Fetal programming of neuropsychiatric disorders by maternal pregnancy depression: a systematic mini review

BACKGROUND: Maternal depression complicates a large proportion of pregnancies. Current evidence shows numerous harmful effects on the offspring. Reviews, which include depression, concluded that stress has harmful effects on the offspring's outcomes neuro-cognitive development, temperament traits, and mental disorders. OBJECTIVE: This mini review of recent studies, sought to narrow the scope of exposure and identify studies specifically assessing prenatal depression and offspring neuropsychiatric outcomes. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: The review included longitudinal, cohort, cross-sectional, clinical, quasi-experimental, epidemiological, or intervention study designs published in English from 2014 to 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Study populations included mother-child dyads, mother-father-child triads, mother-alternative caregiver-child triads, and family studies utilizing sibling comparisons. METHODS: We searched PubMED and Web of Science. Study inclusion and data extraction were based on standardized templates. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). RESULTS: Thirteen studies examining neuropsychiatric outcomes were included. We judged the evidence to be moderate to high quality. CONCLUSIONS: Our review supports that maternal prenatal depression is associated with neuropsychiatric adversities in children.Peer reviewe

High-Resolution Melting Analysis for the Rapid Detection of Fluoroquinolone and Streptomycin Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

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Rapid Detection of Rifampicin- and Isoniazid-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by High-Resolution Melting Analysis▿

We have developed a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay to scan for mutations in the rpoB, inhA, ahpC, and katG genes and/or promoter regions for the detection of rifampin and isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. For assay development, 23 drug-resistant isolates of M. tuberculosis having 29 different mutations, together with 40 drug-susceptible isolates, were utilized. All 29 mutations were accurately detected by our assay. We further validated the assay with a series of 59 samples tested in a blind manner. All sequence alterations that were within the regions targeted by the HRM assay were correctly identified. Compared against results of DNA sequencing, the sensitivity and specificity of our HRM assay were 100%. For the blinded samples, the specificities and sensitivities were 89.3% and 100%, respectively, for detecting rifampin resistance and 98.1% and 83.3%, respectively, for detecting isoniazid resistance, as isolates with mutations in regions not encompassed by our assay were not detected. A C-to-T sequence alteration at position −15 of the ahpC regulatory region, which was previously reported to be associated with isoniazid resistance, may possibly be a polymorphism, as it was detected in an isoniazid-susceptible M. tuberculosis isolate. HRM is a rapid, accurate, simple, closed-tube, and low-cost method. It is thus an ideal assay to be used in countries with a high prevalence of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis and where cost-effectiveness is essential. As a mutation-scanning assay for detecting drug-resistant M. tuberculosis, it can potentially lead to better treatment outcomes resulting from earlier treatment with the appropriate antibiotics

The public washroom - friend or foe? An observational study of washroom cleanliness combined with microbiological investigation of hand hygiene facilities

Abstract Background Many people use handwashing and hand-drying facilities in public washrooms under the impression that these amenities are hygienic. However, such facilities may be potential sites for the transmission of pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to examine the hygiene facilities provided including handwashing and hand-drying facilities in public washrooms. Total bacterial counts and species identification were determined for hand-drying facilities. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were performed. Methods The bacterial contamination levels of 55 public washrooms ranging in category from low class communities to high end establishments, were examined. The hygienic environment and facilities of the washrooms were analysed using an electronic checklist to facilitate immediate data entry. Pre-moistened sterile swabs were used to collect samples from areas around the outlet of paper towel dispensers, air outlet of air dryers, exit door handles and paper towels in the washrooms. Total bacterial counts were performed and isolates identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion. Results The high and middle-income categories washrooms generally had cleaner facilities and environment followed by those in low categories. Fifty-two bacterial species were identified from the 55 investigated washrooms. Over 97% of the pathogenic Staphylococcus spp. tested were resistant to at least one first-line antimicrobial therapeutic agent, including penicillin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, co-trimoxazole, clindamycin and gentamicin, and 22.6% demonstrated co-resistance to at least three antimicrobial agents, with co-resistance to penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin being the most common. Conclusion Our findings suggest that hand-drying facilities in public washrooms can act as reservoirs of drug-resistant bacteria. The importance of frequent cleaning and maintenance of public washrooms to promote safe hand hygiene practices for the public are emphasised

High resolution melt curves of a mutant DNA sample (<i>gyrA</i> D94G) serially diluted at concentrations of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and 6.25%, and mixed with wildtype DNA.

<p>Wildtype samples are shown in black and samples with mutations are shown in color. Changes in melt curve shape demonstrating the presence of mutations were observed in samples with 100%, 50% and 25% mutant DNA. Experiments were performed in duplicate.</p

Primer sequences used for fluoroquinolone and streptomycin resistance HRM detection assays.

a<p>F: Forward, R: Reverse.</p>b<p>Nucleotide position is relative to the transcriptional start site of each gene.</p>c<p>Amplicon range of the HRM primers does not include the primer regions.</p

Primer sequences used to sequence <i>rpsL</i>, <i>rrs</i>, and <i>gyrA</i>.

a<p>Length, number of nucleotides.</p>b<p>%GC, number of G's and C's in the primer as a percentage of the total number of nucleotides.</p>c<p>F, forward; R, reverse.</p

Representative high resolution melt curves of (A) <i>gyrA</i> with Thr-95 control, (B) <i>gyrA</i> with Ser-95 control, (C) <i>rpsL</i>, and (D, E, F) <i>rrs</i> fragments 1, 2, 3 respectively, demonstrating the change in melt curve shape caused by mutations.

<p>Wildtype samples are shown in black and samples with mutations are shown in color. Experiments were performed in duplicate.</p

Sensitivity and specificity of the drug resistance detection HRM assays.

a<p>[Number of drug-resistant isolates with mutations]/[number of drug-resistant isolates with mutations+number of drug-resistant isolates without mutation].</p>b<p>Statistical calculations were performed with the free software available from <a href="http://www.measuringusability.com/wald.htm" target="_blank">http://www.measuringusability.com/wald.htm</a> using the Adjusted Wald method.</p>c<p>[Number of drug-susceptible isolates without mutations]/[number of drug-susceptible isolates with mutations+number of drug-susceptible isolates without mutation].</p