Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding Standard Precautions of Infection Control and Impact of Knowledge and Attitude of ICU Nurses on Self-reported Practices of Infection Control

Context: World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthcareassociated infection (HCAI) as infection acquired in hospital or a healthcare setting by a patient who was admitted for a reason other than that infection. The healthcare associated infections are one of the leading causes of mortality, morbidity and increase cost. Adherence to standard precautions for infection control and simple techniques like effective hand hygiene is essential for reducing healthcare associated infections. However, compliance of healthcare workers to hand hygiene (HH) guidelines are reportedly poor. It is important, therefore, to instill adequate knowledge and good attitudes and practices at the time of primary training of the healthcare workers. This study is an attempt to identify gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) to improve existing training programs and give recommendation to enhance good practices in the future. Aims: The aim of the study is to analyze KAP of nursing professionals of intensive care units (ICUs) in a tertiary care hospital and to find the impact of knowledge and attitude of the ICU nurses on self-reported practices. Settings and design: The study design is a survey research which has used a self-administered questionnaire to compare the KAP of nursing professionals of an ICU in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and methods: The WHO standard precautions for infection control were used as a guideline for preparing the self-administered questionnaire. The scoring system was based on a study done by Uba et al (2015). Statistical analysis: Correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to establish associations between the independent and dependent variables. Results: Participants had an average level of knowledge (79%), good attitude (89%) toward infection control guidelines and very good self-reported practices (91%). The collective KAP score of all the participants is good (85%) which indicates that average levels of knowledge are balanced by good attitude and very good practices. However, good knowledge is crucial for ensuring expected levels of infection control practices, and hence ensures patient safety. Conclusion: To achieve an environment of patient safety, it is essential that the healthcare staff should have sound knowledge and positive attitude. The study shows the need for further improvement of the existing infection control training programs to address the gaps in KAP.
Qualitative characteristics of fatty acid profile in fresh and boiled n-3 PUFA enriched eggs

Eggs are a foodstuff of animal origin that are widely consumed by human population. Quality of eggs depends on many factors, such as laying hens’ feed composition. Modification of laying hens’ diet by supplementing different fat sources affects the fatty acid profile in egg yolks. This paper presents the comparison of the fatty acid profile (FA) in fresh and boiled n-3 PUFA eggs. There is the question asked if the values referring to daily consumption of specific fatty acids in fresh eggs are credible. The portion of fatty acids in omega-3 fresh eggs is the following: SFA 30.76%, MUFA 41.97%, n-6 PUFA 22.24%, n-3 PUFA 4.96%, and the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio is 4.51. Comparison of FA profile in fresh and thermally processed n-3 PUFA eggs (boiled for 10 min. at 95 °C) shows that there are differences in the content of specific FAs, but they are not statistically significant (P>0.05), except for myristoleic fatty acid (P<0.05). Our results, as well as the results published by some other authors, justify the presentation of fatty acids profile in eggs on the basis of fresh eggs analysis results, as there are no differences in the fatty acid profile between fresh and cooked eggs.
Inulin from Jerusalem artichoke tubers alleviates hyperglycaemia in high-fat-diet-induced diabetes mice through the intestinal microflora improvement

Abstract The rate of hyperglycaemia in people around the world is increasing at an alarming rate at present, and innovative methods of alleviating hyperglycaemia are needed. The effects of Jerusalem artichoke inulin on hyperglycaemia, liver-related genes and the intestinal microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce hyperglycaemia were investigated. Inulin-treated hyperglycaemic mice had decreased average daily food consumption, body weight, average daily water consumption and relative liver weight and blood concentrations of TAG, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood glucose. Liver-related gene expressions in hyperglycaemic (HFD-fed and STZ-treated) compared with control mice showed eighty-four differentially expressed genes (forty-nine up-regulated and thirty-five down-regulated). In contrast, hyperglycaemic mice treated with inulin had twenty-two differentially expressed genes compared with control ones. Using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology, the rarefaction and the rank abundance curves as well as the α diversity indices showed the treatment-induced differences in bacterial diversity in intestine. The linear discriminant analysis of effect size showed that the inulin treatment improved intestinal microbiota; in particular, it significantly increased the number of Bacteroides in the intestine of mice. In conclusion, inulin is potentially an effective functional food for the prevention and/or treatment of hyperglycaemia.
Extracorporeal Mass Exchange Technology Platform for Temporary Liver Support: A Clinical Feasibility Study on a Device and the Cell Source Primary Human Liver Cells

Clinical feasibility phase-I study data are discussed on the use and the safety of a modular mass exchanger for temporary extracorporeal treatment of liver failure; and the use of the cell source primary human liver cells isolated from discarded transplant organs as a metabolic module in this mass exchanger. This technology platform can be compared with the mass exchange functions of a human placenta before giving birth. The "maternal blood side" can be used with various sources/modules of metabolic support including artificial (e.g. absorber) or biological elements (e.g. cells), separated by membrane compartments. These keep the source of metabolic support from contact with the patient, including the immune cells, while allowing exchange of soluble or protein-bound plasma components for therapy. Each of the multiple independent membrane compartments are bundled towards the in/outlets but interwoven to form a decentralized multi-compartment mass exchanger within an effector module compartment. The use of liver cells as a metabolic module in this compartment results in its function as a bioreactor. A combination with further modules outside of the mass exchanger was demonstrated through a continuous SPAD for detoxification. Nine patients (5 m, 4 f) with a median age of 43 years (range 11-55 years) were treated with a total of 11 metabolic modules in 12 sessions, with overall treatment times ranging from 11 to 216 hours. Patients suffered from acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF, n=3), acute liver failure (ALF, n=3) and primary non-function graft after liver transplantation (PNF, n=3). Treatment resulted in a one-year survival of 78%. The results showed a significant decrease in thrombocytes and fibrinogen. No severe adverse effects were found. One patient (AoCLF) recovered without transplantation and remained alive for the one-year follow-up. Six patients (3 ALF, 2 PNF, and 1 AoCLF) were successfully bridged to transplantation, and two (1 AoCLF, 1 PNF) died within ten days after termination of therapy. Total and conjugated bilirubin, ammonia, urea and creatinine were significantly reduced by the end of therapy, compared to baseline. The MELD score decreased significantly, whereas no significant improvements were observed in APACHE-II, APACHE-III, SOFA and Child-Pugh scores. Conclusion: The mass exchanger technology platform, the Core Module used with primary human liver cells as Metabolic Module, proved to be clinically feasible and safe. Further clinical studies are required to prove the efficacy of such therapies. However, the clinical impact of using human liver cells as a Metabolic Module is limited and a reliable, biocompatible and effective metabolic source is in need.
Fusarium species and Fusarium mycotoxins in grain of wheat in Poland in 2009 and 2010

The aim of the study was to determine the presence Fusarium species and mycotoxins in winter wheat grain in Poland. Grain samples from different locations in Poland in 2009 and 2010 were analysed for the content of biomass of Fusarium species and mycotoxins. In 2009 biomass of F. graminearum and F. poae was present in all samples, F. culmorum in 82% of samples, F. avenaceum in 55% of samples. F. sporotrichioides, F. tricinctum and F. equiseti were found only in individual samples. F. langsethiae was not detected. In 2010, five Fusarium species were detected with the exception of F. sporotrichioides. The highest content of biomass was found for F. graminearum followed by F. avenaceum, F. poae and F. langsethiae. The amount of F. culmorum biomass was very low. The most frequently occurring species was F. poae and F. graminearum. In 2009, deoxynivalenol was detected in all samples. In 2010, the average content of deoxynivalenol was lower than in 2009. Nivalenol was detected at very low concentration in both years. Significant correlations between content of F. graminearum biomass and deoxynivalenol concentration in grain and between content of F. poae biomass and nivalenol concentration in grain in 2009 were found. The most important finding of this study was that main Fusarium species infecting wheat kernels in Poland in both years was F. graminearum. The amount of biomass of F. graminearum was the highest in both years. It was present in the most samples. The other frequently detected species was F. poae, which in 2010 appeared in more samples than F. graminearum. However, the amount of F. poae biomass was lower. F. culmorum, species that was previously dominating as wheat pathogen in Poland, was found less frequently than F. graminearum. The amount of biomass of this species was the lowest in 2010.
How brain reacts to attack at a local region

The brain function is a network phenomenon. The architecture of brain networks has been extensively studied in multiple species. However, exactly how the brain network reconfigures when a local brain region stops functioning is virtually unknown. By combining chemogenetic and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) methods in an awake rodent model, we investigated the causal impact of inactivating a hub region (i.e. dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) on brain network properties. We found that disrupting hub activity profoundly changed the function and organization of the default-mode network (DMN), as well as DMN-related behavior (i.e. quiet restfulness). It also altered the topological architecture of the whole-brain network in network resilience, segregation and small worldness, but not network integration. These data provide direct evidence supporting the hypothesis that acute dysfunction of a brain hub can cause large-scale network changes. They also comprehensively document the differential impact of inactivating a hub versus a non-hub on network dynamics.
Clinical and molecular diagnosis of Chlamydophila in captive parrots in Pará State, Brazil

Parrots (Order Psittaciformes) are globally distributed birds that, together with members of the Columbiformes, represent the most susceptible animals, in regards to infection by Chlamydophila psittaci, which is an obligate, zoonotic, intracellular bacterium that causes chlamydiosis in domestic and wild birds and psittacosis in humans. The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of C. psittaci in Brazilian psittacids kept in conservation breeding sites in Pará State, Brazil. Cloacal and oropharynx swab samples were collected from 201 psittacids that were distributed among four breeding sites: Metropolitan Area of Belém (C1 and C2), Northeastern Pará (C3), and Low Amazon (C4). The samples were screened for C. psittaci using semi-nested PCR, and the resulting incidence data were analyzed using proportion and chi-square tests. Chlamydophila infection was confirmed for all the breeding sites, with an overall prevalence of 31.84%, and no species-specific predisposition was observed. Furthermore, 13.93% of the sampled birds eliminated the infectious agent by the cloaca, whereas 11.44% eliminated the agent by the oropharynx, and 6.47% eliminated the agent by both routes. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the incidence of Chlamydophila infection of breeding sites C2 and C3 (p=0.029), which yielded the smallest and largest number of diagnosed cases, respectively. In the present study, most of the birds (27.86%) were considered unapparent carriers of Chlamydophila infection, and only 3.98% of the birds yielded both a positive diagnosis and clinical signs of chlamydiosis.
Value of Combination of Standard Axial and Thin-Section Coronal Diffusion-weighted Imaging in Diagnosis of Acute Brainstem Infarction

AIM: To determine the value of the combination of thin-section 3 mm coronal and standard axial DWI and their impact in facilitating the diagnosis of acute brainstem infarction. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted from the 1st of April 2017 to the end of February 2018 on 100 consecutive patients (66% were male, and 34% were female) with isolated acute ischemic infarction in the brainstem. The abnormal MRI findings concerning the ischemic lesions were interpreted on standard axial 5 mm and thin-section coronal 3mm DWI. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied group was 69.2 ± 4.3 for male and 72.3 ± 2.5 years. The standard axial DWI can diagnose 20%, 6.7% and 6.7% of the infarctions in midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata respectively, while both axial and thin coronal sections together can diagnose 80% of midbrain infarctions, 93.3% of pons infarctions and 93.3% of medulla oblongata infarctions. Furthermore, the thin section coronal 3 mm section can diagnose very smaller ischemic lesion volume in comparison to the standard axial 5mm section (3.4 ± 0.45 / cm3 versus 4.6 ± 0.23 / cm3, P < 0.001) CONCLUSION: The addition of thin-section coronal DWI can facilitate the detection of brainstem ischemic lesions. We suggest its inclusion in the stroke MRI protocol.
Molecular characterization and expression analysis of the CCR9 gene from cobia (Rachycentron canadum) following bacterial and poly I:C challenge

ABSTRACT Chemokine receptors play an important role in coordination of cell trafficking in many biological processes. In this study, a CC chemokine receptor 9 of cobia Rachycentron canadum (RcCCR9) was identified. Analysis of the ORF (1119 bp) of RcCCR9 revealed a predicted protein of 41.87 kDa with typical seven transmembrane domain architecture. RcCCR9 shared several conserved structural features with homologs from mammals and other fish, and had a consistent relationship with phylogenetic trees and sequence identities. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR analysis showed ubiquitous RcCCR9 transcripts in healthy cobia, mainly in immune-related organs, with the highest levels in blood and lower levels in intestines and brain. After challenge with inactivated Vibrio harveyi or viral mimic poly I:C, RcCCR9 expression was up-regulated in head kidney and down-regulated in spleen. Compared with poly I:C, V. harveyi induced a stronger up/down-regulation of CCR9 mRNA levels in the central immune organs. RcCCR9 seems to be strongly involved in host defense against bacterial infection.
Bacterial extracts for the control of Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Agaricales: Agaricaceae)

Leaf-cutting ants (Atta cephalotes Linnaeus) are one of the main insect pests in Latin America; these ants (along with Acromyrmex sp.) present a unique characteristic amongst ants – the cultivation of the Leucoagaricus gongylophorus Möller (Singer) fungus as a food source. They belong to tribe Attini and build nests in underground chambers which are interconnected by pathways. These voracious ants have attacked over 45 crop fields in Colombia. The main control method has been the use of synthetic chemical products; however, alternative control measures must be established. One alternative that has a great potential are bacteria and their secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the insecticidal and antifungal effect of bacterial extracts on major worker A. cephalotes ants and the L. gongylophorus fungus. A total of 118 extracts produced by the same number of bacteria were evaluated. Among the strains that produced the active extracts were Serratia sp. , Xenorhabdus nematophila, Photorhabdus sp. , and Bacillus thuringiensis. Seventeen (17) extracts showed insecticidal activity upon contact, 13 by ingestion, while 8 showed antifungal activity that was statistically significant. In total, 23 bacterial extracts exhibited some type of activity to control Atta cephalotes.
Extracorporeal life support in pediatric trauma: a systematic review

Introduction Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was once thought to be contraindicated in trauma patients, however ECMO is now used in adult patients with post-traumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multisystem trauma. Despite acceptance as a therapy for the severely injured adult, there is a paucity of evidence supporting ECMO use in pediatric trauma patients. Methods An electronic literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Database of Collected Reviews from 1972 to 2018 was performed. Included studies reported on ECMO use after trauma in patients ≤18 years of age and reported outcome data. The Institute of Health Economics quality appraisal tool for case series was used to assess study quality. Results From 745 studies, four met inclusion criteria, reporting on 58 pediatric trauma patients. The age range was <1–18 years. Overall study quality was poor with only a single article of adequate quality. Twenty-nine percent of patients were cannulated at adult centers, the remaining at pediatric centers. Ninety-one percent were cannulated for ARDS and the remaining for cardiovascular collapse. Overall 60% of patients survived and the survival rate ranged from 50% to 100%. Seventy-seven percent underwent venoarterial cannulation and the remaining underwent veno-venous cannulation. Conclusion ECMO may be a therapeutic option in critically ill pediatric trauma patients. Consideration should be made for the expansion of ECMO utilization in pediatric trauma patients including its application for pediatric patients at adult trauma centers with ECMO capabilities.
PSMC2 is Up-regulated in Pancreatic Cancer and Promotes Cancer Cell Proliferation and Inhibits Apoptosis

Objective: The lack of effective therapeutic targets poses a leading challenge to prolong survival and improve the quality of life for pancreatic cancer patients. Proteasome 26S subunit ATPase 2 (PSMC2), a recently discovered gene, has been implicated in certain human carcinogenesis. However, limited data is available concerning the functional significance of PSMC2 in cancer cell growth, and whether it plays a role in pancreatic carcinogenesis remains unknown. Materials and Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to assess mRNA expression levels of PSMC2 in different pancreatic cancer cell lines. Knockdown of PSMC2 was achieved by using short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The effects of PSMC2 silencing on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by the MTT cell proliferation assay, Celigoassays, Annexin V fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) assay and Caspase-3/7 array. Results: High expression of PSMC2 was detected in three pancreatic cancer cell lines (SW1990, PANC-1, and AsPC-1). Knockdown of PSMC2 in SW1990 cells inhibited proliferation and enhanced apoptosis. Conclusions: Our primary study suggests that PSMC2 might be involved in the progression of pancreatic cancer and may serve as a potential therapeutic target.
Fire history and plant community composition outweigh decadal multi‐factor global change as drivers of microbial composition in an annual grassland

Soil microbial communities regulate and respond to key biogeochemical cycles and influence plant community patterns. However, microbial communities also respond to disturbance events, motivating an assessment of the relative roles of decadal multi‐factor global change, disturbance and plant community structure on microbial community responses. We used high‐throughput amplicon sequencing to characterize the diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soil (0–7 cm) collected in 2014 from the Jasper Ridge Global Change Experiment, a full‐factorial field experiment in which ambient and elevated levels of nitrogen deposition (+7 g N m−2 yr−1 calcium nitrate), CO2 concentration (+275 ppm), temperature (+1–2°C) and precipitation (+50% volume with +3 weeks duration) were applied to a California annual grassland from 1998 to 2014. We used linear mixed‐effects modelling to test for the effects of global change on microbial diversity (observed richness, Shannon index). We also used generalized dissimilarity modelling (GDM) to study controls on compositional dissimilarity in fungal and bacterial communities. Bacterial community composition was best explained by exposure to fires in 2003 and 2011, whereas fungal community composition was best explained by plant community composition. The richness of fungi increased under elevated nitrogen deposition; bacterial diversity metrics decreased under warmer temperatures. Interactions between global change factors were statistically insignificant or weak. Synthesis. Our results indicate that even on decadal time‐scales, the effects of fire history and plant community composition on bacterial and fungal community composition, respectively, outweigh the effects of multi‐factor global change. Furthermore, global change factors have mostly additive effects on microbial diversity patterns. Our results show that highly variable mediators such as fire history and plant community composition limit the generalizability of soil microbial responses to long‐term global change.
Pharmacists and Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit: implications for pharmacy education and interprofessional primary care

Older adults largely receive medical services in ambulatory primary care venues. Unfortunately, there is often a mismatch between the structure of primary care and senior patients’ needs, including multimorbidity, frailty, cognitive impairment, and polypharmacy. These attributes do not lend themselves to the typical, short primary care visit wherein multiple concerns are addressed in a “tyranny of the urgent”. Instead, interventions emphasizing patientcentered care, wellness, prevention, and care coordination are necessary. Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) provides a means to deliver such care.