Legal basis for processing biometric data from refugees - An analysis of the GDPR and following practices

Protection of personal data is the most important legal standard when collecting and processing biometric data from individuals. Iris and fingerprint scans are commonly used as identification in humanitarian action. This in formation falls under special categories of personal data in accordance with Article 9(1) of the GDPR, and needs to be processed properly to ensure the right to the protection of personal data and minimize risks. The problem discussed in this thesis is related to processing of biometric data from refugees done by NGOs working in humanitarian action, specifically the processing of data from iris scanning technology. The usage of biometric data is becoming more common, and raises several questions in relation to how it can be processed for use in humanitarian action.MasteroppgaveJUS399MAJURMAJUR-

Critical Care's move to fund open access

SCOPUS: ed.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Role of probiotics and vitamins in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome: recent advances

While the concept of probiotics is not new, science based approaches to developing targeted probiotic products are a renewed interest. Probiotics and the microbiome is now being considered as having a blueprint of good health, unique to every human.  Along with the well-known and established health benefits like reduced antibiotic associated diarrhoea and colic symptoms, eczema, necrotising enterocolitis, acute paediatric infections like diahorrea and upper respiratory tract infections; probiotics are now considered as beneficial for maintaining mental well-being as well. This new branch of disease management is now termed as Nutritional neuroscience and these beneficial gut bacteria are referred to as psychobiotics. It is important to identify the specific strains of probiotics and characterize them and conduct randomised controlled trials to establish these benefits. With emerging data related to role of vitamins in modulating the gut microbiome, combining pre and probiotics with micronutrients is likely to result in powerful functional foods boosting host immunity

Dynamic changes in connexin expression correlate with key events in the wound healing process.

Wound healing is a complex process requiring communication for the precise co-ordination of different cell types. The role of extracellular communication through growth factors in the wound healing process has been extensively documented, but the role of direct intercellular communication via gap junctions has scarcely been investigated. We have examined the dynamics of gap junction protein (Connexins 26, 30, 31.1 and 43) expression in the murine epidermis and dermis during wound healing, and we show that connexin expression is extremely plastic between 6 hours and 12 days post-wounding. The immediate response (6 h) to wounding is to downregulate all connexins in the epidermis, but thereafter the expression profile of each connexin changes dramatically. Here, we correlate the changing patterns of connexin expression with key events in the wound healing process

Assessing the Prevalence of Dyslipidemia in Apparently Healthy Urban Obese Adults Residing in South Delhi, India

The present research study was conducted to assess the prevalence and pattern of dyslipidemia in apparently healthy urban obese adults residing in South Delhi. Dyslipidemia and obesity are two prominent contributing risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 apparently healthy obese adults with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2. Data regarding the socio-demographic characteristics as well as anthropometric parameters were collected. To evaluate serum lipid levels fasting blood samples were collected by trained technicians and analysis was carried out in a certified laboratory. Dyslipidemia was defined as the presence of hypercholesterolemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and /or lower concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), present alone or in combination. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was noted to be 78%. The prevalence was observed to be much higher in the obese female subjects (81.43%) than the obese males (75%). Mean triglycerides levels were significantly higher in the obese men than females while, HDL–C levels were higher in the female subjects (p<0.05). Further, it was seen that low concentration of HDL was the most prevailing deranged lipid parameter (52.67%) followed by elevated triglycerides levels (49.33%) and elevated LDL levels (39.33%) in these obese adults. The study thus highlights the importance of regular and timely screening for apparently healthy populations. Advocating suitable and timely medical and dietary interventions can help in both monitoring and avoiding further health-related complications

Role of PknB Kinase in Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence in Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain USA300

The regulation of cellular processes by eukaryote-like serine/threonine kinases is widespread in bacteria. In the last 2 years, several studies have examined the role of serine/threonine kinases in Staphylococcus aureus on cell wall metabolism, autolysis, and virulence, mostly in S. aureus laboratory isolates in the 8325-4 lineage. In this study, we showed that the pknB gene (also called stk1) of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain COL and the community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strain USA300 is involved in cell wall metabolism, with the pknB mutant exhibiting enhanced sensitivity to β-lactam antibiotics but not to other classes of antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, ciprofloxacin, bactrim, and other types of cell wall-active agents (e.g., vancomycin and bacitracin). Additionally, the pknB mutant of USA300 was found to be more resistant to Triton X-100-induced autolysis and also to lysis by lysostaphin. We also showed that pknB is a positive regulator of sigB activity, resulting in compromise in its response to heat and oxidative stresses. In association with reduced sigB activity, the expression levels of RNAII and RNAIII of agr and the downstream effector hla are upregulated while spa expression is downmodulated in the pknB mutant compared to the level in the parent. Consistent with an enhanced agr response in vitro, virulence studies of the pknB mutant of USA300 in a murine cutaneous model of infection showed that the mutant was more virulent than the parental strain. Collectively, our results have linked the pknB gene in CA-MRSA to antibiotic resistance, sigB activity, and virulence and have highlighted important differences in pknB phenotypes (virulence and sigB activity) between laboratory isolates and the prototypic CA-MRSA strain USA300

Critical Care: a good scientific citizen just got better

EditorialSCOPUS: ed.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign: raising awareness to reduce mortality

Sepsis affects 18 million people worldwide every year, and on average each case costs more than US$22 000 to treat. Despite this there is no consensus on the clinical definition of sepsis, and successful diagnosis and treatment is difficult. The Barcelona Declaration, issued by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign in October 2002, outlines a six-point plan to reduce the relative mortality of sepsis by 25% over the next 5 years. The Campaign organizers are currently producing evidence-based guidelines on source control and management of sepsis, as well as a policy document on how sepsis is managed around the world