Validity and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Persian Version of the Oxford Elbow Score

Oxford Elbow Score (OES) is a patient-reported questionnaire used to assess outcomes after elbow surgery. The aim of this study was to validate and adapt the OES into Persian language. After forward-backward translation of the OES into Persian, a total number of 92 patients after elbow surgeries completed the Persian OES along with the Persian DASH and SF-36. To assess test-retest reliability, 31 randomly selected patients (34%) completed the Persian OES again after three days while abstaining from all forms of therapeutic regimens. Reliability of the Persian OES was assessed by measuring intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to test the construct validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92 showing excellent reliability. Cronbach's alpha for function, pain, and social-psychological subscales was 0.95, 0.86, and 0.85, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.85 for the overall questionnaire and 0.90, 0.76, and 0.75 for function, pain, and social-psychological subscales, respectively. Construct validity was confirmed as the Spearman correlation between OES and DASH was 0.80. Persian OES is a valid and reliable patient-reported outcome measure to assess postsurgical elbow status in Persian speaking population

Export of malaria proteins requires co-translational processing of the PEXEL motif independent of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate binding

Acknowledgements We thank the Red Cross blood bank in Melbourne for human erythrocytes. We thank Svenja Gunther for expression of GBP130 66–196 proteins; Michelle Gazdik and Chris Burns for help in preparing lipids; Lachlan Whitehead (Centre for Dynamic Imaging, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) for assistance with quantification of export; and David Bocher for help with generation of STEVOR constructs. This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (grants 637406, 1010326, 1049811 and 1057960), a Ramaciotti Foundation Establishment Grant (3197/2010), a Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support and Australian Government NHMRC IRIISS, and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (MOP#130359). J.A.B is an Australian Research Council QEII Fellow, SF was supported by the Research Training Group GRK1459 of the German Research Foundation, and AFC is a Howard Hughes International Scholar.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Exploring the roles of phosphoinositides in the biology of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum est un parasite appartenant au phylum Apicomplexa et est à l’origine de la forme la plus sévère de la malaria. Dans les zones endémiques d'Afrique subsaharienne, la plupart des victimes sont des enfants de moins de cinq ans. L’entrée de P. falciparum dans sa cellule cible, le globule rouge, repose sur la sécrétion de protéines par des organites spécialisés : les micronèmes, les rhoptries et les granules denses. Les mécanismes de biogenèse de ces organites et la coordination de la libération de leur contenu lors de l'invasion sont cependant pour la plupart inconnus. Il a été toutefois été démontré que les protéines destinées à ces organites apicaux se concentrent dans des microdomaines de l’appareil de Golgi, dont la composition en lipides et en protéines détermine leur destination finale. À ce jour, les mécanismes de sélection et de transport des protéines apicales vers les organites d'invasion ainsi que leurs mécanismes de sécrétion durant l’invasion sont pour la plupart inconnus. Nous avons donc posé l’hypothèse que les phosphoinositides (PI) et leurs protéines effectrices sont impliqués dans ces processus chez P. falciparum. Les PI sont sept lipides phosphorylés retrouvés de façon minoritaire dans les différentes membranes cellulaires. Chaque membrane subcellulaire contient une espèce caractéristique de PI qui peut être reconnue et liée spécifiquement par des protéines effectrices. Une large gamme de processus biologiques sont régulés par les PI, tels le trafic vésiculaire, les canaux ioniques, les pompes d’efflux et les transporteurs, ainsi que certains processus endocytiques et exocytaires. Des études antérieures ont été en mesure de détecter seulement cinq des sept espèces de PI chez P. falciparum. Dans le cadre d’un premier projet, nous avons étudié la distribution de six PI, à savoir PI3P, PI4P, PI5P, PI (4,5)P2, PI(3,4)P2 et PI(3,4,5)P3, chez P. falciparum. Pour ce faire, nous avons exprimé chez le parasite des rapporteurs spécifiques correspondant à des domaines humains de liaison aux PI, fusionnés à une protéine fluorescente. Cette méthode nous a permis de confirmer des rapports antérieurs sur la localisation du PI3P dans la membrane de la vacuole alimentaire, dans de petites vésicules près ou sur la membrane plasmique du parasite ainsi qu’à l’apicoplaste. De plus, nous avons révélé pour la première fois la présence de PI5P chez P. falciparum et montré qu’il se localisait à la membrane plasmique, au noyau et potentiellement dans le réticulum endoplasmique de transition. Nous avons aussi montré que le PI4P est localisé dans la membrane plasmique ainsi que dans l’appareil de Golgi et que le PI(4,5)P2 est présent dans la membrane plasmique tout au long du cycle érythrocytaire. Cette carte de la distribution subcellulaire des PI constitue un excellent outil pour mieux déchiffrer les rôles de ces lipides chez le parasite P. falciparum. Dans le cadre d’un second projet, nous avons caractérisé une protéine possédant un domaine conservé chez les Apicomplexa, le domain d’homologie de la Pleckstrine, la protéine PfPH2. En utilisant la stratégie de Knock-sideways pour inactiver conditionnellement la protéine d’intérêt, nous avons montré que PfPH2 est impliquée dans l’attachement initial du mérozoite à la surface du globule rouge. Cet effet est directement lié à un défaut de sécrétion d'une population spécifique de micronèmes en l’absence de la protéine PfPH2. Enfin, nous avons mis en évidence que le domaine PH de PfPH2, lorsque exprimé sous forme de protéine recombinante, se lie aux PI avec une grande spécificité. Pris ensemble, nos résultats démontrent le rôle essentiel des PI dans le processus d’invasion et proposent un modèle mécanistique pour l'exocytose des micronèmes.Plasmodium falciparum belongs to the phylum of Apicomplexa and causes the most severe form of malaria. In endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa, most of the victims are among children under the age of five. P. falciparum relies on proteins released from sophisticated invasion organelles called micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules to enter human erythrocytes. The mechanism of biogenesis of invasion organelles and the coordinated release of their contents during invasion are mostly unknown. It has been shown that proteins targeted to the apical organelles accumulate in microdomains of the Golgi apparatus with specific lipid and protein composition that determine the final destination of their cargo. To date, the mechanisms of transport of the cargo molecules to the invasion organelles and their release mechanism are mostly unknown. We proposed that phosphoinositides (PIPs) and their effector proteins could be involved in these processes in P. falciparum. PIPs are seven minor phosphorylated lipids in cellular membranes. Each subcellular membrane contains a characteristic species of PIPs that are specifically bound by PIPinteracting proteins. A wide range of biological processes regulated by PIPs such as vesicular trafficking, ion channels, pumps, and transporters and control both endocytic and exocytic processes. Based on previous reports five out of seven PIP species have been detected in P. falciparum. In my first project, we have studied the distribution of six PIPs namely PI3P, PI4P, PI5P, PI(4,5)P2, PI(3,4)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 using expression of specific reporters made up of human PIP-binding domains fused to a fluorescent protein. Here, we have confirmed previous reports on PI3P localization to the food vacuole membrane, small vesicles close/on the parasite plasma membrane and the apicoplast. Also, we have reported for the first time the presence of PI5P in P. falciparum and showed that it localizes to the PM, nucleus and potentially transitional ER. PI4P shows localization to the PM and Golgi and PI(4,5)P2 localizes to the PM all over the erythrocytic cycle. The resulting map of the subcellular distribution of PIPs will now be a great tool to further decipher the roles of these lipids in P. falciparum, In the second project, we have characterized a Pleckstrin Homology domain-containing protein (PfPH2) conserved in all apicomplexan parasites. Using the knock sideways strategy to conditionally inactivate the protein, we show that PfPH2 is involved in an early step of the invasion process, when the merozoites initially attach to red blood cells. We further demonstrate that this is due to the abrogated secretion of a specific population of micronemes. Finally, we reveal that recombinantly expressed PfPH2 binds PIPs with a broad specificity. Taken together, our results present evidence for the role of PI in invasion and propose a mechanistic model for the exocytosis of micronemes

Explaining the Role of the Factors Affecting Electronic Loyalty in Tourism Websites

Trust is the beginning point of any relationship and a key element in trade. The relationship between buyer and seller in an online trade is not apart from this .Trusting plays an important role in attracting tourists to Iran through E-tourism. It can be used as an appropriate strategy to create competitive advantages. Therefore, the purpose of present study is to investigate the factors affecting E- trust in tourism sector. The research is descriptive and correlational. The population of this study were the users which at least once have used online tourism services and the sample size was 388 .A questionnaire was applied in order to collect the data. In addition, SPSS 16 and Amos18 were used to analyze the research data. The result showed that user characteristics and website characteristics have a positive impact on electronic trust. Thus, by identifying these factors, suggestions can be provided to increase users’ trust toward travel agencies

Comprehensive Genomic Characterization of <i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> Isolates from Infant Formula Processing Facilities Using Whole-Genome Sequencing

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen linked to outbreaks in powdered infant formula (PIF), primarily causing meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize 18 C. sakazakii strains isolated from PIF (powdered infant formula) manufacturing plants (2011–2015). Sequence Type (ST) 1 was identified as the dominant sequence type, and all isolates carried virulence genes for chemotaxis, flagellar motion, and heat shock proteins. Multiple antibiotic resistance genes were detected, with all isolates exhibiting resistance to Cephalosporins and Tetracycline. A significant correlation existed between genotypic and phenotypic antibiotic resistance. The plasmid Col(pHAD28) was identified in the isolates recovered from the same PIF environment. All isolates harbored at least one intact phage. All the study isolates were compared with a collection of 96 publicly available C. sakazakii genomes to place these isolates within a global context. This comprehensive study, integrating phylogenetic, genomic, and epidemiological data, contributes to a deeper understanding of Cronobacter outbreaks. It provides valuable insights to enhance surveillance, prevention, and control strategies in food processing and public health contexts

Identification of a new splice-acceptor mutation in HFM1 and functional analysis through molecular docking in nonobstructive azoospermia

Purpose: To investigate the genetic cause of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Methods: We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on the proband who had three relatives suffering from NOA. We used a list of candidate genes which have high expression level in testis and their mutations have been reported in NOA. Sanger sequencing verified the identified variant and its structural and functional consequence was evaluated by protein three-dimensional (3D) structure prediction and protein-ligand docking. Results: WES revealed a novel splice-acceptor mutation (c.1832-2A>T) in helicase for meiosis 1 (HFM1) gene, which co-segregated with the NOA in this family. 3D structural models were generated and verified. Molecular docking indicated that the c.1832-2A>T mutation affects not only the ADP binding residues but also the hydrogen bond interactions. The ADP binding site will be lost in the mutant protein, potentially causing defective crossover and synapsis. Conclusion: We report that the c.1832-2A>T mutation is the likely cause of NOA in the family studied. Regarding that many reported NOA genes are involved in the formation of crossovers and synapsis and have critical roles in the production of germ cells, we suggest that such genes should be considered for screening of infertility among large cohorts of infertile individuals

Risk of stroke in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients: A multinational study

Background: There is an increased attention to stroke following SARS-CoV-2. The goal of this study was to better depict the short-term risk of stroke and its associated factors among SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized patients