Microbes in the coral holobiont: partners through evolution, development, and ecological interactions

In the last two decades, genetic and genomic studies have revealed the astonishing diversity and ubiquity of microorganisms. Emergence and expansion of the human microbiome project has reshaped our thinking about how microbes control host health—not only as pathogens, but also as symbionts. In coral reef environments, scientists have begun to examine the role that microorganisms play in coral life history. Herein, we review the current literature on coral-microbe interactions within the context of their role in evolution, development, and ecology. We ask the following questions, first posed by McFall-Ngai et al. (2013) in their review of animal evolution, with specific attention to how coral-microbial interactions may be affected under future environmental conditions: (1) How do corals and their microbiome affect each other's genomes? (2) How does coral development depend on microbial partners? (3) How is homeostasis maintained between corals and their microbial symbionts? (4) How can ecological approaches deepen our understanding of the multiple levels of coral-microbial interactions? Elucidating the role that microorganisms play in the structure and function of the holobiont is essential for understanding how corals maintain homeostasis and acclimate to changing environmental conditions.Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology. Center for Environmental Sensing and ModelingMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Presidential Fellowshi

P3‐192: Conformationally altered p53 as a peripheral marker for mild Alzheimer's disease

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Plasmatic level of neurosin predicts outcome of mild cognitive impairment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a disorder considered to be a transitional stage from health to dementia. Diagnosis of dementias at these early stages is always troublesome because the pathophysiologic events leading to dementia precede clinical symptoms. Thus, the development of biomarkers that can be used to support the diagnosis of dementias at early stages is rapidly becoming a high priority. We have recently reported the value of measuring plasmatic levels of neurosin in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study is to determine whether measuring plasmatic concentration of neurosin is a valuable test to predict progression of MCI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Plasmatic neurosin concentrations were measured in 68 MCI patients and 70 controls subjects. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the study. Sixty six patients diagnosed with MCI were observed for 18 months. In 36 patients a second blood sample was obtained at the endpoint.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean value of plasmatic neurosin concentration differs significantly between MCI patients who converted to Dementia with vascular component, those who converted to AD, or those who remained at MCI stage. The relative risk of developing Dementia with vascular component when neurosin levels are higher than 5.25 ng/ml is 13 while the relative risk of developing mild AD when neurosin levels are lower than 5.25 ng/ml is 2. Increases in the levels of neurosin indicate progression to Dementia with vascular component.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The measurement of plasmatic neurosin level in patients diagnosed with MCI may predict conversion from MCI to Dementia with vascular component. A single measurement is also valuable to estimate the risk of developing AD and Dementia with vascular component. Finally, repeated measurement of plasmatic neurosin might be a useful test to predict outcome in patients with MCI.</p

Parenteral Nutrition-Induced Cholestasis in Neonates: Where Does the Problem Lie?

Background. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is an effective method of nourishing the neonate who is unable to receive full enteral feeds. Cholestasis can be a complication of PN and can lead to severe liver damage. Aim. We describe our patient population and determine risk factors for developing PN cholestasis. Methods. Retrospective chart review of newborns admitted from January 2006 to May 2011 to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at our institution and received PN &gt;14 days. Cholestasis was defined as serum conjugated bilirubin &gt;50 mol/L. Results. Eighty-seven newborns were included; 18 (20.7%) developed PN cholestasis. The most frequent surgical condition for both groups was gastroschisis (8/87; 9.2%). No significant differences were found between the cholestasis and control groups for the following parameters: birth weight, gestational age, intrauterine growth restriction, Apgar scores, and day of life at initiation of enteral feeds. Duration of PN in days and dosage of carbohydrates in g/kg/day were significantly higher in the cholestasis group than the control group. Conclusion. PN-related cholestasis presented in one-fifth of neonates receiving PN for more than two weeks. Longer duration of PN and higher dosage of carbohydrates were independent risk factors for the development of PN cholestasis in this population

Utilidad de las prácticas de simulación clínica en los estudiantes de enfermería

The present study consists of a systematic review focused on analyzing the utility of clinical simulation practices in nursing education; The methodology used was a qualitative bibliographic review, considering publications from the last five years, including research articles, systematic reviews and meta-analysis in the Scielo, PUBMED and Dialnet databases. The findings indicate that clinical simulations are essential to develop competencies such as improved decision-making and technical skills, as well as contribute greatly to the practical preparation of students to face real situations effectively; Likewise, it was found that there is a need to investigate clinical simulation in certain areas of nursing education, such as its effectiveness in particular contexts such as virtual education. It is concluded that practical simulation is an aspect that since its creation has been vital for the training of health professionals.El presente estudio consiste en una revisión sistemática enfocada en analizar las prácticas de simulación clínica en la educación de enfermería; la metodología utilizada fue de revisión bibliográfica, cualitativa, considerando publicaciones de los últimos cinco años, incluyendo artículos de investigación, revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis en las bases de datos de Scielo, PUBMED y Dialnet. Los hallazgos indican que las simulaciones clínicas son fundamentales para desarrollar competencias como mejora de toma de decisiones y habilidades técnicas, así como contribuyen en gran medida a preparación práctica de los estudiantes para enfrentar situaciones reales de manera efectiva; de igual forma se halló que existe necesidad de investigar la simulación clínica en determinados ámbitos de la educación enfermera como la eficacia en contextos particulares como educación virtual. Se concluye que la simulación práctica es un aspecto que desde su creación ha sido vital para la formación de profesionales de la salud

Transboundary aquifers

This chapter gives an overview of the status of transboundary aquifers and the cooperation related to shared groundwater resources, highlighting the complexity of the assessment, analysis and management of these systems. It summarizes the main challenges regarding transboundary aquifers and the need for more comprehensive and integrated management, which would include technical, legal and organizational aspects as well as training and cooperation

Peaceful Mind

Peaceful Mind, el proyecto desarrollado en el presente documento, surgió a raíz de la coyuntura actual y la nueva realidad generada a nivel mundial por la pandemia del COVID-19. Cinco meses después de iniciado el estado de emergencia sanitaria en el Perú se pudo identificar que, debido a las medidas de contingencia tomadas, especialmente el aislamiento social obligatorio, muchos familiares y amigos tuvieron que dejar de lado sus tratamientos psicológicos, perjudicando su proceso de mejora de salud mental, un problema que aqueja a muchos países del mundo y no se otorga la importancia debida. Al respecto, la Cruz Roja indicó que “el coronavirus agravó enfermedades mentales ya existentes, mientras que surgieron otras nuevas, lo que limitó aún más el acceso a servicios médicos especializados ante las restricciones económicas por las medidas de cuarentena adoptadas para contener la pandemia”. Frente a ello, nace la idea de crear una plataforma virtual que permita a los usuarios continuar con su tratamiento psicológico, recibiendo orientación psicológica personalizada y terapias alternativas de forma rápida y segura. Con el objetivo de desarrollar el proyecto se llevaron a cabo diversos experimentos que permitieron identificar la aceptación de la idea de negocio. Además, se realizó el planeamiento de los siguientes procesos: operativo, marketing, recursos humanos, responsabilidad social y planeamiento financiero. Los análisis cuantitativos indican que se necesita una inversión de S/ 90,245.98 para dar inicio al proyecto, el cual recuperará su inversión inicial en un periodo de tres años y obtendrá un Valor Actual Neto de S/ 123,469.37.Peaceful Mind, the project developed in this document, came from the current juncture and new reality caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Five months into the declared global health emergency and mandatory social isolation, we found out many of our friends and relatives had to halt or put aside their psychological appointments and treatments, impairing the advancements or improvement of their mental health. This is a common issue in many countries that are often avoided or underestimated. In this regard, the Red Cross stated that the “Coronavirus worsen the existent mental health illnesses, while new ones emerged, which limited, even more, the access to specialized medical services before the quarantine economical restrictions enforced to containing the pandemic”. Thus was born the idea of creating a virtual platform that allows its users to continue with their psychological treatments, receive personalized psychological orientation, and practice alternative therapies in a fast and safe manner. In order to develop this project, many experiments were carried out to identify the feasibility and acceptance level of this business idea. Additionally, the planning of the following processes was carried out: operational, marketing, human resources, social responsibility, and financial planning. The quantitative analyzes show that an initial investment of S/. 90,245.98 is required to start this project with a VPN of S/123,469.37 and a payback period of three yearsTrabajo de investigació

Growth inhibition of thyroid follicular cell-derived cancers by the opioid growth factor (OGF) - opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) axis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carcinoma of the thyroid gland is an uncommon cancer, but the most frequent malignancy of the endocrine system. Most thyroid cancers are derived from the follicular cell. Follicular carcinoma (FTC) is considered more malignant than papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most lethal human cancers. Opioid Growth Factor (OGF; chemical term - [Met⁵]-enkephalin) and its receptor, OGFr, form an inhibitory axis regulating cell proliferation. Both the peptide and receptor have been detected in a wide variety of cancers, and OGF is currently used clinically as a biotherapy for some non-thyroid neoplasias. This study addressed the question of whether the OGF-OGFr axis is present and functional in human thyroid follicular cell - derived cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Utilizing human ATC (KAT-18), PTC (KTC-1), and FTC (WRO 82-1) cell lines, immunohistochemistry was employed to ascertain the presence and location of OGF and OGFr. The growth characteristics in the presence of OGF or the opioid antagonist naltrexone (NTX), and the specificity of opioid peptides for proliferation of ATC, were established in KAT-18 cells. Dependence on peptide and receptor were investigated using neutralization studies with antibodies and siRNA experiments, respectively. The mechanism of peptide action on DNA synthesis and cell survival was ascertained. The ubiquity of the OGF-OGFr axis in thyroid follicular cell-derived cancer was assessed in KTC-1 (PTC) and WRO 82-1 (FTC) tumor cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>OGF and OGFr were present in KAT-18 cells. Concentrations of 10^-6M OGF inhibited cell replication up to 30%, whereas NTX increased cell growth up to 35% relative to cultures treated with sterile water. OGF treatment reduced cell number by as much as 38% in KAT-18 ATC in a dose-dependent and receptor-mediated manner. OGF antibodies neutralized the inhibitory effects of OGF, and siRNA knockdown of OGFr negated growth inhibition by OGF. Cell survival was not altered by OGF, but DNA synthesis as recorded by BrdU incorporation was depressed by 28% in OGF-treated cultures compared to those exposed to sterile water. The OGF-OGFr axis was detected and functional in PTC (KTC-1) and FTC (WRO 82-1) cell lines.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that OGF and OGFr are present in follicular-derived thyroid cancers, and that OGF serves in a tonically active inhibitory manner to maintain homeostasis of cell proliferation. These results may provide a biotherapeutic strategy in the treatment of these cancers.</p

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P &lt; 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men