Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites that have a significant impact on their animal hosts. Along with mosquitoes, they are the main arthropod vectors of disease agents in domestic animals, wildlife and humans. check details To investigate the occurrence and prevalence of piroplasmids in ticks, DNA was extracted from 519 hard ticks collected from 116 hunted Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis). The success of the DNA extraction was confirmed by touchdown PCR targeting the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene of ticks. Touchdown PCR and reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization targeting the 18S rRNA gene were used to detect 14 piroplasm species. All hard ticks parasitizing Hokkaido sika deer were identified as belonging to the genera Ixodes and Haemaphysalis. In total 163 samples (31.4%) were positive for Babesia and Theileria spp. among tick species according to RLB hybridization. Tick DNA hybridized to the oligonucleotide probes of Theileria sp. Thrivae (27.0% of ticks; 140/519), Theileria capreoli (10.6%; 55/519), Babesia divergens-like (1.7%; 9/519), Babesia sp. (Bab-SD) (0.6%; 3/519), Babesia microti U.S. (0.4%; 2/519), and B. microti Hobetsu (0.4%; 2/519). The partial sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the 18S rRNA gene confirmed the RLB hybridization results. Further investigations are needed to reveal the epidemiology and respective vectors of these pathogens.

There is growing evidence in support of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with concomitant posterior wall isolation (PWI) for the treatment of patients with symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF). However, there is limited data on the safety and efficacy of this approach using the cryoballoon.

The aim of this multicenter, investigational device exemption trial (G190171) is to prospectively evaluate the acute and long-term outcomes of PVI versus PVI+PWI using the cryoballoon in patients with symptomatic persAF.

The PIVoTAL is a prospective, randomized controlled study ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04505163) in which patients with symptomatic persAF refractory/intolerant to ≥ 1 class I-IV antiarrhythmic drug, undergoing first-time catheter ablation, will be randomized to PVI (n = 183) versus PVI+PWI (n = 183) using the cryoballoon in a 11 fashion. The design will be double-blind until randomization immediately after PVI, beyond which the design will transform into a single-blind. PVI using cryoballooion of AF recurrence.Antarctica is considered as one of the most pristine areas on Earth. However, increasing intensity of human presence on the sixth continent (scientific operations, functioning of the numerous scientific stations, tourism activities) makes it crucial to investigate the level of environmental pollution within the vulnerable ecosystem of Antarctica. Soils play a significant role in processes of accumulation, mobilization, redistribution of chemical elements within landscapes, and ecosystems. The aim of this work was to analyze the levels of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and eight trace elements in soils of King George and Ardley islands, Western Antarctica. Moreover, our work was aimed to determine the trends and reasons of anthropogenic pollution of Antarctic soils and characterization of accumulation levels of trace elements and PAHs. Results showed the predominance of light PAHs in all studied sites. The content of benzo(a)pyrene does not exceed the threshold concentration (adopted by different nationalenvironmental risks for surrounding terrestrial environments should be considered.Most studies reported that cystic vestibular schwannoma (CVS) surgery has a less favourable prognosis than solid vestibular schwannoma (SVS) surgery. However, some studies report that it is unclear whether surgical outcomes for these conditions exhibit significant differences. The aim of this meta-analysis was to pool the current literature and describe and analyse any differences in the clinical symptoms and surgical outcomes among CVS and SVS. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines through April 22, 2020. Outcomes were analysed using a meta-analysis of the proportions. The results of the search yielded 17 studies that met the criteria for inclusion and analysis, involving 3074 participants (including 821 patients with CVSs and 2253 patients with SVSs). No significant differences in the extent of tumour resection (gross-total resection versus non-gross-total resection; RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.86-1.01; p = 0.096) and most other outcomes were noted between CVS and SVS cohorts. However, facial nerve function (House-Brackmann Grade I or II versus III or more) of CVS patients was worse (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.93; p less then  0.001) compared with SVS patients with more than 1 year of follow-up after surgery. The criteria of cystic acoustic neuroma needs to be further unified, and prospective cohort studies with larger sample sizes should be performed for further verification of these results in the future.

Microbial origin polysaccharides have gained popularity due to lesser toxicity, better degradability and selectivity as compared to their synthetic counterparts and can be used as emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener, texturizer, flocculating and gelling agent. Here main emphasis on exopolysaccharide production from potential lactic acid bacteria that has GRAS status.

This work was aimed at isolating, purifying and characterizing an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) produced by a foodgrade lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus paraplantarum KM1. L. paraplantarum KM1 was isolated from human milk and identified by conventional and molecular techniques. The 16S rRNA sequence of the isolate was registered in National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under accession number KX671558. L. paraplantarum KM1 was found to produce EPSs in lactose containing MRS medium, and the maximum yield (47.4 mg/ml) was achieved after 32-h incubation. As evident from TLC and HPLC analyses, the polysaccharide was found to be a heteropolymer-containing glucose, galactose and mannose as main sugars. Different oligosaccharides namely hexoses were obtained after partial hydrolysis of the polymer using MALDI-ToF-MS. The total molecular weight of all polysaccharides present was 348.7 kDa with 100 °C thermal stability as well as water soluble in nature. Cell cytotoxicity revealed that the purified EPS was safe for consumption; thus, it can be used in various food industries as emulsifying and texture agent.

The present study highlighted that exopolysaccharides could be harnessed to improve food products in terms of texture, emulsifying agents, pharmaceutical industry (antioxidants, antitumour, anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents) and as safety purposes.

The present study highlighted that exopolysaccharides could be harnessed to improve food products in terms of texture, emulsifying agents, pharmaceutical industry (antioxidants, antitumour, anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents) and as safety purposes.