GeoCAT is an open source, browser based tool that performs rapid geospatial analysis to ease the process of Red Listing taxa. Developed to utilise spatially referenced primary occurrence data, the analysis focuses on two aspects of the geographic range of a taxon: the extent of occurrence (EOO) and the area of occupancy (AOO). These metrics form part of the IUCN Red List categories and criteria and have often proved challenging to obtain in an accurate, consistent and repeatable way. Within a familiar Google Maps environment, GeoCAT users can quickly and easily combine data from multiple sources such as GBIF, Flickr and Scratchpads as well as user generated occurrence data. Analysis is done with the click of a button and is visualised instantly, providing an indication of the Red List threat rating, subject to meeting the full requirements of the criteria. Outputs including the results, data and parameters used for analysis are stored in a GeoCAT file that can be easily reloaded or shared with collaborators. GeoCAT is a first step toward automating the data handling process of Red List assessing and provides a valuable hub from which further developments and enhancements can be spawned.

Peri-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30-day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30-day mortality in patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4-1.5). In patients with a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks and 5-6 weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95%CI) 4.1 (3.3-4.8), 3.9 (2.6-5.1) and 3.6 (2.0-5.2), respectively). Surgery performed ≥ 7 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.5 (0.9-2.1)). After a ≥ 7 week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0% (95%CI 3.2-8.7) vs. 2.4% (95%CI 1.4-3.4) vs. 1.3% (95%CI 0.6-2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms ≥ 7 weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.

Limited proteolysis of phosphocellulose-purifled tubulin with subtilisin resulted in cleavage of both a and ,B tubulin subunits, with the formation of two major fragments (S., and Sp, 48 kDa) and a small peptide (4 kDa) containing the carboxyl-terminal region of tubulin. Interestingly, tubulin cleaved under the present conditions showed an increased ability to assemble into large polymers in the absence of MAPs and under conditions that do not promote assembly of undigested tubulin-i.e., low magnesium concentrations and the absence of taxol and polyalcohols. The critical concentrations for the subtilisin-cleaved tubulin assembly was similar to that of MAPs-promoted tubulin assembly. Assembly product from subtilisin-cleaved tubulin consisted mainly of protofiament bundles, hooked polymer, and open tubules, structures showing equatorial and longitudinal spacings of 50 and 40 A, respectively. The existence ofjunctions between polymer walls indicates that the carboxyl-terminal removal facilitates polymer-polymer interactions. These results, together with previous studies on the involvement of the carboxyl-terminal domain of tubulin in its interaction with MAP-2, suggest a regulatory role for this domain in tubulin assembly. Thus, in general terms the tubulin molecule can be analyzed as a protein containing two essential domains with functional significance, one domain playing a major role in self-association and the other (the carboxyl-terminal moiety) playing a regulatory role in modulating the interactions responsible for selfassociation.Brain tubulin prepared by cycles of assembly-disassembly contains other proteins that are designated microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). Tubulin stripped of MAPs is unable to assemble except under certain conditions far removed from the physiological ones. Such conditions involve solvents containing glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide, or polyethylene glycol, and usually the presence of high concentrations of magnesium (5-10 mM) or the addition of taxol or polycations, which may substitute for the requirements of MAPs (e.g., see ref. 1). Recently it has been shown that the binding of one of these proteins to tubulin is through a cationic domain of MAP-2 (2), which binds to the anionic domain present in the carboxyl terminus of the a and ,3 polypeptides of the tubulin molecule (3,4). In this report we show that the removal of the carboxyl-terminal portion of the purified tubulin by limited proteolysis with subtilisin results in a molecule that can self-assemble in the absence of MAPs or taxol and at protein concentrations similar to those required for undigested tubulin in the presence of MAPs. The resulting polymeric structures are mainly hooked microtubules, folded sheets, and protofilament bundles. MATERIAL AND METHODSPurification of Tubulin. Tubulin from pig brain was prepared by temperature-dependent cycles of assembly-disassembly by the procedure of Shelanski et al. (5) and was stored as pellets at -70'C. Immediately before use, the pellets were resuspended in 0.1 M 2-(N...

AC appears as effective as AG for treating EFIE patients and can be used with virtually no risk of renal failure and regardless of the high-level aminoglycoside resistance status of E. faecalis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a major clinical problem, with mortality rates of 20% to 40%. [1][2][3] During the active course of IE, neurological complications occur in 20% to 40% of patients 1,4,5 and have been linked to a poorer outcome. 1,2,5,6 In several of the related reports, however, neurological complication is a generic term referring to a broad spectrum of complications ranging from nonspecific manifestations, such as nonfocal encephalopathy, seizures, or headache, to stroke or severe cerebral hemorrhage. 4,7 This all-inclusive approach can lead to confusion when investigating the true effect of brain involvement on the outcome of IE or the relationships between brain injury and certain characteristics Background-The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of neurological complications in patients with infective endocarditis, the risk factors for their development, their influence on the clinical outcome, and the impact of cardiac surgery. Antimicrobial treatment reduced (by 33% to 75%) the risk of neurological complications. In patients with hemorrhage, mortality was higher when surgery was performed within 4 weeks of the hemorrhagic event (75% versus 40% in later surgery). Conclusions-Moderate to severe ischemic stroke and brain hemorrhage were found to have a significant negative impact on the outcome of infective endocarditis. Early appropriate antimicrobial treatment is critical, and transitory discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy should be considered. Methods and Results-This García-Cabrera et al Endocarditis, Neurological Complications 2273of IE (eg, vegetation size or affected valve). Another debated point requiring clarification is whether brain damage may worsen after valve surgery in patients experiencing these complications. Several of the previous studies investigating these and other issues have the limitations of retrospective data collection, 8,9 referral center bias, 8,10 or analysis of too few events to obtain valid conclusions. 4,8 Clinical Perspective on p 2284The objectives of the present study were to assess the incidence of neurological complications in IE patients, the risk factors for their development, the associated risk of death, and the influence of valve surgery in this situation on patient outcome. Methods Study Design and PatientsThe study included patients consecutively diagnosed with IE in 7 hospitals in Andalusia (southern Spain) and registered in a dedicated database from January 1984 to December 2009. Five of the participating centers are tertiary referral hospitals for cardiac surgery, and 2 are community hospitals, where patients at higher risk are transferred to the referral centers for assessment for surgery. The information in this database was merged with data from the Vall d'Hebron Hospital database for IE. Vall d'Hebron is a 1000-bed teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain, and a referral center for cardiac surgery, with a prospective IE cohort registered from January 2000 to December 2009. The specific variables included in both registri...