PanACEA: a bioinformatics tool for the exploration and visualization of bacterial pan-chromosomes.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial pan-genomes, comprised of conserved and variable genes across multiple sequenced bacterial genomes, allow for identification of genomic regions that are phylogenetically discriminating or functionally important. Pan-genomes consist of large amounts of data, which can restrict researchers ability to locate and analyze these regions. Multiple software packages are available to visualize pan-genomes, but currently their ability to address these concerns are limited by using only pre-computed data sets, prioritizing core over variable gene clusters, or by not accounting for pan-chromosome positioning in the viewer. RESULTS: We introduce PanACEA (Pan-genome Atlas with Chromosome Explorer and Analyzer), which utilizes locally-computed interactive web-pages to view ordered pan-genome data. It consists of multi-tiered, hierarchical display pages that extend from pan-chromosomes to both core and variable regions to single genes. Regions and genes are functionally annotated to allow for rapid searching and visual identification of regions of interest with the option that user-supplied genomic phylogenies and metadata can be incorporated. PanACEA's memory and time requirements are within the capacities of standard laptops. The capability of PanACEA as a research tool is demonstrated by highlighting a variable region important in differentiating strains of Enterobacter hormaechei. CONCLUSIONS: PanACEA can rapidly translate the results of pan-chromosome programs into an intuitive and interactive visual representation. It will empower researchers to visually explore and identify regions of the pan-chromosome that are most biologically interesting, and to obtain publication quality images of these regions.

Is nutritional education in primary schools needed in the light of teachers' diagnosis of the state of knowledge about food and nutrition of 7-12-year-old primary school pupils? The Focus Group Interview (FGI) - Junior-Edu-Zywienie (JEZ) Project.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: School, as well family, are the most crucial institutions in creating the attitudes of children and adolescents toward food and nutrition. The coherency between impact on both of them, especially in therms of content, determines the results in improvement of these attitudes towards more prohealthy nutrition. Therefore, a nutritional education programme in primary schools, addressed to both pupils and parents, is necesary. The aim of this study is to identify the opinions of primary school teachers on nutrition education in relation to primary school pupils' knowledge and its sources of the principles of proper nutrition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2022-2023, qualitative research was conducted among primary school teachers (n=112; 25 FGIs group) using the FGI method. The focus group meetings were tape-recorded and transcribed. A written report was generated based on the independent evaluation of two staff members. RESULTS: Teachers mentioned several barriers to making changes in educational programmes in terms of introducing nutritional content, such as: necessity of extra time and money needed to purchase materials for practical exercises, lack of interest and skills in cooking, and insufficient knowledge about the health properties of food. Participants of group discussions shared ideas about programme content and delivery. Three teachers' profiles were identified in their approach to nutrition education of primary school pupils: 'engaged', 'skeptical' and 'indifferent'. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the FGIs survey, it was concluded that the level of pupils' food and nutritional knowledge needs improvement, and that there is a need for a unified nutrition education programmeme in all schools on all educational levels, focused on the cooperation of teachers and pupils' parents.

Attitudes of 10-12-year-old primary school pupils towards food and nutrition: insights from Qualitative FGI Research - Junior-Edu-Zywienie (JEZ) Project.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Primary school pupils aged 10-12 years constitute an interesting consumer group due to their greater autonomy in the area of nutrition, compared to the younger group of children, among other things, due to their 'pocket money' and the greater influence of their peer group. However, this is an age group at high risk of inadequate nutrition, eating disorders, including those related to obesity and underweight. Hence, the aim of the study was to explore the attitudes of pupils aged 10-12 years towards food and nutrition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using the Focus Group Interview (FGI) technique among 84 primary school pupils from different localities in Poland. RESULTS: Pupils had moderate knowledge of food and nutrition but did not consistently apply this knowledge in practice. Four pupils' profiles were identified, categorized as 'engaged,' 'obedient,' 'rebels,' and 'indifferent,' based on their level of involvement and awareness of proper nutrition. Lunch was the most regularly consumed meal, sometimes eaten twice a day (at school and at home), while first breakfast was skipped the most frequently, mainly because of lack of time and morning rush. Pupils accurately identified recommended and not recommended food products, but lacked an understanding of their importance for health. Pupils' emotional state increased the consumption of salty snacks, sweets, and fast food, and to a lesser extent, seeds, vegetables, and fruit. Pupils reported engaging in moderate physical activity, although they also spent a significant amount of time on the internet or watching TV. CONCLUSIONS: Primary school pupils aged 10-12 years represented a relatively good level of knowledge about adequate nutrition; nevertheless, they did not follow these recommendations in practice.

Changes in eating behaviours and physical activity among primary schoolchildren aged 7-12 during the pandemic in the light of qualitative and quantitative research - Junior-Edu-Zywienie (JEZ) Project.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic had many direct and indirect effects, including lifestyle changes in all subpopulations, including children and adolescents. The aim of the study was to identify: 1) attitudes of students aged 7-12 years and their parents towards food, nutrition, and physical activity; 2) changes in the consumption of basic food products during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative survey was conducted among students and their parents using the Focus Group Interview method, as well as quantitative research among parents and schoolchildren aged 10-12 years. RESULTS: During the pandemic, changes were demonstrated in the eating habits of primary schoolchildren which were both positive and negative. Positive changes include a greater number of meals and their regularity, especially in relation to meals prepared at home, and a greater consumption of mainly fruit, and to a lesser extent vegetables and whole grain products. Among the negative changes observed were an increased consumption of salty snacks and sweets, including those prepared at home. Moreover, limiting physical activity during isolation may have resulted, as a long-term effect, in excessive body weight and obesity-related non-communicable diseases in children and adolescence, and later in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to develop post-pandemic support strategies addressed to both schoolchildren and their parents regarding adequate eating behaviours and physical activity.

The Family Environment as a Source for Creating the Dietary Attitudes of Primary School Students-A Focus Group Interview: The Junior-Edu-Zywienie (JEZ) Project.

The family environment plays a crucial role in creating the health behaviours of children and youth. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of parents with children aged 7-12 who represent an influential environment for creating the eating behaviours of children. A qualitative study was conducted using focus-group interviews (FGI) involving 101 parents from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Three categories of parents were identified based on their level of involvement and awareness of nutrition: 'aware', 'determined', and 'relaxed'. Among parents of 10-12-year-old students, an additional category, 'distanced' parents, was identified. The study revealed that parents require support in terms of providing compelling arguments and practical recommendations related to meals and reducing or eliminating their children's consumption of sweets, snacks, fast food, and, in the case of older students, energy drinks. Parents reported that their children had a moderate understanding of the principles of proper nutrition. The majority of respondents viewed this knowledge as primarily theoretical and expressed a need for practical guidance and activities, which they believe should be offered by schools. To achieve positive outcomes in educational activities related to food and nutrition, it is essential to involve children, parents, guardians, teachers, and other school staff in these efforts.

How Can We Increase the Nutrition-Related Knowledge in Children Aged 7-12 Years: Results of Focus Groups Interviews with Parents-Junior-Edu-Zywienie (JEZ) Project.

Nutrition education is a long-term process that should cover various population groups. A special focus should be placed on children, adolescents and their parents. The aim of this research was to find out the opinions of parents of primary school pupils aged 7-12 on their expectations towards school education in the areas of food and nutrition, addressed to both pupils and their parents. The research was conducted among 101 parents of primary school pupils with the use of the Focus Group Interview (FGI) method. It demonstrated that what is most needed are hands-on activities relating to basic theoretical issues. While parents see the need for nutrition education for their children, educating pupils in this area is of interest to only some of the respondents for whom nutrition aspects are quite important. All parents would like formal nutrition education at school, but at the same time, they do not want classes to take up too much of their children's time, due to the already excessive number of school subjects. It seems appropriate to include everyone in regard to nutrition education, regardless of their declared interest in this issue. The need for consistent presentation of educational content addressed to teachers and parents is very important, so that they can, in a uniform way, shape the attitudes towards food and nutrition of children and adolescents.

The Attitudes of 7-9 Year Old Primary School Students towards Food and Nutrition: Insights from Qualitative FGI Research-The Junior-Edu-Zywienie (JEZ) Project.

Optimal nutrition is one of the most significant environmental factors affecting human health. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of primary school students aged 7-9 towards nutrition considering three fundamental components: knowledge, emotional disposition, and dietary behaviors. The research was conducted using the Focus Group Interview (FGI) technique among 78 children. Considering their attitudes towards food and nutrition, four profiles were identified: "engaged", "obedient", "reluctant", and "indifferent". Children who were "engaged" and "obedient" due to their parents' involvement in creating their dietary attitudes exhibited the most alignment with the principles of optimal nutrition. Regardless of profile type, it was observed that children were familiar with recommended and unrecommended food products, as well as the role of water in proper nutrition. It was demonstrated that parents wield the most substantial influence on children's nutrition. As a result, initiatives promoting the proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle should commence with parents. Children of nutritionally conscious parents tend to eat more healthily and demonstrate a high nutritional awareness. Conversely, the children of busy parents who lack time for meal preparation more frequently replicate their parents' nutritional mistakes. These findings emphasize the importance of the family environment in shaping the dietary behaviors of children and youth.

High-Dose Fluoroscopically Guided Procedures in Patients: Radiation Management Recommendations for Interventionalists.

The article is part of the series of articles on radiation protection. You can find further articles in the special section of the CVIR issue. In addition to the risks from fluoroscopic-guided interventional procedures of tissue injuries, recent studies have drawn attention to the risk of stochastic effects. Guidelines exist for preprocedural planning and radiation management during the procedure. The concept of a substantial radiation dose level (SRDL) is helpful for patient follow-up for tissue injury. The uncommon nature of tissue injuries requires the interventionalist to be responsible for follow-up of patients who receive substantial radiation doses. Dose management systems for recognizing and avoiding higher patient exposures have been introduced. The European Directive provides a legal framework and requirements for equipment, training, dose monitoring, recording and optimization that are helpful in radiation risk management.

Attitudes Towards and Experience of the Use of Triage Tags in Major Incidents: A Mixed Method Study.

UNLABELLED: Introduction Disaster triage is the allocation of limited medical resources in order to optimize patient outcome. There are several studies showing the poor use of triage tagging, but there are few studies that have investigated the reasons behind this. The aim of this study was to explore ambulance personnel attitude towards, and experiences of, practicing triage tagging during day-to-day management of trauma patients, as well as in major incidents (MIs). METHODS: A mixed method design was used. The first part of the study was in the form of a web-survey of attitudes answered by ambulance personnel. The question explored was: Is it likely that systems that are not used in everyday practice will be used during MIs? Two identical web-based surveys were conducted, before and after implementing a new strategy for triage tagging. This strategy consisted of a time-limited triage routine where ambulance services assigned triage category and applied triage tags in day-to-day trauma incidents in order to improve field triage. The second part comprised three focus group interviews (FGIs) in order to provide a deeper insight into the attitudes towards, and experience of, the use of triage tags. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The overall finding was the need for daily routine when failure in practice. Analysis of the web-survey revealed three changes: ambulance personnel were more prone to use tags in minor accidents, the sort scoring system was considered to be more valuable, but it also was more time consuming after the intervention. In the analysis of FGIs, four categories emerged that describe the construction of the overall category: perceived usability, daily routine, documentation, and need for organizational strategies. CONCLUSION: Triage is part of the foundation of ambulance skills, but even so, ambulance personnel seldom use this in routine practice. They fully understand the benefit of accurate triage decisions, and also that the use of a triage algorithm and color coded tags is intended to make it easier and more secure to perform triage. However, despite the knowledge and understanding of these benefits, sparse incidents and infrequent exercises lead to ambulance personnel's uncertainty concerning the use of triage tagging during a MI and will therefore, most likely, avoid using them. Rådestad M , Lennquist Montán K , Rüter A , Castrén M , Svensson L , Gryth D , Fossum B . Attitudes towards and experience of the use of triage tags in major incidents: a mixed method study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(4):376-385.

Ebola virus (EBOV) infection: Therapeutic strategies.

Within less than a year after its epidemic started (in December 2013) in Guinea, Ebola virus (EBOV), a member of the filoviridae, has spread over a number of West-African countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia) and gained allures that have been unprecedented except by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although EBOV is highly contagious and transmitted by direct contact with body fluids, it could be counteracted by the adequate chemoprophylactic and -therapeutic interventions: vaccines, antibodies, siRNAs (small interfering RNAs), interferons and chemical substances, i.e. neplanocin A derivatives (i.e. 3-deazaneplanocin A), BCX4430, favipiravir (T-705), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) α-glucosidase inhibitors and a variety of compounds that have been found to inhibit EBOV infection blocking viral entry or by a mode of action that still has to be resolved. Much has to be learned from the mechanism of action of the compounds active against VSV (vesicular stomatitis virus), a virus belonging to the rhabdoviridae, that in its mode of replication could be exemplary for the replication of filoviridae.

Novel aldehyde-terminated dendrimers; synthesis and cytotoxicity assay.

INTRODUCTION: Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are a unique family of dendritic polymers with numerous pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. One major problem with these polymers is their cytotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to synthesize novel dendrimers with aldehyde terminal groups and compare their cytotoxicity with that of dendri¬mers containing amine-terminated groups. METHODS: G1(first generation) and G2 (second generation) dendrimers with amine-terminated groups were synthesized by divergent method and then the amine-terminated groups were converted to the aldehyde groups using surface modification of the functional group inversion (FGI) method. The cytotoxicity of the novel G1 and G2 polyamidoaldehyde (PAMAL) dendrimers together with that of G1 and G2 PAMAM-NH2 dendrimers was investigated by MTT assay using MCF-7 cell line. RESULTS: The results showed that cytotoxicity of dendrimers with aldehyde-terminated groups is much lower than that of G1 and G2 PAMAM-NH2 dendri¬mers. CONCLUSION: Dendrimers with aldehyde-terminated groups could be used as novel and convenient carriers for drug delivery with low cytotoxic effect compared with the amine-terminated dendrimers. The results revealed that the same generations of the dendri¬mers with aldehyde-terminated groups are far less toxic than the corresponding amine-terminated dendrimers.