Beta-glucan's varying structure characteristics modulate survival and immune-related genes expression from Vibrio harveyi-infected Artemia franciscana in gnotobiotic conditions.

β-Glucans have long been used as an immunostimulant in aquaculture. However, the relationship of its structure to its immunomodulatory properties are poorly understood. In this study, the particle size and chemical structure of β-glucans extracted from wild-type strain of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and its null-mutant yeasts Gas1 were characterised.

Effect of different exercise training intensities on musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain in inactive individuals with type 2 diabetes - Preliminary randomised controlled trial.

Aims: People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a greater prevalence of musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. This exploratory analysis investigated whether exercise of different intensities leads to changes in self-reported musculoskeletal pain or symptoms of diabetic neuropathy in inactive individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Thirty-two inactive adults with T2D (59% male, mean age 58.

Glucan particles as suitable carriers for the natural anti-inflammatory compounds curcumin and diplacone - Evaluation in an ex vivo model.

Natural compounds offer a wide spectrum of potential active substances, but often they have a poor bioavailability. To increase the bioavailability and bioactivity of the natural anti-inflammatory molecules curcumin and diplacone, we used glucan particles (GPs), hollow shells from Saccharomyces cerevisiae composed mainly of β-1,3-d-glucan. Their indigestibility and relative stability in the gut combined with their immunomodulatory effects makes them promising carriers for such compounds.

Effects of glycerol-esters of saturated short- and medium chain fatty acids on immune, health and growth variables in veal calves.

In veal and dairy beef production systems, Holstein bull calves experience many stressors and excessive pathogen exposure, necessitating the use of antimicrobials for welfare and production reasons. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to explore the effects of esterified fatty acids used as feed supplement on health, production and immune variables in veal calves. Different glycerol-esters of fatty acids were used: short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-based glycerol-mono- (C4) and tributyrate (C4), and medium chain fatty acid (MCFA)-based glycerol-monocaprylate/monocaprinate (C8/C10) and glycerol-monolaurate (C12) in two different doses.

The cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis strategies for individuals with advanced HIV starting treatment in Africa.

Introduction: Many HIV-positive individuals in Africa have advanced disease when initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) so have high risks of opportunistic infections and death. The REALITY trial found that an enhanced-prophylaxis package including fluconazole reduced mortality by 27% in individuals starting ART with CD4 <100 cells/mm . We investigated the cost-effectiveness of this enhanced-prophylaxis package versus other strategies, including using cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing, in individuals with CD4 <200 cells/mm or <100 cells/mm at ART initiation and all individuals regardless of CD4 count.

Geographic Shifts in Antibacterial Drug Clinical Trial Enrollment: Implications for Generalizability.

Background: As drug development has globalized, trials have increasingly enrolled participants from all parts of the world rather than just the United States and Western Europe. For antibacterial drug trials, understanding enrollment trends and regional differences is important for generalizability considerations.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 42 phase 3 trials submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration after 2001 for complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI), complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI), community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) (n = 29 282 participants).

International consensus on the most useful assessments used by physical therapists to evaluate patients with temporomandibular disorders: A Delphi study.

Objective: To identify assessment tools used to evaluate patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) considered to be clinically most useful by a panel of international experts in TMD physical therapy (PT).

Methods: A Delphi survey method administered to a panel of international experts in TMD PT was conducted over three rounds from October 2017 to June 2018. The initial contact was made by email.

Effects of Bladder Cancer on UK Healthcare Costs and Patient Health-Related Quality of Life: Evidence From the BOXIT Trial.

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding the cost and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) effects of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurrence and progression to muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). We examined these effects using evidence from a recent randomized control trial.

Material And Methods: The costs and HRQoL associated with bladder cancer were assessed using data from the BOXIT trial (bladder COX-2 inhibition trial; n = 472).

Non-invasive oscillometric versus invasive arterial blood pressure measurements in critically ill patients: A post hoc analysis of a prospective observational study.

Purpose: The aim was to compare non-invasive blood pressure measurements with invasive blood pressure measurements in critically ill patients.

Methods: Non-invasive blood pressure was measured via automated brachial cuff oscillometry, and simultaneously the radial arterial catheter-derived measurement was recorded as part of a prospective observational study. Measurements of systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were compared using Bland-Altman and error grid analyses.

Odor span task in dogs (Canis familiaris).

Working memory is essential for organisms to solve problems related to their survival and to adapt to changes in their environment. Researchers sought to create a non-human model of working memory that could be used to better understand its predictive value and underlying brain function. Several of these studies were conducted using the odor span task (OST) with rodents, and here, we present the first OST with domestic dogs (n = 6).

Factors associated with health psychology use in pediatric type 1 diabetes.

Aims: Identify the prevalence of health psychology use in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and evaluate how individual and contextual characteristics are associated with use.

Methods: Children ages 8-16 years with T1D and their parents were recruited from two tertiary diabetes clinics. Cross-sectional data included parent and adolescent surveys and hemoglobin A1c.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of postpartum depression.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and gravely disabling health concern. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an FDA approved treatment for major depression and may be a valuable tool in the treatment of PPD. The treatment effect of rTMS is rapid, generally well tolerated, without systemic effects, and without medication exposure to a fetus and/or breastfed infant.

Evaluating single-domain antibodies as carriers for targeted vaccine delivery to the small intestinal epithelium.

Targeting a vaccine to the mucosal surface has recently been recognized as a promising approach to efficiently induce mucosal immune responses against enteric pathogens. However, poor uptake and inefficient transport of orally delivered subunit vaccines across the intestinal epithelium combined with weak immune responses still present important bottlenecks for mucosal vaccination. A possible strategy suggested to surmount these hurdles is to target the selected antigen to transcytotic receptors, such as aminopeptidase N (APN) present on enterocytes and antigen-presenting cells (APCs).

Should the ultrasound probe replace your stethoscope? A SICS-I sub-study comparing lung ultrasound and pulmonary auscultation in the critically ill.

Background: In critically ill patients, auscultation might be challenging as dorsal lung fields are difficult to reach in supine-positioned patients, and the environment is often noisy. In recent years, clinicians have started to consider lung ultrasound as a useful diagnostic tool for a variety of pulmonary pathologies, including pulmonary edema. The aim of this study was to compare lung ultrasound and pulmonary auscultation for detecting pulmonary edema in critically ill patients.

Preventing critical failure. Can routinely collected data be repurposed to predict avoidable patient harm? A quantitative descriptive study.

Objectives: To determine whether sharing of routinely collected health service performance data could have predicted a critical safety failure at an Australian maternity service.

Design: Observational quantitative descriptive study.

Setting: A public hospital maternity service in Victoria, Australia.

Regulatory Affairs 101: Introduction to Expedited Regulatory Pathways.

Developing a novel drug, including discovery, nonclinical toxicology studies, initial clinical trials, and thorough pivotal studies, may take many years. Once an applicant has generated this comprehensive body of data, the final step prior to regulatory approval is Health Authority review of the marketing authorization application. Review by regulatory authorities to evaluate whether the data support a positive benefit/risk profile takes many months, adding additional time before patients may access therapy.

Molecular Study of Isolates Originating from Humans and Organic Pigs in Belgium.

is a worldwide prevalent, zoonotic parasite of major importance for public health, which can infect any warm-blooded animal species, including humans. Humans can get infected by consumption of meat from a chronically infected animal, by ingestion of sporulated oocysts (resulting from the sexual replication in felids), via contaminated water, soil, or vegetables, and by vertical transmission via the placenta. Infection through meat consumption is estimated to be one of the main sources of human toxoplasmosis cases in developed countries, and more specifically pork is considered to be responsible for 41% of foodborne human toxoplasmosis cases in the United States.

Consensus-based technical recommendations for clinical translation of renal ASL MRI.

Objectives: This study aimed at developing technical recommendations for the acquisition, processing and analysis of renal ASL data in the human kidney at 1.5 T and 3 T field strengths that can promote standardization of renal perfusion measurements and facilitate the comparability of results across scanners and in multi-centre clinical studies.

Methods: An international panel of 23 renal ASL experts followed a modified Delphi process, including on-line surveys and two in-person meetings, to formulate a series of consensus statements regarding patient preparation, hardware, acquisition protocol, analysis steps and data reporting.

Consensus-based technical recommendations for clinical translation of renal T1 and T2 mapping MRI.

To develop technical recommendations on the acquisition and post-processing of renal longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation time mapping. A multidisciplinary panel consisting of 18 experts in the field of renal T1 and T2 mapping participated in a consensus project, which was initiated by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action PARENCHIMA CA16103. Consensus recommendations were formulated using a two-step modified Delphi method.

Biological intratumoral therapy for the high-grade glioma part I: intratumoral delivery and immunotoxins.

Management of high-grade gliomas remains a complex challenge. Standard of care consists of microsurgical resection, chemotherapy and radiation, but despite these aggressive multimodality therapies the overall prognosis remains poor. A major focus of ongoing translational research studies is to develop novel therapeutic strategies that can maximize tumor cell eradication while minimizing collateral side effects.

Biological intratumoral therapy for the high-grade glioma part II: vector- and cell-based therapies and radioimmunotherapy.

Management of high-grade gliomas (HGGs) remains a complex challenge with an overall poor prognosis despite aggressive multimodal treatment. New translational research has focused on maximizing tumor cell eradication through improved tumor cell targeting while minimizing collateral systemic side effects. In particular, biological intratumoral therapies have been the focus of novel translational research efforts due to their inherent potential to be both dynamically adaptive and target specific.