Genomic analysis of early ST32 Acinetobacter baumannii strains recovered in US military treatment facilities reveals distinct lineages and links to the origins of the Tn6168 ampC transposon.

Objectives: To study the population structure and genomic characteristics, including antimicrobial resistance genes, plasmid types and surface polysaccharide type, of the globally distributed Acinetobacter baumannii belonging to ST32 (Institut Pasteur scheme).

Methods: Antibiotic resistance phenotype for 19 antibiotics was determined using Vitek 2. Whole-genome sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform.

The Face and Features of RNU4-2: A New, Common, Recognizable, Yet Hidden Neurodevelopmental Disorder.

Background: RNU4-2 is a newly identified, noncoding gene responsible for a significant proportion of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Diagnosis is hampered by the inability of commonly employed clinical testing methods, including exome sequencing and currently formulated multigene panels, to detect variants in the noncoding region. The relatively high prevalence of this condition, predicted to affect thousands of undiagnosed children with NDDs, makes it even more relevant to have better tools to facilitate diagnosis.

Experiences and Attitudes Toward Telemedicine in an Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has driven a broader adoption of telemedicine (TM). We aim to describe adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patient experiences with TM and explore factors associated with positive attitude toward future TM visits. This is a cross-sectional, single-center study in an outpatient ACHD clinic from February to June, 2022.

Transposons Carrying the Aminoglycoside and Beta-Lactam Resistance Genes in .

This study examines the genetic contexts and evolutionary steps responsible for the formation of the widely spread transposon Tn carrying and which confers resistance to beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria. The and genes were found in several transposons. They were first observed within an IS bounded 3.

Deciphering Mechanochemical Influences of Emergent Actomyosin Crosstalk using QCM-D.

Purpose: Cytoskeletal protein ensembles exhibit emergent mechanics where behavior exhibited in teams is not necessarily the sum of the components' single molecule properties. In addition, filaments may act as force sensors that distribute feedback and influence motor protein behavior. To understand the design principles of such emergent mechanics, we developed an approach utilizing QCM-D to measure how actomyosin bundles respond mechanically to environmental variables that alter constituent myosin II motor behavior.

Genomic analysis of diverse environmental isolates identifies plasmids, antibiotic resistance genes, and capsular polysaccharides shared with clinical strains.

an important pathogen known for its widespread antibiotic resistance, has been the focus of extensive research within its genus, primarily involving clinical isolates. Consequently, data on environmental and other species remain limited. Here, we utilized Illumina and Nanopore sequencing to analyze the genomes of 10 isolates representing 6 different species sourced from aquatic environments in South Australia.

Professionally led support groups for people living with advanced or metastatic cancer: a systematic scoping review of effectiveness and factors critical to implementation success within real-world healthcare and community settings.

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of professionally led support groups for people with advanced or metastatic cancer, and identify factors critical to implementation success within real-world settings.

Methods: Databases (MEDLINE; PsychINFO; CINAHL) and grey literature were searched for empirical publications and evaluations. Articles were screened for eligibility and data systematically extracted, charted and summarised using a modified scoping review methodology.

The evolutionary tale of eight novel plasmids in a colistin-resistant environmental isolate.

is an important opportunistic pathogen known for its high levels of resistance to many antibiotics, particularly those considered last resorts such as colistin and carbapenems. Plasmids of this organism are increasingly associated with the spread of clinically important antibiotic resistance genes. Although is a ubiquitous organism, to date, most of the focus has been on studying strains recovered from clinical samples ignoring those isolated in the environment (soil, water, food, etc.

Molecular and cellular level characterization of cytoskeletal mechanics using a quartz crystal microbalance.

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is an instrument that has the ability to measure nanogram-level changes in mass on a quartz sensor and is traditionally used to probe surface interactions and assembly kinetics of synthetic systems. The addition of dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) facilitates the study of viscoelastic systems, such as those relevant to molecular and cellular mechanics. Due to real-time recording of frequency and dissipation changes and single protein-level precision, the QCM-D is effective in interrogating the viscoelastic properties of cell surfaces and in vitro cellular components.

Two eating disorder preventive interventions reduce attentional biases in body-dissatisfied university women: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of participation in the Body Project-a cognitive-dissonance-based preventive intervention that reduces self-reported body dissatisfaction-for reducing body-dissatisfaction-related attentional biases. We hypothesized that women in a Body Project condition would show a greater reduction in attentional biases to weight-related images and words at postintervention than women in a wait-list control condition.

Method: Body-dissatisfied university women ( = 168; = 20.

Ten simple rules on how to develop a stakeholder engagement plan.

To make research responsible and research outcomes meaningful, it is necessary to communicate our research and to involve as many relevant stakeholders as possible, especially in application-oriented-including information and communications technology (ICT)-research. Nowadays, stakeholder engagement is of fundamental importance to project success and achieving the expected impact and is often mandatory in a third-party funding context. Ultimately, research and development can only be successful if people react positively to the results and benefits generated by a project.

Diuretic use in the adult Fontan.

Objectives: To explore diuretic use in Fontan patients and its association with clinical features and adverse outcomes.

Background: In Fontan circulatory failure, ventricular dysfunction, chronically elevated systemic venous pressures, lymphatic abnormalities, and preload deprivation lead to volume expansion, prompting initiation of diuretics, yet use of diuretics has not been widely studied in the adult Fontan patient.

Methods: Single center retrospective review of Fontan patients ≥18 years between 2005 and 2018.

Clinical complications of liver disease in adults after the Fontan operation.

Background: The natural history and complications of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) are not well-characterized. We aim to describe the incidence and prevalence of and risk factors for adverse liver-related complications in FALD.

Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult Fontan patients followed in an adult congenital heart disease center from 2006 to 2019.

Cytokine-induced natural killer cell training is dependent on cellular metabolism and is defective in obesity.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a population of innate immune cells that can rapidly kill cancer cells and produce cytokines such as interferon-γ. A key feature of NK cells is their ability to respond without prior sensitization; however, it is now well established that NK cells can possess memory-like features. After activation with cytokines, NK cells demonstrate enhanced effector functions upon restimulation days or weeks later.

From inventories to inquiry: The use of leadership inventories in the context of an undergraduate research living-learning program.

Team research that is designed to maximize social impact first requires an in-depth understanding of self, values, personal characteristics, and collaboration. This article explores how leadership assessments and inventories can be utilized to enhance the development of the research process in the context of an intentionally scaffolded first-year course and the complementary curricula and team experience that follows. True Colors, Character Values Scale, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, CliftonStrengths, and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument will be discussed in this article.

Is it time to use nucleic acid amplification tests for identification of persons with sexually transmitted infections?: evidence from seroprevalence and behavioral epidemiology risk surveys in men with chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can cause multiple problems, and can be easily treated, but frequently present without symptoms. Because of this, commonly used syndromic diagnosis misses a majority of infected persons. Previously, diagnostic tests were expensive and invasive, but newer nucleic-acid amplification tests (NAATs) are available that use urine to non-invasively test for these infections.

Safety culture in a major accredited Irish university teaching hospital: a mixed methods study using the safety attitudes questionnaire.

Background: The measurement of safety culture, the way in which members of an organisation think about and prioritise safety, in a hospital can provide valuable insight and inform quality improvement strategies.

Aims: The aim of this study is to describe the safety culture of a university teaching hospital in the Republic of Ireland.

Methods: This is a mixed methods survey study using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ).

Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in MAIT cells limits IL-17 production in obesity.

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Obesity Reduces mTORC1 Activity in Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells, Driving Defective Metabolic and Functional Responses.

Obesity underpins the development of numerous chronic diseases, such as type II diabetes mellitus. It is well established that obesity negatively alters immune cell frequencies and functions. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a population of innate T cells, which we have previously reported are dysregulated in obesity, with altered circulating and adipose tissue frequencies and a reduction in their IFN-γ production, which is a critical effector function of MAIT cells in host defense.

Too little too late? Communication with patients with congenital heart disease about challenges of adult life.

Objective: To investigate the experiences and communication preferences of adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) in the domains of employment, insurance, and family planning.

Design: Patients ≥ 18 years of age completed a questionnaire about experiences and communication preferences regarding employment, health insurance, and family planning.

Results: Of 152 patients (median age = 33 years, 50% female, 35% with CHD of great complexity), one in four reported work-related problems due to CHD and a quarter also recalled a previous gap in health insurance.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing-A Valuable Tool, Not Gatekeeper When Referring Patients With Adult Congenital Heart Disease for Transplant Evaluation.

Introduction: Treatment of patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) with advanced therapies including heart transplant (HT) is often delayed due to paucity of objective prognostic markers for the severity of heart failure (HF). While the utility of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) in non-ACHD patients has been well-defined as it relates to prognosis, CPET for this purpose in ACHD is still under investigation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 20 consecutive patients with ACHD who underwent HT between March 2010 and February 2016.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults with systemic right ventricles referred for cardiac transplantation.

Background: Systemic right ventricular (RV) failure may progress necessitating referral for orthotropic heart transplantation (OHT). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) frequently coexists in adult congenital heart disease and can complicate the assessment for OHT.

Methods: Single-center case series of six patients (median age 34.

Accuracy of risk prediction scores in pregnant women with congenital heart disease.

Objective: To assess performance of risk stratification schemes in predicting adverse cardiac outcomes in pregnant women with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to compare these schemes to clinical factors alone.

Design: Single-center retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care academic hospital.