Epidemiology and Immune Pathogenesis of Viral Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis can be caused by a broad range of pathogens; however, bacterial infections represent the majority of sepsis cases. Up to 42% of sepsis presentations are culture negative, suggesting a non-bacterial cause. Despite this, diagnosis of viral sepsis remains very rare. Almost any virus can cause sepsis in vulnerable patients (e.g., neonates, infants, and other immunosuppressed groups). The prevalence of viral sepsis is not known, nor is there enough information to make an accurate estimate. The initial standard of care for all cases of sepsis, even those that are subsequently proven to be culture negative, is the immediate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. In the absence of definite diagnostic criteria for viral sepsis, or at least to exclude bacterial sepsis, this inevitably leads to unnecessary antimicrobial use, with associated consequences for antimicrobial resistance, effects on the host microbiome and excess healthcare costs. It is important to understand non-bacterial causes of sepsis so that inappropriate treatment can be minimised, and appropriate treatments can be developed to improve outcomes. In this review, we summarise what is known about viral sepsis, its most common causes, and how the immune responses to severe viral infections can contribute to sepsis. We also discuss strategies to improve our understanding of viral sepsis, and ways we can integrate this new information into effective treatment

Prototype for multidisciplinary research in the context of the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) poses important challenges requiring multidisciplinary solutions that take into account the potential mutual effects and interactions among the different dimensions of future IoT systems. A suitable platform is required for an accurate and realistic evaluation of such solutions. This paper presents a prototype developed in the context of the EPSRC/eFutures-funded project “Internet of Surprise: Self-Organising Data”. The prototype has been designed to effectively enable the joint evaluation and optimisation of multidisciplinary aspects of IoT systems, including aspects related with hardware design, communications and data processing. This paper provides a comprehensive description, discussing design and implementation details that may be helpful to other researchers and engineers in the development of similar tools. Examples illustrating the potentials and capabilities are presented as well. The developed prototype is a versatile tool that can be used for proof-of-concept, validation and cross-layer optimisation of multidisciplinary solutions for future IoT deployments

Opinion piece: non-traditional practical work for traditional campuses

Traditional practical work for higher education in STEM subjects is under pressure from rising student numbers and adesired increase in active learning. Investing in more buildings and staff is financially challenging, while stretching existing resources affects outcomes, health, and participation. A more pragmatic approach is to embrace a less instrumentalist view of practical work in physical spaces and instead adopt a critical post-humanist approach which mixes both humanity and technology to achieve a sum greater than the parts, not bound by the limits of either. We share the experiences of leading UK exponents of non-traditional laboratories in the four main categories of simulation, virtual laboratories, real-asynchronous, and real- synchronous activities, as well as experts in scaling digital education initiatives for university-wide adoption. We foreshadow opportunities, challenges and potential solutions to increasing the opportunity for active learning by students studying at traditional campuses, via the complementary addition of non-traditional practical work

Tailored second line therapy in asthmatic children with the arginine-16 genotype

The arginine-16 beta-2 receptor genotype confers increased susceptibility to exacerbations in asthmatic children taking regular long acting beta-2 agonists. We therefore evaluated using montelukast as an alternative to salmeterol as tailored second line asthma controller therapy in children expressing this susceptible genotype. 62 persistent asthmatic children with the homozygous arginine-16 genotype were randomized to receive salmeterol 50ug bid or montelukast 5/10mg od as add on to inhaled fluticasone for 1 year. School absences (the primary outcome) were reduced with montelukast arm compared to salmeterol: difference in score = 0.40 (95%CI 0.07-0.87) p=0.005. Albuterol use was also reduced with montelukast compared with salmeterol: difference in score = 0.47 (95%CI 0.16-0.79) p<0.0001. Greater improvements occurred in both symptom and quality of life scores with montelukast vs salmeterol, while there was no difference in FEV1. Montelukast may be suitable as tailored second line controller therapy instead of salmeterol in asthmatic children expressing the susceptible arginine-16 genotype - moving towards a personalised medicine approach to management

Platelets kill intraerythrocytic malarial parasites and mediate survival to infection

Platelets play a critical role in the pathogenesis of malarial infections by encouraging the sequestration of infected red blood cells within the cerebral vasculature. But platelets also have well-established roles in innate protection against microbial infections. We found that purified human platelets killed Plasmodium falciparum parasites cultured in red blood cells. Inhibition of platelet function by aspirin and other platelet inhibitors abrogated the lethal effect human platelets exert on P. falciparum parasites. Likewise, platelet-deficient and aspirin-treated mice were more susceptible to death during erythrocytic infection with Plasmodium chabaudi. Both mouse and human platelets bind malarial-infected red cells and kill the parasite within. These results indicate a protective function for platelets in the early stages of erythrocytic infection distinct from their role in cerebral malaria

Tradisi panangat pra nikah oleh wali perempuan dalam perspektif hukum Islam: studi kasus di Desa Sadulang Kecamatan Sapeken Kabupaten Sumenep

Skripsi dengan judul “Tradisi Panangat Pra Nikah Oleh Wali Perempuan Dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam (Studi Kasus di Desa Sadulang Kecamatan Sapeken Kabupaten Sumenep. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjawab pertanyaan: 1. Bagaimana tradisi panangat pra nikah oleh wali perempuan dalam di Desa Sadulang Kecamatan Sapeken Kabupaten Sumenep? 2. Bagaimana analisis hukum Islam terhadap tradisi panangat pra nikah oleh wali perempuan di Desa Sadulang Kecamatan Sapeken Kabupaten Sumenep? Jenis penelitian ini adalah dengan menggunakan metode penelitian lapangan, yaitu sebuah penelitian yang dilakukan secara langsung terhadap peristiwa data-data ada di lapangan. Teknik pengumpulan data yang penulis gunakan adalah wawancara. Setelah data terkumpul, maka penulis melakukan analisis dengan metode analisis kualitatif. Dari data-data yang telah diperoleh, pemberian panangat ini telah dilakukan oleh masyarakat Desa Sadulang sudah menjadi turun-temurun sejak dahulu sampai sekarang. Pemberian panangat di Desa Sadulang merupakan sebagai syarat wajibnya sebelum melaksanakan perkawinan. Adapun tujuannya adalah untuk menghormati atau menghargai wanita yang ingin dinikahi. Proses penentuan panangat tersebut dilakukan dengan cara musyawarah antara pihak laki-laki dengan pihak perempuan, sehingga setelah ada kata sepakat maka perkawinan akan dilangsungkan. Menurut analisis hukum Islam, adat tentang pemberian panangat ada dua yaitu: 1. Di bolehkan selama permintaan panangat tidak memberatkan. 2. Tidak boleh jika permintaan panangat mempersulit atau memberatkan, karena hal itu sangat bertentangan dengan syariat Islam. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian di atas hendaknya pemberian panangat di Desa Sadulang yang diminta oleh pihak perempuan tidak memberatkan pihak lika-laki, sehingga bagi pemuda yang ingin menyempurnakan separuh agamanya yaitu menikah bisa melangsungkannya, jangan sampai gara-gara permintaan panangat yang terlalu tinggi bisa menghalangi niat baik seseorang yang ingin menikah. Kepada para tokoh agama, tokoh masyarakat hendaknya memberikan pemahaman kepada masyarakat Desa Sadulang tentang pelaksanaan panangat yang tidak bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam, karena pada dasarnya masyarakat Desa Sadulang 100% (seratus persen) beragama Islam. Sehingga adat yang berlaku harus sesuai dengan ajaran Islam