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Introduction: Technical advances and the increasing role of interdisciplinary decision-making may warrant formal definitions of expertise in surgical neuro-oncology. Research question: The EANS Neuro-oncology Section felt that a survey detailing the European neurosurgical perspective on the concept of expertise in surgical neuro-oncology might be helpful. Material and methods: The EANS Neuro-oncology Section panel developed an online survey asking questions regarding criteria for expertise in neuro-oncological surgery and sent it to all individual EANS members. Results: Our questionnaire was completed by 251 respondents (consultants: 80.1%) from 42 countries. 67.7% would accept a lifetime caseload of >200 cases and 86.7% an annual caseload of >50 as evidence of neuro-oncological surgical expertise. A majority felt that surgeons who do not treat children (56.2%), do not have experience with spinal fusion (78.1%) or peripheral nerve tumors (71.7%) may still be considered experts. Majorities believed that expertise requires the use of skull-base approaches (85.8%), intraoperative monitoring (83.4%), awake craniotomies (77.3%), and neuro-endoscopy (75.5%) as well as continuing education of at least 1/year (100.0%), a research background (80.0%) and teaching activities (78.7%), and formal interdisciplinary collaborations (e.g., tumor board: 93.0%). Academic vs. non-academic affiliation, career position, years of neurosurgical experience, country of practice, and primary clinical interest had a minor influence on the respondents’ opinions. Discussion and conclusion: Opinions among neurosurgeons regarding the characteristics and features of expertise in neuro-oncology vary surprisingly little. Large majorities favoring certain thresholds and qualitative criteria suggest a consensus definition might be possible.

The view of the hospitality industry as a vital element within the service environment has been the dominant approach in the field of tourism studies, particularly lodging development, which was restricted to the bigger cities in South Africa. Huge inroads are now made to the big metros and smaller cities of the country. This study examines the influence of hedonic and utilitarian values on outcome and process service quality satisfaction, while also examining the influence of outcome and process quality satisfaction on patrons’ future intentions towards revisiting the lodges. A literature review on study constructs was conducted and a conceptual model was proposed with hypotheses formulated. The proposed study model was assessed employing structural equation modelling (SEM) with data collected from 285 lodging visitors. Four of the six hypothesised relationships were supported in the estimated structural model. The relationship between utilitarian value and outcome quality satisfaction and the relationship between outcome quality satisfaction and behavioural intentions were not supported. The study offers essential theoretical contributions, as it presents scholars and researchers valuable information in examining and developing interrelated theories. Furthermore, the study provides practical implications to lodge managers and the hospitality industry as to how to improve operative strategies to increase continued lodging visitors’ patronage levels.

In this work, it is presented a first approach of a mathematical and kinetic analysis for improving the decoloration and further degradation process of an azo dye named acid red 27 (AR27), by means of a novel microbial consortium formed by the fungus Trametes versicolor and the bacterium Pseudomonas putida. A multivariate analysis was carried out by simulating scenarios with different operating conditions and developing a specific mathematical model based on kinetic equations describing all stages of the biological process, from microbial growth and substrate consuming to decoloration and degradation of intermediate compounds. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by using a factorial design and the Response Surface Method (RSM), for determining individual and interactive effects of variables like, initial glucose concentration, initial dye concentration and the moment in time for bacterial inoculation, on response variables assessed in terms of the minimum time for: full decoloration of AR27 (R1 = 2.375 days); maximum production of aromatic metabolites (R2 = 1.575 days); and full depletion of aromatic metabolites (R3 = 12.9 days). Using RSM the following conditions improved the biological process, being: an initial glucose concentration of 20 g l-1, an initial AR27 concentration of 0.2 g l-1 and an inoculation moment in time of P. putida at day 1. The mathematical model is a feasible tool for describing AR27 decoloration and its further degradation by the microbial consortium of T. versicolor and P. putida, this model will also work as a mathematical basis for designing novel bio-reaction systems than can operate with the same principle of the described consortium.

ABSTRACT Porcine hemoplasmosis is characterized as a geographically cosmopolitan disease caused by Mycoplasma suis and Mycoplasma parvum. Asymptomatic pigs are considered the focus of hemoplasmosis because they are carriers and reservoirs to new infections. This study aimed to determine the molecular occurrence of porcine hemoplasmas (PH) in the production cycle of technified farrow-to-finished swine herds. For this purpose, 20 swine herds were evaluated, where 501 whole blood samples were collected for qPCR and phylogenetic analyses for hemoplasmas. The epidemiological analysis was performed for the entire population and per the growth stage. The total prevalence for PH was 31.93% (161/501); 95% (19/20) of sampled herds were positive. The occurrence of PH by swine growth stages was nursery (30.47%), growing (31.29%), finishing (26.18%), and slaughter (40.25%). The quantification cycles (Cq) ranged from 3.18- 39.56 and the number of PH 16S rRNA copies per µL of DNA ranged from 5,57 x10-2 to 2.23 x1010. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of five selected samples showed 100% identity with M. parvum strain Indiana and two M. parvum sequences from Brazil/Goiás. This is the first report on PH in technified herds in Southeastern Brazil by growth stages.

This paper presents a diagnosis of the likely risk of sepsis using the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2). Accor­ding to the UK National Health Service and the Royal College of General Practitioners, sepsis should be suspected and immediate intensive care should be considered if a patient has NEWS2 score of 5 or more, or if the patient has NEWS2 score of 3 or more: non-blanching rash, mottled/ashen/cyanotic skin; responds only to voice/pain or does not respond; no urination in the last 18 hours or diuresis less than 0.5 ml/kg on catheterization; serum lactate more than 2 mmol/l. The measures to be taken within the first hour of a diagnosis of the likely risk of sepsis are outlined, as well as criteria for the lack of their effectiveness; the main goals of intensive care in sepsis: identification and control of foci of infection; antibiotic therapy, fluid resuscitation, additional oxygen supply; recommended parameters for continuous or half-hour monitoring of patients with sepsis who are at high risk of deterioration; blocks of intensive care, which should be initiated only by specialists experienced in sepsis management. The indicators of hospital lethality depending on the level of blood serum lactate are given: less than 2 mmol/l — 15 %, from 2.1 to 3.9 mmol/l — 25 %, more than 4 mmol/l — 38 %. The presented algorithm is fully consistent with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines (2021).

In late 2019, a new coronavirus, called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, led to an epidemic of acute respiratory syndrome and subsequently to a pandemic. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 expert group developed 54 urgent statements on the management of COVID-19 in the intensive care unit, of which 4 are best practice statements, 9 are strong recommendations, and 35 are weak recommendations. The authors did not undertake a new systematic prioritization of results but used the current work of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guideline 2020 and expert opinion. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 Panel is divided into 4 groups: 1) infection control and testing: identification of aerosol-generating procedures, healthcare workers perform aerosol-generating procedures in a negative pressure room, using appropriate respiratory masks (N95 respirators, FFP2) and protective equipment (gloves, gown, eye protection, etc.); 2) laboratory monitoring and specimens: each patient admitted to the intensive care unit with signs of respiratory infection should be considered as potentially infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome, and samples from the lower airways should be obtained after intubation and ventilation for diagnostic testing; 3) hemodynamic support; 4) respiratory support. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Deve­lopment approach was used to assess the quality of evidence. The quality of evidence was assessed as high, moderate, low and very low. Online software was used — GDT (http://gdt.guidelinedevelopment.org) to generate the evidence profiles.

ABSTRACT Leptospirosis affects several animal species, including man. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Leptospira spp. and to identify factors associated with the risk of Leptospira spp. in dairy cattle in the municipality of Ji-Paraná, RO, Brazil, sampled by rural sector, from September 2012 to November 2013. Blood samples from 627 dairy cows were randomly collected from 63 farms belonging to six rural sectors. Leptospirosis was diagnosed by the microscopic serum agglutination technique. Of the 627 animals tested, 255 had anti-Leptospira antibodies (40.48%, 95% CI: 36.64-44.31) and 57 of the 63 studied dairy farms (90.5%, 95% CI: 83.23-97.72) had at least one reactive animal. The results indicate that serovar Hardjo had the highest (12.38%. 95% CI: 10.03-15.18) followed by serovars Shermani, Wolffi, Hebdomadis and Canicola occurrence in dairy cows. Additionally, infection was also associated with abortion occurrences in cows of 36 farms (57.14%) and the presence of dogs roaming free with access to pasture, water and cattle in 47 farms (74.60%). Therefore, free-roaming animals are considered a predisposing factor, highlighting the need for adopting prophylactic measures while raising the awareness from rural producers about the importance and the economic losses that leptospirosis may cause.

ABSTRACT Bovine leptospirosis assumes great economic importance since it affects several production aspects. Therefore, knowledge about the occurrence and distribution of this disease is fundamental to adopt the correct prevention measures. The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in 24,483 bovine serum samples received between 2007 to 2015 from 21 Brazilian states. Of these, 8,643 (35.3%) were reagents in the microscopic agglutination test to one or more serovars of Leptospira spp. The most frequent serovars were Wolffi (61.47%), Tarassovi (9.62%) and Pomona (7.20%). Hardjo serovar presented a prevalence of 6.27%. Among the 21 states analyzed, the State of Pernambuco had the highest frequency with 88.24% and the State of São Paulo was the origin of the largest number of analyzed samples (13,838), with a frequency of 31.54% of reagents. The results demonstrate a high exposure to several serovars of Leptospira spp. in bovine species in Brazilian states, showing the importance of adopting prophylactic measures in order to reduce the risk of infection in this specie.

El cambio climático global es una desafiante amenaza para la salud de la humanidad. La Organización Mundial de la Salud, refiere que millones de personas pueden verse amenazadas por la presencia de enfermedades con un alto porcentaje de morbilidad y mortalidad. En Cuba se potencia la Tarea Vida a nivel de gobierno. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo diseñar acciones en el ámbito de la salud desde las perspectivas científica, sanitaria y ambiental, sobre bases sustentables. Se realizó un diagnóstico de vulnerabilidad ambiental en los municipios que se encuentran expuestos a la influencia directa del cambio climático y el impacto negativo en la salud de sus pobladores, de esta forma se evidencian resultados de acciones a corto mediano y largo plazo, con implicación científica, económica y sociocultural. La implementación de un Proyecto titulado: "Cambio climático. Impacto negativo en la salud",constituye una de las acciones que contribuyen desarrollar la cultura para la acertada actuación de las comunidades, en pos de reducir la vulnerabilidad existente ante la disyuntiva presente del cambio climático, la conclusión del estudio se fundamenta en acciones direccionadas por el Ministerio de Salud Pública en la provincia de Granma, potenciadas desde la universidad y extramuros, que contribuyen a fortalecer un sistema de monitoreo, vigilancia y alerta temprana para garantizar la salud integral de las personas en el orden biopsicosocial con un enfoque de relaciones de cultura de cambio climático y la cultura ambiental sociosaludable, en función de la prevención y promoción de salud, ambiental- clínico - epidemiológica .

On the basis of diffraction transformations of an optical wave field a mathematical model for the formation of speckle modulated interference patterns and signals at the output of a speckle interferometer is developed, which allows us to identify their properties and quantitative parameters. Speckle interferometers based on a Michelson arrangement are considered, where objects with scattering surfaces are used instead of mirrors in the reference and object arms. Results of numerical simulation of speckle modulated interference patterns on the basis of diffraction transformations of wave fields in an interferometer are discussed. Simulated images obtained at the output of the interferometer when focusing laser beams on the scattering surfaces of the controlled and reference objects are considered. Experimental results of using a speckle interferometer with a digital matrix photodetector for measuring the temperature micro-displacements of an object with a scattering surface and a quantitative comparison of experimental data with the results obtained by a numerical experiment using a diffraction model of a speckle interferometer are presented.

E.A. Burylova, L.A. Mamaeva, A.S. Berdnikova, O.K. Fedorova Ural Scientific Research Institute of Phtysiopulmonology — Branch of the National Medical Research Center of Phtysiopulmonology, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation Abstract Ocular manifestations of systemic sarcoidosis may emerge at any disease stage. Ocular sarcoidosis is typically characterized by uveitic presentations that predominantly involve the choroid of anterior eye segment. However, orbital pseudotumor, dacryoadenitis, and other rare presentations (optic neuritis, dacryocystitis etc.) also occur in sarcoidosis. Threatened vision loss and poor quality of life are the reasons to prescribe systemic steroids in generalized sarcoidosis. Chest CT is required to identify respiratory diseases when sarcoidosis manifests as uveitis or granulomatous orbital inflammation. Multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment approach to suspected sarcoidosis provides timely verified diagnosis and management strategy. This paper addresses case report of systemic sarcoidosis in a 34-year-old man. The initial manifestation was vision loss and left orbital pseudotumor. The enlarged subclavian lymph node and its biopsy were suspicious of granulomatous inflammation. Chest CT identified disseminated pulmonary lesions and intrathoracic lymphadenopathy that are typical of sarcoidosis. The results of multidisciplinary examina tions verified systemic sarcoidosis. Systemic steroids resulted in clinical and radiological improvement and medicinal regression of the disease. Keywords: sarcoidosis, orbital pseudotumor, dacryoadenitis, adenopathy, computed tomography, multidisciplinary approach. For citation: Burylova E.A., Mamaeva L.A., Berdnikova A.S., Fedorova O.K. Orbital lesion (pseudotumor and dacryoadenitis) is a manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2021;21(1):40–44. DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2021-21-1-40-44.

There is increasing evidence that neurofilament light chain (NF-L) can be considered as a biomarker for neuro-axonal damage. This polypeptide can be released into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood, where it can be quantified. The concentration of NF-L is elevated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and psychiatric disorders. We aimed to investigate the NF-L levels in the CSF from treated MS patients and the relationship with depression or anxiety. The study involved three groups: control group (individuals without inflammation), the relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)-untreated group, and the RRMS-Fingo group (RRMS patients who were treated with fingolimod). MS disability was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale, and depression and anxiety were evaluated by a neuropsychologist, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Individual CSF samples were collected to measure NF-L levels. The results of the statistical analysis on levels of NF-L in the CSF of control subjects, RRMS-untreated patients, and RRMS-Fingo patients were significant. The relationship between depression and anxiety in RRMS-Fingo patients and NF-L levels was not statistically significant. In conclusion, MS events such as anxiety and depression appear to contribute to the onset of clinical relapses, subclinical cases, and neurodegeneration.

Created on the basis of Si, GaAs and C60 fullerenes were low-dimensional heterostructures with a surface quantum-size effect at the film-substrate interface. There have been defined technological conditions of its appearance. Using modulation electroreflectance spectroscopy, calculated were spectral broadening parameters, the energy relaxation time of excited light charge carriers, the energy of quantized levels and the width of the quantum wells.

ABSTRACT Bacteria of the genus Brucella are widespread in many countries. These microorganisms can infect humans and many wild and domestic animal species. These bacteria have zoonotic potential, and can cause economic and public health problems since they can be transmitted by direct contact with sick animals, through consumption of contaminated milk, raw meat and its derivatives (Soares et al., 2015). Brucellosis is considered a chronic evolving disease, unusual in horses, predominantly caused by Brucella abortus. However, it is not characterized by reproductive disorders in horses, but primarily by abscess in the cervical region, bursa, tendons, and joints. Transmission is likely to occur via ingestion of contaminated water and pastures, especially in areas endemic for bovine brucellosis (Ribeiro et al., 2008). The slaughterhouse is a strategic point for obtaining information about the animal and animal products, edible or not. This study investigated the presence of anti-Brucella spp. immunoglobulins in the serum samples from horses slaughtered in a slaughterhouse in southern Brazil, to estimate the frequency of Brucella spp. antibodies and determine the spatial distribution of the cases.

Transgenic plants creation methodology developed for several decades has gained significant advances. However, problems of unanticipated effects of transgenosis, stability of GMO characteristics and establishing criteria of their safety evaluation remain unresolved. The analysis of different approaches to assessing the impact of plant genetic transformation is presented. It is concluded that the profound studies on the physiology of plant-agrobacterial symbiosis as a methodological basis of plants genetic engineering can answer many unresolved issues of genetic engineering.

A Máquina e a Revolta, último livro de Alba Zaluar, é excelente.* Isto eu já tive oportunidade de dizer em resenha para a revista Ciência e Cultura, e é desnecessário ficar repetindo. Quero apenas chamar a atenção para o que considero urna das razões do éxito da autora: ela, de fato, opera a teoria, produzindo uma análise concreta, rica e fascinante. Tendo o livro esta característica, tentar uma avaliação global terminaria por ser um mero resumo comentado dos principais pontos abordados, o que tornaria o presents comentário monótono e longo demais. Além disso, a excepcional qualidade literária de A Máquina e a Revolta recomenda sua leitura direta, sem intermediários.

The transgenic and non-transgenic tobacco cell cultures were analyzed for resistance to abiotic and biotic stress. The different physiological reaction of cell culture depending on T-DNA structure (or transgen structure) was observed. The cell culture transformed by disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciense A699 with pCNL 65 nptII demonstrated the same stress-resistance as non-transgenic control cell culture. The cell culture transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciense LBA 4400 pBiCaMV nptII + hsp101 showed a raised stress-resistance to high temperature, high KF concentration, and to the action of Clavibacter michiganensis ssp sepidonicus. Obviously, the expression of transferred arabodopsis gene hsp101 provides protection properties of transgenic cell culture under the influence of various stress factors. Moreover, that agrobacterial transformation as previous stress-factor is supposed to make a contribution to formation of transgenic cell culture cross-resistance.

Antecedentes: Los hemangiomas hepáticos gigantes (HHG) son aquellos con un tamaño superior a 4 cm. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue describir los hallazgos clínicos del HHG, sus factores de riesgo, el abordaje diagnóstico y el manejo, y comparar esta información con la del hemangioma convencional. Métodos: Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo del periodo 1990-2008 de pacientes con diagnóstico, sea por imagen o histopatología, de hemangioma hepático atendidos en nuestro hospital. De cada paciente se revisó su expediente para extraer información médica y/o quirúrgica. Resultados: De 57 pacientes con hemangioma hepático, 41 (72%) eran mujeres y 32 (56%) tenían un HHG. La mediana de tamaño fue de 4.49 cm. Con respecto a los HHG, el 31.2% estaban asintomáticos; el síntoma más común fue dolor. Tanto los síntomas como el uso de anticonceptivos orales fueron más comunes en pacientes con HHG. Nueve pacientes con HHC fueron sometidos a cirugía: 2 biopsias abiertas por duda diagnóstica, una enucleación y 6 resecciones. Conclusiones: Los HHG son más prevalentes en mujeres y, cuando son sintomáticos, el dolor es la manifestación más frecuente. El diagnóstico habitualmente se hace por imagen, pero a veces se requiere abordaje quirúrgico por duda diagnóstica. El uso de anticonceptivos orales es probablemente un factor de riesgo de más peso para el HHG que para el hemangioma convencional; esta asociación necesita ser estudiada más a fondo.

Background: Giant hepatic hemangiomas (GHHs) are those that are larger than 4 cm in size. Aims: The aim of this study was to describe GHH clinical findings, their risk factors, diagnostic approach and management, and to compare these data with those of conventional hemangiomas. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with hemangiomas, whether by imaging studies or histopathology, at our hospital within the time frame of 1990-2008. The medical records of each patient were reviewed to obtain clinical and surgical data. Results: Of the 57 patients with liver hemangioma, 41 (72%) were women and 32 (56%) had GHH. Liver hemangioma median size was 4.49 cm. In regard to the patients with GHH, 31.2% were asymptomatic and when symptoms presented, pain was the most common. Both symptoms and oral contraceptive exposure were more common in the GHH patients. Nine patients with GHH underwent surgery: 2 open biopsies due to diagnostic uncertainty, one enucleation, and 6 resections. Conclusions: GHHs are more prevalent in women and when symptomatic, pain is the most frequent complaint. Diagnosis is usually made through imaging studies, but when there is diagnostic doubt, surgical exploration is sometimes needed. Oral contraceptive use is most likely more of a risk factor for GHH than for conventional hemangioma, but this association needs to be studied further.

Diagnosis of invasive pneumococcal disease is challenging. We compared Binax NOW pneumococcal urinary antigen test with blood pneumococcal PCR in healthy Malawian children with and without pneumococcal carriage, and we found a high false-positive rate with Binax NOW. Blood pneumococcal PCR positivity was 66/88 (75%) compared to 5/27 (18%) when nasopharyngeal swabbing was performed first compared to after blood sampling for pneumococcal blood PCR. We speculate that nasopharyngeal swabbing may be causing a breach of mucosal integrity, leading to invasion into the bloodstream. These findings need to be confirmed with autolysin-based PCR assays.

The clinical and epidemiological aspects of rotavirus infection in children in Donetsk region at present stage were studied. It is found that among patients with acute intestinal infections and acute respiratory viral infections positive results of screening for rotaviruses were 39.7 and 13.0 %, indicating the general circulation and spread of rotavirus infection.