5,927 research outputs found
Mental Disorder in Children with Physical Conditions: a Pilot Study
OBJECTIVES: Methodologically, to assess the feasibility of participant recruitment and retention, as well as missing data in studying mental disorder among children newly diagnosed with chronic physical conditions (ie, multimorbidity). Substantively, to examine the prevalence of multimorbidity, identify sociodemographic correlates and model the influence of multimorbidity on changes in child quality of life and parental psychosocial outcomes over a 6-month follow-up.
DESIGN: Prospective pilot study.
SETTING: Two children\u27s tertiary-care hospitals.
PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 6-16 years diagnosed in the past 6âmonths with one of the following: asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, food allergy or juvenile arthritis, and their parents.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Response, participation and retention rates. Child mental disorder using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview at baseline and 6âmonths. Child quality of life, parental symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, and family functioning. All outcomes were parent reported.
RESULTS: Response, participation and retention rates were 90%, 83% and 88%, respectively. Of the 50 children enrolled in the study, the prevalence of multimorbidity was 58% at baseline and 42% at 6âmonths. No sociodemographic characteristics were associated with multimorbidity. Multimorbidity at baseline was associated with declines over 6âmonths in the following quality of life domains: physical well-being, β=-4.82 (-8.47, -1.17); psychological well-being, β=-4.10 (-7.62, -0.58) and school environment, β=-4.17 (-8.18, -0.16). There was no association with parental psychosocial outcomes over time.
CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary evidence suggests that mental disorder in children with a physical condition is very common and has a negative impact on quality of life over time. Based on the strong response rate and minimal attrition, our approach to study child multimorbidity appears feasible and suggests that multimorbidity is an important concern for families. Methodological and substantive findings from this pilot study have been used to implement a larger, more definitive study of child multimorbidity, which should lead to important clinical implications
Campylobacter jejuni 11168H exposed to penicillin forms persister cells and cells with altered redox protein activity
The formation of persister cells is one mechanism by which bacteria can survive exposure to environmental stresses. We show that Campylobacter jejuni 11168H forms persister cells at a frequency of 10â3 after exposure to 100 Ă MIC of penicillin G for 24 h. Staining the cell population with a redox sensitive fluorescent dye revealed that penicillin G treatment resulted in the appearance of a population of cells with increased fluorescence. We present evidence, to show this could be a consequence of increased redox protein activity in, or associated with, the electron transport chain. These data suggest that a population of penicillin G treated C. jejuni cells could undergo a remodeling of the electron transport chain in order to moderate membrane hyperpolarization and intracellular alkalization; thus reducing the antibiotic efficacy and potentially assisting in persister cell formation
Next Generation Very Large Array Memo No. 6, Science Working Group 1: The Cradle of Life
This paper discusses compelling science cases for a future long-baseline
interferometer operating at millimeter and centimeter wavelengths, like the
proposed Next Generation Vary Large Array (ngVLA). We report on the activities
of the Cradle of Life science working group, which focused on the formation of
low- and high-mass stars, the formation of planets and evolution of
protoplanetary disks, the physical and compositional study of Solar System
bodies, and the possible detection of radio signals from extraterrestrial
civilizations. We propose 19 scientific projects based on the current
specification of the ngVLA. Five of them are highlighted as possible Key
Science Projects: (1) Resolving the density structure and dynamics of the
youngest HII regions and high-mass protostellar jets, (2) Unveiling
binary/multiple protostars at higher resolution, (3) Mapping planet formation
regions in nearby disks on scales down to 1 AU, (4) Studying the formation of
complex molecules, and (5) Deep atmospheric mapping of giant planets in the
Solar System. For each of these projects, we discuss the scientific importance
and feasibility. The results presented here should be considered as the
beginning of a more in-depth analysis of the science enabled by such a
facility, and are by no means complete or exhaustive.Comment: 51 pages, 12 figures, 1 table. For more information visit
https://science.nrao.edu/futures/ngvl
Let\u27s talk about antibiotics: A randomised trial of two interventions to reduce antibiotic misuse
BACKGROUND: Children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) receive â11.4 million unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions annually. A noted contributor is inadequate parent-clinician communication, however, efforts to reduce overprescribing have only indirectly targeted communication or been impractical.
OBJECTIVES: Compare two feasible (higher vs lower intensity) interventions for enhancing parent-clinician communication on the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
DESIGN: Multisite, parallel group, cluster randomised comparative effectiveness trial. Data collected between March 2017 and March 2019.
SETTING: Academic and private practice outpatient clinics.
PARTICIPANTS: Clinicians (n=41, 85% of eligible approached) and 1599 parent-child dyads (ages 1-5 years with ARTI symptoms, 71% of eligible approached).
INTERVENTIONS: All clinicians received 20 min ARTI diagnosis and treatment education. Higher intensity clinicians received an additional 50 min communication skills training. All parents viewed a 90 second antibiotic education video.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Inappropriate antibiotic treatment was assessed via blinded medical record review by study clinicians and a priori defined as prescriptions for the wrong diagnosis or use of the wrong agent. Secondary outcomes were revisits, adverse drug reactions (both assessed 2âweeks after the visit) and parent ratings of provider communication, shared decision-making and visit satisfaction (assessed at end of the visit on Likert-type scales).
RESULTS: Most clinicians completed the study (n=38, 93%), were doctors (n=25, 66%), female (n=30, 78%) and averaged 8 years in practice. All parent-child dyad provided data for the main outcome (n=855 (54%) male, n=1043 (53%)
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Rate of inappropriate prescribing was low in both arms. Clinician education coupled with parent education may be sufficient to yield low inappropriate antibiotic prescribing rates. The absence of a significant difference between groups indicates that communication principles previously thought to drive inappropriate prescribing may need to be re-examined or may not have as much of an impact in practices where prescribing has improved in recent years.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03037112
The Deconfinement Phase Transition in One-Flavour QCD
We present a study of the deconfinement phase transition of one-flavour QCD,
using the multiboson algorithm. The mass of the Wilson fermions relevant for
this study is moderately large and the non-hermitian multiboson method is a
superior simulation algorithm. Finite size scaling is studied on lattices of
size , and . The behaviours of the
peak of the Polyakov loop susceptibility, the deconfinement ratio and the
distribution of the norm of the Polyakov loop are all characteristic of a
first-order phase transition for heavy quarks. As the quark mass decreases, the
first-order transition gets weaker and turns into a crossover. To investigate
finite size scaling on larger spatial lattices we use an effective action in
the same universality class as QCD. This effective action is constructed by
replacing the fermionic determinant with the Polyakov loop identified as the
most relevant Z(3) symmetry breaking term. Higher-order effects are
incorporated in an effective Z(3)-breaking field, , which couples to the
Polyakov loop. Finite size scaling determines the value of where the first
order transition ends. Our analysis at the end - point, , indicates
that the effective model and thus QCD is consistent with the universality class
of the three dimensional Ising model.
Matching the field strength at the end point, , to the
values used in the dynamical quark simulations we estimate the end point,
, of the first-order phase transition. We find which corresponds to a quark mass of about 1.4 GeV .Comment: LaTex, 25 pages, 18 figure
Multiplex Detection and SNP Genotyping in a Single Fluorescence Channel
Probe-based PCR is widely used for SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) genotyping and pathogen nucleic acid detection due to its simplicity, sensitivity and cost-effectiveness. However, the multiplex capability of hydrolysis probe-based PCR is normally limited to one target (pathogen or allele) per fluorescence channel. Current fluorescence PCR machines typically have 4â6 channels. We present a strategy permitting the multiplex detection of multiple targets in a single detection channel. The technique is named Multiplex Probe Amplification (MPA). Polymorphisms of the CYP2C9 gene (cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily C, polypeptide 9, CYP2C9*2) and human papillomavirus sequences HPV16, 18, 31, 52 and 59 were chosen as model targets for testing MPA. The allele status of the CYP2C9*2 determined by MPA was entirely concordant with the reference TaqManÂŽ SNP Genotyping Assays. The four HPV strain sequences could be independently detected in a single fluorescence detection channel. The results validate the multiplex capacity, the simplicity and accuracy of MPA for SNP genotyping and multiplex detection using different probes labeled with the same fluorophore. The technique offers a new way to multiplex in a single detection channel of a closed-tube PCR
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Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 on College Campuses: Initial Efforts, Lessons Learned, and Research Needs
Wastewater surveillance for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging approach to help identify the risk of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This tool can contribute to public health surveillance at both community (wastewater treatment system) and institutional (e.g., colleges, prisons, and nursing homes) scales. This paper explores the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from initial wastewater surveillance efforts at colleges and university systems to inform future research, development and implementation. We present the experiences of 25 college and university systems in the United States that monitored campus wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 during the fall 2020 academic period. We describe the broad range of approaches, findings, resources, and impacts from these initial efforts. These institutions range in size, social and political geographies, and include both public and private institutions. Our analysis suggests that wastewater monitoring at colleges requires consideration of local information needs, sewage infrastructure, resources for sampling and analysis, college and community dynamics, approaches to interpretation and communication of results, and follow-up actions. Most colleges reported that a learning process of experimentation, evaluation, and adaptation was key to progress. This process requires ongoing collaboration among diverse stakeholders including decision-makers, researchers, faculty, facilities staff, students, and community members
High-Risk Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Women in the Bahamas
Background\ud
\ud
High-risk (HR) HPV genotypes other than 16 and 18 have been detected in a significant proportion of immunocompromised females. We aim to evaluate the frequency of HR HPV genotypes in a population of HIV-positive Caribbean women.\ud
Methods\ud
\ud
One hundred sixty-seven consecutive, non-pregnant, HIV-positive females âĽ18 years were recruited in this study. Each participant received a vaginal examination, PAP smear, and completed a questionnaire. DNA was extracted for HPV testing in 86 patients.\ud
Results\ud
\ud
Mean age was 39.1 years for women positive for HR HPV and 43.1 years for women negative for HR HPV (P value = 0.040). 78% (130/167) of the women had HR HPV infections; the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology was 38% among women who were HR HPV-positive compared to women who were HR HPV-negative (22%). Fifty-one percent of the 86 women with available genotype carried infections with HPV 16 and/or HPV 18; genotypes of unknown risk were also frequently observed. Women who had a CD4+ count of â¤200 had 7 times increased odds of carrying HR HPV infection in comparison to women with CD4+>200.\ud
Conclusions\ud
\ud
HR HPV infections in HIV infected females may consist of more than just HPV 16 and 18, but also HPV 52 and 58. Further studies are needed to determine whether HPV 52 and 58 play a significant role in the development of cervical cytological abnormalities in HIV+ women
Assessing the format and content of journal published and non-journal published rapid review reports : A comparative study
BACKGROUND: As production of rapid reviews (RRs) increases in healthcare, knowing how to efficiently convey RR evidence to various end-users is important given they are often intended to directly inform decision-making. Little is known about how often RRs are produced in the published or unpublished domains, and what and how information is structured. OBJECTIVES: To compare and contrast report format and content features of journal-published (JP) and non-journal published (NJP) RRs. METHODS: JP RRs were identified from key databases, and NJP RRs were identified from a grey literature search of 148 RR producing organizations and were sampled proportionate to cluster size by organization and product type to match the JP RR group. We extracted and formally compared 'how' (i.e., visual arrangement) and 'what' information was presented. RESULTS: We identified 103 RRs (52 JP and 51 NJP) from 2016. A higher percentage of certain features were observed in JP RRs compared to NJP RRs (e.g., reporting authors; use of a traditional journal article structure; section headers including abstract, methods, discussion, conclusions, acknowledgments, conflict of interests, and author contributions; and use of figures (e.g., Study Flow Diagram) in the main document). For NJP RRs, a higher percentage of features were observed (e.g., use non-traditional report structures; bannering of executive summary sections and appendices; use of typographic cues; and including outcome tables). NJP RRs were more than double in length versus JP RRs. Including key messages was uncommon in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This comparative study highlights differences between JP and NJP RRs. Both groups may benefit from better use of plain language, and more clear and concise design. Alternative innovative formats and end-user preferences for content and layout should be studied further with thought given to other considerations to ensure better packaging of RR results to facilitate uptake into policy and practice. STUDY REGISTRATION: The full protocol is available at: https://osf.io/29xvk/
Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay
channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7
TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector,
and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No
significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper
limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the
standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at
95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE
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