Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Rhizosphere Microbiome Recruited From Compost Synergistically Determined by Plant Species and Compost

Compost is frequently served as the first reservoir for plants to recruit rhizosphere microbiome when used as growing substrate in the seedling nursery. In the present study, recruitment of rhizosphere microbiome from two composts by tomato, pepper, or maize was addressed by shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis showed that 41% of variation in the rhizosphere bacterial community was explained by compost, in contrast to 23% by plant species. Proteobacterial genera were commonly recruited by all three plant species with specific selections for Ralstonia by tomato and Enterobacteria by maize. These findings were confirmed by analysis of 16S rRNA retrieved from the shotgun metagenomics library. Approximately 70% of functional gene clusters differed more than sevenfold in abundance between rhizosphere and compost. Functional groups associated with the sensing and up-taking of C3 and C4 carboxylic acids, amino acids, monosaccharide, production of antimicrobial substances, and antibiotic resistance were over-represented in the rhizosphere. In summary, compost and plant species synergistically shaped the composition of the rhizosphere microbiome and selected for functional traits associated with the competition on root exudates.

Lessons Learned From Clinical Recruitment of Older Adults With MCI for an Internet-Delivered Intervention Study

Clinical research involving participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) presents challenges to recruitment that may be further compounded by concerns when delivering a behavioral intervention via the Internet. The purpose of this talk is to describe recruitment adaptations for an Internet-delivered behavioral intervention study with older adults living with MCI and insomnia. Over the course of study recruitment, unforeseen barriers to recruitment were discovered, including fewer older adults with MCI endorsing sleep concerns than expected. The most substantive changes made to improve clinical recruitment were related to eligibility criteria, yielding 50% of the overall sample. Anticipated concerns of older adults with MCI using technology or accessing the Internet were not significant barriers to recruitment. Study findings support Internet-delivered intervention use in this population, which in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, presents a potentially efficient and effective method for recruiting and delivering behavioral interventions in this difficult-to-enroll population.

Rate of patient’s Recruitment and Recruitment Derivatives from the Perspectives of Internal factors - Protocol Study Nosology, Experience of Investigators and Potential Patient’s Pool of Sites

The recruitment as a process found by many authors to be undergoing of many factors. There is a factors which are decreasing the recruitment and last data is reporting up to 80% trials failed due to law or even absence of recruitment on level of sites. But the factors are differently changing the recruitment. The final number of recruitment is static figure very well known, there is also known speed of recruitment which is calculating in the start of the study and these parameters along with others is quantitative evaluation of recruitment. We investigated the rate of recruitment in the light of some factors using parameters reflecting the recruitment progress of recruitment. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of data of four clinical trials II-III phases in oncology and hematology, conducted since 2007 to 2017 years. Study objectives: to investigate the study recruitment rate using different parameters and its changes along with acting of internal factors; to develop new parameters which could be sensitive for evaluation of factor’s action. Statistical analysis: data had been collected from feasibility questionnaires, open statistical sources. Results: It was determined rate of recruitment and its derivatives where was acting an internal factor. Discussion: Recruitment been undergone the internal factors. The way of action is multidirectional and could boost the recruitment and in opposite to decrease one and knowing it is important in success of recruitment and clinical trial itself eventually

IgA anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (IgA ACPA) are associated with flares during DMARD tapering in rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives A substantial proportion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients flare upon withdrawal of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), thus the definition of prognostic markers is crucial. Anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positivity has been identified as a risk factor for flare. However, only the role of IgG is established in this context, while the role of IgA ACPA is poorly defined. We thus aimed to investigate the role of IgA ACPA in flare of RA. Methods Serum levels of IgA1 and IgA2 ACPA at baseline and after 12 months were measured in 108 patients from the randomized controlled RETRO study. RA patients in stable remission for at least 6 months at study recruitment were assigned to either one of the DMARD tapering arms or to continuation of DMARDs. Results In patients remaining in remission but not in the ones who flared, IgA2 ACPA levels and proportion of IgA2 in ACPA (IgA2%ACPA) significantly declined (median of 17.5%; p< 0.0001). This seemed to be independent of the treatment choice, as there was no difference in IgA2 ACPA dynamics between the study arms. IgA2% ACPA was associated with disease activity (DAS28) at flare (r = 0.36; p= 0.046). IgA and IgG ACPA showed a tendency towards independent contribution to the risk of flare with the highest risk if a patient had both antibody classes. Conclusion In this study, IgA ACPA was identified as a risk factor for flare in combination with IgG ACPA. IgA2 ACPA levels were associated with flare severity and declined in patients in stable remission.

HIV virological non-suppression and its associated factors in children on antiretroviral therapy at a major treatment centre in Southern Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Background Children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection require lifelong effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). The goal of ART in HIV-infected persons is sustained viral suppression. There is limited information on virological non-suppression or failure and its associated factors in children in resource limited countries, particularly Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional study of 250 children aged 8 months to 15 years who had been on ART for at least 6 months attending the Paediatric HIV clinic at Korle Bu Teaching hospital in Ghana was performed. Socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory and ART Adherence related data were collected using questionnaires as well as medical records review. Blood samples were obtained for viral load and CD4+ count determination. Viral load levels > 1000 copies/ml on ART was considered virological non-suppression. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with virological non-suppression. Results The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 11.4 ± 2.4 years and the proportion of males was 53.2%. Of the 250 study participants, 96 (38.4%) had virological non-suppression. After adjustment for significant variables, the factors associated with non-suppressed viral load were female gender (AOR 2.51 [95% CI 1.04–6.07], p = 0.041), having a previous history of treatment of tuberculosis (AOR 4.95 [95% CI 1.58–15.5], p = 0.006), severe CD4 immune suppression status at study recruitment (AOR 24.93 [95% CI 4.92–126.31], p < 0.001) and being on a nevirapine (NVP) based regimen (AOR 7.93 [95% CI 1.58–1.15], p = 0.005). Conclusion The prevelance of virological non-suppression was high. Virological non-suppression was associated with a previous history of TB treatment, female gender, severe CD4 immune suppression status at study recruitment and being on a NVP based regimen. Early initiation of ART and phasing out NVP-based regimen might improve viral load suppression in children. In addition, children with a history of TB may need focused measures to maximize virological suppression.

ProjectFlow: a configurable workflow management application for point of care research

Objective To best meet our point-of-care research (POC-R) needs, we developed ProjectFlow, a configurable, clinical research workflow management application. In this article, we describe ProjectFlow and how it is used to manage study processes for the Diuretic Comparison Project (DCP) and the Research Precision Oncology Program (RePOP). Materials and methods The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States. ProjectFlow is a flexible web-based workflow management tool specifically created to facilitate conduct of our clinical research initiatives within the VHA. The application was developed using the Grails web framework and allows researchers to create custom workflows using Business Process Model and Notation. Results As of January 2021, ProjectFlow has facilitated management of study recruitment, enrollment, randomization, and drug orders for over 10 000 patients for the DCP clinical trial. It has also helped us evaluate over 3800 patients for recruitment and enroll over 370 of them into RePOP for use in data sharing partnerships and predictive analytics aimed at optimizing cancer treatment in the VHA. Discussion The POC-R study design embeds research processes within day-to-day clinical care and leverages longitudinal electronic health record (EHR) data for study recruitment, monitoring, and outcome reporting. Software that allows flexibility in study workflow creation and integrates with enterprise EHR systems is critical to the success of POC-R. Conclusions We developed a flexible web-based informatics solution called ProjectFlow that supports custom research workflow configuration and has ability to integrate data from existing VHA EHR systems.

Participant Experiences of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as a Treatment for Antipsychotic Medication Induced Weight Gain

Background: Despite the growing number of studies on the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in people with schizophrenia, there is limited research on participant views of such treatment methods.Aim: Explore participant experiences and perceptions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).Methods: Twelve people with schizophrenia took part in semi-structured interviews after having completed 5 sessions of tDCS. Thematic analysis was used to identify codes and themes.Results: Five themes were identified: (1) motivation for study enrolment; (2) concerns about tDCS; (3) factors reducing the fear of tDCS; (4) experience of tDCS; (5) perceived effects of tDCS.Conclusions: The study provides insight into the perceptions and experiences of each individual. Participants were concerned about the safety of tDCS and associated it with invasive procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy and lobotomy. Educational materials and a good relationship with the researcher played an important role in reducing the fear of brain stimulation. All participants described tDCS as uncomfortable, however, agreed that unpleasant sensations only lasted for a short while (20 s−5 min). After the first session, participants no longer felt anxious about the remaining ones. Strategies to improve treatment experience and study recruitment have been identified.

Frozen vs. fresh cycles IVF outcomes: retrospective study from an Indonesian IVF centre

Objective To compare the live birth rates (LBR) and neonatal outcomes of frozen cycle in vitro fertilization (IVF) with fresh cycle IVF in the Indonesian population. Results This was retrospective study using secondary data of IVF patients at a private fertility centre. Study recruitment was between 3/8/2018 and 31/12/2019. Total sampling included all patients undergoing oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer within recruitment period. Patients undergoing fresh IVF cycles and frozen IVF cycles were compared. 351 patients were recruited: 68.1% (239/351) underwent fresh cycles and 31.9% (112/351) frozen cycles. AMH was significantly higher in frozen cycle group (p = 0.04). Ovulatory disorder was significantly higher in frozen cycle group (p = 0.001). Among patients aged ≤ 30, fresh cycle group had significantly higher LBR (p = 0.02). Among those with ovulatory disorder, LBR was significantly higher with frozen cycle. No significant LBR difference was noted with other infertility causes. When stratified according to pregnancy order, frozen cycle patients had significantly higher birth lengths (p = 0.03) but not length of gestation nor neonatal birthweights. There was no significant difference in the proportion of biochemical pregnancy resulting in LBR (p = 0.08). To conclude, frozen cycle provided higher LBR among patients with ovulatory disorder but fresh cycle was beneficial among patients aged ≤ 30.