Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RNA versus DNA (NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v1.2 versus Amplicor HIV-1 DNA Test v1.5) for Early Diagnosis of HIV-1 Infection in Infants in Senegal

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the performance of the NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v1.2 platform (bioMérieux, France) to the Amplicor HIV-1 DNA test v1.5 (Roche Molecular Systems, Switzerland) in detecting HIV-1 infection in infants using venipuncture-derived whole blood in tubes and dried blood spots. A total of 149 dried blood spots and 43 EDTA-anticoagulated peripheral blood samples were collected throughout Dakar and other areas in Senegal from infants and children aged 3 weeks to 24 months who were born to HIV-1-infected mothers. Samples were tested using the NucliSENS and Amplicor technologies. The NucliSENS and Amplicor results were 100% concordant using either EDTA-anticoagulated peripheral blood or dried blood spots. Compared to Amplicor, the sensitivity and specificity of the NucliSENS test were 100%. The NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 RNA assay performed as well as the Amplicor HIV-1 DNA test in detecting HIV-1 infection in infants. In addition, this platform can give an indication of the viral load baseline. The NucliSENS EasyQ platform is a good alternative for early infant diagnosis of HIV-1 infection.
Structural Patterns in the Rise of Germany’s New Right on Facebook

In the last years a new right-wing, populist and eurosceptic party emerged in Germany, the 'Alternative für Deutschland'. Topics that were used by the party to draw attention to their program included the Euro-crisis and the so-called 'refugee crisis'. We investigate some aspects of social media use of the AfD. Our goal is to relate the rise of this party to some quantitative measures of their social media usage. A particular focus will be placed on users that interact with AfD content as well as with content of other parties. Our analysis is based on more than 11 million interactions of more than one million users with the public Facebook pages of the major German political parties during the years 2014 and 2015. Investigating the time courses of social media activity and user interaction, we find that the rise of the AfD can be associated with an amount of social media coverage and user engagement that is unprecedented in the German political landscape. One main effect of this campaign is a substantial increase of user interactions with other parties from the right spectrum, suggesting a migration of voters from established right wing parties. In order to better interpret the dynamics of social media activity, we relate the analysed metrics to the textual content of the posts and classical survey data. These results suggest that the intense use of social media platforms poses a major success factor of this newly emerging right-wing party.
Reply to “Insufficient Demonstration of Long-Term Stability of Aspergillus Galactomannan”

We thank Dr. Johnson and coauthors for reemphasizing in [their letter][1] ([1][2]) some of the limitations of our study of the stability of galactomannan in frozen specimens ([2][3]), namely, the small sample size, lack of clinical information, and potential for confounding factors in pooled
Evaluation of the bioNexia Legionella Test, Including Impact of Incubation Time Extension, for Detection of Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Antigen in Urine

ABSTRACT In this study, we compared the bioNexia test (bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France), a new immunochromatographic assay for the detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in urine, with the BinaxNOW urinary antigen test (Alere, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA). After 15 min of incubation (in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions), the sensitivities and specificities were, respectively, 76.5% and 97.2% for the bioNexia test and 87.1% and 100% for the BinaxNOW test. After a prolonged incubation time of 60 min, the sensitivities and specificities increased to, respectively, 89.4% and 97.2% for the bioNexia test and 91.8% and 100% for the BinaxNOW test. When the tests were read after 15 min, the concentration of discrepant urine samples increased the sensitivities to 94.1% for both tests. In conclusion, we found that although the bioNexia test showed lower sensitivity for the detection of L. pneumophila antigen in nonconcentrated urine compared to the BinaxNOW test, a prolonged incubation time as well as the use of concentrated samples showed comparable sensitivities for both tests.
Haematology of pregnancy

Abstract The physiological changes that occur in the blood during pregnancy are largely beneficial to mother and baby, but can sometimes cause problems. •Expansion of RBC mass and tissue proliferation results in increased demand for haematinics, and often nutritional anaemia. •Increase in total blood volume and haemostatic changes help to combat the hazard of haemorrhage at delivery, but pregnancy is thereby a hypercoagulable state and carries risks of various haemostatic disorders (Figure 1), from thromboembolism to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). •Paternal antigens carried by the fetus but not present in the mother may provoke maternal immune responses, and alloimmune anaemia and thrombocytopenia.
Non-pncA Gene-Mutated but Pyrazinamide-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Why Is That?

ABSTRACT Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a key component for the effective treatment of drug-susceptible and PZA-susceptible multidrug-resistant (MDRPZA-S) tuberculosis (TB). pncA gene mutations are usually detected in a clear majority (>90%) of PZA-resistant strains but obviously not in all. Rapid and reliable PZA drug susceptibility testing (DST) is critical whenever PZA is to be used in a treatment regimen, not least for the treatment of MDRPZA-S TB. In this study, we selected 26 PZA-resistant isolates reported to carry a wild-type pncA gene. To confirm resistance, susceptibility testing was repeated using 100 mg/liter and 200 mg/liter PZA for all the 26 isolates and Sanger sequencing was repeated on the 18 isolates that remained PZA resistant. Apart from the eight isolates initially misclassified as PZA resistant, the retests identified three factors responsible for the phenotype-genotype discrepancy: panD or rpsA mutations identified by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) (n = 7), heteroresistance (n = 8), and mixed populations with Mycobacterium avium (n = 3). Additionally, we performed WGS on 400 PZA-susceptible isolates and 15 consecutive MDRPZA-R clinical isolates. Of the 400 PZA-susceptible isolates, only 1 harbored a nonsynonymous pncA mutation (Thr87Met), whereas a nonsynonymous rpsA mutation was found in 17 isolates. None of these isolates carried a nonsynonymous panD mutation, while all 15 of the MDRPZA-R isolates harbored a nonsynonymous pncA mutation. Our findings indicate that it is necessary to consider the occurrence of panD mutations in PZA-resistant isolates, as well as heteroresistance, for the development and evaluation of new molecular techniques to ensure high-quality DST performance. The identification of nonsynonymous rpsA mutations in both PZA-susceptible and PZA-resistant isolates also implies that further studies are needed in order to determine the role of rpsA in PZA resistance.
Community Based Service Use with Service Coordinators and Case Managers in a Shared Cost Program

Abstract This study uses Anderson's model of health care utilization to examine differences between two models of delivering community based services (CBS) in a pilot cost share program: case management and service coordination. Service coordination and cost sharing are innovative, less costly approaches to providing CBS than are the traditional case management approach provided under the Older American's Act. While there has been considerable research on factors influencing use of traditional CBS models, we were able to find no studies that examined factors that determine whether case management or service coordination should be used to determine CBS use. Logistic regression revealed elders were more likely to receive a service coordinator if they had fewer ADL and IADL impairments, no caregiver, and were living alone. Thus, clients received service coordination or case management based upon their level of need.
Soluble CD14 in periodontitis

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binds to soluble (s)CD14. We investigated which factors contribute to variations in sCD14 levels in periodontitis, a chronic infectious disease of tooth-supporting tissues associated with endotoxemia and leading to inflammation and subsequently loss of teeth. The sCD14 levels were determined by ELISA in healthy controls (n = 57) and untreated patients (59 moderate and 46 severe) and their relation with markers of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein levels, and leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts) was assessed. Anti-Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis IgG levels were established by ELISA and CD14-260 genotype was determined in a TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Increased levels of sCD14 were more frequent among periodontitis patients (P = 0.026) and showed a severity-dependence with increasing levels of periodontal breakdown (P = 0.008). In patients, levels of sCD14 correlated positively with CRP (P = 0.043), leukocyte numbers (P = 0.011) and negatively with anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgG (P = 0.007). In a multivariate analysis, sCD14 levels were predicted by ethnicity, age, educational level, and in Caucasian subjects also by the severity of periodontal destruction, but not by anti-P. gingivalis IgG or the CD14-260 genotype. Periodontitis is associated with elevated levels of sCD14.
Autonomy and Acceptance of Long-Term Care

This study explored the relationship between four types of autonomy (health autonomy, informational autonomy, living autonomy, and financial autonomy) and the acceptance of five types of long-term care (adult day care, respite care, assisted living, unit care, and group home) for the elderly in Taiwan. Data were collected from 167 middle-aged and older people. The acceptance of five types of long-term care ranged from 75.9–84.9%. Financial autonomy and information autonomy were significantly related to acceptance of all five types of long-term care. Living autonomy is related to assisted living and group homes. Policy implications are discussed.
Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from Patients with Community-Onset Infections in 30 Chinese County Hospitals

ABSTRACT The high frequency of fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli is a feature of clinical bacteriology in China, where the molecular epidemiology and genetic characteristics of this resistance in county hospitals remain unclear. A total of 590 nonduplicate E. coli isolates from 30 county hospitals located across seven Chinese regions were examined for plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes and mutations in quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and phylogenetic analysis of fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates were used to determine their genetic relatedness. The ciprofloxacin resistance rate of community-onset E. coli was 51.2%, and at least one PMQR gene was carried by 220 (37.3%) isolates. These included qnr (3.7%), aac(6′)-Ib-cr (19.7%), qepA (14.4%), and oqxAB (3.8%). Two novel oqxB mutants were identified and named oqxB20 and oqxB29. From 60 sequence types (STs) isolated, 5 novel STs (ST4499 to ST4503) were identified. ST1193 (7.9%) was the second most abundant ST among fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates (ST131 was the most common, with 14.6%), and this is the first report of it in China. This is also the first report of ST2115 and ST3014 isolates from human samples. Ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates fell mainly into phylogroups B2 and D. The rates of fluoroquinolone resistance and the prevalence of PMQR genes in community-onset E. coli isolates from Chinese county hospitals were high. The wide-ranging molecular epidemiology of E. coli isolates from scattered locations across China indicates that fluoroquinolone resistance evolved from different sources.
Evaluation of a DNA Microarray (Check-MDR CT102) for Rapid Detection of TEM, SHV, and CTX-M Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases and of KPC, OXA-48, VIM, IMP, and NDM-1 Carbapenemases

ABSTRACT The Check-MDR CT102 microarray, aimed at identifying bacteria producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) (SHV, TEM, and CTX-M) and carbapenemase (KPC, OXA-48, VIM, IMP, and NDM-1), was evaluated on a total of 144 Gram-negative strains expressing various β-lactamases. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% for most tested genes, suggesting that this assay allows accurate identification of common ESBL and carbapenemase producers from bacterial cultures.
Anti-inflammatory effects of C1-Inhibitor in porcine and human whole blood are independent of its protease inhibition activity

C1-Inhibitor (C1-INH) is an important biological inhibitor, regulating several protein cascade systems. Recent research has shown that the molecule exhibits properties not dependent on its protease inhibition activity. Serum and whole blood from pigs and humans were pre-incubated with C1-INH, iC1-INH or the complement inhibitors SPICE or compstatin. Whole, live Escherichia coli were then added for further incubation. Complement activation, a range of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, as well as the leukocyte activation markers wCD11R3 (pig) and CD11b (human) were measured. Both C1-INH and iC1-INH dose-dependently and significantly (P<0.05) reduced a range of E. coli-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in porcine and human whole blood, as well as growth factors in human whole blood. Differences between the two forms of C1-INH and between the two species were modest. Most of these anti-inflammatory effects could not be explained by complement inhibition, as specific complement inhibitors had minor effect on several of the mediators. C1-Inhibitor had no inhibitory effect on E. coli-induced complement activation, while iC1-INH enhanced complement activation. The presented data indicate that C1-INH has broad anti-inflammatory effects in E. coli-induced inflammation in pig and human whole blood. These effects are largely independent of the protease inhibition activity.
Identification of Gram-Positive Cocci by Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry: Comparison of Different Preparation Methods and Implementation of a Practical Algorithm for Routine Diagnostics

ABSTRACT This study compared three sample preparation methods (direct transfer, the direct transfer-formic acid method with on-target formic acid treatment, and ethanol-formic acid extraction) for the identification of Gram-positive cocci with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). A total of 156 Gram-positive cocci representing the clinically most important genera, Aerococcus, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus, as well as more rare genera, such as Gemella and Granulicatella, were analyzed using a Bruker MALDI Biotyper. The rate of correct genus-level identifications was approximately 99% for all three sample preparation methods. The species identification rate was significantly higher for the direct transfer-formic acid method and ethanol-formic acid extraction (both 77.6%) than for direct transfer (64.1%). Using direct transfer-formic acid compared to direct transfer, the total time to result was increased by 22.6%, 16.4%, and 8.5% analyzing 12, 48, and 96 samples per run, respectively. In a subsequent prospective study, 1,619 clinical isolates of Gram-positive cocci were analyzed under routine conditions by MALDI-TOF MS, using the direct transfer-formic acid preparation, and by conventional biochemical methods. For 95.6% of the isolates, a congruence between conventional and MALDI-TOF MS identification was observed. Two major limitations were found using MALDI-TOF MS: the differentiation of members of the Streptococcus mitis group and the identification of Streptococcus dysgalactiae. The Bruker MALDI Biotyper system using the direct transfer-formic acid sample preparation method was shown to be a highly reliable tool for the identification of Gram-positive cocci. We here suggest a practical algorithm for the clinical laboratory combining MALDI-TOF MS with phenotypic and molecular methods.
Regulation and Control of Urban Environments: A Multilevel Approach

The expertise of systems and control engineering is potentially relevant to the problems of contemporary urban society. But to realize this potential, a paradigm which represents urban problems as problems of design and control must be developed. A possible structure for such a paradigm is suggested by Simon's conception of an " artificial science" which emphasizes the problem of designing inner environments whose object is to attain goals and to function adaptively in outer environments [11]. This paper proposes an organization-environment model, combining the Urban Dynamics and hierarchical multilevel systems approaches as one possible basis for such a science. A descriptive formal model of an urban government using the multiechelon approach is developed, and the consistency postulate for the system is defined. This definition illustrates a commonly encountered problem in political systems, namely, the imperfect relationship between electoral and administrative processes and "the general welfare. " But this problem cannot be examined systematically until an operational overall system goal for a specific system is defined. Modifications of the Forrester Urban Dynamics model to include a coefficient of "satisfaction" are described to illustrate a potentially useful definition of such a goal. Preliminary results indicate that the values of this coefficient are consistent with the implicit normative assumptions of the Forrester model.
Evaluación de una estrategia educativa en malaria aplicada en localidades rurales del Pacífico colombiano

Introduction. Health education interventions have proved effective in improving knowledge, preventing practices and decreasing occurrence of malaria. Objective. To evaluate the impact of the educational intervention "The World of Malaria: Let's Learn to Manage it in Community" developed in Colombian malarial areas, in terms of increasing knowledge, preventive practices, treatment-seeking, and decreasing malaria occurrence. Materials and methods. A quasi-experimental post-test study with a non-equivalent control group was carried out. Four hundred and fifty people living in 20 rural villages were interviewed. These localities were randomly selected from 110 intervened localities. Paired "t" test was performed to evaluate the effect on malaria knowledge of the community health workers (n=243). The effect of the intervention on the effect variables was measured by using logistic regression and by comparing people who were exposed and non-exposed to the educational strategy. Results. Knowledge on malaria in community health workers increased after the intervention (p<0.05). In the communities, 170/447 (38%) interviewed individuals had contact with the intervention in the communities. Those exposed to the intervention showed improvements in knowledge about breeding sites (OR: 2.53, 95%IC:1.7-3.76), bed-nets use (OR:1.81, 95%IC:1.10-2.97) and a decrease in self-medication with antimalarial drugs (OR:1.97, 95%IC: 1.04-3.73). Contact with the intervention reduced reported episodes of malaria (OR:0.58, 95%CI: 0.39-0.87). Conclusion. Significant improvements in preventive practices may be achieved with educational interventions, which in turn may reduce malaria ocurrence.
Discrimination between Active and Latent Tuberculosis Based on Ratio of Antigen-Specific to Mitogen-Induced IP-10 Production

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the major causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). The gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA) has been widely used to diagnose TB by testing cell-mediated immune responses but has no capacity for distinguishing between active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI). This study aims to identify a parameter that will help to discriminate active TB and LTBI. Whole-blood samples from 33 active TB patients, 20 individuals with LTBI, and 26 non-TB controls were applied to the commercial IFN-γ release assay, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube, and plasma samples were analyzed for interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IFN-γ, monokine induced by IFN-γ (MIG), interferon gamma inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interferon-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) by using a commercial cytometric bead array. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-specific production of most of the assayed cytokines and chemokines was higher in the active TB than in the LTBI group. The mitogen-induced responses were lower in the active TB than in the LTBI group. When the ratio of TB-specific to mitogen-induced responses was calculated, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MIG, and IP-10 were more useful in discriminating active TB from LTBI. In particular, most patients showed higher IP-10 production to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens than to mitogen at the individual level, and the ratio for IP-10 was the strongest indicator of active infection versus LTBI with 93.9% sensitivity and 90% specificity. In conclusion, the ratio of the TB-specific to the mitogen-induced IP-10 responses showed the most promising accuracy for discriminating active TB versus LTBI and should be further studied to determine whether it can serve as a biomarker that might help clinicians administer appropriate treatments.
Multisite Clinical Evaluation of a Rapid Test for Entamoeba histolytica in Stool

ABSTRACT Rapid point-of-care detection of enteric protozoa in diarrheal stool is desirable in clinical and research settings to efficiently determine the etiology of diarrhea. We analyzed the ability of the third-generation E. histolytica Quik Chek assay developed by Techlab to detect amebic antigens in fecal samples collected from independent study populations in South Africa and Bangladesh. We compared the performance of this recently released rapid test to that of the commercially available ProSpecT Entamoeba histolytica microplate assay from Remel and the E. histolytica II enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from Techlab, using real-time and nested-PCR for Entamoeba species to resolve any discrepant results. After discrepant resolution, The E. histolytica Quik Chek assay exhibited sensitivity and specificity compared to the E. histolytica II ELISA of 98.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.9% to 99.8%) and 100% (95% CI, 99.0% to 100%), respectively. Compared to the ProSpecT microplate assay, the E. histolytica Quik Chek (Quik Chek) assay exhibited 97.0% sensitivity (95% CI, 91.5% to 99.4%) and 100% specificity (95% CI, 99.0% to 100%). Our results indicate that the Quik Chek is a robust assay for the specific detection of E. histolytica trophozoites in unfixed frozen clinical stool samples.