Sequence similarity network analysis of drug- and dye-modifying azoreductase enzymes found in the human gut microbiome.

Drug metabolism by human gut microbes is often exemplified by azo bond reduction in the anticolitic prodrug sulfasalazine. Azoreductase activity is often found in incubations with cell cultures or ex vivo gut microbiome samples and contributes to the xenobiotic metabolism of drugs and food additives. Applying metagenomic studies to personalized medicine requires knowledge of the genes responsible for sulfasalazine and other drug metabolism, and candidate genes and proteins for drug modifications are understudied.

Surveillance and detection of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in protected areas from Georgia, USA.

The invasion of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, into the United States poses a significant ecological, veterinarian, and public health threat. We conducted a comprehensive tick survey using standard tick flagging protocol for collection over 3 field seasons, March-August, and 56 surveyed sites to identify the presence of H. longicornis in the native ecosystem and prove its establishment according to USDA criteria.

Mapping the distribution of Amblyomma americanum in Georgia, USA.

Background: Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is an aggressive questing species that harbors several pathogens dangerous to humans in the United States. The Southeast in particular has large numbers of this tick due to the combined suitable climate and habitats throughout the region. No studies have estimated the underlying distribution of the lone star tick across the state of Georgia, a state where it is the dominant species encountered.

Comparison of Nanotrap Microbiome A Particles, membrane filtration, and skim milk workflows for SARS-CoV-2 concentration in wastewater.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA monitoring in wastewater has become an important tool for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance. Grab (quantitative) and passive samples (qualitative) are two distinct wastewater sampling methods. Although many viral concentration methods such as the usage of membrane filtration and skim milk are reported, these methods generally require large volumes of wastewater, expensive lab equipment, and laborious processes.

Exercise treatment effect modifiers in persistent low back pain: an individual participant data meta-analysis of 3514 participants from 27 randomised controlled trials.

Background: Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Exercise therapy is widely recommended to treat persistent non-specific low back pain. While evidence suggests exercise is, on average, moderately effective, there remains uncertainty about which individuals might benefit the most from exercise.

Anterior abdominal wall defects managed at a tertiary maternal-fetal medicine service in New Zealand: What counselling advice can we offer parents?

Background: Anterior abdominal wall defects, including gastroschisis and omphalocoele, are common fetal anomalies. The management remains complicated, and their diagnosis may lead to significant parental distress. Effective parental counselling may impact on parental perceptions of the defect and help guide pregnancy management.

Sternal Route More Effective than Tibial Route for Intraosseous Amiodarone Administration in a Swine Model of Ventricular Fibrillation.

Objective: The pharmacokinetics of IO administered lipid soluble amiodarone during ventricular fibrillation (VF) with ongoing CPR are unknown. This study measured mean plasma concentration over 5 minutes, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), and time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of amiodarone administered by the sternal IO (SIO), tibial IO (TIO), and IV routes in a swine model of VF with ongoing CPR.

Methods: Twenty-one Yorkshire-cross swine were randomly assigned to three groups: SIO, TIO, and IV.

Comparison of the effects of sternal and tibial intraosseous administered resuscitative drugs on return of spontaneous circulation in a swine model of cardiac arrest.

Objective: Compare vasopressin, amiodarone, and epinephrine administration by sternal intraosseous (SIO), tibial intraosseous (TIO), and intravenous (IV) routes in a swine model of cardiac arrest.

Design: Prospective, randomized, between subjects, experimental design.

Setting: Laboratory.

Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT): Modified Delphi Study.

Background: Exercise interventions are often incompletely described in reports of clinical trials, hampering evaluation of results and replication and implementation into practice.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a standardized method for reporting exercise programs in clinical trials: the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT).

Design And Methods: Using the EQUATOR Network's methodological framework, 137 exercise experts were invited to participate in a Delphi consensus study.

Personality and gender differences in global perspective.

Men's and women's personalities appear to differ in several respects. Social role theories of development assume gender differences result primarily from perceived gender roles, gender socialization and sociostructural power differentials. As a consequence, social role theorists expect gender differences in personality to be smaller in cultures with more gender egalitarianism.

Influence of directional preference on two clinical dichotomies: acute versus chronic pain and axial low back pain versus sciatica.

Objective: To determine whether outcomes from treatment determined by subjects' directional preference (ie, reduction in back and/or leg pain, by performing a single direction of repeated end-range lumbar movement) would vary based on pain duration, location, or neurologic status.

Design: A secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Eleven physical therapy departments or clinics in 5 countries, with referrals for both acute and chronic low back pain.

Specific directional exercises for patients with low back pain: a case series.

Purpose: To determine whether outcomes could be changed after poor response to non-specific exercise therapy when the prescription was changed to specific, directional-preference exercises (McKenzie method).

Methods: Patients who participated in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) and the alternative care phase immediately following formed the cohort for this case series. In an earlier RCT, patients with directional preference were randomized to exercises/advice matched to their individual directional preference or to one of two unmatched protocols.

The comparative prognostic value of directional preference and centralization: a useful tool for front-line clinicians?

A large number of prognostic factors have been associated with recovery from an episode of back pain, and much emphasis has been placed on psychosocial prognostic factors. The large number of prognostic factors and the lack of comparative analysis of different factors make use of these difficult in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative usefulness of a range of factors to predict outcome using data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which 312 patients with sub-acute to chronic back pain received a mechanical evaluation and were sub-grouped based on the presence or absence of directional preference (DP).

Outcome of fetal cerebral posterior fossa anomalies.

Introduction: Limited data exist on the outcome of Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM), Dandy-Walker variant (DWV) and mega-cisterna magna (MCM). We report the first population-based study of posterior fossa anomalies from the northern region of England.

Methods: Cases were identified from the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey (NorCAS) and regional Fetal Medicine Unit databases for the period 1986-2004 for DWM/V and 1995-2005 for MCM (defined as a cisterna magna > or =10 mm).

Expression and interaction of the transcriptional coregulators, CBP/p300, in the human myometrium during pregnancy and labor.

Objective: In humans, the factors that govern the switch from myometrial quiescence to coordinated contractions at the initiation of labor are not well defined. Recent studies have highlighted a role for the coactivator, CREB binding protein (CBP), in the human myometrium during pregnancy and labor through its ability to acetylate histones. In the present study, the expression of CBP and its related coactivator, p300, were examined.

Does it matter which exercise? A randomized control trial of exercise for low back pain.

Study Design: Multicentered randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine if previously validated low back pain (LBP) subgroups respond differently to contrasting exercise prescriptions.

Summary Of Background Data: The role of "patient-specific" exercises in managing LBP is controversial.