Purpose
To summarize recent developments and provide recommendations as to whether universal or selective programmes are advisable.
Methods
A literature review was performed and preference given to ...studies with higher levels of evidence. All programmes reviewed included clinical screening.
Results
Recent studies underline the need for high quality screening programmes to promote the early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). A small number of cases may be missed clinically but with universal ultrasound screening programmes the late presentation rates appear to be virtually zero. Contemporary studies show treatment rates with universal screening programmes which are now lower than those with selective ultrasound. There is little agreement over the criteria used for selective programmes. Alternative outcome measures, such as the first operation rate or the percentage undergoing major (open) surgery are both lowest with universal ultrasound screening programmes. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the rate of surgery for DDH later in life was seen after the introduction of universal ultrasound screening, whereas the defined criteria for selective screening may not detect the majority of patients who require late surgery. Abduction bracing with modern orthoses is associated with a zero rate of avascular necrosis (AVN), whereas closed reduction techniques have an overall risk of 10%.
Conclusion
On clinical grounds, if future studies confirm that hip abduction in flexible orthoses is not associated with AVN, it may be time for a paradigm shift of screening for DDH towards a universal ultrasound protocol. The costs associated both with each type of screening programme and with the management of late presenting cases are also important but may be secondary to clinical benefit.
Synthetic molecular probes, chemosensors, and nanosensors used in combination with innovative assay protocols hold great potential for the development of robust, low-cost, and fast-responding sensors ...that are applicable in biofluids (urine, blood, and saliva). Particularly, the development of sensors for metabolites, neurotransmitters, drugs, and inorganic ions is highly desirable due to a lack of suitable biosensors. In addition, the monitoring and analysis of metabolic and signaling networks in cells and organisms by optical probes and chemosensors is becoming increasingly important in molecular biology and medicine. Thus, new perspectives for personalized diagnostics, theranostics, and biochemical/medical research will be unlocked when standing limitations of artificial binders and receptors are overcome. In this review, we survey synthetic sensing systems that have promising (future) application potential for the detection of small molecules, cations, and anions in aqueous media and biofluids. Special attention was given to sensing systems that provide a readily measurable optical signal through dynamic covalent chemistry, supramolecular host–guest interactions, or nanoparticles featuring plasmonic effects. This review shall also enable the reader to evaluate the current performance of molecular probes, chemosensors, and nanosensors in terms of sensitivity and selectivity with respect to practical requirement, and thereby inspiring new ideas for the development of further advanced systems.
The bacterial and fungal community involved in ambrosia beetle fungiculture remains poorly studied compared to the famous fungus-farming ants and termites. Here we studied microbial community ...dynamics of laboratory nests, adults, and brood during the life cycle of the sugarcane shot hole borer,
We identified a total of 40 fungal and 428 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), from which only five fungi (a
fungus and four ascomycete yeasts) and four bacterial genera (
,
,
, and
) can be considered the core community playing the most relevant symbiotic role. Both the fungal and bacterial populations varied significantly during the beetle's life cycle. While the ascomycete yeasts were the main colonizers of the gallery early on, the
and other filamentous fungi appeared after day 10, at the time when larval hatching happened. Regarding bacteria,
and
dominated overall but decreased in foundresses and brood with age. Finally, inferred analyses of the putative metabolic capabilities of the bacterial microbiome revealed that they are involved in (i) degradation of fungal and plant polymers, (ii) fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and (iii) essential amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin provisioning. Overall, our results suggest that yeasts and bacteria are more strongly involved in supporting the beetle-fungus farming symbiosis than previously thought.
Ambrosia beetles farm their own food fungi within tunnel systems in wood and are among the three insect lineages performing agriculture (the others are fungus-farming ants and termites). In ambrosia beetles, primary ambrosia fungus cultivars have been regarded essential, whereas other microbes have been more or less ignored. Our KEGG analyses suggest so far unknown roles of yeasts and bacterial symbionts, by preparing the tunnel walls for the primary ambrosia fungi. This preparation includes enzymatic degradation of wood, essential amino acid production, and nitrogen fixation. The latter is especially exciting because if it turns out to be present
in ambrosia beetles, all farming animals (including humans) are dependent on atmospheric nitrogen fertilization of their crops. As previous internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metabarcoding approaches failed on covering the primary ambrosia fungi, our 18S metabarcoding approach can also serve as a template for future studies on the ambrosia beetle-fungus symbiosis.
This publication presents the combination of the one-loop matrix-element generator
Recola
with the multipurpose Monte Carlo program
Sherpa
. Since both programs are highly automated, the resulting
...Sherpa
+
Recola
framework allows for the computation of – in principle – any Standard Model process at both NLO QCD and EW accuracy. To illustrate this, three representative LHC processes have been computed at NLO QCD and EW: vector-boson production in association with jets, off-shell
Z
-boson pair production, and the production of a top-quark pair in association with a Higgs boson. In addition to fixed-order computations, when considering QCD corrections, all functionalities of
Sherpa
, i.e. particle decays, QCD parton showers, hadronisation, underlying events, etc. can be used in combination with
Recola
. This is demonstrated by the merging and matching of one-loop QCD matrix elements for Drell–Yan production in association with jets to the parton shower. The implementation is fully automatised, thus making it a perfect tool for both experimentalists and theorists who want to use state-of-the-art predictions at NLO accuracy.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was officially recognized in 2015 as an occupational disease for outdoor workers in Germany. Together with the enormous socioeconomic impact of NMSC, this ...has led to the continuous demand of evidence‐based prevention. However, studies assessing the perceptions and beliefs along with risk behaviour of outdoor workers as an essential prerequisite for prevention are rare.
Objective
To assess perceptions, beliefs, barriers, risk and preventive behaviours towards non‐melanoma skin cancer among different outdoor groups as a basis for the development of sustainable prevention programmes.
Patients and Methods
Cross‐sectional study among outdoor workers of three different occupational groups (farmer, gardener, roofer) using a 20‐question online survey on NMSC awareness, risk and preventive behaviours.
Results
Between March and April 2016, 353 outdoor workers participated in the study. Of these, 153 (43.4%) reported never to use sunscreen during work. Wearing headgear and long pants were the most common sun protection measures. Poor use of sunscreen was more likely in males and farmers. A low perceived skin cancer risk was significantly associated with poor use of sunscreen, long‐sleeved shirts, sunglasses and headgear.
Conclusions
Despite great evidence on NMSC risk in outdoor professions throughout the literature, high‐risk groups in fact are not yet aware of the topic. Sustainable target group‐oriented awareness prevention programmes are needed to lower the immense burden of NMSC.
Asymmetric Overgrowth and a Facial Port Wine Stain Seiringer, Peter; Biedermann, MD, Tilo; Schnopp, MD, Christina
The Journal of pediatrics,
February 2021, 2021-02-00, 20210201, Letnik:
229
Journal Article
Purpose
Prior research on the psychological consequences of skin diseases has focused on assessing mental comorbidities. The aim of this study was to investigate subjective well-being in a large ...sample of individuals affected by psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and to explore the associations with depression and disease-related parameters such as disease severity.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to June 2019. The link to the questionnaire was shared on websites and Facebook pages of psoriasis patient organizations and campaigns. Participants filled in validated scales measuring subjective well-being—operationalized as positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA) and satisfaction with life (SWL); and depression.
Results
The data of 722 participants were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis supported the differentiation of PA, NA, SWL, and depression as four different constructs. The respondents reported lower levels of PA than healthy individuals and judged themselves to be less happy and were less satisfied with their lives than the general population (except age group 65 + years). 40.3% of respondents were screened positive for depression. More severe psoriasis was associated with lower affective well-being and a higher risk for depression.
Conclusion
The results of this study empirically supported the differentiation of subjective well-being and depression as different constructs in individuals with psoriasis, and underline the large mental burden of the disease which goes beyond a higher risk for depression. Measures of well-being should thus be incorporated in both research and clinical practice in patients with psoriasis in order to achieve a more comprehensive picture of the mental burden of this disease.
Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a T cell–mediated inflammatory skin disease, with TH 2 cells initiating acute flares. This inflamed skin is immediately colonized with Staphylococcus aureus , ...which provides potent Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 ligands. However, the effect of TLR2 ligands on the development of TH 2-mediated AD inflammation remains unclear. Objective We investigated the progression of TH 2 cell–mediated dermatitis after TLR2 activation. Methods Using models for acute AD with TH 2 cells initiating cutaneous inflammation, we investigated the consequences of TLR2 activation. Dermatitis, as assessed by changes in ear skin thickness and histology, was analyzed in different BALB/c and C57BL/6 wild-type and knockout mouse strains, and immune profiling was carried out by using in vitro and ex vivo cytokine analyses. Results We show that TH 2 cell–mediated dermatitis is self–limiting and depends on IL-4. Activation of TLR2 converted the limited TH 2 dermatitis to chronic cutaneous inflammation. We demonstrate that the concerted activation of TLR2 and IL-4 receptor on dendritic cells is sufficient for this conversion. As an underlying mechanism, we found that the combinatorial sensing of the innate TLR2 ligands and the adaptive TH 2 cytokine IL-4 suppressed anti-inflammatory IL-10 and consequently led to the exacerbation and persistence of dermatitis. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that innate TLR2 signals convert transient TH 2 cell–mediated dermatitis into persistent inflammation, as seen in chronic human AD, through IL-4–mediated suppression of IL-10. For the first time, these data show how initial AD lesions convert to chronic inflammation and provide another rationale for targeting IL-4 in patients with AD, a therapeutic approach that is currently under development.
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