Functional and genetic analysis of regulatory regions of coliphage H-19B: location of shiga-like toxin and lysis genes suggest a role for phage functions in toxin release

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74784/1/j.1365-2958.1998.00890.x.pd

The numerical simulation of the noncharring pyrolysis process and fire development within a compartment

A pyrolysis model for noncharring solid fuels is presented in this paper. Model predictions are compared with experimental data for the mass loss rates of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and very good agreement is achieved. Using a three-dimensional CFD environment, the pyrolysis model is then coupled with a gas-phase combustion model and a thermal radiation model to simulate fire development within a small compartment. The numerical predictions produced by this coupled model are found to be in very good agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, numerical predictions of the relationship between the air entrained into the fire compartment and the ventilation factor produce a characteristic post-flashover linear correlation with constant of proportionality 0.38 kg/sm5=2. The simulation results also suggest that the model is capable of predicting the onset of "flashover" and "post-flashover" type behaviour within the fire compartment

Suplementação da Silagem de Sorgo com Diferentes Fontes de Proteína para Bovinos de Corte Supplementation of Sorghum Silage with Different Sources of Protein for Beef Cattle

Farelo de soja (FS), farinha de penas (FPH) e farelo de soja tratado (FST) com 0,17% de formaldeído foram utilizados como suplementos à silagem de sorgo para avaliar os seus efeitos sobre o consumo, o desempenho e a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes em bovinos machos. O tratamento do farelo de soja com formaldeído não diferiu do farelo de soja não tratado para todos os ítens estudados. Por outro lado, a farinha de penas apresentou menores coeficientes de digestibilidade para a MS, MO, PB, FDN e FDA (63,0; 64,9; 61,80; 56,4; e 50,9% versus 65,1; 67,0; 66,8; 58,5; e 53,6% do FS e 66,7; 68,7; 67,2; 61,9; e 57,5% do FST, respectivamente), além de propiciar menor consumo de energia metabolizável por unidade de tamanho metabólico (214 kcal/UTM para a FPH, 234 kcal/UTM para o FS e de 240 kcal/UTM para o FST). Mesmo com estas diferenças nos parâmetros acima mencionados, não foi possível detectar diferenças para o ganho de peso dos animais, de 1,5; 1,6 e 1,7 kg/dia para FPH, FS e FST, respectivamente.<br>Soybean meal (SBM), feather meal (FTM) and treated soybean meal (TSBM) with 0.17% of formaldehyde were used as supplement of sorghum silage to evaluate the effect on intake, performance and nutrient digestibilities with young bulls. Treatment of soybean meal with formaldehyde did not differ from soybean not treated, for all studied parameters. Feather meal supplement presented lower digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF (63.0, 65.5, 61.8, 56.4, and 50.9%, versus 65.1, 67.0, 66.8, 58.5, and 53.6% for soybean meal and 66.7, 68.7, 67.2, 61.9 and 57.5% for treated soybean meal, respectively). It also showed lower metabolizable energy intake by unit of metabolic weight (214 kcal/MW for FTM, 234 kcal/MW for SBM and 240 kcal/MW for TSBM). Even if differences were observed for all parameters, it was not possible to detect differences in live weight gain (1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 kg/d for FTM, SBM and TSBM)

Aldosterone and cardiovascular risk.

Through its classic effects on sodium and potassium homeostasis, aldosterone, when produced in excess, is associated with the development of hypertension and hence with higher cardiovascular and renal risk. In recent years, experimental and epidemiologic data have suggested that aldosterone also may be linked to high cardiovascular risk independently of its effects on blood pressure. Thus, aldosterone has been associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in selected populations, and these associations may further contribute to the higher cardiovascular risk of subjects with elevated aldosterone levels. Moreover, aldosterone has been reported to promote inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in a number of tissues. Clinical evidence indicates that patients with primary hyperaldosteronism have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular and renal complications than patients with essential hypertension who have the same level of blood pressure. Aldosterone receptor blockade has been shown to lower cardiovascular mortality after myocardial infarction and in patients with congestive heart failure. Some studies have also demonstrated that aldosterone blockade could have a favorable impact on the progression of renal disease. However, prospective interventional trials are needed to further evaluate the impact of blockade of aldosterone on cardiovascular risk

Characterization of Myocardial Injury in Patients With COVID-19

Background: Myocardial injury is frequent among patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and is associated with a poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms of myocardial injury remain unclear and prior studies have not reported cardiovascular imaging data. Objectives: This study sought to characterize the echocardiographic abnormalities associated with myocardial injury and their prognostic impact in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted an international, multicenter cohort study including 7 hospitals in New York City and Milan of hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who had undergone transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) and electrocardiographic evaluation during their index hospitalization. Myocardial injury was defined as any elevation in cardiac troponin at the time of clinical presentation or during the hospitalization. Results: A total of 305 patients were included. Mean age was 63 years and 205 patients (67.2%) were male. Overall, myocardial injury was observed in 190 patients (62.3%). Compared with patients without myocardial injury, those with myocardial injury had more electrocardiographic abnormalities, higher inflammatory biomarkers and an increased prevalence of major echocardiographic abnormalities that included left ventricular wall motion abnormalities, global left ventricular dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction grade II or III, right ventricular dysfunction and pericardial effusions. Rates of in-hospital mortality were 5.2%, 18.6%, and 31.7% in patients without myocardial injury, with myocardial injury without TTE abnormalities, and with myocardial injury and TTE abnormalities. Following multivariable adjustment, myocardial injury with TTE abnormalities was associated with higher risk of death but not myocardial injury without TTE abnormalities. Conclusions: Among patients with COVID-19 who underwent TTE, cardiac structural abnormalities were present in nearly two-thirds of patients with myocardial injury. Myocardial injury was associated with increased in-hospital mortality particularly if echocardiographic abnormalities were present

Towards tuberculosis elimination: an action framework for low-incidence countries

This paper describes an action framework for countries with low tuberculosis (TB) incidence (<100 TB cases per million population) that are striving for TB elimination. The framework sets out priority interventions required for these countries to progress first towards "pre-elimination" (<10 cases per million) and eventually the elimination of TB as a public health problem (less than one case per million). TB epidemiology in most low-incidence countries is characterised by a low rate of transmission in the general population, occasional outbreaks, a majority of TB cases generated from progression of latent TB infection (LTBI) rather than local transmission, concentration to certain vulnerable and hard-to-reach risk groups, and challenges posed by cross-border migration. Common health system challenges are that political commitment, funding, clinical expertise and general awareness of TB diminishes as TB incidence falls. The framework presents a tailored response to these challenges, grouped into eight priority action areas: 1) ensure political commitment, funding and stewardship for planning and essential services; 2) address the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups; 3) address special needs of migrants and cross-border issues; 4) undertake screening for active TB and LTBI in TB contacts and selected high-risk groups, and provide appropriate treatment; 5) optimise the prevention and care of drug-resistant TB; 6) ensure continued surveillance, programme monitoring and evaluation and case-based data management; 7) invest in research and new tools; and 8) support global TB prevention, care and control. The overall approach needs to be multisectorial, focusing on equitable access to high-quality diagnosis and care, and on addressing the social determinants of TB. Because of increasing globalisation and population mobility, the response needs to have both national and global dimensions