Complete genome sequence of BST19, a soil isolate with potential anti-microbial properties using PacBio sequencing.

We report the complete genome sequence of BST19, an isolate from the allotment soil in Tainan, Taiwan. The genome was obtained using the PacBio Sequel II platform, yielding a circular chromosome of 4,167,147 bp with a 43.9% GC content.

Myasthenia gravis: the future is here.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) stands as a prototypical antibody-mediated autoimmune disease: it is dependent on T cells and characterized by the presence of autoantibodies targeting proteins located on the postsynaptic surface of skeletal muscle, known as the neuromuscular junction. Patients with MG exhibit a spectrum of weakness, ranging from limited ocular muscle involvement to life-threatening respiratory failure. Recent decades have witnessed substantial progress in understanding the underlying pathophysiology, leading to the delineation of distinct subcategories within MG, including MG linked to AChR or MuSK antibodies as well as age-based distinction, thymoma-associated, and immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced MG.

Machine learning for the adsorptive removal of ciprofloxacin using sugarcane bagasse as a low-cost biosorbent: comparison of analytic, mechanistic, and neural network modeling.

Contamination with traces of pharmaceutical compounds, such as ciprofloxacin, has prompted interest in their removal via low-cost, efficient biomass-based adsorption. In this study, classical models, a mechanistic model, and a neural network model were evaluated for predicting ciprofloxacin breakthrough curves in both laboratory- and pilot scales. For the laboratory-scale (d = 2.

Use of Neuromuscular Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Disulfiram Polyneuropathy.

We present the case of a 37-year-old woman with alcohol use disorder, who developed leg cramping, bilateral foot drop, and hand weakness 3 months after starting disulfiram. This was accompanied by an 18-pound involuntary weight loss. Electrophysiologic findings showed a motor predominant axonal neuropathy.

Cost-effectiveness of a statewide public health intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Background: The cost-effectiveness of community health worker (CHW)-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-reduction interventions is not well established. Colorado Heart Healthy Solutions is a CHW-based intervention designed to reduce modifiable CVD risk factors. This program has previously demonstrated success, but the cost-effectiveness is unknown.

Robust watermark technique using masking and Hermite transform.

The following paper evaluates a watermark algorithm designed for digital images by using a perceptive mask and a normalization process, thus preventing human eye detection, as well as ensuring its robustness against common processing and geometric attacks. The Hermite transform is employed because it allows a perfect reconstruction of the image, while incorporating human visual system properties; moreover, it is based on the Gaussian functions derivates. The applied watermark represents information of the digital image proprietor.

Effectiveness of a community health worker cardiovascular risk reduction program in public health and health care settings.

Objectives: We evaluated whether a program to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) with community health workers (CHWs) would improve CHD risk in public health and health care settings.

Methods: The CHWs provided point-of-service screening, education, and care coordination to residents in 34 primarily rural Colorado counties. The CHWs utilized motivational interviewing and navigated those at risk for CHD into medical care and lifestyle resources.

Causality assessment of serious neurologic adverse events following 2009 H1N1 vaccination.

Background: Adverse events occurring after vaccination are routinely reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). We studied serious adverse events (SAEs) of a neurologic nature reported after receipt of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine during the 2009-2010 influenza season. Investigators in the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) network sought to characterize these SAEs and to assess their possible causal relationship to vaccination.

Overview of the Clinical Consult Case Review of adverse events following immunization: Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) network 2004-2009.

Background: In 2004 the Clinical Consult Case Review (CCCR) working group was formed within the CDC-funded Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Network to review individual cases of adverse events following immunizations (AEFI).

Methods: Cases were referred by practitioners, health departments, or CDC employees. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) searches and literature reviews for similar cases were performed prior to review.

Impact of a nurse telephone intervention among high-cardiovascular-risk, health fair participants.

Background And Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, yet most individuals remain unaware of their risk. Current health fair models assess individual risk factors but miss the opportunity to assess, counsel, and follow-up with participants regarding global CVD risk. Objectives of this nurse telephone intervention were to (1) describe high-CVD-risk participants' healthcare-seeking behavior after the health fair and following a nurse telephone intervention and (2) describe CVD risk-reducing therapies provided to high-risk participants after the health fair and following a nurse telephone intervention.

State consensus guideline for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care settings.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and is often attributable to poorly controlled yet modifiable risk factors. All national guidelines strongly recommend performing global CVD risk assessments to inform therapeutic intensity, but only a minority of clinicians regularly quantitate their patient's CVD risk. Not surprisingly, many patients are not at goal with regard to blood pressure, lipids, and the appropriate receipt of antiplatelet therapy.

Characterization and quantification of the skin radiance through new digital image analysis.

Background/aims: The individual perception of the radiance is difficult to define and quantify because it often includes physiological and psychological attributes. Although if they are differences in the perception of the skin radiance, dermatologists and experts in cosmetology consider that the complexion must reflect the general health of an individual. The aim of this work was to determine existing conditions of skin radiance via digital image analysis, consumer's perception and experts' evaluation, and propose a mathematical model to quantify the global radiance phenomenon.

The I1307K APC polymorphism in Ashkenazi Jews with colorectal cancer: clinical and pathologic features.

Colorectal cancer is common in Ashkenazi Jews. The I1307K APC mutation occurs in 6-7% of Ashkenazi Jews and increases the risk of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to describe the clinical, pathologic and epidemiologic features of colorectal cancer in I1307K carriers to determine whether there were any features which might warrant individual screening for the mutation.

American founder mutation for Lynch syndrome. Prevalence estimates and implications.

Background: Recently, a new founder mutation, an exon 1-6 deletion in a mismatch repair gene (MMR), MSH2, in nine kindreds with Lynch syndrome was reported. In 3 of the kindreds this mutation was traced by genealogy through 11-12 generations to a common founder, and thus termed the American Founder Mutation (AFM). Since then, 13 additional 'unrelated' kindreds with AFM were detected by a recently designed single polymerase chain reaction.

Increasing evidence for a human breast carcinoma virus with geographic differences.

Background: An early immunologic study suggesting that a virus similar to the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) was associated highly with breast carcinoma in Tunisian patients, compared with patients in the United States, led the authors to examine different breast carcinoma populations by using more current molecular techniques.

Methods: Thirty-nine paraffin blocks were selected for sequencing of the 250-base pair segment of the MMTV from patients with breast carcinoma who were seen and treated at the Institut Salah Azaiz in Tunisia. Fifteen of those blocks were examined under code by a second laboratory, which used a different methodology and was blinded to the results of the first laboratory, and 14 blocks were analyzed successfully.

A founder mutation of the MSH2 gene and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer in the United States.

Context: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also known as Lynch syndrome, is caused by mutations in the mismatch repair genes and confers an extraordinarily high risk of colorectal, endometrial, and other cancers. However, while carriers of these mutations should be identified, counseled, and offered clinical surveillance, at present the mutations are not tested for in mutation analyses.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of a large genomic deletion encompassing exons 1 to 6 of the MSH2 gene that is widespread in the US population as a result of a founder effect.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC) and HNPCC-like families: Problems in diagnosis, surveillance, and management.

Background: To the authors' knowledge, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC) is the most commonly occurring hereditary disorder that predisposes to colorectal carcinoma (CRC), accounting for approximately 2-7% of all CRC cases diagnosed in the U.S each year. Its diagnosis is wholly dependent on a meticulously obtained family history of cancer of all anatomic sites, with particular attention to the pattern of cancer distribution within the family.

Carrier risk status changes resulting from mutation testing in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer and hereditary breast-ovarian cancer.

Context: In hereditary cancer syndrome families with an identified cancer associated mutation, mutation testing changes the carrier risk status of the tested person and may change the carrier risk status of relatives.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the change in the distribution of carrier risk status resulting from testing in hereditary breast-ovarian cancer (HBOC) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families.

Design: This was an observational cohort study.

Molecular analysis of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer in the United States: high mutation detection rate among clinically selected families and characterization of an American founder genomic deletion of the MSH2 gene.

The identification of germline mutations in families with HNPCC is hampered by genetic heterogeneity and clinical variability. In previous studies, MSH2 and MLH1 mutations were found in approximately two-thirds of the Amsterdam-criteria-positive families and in much lower percentages of the Amsterdam-criteria-negative families. Therefore, a considerable proportion of HNPCC seems not to be accounted for by the major mismatch repair (MMR) genes.

LTC insurance. Changing dynamics, differing perspectives.

Many have challenged the best minds in the industry in designing and pricing long-term care (LTC) insurance. Marketing LTC insurance requires a thorough understanding of public policy issues and programs in addition to exceptional business expertise. However, the results have been worthwhile.

[A new case of Caffey's disease].

With reference to a new case of Caffey's disease, or infantile cortical hyperostosis, of maxillary origin, the authors stress in particular the necessity to eliminate the possibility of Silverman's syndrome and the diagnostic problem posed by chronic tumefactions of the angle in children.