163 research outputs found
Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Children with Acute Diarrhea at Ibn Sina Medical College, Bangladesh
Backround: Infectious diarrhea is one of common cause of children diarrhea causing mortality and morbidity worldwide. This study was performed to identify the common bacteria and their antimicrobial susceptibility in children with diarrhea. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from April 2014 to March 2016 at IBN SINA Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Stool samples were cultured on MacConkey agar and blood agar. A standard biochemical procedure was used for full identification of bacterial isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done on Mueller-Hinton agar by using disc diffusion method. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20 and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 186 stool samples were tested for bacterial isolation and 55 (29.57%) cases were found to have bacterial isolates. From the total bacterial isolates, the predominant isolate was E. coli 39 (70.91%) followed by Salmonella 9 (16.36%) and Shigella Spp.7 (12.73%). As much as 84.62% E. coli were resistant to co-trimoxazole and cefuroxime while 92.31% E. coli were sensitive to amikacin and 71.79% were sensitive to cefepime and gentamicin. Salmonella were 100% sensitive to cefepime, ceftriaxone, cefixime, ceftazidime, and ciprofloxacin. Shigella were 85.71% sensitive to amikacin and cefepime. Conclusion: The results show that E. coli were the most frequently isolated pathogen in children. The majority of the bacterial isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Hence, antibiotics susceptibility test is mandatory before prescribing any antibiotics
Referral patterns to primary mental health services in Western Sydney (Australia) : an analysis of routinely collected data (2005-2018)
Background: Regionally-specific approaches to primary mental health service provision through Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have been a feature of recent national mental health reforms. No previous studies have been conducted to investigate local patterns of primary mental health care (PMHC) services in Western Sydney. This study is designed to (i) understand the socio-demographic and economic profiles (ii) examine the inequalities of service access, and (iii) investigate the service utilisation patterns, among those referred to PMHC services in Western Sydney, Australia.
Methods: This study used routinely collected PMHC data (2005â2018), population-level general practice and Medicare rebates data (2013â2018) related to mental health conditions, for the population catchment of the Western Sydney PHN. Sex- and age-specific PMHC referrals were examined by socio-demographic, diagnostic, referral- and service-level factors, and age-specific referrals to PMHC services as a percentage of total mental health encounters were investigated. Results: There were 27,897 referrals received for 20,507 clients, of which, 79.19% referrals resulted in follow-up services with 138,154 sessions. Overall, 60.09% clients were female, and median age was 31 years with interquartile ranged 16â46 years. Anxiety and depression were the predominant mental health condition, and 9.88% referred for suicidal risk. Over two-thirds of referrals started treatments during the first month of the referral and 95.1% of the total sessions were delivered by face to face. The younger age group (0â24) had greater referral opportunities as a percentage of total visits to a general practitioner and Medicare rebates, however demonstrating poor attendance rates with reduced average sessions per referral compared with older adults. Conclusion: Children and young adults were more likely to be referred to PMHC services than older adults, but were less likely to attend services. Further research is needed to identify the strategies to address these differences in access to PMHC services to/10.1186/s13033-020-00368-5 optimise the effectiveness of services
Trends in primary mental health care service use and subsequent self-harm in Western Sydney Australia : policy and workforce implications
Background: This study investigated the trends in primary mental health care (PMHC) service use and hospital-treated self-harm in Western Sydney (Australia). Methods: A data linkage study and descriptive ecological study of PMHC referrals investigated the trends in referrals, treatment attendance, hospital-treated self-harm, and health care practitioners (HCPs) for the period of 2013â2018 (n = 19,437). Results: There was a substantial increase in referrals from 2016. The majority of referrals were females (60.9%), those aged <45 years (71.3%), and those presenting with anxiety or affective disorders (78.9%). Referrals of those at risk of suicide increased from 9.7% in 2013 to17.8% in 2018. There were 264 (2.2%) cases of subsequent hospital-treated self-harm, with higher rates among those at risk of suicide and those who attended <6 sessions. The number of HCPs per referral also increased from 2013, as did waiting times for treatment initiation. Conclusion: Individuals presenting to PMHC services at risk of suicide, and who subsequently presented to a hospital setting following self-harm, were more likely to either not attend services following a referral or to attend fewer services. This trend occurred in the context of an increase in the number of clients per HCP, suggesting workforce capacity has not kept pace with demand
DrugMiner: comparative analysis of machine learning algorithms for prediction of potential druggable proteins
Abstract not availableAli Akbar Jamali, Reza Ferdousi, Saeed Razzaghi, Jiuyong Li, Reza Safdari, and Esmaeil Ebrahimi
Investigation of organic matter and biomarkers from Diepkloof Rock Shelter, South Africa: Insights into Middle Stone Age site usage and palaeoclimate
The file associated with this record is under embargo until 36 months after publication, in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. The full text may be available through the publisher links provided above.Diepkloof Rock Shelter (DRS) represents a site of major interest for reconstructing early human behaviours during the Middle Stone Age (MSA). Rock shelters such as DRS also potentially preserve information concerning the environmental context for such behaviours. In this respect the organic matter composition of rock shelter sediments has rarely been investigated in detail, particularly at the molecular level. Here, we used pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS) to systematically assess the organic matter composition of bulk sediments within the MSA and Later Stone Age (LSA) sequence at DRS. From this we sought to gain insights into site usage, taphonomy and burning practices. Additionally, we analysed the chain length distribution of leaf-wax n-alkanes as well as their hydrogen and carbon isotopic compositions (ÎŽDwax and ÎŽ13Cwax) to investigate their potential as hydroclimate and vegetation indicators. This constitutes the first leaf-wax isotopic data in a terrestrial context of this antiquity in South Africa.
Py-GC/MS shows a dichotomy between stratigraphic units (SUs) of high organic matter content, producing a range of pyrolysis products, including homologous series of long chain n-alkene/n-alkane doublets and alkyl-nitriles, and SUs of low organic matter content, dominated by aromatic, heterocyclic N and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pyrolysis products; typical molecular burning products. Several SUs of the Intermediate Howiesons Poort interval exhibit the latter composition, consistent with micromorphological evidence.
ÎŽ13Cwax remains stable throughout the MSA, but leaf-wax n-alkane chain length and ÎŽDwax increase during the Late Howiesons Poort interval. Comparison with such patterns in modern plants in the region suggests this represents a shift towards the input of more arid-adapted vegetation into the shelter, driven either by aridification at the site locale or a change in selection practices. Our results suggest that these techniques have further potential in southern Africa and globally at sites where organic matter preservation is high.Peer-reviewedPost-prin
Small nerve fiber damage and Langerhans cells in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and LADA measured by corneal confocal microscopy
Purpose: Increased corneal and epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) have been reported in patients with diabetic neuropathy. The aim of this study was to quantify the density of LCs in relation to corneal nerve morphology and the presence of diabetic neuropathy and to determine if this differed in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). Methods: Patients with T1DM (n = 25), T2DM (n = 36), or LADA (n = 23) and control subjects (n = 23) underwent detailed assessment of peripheral neuropathy and corneal confocal microscopy. Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), branch density (CNBD), length (CNFL) and total, immature and mature LC densities were quantified. Results: Lower CNFD (P < 0.001), CNBD (P < 0.0001), and CNFL (P < 0.0001) and higher LC density (P = 0.03) were detected in patients with T1DM, T2DM, and LADA compared to controls. CNBD was inversely correlated with mature (r = -0.5; P = 0.008), immature (r = -0.4; P = 0.02) and total (r = -0.5; P = 0.01) LC density, and CNFL was inversely correlated with immature LC density (r = -0.4; P = 0.03) in patients with T1DM but not in patients with T2DM and LADA. Conclusions: This study shows significant corneal nerve loss and an increase in LC density in patients with T1DM, T2DM, and LADA. Furthermore, increased LC density correlated with corneal nerve loss in patients with T1DM
Storm time polar cap expansion: interplanetary magnetic field clock angle dependence
It is well known that the polar cap, delineated by the openâclosed field line boundary (OCB),
responds to changes in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).
In general, the boundary moves equatorward when the IMF turns southward and contracts
poleward when the IMF turns northward. However,
observations of the OCB are spotty and limited in local time,
making more detailed studies of its IMF dependence difficult.
Here, we simulate five solar storm periods with the coupled model consisting of the Open
Geospace General Circulation Model (OpenGGCM) coupled with the Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere
Model (CTIM) and the Rice Convection Model (RCM),
i.e., the OpenGGCM-CTIM-RCM, to estimate the location and dynamics of the OCB.
For these events, polar cap boundary location observations are also obtained from Defense Meteorological
Satellite Program (DMSP) precipitation spectrograms and compared with the model output.
There is a large scatter in the DMSP observations and in the model output.
Although the model does not predict the OCB with high fidelity for every observation,
it does reproduce the general trend as a function of IMF clock angle.
On average, the model overestimates the latitude of the openâclosed field line boundary
by 1.61â. Additional analysis of the simulated polar cap boundary dynamics across
all local times shows that the MLT of the largest polar cap expansion closely correlates
with the IMF clock angle, that the strongest correlation occurs when the IMF is southward, that
during strong southward IMF the polar cap shifts sunward, and that the polar cap rapidly
contracts at all local times when the IMF turns northward.</p
Corneal Confocal Microscopy Identifies Parkinson's Disease with More Rapid Motor Progression
From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2020-12-15, rev-recd 2021-03-11, accepted 2021-03-12, pub-electronic 2021-04-07, pub-print 2021-08Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedFunder: Michael J Fox Foundation Trust (Grant ID 12059); Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010269ABSTRACT: Background: Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a noninvasive, reproducible ophthalmic technique to quantify corneal small nerve fiber degeneration. CCM demonstrates small nerve fiber damage in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its role as a longitudinal biomarker of PD progression has not been explored. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess corneal nerve morphology using CCM in relation to disease progression in PD. Methods: Sixtyâfour participants with PD were assessed at baseline and at 12âmonth followâup. Participants underwent CCM with automated corneal nerve quantification and assessment of Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Hoehn and Yahr stage, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Results: Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density, corneal nerve fiber length, corneal total branch density, and corneal nerve fiber area were significantly lower in participants with PD compared with healthy control subjects. Worsening of Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III score over 12 months was significantly greater in participants with a CNFD in the lowest compared with the highest quartile at baseline (mean difference: 6.0; 95% CI: 1.0â10.9; P = 0.019). There were no significant changes in CNFD, corneal nerve branch density, corneal nerve fiber length, corneal total branch density, corneal nerve fiber area, or corneal nerve fiber width between baseline and 12âmonth followâup. Conclusions: CCM identifies neurodegeneration in patients with PD, especially those who show the greatest progression in neurological disability. CCM may be a useful tool to help enrich clinical trials with those likely to exhibit more rapid progression and reduce required sample size and cost of studies. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Societ
A gain-of-function sodium channel beta 2-subunit mutation in painful diabetic neuropathy
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global challenge with many diverse health sequelae, of which diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common. A substantial number of patients with DPN develop chronic pain, but the genetic and epigenetic factors that predispose DPN patients to develop neuropathic pain are poorly understood. Recent targeted genetic studies have identified mutations in \u3b1-subunits of voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) in patients with painful DPN. Mutations in proteins that regulate trafficking or functional properties of Navs could expand the spectrum of patients with Nav-related peripheral neuropathies. The auxiliary sodium channel \u3b2-subunits (\u3b21-4) have been reported to increase current density, alter inactivation kinetics, and modulate subcellular localization of Nav. Mutations in \u3b2-subunits have been associated with several diseases, including epilepsy, cancer, and diseases of the cardiac conducting system. However, mutations in \u3b2-subunits have never been shown previously to contribute to neuropathic pain. We report here a patient with painful DPN and negative genetic screening for mutations in SCN9A, SCN10A, and SCN11A-genes encoding sodium channel \u3b1-subunit that have been previously linked to the development of neuropathic pain. Genetic analysis revealed an aspartic acid to asparagine mutation, D109N, in the \u3b22 subunit. Functional analysis using current-clamp revealed that the \u3b22-D109N rendered dorsal root ganglion neurons hyperexcitable, especially in response to repetitive stimulation. Underlying the hyperexcitability induced by the \u3b22 subunit mutation, as evidenced by voltage clamp analysis, we found a depolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of Nav1.7 fast-inactivation and reduced use-dependent inhibition of the Nav1.7 channel
Flow Measurements via Two-particle Azimuthal Correlations in Au + Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV
Two particle azimuthal correlation functions are presented for charged
hadrons produced in Au + Au collisions at RHIC sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV. The
measurements permit determination of elliptic flow without event-by-event
estimation of the reaction plane. The extracted elliptic flow values v_2 show
significant sensitivity to both the collision centrality and the transverse
momenta of emitted hadrons, suggesting rapid thermalization and relatively
strong velocity fields. When scaled by the eccentricity of the collision zone,
epsilon, the scaled elliptic flow shows little or no dependence on centrality
for charged hadrons with relatively low p_T. A breakdown of this epsilon
scaling is observed for charged hadrons with p_T > 1.0 GeV/c for the most
central collisions.Comment: 6 pages, RevTeX 3, 4 figures, 307 authors, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Lett. on 11 April 2002. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in
figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (will be made) publicly
available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/phenix/WWW/run/phenix/papers.htm
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