Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for rapid identification of mold and yeast cultures of Penicillium marneffei

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Isolation and characterization of dromedary camel coronavirus UAE-HKU23 from dromedaries of the Middle East: minimal serological cross-reactivity between MERS coronavirus and dromedary camel coronavirus UAE-HKU23

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Data Analytic Framework on Student Participation in Generic Competence Development Activities

202210 bcchAuthor’s OriginalOthersUGC/FDS24/E09/20Publishe

Emergence in China of human disease due to avian influenza A(H10N8) - Cause for concern?

In December 2013, China reported the first human case of avian influenza A(H10N8). A 73-year-old female with chronic diseases who had visited a live poultry market succumbed with community-acquired pneumonia. While human infections with avian influenza viruses are usually associated with subtypes prevalent in poultries, A(H10N8) isolates were mostly found in migratory birds and only recently in poultries. Although not possible to predict whether this single intrusion by A(H10N8) is an accident or the start of another epidemic like the preceding A(H7N9) and A(H5N1), several features suggest that A(H10N8) is a potential threat to humans. Recombinant H10 could attach to human respiratory epithelium, and A(H10N4) virus could cause severe infections in minks and chickens. A(H10N8) viruses contain genetic markers for mammalian adaptation and virulence in the haemagglutinin (A135T, S138A[H3 numbering]), M1(N30D, T215A), NS1(P42S) and PB2(E627K) protein. Studies on this human A(H10N8) isolate will reveal its adaptability to humans. Clinicians should alert the laboratory to test for A(H5,6,7,9,10) viruses in patients with epidemiological exposure in endemic geographical areas especially when human influenza A(H1,3) and B are negative. Vigilant virological and serological surveillance for A(H10N8) in human, poultry and wild bird is important for following the trajectory of this emerging influenza virus

Analysis of multilocus sequence typing schemes for 35 different bacteria revealed that gene loci of 10 bacteria could be replaced to improve cost-effectiveness

Although multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has been widely used for bacterial typing, the contribution of the gene loci to the discriminatory power of each MLST scheme is unknown. We analyzed the discriminatory powers of 36 MLST schemes using all combinations of the 7 loci and contributions of each locus to the schemes. In 10 schemes, sequencing 6 loci can achieve the discriminatory powers of 7 loci. For the other 26 schemes, the median marginal increase in discriminatory power when 7 instead of 6 loci were used is 0.0004. Sequencing the 7 loci of 50 strains each of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii revealed that the discriminatory power for P. aeruginosa was 0.9861 when either 6 (without trp) or 7 loci were used and that for A. baumannii was 0.9363 when 5, 6, or 7 loci were used. Genes that have no additional or minimal contribution to the overall discriminatory powers should be replaced. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Feasibility, acceptability and utility of an e-cardiovascular risk platform among physicians and patients in the primary care setting

Poster Session 1: Other Themes: P1-542link_to_OA_fulltextIEA World Congress of Epidemiology, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, 7-11 August 2011. In Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 2011, v. 65 n. Suppl. 1, p. A216-A217, abstract no. P1-54

Development of a multi-locus sequence typing scheme for Laribacter hongkongensis, a novel bacterium associated with freshwater fish-borne gastroenteritis and traveler's diarrhea, revealed 'pathogenic' strains

Background: In 2001, we discovered Laribacter hongkongensis, a novel genus and species, facultative anaerobic, Gram-negative, motile, urease-positive, S-shaped rod that belongs to the Neisseriaceae family. In a multi-centered prospective study, we showed that L. hongkongensis was associated with community-acquired gastroenteritis and traveler's diarrhea, with freshwater fish as the reservoir of the bacterium. L. hongkongensis is globally distributed, as travel histories from patients suggested that it is present in at least four continents, including Asia, Europe, Africa and Central America.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

A framework for scaffolding academic reflective writing in dentistry

Introduction: Being able to demonstrate reflection on clinical practice is a key competency required of undergraduate dental students and registrants alike. Academic reflective writing (ARW) is an increasingly widely used genre of writing which evidences reflective practice. ARW is complex, as students need to achieve balance from a challenging mix of personal, academic and evaluative writing. The aim of this study is to analyse four student ARW tasks from a UK Dental School in order to make recommendations regarding the systematic development of student ARW through the dental curriculum. Methods: In this study, a detailed linguistic analysis of high‐scoring examples of two first year and two fourth year ARW tasks was undertaken, complemented by comments from interviews with markers of the tasks. Results: The linguistic analysis of high‐scoring student ARW revealed five consistent reflective aspects common to all tasks, viz description, feelings, analysis, evaluation and conclusion and action planning. Entry‐level and final‐year ARW showed a different balance between reflective aspects. Markers’ expectations in the lower years were found to equate to high‐quality technical reflection, whereas markers in the higher years expected students to have shifted their perspectives to achieve critical reflection. Conclusion: Whilst this study is limited in its generalisability due to its small‐scale exploratory nature, it is hoped that the five reflective aspects, and the categories of reflection put forward here will be useful in stimulating discussion about how to scaffold the development of student ARW (and associated reflective thinking) longitudinally through the dental curriculum