Location also matters: The oxidative response of the intertidal purple mussel Perumytilus purpuratus during tidal cycle.

For sessile intertidal organisms, periods of low tide impose both cellular and physiological challenges that can determine bathymetric distribution. To understand how intertidal location influences the cellular response of the bivalve Perumytilus purpuratus during the tidal cycle (immersion-emersion-immersion), specimens from the upper intertidal (UI) and lower intertidal (LI) of bathymetric distribution were sampled every 2 h over a 10-h period during a summer tidal cycle. Parallelly, organisms from the UI and LI were reciprocally transplanted and sampled throughout the same tidal cycle. Levels of oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls) as well as total antioxidant capacity and total carotenoids were evaluated as cellular responses to variations in environmental conditions throughout the tidal cycle. The results indicate that both the location in the intertidal zone (UI/LI), the level of aerial exposure, and the interaction of both factors are determinants of oxidative levels and total antioxidant capacity of P. purpuratus. Although oxidative damage levels are triggered during the low tide period (aerial exposure), it is the UI specimens that induce higher levels of lipid peroxidation compared to those from the LI, which is consistent with the elevated levels of total antioxidant capacity. On the other hand, organisms from the LI transplanted to the UI increase the levels of lipid peroxidation but not the levels of protein carbonyls, a situation that is also reflected in higher levels of antioxidant response and total carotenoids than those from the UI transplanted to the LI. The bathymetric distribution of P. purpuratus in the intertidal zone implies differentiated responses between organisms of the lower and upper limits, influenced by their life history. A high phenotypic plasticity allows this mussel to adjust its metabolism to respond to abrupt changes in the surrounding environmental conditions.

Comparison of different methods of first-trimester screening for preterm pre-eclampsia: cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the predictive performance of three different mathematical models for first-trimester screening of pre-eclampsia (PE), which combine maternal risk factors with mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and serum placental growth factor (PlGF), and two risk-scoring systems. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study performed in eight fetal medicine units in five different regions of Spain between September 2017 and December 2019. All pregnant women with singleton pregnancy and a non-malformed live fetus attending their routine ultrasound examination at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation were invited to participate in the study. Maternal characteristics and medical history were recorded and measurements of MAP, UtA-PI, serum PlGF and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) were converted into multiples of the median (MoM). Risks for term PE, preterm PE (< 37 weeks' gestation) and early PE (< 34 weeks' gestation) were calculated according to the FMF competing-risks model, the Crovetto et al. logistic regression model and the Serra et al. Gaussian model. PE classification was also performed based on the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). We estimated detection rates (DR) with their 95% CIs at a fixed 10% screen-positive rate (SPR), as well as the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC) for preterm PE, early PE and all PE for the three mathematical models. For the scoring systems, we calculated DR and SPR. Risk calibration was also assessed. RESULTS: The study population comprised 10 110 singleton pregnancies, including 32 (0.3%) that developed early PE, 72 (0.7%) that developed preterm PE and 230 (2.3%) with any PE. At a fixed 10% SPR, the FMF, Crovetto et al. and Serra et al. models detected 82.7% (95% CI, 69.6-95.8%), 73.8% (95% CI, 58.7-88.9%) and 79.8% (95% CI, 66.1-93.5%) of early PE; 72.7% (95% CI, 62.9-82.6%), 69.2% (95% CI, 58.8-79.6%) and 74.1% (95% CI, 64.2-83.9%) of preterm PE; and 55.1% (95% CI, 48.8-61.4%), 47.1% (95% CI, 40.6-53.5%) and 53.9% (95% CI, 47.4-60.4%) of all PE, respectively. The best correlation between predicted and observed cases was achieved by the FMF model, with an AUC of 0.911 (95% CI, 0.879-0.943), a slope of 0.983 (95% CI, 0.846-1.120) and an intercept of 0.154 (95% CI, -0.091 to 0.397). The NICE criteria identified 46.7% (95% CI, 35.3-58.0%) of preterm PE at 11% SPR and ACOG criteria identified 65.9% (95% CI, 55.4-76.4%) of preterm PE at 33.8% SPR. CONCLUSIONS: The best performance of screening for preterm PE is achieved by mathematical models that combine maternal factors with MAP, UtA-PI and PlGF, as compared to risk-scoring systems such as those of NICE and ACOG. While all three algorithms show similar results in terms of overall prediction, the FMF model showed the best performance at an individual level. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Validation of machine-learning model for first-trimester prediction of pre-eclampsia using cohort from PREVAL study.

OBJECTIVE: Effective first-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) can be achieved using a competing-risks model that combines risk factors from the maternal history with multiples of the median (MoM) values of biomarkers. A new model using artificial intelligence through machine-learning methods has been shown to achieve similar screening performance without the need for conversion of raw data of biomarkers into MoM. This study aimed to investigate whether this model can be used across populations without specific adaptations. METHODS: Previously, a machine-learning model derived with the use of a fully connected neural network for first-trimester prediction of early (< 34 weeks), preterm (< 37 weeks) and all PE was developed and tested in a cohort of pregnant women in the UK. The model was based on maternal risk factors and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), placental growth factor (PlGF) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A). In this study, the model was applied to a dataset of 10 110 singleton pregnancies examined in Spain who participated in the first-trimester PE validation (PREVAL) study, in which first-trimester screening for PE was carried out using the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) competing-risks model. The performance of screening was assessed by examining the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC) and detection rate (DR) at a 10% screen-positive rate (SPR). These indices were compared with those derived from the application of the FMF competing-risks model. The performance of screening was poor if no adjustment was made for the analyzer used to measure PlGF, which was different in the UK and Spain. Therefore, adjustment for the analyzer used was performed using simple linear regression. RESULTS: The DRs at 10% SPR for early, preterm and all PE with the machine-learning model were 84.4% (95% CI, 67.2-94.7%), 77.8% (95% CI, 66.4-86.7%) and 55.7% (95% CI, 49.0-62.2%), respectively, with the corresponding AUCs of 0.920 (95% CI, 0.864-0.975), 0.913 (95% CI, 0.882-0.944) and 0.846 (95% CI, 0.820-0.872). This performance was achieved with the use of three of the biomarkers (MAP, UtA-PI and PlGF); inclusion of PAPP-A did not provide significant improvement in DR. The machine-learning model had similar performance to that achieved by the FMF competing-risks model (DR at 10% SPR, 82.7% (95% CI, 69.6-95.8%) for early PE, 72.7% (95% CI, 62.9-82.6%) for preterm PE and 55.1% (95% CI, 48.8-61.4%) for all PE) without requiring specific adaptations to the population. CONCLUSIONS: A machine-learning model for first-trimester prediction of PE based on a neural network provides effective screening for PE that can be applied in different populations. However, before doing so, it is essential to make adjustments for the analyzer used for biochemical testing. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Upwelling as a stressor event during embryonic development: Consequences for encapsulated and early juvenile stages of the marine gastropod Acanthina monodon.

Upwelling phenomena alter the physical and chemical parameters of the sea's subsurface waters, producing low levels of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, which can seriously impact the early developmental stages of marine organisms. To understand how upwelling can affect the encapsulated development of the gastropod Acanthina monodon, capsules containing embryos at different stages of development (initial, intermediate and advanced) were exposed to upwelling conditions (pH = 7.6; O2 = 3 mg L-1; T° = 9 °C) for a period of 7 days. Effects of treatment were determined by estimating parameters such as time to hatching, number of hatchlings per capsule, percentage of individuals with incomplete development, and shell parameters such as shell shape and size, shell strength, and the percentage of the organic/inorganic content. We found no significant impacts on hatching time, number of hatchlings per capsule, or percentage of incomplete development in either the presence or absence of upwelling, regardless of developmental stage. On the other hand, latent effects on encapsulated stages of A. monodon were detected in embryos that had been exposed to upwelling stress in the initial embryonic stage. The juveniles from this treatment hatched at smaller sizes and with higher organic content in their shells, resulting in a higher resistance to cracking 30 days after hatching, due to greater elasticity. Geometric morphometric analysis showed that exposure to upwelling condition induced a change in the morphology of shell growth in all post-hatching juveniles (0-30 days), regardless of embryonic developmental stage at the time of exposure. Thus, more elongated shells (siphonal canal and posterior region) and more globular shells were observed in newly hatched juveniles that had been exposed to the upwelling condition. The neutral or even positive upwelling exposure results suggests that exposure to upwelling events during the encapsulated embryonic phase of A. monodon development might not have major impacts on the future juvenile stages. However, this should be taken with caution in consideration of the increased frequency and intensity of upwelling events predicted for the coming decades.

Fetal Medicine Foundation charts for fetal growth in twins.

OBJECTIVE: To derive reference distributions of estimated fetal weight (EFW) in twins relative to singletons. METHODS: Gestational-age- and chorionicity-specific reference distributions for singleton percentiles and EFW were fitted to data on 4391 twin pregnancies with two liveborn fetuses from four European centers, including 3323 dichorionic (DC) and 1068 monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies. Gestational age was derived using the larger of the two crown-rump length measurements obtained during the first trimester of pregnancy. EFW was obtained from ultrasound measurements of head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length using the Hadlock formula. Singleton percentiles were obtained using the Fetal Medicine Foundation population weight charts for singleton pregnancies. Hierarchical models were fitted to singleton Z-scores with autoregressive terms for serial correlations within the same fetus and between twins from the same pregnancy. Separate models were fitted for DC and MCDA twins. RESULTS: Fetuses from twin pregnancies tended to be smaller than singletons at the earliest gestational ages (16 weeks for MCDA and 20 weeks for DC twins). This was followed by a period of catch-up growth until around 24 weeks. After that, both DC and MCDA twins showed reduced growth. In DC twins, the EFW corresponding to the 50th percentile was at the 50th percentile of singleton pregnancies at 23 weeks, the 43rd percentile at 28 weeks, the 32nd percentile at 32 weeks and the 22nd percentile at 36 weeks. In MCDA twins, the EFW corresponding to the 50th percentile was at the 36th percentile of singleton pregnancies at 24 weeks, the 29th percentile at 28 weeks, the 19th percentile at 32 weeks and the 12th percentile at 36 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In DC and, to a greater extent, MCDA twin pregnancies, fetal growth is reduced compared with that observed in singleton pregnancies. Furthermore, after 24 weeks, the divergence in growth trajectories between twin and singleton pregnancies becomes more pronounced as gestational age increases. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Potential for automatic detection of calving in beef cows grazing on rangelands from Global Navigate Satellite System collar data.

Dystocia is one of the main causes of calf death around calving. In addition, peripartum deaths may occur due to other factors, such as weather or predators, especially in the case of grazing animals. Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) tools aimed at the automatic detection of calving may be useful for farmers, allowing cow assistance in case of dystocia or checking the condition of the cow-calf pair after calving. Such PLF systems are commercially available for dairy cows, but these tools are not suitable for rangelands, mainly due to power and connectivity constraints. Thus, since most commercial PLF tools for rangelands are based on Global Navigate Satellite System (GNSS) technology, the objective of this study was to design and evaluate several indicators built from data gathered with GNSS collars to characterise their potential for the detection of calving on rangelands. Location data from 57 cows, 42 of which calved during the study, were curated and analysed following a standardised procedure. Several indicators were calculated using two different strategies. The first approach consisted of having indicators that could be computed using the data of a single GNSS collar (cow indicators). The second strategy involved the use of data from several animals (herd indicators), which requires more animals to be monitored, but may allow the characterisation of social behaviour. Several indicators, such as the length of the daily trajectory or the sinuosity of cow path, showed significant differences between the pre- and postpartum periods, but no clear differences between calving day and previous days. Herd indicators, such as the distance to herd centroid or to the nearest peer were superior in terms of the detection of calving day, as cows showed isolation behaviour from 24 hours before calving. Relative indicators, i.e., the value of cow or herd indicators for the calving cow in relation to the average value of the same indicators for its herdmates, provided additional information on cow behaviour. For instance, according to the relative indicator for the change in daily trajectory, pregnant cows had a differential exploratory behaviour up to 14 days before calving. In conclusion, data from commercial GNSS collars proved to be useful for the computation of several indicators related to the occurrence of calving on rangelands. Some of those indicators showed changes from baseline values on the day before calving, which could serve to predict the onset of parturition.

Establishment of a desirable dose using neutral argon plasma to eradicate miliary peritoneal implants: A phase I/II controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Neutral argon plasma (NAP) system could meet the requirements to achieve oncological cytoreduction of peritoneal carcinomatosis with miliary lesions, minimizing the associated morbidity. This phase I/II trial aims to establish the desirable dose that is safe and effective in eliminating tumor cells with lower penetration. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with different origins for peritoneal carcinomatosis and miliary implants were selected for the study. The safe and potentially effective dose (desirability) of NAP was evaluated according to three factors: distance (mm), application time (s) and power (%), to evaluate the response variables such as the presence of tumor cells (Y/N) and the depth of penetration. RESULTS: Ten patients and 120 samples were evaluated and treated with NAP. There was no vascular or organ injury intraoperative using a pre-established dose of 100% (coagulation mode) at a distance of 2-3 cm. The distance was found to be correlated with the presence of the tumor cells in ex-vivo analysis, with an OR of 15.4 (4.0-111.4). The time and energy used were protective factors to eliminate tumor cells with an OR of 0.4 (0.1-0.9) and 0.8 (0.8-0.9), respectively. The safest and most effective desirability results were as follows i) energy 80% during 2-4 s with a distance of 2 cm (0.89), and ii) energy 100% during 2-4 s with a distance of 3 cm (0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The use of NAP during a CRS and HIPEC is safe and effective for eradicating tumor cells on the peritoneal surface at suggested doses of energy, distance and duration. TRIAL IDENTIFICATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04904042.

Diagnosis and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: Consensus statement from the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group.

INTRODUCTION: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic neuropathic pain disorder affecting one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve. Despite its relatively low global prevalence, TN is an important healthcare problem both in neurology departments and in emergency departments due to the difficulty of diagnosing and treating the condition and its significant impact on patients' quality of life. For all these reasons, the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group has developed a consensus statement on the management of TN. DEVELOPMENT: This document was drafted by a panel of neurologists specialising in headache, who used the terminology of the International Headache Society. We analysed the published scientific evidence on the diagnosis and treatment of TN and establish practical recommendations with levels of evidence. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of TN is based on clinical criteria. Pain attributed to a lesion or disease of the trigeminal nerve is divided into TN and painful trigeminal neuropathy, according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition. TN is further subclassified into classical, secondary, or idiopathic, according to aetiology. Brain MRI is recommended in patients with clinical diagnosis of TN, in order to rule out secondary causes. In MRI studies to detect neurovascular compression, FIESTA, DRIVE, or CISS sequences are recommended. Pharmacological treatment is the initial choice in all patients. In selected cases with drug-resistant pain or poor tolerance, surgery should be considered.

Embryonic encapsulated development of the gastropod Acanthina monodon is impacted by future environmental changes of temperature and pCO2.

Egg capsules of the gastropod Acanthina monodon were maintained during the entire period of encapsulated development at three temperatures (10, 15, 20 °C) and two pCO2 levels (400, 1200 µatm). Embryos per capsule, size at hatching, time to hatching, embryonic metabolic rates, and the resistance of juveniles to shell breakage were quantified. No embryos maintained at 20 °C developed to hatching. The combination of temperature and pCO2 levels had synergistic effects on hatching time and developmental success, antagonistic effects on number of hatchlings per capsule, resistance to juvenile shell cracking and metabolism, and additive effect on hatching size. Juveniles hatched significantly sooner at 15 °C, independent of the pCO2 level that they had been exposed to, while individuals hatched at significantly smaller sizes if they had been held under 15 °C/1200 µatm rather than at 10 °C/low pCO2. Embryos held at the higher pCO2 had a significantly greater percentage of abnormalities. For capsules maintained at low pCO2 and 15 °C, emerging juveniles had less resistance to shell breakage. Embryonic metabolism was significantly higher at 15 °C than at 10 °C, independent of pCO2 level. The lower metabolism occurred in embryos maintained at the higher pCO2 level. Thus, in this study, temperature was the factor that had the greatest effect on the encapsulated development of A. monodon, increasing the metabolism of the embryos and consequently accelerating development, which was expressed in a shorter intracapsular development time, but with smaller individuals at hatching and a lower resistance of their shells to breakage. On the other hand, the high pCO2 level suppressed metabolism, prolonged intracapsular development, and promoted more incomplete development of the embryos. However, the combination of the two factors can mitigate--to some extent--the adverse effects of both incomplete development and lower resistance to shell breakage.

Performance of first-trimester combined screening for preterm pre-eclampsia: findings from cohort of 10 110 pregnancies in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) competing-risks model, incorporating maternal characteristics, mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and placental growth factor (PlGF) (the 'triple test'), for the prediction at 11-13 weeks' gestation of preterm pre-eclampsia (PE) in a Spanish population. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study performed in eight fetal medicine units in five different regions of Spain between September 2017 and December 2019. All pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy and a non-malformed live fetus attending a routine ultrasound examination at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation were invited to participate. Maternal demographic characteristics and medical history were recorded and MAP, UtA-PI, serum PlGF and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) were measured following standardized protocols. Treatment with aspirin during pregnancy was also recorded. Raw values of biomarkers were converted into multiples of the median (MoM), and audits were performed periodically to provide regular feedback to operators and laboratories. Patient-specific risks for term and preterm PE were calculated according to the FMF competing-risks model, blinded to pregnancy outcome. The performance of screening for PE, taking into account aspirin use, was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC) and detection rate (DR) at a 10% fixed screen-positive rate (SPR). Risk calibration of the model was assessed. RESULTS: The study population comprised 10 110 singleton pregnancies, including 72 (0.7%) that developed preterm PE. In the preterm PE group, compared to those without PE, median MAP MoM and UtA-PI MoM were significantly higher, and median serum PlGF MoM and PAPP-A MoM were significantly lower. In women with PE, the deviation from normal in all biomarkers was inversely related to gestational age at delivery. Screening for preterm PE by a combination of maternal characteristics and medical history with MAP, UtA-PI and PlGF had a DR, at 10% SPR, of 72.7% (95% CI, 62.9-82.6%). An alternative strategy of replacing PlGF with PAPP-A in the triple test was associated with poorer screening performance for preterm PE, giving a DR of 66.5% (95% CI, 55.8-77.2%). The calibration plot showed good agreement between predicted risk and observed incidence of preterm PE, with a slope of 0.983 (95% CI, 0.846-1.120) and an intercept of 0.154 (95% CI, -0.091 to 0.397). CONCLUSIONS: The FMF model is effective in predicting preterm PE in the Spanish population at 11-13 weeks' gestation. This method of screening is feasible to implement in routine clinical practice, but it should be accompanied by a robust audit and monitoring system, in order to maintain high-quality screening. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In-field hyperspectral imaging dataset of Manzanilla and Gordal olive varieties throughout the season.

Because spectral technology has exhibited benefits in food-related applications, an increasing amount of effort is being dedicated to develop new food-related spectral technologies. In recent years, the use of remote sensing or unmanned aerial vehicles for precision agriculture has increased. As spectral technology continues to improve, portable spectral devices become available in the market, offering the possibility of realising in-field monitoring. This study demonstrates hyperspectral imaging and spectral olive signatures of the Manzanilla and Gordal cultivars analysed throughout the table-olive season from May to September. The data were acquired using an in-field technique and sampled via a non-destructive approach. The olives were monitored periodically during the season using a hyperspectral camera. A white reference was used to normalise the illumination variability in the spectra. The acquired data were saved in files named raw, normalised, and processed data. The normalised data were calculated by the sensor by correcting the white and black levels using the acquired reflectance values. The olive spectral signature of the images is saved in the processed data files. The images were labelled and processed using an algorithm to retrieve the olive spectral signatures. The results were stored as a chart with 204 columns and 'n' rows. Each row represents the pixel of an olive in the image, and the columns contain the reflectance information at that specific band. These data provide information about two olive cultivars during the season, which can be used for various research purposes. Statistical and artificial intelligence approaches correlate spectral signatures with olive characteristics such as growth level, organoleptic properties, or even cultivar classification.

Evolution and morphology of a contourite depositional system based on new evidence from 3D-seismic data offshore Madagascar (Paleogene, Morondava Basin).

Numerous bottom current-controlled depositional and erosional features, which together form Contourite Depositional Systems (CDS), have been recognized in deep-water settings over the past decade. Most of these systems are described based on two-dimensional (2D) seismic data, whereas only a few CDS have been characterised from high-resolution 3D data. Here we document a newly identified CDS that formed during the Paleocene within the Morondava Basin, offshore west Madagascar, through analysis of a depth-migrated 3D seismic survey, enhanced by the implementation of seismic attributes. Three seismic units (SU) mark the main evolutionary stages of the CDS: (a) the onset (SU1), (b) drift growth (SU2), and (c) burial (SU3) stages. The growth stage documents lateral upslope migration of a mounded drift and its associated moat. The increasing, long-term influence of bottom currents along the foot of the slope occurred simultaneously with plate tectonic, climatic and oceanographic changes. Evidence amassed from the CDS highly erosive bounding discontinuities, internal discontinuities, and moat architecture all indicate the intermittent behaviour of the currents over shorter time frames during its formation. Drift deposits form under the influence of weaker currents, while discontinuities appear to record the most vigorous currents, producing the large-scale morphology of the system.

Syndecan-2 selectively regulates VEGF-induced vascular permeability.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- driven increase in vascular permeability is a key feature of many disease states associated with inflammation and ischemic injury, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality in these settings. Despite its importance, no specific regulators that preferentially control VEGF-dependent increase in permeability versus its other biological activities, have been identified. Here we report that a proteoglycan Syndecan-2 (Sdc2) regulates the interaction between a transmembrane phosphatase DEP1 and VEGFR2 by controlling cell surface levels of DEP1. In the absence of Sdc2 or the presence of an antibody that blocks Sdc2-DEP1 interaction, increased plasma membrane DEP1 levels promote selective dephosphorylation of the VEGFR2 Y951 site that is involved in permeability control. Either an endothelial-specific Sdc2 deletion or a treatment with an anti-Sdc2 antibody result in a highly significant reduction in stroke size due to a decrease in intracerebral edema.

Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in a Colombian Reservoir.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the concentrations, sources and ecological risk assessment of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in water from the La Fe reservoir, Colombia in the months of October and November of 2017 and 2018. Concentrations of PAHs in water were measured with semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) which allow obtaining the dissolved concentrations of the PAHs in the reservoir, emphasizing the reactivity and bioavailability in the environment. The PAHs analyses were carried out by means of gas chromatography, coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS-MS) with triple quadrupole (QqQ). The environmental risk assessment using the estimation of risk quotient with deterministic and probabilistic method, the predictive no-effect concentration (PNEC) and environmental exposure concentration (EEC) in water indicate a negligibe risk for probabilistic method for all PAHs evaluated (RQ < 0.1).

Risk of fetal loss after chorionic villus sampling in twin pregnancy derived from propensity score matching analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of fetal loss associated with chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in twin pregnancy, using propensity score analysis. METHODS: This was a multicenter cohort study of women with twin pregnancy undergoing ultrasound examination at 11-13 weeks' gestation, performed in eight fetal medicine units in which the leadership were trained at the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine in London, UK, and in which the protocols for screening, invasive testing and pregnancy management are similar. The risk of death of at least one fetus was compared between pregnancies that had and those that did not have CVS, after propensity score matching (1:1 ratio). This procedure created two comparable groups by balancing the maternal and pregnancy characteristics that lead to CVS being performed, similar to how randomization operates in a randomized clinical trial. RESULTS: The study population of 8581 twin pregnancies included 445 that had CVS. Death of one or two fetuses at any stage during pregnancy occurred in 11.5% (51/445) of pregnancies in the CVS group and in 6.3% (515/8136) in the non-CVS group (P < 0.001). The propensity score algorithm matched 258 cases that had CVS with 258 non-CVS cases; there was at least one fetal loss in 29 (11.2%) cases in the CVS group and in 35 (13.6%) cases in the matched non-CVS group (odds ratio (OR), 0.81; 95% CI, 0.48-1.35; P = 0.415). However, there was a significant interaction between the risk of fetal loss after CVS and the background risk of fetal loss; when the background risk was higher, the risk of fetal loss after CVS decreased (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23-0.90), while, in pregnancies with a lower background risk of fetal loss, the risk of fetal loss after CVS increased (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 0.95-7.13). The effects were statistically significantly different (P-value of the interaction = 0.005). For a pregnancy in which the background risk of fetal loss was about 6% (the same as in our non-CVS population), there was no change in the risk of fetal loss after CVS, but, when the background risk was more than 6%, the posterior risk was paradoxically reduced, and when the background risk was less than 6%, the posterior risk increased exponentially; for example, if the background risk of fetal loss was 2.0%, the relative risk was 2.8 and the posterior risk was 5.6%. CONCLUSION: In twin pregnancy, after accounting for the risk factors that lead to both CVS and spontaneous fetal loss and confining the analysis to pregnancies at lower prior risk, CVS seems to increase the risk of fetal loss by about 3.5% above the patient's background risk. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Recommendations for antibiotic selection for severe nosocomial infections.

Severe infection and its evolution to sepsis are becoming more prevalent every day and are among the leading causes of critical illness and mortality. Proper management is crucial to improve prognosis. This document addresses three essential points that have a significant impact on this objective: a) early recognition of patients with sepsis criteria, b) identification of those patients who suffer from an infection and have a high risk of progressing to sepsis, and c) adequate selection and optimization of the initial antimicrobial treatment.

The determination of fertiliser quality of the formed struvite from a WWTP.

Struvite from nutrient-rich wastewaters has been identified as a potential substitute for commercial mineral fertilisers, with the added benefit of reducing threats to global food security by prolonging phosphate rock reserves. A fertilisation test using grass (Brachiaria brizantha Marandú) and a sand column leaching test was conducted to determine the agronomic effectiveness of struvite precipitates produced from the supernatant of dewatered sewage sludge (centrate) from a municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The performance of this struvite as a fertiliser was compared with biosolids and commercial fertilisers (Urea and Triple15). The results show that the concentration of heavy metals in struvite was lower than in biosolids and below the limits of Colombia and European fertiliser regulations. Struvite increased the uptake of N and P in grass, resulting in crop yields similar to other treatments tested. Struvite use as an effective slow-release fertiliser is highly dependent on the size of crystal particles, particularly in achieving low P losses, but resulted in high N loss in the sand columns tested; N loses from struvite were higher than in the commercial fertilisers due to the struvite small particle size. Therefore, struvite represents a suitable opportunity to recover and recycle nutrients from municipal sewage sludge, facilitating the effective reuse of P and N in agriculture and uptake by plants.

Fetal loss after chorionic villus sampling in twin pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the chorionic villus sampling (CVS)-related risk of fetal loss in twin pregnancy after adjustment for chorionicity, nuchal translucency thickness (NT), intertwin discordance in crown-rump length (CRL), maternal demographic characteristics and serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG). METHODS: This was a multicenter study from eight fetal medicine units in which the leadership were trained at the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine in London, UK, and in which the protocols for screening, invasive testing and pregnancy management are similar. Data were obtained prospectively from women with twin pregnancy undergoing routine ultrasound examination at 11-13 weeks' gestation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with backward stepwise elimination was used to examine whether CVS provided a significant independent contribution to the prediction of risk of fetal loss after adjusting for maternal and pregnancy characteristics, including maternal age, racial origin and weight, method of conception, smoking status, parity, chorionicity, intertwin discordance in CRL, fetal NT ≥ 95th percentile and free ß-hCG and PAPP-A multiples of the median. Similarly, within the CVS group, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of the number of intrauterine needle insertions and size of the needle on the risk of fetal loss. RESULTS: The study population of 8581 twin pregnancies undergoing ultrasound examination at 11-13 weeks' gestation included 316 dichorionic and 129 monochorionic twins that had CVS. First, in twin pregnancies undergoing CVS, compared to those not undergoing CVS, there was a 2-fold increased risk of fetal loss at < 24 weeks' gestation and of loss at any stage in pregnancy. Second, the factors providing a significant independent contribution to the prediction of miscarriage or fetal loss in twin pregnancy were increased maternal weight, black racial origin, monochorionicity, and more so monoamnionicity, large intertwin discordance in CRL and increased fetal NT, and, in the case of fetal loss at any stage, there was also a contribution from assisted conception and low serum PAPP-A. Third, after adjustment for maternal and pregnancy characteristics, CVS did not provide a significant contribution to the risk of fetal loss. Fourth, in twin pregnancies that had CVS, there was no significant contribution to fetal loss from the number of intrauterine needle insertions or needle size. CONCLUSION: The 2-fold increased risk of fetal loss following CVS in twin pregnancy can, to a great extent, be explained by maternal and pregnancy characteristics rather than the invasive procedure itself. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.