Serum ACE2 Level is Associated With Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Objectives: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) represents the primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 to enter endothelial cells, causing coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we investigate the association between circulating ACE2 levels with the severity of COVID-19. Methods: Serum ACE2 levels were measured in 144 COVID-19-positive subjects at hospital admission, and 123 COVID-19-negative control subjects. The association between ACE2 and clinical outcomes was analyzed. Results: About 144 COVID-19 patients and 123 healthy controls data were analyzed, the mean age of patients was 62 years and 50% of them were males. The mean age of the control group was 55 years and 63% were males. ACE-II level was measured and compared between COVID-19 patients and controls and revealed no significant differences (P > .05). ACE-II level was measured in COVID-19 patients and compared between different patient's subgroups, ACE II level was not dependent on gender, smoking, ACE intake, or comorbidities (P > .05), and was significantly correlated with cardiovascular diseases (CVS) (P-value = .046) ICU admission (P-value = .0007) and Death (P-value = .0082). Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the COVID-19 and Control group, however, ACE2 serum level was significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 who were critically ill or non-survivors, its increased level is also associated with length of stay. Elevated ACE2 level is associated with the severity of COVID-19 disease, and it has the potential to be a predictor of the severity of the disease.

MRI-Based Deep Learning Segmentation and Radiomics of Sarcoma in Mice.

Small-animal imaging is an essential tool that provides noninvasive, longitudinal insight into novel cancer therapies. However, considerable variability in image analysis techniques can lead to inconsistent results. We have developed quantitative imaging for application in the preclinical arm of a coclinical trial by using a genetically engineered mouse model of soft tissue sarcoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were acquired 1 day before and 1 week after radiation therapy. After the second MRI, the primary tumor was surgically removed by amputating the tumor-bearing hind limb, and mice were followed for up to 6 months. An automatic analysis pipeline was used for multicontrast MRI data using a convolutional neural network for tumor segmentation followed by radiomics analysis. We then calculated radiomics features for the tumor, the peritumoral area, and the 2 combined. The first radiomics analysis focused on features most indicative of radiation therapy effects; the second radiomics analysis looked for features that might predict primary tumor recurrence. The segmentation results indicated that Dice scores were similar when using multicontrast versus single T2-weighted data (0.863 vs 0.861). One week post RT, larger tumor volumes were measured, and radiomics analysis showed greater heterogeneity. In the tumor and peritumoral area, radiomics features were predictive of primary tumor recurrence (AUC: 0.79). We have created an image processing pipeline for high-throughput, reduced-bias segmentation of multiparametric tumor MRI data and radiomics analysis, to better our understanding of preclinical imaging and the insights it provides when studying new cancer therapies.

Recurrent left Bockdalek hernia in adult, a rare cause of subocclusive syndrome.

PURPOSE: To present a rare clinical case of a subocclusive syndrome caused by recurrence of a left Bockdalek hernia, with emphasis on the radiological diagnosis and surgical treatment. The current paper presents a 36 year old female with past surgical history of Bockdalek hernia repaired 7 years ago using a diaphragmorrhaphy by thoraco-abdominal approach who presented with a subocclusive syndrome and epigastric pain. Upper endoscopy showed a duodenal ulcer positive for H. pylori. Initial abdominal CT scan was read as negative. On a closer evaluation of the CT images, a small Bockdalek hernia was appreciated, with the elevation of the left colic angle through the diaphragm. Given the occlusive symptoms, the patient underwent surgical treatment with diaphragmorrhaphy and alloplasty with polypropylene mesh, using an open approach. Postoperatively, the patient had a favourable course, being discharged home two days later. To date, there are 173 cases of Bockdalek hernia in the the medical literature, but none with a recurrence. Bockdalek hernia is a rare disease, with non-specific symptoms. It has a broad differential diagnosis that may delay early identification and management. The surgical treatment, either open or laparoscopic, must follow the current recommendations of the surgical societies, including mesh alloplasty to prevent recurrences.

Gastric metastasis of cervix uteri carcinoma, rare cause of lower gastric stenosis.

AIM: the paper presents a rare case of metachronous gastric metastasis of uterine cervix cancer, clinically manifested through severe pyloric stenosis. METHOD: 49-year-old patient, operated on in January 2009, with uterine cervix cancer (Squamous cell carcinoma T2bN1M0), is hospitalized in August 2011 with pyloric stenosis: epigastric pains, abundant, stasis, late postprandial emesis, significant weight loss, stomach form visible upon abdomen inspection. Endoscopy: antral stenosis with intact gastric mucosa, and CT-scan: circumferential intramural gastric tumor, stomach dilated in the upper part, lack of cleavage between the tumor and the liver bed of the gall bladder. CEA increased to 13,78 (below 5), CA 19-9 slightly increased 29.9 (below 27). The case is considered as a second neoplasia and a D2 subtotal gastrectomy was performed, with 1 positive ganglion out of 27 on block with atypical hepatectomy of segments 4-5 for liver invasion, the final mounting being Y Roux. RESULTS: The histopathological examination shows a gastric metastasis of squamous carcinoma, of uterine cervix origin, the invaded perigastric ganglion having the same aspect of uterine cervix carcinoma. The post-surgery evolution was favorable, under chemo radiotherapy the patient being alive without relapse at 9 months post-surgery. CONCLUSION: In the literature there are 2 more cases of gastric metastasis of uterine cervix carcinoma, and 4 of uterine carcinoma without topographic indication, but without the histological documentation of the tumor filiation, without data related to resecability or follow-up, the case at hand being, from this perspective, the first documented resectable metachronous gastric metastasis from a cervix uteri carcinoma.

Greenhouse Studies Reveal Increased Aggressiveness of Emergent Canadian Fusarium graminearum Chemotypes in Wheat.

The role of Fusarium graminearum trichothecene-chemotypes in disease outcomes was evaluated by point inoculation in a series of wheat lines with different levels of resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB). Four inocula, each consisting of a composite of four strains with either 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (ADON) chemotypes from "traditional" or emergent populations, a 3-ADON chemotype, or a nivalenol (NIV) chemotype, were compared. The evaluated wheat included Canadian lines with different levels of FHB resistance/susceptibility and double haploid lines developed from crosses of these lines. Highly resistant lines were resistant to infection by all of the F. graminearum chemotypes evaluated. In the moderately susceptible/resistant wheat lines, the 3-ADON producers and the emergent 15-ADON population were, in some instances, more aggressive and resulted in higher Fusarium damaged kernel scores and levels of trichothecene accumulation. The data presented in this study demonstrate the importance of growing highly resistant wheat cultivars in the current climate of an evolving F. graminearum population, and suggest that moderate levels of FHB resistance may not be sufficient to minimize trichothecene contamination of grain from F. graminearum-infected wheat.

Development and assessment of DArT markers in triticale.

Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittm.) is a hybrid derived by crossing wheat (Triticum sp.) and rye (Secale sp.). Till date, only a limited number of simple sequence repeat (SSRs) markers have been used in triticale molecular analyses and there is a need to identify dedicated high-throughput molecular markers to better exploit this crop. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers in triticale. DArT marker technology offers a high level of multiplexing. Development of new markers from triticale accessions was combined with mining the large collection of previously developed markers in rye and wheat. Three genotyping arrays were used to analyze a collection of 144 triticale accessions. The polymorphism level ranged from 8.6 to 23.8% for wheat and rye DArT markers, respectively. Among the polymorphic markers, rye markers were the most abundant (3,109) followed by wheat (2,214) and triticale (719). The mean polymorphism information content values were 0.34 for rye DArT markers and 0.37 for those from triticale and wheat. High correlation was observed between similarity matrices derived from rye, triticale, wheat and combined marker sets, as well as for the cophenetic values matrices. Cluster analysis revealed genetic relationships among the accessions consistent with the agronomic and pedigree information available. The newly developed triticale DArT markers as well as those originated from rye and wheat provide high quality markers that can be used for diversity analyses and might be exploited in a range of molecular breeding and genomics applications in triticale.

A contribution for a correct vision of health impact from municipal solid waste treatments.

In agreement with the European Union Directives concerning health risks targets, in the present paper data regarding the health risk from different strategies of waste treatment, in particular concerning dioxin emissions, are presented. Three options are considered for municipal solid waste treatment: incineration (with best available technologies (BATs)), an anaerobic/aerobic treatment and an aerobic treatment before landfilling. The process of biostabilization varies case by case but differences between simplified approaches and BAT solutions have been pointed out. In the paper it is also pointed out how important the local context for the health risk from PCDD/F release is: the height of gas release into the atmosphere, the emitted gas velocity and the temperature of release become the most important parameters (apart from the overall amount released) in areas where the population may be close to the plant or where there is agricultural activity in the proximity. However, all the three solutions give an acceptable risk.

Genetic dissection of the mouse brain using high-field magnetic resonance microscopy.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has demonstrated that variation in brain structure is associated with differences in behavior and disease state. However, it has rarely been practical to prospectively test causal models that link anatomical and functional differences in humans. In the present study we have combined classical mouse genetics with high-field MR to systematically explore and test such structure-functional relations across multiple brain regions. We segmented 33 regions in two parental strains-C57BL/6J (B) and DBA/2J (D)-and in nine BXD recombinant inbred strains. All strains have been studied extensively for more than 20 years using a battery of genetic, functional, anatomical, and behavioral assays. We compared levels of variation within and between strains and sexes, by region, and by system. Average within-strain variation had a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.6% for the whole brain; while the CV ranged from 2.3 to 3.6% for olfactory bulbs, cortex and cerebellum, and up to approximately 18% for septum and laterodorsal thalamic nucleus. Variation among strain averages ranged from 6.7% for cerebellum, 7.6% for whole brain, 9.0% for cortex, up to approximately 26% for the ventricles, laterodorsal thalamic nucleus, and the interpeduncular nucleus. Heritabilities averaged 0.60+/-0.18. Sex differences were not significant with the possible (and unexpected) exception of the pons ( approximately 20% larger in males). A correlation matrix of regional volumes revealed high correlations among functionally related parts of the CNS (e.g., components of the limbic system), and several high correlations between regions that are not anatomically connected, but that may nonetheless be functionally or genetically coupled.

Monitoring western corn rootworm (Diabrotica v. virgifera) adults: situation in Romania 2008.

Romania is part of the southeast European expansion zone of the invasive rootworm species Diabrotica v. virgifera LeConte (Col.: Chrysomelidae) (WCR). The pest originated in North America and reached Belgrade airport with US foreign aid air shipments prior to 1992. Today, about 20 years after its introduction, WCR is a major maize pest which regionally causes economic damage to maize. However, it also can colonize secondary hosts which complicates IPM efforts. Basis for sound management is a reliable monitoring system. The easiest and cheapest way is to use Metcalf type monitoring traps for the mobile adults. Sex pheromones and plant kairomones for trapping are commercially available. Traps can be either bought or cheaply prepared. Metcalf traps with adhesive and lure cost about 15 cents per piece. So state-wide trapping is no longer a problem for less affluent countries. Results from two independent locations in 2008 report flight curves and attractively of secondary hosts like Sorghum spp. in relation to the principle host Zea mays. In addition, high capacity traps baited with pheromone are surprisingly effective, and, in combination with the chemically inert, absorptive silica powder AL 06, will be considered as future alternatives in cases where frequent monitoring is unfeasible and were a large holding capacity is indicated.

Biological control of late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) in tomatoes with mycoextracts from Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium graminearum.

Following a screening completed over several species of fungus for establishing the efficiency of the extracts produced from them, against agent causing the late blight--Phytophthora infestans--two species of fungus were selected--Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum--in order to employ them and their strains with different virulence in the pathosystem fungi/Lycopersicumm esculentum. The utilized extracts are based on ethanol and obtained from mycelium and culture filtrate. Extract was applied 2 and respectively 7 days before the artificial inoculation, realized on the detached tomato's leaves and maintained at 17 degrees C and air relative humidity of 100%. The evaluation was done 6 days after the inoculation. The results show that for the treatment applied 2 days before inoculation the intensity of the attack was reduced by aprox. 60% compared with the control but for the inoculation at 7 days after the treatment, the intensity was not diminished.

Morphometric analysis of the C57BL/6J mouse brain.

Magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), when used in conjunction with active staining, can produce high-resolution, high-contrast images of the mouse brain. Using MRM, we imaged in situ the fixed, actively stained brains of C57BL/6J mice in order to characterize the neuroanatomical phenotype and produce a digital atlas. The brains were scanned within the cranium vault to preserve the brain morphology, avoid distortions, and to allow an unbiased shape analysis. The high-resolution imaging used a T1-weighted scan at 21.5 microm isotropic resolution, and an eight-echo multi-echo scan, post-processed to obtain an enhanced T2 image at 43 microm resolution. The two image sets were used to segment the brain into 33 anatomical structures. Volume, area, and shape characteristics were extracted for all segmented brain structures. We also analyzed the variability of volumes, areas, and shape characteristics. The coefficient of variation of volume had an average value of 7.0%. Average anatomical images of the brain for both the T1-weighted and T2 images were generated, together with an average shape atlas, and a probabilistic atlas for 33 major structures. These atlases, with their associated meta-data, will serve as baseline for identifying neuroanatomical phenotypes of additional strains, and mouse models now under study. Our efforts were directed toward creating a baseline for comparison with other mouse strains and models of neurodegenerative diseases.

Pilot installation for the thermo-chemical characterisation of solid wastes.

The increasing production and the large variety of wastes require operators of thermal treatment units to continuously adapt the installations or the functioning parameters to the different physical and chemical properties of the wastes. Usually, the treated waste is encountered in the form of heterogeneous mixtures. The classical tests such as thermogravimetry and calorimetric bomb operate component by component, separately. In addition to this, they can analyse only small quantities of waste at a time (a few grams). These common tests are necessary but insufficient in the global waste analysis in the view further thermal treatment. This paper presents an experimental installation, which was designed and built at the CNRS Science Division, Department of Industrial Methods, Compiègne University of Technology, France. It allows the determination of waste thermal and chemical properties by means of thermal treatment. Also, it is capable of continuously analysing significant quantities of waste (up to 50kg/h) as compared to the classical tests and it can work under various conditions: The installation reproduces the process conditions from incinerators or pyrolysis reactors. It also provides complete information on the kinetics of the waste thermal degradation and on the pollutant emissions. Using different mixtures of components present in the municipal solid waste and also in the reconstituted MSW samples, we defined a series of criteria for characterising waste behaviour during the stages of the main treatment process such as: feeding, devolatilisation/oxidation, advancement, solid residue evacuation, and pollutants emission.

Detection and imaging of atmospheric radio flashes from cosmic ray air showers.

The nature of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) at energies >10(20) eV remains a mystery. They are likely to be of extragalactic origin, but should be absorbed within approximately 50 Mpc through interactions with the cosmic microwave background. As there are no sufficiently powerful accelerators within this distance from the Galaxy, explanations for UHECRs range from unusual astrophysical sources to exotic string physics. Also unclear is whether UHECRs consist of protons, heavy nuclei, neutrinos or gamma-rays. To resolve these questions, larger detectors with higher duty cycles and which combine multiple detection techniques are needed. Radio emission from UHECRs, on the other hand, is unaffected by attenuation, has a high duty cycle, gives calorimetric measurements and provides high directional accuracy. Here we report the detection of radio flashes from cosmic-ray air showers using low-cost digital radio receivers. We show that the radiation can be understood in terms of the geosynchrotron effect. Our results show that it should be possible to determine the nature and composition of UHECRs with combined radio and particle detectors, and to detect the ultrahigh-energy neutrinos expected from flavour mixing.