Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) quantification of metabolites in stool using13 C labelled compounds

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. It has become increasingly important to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the volatile metabolites in a range of bodily fluids for use in monitoring health. There has been relatively little work on the quantitative analysis of compounds, particularly with respect to the effects of ethnicity or geographic location. A novel method for the quantification of compounds in stool using13 C labelled compounds as internal standards is presented. Using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry, stool samples from 38 healthy volunteers were analysed. The13 C labelled compounds, acetone, ethyl butanoate, ethanoic acid, butanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, and indole, were added as internal standards. This process mimics the solubility characteristics of the compounds and thus the method was able to quantify the compounds within the solid stool. In total, 15 compounds were quantified: Dimethyl sulphide (26–25,626 ng/g), acetone (442–3006 ng/g), ethyl butanoate (39–2468 ng/g), ethyl 2-methylbutanoate (0.3–180 ng/g), dimethyl disulphide (35–1303 ng/g), 1-octen-3-one (12 ng/g), dimethyl trisulphide (10–410 ng/g), 1-octen-3-ol (0.4–58 ng/g), ethanoic acid (672–12,963 ng/g), butanoic acid (2493–11,553 ng/g), 3-methylbutanoic acid (64–8262 ng/g), pentanoic acid (88–21,886 ng/g), indole (290–5477 ng/g), and 3-methyl indole (37–3483 ng/g). Moreover, by altering the pH of the stool to pH 13 in conjunction with the addition of13 C trimethylamine, the method was successful in detecting and quantifying trimethylamine for the first time in stool samples (range 40–5312 ng/g). Statistical analysis revealed that samples from U.K. origin had five significantly different compounds (ethyl butanoate, 1-octen-3-ol, ethanoic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, and indole) from those of South American origin. However, there were no significant differences between vegetarian and omnivore samples. These findings are supported by pre-existing literature evidence. Moreover, we have tentatively identified 12 compounds previously not reported as having been found in stool

Sodomy laws and gender variance in Tahiti and Hawai‘i

In both Hawaiian and Tahitian, the central meaning of mahu denotes gender-variant individuals, particularly male-bodied persons who have a significant investment in femininity. However, in Hawai‘i, unlike Tahiti, the word mahu is now more commonly used as an insult against gay or transgender people. The negative connotation of the term in Hawaiian indexes lower levels of social acceptability for mahu identity on O‘ahu (Hawai‘i’s most populous island) as compared to Tahiti. The article argues that these differences are partly due to a historical legacy of sexually repressive laws. The article traces the history of sodomy laws in these two Polynesian societies and argues that this history supports the hypothesis that sodomy laws (in conjunction with such social processes as urbanisation and Christianisation) are partially to blame for the diminished social status of mahu on O‘ahu. A different social and legal history in Tahiti accounts for the fact that the loss of social status experienced by Tahitian mahu has been lesser than that of their Hawaiian counterparts

Operative time and outcome of enhanced recovery after surgery after laparoscopic colorectal surgery

Background and Objectives: Combining laparoscopy and enhanced recovery provides benefit to short-term outcomes after colorectal surgery. Advances in training and techniques have allowed surgeons to operate on cases that are technically challenging and associated with prolonged operative time. Laparoscopic techniques improve the outcome of enhanced recovery after colorectal surgery; however, there are no specifications on the effect of prolonged operations on the outcome. The objective was to elucidate the impact of prolonged surgery and blood loss on the outcome of enhanced recovery after surgery after laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods: Four-hundred patients who underwent elective colorectal resection on enhanced recovery after surgery in Yeovil District Hospital between 2002 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Delayed discharge was defined as a prolonged length of stay beyond the mean in this series (≥8 days). Results: Three-hundred eighty-five patients were included. Median operative time was 180 minutes with a median blood loss of 100 mL. Conversion was not associated with a prolonged length of stay. Operative time and blood loss correlated with length of stay in a stepwise fashion. There were 2 cutoff points of operative time at 160 minutes and 300 minutes (5 hours), where risk of prolonged stay increased significantly (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-3.90; P= 027), and blood loss of >500 mL (OR = 3.114; 95% CI, 1.501-6.462, P =.002). Conclusions: Total operative timing impacts negatively on the outcome of enhanced recovery after laparoscopic colorectal resections with increased risk of delayed discharge seen after ~2.5 hours and 5-hour duration. © 2014 by JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons

As funções terapêuticas da atividade: um estudo comparativo em terapia ocupacional

O propósito deste estudo foi verificar as alterações ocorridas em relação a assistência em terapia ocupacional na Unidade Psiquiátrica do Hospital São Paulo, vinculada ao Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, através da análise da aplicação de um instrumento terapêutico da terapia ocupacional, a atividade. Este estudo baseou-se em pesquisa retrospectiva nos prontuários de pacientes internadas na Unidade Psiquiátrica. A pesquisa se propôs sistematizar o registro de procedimentos de terapeutas ocupacionais e de outros profissionais em relação a atividade, no sentido de dar uma contribuição universalização de alguns aspectos do discurso da Terapia Ocupacional, sistematizando-os em categorias. Pretendeu-se verificar a aplicabilidade do instrumento terapêutico pesquisado, através da comparação dos procedimentos encontrados em dois períodos. Os procedimentos metodológicos constaram de: a.- definição dos períodos a serem pesquisados: de 1/1/1988 a 31/12/1988 e de 1/1/1994 a 31/12/1994; b- coleta de dados: foram levantados em 257 prontuários de pacientes internadas na Unidade Psiquiátrica nos períodos acima definidos, os dados sócio demográficos e todos os registros encontrados nos prontuários, sobre uso de atividade e sobre terapia Ocupacional: c- categorização dos dados sobre atividade e terapia ocupacional segundo referências empíricas e funções da atividade e posteriormente em categorias empíricas em terapia ocupacional; d- análise dos dados: através do cotejamento do material encontrados nos dois períodos em relação As categorias criadas e A literatura. A análise dos dados demonstrou que não houve alterações no perfil sócio demográfico da clientela, não se alterando também a pouca atenção da equipe frente a dados relativos a origem, ocupação e perfil econômico. Em relação a idade média das pacientes e tempo de internação a distribuição dos mesmos difere, os indices mais altos encontrados relacionam-se ao segundo período. Quanto ao instrumento terapêutico, a atividade, o estudo comparativo, permitiu identificar modificações em relação a compreensão e uso do mesmo. No primeiro período, o recurso terapêutico, atividade, relaciona-se com a proposta de ambientoterapia, isto 6, toda a utilização da atividade insere-se num movimento mais amplo, grupal, com a participação efetiva de toda a equipe, voltado à experiências sociabilizantes, com raras abordagens especificas de terapeutas ocupacionais. No segundo período a utilização da atividade enquanto instrumento terapêutico, aproxima-se dos recursos teóricos e práticos da terapia ocupacional psicodinâmica, o que permitiu enfoques mais individualizados, introduziu a questão do processo terapêutico, a utilização deste recurso como uma aborgagem eletiva, ampliou o contato das terapeutas ocupacionais com a clientela em grupos específicos de terapia ocupacional e no ambulatório de egressos. Perdeu-se neste segundo período alguns procedimentos relativos a proposta da ambientoterapia e a uniformidade da equipe frente a esta questão. Percebeu-se que, a aplicabilidade deste recurso terapêutico, nos dois períodos, baseia-se nas possíveis funções da atividade, tomadas sempre como recursos estratégicos. Nos dois períodos foi possível verificar que a aplicabilidade deste instrumento terapêutico não se relacionou a categorias diagnósticas, podendo num sentido mais amplo, ter indicação a todos as pacientes.The purpose of this study was to verify the changes occurred within the Occupational Therapy assistance in the Psychiatric Unit of Hospital São Paulo, linked to the Psychiatry and Medical Psychology Department of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo through the analysis of the use a therapeutic means of Occupational Therapy named the activity. The study was based on retrospective research of inpatients'clinical charts. The research purpose was to sistematyze the procedures of occupational therapists and of other professionals concerning the activity in order to contribute to the generalization of certains aspects of occupational therapy practices by arranging them into categories.Our intention was to verify the applicability of the therapeutic means under analysis through the comparison of procedures found in two distinct periods. The experimental methods consisted of: a. Definition of periods to be researched: from 01/01/1988 to 31/12/1988 and from 01/01/1994 to 31/12/1994. b.Data collection: Data were collected from 257 inpatineclinical charts during the above defined periods, specifically social demographics data and all the information found in charts concerning use of the activity and occupational therapy. c. data categorization about the activity and occupational therapy according to empirical references and functions of the activity and subsequently to empirical categories in occupational therapy d.data analyses: through comparison of the material found in both periods, through created categories and in reference to the existing literature. Data analyses showed that were no changes in patients social demographics profile, as well as in team members'poor charting of data relative to the source, occupation and economical profile of impatient. Concerning the age of the patients and hospitalization period, their distribution differed with higher levels found in the second period. As for the use of the therapeutic instrument, the activity, the comparison allowed the identification of due to its application.changes. In the first period, the activity relates to the millieu therapy proposal, that is, all the activity application inserts itself in a broader movement, with the effective participation of all the members focused on socialization with rare specif interventions of occupational therapists. In the secon period, the use of the activity as a therapeutic instrument follows the theoretical and practical resource of the psychodinamic occupational therapy; that allowed more specific approaches and introduced the subject of the therapeutic process in occupational therapy. The use of this resource as a choice approach enlarged the contact of occupational therapists with patients in Occupational Therapy groups and in the out patient follow-up treatment. During this second period some procedures relating to the millieu therapy project and the unity of the team concerning this subject were lost. We have noticed that the applicability of this therapeutic resource, the activity, during both periods is based on the possible functions of the activity, always taken as strategis resources. It was possible to verify, in both periods, that the applicability of this therapeutic instrument is not related to diagnostic categories, and it that can be beneficial to all the patients.BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe

MPC With Delayed Parties Over Star-Like Networks

While the efficiency of secure multi-party computation protocols has greatly increased in the last few years, these improvements and protocols are often based on rather unrealistic, idealised, assumptions about how technology is deployed in the real world. In this work we examine multi-party computation protocols in the presence of two major constraints present in deployed systems. Firstly, we consider the situation where the parties are connected not by direct point-to-point connections, but by a star-like topology with a few central post-office style relays. Secondly, we consider MPC protocols with a strong honest majority ($n \gg t/2$) in which we have stragglers (some parties are progressing slower than others). We model stragglers by allowing the adversary to delay messages to and from some parties for a given length of time. We first show that having only a single honest rely is enough to ensure consensus of the messages sent within a protocol; secondly, we show that special care must be taken to describe multiplication protocols in the case of relays and stragglers and that some well known protocols do not guarantee privacy and correctness in this setting; thirdly, we present an efficient honest-majority MPC protocol which can be run on top of the relays and which provides active-security with abort in the case of a strong honest majority, even when run with stragglers. We back up our protocol presentation with both experimental evaluations and simulations of the effect of the relays and delays on our protocol

Aquaglyceroporin-3’s expression and cellular localization is differentially modulated by hypoxia in prostate cancer cell lines

Aquaporins are required by cells to enable fast adaptation to volume and osmotic changes, as well as microenvironmental metabolic stimuli. Aquaglyceroporins play a crucial role in supplying cancer cells with glycerol for metabolic needs. Here, we show that AQP3 is differentially expressed in cells of a prostate cancer panel. AQP3 is located at the cell membrane and cytoplasm of LNCaP cell while being exclusively expressed in the cytoplasm of Du145 and PC3 cells. LNCaP cells show enhanced hypoxia growth; Du145 and PC3 cells display stress factors, indicating a crucial role for AQP3 at the plasma membrane in adaptation to hypoxia. Hypoxia, both acute and chronic affected AQP3′s cellular localization. These outcomes were validated using a machine learning classification approach of the three cell lines and of the six normoxic or hypoxic conditions. Classifiers trained on morphological features derived from cytoskeletal and nuclear labeling alongside corresponding texture features could uniquely identify each individual cell line and the corresponding hypoxia exposure. Cytoskeletal features were 70–90% accurate, while nuclear features allowed for 55–70% accuracy. Cellular texture features (73.9% accuracy) were a stronger predictor of the hypoxic load than the AQP3 distribution (60.3%)

On the use of parataxonomy in biodiversity monitoring: a case study on wild flora

International audienceMonitoring programs that assess species-richness and turnover are now regarded as essential to document biodiversity loss worldwide. Implementation of such programs is impeded by a general decrease in the number of skilled naturalists. Here we studied how morphotypes, instead of species, might be used by unskilled participants (referred to as “volunteers”) to survey common plant communities. Our main questions were: (1) Can morphotypes be used as a robust estimator of species-richness (alpha-diversity) and assemblage turnover (Beta-diversity)? and (2) What is the robustness (reproducibility and repeatability) of such methods? Double inventories were performed on 150 plots in arable Weld margins, one by a non-expert using morphotypes, the other by a taxonomist using species. To test the robustness of morphotype identiWcation among participants, 20 additional plots were surveyed by eight volunteers using the same protocol. We showed that (1) the number of morphotypes identiWed by unskilled volunteers in a plot was always strongly correlated with species-richness. (2) Morphotypes were sensitive to diVerences among habitats but were less accurate than species to detect these diVerences. (3) Morphotype identiWcation varied signiWcantly within and between volunteers. Due to this lack of repeatability and reproducibility, parataxonomy cannot be considered a good surrogate for taxonomy. Nevertheless, assuming that morphotypes are identiWed with standardized methods, and that results are used only to evaluate gross species-richness but not species turnover, parataxonomy might be a valuable tool for rapid biodiversity assessment of common wild flora

Choice of dialysis modality among patients initiating dialysis : results of the Peridialysis study

© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA.Background: In patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), home dialysis offers socio-economic and health benefits compared with in-centre dialysis but is generally underutilized. We hypothesized that the pre-dialysis course and institutional factors affect the choice of dialysis modality after dialysis initiation (DI). Methods: The Peridialysis study is a multinational, multicentre prospective observational study assessing the causes and timing of DI and consequences of suboptimal DI. Clinical and biochemical data, details of the pre-dialytic course, reasons for DI and causes of the choice of dialysis modality were registered. Results: Among 1587 included patients, 516 (32.5%) were judged unsuitable for home dialysis due to contraindications [384 ( 24.2%)] or no assessment [106 (6.7%); mainly due to late referral and/or suboptimal DI] or death [26 (1.6%)]. Older age, comorbidity, late referral, suboptimal DI, acute illness and rapid loss of renal function associated with unsuitability. Of the remaining 1071 patients, 700 (65.4%) chose peritoneal dialysis (61.7%) or home haemodialysis (HD; 3.6%), while 371 (34.6%) chose in-centre HD. Somatic differences between patients choosing home dialysis and in-centre dialysis were minor; factors linked to the choice of in-centre dialysis were late referral, suboptimal DI, acute illness and absence of a 'home dialysis first' institutional policy. Conclusions: Given a personal choice with shared decision making, 65.4% of ESKD patients choose home dialysis. Our data indicate that the incidence of home dialysis potentially could be further increased to reduce the incidence of late referral and unplanned DI and, in acutely ill patients, by implementing an educational programme after improvement of their clinical condition.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Long‐term trends in the distribution, abundance and impact of native “injurious” weeds

Questions: How can we quantify changes in the distribution and abundance of injurious weed species (Senecio jacobaea, Cirsium vulgare, Cirsium arvense, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex crispus and Urtica dioica), over long time periods at wide geographical scales? What impact do these species have on plant communities? To what extent are changes driven by anthropogenically induced drivers such as disturbance, eutrophication and management? Location: Great Britain. Methods: Data from national surveys were used to assess changes in the frequency and abundance of selected weed species between 1978 and 2007. This involved novel method development to create indices of change, and to relate changes in distribution and abundance of these species to plant community diversity and inferred changes in resource availability, disturbance and management. Results: Three of the six weed species became more widespread in GB over this period and all of them increased in abundance (in grasslands, arable habitats, roadsides and streamsides). Patterns were complex and varied by landscape context and habitat type. For most of the species, there were negative relationships between abundance, total plant species richness, grassland, wetland and woodland indicators. Each individual species responds to a different combination of anthropogenic drivers but disturbance, fertility and livestock management significantly influenced most species. Conclusions: The increase in frequency and abundance of weeds over decades has implications for landscape‐scale plant diversity, fodder yield and livestock health. This includes reductions in plant species richness, loss of valuable habitat specialists and homogenisation of vegetation communities. Increasing land‐use intensity, excessive nutrient input, overgrazing, sward damage, poaching and bare ground in fields and undermanagement or too frequent cutting on linear features may have led to increases in weeds. These weeds do have conservation value so we are not advocating eradication, rather co‐existence, without dominance. Land management policy needs to adapt to benefit biodiversity and agricultural productivity