Foundations in Wisconsin: A Directory [34th ed. 2015]

The 2015 release of Foundations in Wisconsin marks the 34th production of the print directory and the 15th year of the online version. The directory is designed as a research tool for grantseekers interested in locating information on private, corporate, and community foundations registered in Wisconsin. Each entry in this new edition has been updated or reviewed to provide the most current information available. Most of the data was drawn from IRS 990-PF tax returns filed by the foundations. Additional information was obtained from surveys, foundation websites, annual reports, and newsletters. Wisconsin foundations have shown significant growth in two key areas. Grant and asset totals have risen to to their highest recorded levels. Total grants increased by 5% to $579 million and assets by 17$9.5 billion. Additionally, 58 new foundations have been identified this edition. (See page 271 for the complete list.)https://epublications.marquette.edu/lib_fiw/1013/thumbnail.jp

Foundations in Wisconsin: A Directory [35th ed. 2016]

The 2016 release of Foundations in Wisconsin marks the 35th edition of the print directory and the 16th edition of the online version. The directory is designed as a research tool for grantseekers interested in locating information on private, corporate, and community foundations registered in Wisconsin. Each entry in this new edition has been updated or reviewed to provide the most current information available. Most of the data was drawn from IRS 990-PF tax returns filed by the foundations. Additional information was obtained from surveys, foundation websites, and annual reports. This edition paints a very positive picture of financial growth for Wisconsin foundations. Both grant and asset totals have risen to all-time highs. Of particular note, total grants broke the $600 million barrier, increasing by 8$623 million. Additionally, 58 new foundations have been identified this year. (See page 269 for the complete list.) The following table illustrates the 10-year financial pattern as documented in Foundations in Wisconsin.https://epublications.marquette.edu/lib_fiw/1014/thumbnail.jp

How population health data can help primary care services to improve population health: a rural case study

No abstract available

Regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases in European countries: Findings from the European Social Survey (2014) special module on the social determinants of health

Background: Within the European Union (EU), substantial efforts are being made to achieve economic and social cohesion, and the reduction of health inequalities between EU regions is integral to this process. This paper is the first to examine how self-reported conditions and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) vary spatially between and within countries. Methods: Using 2014 European Social Survey (ESS) data from 20 countries, this paper examines how regional inequalities in self-reported conditions and NCDs vary for men and women in 174 regions (levels 1 and 2 Nomenclature of Statistical Territorial Units, ‘NUTS’). We document absolute and relative inequalities across Europe in the prevalence of eight conditions: general health, overweight/obesity, mental health, heart or circulation problems, high blood pressure, back, neck, muscular or joint pain, diabetes and cancer. Results: There is considerable inequality in self-reported conditions and NCDs between the regions of Europe, with rates highest in the regions of continental Europe, some Scandinavian regions and parts of the UK and lowest around regions bordering the Alps, in Ireland and France. However, for mental health and cancer, rates are highest in regions of Eastern European and lowest in some Nordic regions, Ireland and isolated regions in continental Europe. There are also widespread and consistent absolute and relative regional inequalities in all conditions within countries. These are largest in France, Germany and the UK, and smallest in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. There were higher inequalities amongst women. Conclusion: Using newly available harmonized morbidity data from across Europe, this paper shows that there are considerable regional inequalities within and between European countries in the distribution of self-reported conditions and NCDs

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Binds and Undergoes Transcription in Neutrophils From the Blood and Airways of Infants With Severe Bronchiolitis

Background. Neutrophils are the predominant cell in the lung inflammatory infiltrate of infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Although it has previously been shown that neutrophils from both blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are activated, little is understood about their role in response to RSV infection. This study investigated whether RSV proteins and mRNA are present in neutrophils from blood and BAL of infected infants

Which outcomes should be used in future bronchiolitis trials? Developing a bronchiolitis core outcome set using a systematic review, Delphi survey and a consensus workshop

Objectives The objective of this study was to develop a core outcome set (COS) for use in future clinical trials in bronchiolitis. We wanted to find out which outcomes are important to healthcare professionals (HCPs) and to parents and which outcomes should be prioritised for use in future clinical trials.Design and setting The study used a systematic review, workshops and interviews, a Delphi survey and a final consensus workshop.Results Thirteen parents and 45 HCPs took part in 5 workshops; 15 other parents were also separately interviewed. Fifty-six items were identified from the systematic review, workshops and interviews. Rounds one and two of the Delphi survey involved 299 and 194 participants, respectively. Sixteen outcomes met the criteria for inclusion within the COS. The consensus meeting was attended by 10 participants, with representation from all three stakeholder groups. Nine outcomes were added, totalling 25 outcomes to be included in the COS.Conclusion We have developed the first parent and HCP consensus on a COS for bronchiolitis in a hospital setting. The use of this COS will ensure outcomes in future bronchiolitis trials are important and relevant, and will enable the trial results to be compared and combined

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli clonal complex 32, including serotype O145:H28, in the UK and Ireland

Introduction. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 has been the most clinically significant STEC serotype in the UK for over four decades. Over the last 10 years we have observed a decrease in STEC O157:H7 and an increase in non-O157 STEC serotypes, such as O145:H28. Gap Statement. Little is known about the microbiology and epidemiology of STEC belonging to CC32 (including O145:H28) in the UK. The aim of this study was to integrate genomic data with patient information to gain a better understanding of the virulence, disease severity, epidemic risk assessment and population structure of this clinically significant clonal complex. Methodology. Isolates of E. coli belonging to CC32 (n=309) in the archives of public health agencies in the UK and Ireland were whole-genome-sequenced, virulence-profiled and integrated with enhanced surveillance questionnaire (ESQ) data, including exposures and disease severity. Results. Overall, diagnoses of STEC belonging to CC32 (290/309, 94 %) in the UK have increased every year since 2014. Most cases were female (61 %), and the highest proportion of cases belonged to the 0–4 age group (53/211,25 %). The frequency of symptoms of diarrhoea (92 %), abdominal pain (84 %), blood in stool (71 %) and nausea (51 %) was similar to that reported in cases of STEC O157:H7, although cases of STEC CC32 were more frequently admitted to hospital (STEC CC32 48 % vs O157:H7  34 %) and/or developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) (STEC CC32 9 % vs O157:H7 4 %). The majority of STEC isolates (268/290, 92 %) had the stx2a/eae virulence gene combination, most commonly associated with progression to STEC HUS. There was evidence of person-to-person transmission and small, temporally related, geographically dispersed outbreaks, characteristic of foodborne outbreaks linked to nationally distributed products. Conclusion. We recommend more widespread use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of all STEC serogroups, the development of consistent strategies for the follow-up testing of PCR-positive faecal specimens, the implementation of more comprehensive and standardized collection of epidemiological data, and routine sharing of sequencing data between public health agencies worldwide

Microglia regulate myelin growth and integrity in the central nervous system

Myelin is required for the function of neuronal axons in the central nervous system, but the mechanisms that support myelin health are unclear. Although macrophages in the central nervous system have been implicated in myelin health(1), it is unknown which macrophage populations are involved and which aspects they influence. Here we show that resident microglia are crucial for the maintenance of myelin health in adulthood in both mice and humans. We demonstrate that microglia are dispensable for developmental myelin ensheathment. However, they are required for subsequent regulation of myelin growth and associated cognitive function, and for preservation of myelin integrity by preventing its degeneration. We show that loss of myelin health due to the absence of microglia is associated with the appearance of a myelinating oligodendrocyte state with altered lipid metabolism. Moreover, this mechanism is regulated through disruption of the TGFβ1–TGFβR1 axis. Our findings highlight microglia as promising therapeutic targets for conditions in which myelin growth and integrity are dysregulated, such as in ageing and neurodegenerative disease(2,3)

Comparison of diagnostic methods for the detection and quantification of the four sympatric Plasmodium species in field samples from Papua New Guinea

Accurate diagnosis of Plasmodium infections is essential for malaria morbidity and mortality reduction in tropical areas. Despite great advantages of light microscopy (LM) for malaria diagnosis, its limited sensitivity is a critical shortfall for epidemiological studies. Robust molecular diagnostics tools are thus needed.; The present study describes the development of a duplex quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) assay, which specifically detects and quantifies the four human Plasmodium species. Performance of this method was compared to PCR-ligase detection reaction-fluorescent microsphere assay (PCR_LDR_FMA), nested PCR (nPCR) and LM, using field samples collected from 452 children one to five years of age from the Sepik area in Papua New Guinea. Agreement between diagnostic methods was calcualted using kappa statistics.; The agreement of qPCR with other molecular diagnostic methods was substantial for the detection of P. falciparum, but was moderate for the detection of P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale. P. falciparum and P. vivax prevalence by qPCR was 40.9% and 65.7% respectively. This compares to 43.8% and 73.2% by nPCR and 47.1% and 67.5% by PCR_LDR_FMA. P. malariae and P. ovale prevalence was 4.7% and 7.3% by qPCR, 3.3% and 3.8% by nPCR, and 7.7% and 4.4% by PCR_LDR_FMA. Prevalence by LM was lower for all four species, being 25.4% for P. falciparum, 54.9% for P. vivax, 2.4% for P. malariae and 0.0% for P. ovale. The quantification by qPCR closely correlated with microscopic quantification for P. falciparum and P. vivax samples (R2 = 0.825 and R2 = 0.505, respectively). The low prevalence of P. malariae and P. ovale did not permit a solid comparative analysis of quantification for these species.; The qPCR assay developed proved optimal for detection of all four Plasmodium species. Densities by LM were well reflected in quantification results by qPCR, whereby congruence was better for P. falciparum than for P. vivax. This likely is a consequence of the generally lower P. vivax densities. Easy performance of the qPCR assay, a less laborious workflow and reduced risk of contamination, together with reduced costs per sample through reduced reaction volume, opens the possibility to implement qPCR in endemic settings as a suitable diagnostic tool for large epidemiological studies