Next generation risk assessment for skin allergy: Decision making using new approach methodologies.

Our aim is to develop and apply next generation approaches to skin allergy risk assessment (SARA) that do not require new animal test data and better quantify uncertainties. Significant progress has been made in the development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), non-animal test methods, for assessment of skin sensitisation and there is now focus on their application to derive potency information for use in Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA). The SARA model utilises a Bayesian statistical approach to infer a human-relevant metric of sensitiser potency and a measure of risk associated with a given consumer exposure based upon any combination of human repeat insult patch test, local lymph node, direct peptide reactivity assay, KeratinoSens™, h-CLAT or U-SENS™ data. Here we have applied the SARA model within our weight of evidence NGRA framework for skin allergy to three case study materials in four consumer products. Highlighting how to structure the risk assessment, apply NAMs to derive a point of departure and conclude on consumer safety risk. NGRA based upon NAMs were, for these exposures, at least as protective as the historical risk assessment approaches. Through such case studies we are building our confidence in using NAMs for skin allergy risk assessment.

Evaluation of a commercial loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay, 3MTM Molecular Detection Assay 2 - Campylobacter, for the detection of Campylobacter from poultry matrices.

1. The objective of this study was to evaluate performance of a commercial loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method as an alternative method for the detection of Campylobacter spp. in primary production samples, poultry rinses and raw poultry products, as compared to the US Department of Agriculture Food Inspection Service Microbiology Laboratory Guide Book PCR reference method, MLG 41A.2. The Campylobacter spp. LAMP was used in conjunction with a ready-to-use enrichment broth that does not require microaerophilic incubation. After enrichment, boot swabs from poultry farms, carcase rinses and raw poultry products were tested by the LAMP method and the MLG 41A PCR method.3. The ready-to-use enrichment broth enabled the growth of Campylobacter spp. within 22 to 28 hours under aerobic incubation conditions. The LAMP method enabled Campylobacter detection in the enriched samples of various poultry matrices and had equivalent sensitivity and specificity to the MLG 41A PCR method.4. No significant difference (95% confidence interval) was found between the alternative and the MLG 41A PCR method, as determined by probability of detection analysis, except for neutralising buffered peptone water post-chill rinsates. For the post-chill neutralising buffered peptone water rinsates, the LAMP method had significantly higher confirmed portions.

Choroidal thickness in lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare choroidal thickness between patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) in complete renal remission to that of patients with SLE without LN. METHODS: This was a retrospective case-control study of 23 SLE patients meeting either the American College of Rheumatology or Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria and followed at Washington University School of Medicine Rheumatology or Nephrology, and Ophthalmology outpatient clinics. The diagnosis of LN was based on renal pathology, and complete renal remission was defined as proteinuria <500 mg/daily and serum creatinine at baseline. Extra-renal flare status was determined using modified Fortin criteria. Choroidal thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and read by blinded reviewers. RESULTS: In SLE patients without extra-renal flare, choroidal thickness of LN patients was 281 ± 78 µm compared to 288 ± 70 µm in non-LN SLE patients (p = 0.766) at the fovea. CONCLUSION: Choroidal thickness was not different in patients with LN in remission compared to non-LN SLE patients in remission. Additional studies are needed to examine choroidal thickness in patients with SLE with active LN.

Anomalous pH-Dependent Enhancement of p-Methyl Benzoic Acid Sum-Frequency Intensities: Cooperative Surface Adsorption Effects.

Vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy is used to determine the surface pKa of p-methyl benzoic acid (pMBA) at the air-water interface by monitoring the carbonyl and carboxylate stretching modes over the pH range of 2 to 12. The SFG intensities of pMBA and its conjugate base, p-methyl benzoate (pMBA-), exhibit an anomalously large enhancement over a narrow pH range (∼0.5) centered at pH 6.3 near the SFG-determined surface pKa, 5.9 ± 0.1. The increase in the surface pKa relative to the bulk value of 4.34 is consistent with the trend previously observed for long chain carboxylic acids in which the surface pKa is higher than the bulk solution pKa. SFG polarization studies help distinguish the orientation and number density contributions to this observed anomalous surface phenomenon. The large SFG intensity increase is attributed to an increase in the pMBA and pMBA- surface concentrations in this narrow pH range due to a cooperative adsorption effect between pMBA and pMBA-. This cooperativity is manifested only on the 2D air-water interface, where the interactions between the acid and base are not as dielectrically screened as in the aqueous bulk phase. Surface effects are critical to understanding and controlling the reactivity, solubility, and behavior of organic acids at interfaces and can have an impact on biomedical applications.

Amelioration of mild and moderate depression through Pranic Healing as adjuvant therapy: randomised double-blind controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Depression is a mental disorder, affecting the quality of life. Our study explores the efficacy of Pranic Healing (PH), as an adjuvant therapy in treating depression Methods: In this randomised double-blind controlled trial, 52 participants with a mean age of 34.4 years, with mild to moderate depression were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating (HAM-D) scale during the 5-week study. Both Medication + PH (MedPH) and Medication + Mock PH (MedMockPH) groups comprising 26 members received Pranic and mock healing lasting 20 minutes per session respectively once a week for 4 weeks, along with the antidepressant drug. RESULTS: The average decrease in HAM-D score in MedPH was median 11 (Interquartile Range (IQR) 7-12) and was significantly higher compared with the MedMockPH group median 6.5 (IQR 3-9). At pre-assessment, both groups had 8 cases of mild and 18 cases of moderate depression. At post-assessment, HAM-D showed that the improvement in depression category was seen in 69.2% of participants in the MedMockPH group and 100% in MedPH group. CONCLUSIONS: These results give first the evidence that PH can aid as an adjuvant therapy for depressed people.

A Bemisia tabaci midgut protein interacts with begomoviruses and plays a role in virus transmission.

Begomoviruses are a major group of plant viruses, transmitted exclusively by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) in a persistent circulative non-propagative manner. The information regarding molecular and cellular basis underlying Begomovirus - whitefly interaction is very scarce. Evidences have suggested that the insect gut possesses some crucial protein receptors that allow specific entry of virus into the insect haemolymph. We have performed yeast two hybrid gut cDNA expression library screening against coat protein of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCV) and Cotton leaf curl Rajasthan virus (CLCuV) as bait. Midgut protein (MGP) was the common protein found interacting with both ToLCV and CLCuV. MGP was localized in whole mount B. tabaci as well as in dissected guts through confocal microscopy. Pull down and dot blot assays confirmed in vitro interaction between ToLCV/CLCuV coat protein and MGP. Immunolocalization analysis also showed colocalization of ToLCV/CLCuV particles and MGP within insect's gut. Finally, anti-MGP antibody fed B. tabaci, exhibited 70% reduction in ToLCV transmission, suggesting a supportive role for MGP in virus transmission.

Screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors at baseline and post intervention among adults with intellectual disabilities in an urbanised Asian society.

BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) face significant barriers to screening participation. We determined predictors for regular cardiovascular health screening at baseline among adults with ID in Singapore, and evaluated the effectiveness of a 3-month screening intervention. METHODS: The study population involved all adults with ID aged ≥40 years receiving services from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), the largest such provider in Singapore. Over 3 months in 2011, adult clients not screened regularly at baseline for hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia were offered free and convenient blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipid testing; data on other cardiovascular disease risk factors were also collected. Chi-square and logistic regression identified predictors of regular screening at baseline. RESULTS: Participation was 95.0% (227/239). At baseline, among adults with ID, 61.8% (118/191), 24.8% (52/210) and 18.2% (34/187) had gone for regular hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia screening respectively; post intervention, rates rose to 96.9%, 89.5% and 88.8% respectively. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors (22.5% with hypertension, 10.6% with diabetes, 34.8% with dyslipidaemia, 10.7% obese and 90.6% lacking regular exercise) was high compared against the general population. While receiving residential services was associated with regular hypertension screening, receiving non-residential services and being independently mobile were associated with regular participation in fasting blood tests (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular disease risk factors are common among adults with ID and clinicians should proactively screen such populations. Provision of free and convenient screening for cardiovascular disease risk improved screening participation.

A case of histoid leprosy in a HIV infected person on HAART not responding to conventional MB-MDT.

A 46 year old male diagnosed case of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) presented with raised nodular skin lesions of two months duration which on skin biopsy was diagnosed as Histoid leprosy. Individual was put on standard Multi Bacillary Multi Drug Therapy (MB MDT) for two months has shown exacerbation of lesion and was later put on daily Rifampicin, Ofloxacin and Minocycline (ROM) for which he responded. Interesting feature is rarity of association of HIV with Histoid Leprosy where the patient did not respond to the conventional MB MDT and later responded to daily ROM.

A Case of Histoid Leprosy in a HIV Infected Person on HAART not responding to conventional MB MDT.

A 46 year old male diagnosed case of Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) presented with raised nodular skin lesions of two months duration which on skin biopsy was diagnosed as Histoid leprosy. Individual was put on standard Multi Bacillary Multi Drug Therapy (MB MDT) for two months has shown exacerbation of lesion and was later put on daily Rifampicin, Ofloxacin and Minocycline (ROM) for which he responded. Interesting feature is rarity of association of HIV with Histoid Leprosy where the patient did not respond to the conventional MB MDT and later responded to daily ROM.

Comparative evaluation of botulinum toxin versus iontophoresis with topical aluminium chloride hexahydrate in treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhidrosis is generalised or focal excessive sweating and carries a substantial psychological and social burden. This study compares botulinum toxin versus iontophoresis with topical aluminium chloride hexahydrate in palmar hyperhidrosis. METHODS: The study included 60 cases of palmar hyperhidrosis randomly allocated to 2 groups. One group was given botulinum toxin type A 100 units per palm and the other group subjected to digital iontophoresis with topical application of aluminium chloride hexahydrate lotion for 4 weeks. They were assessed 4 weeks later and those without improvement were crossed over to the other arm for another 4 weeks. Those with improvement were followed up in the same arm for 6 months. RESULTS: Botulinum therapy showed significant improvement in the initial (80%) as well as cross over cases (75%) as compared to iontophoresis and aluminium chloride (47%) for initial cases and (17%) for cross over cases. CONCLUSION: Better improvements were seen with botulinum therapy than with iontophoresis and topical therapy. Residual effects of relief lasted on an average for 4 months for botulinum toxin whereas it was one month with iontophoresis and topical therapy. Advantage with iontophoresis and topical therapy was that it was non invasive and did not require regional anaesthesia as with botulinum therapy.

Knowledge, experience & attitudes concerning electroconvulsive therapy among patients & their relatives.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used frequently in developing countries, but investigations of patients' awareness and perception of ECT are rare. The present study thus attempted a comprehensive examination of knowledge, experience and attitudes concerning ECT among patients treated with brief-pulse, bilateral, modified ECT, and their relatives. METHODS: Of the 153 recipients of ECT, 77 patients and relatives were eventually assessed using questionnaires designed to evaluate their awareness and views about ECT. RESULTS: Patients were middle-aged, poorly-educated, often unemployed, with chronic, severe, and predominantly psychotic illnesses. Relatives were mainly parents, older, better-educated and usually employed. Apart from the very rudimentary aspects, patients were largely unaware of the procedure. Though most did not find the experience of ECT upsetting, sizeable proportions expressed dissatisfaction with aspects such as informed consent, fear of treatment and memory impairment. Although patients were mostly positive about ECT, ambivalent attitudes were also common, but clearly negative views were rare. Relatives were significantly likely to be more aware, more satisfied with the experience and have more favourable attitudes towards ECT, than patients. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The results endorse the notion that recipients of ECT are generally well-disposed towards the treatment, but also indicate areas where practice of ECT needs to be improved to enhance satisfaction among patients and relatives.

Genetic Algorithm-Based Human Mental Stress Detection and Alerting in Internet of Things.

Healthcare is one of the emerging application fields in the Internet of Things (IoT). Stress is a heightened psycho-physiological condition of the human that occurs in response to major objects or events. Stress factors are environmental elements that lead to stress. A person's emotional well-being can be negatively impacted by long-term exposure to several stresses affecting at the same time, which can cause chronic health issues. To avoid strain problems, it is vital to recognize them in their early stages, which can only be done through regular stress monitoring. Wearable gadgets offer constant and real information collecting, which aids in experiencing an increase. An investigation of stress discovery using detecting devices and deep learning-based is implemented in this work. This proposed work investigates stress detection techniques that are utilized with detecting hardware, for example, electroencephalography (EEG), photoplethysmography (PPG), and the Galvanic skin reaction (GSR) as well as in various conditions including traveling and learning. A genetic algorithm is utilized to separate the features, and the ECNN-LSTM is utilized to classify the given information by utilizing the DEAP dataset. Before that, preprocessing strategies are proposed for eliminating artifacts in the signal. Then, the stress that is beyond the threshold value is reached the emergency/alert state; in that case, an expert who predicts the mental stress sends the report to the patient/doctor through the Internet. Finally, the performance is evaluated and compared with the traditional approaches in terms of accuracy, f1-score, precision, and recall.

Arsenic-induced alteration in intracellular calcium homeostasis induces head kidney macrophage apoptosis involving the activation of calpain-2 and ERK in Clarias batrachus.

We had earlier shown that exposure to arsenic (0.50 µM) caused caspase-3 mediated head kidney macrophage (HKM) apoptosis involving the p38-JNK pathway in Clarias batrachus. Here we examined the roles of calcium (Ca(2+)) and extra-cellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), the other member of MAPK-pathway on arsenic-induced HKM apoptosis. Arsenic-induced HKM apoptosis involved increased expression of ERK and calpain-2. Nifedipine, verapamil and EGTA pre-treatment inhibited the activation of calpain-2, ERK and reduced arsenic-induced HKM apoptosis as evidenced from reduced caspase-3 activity, Annexin V-FITC-propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 staining. Pre-incubation with ERK inhibitor U 0126 inhibited the activation of calpain-2 and interfered with arsenic-induced HKM apoptosis. Additionally, pre-incubation with calpain-2 inhibitor also interfered with the activation of ERK and inhibited arsenic-induced HKM apoptosis. The NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin and diphenyleneiodonium chloride also inhibited ERK activation indicating activation of ERK in arsenic-exposed HKM also depends on signals from NADPH oxidase pathway. Our study demonstrates the critical role of Ca(2+) homeostasis on arsenic-induced HKM apoptosis. We suggest that arsenic-induced alteration in intracellular Ca(2+) levels initiates pro-apoptotic ERK and calpain-2; the two pathways influence each other positively and induce caspase-3 mediated HKM apoptosis. Besides, our study also indicates the role of ROS in the activation of ERK pathway in arsenic-induced HKM apoptosis in C. batrachus.

Exploring the effects of California's COVID-19 shelter-in-place order on household energy practices and intention to adopt smart home technologies.

To contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), local and state governments in the U.S. have imposed restrictions on daily life, resulting in dramatic changes to how and where people interact, travel, socialize, and work. Using a social practice perspective, we explore how California's Shelter-in-Place (SIP) order impacted household energy activities. To do so, we conducted an online survey of California residents (n = 804) during active SIP restrictions (May 5-18, 2020). We asked respondents about changes to home occupancy patterns and household energy activities (e.g., cooking, electronics usage) due to SIP restrictions, as well as perspectives toward smart energy technologies. Households reported increased midday (10am-3pm) occupancy during SIP, and this increase is related to respondent and household characteristics, such as education and the presence of minors in the home. Examining change in the frequency of household activities during SIP, presence of minors and increased midday occupancy proved important. Finally, we considered relationships to intention to purchase smart home technologies, with the presence of minors and increased activity frequency relating to greater intention to purchase. These findings demonstrate how household activities and occupancy changed under COVID restrictions, how these changes may be related to energy use in the home, and how such COVID-related changes could be shaping perspectives toward smart home technology, potentially providing insight into future impacts on household practices and electricity demand.

Conjugate Acid-Base Interaction Driven Phase Transition at a 2D Air-Water Interface.

A lattice model is described to explain a recent striking Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) observation of a cooperative surface adsorption effect for an organic acid system at an air-water interface. The reported anomalous pH-dependent enhancement in p-methylbenzoic acid (pmBA) arises from an interaction between the acid (HA) and its conjugate base anion (A-), which competes with strong Coulombic repulsion between the conjugate bases (A--A -). Using a statistical mechanical approach, this lattice gas model reveals an analogy to well-studied magnetic systems in which the attraction between the two different molecular species leads to a phase transition to a two-dimensional checkerboard phase consisting of a network of anion-acid complexes formed at the low-dielectric air-water interface. Cooperative acid-anion interactions that control partitioning at solution and aerosol interfaces are of interest to fields ranging from oceanic and atmospheric chemistry, pharmacology, and chemical engineering.

Expression, purification, and characterization of pro-phenoloxidase-activating serine protease from Spodoptera litura.

One of the important trigger molecules for innate immunity is a serine protease that activates zymogen phenol oxidase (PPO). Central to wound healing response is the activation of phenol oxidase zymogen. Molecular characterization of phenol oxidase has been recently reported by us. Here, we report isolation, cloning, expression, and purification of prophenol oxidase activating enzyme 1 (slppae1) from polyphagous pest, Spodoptera litura. SLPPAE1 is induced within 6 h of physical injury. The structural features of the mature polypeptide are reminiscent of other lepidopteran PPAE in having a signal peptide, propeptide, and catalytically active polypeptide. The cDNA has been expressed in Sf21 cells using baculovirus expression vector. Fractionation of expressing Sf21 cells revealed its expression in the membranes. The recombinant protein was solubilized from membranes and purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme is catalytically active on chromogenic substrate, activates recombinantly expressed prophenol oxidase (PPO) of S. litura, and is sensitive to inhibition by aprotenin. N-terminal sequencing of processed phenol oxidase revealed 11 kDa propeptide instead of in-silico predicted 6 kDa polypeptide.

Beneficial interactions between insects and gut bacteria.

Insects are amongst the most successful of animals, both in terms of diversity and in colonizing all ecological niches. Recent studies have highlighted the benefi ciary roles that bacteria play in the success and establishment of insects. By adopting techniques like 16S rRNA sequencing we are now in a position to understand the diversity of bacteria present in insect guts. It has been shown that some of these bacteria, like Wolbachia and Cardinium are involved in manipulating insect populations and distorting their sex ratio. Attempts have been made to culture these bacteria in insect cell lines, as they are recalcitrant to culture under normal microbiological conditions. The diversity of bacteria associated with insects and the functional role played by them in the insect is discussed below.

Trends of Sexually Transmitted Infections : A 33 Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are a major public health problem the world over. This study was aimed at analyzing the trends of STIs in a 33 year period at a tertiary care service hospital. METHODS: A retrospective data analysis was done of all the cases diagnosed as STIs during a 33 year period from 1974 to 2006. RESULT: A total of 4532 STIs were seen in 4215 males. The commonest STI was chancroid (37.2%), followed by syphilis (16.2%). The commonest age group involved was the 21-30 year group (57.6 %). STIs declined from a total of 311 cases in 1974 to seven cases in 2006. This trend was mirrored in all major STIs. Multiple STIs were seen in 317 (07.5%) cases. CONCLUSION: The frequency of STIs has shown a distinctly decreasing trend from over the last 33 years.