Wellness Champions: A Critical Strategy for Universities to Enhance Population Health and Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Deutschsprachige Versionen des Tinnitus Functional Index

Hintergrund Es existieren zwei deutschsprachige, validierte Versionen des Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), eine für die Schweiz und eine für Deutschland. Der TFI gilt als möglicher neuer Standard-Fragebogen für die Evaluation eines Tinnitus-Schweregrads und einer Tinnitus-Therapie. Ziel der Arbeit In Anbetracht der stattfindenden Standardisierung bei der Tinnitus-Evaluation war es unser Ziel, die beiden TFI-Versionen miteinander zu vergleichen und im deutschsprachigem Raum nur eine TFI-Version zu empfehlen. Material und Methoden Die beiden deutschsprachigen TFI-Versionen wurden in einer multizentrischen randomisierten Online-Fragebogenstudie im Cross-over-Design miteinander verglichen. Ergebnisse Die Gesamtscores der beiden TFI-Versionen unterschieden sich in der gesamten Population nicht. Bei weiterer Aufschlüsselung in Bezug auf die Population und Reihenfolge der abgegeben TFI-Versionen zeigten sich allerdings teilweise signifikante Unterschiede mit jedoch nur moderaten Effektstärken. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass sich die beiden Versionen leicht unterscheiden, aber trotzdem miteinander vergleichbar sind. Bei der Faktoranalyse konnten bei der TFI-Version für Deutschland in der gesamten Population wie auch für die schweizerische Population 6 Faktoren extrahiert werden. Hingegen konnten bei der deutschen Population in beiden TFI-Versionen und bei der schweizerischen Population in der schweizerischen TFI-Version nur 5 Faktoren extrahiert werden. Schlussfolgerung Die beiden deutschsprachigen Versionen des TFI sind gut miteinander vergleichbar. Jedoch spricht die Faktoranalyse eher für die Verwendung der TFI-Version für Deutschland im gesamten deutschsprachigen Raum. ------- Background Two validated German-language versions of the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) exist, one for Switzerland and one for Germany. The TFI is considered to be a possible new standard questionnaire for evaluation of tinnitus severity and tinnitus treatment. Objective Considering the standardization taking place in tinnitus evaluation, our aim was to compare the two German-language TFI versions and to recommend only one TFI version in the German-speaking area. Materials and methods The two German-language TFI versions were compared in a multicenter and randomized online questionnaire study with a crossover design. Results The total score of the two TFI versions did not differ in the total population. However, when further divided in terms of population and order of presentation of the TFI versions, there were significant differences in some cases, albeit with only moderate effect sizes. This suggests that the two versions are slightly different but still comparable. In factor analysis for the TFI version for Germany, in the entire population as well as in the Swiss population, six factors could be extracted. In contrast, for the German and Swiss TFI versions, only five factors could be extracted in the German population, and for the Swiss TFI version, only five factors in the Swiss population. Conclusion The two German-language versions of the TFI are well comparable with each other. However, the factor analysis rather argues for use of the TFI version for Germany in the entire German-speaking region

A Three-Way Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Testing, QuantiFERON-TB Gold and T-SPOT.TB in Children

BACKGROUND: There are limited data comparing the performance of the two commercially available interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) release assays (IGRAs) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children. We compared QuantiFERON-TB gold In Tube (QFT-IT), T-SPOT.TB and the tuberculin skin test (TST) in children at risk for latent TB infection or TB disease. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The results of both IGRAs were compared with diagnosis assigned by TST-based criteria and assessed in relation to TB contact history. Results from the TST and at least one assay were available for 96 of 100 children. Agreement between QFT-IT and T-SPOT.TB was high (93% agreement, kappa = 0.83). QFT-IT and T-SPOT.TB tests were positive in 8 (89%) and 9 (100%) children with suspected active TB disease. There was moderate agreement between TST and either QFT-IT (75%, kappa = 0.50) or T-SPOT.TB (75%, kappa = 0.51). Among 38 children with TST-defined latent TB infection, QFT-IT gold and T-SPOT.TB assays were positive in 47% and 39% respectively. Three TST-negative children were positive by at least one IGRA. Children with a TB contact were more likely than children without a TB contact to have a positive IGRA (QFT-IT LR 3.9; T-SPOT.TB LR 3.9) and a positive TST (LR 1.4). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the magnitude of both TST induration and IGRA IFN-gamma responses was significantly influenced by TB contact history, but only the TST was influenced by age. CONCLUSIONS: Although a high level of agreement between the IGRAs was observed, they are commonly discordant with the TST. The correct interpretation of a negative assay in a child with a positive skin test in clinical practice remains challenging and highlights the need for longitudinal studies to determine the negative predictive value of IGRAs

Connaissance et exploration floristiques en Languedoc-Roussillon (France) : cartographie des points d'herborisations et répartition des Malvaceae pour l'Hérault

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Isolation of Yeast Genes that Suppress the Chromosome Loss Defect of ysm's 22, 77, 83, and 84

Advisor: Heidi SleisterCancer cells display both chromosome rearrangements and abnormal numbers of chromosomes. High fidelity chromosome transmission requires the accuracy of multiple processes such as DNA replication, DNA repair, sister chromatid cohesion, mitotic spindle assembly, and chromosome segregation. Many of the gene products that function in these processes are conserved in eukaryotes. The simple eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) is an excellent model system for the study of chromosome transmission as its cell cycle is well-characterized, and it is amenable to genetic analysis. With the aim of identifying genes important for chromosome transmission, we previously generated a collection of YAC stability in mitosis (ysm) mutants that display increased loss of a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC). Four mutant strains (ysm's 22, 77, 83, 84) are particularly interesting as they display high levels of YAC loss and have at least one additional mutant phenotype related to a process important for genome stability (e.g., DNA replication, mitotic spindle assembly). Isolation of suppressors of the YAC loss phenotype in these mutants may reveal the defective genes in these strains as well as genes whose products interact in the same or parallel pathways as the defective gene product. To this end, ysm's 22, 77, 83, and 84 were transformed with a yeast genomic plasmid library, and plasmids that suppressed the YAC loss phenotype were isolated. We are in the process of verifying candidate suppressor plasmids by retransformation of the mutant strains and identifying the suppressing genes by DNA sequencing. Analysis of these suppressors will contribute to our understanding of gene products, protein networks, and processes important for eukaryotic genome stability.Drake University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biolog