Assessing the impact of long term frozen storage of faecal samples on protein concentration and protease activity.

Background: The proteome is the second axis of the microbiome:host interactome and proteases are a significant aspect in this interaction. They interact with a large variety of host proteins and structures and in many situations are implicated in pathogenesis. Furthermore faecal samples are commonly collected and stored frozen so they can be analysed at a later date.

Current functional metagenomic approaches only expand the existing protease sequence space, but does not presently add any novelty to it.

Proteases are a fundamental function in many organisms and thus many ecosystems and yet they are rarely obtained in functional metagenomic screens. Here, we have isolated an active protease gene (M1-2; 613 amino acids) which resided in a 38.4 kb fosmid clone that showed a classical protease-positive phenotype.

The gut microbiome: the role of a virtual organ in the endocrinology of the host.

The human microbiome contains a vast array of microbes and genes that show greater complexity than the host's own karyome; the functions of many of these microbes are beneficial and show co-evolution with the host, while others are detrimental. The microbiota that colonises the gut is now being considered as a virtual organ or emergent system, with properties that need to be integrated into host biology and physiology. Unlike other organs, the functions that the gut microbiota plays in the host are as yet not fully understood and can be quite easily disrupted by antibiotics, diet or surgery.

A robust plate assay for detection of extracellular microbial protease activity in metagenomic screens and pure cultures.

A robust, efficient and cost-effective agar that utilises lactose free milk powder for identification of bacterial protease activity in pure cultures and metagenomic screens has been developed and tested on protease positive bacteria, selected strains and false protease positives isolated from a previously constructed metagenomic library.

Preventive care for chronically ill children in medicaid managed care.

Objectives: To determine whether there is an association between the quality of child preventive care received and the existence of 1 or more chronic conditions.

Study Design: A retrospective study of all New York State children and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid managed care in 2008.

Methods: Using a cohort identified through mandatory annual quality reporting, a clinical algorithm was applied to administrative data to assign children to 3 health status levels: healthy/ acute, minor chronic, and significant chronic.

Who succeeds in jail diversion programs for persons with mental illness? A multi-site study.

This study examined how the characteristics of people with mental illness who are participants in post-booking jail diversion programs affect recidivism and time spent incarcerated. The study employed data from a multi-site, federally funded jail diversion initiative. A pre-post comparison design was used to compare experiences of arrest and days spent in jail of diverted individuals for the 12 months following enrollment with the 12 months prior to enrollment.

Factors in disproportionate representation among persons recommended by programs and accepted by courts for jail diversion.

Objective: This study examined the decision-making process related to enrollment in jail diversion programs for people with mental illness. The examination explored the activities of diversion programs and courts related to determinations of whether individuals were appropriate for diversion: activities included jail screenings, clinical and criminal justice assessments, psychiatric evaluations, and court reviews of diversion plans. Factors associated with program recommendation decisions and court acceptance decisions were also examined.