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Understanding the implications of environmental disturbance is of growing importance as climate change and extreme weather events increasingly threaten estuaries and other coastal ecosystems. Among species at risk in estuarine habitats, sport fishes are of particular interest to conservation and management agencies, because of their ecological and economic value. Here, we evaluate the effects of Hurricane Harvey on the abundance, diet, and body condition of age-0 red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in Powderhorn Lake, a nearshore estuary in Texas, USA. Catch data from seines indicated that the abundances of age-0 red drum and spotted seatrout were not affected by the hurricane in the study system, but stomach contents and morphometric data show that diet and body condition changed after the event. Both species exhibited declines in body condition based on weight-length ratios, and diets included a greater proportion of invertebrates (i.e., shrimp, crab) post-disturbance, which may have been attributed to changes in fish assemblage structure within the estuary. Trophic niche overlap between age-0 red drum and spotted seatrout also decreased by up to 50% after the event, potentially serving as a mechanism to reduce competition in response to decreased prey availability. Thus, while more easily measured indicators of resistance/resilience (i.e., abundance) did not indicate effects of Hurricane Harvey on sport fishes in Powderhorn Lake, body condition and diet suggest impacts were observed among age-0 fish. Declines in body condition and greater reliance on crustacean prey could have implications for survival, fitness, and harvestability, particularly if more energy is allocated to maintenance during recovery, rather than growth.

Aylin Sari, 1 Zeynep Akdoğan Altun, 1 Cigdem Arifoglu Karaman, 1 Basak Bilir Kaya, 1 Bekir Durmus 2 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Erenkoy Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; 2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istinye University Medical Faculty, Istanbul, TurkeyCorrespondence: Aylin SariDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Erenkoy Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, Semsettin Gunaltay Avenue Sultan Street No. 14, Kadikoy, Istanbul, TurkeyTel +905058396368Fax +902164783123Email mdaylinsari@gmail.comPurpose: This randomized, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of vitamin D replacement therapy on neuropathic symptoms and balance in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain and low vitamin D levels.Patients and Methods: Among the 258 patients, the results in a total of 57 volunteers (32 in the treatment and 25 in the control arm) meeting the inclusion criteria are reported. Symptoms of neuropathic pain were assessed using Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaire, and presence of polyneuropathy (PNP) was determined by performing electromyography (EMG). Balance was assessed using Berg balance test (BBT). After undergoing these examinations, the patients in the treatment group were intramuscularly (IM) injected with 300,000 IU vitamin D in a liquid formulation and those in the placebo group were IM injected with physiological saline. The DN4 and BBT were repeated after 12 weeks, and the results were compared.Results: The patients in the treatment group showed a significant decrease in total DN4 scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.008). The patients in the treatment group also showed a significant increase in BBT scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.001). Furthermore, in subgroup analysis, these patients showed a significant decrease in electric shock and burning sensation scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.006, p=0.001, respectively).Conclusion: In patients with diabetic neuropathic pain, vitamin D levels should be measured and vitamin D replacement therapy should be administered as required to resolve neuropathic symptoms and to improve balance.Keywords: diabetic neuropathic pain, vitamin D, balance, neuropathic pain symptoms

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INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) have been reported with great variability and without standardization. In hospitalized patients, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of GI symptoms, factors associated with their occurrence, and variation at 1 month. METHODS: The GI-COVID-19 is a prospective, multicenter, controlled study. Patients with and without COVID-19 diagnosis were recruited at hospital admission and asked for GI symptoms at admission and after 1 month, using the validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire. RESULTS: The study included 2036 hospitalized patients. A total of 871 patients (575 COVID+ and 296 COVID-) were included for the primary analysis. GI symptoms occurred more frequently in patients with COVID-19 (59.7%; 343/575 patients) than in the control group (43.2%; 128/296 patients) (P < 0.001). Patients with COVID-19 complained of higher presence or intensity of nausea, diarrhea, loose stools, and urgency as compared with controls. At a 1-month follow-up, a reduction in the presence or intensity of GI symptoms was found in COVID-19 patients with GI symptoms at hospital admission. Nausea remained increased over controls. Factors significantly associated with nausea persistence in COVID-19 were female sex, high body mass index, the presence of dyspnea, and increased C-reactive protein levels. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of GI symptoms in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is higher than previously reported. Systemic and respiratory symptoms are often associated with GI complaints. Nausea may persist after the resolution of COVID-19 infection., Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna; Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research; Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna [SC1-BHC-01-2019]; European Grant H2020, DISCOvERIE [SC1-BHC-01-2019]; Italian Ministry of Health [Ricerca Finalizzata GR-2018-12367062], G.B. contribution to this research was permitted in part by funding from Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna; the ItalianMinistry of Education, University and Research; and Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna and European Grant H2020, DISCOvERIE, SC1-BHC-01-2019. M.R.B. is a recipient of a grant from the Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Finalizzata GR-2018-12367062). None of the funding organizations have had any role in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection, management, and analysis of the data; or in the preparation, review, and approval of the article.

Mesenchymal stromal cells have proven capable of improving cardiac pump function in patients with chronic heart failure, yet little is known about their mode of action. The aim of the study was to investigate the short-term effect of cryopreserved allogeneic rat adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASC) on cardiac composition, cellular subpopulations, and gene transcription in a rat model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. After 6 weeks, the rats were treated with ASCs, saline, or no injection, using echo-guided trans-thoracic intramyocardial injections. The cardiac tissue was subsequently collected for analysis of cellular subpopulations and gene transcription 3 and 7 days after treatment. At day 3, an upregulation of genes associated with angiogenesis were present in the ASC group. On day 7, increases in CCR2+ and CD38+ macrophages (p = 0.047 and p = 0.021), as well as in the CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.021), were found in the ASC group compared to the saline group. This was supported by an upregulation of genes associated with monocytes/macrophages. In conclusion, ASC treatment initiated an immune response involving monocytes/macrophages and T-cells and induced a gene expression pattern associated with angiogenesis and monocyte/macrophage differentiation.

Introduction: It is known that physical activity is good for many diseases such as obesity, heart diseases, various types of cancer, musculoskeletal disorders. Compared to men, women's participation in physical activity is more limited. Physical activity, on the other hand, contributes to both the increase in the quality of life and the socialization of people. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the self-confidence levels of women who regularly participate in physical activity. Method: In the research, besides the personal information form prepared by the researchers, the self-confidence scale was used. The sample population survey in Turkey Kocaeli province has created 408 women participating regularly in physical activity. In the analysis of the data, arithmetic means, frequency and percentage values were taken. As a result of the normality test, it was seen that it showed a normal distribution. Accordingly, independent sample t-test was used in the analysis of paired groups and one way Anova tests were used in the analysis of multiple groups. Results: As a result of the analysis, no significant difference was found in any sub-dimension according to the marital status variable. Significant differences were observed in the sub-dimensions of the scale according to the variables of income level, physical activity duration, education level and age. Conclusion: It has been observed that as the duration of physical activity increases, the level of self-confidence increases. In addition, it was concluded that age and educational status were directly related to self-confidence, and as education level and age increased, self-confidence increased.