Mitochondrial genome of the fluke pond snail, Austropeplea cf. brazieri (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae).

BACKGROUND: Lymnaeid snails of the genus Austropeplea are an important vector of the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), contributing to livestock production losses in Australia and New Zealand. However, the species status within Austropeplea is ambiguous due to heavy reliance on morphological analysis and a relative lack of genetic data. This study aimed to characterise the mitochondrial genome of A. cf. brazieri, an intermediate host of liver fluke in eastern Victoria. METHODS: The mitochondrial genome was assembled and annotated from a combination of second- and third-generation sequencing data. For comparative purposes, we performed phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial protein-coding genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 16S genes. RESULTS: The assembled mt genome was 13,757 base pairs and comprised 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The mt genome length, gene order and nucleotide compositions were similar to related species of lymnaeids. Phylogenetic analyses of the mt nucleotide sequences placed A. cf. brazieri within the same clade as Orientogalba ollula with strong statistical supports. Phylogenies of the cox1 and 16S mt sequences were constructed due to the wide availability of these sequences representing the lymnaeid taxa. As expected in both these phylogenies, A. cf. brazieri clustered with other Austropeplea sequences, but the nodal supports were low. CONCLUSIONS: The representative mt genome of A. cf. brazieri should provide a useful resource for future molecular, epidemiology and parasitological studies of this socio-economically important lymnaeid species.

Rhizospheric Bacteria of Cover Legumes from Acidic Soils Are Capable of Solubilizing Different Inorganic Phosphates.

Due to its adsorption with aluminum and iron hydroxides, phosphorus viability is low in acidic soils; thus, the aim of this study was to isolate and identify bacteria from the rhizosphere of four legumes growing in acidic soils of the Cumbaza Sub-basin, San Martín, Peru, as well as to characterize their ability to solubilize aluminum phosphate and iron phosphate. The isolation process was conducted on TSA medium and the isolates were classified based on their origin and morphocolonial characteristics, with the bacillary shape being the most frequent, followed by cocci. To assess the solubilization of aluminum and iron phosphates, the liquid medium GELP was employed. Sixteen strains were selected, among which three stood out for their effectiveness in solubilizing AlPO4 (Sfcv-098-02, 22.65 mg L-1; Sfc-093-04, 26.50 mg L-1; and Sfcv-041-01-2, 55.98 mg L-1) and one for its ability to solubilize FePO4 (Sfcr-043-02, 32.61 mg L-1). These four strains were molecularly characterized, being identified as Enterobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Staphylococcus sp. Additionally, a decrease in pH was observed in the reactions, with values ranging from 5.23 to 3.29, which enhanced the phosphate of solubilization. This suggests that the selected bacteria could be used to improve phosphorus availability in agricultural soils.

No Deficits in Functional Outcomes of the Contralateral Limb Are Seen When the Hamstring Is Harvested for Augmentation of Small Diameter Ipsilateral Hamstring Autograft.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical outcomes of the contralateral, nonoperative limb in patients undergoing contralateral hamstring (HS) autograft harvest compared with patients undergoing ipsilateral HS autograft harvest alone. Methods: This study included 96 patients who underwent isolated anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using 4-stranded HS autograft (n = 85) or 4-stranded HS autograft augmented with contralateral HS (n = 13) due to inclusion of ipsilateral graft diameter <8 mm. Isokinetic flexion and extension strength and dynamic performance of the ipsilateral and contralateral limbs and limb symmetry index (LSI) were evaluated at 6 months' postoperatively. Rates of contralateral native ACL tear at minimum 2 years also were compared. For all comparisons, P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Normalized isokinetic knee flexion and extension strength of the contralateral limb did not differ between cohorts (P = .34; P = .21, respectively). LSI for knee extension peak torque and knee flexion peak torque did not differ between cohorts (P = .44; P = .67, respectively). No difference in LSI was seen for any dynamic performance testing (single leg hop, P = .97; triple leg hop, P = .14; 6-m timed hop, P = .99). No difference was observed in International Knee Documentation Committee (P = .99) or Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscale measures (P = .39-.86). No difference in rates of contralateral knee native ACL tears were seen between cohorts (HS autograft + contralateral HS augmentation, n = 2, 15.4%; HS autograft, n = 7, 8.4%; P = .26). Conclusions: In this study, at the time of return to sport, we found no differences in contralateral limb functional performance or limb symmetry measurements between patients undergoing contralateral HS autograft harvest for augmentation of smaller (<8 mm) diameter HS autografts harvested from the injured extremity. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Hip Imaging and Injections.

Athletic injuries of the hip often require radiographs and advanced imaging for diagnosis. Plain radiographs evaluate for osseous injury, provide a structural context behind an athlete's symptoms and examination, and offer a backdrop for interpretation of advanced imaging. An understanding of normal anatomy, imaging findings, and radiographic measurements allows for recognition of pathoanatomy and ability to diagnose accurately. Advanced imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasonography, each play a role in evaluation of the athlete's hip. Although MRI and CT provide high-resolution imaging of the hip, ultrasonography offers the unique ability to perform dynamic imaging and guided injections.

Caracterización genética de bacterias endofíticas de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) con actividad antimicrobiana contra Burkholderia glumae / Genetic characterization of rice endophytic bacteria (Oryza sativa L.) with antimicrobial activity against Burkholderia glumae

Resumen La demanda de xilanasas fúngicas en los procesos biotecnológicos industriales muestra un claro aumento en todo el mundo, por lo que hay un interés en ajustar las condicionesde producción de xilanasas microbianas. En este estudio se optimizó la capacidad del hongoFusarium solani para producir xilanasas extracelulares con escasa actividad celulolítica medi-ante el dise˜no de Box-Wilson. Se determinaron las mejores condiciones de cultivo para obteneruna preparación enzimática cruda con una actividad xilanolítica significativa y poca actividad celulolítica. En la mayoría de los tratamientos, la actividad xilanolítica fue mayor que laactividad celulolítica. Se observó un efecto negativo sobre la producción de endoxilanasas, xilosidasas y endocelulasas con el aumento de la concentración de xilano. El aumento del tiempode incubación afectó adversamente la producción de endocelulasas y xilosidasas. De acuerdocon el modelo matemático y las pruebas experimentales, es posible producir endoxilanasas conuna actividad endocelulasa mínima aumentando el tiempo de incubación y la concentración desulfato de amonio. Las condiciones de cultivo óptimas para producir una mayor cantidad deendoxilanasas (10,65 U/mg) y mínima cantidad de endocelulasas fueron 2,5% (p/v) de xilano y5, 2 y 0,4 g/l de extracto de levadura, sulfato de amonio y urea, respectivamente, con 120 hde incubación.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to isolate, select and characterize endophytic bacteria in rice inhibiting Burkholderia glumae THT as well as to characterize the genetic diversity and virulence factors in strains of B. glumae and Burkholderia gladioli of rice. Rice plants were collected in 4 departments from the northern region of Peru, isolating endophytic bacteria, aftertissue sterilization, at 30°C (48 h) in Trypticase SoyAgar (TSA), evaluating the antimicrobial activity against B. glumae THT, production of siderophores, resistance of toxoflavine and partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Furthermore, B. glumae and B. gladioli were isola-ted in selective medium (pH 4.5) at 41 °C/72h. Molecular identification was performed using BOX-PCR and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, in addition to the production of extracellular enzymes, motility tests and sensitivity/resistance to bactericides. One hundred and eighty nine (189) endophytic bacteria were isolated, and only 9 strains showed antimicrobial activity against B. glumae THT, highlighting Burkholderia vietnamiensis TUR04-01, B. vietnamiensis TUR04-03 and Bacillus aryabhattai AMH12-02. The strains produced siderophores and at least 55.5% were resistant to toxoflavin. Additionally, 17 strains were grouped into 9 BOX-PCR profiles, where 16 had similarity with B. glumae LMG2196T (100%) and 1 with B. gladioli NBRC 13700T (99.86%). High diversity was found according to geographical origin and virulence factors. In conclusion, strains of the genus Bacillus and Burkholderia are potential biocontrol agents against B. glumae.

[Genetic characterization of rice endophytic bacteria (Oryza sativa L.) with antimicrobial activity against Burkholderia glumae]. / Caracterización genética de bacterias endofíticas de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) con actividad antimicrobiana contra Burkholderia glumae.

The aim of the present study was to isolate, select and characterize endophytic bacteria in rice inhibiting Burkholderia glumae THT as well as to characterize the genetic diversity and virulence factors in strains of B. glumae and Burkholderia gladioli of rice. Rice plants were collected in 4 departments from the northern region of Peru, isolating endophytic bacteria, after tissue sterilization, at 30°C (48h) in Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA), evaluating the antimicrobial activity against B. glumae THT, production of siderophores, resistance of toxoflavine and partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Furthermore, B. glumae and B. gladioli were isolated in selective medium (pH 4.5) at 41°C/72h. Molecular identification was performed using BOX-PCR and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, in addition to the production of extracellular enzymes, motility tests and sensitivity/resistance to bactericides. One hundred and eighty nine (189) endophytic bacteria were isolated, and only 9 strains showed antimicrobial activity against B. glumae THT, highlighting Burkholderia vietnamiensis TUR04-01, B. vietnamiensis TUR04-03 and Bacillus aryabhattai AMH12-02. The strains produced siderophores and at least 55.5% were resistant to toxoflavin. Additionally, 17 strains were grouped into 9 BOX-PCR profiles, where 16 had similarity with B. glumae LMG2196T (100%) and 1 with B. gladioli NBRC 13700T (99.86%). High diversity was found according to geographical origin and virulence factors. In conclusion, strains of the genus Bacillus and Burkholderia are potential biocontrol agents against B. glumae.

Temperature and pH effect on glucose production from pretreated bagasse by a novel species of Citrobacter and other bacteria.

Cellulolytic bacteria that produce cellulases, which are active over a range of pH and temperatures, can be used to catalyze hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic material. This is important in the production of second generation biofuels among other biotechnological applications. In this investigation, bacteria isolated from sugarcane bagasse were identified as strains of Enterobacter xiangfangensis, Serratia rubidaea, Klebsiella pneumoniae and a novel species of Citrobacter designated Citrobacter sp. UWIBGS10. The glucose production potential of these strains was studied on thermally and solvent pretreated sugarcane bagasse. This was performed at 24-hour intervals up to 168 hours in the range of pH 5-9 and temperature range 25-40 °C. Maximal concentrations of glucose for Citrobacter sp. UWIBGS10 occurred at pH 6 and 25 °C. For E. xiangfangensis, S. rubidaea, K. pneumoniae glucose concentrations were consistent across the pH and temperature ranges examined. From these results it could be concluded that the bacteria demonstrated ability for lignocellulolytic hydrolysis for the production of glucose and could be further explored for the characterization of commercial cellulolytic enzymes.

The Cellie Coping Kit for Children with Injury: Initial feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes.

PURPOSE: Physical and psychological challenges can arise from paediatric injury, which can impact child health outcomes. Evidence-based resources to promote recovery are limited. The low cost, portable Cellie Coping Kit for Children with Injury provides evidence-based strategies to help children manage injury-related challenges. This study aimed to describe intervention feasibility and explore initial outcomes (learning, quality of life [QOL], and trauma symptoms). METHODS: Three independent pilot studies were conducted. Child-parent dyads (n = 61) participated in the intervention; ~36% completed a 4-week follow-up assessment. RESULTS: Results suggested that the intervention was feasible (e.g., 95% of parents would recommend the intervention; >85% reported that it was easy to use). Over 70% of participants reported learning new skills. No statistically significant differences were detected for children's QOL or trauma symptoms preintervention to postintervention. CONCLUSION: Preliminary research suggests that the Cellie Coping Kit for Children with Injuries is a feasible, low-cost, preventive intervention, which may provide families with strategies to promote recovery from paediatric injury. Future research, including a randomized controlled trial, ought to further examine targeted long-term intervention outcomes.

Reducing Health Inequities in the U.S.: Recommendations From the NHLBI's Health Inequities Think Tank Meeting.

The National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a Think Tank meeting to obtain insight and recommendations regarding the objectives and design of the next generation of research aimed at reducing health inequities in the United States. The panel recommended several specific actions, including: 1) embrace broad and inclusive research themes; 2) develop research platforms that optimize the ability to conduct informative and innovative research, and promote systems science approaches; 3) develop networks of collaborators and stakeholders, and launch transformative studies that can serve as benchmarks; 4) optimize the use of new data sources, platforms, and natural experiments; and 5) develop unique transdisciplinary training programs to build research capacity. Confronting health inequities will require engaging multiple disciplines and sectors (including communities), using systems science, and intervening through combinations of individual, family, provider, health system, and community-targeted approaches. Details of the panel's remarks and recommendations are provided in this report.

Review of ß-carboline alkaloids from the genus Aspidosperma.

Plants belonging to the genus Aspidosperma, a member of the family Apocynaceae, provide a rich source of ß-carboline alkaloids, which makes them potentially poisonous. However, some of these alkaloids possess antitumor and antimicrobial activity. The present review is a survey of the ß-carboline alkaloids and shows that they comprise of a diverse array of structural modifications.

Obesity, morbid obesity and their related medical comorbidities are associated with increased complications and revision rates after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

Recent studies have demonstrated clinical success in expanding the indications for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) to patients with increased body mass index (BMI). This study utilized national databases to identify 15,770 unique patients who underwent UKA between 2005 and 2011. 18.7% of patients undergoing a UKA were obese or morbidly obese. Univariate analysis demonstrated that obesity and morbid obesity were associated with significantly higher complication rates within 90 days postoperatively compared to non-obese patients. The overall short-term revision rate in obese and morbidly obese patients undergoing UKA was almost twice as high as the revision rate in non-obese patients. Obese and morbidly obese patients being considered for UKA should be counseled preoperatively regarding their increased risk of postoperative complications and revision surgery.

A review of the family Clenchiellidae (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloidea).

The truncatelloidean family Clenchiellidae, previously treated as a tribe or subfamily of Hydrobiidae, is diagnosed as a distinct family including Clenchiella and three new genera, Coliracemata, Colenuda and Coleglabra. The family is characterised by the discoidal shell with spiral keels or cords, and a wide umbilicus. All species are found in mangrove swamps or adjacent habitats in tropical estuaries, with the exception of one riverine and one lacustrine species. Clenchiella includes the type species, C. victoriae Abbott, from the Philippines, the widespread C. minutissima (Wattebled) (= C. papuensis Benthem Jutting) from Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and tropical Australia, and three new species, C. bicingulata n. sp. from Singapore and Thailand, C. varicosa n. sp. from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and C. iriomotensis n. sp. from Okinawa, Japan. Coliracemata n. gen. includes C. mortoni n. sp. (type of the genus) from Hong Kong, C. katurana n. sp. from Okinawa, C. clarkae n. sp. from northeastern Australia, and tentatively C. microscopica (Nevill) and C. innocens (Preston) from India. Colenuda n. gen. consists of a single species, C. kessneri n. sp., from Northern Territory, Australia. Coleglabra n. gen. includes C. nordaustralis n. sp. (type of the genus) from Northern Territory and C. sentaniensis (Benthem Jutting) from a freshwater lake in Irian Jaya. Anatomical characters are described for nine of the twelve species. The Clenchiellidae is shown to be more closely related to Calopiidae, Tornidae, and Iravadiidae, than to Hydrobiidae. 

Child coping, parent coping assistance, and post-traumatic stress following paediatric physical injury.

BACKGROUND: Following a physical injury, many children exhibit long-term psychological reactions such as post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Children's coping strategies, and the ways that others help them cope with injury (i.e. coping assistance), are understudied, potentially malleable variables that could be targeted in preventive interventions. The objectives of the current research were to describe child coping behaviour and parent coping assistance following a child's injury, and to investigate the relationships among coping, coping assistance and child PTSS. METHOD: Participants included 82 children with injuries and one parent of each child. Children completed measures of coping and coping assistance 2 weeks after their injury (T1). Children also completed measures of coping and PTSS at a 3-month follow-up (T2). Parents reported on the coping assistance they provided to their child at T1. RESULTS: Children reported using an average of six coping strategies (out of 10) with wishful thinking, social support, distraction, and cognitive restructuring endorsed most frequently. Child-reported social withdrawal and resignation 2 weeks after his or her injury (T1) were related to subsequent PTSS (T2). Social withdrawal at T2 was related to concurrent child PTSS (T2). Children were more likely to seek social support when their parents reported helping their child cope. No relationships were identified between active coping behaviours or parent coping assistance and PTSS outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that children's coping strategies (particularly social withdrawal and resignation) play a possibly important, complex role in the development of traumatic stress symptoms. When parents help their child cope, children are more likely to seek out social support, suggesting that they will be more able to ask their parents for help as needed. Future research should identify effective strategies to prevent PTSS including how parents can best support their child following paediatric injury.

Geochemistry of intertidal sediment pore waters from the industrialized Santos-Cubatão Estuarine System, SE Brazil.

The geochemical composition of sediment pore water was investigated in comparison with the composition of sediment particles and surface water in an estuary within one of the most industrialized areas in Latin America (Santos-Cubatão estuarine system, SE Brazil). Pore and surface waters presented anomalously high levels of F(-), NH4(+), Fe, Mn and P due to two industrial point sources. In the summer, when SO(4)(2-)/Cl(-) ratios suggested an enhanced sulfate reduction, the higher dissolved levels observed in pore waters for some metals (e.g., Cu and Ni) were attributed to reductive dissolution of oxidized phases. Results evidenced that the risks of surface water concentration increase due to diffusion or advection from pore water are probably dependent on coupled influences of tidal pumping and groundwater inputs.

After the injury: initial evaluation of a web-based intervention for parents of injured children.

The purpose of this study was to survey parent knowledge of child injury reactions (including post-traumatic stress symptoms) and to evaluate parent satisfaction and learning outcomes following a video- or web-based intervention. Fifty parents of children ages 6-17 years who were injured within the past 2 months were recruited from emergency and inpatient settings. A repeated-measures experimental design was employed in which participants were assigned to either a web-based or video intervention. Parent knowledge was assessed pre- and post-intervention. Learning outcomes and satisfaction were evaluated post-intervention. Parents showed high levels (∼70% accuracy) of knowledge about potential psychological injury reactions at baseline and post-intervention. In addition, post-intervention parents were able to generate new positive strategies to help their child recover and became more specific about types of reactions to monitor (e.g. avoidance). Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with both web and video interventions. While parents possess high levels of basic knowledge about child recovery from injury, the Web site and video tools provided concrete guidance that was useful in enhancing parent understanding of specific traumatic stress reactions to monitor in children post-injury.

Medication use, emergency hospital care utilization, and quality-of-life outcome disparities by race/ethnicity among adults with asthma.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of race/ethnicity with medication use, emergency hospital care (EHC) utilization, and quality-of-life outcomes in a population with persistent asthma and to determine if factors related to severity of illness, treatment characteristics, and demographic, socioeconomic, and smoking status explain differences in study outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. METHODS: We examined survey and administrative data for 974 adults with persistent asthma enrolled in a group-model health maintenance organization. Patients with persistent asthma were identified in 1999 using Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set inclusion criteria. In 2000, the same patients were surveyed regarding quality of life using the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. In 2001, the use of controller medications, the ratio of controller medications to rescue medications, and EHC utilization were identified by electronic medical record. Multiple logistic regression and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the independent association of race/ethnicity with study outcomes after adjusting for severity of illness, treatment characteristics, and demographic, socioeconomic, and smoking status. RESULTS: Compared with whites, African Americans (standardized ß coefficient, -0.12) and Native Americans/Aleutians/Eskimos (standardized ß coefficient, -0.14) had lower Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire scores (P <.05 for both). African Americans were significantly (P <.05) more likely to report EHC utilization (odds ratio, 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-10.3). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities existed in 2 outcome measures, Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire scores and EHC utilization. A concerning finding is that African Americans were at least 5 times more likely to report higher EHC utilization, even after adjusting for factors such as income and education.