Evolutionary History in Theological Perspective:An Exploration and Evaluation of Secular and Theological Interpretations of the Scientific Story of the Cosmos

For all of human history, humans have used large stories (grand narratives) to answer the big questions of life: who we are, why we exist, where we come from, and where we are going. When understood as an unfolding narrative, evolution offers a large story of the universe, and humanity’s place in it. However, understanding evolution as an unfolding narrative raises all sorts of significant theological questions concerning creation, evolution, suffering, and the role of God and his redemptive work in it all. Many have attempted to make sense of evolutionary history by offering either naturalistic or theological explanations. This particular project analyzes some of the most prominent of these interpretations, and eventually aims at increasing our insight into the potential of the Christian theological paradigm to provide a convincing soteriological interpretation of evolutionary history. It does so by focusing on the role of pneumatology as a necessary complement to existing patrological and Christological accounts

Invasive meningococcal disease in the Veneto region of Italy: A capture-recapture analysis for assessing the effectiveness of an integrated surveillance system

open8noBACKGROUND: Epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis has been changing since the introduction of universal vaccination programmes against meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) and meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) has now become dominant. This study aimed to analyse the cases reported in institutional data recording systems to estimate the burden of invasive meningococcal diseases (IMDs) and assess the effectiveness of surveillance in Veneto region (Italy). METHODS: Analysis was performed from 2007 to 2014 on data recorded in different systems: Mandatory Notification System, National Surveillance of Invasive Bacterial Diseases System and Laboratories Surveillance System (LSS), which were pooled into a combined surveillance system (CSS) and hospital discharge records (HDRs). A capture-recapture method was used and completeness of each source estimated. Number of cases with IMD by source of information and year, incidence of IMD by age group, case fatality rate (CFR) and distribution of meningococcal serogroups by year were also analysed. RESULTS: Combining the four data systems enabled the identification of 179 confirmed cases with IMD, achieving an overall sensitivity of 94.7% (95% CI: 90.8% to 98.8%), while it was 76.7% (95% CI: 73.6% to 80.1%) for CSS and 77.2% (95% CI: 74.1% to 80.6%) for HDRs. Typing of isolates was done in 80% of cases, and 95.2% of the typed cases were provided by LSS. Serogroup B was confirmed in 50.3% of cases. The estimated IMD notification rate (cases with IMD diagnosed and reported to the surveillance systems) was 0.48/100 000 population, and incidence peaked at 6.2/100 000 in children aged <1 year old (60.9% due to MenB), and increased slightly in the age group between 15 and 19 years (1.1/100 000). A CFR of 14% was recorded (8.7% in paediatric age). CONCLUSIONS: Quality of surveillance systems relies on case ascertainment based on serological characterisation of the circulating strains by microbiology laboratories. All available sources should be routinely combined to improve the epidemiology of IMD and the information used by public health departments to conduct timely preventive measures.openBaldovin, Tatjana; Lazzari, Roberta; Cocchio, Silvia; Furlan, Patrizia; Bertoncello, Chiara; Saia, Mario; Russo, Francesca; Baldo, VincenzoBaldovin, Tatjana; Lazzari, Roberta; Cocchio, Silvia; Furlan, Patrizia; Bertoncello, Chiara; Saia, Mario; Russo, Francesca; Baldo, Vincenz

Reply to: "The Possible Role of Anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococus Aureus Antimicrobial Agents in Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis"

Letter answering to a comment about an articl

Modulation of intestinal microbiota and immunometabolic parameters by caloric restriction and lactic acid bacteria

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of a caloric restriction diet with and without the administration of Lactobacillus fermentum CRL1446, Lactobacillus casei CRL431 and Lactococcus lactis CRL1434, on immunemetabolic parameters and the composition of intestinal microbiota in mice. The supplementation of the caloric restriction diet with L. fermentum CRL1446 showed a bifidogenic effect and was able to maintain the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus over time. On the other hand, this strain showed hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic properties as well as inducing a decrease in plasma leptin levels. L. casei CRL431 administration increased the abundance of the Lactobacillus genera in the intestinal microbiota, which would improve the absorption of nutrients from the diet. This strain restores glucose values decreased by the diet in addition to inducing an increase in leptin and cytokines. Lac. lactis CRL1434 showed greater immunomodulatory capacity, without significantly affecting the composition of the intestinal microbiota. It had hypoglycemic properties and induced a decrease in leptin concentrations. L. fermentum CRL1446 and Lac. lactis CRL1434 could be potentially probiotic strains useful to correct the immuno-metabolic alterations associated with obesity, while L. casei CRL431 is a more suitable strain to be used in cases of malnutrition where it is sought to improve the absorption of nutrients and protection against infections, in addition to the stimulation of the immune system.Fil: Fabersani Marrades, Mario Emanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Russo, Matias Irineo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Márquez, María Antonela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Abeijon Mukdsi, Maria Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Roxana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; ArgentinaFil: Gauffin Cano, María Paola. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentin