High-throughput protein characterization by complementation using DNA barcoded fragment libraries.

Our ability to predict, control, or design biological function is fundamentally limited by poorly annotated gene function. This can be particularly challenging in non-model systems. Accordingly, there is motivation for new high-throughput methods for accurate functional annotation.

Barcoded overexpression screens in gut Bacteroidales identify genes with roles in carbon utilization and stress resistance.

A mechanistic understanding of host-microbe interactions in the gut microbiome is hindered by poorly annotated bacterial genomes. While functional genomics can generate large gene-to-phenotype datasets to accelerate functional discovery, their applications to study gut anaerobes have been limited. For instance, most gain-of-function screens of gut-derived genes have been performed in Escherichia coli and assayed in a small number of conditions.

Variability in Resource Utilization in the Evaluation and Management of Simple Febrile Seizures Inpatients in US Children's Hospitals.

Objective: To characterize resource utilization in the evaluation and treatment of hospitalized simple febrile seizure (SFS) patients in US tertiary pediatric hospitals.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System from 2010 to 2015. Children 6 months to 5 years of age who were inpatients with a diagnosis of SFS.

Genetic Predictive Factors for Nonsusceptible Phenotypes and Multidrug Resistance in Expanded-Spectrum Cephalosporin-Resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli from a Multicenter Cohort: Insights into the Phenotypic and Genetic Basis of Coresistance.

Antimicrobial resistance in urinary tract infections (UTIs) is a major public health concern. This study aims to characterize the phenotypic and genetic basis of multidrug resistance (MDR) among expanded-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant (ESCR) uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) causing UTIs in California patient populations. Between February and October 2019, 577 ESCR UPEC isolates were collected from patients at 6 clinical laboratory sites across California.

Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality of Patients With COVID-19 Who Undergo Urgent and Emergent Surgical Procedures.

Objective: To evaluate the perioperative morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19 who undergo urgent and emergent surgery.

Summary Background Data: Although COVID-19 infection is usually associated with mild disease, it can lead to severe respiratory complications. Little is known about the perioperative outcomes of patients with COVID-19.

Coronavirus Spectrum Infections (COVID-19, MERS, SARS) in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly around the world to become a global pandemic. There is limited data on the impact of COVID-19 among patients with cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was performed to determine outcomes of adult patients with cancer affected by coronavirus infections, specifically SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.

Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients With Reduced Versus Preserved Ejection Fraction After Noncardiac Surgery.

Objective: To compare outcome after noncardiac surgery between HF patients with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction.

Summary Of Background Data: HF patients who undergo major noncardiac surgery have higher risks of morbidity and mortality compared to the general population. However, it is unclear whether HF subtypes confer different risk.

Molecular basis for catabolism of the abundant metabolite -4-hydroxy-L-proline by a microbial glycyl radical enzyme.

The glycyl radical enzyme (GRE) superfamily utilizes a glycyl radical cofactor to catalyze difficult chemical reactions in a variety of anaerobic microbial metabolic pathways. Recently, a GRE, -4-hydroxy-L-proline (Hyp) dehydratase (HypD), was discovered that catalyzes the dehydration of Hyp to ()-Δ-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C). This enzyme is abundant in the human gut microbiome and also present in prominent bacterial pathogens.

Epidemiology and Resource Utilization of Simple Febrile Seizure-associated Hospitalizations in the United States, 2003-2012.

Background: Simple febrile seizure (SFS) affects 2% to 4% of children under 6 years of age. The purpose of this study is to examine the epidemiologic patterns and resource utilization of SFS-associated hospitalizations in children aged younger than 6 years of age in the United States.

Materials And Methods: This study is a serial, retrospective analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Databases for the years 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012.

Anaerobic 4-hydroxyproline utilization: Discovery of a new glycyl radical enzyme in the human gut microbiome uncovers a widespread microbial metabolic activity.

The discovery of enzymes responsible for previously unappreciated microbial metabolic pathways furthers our understanding of host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. We recently identified and characterized a new gut microbial glycyl radical enzyme (GRE) responsible for anaerobic metabolism of trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline (Hyp). Hyp dehydratase (HypD) catalyzes the removal of water from Hyp to generate Δ-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C).

Use of Anesthesia for Imaging Studies and Interventional Procedures in Children.

Ongoing investigation from the Pediatric Anesthesia NeuroDevelopment Assessment (PANDA) study hopes to examine the long-term effect on cognitive and language development of a single anesthetic exposure in children undergoing inguinal hernia repair. The fifth PANDA Symposium, held in April 2016, continued the mission of previous symposia to examine evidence from basic science and clinical studies on potential neurotoxic effects of anesthetics on developing brain. At the 2016 Symposium, a panel of specialists from nonsurgical pediatric disciplines including anesthesiology, radiology, neurology, gastroenterology, oncology, cardiology, and critical care reviewed use of anesthesia in their practices, including how concern over possible neurodevelopmental effects of early childhood anesthetic exposure has changed discussion with patients and families regarding risks and benefits of imaging studies and interventional procedures involving sedation or anesthesia.

Analysis of MRI Utilization in Pediatric Patients.

Introduction: Although animal studies have consistently demonstrated long-term neurocognitive deficits following early anesthetic exposure under certain conditions, risk in human children remains unknown. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in young patients often requires anesthesia to facilitate image acquisition. We studied MRI utilization in a pediatric population, and associated use of anesthesia for ambulatory MRI.

Truncal blocks for perioperative pain management: a review of the literature and evolving techniques.

As the American healthcare system continues to evolve and reimbursement becomes tied to value-based incentive programs, perioperative pain management will become increasingly important. Regional anesthetic techniques are only one component of a successful multimodal pain regimen. In recent years, the use of peripheral and paraneuraxial blocks to provide chest wall and abdominal analgesia has gained popularity.

Skeletal muscle differentiation evokes endogenous XIAP to restrict the apoptotic pathway.

Myotube apoptosis occurs normally during muscle development and aging but it can lead to destruction of skeletal muscle in neuromuscular diseases. Therefore, understanding how myotube apoptosis is regulated is important for developing novel strategies for treatment of muscle loss. We investigated the regulation of apoptosis in skeletal muscle and report a striking increase in resistance to apoptosis following differentiation.

Differential Apaf-1 levels allow cytochrome c to induce apoptosis in brain tumors but not in normal neural tissues.

Brain tumors are typically resistant to conventional chemotherapeutics, most of which initiate apoptosis upstream of mitochondrial cytochrome c release. In this study, we demonstrate that directly activating apoptosis downstream of the mitochondria, with cytosolic cytochrome c, kills brain tumor cells but not normal brain tissue. Specifically, cytosolic cytochrome c is sufficient to induce apoptosis in glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cell lines.