Circularly polarized light, rare in the animal kingdom, has thus far been documented in only a handful of animals. Using a rotating circular polarization (CP) analyzer we detected CP in linearly polarized light transmitted through epipelagic free living Sapphirina metallina copepods. Both left and right handedness of CP was detected, generated from specific organs of the animal's body, especially on the dorsal cephalosome and prosome. Such CP transmittance may be generated by phase retardance either in the muscle fibers or in the multilayer membrane structure found underneath the cuticle. Although the role, if any, played by circularly polarized light in Sapphirinidae has yet to be clarified, in other animals it was suggested to take part in mate choice, species recognition, and other forms of communication.HighlightsPlanktonic Sapphirinidae copepods were found to circularly polarize the light passing through them. Circular polarization may be created by unique, multilayered features of the membrane structure found under their cuticle or by organized muscle fibers.

Graft versus host disease (GvHD) remains a limiting factor for successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are major components of the hematopoietic G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood cell (MPBC) graft. Here we show that a short incubation (2 h) of MPBCs with hexameric Fas ligand (FasL) selectively induces apoptosis of specific donor T cell subsets and APCs but not of CD34 + cells. FasL treatment preferentially induces apoptosis in mature T cell subsets which express high levels of Fas (CD95), such as T stem cell memory, T central memory, and T effector memory cells, as well as T H 1 and T H 17 cells. Anti-CD3/CD28 stimulated T cells derived from FasL-treated-MPBCs express lower levels of CD25 and secrete lower levels of IFN-γ as compared to control cells not treated with FasL. FasL treatment also induces apoptosis of transitional, naïve, memory and plasmablastoid B cells leading to a reduction in their numbers in the graft and following engraftment in transplanted mice. Most importantly, ex vivo treatment of MPBCs with FasL prior to transplant in conditioned NOD-scid IL2Rγ null (NSG) mice prevented GvHD while preserving graft versus leukemia (GvL) effects, and leading to robust stem cell engraftment.

Background The Coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) brings anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians to the mainstay of clinical workload and healthcare managements’ focus. There are approximately 900 anesthesiologists in Israel, working in non-private hospitals. This nationwide cross-sectional study evaluated the readiness and involvement of anesthesia departments in Israel in management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on anesthesiologists’ health, workload, and clinical practices were also evaluated. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed to all of anesthesia department chairs in Israel on April 14th. Each response was identifiable on the hospital level only. Informed consent was waived since no patient data were collected. Results Response rate was 100%. A decrease of at least 40% in operating-room activity was reported by two-thirds of the departments. Anesthesiologists are leading the treatment of COVID-19 patients in 19/28 (68%) Israeli hospitals. Israel Society of Anesthesiologists’ recommendations regarding intubation of COVID-19 patients were strictly followed (intubations performed by the most experienced available physician, by rapid-sequence induction utilizing video-laryngoscopy, while minimizing the number of people in the room - about 90% compliance for each). Anesthesiologists in most departments use standard personal protective equipment when caring for COVID-19 patients, including N95 masks, face shields, and water-proof gowns. Only one anesthesiologist across Israel was diagnosed with COVID-19 (unknown source of transmission). All department chairs reported emerging opportunities that advance the anesthesia profession: implementation of new technologies and improvement in caregivers’ clinical capabilities (68% each), purchase of new equipment (96%), and increase in research activity (36%). Conclusions This nationwide cross-sectional study had a complete response rate and therefore well-represents the anesthesia practice in Israel. We found that Israeli anesthesia departments are generally highly involved in the health system efforts to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Anesthesia and airway management are performed in a remarkably comparable manner and with proper protection of caregivers. Ambulatory anesthesia activity has dramatically decreased, but many departments find opportunities for improvement even in these challenging times.

BACKGROUND Epidural fentanyl doses above 100 mg have been shown, using the paracetamol absorption test, to reduce gastric emptying in fasted labouring women.OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of fentanyl dose on gastric emptying in nonfasted labouring women using gastric ultrasonography.DESIGN A double-blinded randomised controlled study.