The world's tropical rainforests are decreasing at an alarming rate as they are converted to agricultural land, pasture, and plantations. Decreasing tropical forests affect global warming. As a result, afforestation progams have been suggested to mitigate this problem. The objective of this study was to determine the carbon and phosphorus accumulation of a rehabilitated forest of different ages. The size of the study area was 47.5 ha. Soil samples were collected from the 0-, 6-, 12-, and 17-year-old rehabilitated forest. Twenty samples were taken randomly with a soil auger at depths of 0-20 and 20-40 cm. The procedures outlined in the Materials and Methods section were used to analyze the soil samples for pH, total C, organic matter, total P, C/P ratio, yield of humic acid (HA), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The soil pH decreased significantly with increasing age of forest rehabilitation regardless of depth. Age did not affect CEC of the rehabilitated forest. Soil organic matter (SOM), total C, and total P contents increased with age. However, C/P ratio decreased with time at 0-20 cm. Accumulation of HA with time and soil depth was not consistent. The rehabilitated forest has shown signs of being a C and P sink.
Colonisation of maxillofacial prostheses by Candida albicans is conventionally attributed to surface roughness, porosity, and wettability properties that explain where cells accumulate rather than why particular surfaces promote biofilm formation. This review reinterprets the in vitro literature on C. albicans adhesion to maxillofacial silicone elastomers through the underlying molecular events. Nine eligible studies identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect conducted on 31 March 2026 were appraised with the QUIN tool and mapped onto a six-stage molecular cascade: surface conditioning, reversible attachment, adhesin engagement, morphogenesis, matrix assembly, and antifungal tolerance. Three conclusions emerged. First, C. albicans senses topography through mechanically gated calcium channels and converts mechanical contact into hyphal commitment; roughness is therefore a morphogenetic cue that surface finishing can withhold. Second, the tested agents-silver nanoparticles, chitosan, thymol, and carvacrol, and a Lactobacillus brevis-derived biosurfactant-engage distinct molecular targets and are not mechanistically interchangeable. Third, most included studies evaluated silicone without salivary conditioning, whereas the clinical interface is an acquired salivary pellicle that supplies both adhesion receptors and antimicrobial peptides. All studies fell within the medium risk-of-bias band (50.0-62.5%). Pellicle-conditioned models and molecular readouts are required. The mechanistic interpretations discussed in this review are derived from the broader C. albicans literature and have not been directly demonstrated on maxillofacial silicone elastomers.
Talaromyces marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungus which causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. The diagnosis of T. marneffei infection rests on the microscopic demonstration of the fungus in the tissues and/or isolation of the fungus from clinical specimens. In this report, we discuss a case involving a 23-year-old man who presented with a history of intermittent fever, cough and constitutional symptoms. Clinically, the patient exhibited pallor, jaundice, generalized seborrhoeic dermatitis, hepatomegaly, and small palpable cervical lymph nodes. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed homogenous hypodense lesions in both liver lobes. HIV screening result was reactive. Microscopic examination of the bone marrow aspirate smear and trephine biopsy identified fungal bodies, and culture of the marrow aspirate confirmed the presence of T. marneffei. Notably, the liver biopsy revealed Burkitt lymphoma alongside fungal bodies. He was treated with intravenous Amphotericin B but ultimately succumbed to the illness due to severe metabolic acidosis and multiorgan failure. This case underscores the importance of presumptive diagnosis through morphological or histological examination of bone marrow samples, as microbiologic culture methods can be time-consuming. Timely diagnosis and aggressive treatment are critical in managing patients with T. marneffei infection.