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We estimated COVID-19 transmission potential and case burden by variant type in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, Canada, during January 23, 2020–January 27, 2022; we also estimated the effectiveness of public health interventions to reduce transmission. We estimated time-varying reproduction number (Rt) over 7-day sliding windows and nonoverlapping time-windows determined by timing of policy changes. We calculated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for each variant and compared rates to determine differences in burden among provinces. Rt corresponding with emergence of the Delta variant increased in all 3 provinces; British Columbia had the largest increase, 43.85% (95% credible interval [CrI] 40.71%–46.84%). Across the study period, IRR was highest for Omicron (8.74 [95% CrI 8.71–8.77]) and burden highest in Alberta (IRR 1.80 [95% CrI 1.79–1.81]). Initiating public health interventions was associated with lower Rt and relaxing restrictions and emergence of new variants associated with increases in Rt.

A surrogate is commonly used for process validations. The industry often uses the target log cycle reduction for the test (LCRTest) microorganism (surrogate) to be equal to the desired log cycle reduction for the target (LCRTarget) microorganism (pathogen). When the surrogate is too conservative with far greater resistance than the pathogen, the food may be overprocessed with quality and cost consequences. In aseptic processing, the Institute for Thermal Processing Specialists recommends using relative resistance (DTarget)/(DTest) to calculate LCRTest (product of LCRTarget and relative resistance). This method uses the mean values of DTarget and DTest and does not consider the estimating variability. We defined kill ratio (KR) as the inverse of relative resistance. The industry uses an extremely conservative KR of 1 in the validation of food processes for low-moisture foods, which ensures an adequate reduction of LCRTest, but can result in quality degradation. This study suggests an approach based on bootstrap sampling to determine conservative KR, leading to practical recommendations considering experimental and biological variability in food matrices. Previously collected thermal inactivation kinetics data of Salmonella spp. (target organism) and Enterococcus faecium (test organism) in Non-Fat Dried Milk (NFDM) and Whole Milk Powder (WMP) at 85, 90, and 95°C were used to calculate the mean KR. Bootstrapping was performed on mean inactivation rates to get a distribution of 1000 bootstrap KR values for each of the treatments. Based on minimum temperatures used in the industrial process and acceptable level of risk (e.g., 1, 5, or 10% of samples that would not achieve LCRTest), a conservative KR value can be estimated. Consistently, KR increased with temperature and KR for WMP was higher than NFDM. Food industries may use this framework based on the minimum processing temperature and acceptable level of risk for process validations to minimize quality degradation.

Purpose To evaluate the prevalence of arterial changes in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) on computed tomography angiography (CTA) and determine their association with etiology of AP, presence of necrosis, collections and severity of AP. Materials and Methods A total of 50 patients (20 women, 30 men; mean age: 43.04 ± 13.98; age range: 18–77 years) with AP underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan and CTA of abdomen, which was evaluated for necrosis and fluid collection (s). On CTA, splanchnic arterial structures were assessed for vascular complications. Association between vascular changes and presence of necrosis, fluid collections, etiology of AP and severity of AP (as assessed by modified computed tomography severity index CTSI) was determined. Results Arterial complications were seen in 28 percent (14/50). The most frequently involved artery was superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (12 percent), followed by splenic artery (8 percent) and right gastric artery (8 percent; Fig. 1). No significant association was seen between arterial changes and gallstone or alcohol-induced AP. Arterial changes showed a significant association with presence of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), presence of collections and severe AP (CTSI 8–10) (p < 0.05 for each). Conclusion Arterial changes on CTA are frequently seen in patients of AP having ANP. There is a significant association between arterial changes and presence of necrosis, collections and severe AP.

The case report presents the rehabilitation of a missing maxillary anterior tooth. The case was complicated by the presence of an inverted, impacted mesiodens, which led to the impaction of the permanent maxillary central incisor. The apical area of the mesiodens was surgically exposed, and the endodontic treatment was carried out via the root apex in an apicocoronal direction. The case was restored with an angulated post–core crown. This case highlights an unusual placement of mesiodens and its challenging endodontic rehabilitation.

Testing to detect ABO incompatibility between a donor and potential transfusion recipient is the foundation on which all other pretransfusion testing is based. Sometimes, weak agglutination reactions may be obtained with reagent antibodies due to weak expression of A and B antigens on red blood cell (RBC) surface which may cause a discrepancy in blood group typing. Here, we report a patient showing discrepancy between RBCs (forward) and serum (reverse) typing. After doing detailed analysis, the blood type as a variant of blood Group A revealed. Subgroups of A are very rare phenotype of blood. Weaker subgroups of A blood group reported so far are mainly A3, Aend, Ax, Am, Ay, and Ael. We are reporting a case of a 35-year-old patient whose RBCs showed a discrepancy between cell and serum grouping during initial testing. Serological investigation included absorption elution tests and saliva tests after performing initial blood grouping. The serological characteristics of the patient's red cells were similar to A3 subtype. The patient was a secretor and A and H substance was present in the saliva. Serum did not show any presence of anti-A1. The weak A phenotype identified had serological characteristics similar to A3.

This study quantifies the transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2 across public health districts in Georgia, USA, and tests if per capita cumulative case count varies across counties. To estimate the time-varying reproduction number, Rt of SARS-CoV-2 in Georgia and its 18 public health districts, we apply the R package ‘EpiEstim’ to the time series of historical daily incidence of confirmed cases, 2 March–15 December 2020. The epidemic curve is shifted backward by nine days to account for the incubation period and delay to testing. Linear regression is performed between log10-transformed per capita cumulative case count and log10-transformed population size. We observe Rt fluctuations as state and countywide policies are implemented. Policy changes are associated with increases or decreases at different time points. Rt increases, following the reopening of schools for in-person instruction in August. Evidence suggests that counties with lower population size had a higher per capita cumulative case count on June 15 (slope = −0.10, p = 0.04) and October 15 (slope = −0.05, p = 0.03), but not on August 15 (slope = −0.04, p = 0.09), nor December 15 (slope = −0.02, p = 0.41). We found extensive community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 across all 18 health districts in Georgia with median 7-day-sliding window Rt estimates between 1 and 1.4 after March 2020.

Intestinal diaphragm disease is a very rare entity and is generally recurrent subacute intestinal obstruction. A 38-year-old male admitted to hospital with subacute intestinal obstruction. The patient had a history of long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) intake. On computed tomography scan, no pathology found except for dilated bowel loops. He underwent diagnostic laparoscopy which showed stricture along distal jejunum with proximal dilated gut loops with collapsed distal gut loops, found unusual thin intraluminal diaphragm with pinpoint 3 mm opening along with it there was one more diaphragm 2 cm distal to it with 2 mm pinpoint opening, resection of both the stricturous part was done, and end-to-end jejunojejunostomy was done. Here on, histopath grossly received a segment of the intestine in two pieces along with fibrofatty tissue. Cut-open specimen showed narrowing of the lumen and at one place is marked band-like constriction. Microscopic appearance shows ulcerations of lining epithelium. The submucosa shows fibrosis along with the proliferation of the muscle fiber, neural, and vascular elements giving impression consistent with the jejunal diaphragm. Here, we report an unusual case of intestinal diaphragm disease in relation to the use of NSAIDs. The aim is to sensitize the medical officers regarding the rational use of NSAIDs.

Orchids have a huge reservoir of secondary metabolites making these plants of immense therapeutic importance. Their potential as curatives has been realized since times immemorial and are extensively studied for their medicinal properties. Secondary metabolism is under stringent genetic control in plants and several molecular factors are involved in regulating the production of the metabolites. However, due to the complex molecular networks, a complete understanding of the specific molecular cues is lacking. High-throughput omics technologies have the potential to fill up this lacuna. The present study deals with comparative analysis of high-throughput transcript data involving gene identification, functional annotation, and differential expression in more than 30 orchid transcriptome data sets, with a focus to elucidate the role of various factors in alkaloid and flavonoid biosynthesis. Comprehensive analysis of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, and phenylpropanoid pathway provide specific insights to the potential gene targets for drug discovery. It is envisaged that a positive stimulation of these pathways through regulation of pivotal genes and alteration of specific gene expression, could facilitate the production of secondary metabolites and enable efficient tapping of the therapeutic potential of orchids. This further would lay the foundation for developing strategies for genetic and epigenetic improvement of these plants for development of therapeutic products.

Shoot fly (Atherigona naqvii) is one of the major insects affecting spring maize in North India and can cause yield loss up to 60 per cent. The genetics of insect resistance is complex as influenced by genotypic background, insect population and climatic conditions. Therefore, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping is a highly effective approach for studying genetically complex forms of insect resistance. The objective of the present study was to dissect the genetic basis of resistance and identification of genomic regions associated with shoot fly resistance. A total of 107 F2 population derived from the cross CM143 (resistant) x CM144 (susceptible) was genotyped with 120 SSR markers. Phenotypic data were recorded on replicated F2:3 progenies for various component traits imparting resistance to shoot fly at different time intervals. Resistance to shoot fly was observed to be under polygenic control as evidenced by the identification of 19 putative QTLs governed by overdominance to partial dominance and additive gene actions. The major QTLs conditioning shoot fly resistance viz., qDH9.1 (deadheart) and qEC9.1 (oviposition) explaining 15.03 and 18.89 per cent phenotypic variance, respectively were colocalized on chromosome 9. These QTLs are syntenic to regions of chromosome 10 of sorghum which were also accounted for deadheart and oviposition suggesting that the same gene block may be responsible for shoot fly resistance. The candidate genes such as cysteine protease, subtilisin-chymotrypsin inhibitor, cytochrome P450 involved in synthesis of alleochemicals, receptor kinases, glossy15 and ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway were identified within the predicted QTL regions. This is the first reported mapping of QTLs conferring resistance to shoot fly in maize, and the markers identified here will be a valuable resource for developing elite maize cultivars with resistance to shoot fly.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To present a rare case of pituitary gland involvement in paranasal and central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.Methods: We describe the clinical presentation, laboratory data at presentation and follow-up, imaging studies, and management of the patient. A brief review of literature regarding pituitary involvement in lymphoma is also presented.Results: A 53-year-old woman with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was evaluated for 6-month history of polydipsia, high-volume polyuria, and headache. Laboratory work-up was consistent with diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 6-mm lesion in the posterior pituitary and ill-defined decreased T1 signal in the clivus and sphenoid sinus. She was treated medically with desmopressin for her urinary symptoms, with symptomatic improvement. In the interim, she was admitted for acute visual loss. Repeat imaging revealed a soft tissue mass involving paranasal sinuses with intracranial extension to the sella and hypothalamus. Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated urgently with multidrug chemotherapy and intraventricular methotrexate, resulting in neurologic improvement. After 12 cycles, the patient did well, with regression of the tumor and marked improvement of her urinary symptoms with decreasing desmopressin requirement.Conclusion: This is a rare case of hypothalamus-pituitary involvement in a diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma due to paranasal sinus involvement with CNS extension, presenting with central diabetes insipidus. Early detection with a high index of suspicion (particularly in patients with HIV) and treatment can lead to better outcomes.Abbreviations: AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome CNS central nervous system DI diabetes insipidus HAART highly active antiretroviral treatment HIV human immunodeficiency virus MRI magnetic resonance imaging