Isolation and Identification of Bacteria in Petroleum Hydrocarbons Polluted Soils in North-West Bayelsa State

Soil samples were analyzed to identify population of autochthonous aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (AHB) and hydrocarbon degrading bacteria (HDB) in soils of Bayelsa State. Soil samples collected from two locations (Okodia and Imiringi) at two different crude oil sites (polluted and unpolluted) at two soil depths (0-15cm and 15-30cm). Pour plate method using Nutrient Agar (NA), DeMan Rogosa and Sharp Agar (MRSA), Cetrimide Agar (CA) and Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) were used for both total AHB and HDB counts incubated at 37oC for 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. Results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis (ANOVA) using Turkey's test to separate means of significant difference (p<0.05). Results for bacterial population expressed in (CFU/g x 106) showed that Imiringi soils were significantly different from Okodia soils with polluted sites significantly different from unpolluted sites for both locations. However, soil depths for both locations and sites showed no significant differences. Furthermore, results showed no significant difference indicating that both bacteria are equally present in the locations, sites and soil depth respectively. Three HDB isolates were identified, namely: Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The bacteria isolates were two Gram-stain positive and one Gram-stain negative. Physico-chemical properties and rate of respiration of the bacteria from both locations were also analyzed. Results of the analyses showed that population of the HDB present in this study could be well utilized for bioremediation of soils in Bayelsa State and other crude oil exploration and exportation states within the Niger Delta for agricultural purposes via bio-augmentation and bio-stimulation methods

Electrochemical Benzylic C(sp3)−H Acyloxylation

[Image: see text] The development of sustainable C(sp(3))–H functionalization methods is of great interest to the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Anodic oxidation is an efficient means of producing benzylic cations that can undergo subsequent in situ nucleophilic attack to afford functionalized benzylic products. Herein, we demonstrate the suitability of carboxylic acids as nucleophiles to yield benzylic esters. This method employs a series of secondary benzylic substrates and functionalized carboxylic acids and is demonstrated on a gram scale in flow

Analysis of Current Thyroid Function Test Ordering Practices

RATIONALE: Current guidelines recommend thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) alone as the best test to detect and monitor thyroid dysfunction, yet free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) are commonly ordered when not clinically indicated. Excessive testing can lead to added economic burden in an era of rising healthcare costs, while rarely contributing to the evaluation or management of thyroid disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our institution\u27s practice in ordering thyroid function tests (TFTs) and to identify strategies to reduce inappropriate FT4 and FT3 testing. METHODS: A record of all TFTs obtained in the San Antonio Military Health System during a 3-month period was extracted from the electronic medical record. The TFTs of interest were TSH, FT4, thyroid panel (TSH + FT4), FT3, total thyroxine (T4), and total triiodothyronine (T3). These were categorized based on the presence or absence of hypothyroidism. RESULTS: Between August 1 and October 31, 2016, there were 38 214 individual TFTs ordered via 28 597 total laboratory requests; 11 486 of these requests were in patients with a history of hypothyroidism. The number (percent) of laboratory requests fell into these patterns: TSH alone 14 919 (52.14%), TSH + FT4 7641 (26.72%), FT3 alone 3039 (10.63%), FT4 alone 1219 (4.26%), TSH + FT4 + FT3 783 (2.74%), and others 996 (3.48%); 36.0% of TFTs ordered were free thyroid hormones. Projected out to a year, using Department of Defense laboratory costs, $317 429 worth of TFTs would be ordered, with free thyroid hormone testing accounting for$107 720. CONCLUSION: Inappropriate ordering of free thyroid hormone tests is common. In an era of rising healthcare costs, inappropriate thyroid function testing is an ideal target for efforts to reduce laboratory overutilization, which in our system, could save up to $120 000 per year. Further evaluation is needed to determine strategies that can reduce excessive thyroid hormone testing

A methodology for projecting hospital bed need: a Michigan case study

Michigan's Department of Community Health (MDCH) is responsible for managing hospitals through the utilization of a Certificate of Need (CON) Commission. Regulation is achieved by limiting the number of beds a hospital can use for inpatient services. MDCH assigns hospitals to service areas and sub areas by use patterns. Hospital beds are then assigned within these Hospital Service Areas and Facility Sub Areas. The determination of the number of hospital beds a facility subarea is authorized to hold, called bed need, is defined in the Michigan Hospital Standards and published by the CON Commission and MDCH. These standards vaguely define a methodology for calculating hospital bed need for a projection year, five years ahead of the base year (defined as the most recent year for which patient data have been published by the Michigan Hospital Association). MDCH approached the authors and requested a reformulation of the process. Here we present a comprehensive guide and associated code as interpreted from the hospital standards with results from the 2011 projection year. Additionally, we discuss methodologies for other states and compare them to Michigan's Bed Need methodology

Development and validation of a 30-day mortality index based on pre-existing medical administrative data from 13,323 COVID-19 patients: The Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO) Index.

BACKGROUND: Available COVID-19 mortality indices are limited to acute inpatient data. Using nationwide medical administrative data available prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection from the US Veterans Health Administration (VA), we developed the VA COVID-19 (VACO) 30-day mortality index and validated the index in two independent, prospective samples. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We reviewed SARS-CoV-2 testing results within the VA between February 8 and August 18, 2020. The sample was split into a development cohort (test positive between March 2 and April 15, 2020), an early validation cohort (test positive between April 16 and May 18, 2020), and a late validation cohort (test positive between May 19 and July 19, 2020). Our logistic regression model in the development cohort considered demographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity), and pre-existing medical conditions and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) derived from ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Weights were fixed to create the VACO Index that was then validated by comparing area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) in the early and late validation cohorts and among important validation cohort subgroups defined by sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic region. We also evaluated calibration curves and the range of predictions generated within age categories. 13,323 individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (median age: 63 years; 91% male; 42% non-Hispanic Black). We observed 480/3,681 (13%) deaths in development, 253/2,151 (12%) deaths in the early validation cohort, and 403/7,491 (5%) deaths in the late validation cohort. Age, multimorbidity described with CCI, and a history of myocardial infarction or peripheral vascular disease were independently associated with mortality-no other individual comorbid diagnosis provided additional information. The VACO Index discriminated mortality in development (AUC = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.77-0.81), and in early (AUC = 0.81 95% CI: 0.78-0.83) and late (AUC = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.78-0.86) validation. The VACO Index allows personalized estimates of 30-day mortality after COVID-19 infection. For example, among those aged 60-64 years, overall mortality was estimated at 9% (95% CI: 6-11%). The Index further discriminated risk in this age stratum from 4% (95% CI: 3-7%) to 21% (95% CI: 12-31%), depending on sex and comorbid disease. CONCLUSION: Prior to infection, demographics and comorbid conditions can discriminate COVID-19 mortality risk overall and within age strata. The VACO Index reproducibly identified individuals at substantial risk of COVID-19 mortality who might consider continuing social distancing, despite relaxed state and local guidelines

Successful weight loss maintenance in relation to method of weight loss

This study examined the relation between method of weight loss and long-term maintenance among successful weight losers enrolled in a weight-loss maintenance trial. Participants were 186 adults (mean age = 51.6 +/- 10.7 years, mean BMI = 28.6 +/- 4.7 kg/m(2)) enrolled in the STOP Regain trial who had lost at least 10% of their body weight in the past 2 years using a very low-calorie diet (VLCD; n = 24), commercial program (n = 95), or self-guided approach (n = 67). Participants were randomized to a weight-maintenance intervention delivered face to face or over the internet or to a newsletter control condition, and followed for 18 months. At study entry, individuals who had used a VLCD had achieved a weight loss of 24% of their maximum weight within the past 2 years compared to 17% achieved by those who had used a commercial program or self-guided approach (P \u3c 0.001). However, individuals who had used a VLCD regained significantly more weight than the other two groups and by 6 months, there were no significant differences in overall percent weight loss (i.e., initial weight loss and maintenance) between VLCD, commercial, and self-guided methods. In contrast, individuals who had used a self-guided approach maintained their weight losses from baseline through 18 months. The large initial weight losses achieved by individuals who had used a VLCD were not maintained over time, whereas individuals who had used a self-guided approach maintained their initial weight losses with the greatest success. The generalizability of these findings is limited by the sizeable weight losses achieved by study participants