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Schistosomiasis is a parasitic and endemic disease in several parts of the world. Its mortality rate reaches alarming proportions, which makes emergency the control of this disease. In Brazil, only the species Schistosoma mansoni was adapted to the climatic conditions and to the presence of appropriate hosts. This species shows a life cycle involving mollusks Biomphalaria spp. and humans. However, it has been shown that wild rodents with semi-aquatic habits are capable to establish a productive infection of this parasite. In addition, they are likely also to be capable to spread the disease in endemic areas. Due to the selective pressure exerted by the successive infections in these animals, we may be watching the development of a new strain of the parasite, which is not yet fully defined and understood. With the intention of directing new studies to this problem, we tried to establish main lines of research to demonstrate the real importance of these wild rodents in the epidemiology of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil.

This work presents the results of a survey carried out among Brazilian calibration laboratories accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 with the objective to identify how these laboratories investigate the root causes of unsatisfactory results in proficiency testing. The survey was coordinated by the Brazilian accreditation body, the General Coordination for Accreditation (Cgcre), of the Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro).

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This article, titled "EP16.07: MRI in cases of Caesarean scar pregnancy on the first half of pregnancy," discusses the use of MRI in cases of Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) during the 5th to 20th week of gestation. The study analyzed 7 cases, with 8 MRI studies, and found that MRI below the 13th week of gestation did not provide additional clinical information. However, after the 13th week, MRI was able to demonstrate the relationship between the placenta, uterus, and cervix, improving spatial perspectives and aiding in surgical treatment if necessary. The article was authored by A.P. Matos, P.T. Castro, C.M. Coutinho, E. Araujo Junior, T. Fazecas, R. Nogueira, G. Ribeiro, I.V. Castro, O.L. Aranda, and H. Werner. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal "Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology," examines the frequency of microphthalmia and anophthalmia, rare malformations related to severe central nervous system malformations, in a tertiary center. The study reviewed 2,231 fetal MRI cases from April 2004 to February 2023 and found that 19 cases of microphthalmia-anophthalmia were diagnosed during this period, accounting for 1.17% of fetal MRI examinations. The most common form of the malformation was bilateral, with 79% of cases, and the majority of cases with bilateral malformation had severe holoprosencephaly. The study concludes that microphthalmia-anophthalmia is a rare condition, with the bilateral form being the most frequent, and severe central nervous system malformations being the most common associated malformation. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "The utility of 3D reconstruction of segmented MRI images in cases of fetal head tumours," explores the use of segmented 3D images of fetal MRI scans in diagnosing and understanding fetal head tumors. The study found that in all six cases examined, the tumors could be accurately segmented and the spatial relationship between the tumor and normal tissues could be demonstrated. The authors conclude that this technique has utility in parental counseling and postnatal surgical planning. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: Data from trials investigating the effects and risks of endovascular thrombectomy for the treatment of stroke due to basilar-artery occlusion are limited. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial of endovascular thrombectomy for basilar-artery occlusion at 36 centers in China. Patients were assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, within 12 hours after the estimated time of basilarartery occlusion to receive endovascular thrombectomy or best medical care (control). The primary outcome was good functional status, defined as a score of 0 to 3 on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 Meath]), at 90 days Secondary outcomes included a modified Rankin scale score of O to 2, distribution across the modified Rankin scale score categories, and quality of life. Safety out comes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at 24 to 72 hours, 90-day mortality, and procedural complications. RESULTS: Of the 507 patients who underwent screening, 340 were in the intention-to-treat population, with 226 assigned to the thrombectomy group and 114 to the control group. Intravenous thrombolysis was used in 31% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and in 34°/0 of those in the control group. Good functional status at 90 days occurred in 104 patients (46°6) in the thrombectomy group and in 26 (23°6) in the control group (adjusted rate ratio, 2.06; 95°/0 confidence interval ICI] 1.46 to 2.91, P<0.001). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 12 patients (590) in the thrombectomy group and in none in the control group. Results for the secondary clinical and imaging outcomes were generally in the same direction as those for the primary outcome. Mortality at 90 days was 37% in the thrombectomy group and 55% in the control group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.82). Procedural complications occurred in 14% of the patients in the thrombectomy group, including one death due to arterial perforation. CONCLUSIONS: In a trial involving Chinese patients with basilar-artery occlusion, approximately one third ofwhom received intravenous thrombolysis, endovascular thrombectomy within 12 hours after stroke onset led to better functional outcomes at 90 days than best medical care but was associated with procedural complications and intracerebral hemorrhage. (Funded by the Program for Innovative Research Team of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different exogenous enzymes or their combination on nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation of Holstein cows. Five ruminally cannulated adult Holstein cows were distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design and received the same basal diet consisting of 30% of corn silage and 70% of concentrate but with inclusion of different exogenous enzymes comprising five treatments (control: diet without enzymes; amylase: basal diet with 7.5 g of amylase/cow/day; xylanase: basal diet with 15 g of xylanase/cow/day; cellulase + protease: basal diet with 7.5 g cellulase + protease/cow/day; and enzyme pool: basal diet with 30 g enzyme mixture (7.5 g of amylase, 15 g of xylanase and 7.5 g of cellulase + protease)/cow/day). Accordingly, the experiment was conducted in five periods of 23 days each. Therefore, data were collected to evaluate nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation parameters. The different exogenous enzymes or their combination (enzyme pool) did not affect (P>0.05) nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH, protozoa population, ammonia nitrogen and methane concentration and production. The enzyme combination and cellulase + protease increased (P<0.05) the concentration and production of acetate and propionate as well as total short-chain fatty acids, but did not significantly affect the relative energy loss of methane concering the other rumen fermentation products (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Therefore, the dietary supplementation of different exogenous enzymes or their combination in Holstein cows did not improve feed value, but the enzyme combination has shown a tendency to reduce the relative energy loss of methane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) have a strong historic connection. At the beginning of the 20th century when referring to schizophrenic patients Eugen Bleuler used the term autism to describe the apparent withdrawal from the outside world. Other authors also emphasized the association between this two entities. In fact, only in DSM-III were these disorders placed in different diagnostic categories. Today, even though this nosological vision still prevails, a growing number of studies have shown significant overlaps between the two disorders. Patients with the diagnosis of ASD often experience psychotic symptoms and similarly schizophrenic patients have a high prevalence of autistic traits. Objectives: To clarify the distinction between ASD and psychotic disorders, namely to help the clinical and phenomenological distinction between patients with a primary psychotic disorder versus patients with the diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder that might also experience psychotic symptoms. Methods: Research on UpToDate using the terms "Autism Spectrum Disorders"; "Schizophrenia" and "psychosis". Results: Delusional beliefs and paranoid ideation are common findings in autistic individuals in the same way that they constitute one of the main features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, in ASD individuals one must be vigilant of its distinction with "childish fantasies". Both disorders (ASD and SCZ spectrum disorders) share Theory of Mind (ToM) impairments that contribute to the development of paranoia. Sensory anomalies are common in ASD and might be confused with hallucinations. However, anomalous perceptual experiences can and do often happen in ASD and are clinically overlapping with hallucinatory phenomena. In the case of a neurodevelopment disorder, however, they could probably be better understood as a part of it more than the signal of a co-ocurring psychotic disorder. Attenuated psychotic symptoms pose an even more complex subject because of the overlap between autistic symptoms and subclinical psychotic symptoms. Another area that poses diagnostic difficulties has to do with the distinction between negative symptoms seen in schizophrenia and autistic symptoms. Lack of emotional reciprocity in ASD can be confused with "blunted" affect in schizophrenia. Other overlapping features between these two entities can be identified. Conclusions: The diagnostic boundaries between ASD and SCZ are not always clear. Their overlapping characteristics and potential co-occurrence might pose important diagnostic challenges in clinical practice. The clinical course of both diseases frequently represents a key element for the differential diagnosis between autism and psychosis. The profound knowledge of these two entities is of extreme importance contributing to the implementation of more targeted and effective management strategies. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exogenous enzymes (ExE) on feeding behaviour, feed intake, nutrient digestibility and rumen disappearance rate of Holstein cows, as well as methane production from faeces of these cows by means of anaerobic digestion. Five cannulated Holstein cows were distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design (5 periods of 21 days each) and received five treatments which differed in inclusion of different ExE in the diet (control: diet without enzymes; amylase: basal diet with 7.5 g of amylase/cow/day; xylanase: basal diet with 15 g of xylanase/cow/day; cellulase + protease: basal diet with 7.5 g cellulase + protease/cow/day; and pool: basal diet with 30 g enzyme mixture (all enzymes added at the same dose of individual treatments). Therefore, feeding behaviour, dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient digestibility and rumen disappearance rate were evaluated. Representative pools of faeces from each cow were collected in each period to perform anaerobic digestion. Afterwards, 25 experimental batch-type biodigesters were filled with faece substrates and were subsequently arranged in a completely randomised design of 5 treatments with 5 replicates. Then, evaluations of total gas, methane production, total solid (TS) and volatile solid (VS) removal efficiency were performed. No effect of ExE was observed (P>0.05) on feeding behaviour (number of daily meals; total daily time spent eating, ruminating or masticating), DMI, nutrient digestibility (although enzyme pool and cellulase + protease tended to increase crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility) or on rumen disappearance rate. No effect of ExE was observed on total gas and methane production or on the efficiency of removal of TS and VS from faeces. Exogenous enzymes did not increase efficiency of nutrient utilisation by the animals and, accordingly, did not affect the potential of methane emission from faeces of Holstein cows by means of anaerobic digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]