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\"After a hiking accident, Blake Remington is paralysed by a back injury and begins to lose faith in himself. Slowly, but surely, Dione Kelley's therapy helps him rebuild all that the accident took from him, giving him back the strength he needs to be a man. But is she robbing him of the chance to see her as a woman in the process? She might have fallen for Blake, but how can Dione be sure his words of love are genuine, and aren't just spoken out of gratitude?\"--Jacket.

This retrospective study evaluated the time required to regain ambulation in paraplegic dogs without deep pain perception (DPP) affected by intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) and treated with decompressive surgery with or without postoperative (PO) physiotherapy. Paraplegic dogs lacking DPP for up to 96 hours and diagnosed with thoracolumbar IVDE were included. Thirty-four animals were classified into two groups: Gphysio (n=22), consisting of dogs that underwent decompressive surgery and PO physiotherapy, and Ghemi (n=12), comprising dogs that did not undergo any form of PO physiotherapy. Physiotherapy consisted of cryotherapy, massage, passive stretching, passive range of motion, locomotor training, flexor reflex stimulation, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and therapeutic exercises. The rates of return to ambulation did not differ significantly between groups, with 31.8% (n=7) in the Gphysio group and 33.3% (n=4) in the Ghemi group. However, the time to regain ambulation was significantly shorter in the Gphysio group, with a mean of 83.4 [+ or -] 19.3 days, compared to 314 [+ or -] 109.2 days in the Ghemi group. These findings suggested that the shorter time to regain ambulation in dogs affected by IVDE with paraplegia and loss of DPP was possibly due to PO physiotherapy. Key words: rehabilitation, therapeutic modalities, disc extrusion, hemilaminectomy, nociception. O objetivo deste estudo retrospectivo foi avaliar o tempo de retorno deambula o de c es parapl gicos e sem dor profunda acometidos de extrus o de disco intervertebral (EDIV) e tratados com cirurgia descompressiva associado ou n o fisioterapia no p s-operat rio (PO). Foram inclu dos c es parapl gicos e sem percep o a dor profunda (PDP) com dura o em at 96 h e com diagn stico de EDIV toracolombar. Trinta e quatro animais foram classificados em dois grupos; Gfisio (n=22) para aqueles que realizaram cirurgia descompressiva e fisioterapia no PO e Ghemi (n=12) para os c es que n o realizaram nenhuma modalidade fisioterap utica ap s a cirurgia. A fisioterapia consistiu em crioterapia, massagem, alongamento passivo, movimenta o passiva articular, treino locomotor, estimula o do reflexo flexor, estimula o el trica neuromuscular, estimula o el trica transcut nea e exerc cios terap uticos. As taxas de retorno a deambula o n o diferiram de maneira significativa entre grupos, 31,8% (n=7) para o Gfisio e 33,3% (n=4) para o Ghemi, entretanto, o tempo de retorno deambula o foi diferente nos c es do Gfisio, com m dia de 83,4 [+ or -] 19,3 dias comparado com 314 [+ or -] 109,2 dias nos do Ghemi. Com base nos resultados encontrados, pode-se sugerir que o tempo de retorno a deambula o foi menor em c es acometidos por EDIV, com paraplegia e perda da PDP possivelmente pelo fato de terem sido submetidos a fisioterapia no p s-operat rio. Palavras-chave: reabilita o, modalidades terap uticas, extrus o de disco, hemilaminectomia, nocicep o.

With the move away from use of mouse bioassay (MBA) to test bivalve mollusc shellfish for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins, countries around the world are having to adopt non-animal-based alternatives that fulfil ethical and legal requirements. Various assays have been developed which have been subjected to single-laboratory and multi-laboratory validation studies, gaining acceptance as official methods of analysis and approval for use in some countries as official control testing methods. The majority of validation studies conducted to date do not, however, incorporate shellfish species sourced from Latin America. Consequently, this study sought to investigate the performance of five alternative PSP testing methods together with the MBA, comparing the PSP toxin data generated both qualitatively and quantitatively. The methods included a receptor binding assay (RBA), two liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FLD) methods including both pre-column and post-column oxidation, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a commercial lateral flow assay (LFA) from Scotia. A total of three hundred and forty-nine shellfish samples from Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Uruguay were assessed. For the majority of samples, qualitative results compared well between methods. Good statistical correlations were demonstrated between the majority of quantitative results, with a notably excellent correlation between the current EU reference method using pre-column oxidation LC-FLD and LC-MS/MS. The LFA showed great potential for qualitative determination of PSP toxins, although the findings of high numbers of false-positive results and two false negatives highlighted that some caution is still needed when interpreting results. This study demonstrated that effective replacement methods are available for countries that no longer wish to use the MBA, but highlighted the importance of comparing toxin data from the replacement method using local shellfish species of concern before implementing new methods in official control testing programs.

Harmful algal blooms, in particular recurrent blooms of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella, associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), frequently limit commercial shellfish harvests, resulting in serious socio-economic consequences. Although the PSP-inducing species that threaten the most vulnerable commercial species of shellfish are very patchy and spatially heterogeneous in their distribution, the spatial and temporal scales of their effects have largely been ignored in monitoring programs and by researchers. In this study, we examined the spatial and temporal dynamics of PSP toxicity in the clam (Ameghinomya antiqua) in two fishing grounds in southern Chile (Ovalada Island and Low Bay). During the summer of 2009, both were affected by an intense toxic bloom of A. catenella (up to 1.1 × 106 cells L−1). Generalized linear models were used to assess the potential influence of different environmental variables on the field detoxification rates of PSP toxins over a period of 12 months. This was achieved using a four parameter exponential decay model to fit and compare field detoxification rates per sampling site. The results show differences in the spatial variability and temporal dynamics of PSP toxicity, given that greater toxicities (+10-fold) and faster detoxification (20% faster) are observed at the Ovalada Island site, the less oceanic zone, and where higher amounts of clam are annually produced. Our observations support the relevance of considering different spatial and temporal scales to obtain more accurate assessments of PSP accumulation and detoxification dynamics and to improve the efficacy of fisheries management after toxic events.

Marine biotoxins are produced by aquatic microorganisms and accumulate in shellfish or finfish following the food web. These toxins usually reach human consumers by ingestion of contaminated seafood, although other exposure routes like inhalation or contact have also been reported and may cause serious illness. This review shows the current data regarding the symptoms of acute intoxication for several toxin classes, including paralytic toxins, amnesic toxins, ciguatoxins, brevetoxins, tetrodotoxins, diarrheic toxins, azaspiracids and palytoxins. The information available about chronic toxicity and relative potency of different analogs within a toxin class are also reported. The gaps of toxicological knowledge that should be studied to improve human health protection are discussed. In general, gathering of epidemiological data in humans, chronic toxicity studies and exploring relative potency by oral administration are critical to minimize human health risks related to these toxin classes in the near future.

Background COVID-19 infection has caused a global health crisis with over 6,956,900 deaths. Extra-pulmonary forms of the infection are common, including digestive symptoms. Pregnant women are at greater risk of developing severe forms of the infection. They are also affected by extra-pulmonary symptoms. Case presentation We report the case of a 28week + 4 pregnant woman with paralytic ileus caused by inflammatory peritonitis related to COVID-19 leading to premature birth. Pulmonary deterioration was secondary to abdominal symptoms. Conclusions Therefore, the presence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms with or without respiratory symptoms may be a warning sign of COVID-19 to be considered, especially in pregnant patients.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the burden and trends of paralytic ileus and bowel obstruction in individuals aged ≥ 65 years, offering insights into prevention, treatment, and healthcare policy. Methods Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used to analyze paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction by demographics, year, country/region, and Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). The statistical methods included Joinpoint regression, decomposition analysis, and Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort modeling. Results In 2021, the global age-standardized incidence of paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction among the elderly was 643.45 cases per 100,000 individuals. The corresponding prevalence was 24.05 per 100,000 individuals, with disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of 294.01 per 100,000 person-years and a mortality rate of 20.55 per 100,000 individuals. Between 1990 and 2021, the age-standardized incidence and prevalence of paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction in the elderly gradually increased, while age-standardized DALYs and mortality consistently declined. Despite similar trends observed across both genders, the disease burden increased with age and was more pronounced in males than in females. Furthermore, the age-standardized incidence and prevalence of these conditions increased with SDI, whereas mortality and DALYs decreased. By 2030, the incidence and prevalence are expected to continue increasing, whereas mortality and DALYs are expected to decrease. Conclusions Despite the consistent decrease in mortality and DALYs associated with paralytic ileus and bowel obstruction in the elderly population aged ≥ 65 years, their incidence and prevalence continue to increase annually. This underscores the importance of improving preventive measures, early screening, and treatment efforts to address this pressing public health challenge.

Marine phycosphere harbors unique cross-kingdom associations with enormous ecological significance in aquatic ecosystems as well as relevance for algal biotechnology industry. During our investigating the microbial composition and bioactivity of marine phycosphere microbiota (PM), a novel lightly yellowish and versatile bacterium designated strain AM1-D1T was isolated from cultivable PM of marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum amtk4 that produces high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSTs). Strain AM1-D1T demonstrates notable bioflocculanting bioactivity with bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS), and microalgae growth-promoting (MGP) potential toward its algal host. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain AM1-D1T was affiliated to the members of genus Sulfitobacter within the family Rhodobacteraceae, showing the highest sequence similarity of 97.9% with Sulfitobacter noctilucae NB-68T, and below 97.8% with other type strains. The complete genome of strain AM1-D1T consisted of a circular 3.84-Mb chromosome and five circular plasmids (185, 95, 15, 205 and 348 Kb, respectively) with the G+C content of 64.6%. Low values obtained by phylogenomic calculations on the average nucleotide identity (ANI, 77.2%), average amino acid identity (AAI, 74.7%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH, 18.6%) unequivocally separated strain AM1-D1T from its closest relative. The main polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified lipid. The predominant fatty acids (> 10%) were C18:1ω7c, C19:0 cyclo ω8c and C16:0. The respiratory quinone was Q-10. The genome of strain AM1-D1T was predicted to encode series of gene clusters responsible for sulfur oxidation (sox) and utilization of dissolved organic sulfur exometabolites from marine dinoflagellates, taurine (tau) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) (dmd), as well as supplementary vitamin B12 (cob), photosynthesis carotenoids (crt) which are pivotal components during algae-bacteria interactions. Based on the evidences by the polyphasic characterizations, strain AM1-D1T represents a novel species of the genus Sulfitobacter, for which the name Sulfitobacter alexandrii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AM1-D1T (= CCTCC 2017277T = KCTC 62491T).