BMC Research Notes

Objective Screening of human and human male DNA is necessary for forensic DNA analyses. Although quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is commonly used for detecting and quantifying these DNA targets, its use as a screening tool is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To streamline and simplify the screening process, we aimed to develop a duplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay capable of simultaneously detecting human and human male DNA in a single tube. We assessed the duplex LAMP assay for forensic application. Results For our duplex LAMP assay, we have utilized two fluorescent probes with HEX and FAM fluorophores to specifically detect human and human male DNA, respectively. The HEX (human target) signal was detected from both the male and female DNA samples, and the FAM (male target) signal was detected from only the male DNA sample. This assay has a sensitivity of 10–1 pg of DNA for both targets. Additionally, we successfully detected the two targets in the DNA samples extracted from forensically relevant body fluids, including blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions.

Objective Multiple national and international studies of college student COVID-19 vaccination have been recently published, providing important descriptive information and a conceptual basis to inform future decisions about infectious disease prevention in higher education settings. Yet almost no research has examined Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), which occupy a unique space in US higher education in terms of structure and students served. To address that gap, this report describes results from a two-wave cross-sectional survey administered at a NASNTI in Durango, Colorado, as part of a larger study of COVID-19 campus response. Surveys were administered prior to (wave one) and following (wave two) statewide availability of the COVID-19 vaccine for ages 16+. Comparisons between waves used Cramer’s V and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results A total of 283 students responded to wave one, and 186 responded to wave two. Notable results included a self-reported COVID-19 vaccination rate (40.1%) at wave one that far exceeded parallel national rates. Injunctive and disjunctive normative beliefs were also less supportive of vaccination among the unvaccinated at wave two compared to wave one. Findings from this study should be considered in the context of all available evidence and not used to make inferences in isolation.

Background The effects of COVID-19 on the organism are still being investigated, especially after the transformation of this virus from a respiratory disease in its first appearance to a multi-organ disease that can affect nearly all systems and organs including the endocrinological system. The objective of the study was to find an association between COVID-19 infection and new onset type 2 diabetes in Lebanese adults. Methods A retrospective case–control study (2019–2022) included 200 subjects, 100 cases with new onset diabetes and 100 controls recruited from endocrinology clinics in rural and suburban located regions of Lebanon. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results Older age (aOR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.03–1.12), higher BMI (aOR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.17–1.48), having been infected with COVID-19 (aOR = 2.38; 95% CI 1.001–5.68) and having a family history of diabetes (aOR = 11.80; 95% CI 4.23–32.87) were significantly associated with higher odds of having new onset type 2 diabetes after adjusting for multiple risk factors. Conclusion In addition to the traditional risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, a recent COVID-19 infection was associated with the new onset DM in our study. Subsequently screening for diabetes should be strongly recommended for patients post COVID-19 infection.

Objective Growth in large population-based studies assessing contributions of the gut microbiota to health and disease requires high-throughput sample processing and analysis methods. This study assessed the impact that modifications to a commercially available magnetic bead based, semi-automated DNA extraction kit had on determination of microbial composition, relative to an established in-house method involving a combination of mechanical and chemical lysis. DNA was extracted from faecal samples from healthy adults (n = 12; 34–69 years), microbial composition was determined by V3-V4 16s rRNA sequencing and compared between extraction methods. Results Diversity metrics did not differ between extraction methods. Differences in the relative abundance of key phyla, including a significantly lower abundance of the Firmicutes (p = 0.004) and higher relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes (p = 0.005) and Proteobacteria (p = 0.008) phyla were noted where the DNA extraction did not include additional chemical and mechanical lysis. Principal coordinate analysis of family and genera level data also suggested a potential for sample pre-processing to impact microbial composition. Observations of the potential for skewed microbial composition profiles from samples prepared using a semi-automated DNA extraction kit without additional sample pre-processing highlights a need for consideration of standardisation of methodological approaches to increase the comparability of microbial compositional data.

Objective Tumors are heterogeneous three-dimensional masses populated by numerous cell types, including distinct sub-clones of cancerous cells. Various sub-clones within the same tumor mass may respond differently to cancer treatment, and intra-tumor heterogeneity contributes to acquired therapeutic resistance. Thus, one tissue biopsy will in most cases not be representative of the entire genetic landscape of a tumor mass. In this study, we aimed to establish an easily accessible, low cost method to address intra-tumor heterogeneity in three dimensions, for a limited number of DNA alterations. Results This study includes analyses of the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of DNA mutations in human colon cancer and mouse mammary gland tumor tissue samples. We used laser capture microdissection for the unbiased collection of tissue in several XY-planes throughout the tumor masses. Cycling temperature capillary electrophoresis was used to determine mutant allele frequency. High-resolution distribution maps of KRAS and Trp53 mutations were generated for each XY-plane in human and mouse tumor samples, respectively. To provide a holistic interpretation of the mutation distribution, we generated interactive 3D heatmaps giving an easily interpretable understanding of the spatial distribution of the analyzed mutations. The method described herein provides an accessible way of describing intra-tumor heterogeneity for a limited number of mutations.

Objective To ensure reproducibility in biomedical research, the biological variable sex must be reported; yet a reason for using male (instead of female) rodents is seldom given. In our search for novel adenosine receptor ligands, our research group routinely determines a test compound’s binding affinities at male Sprague-Dawley rat (r) adenosine A1 and A2A receptors via in vitro radioligand binding studies. This pilot study compared the binding affinities of four adenosine receptor ligands (frequently used as reference standards) at male and female adenosine rA1 and rA2A receptors. Results The inhibition constant (Ki) values determined using female rats correspond well to the values obtained using male rats and no markable difference could be observed in affinity and selectivity of reference standards. For example, DPCPX the selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist: male rA1Ki: 0.5 ± 0.1 nM versus female rA1Ki: 0.5 ± 0.03 nM; male rA2AKi: 149 ± 23 nM versus female rA2AKi: 135 ± 29 nM. From the limited data at hand, we conclude that even when using female rats for in vitro studies without regard for the oestrous cycle, the obtained data did not vary much from their male counterparts.

Objectives Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) is an emerging disease that poses a significant threat to the citrus industry in California. In this study, the viral genomic RNA was isolated from Eureka lemon plants in the greenhouse exhibiting CYVCV symptoms. Subsequently, the corresponding DNA genome amplicon was sequenced and annotated. These efforts expand the genotype database of CYVCV, which aims to enhance detection assays, promote understanding of the virus’s genetics and evolution, and support the management of this disease. Data description In this report, we present the complete genome sequence of the CYVCV California isolate (CA1). The genome was found to be 7,530 bp in length, with a G + C content of 51.7%. The 5′ and 3′ termini were determined using 5′ and 3′ termini rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) systems. Furthermore, our analysis revealed the presence of six open reading frames (ORFs) potentially encoding proteins. All sequence data and annotation have been deposited in GenBank under the accession number OR037276.1.

Objective Oligodendrocytes (OL) are the glial cell type in the CNS that are responsible for myelin formation. The ability to culture OLs in vitro has provided critical insights into the mechanisms underlying their function. However, primary OL cultures are tedious to obtain, difficult to propagate and are not easily conducive to genetic manipulation. To overcome these obstacles, researchers have generated immortalized OL like cell lines derived from various species. One such cell line is the mouse Oli-neu line which is thought to recapitulate characteristics of OLs in early stages of maturity. They have been extensively utilized in multiple studies as surrogates for OLs, especially in analyzing epigenetic modifications and regulatory pathways in the OL lineage. Results In this report we present the development of optimized culture media and growth conditions that greatly facilitate the differentiation of Oli-neu cells. Oli-neu cells differentiated using these new protocols exhibit a higher expression of myelin related genes and increased branching, both of which are defining characteristics of mature OLs, when compared to previous culture protocols. We envision that these new culture conditions will greatly facilitate the use of Oli-neu cells and enhance their ability to recapitulate the salient features of primary OLs.

Objectives To identify the social inclusion needs that were (i) most commonly identified and (ii) most and least commonly prioritised as support planning goals for mental health service users living in supported accommodation, using the online Social Inclusion Questionnaire User Experience (SInQUE). We qualitatively examined mental health supported accommodation staff and servicer users’ views on barriers to offering support with two less commonly prioritised areas: help finding a partner and feeling less lonely. Methods Anonymous SInQUE data were collected during a completed study in which we developed and tested the online SInQUE. Four focus groups were conducted with mental health supported accommodation staff (N = 2) and service users (N = 2). Results The most common social inclusion needs identified by service users (N = 31) were leisure activities, finding transport options, and feeling less lonely. Of the needs identified, those that service users and staff least frequently prioritised as support planning goals were having company at mealtimes, getting one’s own furniture, feeling less lonely, help with finances, and help finding a partner. In the focus groups, staff and service users identified barriers to helping with loneliness and finding a partner which related to staff and service users themselves, supported accommodation services, and wider societal factors.

Introduction Evidence suggest that wildlife Infectious diseases related to wildlife are of most importance because of the agents’ capacity to spill over into humans from the wild reservoir. Among them, the bacteria Bartonella spp. and Anaplasma spp. are related to this zoonotic dynamic. Objective The primary goal of the present study was to determine the presence of pathogenic bacteria in kidney and liver tissues of Didelphis marsupialis; spleen, liver, and skin of Pecari tajacu; spleen, liver, and skin of Chelonoidis denticulata. Methodology A PCR using universal and specific primers for 16 S rRNA, of Bartonella spp. with subsequent genetic sequencing were used. Results The results in this study indicate that Bartonella vinsonni was detected in the liver tissue of Didelphis marsupialis using both universal primers and those specific for Bartonella sp. Anaplasma platys was detected at the liver and spleen level using universal primers. Additionally, Bartonella spp. was found at the liver, spleen, and skin level in Pecari tajacu using the specific primers. Finally, using the universal and specific primers at the skin level, Bartonella spp. was evident in Chelonoidis denticulata. Conclusions The presence of the DNA of the Bartonella vinsonii was detected at the liver tissue in Didelphis marsupialis. DNA of the Anaplasma platys and Bartonella spp. were identified at the spleen and liver level. This study also identified that DNA Bartonella spp. was detected in Pecari tajacu skin. Finally DNA of Bartonella spp. was evident in Chelonoidis denticulate skin. The findings of this study suggest that these bacteria are present in these animals and may be responsible for outbreaks.

Objectives Surveillance of infant and fetal deaths is of paramount importance in thinking about government strategies to reduce these rates, provide greater visibility of these mortality figures in the country, enable the adoption of prevention measures, as well as contribute to a better record of deaths. Data description The dataset comprises fetal, neonatal, early neonatal, late neonatal, and perinatal Mortality Rates of Brazilian municipalities with their respective information, between 2010 to 2020, aggregated by epidemiological week.

Objective The opportunities for sequencing-based methylome analysis of clinical samples are increasing. To reduce its cost and the amount of genomic DNA required for library preparation, we aimed to establish a capture methyl-seq protocol, which adopts pre-pooling of multiple libraries before hybridization capture and TET2/APOBEC-mediated conversion of unmethylated cytosine to thymine. Results We compared a publicly available dataset generated by the standard Agilent protocol of SureSelect XT Human Methyl-Seq Kit and our dataset obtained by our modified protocol, EMCap, that adopted sample pre-pooling and enzymatic conversion. We confirmed that the quality of DNA methylation data was comparable between the two datasets. As our protocol, EMCap, is more cost-effective and reduces the amount of input genomic DNA, it would serve as a better choice for clinical methylome sequencing.

Objective The purpose of this study was to develop a method for the isolation, culture, and PEG-mediated protoplast transfection from leaves of in vitro-grown plants of Ricinus communis. Results Factors such as the enzymatic composition and the incubation time were evaluated. The enzymatic solution, containing 1.6% Cellulase-R10 and 0.8% Macerozyme-R10, with 16 h of incubation, was the best condition to achieve a high protoplast yield (481.16 × 10⁴ protoplasts/g FW) with a high percentage of viability (95%). The combination and concentration of enzymes have been shown to affect the protoplast isolation efficiency significantly. Furthermore, we found that a higher number of protoplasts (8.5 × 10⁵ protoplast/g FW) was obtained at a longer incubation time, but their viability decreased. We obtained a simple and efficient protocol to isolate protoplast from Ricinus communis leaves and culture. A PEG-mediated protoplast transfection protocol was also established to introduce plasmid DNA into Ricinus communis genotypes cultivated in Colombia. Thus, strengthening advances in the genetic improvement processes for this crop are presented.

Objective: Researchers in animal cognition, psychophysics, and experimental psychology need to randomise the presentation order of trials in experimental sessions. In many paradigms, for each trial, one of two responses can be correct, and the trials need to be ordered such that the participant's responses are a fair assessment of their performance. Specifically, in some cases, especially for low numbers of trials, randomised trial orders need to be excluded if they contain simple patterns which a participant could accidentally match and so succeed at the task without learning. Results: We present and distribute a simple Python software package and tool to produce pseudorandom sequences following the Gellermann series. This series has been proposed to pre-empt simple heuristics and avoid inflated performance rates via false positive responses. Our tool allows users to choose the sequence length and outputs a .csv file with newly and randomly generated sequences. This allows behavioural researchers to produce, in a few seconds, a pseudorandom sequence for their specific experiment. PyGellermann is available at https://github.com/YannickJadoul/PyGellermann .

Background The lack of appropriate vaccines is an obstacle to the effective management of A. baumannii infections. Peptide vaccines offer an attractive and promising preventive strategy against A. baumannii. Objective In this study, we identified specific T cell epitopes of A. baumannii outer membrane protein K (OMPK) using comprehensive bioinformatics and detailed molecular docking analysis. Methods Both class-I and class-II T cell epitopes of A. baumannii OMPK were predicted by three tools namely IEDB, SYFPEITHI, and ProPred. The predicted epitopes were shortlisted based on several analyses including prediction scoring, clustering, exclusion of human similarity, considering immunogenicity and cytokine production, and removal of toxic and/or allergen epitopes. The epitopic peptides with high prediction scores and appropriate properties containing both class-I and class-II T cell epitopes were selected. Two of these class I/II epitopic peptides were chosen for molecular docking studies and assessing their physicochemical properties as vaccine candidates. Results The results showed many T-cell epitopes of OMPK that could be evaluated for possible immunogenicity. Two of these epitopes (containing both class-I and II epitopes) had high prediction scores, were predicted by several tools, attached to several HLAs, and had the best docking score. They had different physicochemical properties and were conserved among Acinetobacter species. Discussion We identified the A. baumannii OMPK high immunogenic class-I and class-II T cell epitopes and introduced two promising high immunogenic peptides as vaccine candidates. It is recommended to perform in vitro/in vivo investigation of these peptides to determine their true efficacy and efficiency.

Objective The purpose of this data set is to investigate differences in RNA-Seq transcriptome profiles between Acarapis woodi -infested and uninfested Japanese honey bees ( Apis cerana japonica ). The data set is strengthened by data collected from different body parts (head, thorax, and abdomen). The data set will support future studies of molecular biological changes in mite-infested honey bees. Data description We collected 5 mite-infested and 5 uninfested A . cerana japonica workers from each of 3 different colonies (designated as A, B, and C). Workers were dissected into 3 body sites (i.e., heads, thoraces, and abdomen), and 5 of each body site were pooled together for RNA extraction, generating a total of 18 RNA-Seq samples (2 infection status × 3 colonies × 3 body sites). FASTQ data files of each sample that were generated by a DNBSEQ-G400 sequencer with the 2 × 100 bp paired-end sequencing protocol are available in the DDBJ Sequence Read Archive under accession number DRA015087 (RUN: DRR415616–DRR415633, BioProject: PRJDB14726, BioSample: SAMD00554139–SAMD00554156, Experiment: DRX401183–DRX401200). The data set is a fine-scale analysis of gene expression in the mite-infested A . cerana japonica workers because 18 RNA-Seq samples are separated by 3 body sites.

Objective Active participation of the older adults in the society is crucial; however, frailty prevents social participation. Meanwhile, many older adults participate daily in social activities, even with frailty. This study aims to examine whether older adults with frailty have lower social participation than those without frailty in Japan. We also investigated whether older adults with frailty and higher subjective health participate in society to the same extent as the general older population. This study included 1,082 Japanese individuals aged 65 years and older participating in the online survey. Participants answered questions on social participation, frailty, subjective health, and demographics. Results Participants in the robust group had higher social participation rates than those in the frailty and pre-frailty groups. Meanwhile, frail older participants with higher subjective health had similar social participation as the robust participants. Many older adults acquire frailty despite their individual effort. Meanwhile, improving subjective health may be effective, even with frailty. The relationship between subjective health, frailty, and social participation is primitive and further studies are needed.

Objectives The notion of Bipolarity based on positive and negative outcomes. It is well known that bipolar models give more precision, flexibility, and compatibility to the system as compared to the classical models and fuzzy models. A bipolar fuzzy graph(BFG) provides more flexibility while modeling human thinking as compared with a fuzzy graph, and an interval valued bipolar fuzzy graph(IVBFG) has numerous applications where the real-life problem are time dependent and there is a network structure complexity. The aim of this paper is to introduce an interval-valued bipolar line fuzzy graph(IVBFLG). Result In this paper, we have proposed the notion of an IVBFLG and some of its characterizations. Also, some propositions and theorems related to an IVIFLGs are developed and proved. Furthermore, isomorphism between two IVIFLGs toward their IVIFGs was determined and verified. As a result, we derive a necessary and sufficient condition for an IVBFG to be isomorphic to its corresponding IVBFLG and some remarkable properties like degree, size, order, regularity, strength, and completeness of an IVBFLGs have been investigated, and the proposed concepts are illustrated with the examples.

Background To describe the preferred cataract surgery practices among Malaysian ophthalmologists and medical officers in comparison with the recommended practices. Methods An online questionnaire was sent out in April 2021, to Malaysian Ophthalmologists and medical officers who perform cataract surgeries. The questions were focused on the preferred cataract surgery practices of the participants. All data obtained were collected, tabulated and analysed. Results A total of 173 participants responded to the online questionnaire. 55% of the participants were within 31–40 years of age. 56.1% preferred peristaltic pump over venturi system. 91.3% of participants practised povidone iodine instillation to the conjunctival sac. With regards to the main wound incision, more than half of the surgeons (50.3%) preferred fixed superior incision and 72.3% of them preferred 2.75 mm microkeratome blade. Most of the participants (63%) were inclined towards C-Loop clear intraocular lens (IOL) with a single-handed push preloaded system. 78.6% of the surgeons routinely use carbachol in their cataract surgery. Conclusions This survey provides some insight into the current practices among Malaysian ophthalmologists. Most of the practices are in line with international guidelines for preventing postoperative endophthalmitis. This article could help trainees and ophthalmologists benchmark and observe the common cataract surgery practices among their seniors and peers in Malaysia.

Objective The microbiota of a seasoning sauce fermentation process is usually complex and includes multiple species and even various strains of one species. Moreover, composition and cell numbers of individual strains vary over the course of the entire fermentation. This study demonstrates the applicability of a multiplex PCR system to monitor growth dynamics of Tetragenococcus (T.) halophilus strains in order to evaluate their performance and help to select the most competitive starter strain. Results In a previous study we isolated T. halophilus strains from multiple lupine moromi fermentation processes and characterized them. In this study we wanted to monitor the growth dynamics of these strains in a competitive lupine moromi model fermentation process using a multiplex PCR system. Therefore, pasteurized lupine koji was inoculated with eight different T. halophilus strains, six from lupine moromi, one from an experimental buckwheat moromi fermentation process and the type strain DSM 20,339T, to create the inoculated lupine moromi pilot scale fermentation process. With the multiplex PCR system, we could detect that all strains could grow in lupine moromi but, that TMW 2.2254 and TMW 2.2264 outperformed all other strains. Both strains dominated the fermentation after three weeks with cell counts between 4 × 10⁶ to 4 × 10⁷ CFU/mL for TMW 2.2254 and 1 × 10⁷ to 5 × 10⁷ CFU/mL for TMW 2.2264. The pH dropped to value below 5 within the first 7 days, the selection of these strains might be related to their acid tolerance.

Objective In Sweden, national guidelines recommend that all staff in the healthcare system systematically screen patients for alcohol use and illicit substance use. Where hazardous use is identified, it should be addressed as soon as possible, preferably through brief interventions (BI). Results from a previous national survey showed that most clinic directors stated that they had clear guidelines for screening alcohol use and illicit substance use, but that fewer staff than expected used screening in their work. This study aims to identify obstacles and solutions to screening and brief intervention, based on survey respondents’ free-text responses to open-ended questions. Results A qualitative content analysis yielded four codes: guidelines, continuing education, cooperation and resources. The codes indicated that staff would need (a) clearer routines in order to optimize compliance with the national guidelines; (b) more knowledge about how to treat patients with problematic substance use; (c) better cooperation between addiction care and psychiatry; and (d) increased resources to improve routines at their own clinic. We conclude that increased resources could contribute to better routines and cooperation, and provide increased opportunities for continuing education. This could increase guideline compliance and increase healthy behavior changes among patients in psychiatry with problematic substance use.

Objective Probiotics have been used in poultry production to improve the performance and health of chickens raised without antibiotics. The combination of different probiotic strains has been used with the hope of conferring multiple benefits to the host. However, the inclusion of several strains does not necessarily boost benefits. There is a lack of studies that compare the efficacy of multi-strain probiotics to their individual components. In this study, the effects of a Bacillus-based probiotic product mix containing B. coagulans, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, and B. subtilis against Clostridium perfringens were tested in vitro using a co-culture method. The individual strains and different combinations of the strains used in the product were also tested against C. perfringens. Results The probiotic product mix tested in this study did not show effects against C. perfringens (P = 0.499). When tested individually, the strain of B. subtilis was the most efficient strain to decrease C. perfringens concentrations (P ≤ 0.01), and the addition of other Bacillus species strains significantly decreased its efficacy against C. perfringens. We concluded that the probiotic mix of Bacillus strains used in this study (B. coagulans, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus and B subtilis) was not effective in decreasing C. perfringens concentrations in vitro. However, when deconstructing the probiotic, the strain of B. subtilis alone or combined with the strain of B. licheniformis were effective against C. perfringens. This suggests that the anticlostridial properties of the particular strains of Bacillus used in this study were negatively affected when combined with other Bacillus spp. strains.

Objective The paper is focused on developing and analyzing a uniformly convergent numerical scheme for a singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion problem with a negative shift. The solution of such problem exhibits strong boundary layers at the two ends of the domain due to the influence of the perturbation parameter, and the term with negative shift causes interior layer. The rapidly changing behavior of the solution in the layers brings significant difficulties in solving the problem analytically. We have treated the problem by proposing a numerical scheme using the implicit Euler method in the temporal direction and a fitted tension spline method in the spatial direction with uniform meshes. Result Stability and uniform error estimates are investigated for the developed numerical scheme. The theoretical finding is demonstrated by numerical examples. It is obtained that the developed numerical scheme is uniformly convergent of order one in time and order two in space.

Aim This cross-sectional survey aimed to identify aerobic bacteria, antimicrobial resistance, and multi-drug resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from different wound infections among a group of Egyptian patients. Results Of 120 positive samples, 170 isolates were identified. Polymicrobial infections were determined in 55% of samples. The dominant Gram-positive isolated strains were Staphylococcus aureus, especially from wound infections because of accidents (71.8%). Piperacillin, methicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were all highly resistant to S. aureus and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in wound infections was 89.9%. S. aureus showed superior sensitivity to vancomycin (85.3%) and linezolid (81.3%). The highest prevalence of Gram-negative isolates was for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40%), which was highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin (79.2%) and highly resistant to levofloxacin (83.3%). Several isolates revealed a multi-drug resistance profile (52.4%). The overall MDR rate of Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates were 50% and 54.9%, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of MRSA isolated from various wound infections and MDR is a warning issue in Upper Egypt. It should implement a health education strategy and hygiene measures to prevent the spread of wound infection-causing organisms in the community.

Objective A mammalian Delta-Notch signaling component, Notch1, has been suggested for its expression during the normal sperm development although its conditional deletion caused no apparent abnormalities. Since we established our original transgenic mouse system that enabled labeling of past and ongoing Notch1 signaling at a cellular level, we tried to validate that observation in vivo. Our transgenic mouse system used Cre/loxP system to induce tandem dsRed expression upon Notch1 signaling. Results To our surprise, we were unable to observe tandem dsRed expression in the seminiferous tubules where the sperms developed. In addition, tandem dsRed expression was lacking in the somatic cells of the next generation in our transgenic mouse system, suggesting that sperms received no Notch1 signaling during their development. To validate this result, we conducted re-analysis of four single-cell RNA-seq datasets from mouse and human testes and showed that Notch1 expression was little in the sperm cell lineage. Collectively, our results posed a question into the involvement of Notch1 in the normal sperm development although this observation may help the interpretation of the previous result that Notch1 conditional deletion caused no apparent abnormalities in murine spermatogenesis.

Objective We present 16s rRNA gene sequencing (V1-V2 region) and sample data from a pilot observational cohort study to describe the gut microbiota dynamics of subjects with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treated with daily 600 mg rifampicin for four months (4R) or a weekly dose of 900 mg combination of rifapentine and isoniazid for three months (3HP). Our objectives were to (1) document changes to the gut microbiota immediately following exposure to the rifamycins and (2) document recovery to baseline two months after treatment completion. Data description We enrolled six subjects with subjects with LTBI and prospectively followed them for 5–6 months. Each subject provided stool samples before, during, and two months after treatment. Six healthy controls were sampled in parallel with the patients with LTBIs. We report amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and taxonomic assignments for 60 stool samples. Additionally, we provide access to the raw amplicon sequences, and subject responses to questionnaires about their diet, medication, and lifestyle changes over the study follow-up period. Furthermore, we provide the concentration of the parent and partially active rifamycin metabolite concentrations measured validated LC-MS-MS assays of phosphate buffer washes of the stool samples collected from the LTBI participants. This comprehensive dataset is a valuable resource for future systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the impact of LTBI therapy on the gut microbiota.

Objective Prevention of high-risk behaviors has always been considered; According to the researches, a person’s religious attitudes and beliefs and intelligence quotient are associated with the prevention of high-risk behaviors such as drug addiction, and religiosity and spirituality also reduce drug addiction; Therefore, this study was conducted to compare religious beliefs, intelligence and spiritual health in two methods of education-based treatment and methadone in people with addiction. Results A comparative study was performed among 184 people on all drug users admitted to these wards that treated with methadone and participants of meetings of anonymous drug users. Four questionnaires were used to collect information. Mean, and standard deviation were used to describe the demographic characteristics of participants. Chi-square and fisher tests were used to compare demographic information in the two groups. The present study was performed following acquisition of the code of ethics (IR.BUMS.REC.1395.156) from Research Ethics Committee of Birjand University of Medical Sciences.

Objective The ayu or sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis is ray-finned fish that is widely distributed in East Asia. The genome size of ayu was estimated at approximately 420 Mb. Previously, we reported on ayu draft genome assembly by whole-genome shotgun using Illumina short reads and PacBio long reads; however, the assembly was not to chromosome level. Therefore, to improve the draft genome sequence of ayu to chromosome level, we performed in situ Hi-C sequencing as a source of linkage information. Results The ayu genome assembly yielded 28 large scaffolds that corresponded to the karyotype of ayu (n = 28). The resulting ayu genome assembly has a N50 scaffold length of 17.0 Mb, improved from 4.3 Mb. The high-quality reference genome will be helpful for phylogenetic research on bony fishes and for breeding programs in ayu aquaculture.

Background Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and COVID-19 preventive behaviours among people living with HIV during the pandemic has received little attention in the literature. To address this gap in knowledge, the present study assessed the associations between viral load, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the use of COVID-19 prevention strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a secondary analysis of data generated through an online survey recruiting participants from 152 countries. Complete data from 680 respondents living with HIV were extracted for this analysis. Results The findings suggest that detectable viral load was associated with lower odds of wearing facemasks (AOR: 0.44; 95% CI:0.28–0.69; p < 0.01) and washing hands as often as recommended (AOR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.42–0.97; p = 0.03). Also, adherence to the use of antiretroviral drugs was associated with lower odds of working remotely (AOR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.38–0.94; p = 0.02). We found a complex relationship between HIV positive status biological parameters and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures that may be partly explained by risk-taking behaviours. Further studies are needed to understand the reasons for the study findings.

Objective Sidalcea is a genus of flowering plants restricted to the west coast of North America, commonly known as checkermallows. Remarkably, of the ~ 30 recognized species, 16 are of conservation concern (vulnerable, imperilled or critically imperilled). To facilitate biological studies in this genus, and in the wider Malvaceae, we have sequenced the whole plastid genome of Sidalcea hendersonii. This will allow us both to check those regions already developed as general Malvaceae markers in a previous study, and to search for new regions. Results By comparing the Sidalcea genome to that of Althaea, we have identified a hypervariable circa 1 kb region in the short single copy region. This region shows promise for examining phylogeographic pattern, hybridization and haplotype diversity. Remarkably, considering the conservation of plastome architecture between Sidalcea and Althaea, the former has a 237 bp deletion in the otherwise highly conserved inverted repeat region. Newly designed primers provide a PCR assay to determine presence of this indel across the Malvaceae. Screening of previously designed chloroplast microsatellite markers indicates two markers with variation within S. hendersonii that would be useful in future population conservation genetics.

Background Robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) improves implant accuracy, however whether this translates to patient function is less clear. Various outcomes have been reported but muscle recovery has not been previously investigated. Objective To explore sequential change in lower limb muscle strength following robotic-assisted UKA with isokinetic dynamometry. Results 12 participants undergoing rUKA for medial compartment osteoarthritis were assessed pre-operatively, and at 6- and 12-weeks post-operatively. Maximal muscle strength changed over time in both quadriceps (p = 0.006) and hamstrings (p = 0.018) muscle groups. Quadriceps strength reduced from 88.52(39.86)Nm to 74.47(27.58)Nm by 6-weeks (p = 0.026), and then recovered to 90.41(38.76)Nm by 12-weeks (p = 0.018). Hamstring strength reduced from 62.45(23.18)Nm to 54.12(20.49)Nm by 6-weeks (p = 0.016), and then recovered to 55.07(17.99)Nm by 12-weeks (p = 0.028). By 12-weeks quadriceps strength was 70% and hamstrings 83% of the values achieved in the un-operated limb. Substantial improvement was seen in all other measures over time, with sequential positive change in Timed-up-and-go test (p = 0.015), 10 m walk test (p = 0.021), range of knee flexion (p = 0.016) and PROMs (p < 0.025).

Objective Physician density is a crucial element of a well-functioning health system. Previous research has investigated factors affecting country-level physician supply. To date, however, no evidence has been provided about the patterns of convergence in physician density among countries. This paper thus tested club convergence in physician density in 204 countries worldwide from 1990 to 2019. A nonlinear time-varying factor model was adopted to identify potential clubs, wherein groups of countries tend to converge towards the same level of physician density. Our primary purpose was to document the potential long-lasting disparity in future global physician distribution. Results Despite physician density increasing in all regions globally from 1990 to 2019, we found no evidence in favor of the hypothesis of global convergence. Conversely, the clustering algorithm successfully identified three main patterns (i.e., three final clubs). With few exceptions, the results indicated an uneven physician distribution between the majority of North and Sub-Saharan African countries (where physician density would remain well below the estimated threshold of at least 70% of the Universal Health Coverage Services Index) and the rest of the world. These findings support the WHO's global strategy to reverse the chronic under-investment in human resources for health.

Objective To study the profile, clinical presentation and outcome of hospital stay among patients admitted with warfarin toxicity at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Bhutan. This was a cross-sectional study with a review of hospital records of patients admitted between 01 and 2018 and 30 June 2020. Results There were 22 admissions due to warfarin toxicity. The mean age of patients was 55.9 (± SD 20.2) years, the median duration of warfarin therapy was 30 months (IQR 4.8, 69 months). The indications for warfarin were atrial fibrillation (9, 40.9%), mechanical heart valves (6, 27.3%), deep vein thrombosis (6, 27.3%) and pulmonary thromboembolism (1, 4.5%). The mean of dosage of warfarin was 4.3 (± 2.6) mg and the cumulative dosage in the week prior to admission was 30.9 (± 18.6) mg. The mean of INR at presentation was 7.7 (± 4.3) with the maximum noted at 20. The patients presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, muscle haematomas, epistaxis and oral cavity bleeding. There was no mortality related to warfarin toxicity. The reasons for warfarin toxicity included patient dosing error and drug interactions. Warfarin therapy requires appropriate patient education, adequate facilities for follow-up and avoidance of warfarin wherever possible in clinical settings.

Objectives: To examine the use of two coding systems used in the THIN UK primary care research database for the coding of telephone encounters between patient and healthcare professional in primary care. This is relevant to other research databases built on GP clinical systems. Consideration of telephone consultations was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic as remote interactions between patient and GP are more numerous than before and are likely to remain at a higher frequency. Results: Telephone encounters could either be indicated by a consultation-type code or by a Read code. All three possible combinations (coded by one method, the other method and both) were in use. In 2014, 30% were coded by the consultation-type, 55% by Read codes and 15% by both. In contrast, in 2000, 77% were coded by the consultation-type, 21% by Read codes and 2% by both. This has important implications because national and regional consultation rates by GPs are often estimated from these research databases by looking only at the consultation-type codes and consequently many encounters will not be detected.

Objective We sought to estimate the proportion of air travelers who may have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 upon arrival to Colorado by comparing data on Colorado residents screened upon entering the US to COVID-19 cases reported in the state. Data on Colorado’s screened passengers arriving into the US between January 17 and July 30, 2020 were compared to Colorado’s Electronic Disease Reporting System. We conducted a descriptive analysis of true matches, including age, gender, case status, symptom status, time from arrival to symptom onset (days), and time from arrival to specimen collection date (days). Results Fourteen confirmed COVID-19 cases in travelers who were diagnosed within 14 days after arriving in Colorado were matched to the 8,272 travelers who underwent screening at 15 designated airports with a recorded destination of Colorado, or 0.2%. Most (N = 13/14 or 93%) of these infected travelers arrived in Colorado in March 2020; 12 (86%) of them were symptomatic. Entry screening for COVID-19 and the sharing of traveler information with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment appeared to identify few cases early in the pandemic. Symptom-based entry screening and sharing of traveler information was minimally effective at decreasing travel-associated COVID-19 transmission.

Objective Caffeine has a wide range of effects in humans and other organisms. Caffeine activates p38 MAPK, the human homolog to the Hog1 protein that orchestrates the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) response to osmotic stress in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Caffeine has also been used as an inducer of cell-wall stress in yeast via its activation of the Pkc1-mediated cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway. In this study, using immunodetection of phosphorylated Hog1, microscopy to score nuclear localisation of GFP-tagged Hog1 and a pseudohyphal growth assays, the effect of caffeine on the HOG-pathway and filamentous growth in yeast was studied. Results It was found that caffeine causes rapid, strong and transient Hog1 dual phosphorylation with statistically significant increases at 20, 30 and 40 mM caffeine. In response to caffeine treatment Hog1 was also rapidly localized to the nucleus, supporting the caffeine-induced phosphorylation and activation of Hog1. We also found that caffeine inhibited the pseudohyphal/filamentous growth in diploid cells, but had no effect on invasive growth in haploids. Our data thus highlights that the HOG signalling pathway is activated by caffeine, which has implications for interpreting caffeine responses in yeast and fungi.

Objectives This study investigated the efficacy of flipped approach on the nurses’ knowledge and motivation regarding critical respiratory care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results This pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was performed in a hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences during March-December 2021. One hundred and twenty eligible nurses selected by convenience sampling underwent a seven-day flipped approach respiratory intensive care training. The nurses’ motivation and knowledge were evaluated using the Students’ Motivation Towards Science Learning (SMTSL) and a 20-researcher-made four-option questionnaire before and two weeks after the intervention, for knowledge assessment respectively. The nurses’ knowledge and learning motivation were significantly higher after the intervention (P < 0.001). The flipped approach can improve learning motivation and nurses’ knowledge of critical respiratory care.

Objective Due to communication barriers, people without natural speech who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are rarely interviewed about their healthcare needs, expectations, and experiences. This qualitative interview study aims to investigate how AAC users evaluate a new service delivery (nSD) in AAC care in Germany. Results We conducted 8 semi-structured qualitative interviews with 8 AAC users. The results of the performed qualitative content analysis show a positive evaluation of the nSD among AAC users. Contextual factors were identified that seem to hinder the achievement of the intervention goals. These include caregivers' prejudice and inexperience with AAC and an unfavourable environment in which AAC is used.

Objective Data protection authorities (DPAs) are independent public authorities supervising the application of the data protection law. There is one DPA in each European Union (EU) Member State. Workload and procedures used by European DPAs were analyzed via a cross-sectional study. Results DPAs from 13 countries participated: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Norway, Romania, and Slovakia. Responding to opinion/guidance requests in DPAs was highly heterogeneous. Procedure types used by DPAs varied, from telephone-based advisory service in Norway to a formal legal opinion in Austria. The deadline for responding to the requests varied considerably in DPAs. The number of opinion/guidance requests sent by data controllers and processors, and the number of opinion/guidance requests and complaints sent by data subjects, increased from 2015 to 2018 when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into full effect; it decreased in 2019. Few DPAs organized education about data protection for the research community. In conclusion, the procedures and workload of DPAs in the EU were highly variable. It is important to study these aspects further, as they may assist in tailoring future data protection policies and procedures at the EU level.

Objective: To evaluate if daily oral 75 µg of Desogestrel (DSG) for 3 months prior to the insertion of etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implant (ENG-IMPLANT) might help reduce its premature discontinuation. Results: A total of 66 women were randomized in the ENG-IMPLANT group (26) and in the DSG + ENG-IMPLANT group (40), respectively, in the Geneva University Hospitals and Basel University Hospital, from August 15th, 2016 through September 30th, 2019. In the DSG + ENG-IMPLANT group, patients were given a 3 months' supply of 75 µg of DSG before the insertion of the ENG-IMPLANT. All women were seen after 3 months for bleeding and satisfaction evaluation, and at 12 months post ENG-IMPLANT insertion. Higher levels of satisfaction at 12-months were found in the ENG-IMPLANT group compared to the DSG + ENG-IMPLANT group (8.5 ± 1.7 vs. 6.6 ± 2.9, p = 0.012). There were no statistically significant differences regarding tolerance (7.8 ± 2.5 vs 6.8 ± 2.6, p = 0.191) and contraceptive continuation (80% vs 72.4%, p = 0.544) between groups. Conclusion: DSG prior to insertion of the ENG-IMPLANT did not improve its continuation rate neither its satisfaction at 1 year. Trial registration NCT05174195. Retrospectively registered, the 30th December 2021.

Purpose to evaluate the relationship between religious hallucinations and religious coping among Lebanese patients with schizophrenia. Methods We have studied the prevalence of religious hallucinations (RH) among 148 hospitalized Lebanese patients suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in November 2021 exhibiting religious delusions (RD), and their relationship with religious coping using the brief Religious Coping Scale (RCOPE). The PANSS scale was used to evaluate psychotic symptoms. Results After adjustment over all variables, more psychotic symptoms (higher total PANSS scores) (aOR = 1.02) and more religious negative coping (aOR = 1.11) were significantly associated with higher odds of having religious hallucinations, whereas watching religious programs (aOR = 0.34) was significantly associated with lower odds of having religious hallucinations. Conclusion This paper highlights the important role of religiosity that has to play in the formation of religious hallucinations in schizophrenia. Significant association was found between negative religious coping and the emergence of religious hallucinations.

Background Maternal mortality is still a burden worldwide, and Ghana’s maternal and child mortalities are still high. Incentive schemes have been effective in improving health workers’ performance thereby reducing maternal and child deaths. The efficiency of public health services in most developing countries has been linked to the provision of incentives. Thus, financial packages for Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) serve as enablers for them to be focused and committed to their work. However, the poor performance of CHVs is still a challenge in health service delivery in many developing countries. Although the reasons for these persistent problems are understood, we need to find out how to implement what works in the face of political will and financial constraints. This study assesses how different incentives influence reported motivation and perceptions of performance in Community-based Health Planning and Services Program (CHPS) zones in the Upper East region. Methods A quasi-experimental study design with post-intervention measurement was used. Performance-based interventions were implemented for 1 year in the Upper East region. The different interventions were rolled out in 55 of 120 CHPS zones. The 55 CHPS zones were randomly assigned to four groups: three groups of 14 CHPS zones with the last group containing 13 CHPS zones. Several alternative types of financial and non-financial incentives as well as their sustainability were explored. The financial incentive was a small monthly performance-based Stipend. The non-financial incentives were: Community recognition; paying for National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) premiums and fees for CHV, one spouse, and up to two children below 18 years, and; quarterly performance-based Awards for best-performing CHVs. The four groups represent the four different incentive schemes. We conducted 31 In-depth interviews (IDIs) and 31 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with health professionals and community members. Results Community members and the CHVs wanted the stipend as the first incentive but requested that it be increased from the current level. The Community Health Officers (CHOs) prioritized the Awards over the Stipend because they felt it was too small to generate the required motivation in the CHVs. The second incentive was the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration. Community recognition was also considered by health professionals as effective in motiving CHVs and work support inputs and CHVs training helped in improving output. The various incentives have helped increase health education and facilitated the work of the volunteers leading to increased outputs: Household visits and Antenatal Care and Postnatal Care coverage improved. The incentives have also influenced the initiative of volunteers. Work support inputs were also regarded as motivators by CHVs, but the challenges with the incentives included the size of the stipend and delays in disbursement. Conclusion Incentives are effective in motivating CHVs to improve their performance, thereby improving access to and use of health services by community members. The Stipend, NHIS, Community recognition and Awards, and the work support inputs all appeared to be effective in improving CHVs’ performance and outcomes. Therefore, if health professionals implement these financial and non-financial incentives, it could bring a positive impact on health service delivery and use. Also, building the capacities of CHVs and providing them with the necessary inputs could improve output.

Background Desensitization protocols have empirically established their efficacy and safety in eliminating most of the hypersensitivity reactions to drugs and other allergens. Without such procedures, the offending drugs can otherwise be lethal, for some patients, when singularly administered at therapeutic doses. These binding events and the subsequent signaling cascades have been extensively modulated by different desensitization methods, without any clear explanation as to why it is necessary to use increasing allergen doses. Purpose To use a novel theoretical approach in order to model the desensitization algorithms currently in practice, that seeks to shed light on the mechanism behind their clinical efficacy. Method An approach using signal processing concepts is applied in this work to introduce aliasing as the erroneous detection of higher drug doses responsible for the efficacy of desensitization procedures. Results Available experimental data is modeled and correct predictions as to the efficacy of the drug treatment procedures are produced. Conclusions Desensitization algorithms may benefit from using concepts from signal processing theory in order to avoid hypersensitivity reactions.

Objectives Antibiotic resistance is a rising global threat to human health and is prompting researchers to seek effective alternatives to conventional antibiotics, which include antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Recently, we have reported AMPlify, an attentive deep learning model for predicting AMPs in databases of peptide sequences. In our tests, AMPlify outperformed the state-of-the-art. We have illustrated its use on data describing the American bullfrog ( Rana [Lithobates] catesbeiana ) genome. Here we present the model files and training/test data sets we used in that study. The original model (the balanced model) was trained on a balanced set of AMP and non-AMP sequences curated from public databases. In this data note, we additionally provide a model trained on an imbalanced set, in which non-AMP sequences far outnumber AMP sequences. We note that the balanced and imbalanced models would serve different use cases, and both would serve the research community, facilitating the discovery and development of novel AMPs. Data description This data note provides two sets of models, as well as two AMP and four non-AMP sequence sets for training and testing the balanced and imbalanced models. Each model set includes five single sub-models that form an ensemble model. The first model set corresponds to the original model trained on a balanced training set that has been described in the original AMPlify manuscript, while the second model set was trained on an imbalanced training set.

Objective: to assess the effects of cilostazol on pain-free walking distance in PAD patients with IC at 3 and 6 months in a real world, prospective, observational study. We included 1015 PAD patients presenting with IC (71.3% men, 93.5% white, mean age 69.2 ± 8.7 years). Patients were followed up for 6 months by their physicians. Results: Cilostazol significantly increased pain-free walking distance by a median of 285 and 387 m at 3 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). This effect was significant for patients 50-74 years (but not for those aged ≥ 75 years) and independent of smoking status, changes in physical activity, comorbidities and con-comitant medication for PAD (i.e., acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel). Furthermore, significant reductions were observed in systolic (from 139 ± 16 to 133 ± 14 mmHg; p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (from 84 ± 9 mmHg to 80 ± 10 mmHg; p < 0.001). Smoking cessation and increased physical activity were reported by the majority of participants. In conclusion, cilostazol was shown to safely decrease pain symptoms and improve pain-free walking in PAD patients with IC in a real world setting. Benefits also occurred in terms of BP and lifestyle changes.

Objective Smoking is an important risk factor of coronary artery stenosis after angioplasty. Therefore, this investigation aimed to determine the effectiveness of a motivational text-messaging program for smoking cessation after coronary angioplasty. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 patients after angioplasty. The patients were divided randomly into two intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 32 text messages about smoking cessation for 2 months. The control group received only routine training. The primary and secondary outcomes were success and self-efficacy in quitting smoking cigarettes, respectively. Both groups filled out the related questionnaires before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and Chi-square tests, independent t-test, and paired t-test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Success in quitting cigarette smoking was significantly higher in the intervention group (n = 29, 61.7%) compared to the control group (n = 2, 4.3%) (p < 0.001). Moreover, after the intervention, the mean score of self-efficacy in the intervention group (11.01 ± 44.75) was significantly higher than the control group (6.51 ± 3.11) and also higher than before the intervention (5.51 ± 2.44) (P˂0.001). The motivational text-messaging program can improve self-efficacy and success in smoking cessation in patients after coronary angioplasty.

Objective Ring nematodes can decrease vineyard productivity when plated in conditions favorable for their survival. Resistant rootstocks are available to combat harm due to ring nematodes, and compounds called phenolics were hypothesized as imparting this resistance. Therefore, this study measured phenolic compound levels in four different rootstocks and attempted to find associations with ring nematode populations. Furthermore, select phenolics called stilbenoids were tested in a bioassay to observe if these compounds affect ring nematode survival. This was part of a larger effort to assess the role of phenolics in protecting grapevines from nematodes and other pathogens or pests. Data description This study was conducted over 2 years, 2018 and 2019, and phenolic levels were much greater in 2019 than 2018 likely due to uncontrolled differences in climatic controls. Ring nematode infected grapevines also did not have different phenolic compound levels than healthy controls. Bioassays of different stilbenoid polymers revealed no significant effects on ring nematode survival. These results suggest that analyzed root phenolic compounds were not involved in resistance or susceptibility to ring nematodes. These data should steer future researchers into analyzing other potential sources of nematode resistance.

Objective The cleavage and polyadenylation endonuclease CPSF73 is thought to be the target of the anti-trypanosomal benzoxaboroles AN7973, acoziborole and AN11736. We previously showed that AN7973 inhibits mRNA processing. We here investigated whether the drug candidates acoziborole (for human sleeping sickness) and AN11736 (for nagana in cattle) have the same effect. We also affinity purified tagged CPSF73 from parasites without, or after, AN7973 treatment, and analysed differentially co-purified proteins by mass spectrometry. Results AN11736 and acoziborole both inhibited mRNA processing, as demonstrated by decreased levels of spliced mRNAs and accumulation of di- and tri-cistronic mRNAs from the alpha-beta tubulin locus. Treating the cells with AN7973 for 30 min. did not significantly affect the proteins that copurified with CPSF73.

Objectives From the ancient, medicinal benefits of Hyssop ( Hyssopus officinalis L. ) have been implicated for respiratory and digestive diseases despite the effects of Hyssop on viral infections have not been mechanistically investigated. In this study, we examined whether the Hyssop extract activated anti-viral innate immunity, as a sentinel for immune system, through activation of endosomal TLRs recognizing nucleic acids and their downstream signaling. The Hyssop herb extracts was prepared and co-cultured with healthy individual’s peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). After viability assay, gene expression levels of TLR3,7,8,9, as well as MyD88 and NF-κB, were evaluated in treated PBMCs using Real-time PCR. Next, the secretion level of immune related cytokines was quantified via ELISA. Results Post 24 h, 40 µg/ml of the extract significantly inhibited the viability of less than 50% of cells compared to the control and had a maximum effect on cellular function. The Hyssop-treated PBMCs demonstrated an elevated expression of endosomal TLRs genes, as well as MyD88 and NF-κB. Moreover, the release of INF-α and β notably enhanced in cell culture supernatant, while the content of inflammatory cytokines remarkably diminished (P < 0.05). The Hyssop extract was capable of inducing antiviral innate immune responses so can be promising in antiviral drug strategies.

Objective In children, studies have shown that balance performance is worse in boys compared to girls and further studies revealed inferior performance when arm movement was restricted during balance assessment. However, it remains unclear whether restriction of arm movement during balance testing differentially affects children’s balance performance (i.e., boys more than girls). Thus, we compared the influence of arm movement on balance performance in healthy boys versus girls (mean age: ~ 11.5 years) while performing balance tasks with various difficulty level. Results In nearly all tests, balance performance (i.e., timed one-legged stance, 3-m beam walking backward step number, Lower Quarter Y-Balance test reach distance) was significantly worse during restricted compared to free arm movement but without any differences between sexes or varying levels of task difficulty. These findings indicated that balance performance is negatively affected by restriction of arm movement, but this does not seem to be additionally influenced by children’s sex and the level of task difficulty.