in obese children was 87.6%., Conclusions: UCP and UCPCR are promising surrogate markers of IR in children and adolescents with obesity. However, UCPCR is a better marker than UCP., Impact: Obesity is associated with IR. Identifying high-risk obese children affected with IR is crucial to apply preventive management. We aimed to assess the diagnostic value of UCP and UCPCR to detect IR in obese children. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to use UCP and UCPCR to assess IR in obese children. We found that UCP and UCPCR are practical, easy, dependable noninvasive markers to assess IR in children with obesity and could potentially be useful in epidemiological studies and clinical practice., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.)

Poultry is one of the most important reservoirs for zoonotic multidrug-resistant pathogens. The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in poultry production is a leading factor for development and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolated from healthy turkey flocks of different ages in Nile delta region, Egypt. In the current investigation, 250 cloacal swabs were collected from 12 turkey farms in five governorates in the northern Egypt. Collected samples were cultivated on Brilliance TM ESBL agar media supplemented with cefotaxime (100 mg/L). The E. coli isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS and confirmed by a conventional PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA-DNA. The phenotypic antibiogram against 14 antimicrobial agents was determined using the broth micro-dilution method. DNA-microarray-based assay was applied for genotyping and determination of both, virulence and resistance-associated gene markers. Multiplex real-time PCR was additionally applied for all isolates for detection of the actual most relevant Carbapenemase genes. The phenotypic identification of colistin resistance was carried out using E-test. A total of 26 E. coli isolates were recovered from the cloacal samples. All isolates were defined as multidrug-resistant. Interestingly, two different E. coli strains were isolated from one sample. Both strains had different phenotypic and genotypic profiles. All isolates were phenotypically susceptible to imipenem, while resistant to penicillin, rifampicin, streptomycin, and erythromycin. None of the examined carbapenem resistance genes was detected among isolates. At least one beta-lactamase gene was identified in most of isolates, where bla TEM was the most commonly identified determinant (80.8%), in addition to bla CTX-M9 (23.1%), bla SHV (19.2%) and bla OXA-10 (15.4%). Genes associated with chloramphenicol resistance were flo R (65.4%) and cml A1 (46.2%). Tetracycline- and quinolone-resistance-associated genes tet A and qnr S were detected in (57.7%) and (50.0%) of isolates, respectively. The aminoglycoside resistance associated genes aad A1 (65.4%), aad A2 (53.8%), aph A (50.0%), str A (69.2%), and str B (65.4%), were detected among isolates. Macrolide resistance associated genes mph and mrx were also detected in (53.8%) and (34.6%). Moreover, colistin resistance associated gene mcr -9 was identified in one isolate (3.8%). The class 1 integron integrase int I1 (84.6%), transposase for the transposon tnp ISEcp1 (34.6%) and OqxB -integral membrane and component of RND-type multidrug efflux pump oqx B (7.7%) were identified among the isolates. The existing high incidence of ESBL/colistin-producing E. coli identified in healthy turkeys is a major concern that demands prompt control; otherwise, such strains and their resistance determinants could be transmitted to other bacteria and, eventually, to people via the food chain.

Pyrenophora tritici-repentis was described first as a pathogen of wheat (tan spot) in Japan in the 1920s, but, since then, no reports on P. tritici-repentis race structure or its effectors in Japan have been published. In this study, 10 single-spore isolates of P. tritici-repentis were collected from bread wheat in Japan. These isolates were evaluated for virulence on four differential wheat genotypes and tested for the presence/absence of the effector-encoding genes, ToxA and ToxB , in multiplex PCR assays. These isolates were identified as ToxA producers, of which eight were designated as race 2 (ToxA producers) and two were classified as race 1 (ToxA and ToxC producers) based on their virulence patterns. Sequence analysis of the ToxA amplicons from these 10 isolates indicated the presence of a novel ToxA haplotype (denoted PtrA2). A comparative sequence analysis and resequencing of ToxA from reference P. tritici-repentis isolates showed that all previously published ToxA haplotypes in P. tritici-repentis were identical, and are hence denoted PtrA1 in this study. A total of 163 PtrToxA sequences from global origins were already deposited in GenBank and were confirmed identical to PtrA1. Sequence variation in PtrA1 and PtrA2 open reading frames were found at three positions: one synonymous mutation at position 412 (C/G) and two nonsynonymous mutations at positions 342 and 362 that alter amino acid sequence. These mutations did not seem to affect the necrosis development on a ToxA-sensitive wheat genotype when rated for symptoms 5 to 7 days after inoculation. This is the first report correctly confirming the presence of an additional novel ToxA haplotype in P. tritici-repentis for which we have predicted its isoform and updated the ToxA haplotype evolutionary network.

Background: Distraction osteogenesis is a very demanding process. For decades, external fixation was the only reliable option for gradual deformity correction. Recently, intramedullary magnetic nails have gained popularity. This research aimed to assess the quality of life in children during gradual deformity correction using intramedullary lengthening nails compared to external fixation., Method: Prospective analysis included children who had gradual lower limb deformity correction between 2017 and 2019. Group A included children who had magnetic lengthening nails; patients in group B had external fixation devices. Child health utility 9D (CHU- 9D) and EuroQol 5D youth (EQ- 5D-Y) were used to measure the quality of life at fixed points during the distraction osteogenesis process. The results were used to calculate the utility at each milestone and the overall quality of life adjusted years (QALYs)., Results: Thirty-four children were recruited, group A had 16 patients, whilst group B had 18 patients. The average ages were 16.0 years and 14.7 years for groups A and B, respectively. Group A patients reported significantly better utility compared to group B. This was observed during all stages of treatment (P = 0.00016). QALYs were better for group A (0.44) compared to group B (0.34) (P < 0.0001)., Conclusion: The quality of life was generally better in group A compared to group B. In most patients, the health utility progressively improved throughout treatment. In the same way, QALYs were better with the lengthening nails compared to external fixators. The magnetic lengthening devices (PRECICE nails) which were used in this research were recently relabelled to restrict their applications in children; this study was conducted before these restrictions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Fusarium crown and root rot (FCRR) are major wheat diseases. Populations of FHB and FCRR pathogens are highly dynamic, and shifts in these populations in different regions is reported. Analyzing fungal populations associated with wheat node and grain tissues collected from different regions can provide useful information and predict diseases that might affect subsequent crops and effective disease management practices. In this study, wheat node and grain samples were collected from four representative sites across the western Canadian prairies in the 2018 growing season to characterize the major Fusarium spp. and other mycobiota associated with wheat in these regions. In total, 994 fungal isolates were recovered, and based on culture and molecular diagnostic methods, three genera constituted over 90% of all fungal isolates, namely Alternaria (39.6%), Fusarium (27.8%), and Parastagonospora (23.9%). A quantitative PCR (qPCR) diagnostic toolkit was developed to quantify the most frequently isolated Fusarium spp. in infected wheat tissues: Fusarium avenaceum , F. culmorum , F. graminearum , and F. poae . This qPCR specificity was validated in silico, in vitro, and in planta and proved specific to the target species. The qPCR results showed that F. graminearum was not detected frequently from wheat node and grain samples collected from four locations in this study. F. poae was the most abundant Fusarium species in grain samples in all tested locations. However, in node samples, F. culmorum (Beaverlodge and Scott) and F. avenaceum (Lacombe and Lethbridge) were the most abundant species. Trichothecene genotyping showed that the 3ADON is the most dominant trichothecene genotype (68%), followed by type-A trichothecenes (29.5%), whereas the 15ADON trichothecene genotype was least dominant (2.5%) and the NIV genotype was not detected. Moreover, a total of 129 translation elongation factor 1-alpha ( TEF1α ) sequences from nine Fusarium spp. were compared at the haplotype level to evaluate genetic variability and distribution. F. avenaceum and F. poae exhibited higher diversity as reflected by higher number of haplotypes present in these two species compared with the rest.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is responsible for significant lung disease in adults. Despite mild manifestations in most children, multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 is well described in older children with cardiac manifestations. However, MIS-C-related cardiac manifestations are not as well described in younger children., Methods: The study is a retrospective analysis of MIS-C patients under the age of 5 years admitted between May and November 2020 to a single centre. Included cases fulfilled the case definition of MIS-C according to Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health criteria with laboratory, electrocardiogram, or echocardiographic evidence of cardiac disease. Collected data included patients' demographics, laboratory results, echocardiographic findings, management, and outcomes., Results: Out of 16 MIS-C cases under 5 years of age, 10 (62.5%) had cardiac manifestations with a median age of 12 months, 9 (90%) were previously healthy. Cardiac manifestations included coronary arterial aneurysms or ectasia in five (50%) cases, two (20%) with isolated myopericarditis, coronary ectasia with myocarditis in two (20%), and supraventricular tachycardia in one (10%). Intravenous immunoglobulins were given in all cases with coronary involvement or myocarditis. The median duration of hospitalisation was 7 (6-14) days; two (20%) cases with cardiac disease were mechanically ventilated and mortality in MIS-C cases below 5 years was 12.5%. Normalisation of systolic function occurred in half of the affected cases within 1 week and reached 100% by 30 days of follow-up., Conclusions: MIS-C associated with SARS-CoV-2 has a high possibility of serious associated cardiac manifestations in children under the age of 5 years with mortality and/or long-term morbidities such as coronary aneurysms even in previously healthy children.

This paper explores the head-on collision between two-counter propagating positron acoustic solitons and double layers (DLs) in an unmagnetized collisionless plasma having mobile cold positrons fluid, immobile positive ions and ([Formula: see text])-distributed hot positrons, and hot electrons. By employing the extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo method, the coupled Korteweg-de Vries (KdV), modified KdV (mKdV) and Gardner equations are derived to archive this goal. The effect of dimensionless parameters on the propagation characteristics of interacting KdV solitons (KdVSs), mKdV solitons (mKdVSs), Gardner solitons (GSs) and DLs are examined in detail by considering the limiting cases of ([Formula: see text])-distribution. It is noted that the interaction of GSs and DLs are reported for the first time. The outcomes might be comprehended and beneficial not only in space and astrophysical environments but also in laboratory studies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The oblique plane waves with their dynamical behaviors for a (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) having beta derivative spatial-temporal evolution are investigated. In order to study such phenomena, NLSE is converted to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation with a planar dynamical system by considering the variable wave transform with obliqueness and the properties of the beta derivative. Some more new general forms of analytical solutions, like bright, dark, singular, and pure periodic solutions of NLSE are constructed by employing the auxiliary ordinary differential equation method and the extended simplest equation method. The effect of obliqueness and beta derivative parameter on several types of wave structures along with the phase portrait diagrams are reported by considering some special values of parameters for the existence of attained solutions. It is found that the planar dynamical system is not supported by any type of orbit for Θ = 45 0 . It is also confirmed from the obtained solutions that no plane waves are generated for Θ = 45 0 . The presented studies on bifurcation analysis and analytical solutions for (2+1)-dimensional NLSE would be very useful to understand the physical scenarios of nonlinear spin dynamics in magnetic materials for Heisenberg models of ferromagnetic spin chains., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Poultry farming is a significant source of revenue generation for small farmers in developing countries. It plays a vital role in fulfilling the daily protein requirements of humans through meat and eggs consumption. The recently emerged pandemic Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) impacts the poultry production sector. Although the whole world is affected, these impacts may be more severe in developing countries due to their dependency on exporting necessary supplies such as feed, vaccines, drugs, and utensils. In this review, we have discussed poultry production in developing countries under the COVID-19 crisis and measures to regain the loss in the poultry industries. Generally, due to the lockdown, trade limitations have negatively impacted poultry industries, which might exacerbate global poverty. Coordinated activities have to be taken at the private and government levels to arrange soft loans so that these farms can restore their production and marketing to normal levels. In addition, here, we have focused on the supply of farm input, feed, other raw materials, management system, improved breeding efficiency, veterinary services, and marketing of egg and meat, which have to be ensured to secure a sustainable poultry production chain.

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a monogenic disorder caused by genetic diversity in the CYP21A2 gene, with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) as the most common type. Early sex assignment and early diagnosis of different genetic variations with a proper technique are important to reduce mortality and morbidity. Proper early sex identification reduces emotional, social, and psychological stress. Aim: Detection of a spectrum of aberrations in the CYP21A2 gene, including copy number variations, gene conversion, chimeric genes, and point variations. Methods: The CYP21A2 gene was screened using MLPA assay in 112 unrelated Egyptian children with 21-OHD CAH (33 males and 79 females). Results: In the studied group, 79.5% were diagnosed within the first month of life. 46.8% of the genetic females were misdiagnosed as males. Among the copy number variation results, large deletions in 15.4% and three types of chimeric genes in 9% (CH-1, CH-7, and CAH-X CH-1) were detected. Regarding gene dosage, one copy of CYP21A2 was found in 5 cases (4.5%), three copies were detected in 7 cases (6.3%), and one case (0.9%) showed four copies. Eight common genetic variants were identified, I2G, large deletions, large gene conversion (LGC), I172N, F306 + T, -113 SNP, 8bp Del, and exon 6 cluster (V237E and M239K) with an allelic frequency of 32.62%, 15.45%, 7.30%, 3.00%, 2.58%, 2.15%, 0.86%, and 0.86%, respectively. Conclusion: High prevalence of copy number variations highlights the added value of using MLPA in routine laboratory diagnosis of CAH patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Tolba, Mandour, Musa, Elmougy, Hafez, Abdelatty, Ibrahim, Soliman, Labib, Elshiwy, Ramzy and Elsharkawy.)

Background: Femoral lengthening can be achieved using external fixators or intramedullary lengthening nails. The purpose of this research was to compare the outcome of femoral lengthening in children using PRECICE magnetic lengthening nails with lengthening external fixators., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 50 children who had femoral lengthening. Group A included patients who had lengthening with external fixation, patients in Group B had lengthening with PRECICE intramedullary lengthening nails. Each group included 25 patients. The sample strictly included children aged between 11 and 17 years. Patients in each group were matched according to age and indication for lengthening whether congenital or acquired conditions. The outcomes focused on the ability to achieve target length, healing index, residual malalignment, length of hospitalization following the osteotomy surgery, and encountered complications., Results: Mean patient age was 14.7 years for each group. The length gain was 42±12 mm for Group A and 41.6±8 mm for Group B (P=0.84). Lengthening nails achieved the target length more accurately compared with external fixation (P=0.017). The healing index was significantly higher in group A with 53.2±19 days/cm compared with 40.2±14 days/cm in group B (P=0.03). Group A had significantly higher complications than group B (P<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the final coronal malalignment between the 2 groups (P=0.2). The mean length of stay was 9.2±5.8 days for group A and 4.2±3.3 days for group B (P=0.0005)., Conclusion: Magnetic lengthening nails are clinically effective for femoral lengthening in the pediatric population. Compared with external fixation, healing index and complications were more favorable with PRECICE nails. Further research is required to study the cost-effectiveness of this technique., Level of Evidence: Level IV-case series., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Avian influenza virus (AIV) variants emerge frequently, which challenges rapid diagnosis. Appropriate diagnosis reaching the sub- and pathotype level is the basis of combatting notifiable AIV infections. Real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) has become a standard diagnostic tool. Here, a total of 24 arrayed RT-qPCRs is introduced for full subtyping of 16 hemagglutinin and nine neuraminidase subtypes of AIV. This array, designated Riems Influenza A Typing Array version 2 (RITA-2), represents an updated and economized version of the RITA-1 array previously published by Hoffmann et al. RITA-2 provides improved integration of assays (24 instead of 32 parallel reactions) and reduced assay volume (12.5 µL). The technique also adds RT-qPCRs to detect Newcastle Disease (NDV) and Infectious Bronchitis viruses (IBV). In addition, it maximizes inclusivity (all sequences within one subtype) and exclusivity (no intersubtypic cross-reactions) as shown in validation runs using a panel of 428 AIV reference isolates, 15 reference samples each of NDV and IBV, and 122 clinical samples. The open format of RITA-2 is particularly tailored to subtyping influenza A virus of avian hosts and Eurasian geographic origin. Decoupling and re-arranging selected RT-qPCRs to detect specific AIV variants causing epizootic outbreaks with a temporal and/or geographic restriction is possible.

The gut microbiota has been designated as a hidden metabolic 'organ' because of its enormous impact on host metabolism, physiology, nutrition, and immune function. The connection between the intestinal microbiota and their respective host animals is dynamic and, in general, mutually beneficial. This complicated interaction is seen as a determinant of health and disease; thus, intestinal dysbiosis is linked with several metabolic diseases. Therefore, tractable strategies targeting the regulation of intestinal microbiota can control several diseases that are closely related to inflammatory and metabolic disorders. As a result, animal health and performance are improved. One of these strategies is related to dietary supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, and phytogenic substances. These supplements exert their effects indirectly through manipulation of gut microbiota quality and improvement in intestinal epithelial barrier. Several phytogenic substances, such as berberine, resveratrol, curcumin, carvacrol, thymol, isoflavones and hydrolyzed fibers, have been identified as potential supplements that may also act as welcome means to reduce the usage of antibiotics in feedstock, including poultry farming, through manipulation of the gut microbiome. In addition, these compounds may improve the integrity of tight junctions by controlling tight junction-related proteins and inflammatory signaling pathways in the host animals. In this review, we discuss the role of probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenic substances in optimizing gut function in poultry.

In December 2019, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in China with serious impacts on global health and economy that is still ongoing. Although interspecies transmission of coronaviruses is common and well documented, each coronavirus has a narrowly restricted host range. Coronaviruses utilize different receptors to mediate membrane fusion and replication in the cell cytoplasm. The interplay between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of coronaviruses and their coevolution are determinants for host susceptibility. The recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has also been reported in domestic and wild animals, raising the question about the responsibility of animals in virus evolution. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic might also substantially have an impact on animal production for a long time. In the present review, we discussed the diversity of coronaviruses in animals and thus the diversity of their receptors. Moreover, the determinants of the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 in several animals, with special reference to the current evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in animals, were highlighted. Finally, we shed light on the urgent demand for the implementation of the One Health concept as a collaborative global approach to mitigate the threat for both humans and animals.

Background: Mechanistic studies in animal models implicate a role for saturated fatty acids in neurodegeneration, but validation of this finding in human studies is still lacking., Objective: We investigated how cerebrospinal levels of sphingomyelins (SM) and phosphatidylcholine (PC)-containing saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids associate with total tau and phosphorylated tau (p-tau)., Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lipids were measured in two cohorts, a discovery and a confirmation cohort of older non-demented individuals from the University of Southern California and Huntington Medical Research Institutes cohorts. Lipid analysis was performed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, and individual PC and SM lipid species were measured using tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, CSF levels of Aβ42, total tau, and p-tau-181 were measured using an MSD multiplex assay., Results: The discovery cohort (n = 47) consisted of older individuals and more females compared to the confirmation cohort (n = 46). Notwithstanding the age and gender differences, and a higher p-tau, Aβ42, and LDL-cholesterol in the discovery cohort, CSF concentrations of dipalmitoyl-PC (PC32a:0) were significantly associated with p-tau in both cohorts. Similarly, total saturated PC but not mono or polyunsaturated PCs correlated with p-tau concentrations in both cohorts., Conclusion: Saturated PC species in CSF associate with early markers of neurodegeneration and are potential early disease progression biomarkers. We propose mechanisms by which saturated PC may promote tau hyperphosphorylation.

Background: Although kidney transplantation (KTX) is the treatment of choice for pediatric end stage kidney disease (ESKD); concerns for recurrence in cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are still present. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of KTX in children with ESKD secondary to FSGS, with implementation of preemptive perioperative plasma exchange (PE) for non-genetically proven patients., Methods: Forty FSGS pediatric kidney transplant recipients were studied. Of them: 12 patients (30%) had genetically proven NPHS2 mutations/familial and 28 (70%) were sporadic FSGS patients. All sporadic patients electively received 6 perioperative PE sessions. Patients with recurrence of proteinuria (n = 13; including 3 patients with genetic/familial and 10 patients with sporadic FSGS) were managed with PE and Rituximab (RTX). Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze graft and recurrence free survival data., Results: The mean follow-up duration after KTX was 3.8 ± 2.86 years. Recurrence of proteinuria was encountered early postoperative in 11 patients (27.5%) and late (1.6 and 2.9 years after KTX) in 2 patients (5%). All patients with early recurrence achieved complete remission, while patients with late recurrence developed graft failure. Current serum creatinine and proteinuria levels were not different in patients received PE (n = 31) and patients did not PE (n = 9) (p = 0.308 and 0.287 respectively). Current serum creatinine and proteinuria levels in sporadic patients (n = 28) after prophylactic perioperative PE were not different from those of genetic/ familial patients (n = 12) (p = 0.303 and 0.144 respectively). Proteinuria was less in patients underwent native nephrectomy than others immediately postoperative and at assessment (p = 0.002 & 0.0031 respectively). One-year graft and patient survival was 93.8% with a mean 1-year serum creatinine of 0.67 ± 0.25 mg/dl. Three graft losses (7.5%) were due to chronic rejection 3.3, 3.75 and 4.17 years after KTX and 2 patients' mortality (5%) occurred early postoperative (first 2 weeks)., Conclusion: FSGS transplanted children have favorable outcomes with perioperative PE for non-genetically proven cases. Early recurrence after KTX can be successfully managed with PE and RTX., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Soybean is threatened by many pathogens that negatively affect this crop's yield and quality, such as various Fusarium species that cause wilting and root rot diseases. Fusarium root rot (FRR) in soybean can be caused by F. graminearum and other Fusarium spp. that are associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereals. Therefore, it was important to inquire whether Fusarium pathogens from soybean can cause disease in wheat and vice versa. Here, we investigated the FRR complex in Manitoba (Canada) from symptomatic plants, using both culture- and molecular-based methods. We developed a molecular diagnostic toolkit to detect and differentiate between several Fusarium spp. involved in FHB and FRR, then we evaluated cross-pathogenicity of selected Fusarium isolates collected from soybean and wheat, and the results indicate that isolates recovered from one host can infect the other host. Trichothecene production by selected Fusarium spp. was also analyzed chemically via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in both soybean (root) and wheat (spike) tissues. Trichothecenes were also analyzed in soybean seeds from plants with FRR to check the potentiality of trichothecene translocation from infected roots to the seeds. All of the tested Fusarium isolates were capable of producing trichothecenes in wheat spikes and soybean roots, but no trichothecenes were detected in soybean seeds. This study provided evidence, for the first time, that trichothecenes were produced by several Fusarium spp. ( F. cerealis , F. culmorum , and F. sporotrichioides ) during FRR development in soybean.

Background: Femoral lengthening is a procedure of great importance in the treatment of congenital and acquired limb deficiencies. Technological advances have led to the latest designs of fully implantable motorized intramedullary lengthening nails. The use of these nails has increased over the last few years., Aim: To review and critically appraise the literature comparing the outcome of femoral lengthening in children using intramedullary motorized lengthening nails to external fixation., Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane) were systematically searched in November 2019 for studies comparing the outcome of femoral lengthening in children using magnetic lengthening nails and external fixation. The outcomes included amount of gained length, healing index, complications and patient reported outcomes., Results: Of the 452 identified studies, only two (retrospective and non-randomized) met the inclusion criteria. A total of 91 femora were included. In both studies, the age of patients treated with nails ranged from 15 to 21 years compared to 9 to 15 years for patients in the external fixation group. Both devices achieved the target length. Prevalence of adverse events was less in the nail (60%-73%) than in the external fixation (81%-100%) group. None of the studies presented patient reported outcomes., Conclusion: The clinical effectiveness of motorized nails is equivalent or superior to external fixation for femoral lengthening in young patients. The available literature is limited and does not provide evidence on patient quality of life or cost effectiveness of the interventions., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors have no conflicts of interest., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)