Nomenclatural notes on New South Wales flannel flowers (Actinotus spp., Umbelliferae/Apiaceae) and Leopold Trattinnick’s other Australian plant-names

After a thorough consideration of the history of the European collection and subsequent early cultivation of the commercial flannel flower, a lectotype is designated for Actinotus helianthi Labill. (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae) and the earliest publication (by Trattinnick in 1814) of A. minor (Sm.) Tratt. pinpointed. Other neglected names coined by Trattinnick, including generic ones, applied to Australian and other plants, and published on (generally) plagiarised plates, are discussed and disposed of. One such plate is a copy of the iconotype of Amaryllis × johnsoniana Ker Gawl., an earlier epithet for Hippeastrum × johnsonii (Gowen) Herb. (Amaryllidaceae), a bulbous plant long cultivated in Australia and whose name should be conserved with the later spelling. Attention is drawn to confusions in localities on labels attached to specimens of species (in various families) collected on both D’Entrecasteaux’s and Baudin’s voyages to Australia

Church-Based Breast Cancer Screening Education: Impact of Two Approaches on Latinas Enrolled in Public and Private Health Insurance Plans

Introduction The Tepeyac Project is a church-based health promotion project that was conducted from 1999 through 2005 to increase breast cancer screening rates among Latinas in Colorado. Previous reports evaluated the project among Medicare and Medicaid enrollees in the state. In this report, we evaluate the program among enrollees in the state's five major insurance plans. Methods We compared the Tepeyac Project's two interventions: the Printed Intervention and the Promotora Intervention. In the first, we mailed culturally tailored education packages to 209 Colorado Catholic churches for their use. In the second, promotoras (peer counselors) in four Catholic churches delivered breast-health education messages personally. We compared biennial mammogram claims from the five insurance plans in the analysis at baseline (1998–1999) and during follow-up (2000–2001) for Latinas who had received the interventions. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis to adjust rates for confounders. Results The mammogram rate for Latinas in the Printed Intervention remained the same from baseline to follow-up (58% [2979/5130] vs 58% [3338/5708]). In the Promotora Intervention, the rate was 59% (316/536) at baseline and 61% (359/590) at follow-up. Rates increased modestly over time and varied widely by insurance type. After adjusting for age, income, urban versus rural location, disability, and insurance type, we found that women exposed to the Promotora Intervention had a significantly higher increase in biennial mammograms than did women exposed to the Printed Intervention (GEE parameter estimate = .24 [±.11], P = .03). Conclusion For insured Latinas, personally delivering church-based education through peer counselors appears to be a better breast-health promotion method than mailing printed educational materials to churches

The effects of a two-week neuromuscular intervention on biopsychosocial variables in people with patellofemoral pain: An observational study

IntroductionPatellofemoral pain (PFP) is common and predominately affects active populations. Altered biomechanics and psychosocial variables have been reported in people with PFP, but the effects of neuromuscular exercise on these variables is unknown. We aimed to investigate changes in biopsychosocial measures following a two-week neuromuscular intervention in people with PFP.Materials and MethodsWe measured pain (visual analogue scale), function (Kujala), activity level (Tegner), psychological well-being (Orebro), lower-limb isometric strength (handheld dynamometry), three-dimensional (3D) lower limb kinematics, and surface electromyography (sEMG), in people with PFP. 3D lower-limb kinematics and sEMG were synchronously sampled during step-up, step-down, and overground running. All measures were repeated after participants had completed a two-week neuromuscular intervention consisting of three exercises completed once per day, five days per week.Results18 participants completed pre/post testing (60% females, mean age 30.6 years ±7.0, height 173.4cm ±10.4, mass 70.2kg ±12.4, symptom duration 39.0 months ±58.8), with three of 21 participants lost to follow-up. Across all clinical measures (muscle onsets, muscle activation and kinematics), the 95% bootstrapped confidence intervals (CI) of the mean difference contained the null hypothesis following the two-week neuromuscular intervention, indicating no significant differences.ConclusionA two-week neuromuscular intervention did not change biomechanical or psychosocial measures in people with PFP. Interventions with a longer duration or greater load magnitude are required to fully evaluate the biopsychosocial mechanisms of effect for exercise in people with PFP.</jats:sec

The influence of wind direction on the capture of the wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), an uncommon migratory species in the western Mediterranean

The wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) is a migratory species in the western Mediterranean wintering in the Gulf of Guinea region, West Africa. In autumn and spring, this species, along with the populations breeding in Ireland and Britain, uses the Italian peninsula as its main axis of migration. From the data of captured birds at several ringing stations in the western Mediterranean (Balearic Islands and coastal Iberian Peninsula), we analyzed capture rates of the species during spring migration from 1993 to 2007. Based on the selection of days with a significant number of captures and those without captures, we analyzed the effect of wind direction over the western Mediterranean to determine a relationship between winds and the number of captures. From a total of 663 wood warblers captured between 1993 and 2007, a total of 31 days have been selected as significant days with a high number of captures, and 31 days have been selected as no-capture days. On days of maximum captures, winds coming from an easterly direction, i.e. Algeria and Tunisia, were dominant, indicating days with a clear eastern component. Contrary to expected results, captures were also made on days when the wind direction was predominantly from a northerly direction. Analysis of the origin of the winds in north eastern Spain (western Mediterranean) revealed that the majority of northerly winds originated from Africa and not from Europe as is usual for this region. Days or periods selected as no-capture days were characterized by winds coming from a northerly (European origin) or westerly direction

Variables associated with successful outcome after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in recreational athletes: A prospective cohort study

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and subsequent reconstruction is common and has a profound effect on health-related quality of life. There is currently limited understanding as to which variables are associated with a successful outcome post-ACL reconstruction (ACLR) in recreational athletes. Purpose: Explore the association between both patient-reported and performance-based measures, and successful outcome, post-ACLR in recreational athletes. Procedures: We sought to recruit recreational athletes within one month of a primary-ACLR for a prospective cohort study. A dichotomised patient specific functional scale of ≥9 points determined a successful outcome at nine-months post-operative. Secondary patient-reported and performance-based data were collected at baseline, three-, six-, and nine-months post-operative. The association between secondary data and the primary outcome was determined using binomial logistic regression, expressed using odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Main results: 90 participants were recruited (males: 58, females: 32, mean age 32.8 years [±7.9], mean height 173.5 [±10.0], mean body mass 74.0 kg [±15.8]), 87 consented to baseline measures. 47 participants completed full data collection and 21 (45%) reported a successful outcome. Higher knee osteoarthritis outcome score (OR range 1.07–1.12) and anterior cruciate ligament quality of life (ACL-QoL) scores (OR range 1.06–1.10) were associated with a successful outcome post-ACLR at various timepoints. Conclusions: Patient-reported, rather than performance-based, measures were associated with successful outcome nine-months post-ACLR in recreational athletes. Both patient-reported and performance-based characteristics are advocated to guide optimal return to function in clinical practice

Biomarkers of severity and threshold of allergic reactions during oral peanut challenges

Background: oral food challenge (OFC) is the criterion standard to assess peanut allergy (PA), but it involves a risk of allergic reactions of unpredictable severity.Objective: our aim was to identify biomarkers for risk of severe reactions or low dose threshold during OFC to peanut.Methods: we assessed Learning Early about Peanut Allergy study, Persistance of Oral Tolerance to Peanut study, and Peanut Allergy Sensitization study participants by administering the basophil activation test (BAT) and the skin prick test (SPT) and measuring the levels of peanut-specific IgE, Arachis hypogaea 2–specific IgE, and peanut-specific IgG4, and we analyzed the utility of the different biomarkers in relation to PA status, severity, and threshold dose of allergic reactions to peanut during OFC.Results: when a previously defined optimal cutoff was used, the BAT diagnosed PA with 98% specificity and 75% sensitivity. The BAT identified severe reactions with 97% specificity and 100% sensitivity. The SPT, level of Arachis hypogaea 2–specific IgE, level of peanut-specific IgE, and IgG4/IgE ratio also had 100% sensitivity but slightly lower specificity (92%, 93%, 90%, and 88%, respectively) to predict severity. Participants with lower thresholds of reactivity had higher basophil activation to peanut in vitro. The SPT and the BAT were the best individual predictors of threshold. Multivariate models were superior to individual biomarkers and were used to generate nomograms to calculate the probability of serious adverse events during OFC for individual patients.Conclusions: the BAT diagnosed PA with high specificity and identified severe reactors and low threshold with high specificity and high sensitivity. The BAT was the best biomarker for severity, surpassed only by the SPT in predicting threshold. Nomograms can help estimate the likelihood of severe reactions and reactions to a low dose of allergen in individual patients with PA

Premature Rupture of the Membranes at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lomé, Togo: Microbiological Findings and Outcomes

Abstract Introduction: To prevent the risk of infections in cases of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), a pregnancy complication, gynecologists of the Sylvanus Olympio University Teaching Hospital used clavulanic acid and amoxicillin as empiric antibiotic therapy intravenously. This study aims to identify and assess the susceptibility to antibiotics of bacteria involved in PROM. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 25 to June 06, 2014 on 60 pregnant women presenting a PROM and their 65 newborns, recruited in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of the Sylvanus Olympio University Teaching Hospital of Lomé, Togo. In mothers, cytological and bacteriological examinations of vaginal and endocervix swabs were carried out and among newborns, cytological and bacteriological examinations were performed on gastric fluid and ear swabs at the Microbiology Service of the university hospital. Results: The frequency of PROM was 6.8% of deliveries during the study period. Pathogens were isolated among 48.3% of mothers and 26.2% of newborns. Vaginal and endocervix swabs allowed isolation of pathogens in 45% and 28.3% of cases, respectively. The most isolated pathogens were Candida albicans (28.6%)(14/53) and enterobacteria (41.5%)(22/53), mainly represented by Escherichia coli (59.1%)(13/22). We also isolated Group B Streptococci (GBS) strains (7.5%)(4/53). Pathogen isolation rate among newborns was 26.2%(17/65). Of these pathogens, Escherichia coli represented 60%(15/25). Pathogens found in 10.7% of newborns were phenotypically identical to those isolated from their mothers. Among newborns, E. coli was the most isolated strain in gastric fluid (66.7%)(4/6) as well as from ear swabs (57.9%)(11/19). Conclusion: Half of PROM cases in this study were associated with presence of pathogen amongst pregnant women; E. coli and Group B Streptococcus known to cause neonatal meningitis were found. Unfortunately, a few isolated strains of E. coli were resistant to clavulanic acid-amoxicillin, a combination used as empiric antibiotic therapy by healthcare practitioners in our settings

Piperidinols that show anti-tubercular activity as inhibitors of arylamine N-acetyltransferase: an essential enzyme for mycobacterial survival inside macrophages

Latent M. tuberculosis infection presents one of the major obstacles in the global eradication of tuberculosis (TB). Cholesterol plays a critical role in the persistence of M. tuberculosis within the macrophage during latent infection. Catabolism of cholesterol contributes to the pool of propionyl-CoA, a precursor that is incorporated into cell-wall lipids. Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) is encoded within a gene cluster that is involved in the cholesterol sterol-ring degradation and is essential for intracellular survival. The ability of the NAT from M. tuberculosis (TBNAT) to utilise propionyl-CoA links it to the cholesterol-catabolism pathway. Deleting the nat gene or inhibiting the NAT enzyme prevents intracellular survival and results in depletion of cell-wall lipids. TBNAT has been investigated as a potential target for TB therapies. From a previous high-throughput screen, 3-benzoyl-4-phenyl-1-methylpiperidinol was identified as a selective inhibitor of prokaryotic NAT that exhibited antimycobacterial activity. The compound resulted in time-dependent irreversible inhibition of the NAT activity when tested against NAT from M. marinum (MMNAT). To further evaluate the antimycobacterial activity and the NAT inhibition of this compound, four piperidinol analogues were tested. All five compounds exert potent antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis with MIC values of 2.3-16.9 µM. Treatment of the MMNAT enzyme with this set of inhibitors resulted in an irreversible time-dependent inhibition of NAT activity. Here we investigate the mechanism of NAT inhibition by studying protein-ligand interactions using mass spectrometry in combination with enzyme analysis and structure determination. We propose a covalent mechanism of NAT inhibition that involves the formation of a reactive intermediate and selective cysteine residue modification. These piperidinols present a unique class of antimycobacterial compounds that have a novel mode of action different from known anti-tubercular drugs

Home-based pre-surgical psychological intervention for knee osteoarthritis (HAPPiKNEES): a feasibility randomized controlled trial

Objective: To determine the feasibility of conducting a trial of a pre-surgical psychological intervention on pain, function, and mood in people with knee osteoarthritis listed for total knee arthroplasty. Design: Multi-centre, mixed-methods feasibility randomized controlled trial of intervention plus usual care versus usual care. Setting: Participants’ homes or hospital. Participants: Patients with knee osteoarthritis listed for total knee arthroplasty and score >7 on either subscales of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Intervention: Up-to 10 sessions of psychological intervention (based on cognitive behavioural therapy). Main measures: Feasibility outcomes (recruitment and retention rates, acceptability of trial procedures and intervention, completion of outcome measures), and standardized questionnaires assessing pain, function, and mood at baseline, and four and six months post-randomisation. Results: Of 222 people screened, 81 did not meet inclusion criteria, 64 did not wish to participate, 26 were excluded for other reasons, and 51 were randomized. A total of 30 completed 4-months outcomes and 25 completed 6-month outcomes. Modal number of intervention sessions completed was three (range 2–8). At six-month follow-up, mood, pain, and physical function scores were consistent with clinically important benefits from intervention, with effect sizes ranging from small (d = 0.005) to moderate (d = 0.74), and significant differences in physical function between intervention and usual care groups (d = 1.16). Feedback interviews suggested that participants understood the rationale for the study, found the information provided adequate, the measures comprehensive, and the intervention acceptable. Conclusion: A definitive trial is feasible, with a total sample size of 444 people. Pain is a suitable primary outcome, but best assessed 6 and 12 months post-surgery