Community-based approaches to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Findings from a low-income community in Kenya

The Horizons program, in partnership with International Medical Corps and Steadman Research Services International, conducted an intervention study in Kibera, an urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya to determine what effect three different community-based activities had on utilization of key prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. The interventions included moving services closer to the population via mobile clinics, as well as increasing psychosocial support through the use of traditional birth attendants and peer counselors as PMTCT promoters. Data from the study showed that there were positive trends during the study period in most of the PMTCT indicators, including knowledge of MTCT, antenatal care utilization, and delivery in health facilities. However, it is not possible to attribute all these positive trends to the community-based interventions because similar positive trends were observed at the comparison site on most indicators. The report offers recommendations to other organizations exploring community-based PMTCT activities in a similar context

Genomic Instability in Regions Adjacent to a Highly Conserved \u3ci\u3epch\u3c/i\u3e Prophage in \u3ci\u3eEscherichia coli\u3c/i\u3e O157:H7 Generates Diversity in Expression Patterns of the LEE Pathogenicity Island

The LEE pathogenicity island has been acquired on multiple occasions within the different lineages of enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. In each lineage, LEE expression is regulated by complex networks of pathways, including core pathways shared by all lineages and lineage-specific pathways. Within the O157:H7 lineage of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, strain-to-strain variation in LEE expression has been observed, implying that expression patterns can diversify even within highly related subpopulations. Using comparative genomics of E. coli O157:H7 subpopulations, we have identified one source of strain-level variation affecting LEE expression. The variation occurs in prophage-dense regions of the genome that lie immediately adjacent to the late regions of the pch prophage carrying pchA, pchB, pchC, and a newly identified pch gene, pchX. Genomic segments extending from the holin S region to the pchA, pchB, pchC, and pchX genes of their respective prophage are highly conserved but are nonetheless embedded within adjacent genomic segments that are extraordinarily variable, termed pch adjacent genomic regions (pch AGR). Despite the remarkable degree of variation, the pattern of variation in pch AGR is highly correlated with the distribution of phylogenetic markers on the backbone of the genome. Quantitative analysis of transcription from the LEE1 promoter further revealed that variation in the pch AGR has substantial effects on absolute levels and patterns of LEE1 transcription. Variation in the pch AGR therefore serves as a mechanism to diversify LEE expression patterns, and the lineage-specific pattern of pch AGR variation could ultimately influence ecological or virulence characteristics of subpopulations within each lineage

Genomic Instability in Regions Adjacent to a Highly Conserved \u3ci\u3epch\u3c/i\u3e Prophage in \u3ci\u3eEscherichia coli\u3c/i\u3e O157:H7 Generates Diversity in Expression Patterns of the LEE Pathogenicity Island

The LEE pathogenicity island has been acquired on multiple occasions within the different lineages of enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. In each lineage, LEE expression is regulated by complex networks of pathways, including core pathways shared by all lineages and lineage-specific pathways. Within the O157:H7 lineage of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, strain-to-strain variation in LEE expression has been observed, implying that expression patterns can diversify even within highly related subpopulations. Using comparative genomics of E. coli O157:H7 subpopulations, we have identified one source of strain-level variation affecting LEE expression. The variation occurs in prophage-dense regions of the genome that lie immediately adjacent to the late regions of the pch prophage carrying pchA, pchB, pchC, and a newly identified pch gene, pchX. Genomic segments extending from the holin S region to the pchA, pchB, pchC, and pchX genes of their respective prophage are highly conserved but are nonetheless embedded within adjacent genomic segments that are extraordinarily variable, termed pch adjacent genomic regions (pch AGR). Despite the remarkable degree of variation, the pattern of variation in pch AGR is highly correlated with the distribution of phylogenetic markers on the backbone of the genome. Quantitative analysis of transcription from the LEE1 promoter further revealed that variation in the pch AGR has substantial effects on absolute levels and patterns of LEE1 transcription. Variation in the pch AGR therefore serves as a mechanism to diversify LEE expression patterns, and the lineage-specific pattern of pch AGR variation could ultimately influence ecological or virulence characteristics of subpopulations within each lineage

Working with bilingual children at risk of developmental language disorder:adapting assessment and intervention for the nursery-aged bilingual child

A proportion of all children (7.58%: RCSLT) have significant difficulty acquiring language, irrespective of whether this applies to their first and only language or to two or more languages acquired in a multilingual setting. These children have developmental language disorder (DLD) and once identified are supported in school by speech & language therapists working with SENDCOs and other school staff. The majority are slow to develop language in the preschool years and identification and intervention at that point is crucial for later education including literacy. This poses a problem for professionals if the child is bilingual; distinguishing overall language delay from lack of familiarity with the majority language and providing intervention in the home language are both problematic. This work is part of a larger project (LIVELY) investigating the effectiveness of an early language programme for 3-4 year olds who are at risk for DLD. The programme focuses on early word combinations and sentences of increasing complexity. We are conducting a number of case studies with children who are acquiring a home language and expected to learn English. For these children, the programme will be conducted in their home language. This involves adaptation of both language assessment and intervention material to this language, with the possibility of remote working with the child if dictated by the pandemic situation. In this presentation we describe the strategies used to make these adaptations to Polish and to Mirpuri (Pakistani Heritage language), both of which are spoken widely in the UK. While sentence structure differs across languages, the focus is on the unique events that can be communicated through early sentences, universal to all linguistic contexts. Specific issues that we have encountered in developing these adaptations will also be discussed. Language Intervention in the Early Years (LIVELY): https://research.ncl.ac.uk/lively/aboutlively/ Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT): https://www.rcslt.org

The Ursinus Weekly, November 23, 1977

Ursinus News in Brief: U.S.G.A. threatens boycott petition; Cafeteria dinner affirmed; Jessup announces computer courses; Williamson nominates two; Four elected to task force; Ursinus appliance team • Vandalism to exceed \u2776 totals: President\u27s dining room vandalized • U.C. unaware of breakout: How safe is Ursinus? • Enrollments decrease • Five call for U.S.G.A. action • Comment • Letters to the editor • Movie attack: MacArthur • A view of Wismer • Burns debuts as deity • Sex and drugs • Medical credentials • Opinion: S.F.A.R.C. • Grizzly Gridiron closes at 2-7 • Women\u27s volleyball: Wrap-up • Soccer finale • 3 & 4 end season 9-1 • Varsity hockey • X-Country dominateshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1077/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, November 23, 1977

Ursinus News in Brief: U.S.G.A. threatens boycott petition; Cafeteria dinner affirmed; Jessup announces computer courses; Williamson nominates two; Four elected to task force; Ursinus appliance team • Vandalism to exceed \u2776 totals: President\u27s dining room vandalized • U.C. unaware of breakout: How safe is Ursinus? • Enrollments decrease • Five call for U.S.G.A. action • Comment • Letters to the editor • Movie attack: MacArthur • A view of Wismer • Burns debuts as deity • Sex and drugs • Medical credentials • Opinion: S.F.A.R.C. • Grizzly Gridiron closes at 2-7 • Women\u27s volleyball: Wrap-up • Soccer finale • 3 & 4 end season 9-1 • Varsity hockey • X-Country dominateshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1077/thumbnail.jp

Association of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction With Heart Failure Hospitalizations and Mortality in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction:A Follow-up in the PROMIS-HFpEF Study

Background: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We assessed the association of CMD with hospitalization and mortality in HFpEF. Methods and Results: We assessed the 1-year outcomes in patients from the PROMIS-HFpEF study, a prospective observational study of patients with chronic stable HFpEF undergoing coronary flow reserve measurements. Outcomes were (1) time to cardiovascular (CV) death/first HF hospitalization, (2) CV death/recurrent HF hospitalizations, (3) all-cause death/first HF hospitalization, and (4) first and (5) recurrent all-cause hospitalizations. CMD was defined as coronary flow reserve of Conclusions: In this exploratory assessment of the prognostic role of CMD in HFpEF, CMD was independently associated with primarily CVand HF-specific events. The high prevalence of CMD and its CV and HF specific prognostic role suggest CMD may be a potential treatment target in HFpEF