Background and Aim Patients with leukemia who are isolated in positive pressure rooms for infection prevention usually experience significant physical and psychological distress. selleck chemicals llc This study aimed to examine changes in leukemia patients' comfort level during chemotherapy in isolation wards. Methods A longitudinal survey was conducted with measures which were repeated four times. Data were collected before chemotherapy, on the first and second week after receiving chemotherapy in positive pressure isolation rooms, and on the third week in the non-isolated hematology ward. Each patient received six questionnaires measuring demographic data, comfort status, functional status, fatigue related to cancer therapy, anxiety level, and distress symptoms. A mixed model with repeated measure analysis was used to examine the changing trajectories in physical and psychological health. Results Twenty-one patients completed the study. During the process, the highest score for comfort level was shown before chemotherapy, and this decreased from the second week under isolation. Anxiety and uncertainty (p less then 0.05) declined over time, and emotional states improved during the recovery period in the third and fourth weeks outside isolation. Physical well-being (p less then 0.01), cancer-related fatigue (p less then 0.05), hemoglobin (p less then 0.01) and white blood cell count (p less then 0.05) began to rise two weeks after chemotherapy. Conclusion Comfort levels declined after chemotherapy until the third week of treatment. Anxiety, fatigue and distress symptoms varied across the four time points of chemotherapy from isolation to return to the non-isolated ward. Health care professionals should be aware of psychological symptoms when patients are in isolation rooms, and interventions for promoting a humanized environment, quality of life, and comfort should be considered and provided along with the treatment stages of chemotherapy.Management of the Mediterranean flat-headed root-borer, Capnodis tenebrionis, is critical due to the larvae's root localization. Neonate larvae can be exposed to natural enemies before penetrating the roots. Application of Metarhizium brunneum strain Mb7 and Beauveria bassiana strain GHA formulations on rice granules was investigated for their efficacy against C. tenebrionis larvae. Mb7 application, evaluated on apricot twigs, significantly and dose-dependently reduced colonization rates of neonates, with highest mortality at 108 conidia/g soil. Neonate susceptibility to Mb7 and GHA was evaluated on potted rootstocks (GF677 almond × peach, 2729 plum) planted in entomopathogenic fungi (EPF)-premixed soil (1.3-1.6 × 105 conidia/cm3 soil) or in EPF-free soil surface-treated with 5 g Mb7 fungal granules (1.25 × 109 conidia). Larval colonization rates were reduced 7.4-fold in 2729 by both fungi; only Mb7 completely prevented colonization of GF677 by larvae. Larvae inside plant galleries exhibited mycosis with EPF-treated soils and both fungi proliferated on larval frass. Mb7 conidia germinated in the rhizosphere of GF677, and conidia of both fungi remained viable throughout the trial. Galleria baiting technique was used on EPF-treated soil to evaluate EPF infectivity over time; Mb7 and GHA persisted 180 and 90 days post inoculation, respectively. The formulation (fungus-covered rice grains), delivery method (mixing with soil) and persistence (3-6 months) of Mb7 and GHA are feasible for potential field application to control C. tenebrionis.The natural functional ingredients derived from pomegranate (41.4% punicalagin), rosemary (5.8% carnosic acid and carnosol), hydroxytyrosol (7.3%), and citrus (55% hesperidin) fruits were combined separately with acerola (17% vitamin C) and essential oils rich in fatty acids (45% α-linolenic (ALA) and 40% docosahexaenoic (DHA)) provide a natural substitute of synthetic preservatives for fish patties, avoiding E-numbers on labels. Microbiological and physicochemical properties of the formulations were examined, sensory analysis was conducted, and changes in their shelf life due to storage for 14 days under chilled storage, adding these ingredients, were determined. The results obtained showed that the fish patties reported a high level of protein (14%), low fat ( less then 2%), with a high contribution of phosphorus and selenium minerals, and higher levels of ALA up to 40% (in the case of rosemary extract (R)) and DHA by 30% (Ct), compared to the Control sample. The fish patties suffered microbiological, flavor, and odor spoilage and rapid lipid oxidation associated with rancidity. It can be said that the fish preparations have a duration of less than 7 days (between 4-6 days), except for the preparation with pomegranate extract (P) that has a longer life, from 7 to 11 days. Consequently, replacing synthetic additives by natural extracts offers a new clean label product with potential health benefits that resembles the commercial fish patties.Although major strides have been made in developing and testing various anti-acanthamoebic drugs, recurrent infections, inadequate treatment outcomes, health complications, and side effects associated with the use of currently available drugs necessitate the development of more effective and safe therapeutic regimens. For any new anti-acanthamoebic drugs to be more effective, they must have either superior potency and safety or at least comparable potency and an improved safety profile compared to the existing drugs. The development of the so-called 'next-generation' anti-acanthamoebic agents to address this challenge is an active area of research. Here, we review the current status of anti-acanthamoebic drugs and discuss recent progress in identifying novel pharmacological targets and new approaches, such as drug repurposing, development of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapies and testing natural products and their derivatives. Some of the discussed approaches have the potential to change the therapeutic landscape of Acanthamoeba infections.In recent years, the interest of female dominance in long-distance swimming has grown where several newspaper articles have been published speculating about female performance and dominance-especially in open-water ultra-distance swimming. The aim of this narrative review is to review the scientific literature regarding the difference between the sexes for all swimming strokes (i.e., butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley), different distances (i.e., from sprint to ultra-distances), extreme conditions (i.e., cold water), different ages and swimming integrated in multi-sports disciplines, such as triathlon, in various age groups and over calendar years. The influence of various physiological, psychological, anthropometrical and biomechanical aspects to potentially explain the female dominance was also discussed. The data bases Scopus and PUBMED were searched by April 2020 for the terms 'sex-difference-swimming'. Long-distance open-water swimmers and pool swimmers of different ages and performance levels were mainly investigated.