Attachment of one electron to 1,2-diBeX-benzene and 1,2-diZnX-benzene derivatives leads to the formation of stronger Be-Be and Zn-Zn interaction. This is reflected in the dramatic shortening of the Be-Be and Zn-Zn distance. The formation of these 2-center-1-electron bonds have also been confirmed by topological survey of electron density using quantum theory of atoms in molecules and electron localization function. The formation of these bonds is expected to render stability to these radical anions. These radical anions are stable towards electron detachment and computed bond dissociation energy values are also significant.

We present a serious case of acute myocardial infarction soon after second vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019. Her pathological findings and intravascular imaging partly unveil how vaccine can cause acute coronary syndrome. It also shows the importance to observe closely high-risk patients of cardiovascular diseases after vaccination.

Objectives: We evaluated radiotherapy planning CT-based radiomics for predicting clinical endpoints [tumor complete response (CR), 5-year overall survival (OS), hypohemoglobin, and leucopenia] after intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Methods: This study retrospectively collected 257 LACC patients treated with IMRT from 2014 to 2017. Patients were allocated into the training/validation sets (3:1 ratio) using proportional random sampling, resulting in the same proportion of groups in the two sets. We extracted 254 radiomic features from each of the gross target volume (GTV), pelvis, and sacral vertebrae in planning CT images. The sequentially backward elimination support vector machine algorithm was used for feature selection and endpoint prediction. Model performance was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC). Results: A combination of 10 clinicopathological parameters and 34 radiomic features achieved the best performance for predicting CR [validation balanced accuracy: 80.79%]. For OS, 54 radiomic features showed good prediction accuracy [validation balanced accuracy: 85.75%], and the threshold value of their scores can stratify patients into the low-risk and high-risk groups (P<0.001). The clinical and radiomic models were also predictive of hypohemoglobin and severe leucopenia [validation balanced accuracies: 70.96% and 69.93%]. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that combining clinicopathological parameters with CT-based radiomics had good predictive value for treatment outcomes and hematologic toxicities to radiotherapy in LACC. The prediction of clinical endpoints prior to radiotherapy may assist the radiation therapists to select the optimal therapeutic strategy with the minimal toxicity and best curative effect.

Gracilaria chilensis is the main cultivated seaweed in Chile. The low genetic diversity observed in the Chilean population has been associated with the over-exploitation of natural beds and/or the founder effect that occurred during the post-glacial colonization from New Zealand. How these processes have affected its evolutionary trajectory before farming and incipient domestication is poorly understood. In this study, we used 2,232 SNPs to assess how the species evolutionary history in New Zealand (its region of origin), the founder effect linked to transoceanic dispersion and colonization of South America, and the recent over-exploitation of natural populations have influenced the genetic architecture of G. chilensis in Chile. The contrasting patterns of genetic diversity and structure observed between the two main islands in New Zealand attest to the important effects of Quaternary glacial cycles on G. chilensis. ABC analyses indicated that Chatham Island and South America were colonized independently near the end of the Last Glacial Maximum and emphasized the importance of coastal and oceanic currents during that period. Furthermore, ABC analyses inferred the existence of a recent and strong genetic bottleneck in Chile, matching the period of over-exploitation of the natural beds during the 1970s, followed by rapid demographic expansion linked to active clonal propagation used in farming. Recurrent genetic bottlenecks strongly eroded the genetic diversity of G. chilensis prior to its cultivation, raising important challenges for the management of genetic resources in this incipiently domesticated species.

Performing peripherally inserted central catheters for children with bilateral bidirectional Glenn shunt, Fontan circulation and persistent left superior vena cava differs from those with normal central venous anatomy. This study presents two PICC procedures for a toddler with this condition to demonstrate an accurate PICC approach for such children.

A document by Patrick Reeves. Click on the document to view its contents.

The retroperitoneal may be affected by variety of infectious, inflammations and tumors including benign or malignant ones. Although primary malignant tumors are the most prevalent tumors in this anatomic area, metastatic and invasive tumors rarely involve retroperitoneum. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) counted the most common tumors with invasion the retroperitoneum

Various root-colonizing bacterial species can promote plant growth and trigger systemic resistance against aboveground leaf pathogens and herbivore insects. To date, the underlying metabolic signatures of these rhizobacteria-induced plant phenotypes are poorly understood. To identify core metabolic pathways that are targeted by growth-promoting rhizobacteria, we used combinations of three plant species and three rhizobacterial species and interrogated plant shoot chemistry by untargeted metabolomics. A substantial part (50-64%) of the metabolites detected in plant shoot tissue was differentially affected by the rhizobacteria. Among others, the phenylpropanoid pathway was targeted by the rhizobacteria in each of the three plant species. Differential regulation of the various branches of the phenylpropanoid pathways showed an association with either plant growth promotion or growth reduction. Overall, suppression of flavonoid biosynthesis was associated with growth promotion, while growth reduction showed elevated levels of flavonoids. Subsequent assays with twelve Arabidopsis flavonoid biosynthetic mutants revealed that the proanthocyanidin branch plays an essential role in rhizobacteria-mediated growth promotion. Our study also showed that a number of pharmaceutically and nutritionally relevant metabolites in the plant shoot were significantly increased by rhizobacterial treatment, providing new avenues to use rhizobacteria to tilt plant metabolism towards the biosynthesis of valuable natural plant products.

Abstract Insect population dynamics are the result of an interplay between intraspecific competition, trophic interactions and external forces such as weather conditions, but studying how these processes combine to determine population change is challenging. We investigate mechanisms of population dynamics in a natural, low density insect population. Eggs and larvae of the noctuid moth, Abrostola asclepiadis, develop on its host plant during summer. The population density, and mortality, was closely monitored throughout this period during 15 years. Densities fluctuated between one and two orders of magnitude. Egg -- larval developmental time varied substantially among years, with lower survival in cool summers with slower development. This was presumably due to the prolonged exposure to a large guild of polyphagous arthropod enemies. We also found a density dependent component during this period, that could be a result of intraspecific competition for food among old larvae. Dynamics during the long period from pupation in late summer through winter survival in the ground to adult emergence and oviposition the next year displayed few clear patterns and more unexplained variability, thus giving a more random appearance. The population hence shows more unexplained or unpredictable variation during the long wintering period, but seems more predictable over the summer egg-larval period. Our study illustrates how weather - via a window of exposure to enemies and in combination with density-dependent processes - can determine the course of population change through the insect life cycle.

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare lymphatic abnormality without a clear pathogenesis. Hereby, we report A 70-year Sudanese female who presented with recurrent cough, recurrent lower limb swelling and yellowish nail discoloration diagnosed as yellow nail syndrome but unfortunately passed away due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Occupational cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma has an increased incidence, but rarely suspected. When located in an uncovered skin area, it is closely linked to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure. However, single pulmonary anthracosis nodule is rarely described in the literature. The association of both diseases due to the same exposure remains uncommon.

A document by Mariane Chittolina. Click on the document to view its contents.

MORC2 gene encodes a ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein involved in chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. Heterozygous mutations in MORC2 gene have been associated with a spectrum of disorders affecting the peripheral nervous system such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT2Z), spinal muscular atrophy-like (SMA-like) with or without cerebellar involvement, and a developmental syndrome associated with impaired growth, craniofacial dysmorphism and axonal neuropathy (DIGFAN syndrome). Such variability in clinical manifestations associated with the increasing number of variants of unknown significance detected by next-generation sequencing constitutes a serious diagnostic challenge. Here we report the characterization of an in vitro model to evaluate the pathogenicity of variants of unknown significance based on MORC2 overexpression in a neuroblastoma cell line SH-EP or in cortical neurons. Likewise, we show that MORC2 mutants affect survival and trigger apoptosis over time in SH-EP cell line. Furthermore, overexpression in primary cortical neurons increases apoptotic cell death and decreases neurite outgrowth. Altogether, these approaches establish the pathogenicity of two new variants p.G444R and p.H446Q in three patients from two families. These new mutations in MORC2 gene are associated with autosomal dominant CMT and with adult late onset SMA-like phenotype, further increasing the spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with MORC2 mutations.

Cases of aspergillosis superinfection have been reported as acute complications of Covid-19. Here we report a case of combined chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma and fibrosing aspergillosis in a 31-year-old woman with a history of Covid-19. This unusual association deserves special attention in a secondary immunocompromised patient after Covid-19.

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA, also called Still’s disease) is a rare childhood auto-inflammatory disease with significant morbidity. This case report illustrates the clinical course and highlights diagnostic challenges. FDG-PET/CT imaging may be beneficial in the diagnostic process for some cases, in order to achieve rapid diagnosis and early treatment.

Waldmann’s disease / Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, is an unusual cause of protein losing enteropathy primarily characterized by lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia and hypogammaglobulinemia. However, variable clinical presentation results in diagnostic dilemma and effective management. We present a toddler diagnosed with Waldmann’s disease managed with high protein diet and medium chain triglycerides supplementation.

A document by Gauthier Toutain. Click on the document to view its contents.

Sentinel lymph node mapping in patients with axillary breast carcinoma is technically challenging and poorly described in the literature. We report a patient with primary ectopic breast carcinoma of the axilla in whom concurrent peri-tumoral and intra-tumoral injection of radionuclide tracer allowed for identification and biopsy of sentinel lymph nodes.