Significance Of Isolates Research Articles

Characterization and comparative genomic analysis of a marine Bacillus phage reveal a novel viral genus.

Although recent metagenomics research has obtained a wealth of phage genetic information, much of it is considered "dark matter" because of the lack of similarity with known sequences in the database. Therefore, the isolation and characterization of novel phages will help to interpret the vast unknown viral metagenome data and improve our understanding of phage diversity and phage-host interactions. Bacillus pumilus shows high economic relevance due to its wide applications in biotechnology, industry, biopharma, and environmental sectors. Since phages influence the abundance, metabolism, evolution, fitness, and ecological functions of bacteria through complex interactions, the significance of isolation and characterization of novel phages infecting B. pumilus is apparent. In this study, we isolated and characterized a B. pumilus phage belonging to a novel viral genus, which provides essential knowledge for phage biology as well as the industrial application of B. pumilus.

Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Clinical Blood Culture Isolates Not Identified by a Rapid Microarray Diagnostic System.

ABSTRACTThe use of molecular-based diagnostic testing, such as the Luminex Verigene system, to rapidly identify the most common bacterial isolates from blood cultures is an important tool that reduces the duration of inappropriate antibiotics and decreases mortality. However, 5 to 15% of microorganisms recovered from blood culture are unable to be identified by the Verigene Gram-negative (BC-GN) or Gram-positive (BC-GP) assays. In this retrospective, observational study, we evaluate the identities and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of 229 isolates that were not identified by either the Verigene BC-GN or BC-GP assay. The results presented here suggest that important, clinically relevant information about antimicrobial susceptibility patterns can still be inferred even when isolates are not identified by Verigene. We also examined changes in antibiotic use for patients with “unidentified” Verigene results at our institution and found that this subgroup represents an opportunity to optimize empirical antibiotic therapy.IMPORTANCE Rapid diagnostic testing to identify bloodstream pathogens has arisen as an important tool both to ensure adequate antimicrobial therapy is given early and to aid in antimicrobial stewardship by allowing for more rapid deescalation of inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the significance of isolates that are not able to be identified by rapid diagnostic testing. In this study, we report the identification to the species level and antimicrobial susceptibilities among isolates that were not identified by one such rapid diagnostic platform, the Verigene system. This study provides important insight into how a strong understanding of the strengths and limitations of a given rapid diagnostic platform, coupled with insight into local antibiotic susceptibility patterns, can allow for more nuanced and thoughtful empirical antibiotic selection.

Genetic and Clinical Studies of Patients With Increased Multinucleated Megakaryocytes in Bone Marrow as an Isolated Finding: A Diagnostic Pitfall for Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

The presence of increased multinucleated megakaryocytes (aka osteoclast-like) is considered a dysplastic feature in myelodysplastic syndrome; however, its clinical significance in isolation is uncertain. Herein, we report the clinicopathologic and genetic features of 18 such cases of 40,539 bone marrow biopsies spanning 10 years. All 18 patients had ≥25% multinucleated megakaryocytes in otherwise normal bone marrow biopsies, which were evaluated for plasma cell neoplasms (n=9), lymphoma (n=4), or anemia/neutropenia (n=5). None of the 17 patients tested showed acquired cytogenetic abnormalities. Sixteen patients underwent targeted gene panel next-generation sequencing: 9 patients had no pathogenic mutations; 3 harbored a single pathogenic mutation with variant allele frequencies of 7.5%, 7.6%, and 10.7%, likely representing clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential; 1 had 2 pathogenic mutations, 1 of which had a variant allele frequency >20%. Fourteen of 18 patients had a follow-up period >6 months (median: 36.5 mo, range: 7 to 110 mo) and no patients developed a new-onset cytopenia, a progressive cytopenia, or a myeloid neoplasm. The patient with 2 mutations had persistent anemia, worrisome for an emerging MDS. However, given the absence of thrombocytopenia, increased multinucleated megakaryocytes in this patient could be an unrelated incidental finding. Our study indicates that increased multinucleated megakaryocytes as an isolated finding is a rare phenomenon, and this sole morphologic finding is not diagnostic of myelodysplastic syndrome. Diagnostic approaches in the presence of increased multinucleated megakaryocytes are proposed based on different clinical and pathologic scenarios.

Evaluation of university teaching as sound performance appraisal

As research on student evaluations of teaching (SET) has dominated our understanding of teaching evaluation, debate over SET implementation has turned attention away from basic principles for appraising employee performance as established in human resources literature. Considering SET research and its practical significance in isolation from relevant human resources literature not only risks unlawful remedies for issues such as bias in SET but also risks replacing one form of bias with another. Meanwhile, the full potential of human resources tools to support consistent evaluation of teaching remains unrealized. To address this gap, this article clarifies how teaching evaluation can be conducted as sound performance appraisal by deploying SET and peer review of teaching within a larger framework of established human resources techniques. A review of recent literature articulates prominent themes in research on SET and peer review of teaching and outlines key principles for performance appraisal and performance management. Those principles are used to analyze representative faculty evaluation policies and procedures and clarify the weaknesses of both traditional and recently revised approaches to teaching evaluation. The final section elaborates performance appraisal techniques relevant to teaching evaluation. These include planful use of results and/or behavior approaches to performance appraisal, robust rating instruments for behavioral performance appraisal, targeted collection of information from multiple stakeholders, and job analysis. Efforts to de-emphasize quantitative SET data to address issues such as bias can be strengthened through the incorporation of performance appraisal tools that clearly articulate performance criteria and standards and that gather both qualitative and quantitative data on employee performance.

Clinically relevant cell culture models and their significance in isolation, pathogenesis, vaccine development, repurposing and screening of new drugs for SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review

BackgroundIn-Vitro/Cellular evidence is the backbone and vital proof of concept during the development of novel therapeutics as well as drugs repurposing against COVID-19. Choosing an ideal in-vitro model is vital as the virus entry is through ACE2, CD147, and TMPRSS2 dependant and very specific. In this regard, this is the first systematic review addressing the importance of specific cell lines used as potential in-vitro models in the isolation, pathogenesis, and therapeutics for SARS−COV-2. MethodsWe searched 17 literature databases with appropriate keywords, and identified 1173 non-duplicate studies. In the present study, 71 articles are included after a careful, thorough screening of the titles and their abstracts for possible inclusion using predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria (PRISMA Guidelines). ResultsIn the current study, we compiled cell culture-based studies for SARS-CoV-2 and found the best compatible In-Vitro models for SARS-CoV-2 (Vero, VeroE6, HEK293 as well as its variants, Huh-7, Calu-3 2B4, and Caco2). Among other essential cell lines used include LLC-MK2, MDCKII, BHK-21, HepG2, A549,T cell leukemia (MT-2), stems cells based cell line DYR0100for differentiation assays, and embryo-specific NIH3T3 cell line for vaccine production. ConclusionThe Present study provides a detailed summary of all the drugs/compounds screened for drug repurposing and discovery purpose using the in-vitro models for SARS-CoV-2 along with isolation, pathogenesis and vaccine production. This study also suggests that after careful evaluation of all the cell line based studies, Kidney cells (VeroE6, HEK293 along with their clones), liver Huh-7cells, respiratory Calu-3 cells, and intestinal Caco-2 are the most widely used in-vitro models for SARS-CoV-2.

Tip-apex distance and other predictors of outcome in cephalomedullary nailing of unstable trochanteric fractures

BackgroundCephalomedullary nails are presently the gold standard in management of unstable trochanteric fractures. The tip-apex distance (TAD) is one of the most important factors that determines success or failure of fixation, but was described originally in context of an extramedullary hip screw. Cephalomedullary nails use a different biomechanical approach to fixation; and it is hypothesized that the TAD rule may not apply similarly with these. The aim of this study is to assess whether a high TAD correlates with poor outcomes with cephalomedullary nails, and to elucidate other factors that may predict such outcome. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiographic records of patients with intertrochanteric fractures, treated at our institution over a 2-year period. Those with unstable fractures (31.A2 and 31.A3), and who were treated with cephalomedullary nails were included in the study. The TAD and the position of the device in the femoral head (Cleveland index) were assessed. Other factors that could influence outcome like age, gender, AO fracture type, restoration of neck-shaft angle and degree of osteoporosis were analysed. Radiographic records of up-to at-least 3 months post-operatively were assessed for complications. ResultsAfter applying the exclusion criteria, 75 patients were included in the analysis. The overall rate of complications was 12%. They occurred in two major patterns - varus collapse and cut-out occurred in 5 patients (6.67%), and device migration in 4 patients (5.33%). The average TAD of patients with cut-out was 28.78 mm, compared to 19.44 mm in those without cut-out (p = 0.002). Our data predicted a cut-off TAD >23.56 mm as most significant for cut-out with cephalomedullary nails. On univariate logistic regression, high TAD (p = 0.009), sub-optimal device positioning (p = 0.02) and poor restoration of neck-shaft angle (p = 0.04) were found to be significant for varus collapse and cut-out, but not for complications relating to device migration. On multivariate analysis, none of the above factors reached statistical significance in isolation. ConclusionAs with extramedullary devices, TAD, along with sub-optimal device positioning and poor restoration of neck-shaft angle is a useful predictor of cut-out even with cephalomedullary nails, negating the initial hypothesis. The above factors in combination have a more significant effect than any one factor in isolation to cause varus collapse and implant cut-out. However these do not affect Z effect, reverse Z effect or other types of device migration seen especially with dual-screw nails.

The Texts and Subjects of Automediality

Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson, in their field defining work Reading Autobiography, offer an etymological cue that summarises the prevailing use and perception of autobiographical work: "in Greek, autos denotes 'self,' bios 'life,' and graphe 'writing.' Taken together in this order, the words self life writing offer a brief definition of the autobiography" (1). If "autobiography" has denoted a way to write the self from the location of the self, automediality points to the range of media forms and technologies through which people engage in digital, visual, filmic, performative, textual, and transmediated forms of documenting, constructing and presenting the self.

Człowiek jako kapitał? Przyczynek do krytyki teorii kapitału ludzkiego

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The human as capital? A contribution to the critique of the theory of human capital

In modern economic theories, human qualities are treated as autonomous production factors, which are called “human capital”. However, these theories provide no description of the relationship between human capital and the man who is its “bearer”, nor an explanation of the formation process of that capital. In the thesis, the author tries to justify it as follows: human qualities, including knowledge and skills, are an integral part of a human being, that is, they are involved in every human act. It is, therefore, wrong to analyse their economic significance in isolation from the whole structure of human activity. Through his or her action, man discovers the potential in things and relationships in the form of the possibility of using them for a particular purpose. Capital is thus realized by the human potential of things that form a system for transforming the world. In the first part of the article, a general description of human capital will be provided. In the second part, it will be criticized, while in the third part, there will be an attempt to show the proper relationship between man and capital from the perspective of personalism.

Microchips and their Significance in Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells and Monitoring of Cancers.

In micro-fluid systems, fluids are injected into extremely narrow polymer channels in small amounts such as micro-, nano-, or pico-liter scales. These channels themselves are embedded on tiny chips. Various specialized structures in the chips including pumps, valves, and channels allow the chips to accept different types of fluids to be entered the channel and along with flowing through the channels, exert their effects in the framework of different reactions. The chips are generally crystal, silicon, or elastomer in texture. These highly organized structures are equipped with discharging channels through which products as well as wastes of the reactions are secreted out. A particular advantage regarding the use of fluids in micro-scales over macro-scales lies in the fact that these fluids are much better processed in the chips when they applied as micro-scales. When the laboratory is miniaturized as a microchip and solutions are injected on a micro-scale, this combination makes a specialized construction referred to as "lab-on-chip". Taken together, micro-fluids are among the novel technologies which further than declining the costs; enhancing the test repeatability, sensitivity, accuracy, and speed; are emerged as widespread technology in laboratory diagnosis. They can be utilized for monitoring a wide spectrum of biological disorders including different types of cancers. When these microchips are used for cancer monitoring, circulatory tumor cells play a fundamental role.

Sense and Non-Sense of Local–Global Food Chain Comparison, Empirical Evidence from Dutch and Italian Pork Case Studies

Priority setting between local versus global food chains continues to be subject of debate among food, rural and agricultural scholars with an interest in how to support more sustainable food provision and consumption patterns. Recently the FP7 European GLAMUR project targeted to assess and compare the performances of local versus global food chains in a systematic way covering multiple performance dimensions. Especially drawing on empirical research on the performances of three Italian and three Dutch pork chains, it will be argued that meaningful performance comparison needs to acknowledge the complex, multi-facetted and time and place specific interaction patterns between (more) global and (more) local pork chains. Therefore, as regards these pork chains, local–global performance comparison is thought to have hardly significance in isolation from complementary “horizontal” (place-based) and “circular” (waste or by-product valorization oriented) assessments. As will be concluded, this methodological complexity of food chain performance comparison doesn’t allow for simple statements regarding the pros and cons of (more) global versus (more) local pork chains. Hence, it is recommended to avoid such less fruitful local–global dichotomy and to concentrate on more policy relevant questions as: how to facilitate fundamentally different resource-use-efficiency strategies and how to optimize the place-specific interaction between more “local” versus more “global” food systems?

All-fiber wavelength swept ring laser based on Fabry-Perot filter for optical frequency domain imaging.

Innovations in laser engineering have yielded several novel configurations for high repetition rate, broad sweep range, and long coherence length wavelength swept lasers. Although these lasers have enabled high performance frequency-domain optical coherence tomography, they are typically complicated and costly and many require access to proprietary materials or devices. Here, we demonstrate a simplified ring resonator configuration that is straightforward to construct from readily available materials at a low total cost. It was enabled by an insight regarding the significance of isolation against bidirectional operation and by configuring the sweep range of the intracavity filter to exceed its free spectral range. The design can easily be optimized to meet a range of operating specifications while yielding robust and stable performance. As an example, we demonstrate 240 kHz operation with 125 nm sweep range and >70 mW of average output power and demonstrate high quality frequency domain OCT imaging. The complete component list and directions for assembly of the laser are posted on-line at www.octresearch.org.

Variations in the Pulmonary Venous Ostium in the Left Atrium and Its Clinical Importance

During early embryonic development, absorption of pulmonary venous network by the left primitive atrial chamber results in opening of four pulmonary veins which drain independently into its chamber. The extent of absorption and hence, the number of pulmonary veins which open into the left atrium, may vary. As only few studies have been done, which have shown such variations, the present study was done to evaluate the possible variations in the pulmonary veins which opened into the left atrium. Fifty formalin fixed adult cadaveric hearts were studied for variations in the opening of the pulmonary veins into left atrium. Our results showed that 68% of the hearts which were studied, showed usual pattern of 2 pulmonary veins on either side, while remaining 32 % hearts showed variations in the number of pulmonary veins which opened. Twelve percent of the hearts showed 2 left and 3 right pulmonary veins, 14% of hearts showed 2 left and 1 right veins, 4% hearts showed 1 left and 2 right veins and 2% hearts showed 1 left and 4 right pulmonary veins opening into the left atrium. Knowledge on such variations gains significance in isolation for radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for atrial fibrillation.

ПОДХОДЫ К КЛАССИФИКАЦИИ ИЗОЛЯТОВ Listeria monocytogenes ПО ВИРУЛЕНТНОСТИ ДЛЯ ЛАБОРАТОРНЫХ ЖИВОТНЫХ

A pathogenicity of Listeria isolates is usually determined in the qualitative kerato-conjunctival test on guinea pigs. That test allows to subdivided the strains into two main groups, i.e. pathogenic and non-pathogenic, but not to carry out an intraspecific typing of the pathogen, which is necessary for establishing the source of infection and the ways of its expansion, and also for the evaluation of epidemiological significance of isolates from the environment and food products. In our study, the pathogenicity of different Listeria monocytogenes cultures was investigated in test with outbred white mice, and the approach to Listeria classification is proposed on the base of the virulence manifested after an intraperitoneal injection of different bacterial culture. It is shown that the seasons, as well as the composition and type of media, used for bacteria cultivation, did not affect significantly the virulence of the isolates for laboratory animals. The LD 100 and LD 50 were estimated, and LD 50 was found to be the most reliable index for intraspecific typing of L. monocytogenes isolates. The LD 50 for white outbred mice was estimated in 30 cultures of L. monocytogenes. According to the LD 50/ min and LD 50/ max, all isolates were divided into five groups, which can be designated as a highly virulent strains (LD 50/ min and LD 50/ max within 10 4 to 10 6 colony-forming unit per animal), virulent strains (LD 50/ min and LD 50/ max of 10 6 to 10 7 CFU per animal), the strains of moderate virulence (LD 50/ min and LD 50/ max of 10 7-10 8 CFU per animal) and low virulence (LD 50/ min and LD 50/ max within 10 8-10 9 CFU per animal), and the avirulent ones, which LD 50 has not been titrated (LD 100 more then 10 9 CFU per animal).

Assessment of the significance of respiratory culture of Aspergillus in the non-neutropenic patient. A critique of published diagnostic criteria

Assessment of the significance of isolation of Aspergillus sp. from respiratory culture in patients who are not neutropenic is a continuing problem in respiratory medicine. In recent years a number of criteria for defining patients with invasive or chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in this group have been proposed. This study sought to assess the value of three sets of these criteria in distinguishing between colonisation and aspergillosis requiring therapy when applied retrospectively to 121 patients with positive sputum or BAL culture for Aspergillus sp. Two patients (1.6%) were identified as having proven or probable aspergillosis by the EORTC criteria, two different patients fulfilled the criteria for invasive aspergillosis in the 62 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3.2%), and yet another two different patients met the criteria for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (1.6%). It is suggested that difficulties in the application of some of these criteria may prevent the accurate diagnosis of aspergillosis in the non-neutropenic patient setting.

Clinical Significance of Isolations of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria From Respiratory Specimens in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients

Clinical Significance of Isolations of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria From Respiratory Specimens in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients

REM sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia manifested by vivid, often frightening dreams associated with simple or complex motor behavior during REM sleep. Patients appear to "act out their dreams," in which the exhibited behaviors mirror the content of the dreams. Management of RBD involves counseling about safety measures in the sleep environment; in those at risk for injury, clonazepam and/or melatonin is usually effective. In this article, the authors present a detailed review of the clinical and polysomnographic features, differential diagnosis, diagnostic criteria, management strategies, and pathophysiologic mechanisms of RBD. They then review the literature and their institutional experience of RBD associated with neurodegenerative disease, particularly Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The evolving data suggests that RBD may have clinical diagnostic and pathophysiologic significance in isolation and when associated with neurodegenerative disease.

Blood Stream Infections: Micro-Organisms, Risk Factors and Mortality Rate in Qatif Central Hospital

Blood Stream Infections: Micro-Organisms, Risk Factors and Mortality Rate in Qatif Central Hospital

Significance of Isolation of Moraxella catarrhalis in Routine Cultures from the Respiratory Tract in Adults: Antibody Response Studied in a Whole Cell EIA

The significance of the isolation of Moraxella catarrhalis from sputum or nasopharynx was studied in patients treated at an infectious disease clinic. A whole-cell enzyme immunoassay was used to detect a specific antibody response to M. catarrhalis during infection. In all, 27 patients with respiratory tract infections and 4 with other infections were studied. Titre rises were recorded in 11/23 patients with lower respiratory tract infections, whereas patients with common cold or infections elsewhere all had negative serology. In patients with acute bronchitis, 7/10 patients responded with a significant titre rise. Patients with a low titre in their acute serum sample were those who responded with a titre increase during infection. The findings indicate that isolation of M. catarrhalis from sputa and nasopharyngeal samples in adults is of value for the etiological diagnosis of acute bronchitis and other lower respiratory tract infections, and is therefore important for the choice of drug for treatment, as many isolates are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics.

Isolation ofAeromonas spp. from human feces

Following our observation that Aeromonas spp. grow on Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin (CIN) agar (Altorfer et al., Ahstr. A. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol. (1985)) we looked for the presence of Aeromonas spp. in stool specimens using CIN medium during 3 months in summer 1984. From 1282 specimens plated on CIN directly and after enrichment in PBS and Rappaport broth (the same procedur as used for recovery of yersiniae) 31 strains of Aeromonas spp. were isolated (2.4%). In addition, one strain from water was found. Of these 32 strains, 21 were A. eaviae, 5 were A. sobria, 1 was A. hydrophila, and 5 were atypical isolates. These findings were surprising in two ways: 1) A. caviae, our most frequent isolate, is often considered not to be pathogenic, 2) most of our isolates were from patients with intestinal disorders from whom no other enteropathogenic organisms could be isolated. So far, the role of Aeromonas spp. in diarrheal disease is controversial, but our results imply a clinical significance of isolates of all three species.