Probing Labdane-Related Diterpenoid Biosynthesis in the Fungal Genus Aspergillus.

While terpenoid production is generally associated with plants, a variety of fungi contain operons predicted to lead to such biosynthesis. Notably, fungi contain a number of cyclases characteristic of labdane-related diterpenoid metabolism, which have not been much explored. These also are often found near cytochrome P450 (CYP) mono-oxygenases that presumably further decorate the ensuing diterpene, suggesting that these fungi might produce more elaborate diterpenoids.

Youth in crisis in the Middle East and North Africa: a systematic literature review and focused landscape analysis.

Recent political and demographic factors have exposed the vulnerability of the youth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study aimed to elucidate the current needs, activities, stakeholders and solutions related to at-risk youth and young adults in the MENA region. A systematic literature review was conducted of the peer-reviewed and grey literature.

Characterization of an orphan diterpenoid biosynthetic operon from Salinispora arenicola.

While more commonly associated with plants than microbes, diterpenoid natural products have been reported to have profound effects in marine microbe-microbe interactions. Intriguingly, the genome of the marine bacterium Salinispora arenicola CNS-205 contains a putative diterpenoid biosynthetic operon, terp1. Here recombinant expression studies are reported, indicating that this three-gene operon leads to the production of isopimara-8,15-dien-19-ol (4).

Development of a community-based maternal, newborn and child emergency training package in South Sudan.

Objective: To develop an evidence-based maternal, newborn and child emergency training package for community-based frontline health workers (FHWs) in post-conflict South Sudan.

Methods: In partnership with the new Republic of South Sudan, a multimodal needs assessment was conducted through purposive sampling, involving key informant interviews, focus group discussions, provider knowledge assessments and facility surveys. Data were analyzed using traditional qualitative techniques and compared with existing training programmes and curricula.

Functional characterization of wheat ent-kaurene(-like) synthases indicates continuing evolution of labdane-related diterpenoid metabolism in the cereals.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa) are two of the most agriculturally important cereal crop plants. Rice is known to produce numerous diterpenoid natural products that serve as phytoalexins and/or allelochemicals. Specifically, these are labdane-related diterpenoids, derived from a characteristic labdadienyl/copalyl diphosphate (CPP), whose biosynthetic relationship to gibberellin biosynthesis is evident from the relevant expanded and functionally diverse family of ent-kaurene synthase-like (KSL) genes found in rice the (OsKSLs).

Evaluation of a novel training package among frontline maternal, newborn, and child health workers in South Sudan.

Objective: To develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based Maternal, Newborn, and Child Survival (MNCS) package for frontline health workers (FHWs) in South Sudan.

Methods: A multimodal needs assessment was conducted to develop a best-evidence package comprised of targeted training, pictorial checklists, and reusable equipment and commodities. Implementation utilized a training-of-trainers model.

Genetic evidence for natural product-mediated plant-plant allelopathy in rice (Oryza sativa).

• There is controversy as to whether specific natural products play a role in directly mediating antagonistic plant-plant interactions - that is, allelopathy. If proved to exist, such phenomena would hold considerable promise for agronomic improvement of staple food crops such as rice (Oryza sativa). • However, while substantiated by the presence of phytotoxic compounds at potentially relevant concentrations, demonstrating a direct role for specific natural products in allelopathy has been difficult because of the chemical complexity of root and plant litter exudates.

Domain loss has independently occurred multiple times in plant terpene synthase evolution.

The extensive family of plant terpene synthases (TPSs) generally has a bi-domain structure, yet phylogenetic analyses consistently indicate that these synthases have evolved from larger diterpene synthases. In particular, that duplication of the diterpene synthase genes required for gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis provided an early predecessor, whose loss of a approximately 220 amino acid 'internal sequence element' (now recognized as the γ domain) gave rise to the precursor of the modern mono- and sesqui-TPSs found in all higher plants. Intriguingly, TPSs are conserved by taxonomic relationships rather than function.

Bloodborne virus infections among drug users in Ireland: a retrospective cross-sectional survey of screening, prevalence, incidence and hepatitis B immunisation uptake.

Background: Injecting drug users are at high-risk of bloodborne virus infections including hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV.

Aims: To document screening for and immunisation against bloodborne viruses and to determine the known prevalence and incidence of these infections.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of clients attending 21 specialist addiction treatment clinics in one health board area in greater Dublin.

Specialized drug liaison midwife services for pregnant opioid dependent women in Dublin, Ireland.

The health needs of pregnant opioid dependent women are increasingly being recognized by health care professionals. These women generally receive limited antenatal care. Maternal and neonatal outcomes are also poorer compared to non-drug using women.

Sleep patterns among children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a reexamination of parent perceptions.

Surveyed parents of children with and without ADHD for their perceptions of their children's sleep patterns. All children had been referred for learning or behavior problems to an outpatient assessment center. Diagnoses of ADHD were based on DSM-III-R, rather than DSM-III criteria, avoiding a possible confound from diagnostic criteria that formerly included sleep disturbance as a defining characteristic of ADHD.