da). Almost all patients with malignant mesothelioma eventually have disease progression after first-line therapy. Previous studies have investigated maintenance therapy, but none has shown a great effect. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of switch-maintenance gemcitabine in patients with malignant mesothelioma without disease progression after first-line chemotherapy. We did a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial in 18 hospitals in the Netherlands (NVALT19). We recruited patients aged older than 18 years with unresectable malignant mesothelioma with no evidence of disease progression after at least four cycles of first-line chemotherapy (with platinum and pemetrexed), who had a WHO performance status of 0-2, adequate organ function, and measurable or evaluable disease. Exclusion criteria were active uncontrolled infection or severe cardiac dysfunction, serious disabling conditions, symptomatic CNS metastases, radiotherapy within 2 weeks before enrolment, and concomitant use of any other drugs underemcitabine, after first-line chemotherapy, significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared with best supportive care alone, among patients with malignant mesothelioma. This study confirms the activity of gemcitabine in treating malignant mesothelioma. Dutch Cancer Society (Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds voor de Nederlandse Kankerbestrijding) and Stichting NVALT studies.Dutch Cancer Society (Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds voor de Nederlandse Kankerbestrijding) and Stichting NVALT studies.In this study, we present an environmental friend and easy procedure for simultaneous preconcentration of Cr(III), Hg(II) and Zn(II) by solid-phase extraction before their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Armillae mellea immobilized nanodiamond was used as sorbent. During the study, critical parameters influencing the extraction performance were investigated in detail. The best parameters were found as pH 5.0, 2.0 mL min-1 of flow rate, 200 mg of Armillae mellea, 300 mL of sample volume. LOD values were found as 0.025, 0.13 and 0.038 ng mL-1, respectively for Cr(III), Hg(II) and Zn(II). By applying the developed procedure, sensitivities of ICP-OES were improved for 60 fold for Cr(III), Hg(II) and Zn(II). Their concentrations in different food samples were measured after microwave digestion and solid-phase extraction.The impact of gamma radiation on the activation of rice innate immunity to blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is described. In the present study, fenugreek seed extracts radiated with different doses of gamma rays viz. 5Gy, 10Gy, 15Gy, 20Gy and 25Gy were examined for their presence of biocompounds as well as for its ability to induce plant growth promotion and resistance against rice blast disease. The results of GC-MS analysis detected antimicrobial properties in methanolic extract. Enhanced germination (97%) and vigor (2718) was noticed in seeds pretreated with 20 Gy of gamma radiation in comparison with non-irradiated controls. Under greenhouse conditions, a significant disease protection of 56.7% on 3rd and 4th day after inoculation against rice blast was observed in 15Gy-irradiated rice plants challenge-inoculated with M. oryzae. Further, a significant increase in the hydrogen peroxide, phenol and lignin deposition was noticed in 20Gy-irradiated rice plants. Additionally, rice plants pretreated with 15Gy induced maximum activities of peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) compared to untreated control plants. Inflammation chemical These findings revealed that rice plants-pretreated with gamma radiation elicit resistance against rice blast disease as well as strengthening the growth parameters by modulating cellular and biochemical defense system. Treatment for infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) during pregnancy has not yet been approved; however, interventions specifically targeting women, especially those of childbearing age (15-49 years), could prevent vertical transmission and community spread. To assess the impact of such interventions, improved prevalence estimates in this group are needed. We aimed to estimate the global prevalence of viraemic HCV in 2019 among women of childbearing age. In this modelling study, we used previously developed models for 110 countries inputted with country-specific demographic and HCV epidemiology data. We did a literature review, searching PubMed, Embase, and grey literature for studies published between Jan 1, 2000, and June 30, 2018, reporting HCV antibody or viraemic prevalence in women of childbearing age. Studies from the literature review and studies in models were compared by use of a data quality scoring system and models were updated, as appropriate, when a better study was identified. We used theean region had the highest viraemic prevalence (1·75%, 95% UI 1·26- 1·90). Most research on HCV disease burden among women aged 15-49 years focuses on pregnant women. Using modelling, this analysis provides global and national estimates of HCV prevalence in all women of childbearing age. These data can inform preconception test-and-treat strategies to reduce vertical transmission and total disease burden. Gilead Sciences, John C Martin Foundation, private donors.Gilead Sciences, John C Martin Foundation, private donors. Bathing with 2% chlorhexidine (CHG) wipes is an important measure regarding infection prevention in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of CHG wipes bath to prevent central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in critically ill patients and determine if such measure is cost-saving. a quasi-experimental study, conducted from July 2017 to April 2019. Daily bath with 2% CHG was used in all patients at the unit in the intervention period. The following were evaluated CLABSI incidence density in both periods, 30- day mortality, guided antimicrobials used to treat CLABSI and 2% CHG costs. CLABSI incidence density dropped from 8.69 to 1.83 per 1.000 central line-days (p = 0.001), mainly by Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenen Resistant (Kp-KPC) (p = 0.05). Costs with guided antimicrobials for the treatment in pre-intervention were US$ 46,114.36, and in the intervention period, US$ 4,177.50. The 2% CHG monthly cost was US$ 2,698.00, achieving 30% savings when comparing both periods.