Cohort profile: GRACE - a residential aged care cohort examining factors influencing antimicrobial resistance carriage.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria represents a considerable threat to human health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as those living in residential aged care. However, antimicrobial resistance carriage and modes of transmission remain incompletely understood. The Generating evidence on antimicrobial Resistance in the Aged Care Environment (GRACE) study was established to determine principal risk factors of antimicrobial resistance carriage and transmission in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). This article describes the cohort characteristics, national representation, and planned analyses for this study. METHODS: Between March 2019 and March 2020, 279 participants were recruited from five South Australian RACFs. The median age was 88.6 years, the median period in residence was 681 days, and 71.7% were female. A dementia diagnosis was recorded in 54.5% and more than two thirds had moderate to severe cognitive impairment (68.8%). 61% had received at least one course of antibiotics in the 12 months prior to enrolment. RESULTS: To investigate the representation of the GRACE cohort to Australians in residential aged care, its characteristics were compared to a subset of the historical cohort of the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA). This included 142,923 individuals who were permanent residents of RACFs on June 30th, 2017. GRACE and ROSA cohorts were similar in age, sex, and duration of residential care, prevalence of health conditions, and recorded dementia diagnoses. Differences were observed in care requirements and antibiotic exposure (both higher for GRACE participants). GRACE participants had fewer hospital visits compared to the ROSA cohort, and a smaller proportion were prescribed psycholeptic medications. CONCLUSIONS: We have assembled a cohort of aged care residents that is representative of the Australian aged care population, and which provides a basis for future analyses. Metagenomic data isolated from participants and built environments will be used to determine microbiome and resistome characteristics of an individual and the facility. Individual and facility risk exposures will be aligned with metagenomic data to identify principal determinants for antimicrobial resistance carriage. Ultimately, this analysis will inform measures aimed at reducing the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant pathogens in this high-risk population.

Geospatial Assessment of Pesticide Concentration in Ambient Air and Colorectal Cancer Incidence in Arkansas, 2013-2017.

Exposure to various agricultural pesticides has been linked to colorectal cancer (CRC), mostly among farmworkers and applicators. Given the potential pesticide drift in ambient air, residents near farmland may be exposed to carcinogenic pesticides even if they are not actively engaged in pesticide application. Pesticide air pollution at the county level was estimated using the 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment. CRC incidence data were acquired from the Arkansas Central Cancer Registry for 2013-2017. We ran ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models, finding significant spatial autocorrelation of residuals for most models. Using geographically weighted regression (GWR) we found age-adjusted CRC incidence rates vary in an increasing west-to-east gradient, with the highest rates in the Arkansas Delta region. A similar gradient was observed in the distribution of the population living below the poverty line and the population percentage of Black people. Significant associations between Trifluralin (crude model only), Carbon Tetrachloride, and Ethylene Dibromide with CRC incidence rates in OLS models only explained 5-7% of the variation and exhibited spatial autocorrelation of residuals. GWR models explained 24-32% (adjusted r2 9-16%) of CRC incidence rate variation, suggesting additional factors may contribute to the association between pesticides and CRC.

Detection and prevention of abuse of adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in care services: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The abuse of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in care services seems to be relatively common, although there are anecdotal suggestions that abuse may be predictable and preventable. METHOD: Evidence related to how abuse is detected and prevented within services was reviewed. Database and ancestry searches were conducted, and the methodological quality of studies assessed using the mixed methods appraisal tool. RESULTS: A total of 48 articles were reviewed. The characteristics of victims, perpetrators and organisations were summarised. Several recommendations for how abuse can be detected and prevented were made, including better staff training, supervision and monitoring of services. The quality of studies limits the reliability and validity of research findings. CONCLUSION: Risk and protective factors related to the abuse of adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities remain largely consistent. Further research is required to support the implementation of recommendations aimed to detect and prevent abuse.

The development of the Adapted Firesetting Assessment Scale.

BACKGROUND: Treatment for adults who set fires relies upon valid and reliable assessment. Research is needed to ensure self-report measures are available for adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and that they are robust. METHOD: Qualitative and quantitative data from three rounds of a Delphi exercise with practitioners and a focus group discussion with adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities were used to generate consensus about the accessibility of item adaptations made to the Fire Interest Rating Scale, Fire Attitudes Scale, and the Identification with Fire Questionnaire. RESULTS: Findings suggested the accessibility of current measures could be improved to better meet the needs of adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and adaptations to all questionnaire items were needed. CONCLUSION: Following feedback, revisions to current measures were implemented leading to the development of the Adapted Firesetting Assessment Scale with improved accessibility for adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Active human papillomavirus involvement in Barrett's dysplasia and oesophageal adenocarcinoma is characterized by wild-type p53 and aberrations of the retinoblastoma protein pathway.

We have previously demonstrated that transcriptionally active high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) is strongly incriminated in Barrett's dysplasia (BD) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) using mainly fresh frozen tissue. This study aimed to identify biomarkers of active HPV infection in Barrett's metaplasia, (BM)/BD/OAC by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue for aberrations of p53 and the retinoblastoma (pRb) pathway, which are targets for the viral oncoproteins, E6/E7, respectively. Prospectively, BM (n = 81)/BD (n = 72)/OAC (n = 65) FFPE specimens were subjected to IHC staining for pRb, p16INK4A , cyclin D1 , p53 and RNA in-situ hybridization for E6/E7 transcripts. HPV DNA was determined via PCR in fresh frozen specimens. Viral load measurement (real-time PCR) and Next Generation Sequencing of TP53 was performed. Of 218 patients, 56 were HPV DNA positive [HPV16 (n = 42), 18 (n = 13), 6 (n = 1)]. Viral load was low. Transcriptionally active HPV (DNA+ /RNA+ ) was only found in the dysplastic and adenocarcinoma group (n = 21). The majority of HPV DNA+ /RNA+ BD/OAC were characterized by p 16highINK4A (14/21, 66.7%), pRblow (15/21, 71.4%) and p53low (20/21, 95%) and was significantly different to controls [combination of HPV DNA- /RNA- (n = 94) and HPV DNA+ /RNA- cohorts (n = 22)]. p53low had the strongest association with DNA+ /RNA+ oesophageal lesions (OR = 23.5, 95% CI = 2.94-187.8, p = 0.0029). Seventeen HPV DNA+ /RNA+ BD/OAC identified as p53low, were sequenced and all but one exhibited wild-type status. pRblow /p53low provided the best balance of strength of association (OR = 8.0, 95% CI = 2.6-25.0, p = 0.0003) and sensitivity (71.4%)/specificity (71.6%) for DNA+ /RNA+ BD/OAC. Active HPV involvement in BD/OAC is characterized by wild-type p53 and aberrations of the retinoblastoma protein pathway.

Efficacy of anorectal biofeedback in scleroderma patients with fecal incontinence: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether anorectal biofeedback therapy can improve the symptoms of fecal incontinence (FI) in patients with scleroderma when compared to patients with functional FI, and also whether there is any effect on anorectal physiology or quality of life (QOL). FI in patients with scleroderma is highly prevalent and is associated with significant loss of QOL. Biofeedback has been proven to be an effective treatment for functional FI, but there are no data to support its use in scleroderma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 13 consecutive female patients (median age 59, IQR 47-65 years) with scleroderma, and 26 age- and parity-matched female patients with functional FI (disease controls, 2:1), underwent biofeedback therapy for management of FI. Fecal incontinence severity index (FISI), anorectal physiology, feeling of control and QOL were collected before and after 6 weeks of biofeedback therapy, with additional scoring repeated at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: After biofeedback treatment FISI, feeling of control and QOL significantly improved in both groups (p < 0.005). There was no difference in the degree in improvement in physiology, FISI or QOL between scleroderma patients and functional FI patients. Long-term improvement in FISI and control were seen in both groups and for QOL only in the scleroderma cohort (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with scleroderma benefit from biofeedback therapy to the same extent as that achieved in patients with functional FI. There are significant improvements in symptoms, physiology and QOL. Biofeedback is an effective, low-risk treatment option in this patient group.