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Recent studies on the distribution of microplastics in aquatic sediments have deployed different methods and devices for density separation of microplastics from sediments. However, instrument specific limitations have been noted, including their high cost, difficulty in handling, or/and the potential for elevated contamination risk due to their plastic composition. This study improves existing sediment microplastic separation techniques by modifying the commonly used conical shape glass separating funnels. The modification consists in connecting a silicone tube at the base of the funnel, whose opening and closure was manually controlled by a Mohr clamp. This adjustment made to the funnels have effectively mitigated critical clogging problems frequently encountered in density separation units. An experiment was conducted using sand-based sediment spiked with polyamide fragments to validate this method modification. Following a complete extraction protocol with the modification of separating funnels, the microplastic extraction efficiency from sediments was high with a 90% recovery rate. Based on these promising results, future studies should consider naturally diverse substrates, as recovery efficiency may be sediment-dependent.Two key adjustments to the glass separation funnels: • Removal of stopcocks • Use of silicone tubes and Mohr clamps to control sediment release

Objectives: The diffusion of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant and the waning of immune response after primary Covid-19 vaccination favoured the breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in vaccinated subjects. To assess the impact of vaccination, we determined the severity of infection in hospitalised patients according to vaccine status., Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study on patients hospitalised in 10 centres with a SARS-CoV-2 infection (Delta variant) from July to November 2021 by including all patients who had completed their primary vaccination at least 14 days before hospital admission and the same number of completely unvaccinated patients. We assessed the impact of vaccination and other risk factors through logistic regression., Results: We included 955 patients (474 vaccinated and 481 unvaccinated). Vaccinated patients were significantly older (75.0 [63.25-84.0] vs. 55.0 [38.0-73.0]; p < 0.001), more frequently males (55.1% (261/474) vs. 46.4% (223/481); p = 0.009), and had more comorbidities (2.0 [1.0-3.0] vs. 1.0 [0.0-2.0]; p < 0.001). Vaccinated patients were less often admitted for Covid-19 (59.3% (281/474) vs. 75.1% (361/481); p < 0.001), had less extended lung lesions (≤25%: 64.3% (117/182) vs. 38.4% (88/229); p < 0.001), required oxygen less frequently (57.5% (229/398) vs. 73.0% (270/370); p < 0.001), at a lower flow (3.0 [0.0-8.7] vs. 6.0 [2.0-50.0] L/min, p < 0.001), and for a shorter duration (3 [0.0-8.0] vs. 6 [2.0-12.0] days, p < 0.001)., and required less frequently intensive care unit admission (16.2% (60/370) vs. 36.0% (133/369); p < 0.001) but had comparable mortality in bivariate analysis (16.7% (74/443) vs. 12.2% (53/433); p = 0.075). Multivariate logistic regression showed that vaccination significantly decreased the risk of death (0.38 [0.20-0.70](p = 0.002), ICU admission (0.31 [0.21-0.47](p < 0.001) and oxygen requirement (0.16 [0.10-0.26](p < 0.001), even among older patients or with comorbidities., Conclusions: Among patients hospitalised with a delta variant SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination was associated with less severe forms, even in the presence of comorbidities., (Copyright © 2022 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Stingray injuries to the chest are rare but potentially life-threatening. They may occur in remote areas where advanced emergency healthcare services are unavailable. We describe the case of a 24-year-old man with tension pneumothorax due to a Himantura fai stingray injury to the left chest. The chest wound was unremarkable, with no external bleeding or evidence of a foreign body. Decompression was performed at the scene with an improvised knife procedure and a hollow writing pen, which served as a chest tube. At the local hospital, a standard-sized chest tube was inserted, the wound cleaned, and the patient given antibiotics active against marine organisms. Computed tomography visualized the stinger and revealed hemopneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. The local hospital did not have a thoracic surgeon, and the patient was transferred to a larger hospital with a thoracic surgery center. After surgical removal of the stinger, segmental lung resection was required to control bleeding. Management of life-threatening stingray injuries to the chest should begin at the scene. After stabilization, the patient should be transferred to a hospital equipped for cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. Surgery may be required to remove the retroserrated stinger and can be challenging., (Copyright © 2018 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)