Community-engaged ancient DNA project reveals diverse origins of 18th-century African descendants in Charleston, South Carolina.

In this study, we present the results of community-engaged ancient DNA research initiated after the remains of 36 African-descended individuals dating to the late 18th century were unearthed in the port city of Charleston, South Carolina. The Gullah Society of Charleston, along with other Charleston community members, initiated a collaborative genomic study of these ancestors of presumed enslaved status, in an effort to visibilize their histories. We generated 18 low-coverage genomes and 31 uniparental haplotypes to assess their genetic origins and interrelatedness. Our results indicate that they have predominantly West and West-Central African genomic ancestry, with one individual exhibiting some genomic affiliation with populations in the Americas. Most were assessed as genetic males, and no autosomal kin were identified among them. Overall, this study expands our understanding of the colonial histories of African descendant populations in the US South.

Sacral neuromodulation: Rechargeable versus non-rechargeable device. What would the patient preferences be in France?

AIMS: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a minimally invasive technique that provides effective treatment for the management of refractory overactive bladder (OAB), non-obstructive urinary retention (NOUR), and fecal incontinence (FI). This study assessed patient preferences between the currently available non-rechargeable SNM device and a new, full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-safe, smaller, rechargeable device. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among French OAB, NOUR, FI patients, recruited via a market research vendor. To assess their preferences, patients were asked to indicate their level of agreement with 10 statements regarding the size of the device, its rechargeability, and the role of MRI using a 6-item Likert scale. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: In all, 95 patients (68% women), mean age 50 years, were included in the study: 51% were treated for OAB; 44% received an oral treatment and 28% had SNM. Overall, 71% of the 95 patients indicated a preference for the new device; 75% considered that recharging the device would not impact their lifestyle; 74% believed that the smaller size of the rechargeable device would facilitate their choice to be treated with SNM; 80% found full-body MRI compatibility important. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients may prefer the new rechargeable SNM device over the current "standard". Compatibility with full-body MRI and the smaller device size seemed the key features of the newer device that would influence their choice of being treated with SNM. Future national and international recommendations should consider a shared decision-making process between the physician and the patient.

Ancestry, health, and lived experiences of enslaved Africans in 18th century Charleston: An osteobiographical analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In 2013, the burials of 36 individuals of putative African ancestry were discovered during renovation of the Gaillard Center in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The Charleston community facilitated a bioarchaeological and mitogenomic study to gain insights into the lives of these unknown persons, referred to as the Anson Street Ancestors, including their ancestry, health, and lived experiences in the 18th century. METHODS: Metric and morphological assessments of skeletal and dental characteristics were recorded, and enamel and cortical bone strontium stable isotope values generated. Whole mitochondrial genomes were sequenced and analyzed. RESULTS: Osteological analysis identified adults, both females and males, and subadults at the site, and estimated African ancestry for most individuals. Skeletal trauma and pathology were infrequent, but many individuals exhibited dental decay and abscesses. Strontium isotope data suggested these individuals mostly originated in Charleston or sub-Saharan Africa, with many being long-term residents of Charleston. Nearly all had mitochondrial lineages belonging to African haplogroups (L0-L3, H1cb1a), with two individuals sharing the same L3e2a haplotype, while one had a Native American A2 mtDNA. DISCUSSION: This study generated detailed osteobiographies of the Anson Street Ancestors, who were likely of enslaved status. Our results indicate that the Ancestors have diverse maternal African ancestries and are largely unrelated, with most being born locally. These details reveal the demographic impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Our analysis further illuminates the lived experiences of individuals buried at Anson Street, and expands our understanding of 18th century African history in Charleston.

[Implementation and assessment of anticancer drugs batch preparation circuit in a teaching hospital]. / Préparations hospitalières d'anticancéreux : mise en place et évaluation d'un circuit.

INTRODUCTION: In 2011, the anticancer preparation unit in a teaching hospital implemented a circuit for batch preparation of anticancer drugs. In this circuit, a manual and a semi-automatic production process coexist. The aim of the study is to describe the circuit in 2016 and to assess the impact of batch preparation in a anticancer preparation unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eligible anticancer drugs for batch preparation satisfy two conditions: solution stability up to 28 days, prescription frequency up to one every two days. Batch worksheets are standardized. The pharmaceutical validation relies on the conformity of microbiological, analytical, gravimetric and visual controls of infusion bags. The duration of manual and semi-automatic batch preparation process and the time availability of an infusion bag were assessed. RESULTS: In 2016, eleven anticancer drugs (33 dosages) were eligible for batch preparation: it represents 22% of total production. In total, 70% was semi-automatic. The mean batch sizes were 27±9 (semi-automatic) and 14±1 (manual). The mean duration of production process was respectively 78min and 113min for semi-automatic and manual batch preparation. The mean time availability of an infusion bag was 32min±17. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our process is secure. Batch preparation of anticancer drugs contributes to smooth production and spare nurses from preparing infusion bags outside opening hours of the anticancer preparation unit. Eligible anticancer drugs and batches size change constantly according to the evolution of prescription frequencies and anticancer drugs public tenders.

A survey of pharmacists' knowledge and views of biosimilars in Quebec and France.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to survey pharmacists' knowledge and views of biosimilars in Quebec and France. METHODS: An online and anonymous survey was conducted. The survey was divided into two parts including: (1) ten multiple choice questions on main characteristics that distinguish biosimilars from generic drugs; (2) fifteen statements on biosimilars key issues (interchangeability, immunogenicity risk management…). Pharmacists were asked to indicate their level of agreement to these statements using a 5-item Likert scale. A descriptive statistical analysis of the results was performed. RESULTS: A total of 229 pharmacists answered the survey (141 in Quebec and 88 in France). Pharmacists know the main differences between generic drugs and biosimilars. Viewpoints of pharmacists on biosimilars key issues are alike: nomenclature of biosimilars is essential to avoid confusions with the reference drug; the creation of a list of biosimilar and interchangeable biologic drugs is necessary; responsibilities for immunogenicity risk management should be shared between pharmacists and physicians. However, viewpoints vary regarding the patient informed consent for biologic drugs substitution. CONCLUSION: Knowledge and views of pharmacists about biosimilars in Quebec and in France are alike. Pharmacists should be knowledgeable about the particularities and key issues of biosimilars because they will play a key role for their introduction in clinical practice. They should be aware of the evolution of the legal framework of biosimilars to ensure their safe and optimal use.

Yohimbine in the treatment of orgasmic dysfunction.

AIM: To study the effect of yohimbine in the treatment of men with orgasmic dysfunction. METHODS: A 20-mg dose of yohimbine was first given to 29 men with orgasmic dysfunction of different aetiology in the clinic. Patients were then allowed to increase the dose at home (titration) under more favourable circumstances. The outcome and side effects were subsequently assessed. RESULTS: The patients were classified into three groups of orgasmic dysfunction: primary complete (13), primary incomplete (8) and secondary (8). Nocturnal emissions were present in 75%, 40% and 50% of patients in the above groups, respectively (overall average 62%). The men presented because of fertility problems (52%) or because they wanted to experience the pleasure of orgasm (48%). Of the 29 patients who completed the treatment, 16 managed to reach orgasm and were able to ejaculate either during masturbation or sexual intercourse. A further three achieved orgasm, but only with the additional stimulation of a vibrator. A history of preceding nocturnal emissions was present in 69% of the men in whom orgasm was induced but only 50% who failed treatment. Of the patients, two have subsequently fathered children (one set of twins) and another 3 men were also cured. Side effects were not sufficient to cause the men to cease treatment. CONCLUSION: Yohimbine is a useful treatment option in orgasmic dysfunction.

Challenges in presenting high dimensional data to aid in triage in the DARPA virtual soldier project.

One of the goals of the DARPA Virtual Soldier Project is to aid the field medic in the triage of a casualty. In Phase I, we are currently collecting 12 baseline experimental physiological variables and a cardiac gated Computed Tomography (CT) imagery for use in an prototyping a futuristic electronic medical record, the "Holomer". We are using physiological models and Kalman filtering to aid in diagnosis and predict outcomes in relation to cardiac injury. The physiological modeling introduces another few hundred variables. Reducing the complexity of the above into easy-to-read text to aid in the triage by the field medic is the challenge with multiple display solutions. A description of the possible techniques follows.

A contact map matching approach to protein structure similarity analysis

We modeled the problem of identifying how close two proteins are structurally by measuring the dissimilarity of their contact maps. These contact maps are colored images, in which the chromatic information encodes the chemical nature of the contacts. We studied two conceptually distinct image-processing algorithms to measure the dissimilarity between these contact maps; one was a content-based image retrieval method, and the other was based on image registration. In experiments with contact maps constructed from the protein data bank, our approach was able to identify, with greater than 80% precision, instances of monomers of apolipoproteins, globins, plastocyanins, retinol binding proteins and thioredoxins, among the monomers of Protein Data Bank Select. The image registration approach was only slightly more accurate than the content-based image retrieval approach.