Fast Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Directly from Respiratory Samples Using a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Test

The availability of simple SARS-CoV-2 detection methods is crucial to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined whether a commercial LAMP assay can reliably detect SARS-CoV-2 genomes directly in respiratory samples without having to extract nucleic acids (NA) beforehand. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS, n = 220) were tested by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and with the LAMP assay. For RT-PCR, NA were investigated. For LAMP, NA from 26 NPS in viral transport medium (VTM) were tested. The other 194 NPS were analyzed directly without prior NA extraction (140 samples in VTM; 54 dry swab samples stirred in phosphate buffered saline). Ten NPS were tested directly by LAMP using a sous-vide cooking unit. The isothermal assay demonstrated excellent specificity (100%) but moderate sensitivity (68.8%), with a positive predictive value of 1 and a negative predictive value of 0.65 for direct testing of NPS in VTM. The use of dry swabs, even without NA extraction, improved the analytical sensitivity; up to 6% of samples showed signs of inhibition. LAMP could be performed successfully with a sous-vide cooking unit. This technique is very fast, requires little laboratory resources, and can replace rapid antigen tests or verify reactive rapid tests on-site

A tale of struggles: an evaluation framework for transitioning from individually usable to community-useful online deliberation tools

In this paper, we discuss the importance of providing socio-technical support for technology-mediated public interest debates and outline the principles that need to be considered to ensure healthy and fruitful deliberation in online discussion processes. We highlight the challenge of transitioning from individually usable only to community-useful online deliberation tools and we propose a 4-layer evaluation framework for online deliberation technologies that take into consideration usability, discussion quality, debate quality, and societal context, under the prism of participants’ sensemaking. We present a new online deliberation tool (BCause), enhanced with computational aids for sensemaking support that conforms with our evaluation framework guidelines. We also present the hurdles encountered in two use case applications of BCause and reflect on the real-world challenges of deploying a novel deliberation tool within real communities

Joint Resummation for Higgs Production

We study the application of the joint resummation formalism to Higgs production via gluon-gluon fusion at the LHC, defining inverse transforms by analytic continuation. We work at next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. We find that at low Q_T the resummed Higgs Q_T distributions are comparable in the joint and pure-Q_T formalisms, with relatively small influence from threshold enhancement in this range. We find a modest (about ten percent) decrease in the inclusive cross section, relative to pure threshold resummation.Comment: 22 pages, LaTeX, 5 figures as eps file

Development and reliability of questionnaires for the assessment of diet and physical activity behaviors in a multi-country sample in Europe the Feel4Diabetes Study

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Sol–Gel Synthesis and Characterization of YSZ Nanofillers for Dental Cements at Different Temperatures

From MDPI via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2021-10-26, pub-electronic 2021-10-29Publication status: PublishedFunder: The project is co-financed by Greece and the EuropeanUnion (European Social Fund-ESF) by the Operational Program Human Resources Development,Education and Lifelong Learning 2014–2020.; Grant(s): MIS5047876Background: Yttria-stabilized zirconia nanoparticles can be applied as fillers to improve the mechanical and antibacterial properties of luting cement. The aim of this study was to synthesize yttria-stabilized zirconia nanoparticles by the sol–gel method and to investigate their composition, structure, morphology and biological properties. Methods: Nanopowders of ZrO2 7 wt% Y2O3 (nY-ZrO) were synthesized by the sol–gel method and were sintered at three different temperatures: 800, 1000 and 1200 °C, and their composition, size and morphology were investigated. The biocompatibility was investigated with human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs), while reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was evaluated through fluorescence analysis. Results: All synthesized materials were composed of tetragonal zirconia, while nanopowders sintered at 800 °C and 1000 °C additionally contained 5 and 20 wt% of the cubic phase. By increasing the calcination temperature, the crystalline size of the nanoparticles increased from 12.1 nm for nY-ZrO800 to 47.2 nm for nY-ZrO1200. Nano-sized particles with good dispersion and low agglomeration were received. Cell culture studies with human gingival fibroblasts verified the nanopowders’ biocompatibility and their ROS scavenging activity. Conclusions: the obtained sol–gel derived nanopowders showed suitable properties to be potentially used as nanofillers for dental luting cement

Conducta suicida no letal en Castellón: un estudio descriptivo y comparativo.

Treball Final de Grau en Medicina. Codi: MD1158. Curs acadèmic: 2018/2019.Background: Due to the suicidal behavior variability regarding the sociocultural values of each territory, we conducted this study to define the sociodemographic and clinical features of the patients from Castellon. The objective is to obtain deeper knowledge that facilitate the detection and implementation of effective interventions. In addition, we carried out a comparative analysis between non-lethal suicide cases (our sample) and completed suicide cases. Methods: Our sample includes every person assisted for non-lethal suicidal behavior in the Psychiatric Emergency room at Castellon’s Provincial Hospital from January 19th to February 15th, performing an 8 year follow-up. Our completed suicide sample was taken from a previous study conducted in 2018.2 Results: Our sample showed an average age of 39, with a majority of women (56.1%) and psychiatric pathology diagnosis (74.2%, mainly anxiety-depressive disorders). Most of them were being followed by a health service (81.2%, generally their GP). The most frequent suicide method was drug overdose (94.4%). After the suicide episode, only 27 patients (40.9%) attended the healthcare service they were referred to, what may explain the persistance of the suicidal behavior during the follow-up (7.7% suicidal threats and 34.5% attempts) Conclusions: Non-lethal suicidal behavior in Castellon is more frequent among young, women, and those with psychiatric disorders, using as main suicidal method drug overdose. Most of them don’t attend the health care service responsible for their follow-up. Moreover, it was found that the completed suicide profile differs from the non-lethal; it is therefore required to develop different therapeutical and preventive strategies for each one.Introducción: Dada la variabilidad en la conducta suicida según los valores socioculturales de cada territorio, realizamos este estudio para definir las características sociodemográficas y clínicas de los pacientes con comportamiento suicida no letal de nuestra provincia. Pretendemos ampliar nuestro conocimiento para facilitar la detección de individuos en riesgo e implantar intervenciones efectivas. Además, realizamos una comparativa entre las características de nuestra muestra con las de suicidio consumado. Material y métodos: La muestra incluye toda conducta suicida no letal registrada en el Hospital Provincial de Castellón entre el 19 de enero y 15 de febrero de 2009, realizándose un seguimiento hasta febrero de 2017. La muestra de suicidio consumado es tomada de un proyecto previo de 2018. Resultados: La muestra la integran mayormente individuos jóvenes (media de 39 años), de sexo femenino (56.1%), con patología psiquiátrica (74.2%, principalmente trastornos ansioso-depresivos) y en seguimiento sanitario (81.2%, predominantemente MAP (77.3%)). El método de suicidio más frecuente fue la sobreingesta medicamentosa (94.4%). Sólo 27 pacientes (40.9%) acudieron tras el episodio a los servicios de salud remitidos, facilitándose así la persistencia de la conducta durante el seguimiento (7.7% amenazas, 34.5% tentativas). Conclusiones: La conducta suicida no letal de Castellón predomina entre adultos jóvenes, de sexo femenino, con trastornos psiquiátricos, que recurren como método a la sobredosis medicamentosa e incumplen el seguimiento a posteriori. Además, se comprobó que el perfil del comportamiento suicida letal difiere de los rasgos de la conducta suicida no letal, evidenciando la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias preventivas y terapéuticas distintas entre ellos

Association of Group A Streptococcus Exposure and Exacerbations of Chronic Tic Disorders

Objective: To examine prospectively the association between group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngeal exposures and exacerbations of tics in a large multicenter population of youth with chronic tic disorders (CTD) across Europe. Methods: We followed up 715 children with CTD (age 10.7 ± 2.8 years, 76.8% boys), recruited by 16 specialist clinics from 9 countries, and followed up for 16 months on average. Tic, obsessive-compulsive symptom (OCS), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) severity was assessed during 4-monthly study visits and telephone interviews. GAS exposures were analyzed using 4 possible combinations of measures based on pharyngeal swab and serologic testing. The associations between GAS exposures and tic exacerbations or changes of tic, OC, and ADHD symptom severity were measured, respectively, using multivariate logistic regression plus multiple failure time analyses and mixed effects linear regression. Results: A total of 405 exacerbations occurred in 308 of 715 (43%) participants. The proportion of exacerbations temporally associated with GAS exposure ranged from 5.5% to 12.9%, depending on GAS exposure definition. We did not detect any significant association of any of the 4 GAS exposure definitions with tic exacerbations (odds ratios ranging between 1.006 and 1.235, all p values >0.3). GAS exposures were associated with longitudinal changes of hyperactivity-impulsivity symptom severity ranging from 17% to 21%, depending on GAS exposure definition. Conclusions: This study does not support GAS exposures as contributing factors for tic exacerbations in children with CTD. Specific workup or active management of GAS infections is unlikely to help modify the course of tics in CTD and is therefore not recommended

An Extensive Quality Control and Quality Assurance (QC/QA) Program Significantly Improves Inter-Laboratory Concordance Rates of Flow-Cytometric Minimal Residual Disease Assessment in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: An I-BFM-FLOW-Network Report

Monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) by flow cytometry (FCM) is a powerful prognostic tool for predicting outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To apply FCM-MRD in large, collaborative trials, dedicated laboratory staff must be educated to concordantly high levels of expertise and their performance quality should be continuously monitored. We sought to install a unique and comprehensive training and quality control (QC) program involving a large number of reference laboratories within the international Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (I-BFM) consortium, in order to complement the standardization of the methodology with an educational component and persistent quality control measures. Our QC and quality assurance (QA) program is based on four major cornerstones: (i) a twinning maturation program, (ii) obligatory participation in external QA programs (spiked sample send around, United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS)), (iii) regular participation in list-mode-data (LMD) file ring trials (FCM data file send arounds), and (iv) surveys of independent data derived from trial results. We demonstrate that the training of laboratories using experienced twinning partners, along with continuous educational feedback significantly improves the performance of laboratories in detecting and quantifying MRD in pediatric ALL patients. Overall, our extensive education and quality control program improved inter-laboratory concordance rates of FCM-MRD assessments and ultimately led to a very high conformity of risk estimates in independent patient cohorts

European Multicentre Tics in Children Studies (EMTICS): protocol for two cohort studies to assess risk factors for tic onset and exacerbation in children and adolescents

Genetic predisposition, autoimmunity and environmental factors [e.g. pre- and perinatal difficulties, Group A Streptococcal (GAS) and other infections, stress-inducing events] might interact to create a neurobiological vulnerability to the development of tics and associated behaviours. However, the existing evidence for this relies primarily on small prospective or larger retrospective population-based studies, and is therefore still inconclusive. This article describes the design and methodology of the EMTICS study, a longitudinal observational European multicentre study involving 16 clinical centres, with the following objectives: (1) to investigate the association of environmental factors (GAS exposure and psychosocial stress, primarily) with the onset and course of tics and/or obsessive-compulsive symptoms through the prospective observation of at-risk individuals (ONSET cohort: 260 children aged 3-10 years who are tic-free at study entry and have a first-degree relative with a chronic tic disorder) and affected individuals (COURSE cohort: 715 youth aged 3-16 years with a tic disorder); (2) to characterise the immune response to microbial antigens and the host's immune response regulation in association with onset and exacerbations of tics; (3) to increase knowledge of the human gene pathways influencing the pathogenesis of tic disorders; and (4) to develop prediction models for the risk of onset and exacerbations of tic disorders. The EMTICS study is, to our knowledge, the largest prospective cohort assessment of the contribution of different genetic and environmental factors to the risk of developing tics in putatively predisposed individuals and to the risk of exacerbating tics in young individuals with chronic tic disorders