There is a need to develop harmonized procedures and a Minimum Data Set (MDS) for cross-border Multi Casualty Incidents (MCI) in medical emergency scenarios to ensure appropriate management of such ...incidents, regardless of place, language and internal processes of the institutions involved. That information should be capable of real-time communication to the command-and-control chain. It is crucial that the models adopted are interoperable between countries so that the rights of patients to cross-border healthcare are fully respected. To optimize management of cross-border Multi Casualty Incidents through a Minimum Data Set collected and communicated in real time to the chain of command and control for each incident. To determine the degree of agreement among experts. We used the modified Delphi method supplemented with the Utstein technique to reach consensus among experts. In the first phase, the minimum requirements of the project, the profile of the experts who were to participate, the basic requirements of each variable chosen and the way of collecting the data were defined by providing bibliography on the subject. In the second phase, the preliminary variables were grouped into 6 clusters, the objectives, the characteristics of the variables and the logistics of the work were approved. Several meetings were held to reach a consensus to choose the MDS variables using a Modified Delphi technique. Each expert had to score each variable from 1 to 10. Non-voting variables were eliminated, and the round of voting ended. In the third phase, the Utstein Style was applied to discuss each group of variables and choose the ones with the highest consensus. After several rounds of discussion, it was agreed to eliminate the variables with a score of less than 5 points. In phase four, the researchers submitted the variables to the external experts for final assessment and validation before their use in the simulations. Data were analysed with SPSS Statistics (IBM, version 2) software. Six data entities with 31 sub-entities were defined, generating 127 items representing the final MDS regarded as essential for incident management. The level of consensus for the choice of items was very high and was highest for the category 'Incident' with an overall kappa of 0.7401 (95% CI 0.1265-0.5812, p 0.000), a good level of consensus in the Landis and Koch model. The items with the greatest degree of consensus at ten were those relating to location, type of incident, date, time and identification of the incident. All items met the criteria set, such as digital collection and real-time transmission to the chain of command and control. This study documents the development of a MDS through consensus with a high degree of agreement among a group of experts of different nationalities working in different fields. All items in the MDS were digitally collected and forwarded in real time to the chain of command and control. This tool has demonstrated its validity in four large cross-border simulations involving more than eight countries and their emergency services.
Isoconversional computations are widely-used methods to determine activation energies for thermally stimulated processes. pICNIK (python Isoconversional Computations for Non-Isothermal Kinetics) is ...an open-source module designed with the purpose of being a seed to a complete Python package to facilitate kinetic computations. It is object oriented with two classes: DataExtraction and ActivationEnergy. Five isoconversional methods were implemented: Friedmann's method, the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose method, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method, Vyazovkin and advanced Vyazovkin. This module allows to compute the activation energy from thermogravimetric data in minutes and the results can be exported as spreadsheet format or comma separated values files instead of traditional tedious and time consuming data processing. The module was validated with simulated data and two study cases: vaporization of n-decane and the thermal degradation of polypropylene.
Program Title: pICNIK
CPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/dpwtnmjpj5.1
Developer's repository link:https://github.com/ErickErock/pICNIK
Code Ocean capsule:https://codeocean.com/capsule/0740039
Licensing provisions: MIT
Programming language: Python
Nature of problem: Numerical determination of the parameters of the Arrhenius function and the reaction model under the isoconversion hypothesis.
Solution method: A Python module with implemented isoconversional methods. The algorithms implemented include several computations such as linear regressions, numerical integration and differentiation, and minimizing functions, all over several data sets.
Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: The initial data processing is focused on thermogravimetry and may not work for calculating conversion to other properties. However, the object-oriented implementation allows to overcome this limitation easily. Methods for calculating the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor and the reaction model remain to be implemented. It is a small module conceived to be further developed by the community. Another limitation of the code is that it does not include a graphical interface.
Characterization of the promoter region of the murine Catsper2 gene Contreras‐Marciales, Andrea del Pilar; López‐Guzmán, Sergio Federico; Benítez‐Hess, María Luisa ...
FEBS open bio,
December 2022, 2022-12-00, 20221201, 2022-12-01, Letnik:
12, Številka:
12
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
CATSPER2 (Cation channel sperm‐associated protein 2) protein, which is part of the calcium CATSPER channel located in the membrane of the flagellar principal piece of the sperm cell, is only ...expressed in the testis during spermatogenesis. Deletions or mutations in the Catsper2 gene are associated with the deafness‐infertility syndrome (DIS) and non‐syndromic male infertility. However, the mechanisms by which Catsper2 is regulated are unknown. Here, we report the characterization of the promoter region of murine Catsper2 and the role of CTCF and CREMτ in its transcription. We report that the promoter region has transcriptional activity in both directions, as determined by observing luciferase activity in mouse Sertoli and GC‐1 spg transfected cells. WGBS data analysis indicated that a CpG island identified in silico is non‐methylated; Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)‐seq data analysis revealed that histone marks H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 are present in the promoter and body of the Catsper2 gene respectively, indicating that Catsper2 is subject to epigenetic regulation. In addition, the murine Catsper2 core promoter was delimited to a region between −54/+189 relative to the transcription start site (TSS), where three CTCF and one CRE binding site were predicted. The functionality of these sites was determined by mutation of the CTCF sites and deletion of the CRE site. Finally, ChIP assays confirmed that CREMτ and CTCF bind to the Catsper2 minimal promoter region. This study represents the first functional analysis of the murine Catsper2 promoter region and the mechanisms that regulate its expression.
CATSPER2 is necessary for sperm hyperactivation and male fertility. Here, we report the characterization of Catsper2 promoter region and identify a CpG island in silico. ChIP‐seq data analysis revealed that histone marks H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 are present in the promoter and body of the Catsper2 gene. Finally, CTCF and CREMτ bind to the Catsper2 core promoter and regulate its expression.
The last third of gestation is a period of high energy and protein demand for the dam to support fetal growth and the following onset of lactation. Methionine is an essential amino acid that ...contributes to protein formation, fetal development, and milk synthesis; thus, is likely to have positive effects on the weight and size of the newborn and, afterward, milk yield and milk composition, which may improve growth patterns of the progeny. To test these hypotheses, we used 60 pregnant multiparous Alpine goats with similar live weights and gestational ages (~Day 100 of pregnancy; Mean ± SD; 1410 ± 14 days old and 50.4 ± 6.6 kg) and were separated into two groups: control and supplemented with the delivery. Treatments were T-MET (n = 30; received 1% herbal methionine Optimethione® dry matter based on from Day 100 of the pregnancy to delivery) or T-CTL (n = 30; served as the control and did not receive methionine). The methionine powder provided individual supplementation and was adjusted every week as the live weight and dry matter intake changed. At birth, the weight, body mass index (BMI), birth type, and sex of the kids were determined. Subsequently, the progeny was weighed weekly up to weaning. Two weeks after parturition, the milk composition was recorded weekly, and the milk yield was recorded monthly. The maternal live weight at the start (Mean ± SEM; T-CTL: 50.5 ± 1.1 vs. T-MET: 50.3 ± 1.3 kg) and end (T-CTL: 54.2 ± 1.3 vs. T-MET: 52.8 ± 1.4 kg) of the experiment did not differ statistically among treatments (p > 0.05); however, daily live weight changes tended to differ between groups (T-CTL: 73 ± 10 vs. T-MET: 51 ± 7 g day−1; p = 0.06). The birth weight (T-CTL: 3.1 ± 0.1 vs. T-MET: 3.5 ± 0.1 kg; p < 0.001), daily live weight change (T-CTL: 121 ± 6 vs. T-MET: 141 ± 6 g day−1; p < 0.01), and weaning weight (T-CTL: 8.3 ± 0.2 vs. T-MET: 9.3 ± 0.3 kg; p < 0.01) differed between treatments. The BMI at birth (T-CTL: 0.28 ± 0.01 vs. T-MET: 0.3 ± 0.01 units kg m−2; p < 0.01) and at weaning (T-CTL: 0.85 ± 0.1 kg vs. T-MET: 1.00 ± 0.06 units kg m−2; p < 0.05) differed between treatments. Milk components (protein, fat, lactose, and solids non-fat) and milk yield were similar between treatments (p > 0.05). It is concluded that the inclusion of methionine in the maternal goat diet during the last third of gestation increases the birth and growth variables of the progeny but without significant influence on the milk yield and composition.
A healthy lifestyle intervention was implemented in primary care health centers in urban parts of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico with an aim of reducing cardiovascular disease risk for patients ...with type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension. During implementation, research questions emerged. Considerably fewer men participated in the intervention than women, and an opportunity was identified to increase the reach of activities aimed at improving disease self-management through strategies involving family members. A qualitative study was conducted to identify strategies to involve men and engage family members in disease management and risk reduction.
Nine men with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes with limited to no participation in disease self-management and health promotion activities, six families in which at least one family member had a diagnosis of one or both conditions, and nine health care providers from four different government health centers were recruited for the study. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews. During interviews with families, genograms and eco-maps were used to diagram family composition and structure, and capture the nature of patients' relationships to the extended family and community resources. Transcripts were coded and a general inductive analytic approach was used to identify themes related to men's limited participation in health promotion activities, family support and barriers to disease management, and health care providers' recommendations.
Participants reported barriers to men's participation in chronic disease management and healthy lifestyle education activities that can be grouped into two categories: internal and external factors. Internal factors are those for which they are able to make the decision on their own and external factors are those that are not related solely to their decision to take part or not. Four primary aspects were identified related to families' relationships with disease: different roles within the family, types of support provided to patients, the opportunity to prevent disease among family members without a diagnosis, and - in some cases - lack of family support or stress-induced by other family members. There was an overlap in recommended strategies for engaging men and family members in chronic disease management activities.
There is an opportunity to increase the reach of interventions aimed at improving disease self-management by engaging men and family members. The proposed strategies presented by patients, family members, and providers have implications for health education and service provision at primary care health centers and for future research.
177Lu-iPSMA is a novel radioligand developed at ININ-Mexico with a high affinity for the PSMA protein heavily expressed in cancer cells of approximately 95% of patients with metastatic ...castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). 177Lu-DOTATOC is a patent-free radioligand, molecularly recognized by somatostatin receptors (SSTR-2) overexpressed in cancer cells of about 80% of patients with metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET). This translational research aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of 177Lu-iPSMA and 177Lu-DOTATOC developed as GMP pharmaceutical formulations for treating progressive and advanced mCRPC and NET. One hundred and forty-five patients with mCRPC and one hundred and eighty-seven subjects with progressive NET (83% GEP-NET and 17% other NET), treated with 177Lu-iPSMA and 177Lu-DOTATOC, respectively, were evaluated. Patients received a mean dose of 7.4 GBq per administration of 177Lu-iPSMA (range 1–5 administrations; 394 treatment doses) or 177Lu-DOTATOC (range 2–8 administrations; 511 treatment doses) at intervals of 1.5–2.5 months. Efficacy was assessed by SPECT/CT or PET/CT. Results were stratified by primary tumor origin and number of doses administered. Patients with mCRPC showed overall survival (OS) of 21.7 months with decreased radiotracer tumor uptake (SUV) and PSA level in 80% and 73% of patients, respectively. In addition, a significant reduction in pain (numerical scale from 10–7 to 3–1) was observed in 88% of patients with bone metastases between one and two weeks after the second injection. In the GEP-NET population, the median progression-free survival was 34.7 months, with an OS of >44.2 months. The treatments were well tolerated. Only ten patients experienced grade ≥ 3 myelosuppression (3% of all patients). The observed safety profiles and favorable therapeutic responses demonstrated the potential of 177Lu-iPSMA and 177Lu-DOTATOC to improve overall survival and quality of life in patients with progressive and advanced mCRPC and NET.
Obesity is a chronic disease associated with different metabolic diseases as well as alterations in immune cell function. It is characterized by a chronic systemic low grade inflammation. There are ...several studies demonstrating the influence of obesity on the impaired immune response to infection. However, it is not completely clear whether the obese environment influences the development or maintenance of the immune response against infections. The aim of this study was to determine how obesity induced by a high-fat diet affects the immune response to an early oral
Salmonella
infection. Four groups of mice were kept in separate cages. Two of these designated as controls, fed with a normal diet; whereas other two groups were fed with a high fat diet for 10 weeks. Some mice were used for
Salmonella
oral infection. After 7 days of oral infection with S. Thypimurium the proportions of spleen cell subsets expressing activation markers in normal diet and HFD obese mice were stained with monoclonal antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry. Also, mRNA levels of different cytokines were quantified by RT-PCR. It was found that obesity affects the function of the immune system against an early oral
Salmonella
infection, decreasing NK cells, altering the expression of activation molecules as well as cytokines mRNA levels. Interestingly, the expression some activation molecules on T lymphocytes was reestablished after
Salmonella
infection, but not the CD25 expression. Immune alterations could lead to immunosuppression or increased susceptibility to infections in HFD obese mice.
The Mexican Ministry of Health requested the National Institute of Public Health to constitute a group of independent, free of conflict-of-interest academic experts on front-of-pack labelling (FOP). ...This group was instructed to created a positioning paper to contribute to the development of a FOP system for industrialized products that offers useful information for purchase decision making. This position paper uses the best available scientific evidence, and recommendations from experts of international organizations. The FOP proposal focuses on the contents of energy, nutrients, ingredients and components that if consumed in excess on the diet, can be harmful to people's health, such as added sugars, sodium, total fat, saturated fat and energy. The academic expert group recommends the implementation of a FOP that provides an easy way to quickly assess the quality of a product. It is essential that this FOP provides direct, simple, visible and easily understandable information.
This paper presents a neuro-adaptive control scheme dedicated to solve the motion trajectory tracking problem of robot manipulators under uncertain parameters and external disturbances. A two degrees ...of freedom direct-drive robot manipulator was taken as a case of study. The proposed controller is able to guarantee asymptotic convergence of the position and velocity tracking errors, and the weights of the artificial neural network are bounded. Artificial neural network weights are updated online using filtered error approach, adaptive laws and signed power function. This scheme does not require any offline training. The neuro-adaptive controller is experimentally validated and compared with a classical one-layer neuro-adaptive controller; the proposed scheme obtains better quantitative metrics related with the RMS values of the position and velocity errors, and a good robust behaviour against external disturbances.
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