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Background: In Venezuela, the predominant vaccines administered are BBIBP-CorV and Gam-COVID-Vac. Despite robust evidence from randomized clinical trials validating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in mitigating hospitalization and mortality, there is still a lack of post-authorization safety studies conducted within this demographic population. Methods: A prospective observational study from October 5, 2021 to March 31, 2022 encompassed COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated patients from four sentinel hospitals in Venezuela. Patient lethality was predicted using Charlson Comorbidity index. Clinical outcomes were assessed through WHO's COVID-19 Clinical Progression Scale. Results: Out of the 175 patients assessed, 85 (48.6%) were vaccinated. The median Charlson Comorbidity index was 3 points, with no statistically significant differences observed between the groups (p = 0.2). A total of 50 (28.6%) patients died during the study period, with higher proportion of deaths in unvaccinated patients (35.6% vs. 21.2%, p = 0.035). Advanced age (OR = 1.043, 95% CI = 1.015–1.071, p = 0.002) was associated with increased death risk, whereas vaccination against COVID-19 (OR = 0.428, 95% CI = 0.185–0.99, p = 0.047), high oxygen saturation (OR = 0.964, 95% CI = 0.934–0.995, p = 0.024), and enoxaparin administration (OR = 0.292, 95% CI = 0.093–0.917, p = 0.035) were associated with decreased death risk. Conclusion: During the third and fourth waves of the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a 57% reduction in lethality among patients in four public hospitals in Venezuela. Key summary points: Less than half (48.6%) of the patients were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. At least one out of four patients died during the study period, mainly in the unvaccinated group. Advanced age was associated with a higher risk of death. Vaccination against COVID-19, high oxygen, and enoxaparin administration were factors associated with a lower risk of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallstone disease (GD) is one of the most common gastroenterological diseases and is usually detected already at the stage of stone formation. This study aimed to develop personalized surgical tactics, taking into account the stage of the disease, for patients with cholelithiasis manifested by mechanical jaundice, thereby improving treatment results. Laparoscopic cholecystostomy was more often used in patients with mechanical jaundice when choosing biliary drainage. It was found that laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the most common operation performed for calculous cholecystitis and mechanical jaundice, which is accompanied by external drainage of the choledochus according to 20.8% of cases (according to Piskovsky technique) and in 11.4% of cases (according to Keru technique). The use of a scheme for choosing a method of treatment for MJ at different stages allows for reducing the number of complications by 9.7% to 4.6%; in the group of operations after ERCP, EPST - from 5.4% to 4.3%, with external drainage of choledochus - from 17.9% to 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article brief information on the health status of children with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in catamnesis was given, and the successes and experience gained in the study of this problem in recent years were shared. It is recommended to develop a system of preventive measures for the prevention of infectious pathology (individual vaccination calendar, complex measures to increase the body's resistance) in accordance with the structure of the disease determined for children who have undergone NEC. Taking into account the 1.5 times higher rate of morbidity in children who have undergone NEC, often the detection of pathologies of the endocrine system, nutritional disorders, diseases of the nervous system and sensory organs, diseases of the respiratory organs, diseases of the urinary system, as well as the increase in the specific gravity of children who are often sick receiving, this group of babies requires high attention from the field pediatric service, the treatment is consistently applied using new organizational technologies, and targeted rehabilitation of children who have undergone NEC. One of the forms of organizing special assistance to children who have undergone NEC is considered to be catamnetic observations on children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the efficacy of cooking processes in natural and forced convection systems, for ensuring microbiological safety in industrial‐scale ham production. The cold point of the tanks was determined by measuring the water temperature every 2 min, with a maximum variation of 1.4°C between different regions of the tanks. The calculation of the lethal value (Fcal) was carried out using Enterococcus faecalis as the target microorganism due to its high resistance to heat treatment. The cooking temperature was measured at the geometric center of the ham and, in both convection systems, it reached the Fref value (23.6 min), necessary to achieve a reduction of 8 log (8 D), with Fcal of 45.7 and 45 min of cooking in the natural and forced convection systems. Both convection systems achieved microbial reductions exceeding 15‐log cycles (15 D), surpassing regulatory requirements despite occasional core temperatures below standard thresholds. In both systems (natural and forced), the cold spot was found on the left side, at a lower height, and toward the front of the tank. After heat treatment, no microorganisms were detected in the ham cooked in natural or forced convection systems. Both systems (natural and forced convection) proved viable at an industrial scale, provided that appropriate cooking protocols are followed. Practical Applications: The practical applications of this study are significant for the food industry and regulatory bodies involved in food safety. These include quality assurance in ham production, food safety compliance, process optimization, risk mitigation, and guidance for industrial practices. Overall, this study has practical implications for improving food safety, quality control, and production efficiency in the ham industry. It fills a gap in validation studies on industrial‐scale ham cooking, providing valuable information for industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides brief information on the characteristics of treatment tactics and rehabilitation during necrotic enterocolitis (NEC) in children, and shares the successes and experience gained in the study of this problem in recent years. The relevance of NEC is determined by the fact that the mortality among operated newborns is high, ranging from 18 % to 40 %, and reaches 95-100 % in the case of intestinal necrosis. Determining criteria for surgical treatment is one of the most complex issues. Practically all surgeons agree that intestinal perforation and necrosis are indications for surgery. Under ideal conditions, the operation can be performed only after the precise delimitation of the necrotic zones, but before the development of perforation. However, the diagnosis of the intestine before the development of perforation is very complicated. The choice of treatment tactics during NEC depends on the severity of the child's condition and the stage of the process. Interest in examinations conducted to investigate the problem of necrotic enterocolitis does not weaken. Studying the pathogenesis of this disease, searching for new diagnostic criteria, and developing preventive measures for patients at risk of developing necrotic enterocolitis are among the most urgent issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Big Four snakes are the leading causes of snakebite mortality in India. Among them, The Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja) and common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) contribute about one-third of the deaths. The conventional anti-snake venoms (ASV) produced from equine serum are found to be expensive, with a high frequency of clinical side effects, low specificity, and production drawbacks. The current study, therefore, attempted to develop chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) as antivenoms against the venoms of cobra and krait venoms. The major pathophysiological properties of the venoms and the efficacy of monovalent ASV IgY were evaluated. The titer of anti-cobra and anti-krait IgY was found to be 1:64000 on the 145th day post-immunization. The results showed that venoms (lethal doses (LD50): cobra:0.375 mg/kg, krait:0.0375 mg/kg of mice) had hemolytic, pro-coagulant, inflammatory, hemorrhagic, and edematic activities that were effectively neutralized by ASV-IgY. 1 mL of monovalent ASV IgY was able to neutralize 0.22 mg of cobra venom and 0.028 mg of krait venom whereas 1 mL of commercial polyvalent antivenom was able to neutralize 0.28 mg of cobra venom and 0.035 mg of krait venom. The study results suggest that using chicken IgY as an monovalent antivenom could effectively treat snakebites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of December 2019, a new type of coronavirus emerged, SARS-CoV-2. This virus causes COVID-19, a highly contagious disease that can initially present asymptomatically and can also lead to death. Our ecological study goal was to evaluate the incidence, mortality, and lethality rates for COVID-19 between the states of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais, with time series analysis using secondary and public databases on COVID-19 from January 2020 to December 2022. Prais–Winsten linear regression was used for trend analyses. In 2020, the rate in Espírito Santo was 2.19 times greater than in Minas Gerais. This trend continued in 2021, with Espírito Santo’s rate being 1.29 times greater. In 2022, Espírito Santo’s rate remained 2.65 times higher than Minas Gerais. Furthermore, Espírito Santo had the highest mortality, with the exception of 2021. In turn, Minas Gerais had the highest fatality rate throughout the analyzed pandemic period. The state of Espírito Santo had a higher incidence of COVID-19, as well as higher mortality when compared to the state of Minas Gerais. Furthermore, both states showed similar trends for mortality, lethality, and incidence in the years 2020 and 2021.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by a high mortality rate, high resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy, and radiotherapy due to its highly aggressive nature. The pathophysiology of GBM is characterized by multifarious genetic abrasions that deactivate tumor suppressor genes, induce transforming genes, and over-secretion of pro-survival genes, resulting in oncogene sustainability. Synthetic lethality is a destructive process in which the episode of a single genetic consequence is tolerable for cell survival, while co-episodes of multiple genetic consequences lead to cell death. This targeted drug approach, centered on the genetic concept of synthetic lethality, is often selective for DNA repair-deficient GBM cells with restricted toxicity to normal tissues. DNA repair pathways are key modalities in the generation, treatment, and drug resistance of cancers, as DNA damage plays a dual role as a creator of oncogenic mutations and a facilitator of cytotoxic genomic instability. Although several research advances have been made in synthetic lethality modalities for GBM therapy, no review article has summarized these therapeutic modalities. Thus, this review focuses on the innovative advances in synthetic lethality modalities for GBM therapy.

The article provides brief information on the etiology and prevalence of necrotic enterocolitis in children, and shares the achievements and experience of studying this problem in recent years. Necrotic enterocolitis (NEC) in newborns is considered a serious disease and causes death in 30-50 % of children. The course of the disease depends on the severity and degree of maturity of the newborns. In recent years, perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, which is considered one of the most dangerous complications during NEC, continues to increase. At this time, the lethality increases to 40-80 %. Sometimes the death rate is 100 % in patients with more severe comorbidities. Higher lethality occurs in preterm infants with a body weight of less than 1000 grams and ranges from 45 to 100 %. NEK performed during the neonatal period directly affects the further development and health of children: complications such as short bowel syndrome and malabsorption occur in infants, while 36 % of them develop physical retardation and functional disturbances in the CNS. In these children, intestinal morphofunctional changes accompanied by pain syndrome, dyspeptic symptoms continue, intestinal microbiocenosis is significantly disturbed, and immunity decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila melanogaster has been at the forefront of genetic studies and biochemical modeling for over a century. Yet, the functions of many genes are still unknown, mainly because no phenotypic data are available. Herein, we present the first evidence data regarding the particular molecular and other quantifiable phenotypes, such as viability and anatomical anomalies, induced by a novel P{lacW} insertional mutant allele of the CG18135 gene. So far, the CG18135 functions have only been theorized based on electronic annotation and presumptive associations inferred upon high-throughput proteomics or RNA sequencing experiments. The descendants of individuals harboring the CG18135P{lacW}CG18135 allele were scored in order to assess mutant embryonic, larval, and pupal viability versus Canton Special (CantonS). Our results revealed that the homozygous CG18135P{lacW}CG18135/CG18135P{lacW}CG18135 genotype determines significant lethality both at the inception of the larval stage and during pupal development. The very few imago escapers that either breach or fully exit the puparium exhibit specific eye depigmentation, wing abnormal unfolding, strong locomotor impairment with apparent spasmodic leg movements, and their maximum lifespan is shorter than 2 days. Using the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method, we found that CG18135 is upregulated in male flies, but an unexpected gene upregulation was also detected in heterozygous mutants compared to wild-type flies, probably because of regulatory perturbations induced by the P{lacW} transposon. Our work provides the first phenotypic evidence for the essential role of CG18135, a scenario in accordance with the putative role of this gene in carbohydratebinding processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the application of microwave combined induction heating (MCIH) to steam ready-to-eat pork with rice powder, emphasizing the advantages of rapid and uniform heating. The experimental setup included a mixture of 180 g pork strips, 30 g rice powder, and 10 g water in a CPET tray using MCIH with 1080 W microwave (MW) and 130 °C induction heating (IH) for 150 s. The results showed a quick temperature increase rate of 0.56 °C/s that achieved pasteurization against a variety of pathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, but not Clostridium botulinum, by lethality calculation. Compared to typical electric cooker steaming, MCIH significantly shortened cooking time (8.6 times faster). To address rice starch gelatinization, two-stage heating techniques to steam pork with rice powder were MCIH: 150 s, and then IH: 60 s (MW1), and MCIH: 180 s, and then IH: 30 s (MW2), with no significant differences seen in color or the nine-point taste scale between treatment groups. MCIH groups had smaller shear forces than control. After MCIH cooking, no microbial counts were detected in the MW1 and MW2 groups initially, and the pork with rice powder had a shelf life of 14 days at 4 °C based on aerobic plate count assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There are growing concerns about wildlife and livestock interactions and the impacts of those interactions on the sustainability of livestock. One of those concerns is the spillover of wildlife pathogens, including helminths, into livestock. This concern will likely become realized as the demand for free-range animal products increases. One such helminth with spillover potential is the eyeworm Oxyspirura petrowi. This eyeworm is common in many wild birds, and particularly common in Northern bobwhite quail. Related helminths are already commonly found in poultry raised in free-range conditions in developing nations. The purpose of this research was to investigate the lethality of fenbendazole, a widely available drug for treating parasites, to these eyeworms. The lethality estimates were similar to estimates of lethality to other roundworm parasites. However, studies that have investigated concentrations in host blood following administration of the drug indicate that it does not stay in the system long enough to achieve elimination of the parasite after a single dose. This indicates that in order to effectively treat eyeworm, fenbendazole must be delivered in a repeated or continuous manner. Oxyspirura petrowi is a heteroxenous nematode that infects the harderian gland and other ocular tissues in birds. High-intensity infections often cause damage to the infected tissues. Due to the nature of the infection sites, treatment of O. petrowi in these hosts can be difficult. Fenbendazole (FBZ) is a common anthelmintic used to treat birds for helminth infections; however, little information exists as to the efficacy of the drug on O. petrowi infections. The present study aims to estimate lethal concentrations of FBZ to O. petrowi. Adult O. petrowi were maintained in vitro and exposed to doses of 5, 50, 100, and 200 µM concentrations of FBZ and included both negative and vehicle controls. Exposure lasted 7.5 days and lethality was determined for each treatment. Negative and vehicle controls did not differ, and both had 75% survival at the end of the treatment period. The percentage survivorship in ascending order of concentration, corrected for the controls, was 66.67%, 44.44%, 33.33%, and 0%. LC10, LC50, and LC90 estimates were 7.5 ± 0.26, 49.1 ± 1.69, and 163.2 ± 5.63 µM, respectively. In the context of known pharmacokinetics of FBZ in birds, a single oral dose of FBZ can achieve exposure levels that are lethal to O. petrowi, but the drug does not stay in the system long enough. Thus, treatment of O. petrowi infections will require multiple oral doses over several days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of December 2019, a new type of coronavirus emerged, SARS-CoV-2. This virus causes COVID-19, a highly contagious disease that can initially present asymptomatically and can also lead to death. Our ecological study goal was to evaluate the incidence, mortality, and lethality rates for COVID-19 between the states of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais, with time series analysis using secondary and public databases on COVID-19 from January 2020 to December 2022. Prais–Winsten linear regression was used for trend analyses. In 2020, the rate in Espírito Santo was 2.19 times greater than in Minas Gerais. This trend continued in 2021, with Espírito Santo's rate being 1.29 times greater. In 2022, Espírito Santo's rate remained 2.65 times higher than Minas Gerais. Furthermore, Espírito Santo had the highest mortality, with the exception of 2021. In turn, Minas Gerais had the highest fatality rate throughout the analyzed pandemic period. The state of Espírito Santo had a higher incidence of COVID-19, as well as higher mortality when compared to the state of Minas Gerais. Furthermore, both states showed similar trends for mortality, lethality, and incidence in the years 2020 and 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The north region of Brazil is characterized by significant vulnerabilities, notably surpassing national poverty indicators. These disparities exacerbated the impact of respiratory illnesses on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources, inadequate infrastructure, and barriers to healthcare access. The crisis was further influenced by multiple lineages that emerged as significant virus variants associated with increased transmissibility. Within this context, our ecological study focused on analyzing the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 in the state of Acre. We constructed time-series trends in incidence, lethality, and mortality from March 2020 to December 2022 using the Prais–Winsten regression model. Our findings revealed that in 2020, there was an increasing trend in incidence, while mortality and lethality continued to decrease (p < 0.05). In the following year, both incidence and mortality decreased, while lethality increased at a rate of 1.02% per day. By the end of 2022, trends remained stationary across all rates. These results underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and adaptive public health measures to bolster the resilience of healthcare systems in remote and vulnerable regions. Indeed, continuous monitoring of the most predominant SARS-CoV-2 lineages and their dynamics is imperative. Such proactive actions are essential for addressing emerging challenges and ensuring effective responses to adverse situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The north region of Brazil is characterized by significant vulnerabilities, notably surpassing national poverty indicators. These disparities exacerbated the impact of respiratory illnesses on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources, inadequate infrastructure, and barriers to healthcare access. The crisis was further influenced by multiple lineages that emerged as significant virus variants associated with increased transmissibility. Within this context, our ecological study focused on analyzing the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 in the state of Acre. We constructed time-series trends in incidence, lethality, and mortality from March 2020 to December 2022 using the Prais–Winsten regression model. Our findings revealed that in 2020, there was an increasing trend in incidence, while mortality and lethality continued to decrease (p < 0.05). In the following year, both incidence and mortality decreased, while lethality increased at a rate of 1.02% per day. By the end of 2022, trends remained stationary across all rates. These results underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and adaptive public health measures to bolster the resilience of healthcare systems in remote and vulnerable regions. Indeed, continuous monitoring of the most predominant SARS-CoV-2 lineages and their dynamics is imperative. Such proactive actions are essential for addressing emerging challenges and ensuring effective responses to adverse situations.

We evaluated the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on disease outcome in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with a prospective study. 745 vaccinated and 451 unvaccinated patients consecutively admitted to a COVID-19 Hospital from 1st September 2021 to 1st September 2022 were included. Compared with unvaccinated cases, vaccinated patients were older, had more comorbidities, but had a lower risk of O2 need (odds ratio, OR, 0.46; 95 % CI 0.32–0.65) by logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity and WHO COVID-19 Clinical Progression Scale at admission. The ORs for O2 need were 0.38 (0.24–0.61), 0.50 (0.30–0.83) and 0.57 (0.34–0.96) in patients vaccinated 14–120, 121–180 and > 180 days prior to hospitalization, respectively. An anti-spike Ig titer higher than 5000 U/ml was associated with a reduced risk of O2 need (OR 0.52; 95 % CI 0.30–0.92). This study shows that COVID-19 vaccination has a significant impact on COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background: We evaluated the predictive factors for case confirmation and death from Brazilian spotted fever in an endemic area of Southeastern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. All suspected cases reported between 2007 and 2021 were analyzed using two logistic regression models. Results: 60 cases were confirmed. Male sex, age group of 40-59 years, tick parasitism, presence of capybaras or horses, exanthema and hospitalization were positively associated with confirmation. Death was associated with a longer period between first symptom-hospitalization and shorter treatment. Conclusions: Complete clinical evaluation and information on risk exposure are key to early suspicion, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of deaths.

Drosophila melanogaster has been at the forefront of genetic studies and biochemical modeling for over a century. Yet, the functions of many genes are still unknown, mainly because no phenotypic data are available. Herein, we present the first evidence data regarding the particular molecular and other quantifiable phenotypes, such as viability and anatomical anomalies, induced by a novel P{lacW} insertional mutant allele of the CG18135 gene. So far, the CG18135 functions have only been theorized based on electronic annotation and presumptive associations inferred upon high-throughput proteomics or RNA sequencing experiments. The descendants of individuals harboring the CG18135P{lacW}CG18135 allele were scored in order to assess mutant embryonic, larval, and pupal viability versus Canton Special (CantonS). Our results revealed that the homozygous CG18135P{lacW}CG18135/CG18135P{lacW}CG18135 genotype determines significant lethality both at the inception of the larval stage and during pupal development. The very few imago escapers that either breach or fully exit the puparium exhibit specific eye depigmentation, wing abnormal unfolding, strong locomotor impairment with apparent spasmodic leg movements, and their maximum lifespan is shorter than 2 days. Using the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method, we found that CG18135 is upregulated in male flies, but an unexpected gene upregulation was also detected in heterozygous mutants compared to wild-type flies, probably because of regulatory perturbations induced by the P{lacW} transposon. Our work provides the first phenotypic evidence for the essential role of CG18135, a scenario in accordance with the putative role of this gene in carbohydrate-binding processes.

Abstract In the field of experimental therapeutics for oncology purposes researchers are continuously evaluating the toxicity of novel treatment approaches against cancer cells. Within this topic of research, it is highly critical to define parameters of toxicity that denote when cancer cells are perturbed in their functionality by a new investigational drug. As the goal for these approaches is to achieve cellular demise, then what approaches to use and what do they mean in terms of assessing such cell death is of critical importance. In this comment article we highlight the definition of vitality and differentiate it from viability, and further define clonogenic survival in a chronic fashion. Additionally, we highly recommend the use of the term cytotoxicity as a general descriptor indicating toxicity towards a cell, but within that we encourage to sub-classify it as either cytostasis (i.e., when a treatment does not allow a cell to grow but it does not kill it either), or lethality (when a cell dies in response to the treatment). A more precise use of these terms should help advance the field of experimental therapeutics in oncology towards better defining the mechanisms of action of novel investigational drugs.

The slowest heating zone tends to move about in food systems with convective and predominantly convective heat transfer. If the thermocouple follows the movement, the process lethality differs from the value precalculated for a fixed thermocouple location. Hence, the heat treatment modes depend on the movement of the slowest heating zone, which should be taken into account before planning food system processes. This research aimed at identifying a statistically significant difference between lethality for fixed and moving slowest heating zones in various food systems. The study involved four homophasic and heterophasic model food systems. Food System 1 was heterophase, with a dispersed phase not involved in convection and a liquid dispersion medium of aqueous solution with 1.5% sucrose and 1.5% NaCl. Food System 2 was heterophase, with a dispersed phase not involved in convection and a liquid dispersion medium of 11% aqueous sucrose solution. Food System 3 was represented by homophase reconstituted clarified baby-food apple juice with 11.2% soluble solids. Food System 4 was a heterophase model system, represented by reconstituted baby-food apple juice with pulp and 11.2% soluble solids with a dispersed phase involved in convection. The temperature changes were monitored using the E-ValPro multichannel system and the SSA-TS model temperature sensors. The temperature sensors were fixed inside the jar with the food system. Food System 1 showed no significant differences in lethality. Other model systems had sterilization temperature intervals when the difference in lethality was statistically significant. However, this difference was very small for Food Systems 2 and 3. The largest difference belonged to Food System 4, where the dispersed phase was involved in the convective flow. In this research, a statistically significant difference in lethality for fixed and moving slowest heating zones occurred only in heterophase food systems with convective and predominantly convective heat exchange, where the dispersed phase was involved in the convection flow. This fact must be taken into account when identifying heat treatment modes for such food systems.

On the 26 th January 2023, a free to attend, ‘improving in vivo snake venom research: a community discussion’ meeting was held virtually. This webinar brought together researchers from around the world to discuss current neutralisation of venom lethality mouse assays that are used globally to assess the efficacy of therapies for snakebite envenoming. The assay’s strengths and weaknesses were highlighted, and we discussed what improvements could be made to refine and reduce animal testing, whilst supporting preclinical antivenom and drug discovery for snakebite envenoming. This report summarises the issues highlighted, the discussions held, with additional commentary on key perspectives provided by the authors.

We recently established a long‐term SARS‐CoV‐2 infection model using lung‐cancer xenograft mice and identified mutations that arose in the SARS‐CoV‐2 genome during long‐term propagation. Here, we applied our model to the SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta variant, which has increased transmissibility and immune escape compared with ancestral SARS‐CoV‐2. We observed limited mutations in SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta during long‐term propagation, including two predominant mutations: R682W in the spike protein and L330W in the nucleocapsid protein. We analyzed two representative isolates, Delta‐10 and Delta‐12, with both predominant mutations and some additional mutations. Delta‐10 and Delta‐12 showed lower replication capacity compared with SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta in cultured cells; however, Delta‐12 was more lethal in K18‐hACE2 mice compared with SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta and Delta‐10. Mice infected with Delta‐12 had higher viral titers, more severe histopathology in the lungs, higher chemokine expression, increased astrocyte and microglia activation, and extensive neutrophil infiltration in the brain. Brain tissue hemorrhage and mild vacuolation were also observed, suggesting that the high lethality of Delta‐12 was associated with lung and brain pathology. Our long‐term infection model can provide mutant viruses derived from SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta and knowledge about the possible contributions of emergent mutations to the properties of new variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular explanation about why some pancreatic cancer (PaCa) patients die early and others die later is poorly understood. This study aimed to discover potential novel markers and drug targets that could be useful to stratify and extend expected survival in prospective early-death patients. We deployed a deep learning algorithm and analyzed the gene copy number, gene expression, and protein expression data of death versus alive PaCa patients from the GDC cohort. The genes with higher relative amplification (copy number > 4 times in the dead compared with the alive group) were EWSR1, FLT3, GPC3, HIF1A, HLF, and MEN1. The most highly up-regulated genes (>8.5-fold change) in the death group were RPL30, RPL37, RPS28P7, RPS11, Metazoa_SRP, CAPNS1, FN1, H3−3B, LCN2, and OAZ1. None of their corresponding proteins were up or down-regulated in the death group. The mRNA of the RPS28P7 pseudogene could act as ceRNA sponging the miRNA that was originally directed to the parental gene RPS28. We propose RPS28P7 mRNA as the most druggable target that can be modulated with small molecules or the RNA technology approach. These markers could be added as criteria to patient stratification in future PaCa drug trials, but further validation in the target populations is encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of experimental therapeutics for oncology purposes researchers are continuously evaluating the toxicity of novel treatment approaches against cancer cells. Within this topic of research, it is highly critical to define parameters of toxicity that denote when cancer cells are perturbed in their functionality by a new investigational drug. As the goal for these approaches is to achieve cellular demise, then what approaches to use and what do they mean in terms of assessing such cell death is of critical importance. In this comment article we highlight the definition of vitality and differentiate it from viability, and further define clonogenic survival in a chronic fashion. Additionally, we highly recommend the use of the term cytotoxicity as a general descriptor indicating toxicity towards a cell, but within that we encourage to sub-classify it as either cytostasis (i.e., when a treatment does not allow a cell to grow but it does not kill it either), or lethality (when a cell dies in response to the treatment). A more precise use of these terms should help advance the field of experimental therapeutics in oncology towards better defining the mechanisms of action of novel investigational drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to identify sex differences in the factors that affect medical lethality in elderly suicide attempters. Methods: A total of 253 elderly suicide attempters and 351 middle-aged attempters (comparison group) who visited the emergency room at a general hospital were included. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were investigated. The Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were performed. And Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated. Results: In older males, the risk of high lethality was lower when attempting suicide due to the loss of family members [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.08]. The risk increased as the intent to die became more certain (some AOR: 11.31, certain AOR: 28.75), and this association became more pronounced with age (rho middle-aged: 0.329; young-old: 0.387; old-old: 0.415). In older females, the risk was lower when employed (AOR: 0.28). The method of suicide attempt also affected lethality (agricultural chemicals AOR: 3.71; psychiatric medication AOR: 0.31). Conclusion: Sex differences in the factors that affect medical lethality were identified among elderly suicide attempters. In particular, medical lethality can be predicted by the degree of suicide intention in older males. These findings will help to establish more efficient preventive strategies with specific targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses the computational fluid dynamics approach to analyze the thermal processing of solid, liquid, and solid–liquid food products. To understand the underlying transport phenomena, microbial deactivation, and nutrient degradation, three food products, viz. lamb (solid), grapefruit juice (liquid), and paneer cubes in a brine solution (solid–liquid), are studied. The food products are processed under constant retort temperature for fixed durations of heating and cooling. The numerical models are solved to obtain the velocity and temperature distribution inside the food products. The solid food exhibits a low heating rate at the slowest heating zone due to the absence of convection. The solid–liquid food shows uniform microbial destruction with a standard deviation of 2.27 min in the lethality distribution. The maximum possible average retention of nutrients is 90.36% (at 80°C and 59.81 min) and 60.64% (at 125°C and 21.30 min) for liquid and solid–liquid foods, respectively. However, the average thiamine retention in solid food monotonically decreases in the temperature range of 120–140°C. Practical Applications: The computational fluid dynamics approach offers practical applications in optimizing food processing parameters, improving thermal processing equipment, and preserving nutrient quality in diverse food products. The analysis of the velocity and temperature distribution enables the design of more efficient heating and cooling methods, assisting food processors in determining the ideal duration and temperature to achieve microbial destruction while minimizing nutrient degradation. Furthermore, this approach facilitates the evaluation and enhancement of thermal processing equipment by identifying areas of slow heating or inadequate heat transfer, ultimately leading to improved design and more uniform processing. Understanding nutrient retention during thermal processing is vital for maintaining nutritional quality. The findings of this work could be applied to develop guidelines for preserving nutrients in specific food products. In summary, the computational fluid dynamics approach enhances food safety by optimizing processing parameters, improving equipment design, and preserving nutrients in solid, liquid, and solid–liquid food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the 26th January 2023, a free to attend, ‘improving in vivo snake venom research: a community discussion’ meeting was held virtually. This webinar brought together researchers from around the world to discuss current neutralisation of venom lethality mouse assays that are used globally to assess the efficacy of therapies for snakebite envenoming. The assay’s strengths and weaknesses were highlighted, and we discussed what improvements could be made to refine and reduce animal testing, whilst supporting preclinical antivenom and drug discovery for snakebite envenoming. This report summarises the issues highlighted, the discussions held, with additional commentary on key perspectives provided by the authors.

The onion powder with an initial moisture content of 10% (dry basis) in a thin infinite layer of thickness 5 mm was dried using a laboratory microwave oven at 50 W/g microwave power density to a final moisture content of 2% (dry basis). The temperature and moisture change pattern of the experimental process was monitored. Computer simulation of the predicted temperature pattern with drying time was obtained by using the mathematical model governed by the energy balance equation and using data of the thermo-physical properties of the onion powder. The code for the simulation was written using the C++ programming language. The high microwave power-to-mass ratio resulted in raised temperature with reduced drying time. The initial low moisture content of the product led to a gradual decrease in the drying rate. However, effective moisture diffusivity showed an increasing trend with decreasing moisture content because of the application of high-power density. F for Bacillus cereus spores, which were more prominent in onion powder, were evaluated from the simulated temperature curves. It was observed that sterilization of B. cereus started after 75 s at 117°C with 0.431 (lg (CFU/g)) reduction. The maximum temperature of 117°C was limited due to the unacceptable sensory quality of the product.

Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing global health concern, leading to 4.95 million deaths in 2019. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the lethality attributed to infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in Latin America and the Caribbean. A comprehensive search of major databases retrieved relevant studies from 2000–2022. We included 54 observational studies, primarily from Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. The most commonly studied organism was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The overall unadjusted case fatality rate related to MDROs was 45.0%; higher adjusted lethality was observed in persons infected with MDROs than in those infected with other pathogens (adjusted odds ratio 1.93, 95% CI 1.58–2.37). A higher lethality rate was seen in patients who did not receive appropriate empirical treatment (odds ratio 2.27, 95% CI 1.44–3.56). These findings underscore the increased lethality associated with antimicrobial resistance in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Myocardial infarction is a formidable manifestation of coronary artery disease and accounts for one third of deaths associated with coronary disease. In Russia, from 400 to 500 thousand patients with acute coronary syndrome are hospitalized annually, about half of them with myocardial infarction (MI). The dynamics of the number of hospitalized patients in recent years indicates its reduction. Short-term mortality (30-day, including hospital mortality) after acute MI has decreased significantly over the past 50 years: in absolute terms from 30 % in 1950 to 5–8 % at present. However, long-term mortality after MI did not improve. Moreover, in recent years, the rate of decline in 30-day mortality from MI has decreased significantly, almost reaching a “plateau” over the past 15 years. It has been established that in terms of the impact on survival, disability and quality of life of the working population, MI is an important not only medical but also social problem. This review of the literature discusses changes in approaches to reducing mortality in MI, as well as the main events in evidence-based cardiology over the past 50 years, which have made it possible to effectively manage the risk of death in this category of patients.

This scientific publication presents modern global and regional data on incidence rate, mortality rate, lethality and five-year survival rates, as well as the prognosis of such a terrible disease as cutaneous melanoma. The geographical features of the prevalence of this disease and current trends are covered in detail. The epidemiological aspects of this pathology in our republic are shown in the context of regions of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the application of microwave combined induction heating (MCIH) to steam ready-to-eat pork with rice powder, emphasizing the advantages of rapid and uniform heating. The experimental setup included a mixture of 180 g pork strips, 30 g rice powder, and 10 g water in a CPET tray using MCIH with 1080 W microwave (MW) and 130 °C induction heating (IH) for 150 s. The results showed a quick temperature increase rate of 0.56 °C/s that achieved pasteurization against a variety of pathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, but not Clostridium botulinum, by lethality calculation. Compared to typical electric cooker steaming, MCIH significantly shortened cooking time (8.6 times faster). To address rice starch gelatinization, two-stage heating techniques to steam pork with rice powder were MCIH: 150 s, and then IH: 60 s (MW1), and MCIH: 180 s, and then IH: 30 s (MW2), with no significant differences seen in color or the nine-point taste scale between treatment groups. MCIH groups had smaller shear forces than control. After MCIH cooking, no microbial counts were detected in the MW1 and MW2 groups initially, and the pork with rice powder had a shelf life of 14 days at 4 °C based on aerobic plate count assay.

Oxyspirura petrowi is a heteroxenous nematode that infects the harderian gland and other ocular tissues in birds. High-intensity infections often cause damage to the infected tissues. Due to the nature of the infection sites, treatment of O. petrowi in these hosts can be difficult. Fenbendazole (FBZ) is a common anthelmintic used to treat birds for helminth infections; however, little information exists as to the efficacy of the drug on O. petrowi infections. The present study aims to estimate lethal concentrations of FBZ to O. petrowi. Adult O. petrowi were maintained in vitro and exposed to doses of 5, 50, 100, and 200 µM concentrations of FBZ and included both negative and vehicle controls. Exposure lasted 7.5 days and lethality was determined for each treatment. Negative and vehicle controls did not differ, and both had 75% survival at the end of the treatment period. The percentage survivorship in ascending order of concentration, corrected for the controls, was 66.67%, 44.44%, 33.33%, and 0%. LC10, LC50, and LC90 estimates were 7.5 ± 0.26, 49.1 ± 1.69, and 163.2 ± 5.63 µM, respectively. In the context of known pharmacokinetics of FBZ in birds, a single oral dose of FBZ can achieve exposure levels that are lethal to O. petrowi, but the drug does not stay in the system long enough. Thus, treatment of O. petrowi infections will require multiple oral doses over several days.

The aim of the study was to identify the features of the unfavorable clinical course of a new coronavirus infection.Material and methods. The analysis of clinical data, laboratory results and comorbidity of 168 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of a new coronavirus infection aged 65,0 [57,0; 74,0] years was carried out. Two groups of patients were distinguished – 126 persons with a moderate course and with clinical recovery in the outcome of the disease and 42 persons with a severe course and a fatal outcome of the disease. Transnosological polymorbidity was assessed by the average number of nosologies corresponding to the three-digit ICD-10 rubricification, transsystemic – by the number of affected systems. Hemogram parameters, blood content of C-reactive protein, creatinine, urea, glucose, prothrombin index, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, D-dimer concentration were estimated.Results. In the group of patients with fatal outcomes, compared to patients with recovery, there were statistically significantly higher indices of transnosological and transsystemic polymorbidity (1.5 and 2 times, respectively), they were more likely to have ischaemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack in anamnesis, atrial fibrillation, chronic heart failure; blood concentration of C-reactive protein, fasting glucose, urea, D-dimer in the blood serum was higher, the number of thrombocytes was less.Conclusions. A high degree of transnosological and transsystemic polymorbidity, a history of myocardial infarction and transient ischemic attack, comorbid chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, an increase in D-dimer, CRP content, and a decrease in platelet number are predictors of severe course and the lethal outcome of COVID-19.

The FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene is the essential integrator of flowering regulatory pathways in angiosperms. The paralogs of the FT gene may perform antagonistic functions, as exemplified by BvFT1, that suppresses flowering in Beta vulgaris, unlike the paralogous activator BvFT2. The roles of FT genes in other amaranths were less investigated. Here, we transformed Arabidopsis thaliana with the FLOWERING LOCUS T like (FTL) genes of Chenopodium ficifolium and found that both CfFTL1 and CfFTL2–1 accelerated flowering, despite having been the homologs of the Beta vulgaris floral promoter and suppressor, respectively. The floral promotive effect of CfFTL2–1 was so strong that it caused lethality when overexpressed under the 35S promoter. CfFTL2–1 placed in an inducible cassette accelerated flowering after induction with methoxyphenozide. The spontaneous induction of CfFTL2–1 led to precocious flowering in some primary transformants even without chemical induction. The CqFT2–1 homolog from Chenopodium quinoa had the same impact on viability and flowering as CfFTL2–1 when transferred to A. thaliana. After the FTL gene duplication in Amaranthaceae, the FTL1 copy maintained the role of floral activator. The second copy FTL2 underwent subsequent duplication and functional diversification, which enabled it to control the onset of flowering in amaranths to adapt to variable environments.

Drawing forensic conclusions from an image or a video is known as "photographic content analysis." It involves the analysis of an image, as well as objects, actions, and events depicted in images or video. In recent years, photographic depictions of objects suspected as illegal firearms have substantially increased, appearing on CCTV surveillance footage, captured by mobile phones and shared on social media. However, the law in Israel states that a person can be charged with illegally possessing a firearm only if it can be proven that the object is capable of shooting with lethal bullet energy. This becomes more challenging in cases where the firearm was not physically seized, and the evidence exclusively consists of images and video. In this study, photographic content analysis was applied to images and video where objects suspected as commercial or improvised firearms had been depicted. An image and event sequence reconstruction video databases of both firearms and replicas were created in order to better define firearm‐specific functional morphological features. We demonstrate that it is possible to classify an object as a firearm by analyzing the functional, and not only the esthetic, morphology in images and video. It is also shown that event sequence reconstruction in video may be used to infer that an object suspected as a firearm has the capacity to shoot by confirming the occurrence of a shooting act or shooting process. Thus, photographic content analysis may be used to forensically establish that an object depicted in an image or a video is a firearm by ruling out other known scenarios, and without physically seizing it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stressful life events (LEs) have been pivotal to suicidal behavior in vulnerable individuals, although its quantum and clustering have remained unclear. This study aimed to estimate and compare the quantum and clustering of LEs across three time periods, three suicide intentionality--lethality categories, and three diagnostic groups in survivors of first suicide attempt (SoFSA). Materials and Methods: One hundred SoFSA were compared to 100 age- and sex-matched controls for LEs across psychiatric and/or personality comorbidity. Presumptive Stressful LE Scale, Risk-Rescue Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression- and Anxiety-Rating Scales, and structured and semi-structured clinical interviews were administered for comprehensive mental health evaluation. Results: SoFSA with age ≥30 years, male gender, schooling <10 years, middle-lower socioeconomic class, married, extended/joint family living, family history of psychiatric disorders/suicide, and concomitant depression--anxiety exhibit significantly higher undesirable, ambiguous, and total LEs across time periods. One-way analysis of variance with post hoc analysis revealed SoFSA who attempted medically serious suicide suffered higher undesirable (F[2,97] = 4.43; P = 0.014) and total (F[2,97] = 3.39; P = 0.038) LEs during recent 6 months compared to medically nonlethal group. SoFSA diagnosed with comorbid psychiatric and personality disorders experienced higher undesirable, ambiguous, and total LEs across all time periods (P < 0.0001), compared to either disorder alone. Desirable LE did not significantly differ across all time periods and diagnostic categories, but ambiguous LE was the only significant finding among SoFSA with personality disorders. Conclusion: This study sheds newer insights that quantitative estimation (intensity and density) of LEs has a potential role in suicide-risk evaluation, with clustering of total or undesirable LE (>3 within 1 year or >10 lifetimes) and ambiguous LE (≥1 within 1 year or > 3 lifetimes) posing risk for psychiatric morbidity and medically serious suicidal behavior (especially, if lifetime total LE > 10). SoFSA with comorbid psychiatric and personality disorders experience higher intensity and density of LEs than either disorder alone, across all time periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to describe lethality of birth defects (BDs) in newborns categorized by gestational age and birth weight and to identify BDs associated with prematurity. Study Design Live born infants (n = 16,452) with isolated BDs classified by severity, and 42,511 healthy controls were assigned to categories: adequate growth, preterm, or small for gestational age (SGA). Proportion of cases and BDs' lethality rates were obtained by category and compared with controls. Results Overall fewer malformed than nonmalformed infants were of adequate growth, while the opposite occurred in the preterm and SGA categories where gastroschisis and esophageal atresia were among the most outstanding defects. For most severe BDs, the early neonatal death rate was higher than control values in all categories; for mild defects, except cleft lip in the preterm category, they did not differ. Diaphragmatic hernia showed the highest lethality values, while those of spina bifida were among the lowest. Talipes, hypospadias, and septal heart defects were mild defects significantly associated with prematurity. Conclusion Although reasons, such as induced preterm delivery of fetuses with certain anomalies, could partially account for their high prematurity rates, susceptibility to preterm birth might exist through underlying mechanisms related with the defects. The identification of BDs associated with prematurity should serve to improve measures that prevent preterm birth especially of fetuses at risk. Key Points Some BDs predispose to prematurity. Prematurity is an additional risk factor for mortality in infants with mild defects. Lethality values should be adjusted by gestational age and birth weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: COVID-19 unfolded differently in Pará and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, owing to distinct socioeconomic contexts. From 2020 to 2022, both states implemented diverse measures against the virus SARS-CoV-2, including vaccination and variant monitoring, tailored to their specific challenges. Understanding regional impacts on COVID-19 indicators is crucial for designing effective control strategies. Objective: to analyze the incidence, mortality, and lethality of COVID-19 in Pará and Rio Grande do Sul and the trends of these indicators from 2020 to 2022. Methods: ecological study with time series from public and official data available in the Health Secretariat of Pará and Rio Grande do Sul, including all cases and deaths by COVID-19 from February 2020 to December 2022. Lethality, mortality, and incidence rates were calculated. Prais-Winsten regression analysis was used, and trends were classified as stationary, increasing, or decreasing. Significant differences were considered when the p-value is <0.05. Results: when examining the lethality rates between the states of Para and Rio Grande do Sul, an observable trend emerged during the analyzed period. It became evident that the total lethality rate consistently remained higher in Para. Noteworthy peaks in lethality were mainly observed during the months of April 2020, May 2020, and March 2021. The incidence rates showed increasing trends during 2020, both in Pará with a daily percentage change (DPC) of 1.69% (p <0.05) and in Rio Grande do Sul with a DPC of 1.70% (p<0.05). In 2021, the incidence was decreasing (p <0.05) in both states, with a DPC of 0.60% in Pará and 0.64% in Rio Grande do Sul and continued this trend in Pará in 2022 (DPC of -0.50% p <0.05), becoming stationary in Rio Grande do Sul, with a non-significant p-value (p> 0.05). Conclusion: the positive impact of the vaccination program is reflected in the evolution of the pandemic. During the study period Rio Grande do Sul and Para exhibited a stationary incidence trend, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring of cases and morbidity across various age and demographic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the progression of SARS-CoV-2 highlighted the Americas region for the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. In Brazil, the Southeast region was one of the most affected, especially the state of Rio de Janeiro, due to its cosmopolitan characteristics. Objective: to analyze temporal variations in the incidence, mortality and lethality of COVID-19 in the state of Rio de Janeiro from January 2020 to December 2022. Methods: ecological time-series study with publicly available data on COVID-19 cases and deaths. Crude incidence, mortality, and fatality rates, and estimates of percent daily change (DPC) were analyzed using Prais-Winsten linear regression. With calculation of crude rates were performed using Microsoft Excel 2019, and DPC estimates were performed using STATA MP 17.0 software. Results: 2.5 million cases and 76 thousand COVID-19 deaths were confirmed in the state of Rio de Janeiro from 2020 to 2022, with lethality declining from 4.89% to 0.60%. The highest lethality occurred in May 2020 (11.59%), October 2021 (9.13%) and March 2022 (6.78%), showing a stationary trend. In 2020, incidence and mortality rates peaked in December (797.76 per 100,000 inhabitants) and May (43.96 per 100,000 inhabitants), respectively, followed by subsequent declines. Incidence trend was increasing in 2020 and stationary in 2022, while mortality decreased in 2021 and 2022 after stability in 2020. Conclusion: The incidence of COVID-19 peaked in 2020 and subsequently declined, suggesting partial transmission control. Mortality stabilized after 2020, indicating evolution in health care. Lethality showed a stationary trend, indicating an improvement in hospital capacity. The divergent behavior of the epidemiological indicators reflected the complex dynamics of the pandemic in the analyzed state. There were 790 thousand deaths from COVID-19 in the State of Rio de Janeiro in the period from 2020 to 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization is the global coordinating agency for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2023, the WHO announced the end of the COVID-19 emergency phase. The end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern does not mean that COVID-19 has ceased to be a health threat. The worldwide spread of the disease continues to be characterized as a pandemic. The significance of this decision is aimed at public health systems everywhere for countries to transition from emergency mode to management of COVID-19 along with other infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. The population got tired of the virus, however, the virus did not get tired of the human population. Non-pharmacological preventive measures, vaccination and health education continue to be the arsenal we must control this disease today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delves into the need to use granular analyses at the neighborhood level to study the preexisting conditions of vulnerability that best explain the waves of COVID-19 incidence and mortality. It seems most appropriate to use the comprehensive approach of the sustainable development with variables that analyze the economic, social, environmental, and governance dimensions, given the extensive literature that identifies each as a determining factor for the impact of disease. The work utilizes a composite vulnerability index that allows the city of Malaga to be divided into 434 census sections; waves of incidence and mortality for each section are constructed for the period of March 2020 to March 2021. Cluster analysis reveals that there are five different cluster incidence patterns, whereas the lethality waves are found to behave as a hot-spot phenomenon. The results reveal that neighborhoods that are the most vulnerable in terms of their demographic conditions (large proportion over 65 years of age and dependent) and socioeconomic conditions (severe material deprivation), have been the most affected by COVID-19 infection and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Relevance. The peculiarities of the course of the COVID-19 epidemic process in the regions of the world, as a rule, are determined by the epidemic risks characteristic of them. Identification and evaluation of the latter is necessary to improve measures to counter infection in a particular area. Aim. To study the features of the COVID-19 epidemic process in the regions of the North Caucasus, to identify and assess the impact of epidemic risk factors on the epidemic situation. Materials and methods. The data of the Departments of Rospotrebnadzor for the subjects of the North Caucasus, Internet resources: stopkoronavirus were used Russia, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data project. Statistical processing was carried out using methods of variation statistics and MS Excel software package (2016, USA). Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman's coefficient. Results. As of 01.12.2021, the incidence of COVID-19 in the Caucasus was lower than the Russian average (3890.0 and 65921.8 per 100 thousand population), and the mortality rate was higher (4.8 and 1.9%, respectively). The dynamics of the epidemic process as a whole repeated the situation in the Russian Federation, but with a delay of each phase by 2–3 weeks and had 4 periods of rising morbidity (waves), with the exception of the Stavropol Territory, the Republics of Adygea and Ingushetia, where three waves of morbidity were observed. In the Republics of Dagestan, Chechen and Adygea, a high proportion of community-acquired pneumonia was noted - 58.8, 47.0 and 34.1%, respectively. The mortality rate from a new coronavirus infection was higher than the national average in Dagestan (in the period of the 1st wave – 4.7%), Krasnodar Krai (in the period of the 2nd wave – 5.0%; 3 – 12.6%, in 4 – 9.9%), Karachay-Cherkess Republic (in the 3rd period of the rise – 9.0%) and in Stavropol Krai (in 4 – 7.6%). The lowest mortality from COVID-19 in the 3rd and 4th periods of the rise in morbidity in the North Caucasus was registered in Ingushetia – 2.2 and 2.1%, respectively. The exceptional situation in the Republic of Dagestan is due not only to a large proportion of community acquired pneumonia and high mortality from COVID-19, compared with other regions of the North Caucasus and Russia as a whole, but also to an increase in excess mortality in the republic. The excess of the average annual (over the previous 5 years) number of deaths in the Caucasus in 2020 was +19.8%, in 2021 +32.7%, in the Russian Federation as a whole 14.8 and 31.4%, respectively. Conclusion. The general epidemic risks of COVID-19 for the North Caucasus region have been identified – the level of vaccination, the implementation of non–specific prevention measures, as well as local risks for specific regions: in Dagestan – adherence to local mass ceremonies, as well as insufficient control over the implementation of restrictive measures, in Ingushetia – relatively high population density.

In recent years, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has plagued the world, causing huge losses to the lives and property of people worldwide. How to simulate the spread of an epidemic with a reasonable mathematical model and then use it to analyze and to predict its development trend has attracted the attention of scholars from different fields. Based on the susceptible–infected–recovered (SIR) propagation model, this work proposes the susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered–dead (SEIRD) model by introducing a specific medium having many changes such as the self-healing rate, lethality rate, and re-positive rate, considering the possibility of virus propagation through objects. Finally, this work simulates and analyzes the propagation process of nodes in different states within this model, and compares the model prediction results optimized by the adaptive genetic algorithm with the real data. The experimental results show that the susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered–dead model can effectively reflect the real epidemic spreading process and provide theoretical support for the relevant prevention and control departments.

Outbreaks associated with low-moisture foods (e.g., wheat flour, nuts, and cereals) have urged the development of novel technologies and re-validation of legacy pasteurization process. For various thermal pasteurization processes, they share same scientific facts (e.g., bacterial heat resistance increased at reduced water activity) and guidelines. However, they also face specific challenges because of their different heat transfer mechanisms, processing conditions, or associated low-moisture foods' formulations. In this article, we first introduced the general structural for validating a thermal process and the shared basic information that would support our understanding of the key elements of each thermal process. Then, we reviewed the current progress of validation studies of 7 individual heating technologies (drying roasting, radiofrequency-assisted pasteurization, superheated steam, etc.) and the combined treatments (e.g., infrared and hot air). Last, we discussed knowledge gaps that require more scientific data in the future studies. We aimed to provide a process-centric view point of thermal pasteurization studies of low-moisture foods. The information could provide detailed protocol for process developers, operators, and managers to enhance low-moisture foods safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The main objective of this study is to establish the characteristics of blood laboratory parameters in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) Ukrainian patients and the significance of the above‐mentioned parameters for predicting the course of the disease. Methods: Hematocytological, biochemical, and hemostasis methods of research have been used. Groups of patients with different forms of the coronavirus disease course have been analyzed (lethality ‐ recovery, recovery with a severe and mild course). Results and Conclusion: Age is one of the risk factors for COVID‐19 mortality. Absolute values of neutrophils, neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic inflammation index, d‐dimer, C‐reactive protein, and soluble fibrin complex can be used by clinicians to effectively differentiate between two possible outcomes (lethality vs. recovery). A higher number of stab leukocytes, d‐NLR, and platelets concentration have been recorded in patients with severe COVID‐19 cases, compared to mild ones. The risk of adverse COVID‐19 outcome (lethality) is significantly linked with d‐dimer and NLR (odds ratio 1.42). The risk of a severe course of the disease was significantly associated with the count of leukocytes (odds ratio 4.96). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]