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The application of biotechnology through the utilization of enzymes is considered an easy and inexpensive method of producing valuable products from waste resources. The present study describes the production of a keratinolytic enzyme from Pseudomonas aeruginosaS-04, which showed efficiency for feather biodegradation. The production of extracellular keratinase was improved 1.3-fold by optimizing various parameters through the one factor at a time (OFAT) approach. The keratinase was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography. The purified keratinase (35.5 kDa) displayed optimal activity at 60 °C and pH 9.5 and was stable between pH 7 and 9.5 and temperatures ranging from 4 to 40 °C for 2 h. The catalytic activity of keratinase was enhanced in the presence of Fe3+and Mn2+ions, Triton X-100, Tween 20, DMSO, isopropyl alcohol and ethanol, but reduced activity was recorded in the presence of methanol and acetone. Furthermore, the enzyme activity was deactivated by EDTA, suggesting that this keratinase belongs to a metalloprotease family. The Kmand Vmaxof the purified keratinase were 7.62 mg/ml and 200 U/mg protein, respectively. The partially purified keratinase displayed remarkable feather degradation capabilities (93% after 24 h), and the nutritional properties of the resulting feather hydrolysate make it a promising candidate for use as a poultry feed ingredient. Thus, thermostable alkaline keratinase from P. aeruginosaS-04 is a promising candidate that converts low-cost chicken feather waste into a value-added product, indicating a novel approach to feather waste treatment and utilization.

The replacement of expensive components in microbial growth media with pretreated lignocellulosic waste component to increase the product spectrum and add value to the bioproducts has been encouraged to achieve sustainable and feasible utilization of waste biomass as per the biorefinery approach. This study demonstrates an integrated biorefinery approach towards utilization of sugarcane bagasse and biomass of Mucor circinelloidesZSKP. A maximum reducing sugar recovery of 80.67 g/l was achieved after combining pretreatment with saccharification. A low temperature, glycerol, and ammonium phosphate pretreatment method was established, where glycerol pretreatment conditions were reduced from 250 to 150 °C and from 120 to 45 min. The ammonium phosphate-containing hydrolysate yielded 12.89 g/l of fungal biomass after fermentation to add to 20.8 g lignin from the delignification step. The biomass production was further improved to 17.69 g/l after supplementation with corn steep solids and mineral salts. The fermentation process also yielded 2.36 g/l chitosan and 4.9 g/l of lipids after extraction from the oleaginous fungus. The lignin infused glycerol plasticized chitosan biocomposite plastic had a 100% improvement in thermogravimetric properties with almost 50% more energy needed to increase the temperature of the material when compared to glycerol only plasticized biocomposite. The fungal chitosan showed antimicrobial properties and was effective as a preservative spray for fresh tomatoes and apples extending their shelf life to at least 14 and 18 days, respectively. This study therefore demonstrated that a novel two-step pretreatment process could be environmentally beneficial and yielded multiple products for biotechnological applications.

Recruitment and retention are challenges for prospective pediatric cohort studies, particularly those involving serial venipunctures. We investigated factors underlying enrollment and retention in the Pandemic Response Repository through Microbial and Immune Surveillance and Epidemiology (PREMISE) Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) Pilot Study, a multicenter prospective longitudinal cohort study assessing the utility of immunologic surveillance for pandemic preparedness. This study enrolls children ≤10 years for two blood draws, pre- and post-EV-D68 season, separated by 6–18 months. Overall, 174 children were enrolled in Cohort 1 of the study and 120 (69 %) of children completed the study, with follow-up blood samples obtained from 101 (58 %) of participants. Families were primarily motivated to participate by a desire to help other children, advance science, and better prepare for the next pandemic. Adding research blood draws to clinically indicated blood draws improved enrollment, and multiple study touch points facilitated retention. These findings can be applied to improve recruitment and retention in future pandemic preparedness efforts and longitudinal pediatric cohort studies.

Electronic consultation (eConsult) is a freely-available secure online platform connecting primary care providers (PCPs) to geneticists. Our purpose was to determine whether eConsult is effective in improving genetics service delivery in primary care.

Asthma is among the most common chronic diseases of children in the United States (US). Mold exposures have been linked to asthma development and exacerbation. In homes, mold exposures have been quantified using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI), and higher home ERMI values have been linked to occupant asthma.

Exposure to indoor allergens and pollutants plays a significant part in the development of asthma and its associated morbidity. Inner-city children with asthma are disproportionately affected by these exposures with increased asthma morbidity. Although years of previous research have linked exposures in the urban home environment with significant childhood asthma disease, many of these allergens are also present in inner-city school environments. Therefore, evaluation of the school environment of patients with asthma is also essential. School-based environmental interventions may offer benefit for this problem and has the potential to help many children with asthma at once in a cost-effective manner. It is important that environmental health researchers continue to assess which interventions are most practical and result in the greatest measurable improvements.

Academic family medicine teaching centers face distinct challenges with opioid prescribing, including higher rates of opioid misuse in resident patient populations and lower levels of experience managing chronic noncancer pain. To improve opioid prescribing practices in an academic family practice, we introduced and evaluated a nurse practitioner-led collaborative care model. After implementation of the model, we found a reduction in the average dose of opioids prescribed, increased use of urine drug tests and opioid treatment agreements, and fewer prescribers per patient. The nurse practitioner-led model was successfully implemented in an academic family practice with improvements in opioid prescribing and monitoring practices.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and the leading cause of childhood morbidity as measured by school absences, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Multiple factors play a role in the development, treatment and prevention of childhood asthma including racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities, both the home and school environments, and medication use. The goals of this review are to summarize these aspects of asthma in school-aged children and to present an updated review of medications as it relates to treatment strategies that will help in the care of these children. We conclude that phenotypic heterogeneity and appropriate environmental assessments and interventions are important considerations in the management of childhood asthma.

In the present study, biodiesel-derived waste glycerol (WG) was used for the isolation and production of gellan, an exopolysaccharide, on media containing WG as the main carbon source. Two bacterial isolates showed gellan producing potential which were identified as Sphingomonas pseudosanguinis(Accession No. GI:724472387) and Sphingomonas yabuuchiae(GI:724472388) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. To maximize gellan production by S. pseudosanguinisand S. yabuuchiae, media optimization was performed at different pHs and glycerol concentrations. Morphological observations through microscopic images showed the production of gellan from these isolates. Simple linear regression showed better utilization of WG by S. pseudosanguinisthan S. yabuuchiaeat pH 6 and pH 7. Though, both the strains showed reverse trend at pH 8. Both the strains were able to produce high amounts of gellan gum (51.6 and 52.6 g/l, respectively) using WG (80 g/l) as the sole carbon source, in a minimal medium. This is the first report on the efficient degradation of WG and low-cost production of gellan. Owing to these characteristics, S. pseudosanguinisand S. yabuuchiaedemonstrate great potential for use in the commercial production of gellan and in the bioremediation of WG.

IMPORTANCE: Home aeroallergen exposure is associated with increased asthma morbidity in children, yet little is known about the contribution of school aeroallergen exposures to such morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of school-specific aeroallergen exposures on asthma morbidity among students, adjusting for home exposures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The School Inner-City Asthma Study was a prospective cohort study evaluating 284 students aged 4 to 13 years with asthma who were enrolled from 37 inner-city elementary schools in the northeastern United States between March 1, 2008, and August 31, 2013. Enrolled students underwent baseline clinical evaluations before the school year started and were then observed clinically for 1 year. During that same school year, classroom and home dust samples linked to the students were collected and analyzed for common indoor aeroallergens. Associations between school aeroallergen exposure and asthma outcomes during the school year were assessed, adjusting for home exposures. EXPOSURES: Indoor aeroallergens, including rat, mouse, cockroach, cat, dog, and dust mites, measured in dust samples collected from inner-city schools. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was maximum days in the past 2 weeks with asthma symptoms. Secondary outcomes included well-established markers of asthma morbidity, including asthma-associated health care use and lung function, measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 second. RESULTS: Among 284 students (median age, 8 years [interquartile range, 6-9 years]; 148 boys and 136 girls), exposure to mouse allergen was detected in 441 (99.5%) of 443 school dust samples, cat allergen in 420 samples (94.8%), and dog allergen in 366 samples (82.6%). Levels of mouse allergen in schools were significantly higher than in students’ homes (median settled dust level, 0.90 vs 0.14 µg/g; P < .001). Exposure to higher levels of mouse allergen in school (comparing 75th with 25th percentile) was associated with increased odds of having an asthma symptom day (odds ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05-1.54; P = .02) and 4.0 percentage points lower predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (95% CI, –6.6 to –1.5; P = .002). This effect was independent of allergic sensitization. None of the other indoor aeroallergens were associated with worsening asthma outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this study of inner-city students with asthma, exposure to mouse allergen in schools was associated with increased asthma symptoms and decreased lung function. These findings demonstrate that the school environment is an important contributor to childhood asthma morbidity. Future school-based environmental interventions may be beneficial for this important public health problem.

Evidence indicates that many barriers exist to the integration of genetic case finding into primary care. We conducted an exploratory study of the determinants of three specific behaviours related to using breast cancer genetics referral guidelines effectively: ‘taking a family history’, ‘making a risk assessment’, and ‘making a referral decision’. We developed vignettes of primary care consultations with hypothetical patients, representing a wide range of genetic risk for which different referral decisions would be appropriate. We used the Theory of Planned Behavior to develop a survey instrument to capture data on behavioural intention and its predictors (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control) for each of the three behaviours and mailed it to a sample of Canadian family physicians. We used correlation and regression analyses to explore the relationships between predictor and dependent variables. The response rate was 96/125 (77%). The predictor variables explained 38–83% of the variance in intention across the three behaviours. Family physicians’ intentions were lower for ‘making a risk assessment’ (perceived as the most difficult) than for the other two behaviours. We illustrate how understanding psychological factors salient to behaviour can be used to tailor professional educational interventions; for example, considering the approach of behavioural rehearsal to improve confidence in skills (perceived behavioural control), or vicarious reinforcement as where participants are sceptical that genetics is consistent with their role (subjective norm).

The aim of this study was to clone, express, and characterize a β-xylosidase (Tlxyn1) from the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosusSSBP in Pichia pastorisGS115 as well as analyze optimal activity and stability using computational and experimental methods. The enzyme was constitutively expressed using the GAP promoter and secreted into the medium due to the alpha-mating factor secretion signal present on the expression vector pBGPI. The 1276 bp gene consists of an open reading frame that does not contain introns. A 12% SDS–PAGE gel revealed a major protein band at an estimated molecular mass of 50 kDa which corresponded to zymogram analysis. The three-dimensional structure of β-xylosidase was predicted, and molecular dynamics simulations at different ranges of temperature and pH were performed in order to predict optimal activity and folding energy. The results suggested a strong conformational temperature and pH dependence. The recombinant enzyme exhibited optimal activity at pH 7 and 50°C and retained 80% activity at 50°C, pH 7 for about 45 min. This is the first report of the cloning, functional expression, and simulations study of a β-xylosidase from Thermomycesspecies in a fungal host.

Endotoxins are stimulators of the immune system and, despite their potential to protect against allergy, have been associated with early wheezing and asthma morbidity.

Ten strains of Thermomyces lanuginosusfrom various culture collections were evaluated for extracellular endo‐β‐1,4‐xylanase production. The best xylanase producer (5771±173 nkat/mL) T. lanuginosusSK, was subjected to UV and N‐methyl‐N‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. A mutant strain T. lanuginosusMC134, that showed on oatspelts xylan a 1.5 fold higher xylanase production than the parent strain SK, was subjected to a study of the regulation of xylanase synthesis during growth on various carbohydrates and during induction in glucose‐grown cells. In the growth experiments the highest production of xylanase was observed in the presence of xylans, however, an appreciable amount of the enzyme, about 10%, was also produced during growth on xylose. Xylobiose was found to be the most efficient xylanase inducer in the glucose‐grown cells. Its induction efficiency was followed by xylose, beechwood and birchwood xylan. Xylanase induction by polysaccharides started several hours later but proceeded for a longer time than that induced by the low molecular mass inducers, indicating that the polysaccharides serve as more sustainable source of inducers and that they have to be first hydrolyzed by the low level of constitutively synthesized xylanase. The repression of the induction of xylanase by glucose confirmed that the xylanase synthesis in the mutant strain is similar to the parent strain and exhibits an induction‐repression regulation mechanism.

Eliciting known risk factors for postpartum depression (PPD) during pregnancy may enable primary health care providers to identify women at increased risk of becoming depressed. The purpose of this study was to examine how well the Antenatal Psychosocial Health Assessment (ALPHA) form identified antenatal risk factors for PPD, compared with routine care, in a sample of pregnant women.

Objective: To compare the following 4 screening strategies for detecting asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) in pregnancy: urine testing with leukocyte-esterase-nitrite (LEN) strips at each prenatal visit followed by a urine culture if positive; a single urine culture at fewer than 20 weeks’ gestation; 2 urine cultures, at fewer than 20 weeks’ gestation and at 28 weeks’ gestation; or 3 urine cultures, at fewer than 20 weeks’, at 28 weeks’, and at 36 weeks’ gestation.

Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by a number of molds involved in fruit spoilage. This compound is carcinogenic and teratogenic. Various methods are currently used to reduce the levels of patulin in apple juice, namely, charcoal treatment, chemical preservation (sulfur dioxide), gamma irradiation, fermentation, and trimming of fungus-infected apples. Many of these processes are expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, there is a need to find a convenient and economical process to control patulin levels. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of several clarification processes for the reduction of patulin. Clarification was carried out on a laboratory scale. Apple pulp was spiked with patulin, pressed, and clarified using four different processes, namely, fining with bentonite, enzyme (pectinase)treatment, paper filtration, and centrifugation. Patulin was recovered from the clarified juice by liquid-liquid extraction, and solid-phase chromatography was used for sample cleanup prior to analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The minimum detectable limit using HPLC was 20 μg/liter. Pressing followed by centrifugation resulted in an average toxin reduction of 89%. Total toxin reduction using filtration, enzyme treatment, and fining were 70, 73, and 77%, respectively. Patulin reduction was due to the binding of the toxin to solid substrates that was verified by analyzing the clarified juice as well as the filter cake, pellet, and sediment. The combined concentrations correlated to the spiked concentration. These results reveal that clarification was successful in the reduction of patulin levels in apple juice. However, clarification resulted in high levels of patulin in the pressed pulp after filtration and centrifugation, and this could be harmful if they are used as animal feeds.

Inner-city children are disproportionately affected by asthma and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). However, little is known about the association of SDB symptoms with asthma morbidity in this vulnerable population.

Objective: to determine whether Ontario health care providers perceived a change in their medico-legal risk since the introduction of maternal serum screening (MSS), a province-wide genetic screening programme, in July 1993.

Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of mutual-help interventions for bereaved women, but there have been no controlled intervention studies of this type for men. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a mutualhelp group intervention for new widowers, using a randomized controlled design. A community sample of 113 recruited widowers bereaved less than 12 months were randomly allocated into treatment (n = 61) and waitinglist control groups (n = 52). Treatment consisted of nine weekly semistructured peer group sessions, which focused on the griefprocess, diet, new relationships, exercise, and life-style issues. Analysis of variance of three psychological measures (GeneralHealth Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and three social measures (Social Adjustment Scale, Social Support Questionnaire for both availability and satisfaction) showed significant improvement over time for all subjects, but no significant differences between the two groups over the observation period (baseline to 8 months). Possible reasons for no treatment effect include: men may take longer than anticipated to work through their grief with a delay in any measurable effect; the more recovered men dropped out early; and focusing widowers' attention on their own and others'grief may hinder an early (and measurable) recovery from their grief

Through the creative use of existing community resources, a large urban university has created an undergraduate program providing a balanced exposure of theoretical studies, research and clinical experience, and demonstrating the critical relationship between theory and practice.

More and more tax limitation initiatives seem to be put forth for voters approval and several have passed which have implications for higher education. While those passed differ from each other substantially, a case study on the effects of Proposition 13, the first to pass in U.S., on California higher education has been instructive. Community colleges had to temporarily reduce some of their programs, primarily in adult and non-credit education, which have since been restored on a fee basis. Additionally, the control for community colleges has been shifted to the state. The four-year colleges and universities have also been indirectly affected as reflected by substantial increase in student fees when the state surplus was exhausted. Finally, despite seemingly devastating effects, most states which have been affected have learned to cope with decreasing or stabilized financial support.

Pharmacogenetic studies in asthma cohorts, primarily made up of White people of European descent, have identified loci associated with response to inhaled beta agonists and corticosteroids (ICSs). Differences exist in how individuals from different ancestral backgrounds respond to long-acting beta agonist (LABA) and ICSs. Therefore, we sought to understand the pharmacogenetic mechanisms regulating therapeutic responsiveness in individuals of African descent.

The article discusses the necessity to consider indoor allergen exposure of children suffering from asthma in inner-city school environments apart from inner-city homes and outlines the study published in the journal "JAMA Pediatrics" with regard to the matter. Topics discussed include the prevalence of mouse, cockroaches and dust mite allergens in schools and the need to identify environmental exposures.

Home fungus exposures may be associated with development or worsening of asthma. Little is known about the effects of school/classroom fungus exposures on asthma morbidity in students.

The following book is reviewed in this article: Zivi, Strenghtening Experiential Education within your Institution.

Cow's milk allergy is the most common food allergy in childhood. Many children with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy may tolerate baked milk products, but few data exist on predictors of outcomes of baked milk challenges.

BACKGROUND: There are currently limited data regarding the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms causing community-acquired urinary tract infections among adult women in Canada. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the recommended first-line empirical antibiotic treatment, unless resistance of Escherichia coli to TMP-SMX exceeds 20%.OBJECTIVE: To assess current levels of TMP-SMX-resistant E coli in community-acquired cases of urinary tract infection in adult women.METHOD: Assessment of urine culture reports obtained from 21 laboratories across Canada, submitted by family physicians for women aged 16 years and older.RESULTS: In 2199 adult women with a positive urine culture, 1079 (49.1%) of pathogens isolated were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 660 (30.0%) were multidrug-resistant (resistant to two or more antibiotics). TMP-SMX resistance was seen in 245 of 1613 (15.2%) E coli isolates (95% CI 13.5 to 17.0). This proportion was higher in women 50 years of age and older (155 of 863 isolates [18.0%]; P=0.001), in British Columbia (70 of 342 isolates [20.5%]) and in Ontario (62 of 370 isolates [16.8%]) when compared with eastern provinces (65 of 572 isolates [11.4%]; P=0.001). Fluoroquinolone-resistant E coli occurred in 107 of 1557 (6.9%) isolates (95% CI 5.7 to 8.2), with the highest level found in British Columbia (54 of 341 isolates [15.8%]; P=0.001).CONCLUSION: TMP-SMX continues to be appropriate as first-line empirical treatment of acute cystitis in adult women in Canada, as resistance remains below 20%. However, TMP-SMX resistance is higher in older women and in some provinces. The level of fluoroquinolone-resistant E coli is highest in British Columbia.