Validation of sorghum quality control (QC) markers across African breeding lines.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a cereal crop of critical importance in the semi-arid tropics, particularly in Africa where it is second only to maize (Zea mays L.) by area of cultivation. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics sorghum breeding program for Eastern and Southern Africa is the largest in the region and develops improved varieties for target agro-ecologies. Varietal purity and correct confirmation of new crosses are essential for the integrity and efficiency of a breeding program. We used 49 quality control (QC) kompetitive allele-specific PCR single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to genotype 716 breeding lines. Note that 46 SNPs were polymorphic with the top 10 most informative revealing polymorphism information content (PIC), minor allele frequency (MAF), and observed heterozygosity (Ho ) of 0.37, 0.43, and 0.02, respectively, and explaining 45% of genetic variance within the first two principal components (PC). Thirty-nine markers were highly informative across 16 Burkina Faso breeding lines, out of which the top 10 revealed average PIC, MAF, and Ho of 0.36, 0.39, and 0.05, respectively. Discriminant analysis of principal components done using top 30 markers separated the breeding lines into five major clusters, three of which were distinct. Six of the top 10 most informative markers successfully confirmed hybridization of crosses between genotypes IESV240, KARIMTAMA1, F6YQ212, and FRAMIDA. A set of 10, 20, and 30 most informative markers are recommended for routine QC applications. Future effort should focus on the deployment of these markers in breeding programs for enhanced genetic gain.

Protocol for a Trial Assessing the Impacts of School-Based WaSH Interventions on Children's Health Literacy, Handwashing, and Nutrition Status in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Diarrhea, soil-transmitted helminth infection and malnutrition are leading causes of child mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To reduce the prevalence of these diseases, effective interventions for adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) should be implemented. This paper describes the design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial that will compare the efficacy of four school-based WaSH interventions for improving children's health literacy, handwashing, and nutrition. Interventions consisted of (1) WaSH policy reinforcement; (2) low-, medium-, or high-volume health education; (3) hygiene supplies; and (4) WaSH facilities (e.g., toilets, urinals, handwashing basins) improvements. We randomly allocated school clusters from the intervention arm to one of four groups to compare with schools from the control arm. Primary outcomes were: children's health literacy, physical growth, nutrition status, and handwashing prevalence. Secondary outcomes were: children's self-reported health status and history of extreme hunger, satisfaction with WaSH facilities, and school restrooms' WaSH adequacy. We will measure differences in pre- and post-intervention outcomes and compare these differences between control and intervention arms. This research protocol can be a blueprint for future school-based WaSH intervention studies to be conducted in LMICs. Study protocols were approved by the ethics committees of the University of Bonn, Germany, and the University of the Philippines Manila. This trial was retroactively registered, ID number: DRKS00021623.

Preparation and resumption of clinic services after enhanced community quarantine: A consensus statement by the standards of medical practice and ethics committee

Readiness of Health Care Staff@#Statement 1. Family physicians and their staff should prepare themselves mentally, physically and emotionally before resuming clinic services. Prior to starting every clinic day, physicians and their staff should take their temperature and note respiratory symptoms. Statement 2. All clinical staff should be properly trained on proper use of PPEs, clinic disinfection, infection control and other safety procedures. Statement 3. Family Physicians should design an office management and operations plan that includes triage, patient flow, treatment and other patient care protocols including strict implementation of infection prevention and control procedures, management of PPE supplies and potential staff shortages. Statement 4. The clinic staff must inform their patients of the changes that may result from the new management and operations plan that will be made in the facility@*Clinic Procedures, Disinfection and Infection Control@#Statement 5. After undergoing proper triage, non-COVID 19 patients entering the clinic should use a hand sanitizer, step on a foot bath or pad soaked in chlorine or any approved disinfectant solution at the entrance. All clinic staff, patients and accompanying persons should be wearing at least a mask inside the clinic. They should be instructed to avoid touching their face or mask and perform hand hygiene immediately before and after if cannot be avoided. Statement 6. Appropriate visual alerts or educational posters regarding infection control, proper handwashing, cough or sneezing etiquette should be visible inside the clinic. Statement 7. The clinic facility must have infection prevention and control measures that adhere to international and local standards. Statement 8. After appropriate triaging, a family physician when attending to a patient shall wear mask, single use gloves and eye protection while apron or gown is optional. It is up to the discretion of the family physician to use higher level of protection based on his risk assessment of the clinic environment and if resources are available.@*Clinical Services@#Statement 9. As much as possible, family physicians should continue all primary care services in the clinics. However, it is advisable to first limit the service to non-COVID-19 (suspect or diagnosed) patients. Patients needing COVID-19 assessment and management should be referred to appropriate facilities and follow the guidelines set forth by the Department of Health. Statement 10. A patient who consulted and whose symptoms were resolved may choose not come back for follow-up. Patients with chronic diseases may be followed-up at longer intervals if their illness is stable. Statement 11. Referrals for further assessment, diagnostic tests, or other procedures not available in the clinic must first be coordinated with the referral center/site

[Inter- and intrafraction imaging during stereotactic body radiation therapy: Which solutions for which tumours?] / Imagerie inter- et intrafractions en radiothérapie stéréotaxique extracrânienne : quelles solutions pour quelles tumeurs ?

Due to high dose gradients, stereotactic body radiation therapy requires high precision in the location of the tumour. Uncertainties in the positioning can introduce serious damage on organs at risk and consequently can reduce tumour local control. A better tumour location can be achieved by controlling its position with an efficient inter and intrafraction imaging procedure. The various imaging techniques available on treatment systems are presented and performances are discussed. Finally, propositions are given in terms of imaging system according to the location treated by stereotactic body radiation therapy.

ATRX-DAXX Complex Expression Levels and Telomere Length in Normal Young and Elder Autopsy Human Brains.

The chromatin-remodeling complex ATRX/DAXX is one of the major epigenetic factors that controls heterochromatin maintenance due to its role in histone deposition. ATRX is involved in nucleosome configuration and maintenance of higher order chromatin structure, and DAXX is a specific histone chaperone for H3.3 deposition. Dysfunctions in this complex have been associated with telomere shortening, which influences cell senescence. However, data about this complex in brain tissue related to aging are still scarce. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed ATRX and DAXX expressions in autopsied human brain specimens and the telomere length. A significant decrease in gene and protein expressions was observed in the brain tissues from the elderly compared with those from the young, which were related to short telomeres. These findings may motivate further functional analysis to confirm the ATRX-DAXX complex involvement in telomere maintenance and brain aging.

Brazilian consensus on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Part 2: rehabilitation and systemic care.

Significant advances in the understanding and management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have occurred since the publication of international guidelines for DMD care in 2010. Our objective was to provide an evidence-based national consensus statement for multidisciplinary care of DMD in Brazil. A combination of the Delphi technique with a systematic review of studies from 2010 to 2016 was employed to classify evidence levels and grade of recommendations for the guideline. Our recommendations were divided in two parts. Guideline methodology and overall disease concept descriptions are found in Part 1. Here we present Part 2, where we provide the results and recommendations on rehabilitation and systemic care for DMD.

Brazilian consensus on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Part 2: rehabilitation and systemic care / Consenso brasileiro para distrofia muscular de Duchenne. Parte 2: reabilitação e cuidados sistêmicos

ABSTRACT Significant advances in the understanding and management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have occurred since the publication of international guidelines for DMD care in 2010. Our objective was to provide an evidence-based national consensus statement for multidisciplinary care of DMD in Brazil. A combination of the Delphi technique with a systematic review of studies from 2010 to 2016 was employed to classify evidence levels and grade of recommendations for the guideline. Our recommendations were divided in two parts. Guideline methodology and overall disease concept descriptions are found in Part 1. Here we present Part 2, where we provide the results and recommendations on rehabilitation and systemic care for DMD.

RESUMO Avanços significativos na compreensão e no manejo da Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) ocorreram desde a publicação de diretrizes internacionais para o cuidado destes pacientes em 2010. Nosso objetivo foi elaborar um consenso nacional baseado em evidências para o cuidado multidisciplinar dos pacientes com DMD no Brasil. Utilizamos uma combinação da técnica de Delphi com uma revisão sistemática da literatura de 2010 a 2016 para classificarmos os níveis de evidência e graus de recomendação para o consenso. Nossas recomendações foram divididas em duas partes. A metodologia utilizada na elaboração do consenso e conceitos gerais da doença encontram-se na parte 1. Neste artigo fornecemos os resultados e recomendações sobre reabilitação e cuidados sistêmicos para DMD.

Crianças e adolescentes encaminhados para psicoterapia pela escola: Percepções de Genitores e Professores / Children and adolescents sent to psychotherapy by their school: perceptions of parents and teachers / Niños y adolescentes orientados a psicoterapia por la escuela: percepciones de padres y maestros

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar e comparar a percepção de genitores e professores acerca dos problemas emocionais e de comportamento de crianças e adolescentes encaminhados para psicoterapia através de quatro escolas da rede municipal de Sapiranga/RS e comparar a avaliação em relação ao sexo. Realizou-se um estudo quantitativo e comparativo. Participaram da pesquisa 80 mães, 16 pais e 50 professores de 87 crianças/adolescentes de quatro escolas de ensino fundamental. Os genitores e professores responderam a um questionário de dados sociodemográficos. Foi aplicado o Child Behavior Checklist (6/18 anos) nos pais e nas mães, e nos professores o Teacher Rating Form. Os resultados apontaram que os pais e mães não apresentaram diferenças significativas na avaliação dos problemas emocionais e de comportamento dos filhos. Já em relação a genitores e professores existe discordância significativa entre os escores deste estudo. Estima-se que estas diferenças de avaliação decorram dos contextos nos quais os informantes estão inseridos e idiossincrasias das relações que tanto pais quanto professores estabelecem com as crianças e adolescentes.

The aim of this study was to investigate, compare and contrast the perceptions of parents and teachers about emotional and behavioral issues of children and adolescents sent to psychotherapy by four elementary schools in Sapiranga/RS, and conduct a comparative evaluation concerning gender. A quantitative and comparative study was made. Amongst participants, there were 80 mothers, 16 fathers and 50 teachers of 87 children / adolescents from four different elementary schools. Parents and teachers answered a questionnaire on sociodemographic data. The Child Behavior Checklist (6/18 years) was applied for parents, whereas Teacher Rating Form for teachers. Results show no considerable differences on the assessment of emotional and behavioral issues of children among parents. Nevertheless, tests scores showed a significant disagreement among parents and teachers. It is supposed these evaluation differences arise from contexts which participants are involved and from relational particularities that both parents and teachers establish with children and adolescents.

El objetivo del estudio ha sido investigar y comparar las percepciones de los padres y maestros sobre los problemas emocionales y conductuales de niños y adolescentes objeto de la psicoterapia a través de cuatro escuelas de la red municipal de Sapiranga/RS, así como comparar su evaluación en relación al sexo. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo y comparativo. Los participantes fueron 80 madres, 16 padres y 50 maestros de 87 niños / adolescentes de cuatro escuelas de enseñanza básica. Los padres y los profesores respondieron a un cuestionario sobre datos sociodemográficos. Se utilizó la Lista de verificación de la Conducta Infantil (6/18 años) para los padres y madres, y los maestros el Formulario de Evaluación Docente. Los resultados muestran que los padres y madres de este estudio no mostraron diferencias significativas en la evaluación de los problemas emocionales y de comportamiento de los niños, en comparación con los padres y maestros hay desacuerdo significativo entre las puntuaciones del estudio. Se estima que estas diferencias de valoración derivan de los contextos en los que se insertan y la idiosincrasia de las relaciones que los padres y los maestros tienen con los niños y adolescentes.

Manifestaçöes clínicas e radiográficas pulmonares na leptospirose benigna, durante surto epidêmico no Rio de Janeiro: algumas nótulas sobre a epidemia / Clinical and radiological pulmonary manifestations in mild leptospirosis during an epidemical outbreak in Rio de Janeiro: brief notes about the epidemic

Foram comunicados a Secretaria Estadual de Saúde 1.177 casos de leptospirose, durante o surto epidêmico que, de fevereiro a março de 1988, afligiu o Rio de Janeiro e o Grande Rio, por ocasiäo das chuvas torrenciais ocorridas nesse período. Algumas observaçöes parciais sobre as características gerais desta epidemia säo apresentadas no decorrer deste trabalho que analisa os aspectos clínico-radiológicos das alteraçöes respiratórias de 86 pacientes internados no Instituto Estadual de Infectologia Säo Sebastiäo (RJ). Excetuando-se um (forma grave que foi a óbito), todos tiveram o espectro leve ou moderado da doença. O exame radiográfico de tórax foi normal em 64 enfermos e 61 eram assintomáticos sob o ponto de vista clínico-respiratório. Em 25 casos, foram verificadas as seguintes alteraçöes clínicas: tosse produtiva (em 18), tosse seca (em sete), escarros hemáticos (em sete) e dor torácica (em cinco). Com relaçäo aos achados de ausculta pulmonar, predominou a presença de estertores creptantes e subcreptantes - em 10 doentes - e de murmúrio vesicular diminuído - em sete. Foram descritas alteraçöes na radiografia de tórax de 22 enfermos, assim classificadas: infiltrado retículo-nodular - nove casos; infiltrado intersticial - quatro casos; infiltrado alveolar - três casos; lesäo infiltrativa localizada - dois casos; infiltrado reticular - um caso; infiltrado nodular - um caso; infiltrado misto - um caso; e pulmäo de síndrome de angústia respiratória aguda - um caso...