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We determined the effectiveness of a multi-strain probiotic (Hexbio®) containing microbial cell preparation MCP®BCMC® on constipation symptoms and gut motility in PD patients with constipation.

PD patients with constipation (ROME III criteria) were randomized to receive a multi-strain probiotic (Lactobacillus sp and Bifidobacterium sp at 30 X 109 CFU) with fructo-oligosaccaride or placebo (fermented milk) twice daily for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were changes in the presence of constipation symptoms using 9 items of Garrigues Questionnaire (GQ), which included an item on bowel opening frequency. Secondary outcomes were gut transit time (GTT), quality of life (PDQ39-SI), motor (MDS-UPDRS) and non-motor symptoms (NMSS).

Of 55 recruited, 48 patients completed the study 22 received probiotic and 26 received placebo. (S)-Glutamic acid mw At 8 weeks, there was a significantly higher mean weekly BOF in the probiotic group compared to placebo [SD 4.18 (1.44) vs SD 2.81(1.06); (mean difference 1.37, 95% CI 0.68, 2.07, uncorrected p&weeks improved bowel opening frequency and whole gut transit time in PD patients with constipation.Restriction endonucleases play a central role in the microbial immune system against viruses and are widely used in DNA specific cleavage, which is called restriction digestion, for genetic engineering. Herein, we applied digital cell-free protein synthesis as an easy-to-use orthogonal readout means to assess the restriction digest efficiency, a new application of digital bioassays. The digital counting principle enabled an unprecedentedly sensitive trace analysis of undigested DNA at the single-molecule level in a PCR-free manner. Our approach can quantify the template DNA of much lower concentrations that cannot be detected by ensemble-based methods such as gold-standard DNA electrophoresis techniques. The sensitive and quantitative measurements revealed a considerable variation in the digest efficiency among restriction endonucleases, from less than 70% to more than 99%. Intriguingly, none of them showed truly complete digestion within reasonably long periods of reaction time. The same rationale was extended to a multiplexed assay and applicable to any DNA-degrading or genome-editing enzymes. The enzyme kinetic parameters and the flanking sequence-dependent digest efficiency can also be interrogated with the proposed digital counting method. The absolute number of residual intact DNA molecules per microliter was concluded to be at least 107, drawing attention to the residual issue of genetic materials associated with the interpretation of nucleases’ behaviors and functions in daily genetic engineering experiments.

There are no epidemiologic data on the relation of depression before colorectal cancer diagnosis to colorectal cancer mortality among women with colorectal cancer, especially those who are postmenopausal. Our aim was to fill this research gap.

We analyzed data from a large prospective cohort in the US, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). The study included 2,396 women with incident colorectal cancer, assessed for depressive symptoms and antidepressant use before cancer diagnosis at baseline (screening visit in the WHI study) during 1993-1998. Participants were followed up from cancer diagnosis till 2018. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) between depression (depressive symptoms or antidepressant use) at baseline, and all-cause mortality and colorectal cancer-specific mortality.

Among women with colorectal cancer, there was no association between baseline depression and all-cause mortality or colorectal cancer-specific mortality after adjusting for age or multiple covariates.

Among women with colorectal cancer, there was no statistically significant association between depression before colorectal cancer diagnosis and all-cause mortality or colorectal cancer-specific mortality. Further studies are warranted to assess depressive symptoms and antidepressant use, measured at multiple points from baseline to diagnosis, and their interactions with specific types of colorectal cancer treatment on the risk of death from colorectal cancer.

Among women with colorectal cancer, there was no statistically significant association between depression before colorectal cancer diagnosis and all-cause mortality or colorectal cancer-specific mortality. Further studies are warranted to assess depressive symptoms and antidepressant use, measured at multiple points from baseline to diagnosis, and their interactions with specific types of colorectal cancer treatment on the risk of death from colorectal cancer.

Propensity score techniques can reduce confounding and bias in observational studies. Such analyses are able to measure and balance pre-determined covariates between treated and untreated groups, leading to results that can approximate those generated by randomized prospective studies when such trials are not feasible. The most commonly used propensity score -based analytic technique is propensity score matching (PSM). Although PSM popularity has continued to increase in medical literature, improper methodology or methodological reporting may lead to biased interpretation of treatment effects or limited scientific reproducibility and generalizability. In this study, we aim to characterize and assess the quality of PSM methodology reporting in high-impact otolaryngologic literature.

PubMed and Embase based systematic review of the top 20 journals in otolaryngology, as measured by impact factor from the Journal Citations Reports from 2012 to 2018, for articles using PSM analysis throughout their publicationor authors regarding optimal reporting for analyses using PSM.Dietary changes during pregnancy (DP) and post-partum are essential for women’s nutrition status and the health of their offspring. We compared the diet quality DP and at 3-year post-partum (3YPP) and assessed the relationship between maternal diet quality and nutritional status using a prospective cohort design among women in East Jakarta. In total, 107 women were recruited from the study in 2014 and followed up at 3YPP in 2018. The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), weight, and height were evaluated. Food consumption data were collected from repeated 24-h recalls. The validated US Diet Quality Index-Pregnancy (DQI-P) scores with eight components were calculated using the food consumption data and compared between DP and 3YPP. Associations of the DQI-P score with the MUAC and weight gain DP and body mass index (BMI) at 3YPP were analyzed using multivariable linear and logistic regression. The median of the DQI-P score DP was significantly higher than at 3YPP [35 (27; 42) versus 27 (19; 30); p-value less then 0.001, respectively]. The higher DQI-P score was associated with increased weight gain DP of 3.3 kg (adjusted β = 3.30, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-5.54) after adjusting for the mother’s age and household income. The DQI-P score was not associated with an increased risk of chronic energy deficiency DP and overweight-obesity at 3YPP. Thus, the diet adequacy was associated with weight gain DP but did not affect the MUAC DP and BMI at 3YPP. The DQI-P score DP was slightly better than the diet at 3YPP; however, the overall diet quality was inadequate. In conclusion, a higher DQI-P score was associated with increased weight gain DP of 3.3 kg but was not associated with other nutritional status indices in DP and 3YPP. Innovative dietary quality improvement programs are required to reduce malnutrition risk in pregnant and reproductive-age women.

The aim is to determine whether serial post-systolic shortening (PSS) using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) could predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), especially symptom-driven infarct-related artery (IRA) revascularization and improvement in segmental function in post-myocardial infarction patients.

Ninety-four patients (average age 61.1 ± 12.5 y, 84 [84.9%] male) with new-onset acute myocardial infarction were enrolled. Serial echocardiography was performed during the initial presentation, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after admission. PSS, strain and systolic strain rate were calculated using STE. Improvement in segmental function was defined as a decrease of ≧1 grade in wall motion score. During the follow-up (29.4 ± 12.7months), 22 patients (23.4%) had MACE and 17 patients had symptom-driven IRA revascularization. link2 In multivariate model, PSS at 3 months was independently predictive for symptom-driven IRA revascularization (Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.26-0.97) and for MACE (HR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.24-0.67) (p < 0.05). Segmental function improvements were found in 255 segments (66.1%) and ROC curve analyses showed that AUC (95% CI) of the initial PSS was 0.7(0.65-0.77) (cut-off values = -1.08, sensitivity = 58%, specificity = 73% specificity).

Post-systolic shortening at 3 months is an independent predictor for symptom-driven IRA revascularization and MACE. Regional wall motion recovery also could be predicted by initial PSS. Serial assessment of two-dimensional STE should be investigated in post-myocardial infarction patients in the future.

Post-systolic shortening at 3 months is an independent predictor for symptom-driven IRA revascularization and MACE. Regional wall motion recovery also could be predicted by initial PSS. Serial assessment of two-dimensional STE should be investigated in post-myocardial infarction patients in the future.

Current guidelines in British Columbia recommend prenatal screening for hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) if risk factors are present. We aimed to estimate frequency of prenatal anti-HCV testing, new diagnoses, repeated and follow-up testing among BC women.

BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory data estimated the number of BC women (assigned female at birth or unknown sex) aged 13-49 who received routine prenatal serological screening (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis and rubella) from 2008-2019. Anti-HCV tests ordered the same day as routine prenatal screens were considered prenatal anti-HCV tests. link3 Assessment of follow-up was based on HCV RNA and/or genotype testing within one year of new prenatal anti-HCV diagnoses.

In 2019, 55,202 routine prenatal screens were carried out for 50,392 BC women. Prenatal anti-HCV tests increased significantly, from 19.6% (9,704/49,515) in 2008 to 54.6% (27,516/50,392) in 2019 (p<0.001). New prenatal anti-HCV diagnoses (HCV positive diagnoses at first test agnoses remained relatively stable, suggesting that a considerable proportion of BC women with low or no risk are being screened as part of prenatal care. The vast majority of women with new HCV diagnoses receive appropriate follow-up HCV RNA and genotype testing, which may indicate interest in HCV treatment. These findings contribute to the discussion around potential for prenatal anti-HCV screening in an effort to eliminate HCV.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appeared in China in December 2019 and has spread around the world. High Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in COVID-19 patients suggest that a cytokine storm may play a major role in the pathophysiology and are considered as a relevant parameter in predicting most severe course of disease. The aim of this study was to assess repeated IL-6 levels in critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and to evaluate their relationship with patient’s severity and outcome.

We conducted a retrospective study on patients admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 10 (i.e. the date of the first admitted patients) and April 30, 2020. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected at admission. On the day of IL-6 blood concentration measurement, we also collected results of D-Dimers, C-Reactive Protein, white blood cells and lymphocytes count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ferritin as well as microbiological samples, whenever present.