Microbial and immune faecal determinants in infants hospitalized with COVID-19 reflect bifidobacterial dysbiosis and immature intestinal immunity.

Unlabelled: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly worldwide, seriously endangering human health. Although SARS-CoV-2 had a lower impact on paediatric population, children with COVID-19 have been reported as suffering from gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms at a higher rate than adults. The aim of this work was to evaluate faeces as a source of potential biomarkers of severity in the paediatric population, with an emphasis on intestinal microbiota and faecal immune mediators, trying to identify possible dysbiosis and immune intestinal dysfunction associated with the risk of hospitalization.

[Insufficient elevation of TSH before therapy with I131 in a patient with metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma].

Guidelines suggest a thyrotropin (TSH) stimulation level ≥30 mIU/l for the administration of 131-iodine (I131) in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). We present a patient with follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), with spinal metastasis as the initial manifestation, who after 6 weeks without levothyroxine did not present an elevation of ≥30 mIU/l of TSH. This situation was interpreted as secondary to the presence of functioning metastases and it was decided, regardless of the TSH level, to administer a therapeutic dose of I131, with iodine-uptake lesions in the liver and spine being confirmed.

Is there an association between sleep quality and magnitude of capability?

Purpose: Given the stigma surrounding mental health, a discussion of how symptoms interfere with sleep might be a useful first step to identify unhelpful thoughts or feelings of distress. We asked: 1) Does sleep quality have an association with magnitude of incapability and pain intensity independent of mental health? and 2) Are mental health factors associated with sleep quality?

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of one hundred and fifty-four patients seeking musculoskeletal care who completed measures of magnitude of capability, pain intensity, unhelpful thoughts regarding symptoms (catastrophic thinking, negative pain thoughts), distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression), and sleep disturbance. We tested factors associated with the magnitude of capability and pain intensity, accounting for sleep quality and mental health in multivariable models.

African Swine Fever Virus Gene B117L Encodes a Small Protein Endowed with Low-pH-Dependent Membrane Permeabilizing Activity.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is causing a devastating pandemic in domestic and wild swine in Central Europe to East Asia, resulting in economic losses for the swine industry. The virus contains a large double-stranded DNA genome that contains more than 150 genes, most with no experimentally characterized function. In this study, we evaluate the potential function of the product of ASFV gene B117L, a 115-amino-acid integral membrane protein transcribed at late times during the virus replication cycle and showing no homology to any previously published protein.

People Have Mixed Reactions to Both Physiological and Psychological Explanations of Disproportionate Pain.

Background: There are two general frameworks that conceptualize pain that is more intense or persistent than expected based on measurable pathologic findings: the psychological (unhelpful thoughts and emotions) and the physiological (purported nervous system dysfunction, such as central sensitization). Some clinicians believe people will be more receptive to a physiological conceptualization. Prior quantitative research demonstrated that carefully crafted psychological explanations are rated similarly to crafted physiological explanations, with relatively mixed reactions.

[To give care while taking the Milky Way].

As an individual choice of the mother to feed her newborn and to weave a special bond with him, breastfeeding, whose benefits are multiple, is strongly encouraged by paediatricians and midwives. The return to work at the end of maternity leave is often an obstacle to the continuation of this method of infant feeding. However, adjustments are possible, even for salaried carers who, as one young woman acting as a health executive testifies, wish to combine professional practice with continued breastfeeding in order to remain in line with their choices.

Metabolically healthy obesity and metabolically obese normal weight: a review.

Despite the general relationship between obesity and its co-morbidities, there are both obese individuals who scarcely present the associated pathologies (metabolically healthy obese; MHO) and individuals who present obesity alterations despite having normal weight (metabolically obese normal weight; MONW). It is still difficult to define metabolically MHO and MONW individuals because different classifications have been used in the studies reported. Indeed, different inclusion criteria have been used to discriminate between metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy subjects.

Can Crafted Communication Strategies Allow Musculoskeletal Specialists to Address Health Within the Biopsychosocial Paradigm?

Background: Musculoskeletal specialists who attempt to discuss the connection between mental health (thoughts and emotions) and physical health (symptom intensity and activity tolerance) with patients, may fear that they risk offending those patients. In a search for language that creates comfort with difficult conversations, some specialists favor a biomedical framework, such as central sensitization, which posits abnormal central neuron activity. Without addressing the relative accuracy of mind- or brain-based conceptualizations, we addressed crafted and practiced communication strategies as conversation starters that allow specialists to operate within a biopsychosocial framework without harming the relationship with the patient.

Is It Time to Replace the Oswestry Index With PROMIS Physical Function Computer Adaptive Test?

Objective: To address the relative influence of psychological factors on variation in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI) scores.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: We enrolled patients with low back pain, presenting to clinicians specializing in the treatment of spine conditions in a large urban area.

Psychosocial Factors Are Associated with Electronic Portal Registration.

Background: Electronic health records often include a portal for secure patient-clinician communication. There is evidence that use of electronic portals increases satisfaction, treatment adherence, safety, and clinical outcomes. We want everyone to enjoy these benefits and we noticed low and uneven portal use.

The ability of a host plant to associate with different symbiotic partners affects ectomycorrhizal functioning.

Some plants that associate with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are also able to simultaneously establish symbiosis with other types of partners. The presence of alternative partners that may provide similar benefits may affect ECM functioning. Here we compared potential leucine-aminopeptidase (LA) and acid phosphatase (AP) enzyme activity (involved in N and P cycling, respectively) in ECM fungi of three hosts planted under the same conditions but differing in the type of partners: Pinus (ECM fungi only), Eucalyptus (ECM and arbuscular mycorrhizal -AM- fungi) and Acacia (ECM, AM fungi and rhizobial bacteria).

[Hypnosis and intensive care nursing, fusion or fiction?].

For some time, hypnosis and physical therapy techniques have had the wind in their sails. Numerous media reports extol their benefits for patients. However, in concrete terms, how do these techniques impact on the everyday life of a team and can hypnosis find its place in nursing care in an intensive care unit? This article provides some answers through the experience of a nurse and the work of a whole team.

[Improving communication by adopting a positive relational attitude].

In their daily practice caregivers are in constant communication with patients and families. However, as they deliver the care, are teams always mindful of the issues at stake with regard to the comments they make and the attitudes they adopt? Is the professional language always adapted to the situation? This article attempts to offer solutions by explaining the principles of hypnotic communication which facilitates relationships, including with the teams.

Seasonal dynamics of extraradical mycelium and mycorrhizas in a black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) plantation.

Seasonal dynamics of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) extraradical mycelium as well as the associated mycorrhizal community have been evaluated in a 16-year-old plantation with productive and non-productive trees. Mycelium biomass was seasonally quantified by real-time PCR over two consecutive years and the correlation with environmental variables explored. Extraradical mycelium biomass varied seasonally and between the two consecutive years, being correlated with the precipitation that occurred 1 month before sampling.

Total organic carbon (VCSN and VWP) and HPLC analysis for cleaning validation in a pharmaceutical pilot plant.

This paper presents a useful method using total organic carbon analyzers employing both combustion and wet oxidation for validating equipment cleaning procedures and verifying cleaning in a pharmaceutical pilot plant. The results are compared with those obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography. The study summarizes the initial steps that should be taken into account and focuses particularly on the solutions to some of the most critical considerations (e.

Evaluation of cell-surface IgE receptors on the canine mastocytoma cell line C2 maintained in continuous culture.

Objective: To assess expression and function of cell-surface IgE receptors on the canine mastocytoma cell line C2 maintained in continuous culture.

Sample Population: C2 cells maintained in medium lacking IgE for up to 10 passages before being stored at -80 C.

Procedure: Cells were thawed, cultured in medium without IgE for 1 to 3 passages, sensitized for 7 days with IgE-rich serum from dogs naturally sensitized to Ascaris suum, and stimulated with antigen Asc S1 from A suum, goat polyclonal anti-canine IgE, or calcium ionophore and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA).

In vitro inhibitory effect of rupatadine on histamine and TNF-alpha release from dispersed canine skin mast cells and the human mast cell line HMC-1.

Objective And Design: To examine the inhibitory potential of rupatadine, a new H1-antihistamine and anti-PAF agent, on histamine and TNF-alpha release. Comparison with an H1-antihistamine (loratadine) and a PAF-antagonist (SR-27417A).

Material: Dispersed canine skin mast cells were used to assess the effect of the drugs tested on FcepsilonRI-dependent and -independent histamine release; the human HMC-1 cell line was used to study TNF-alpha release.

Stem cell factor enhances IgE-mediated histamine and TNF-alpha release from dispersed canine cutaneous mast cells.

Stem cell factor (SCF), the c-kit receptor ligand, plays a critical role in mast cell (MC) development and differentiation. In addition, SCF has recently been found to both modulate and induce MC activation. To investigate the effect of SCF on canine cutaneous MC function, we have characterized the ability of SCF to modulate the release by mature canine MC of preformed (histamine) and newly generated (TNF-alpha) mediators.

Clinical anti-inflammatory efficacy of arofylline, a new selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Forty atopic dogs were studied for 28 days after the oral administration of four randomised treatments: (A) arofylline (1 mg/kg) twice daily for four weeks; (B) prednisone (0.5 mg/kg) twice daily for the first week, once a day during the second week and every 48 hours for the remaining two weeks; (C) prednisone following the same protocol but at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg; or (D) arofylline (1 mg/kg) twice daily for four weeks plus prednisone (0.

Comparative study of histamine release from skin mast cells dispersed from atopic, ascaris-sensitive and healthy dogs.

Atopic dermatitis results from the interaction between allergen and allergen-specific IgE bound to the mast cell surface receptors. This process triggers mast cell degranulation and accounts at least for early phase reaction. Furthermore, there is increasing in vitro and in vivo evidence that IgE has the ability to induce overexpression of the Fc epsilonRI receptor on the mast cell plasma membrane.

Rupatadine, a new potent, orally active dual antagonist of histamine and platelet-activating factor (PAF).

Rupatadine (UR-12592, 8-chloro-6, 11-dihydro-11-[1-[(5-methyl3-pyridinyl) methyl]-4-piperidinylidene]-5H-benzo[5,6]-cyclohepta[1,2b]pyridine ) is a novel compound that inhibits both platelet-activating factor (PAF) and histamine (H1) effects through its interaction with specific receptors (Ki(app) values against [3H]WEB-2086 binding to rabbit platelet membranes and [3H]-pyrilamine binding to guinea pig cerebellum membranes were 0.55 and 0.10 microM, respectively).