[The role of some inflammatory markers in diagnosis of acute peritonitis in patients with HIV infection].

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of leukocyte, NLR, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein as the markers of acute peritonitis in patients with HIV-infection.

Material And Methods: The study included 83 HIV-infected patients with various diseases complicated by acute peritonitis. Leukocytes, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, as well as immune status and viral load were determined in peripheral blood before surgery.

Persuasive COVID-19 vaccination campaigns on Facebook and nationwide vaccination coverage in Ukraine, India, and Pakistan.

Social media platforms have a wide and influential reach, and as such provide an opportunity to increase vaccine uptake. To date, there is no large-scale, robust evidence on the offline effects of online messaging campaigns. We aimed to test whether pre-tested, persuasive messaging campaigns from UNICEF, disseminated on Facebook, influenced COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Ukraine, India, and Pakistan.

Clinical and Prognostic Factors in Patients with IgG4-Related Kidney Disease.

Background: IgG4-related kidney disease is a major manifestation of IgG4-related disease, a systemic fibroinflammatory disorder. However, the clinical and prognostic kidney-related factors in patients with IgG4-related kidney disease are insufficiently defined.

Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study using data from 35 sites in two European countries.

Validation of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Identification of Fresh and Processed Botanical Material: Using Synthetic DNA to Supplement Specificity Evaluation.

Several commercially important botanicals have a lack of diagnostic testing options that can quickly and unambiguously identify materials of different matrices. Real-time PCR can be a useful, orthogonal approach to identification for its exceptional specificity and sensitivity. L.

Gut Microbiota Profile in Adults Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Gut microbiota (GM) after bariatric surgery (BS) has been considered as a factor associated with metabolic improvements and weight loss. In this systematic review, we evaluate changes in the GM, characterized by 16S rRNA and metagenomics techniques, in obese adults who received BS. The PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS databases were searched.

Protective antibody response to mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccines in patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is more frequent and severe in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on maintenance haemodialysis (HD). Vaccines are now available, but the protective response rates and determinants of humoral response to the vaccine are poorly described.

Methods: This prospective observational study describes the response rates of detectable and protective antibody titres 1 month after each dose of an mRNA vaccine in a cohort of 851 patients on maintenance HD.

Validation of the Brazilian version of the Short Inventory of Grazing (SIG).

Objective: Grazing is a disturbed eating pattern that has been associated with eating disorders and obesity. One of the new measures to investigate this eating behavior is the Short Inventory of Grazing (SIG), a two-item questionnaire that assesses grazing in general and grazing associated with the feeling of loss of control over eating (LOC grazing). However, the psychometric properties of the SIG have not been assessed in the Brazilian population.

A gain-of-function variant in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome gene is associated with a MYH9-related disease-like syndrome.

While loss-of-function variants in the WAS gene are associated with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and lead to microthrombocytopenia, gain-of-function variants of WAS are associated with X-linked neutropenia (XLN) and the absence of microthrombocytopenia. Only a few XLN families have been reported so far, and their platelet phenotype was not described in detail. To date, no renal involvement was described in XLN.

Development of Hydrolysis Probe-Based qPCR Assays for and for Detection of Adulteration in Ginseng Herbal Products.

Authentication of and products is important to be able to mitigate instances of adulteration and substitution that exist within the international supply chain of ginseng. To address this issue, species-specific hydrolysis probe qPCR assays were developed and validated for both and herbal dietary supplements. Performance of the probe-based assays was evaluated using analytical validation criteria, which included evaluation of: (1) specificity, in selectively identifying the target species; (2) sensitivity, in detecting the lowest amount of the target material; and (3) repeatability and reproducibility of the method in detecting the target species in raw materials on a real-time PCR platform (reliability).

Association between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Excess of Weight in Women with Endometrial Cancer.

Obesity is one of major risk factor for endometrial cancer, which is the eighth most incident cancer among women in Brazil. The present study aimed to assess any possible associations between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and clinical or sociodemographic characteristics of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer. This is a cross-sectional study with women newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EC).

Validation of a Triplex Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Detection and Quantification of Traditional Protein Sources, L. and (L.) Merr., in Protein Powder Mixtures.

Several botanicals have been traditionally used as protein sources, including the leguminous L. and (L.) Merr.

Fifteen-minute consultation: How to approach the withdrawal of neonatal intensive care.

Withdrawal of life-sustaining support on the neonatal unit presents a set of unique challenges specific in this age group of patients. This article aims to provide an overview of the key factors that should be considered during this process. It explores the practicalities of care delivery that reflects the psychological impact of undergoing end-of-life care on parents and team members.

Impact of first-wave COronaVIrus disease 2019 infection in patients on haemoDIALysis in Alsace: the observational COVIDIAL study.

Background: There are only scarce data regarding the presentation, incidence, severity and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients undergoing long-term haemodialysis (HD). A prospective observational study was conducted in eight HD facilities in Alsace, France, to identify clinical characteristics of HD patients with COVID-19 and to assess the determinants of the risk of death.

Methods: All HD patients tested positive for COVID-19 from 5 March to 28 April 2020 were included.

Investigating appropriate molecular and chemical methods for ingredient identity testing of plant-based protein powder dietary supplements.

Plant-based protein powders are rapidly growing in popularity, and outdated quality assurance tools expose vulnerabilities to adulteration via different methods of "protein spiking". Adequate diagnostic tools are urgently needed to be able to authenticate protein source ingredients and screen for potential adulterants. We explored the application of three diagnostic tools for ingredient identification: targeted PCR with Sanger sequencing, NGS, and LC-MS/MS.

Exploring DNA quantity and quality from raw materials to botanical extracts.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the variability in DNA quality and quantity along a gradient of industrial processing of botanical ingredients from raw materials to extracts.

Methods: A data matrix was assembled for 1242 botanical ingredient samples along a gradient of industrial processing commonly used in the Natural Health Product (NHP) industry. Multivariate statistics was used to explore dependant variables for quality and quantity.

Pulmonary Embolism and Coexisting Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Detrimental Association?

Background: The prognostic significance of coexisting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is controversial. This study aimed to provide routine patient care data on the impact of this association on PE severity and 3-month outcomes in a population presenting with symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) from the REMOTEV registry.

Methods And Results: REMOTEV is a prospective, non-interventional study of patients with acute symptomatic VTE, treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or standard anticoagulation (vitamin K antagonists (VKA) or parenteral heparin/fondaparinux alone) for at least 3 months.

DNA Quality and Quantity Analysis of Through Processing from Fresh Leaves to a Green Tea Extract.

Although there has been some success using DNA barcoding to authenticate raw natural health product (NHP) botanical ingredients, there are many gaps in our understanding of DNA degradation, which may explain low PCR and sequencing success in processed NHPs. In this study, we measured multiple DNA variables after each step in the processing of a green tea extract in order to document DNA quality and quantity. We sampled plant material after each step of green tea extract processing: five steps at a Chinese tea farm ( = 10) and five at an NHP processing facility ( = 3).

Recommendations for Validation of Real-Time PCR Methods for Molecular Diagnostic Identification of Botanicals.

PCR methods are the most commonly used DNA-based identity tool in the commercial food, beverage, and natural health product markets. These methods are routinely used to identify foodborne pathogens and allergens in food. Proper validation methods for some sectors have been established, while there are none in other markets, such as botanicals.

Using genetic buffering relationships identified in fission yeast to reveal susceptibilities in cells lacking hamartin or tuberin function.

Tuberous sclerosis complex is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by benign tumors arising from the abnormal activation of mTOR signaling in cells lacking TSC1 (hamartin) or TSC2 (tuberin) activity. To expand the genetic framework surrounding this group of growth regulators, we utilized the model eukaryote to uncover and characterize genes that buffer the phenotypic effects of mutations in the orthologous or loci. Our study identified two genes: (encoding a DNA helicase) and (encoding a peptidyle-prolyl cis/trans isomerase).

[Difficulties in the diagnosis of diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome in adults].

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare, but menacing condition registered mainly in children. The paper gives a detailed description and analysis of a clinical case of HUS with a favorable outcome in an adult woman who developed the syndrome in the presence of bloody diarrhea. It considers an update on the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of HUS associated with diarrheal syndrome and discusses differential diagnostic features, diagnostic problems, and characteristics of management tactics for patients.