Date Of Collection Research Articles

Influence of age and seasonality on boar seminal plasma steroids quantification: A preliminary study.

Seasonal changes, especially temperature and photoperiod, are well-known determining factors of swine reproductive capacity, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of age and seasonal variations on boar seminal plasma steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], cortisol [CORT], and testosterone [TEST]) over 1 year. Four commercial hybrid adult boars (Large White × Duroc), aged between 12 and 44 months, were repeatedly evaluated at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna. Daily temperature and light hours relating to the collection date were considered for each observation within the four astronomical seasons: Winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Hormones were quantified using radioimmunoassay. The association between seasonal factors and hormone concentrations was evaluated using linear regression models. Univariate models were estimated for each hormone to assess the influence of the independent variables; two multivariate models were assessed to evaluate the effect of temperature and daylight hours, including boar and season factors. Age significantly affected all analyzed hormones (CORT p < 0.0001; DHEA p < 0.0001; and TEST p < 0.0001). The highest average levels were found for each hormone during summertime, suggesting a positive correlation between steroid concentrations with temperature and light hours. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the increase in external temperature and light hours is somehow associated with higher levels of steroid concentrations in the seminal plasma of in-housed boars. These findings may help further investigate seasonal fluctuations in reproductive outcomes, which are well-known for porcine species.

Early infant diagnosis of HIV infection: a mixed-method study of uptake and challenges at primary health centers in Lagos State, Nigeria

IntroductionNigeria has a low uptake of early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV despite its high pediatric HIV infection rate. Efforts to increase the EID of HIV have been limited by many factors. This research assessed EID uptake and challenges service providers experienced in providing routine care for HIV-exposed infants.MethodsThis is a mixed-method study at primary health centers (PHCs) in Lagos state, Nigeria. The quantitative component of the research was a review of the PMTCT Infant Follow-up Register at a purposive sample of 22 PHCs of Lagos State. The number of HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) returned for a dried blood sample (DBS) collection, date of collection, and the infant’s EID results for one year preceding the study were captured on Research Electronic Data Capture (RedCap). In-depth interviews were conducted with service providers purposively selected per participating PHC. Electronic transcripts were analyzed using MAXQDA 2020 (VERBI Software, 2019).ResultsTwenty-two Lagos State primary health centers participated in the research. Fifteen PHCs (68.2%) had PMTCT HIV counseling and Infant follow-up registers. Documentation of DBS sample collection was observed in 12 (54.6%) PHCs. Both DBS sample collection and EID results documentation were observed in only nine (40.9%) PHCs. In-depth interviews revealed both maternal and health systems’ challenges to EID. The denial of HIV status was the only maternal factor reported as a barrier against the use of EID services. Health systems challenges include unavailability of EID services, uncertainty regarding whether EID is performed in a facility, referral to secondary health facilities for EID services (leading to losses to follow-up), and delay in getting results of EID. Task-shifting of DBS collection by nurses was suggested as means to increase access to EID services.ConclusionsThere is a need to expand EID services and address women’s denial of HIV infection. Counseling women and linkage to available services are emphasized. Re-training of health workers on DBS collection and proper documentation of EID services were noted as key to improving the implementation of early infant diagnosis of HIV in the state.

A-297 Usefulness of Non-Skin Samples in the PCR Diagnosis of Monkeypox

Abstract Background During 2022, human mpox cases were reported in several European countries. Until November 2022, in Spain, 7404 cases were detected, most of them linked to sexual intercourse. In that context, fast identification of cases and sources of infection were essential for an optimal management. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was the preferred laboratory test. Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of sera and nasopharyngeal samples for MPXV detection, and its application in contact studies without skin or mucosal injuries. Methods In the Hospital Clínico Universitario of Zaragoza (Spain), 106 samples from 50 patients, 38 male and 12 female, aged between 11 to 62 years, with skin lesions suspected MPXV infection were analysed. Samples were collected between May and September 2022 in inactivating universal viral transport medium (Biocomma). Samples were obtained between 1 and 19 days of evolution. To perform the real-time PCR, the VIASURE Monkeypox Virus Real Time PCR Detection Kit and the VIASURE 48—Real Time PCR System were used. Nucleic acid extraction was performed with the automated nucleic acid extraction system MagLEAD12gC using the MagDEA®Dx SV reagents. Results Table 1 shows the results expressed in Ct values. Skin, anogenital and serum samples were the most efficient for MPXV diagnosis. Nevertheless, these data are influenced by the sample collection date. Conclusion Real-time PCR was positive in samples from all locations in 71,4% of the infected patients. Respiratory samples (pharyngeal and nasopharyngeal) were the ones that showed the highest number of false negative results, whereas there was only one skin sample and one serum sample with a negative result. This study shows that sera samples can be used in the diagnosis of MPXV infection because of ease of collection, applicability to contacts without lesions and the option of serology testing for other STI agents (HBV, HCV, HIV, Treponema pallidum…).

A comparison of methods to detect low levels of Salmonella enterica in surface waters to support antimicrobial resistance surveillance efforts performed in multiple laboratories

Developing effective and sensitive detection methods for antimicrobial resistant Salmonella enterica from surface water is a goal of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). There are no specified methods for recovery of S. enterica in surface waters in the U.S. A multi-laboratory evaluation of four methods - bulk water enrichment (BW), vertical Modified Moore Swab (VMMS), modified Standard Method 9260.B2 (SM), and dead-end ultrafiltration (DEUF) – was undertaken to recover S. enterica from surface water. In Phase 1, one-liter volumes of water were collected from the same site on five different dates. Water was shipped and analyzed at four different laboratory locations (A, B, C, and D) for recovery of 1) inoculated fluorescent S. Typhimurium strain (ca. 30 CFU/L) and 2) Salmonella present in the water sampled. At each location, BW, VMMS, or SM recovery was performed on five separate 1 L water samples. Twenty 1 L water samples were subjected to each recovery method, and overall, sixty 1 L samples were assayed for Salmonella. Inoculated, fluorescent Salmonella Typhimurium and environmental Salmonella spp. were recovered from 65 % (39/60) and 45 % (27/60) of water samples, respectively. BW, VMMS, and SM recovered fluorescent S. Typhimurium from 60 %, 60 %, and 75 % of inoculated samples, respectively. Analysis by Chi-squared test determined laboratory location had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on fluorescent S. Typhimurium recovery compared to method or date of water collection. In Phase 2, recovery of inoculated fluorescent S. Typhimurium from 1 L samples by SM and DEUF was compared at laboratory locations B and D. SM and DEUF recovered fluorescent S. Typhimurium from 100 % (20/20) and 95 % (19/20) of inoculated water samples, respectively; laboratory location (p > 0.05) did not affect Salmonella recovery. Uniform laboratory methodology and training should be prioritized in conducting Salmonella recovery from surface water in laboratories.

Microfungi in the phyllosphere of &lt;i&gt;Senecio umbrosus&lt;/i&gt; Waldst. et Kit., a host species with a narrow ecological niche

Among the biotic factors that limit plant growth, population size, and reproduction, there is a mass appearance of microscopic parasitic fungi. The aim of the study was to determine the spectrum of the microfungi and the degree of leaf surface infection in the ragwort &lt;i&gt;Senecio umbrosus&lt;/i&gt;, i.e., one of the Polish red data book species. In 2014–2016, studies on the diversity and dynamics of microfungi were carried out within its population on White Mt, southeastern Poland, where it grows in xerothermic habitats. During three seasons (6 collection series between May and October), 15 microfungal species were identified in total (1–9 species per one collection date, 9 species in each season). Only &lt;i&gt;Coleosporium tussilaginis&lt;/i&gt; was present in all study dates, and it accounted for 30–100% of all records of the microfungi. Three hyperparasites were also identified on &lt;i&gt;C. tussilaginis&lt;/i&gt;: &lt;i&gt;Cladosporium uredinicola, Ramularia coleosporii&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;Alternaria&lt;/i&gt; sp. The other taxa were found five (&lt;i&gt;Boeremia exigua, Leptosphaeria ogilviensis&lt;/i&gt;), four (&lt;i&gt;Alternaria&lt;/i&gt; sp.), or three times (&lt;i&gt;Ascochyta compositarum, Periconia cookei&lt;/i&gt;), but the majority of the microfungi were noted twice or only once, depending on meteorological conditions in a given growing season. Among common species of microfungi, we collected &lt;i&gt;Ascochyta compositarum&lt;/i&gt;, which is a new species for Poland. Additionally, we found new fungus/host plant combinations for &lt;i&gt;C. tussilaginis&lt;/i&gt;.

Nowcasting the 2022 mpox outbreak in England.

In May 2022, a cluster of mpox cases were detected in the UK that could not be traced to recent travel history from an endemic region. Over the coming months, the outbreak grew, with over 3000 total cases reported in the UK, and similar outbreaks occurring worldwide. These outbreaks appeared linked to sexual contact networks between gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, local health systems were strained, and therefore effective surveillance for mpox was essential for managing public health policy. However, the mpox outbreak in the UK was characterised by substantial delays in the reporting of the symptom onset date and specimen collection date for confirmed positive cases. These delays led to substantial backfilling in the epidemic curve, making it challenging to interpret the epidemic trajectory in real-time. Many nowcasting models exist to tackle this challenge in epidemiological data, but these lacked sufficient flexibility. We have developed a nowcasting model using generalised additive models that makes novel use of individual-level patient data to correct the mpox epidemic curve in England. The aim of this model is to correct for backfilling in the epidemic curve and provide real-time characteristics of the state of the epidemic, including the real-time growth rate. This model benefited from close collaboration with individuals involved in collecting and processing the data, enabling temporal changes in the reporting structure to be built into the model, which improved the robustness of the nowcasts generated. The resulting model accurately captured the true shape of the epidemic curve in real time.

Genomic epidemiology of syphilis in England: a population-based study

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. Since 2012, syphilis rates have risen dramatically in many high-income countries, including England. Although this increase in syphilis prevalence is known to be associated with high-risk sexual activity in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), cases are rising in heterosexual men and women. The transmission dynamics within and between sexual networks of GBMSM and heterosexual people are not well understood. We aimed to investigate if whole genome sequencing could be used to supplement or enhance epidemiological insights around syphilis transmission. We linked national patient demographic, geospatial, and behavioural metadata to whole T pallidum genome sequences previously generated from patient samples collected from across England between Jan 1, 2012, and Oct 31, 2018, and performed detailed phylogenomic analyses. Of 497 English samples submitted for sequencing, we recovered 240 genomes (198 from the UK Health Security Agency reference laboratory and 42 from other laboratories). Three duplicate samples (same patient and collection date) were included in the main phylogenies, but removed from further analyses of English populations, leaving 237 genomes. 220 (92·8%) of 237 samples were from men, nine (3·8%) were from women, and eight (3·4%) were of unknown gender. Samples were mostly from London (n=118 [49·8%]), followed by southeast England (n=29 [12·2%]), northeast England (n=24 [10·1%]), and southwest England (n=15 [6·3%]). 180 (76·0%) of 237 genomes came from GBMSM, compared with 25 (10·5%) from those identifying as men who have sex with women, 15 (6·3%) from men with unrecorded sexual orientation, nine (3·8%) from those identifying as women who have sex with men, and eight (3·4%) from people of unknown gender and sexual orientation. Phylogenomic analysis and clustering revealed two dominant T pallidum sublineages in England. Sublineage 1 was found throughout England and across all patient groups, whereas sublineage 14 occurred predominantly in GBMSM older than 34 years and was absent from samples sequenced from the north of England. These different spatiotemporal trends, linked to demography or behaviour in the dominant sublineages, suggest they represent different sexual networks. By focusing on different regions of England we were able to distinguish a local heterosexual transmission cluster from a background of transmission in GBMSM. These findings show that, despite extremely close genetic relationships between T pallidum genomes globally, genomics can still be used to identify putative transmission clusters for epidemiological follow-up. This could be of value for deconvoluting putative outbreaks and for informing public health interventions. Wellcome funding to the Sanger Institute, UK Research and Innovation, National Institute for Health and Care Research, European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, and UK Health Security Agency.

Whiteflies can excrete insecticide-tainted honeydew on tomatoes

Whiteflies are important insect pests in a wide variety of agricultural crops that are targeted with large quantities of insecticides on a global scale. Chemical control is the most common strategy to manage whiteflies, however, recent studies had reported that whiteflies and other hemipterans can excrete insecticides through their honeydew, which could have unanticipated, non-target effects. The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of imidacloprid in honeydew excreted by whiteflies feeding on tomato plants. Imidacloprid was applied at its labeled rate to soil at the base of whitefly-infested plants. Densities of whiteflies were assessed before insecticide treatment and 21 days after treatment (DAT). Honeydew was collected in Petri dishes from 1 to 4 DAT and from 5 to 8 DAT. The volume of the honeydew was calculated using stereo microscopy and then rinsed with ethanol. The rinsates were analyzed to determine imidacloprid concentration using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Honeydew production was further quantified by using water sensitive papers. Imidacloprid reduced densities of nymph and adult whiteflies by 81.5% and 76.0% compared to the control at 21DAT. The non-metabolized parent compound imidacloprid was detected from honeydew samples at both collection dates. At 1–4 DAT, imidacloprid concentrations were 180 ng/30 mL in a volume of 39 mm3 of honeydew. At 5–8 DAT, the imidacloprid concentration was 218 ng/30 mL in a volume of 25 mm3 of honeydew. Though the volume of honeydew decreased, the concentration of imidacloprid numerically increased. Last, whiteflies were still producing honeydew 22 DAT in both treatments. These results revealing significant imidacloprid concentrations in honeydew suggest a strong potential for negative secondary impacts on beneficial insects.

New Species for Regional Mycobiotas of Russia. 8. Report 2023

A total of 83 fungal species including one ascomycete (Helvella macropus) and 82 basidiomycete species have been recorded for the first time from 18 administrative regions of Russia: Republic of Buryatia (2), Republic of Dagestan (7), Republic of Mordovia (30), Republic of Tyva (6), Primorsky Krai (1), Zabaykalsky Krai (3), Arkhangelsk Oblast (5), Irkutsk Oblast (4), Kaluga Oblast (1), Leningrad Oblast (1), Murmansk Oblast (7), Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (1), Novgorod Oblast (3), Novosibirsk Oblast (2), Pskov Oblast (1), Tyumen Oblast (10), Saint Petersburg Federal City (1), and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (1 species). An annotated species list containing the data on locality, substrate, habitat type, date of collection, and voucher numbers is provided. Pluteus vellingae is reported as the first record in Russia. Aurantiporus priscus, Bolbitius sibiricus, and Mycopan scabripes are recorded in Russia for the second time. Hypsizygus marmoreus is reported for the third time. New data on little-collected fungal species such as Botryobasidium botryoideum, Fibrodontia gossypina, Lycoperdon rupicola, Neohypochnicium cremicolor, Postia luteocaesia, Psathyrella gordonii, and Xylodon pruinosus, is presented. Complete sequences of ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 nuclear ribosomal DNA for 16 species reported have been generated and submitted to the GenBank database.

Apple Fruitlet Abscission Prediction. II. Characteristics of Fruitlets Predicted to Persist or Abscise by Reflectance Spectroscopy Models

Apple (Malus ×domestica L. Borkh.) growers need tools to predict the efficacy of chemical thinners that are applied to induce fruitlet abscission to aid in crop load management decisions. Recently, reflectance spectroscopy-based models to predict fruitlet abscission rates were developed. Using spectroscopy, persisting fruitlets had lower reflectance in the red-light (∼600 nm) and near infrared (∼950 nm) regions than abscising fruitlets. The goal of this study was to better understand how reflectance models distinguished between fruitlets that ultimately persisted or abscised. Individual models for the difference and ratio of each combination of wavelengths were developed to identify key wavelengths for abscission prediction from reflectance models. Accuracy for wavelength difference and ratio models was improved for all model prediction dates when reflectance (R) from R640–675 was subtracted from or divided by R675–696. This spectra region indicates differences in chlorophyll content between persisting and abscising fruitlets. Calculation of the chlorophyll concentration index (R522–579:R640–700) from nondestructively measured spectra supported this result. Chlorophyll concentration index was higher for fruitlets that ultimately persisted than abscised fruitlets (P &lt; 0.01) for all measurement dates –1 to 9 days after thinner (DAT) in both years, except –1 DAT in 2021 (P = 0.468). Plant water index (R950–970:R890–900) was lower for persisting than abscising fruitlets for 3 to 9 DAT in 2021 (P &lt; 0.001) and on –1 (P &lt; 0.01) and 9 DAT (P &lt; 0.001) in 2022. The relationship of fruit size and plant pigment (anthocyanins or chlorophyll) content in fruitlets to reflectance spectra between persisting and abscising fruitlets was also followed. Fruitlet persistence or abscission was predicted from developed models for destructively sampled fruitlets using measured reflectance spectra. Whole-fruit chlorophyll content was numerically higher in fruitlets predicted to persist than abscise for all collection dates. Higher total chlorophyll was correlated to a larger fruit size in persisting than abscising fruitlets. This higher chlorophyll content led to a lower reflectance of red light and was a key factor in model development. These results indicate that chlorophyll and water content can distinguish physiological parameters between persisting and abscising fruitlets.

Type specimens of the species of Cycloramphus Tschudi, 1838 (Anura, Cycloramphidae) in the collections of the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Museu Nacional, in Rio de Janeiro, is the oldest scientific institution in Brazil, created by a decree of the Regent Prince and future King D. Joo VI on 06 June 1818. In particular, the herpetological collection dates from the early 1870s and were studied by the first Brazilian herpetologists, namely Alpio de Miranda Ribeiro (18741934) and Adolpho Lutz (18551940). Currently, the Museu Nacional houses many type-specimens of amphibians, including species of the genus Cycloramphus Tschudi, 1838, with many problems and inconsistencies between the published data, the labels of the specimens, and the register books. In this paper, we analyse the type-specimens of Cycloramphus deposited in the Museu Nacional and Adolpho Lutz collections, described by Miranda-Ribeiro, A. Lutz, and many later herpetologists. With the purpose of contributing to the stability of nomenclature within Cycloramphus, we newly designate lectotypes for Cycloramphus eleutherodactylus var. variegata A. Lutz, 1929, Grypiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1935, and Iliodiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1929. Of the 14 nominal species treated, lectotypes for Cycloramphus eleutherodactylus var. variegata A. Lutz, 1929, Cycloramphus granulosus A. Lutz, 1929, Iliodiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1929, and Grypiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1935, are designated and figured; the holotypes of Cycloramphus eleutherodactylus var. strigillata A. Lutz, 1929 and of Cycloramphus distinctus A. Lutz, 1932, are figured; the identity of holotype and paratypes of Cycloramphus heyeri Segalla et al. 2021 is clarified. A new synonymy between Grypiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1935 and Cycloramphus brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1864) is proposed. Information on the type localities of all species is updated.

Current stewardship practices in invasion biology limit the value and secondary use of genomic data.

Invasive species threaten native biota, putting fragile ecosystems at risk and having a large-scale impact on primary industries. Growing trade networks and the popularity of personal travel make incursions a more frequent risk, one only compounded by global climate change. With increasing publication of whole-genome sequences lies an opportunity for cross-species assessment of invasive potential. However, the degree to which published sequences are accompanied by satisfactory spatiotemporal data is unclear. We assessed the metadata associated with 199 whole-genome assemblies of 89 invasive terrestrial invertebrate species and found that only 38% of these were derived from field-collected samples. Seventy-six assemblies (38%) reported an 'undescribed' sample origin and, while further examination of associated literature closed this gap to 23.6%, an absence of spatial data remained for 47 of the total assemblies. Of the 76 assemblies that were ultimately determined to be field-collected, associated metadata relevant for invasion studies was predominantly lacking: only 35% (27 assemblies) provided granular location data, and 33% (n = 25) lacked sufficient collection date information. Our results support recent calls for standardized metadata in genome sequencing data submissions, highlighting the impact of missing metadata on current research in invasion biology (and likely other fields). Notably, large-scale consortia tended to provide the most complete metadata submissions in our analysis-such cross-institutional collaborations can foster a culture of increased adherence to improved metadata submission standards and a standard of metadata stewardship that enables reuse of genomes in invasion science.

Crop protection potential of the leaves of Juglans mandshurica Maxim.: The phenoloxidase promoting related insecticidal effect of its ethanolic extract

Juglans mandshurica Maxim. (JM) is cultivated for timber production, food, and the pharmaceutical industry. Although its leaves (JML) are usually discarded as agricultural waste, they have attracted researchers’ attention for reutilization. The present research was therefore carried out to investigate the crop protection potential of JML. First, phenoloxidase-related insecticidal effects were predicted according to in vitro tyrosinase-potentiating property of JML extracts using its 70% and 90% ethanolic extracts from different collection dates (June, July, and August). This was subsequently verified by using diverse bioassay experiments to evaluate its in vivo bioactivity against Plutella xylostella Linnaeus, Aphis gossypii Glover, and Pieris rapae Linne. The results showed that, 90% ethanolic JML extract (20 mg/mL) had the strongest selective anti-feeding activity, with 87.74% and 79.35% deterrence against A. gossypii and P. rapae, respectively. After four days of oral administration, the 70% ethanolic JML extract (50 mg/mL) showed ∼100% corrected mortality in all test insects. Furthermore, regarding contact toxicities, the JML extracts (25 mg/mL) induced ∼71%, 56%, and 82% corrected mortalities against P. xylostella, P. rapae, and A. gossypii, respectively. Among them, JML extracts showed the strongest growth inhibition against P. xylostella (34.12%) and P. rapae (41.23%) after 24 h treatment. Second, the insecticidal mechanism of JML was investigated by targeting the phenoloxidase (PO) of P. xylostella. The insect’s PO activity was promoted in vitro with the maximum efficacy of 35.09% from 9 mg/mL of JML extract, and this increasing potential could also be observed in the in vivo evaluation. For instance, after the administration of LC70 of JML extract till the 4th instar of the insect, stronger PO activity was detected compared to the control group (77.3% vs. 58.0%). The level of L-Dopa, a key intermediate of PO, significantly increased (31.11 μg/mL) in the hemolymph of insects when treated with the LC70 of JML extract compared with the control group (4.29 μg/mL). The qRT-PCR-mediated mRNA expression analysis confirmed increased PO expression in P. xylostella compared to the control group after JML extract administration. Finally, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS coupled with partial least squared discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to rapidly profile and characterize the 18 compounds as the index ingredients that were related to PO enzymatic activity potentiation or insecticidal effects in the JML extracts. Therefore, our research highlights the potential of J. mandshurica for insecticide development and demonstrates that JML’s abnormal promotion of insect PO activity contributes to its toxicity against pests.

Seagrass spatial data synthesis from north‐east Australia, Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria, 1983 to 2022

AbstractThe Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait in north‐eastern Australia support globally significant seagrass ecosystems that underpin fishing and cultural heritage of the region. Reliable data on seagrass distribution are critical to understanding how these ecosystems are changing, while managing for resilience. Spatial data on seagrass have been collected since the early 1980s, but the early data were poorly curated. Some was not publicly available, and some already lost. We validated and synthesized historical seagrass spatial data to create a publicly available database. We include a site layer of 48,612 geolocated data points including information on seagrass presence/absence, sediment, collection date, and data custodian. We include a polygon layer with 641 individual seagrass meadows. Thirteen seagrass species are identified in depths ranging from intertidal to 38 m below mean sea level. Our synthesis includes scientific survey data from 1983 to 2022 and provides an important evidence base for marine resource management.

The Expression of CD47 and Its Association with Other Biochemical Storage Lesions in Stored Non-Leucoreduced versus Leucoreduced Red Blood Cell Units

Abstract Background The emergent need for blood transfusion required blood storage at low temperature which induced biochemical and biomechanical changes, collectively known as RCSL(red cell storage lesion). CD47 is an integrin associated protein which decreases with PRBCs(packed red blood cells) prolonged storage that possibly leads to less effective blood transfusion. Electrolyte imbalance occurs due to inactivation of Na+/K+ ATPase pump in low temperature which inturn leads to continuous increase of extracellular potassium which is considered life threatening for patients with renal failure or those with massive transfusions. Aim of the Work The aim of our study is to Evaluate the expression of CD47 by flow cytometry with other biochemical storage changes (pH, sodium and potassium ions) in CPD/SAGM packed non-leucoreduced Group(A) versus CPD/SAGM leucoreduced Group(B) red blood cell units at different storage times (on day 7, 14, 28 from date of red blood cells collection). Subjects and Methods 450 ml of whole blood is obtained into Quadruple blood bags and further subdivided into 20 non-leucoreduced units and 20 leucoreduced units. Non-leucoreduced and leucoreduced units are stored at 4 ± 2◦C. Samples are taken from each packed red blood cell unit at days 7,14 and 28 and tested for (Na+&amp;K+) ions, pH and CD47 marker by flow cytometry. Results Both leucoreduced and non-leucoreduced units show a highly significant decrease in sodium, pH and CD47 expression and a highly significant increase in potassium level. However, there was no statistically significant difference found between 2 studied groups regarding sodium &amp; potassium level, pH and CD47 expression on packed red cells except for sodium on 28th day which was slightly higher in leucoredced than non-leucoreduced units. Conclusion Red cell storage lesion is an inevitable process. Our study showed a highly statistically significant decrease in CD47 by flow cytometry in both leucoreduced and non-leucoreduced PRBCs along the storage period from day 7 to day 28. Red cell concentrates show significant decrease in sodium and pH and increase in the level of potassium during storage. Unlike many other studies, leucoreduction didn’t affect the expression of neither CD47 nor biochemical parameters (Na, K and pH) from day 7 to day 28 of PRBc storage.

Information circulation among Spanish-speaking and Caribbean communities related to COVID-19: A social media-based multidimensional analysis.

Scientific research from North America and Europe tends to predominate the Internet, and benefits English-speaking users. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death rate was high at the onset of the pandemic in Spanish-speaking countries, and information on nearby Caribbean countries was rarely highlighted. Given the rise in social media usage in these regions, the online dissemination of scientific information related to COVID-19 must be thoroughly examined. This study aimed to provide a multidimensional analysis of peer-reviewed information circulation related to COVID-19 in Spanish-speaking and Caribbean regions. COVID-19-related peer-reviewed resources shared by online accounts located in Spanish-speaking and Caribbean regions were identified through the altmetric website, and their information was collected. A multidimensional model was employed to examine these resources, considering time, individuality, place, activity, and relations. Time was operationalized as the six dates of data collection, individuality as the knowledge area and accessibility level, place as the publication venue and affiliation countries, activity as the altmetric score and number of mentions in the selected regions, and relations as co-authorship between countries and types of social media users who disseminated COVID-19 related information. The highest information circulation peaks in Spanish-speaking countries were from April to August 2020 and December 2020 to April 2021, whereas the highest peaks in Caribbean regions were from December 2019 to April 2020. As for Spanish-speaking regions, at the onset of the pandemic, scientific expertise was concentrated on a few peer-reviewed sources written in English. The top scientific journals mentioned were from Anglo-speaking westernized regions, whereas the top scientific authorships were from China. The most mentioned scientific resources were about breakthrough findings in the Medical and Health Sciences written in highly technical language. The top relationships were self-loops in China, while international collaborations were between China and the U.S. Argentina had high closeness and betweenness, and Spain had high closeness. Based on social media data, a combination of media outlets, educational institutions, and expert associations, particularly from Panama, influenced the diffusion of peer-reviewed information. We determined the diffusion patterns of peer-reviewed resources in Spanish-speaking countries and Caribbean territories. This study aims to advance the management and analysis of online public data from People of Color to improve public health communication in their regions. Non-Applicable.

Impact of frequency and duration of freeze-dried inactivated tissue culture hepatitis A vaccine (Aimmugen®) vaccination on antibody titers; a japanese cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe effect of the timing of additional doses and the long-term persistence of lyophilized inactivated tissue culture hepatitis A (HA) vaccine (Aimmugen®) on antibodies is unknown. MethodsA single-center, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in collaboration with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, whose personnel were immunized with Aimmugen® when deployed to endemic areas. Patients who consented to this study after a medical examination with blood sampling between June 2022 and February 2023 were included; HA-IgG level in the residual serum was measured using the chemiluminescent immunoassay method. The exact vaccination history was investigated based on immunization records maintained by the Ministry of Defense, and a questionnaire was used to collect confounding factors. ResultsOf the 181 participants observed, 49 were in the unvaccinated group, and 132 were in the vaccinated group. Out of the vaccinated group, 6.8 % received either one or two doses, 40.9 % received three doses, and 52.3 % received more than four doses. IgG antibody titers (S/CO value) in each group (0, 1 or 2, 3, and over 4) increased in a frequency-dependent manner, with those vaccinated over four times showing significantly higher IgG antibody titers than all other groups (0.19 ± 0.10 vs 3.66 ± 3.00 vs 7.63 ± 3.57 vs 10.57 ± 1.86, respectively). When the number of months elapsed from the last vaccination to the date of blood collection in each group was plotted against IgG antibody titer, the slope of the regression line flattened out from a decreasing trend in the order 1 or 2, 3, over 4. ConclusionsThree doses of Aimmugen® are efficacious, but four or more doses induce more robust and sustained antibody production. Additionally, four or more doses may be effective when there is a need to ensure long-term immunity or risk of prolonged exposure.

Planning the Migration to a New Database: Implications for the Collections of Meise Botanic Garden

Established in 1796, the Meise Botanic Garden has undergone multiple changes in nationality, name, focus, and locations. These changes have impacted its herbarium, living collections, and associated data. The way specimens are filed in the herbarium varies according to specimen type, taxonomic group and historical importance. Pragmatic solutions were used in the past for dealing with the divergent collections and their users' specific needs. There are at least 15 filing systems used at the Botanic Garden at present. In 2015, funding facilitated the digitization of 1.2 million herbarium specimens. A follow-on project in 2018 digitzed another 1.4 million specimens. Together with other initiatives, like the Global Plants Initiative, we have more than 2.7 million imaged specimens, representing about 77% of our herbarium collections. Of the imaged specimens, 89% have minimal data (barcode, species name, collector(s), collector number, collection date, country and locality), while the remaining 11% still need the metadata captured from the scanned images (mostly being done through the crowdsourcing project DoeDat). In 2023, a call to tender was started for a new Collection Management System (CMS) as part of the Distributed System of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo) Flanders*1 project. This call for tender was compiled in consultation with various natural history institutions, botanic gardens and museums in Belgium. At present, we are in the process of evaluating the various tenders. As part of the preparation to migrate the data from our present database to the new database, data gaps are being filled and data is being cleaned where possible. This will facilitate the migration from one system to another. This is particularly important for fields relating to taxonomy, countries and collectors, as these have implications for the physical location of specimens in the herbarium. In the past months, much time has been dedicated to linking specimens to the taxon table. At present fewer than 0.6% of specimens with a filing name (the scientific name under which the specimen is filed in the herbarium cupboards) remain to be linked to the taxon table. The use of the Taxonomic Name Resolution Service helped to resolve some of the issues associated with unlinked names. Many of the remaining unlinked names are names of infraspecific taxa (which are not yet in the taxon table), orthographic variations, or names of commercial cultivars or hybrids. However, this does not include the 11% of the specimens without data mentioned above. The number of specimens lacking a country code is 7%. The African Herbarium, which represents about a third of the specimens at the Botanic Garden, is sorted according to species, country and collector. Resolving missing country codes would facilitate the curatorial process for this collection. Likewise, 6% of specimen data only have collectors as free-text that still needs to be linked to the standardised collectors table. Atomizing and linking these collector strings would also ease the migration to a new CMS. In 2015, a master plan was also drawn up for the physical renovation of the Garden, including the herbarium's infrastructure. Work on the herbarium is planned for 2025, but is contingent on funding. The CMS will form a crucial part of this move as specimens will be reclassified. As is mentioned above, there are several classification systems used at the Botanic Garden. The African and Belgian collections currently follow Mabberley (1997) for angiosperms. This system is no longer up-to-date, and we are considering moving to APG IV (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) system for flowering plants. For example, the 213 genera present at the Botanic Garden for the family Liliaceae sensu lato (Mabberley 1997) would resolve to 24 families in APG IV. As the specimens are arranged alphabetically by family and genus, this would mean a significant physical reorganization of specimens. The CMS will also be used to track the movement of the various collections. Once the new CMS has been chosen, we will have a better idea of what needs to be done in order to facilitate data migration. For example, linking our taxonomic names to external sources using their permanent identifiers (e.g., World Flora Online, International Plant Names Index, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Index Fungorum, MycoBank, World Register of Marine Species) would allow us to track and maintain taxonomic changes more easily in the future. Importing the various permanent identifiers into our current database would be prone to inconsistencies as the existing fields are not fit for the purpose. A possible solution would be to manage this data externally and import them into the new CMS. A similar approach could be followed with collectors and Wikidata permanent identifiers. We hope to develop a pragmatic approach with practical solutions.

A comparison of electronic health records and the Oregon state immunization registry for human papilloma virus vaccine delivery (2005–2022)

IntroductionImmunization Information Systems (IIS) play an important information-sharing role at the point of care, and provide vital vaccination data for research studies and policy-makers. Previous validation studies comparing the accuracy of state registry data to health records have had mixed results. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of EHR vaccination data for 9–17 year-old patients from 10 Oregon primary care clinics who had at least one ambulatory care visit in the past 3 years from the date of validation data collection. Data on 100 age eligible youth were captured per clinic. We compared HPV and Tdap vaccinations captured in the EHR to the Oregon ALERT IIS. All clinics were located in rural areas with both family medicine (n = 7) and pediatric (n = 3) primary care clinics. ResultsOverall agreement for HPV vaccination between EHR and ALERT IIS was 89.4 % (k = 0.83; p < 0.05). For Tdap vaccination overall agreement was 80.8 % (k = 0.60; p < 0.05). Pediatric clinics showed a higher overall vaccine agreement for both HPV at 93.3 % (k = 0.89; p < 0.05) and Tdap at 95.3 % (k = 0.90; p < 0.05). Among clinics that used bidirectional data exchange (only family medicine clinics), HPV agreement was higher at 91 % (k = 0.85) versus 88 % (k = 0.81; p < 0.05) and was lower for Tdap 75 % with bidirectional data exchange (k = 0.50) versus 86 % without bidirectional data exchange (k = 0.70; p < 0.05). When the EHR and ALERT IIS disagreed, ALERT ISS usually had additional vaccines. ConclusionsALERT IIS data provides more accurate data than EHRs can provide when measuring vaccine delivery among adolescents in rural Oregon.

Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon.

Contaminated, raw or undercooked vegetables can transmit parasitic infections. Here, we investigated parasitic contamination of leafy green vegetables sold in local markets in the Tripoli district, Lebanon, during two consecutive autumn seasons (2020-2021). The study involved the microscopic examination of 300 samples of five different types of vegetables (60 samples per type) and used standardized qualitative parasitological techniques for some protozoa and helminths. The results showed that 16.7% (95% interval for p: 12.6%, 21.4%) (50/300) of the vegetable samples were contaminated with at least one parasite. The most frequently detected parasite was Blastocystis spp. (8.7%; 26/300); this was followed in frequency by Ascaris spp. (3.7%; 11/300). Among the different vegetable types, lettuce (23.3%; 14/60) was the most contaminated, while arugula was the least contaminated (11.7%; 7/60). The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant association between the prevalence of parasitic contamination and the investigated risk factors, which included collection date, vegetable type, market storage status, and wetness of vegetables at the time of purchase (p > 0.05). The high prevalence of parasitic contamination also suggested the potential presence of other microbial pathogens. These findings are important because leafy green vegetables are preferentially and heavily consumed raw in Lebanon. Thus, implementing effective measures that target the farm-to-fork continuum is recommended in order to reduce the spread of intestinal pathogens.