scholarly journals Genomic investigation of clinically significant coagulase-negative staphylococci

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Cole ◽  
Bridget Atkins ◽  
Martin Llewelyn ◽  
John Paul
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Staphylococcal Infection ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Content Type ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clinically Significant

Introduction. Coagulase-negative staphylococci have been recognized both as emerging pathogens and contaminants of clinical samples. High-resolution genomic investigation may provide insights into their clinical significance. Aims. To review the literature regarding coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection and the utility of genomic methods to aid diagnosis and management, and to identify promising areas for future research. Methodology. We searched Google Scholar with the terms ( Staphylococcus ) AND (sequencing OR (infection)). We prioritized papers that addressed coagulase-negative staphylococci, genomic analysis, or infection. Results. A number of studies have investigated specimen-related, phenotypic and genetic factors associated with colonization, infection and virulence, but diagnosis remains problematic. Conclusion. Genomic investigation provides insights into the genetic diversity and natural history of colonization and infection. Such information allows the development of new methodologies to identify and compare relatedness and predict antimicrobial resistance. Future clinical studies that employ suitable sampling frames coupled with the application of high-resolution whole-genome sequencing may aid the development of more discriminatory diagnostic approaches to coagulase-staphylococcal infection.

Haunted by the past: transformations and daily challenges of China's prosthetics

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Chunchun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
Rehabilitation Center ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Daily Experiences ◽  
History Of ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the transformations of prosthetic practices in China, as well as the daily experiences and dilemmas arising from the everchanging practices since 1949. On the basis of materials, this paper explores an everyday perspective to review the history of technology.Design/methodology/approachEthnography was collected with the application of participant observations, informal interviews and in-depth interviews during a 13-months study at a rehabilitation center in Chengdu, China. The literature on prosthetic manufacturing was also reviewed for this paper.FindingsChina's prosthetic technology seems to evolve from traditional to modern. However, this progressive narrative – innovation-based timeline (Edgerton, 2006, xi) – has been challenged by daily practices. Due to institutional pressures, prosthetists are in a dilemma of selectively using their knowledge to create one kind of device for all prosthesis users with a certain kind of disability, thereby regulating the physical and social experiences of prosthesis users. Besides, prosthesis users are accustomed to prostheses made with old techniques, and must correct themselves from old experiences to the daily practices recognized by the selected techniques.Originality/valueThis paper provides a cross-cultural case to reexamine Edgerton's criticism of the progressive and orderly innovation-centric technological narrative. More importantly, it reviews the history and practices of China's prosthetics from daily experiences rather than Edgerton's concentration on technology; therefore, it provides an everyday perspective for future research on technological transformations.

scholarly journals Is Staphylococcus lugdunensis Significant in Clinical Samples?

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 3167-3174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Argemi ◽  
Yves Hansmann ◽  
Philippe Riegel ◽  
Gilles Prévost
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Staphylococcus Lugdunensis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Severe Infections ◽  
Microbiological Data

ABSTRACTThe implication of coagulase-negative staphylococci in human diseases is a major issue, particularly in hospital settings wherein these species often act as opportunistic pathogens. In addition, some coagulase-negative staphylococci such asS. lugdunensishave emerged as pathogenic bacteria, implicated in severe infections, particularly, osteoarticular infections, foreign-body-associated infections, bacteremia, and endocarditis.In vitrostudies have shown the presence of several putative virulence factors such as adhesion factors, biofilm production, and proteolytic factors that might explain clinical manifestations. Taken together, the clinical and microbiological data might change the way clinicians and microbiologists look atS. lugdunensisin clinical samples.

scholarly journals Genomic Analysis of Multiresistant Staphylococcus capitis Associated with Neonatal Sepsis

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen P. Carter ◽  
James E. Ussher ◽  
Anders Gonçalves Da Silva ◽  
Sarah L. Baines ◽  
Helen Heffernan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Sepsis ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staphylococcus Capitis ◽  
Hospital Infection Control

ABSTRACT Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), such as Staphylococcus capitis, are major causes of bloodstream infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Recently, a distinct clone of S. capitis (designated S. capitis NRCS-A) has emerged as an important pathogen in NICUs internationally. Here, 122 S. capitis isolates from New Zealand (NZ) underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and these data were supplemented with publicly available S. capitis sequence reads. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses were performed, as were phenotypic assessments of antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation, and plasmid segregational stability on representative isolates. A distinct lineage of S. capitis was identified in NZ associated with neonates and the NICU environment. Isolates from this lineage produced increased levels of biofilm, displayed higher levels of tolerance to chlorhexidine, and were multidrug resistant. Although similar to globally circulating NICU-associated S. capitis strains at a core-genome level, NZ NICU S. capitis isolates carried a novel stably maintained multidrug-resistant plasmid that was not present in non-NICU isolates. Neonatal blood culture isolates were indistinguishable from environmental S. capitis isolates found on fomites, such as stethoscopes and neonatal incubators, but were generally distinct from those isolates carried by NICU staff. This work implicates the NICU environment as a potential reservoir for neonatal sepsis caused by S. capitis and highlights the capacity of genomics-based tracking and surveillance to inform future hospital infection control practices aimed at containing the spread of this important neonatal pathogen.

On the regulatory changes in government accounting development in Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-411
Author(s):  
Pran Krishansing Boolaky ◽  
Nitri Mirosea ◽  
Kishore Singh
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Accounting Practice ◽  
Government Accounting ◽  
Regulatory Changes ◽  
History Of

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to inquire into the history of government accounting, using a well-grounded periodisation, in order to provide a chronology of government accounting development (GAD) in Indonesia from 1845 to 2015 focusing on development on accounting regulations and systems and practices in local government in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach It collects archival data and then uses a descriptive tradition of research to capture mainly regulatory changes affecting GAD from colonial to post-colonial period. Findings The paper reports major regulatory changes, evolution in local government accounting practice, development of government accounting standards (GASt) and converging GASs with international standards. Research limitations/implications This study is important to accounting historians and other academics because it provides a detailed chronicle of accounting regulatory changes in Indonesia which can be used for future research. The limitation(s) of this study is that is data collection which was not easily accessible and as results have to rely on various sources. Practical implications The study has an important practical implication. It has produced a time series register of regulatory changes affecting GAD in Indonesia. It can be used as a reference document in the National Library of Indonesia and also by academics for future research. Originality/value A times series register, for the first time, is produced which provides a comprehensive chronology of accounting development in Indonesia.

IT-enabled organizational transformation: a structured literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan vom Brocke ◽  
Alexander Michael Schmid ◽  
Alexander Simons ◽  
Norizan Safrudin
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Organizational Transformation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Redesign ◽  
Research Perspective ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Academic Publications ◽  
History Of ◽  
Structured Literature Review

PurposeThis paper presents a structured literature review of studies on IT-enabled organizational transformation to determine the state of the art and to identify areas for future research.Design/methodology/approachWe collect 201 academic publications on IT-enabled organizational transformation and analyze them from three perspectives: a publication perspective, a research perspective and a conceptual perspective.FindingsFrom a publication perspective, we identify and synthesize the seminal works to provide a brief history of research on IT-enabled organizational transformation. From a research perspective, we show that studies in this area have seldom been grounded in theory and have predominantly used qualitative approaches, while only a few studies have drawn from quantitative data. From a conceptual perspective, we show that most research has studied higher levels of transformation, especially process redesign.Originality/valueThis review presents the landscape of the literature on IT-enabled organizational transformation, which provides a foundation for future research.

scholarly journals Emerging Use of Epidiolex (Cannabidiol) in Epilepsy

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renad Abu-Sawwa ◽  
Brielle Scutt ◽  
Yong Park
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dravet Syndrome ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Epileptic Syndromes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Antiepileptic Medications

The first plant-derived, purified pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol (CBD) medication, Epidiolex, was approved in the United States by the FDA on June 25, 2018. Its approval for patients ≥ 2 years of age with Dravet syndrome (DS) or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) markedly altered the treatment of medically refractory seizures in these disorders. This state-of-the-art review will discuss the history of CBD, its current pharmacology and toxicology, evidence supporting its use in a variety of epileptic syndromes, common side effects and adverse effects, and pharmacokinetically based drug-drug interactions. Owing to the importance in considering side effects, adverse effects, and drug-drug interactions in patients with medically refractory epilepsy syndromes, this review will take a deeper look into the nuances of the above within a clinical context, as compared to the other antiepileptic medications. Furthermore, despite the limited data regarding clinically significant drug-drug interactions, potential pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions with CBD and other antiepileptics are theorized on the basis of their metabolic pathways. The article will further elucidate future research in terms of long-term efficacy, safety, and drug interactions that is critical to addressing unanswered questions relevant to clinical practice.

scholarly journals DMSO Increases Mutation Scanning Detection Sensitivity of High-Resolution Melting in Clinical Samples

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 1354-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Song ◽  
Elena Castellanos-Rizaldos ◽  
Rafael Bejar ◽  
Benjamin L Ebert ◽  
G Mike Makrigiorgos
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
High Resolution Melting ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Cross Hybridization ◽  
Mutation Scanning ◽  
Extra Step ◽  
Clinically Significant

Abstract BACKGROUND Mutation scanning provides the simplest, lowest-cost method for identifying DNA variations on single PCR amplicons, and it may be performed before sequencing to avoid screening of noninformative wild-type samples. High-resolution melting (HRM) is the most commonly used method for mutation scanning. With PCR-HRM, however, mutations less abundant than approximately 3%–10% that can still be clinically significant may often be missed. Therefore, enhancing HRM detection sensitivity is important for mutation scanning and its clinical application. METHODS We used serial dilution of cell lines containing the TP53 exon 8 mutation to demonstrate the improvement in detection sensitivity for conventional-PCR-HRM in the presence of DMSO. We also conducted coamplification at lower denaturation temperature (COLD)-PCR with an extra step for cross-hybridization, followed by preferential denaturation and amplification at optimized critical temperature (full-COLD-PCR), to further enrich low-level mutations before HRM with or without DMSO, and we used droplet-digital PCR to derive the optimal conditions for mutation enrichment. Both conventional PCR-HRM and full-COLD-PCR-HRM with and without DMSO were used for mutation scanning of TP53 exon 8 in cancer samples containing known mutations and myelodysplastic syndrome samples with unknown mutations. Mutations in other genes were also examined. RESULTS The detection sensitivity of PCR-HRM scanning increases 2- to 5-fold in the presence of DMSO, depending on mutation type and sequence context, and can typically detect mutation abundance of approximately 1%. When mutation enrichment is applied during amplification with full-COLD-PCR followed by HRM in the presence of DMSO, mutations with 0.2%–0.3% abundance in TP53 exon 8 can be detected. CONCLUSIONS DMSO improves HRM mutation scanning sensitivity with saturating dyes. When full-COLD-PCR is used, followed by DMSO-HRM, the overall improvement is about 20-fold compared with conventional PCR-HRM.

scholarly journals Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals the Distribution, Organization, and Evolution of Metal Resistance Genes in the GenusAcidithiobacillus

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liangzhi Li ◽  
Zhenghua Liu ◽  
Delong Meng ◽  
Xueduan Liu ◽  
Xing Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Duplication ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Purifying Selection ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Comparative Genomic Analysis ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
History Of

ABSTRACTMembers of the genusAcidithiobacillus, which can adapt to extremely high concentrations of heavy metals, are universally found at acid mine drainage (AMD) sites. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of 37 strains within the genusAcidithiobacillusto answer the untouched questions as to the mechanisms and the evolutionary history of metal resistance genes inAcidithiobacillusspp. The results showed that the evolutionary history of metal resistance genes inAcidithiobacillusspp. involved a combination of gene gains and losses, horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and gene duplication. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that metal resistance genes inAcidithiobacillusspp. were acquired by early HGT events from species that shared habitats withAcidithiobacillusspp., such asAcidihalobacter,Thiobacillus,Acidiferrobacter, andThiomonasspecies. Multicopper oxidase genes involved in copper detoxification were lost in iron-oxidizingAcidithiobacillus ferridurans,Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, andAcidithiobacillus ferrooxidansand were replaced by rusticyanin genes during evolution. In addition, widespread purifying selection and the predicted high expression levels emphasized the indispensable roles of metal resistance genes in the ability ofAcidithiobacillusspp. to adapt to harsh environments. Altogether, the results suggested thatAcidithiobacillusspp. recruited and consolidated additional novel functionalities during the adaption to challenging environments via HGT, gene duplication, and purifying selection. This study sheds light on the distribution, organization, functionality, and complex evolutionary history of metal resistance genes inAcidithiobacillusspp.IMPORTANCEHorizontal gene transfer (HGT), natural selection, and gene duplication are three main engines that drive the adaptive evolution of microbial genomes. Previous studies indicated that HGT was a main adaptive mechanism in acidophiles to cope with heavy-metal-rich environments. However, evidences of HGT inAcidithiobacillusspecies in response to challenging metal-rich environments and the mechanisms addressing how metal resistance genes originated and evolved inAcidithiobacillusare still lacking. The findings of this study revealed a fascinating phenomenon of putative cross-phylum HGT, suggesting thatAcidithiobacillusspp. recruited and consolidated additional novel functionalities during the adaption to challenging environments via HGT, gene duplication, and purifying selection. Altogether, the insights gained in this study have improved our understanding of the metal resistance strategies ofAcidithiobacillusspp.

Assessing attachment status in adults with intellectual disabilities: the potential of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deanna J Gallichan ◽  
Carol George
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Adult Attachment Projective ◽  
Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) as a measure of attachment state of mind in adults with intellectual disabilities. The AAP is a free response picture system method of assessing patterns of adult attachment with established validity and reliability in community and clinical samples. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports on five cases of adults with intellectual disabilities who were administered the AAP as part of routine clinical work. The AAP administration procedure was modified to take account of the participants’ intellectual disabilities. Findings – It was possible to code and classify each AAP using the established coding and classification system. The authors coded four cases blind to each other ' s classification; they agreed on classifications for three cases and reached consensus on the fourth. The AAP analysis showed strong correspondence with case history material. Originality/value – The AAP demonstrates the potential to assess attachment state of mind in adults with intellectual disabilities and is the first developmental measure of attachment status that has shown potential in this population. The paper discusses clinical application of the AAP and directions for future research.

scholarly journals Serotypes and Virulence Profiles of Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Bovine Farms

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (24) ◽  
pp. 8662-8668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Áine Monaghan ◽  
Brian Byrne ◽  
Séamus Fanning ◽  
Torres Sweeney ◽  
David McDowell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virulence Markers ◽  
Clinically Significant

ABSTRACTNon-O157 Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) strains are clinically significant food-borne pathogens. However, there is a dearth of information on serotype prevalence and virulence gene distribution, data essential for the development of public health protection monitoring and control activities for the meat and dairy industries. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of non-O157 STEC on beef and dairy farms and to characterize the isolates in terms of serotype and virulence markers. Bovine fecal samples (n= 1,200) and farm soil samples (n= 600) were collected from 20 farms throughout Ireland over a 12-month period. Shiga toxin-positive samples were cultured and colonies examined for the presence ofstx1and/orstx2genes by PCR. Positive isolates were serotyped and examined for a range of virulence factors, includingeaeA,hlyA,tir,espA,espB,katP,espP,etpD,saa,sab,toxB,iha,lpfAO157/OI-141,lpfAO113, andlpfAO157/OI-154. Shiga toxin and intimin genes were further examined for known variants. Significant numbers of fecal (40%) and soil (27%) samples werestxpositive, with a surge observed in late summer-early autumn. One hundred seven STEC isolates were recovered, representing 17 serotypes. O26:H11 and O145:H28 were the most clinically significant, with O113:H4 being the most frequently isolated. However, O2:H27, O13/O15:H2, and ONT:H27 also carriedstx1and/orstx2andeaeAand may be emerging pathogens.

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