Developing quality fidelity and engagement measures for complex health interventions.

Objectives: To understand whether interventions are effective, we need to know whether the interventions are delivered as planned (with fidelity) and engaged with. To measure fidelity and engagement effectively, high-quality measures are needed. We outline a five-step method which can be used to develop quality measures of fidelity and engagement for complex health interventions.

Two-site recognition of Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan by lysostaphin SH3b.

Lysostaphin is a bacteriolytic enzyme targeting peptidoglycan, the essential component of the bacterial cell envelope. It displays a very potent and specific activity toward staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Lysostaphin causes rapid cell lysis and disrupts biofilms, and is therefore a therapeutic agent of choice to eradicate staphylococcal infections.

Fluid Structure of Molten LiCl-Li Solutions.

Molten mixtures of lithium chloride and metallic lithium (LiCl-Li) play an essential role in the electrolytic reduction of various metal oxides. These mixtures possess unique high temperature physical and chemical properties that have been investigated for decades. However, due to their extreme chemical reactivity, no study to date has been capable of definitively proving the basic physical nature of Li dissolution in molten LiCl.

Neuronal over-expression of Oxr1 is protective against ALS-associated mutant TDP-43 mislocalisation in motor neurons and neuromuscular defects in vivo.

A common pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the related neurodegenerative disorder frontotemporal dementia, is the cellular mislocalization of transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43). Additionally, multiple mutations in the TARDBP gene (encoding TDP-43) are associated with familial forms of ALS. While the exact role for TDP-43 in the onset and progression of ALS remains unclear, the identification of factors that can prevent aberrant TDP-43 localization and function could be clinically beneficial.

A flavin-dependent monooxgenase confers resistance to chlorantraniliprole in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, is a damaging pest of cruciferous crops, and has evolved resistance to many of the insecticides used for control, including members of the diamide class. Previous work on the molecular basis of resistance to diamides has documented mutations in the target-site, the ryanodine receptor, in resistant populations of P. xylostella worldwide.

Paramagnetic relaxation enhancement-assisted structural characterization of a partially disordered conformation of ubiquitin.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful tool to study three-dimensional structures as well as protein conformational fluctuations in solution, but it is compromised by increases in peak widths and missing signals. We previously reported that ubiquitin has two folded conformations, N and N and plus another folded conformation, I, in which some amide group signals of residues 33-41 almost disappeared above 3 kbar at pH 4.5 and 273 K.

Elucidating the Molecular Determinants of Aβ Aggregation with Deep Mutational Scanning.

Despite the importance of Aβ aggregation in Alzheimer's disease etiology, our understanding of the sequence determinants of aggregation is sparse and largely derived from studies. For example, proline and alanine scanning mutagenesis of Aβ proposed core regions important for aggregation. However, we lack even this limited mutagenesis data for the more disease-relevant Aβ Thus, to better understand the molecular determinants of Aβ aggregation in a cell-based system, we combined a yeast DHFR aggregation assay with deep mutational scanning.

Functions of subventricular zone neural precursor cells in stroke recovery.

The proliferation and ectopic migration of neural precursor cells (NPCs) in response to ischemic brain injury was first reported two decades ago. Since then, studies of brain injury-induced subventricular zone cytogenesis, primarily in rodent models, have provided insight into the cellular and molecular determinants of this phenomenon and its modulation by various factors. However, despite considerable correlational evidence-and some direct evidence-to support contributions of NPCs to behavioral recovery after stroke, the causal mechanisms have not been identified.

Research priorities for young people with cancer: a UK priority setting partnership with the James Lind Alliance.

Objectives: To conduct a UK-wide survey of young people who have experienced cancer, carers and professionals, to identify and prioritise research questions to inform decisions of research funders and support the case for research with this unique cancer population.

Design: James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership.

Setting: UK health service and community.

Specific Gene Disruption in the Major Livestock Pests and Using CRISPR/Cas9.

and are major pests of livestock. Their larvae infest warm-blooded vertebrates and feed on host's tissues, resulting in severe industry losses. As they are serious pests, considerable effort has been made to develop genomic resources and functional tools aiming to improve their management and control.

Real World Effectiveness of Golimumab Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis Regardless of Prior TNF Exposure.

Background: The efficacy of golimumab to induce and maintain remission in biologic-naïve patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is established from placebo-controlled trials. However, golimumab's real-world effectiveness, important to physicians and payers, remains unexplored.

Aim: The goal of this study was to describe real-world use and rate of persistence among UC patients with golimumab therapy and to assess factors that predict discontinuation during golimumab maintenance treatment.

Family Physician Burnout and Resilience: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Current physician burnout levels are at historically high levels, especially in family medicine, with many factors playing a role. The goal of this study was to understand demographic, psychological, environmental, behavioral, and workplace characteristics that impact physician wellness and burnout, focusing on family medicine physicians and residents.

Methods: Survey respondents were 295 family medicine residents and faculty members across 11 residency programs within the Residency Research Network of Texas (RRNeT).

O1 and O2ac antigens provide prototypes for an unusual strategy for polysaccharide antigen diversification.

A limited range of different structures is observed in O-antigenic polysaccharides (OPSs) from lipopolysaccharides. Among these, several are based on modifications of a conserved core element of serotype O2a OPS, which has a disaccharide repeat structure [→3)-α-d-Gal-(1→3)-β-d-Gal-(1→]. Here, we describe the enzymatic pathways for a highly unusual modification strategy involving the attachment of a second glycan repeat-unit structure to the nonreducing terminus of O2a.

Identification and functional characterisation of a novel N-cyanoamidine neonicotinoid metabolising cytochrome P450, CYP9Q6, from the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris.

Recent work has shown that two bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) cytochrome P450s of the CYP9Q subfamily, CYP9Q4 and CYP9Q5, are important biochemical determinants of sensitivity to neonicotinoid insecticides. Here, we report the characterisation of a third P450 gene CYP9Q6, previously mis-annotated in the genome of B. terrestris, encoding an enzyme that metabolises the N-cyanoamidine neonicotinoids thiacloprid and acetamiprid with high efficiency.

AYA testis cancer: The unmet challenge.

Testis cancer is considered a rare-incidence cancer but comprises the third most common cancer diagnosed within the adolescent and young adult (AYA) years (15-39 years). Most testis cancer patients can anticipate a survival outcome in excess of 95%. However, there are subgroups of AYA patients where outcomes are considerably worse, including younger adolescents, patients with certain histological subtypes, or from certain ethnic backgrounds.

Using Public Cost Information During Low Back Pain Visits: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Patients desire information about health care costs because they are increasingly responsible for these costs. Public Web sites that offer cost information could inform provider-patient discussions of costs at the point of care.

Objective: To evaluate tools to facilitate the use of publicly available cost information during clinical visits for low back pain (LBP).

Decoration of the enterococcal polysaccharide antigen EPA is essential for virulence, cell surface charge and interaction with effectors of the innate immune system.

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen with an intrinsically high resistance to lysozyme, a key effector of the innate immune system. This high level of resistance requires a complex network of transcriptional regulators and several genes (oatA, pgdA, dltA and sigV) acting synergistically to inhibit both the enzymatic and cationic antimicrobial peptide activities of lysozyme. We sought to identify novel genes modulating E.

Research using electronic health records: Balancing confidentiality and public good.

General practitioners are increasingly approached to participate in research and share de-identified patient information. Research using electronic health records has considerable potential for improving the quality and safety of patient care. Obtaining individual patient consent for the use of the information is usually not feasible.

Psychological distress among persons with upper extremity limb loss.

Objective: We examined predictors of clinically significant levels of psychological distress among individuals with upper limb loss (ULL).

Design: A multisite, cross-sectional study completed at six prosthetic rehabilitation centres throughout the United States.

Methods: Oral administration of a brief assessment battery to 307 participants with ULL including demographic variables, injury information, screening instruments for PTSD and depression, pain interference, and activity restriction measures.

Ecological and sociopolitical assessment of congressional and presidential designation of federal protected areas.

Protected areas are one of the most effective means by which biodiversity is conserved, but are often criticized for either neglecting the importance of local communities or sacrificing conservation objectives for political expedience. In the United States, federal protected areas can be designated via a democratic legislation process or via executive action, which allows for comparison of the ecological and sociopolitical context of these top-down and bottom-up processes. We compared protected areas resulting from congressional designation vs.

Exploring the value of social network 'care maps' in the provision of long-term conditions care.

Objectives: There is renewed attention to the role of social networks as part of person-centred long-term conditions care. We sought to explore the benefits of 'care maps' - a patient-identified social network map of their care community - for health professionals in providing person-centred care.

Methods: We piloted care maps with 39 patients with long-term conditions in three urban and one rural general practice and two hospital wards.

Dissonance on perceptions of end-of-life needs between health-care providers and members of the public: Quantitative cross-sectional surveys.

Objective: To investigate views, determinants and barriers to end-of-life discussions for doctors, nurses and members of the public (MoP) and their acceptability of risk prediction tools.

Methods: Concurrent surveys of 360 doctors and nurses and 497 MoP.

Results: Sixty per cent of clinicians reported high confidence in initiating end-of-life discussions, and 55.

The challenge of differentiating vaso-occlusive crises from osteomyelitis in children with sickle cell disease and bone pain: A 15-year retrospective review.

Purpose: The paediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) osteomyelitis (OM) incidence is 0.3% to 12%. Differentiating vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) from OM is a diagnostic challenge, with limited evidence guiding management.

Structural Investigation into the Threading Intercalation of a Chiral Dinuclear Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex through a B-DNA Oligonucleotide.

Herein we report the separation of the three stereoisomers of the DNA light-switch compound [{Ru(bpy)}(tpphz)] (tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3″,2″-h:2‴,3‴-j]phenazine) by column chromatography and the characterization of each stereoisomer by X-ray crystallography. The interaction of these compounds with a DNA octanucleotide d(GCATATCG).d(CGATATGC) has been studied using NMR techniques.