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NGS analysis of unexplained Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) cases in South Korea
No full textIn general, pneumonia has known to be closely associated with respiratory infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In South Korea, pneumonia is a leading cause of death that continues to threaten public health every year. Through the tertiary hospital-based influenza surveillance system in South Korea, nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from patients with unexplained cases of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) between 2011 and 2017. After real-time PCR screening using respiratory viral panels, the samples were found negative for 16 common respiratory pathogens including adenovirus, influenza viruses, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza viruses. The aim of this study was to investigate the patient microbiota and examine the etiology of CAP requiring hospitalization. The nasopharyngeal microbiome of adult patients during CAP was analyzed using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) on the Illumina MiSeq platform and a subsequent bioinformatics pipeline. Viral nucleic acids were nearly absent in the samples and failed to generate any sequence reads. On the other hand, samples were enriched with a diverse bacterial community, which was mainly comprised of Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Moraxella, Acinetobacter, and Rhizobium genera. Despite the diversity of bacterial composition, only a few dominant species with > 1% abundance were identified in each patient sample. Population analysis at the genus level showed that microbial diversity varied according to age, sex, and location. </p
Calculation of the magnetic field of the asteroid 4 Vesta parent body (Application of SK theory)
Full text linkThe SK theory provides a deeper insight into the magnetic properties of celestial bodies. In this study, the magnetic field calculated of the parent body of asteroid 4 Vesta, could facilitate deeper insight into the formation of planets or the Universe. </p
Experimental and theoretical studies of the influence of the bench elements on the transient operation of the turbine
Full text linkThe energy parameters obtained during the tests of turbines of power units on the stand differ from those in the product. The research data, which results are presented in the materials of the paper, are aimed at analyzing the discrepancies between the parametric indicators of power units and bench tests of the turbines. The novelty of the obtained results reveals the direct and inverse relationship of changes in the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the elements of the stand (depending on the realized turbine power) with the obtained results of measuring the turbine power on the stand. We developed and described an algorithm for constructing dynamic analysis during the formation of the wave field of the test bench for turbines both in transient modes and in stationary modes corresponding to a constant number of turbine revolutions. It is shown that, by using the algorithm of modal deduction and conditions of dynamic excitation of vibrations from the tested turbine with elements of studying its power, it is possible to construct transients with certain reliability when the number of revolutions of the turbine changes, i.e. its power. The diagnostic model has a novelty since it allows not only to assess of the influence of the elements of the stand on the nature of the transient process when measuring turbine power in transient modes, taking into account the frequency adjustment when changing the revolutions of the turbine and the elements of the stand but also to form requirements for the frequency tuning of the stand. To clarify the transfer function of the "stand–turbine" system, a modal analysis was applied, which made it possible to clarify the structure of the transfer function in the frequency range of the natural (partial) frequencies of the elements of the stand when the restructuring of the wave field during the transient operation of the turbine, but also when the turbine reaches the specified power.</p
Pillaging plucking plundering ransacking proteomes via CPLL technology
No full textNo proteome can be considered “democratic”, but rather “oligarchic” since a few proteins dominate the landscape and often obliterate the signal of the rare ones. That is the reason why most scientists lament that, in proteome analysis, the same set of abundant proteins is repeatedly seen. Current pre-fractionation techniques, one way or another, are besieged by problems, in that they are based on a “depletion principle”, i.e. elimination of unwanted species. Yet “democracy” calls for giving “equal rights” to everyone. One way to achieve that would be the use of libraries of combinatorial ligands coupled to spherical beads. When these beads are contacted with complex proteomes (e.g., human urines and sera, egg white, any cell or tissue lysate) of widely differing protein composition and relative abundances, they are able to “normalize” the protein population, by sharply reducing the concentration of the most abundant components while simultaneously enhancing the level of the most dilute components. It is felt that this method could offer a strong step forward in bringing the “unseen proteome” (due to either low abundance and/or presence of interferences) within the detection capabilities of current proteomics detection methods. Examples are given of the normalization of human urine and sera samples, resulting in the discovery of a host of proteins previously unreported. These beads can also be used to remove host cell proteins from purified recombinant proteins or proteins purified from natural sources that are intended for human consumption. These proteins typically reach purities of the order of 98%: higher purities often become prohibitively expensive. Yet, if incubated with Combinatorial Peptide Ligand Libraries (CPLL), even these impurities can be effectively removed with minute losses of the main, valuable product.</p
Anti-synthetase syndrome with positive anti-PL-12 antibodies associated with autoimmune hepatitis: case report and literature review
No full textAntisynthetase Syndrome (ASS) is a rare chronic autoimmune disorder, associated with interstitial lung diseases (the most important feature), such as Dermatomyositis (DM) and Polymyositis (PM). The cause of ASS is unknown. The hallmark of ASS is the presence of serum autoantibodies directed against aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (anti-ARS involved in protein synthesis). Anti -Jo1 is the most common (20% - 30%); anti-PL12 is present in 2% - 5% of SAS, associated with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) in 90%, mainly as Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP). Autoimmune hepatitis is related to rheumatological diseases (2.7% - 20% in systemic lupus erythematosus, 6% - 47% in primary Sjögren’s syndrome), however, is rare in patients with inflammatory myopathies, and there is no previous reported association with SAS. A literature search was carried out using the PubMed and EMBASE databases in English and Spanish. Our case, a 62-year-old woman who developed polyarthritis, with progressive dyspnea, facial and lower limb edema, proximal muscle weakness, and Raynaud’s phenomenon; high-resolution chest CT, showing pulmonary interstitial disease, consistent with Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP). She had elevated transaminases and a prolonged prothrombin time, with positive anti-nuclear and anti-smooth muscle antibodies, and was made a diagnosis with autoimmune hepatitis type 1 (HAI). According to this presentation and reports of the literature review, anti-PL12 patients are characteristically associated with a severe phenotype of lung inflammation, that does not necessarily require myositis manifestation. To our knowledge, there is not any case of the antisynthetase syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis reported previously in the literature.</p
Impacts of radical prostatectomy with emphasis on physical and psycho-socio-emotional declines: An integrative review
No full textIntroduction: Prostatectomy oncological surgery is necessary for the continuity of life, but it has physical consequences (momentary inability to drive, erectile dysfunction), emotional (anxiety about the diagnosis and the consequences of treatment, depression) and psychosocial (feeling of impotence, failure, loss of status in society), which may or may not be transitory. Objective: to identify, through an integrative literature review, the biopsychosocial impacts of Radical Prostatectomy. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review, which included articles related to the proposed theme, published between the years 2012 to 2022, available in full, without language restriction; in addition to theses, dissertations and monographs. For this, the PRISMA guidelines were used, as well as the PICO strategy for the best delineation of the research question and research theme. Results and discussions: In view of the discussion, the study can respond to the objections raised by this research, and can show that the culture of masculinity, with regard to virility, strength, and better performance, composes risk factors for possible impacts on Quality of Life of men undergoing radical prostatectomy. These factors are intrinsically associated with the majority of relationships and characteristics represented by a man. Final considerations: Psychoeducation and general guidelines on sexual and mental health should be carried out to patients who undergo radical therapies, such as radical prostatectomy, so that these patients can achieve coping strategies that make them feel better, contributing directly to the best quality of life, functional capacity, and their social relationships. </p
Numerical analysis of forming the tri-layer non-homogeneous bellows via the hydroforming process
No full textDue to the complex and structural characteristics of non-homogeneous layers in hydroforming, their forming is a challenging process. In this research, the manufacturing process of three-layered bellows made of 304 stainless steel (two outer layers) and Inconel 718 (inner layer) is numerically investigated. The effects of different parameters on the forming of bellows are studied. To study the effect of friction between layers, two models are used; a model with friction between layers and a model with tied layers. It is observed that the amount of displacement in the model with a tie connection is more. The maximum values of stresses are detected in the inner region after the second stage of forming, i.e. folding. These values reduce after the spring-back step.</p
What psoriasis can hide
No full textAlpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (DAAT) is a genetic disorder that manifests as pulmonary emphysema, liver cirrhosis, and, rarely, as the skin disease panniculitis [1], but other rare skin manifestations had been described previously in literature [2]. Despite being one of the most frequent genetic diseases, professionals need high clinical suspicion for its diagnosis.</p
Viral hepatitis B in patients with hematological malignancies (Overview)
No full textThe review presents current data on the role of viral hepatitis B in oncohematological patients. Possible ways of infection, prevention of infection, and activation of hepatitis B in this category of patients are considered. The specific features of the course of hepatitis B in various clinical situations are described: against the background of other viral infections and in the conduct of specific anti-leukemia therapy. </p
The sensitivity of food security to agricultural input subsidies in Uganda
No full textThe agricultural sector plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition in developing countries, and smallholder farmers are significant contributors to food production. In Uganda, the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program was initiated in 2001 to provide extension services and agricultural input subsidies to farmers. However, the program has faced criticism for its high levels of corruption, militarization, and political influence, as well as for its failure to reach its intended beneficiaries, and smallholder farmers. This paper aims to examine the contribution of smallholder farmers to food security and its sensitivity to agricultural input subsidies in Uganda, with a focus on the NAADS program. Additionally, it covers the evolution of agricultural input subsidy policy in Uganda from 1987 to the present and analyses the findings on the impact of these subsidies on smallholder farmer productivity and food security. The findings conclude that the NAADS program contributes less to the target beneficiaries, and its priorities do not align with the set goals. The study further suggests several recommendations for improving the program and addressing the issues facing smallholder farmers in Uganda.</p