Tag: nevin manimala

Int J Food Microbiol. 2021 Mar 26;347:109171. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109171. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Potatoes contain several nutrients essential for fungal growth, making them an excellent component of media such as the popular Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. Commercially, PDA is available from multiple retailers offering virtually the same product. These media, however, could contain small differences in composition of nutrients affecting the expression of secondary metabolites. This study aims to investigate the use of four PDA media from different manufacturers (Fluka, Oxoid, Sigma, and VWR) and their effect on the metabolite profile of four species of Fusarium (F. fujikuroi, F. graminearum, F. pseudograminearum and F. avenaceum). Secondary metabolites were analysed using HPLC-HRMS, from which statistically significant differences in intensities were observed for 9 out of 10 metabolites.

PMID:33872940 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109171

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2021 Apr 16;119:104510. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104510. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The present study elucidates the impact of detergent-based chemical decellularization on the micro-mechanical properties of porcine and rabbit corneas for the purpose of extracellular matrix (ECM) derived scaffolds. Aiming to optimize the decellularization process, different concentrations of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Triton X-100 and CHAPS detergents were assessed on their ability to decellularize corneas from both bio-models at incubation periods of 12 and 24h. We evaluated the effect of decellularization on corneal ECM Young’s Modulus and various area’s roughness parameters (topography features) at a microscale by using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Only SDS presented adequate decellularization properties at the selected concentrations (0.2, 0.5 and 1%) and incubation periods. All topography features displayed by native corneas were preserved after SDS treatments, while no statistically significant differences were identified for the average value of Young’s Modulus between the control samples and those treated with 0.2% SDS (rabbit corneas) and 0.5% SDS (porcine corneas) after 12h. In this sense, cornea decellularization procedures can be improved by simultaneously reducing SDS concentration and incubation period. AFM is a useful tool to perform biomechanical analysis of the effect of decellularization on scaffold micro-mechanics. Evaluation of the scaffold mechanical behavior at a microscale could help in understanding cell-scaffold interactions in terms of mechanotransduction, complementing macroscale techniques (e.g. tensile tests) relevant for tissue engineering quality control and decision-making.

PMID:33872923 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104510

Pain Pract. 2021 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/papr.13018. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: SNRB was shown to effectively control radiating pain and reduce the need for surgical intervention. However, repetitive injections may trigger corticosteroid-induced side effects (hypercorticism, hyperglycemia, or fluid retention). This study aims to compare the potency of hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) solution versus that of corticosteroids regarding lower leg radiating pain (LLRP) improvement and functional outcome.

METHODS: Among 128 patients, 44 patients who complain LLRP due to lumbar spinal stenosis and do not have neurological symptoms requiring surgery were enrolled for this study. Group A with 22 patients injected with cocktail A (local anesthetics, corticosteroid) and group B with 22 patients injected with cocktail B (local anesthetics, HA-CMC). Outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and short form -36 (SF-36). All patients were asked to fill in the questionnaires during the follow-up assessment period at 3 days, 7 days, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.

RESULTS: In all time periods, there were no statistical differences between the two groups for VAS scores and VAS improvement over time, ODI scores and ODI improvement over time, and SF-36 PCS scores and SF-36 MCS scores. Additionally, the 95% confidence interval of the difference in VAS score improvement between the two groups in all time periods was within VAS 5.0, which is the minimum clinically relevant difference.

CONCLUSIONS: Considering the adverse effects of corticosteroids, and the similar LLRP improvements, functional outcome, and quality of life, the HA-CMC solution may be an alternative option to corticosteroid in SNRB.

PMID:33872462 | DOI:10.1111/papr.13018

Transbound Emerg Dis. 2021 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/tbed.14108. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis, a zoonotic pathogen that has a worldwide distribution causing serious economic losses for milk and meat producers. In Chile the disease in dairy cattle has a heterogeneous distribution, where the Metropolitan Region concentrates the highest animal prevalence and the main challenge for the national control and eradication program. In this epidemiological context, vaccination with the M. bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine might be a useful strategy for disease prevention and control. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and impacts on productivity and fertility of vaccination with the BCG Russia strain in 11-month-old heifers from a dairy farm, under a natural transmission condition. Sixty-two animals were vaccinated via the subcutaneous route with the equivalent of 1 human dose of BCG and 60 control animals received saline. Subsequently, blood sampling was performed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months post inoculation, and infection status was determined using the IFNγ release assay (IGRA)with the DIVA (Differentiate Infected from Vaccinated Animals) antigens ESAT-6, CFP-10 and Rv3615c. Efficacy was calculated as the percentage of reduction in the incidence of infection attributable to vaccination, which showed a statistically significant level of overall protection of 66.5%. No adverse effects on fertility and production were recorded. In contrast, we observed beneficial effects of vaccination on several milk production parameters, with the milk yield in the first 100 days after calving in the BCG group significantly higher compared to unvaccinated heifers( p <0.05).These results suggest that BCG vaccination of heifers in a natural transmission setting might result in both sanitary and productive benefits, supporting its implementation as a new strategy for TB prevention in a high prevalence area of Chile.

PMID:33872473 | DOI:10.1111/tbed.14108

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2021 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/ced.14697. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Systemic photoprotection aims to negate the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA damage. Systemic supplements might be used as a monotherapy or in combination with topical sunscreens. Using the keywords ‘carotenoids,’ ‘flavonoids,’ ‘systemic photoprotection,’ ‘polyphenols’ and ‘polypodium leucotomos extract,” we searched the databases MEDLINE and EMBASE to find relevant English-language articles. Few trials have supported the use of any of these supplements as a monotherapy, impeding the recommendation of these systemic supplements as an alternative to sunscreen for photoprotection. Nicotinamide has exhibited clinically relevant benefits in reducing non-melanoma skin cancers in trials and could be recommended as an adjunctive therapy in those most vulnerable. Further research is required that is of higher statistical power, using more clinically meaningful outcome measures with comparison to the current gold standard of care, topical photoprotection, to support the use of alternative therapies in clinical practice.

PMID:33872410 | DOI:10.1111/ced.14697

Oral Dis. 2021 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/odi.13880. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Non-syndromic orofacial clefts (NSOFCs) are prevalent birth defects with a complex etiology where several interacting genetic and environmental factors have been observed. This narrative review describes maternal exposures which have been significantly associated to protective effects or risk factors. The statistically significant information reported here was found in meta-analysis studies, taking advantage of their precision in defining intervention effects and their management of heterogeneity between studies. In addition, I propose a hypothesis explaining the biological basis for the results of the meta-analyses. This review aims to improve the evidence available in parent counseling, to prevent the occurrence of orofacial clefts by suggesting lifestyle changes.

PMID:33872445 | DOI:10.1111/odi.13880

J Thromb Haemost. 2021 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/jth.15344. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) requires pre-test probability assessment and dedicated laboratory assays.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a pre-test score for HIT.

DESIGN: Observational; analysis of prospectively collected data of hospitalized patients suspected with HIT (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00748839).

SETTING: Thirty-one tertiary hospitals in France, Switzerland, and Belgium.

PATIENTS: Patients tested for HIT antibodies (2,280 evaluable), randomly allocated to derivation and validation cohorts.

MEASUREMENTS: Independent adjudicators diagnosed HIT based on the prospectively collected data and Serotonin Release Assay results.

RESULTS: HIT was diagnosed in 234 (14.7%) and 99 (14.5%) patients in the two cohorts. Eight features were associated with HIT (in brackets, points assigned for score calculation of the score): unfractionated heparin (1); therapeutic-dose heparin (1); cardiopulmonary bypass (cardiac surgery) (2); major trauma (3); 5- to 21-day interval from anticoagulation initiation to suspicion of HIT (4); ≥ 40% decrease in platelet count over ≤ six days (3); thrombotic event, arterial (3) or venous (3). The C-statistic was 0.79 [95% CI, 0.76-0.82]. In the validation cohort, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.77 [95% CI, 0.74-0.80]. Three groups of scores were defined; HIT prevalence reached almost 30% in the high-probability group.

LIMITATION: The performance of the score may depend on settings and practices.

CONCLUSION: The objective, easy-to-collect, clinical features of HIT we evidenced were incorporated into a pre-test score, which may guide clinical decisions regarding diagnostic testing and anticoagulation.

PMID:33872452 | DOI:10.1111/jth.15344

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 19;16(4):e0250344. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250344. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Canine acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) has been associated in some studies with Clostridioides perfringens overgrowth and toxin-mediated necrosis of the intestinal mucosa. We aimed to determine the effect of a single fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on clinical scores and fecal microbiomes of 1 and 7 dogs with AHDS from New Zealand and South Africa. We hypothesized that FMT would improve AHDS clinical scores and increase microbiota alpha-diversity and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing microbial communities’ abundances in dogs with AHDS after FMT. We sequenced the V3-V4 region of the 16S-rRNA gene in the feces of AHDS FMT-recipients and sham-treated control dogs, and their healthy donors at admission, discharge, and 30 days post-discharge. There were no significant differences in median AHDS clinical scores between FMT-recipients and sham-treated controls at admission or discharge (P = 0.22, P = 0.41). At admission, the Shannon diversity index (SDI) was lower in AHDS dogs than healthy donors (P = 0.002). The SDI did not change from admission to 30 days in sham-treated dogs yet increased in FMT-recipients from admission to discharge (P = 0.04) to levels not different than donors (P = 0.33) but significantly higher than sham-treated controls (P = 0.002). At 30 days, the SDI did not differ between FMT recipients, sham-treated controls, and donors (P = 0.88). Principal coordinate analysis of the Bray-Curtis index separated post-FMT and donor dogs from pre-FMT and sham-treated dogs (P = 0.009) because of increased SCFA-producing genera’s abundances after FMT. A single co-abundance subnetwork contained many of the same OTUs found to be differentially abundant in FMT-recipients, and the abundance of this module was increased in FMT-recipients at discharge and 30 days, compared to sham-treated controls. We conclude in this small pilot study FMT did not have any clinical benefit. A single FMT procedure has the potential to increase bacterial communities of SCFA-producing genera important for intestinal health up to 30 days post-FMT.

PMID:33872339 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250344

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 19;16(4):e0250247. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250247. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to identify the regional potential of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Although the regional background of a company significantly determines how the concept of I4.0 can be introduced, the regional aspects of digital transformation are often neglected with regard to the analysis of I4.0 readiness. Based on the analysis of the I4.0 readiness models, the external regional success factors of the implementation of I4.0 solutions are determined. An I4.0+ (regional Industry 4.0) readiness model, a specific indicator system is developed to foster medium-term regional I4.0 readiness analysis and foresight planning. The indicator system is based on three types of data sources: (1) open governmental data; (2) alternative metrics like the number of I4.0-related publications and patent applications; and (3) the number of news stories related to economic and industrial development. The indicators are aggregated to the statistical regions (NUTS 2), and their relationships analyzed using the Sum of Ranking Differences (SRD) and Promethee II methods. The developed I4.0+ readiness index correlates with regional economic, innovation and competitiveness indexes, which indicates the importance of boosting regional I4.0 readiness.

PMID:33872343 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250247

Int Endod J. 2021 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/iej.13531. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To record the prevalence of a priori power calculations in the manuscripts published in three endodontic journals between 2018 and 2020 and detect further associations with a number of study characteristics including journal, publication year, study design, geographic region, number of centres and authors, whether the primary outcome pertained to a statistically significant effect and whether Confidence Intervals (CIs) were reported.

METHODOLOGY: The contents of the three leading endodontic journals with the highest impact factor (International Endodontic Journal, IEJ; Journal of Endodontics, JOE; and Australian Endodontic Journal, AEJ) were assessed from January 2018 to December 2020. The proportion of articles reporting a priori power calculations were recorded, and relevant associations as described above were assessed. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify significant predictors, while interaction and linear trend effects were also considered.

RESULTS: A total of 716 original research articles were included. The vast majority were published in the JOE (417/716; 58.2%), followed by the IEJ (225/716; 31.4%) and the AEJ (74/716; 10.4%). Overall, a priori power considerations were reported in 243 out of 716 articles (33.9%). The IEJ presented 1.61 times higher odds for including a priori power considerations compared to JOE (adjusted Odds Ratio, OR=1.61; 95%CI: 1.11, 2.34), while for the AEJ, the corresponding odds were 41% lower in comparison to JOE (adjusted OR= 0.59; 95%CI: 0.31, 1.14). For each additional year indicating more recent publication, the odds for adopting appropriate reporting practices for power considerations were increased by 64% (adjusted OR= 1.64; 95CIs: 1.32, 2.04). There was strong evidence that interventional research was associated with 10.54 times higher odds for a priori considerations compared to observational study design (adjusted OR= 10.54; 95%CIs: 5.50, 20.19).

CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of failure to include a priori power considerations was indicative of suboptimal reporting in endodontic research, in the three endodontic journals analysed. Although the condition improved over time, efforts to incorporate a correct determination of the required sample size at the design stage for any future study should be endorsed by journal editors, authors and the scientific community.

PMID:33872405 | DOI:10.1111/iej.13531