Mol Biochem Parasitol
December 2024
Eukaryotic chromosomes segregate faithfully prior to nuclear division to ensure genome stability. If segregation becomes defective, the chromosome copy number of the cell may alter leading to aneuploidy and/or polyploidy, both common hallmarks of cancers. In eukaryotes, aurora kinases regulate chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis, but their functions in the divergent, single-celled eukaryotic pathogen Trypanosoma brucei are less understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsecticide resistance is a serious threat to our ability to control mosquito vectors which transmit pathogens including malaria parasites and arboviruses. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is an essential first step in tackling the challenges presented by resistance. This study aimed to functionally characterise the carboxylesterase, CCEae3A, the elevated expression of which has been implicated in temephos resistance in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus larvae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMosquito-borne viruses including dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses, and parasites such as malaria and endanger health and economic security around the globe, and emerging mosquito-borne pathogens have pandemic potential. However, the rapid spread of insecticide resistance threatens our ability to control mosquito vectors. Larvae of were screened with the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pandemic Response Box, an open-source compound library, using INVAPP, an invertebrate automated phenotyping platform suited to high-throughput chemical screening of larval motility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Health Serv Res
September 2021
Background: Increasing pressure threatens to overwhelm primary care services, affecting the quality of care and their role as gatekeepers to specialised care services. This study investigated healthcare users' acceptability of - and the effectiveness of - an e-consultation system in primary care services.
Methods: Seven GP practices in East-Midlands, all of whom use online consultation system participated in the study, with a retrospective review being undertaken of 189 electronic patients' records (age range of 18-76 years) over 5 months.
Pyrethroid-impregnated nets have contributed significantly to halving the burden of malaria but resistance threatens their future efficacy and the pipeline of new insecticides is short. Here we report that an invertebrate automated phenotyping platform (INVAPP), combined with the algorithm Paragon, provides a robust system for measuring larval motility in Anopheles gambiae (and An. coluzzi) as well as Aedes aegypti with the capacity for high-throughput screening for new larvicides.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResistance in to members of all 4 major classes (pyrethroids, carbamates, organochlorines, and organophosphates) of public health insecticides limits effective control of malaria transmission in Africa. Increase in expression of detoxifying enzymes has been associated with insecticide resistance, but their direct functional validation in is still lacking. Here, we perform transgenic analysis using the GAL4/UAS system to examine insecticide resistance phenotypes conferred by increased expression of the 3 genes-, , and -most often found up-regulated in resistant We report evidence in that organophosphate and organochlorine resistance is conferred by overexpression of GSTE2 in a broad tissue profile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroductions of alien species into aquatic ecosystems have been well documented, including invasions of crayfish species; however, little is known about the effects of these introductions on macroinvertebrate communities. The woodland crayfish (Orconectes hylas (Faxon)) has been introduced into the St. Francis River watershed in southeast Missouri and has displaced populations of native crayfish.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral policy consultations addressing post-registration nursing careers have followed the creation of the specialist community public health nurse (SCPHN) part of the NMC register, for health visitors, school nurses and occupational health nurses. This study surveyed a cohort of students (n = 44) starting a SCPHN programme, to explore what factors influenced their decision to train for this part of the register, and whether these differed according to previous experience or chosen pathway. The most highly rated factors were an interest in health promotion, a desire to work in community settings, and more involvement in the social aspects of health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Viburnum Trend lead-zinc mining subdistrict is located in the southeast Missouri portion of the Ozark Plateau. In 2003 and 2004, we assessed the ecological effects of mining in several watersheds in the region. We included macroinvertebrate surveys, habitat assessments, and analysis of metals in sediment, pore water, and aquatic biota.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To explore the extent to which Community Health Nurses (CHN) engage in community-focused public health practice and the facilitators and barriers to such practice.
Background: The government promotes the role of nurses in public health. However, there is confusion as to what constitutes public health; a lack of support to move from individual and family-focused practice to community-focused practice; and, inconsistency of the use of titles.
There is evidence to suggest that population-focused public health nursing is more rhetoric than reality. This quantitative study compares the self-perceived public health competence of qualifying student specialist community public health nurses (SCPHNs) (n = 35) with those of the practice teachers (PTs) facilitating their practice learning (n = 31). Findings suggest that PTs felt more competent than qualifying students on leadership and management for public health, working with communities, and communication skills.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe studied the toxicity of sediments downstream of lead-zinc mining areas in southeast Missouri, using chronic sediment toxicity tests with the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, and pore-water toxicity tests with the daphnid, Ceriodaphnia dubia. Tests conducted in 2002 documented reduced survival of amphipods in stream sediments collected near mining areas and reduced survival and reproduction of daphnids in most pore waters tested. Additional amphipod tests conducted in 2004 documented significant toxic effects of sediments from three streams downstream of mining areas: Strother Creek, West Fork Black River, and Bee Fork.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRationale: The number of innovative roles in nursing and midwifery has expanded considerably; however, the evidence base for the introduction of these roles is limited.
Aim: This study aimed to identify the managerial and developmental issues affecting those in innovative roles.
Methodological Design: A self-completion postal questionnaire was distributed to all innovative role holders in Northern Ireland, 450 responses were analysed.
The lower Missouri River was studied to determine the distribution of selected persistent organic pollutants and bioavailable metals in depositional sediments. Nineteen sites between Omaha, Nebraska and Jefferson City, Missouri were sampled. This stretch of the river receives point-source and non-point-source inputs from industrial, urban, and agricultural activities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: This paper is a report of a study to identify parents' perceptions of postpartum family experiences.
Background: There is a growing worldwide emphasis on family support. Government policy in the United Kingdom advocates a family-centred approach in which a core universal postbirth service is offered to all families with additional support for parents of children with complex needs.
Aims And Objectives: The aim of this paper is to provide insight into the role of a Stoma Coloproctology Nurse Specialist. This paper presents the findings of an in-depth case study of a stoma coloproctology nurse specialist employed in one health board area in Northern Ireland. This case study was part of a larger study exploring innovative nursing and midwifery roles in Northern Ireland.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: This paper reports a study exploring issues arising from the introduction of innovative nursing and midwifery roles from the perspective of healthcare managers.
Background: In recent years, the number of innovative roles in nursing and midwifery has increased dramatically across all areas of health care. A comprehensive literature review has shown that there is a scarcity of empirical studies to inform policy or the organizational context of this rapidly changing situation.
Background: The contribution of nurses to the public health agenda is acknowledged in all health care systems. To integrate public health into nursing curricula competency based models are being proposed. Despite general agreement on public health competencies, there has been limited research on how community nursing students self-assess their public health competencies and the impact of public health programmes on qualifying students' self-assessed competence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Antimicrob Agents
February 2006
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign is the first international, multiorganisation, multidisciplinary attempt to reduce the appalling morbidity and mortality related to sepsis. Under the auspices of the campaign, guidelines have been published that cover more than 50 aspects of care of the septic patient. Campaign guidelines on antimicrobial therapy cover very general aspects of antibiotic policy and are mostly supported by expert opinion rather than randomised controlled trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnaesthesia
November 2005
Considerable variation in end-of-life decision making is reported between intensive care units in the United Kingdom, possibly because of differences in casemix. Senior medical staff within any one unit should, however, be consistent in such decision making. We reviewed the medical records for a 4-year period to establish if there was consistency in our own unit.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArtificial leaf packs were used to determine the effects of an oil spill on stream macroinvertebrate communities in the Chariton River, Missouri. Plastic mesh leaf retainers with approximately 10 g of leaves from five tree species were deployed at five sites (two upstream of the spill and three downstream) immediately after the spill and one year later. Four macroinvertebrate species dominating the community at upstream sites were virtually eliminated below the spill, including the stonefly Isoperla bilineata, the caddisfly Potamyia flava, the midge Thienemanniella xena, and blackfly larvae (Simulium sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnaesth Intensive Care
October 2003
We investigated the efficacy of a new technique of epidural catheter fixation that relies on a strip of adhesive foam transfixed by a securing suture. We compared this technique to a tunnelled technique in a prospective, randomized trial (n = 25 in each group). Epidural catheter depth was recorded at the time of insertion and at the time of removal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe conducted an aquatic macroinvertebrate assessment in the channelized reach of the lower Missouri River, and used statistical analysis of individual metrics and multimetric scores to identify community response patterns and evaluate relative biological condition. We examined longitudinal site differences that are potentially associated with water quality related factors originating from the Kansas City metropolitan area, using data from coarse rock substrate in flowing water habitats (outside river bends), and depositional mud substrate in slack water habitats (dike fields). Three sites above river mile (RM) 369 in Kansas City (Nebraska City, RM = 560; St.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF