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Technique Optimization involving Skin Biopsy-Derived Fibroblast Lifestyle pertaining to Reprogramming Directly into Brought on Pluripotent Base Tissues.
ignificantly related to water temperature. Among the potential threatening factors to seagrass in this area, the activities of clam harvesting were intense with daily clam catches >2000 kg, leading to patchy seagrass meadows, especially in the fringe areas. The seagrass bed was also threatened by marine pollution (nutrient loading) and land reclamation. Therefore, the protection and restoration of this seagrass bed are strongly recommended. Our study will provide fundamental information for the conservation and management strategies of large eelgrass beds in the Bohai Sea.Comprehensive synthesis of the harmful invader ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi adaptive strategies and its validation as of a single polymorphic species has been presented. Its high morphological and physiological variability in different environments were demonstrated. M. leidyi being native for eastern coasts of Americas, since the early 1980s began to invade in the Eurasian seas and now it is recorded in a wide range of recipient habitats. Analysis of M. leidyi morphological and eco-physiological variability, phenology and rate of reproduction was performed for different environments based on author's data and published sources. Prominent morphological features of M. leidyi, previously used to subdivide it in three species, in fact are a phenotypical variability, associated with environmental conditions. In recipient environments, M. leidyi pre-adapts for rapid colonization, due to a high metabolism and reproduction rates. It created extensive populations with the various patterns of annual cycle and distribution and heavily impacted the ecosystems.A comprehensive evaluation system and model of Coastal Wetland Ecological Vulnerability (CWEV) was constructed and applied to reveal spatial heterogeneity of the ecological vulnerability of the Yellow River Delta Wetland (YRDW). The results showed that the score of the ecological vulnerability (EVS) of the YRDW was 0.49, which was generally at a medium vulnerability level. The wetland area of high vulnerability was up to 943km2, accounting for 35.2% of the total area, followed by the medium vulnerable area with an area of 750km2, accounting for 28.1% of the total area. From the coastline perpendicularly to the land, the "seaward" gradient effect gradually decreased, the vulnerability-increasing "hydrologic connectivity" effect increased with the distance from the river channel, and the "land source influence" effect gradually decayed along with the vulnerability of population and economy gathering areas.This study is focused on the analysis of microplastic concentrations in the surface waters of the White, Barents and Kara Seas. Sampling took place during the "Arctic Floating University 2018" expedition using a manta trawl. Particularly high concentrations of the microplastics were found off the west coast of Novaya Zemlya archipelago with a maximum in a highly productive region - Gusinaya bank. The microplastic distribution pattern in the Barents Sea correlates both with the oceanic circulation and the fishing activities. The results show the first recorded estimation of microplastic concentrations in the White Sea with the higher concentrations located in the area affected by the Severnaya Dvina River discharge. Relatively low concentrations of microplastics were found in the Kara Sea.
Although the diversity of Clostridioides difficile toxins have been extensively studied, little is known about the variation in the surface associated proteins (SAPs) which are important in early steps of bacterial colonization and infection. Here, we examined 65C. difficile isolates to identify polymorphisms in the genes encoding SAPs.

PCR was used to amplify slpA, fliC, fliD, cwp66 and cwp84 genes, followed by sequencing. In addition, the antigenicity and immunogenicity properties of different types of SlpA, FliC, FliD, Cwp66 and Cwp84 proteins were predicted in-silico by VaxiJen and BcePred online servers.

The predominant slpA sequence type was gr-01 (42.37%), followed by hr-01 (11.86%) and 078-01 (10.16%). In addition, two new slpA subtypes of smz (smz-09-Ir and smz-010-Ir) and a new slpA sequence type (Ir-01) were identified among the isolates examined. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of fliC, fliD, cwp66 and cwp84 genes revealed 7, 5,5,3 different sequence types, respectively. Insilico analysis of antigenicity of SAPs showed that FliC had the highest level of antigenicity whereas SlpA and Cwp66 proteins had the highest level of immunogenicity.

This study pointed to the nucleotide polymorphism in SAPs of C. difficile isolates and demonstrated noticeable diversity in antigenicity and immunogenicity of these proteins which need to be taken into consideration as promising therapeutic or vaccine targets.
This study pointed to the nucleotide polymorphism in SAPs of C. difficile isolates and demonstrated noticeable diversity in antigenicity and immunogenicity of these proteins which need to be taken into consideration as promising therapeutic or vaccine targets.Necator americanus is a worm that parasites the small intestine of humans and is highly prevalent in regions with poor sanitary conditions. The main strategy to control this helminth is by mass benzimidazole administration, however, periodic use of these drugs can select strains of parasites resistant to treatment. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the beta-tubulin isotype 1 gene located at codons 167, 198 and 200 have been associated with benzimidazole resistance in some nematodes. Previously, our group detected the presence of some of these SNPs in populations of soil-transmitted helminths collected in different locations in Brazil. Here, we evaluated the SNP at codon 167, which has recently been shown to be associated with failure of benzimidazoles to treat N. americanus. Our ARMS-PCR analyses were performed using 524 single N. americanus eggs from 48 patients' feces collected in six Brazilian states; however, we did not detect any mutated samples at codon 167. This study builds on previous work, helping us monitor the presence of resistance-related genotypes in Brazilian helminth populations. The data presented here can assist in the implementation of future control strategies.
Currently, there is no consensus regarding the best treatment option in recurrent haemorrhoidal disease (HD), due to a lack of solid evidence. The Napoleon trial aims to provide high-level evidence on the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of repeat rubber band ligation (RBL) versus sutured mucopexy versus haemorrhoidectomy in patients with recurrent HD.

This is a multicentre randomized controlled trial. Patients with recurrent HD grade II and III, ≥18years of age and who had at least two RBL treatments in the last three years are eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria include previous rectal or anal surgery, rectal radiation, pre-existing sphincter injury or otherwise pathologies of the colon and rectum, pregnancy, presence of hypercoagulability disorders, and medically unfit for surgery (ASA>III). Between June 2020 and May 2022, 558 patients will be randomized to receive either (1) RBL, (2) sutured mucopexy, or (3) haemorrhoidectomy. The primary outcomes are recurrence after 52weeks and patient-reported symptoms measured by the PROM-HISS. Secondary outcomes are impact on daily life, treatment satisfaction, early and late complication rates, health-related quality of life, costs and cost-effectiveness, and budget impact. Cost-effectiveness will be expressed in societal costs per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) (based on EQ-5D-5L), and healthcare costs per recurrence avoided.

The best treatment option for recurrent HD remains unknown. The comparison of three generally accepted treatment strategies in a randomized controlled trial will provide high-level evidence on the most (cost-) effective treatment.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04101773.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04101773.
Latinos, the largest minority group in the U.S., experience tobacco-related disparities, including limited access to cessation resources. Evidence supports the efficacy of mobile interventions for smoking cessation, which may be greater among Latinos, the highest users of text messaging.

To describe the methodology of a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of Decídetexto, a culturally appropriate mobile smoking cessation intervention versus standard care on smoking abstinence (cotinine-verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence) at Month 6 among Latino smokers.

Latino smokers (N=618) will be randomized to one of two conditions 1) Decídetexto or 2) standard of care. Decídetexto is a mobile smoking cessation intervention (available in English and Spanish) that incorporates three integrated components 1) a tablet-based software that collects smoking-related information to develop an individualized quit plan, 2) a 24-week text messaging counseling program with interactive capabilities, and 3) pharmacotherapy support. Decídetexto follows the Social Cognitive Theory as theoretical framework. Standard of care consists of printed smoking cessation materials along with referral to telephone quitline. Participants in both groups are given access to free pharmacotherapy (nicotine patches or gum) by calling study phone number. Promotores de Salud will rely on community-based approaches and clinical settings to recruit smokers into the study. All participants will complete follow-up assessments at Week 12 and Month 6.

If successful, Decídetexto will be ready to be implemented in different community- and clinic-based settings to reduce tobacco-related disparities.
If successful, Decídetexto will be ready to be implemented in different community- and clinic-based settings to reduce tobacco-related disparities.The opioid misuse epidemic has reached a crisis level in the United States. Though mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) has been shown as effective in treating substance use disorders, there is limited research on its application to opioid use disorders specifically, and there is a need to understand the underlying mechanisms. This paper outlines a protocol for a randomized controlled trial of MBRP for opioid use disorders. MBRP is a group aftercare program that integrates mindfulness skills training with cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention strategies. We will recruit 240 participants who have completed opioid use disorder treatment, and randomize them to an 8-week MBRP group intervention or treatment as usual (TAU) control group. The TAU control group will complete the intervention after 8 weeks. Assessments will take place at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. The primary outcome is frequency of opioid use. The secondary outcomes include craving and withdrawal symptoms, time to first opioid use, adherence to medication-assisted treatment plans, perceived stress, quality of life, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and chronic pain. We will also examine the following potential moderators and correlates of intervention outcomes comorbid diagnoses, life events history, and MBRP intervention adherence. In addition, we will examine the following mediators of intervention outcome mindfulness skills, emotion regulation skills, executive functioning skills, savoring, and positive and negative affect. This study will contribute to the evidence base regarding MBRP's efficacy in reducing opioid use, as well as contribute to the understanding of the causal mechanisms and factors that modify treatment outcome for MBRP for substance use disorders.
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