Relationship Between Respiratory Muscle Strength, Handgrip Strength, and Muscle Mass in Hospitalized Patients.

Background: Minimal information is available to validate measurement of respiratory muscle strength (RMS) in the clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) with handgrip strength (HGS) and cross sectional muscle area obtained via diagnostic abdominal computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Measures of MIP, MEP, SNIP, and HGS were obtained from individuals that participated in a previously published study; individuals who had an abdominal CT completed with (±)7 days of obtaining RMS measures were included.

Screening for obstructive sleep apnoea in an early psychosis cohort: a pilot study.

Objective: Rates of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) appear to be lower in the youth population (< 4%) compared to the general population (6%-17%); rates in people with psychotic illness are estimated at 13.5%-57.1%.

Evaluation of Incompatibility Group I1 (IncI1) Plasmid-Containing and Assessment of the Plasmids in Bacteriocin Production and Biofilm Development.

Mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, can potentially increase the ability of bacteria to infect and persist in vertebrate host cells. IncI1 plasmids are widely distributed in from food animal sources and associated with clinically important strains. These plasmids often encode antimicrobial resistance; however, little is known about their impact on the virulence of strains.

Whole-Genome Sequences of 35 Incompatibility Group I1 Plasmid-Carrying Salmonella enterica Isolates from Food Animal and Clinical Sources.

We sequenced 35 isolates carrying incompatibility group I1 (IncI1) plasmids from different serotypes to study their genotypic characteristics. The isolates originated from food animals ( = 32) and human patients ( = 3). All isolates carried IncI1 plasmids, and many had additional plasmids detected along with virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes.

The Association Between Familial Risk and Brain Abnormalities Is Disease Specific: An ENIGMA-Relatives Study of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.

Background: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share genetic liability, and some structural brain abnormalities are common to both conditions. First-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia (FDRs-SZ) show similar brain abnormalities to patients, albeit with smaller effect sizes. Imaging findings in first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder (FDRs-BD) have been inconsistent in the past, but recent studies report regionally greater volumes compared with control subjects.

Widespread white matter microstructural abnormalities in bipolar disorder: evidence from mega- and meta-analyses across 3033 individuals.

Fronto-limbic white matter (WM) abnormalities are assumed to lie at the heart of the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD); however, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have reported heterogeneous results and it is not clear how the clinical heterogeneity is related to the observed differences. This study aimed to identify WM abnormalities that differentiate patients with BD from healthy controls (HC) in the largest DTI dataset of patients with BD to date, collected via the ENIGMA network. We gathered individual tensor-derived regional metrics from 26 cohorts leading to a sample size of N = 3033 (1482 BD and 1551 HC).

Immunomagnetic Capture of Big Six Shiga Toxin-Producing Strains in Apple Juice with Detection by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Eliminates Interference from the Food Matrix.

Having reliable methods for detecting Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) in foods is an important food safety goal. The majority of STEC outbreaks have involved either the O157:H7 serotype or one of six non-O157 serogroups, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, termed "The Big Six." We have compared detection by PCR of the Shiga toxin genes and from STEC bacteria isolated from unclarified apple juice by simple centrifugation with the use of an immunocapture technique to minimize contaminants (such as pectin and polyphenols that may copurify with DNA) that may interfere with DNA amplification efficiencies and limit sensitivity.

Tarantula phylogenomics: A robust phylogeny of deep theraphosid clades inferred from transcriptome data sheds light on the prickly issue of urticating setae evolution.

Mygalomorph spiders of the family Theraphosidae, known to the broader public as tarantulas, are among the most recognizable arachnids on earth due to their large size and widespread distribution. Their use of urticating setae is a notable adaptation that has evolved exclusively in certain New World theraphosids. Thus far, the evolutionary history of Theraphosidae remains poorly understood; theraphosid systematics still largely relies on morphological datasets, which suffer from high degrees of homoplasy, and traditional Sanger sequencing of preselected genes failed to provide strong support for supra-generic clades.

Thinking about you baby: Expectant parents' narratives suggest prenatal spillover for fathers.

The coherence of parents' narratives about their children, which is the extent to which descriptions are accepting, consistent and complex, are thought to reflect optimal information processing of interpersonal relations and as such facilitate sensitive and responsive parenting. However, despite recent meta-analytic findings that have demonstrated links between the nature of prenatal thoughts and feelings about the unborn infant and later parenting, studies have yet to examine the narrative coherence of expectant parents' descriptions of their infant and future parent-child relationship. This study reports on the novel use of the 5-minute speech sample to capture variation in the coherence of 400 first-time expectant parents' narratives describing their unborn infant and future relationship with them.

Quality of life in patients aged 65 years and older with overactive bladder treated with mirabegron across eight European countries: Secondary analysis of BELIEVE.

Objectives: To describe quality of life outcomes in patients with overactive bladder aged ≥65 years receiving mirabegron, a β3-adrenoreceptor agonist (BELIEVE).

Methods: BELIEVE was a European, prospective, non-interventional, real-world study of 848 patients with overactive bladder prescribed mirabegron in clinical practice. Overactive bladder questionnaire subscales were prespecified primary end-points, analyzed in the full analysis set (patients completing the questionnaire at baseline and ≥1 follow-up visit) and per protocol set (patients still taking mirabegron at 10-12 months) using accepted standards for minimally important differences (10 points).

Worrying in the wings? Negative emotional birth memories in mothers and fathers show similar associations with perinatal mood disturbance and delivery mode.

Negative birth experiences can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in new mothers but have received much less attention in new fathers. A sample of 314 first-time expectant couples rated their symptoms of anxiety and depression in the third trimester and at 4-month post birth (227 vaginal delivery, 87 caesarean section), when they also completed the emotional memories subscale of the BirthMARQ (Foley et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 14, 211, 2014).

Experimental support for multidrug resistance transfer potential in the preterm infant gut microbiota.

Background: There is currently a lack of experimental evidence for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms in the human gut microbiota. The aim of this study was therefore to experimentally determine the HGT potential in the microbiota of a healthy preterm infant twin pair and to evaluate the global occurrence of the mobilized elements.

Methods: Stool samples were collected.

Protocols of Conjugative Plasmid Transfer in Salmonella: Plate, Broth, and Filter Mating Approaches.

Bacterial conjugation is a natural process that allows for horizontal transmission of DNA from one bacterium to another. Several plasmids carry transposons that encode multiple antimicrobial and metal resistance genes. Conjugative plasmid transfer requires intimate cell-to-cell contacts between the donor and the recipient.

Global transcriptomic analyses of Salmonella enterica in Iron-depleted and Iron-rich growth conditions.

Background: Salmonella enterica possess several iron acquisition systems, encoded on the chromosome and plasmids. Recently, we demonstrated that incompatibility group (Inc) FIB plasmid-encoded iron acquisition systems (Sit and aerobactin) likely play an important role in persistence of Salmonella in human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2). In this study, we sought to determine global transcriptome analyses of S.

Carotid Plaque Inflammation Imaged by F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Risk of Early Recurrent Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Plaque inflammation contributes to stroke and coronary events. F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) identifies plaque inflammation-related metabolism. Almost no prospective data exist on the relationship of carotid F-FDG uptake and early recurrent stroke.

Melting of sediments in the deep mantle produces saline fluid inclusions in diamonds.

Diamonds growing in the Earth's mantle often trap inclusions of fluids that are highly saline in composition. These fluids are thought to emerge from deep in subduction zones and may also be involved in the generation of some of the kimberlite magmas. However, the source of these fluids and the mechanism of their transport into the mantle lithosphere are unresolved.

Alzheimer's Disease Microbiome Is Associated with Dysregulation of the Anti-Inflammatory P-Glycoprotein Pathway.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that is poorly understood. Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, has long been associated with bacterial infections and inflammation-causing immunosenescence. Recent studies examining the intestinal microbiota of AD patients revealed that their microbiome differs from that of subjects without dementia.

Clinical and Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Men Referred for Consideration of Surgery to Treat Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Baseline Results and Diagnostic Findings of the Urodynamics for Prostate Surgery Trial; Randomised Evaluation of Assessment Methods (UPSTREAM).

Background: Clinical evaluation of male lower urinary tract symptoms (MLUTS) in secondary care uses a range of assessments. It is unknown how MLUTS evaluation influences outcome of therapy recommendations and choice, notably urodynamics (UDS; filling cystometry and pressure flow studies).

Objective: To report participants' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and initial diagnostic findings of the Urodynamics for Prostate Surgery Trial; Randomised Evaluation of Assessment Methods (UPSTREAM).

Protocol update and statistical analysis plan for CADENCE-BZ: a randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis.

Background: CADENCE-BZ is a multi-centre, parallel-group, double-blind randomized controlled trial designed to examine the clinical efficacy and safety of an accessible food preservative, sodium benzoate, as an add-on treatment for patients with early psychosis. The original study protocol was published in 2017. Here, we describe the updated protocol along with the Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) for the CADENCE-BZ trial prior to study completion.

Draft Genome Sequences of 27 Salmonella enterica Serovar Schwarzengrund Isolates from Clinical Sources.

Twenty-seven serovar Schwarzengrund isolates from clinical sources were sequenced as part of a larger study to examine phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The majority of the sequenced strains were isolated from human stool ( = 20) followed by urine ( = 3) and blood ( = 2). Four isolate sequences contained plasmids of known incompatibility groups.

The OPTICA study (Optimised Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography in Pregnancy Quality and Safety study): Rationale and design of a prospective trial assessing the quality and safety of an optimised CTPA protocol in pregnancy.

Background: CTPA is the gold standard investigation for evaluating suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in the general population however is sometimes considered second line in pregnant and post-partum patients with a normal CXR due to its higher breast dose and the increased radio-sensitivity of breast tissue during this period. Guidelines advocating for scintigraphy over CTPA, however, quote significantly higher breast doses than those achievable with optimised low dose strategies. Defining the radiation dose achievable with a specific low-dose CTPA protocol is therefore imperative.

Fate of cisplatin and its main hydrolysed forms in the presence of thiolates: a comprehensive computational and experimental study.

Interaction of platinum-based drugs with proteins containing sulphur amino acids is usually argued as one of the major reasons for the observed resistance to these drugs, mainly due to the deactivation of the native compounds by very efficient thiolation processes in the organism. In this work, we have investigated the detailed thermodynamics and kinetics of reaction between cisplatin cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] and its major hydrolysed forms (monohydroxocisplatin cis-[PtCl(OH)(NH3)2] and monoaquacisplatin cis-[PtCl(H2O)(NH3)2]+) with various thiolates (methanethiolate, cysteine and glutathione) and methionine. We have used a demanding quantum chemistry approach at the MP2 and DFT levels of theory to determine the Gibbs free energies and the barrier of reactions of the most possible reaction paths.