Quantifying the influence of short-term emission reductions on climate.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has resulted in a marked slowdown in greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions. Although the resulting emission reductions will continue to evolve, this will presumably be temporary. Here, we provide estimates of the potential effect of such short-term emission reductions on global and regional temperature and precipitation by analyzing the response of an Earth System Model to a range of idealized near-term emission pathways not considered in available model intercomparison projects. These estimates reveal the modest impact that temporary emission reductions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will have on global and regional climate. Our simulations suggest that the impact of carbon dioxide and aerosol emission reductions is actually a temporary enhancement in warming rate. However, our results demonstrate that even large emission reductions applied for a short duration have only a small and likely undetectable impact.

Building a national hernia registry in South Africa: initial ventral hernia repair results from a diverse healthcare sector.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to introduce a new registry in a developing country by describing the demographics, management and 30-day outcomes of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair in the public and private healthcare sectors of South Africa. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained hernia registry from the 1st of February 2019 to 29th of February 2020. RESULTS: 353 ventral hernia repair cases were recorded of which 47% were incisional hernias and the remainder were primary hernias. The median age was 54 years with even distribution of males and females. Half of the patients were obese with a median BMI of 31 kg/m2. The private sector performed 190 cases (54%) and the public sector 163 cases (46%). The public sector had more current smokers undergoing elective repairs, 28% vs 15%, p = 0.01 and performed more emergency repair cases, 21% vs 8%, p < 0.01. The majority (89%) of hernias were repaired with mesh and one-third were repaired laparoscopically. 30 day follow up was obtained in 30% of cases, the private sector had better follow up rates (42% vs 14%). CONCLUSION: Participation in the HIG (SA) registry was low with poor follow up over the first year. Ongoing prospective data capture on the HIG (SA) hernia registry will continue to provide further insights into hernia repair practices in South Africa.

Effectiveness of exercise therapy for meniscal lesions in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with meniscal lesions. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Nine databases were searched up to July 2015, including EMBASE and Medline OvidSP. Randomized and controlled clinical trials in adults with traumatic or degenerative meniscal lesions were considered for inclusion. Interventions had to consist of exercise therapy in non-surgical patients or after meniscectomy, and had to be compared with meniscectomy, no exercise therapy, or to a different type of exercise therapy. Primary outcomes were pain and function on short term (≤3 months) and long term (>3 months). Two researchers independently selected the studies, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted data. RESULTS: Of the 1415 identified articles 14 articles describing 12 studies were included; all had some concerns about the risk of bias. There was no significant difference between exercise therapy and meniscectomy for pain (MD 0.27 [-4.30,4.83]) and function (SMD -0.32 [-0.68,0.03]). After meniscectomy, there was conflicting evidence for the effectiveness of exercise therapy when compared to no exercise therapy for pain and function. There was no significant difference between various types of exercise therapy for pain (MD 19.30 [-6.60,45.20]) and function (SMD 0.01 [-0.27,0.28]). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise therapy and meniscectomy yielded comparable results on pain and function. Exercise therapy compared to no exercise therapy after meniscectomy showed conflicting evidence at short term, but was more effective on function at long term. The preferable type/frequency/intensity of exercise therapy remains unclear. The strength of the evidence was low to very low.

Acute refractory hyperkalaemia and fatal cardiac arrest related to administration of liposomal amphotericin B.

A 36-year-old male with acute myeloid leukaemia was treated with liposomal amphotericin B for a breakthrough fungal infection with Absidia corymbifera during voriconazole and caspofungin therapy for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Four episodes of hyperkalaemia developed with a highly probable relation to infusion of liposomal amphotericin B, of which the last episode was characterised by severe, refractory hyperkalaemia and fatal cardiac arrest. The available literature on severe hyperkalaemia and cardiac arrest during administration of both conventional and liposomal amphotericin B is reviewed here and revealed only four similar cases. The most likely mechanism of toxicity is the release of potassium from a variety of mammal cells including erythrocytes and endothelial cells. Whether prevention of toxicity can be established by decreasing the infusion rate is unclear but conceivable.

Influence of time and exposure to air on radiographic contrast and relative film speed of three rapid dental film processing solutions.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of exposure to air and time on the radiographic contrast and relative film speed of three processing solutions. A modified aluminium step-wedge phantom was used to expose varying numbers of Kodak Ektaspeed films daily for periods up to 57 days. The radiographic contrast and relative film speed were determined each day using a digital densitometer. Data obtained were analysed statistically, using Duncan's Multiple Range Test, and a 3-Factor ANOVA. It was found that, for radiographic contrast, Insta-Neg gave the highest values, followed by Kolchem and Ultra-Neg. For relative film speed, Kolchem gave the highest values, followed by Insta-Neg and Ultra-Neg. Both radiographic contrast and relative film speed decreased with the passage of time. Processing solutions kept in closed containers continued to perform efficiently for a longer time than those in open containers. The useful period was found to exceed that which is usually recommended.

Effect of dietary biotin supplement on equine hoof horn growth rate and hardness.

Over a 10-month period, 24 randomly selected riding horses were fed various amounts of biotin. Statistically significant improvements in growth rates and hardness of hooves were produced by biotin supplementation. Greater growth rates and hardness were achieved at a daily dose of 15 mg than at 7.5 mg. Increased hoof hardness was greatest in the hoof quarters and toe. No ring formation occurred in hooves of horses fed biotin intermittently.

Multiple wavelength illumination in flow cytometry using a single arc lamp and a dispersing element.

The principle of a multiple wavelength illumination method for flow cytometers, based upon a combination of a helium-neon laser and an arc lamp as illumination sources is described. By using a prism, the light from the arc lamp is dispersed and the different colors are imaged at different places on the sample stream. The small angle light scattering from the helium-neon laser light is measured as a relevant parameter and serves as a trigger signal for subsequent measurements of fluorescence or scattering of light from the arc lamp. Two experimental systems are described utilizing this principle: a system where the emission is detected orthogonally with respect to the direction of the illumination beams, and an epi-illumination system. With the orthogonal set-up multiple wave-length right angle scattering measurements are possible. This is illustrated by showing that the orthogonal scattering from erythrocytes is strongly dependent on the illumination wavelength. It is further shown that the apparatus is suitable for the measurement of intracellular pH using the pH dependence of the excitation spectrum of fluorescein. The epi-illumination system allows excitation of two (or more) fluorescent dyes with different excitation spectra. In this case the emission spectra of the fluorescent dyes may overlap substantially. This is shown by simultaneous measurement of DNA and protein of Chinese hamster lung cells using mitramycin and tetramethyl rhodamin isothiocyanate (TRITC).

Stimulated osteoperiosteal pedicle grafts in dogs.

This descriptive study compared the healing of mucoperiosteal and "stimulated" osteoperiosteal flaps for the treatment of surgically created periodontal recessions in dogs. Surgically created defects on the canine teeth of 10 healthy mongrel dogs were covered by specially designed, cemented copper bands for 4 weeks (Several maxillary premolar teeth were managed in the same way). A plaque and calculus-promoting diet was fed to the animals during this period. When the bands were removed the diet was altered and an intensive oral hygiene program was instituted. The contralateral tooth, chosen randomly, was utilized for placement of the mucoperiosteal lateral sliding flap and acted as the control. The experimental side was surgically stimulated 21 days prior to elevation of a "stimulated" osteoperiosteal flap for repositioning over the denuded roots. The animals were sacrificed with an overdose of Nembutal and block sections for histologic study were taken at periods ranging from 14 to 50 days. Histologic findings indicate that healing of the stimulated flaps was accompanied by the formation of a relatively short dentogingival epithelium, cementogenesis which varied in amount and type, and new connective fiber insertion into cementum. By contrast, the mucoperiosteal flaps healed with a long dentogingival epithelial relationship and no cementogenesis or connective tissue reattachment.