The Development of Immunological Assays to Evaluate the Level and Function of Antibodies Induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae O-Antigen Vaccines

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a Gram-negative bacterium, has been listed as a critical pathogen for urgent intervention by the World Health Organization. With no licensed vaccine and increasing resistance to antibiotics, Klebsiella pneumoniae causes a high incidence of hospital- and community-acquired infections. Recently, there has been progress in anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae vaccine development, which has highlighted the lack of standardized assays to measure vaccine immunogenicity. We have developed and optimized methods to measure antibody level and function after vaccination with an in-development Klebsiella pneumoniae O-antigen vaccine. We describe the qualification of a Luminex-based multiplex antibody binding assay and both an opsonophagocytic killing assay and serum bactericidal assay to measure antibody function. Serum from immunized animals were immunogenic and capable of binding to and killing specific Klebsiella serotypes. Cross-reactivity was observed but limited among serotypes sharing antigenic epitopes. In summary, these results demonstrate the standardization of assays that can be used to test new anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae vaccine candidates, which is important for moving them into clinical trials. IMPORTANCE There is no licensed vaccine for the prevention of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections, and increasing levels of antibiotic resistance make this pathogen a high priority for vaccine and therapeutic development. Standardized assays for testing vaccine immunogenicity are paramount for the development of vaccines, and so in this study, we optimized and standardized both antibody-level and function assays for evaluating in-development K. pneumoniae bioconjugate vaccine response in rabbits

The effectiveness of psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy for reducing suicide attempts and self-harm: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Preventing suicide and self-harm is a global health priority. Although there is a growing evidence base for the effectiveness of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapies for a range of disorders, to date there has been no systematic review of its effectiveness in reducing suicidal and self-harming behaviours. Aims: To systematically review randomised controlled trials of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapies for suicidal attempts and self-harm. Method: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Psycharticles, CINAHL, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomise controlled trials of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapies for reducing suicide attempts and self-harm. Results: Twelve trials (17 articles) were included in the meta-analyses. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies were effective in reducing the number of patients attempting suicide (pooled odds ratio, 0.469; 95% CI 0.274–0.804). We found some evidence for significantly reduced repetition of self-harm at 6-month but not 12-month follow-up. Significant treatment effects were also found for improvements in psychosocial functioning and reduction in number of hospital admissions. Conclusions: Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapies are indicated to be effective in reducing suicidal behaviour and to have short-term effectiveness in reducing self-harm. They can also be beneficial in improving psychosocial well-being. However, the small number of trials and moderate quality of the evidence means further high-quality trials are needed to confirm our findings and to identity which specific components of the psychotherapies are effective. Declaration of interest: None

A taxonomic backbone for the global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales

The Caryophyllales constitute a major lineage of flowering plants with approximately 12500 species in 39 families. A taxonomic backbone at the genus level is provided that reflects the current state of knowledge and accepts 749 genera for the order. A detailed review of the literature of the past two decades shows that enormous progress has been made in understanding overall phylogenetic relationships in Caryophyllales. The process of re-circumscribing families in order to be monophyletic appears to be largely complete and has led to the recognition of eight new families (Anacampserotaceae, Kewaceae, Limeaceae, Lophiocarpaceae, Macarthuriaceae, Microteaceae, Montiaceae and Talinaceae), while the phylogenetic evaluation of generic concepts is still well underway. As a result of this, the number of genera has increased by more than ten percent in comparison to the last complete treatments in the Families and genera of vascular plants” series. A checklist with all currently accepted genus names in Caryophyllales, as well as nomenclatural references, type names and synonymy is presented. Notes indicate how extensively the respective genera have been studied in a phylogenetic context. The most diverse families at the generic level are Cactaceae and Aizoaceae, but 28 families comprise only one to six genera. This synopsis represents a first step towards the aim of creating a global synthesis of the species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales integrating the work of numerous specialists around the world

How John Dewey’s Theories Underpin Art and Art Education

John Dewey believed every person is capable of being an artist, living an artful life of social interaction that benefits and thereby beautifies the world. In Art as Experience, Dewey reminds his readers that the second Council of Nicea censored the church’s use of statutes and incense that distracted from prayer. Dewey, in an interesting turnabout, removes dogma from the church, but lauds the sensory details that enable higher understanding of human experience. Dewey evokes a paradox: the appreciation and need for the “experiential” artifact, but art as catalyst to realms beyond the physical. For Dewey, art functions as experience. Processes of inquiry, looking and finding meaning are transformative, extending connections with what is good and right. Expanded perceptions open venues for understanding and action. Attention to detail excites potential for meaning, yielding important societal insights, previously taken for granted. Transformative experiences occur when people intuit new concepts, that occasion seeing in valued ways. Art communicates moral purpose and education. Dewey believes moral purpose is justifiable, art conveying messages that stimulate reflection on purposeful lives. Dewey is a pragmatist whose attraction to art postulates it as a means to an end because he envisions the end as just and fair: democracy

The usefulness of art in education in and out of the classroom

grantor: University of TorontoThis thesis examines the role of art from many perspectives, proposing an argument for its value as an educational tool. I begin by presenting John Dewey's concept of "experience" which is at the heart of his philosophy. His ideas of anti-racist, interactive, co-operative learning by doing and reflection anticipate Elliot Eisner's programs of DBAE (Discipline-Based Art Education), school as a place for opportunities, qualitative insights into education that mirror techniques used in art. Howard Gardner's concept of Multiple Intelligences, with an emphasis on practical, "intelligence-fair" assessment as developed and evaluated in his Key School, Spectrum, and ARTSpropel program, continue Dewey's theories into present day. From the theorists, I move to the world outside the classroom to point out the many uses art has had as criticism and self-expression over the years: from Goya to Judy Chicago to the contemporary artists, Conwill, DePace and Majozo. The need for authentic voices representative of society has prompted schools to realise that multicultural education, although problematic to implement in the curriculum, is a reality that must be faced. I present art as an applicable entry into that area, whether educators employ an "issues" or "themes" approach. I continue with discussion of school programs that have successfully used art as core, criticising one approach that again relegates art to the position of being a handmaiden to other subjects. My own drawings, created in storybook format, and piqued by courses taught at OISE, explore frames, DBAE, imagination and hope for the future, are included. Through my discussions of many places and people in this thesis, I arrive at a definition of art and reinforce the validity of an arts approach to curricula through specific reference to quantitative studies. As well, I direct the reader to traditional, metacognitive, and hidden curricular proof that supports the qualitative benefits. I conclude as I began with my own journey, one laden with metaphors, poets and personal experience that has informed my work as an action researcher.Ed.D

Semiquantitative assessment of skeletal response to enzyme replacement therapy for Gaucher's disease using the bone marrow burden score

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a recently described assessment tool to quantify bone marrow response to enzyme replacement therapy in a cohort of adult patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease. Serial MR images of the femurs, lumbar spine, or both of 57 subjects with a diagnosis of Gaucher's disease, 44 of whom were being treated with enzyme replacement therapy, were evaluated by two musculoskeletal radiologists using the bone marrow burden (BMB) scoring system. This system gives a score out of a possible 8 for the lumbar spine and a score out of a possible 8 for the femurs, so the total BMB score is out of 16. The mean total BMB scores at baseline and final measurement were 13 (95% CI, 12.0-13.8) and 6.5 (95% CI, 5.2-7.9), respectively. Total BMB scores improved by 2-12 points (mean, 6.3 points) for 15 subjects in whom total BMB scores obtained before enzyme replacement therapy and at least one time point after commencement of therapy were available. In 39 subjects for whom only baseline and final femoral BMB scores were available, 24 subjects (62%, 95% CI, 47-76%) improved by 2 or more points while on enzyme replacement therapy. In 24 subjects for whom only baseline and final lumbar BMB scores were available, the BMB score in 16 subjects (67%, 95% CI, 48-85%) improved by 2 or more points. The use of the BMB score enabled semiquantitative assessment of bone marrow response to enzyme replacement therapy in adult patients with type 1 Gaucher's disease in Australia. The ability to assess therapy response will facilitate the tailoring of dosage regimens in the futur

Explorer les pratiques déontologiques et le leadership par le questionnement professionnel /

Également disponible en version électroniqueBibliogr.: p. 291-302