Molecular Hydrogen: The Postharvest Use in Fruits, Vegetables and the Floriculture Industry

Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been found to have significant effects in a range of organisms, from plants to humans. In the biomedical arena it has been found to have positive effects for neurodegenerative disease and even for treatment of COVID-19. In plants H2 has been found to improve seed germination, foliar growth, and crops: effects being most pronounced under stress conditions. It has also been found that treatment with H2 can improve the postharvest preservation of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Therefore, H2-based treatments may be useful for the storage and transport of food products. H2 can be delivered in a range of manners, from the use of the gas to creating H2-enriched solutions, such as hydrogen-rich water (HRW) or hydrogen nanobubble water (HNW). The exact action of H2 at a biochemical level has yet to be established. Despite this, H2 appears to be safe. Treatments of food with H2 would leave no harmful residues, and H2 itself is safe to use, as exemplified by its biomedical use. With H2 production and transport being developed for other industries, H2 is likely to become cheaper and its use for postharvest maintenance of food may be beneficial to explore further.

Impact of covid-19 on ugi (upper gastrointestinal) tract stenting and dilatation services- prioritise, keep scoping and training

Background The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected endoscopy services including therapeutic gastroscopy across the UK. The BSG (British Society of Gastroenterology) issued guidance for managing endoscopy services safely throughout this period. At the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, a symptom-based questionnaire was used to screen patients for COVID-19 prior to their endoscopic procedures in our hospital (COVID-19 swabs were only carried out if patients presented with COVID-19 symptoms). From 18 May 2020 onwards, in addition to the above approach, all patients attending endoscopic procedures underwent a SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab 1-3 days prior to the procedure. We describe our experience of UGI stenting and dilatation during the initial wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.  Aims To assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on technical and clinical success of luminal dilatation and stenting in the UGI tract and ascertain the risk of procedure related complications. Methods A retrospective audit of a prospectively maintained endoscopy database was carried out between 18th March and 31st July. All patients were followed for 30 days. Full PPE were used. Results 42 procedures [31 were oesophageal dilatation (21 peptic stricture, 9 radiotherapy stricture, 1 achalasia), 8 oesophageal stent insertion (6 for primary oesophageal cancer, 1 metastatic cancer and 1 secondary to external compression from lung cancer) and 3 pyloric dilatation all benign] were carried out-mean age 65 years, 64.3% males, 81% of procedures were carried out as outpatients. All procedures were performed under fluoroscopy. 41/42(97.6%) patients had a confirmed histology prior to their procedure – one patient who underwent oesophageal dilatation had a peptic stricture on endoscopy (no biopsy or imaging). 39/42(92.9%) patients had undergone CT scan and/or barium swallow prior to their first procedure. All procedures were technically and clinically successful (100%).There were no procedure related complications or mortality. There were no COVID positive swabs in the 30-day post procedure period during the entire study period. Trainees were present in 21/42 (50%) of the procedures. None of the endoscopists who were involved with these procedures were diagnosed with COVID-19 during this period. One of the nursing staff, who regularly assisted in the fluoroscopy room, was involved in a non-fluoroscopic endoscopic procedure in a COVID-19 patient (not known at the time of the procedure) and subsequently tested positive.  Conclusions Our study confirms that a high quality stenting and dilatation service of the upper gastrointestinal tract together with specialist registrar training can be delivered safely and effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic in appropriately prioritised symptomatic patients. 

Molecular Hydrogen as Medicine: An Assessment of Administration Methods

Since the late 18th century, molecular hydrogen (H2) has been shown to be well tolerated, firstly in animals, and then in humans. However, although research into the beneficial effects of molecular hydrogen in both plant and mammalian physiology is gaining momentum, the idea of utilising this electrochemically neutral and non-polar diatomic compound for the benefit of health has yet to be widely accepted by regulatory bodies worldwide. Due to the precise mechanisms of H2 activity being as yet undefined, the lack of primary target identification, coupled with difficulties regarding administration methods (e.g., dosage and dosage frequencies, long-term effects of treatment, and the patient’s innate antioxidant profile), there is a requirement for H2 research to evidence how it can reasonably and most effectively be incorporated into medical practice. This review collates and assesses the current information regarding the many routes of molecular hydrogen administration in animals and humans, whilst evaluating how targeted delivery methods could be integrated into a modern healthcare system.

ELIXIR-EXCELERATE: establishing Europe's data infrastructure for the life science research of the future.

A new inter-governmental research infrastructure, ELIXIR, aims to unify bioinformatics resources and life science data across Europe, thereby facilitating their mining and (re-)use.

Interacting Proteins, Polymorphisms and the Susceptibility of Animals to SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a world-wide problem for the human population. It is known that some animal species, such as mink, can become infected and transmit the virus. However, the susceptibility of most animals is not known. Here, we review the use of sequence analysis of the proteins which are known to interact with SARS-CoV-2 as a way to estimate an animal's susceptibility. Although most such work concentrates on the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2), here TMPRSS2 (Transmembrane Serine Protease 2), neuropilin-1 and furin are also considered. Polymorphisms, especially ones which are known to alter viral/host interactions are also discussed. Analysis of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 protein sequences across species suggests this approach may be of some utility in predicting susceptibility; however, this analysis fails to highlight some susceptible animals such as mink. However, combined with observational data which emerges over time about which animals actually become infected, this may, in the future, be a useful tool to assist the management of risks associated with human/animal contact and support conservation and animal welfare measures.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on key performance indicators in pancreatobiliary endoscopy: prioritise, minimise risk, keep scoping and training.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected endoscopy services including pancreatobiliary (PB) endoscopy across the UK. The British Society of Gastroenterology and Joint Advisory Group have issued guidance for managing endoscopy services safely throughout this period. There have been perceived concerns among the PB endoscopists that wearing full personal protective equipment might have an adverse impact on key performance indicators (KPIs) in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedures leading to non-compliance with the national guidelines. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on KPIs in ERCP and EUS and ascertain the risk of procedure-related complications. METHODS: A retrospective audit of a prospectively maintained endoscopy database was carried out between 18 March and 31 July 2020. RESULTS: 146 ERCP procedures (common bile duct (CBD) cannulation rate of naïve papilla 89.2%, complete CBD stone extraction rate at first ERCP 88.2%, biliary stricture decompression rate 91%) and 87 EUS procedures (diagnostic accuracy of EUS-fine needle aspiration 92%) were carried out during this period. ERCP-related complications included pancreatitis (4.8%), bleeding (0.68%) and cholangitis (0.68%). 30-day ERCP procedure-related mortality was 0.68%. There were no complications or procedure-related mortality in the EUS group. CONCLUSION: This is the first study looking at the impact of COVID-19 on KPIs and procedure-related complications in ERCP and EUS in the literature. Our study confirms that a high-quality PB endoscopy service can be delivered safely and effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic.