A randomized, controlled trial comparing ganciclovir to ganciclovir plus foscarnet (each at half dose) for preemptive therapy of cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients

Forty-eight patients who provided 2 consecutive blood samples that tested positive for cytomegalovirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were randomized to receive either full-dose ganciclovir ( 5 mg/kg intravenously [iv] twice daily) or half-dose ganciclovir (5 mg/kg iv once daily) plus half-dose foscarnet (90 mg/kg iv once daily) for 14 days. In the ganciclovir arm, 17 (71%) of 24 patients reached the primary end point of being CMV negative by PCR within 14 days of initiation of therapy, compared with 12 (50%) of 24 patients in the ganciclovir-plus-foscarnet arm (P = .12). Toxicity was greater in the combination-therapy arm. In patients who failed to reach the primary end point, baseline virus load was 0.77 log(10) higher, the replication rate before therapy was faster (1.5 vs. 2.7 days), and the viral decay rate was slower (2.9 vs. 1.1 days) after therapy. Bivariable logistic regression models identified baseline virus load, bone-marrow transplantation, and doubling time and half-life of decay as the major factors affecting response to therapy within 14 days. This study did not support a synergistic effect of ganciclovir plus foscarnet in vivo

Low estimated glomerular filtration rate and pneumonia in stroke patients: findings from a prospective stroke registry in the East of England

Priya Vart,1,2 Joao H Bettencourt-Silva,3,4 Anthony K Metcalf,3,4 Kristian M Bowles,3,4 John F Potter,3,4 Phyo K Myint1,3,4 1Ageing Clinical and Experimental Research, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; 2Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; 3Stroke Research Group, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK; 4Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK Purpose: Low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) is a recognized risk factor for pneumonia in general population. While pneumonia is common after stroke, the association between levels of eGFR and pneumonia in stroke patient population has not yet been examined thoroughly. Patients and methods: Using data of 10,329 patients from the Norfolk and Norwich Stroke Registry between January 2003 and April 2015, we examined the association of poststroke pneumonia (in-hospital and after discharge) with low eGFR and when eGFR is divided into the complete spectrum of clinically relevant categories; (≥90) (ref.), 60–89, 45–59, 30–44, 15–30, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2). Results: In all, 1,519 (14.7%) developed in-hospital pneumonia and 1,037 (12.9%) developed pneumonia after hospital discharge. In age- and sex-adjusted model, low eGFR was associated with in-hospital pneumonia (subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR): 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01–1.25) and pneumonia after discharge (sHR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07–1.38). In fully adjusted model, association remained significant for pneumonia after hospital discharge. When eGFR was categorized in all clinically relevant categories, association with in-hospital pneumonia tended to be “U” shaped (eg, compared to eGFR ≥90, sHR for 60–89 was 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62–0.99 and for <15 was 1.06; 95% CI: 0.71–1.60) and association with pneumonia after discharge tended to increase with decline in eGFR level such that risk was almost two fold higher at eGFR <15 (sHR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.01–3.51). Association for in-hospital pneumonia was driven mainly by aspiration pneumonia, whereas association in stroke survivors was predominantly for nonaspiration pneumonia. Conclusion: In stroke patients, low eGFR at admission was associated with pneumonia, particularly severely reduced eGFR with nonaspiration pneumonia after hospital discharge. eGFR could form the basis for identifying patients at high risk of poststroke pneumonia. Keywords: stroke, eGFR, prognosis, epidemiolog

Exploring participatory visions of smart transport in Milton Keynes

This paper explores citizen concerns emerging in the design stage of MotionMap, a smart transport initiative developed in the context of a £16 million smart city programme. A city-wide sensing system integrated with other databases will provide real-time information about vehicular and pedestrian movement. The experience of a series of smart transport workshops in Milton Keynes suggests that citizens feel that they bear the cost of smart cities through potentially intrusive surveillance producing sacrifices in convenience and privacy, while the gains are captured by industrial and governmental actors. This distrust of surveillance through urban sensing systems is not inflexible. Such systems can gain legitimacy through a participatory approach where users legitimize the sensing system by taking an active role in providing transport data, as opposed to having it ‘harvested’ from them through passive or opportunistic mechanisms. Participatory approaches are challenging because users will engage only if the system can provide compelling benefits. A key contribution of this research comes from identifying that the benefits important to citizens are not necessarily measured in economic terms nor in terms of increased efficiency

Effect of microalgae addition on mineral content, colour and mechanical properties of breadsticks

[EN] Microalgae has recently attracted considerable attention due to its potential as a high source of proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Hence, it can be a useful ingredient intended to increase the nutritional and technological value of food products. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of microalgae biomass (Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis) on mineral content, colour and mechanical properties of breadsticks, and the colour, texture and rheology of doughs. Microalgae were shown to affect texture and rheology in doughs showing greater hardness values, although, a decrease in hardness, toughness, crispiness and brittleness parameters was seen in breadsticks. The main effects observed with microalgae addition were changes in dough colour, with visual colour perception, in all cases, of distinguished green colour tones. Breadstick colour was evaluated over 15 days of storage and showed colour stability. Furthermore, the mineral content of breadsticks increased, specifically, iron and selenium, both important compounds involved in human body functions. The incorporation of Chlorella or Spirulina in the formulation allows for the production of breadsticks classed as "high in iron and selenium food" and more stable in colour and texture.Uribe-Wandurraga, ZN.; Igual Ramo, M.; García-Segovia, P.; Martínez Monzó, J. (2019). Effect of microalgae addition on mineral content, colour and mechanical properties of breadsticks. Food & Function. 10(8):4685-4692. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9fo00286cS46854692108Volk, R.-B. (2008). A newly developed assay for the quantitative determination of antimicrobial (anticyanobacterial) activity of both hydrophilic and lipophilic test compounds without any restriction. Microbiological Research, 163(2), 161-167. doi:10.1016/j.micres.2006.03.015Ibañez, E., & Cifuentes, A. (2013). Benefits of using algae as natural sources of functional ingredients. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 93(4), 703-709. doi:10.1002/jsfa.6023Borowitzka, M. A. (2013). High-value products from microalgae—their development and commercialisation. Journal of Applied Phycology, 25(3), 743-756. doi:10.1007/s10811-013-9983-9J. A. C. Costa and M. G.Morais , in Fermentation Process Engineering in the Food Industry , ed. C. R. Soccoll , A. Pandey and C. Larroche , CRC press, Taylor & Francis Group , Boca Raton, FL , 2013 , ch. 16, pp. 405–428Soni, R. A., Sudhakar, K., & Rana, R. S. (2017). Spirulina – From growth to nutritional product: A review. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 69, 157-171. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2017.09.010Batista, A. P., Gouveia, L., Bandarra, N. M., Franco, J. M., & Raymundo, A. (2013). Comparison of microalgal biomass profiles as novel functional ingredient for food products. Algal Research, 2(2), 164-173. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2013.01.004Batista, A. P., Nunes, M. C., Fradinho, P., Gouveia, L., Sousa, I., Raymundo, A., & Franco, J. M. (2012). Novel foods with microalgal ingredients – Effect of gel setting conditions on the linear viscoelasticity of Spirulina and Haematococcus gels. Journal of Food Engineering, 110(2), 182-189. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2011.05.044Chacón-Lee, T. L., & González-Mariño, G. E. (2010). Microalgae for «Healthy» Foods-Possibilities and Challenges. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 9(6), 655-675. doi:10.1111/j.1541-4337.2010.00132.xKadam, S. U., & Prabhasankar, P. (2010). Marine foods as functional ingredients in bakery and pasta products. Food Research International, 43(8), 1975-1980. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2010.06.007Roohinejad, S., Koubaa, M., Barba, F. J., Saljoughian, S., Amid, M., & Greiner, R. (2017). Application of seaweeds to develop new food products with enhanced shelf-life, quality and health-related beneficial properties. Food Research International, 99, 1066-1083. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2016.08.016Potter, R., Stojceska, V., & Plunkett, A. (2013). The use of fruit powders in extruded snacks suitable for Children’s diets. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 51(2), 537-544. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2012.11.015Shahbazizadeh, S., Khosravi-Darani, K., & Sohrabvandi, S. (2015). Fortification of Iranian Traditional Cookies with Spirulina platensis. Annual Research & Review in Biology, 7(3), 144-154. doi:10.9734/arrb/2015/13492W. Horwitz and G. W.Latimer , Official methods of analysis of AOAC International , 2005Fernández-Ruiz, V., Olives, A. I., Cámara, M., Sánchez-Mata, M. de C., & Torija, M. E. (2010). Mineral and Trace Elements Content in 30 Accessions of Tomato Fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.,) and Wild Relatives (Solanum pimpinellifolium L., Solanum cheesmaniae L. Riley, and Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner). Biological Trace Element Research, 141(1-3), 329-339. doi:10.1007/s12011-010-8738-6Devi, A., & Khatkar, B. S. (2016). Physicochemical, rheological and functional properties of fats and oils in relation to cookie quality: a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 53(10), 3633-3641. doi:10.1007/s13197-016-2355-0Inglett, G. E., Chen, D., & Liu, S. X. (2015). Physical properties of gluten-free sugar cookies made from amaranth–oat composites. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 63(1), 214-220. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2015.03.056Buono, S., Langellotti, A. L., Martello, A., Rinna, F., & Fogliano, V. (2014). Functional ingredients from microalgae. Food Funct., 5(8), 1669-1685. doi:10.1039/c4fo00125gMancebo, C. M., Rodriguez, P., & Gómez, M. (2016). Assessing rice flour-starch-protein mixtures to produce gluten free sugar-snap cookies. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 67, 127-132. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2015.11.045Graça, C., Fradinho, P., Sousa, I., & Raymundo, A. (2018). Impact of Chlorella vulgaris on the rheology of wheat flour dough and bread texture. LWT, 89, 466-474. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2017.11.024Bodart, M., de Peñaranda, R., Deneyer, A., & Flamant, G. (2008). Photometry and colorimetry characterisation of materials in daylighting evaluation tools. Building and Environment, 43(12), 2046-2058. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.12.006Gouveia, L., Batista, A. P., Miranda, A., Empis, J., & Raymundo, A. (2007). Chlorella vulgaris biomass used as colouring source in traditional butter cookies. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 8(3), 433-436. doi:10.1016/j.ifset.2007.03.026Batista, A. P., Niccolai, A., Fradinho, P., Fragoso, S., Bursic, I., Rodolfi, L., … Raymundo, A. (2017). Microalgae biomass as an alternative ingredient in cookies: Sensory, physical and chemical properties, antioxidant activity and in vitro digestibility. Algal Research, 26, 161-171. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2017.07.017García-Segovia, P., Pagán-Moreno, M. J., Lara, I. F., & Martínez-Monzó, J. (2017). Effect of microalgae incorporation on physicochemical and textural properties in wheat bread formulation. Food Science and Technology International, 23(5), 437-447. doi:10.1177/1082013217700259M. C. Latham , in Nutrición humana en el mundo en desarrollo , FAO , New York, USA , 2002 , ch. 10World Health Organization , Iron Deficiency Anemia: Assessment, Prevention, and Control , WHO/UNICEF/UNU , Geneva, Switzerland , 2001Rayman, M. P. (2000). The importance of selenium to human health. The Lancet, 356(9225), 233-241. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(00)02490-

Quail Genomics: a knowledgebase for Northern bobwhite

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Quail Genomics knowledgebase (<url>http://www.quailgenomics.info</url>) has been initiated to share and develop functional genomic data for Northern bobwhite (<it>Colinus virginianus</it>). This web-based platform has been designed to allow researchers to perform analysis and curate genomic information for this non-model species that has little supporting information in GenBank.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>A multi-tissue, normalized cDNA library generated for Northern bobwhite was sequenced using 454 Life Sciences next generation sequencing. The Quail Genomics knowledgebase represents the 478,142 raw ESTs generated from the sequencing effort in addition to assembled nucleotide and protein sequences including 21,980 unigenes annotated with meta-data. A normalized MySQL relational database was established to provide comprehensive search parameters where meta-data can be retrieved using functional and structural information annotation such as gene name, pathways and protein domain. Additionally, blast hit cutoff levels and microarray expression data are available for batch searches. A Gene Ontology (GO) browser from Amigo is locally hosted providing 8,825 unigenes that are putative orthologs to chicken genes. In an effort to address over abundance of Northern bobwhite unigenes (71,384) caused by non-overlapping contigs and singletons, we have built a pipeline that generates scaffolds/supercontigs by aligning partial sequence fragments against the indexed protein database of chicken to build longer sequences that can be visualized in a web browser. </p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our effort provides a central repository for storage and a platform for functional interrogation of the Northern bobwhite sequences providing comprehensive GO annotations, meta-data and a scaffold building pipeline. The Quail Genomics knowledgebase will be integrated with Japanese quail (<it>Coturnix coturnix</it>) data in future builds and incorporate a broader platform for these avian species. </p

Hypoxia induces differential translation of enolase/MBP-1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypoxic microenvironments in tumors contribute to transformation, which may alter metabolism, growth, and therapeutic responsiveness. The α-enolase gene encodes both a glycolytic enzyme (α-enolase) and a DNA-binding tumor suppressor protein, c-myc binding protein (MBP-1). These divergent α-enolase gene products play central roles in glucose metabolism and growth regulation and their differential regulation may be critical for tumor adaptation to hypoxia. We have previously shown that MBP-1 and its binding to the c-myc P₂promoter regulates the metabolic and cellular growth changes that occur in response to altered exogenous glucose concentrations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To examine the regulation of α-enolase and MBP-1 by a hypoxic microenvironment in breast cancer, MCF-7 cells were grown in low, physiologic, or high glucose under 1% oxygen. Our results demonstrate that adaptation to hypoxia involves attenuation of MBP-1 translation and loss of MBP-1-mediated regulation of c-myc transcription, evidenced by decreased MBP-1 binding to the c-myc P₂promoter. This allows for a robust increase in c-myc expression, "early c-myc response", which stimulates aerobic glycolysis resulting in tumor acclimation to oxidative stress. Increased α-enolase mRNA and preferential translation/post-translational modification may also allow for acclimatization to low oxygen, particularly under low glucose concentrations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results demonstrate that malignant cells adapt to hypoxia by modulating α-enolase/MBP-1 levels and suggest a mechanism for tumor cell induction of the hyperglycolytic state. This important "feedback" mechanism may help transformed cells to escape the apoptotic cascade, allowing for survival during limited glucose and oxygen availability.</p