Transparent reporting of recruitment and informed consent approaches in clinical trials recruiting children with minor parents in sub-Saharan Africa: a secondary analysis based on a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Standardised checklists of items to be addressed in clinical study protocols and publications are promoting transparency in research. However, particular specifications for exceptional cases, such as children with minor parents are missing. This study aimed to examine the level of transparency regarding recruitment and informed consent approaches in publications of clinical trials recruiting children with minor parents in sub-Saharan Africa. We thereby focused particularly on the transparency about consenting persons (i.e. proxy decision-makers) and assessed the need to expand reporting guidelines for such exceptional cases. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of clinical trial publications previously identified through a systematic review. Multiple scientific databases were searched up to March 2019. Clinical trial publications addressing consent and potentially recruiting children with minor parents in sub-Saharan Africa were included. 44 of the in total 4382 screened articles met our inclusion criteria. A descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: None of the included articles provided full evidence on whether any recruited children had minor parents and how consent was obtained for them. Four proxy decision-maker types were identified (parents; parents or guardians; guardians; or caregivers), with further descriptions provided rarely and mostly in referenced clinical trial registrations or protocols. Also, terminology describing proxy decision-makers was often used inconsistently. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting the minimum maternal age alongside maternal data provided in baseline demographics can increase transparency on the recruitment of children with minor mothers. The CONSORT checklist should require clinical trial publications to state or reference exceptional informed consent procedures applied for special population groups. A standardized definition of proxy decision-maker types in international clinical trial guidelines would facilitate correct and transparent informed consent for children and children with minor parents. STUDY REGISTRATION: CRD42018074220

STUDIES REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION OF POTATO VIRUS Y (PVY) TROUGH SEVERAL MECHANICAL MEANS

The aim of this studies was to investigate the transmission of PVY strains PVYo, PVYN, PVYNTN, via tuber cutting and plant treated in susceptible cultivars. For the tuber cutting experiment, after one infected tuber was cut with a knife, four uninfected tubers were cut sequentially with the same instrument without disinfecting it between the cuts. In the other experiments, the virus transmission from infected to healthy plants was made by bouncing, brushing, hammering, squeezing and carborundum rubbing treatments. These treatments allowed exchange of sap between the healthy and infected material. Results revelead that seed cutting did not transmit the pathogen, whereas the other plant treatments caused varying level of PVY transmission, depending on the experiments variant. Plant bouncing was the least effective whereas hammering was the most effective variant

BENEFICIALTREATMENTS ON PVX AND PVY INFECTED POTATO(SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) PLANTS

This study presents the efficiency of some combined techniques (chemo- and electrotherapy) in decreasing the infection level of PVY and PVX infected plants (cv. Roclas). The infected plantlets were exposed to 100 mA for 5, 10 and 20 minutes (electrotherapy), washed, divided into single node cuttings and multiplied in vitro. Chemotherapy was undertaken with ribavirin (RBV) and oseltamivir (OSMV). Solanum tuberosum L.plantlets regenerated were removed from the culture medium, acclimated in green house. The survivor plants were indexed (DAS ELISA, Bioreba, Switzerland). Distinguished virus elimination rates were obtained for all the material infected, using the most severe variants of electrotherapy (100mA/10minutes; 100mA/20 minutes). The highest values were registered in case of PVX infected material

THE EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF DIETARY FIBER IN WHITE BEAN OVER THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND SENSORY QUALITIES OF WHITE BREAD

The study aims to trace the influence of addition dietary fibres of white beans over technological and sensory properties of white bread. White beans, in the form of flour has been added due to high dietary fiber content, thus aiming to achieve a functional product with superior properties for people with digestive problems, those who are prone to diabetes, healing colon and prevent constipation operation, reduces the risk of colon cancer, reduce the risk of breast cancer, reduce the risk of obesity, reduce installation cholesterol levels and hepatic cholesterol synthesis etc. Bean flour is added to the dough stage (in percentage) of 3, 5, 7 and 10 percent of the mass of the flour used, obtaining four types of bread to which they are determined through a series of physical-chemical indices and sensory as well as volume, porosity, humidity, acidity, smell, yield, taste, color etc

Total phenolic content in several potato cultivars (Brasov, 2015-2016)

Potato tubers are a valuable source of bioactive nutrients such starch, amino-acids, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals and phenolic compounds. Some of these phenolics could have beneficial effects on humans health. The present study evaluated the total phenolic compounds (TPC) in skin and flesh of thirty potato genotypes grown in Brasov trials, over two years. Lower levels of TPC were found in the flesh than in the skin of the tubers. Blue varieties Salad Blue had the highest values for all parameters excepting the TPC in flesh which was higher in the genotype Blue Purple of Galanesti. For TPC, maximum values find in flesh and skin tissue were 3.76 and 10.79 mg / gallic acid equivalents (values reported on dry weight)

EFFECTS OF SUCROSE MEDIUM CONTENT AND STERILANT TREATMENT ON MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF SWEET POTATO CULTURES INITIATED IN VITRO

The main objective of this study was finding solutions for reducing the level of microbial contamination occurred during in vitro cultivation of sweet potato introduced from the ex vitro environment. For this purpose, growth medium variants with different concentrations of sucrose (20 g/L, 30 g/L and 40 g/L) were tested as well as different periods of time during the biological material was in contact with the sterilizing agent: 70% ethanol for 3, 4 and 5 minutes followed by 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution for 10, 13 and 16 minutes respectively. Culture medium variants with a sucrose content of 20 g/L and 30 g/L combined with an explants sterilant treatment in 70% ethanol for 4 minutes followed by 1% NaClO for 13 minutes were the most effective in reducing the percentage of microbial contamination

A four-helix bundle stores copper for methane oxidation

Methane-oxidising bacteria (methanotrophs) require large quantities of copper for the membrane-bound (particulate) methane monooxygenase (pMMO). Certain methanotrophs are also able to switch to using the iron-containing soluble MMO (sMMO) to catalyse methane oxidation, with this switchover regulated by copper. MMOs are Nature’s primary biological mechanism for suppressing atmospheric levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Furthermore, methanotrophs and MMOs have enormous potential in bioremediation and for biotransformations producing bulk and fine chemicals, and in bioenergy, particularly considering increased methane availability from renewable sources and hydraulic fracturing of shale rock. We have discovered and characterised a novel copper storage protein (Csp1) from the methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b that is exported from the cytosol, and stores copper for pMMO. Csp1 is a tetramer of 4-helix bundles with each monomer binding up to 13 Cu(I) ions in a previously unseen manner via mainly Cys residues that point into the core of the bundle. Csp1 is the first example of a protein that stores a metal within an established protein-folding motif. This work provides a detailed insight into how methanotrophs accumulate copper for the oxidation of methane. Understanding this process is essential if the wide-ranging biotechnological applications of methanotrophs are to be realised. Cytosolic homologues of Csp1 are present in diverse bacteria thus challenging the dogma that such organisms do not use copper in this location

THE INCIDENCE OF POTATO VIRUS Y (NECROTIC STRAINS) IN SEED POTATO GROWN IN SEVERAL ROMANIAN COUNTIES (PRELIMINARY STUDIES)

Protective measures of culture against Potato Virus Y necrotic strains (PVYN) infections, diagnosis and control of this pathogen play an important role in potato seed production technology and multiplication. Also, the choice of resistant varieties to the PVYN infection could be one of the measures recommended for farmers and producers. Surveys during 2 years (2014, 2015), in five main seed potato growing areas of Romania (Brasov, Covasna, Harghita, Cluj, Suceava), for 10 varieties (Christian, Roclas., Riviera, Carrera, Bellarosa, Jelly, Desiree, Red Fantasy, Hermes and Red Lady), revelead significant differences in PVYN incidence.The tests confirmed the PVYN presence in all the regions, with high prevalence of this virus especially for the cultivars Hermes and Carrera and very low spread for for the cultivars the cultivars the cultivars the cultivars the cultivars the cultivars Riviera and Christian

Cardiac fibrosis can be attenuated by blocking the activity of transglutaminase 2 using a selective small-molecule inhibitor

Cardiac fibrosis is implicit in all forms of heart disease but there are no effective treatments. In this report, we investigate the role of the multi-functional enzyme Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in cardiac fibrosis and assess its potential as a therapeutic target. Here we describe the use a highly selective TG2 small-molecule inhibitor to test the efficacy of TG2 inhibition as an anti-fibrotic therapy for heart failure employing two different in vivo models of cardiac fibrosis: Progressively induced interstitial cardiac fibrosis by pressure overload using angiotensin II infusion: Acutely induced focal cardiac fibrosis through myocardial infarction by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (AMI model). In the AMI model, in vivo MRI showed that the TG2 inhibitor 1–155 significantly reduced infarct size by over 50% and reduced post-infarct remodelling at 20 days post insult. In both models, Sirius red staining for collagen deposition and levels of the TG2-mediated protein crosslink ε(γ-glutamyl)lysine were significantly reduced. No cardiac rupture or obvious signs of toxicity were observed. To provide a molecular mechanism for TG2 involvement in cardiac fibrosis, we show that both TGFβ1-induced transition of cardiofibroblasts into myofibroblast-like cells and TGFβ1- induced EndMT, together with matrix deposition, can be attenuated by the TG2 selective inhibitor 1–155, suggesting a new role for TG2 in regulating TGFβ1 signalling in addition to its role in latent TGFβ1 activation. In conclusion, TG2 has a role in cardiac fibrosis through activation of myofibroblasts and matrix deposition. TG2 inhibition using a selective small-molecule inhibitor can attenuate cardiac fibrosis

Spectroscopic and Mechanistic Studies of Heterodimetallic Forms of Metallo-β-lactamase NDM-1

In an effort to characterize the roles of each metal ion in metallo-β-lactamase NDM-1, heterodimetallic analogues (CoCo-, ZnCo-, and CoCd-) of the enzyme were generated and characterized. UV–vis, 1H NMR, EPR, and EXAFS spectroscopies were used to confirm the fidelity of the metal substitutions, including the presence of a homogeneous, heterodimetallic cluster, with a single-atom bridge. This marks the first preparation of a metallo-β-lactamase selectively substituted with a paramagnetic metal ion, Co(II), either in the Zn1 (CoCd-NDM-1) or in the Zn2 site (ZnCo-NDM-1), as well as both (CoCo-NDM-1). We then used these metal-substituted forms of the enzyme to probe the reaction mechanism, using steady-state and stopped-flow kinetics, stopped-flow fluorescence, and rapid-freeze-quench EPR. Both metal sites show significant effects on the kinetic constants, and both paramagnetic variants (CoCd- and ZnCo-NDM-1) showed significant structural changes on reaction with substrate. These changes are discussed in terms of a minimal kinetic mechanism that incorporates all of the data