TREC and KREC Levels as a Predictors of Lymphocyte Subpopulations Measured by Flow Cytometry

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by genetic defects of the immune system, which manifests clinically as recurrent infections, autoimmune diseases, or malignancies. Early detection of other PID remains a challenge, particularly in older children due to milder and less specific symptoms, a low level of clinician PID awareness and poor provision of hospital laboratories with appropriate devices. T-cell recombination excision circles (TREC) and kappadeleting element recombination circle (KREC) in a dried blood spot and in peripheral blood using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are used as a tool for severe combined immune deficiency but not in PID. They represent an attractive and cheap target for a more extensive use in clinical practice. This study aimed to assess TREC/KREC correspondence with lymphocyte subpopulations, measured by flow cytometry and evaluate correlations between TREC/KREC, lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulins. We carried out analysis of data from children assessed by clinical immunologists at Speransky Children’s Hospital, Moscow, Russia with suspected immunodeficiencies between May 2013 and August 2016. Peripheral blood samples were sent for TREC/KREC, flow cytometry (CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19), IgA, IgM, and IgG analysis. A total of 839 samples were analyzed for using TREC assay and flow cytometry and 931 KREC/flow cytometry. TREC demonstrated an AUC of 0.73 (95% CI 0.70–0.76) for CD3, 0.74 (95% CI 0.71–0.77) for CD4 and 0.67 (95% CI 0.63–0.70) for CD8, respectively, while KREC demonstrated an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI 0.69–0.76) for CD19. Moderate correlation was found between the levels of TREC and CD4 (r = 0.55, p < 0.01) and KREC with CD19 (r = 0.56, p < 0.01). In this study, promising prediction models were tested. We found that TREC and KREC are able to moderately detect abnormal levels of individual lymphocyte subpopulations. Future research should assess associations between TREC/KREC and other lymphocyte subpopulations and approach TREC/KREC use in PID diagnosis

TREC and KREC Levels as a Predictors of Lymphocyte Subpopulations Measured by Flow Cytometry

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by genetic defects of the immune system, which manifests clinically as recurrent infections, autoimmune diseases, or malignancies. Early detection of other PID remains a challenge, particularly in older children due to milder and less specific symptoms, a low level of clinician PID awareness and poor provision of hospital laboratories with appropriate devices. T-cell recombination excision circles (TREC) and kappa-deleting element recombination circle (KREC) in a dried blood spot and in peripheral blood using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are used as a tool for severe combined immune deficiency but not in PID. They represent an attractive and cheap target for a more extensive use in clinical practice. This study aimed to assess TREC/KREC correspondence with lymphocyte subpopulations, measured by flow cytometry and evaluate correlations between TREC/KREC, lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulins. We carried out analysis of data from children assessed by clinical immunologists at Speransky Children’s Hospital, Moscow, Russia with suspected immunodeficiencies between May 2013 and August 2016. Peripheral blood samples were sent for TREC/KREC, flow cytometry (CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19), IgA, IgM, and IgG analysis. A total of 839 samples were analyzed for using TREC assay and flow cytometry and 931 KREC/flow cytometry. TREC demonstrated an AUC of 0.73 (95% CI 0.70–0.76) for CD3, 0.74 (95% CI 0.71–0.77) for CD4 and 0.67 (95% CI 0.63–0.70) for CD8, respectively, while KREC demonstrated an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI 0.69–0.76) for CD19. Moderate correlation was found between the levels of TREC and CD4 (r = 0.55, p &lt; 0.01) and KREC with CD19 (r = 0.56, p &lt; 0.01). In this study, promising prediction models were tested. We found that TREC and KREC are able to moderately detect abnormal levels of individual lymphocyte subpopulations. Future research should assess associations between TREC/KREC and other lymphocyte subpopulations and approach TREC/KREC use in PID diagnosis

A global look at time: a 24-country study of the equivalence of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

In this article, we assess the structural equivalence of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) across 26 samples from 24 countries (N = 12,200). The ZTPI is proven to be a valid and reliable index of individual differences in time perspective across five temporal categories: Past Negative, Past Positive, Present Fatalistic, Present Hedonistic, and Future. We obtained evidence for invariance of 36 items (out of 56) and also the five-factor structure of ZTPI across 23 countries. The short ZTPI scales are reliable for country-level analysis, whereas we recommend the use of the full scales for individual-level analysis. The short version of ZTPI will further promote integration of research in the time perspective domain in relation to many different psycho-social processes

Early mobilisation in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a subanalysis of the ESICM-initiated UNITE-COVID observational study

Background Early mobilisation (EM) is an intervention that may improve the outcome of critically ill patients. There is limited data on EM in COVID-19 patients and its use during the first pandemic wave. Methods This is a pre-planned subanalysis of the ESICM UNITE-COVID, an international multicenter observational study involving critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. We analysed variables associated with the initiation of EM (within 72 h of ICU admission) and explored the impact of EM on mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, as well as discharge location. Statistical analyses were done using (generalised) linear mixed-effect models and ANOVAs. Results Mobilisation data from 4190 patients from 280 ICUs in 45 countries were analysed. 1114 (26.6%) of these patients received mobilisation within 72 h after ICU admission; 3076 (73.4%) did not. In our analysis of factors associated with EM, mechanical ventilation at admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.25, 0.35; p = 0.001), higher age (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00; p ≤ 0.001), pre-existing asthma (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.98; p = 0.028), and pre-existing kidney disease (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71, 0.99; p = 0.036) were negatively associated with the initiation of EM. EM was associated with a higher chance of being discharged home (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.58; p = 0.007) but was not associated with length of stay in ICU (adj. difference 0.91 days; 95% CI − 0.47, 1.37, p = 0.34) and hospital (adj. difference 1.4 days; 95% CI − 0.62, 2.35, p = 0.24) or mortality (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.7, 1.09, p = 0.24) when adjusted for covariates. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that a quarter of COVID-19 patients received EM. There was no association found between EM in COVID-19 patients' ICU and hospital length of stay or mortality. However, EM in COVID-19 patients was associated with increased odds of being discharged home rather than to a care facility. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04836065 (retrospectively registered April 8th 2021)

Abstracts from the 8th International Conference on cGMP Generators, Effectors and Therapeutic Implications

This work was supported by a restricted research grant of Bayer AG

Risks of weight loss diets

Prezentovaná práce se zabývá redukčními dietami a jejich riziky. První část popisuje teoreticky základy hodnocení nutričního stavu, dále také vybrané redukční diety a s nimi související rizika. Praktická část byla zhotovena za pomoci dotazníkového šetření. Zabývá se základní charakteristikou respondentů, informovaností o redukčních dietách a jejich rizicích, stávajícími zkušenostmi respondentů s redukcí váhy a spojenými s tím potížemi a důvody držení redukční diety. Výstupem práce bude informační leták pro širokou veřejnost objasňující jednoduché základy tvorby jídelníčku dle individuálních potřeb organismu, který bude prezentován u obhajoby práce.ObhájenoThe bachelor thesis deals with reduction diets and their risks. The first part describes theoretically the basics of nutritional status assessment, as well as selected reduction diets and related risks. The practical part was made using a questionnaire survey. It deals with the basic characteristics of respondents, awareness of reduction diets and their risks, current experience of respondents with weight reduction and associated with the difficulties and reasons for choosing reduction diet. The output of the work will be an information leaflet for the general public explaining the simple principles of creating a diet according to the individual needs of the organism, which will be presented in the thesis defense

Marketingový plán malého luxusního hotelu

Diplomová práce je zaměřena na rozvoj marketingových strategií pro uvedení nového butikového hotelu na (český)pražský trh. Práce se skládá z teoretické a praktické částí. Teorie je založena na odborných marketingových materiálech a teoriích se záměrem na luxusní segment. Praktická část se věnuje analýze cestovního ruchu v České Republice jako celku, atraktivitě českého trhu pro turisty, přílivu turistů a jeho změnách za posledních 5 let. Vyhodnocuje se konkurence na trhu turistického ubytování v Čechách, konkrétně v Praze, například hodnocení přímých konkurentů a jejich charakteristik. Praktická část také obsahuje kvalitativní analýzu, která identifikuje a určuje podmínky, které pomáhají při vývoji marketingového mixu. Kvalitativní výzkum se provádí pomocí osobních rozhovorů se zástupci cílové skupiny. Výsledky výzkumu jsou prezentovány formou doporučení pro rozvoj typů propagace. Strategie propagace také zahrnuje spolupráci s českým designérem, který přiláká publikum a přidává hodnotu. Uvádím také popisy produkty, které jsou prezentováne zejména charakteristikou butikového hotelu a procesem služeb, který realizuje přímou komunikaci se zákazníkemThis master's thesis is aimed at developing marketing strategies for the launching of a new boutique hotel on the Prague market. The work consists of theoretical and practical parts. Theory is based on marketing learnings and theories with a bias towards the luxury segment mostly. The practical part is based on the analysis of tourism in the Czech Republic as a whole, the attractiveness of Czech market for tourists, tourists’ inflows and changes of it during past 5 years. The evaluation of competition in the tourist accommodation market in the Czechs and Prague is also covered as well as the evaluation of direct competitors and their characteristics. The practical part also includes a qualitative analysis to identify and determine the nuances that help in developing a marketing mix. Qualitative analysis is conducted in the form of personal interviews with the representatives of the target audience. The results of the research are presented in the form of recommendations for the development of promotion types. . Promotion strategies also include collaboration with a Czech designer to attract the audience and add value. It involves also product descriptions, which are presented by description of the boutique hotel in particular and the process of service, which implements direct communication with a customer

The process of launching a product into the market

Získávání nových zákazníků a udržení stávajících se stává složitější s rostoucí konkurenci na trhu prodeje. V bakalářské práci zvýším takový problém jako zavedení nového výrobku na trh ze strany marketingové propagace. Tento proces hráje klíčovou roli pro úspěch podniku, jakož i účinnost zcela závisí na množství prodeje našeho produktu. Tato práce je příkladem k dosažení zvýšení loajality zákazníků, a také jé příkladem společnosti, která již začalá svou cestu v oblasti prodeje. Jeden z nejefektivnějších způsobu jak identifikovat silné a slabé strány je metoda kvalitativního výzkumu, který umožňuje ohodnotit situaci ze všech stran s minimálním úsilím. Tato metoda bude klíčovou otázkou v celé bakalářské práceAttracting new customers and retaining existing ones becomes more difficult with increasing competition in the sales market. In this bachelor thesis a problem of the introduction of a new product to the trade by marketing promotion is considered. This process plays a key role for the success of the enterprise as well as the effectiveness of the marketing campaign depends entirely on the amount of sales of our product. This thesis is an example and a step by step guide to achieve the increase in customer loyalty, basing on the example of a company that is just starting their way in the sales area. One effective way to identify strengths and weaknesses is a method of qualitative research, which allows you to assess the situation from all sides as much as possible with minimal costs. This method will be a key mission across the bachelor work.Privlechenie novyh klientov i uderzhanie dejstvuyushchih stanovitsya trudnee s uvelicheniem konkurentnoj bor'by na rynke prodazh. V diplomnoj rabote podnimaetsya takaya problema kak vvedenie novogo produkta na rynok so storony marketingovogo prodvizheniya. Etot process igraet klyuchevuyu rol' dlya uspeshnosti predpriyatiya, tak kak ehffektivnost' reklamnoj kampanii polnost'yu zavisit ot kolichestva prodazh nashego tovara. Dannaya diplomnaya rabota yavlyaetsya primerom i poshagovym rukovodstvom k dostizheniyu uvelicheniya loyal'nosti potrebitelej, a takzhe bazirovanie na primere kompanii, kotoraya tol'ko nachinaet svoj put' v sfere prodazh. Odnim iz ehffektivnyh sposobov vyyavleniya slabyh i sil'nyh storon yavlyaetsya metod kachestvennogo issledovaniya, kotoryj pozvolyaet ocenit' situaciyu s maksimal'no vsekh storon s minimal'nymi zatratami. Imenno ehtot metod stanet klyuchevoj zadachej vsej bakalavrskoj raboty