TRALI: Party of One; Real-Time Hemovigilance Demonstrates Multiple Event-Free Transfusions

Mechele Adrian pictured.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/aprn-week-23/1019/thumbnail.jp

Integrating whole-genome sequencing within the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program in the Philippines

Funding: This work was funded by the Newton Fund, Medical Research Council (UK) grant MR/N019296/1, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development project number FP160007. J.S. was partially supported by research grants RR025040 and U01CA207167 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). S.A. and D.M.A. were additionally supported by the National Institute for Health Research (UK) Global Health Research Unit on genomic Surveillance of AMR(16_136_111) and by the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance (http://pathogensurveillance.net).National networks of laboratory-based surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitor resistance trends and disseminate these data to AMR stakeholders. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can support surveillance by pinpointing resistance mechanisms and uncovering transmission patterns. However, genomic surveillance is rare in low- and middle-income countries. Here, we implement WGS within the established Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program of the Philippines via a binational collaboration. In parallel, we characterize bacterial populations of key bug-drug combinations via a retrospective sequencing survey. By linking the resistance phenotypes to genomic data, we reveal the interplay of genetic lineages (strains), AMR mechanisms, and AMR vehicles underlying the expansion of specific resistance phenotypes that coincide with the growing carbapenem resistance rates observed since 2010. Our results enhance our understanding of the drivers of carbapenem resistance in the Philippines, while also serving as the genetic background to contextualize ongoing local prospective surveillance.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Genotyping and Molecular Detection of Polymorphism in FUT1 Gene of Swine

Alpha (1, 2)-fucosyltransferase (FUT1), as a candidate gene in controlling the expression of E. coli F18 receptor has been identified to determine whether an animal is resistant or susceptible to infections. This study was conducted to determine the genotypes of 150 blood samples of the three swine breeds and 20 representatives were randomly selected for sequencing. Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism results revealed that among the 150 blood samples, seven of the Duroc x Pietrain samples carried AG genotype which was previously reported susceptible to ETEC infection. Two AA genotypes that are presumptively resistant and 50 were presumptively susceptible as these samples carried either AG or GG genotypes from the Landrace variety. Of the Large White samples, two samples carried AA genotype and 89 have either AG or GG genotype. The twenty samples sent for DNA sequencing registered 100% homologies to Sus scrofa FUT1 gene. Twelve of the sequenced samples exhibited a shift from G to A in the 117th nucleotide and one sample had a C to T shift in the 39th nucleotide. The mutation was found in all of the Duroc X Pietrain samples as well as those samples with AA genotype. Heterozygous forms of Landrace and Large White also exhibited this mutation

Genetic determinants of basal C-reactive protein expression in Filipino systemic lupus erythematosus families

Basal C-reactive protein (CRP) is a heritable trait associated with long-term cardiovascular disease risk. Existing studies leave ambiguity over the key functional polymorphisms and fail to adjust for trans-acting effects. In a novel cohort of 285 Filipino systemic lupus erythematosus probands and their first degree relatives, we quantified serum CRP and typed a dense map of CRP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), along with SNPs in the interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and apolipoprotein E genes. Ten CRP SNPs demonstrated association with basal CRP in a regression model (p=0.011-0.002). These delineated two haplotypes associated with high and low basal CRP expression (p=0.002). Differences in allele frequency were seen compared with Caucasian populations, enabling us to argue for an independent genetic effect from a phylogenetically distinct haplotype tagged by SNP rs1800947. We demonstrated an association between Apo ε2 and higher basal CRP. Interleukin-6 genotype was associated with basal CRP, highlighting a role for acute-phase cytokines even in basal expression. Identifying these trans-acting variants may improve the use of basal CRP as a predictor cardiovascular risk, and increase our power to detect associations between CRP and disease

Computer-based surveying system capable of human detection and head count with picture and location transfer from autonomous quadrotor

The study uses a quadrotor, specifically DJI Phanton 3 Advanced, that will survey the area autonomously following a flight plan. this plan is designed by using the DJI Phantom Onboard Software Development Kit (SDK). Having assigned a flight plan with custom waypoints, the quadrotor will travel waypoint-to-waypoint while taking pictures per meter interval. The value of the interval will depend on the altitude set to the quadrotor. The collected data from the quadrotor will be sent to the server PC via DJI lightbridge which is a built-in feature of the quadrotor. The computer will process each picture sent by the quadrotor and perform human detection and head counting. The dashboard consists of the map of the area surveyed with the pictures taken in the area along with their details- the date when the picture was taken and the number of people detected in that location, and the total number of people in the assigned area

Self-management practices on common ailments of selected students in De La Salle University-Dasmarinas

This research used the descriptive non-experimental quantitative research design. The study involved 105 students of the university and was randomly selected from the three colleges which were, the College of Liberal Arts, College of Business Administration, and College of Education. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to identify the respondents. A self-made questionnaire was used as instrument and data was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, t-test, and Analysis of Variane (ANOVA). Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were obtained: (1) majority of the students in De La Salle University-Dasmarinas were a) 18-19 years old, b) have a family monthly income of 30,001 and above, c) Female, D) Catholic, and e) fourth year student; (2) majority of the students slept or took a nap when they had a headache and fever. When it came to cough, colds, and diarrhea, most students drank or increased their water intake; (3) there was no significant difference on the self-management practices on common ailments of selected students when the respondents were grouped according to age, family monthly income, gender, religion, and year level

Comparison of the anti-angiogenic effects of selected plant leaf extracts on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of a 10-day old anas platyrhynchos (mallard duck) embryo

This study was undertaken to compare the anti-angiogenic effects of plant leaf extracts found in Silang, Cavite by administering them into the chorioallantoic membrane of 10-day old duck embryos. A concentration of 100 ppm and 300 ppm leaf extracts were administered to a total of sixty 10-day old duck eggs, with 20 eggs allotted to each plant. Incubation took place within two days after administering the extracts and the resulting collaterals obtained from the eggs were tallied thereafter. The results showed that the plant extracts of rosemary and amplaya presented significant anti-angiogenic effects thereby confirming the two to be the most effective inhibitor of angiogenesis. Recommendations for future researchers would be to considered adding possible pro-angiogenic plant extracts and include plants of the same family when doing a comparative or preferable quasi-experimental study

Genomic surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the Philippines, 2013-2014

This work was supported by a Newton Fund award from the Medical Research Council (United Kingdom) MR/N019296/1 and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. Additional support was provided by the National Institute for Health Research (United Kingdom), the Global Health Research Unit on genomic surveillance of AMR (16/136/111) and by research grant U01CA207167 from the US National Institutes of Health.Antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major threat to public health and is of particular concern in the Western Pacific Region, where the incidence of gonorrhoea is high. The Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program (ARSP) has been capturing information on resistant gonorrhoea since 1996, but genomic epidemiology studies on this pathogen are lacking in the Philippines. We sequenced the whole genomes of 21 N. gonorrhoeae isolates collected in 2013-2014 by ARSP. The multilocus sequence type, multiantigen sequence type, presence of determinants of antimicrobial resistance and relatedness among the isolates were all derived from the sequence data. The concordance between phenotypic and genotypic resistance was also determined. Ten of 21 isolates were resistant to penicillin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline, due mainly to the presence of the blaTEM gene, the S91F mutation in the gyrA gene and the tetM gene, respectively. None of the isolates was resistant to ceftriaxone or cefixime. The concordance between phenotypic and genotypic resistance was 92.38% overall for five antibiotics in four classes. Despite the small number of isolates studied, they were genetically diverse, as shown by the sequence types, the N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing types and the tree. Comparison with global genomes placed the Philippine genomes within global lineage A and led to the identification of an international transmission route. This first genomic survey of N. gonorrhoeae isolates collected by ARSP will be used to contextualize prospective surveillance. It highlights the importance of genomic surveillance in the Western Pacific and other endemic regions for understanding the spread of drug-resistant gonorrhoea worldwide.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe