Development of a context model to prioritize drug safety alerts in CPOE systems

Background: Computerized physician order entry systems (CPOE) can reduce the number of medication errors and adverse drug events (ADEs) in healthcare institutions. Unfortunately, they tend to produce a large number of partly irrelevant alerts, in turn leading to alert overload and causing alert fatigue. The objective of this work is to identify factors that can be used to prioritize and present alerts depending on the 'context' of a clinical situation. Methods: We used a combination of literature searches and expert interviews to identify and validate the possible context factors. The internal validation of the context factors was performed by calculating the inter-rater agreement of two researcher's classification of 33 relevant articles. Results: We developed a context model containing 20 factors. We grouped these context factors into three categories: characteristics of the patient or case (e. g. clinical status of the patient); characteristics of the organizational unit or user (e. g. professional experience of the user); and alert characteristics (e. g. severity of the effect). The internal validation resulted in nearly perfect agreement (Cohen's Kappa value of 0.97). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first structured attempt to develop a comprehensive context model for prioritizing drug safety alerts in CPOE systems. The outcome of this work can be used to develop future tailored drug safety alerting in CPOE systems

Molecular mechanisms of cell death: recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death 2018.

Over the past decade, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) has formulated guidelines for the definition and interpretation of cell death from morphological, biochemical, and functional perspectives. Since the field continues to expand and novel mechanisms that orchestrate multiple cell death pathways are unveiled, we propose an updated classification of cell death subroutines focusing on mechanistic and essential (as opposed to correlative and dispensable) aspects of the process. As we provide molecularly oriented definitions of terms including intrinsic apoptosis, extrinsic apoptosis, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, parthanatos, entotic cell death, NETotic cell death, lysosome-dependent cell death, autophagy-dependent cell death, immunogenic cell death, cellular senescence, and mitotic catastrophe, we discuss the utility of neologisms that refer to highly specialized instances of these processes. The mission of the NCCD is to provide a widely accepted nomenclature on cell death in support of the continued development of the field

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and its effect on the pepper plants development (Capsicum annuum, Solanaceae)

Los hongos micorrizógenos contribuyen al crecimiento y desarrollo de diferentes especies vegetales, aumentando la productividad de los cultivos. El propósito de esta investigación fue evaluar la interacción entre hongos micorrizogénos obtenidos en la granja experimental de la Universidad del Magdalena y su efecto en el desarrollo de plantas de ají. La masificación de las micorrizas arbusculares se hizo siguiendo el método de plantas trampas. Se planteó un diseño experimental aleatorio conformado por seis tratamientos y tres testigos; a partir de mezclas de suelo con turba, adicionándole 10 g de suelo inoculado con hongos seleccionados (morfotipos hongo 1 y hongo 2). Las variables evaluadas correspondieron a los parámetros de desarrollo de las plantas de ají (número de hojas, altura, largo radicular y peso seco) y tipo de hongo, durante cuatro meses. Se identificaron tres géneros: Glomus, Acaulospora y Gigaspora; siendo los dos primeros los más abundantes y seleccionados para ensayos de micorrización. Las mezclas suelo-turba en proporción 70:30 adicionadas de Glomus registraron mejor crecimiento y desarrollo comparadas con el resto de tratamientos. Las variables evaluadas en plantas de ají inoculadas con Glomus y Acaulospora mostraron mayor rendimiento significativo comparados con los testigos, número de hojas (8,0 - 8,5), altura de las plantas (8,5 – 13,2 cm), longitud radicular (6,0 – 7,2 cm) y peso seco (0,26 – 0,28 g). Se encontró que el adicionamiento de hongos micorrizogénos representa una estrategia factible en producción de cultivos

Smart Technologies. SmartTech-IC 2022: Third International Conference on Smart Technologies, Systems and Applications

La Universidad Politécnica Salesiana ha estado promoviendo la investigación científica proporcionando financiamiento para el desarrollo y ejecución de propuestas en diversas áreas de investigación. En la Sede Cuenca, se han formado grupos multidisciplinarios para llevar a cabo estas propuestas de investigación. Aunque estos indicadores demuestran resultados favorables en la implementación de una cultura de investigación sólida, todavía se informan proyectos que, debido a varios factores, no logran publicar sus resultados en revistas indexadas. Entre estos factores se encuentran los altos costos de movilidad de los investigadores para presentar sus trabajos en eventos indexados, así como la falta de implementación de criterios adecuados de cienciometría. Esto ha impedido que, en muchos casos, investigaciones con resultados sobresalientes no sean comunicadas a la comunidad científica internacional, lo que no contribuye al aumento de la productividad académica institucional. Además, en algunos casos, se publican trabajos en revistas sin una indexación que contribuya a los indicadores institucionales (Castillo y Powell, 2019) (Guerrero-Casado, 2017)

Long-Term Effects of Methoxyfenozide on the Adult Reproductive Processes and Longevity of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The long-term effects of methoxyfenozide on the longevity and reproductive processes of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), adults were assessed after exposure by ingestion. Methoxyfenozide significantly reduced adult male longevity compared with females by 1.1 and 1.5 d at 75 and 150 mg (AI)/liter, respectively. Fecundity decreased by >60% with both concentrations at 72 and 96 h after treatment, but at 48 h, no significant effect was observed. The carbohydrate, protein, and lipid content in the eggs were determined as representatives of the biochemical effects of methoxyfenozide associated with the disruption of reproductive processes. The content of carbohydrates in the eggs laid 48 h at treatment was similar to that of controls, but it increased by ≈1.5 and 2-fold in eggs laid after 72 and 96 h, respectively, compared with controls (15 μ g per egg). Protein content was reduced ′2.5 and ′3-fold for each treatment concentration, respectively, compared with the controls (25 and 23 μg per egg for 75 and 150 mg [AI]/liter, respectively) in eggs collected 72 and 96 h after treatment. Lipid content significantly decreased by ≈1.6-fold in both treatment concentrations in eggs collected at 48 and 96 h after treatment compared with the controls (24 and 21 μg per egg for 48 and 96, respectively), but it was similar to controls (=19 μg per egg) at 72 h (≈15 μg per egg) for both concentrations. The biochemical effects of methoxyfenozide on S. exigua egg formation detected in this work are consistent with the reduction in fertility observed, as reported previously.Fil: Luna, Juan Carlos. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo; MéxicoFil: Robinson, Virginia Angélica. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo; MéxicoFil: Martinez, Ana Mabel. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo; MéxicoFil: Schneider, Marcela Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa, Jose Isaac. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo; MéxicoFil: Smagghe, Guy. University of Ghent; BélgicaFil: Viñuela, Elisa. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Budia, Flor. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Pineda, Samuel. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo; Méxic

Prevalência e associação de asma e rinite em adolescentes de 13 e 14 anos de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil Asthma and rhinitis prevalence and co-morbidity in 13-14-year-old schoolchildren in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil

Objetivou-se avaliar a prevalência e associação de asma e rinite. Trata-se de estudo transversal envolvendo 3.015 adolescentes de 13-14 anos de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil, de escolas públicas e privadas, utilizando-se o protocolo do International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), em 2006/2007. A prevalência de asma foi 22,6%; de rinite, 43,2% e de rinoconjuntivite, 18,7%, predominando no sexo feminino (p = 0,002, p < 0,001 e p < 0,001, respectivamente) e nos adolescentes das escolas privadas (p < 0,001). Entre os adolescentes que relataram asma, a taxa de rinite foi de 64,4% e de rinoconjuntivite, 35,3%. A taxa da associação asma-rinite na população foi de 14,6%, e asma-rinoconjuntivite, 8%, predominando no sexo feminino (p < 0,001 e p < 0,001, respectivamente) e associando-se a sibilos com limite da fala (p = 0,037 e p = 0,004, respectivamente). O estudo pode contribuir para alertar os profissionais de saúde quanto à importância da abordagem integrada dessas enfermidades, considerando o conceito da "via aérea única" e buscando opções de tratamento que atuem nas duas condições quando presentes simultaneamente.<br>This study aimed to measure the prevalence rates for asthma and rhinitis and the association between the two conditions. This was a cross-sectional study of 3,015 adolescents (13-14 years of age) in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil, in public and private schools, using the protocol from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), in 2006-2007. Prevalence rates were 22.6% for asthma, 43.2% for rhinitis, and 18.7% for rhinoconjunctivitis, with a predominance of females (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p < 0/001, respectively) and private school students (p < 0.001). Among adolescents that reported asthma, the rhinitis rate was 64.4% and the rhinoconjunctivitis rate was 35.3%. The rates of association were 14.6% between asthma and rhinitis and 8% between asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis, with a predominance of females (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and associated with speech-limiting wheezing (p = 0.037 and p = 0.004, respectively). The study can help call health professionals' attention to the importance of an integrated approach to these illnesses, considering the "single airway" concept and seeking treatment options that act on both asthma and rhinitis when the two conditions present simultaneously