Model requirements for Biobank Software Systems

Biobanks are essential tools in diagnostics and therapeutics research and development related to personalized medicine. Several international recommendations, standards and guidelines exist that discuss the legal, ethical, technological, and management requirements of biobanks. Today's biobanks are much more than just collections of biospecimens. They also store a huge amount of data related to biological samples which can be either clinical data or data coming from biochemical experiments. A well-designed biobank software system also provides the possibility of finding associations between stored elements. Modern research biobanks are able to manage multicenter sample collections while fulfilling all requirements of data protection and security. While developing several biobanks and analyzing the data stored in them, our research group recognized the need for a well-organized, easy-to-check requirements guideline that can be used to develop biobank software systems. International best practices along with relevant ICT standards were integrated into a comprehensive guideline: The Model Requirements for the Management of Biological Repositories (BioReq), which covers the full range of activities related to biobank development. The guideline is freely available on the Internet for the research community

Solid state treatment with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BGHN14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus BGT10 improves nutrient bioavailability in granular fish feed

The aim of this research was to improve nutritive value of fishmeal-based feed by lactobacilli in order to achieve satisfactory nutrient availability needed to support fish development. Feed was solid-state treated at a laboratory scale with the combination of Lactobacillus paracaseisubsp. paracasei BGHN14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus BGT10 in different experimental settings, which included the variation of strain ratio, total lactobacilli concentration, percentage of moisture and duration of incubation. Short peptides, soluble proteins, phospho-, neutral and unsaturated lipids were quantified. Differences among treated and control feeds were evaluated by Student t-test, while Gaussian process regression (GPR) modeling was employed to simulate the incubation process and define the optimal treatment combination in the context of overall feed nutritional profile. Treatment duration was shown to be the critical determinant of final outcome, either as single factor or via interaction with strain ratio. Optimal nutrient balance was achieved with 12 h incubation period, 260% moisture, 75:25 and 50:50 BGHN14:BGT10 ratios and 200 mg of lactobacilli per g of dry feed. This study should serve as the basis for large-scale tests which would simulate on-farm production of both fishmeal-based and unconventional, lower cost aquafeed with added value

Concomitant deficits in working memory and fear extinction are functionally dissociated from reduced anxiety in metabotropic glutamate receptor 7-deficient mice

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7), a receptor with a distinct brain distribution and a putative role in anxiety, emotional responding, and spatial working memory, could be an interesting therapeutic target for fear and anxiety disorders. mGluR7-deficient (mGluR7 / ) mice showed essentially normal performance in tests for neuromotor and exploratory activity and passive avoidance learning but prominent anxiolytic behavior in two anxiety tests. They showed a delayed learning curve during the acquisition of the hidden-platform water maze, and three interspersed probe trials indicated that mGluR7 / mice were slower to acquire spatial information. Working memory in the water maze task and the radial arm maze was impaired in mGluR7 / mice compared with mGluR7 / . mGluR7 / mice also displayed a higher resistance to extinction of fear-elicited response suppression in a conditioned emotional response protocol. In a non-fear-based water maze protocol, mGluR7 / mice displayed similar delayed extinction. These observed behavioral changes are probably not attributable to changes inAMPAorNMDAreceptor function because expression levels of AMPAand NMDA receptors were unaltered. Extinction of conditioned fear is an active and context-dependent form of inhibitory learning and an experimental model for therapeutic fear reduction. It appears to depend on glutamatergic and higher-level brain functions similar to those involved in spatial working memory but functionally dissociated from those that mediate constitutional responses in anxiety tests

Oxidative Stress-Related Parthanatos of Circulating Mononuclear Leukocytes in Heart Failure

Background: The present study aims to examine the oxidative stress related activation of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), signs of parthanatos in circulating mononuclear leukocytes of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) that was rarely investigated in the human setting yet. Methods: Patients with CHF (n=20) and age, body mass index matched volunteers (n=15) with normal heart function were enrolled. C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), plasma total peroxide level (PRX), plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), leukocyte lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxynonenal; HNE), protein tyrosine nitration (NT), poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation), and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) translocation were measured in blood samples of fasting subjects. Results: Plasma PRX, leukocyte HNE, NT, PARylation and AIF translocation were significantly higher in the heart failure group. Pro-BNP levels in all study subjects showed significant positive correlation to PRX, OSI, leukocyte HNE, NT, PARylation and AIF translocation. Ejection fraction negatively correlated with same parameters. Among HF patients, positive correlation of pro-BNP with PRX, OSI and PARylation was still present. Conclusions: Markers of oxidative-nitrative stress, PARP activation and AIF translocation in blood components showed correlation to reduced cardiac function and the clinical appearance of CHF. These results may reinforce the consideration of PARP inhibition as a potential therapeutic target in CHF

Is early limited surgery associated with a more benign disease course in Crohn’s disease?

AIM: To analyze the difference in disease course and need for surgery in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Data of 506 patients with incident CD were analyzed (age at diagnosis: 31.5 ± 13.8 years). Both hospital and outpatient records were collected prospectively with a complete clinical follow-up and comprehensively reviewed in the population-based Veszprem province database, which includes incident CD patients diagnosed between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 2008. Follow-up data were collected until December 31, 2009. All patients included had at least 1 year of follow-up available. Patients with indeterminate colitis at diagnosis were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 73 patients (14.4%) required resective surgery within 1 year of diagnosis. Steroid exposure and need for biological therapy were lower in patients with early limited surgery (P < 0.001 and P = 0.09). In addition, surgery rates during follow-up in patients with and without early surgery differed significantly after matching on propensity scores (P < 0.001, HR = 0.23). The need for reoperation was also lower in patients with early limited resective surgery (P = 0.038, HR = 0.42) in a Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression (P = 0.04) analysis. However, this advantage was not observed after matching on propensity scores (P(Logrank) = 0.656, P(Breslow) = 0.498). CONCLUSION: Long-term surgery rates and overall exposure to steroids and biological agents were lower in patients with early limited resective surgery, but reoperation rates did not differ

Diagnostic and prognostic factors in patients with prostate cancer : a systematic review

Funding PIONEER is funded through the IMI2 Joint Undertaking and is listed under Grant Agreement No. 777492 and is part of the Big Data for Better Outcomes Programme (BD4BO). IMI2 receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). The views communicated within are those of PIONEER. Neither the IMI nor the European Union, EFPIA, or any Associated Partners are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The current state of introduction of human papillomavirus vaccination into national immunisation schedules in Europe: first results of the VENICE2 2010 survey.

The Venice 2 human papillomavirus vaccination survey evaluates the state of introduction of the HPV vaccination into the national immunisation schedules in the 29 participating countries. As of July 2010, 18 countries have integrated this vaccination. The vaccination policy and achievements vary among those countries regarding target age groups, delivery infrastructures and vaccination coverage reached. Financial constraints remain the major obstacle for the 11 countries who have not yet introduced the vaccination

A SZENNYVÍZISZAP-KEZELÉS ÉS -ELHELYEZÉS KÖZGAZDASÁGI ÉRTÉKELÉSE

A vizsgálatok, a költség-haszon elemzés alapján a következő rangsor állítható fel a vizsgált három technológia költségeinek és hasznainak hosszú távon történő figyelembevétele alapján: • A legkedvezőbb a víztelenített iszap mezőgazdasági hasznosítása, de a kezdeti időszakban ez az előny nem jelentkezik, csak a 13. évtől kezdődően. • Az alapesetként tekintett folyékony iszap injektálásos mezőgazdasági hasznosítása a második helyet foglalja el. • Mind rövid, mind pedig hosszú távon a víztelenített iszap deponálása jelenti a legkedvezőtlenebb megoldást abban az esetben, ha a társadalom szintjén jelentkező költségek és hasznok egy része is szerepel az elemzésekben. ----------------------------------------------- According to cost-return analysis on long term basis the three technologies examined can be ranked as follows: • The utilization of dehydrated sewer sludge in agriculture is the most favourable method of disposal, although its advantages are apparent only after 13 years of application. • The second place goes to the agricultural utilization of liquid sewer sludge by injection techniques regarded as the basic method. The agricultural disposal of dehydrated sludge represents the most favourable approach if costs and returns to the entire society in parts at least are included into the analysis

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS AND ACUTE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY: MEDIATING AND MODERATING EFFECTS OF COPING STRATEGIES

Background: Prior research suggests that the Big Five personality dimensions might be associated with coping strategies as well as acute psychopathology. The aim of the present study was to investigate direct and indirect associations between the Big Five personality traits, coping styles, and psychopathological variables. Subjects and methods: Subjects were 1140 adults from various institutions and regions in Hungary. A comprehensive test battery was administered including the Big Five Inventory (BFI), Psychological Immune System Inventory (PISI), and some subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Several moderation-mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS tool in SPSS to test for influence paths. Results: Coping and personality variables jointly accounted for 40% to 50% of variance in psychopathology outcome. Personality dimensions of Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Emotional Stability had strongest predictive values. Emotional Stability had a more direct and unmediated effect, whereas Extraversion and Conscientiousness effects were mediated by the Approach and Self-regulation coping systems. In comparison to personality, coping style was generally a stronger predictor. Conclusions: The findings of this study might add to better understanding of complex pathways leading from broad personality dimensions to coping strategies and psychological (mal)adjustment