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Fortini MB, Erickson TA, Leining L, Robinson K, Carey MN, Smith SJ, Sullivan B, Nelson A, Gunter SM, Weatherhead JE. Review of Toxocariasis at a Children's Hospital Prompting Need for Public Health Interventions. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:862-866. [PMID: 37625080 PMCID: PMC10754417 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxocariasis, caused the by dog and cat roundworm, is one of the most common zoonotic helminth infections in the United States and can lead to severe lifelong morbidity in children. Although historical seroprevalence studies have identified a high frequency of toxocariasis regionally in the United States, there are few studies linking epidemiology and clinical disease in children. The study objective was to examine the contemporary epidemiology of pediatric toxocariasis within an endemic US region. METHODS We conducted an epidemiologic study analyzing children diagnosed with toxocariasis presenting to a tertiary pediatric hospital in Texas from 2010 to 2021. We examined risk factors and performed a geospatial analysis, including a comparative analysis of human cases and locations of surrendered infected stray animals in the same region. RESULTS Children diagnosed with toxocariasis were most commonly of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity (30/46; 65%), white race (41/45; 91%) and receiving Medicaid (34/44, 77%). Many infected children had contact with dogs or cats. Ocular toxocariasis was associated with a lack of peripheral eosinophilia ( P < 0.001). No other Toxocara syndromes were associated with defined absolute eosinophil count levels. Post-treatment resolution of eosinophilia was variable, ranging from 1 to 172 weeks. A Toxocara hotspot was identified in northeast Houston, comprising one of the lowest median household incomes in the region. CONCLUSIONS Toxocariasis is a devastating zoonotic infection in children living in the US. As it is not a reportable disease, the true burden remains unknown. It is critical to increase awareness of toxocariasis to direct public health interventions and ultimately reduce Toxocara -induced morbidity in US children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary B. Fortini
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
| | - Timothy A. Erickson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
| | - Lauren Leining
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
| | - Karina Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
| | - Megan N. Carey
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
| | - Sarah J. Smith
- Veterinary Public Health, Harris County Public Health, Houston, TX
| | - Brendan Sullivan
- Veterinary Public Health, Harris County Public Health, Houston, TX
| | - Alisa Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Sarah M. Gunter
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Jill E. Weatherhead
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
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Gola C, Kvapil P, Kuhar U, Diaz-Delgado J, Alex CE, Shotton J, Smith SJ, Fingerhood S. Fatal cerebrovascular accident in a captive red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) with concurrent amdoparvovirus infection. J Comp Pathol 2023; 205:11-16. [PMID: 37506667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
We report the pathological and molecular findings in an adult male Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) whose death was attributed to parenchymal brain haemorrhage (PBH) of the thalamus. Post-mortem examination revealed severe, acute PBH and intraventricular haemorrhage with major involvement of the thalamus, as well as scattered chronic microinfarctions. Vascular disease in the brain and other organs was suggestive of systemic hypertension. Histological lesions included arteriolar hyalinosis and varying degrees of arteriosclerosis, arterial tunica media hypertrophy and hyperplasia and infiltration of arterial walls by lipid-laden macrophages. Other relevant findings included marked myocardial fibrosis, lymphoplasmacytic tubulointerstitial nephritis, lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis and chronic mitral valve degeneration. The changes in the cerebral vasculature were consistent with hypertensive encephalopathy and a cerebrovascular accident, specifically PBH, which has not been previously reported in this species. Additionally, polymerase chain reaction analysis for red panda amdoparvovirus (RPAV) was positive in the brain and kidneys. Preceded by hypertensive vascular changes and brain microinfarctions, sudden death in this animal likely resulted from fatal PBH with intraventricular haemorrhage. The clinicopathological role of RPAV infection is unknown in this case, although its contribution to the chronic renal disease is considered possible in the context of our current understanding of RPAV-associated pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Gola
- Veterinary Pathology Centre, University of Surrey, Francis Crick Road, Guildford GU2 7AQ, Surrey, UK
| | - Pavel Kvapil
- Veterinary Department, Ljubljana Zoo, Večna Pot 70, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urska Kuhar
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Josué Diaz-Delgado
- Veterinary Pathology Centre, University of Surrey, Francis Crick Road, Guildford GU2 7AQ, Surrey, UK
| | - Charles E Alex
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Justine Shotton
- Veterinary Department, Marwell Wildlife Zoological Park, Thompson's Lane, Colden Common, Winchester S021 1HJ, Hampshire, UK
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Veterinary Department, Marwell Wildlife Zoological Park, Thompson's Lane, Colden Common, Winchester S021 1HJ, Hampshire, UK
| | - Sai Fingerhood
- Veterinary Pathology Centre, University of Surrey, Francis Crick Road, Guildford GU2 7AQ, Surrey, UK.
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Doty JL, Lynne SD, Yourell JL, Smith SJ, Fogarty K, Pracht DW, Taliaferro LA. Adolescent risk and protection profiles for violence perpetration: Insights for family- and community-based prevention. Aggress Behav 2023. [PMID: 36842143 DOI: 10.1002/ab.22077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Youth violence continues to be a major developmental and health concern. Preventative resources at individual, family, and community levels may reduce risk, yet the extent to which youth violence perpetration differs by patterns of risk and protective factors remains unknown. Using data from the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (N = 4630; 49% female; Mage = 14.69), we conducted person-centered, latent profile analyses to identify four patterns for risk of violence perpetration among middle and high school youth. Youth in the Low Risk-High Protection profile (37%) had low likelihood of violence perpetration. Youth in the Low Risk-Low Protection profile (4%) were characterized by poor family functioning, low school belonging, and low community protection. These youth had similar odds of violence perpetration as youth in the Moderate Risk-Moderate Protection profile (44%), which were elevated compared to the Low Risk-High Protection profile. Youth in the High Risk-Low Protection profile (15%), which had the highest levels of risk factors and lowest levels of protective factors, had the highest likelihood of violence perpetration. The High Risk-Low Protection profile was expected based on past research, but the emergence of the Low Risk-Low Protection profile is a unique contribution to the research. Findings contribute to the literature by going beyond a cumulative risk model, identifying subgroups with various patterns of risk and protection in the population, and highlighting the importance of selected prevention for subgroups of youth with high risk or challenging family and community environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Doty
- Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, College of Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Sarah D Lynne
- Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jacqlyn L Yourell
- Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kate Fogarty
- Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Dale W Pracht
- Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lindsay A Taliaferro
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
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Bu S, Smith A‘B, Janssen A, Donnelly C, Dadich A, Mackenzie LJ, Smith AL, Young AL, Wu VS, Smith SJ, Sansom-Daly UM. Optimising implementation of telehealth in oncology: A systematic review examining barriers and enablers using the RE-AIM planning and evaluation framework. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2022; 180:103869. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Smith SJ, Smith AB, Kennett W, Vinod SK. Exploring cancer patients', caregivers', and clinicians' utilisation and experiences of telehealth services during COVID-19: A qualitative study. Patient Educ Couns 2022; 105:3134-3142. [PMID: 35688719 PMCID: PMC9170274 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted oncology. With pandemic restrictions limiting close contact between individuals, telehealth (the use of teleconferencing/videoconferencing to conduct real-time medical consultations) has been increasingly utilised. This qualitative study aimed to explore adult cancer patient, caregiver, and clinician (doctor, nurse, allied health) telehealth experiences during COVID-19 in urban and rural Australian settings and identify potential enablers and barriers to sustained telehealth implementation. METHODS English-speaking participants completed semi-structured interviews regarding their telehealth experiences since March 2020. Interviews ceased when data saturation occurred. Iterative thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12 Pro. RESULTS Thirty-four interviews (clinician=14, patient=13, caregiver=7) were conducted from April to August 2021. Analysis generated seven themes relating to telehealth use: 1) Acceptability as a form of consultation, 2) Impacts on healthcare provision, 3) Communication & relationships, 4) Efficient form of consultation, 5) Comfort of conducting telehealth in different environments, 6) Technological barriers and 7) Future preferences. CONCLUSIONS The rapid uptake of telehealth during the pandemic has mostly been well-received, and telehealth can be appropriately used in oncology. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Barriers including providing appropriate facilities, technology, and telehealth training; and selecting appropriate patients must be addressed to enable sustained telehealth use in future cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Port Macquarie Rural Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Port Macquarie, Australia
| | - Allan Ben Smith
- South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia.
| | - William Kennett
- Wauchope District Memorial Hospital and Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Australia
| | - Shalini K Vinod
- South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia; Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, South West Sydney Local Health District, Australia
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Smith SJ, Mawn IH, Knight DW. Applications of Designed Alpha‐Helical Metallopeptides. FASEB J 2022. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2022.36.s1.r4579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Smith SJ, Fabian L, Sheikh A, Noche R, Cui X, Moore SA, Dowling JJ. Lysosomes and the pathogenesis of merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:733-747. [PMID: 34568901 PMCID: PMC9989739 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A), the most common congenital muscular dystrophy in Western countries, is caused by recessive mutations in LAMA2, the gene encoding laminin alpha 2. Currently, no cure or disease modifying therapy has been successfully developed for MDC1A. Examination of patient muscle biopsies revealed altered distribution of lysosomes. We hypothesized that this redistribution was a novel and potentially druggable aspect of disease pathogenesis. We explored this hypothesis using candyfloss (caf), a zebrafish model of MDC1A. We found that lysosome distribution in caf zebrafish was also abnormal. This altered localization was significantly associated with fiber detachment and could be prevented by blocking myofiber detachment. Overexpression of transcription factor EB, a transcription factor that promotes lysosomal biogenesis, led to increased lysosome content and decreased fiber detachment. We conclude that genetic manipulation of the lysosomal compartment is able to alter the caf zebrafish disease process, suggesting that lysosome function may be a target for disease modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Program for Genetics & Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2R 0X7, Alberta
| | - Lacramioara Fabian
- Program for Genetics & Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Adeel Sheikh
- Program for Genetics & Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Ramil Noche
- Program for Genetics & Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.,Zebrafish Genetics and Disease Models Core Facility, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Xiucheng Cui
- Zebrafish Genetics and Disease Models Core Facility, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Steven A Moore
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - James J Dowling
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Program for Genetics & Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
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8
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Smith SJ, Holley SA. The eye tugs and the nose follows: how inter-tissue adhesion directs olfactory development. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54396. [PMID: 34910840 PMCID: PMC8811622 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202154396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryonic development is a complex process in which cells divide, migrate, and differentiate in a precise spatiotemporal pattern. Cell-cell communication among neighboring cells plays a central role in specifying cell fate and in coordinating development. Embryonic development also relies on physical interaction between cells and coordinated changes in cell shape. A more recently investigated phenomenon is the coupling of development of adjacent tissues via inter-tissue adhesion. In this issue of EMBO Reports, Monnot and colleagues identify a role for inter-tissue adhesion in the development of adjacent sensory organs in the zebrafish. Specifically, eye morphogenesis influences the organ shape and retrograde axon growth in the adjacent olfactory placode via a shared extracellular matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental BiologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Scott A Holley
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental BiologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
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Orner KD, Smith SJ, Breunig HM, Scown CD, Nelson KL. Fertilizer demand and potential supply through nutrient recovery from organic waste digestate in California. Water Res 2021; 206:117717. [PMID: 34634641 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Diversion of organic waste from landfills offers an opportunity to recover valuable nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that are typically discarded. Although prior research has explored the potential for buildout of anaerobic digestion (AD) infrastructure to treat organic waste and generate energy, a better understanding is needed of the nutrient recovery potential from the solid and liquid byproducts (digestate) resulting from AD of these waste streams. We quantified the system-wide mass of nutrients that can potentially be recovered in California by integrating current and potential future AD facilities with existing nutrient recovery technologies. Based on a profitable build-out scenario for AD, the potential for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery by mass was greatest from municipal sewage sludge. The nutrient recovery (% total mass) was determined for three different end products for the combined organic waste streams: liquid fertilizer [38% of the total recovered nitrogen (TN)], struvite [50% TN, 66% total phosphorous (TP)], and compost (12% TN, 34% TP). Based on the profitable build-out scenario of AD facilities in California, the recovered nutrients would offset an estimated 11% of TN and 29% of TP of in-state synthetic fertilizer demand, whereas a scenario in which all technically recoverable biomass is collected and treated could offset 44% of TN and 97% of TP demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Orner
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Re-inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States.
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Hanna M Breunig
- Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Corinne D Scown
- Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Energy & Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Kara L Nelson
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Re-inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States.
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Smith SJ, Goodman H, Kroon JTM, Brown AP, Simon WJ, Chivasa S. Isolation of Arabidopsis extracellular ATP binding proteins by affinity proteomics and identification of PHOSPHOLIPASE C-LIKE 1 as an extracellular protein essential for fumonisin B1 toxicity. Plant J 2021; 106:1387-1400. [PMID: 33735457 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
ATP is secreted to the extracellular matrix, where it activates plasma membrane receptors for controlling plant growth and stress-adaptive processes. DOES NOT RESPOND TO NUCLEOTIDES 1 (DORN1), was the first plant ATP receptor to be identified but key downstream proteins remain sought after. Here, we identified 120 proteins secreted by Arabidopsis cell cultures and screened them for putative stress-responsive proteins using ATP-affinity purification. We report three Arabidopsis proteins isolated by ATP-affinity: PEROXIDASE 52, SUBTILASE-LIKE SERINE PROTEASE 1.7 and PHOSPHOLIPASE C-LIKE 1. In wild-type Arabidopsis, the expression of genes encoding all three proteins responded to fumonisin B1, a cell death-activating mycotoxin. The expression of PEROXIDASE 52 and PHOSPHOLIPASE C-LIKE 1 was altered in fumonisin B1-resistant salicylic acid induction-deficient (sid2) mutants. Exposure to fumonisin B1 suppressed PHOSPHOLIPASE C-LIKE 1 expression in sid2 mutants, suggesting that the inactivation of this gene might provide mycotoxin tolerance. Accordingly, gene knockout mutants of PHOSPHOLIPASE C-LIKE 1 were resistant to fumonisin B1-induced death. The activation of PHOSPHOLIPASE C-LIKE 1 gene expression by exogenous ATP was not blocked in dorn1 loss-of-function mutants, indicating that DORN1 is not required. Furthermore, exogenous ATP rescued both the wild type and the dorn1 mutants from fumonisin-B1 toxicity, suggesting that different ATP receptor(s) are operational in this process. Our results point to the existence of additional plant ATP receptor(s) and provide crucial downstream targets for use in designing screens to identify these receptors. Finally, PHOSPHOLIPASE C-LIKE 1 serves as a convergence point for fumonisin B1 and extracellular ATP signalling, and functions in the Arabidopsis stress response to fumonisin B1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Heather Goodman
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Johan T M Kroon
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Adrian P Brown
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - William J Simon
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Stephen Chivasa
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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Smith SJ, Griffiths AW, Creese B, Sass C, Surr CA. A biopsychosocial interpretation of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Nursing Home assessment: reconceptualising psychiatric symptom attributions. BJPsych Open 2020; 6:e137. [PMID: 33153507 PMCID: PMC7745231 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2020.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is predicated on the assumption that psychiatric symptoms are manifestations of disease. Biopsychosocial theories suggest behavioural changes viewed as psychiatric may also arise as a result of external behavioural triggers. Knowing the causes of psychiatric symptoms is important since the treatment and management of symptoms relies on this understanding. AIMS This study sought to understand the causes of psychiatric symptoms recorded in care home settings by investigating qualitatively described symptoms in Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home (NPI-NH) interviews. METHOD The current study examined the NPI-NH interviews of 725 participants across 50 care homes. The qualitatively described symptoms from each of the 12 subscales of the NPI were extracted: 347 interviews included at least one qualitatively described symptom (n = 651 descriptions). A biopsychosocial algorithm developed following a process of independent researcher coding (n = 3) was applied to the symptom descriptions. This determined whether the description had predominantly psychiatric features, or features that were cognitive or attributable to other causes (i.e. issues with orientation and memory; expressions of need; poor care and communication; or understandable reactions). RESULTS Our findings suggest that the majority (over 80%) of descriptions described symptoms with features that could be attributable to cognitive changes and external triggers (such as poor care and communication). CONCLUSIONS The finding suggest that in its current form the NPI-NH may over attribute the incidence of psychiatric symptoms in care homes by overlooking triggers for behavioural changes. Measures of psychiatric symptoms should determine the causes of behavioural changes in order to guide treatments more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, UK
| | | | - Byron Creese
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | - Cara Sass
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, UK
| | - Claire A Surr
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, UK
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Basham CA, Smith SJ, Romanowski K, Johnston JC. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among persons diagnosed with tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235821. [PMID: 32649721 PMCID: PMC7351210 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The emerging epidemiological evidence of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among persons diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) has not been systematically reviewed to date. Our aim was to review the existing epidemiological evidence for elevated risk of CVD morbidity and mortality among persons diagnosed with TB compared to controls. Materials and methods EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases were searched (inception to January 2020) for terms related to “tuberculosis” and “cardiovascular diseases”. Inclusion criteria: trial, cohort, or case-control study design; patient population included persons diagnosed with TB infection or disease; relative risk (RR) estimate and confidence interval reported for CVD morbidity or mortality compared to suitable controls. Exclusion criteria: no TB or CVD outcome definition; duplicate study; non-English abstract; non-human participants. Two reviewers screened studies, applied ROBINS-I tool to assess risk of bias, and extracted data independently. Random effects meta-analysis estimated a pooled RR of CVD morbidity and mortality for persons diagnosed with TB compared to controls. Results 6,042 articles were identified, 244 full texts were reviewed, and 16 were included, meta-analyzing subsets of 8 studies’ RR estimates. We estimated a pooled RR of 1.51 (95% CI: 1.16–1.97) for major adverse cardiac events among those diagnosed with TB compared to non-TB controls (p = 0.0024). A ‘serious’ pooled risk of bias was found across studies with between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 75.3%). Conclusions TB appears to be a marker for increased CVD risk; however, the literature is limited and is accompanied by serious risk of confounding bias and evidence of publication bias. Further retrospective and prospective studies are needed. Pending this evidence, best practice may be to consider persons diagnosed with TB at higher risk of CVD as a precautionary measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Andrew Basham
- Provincial TB Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Sarah J. Smith
- Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Kamila Romanowski
- Provincial TB Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - James C. Johnston
- Provincial TB Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Surr CA, Parveen S, Smith SJ, Drury M, Sass C, Burden S, Oyebode J. The barriers and facilitators to implementing dementia education and training in health and social care services: a mixed-methods study. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:512. [PMID: 32503536 PMCID: PMC7275489 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health and social care workforce requires access to appropriate education and training to provide quality care for people with dementia. Success of a training programme depends on staff ability to put their learning into practice through behaviour change. This study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitators to implementation of dementia education and training in health and social care services using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B model of behaviour change. METHODS A mixed-methods design. Participants were dementia training leads, training facilitators, managers and staff who had attended training who worked in UK care homes, acute hospitals, mental health services and primary care settings. Methods were an online audit of care and training providers, online survey of trained staff and individual/group interviews with organisational training leads, training facilitators, staff who had attended dementia training and managers. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic template analysis. RESULTS Barriers and facilitators were analysed according the COM-B domains. "Capability" factors were not perceived as a significant barrier to training implementation. Factors which supported staff capability included the use of interactive face-to-face training, and training that was relevant to their role. Factors that increased staff "motivation" included skilled facilitation of training, trainees' desire to learn and the provision of incentives (e.g. attendance during paid working hours, badges/certifications). "Opportunity" factors were most prevalent with lack of resources (time, financial, staffing and environmental) being the biggest perceived barrier to training implementation. The presence or not of external support from families and internal factors such as the organisational culture and its supportiveness of good dementia care and training implementation were also influential. CONCLUSIONS A wide range of factors may present as barriers to or facilitators of dementia training implementation and behaviour change for staff. These should be considered by health and social care providers in the context of dementia training design and delivery in order to maximise potential for implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A Surr
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK.
| | - Sahdia Parveen
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK
| | - Michelle Drury
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Cara Sass
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK
| | - Sarah Burden
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK
| | - Jan Oyebode
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
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14
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Surr CA, Sass C, Burnley N, Drury M, Smith SJ, Parveen S, Burden S, Oyebode J. Components of impactful dementia training for general hospital staff: a collective case study. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:511-521. [PMID: 30596270 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2018.1531382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background and objectives: People with dementia occupy around one quarter of general hospital beds, with concerns consistently raised about care quality. Improving workforce knowledge, skills and attitudes is a mechanism for addressing this. However little is known about effective ways of training healthcare staff about dementia. This study aimed to understand models of dementia training most likely to lead to improved practice and better care experiences for people with dementia, and to understand barriers and facilitators to implementation.Method: A collective case study was conducted in three National Health Service Acute Hospital Trusts in England. Multiple data sources were used including interviews with training leads/facilitators, ward managers and staff who had attended training; satisfaction surveys with patients with dementia and/or carers; and observations of care using Dementia Care Mapping.Results: Interactive face-to-face training designed for general hospital staff was valued. Simulation and experiential learning methods were felt to be beneficial by some staff and stressful and distressing by others. Skilled delivery by an experienced and enthusiastic facilitator was identified as important. Staff identified learning and practice changes made following their training. However, observations revealed not all staff had the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to deliver good care. Patient and carer satisfaction with care was mixed. A major barrier to training implementation was lack of resources. Supportive managers, organisational culture and strong leadership were key facilitators.Conclusion: Dementia training can lead to improved care practices. There are a range of key barriers and facilitators to implementation that must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A Surr
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Cara Sass
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Natasha Burnley
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Michelle Drury
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Sahdia Parveen
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Sarah Burden
- Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Jan Oyebode
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
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15
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Panter PE, Kent O, Dale M, Smith SJ, Skipsey M, Thorlby G, Cummins I, Ramsay N, Begum RA, Sanhueza D, Fry SC, Knight MR, Knight H. MUR1-mediated cell-wall fucosylation is required for freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytol 2019; 224:1518-1531. [PMID: 31549420 PMCID: PMC6899859 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Forward genetic screens play a key role in the identification of genes contributing to plant stress tolerance. Using a screen for freezing sensitivity, we have identified a novel freezing tolerance gene, SENSITIVE-TO-FREEZING8, in Arabidopsis thaliana. We identified SFR8 using recombination-based mapping and whole-genome sequencing. As SFR8 was predicted to have an effect on cell wall composition, we used GC-MS and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to measure cell-wall fucose and boron (B)-dependent dimerization of the cell-wall pectic domain rhamnogalacturonan II (RGII) in planta. After treatments to promote borate-bridging of RGII, we assessed freeze-induced damage in wild-type and sfr8 plants by measuring electrolyte leakage from freeze-thawed leaf discs. We mapped the sfr8 mutation to MUR1, a gene encoding the fucose biosynthetic enzyme GDP-d-mannose-4,6-dehydratase. sfr8 cell walls exhibited low cell-wall fucose levels and reduced RGII bridging. Freezing sensitivity of sfr8 mutants was ameliorated by B supplementation, which can restore RGII dimerization. B transport mutants with reduced RGII dimerization were also freezing-sensitive. Our research identifies a role for the structure and composition of the plant primary cell wall in determining basal plant freezing tolerance and highlights the specific importance of fucosylation, most likely through its effect on the ability of RGII pectin to dimerize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige E. Panter
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Olivia Kent
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Maeve Dale
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Sarah J. Smith
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Mark Skipsey
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Glenn Thorlby
- Scion49 Sala Street, Private Bag 3020Rotorua3046New Zealand
| | - Ian Cummins
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Nathan Ramsay
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Rifat A. Begum
- Institute of Molecular Plant SciencesThe University of EdinburghDaniel Rutherford Building, The King’s Buildings, Max Born CrescentEdinburghEH9 3BFUK
| | - Dayan Sanhueza
- Institute of Molecular Plant SciencesThe University of EdinburghDaniel Rutherford Building, The King’s Buildings, Max Born CrescentEdinburghEH9 3BFUK
| | - Stephen C. Fry
- Institute of Molecular Plant SciencesThe University of EdinburghDaniel Rutherford Building, The King’s Buildings, Max Born CrescentEdinburghEH9 3BFUK
| | - Marc R. Knight
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | - Heather Knight
- Department of Biosciences & Durham Centre for Crop Improvement TechnologyDurham UniversitySouth RoadDurhamDH1 3LEUK
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Sadat Mousavi P, Smith SJ, Chen JB, Karlikow M, Tinafar A, Robinson C, Liu W, Ma D, Green AA, Kelley SO, Pardee K. A multiplexed, electrochemical interface for gene-circuit-based sensors. Nat Chem 2019; 12:48-55. [PMID: 31767994 PMCID: PMC7700015 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-019-0366-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The field of synthetic biology has used the engineered assembly of synthetic gene networks to create a wide range of function in biological systems. As part of this work, gene circuit-based sensors have primarily used optical proteins (e.g. fluorescent, colorimetric) as reporter outputs, which has limited the potential to measure multiple distinct signals. Here we present an electrochemical interface that permits expanded multiplexed reporting for cell-free gene circuit-based sensors. We have engineered a scalable system of reporter enzymes that cleave specific DNA sequences in solution, which results in an electrochemical signal when these newly liberated strands are captured at the surface of a nanostructured microelectrode. We describe the development of this interface and show its utility using a ligand-inducible gene circuit and toehold switch-based sensors, including the detection of multiple antibiotic resistance genes in parallel. This technology has the potential to expand the field of synthetic biology by providing an interface with materials, hardware and software.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, USA
| | - Jenise B Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margot Karlikow
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aidan Tinafar
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Clare Robinson
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wenhan Liu
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Duo Ma
- Biodesign Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute and the School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Alexander A Green
- Biodesign Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute and the School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Shana O Kelley
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Keith Pardee
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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17
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Smith SJ, Parveen S, Sass C, Drury M, Oyebode JR, Surr CA. An audit of dementia education and training in UK health and social care: a comparison with national benchmark standards. BMC Health Serv Res 2019; 19:711. [PMID: 31638974 PMCID: PMC6802111 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4510-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite people living with dementia representing a significant proportion of health and social care users, until recently in the United Kingdom (UK) there were no prescribed standards for dementia education and training. This audit sought to review the extent and nature of dementia education and training offered to health and social care staff in the UK against the standards described in the 2015 Dementia Training Standards Framework, which describes the knowledge and skills required of the UK dementia workforce. METHODS This audit presents national data concerning the design, delivery, target audience, length, level, content, format of training, number of staff trained and frequency of delivery within existing dementia training programmes offered to health and social care staff. The Dementia Training Standards Framework was used as a reference for respondents to describe the subjects and learning outcomes associated with their training. RESULTS The findings are presented from 614 respondents offering 386 training packages, which indicated variations in the extent and quality of training. Many training packages addressed the subjects of 'person-centred care', 'communication', 'interaction and behaviour in dementia care', and 'dementia awareness'. Few training packages addressed subjects concerning 'pharmacological interventions in dementia care', 'leadership' and 'end of life care'. Fewer than 40% of The Dementia Training Standards Framework learning outcomes targeted to staff with regular contact with people with dementia or in leadership roles were covered by the reported packages. However, for training targeted at increasing dementia awareness more than 70% of the learning outcomes identified in The Dementia Training Standards Framework were addressed. Many training packages are not of sufficient duration to derive impact; although the majority employed delivery methods likely to be effective. CONCLUSIONS The development of new and existing training and education should take account of subjects that are currently underrepresented and ensure that training reflects the Training Standard Framework and evidence regarding best practice for delivery. Lessons regarding the limitations of training in the UK serve as a useful illustration of the challenge of implementing national dementia training standards; particularly for countries who are developing or have recently implemented national dementia strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Smith
- Centre for Dementia Research, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK.
| | - S Parveen
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD5 0BB, UK
| | - C Sass
- Centre for Dementia Research, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK
| | - M Drury
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD5 0BB, UK
| | - J R Oyebode
- Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD5 0BB, UK
| | - C A Surr
- Centre for Dementia Research, School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK
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18
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Durkin M, Adams JS, Bandler SR, Chervenak JA, Chaudhuri S, Dawson CS, Denison EV, Doriese WB, Duff SM, Finkbeiner FM, FitzGerald CT, Fowler JW, Gard JD, Hilton GC, Irwin KD, Joe YI, Kelley RL, Kilbourne CA, Miniussi AR, Morgan KM, O'Neil GC, Pappas CG, Porter FS, Reintsema CD, Rudman DA, SaKai K, Smith SJ, Stevens RW, Swetz DS, Szypryt P, Ullom JN, Vale LR, Wakeham N, Weber JC, Young BA. Demonstration of Athena X-IFU Compatible 40-Row Time-Division-Multiplexed Readout. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond 2019; 29:2101005. [PMID: 31160861 PMCID: PMC6544157 DOI: 10.1109/tasc.2019.2904472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Time-division multiplexing (TDM) is the backup readout technology for the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU), a 3,168-pixel X-ray transition-edge sensor (TES) array that will provide imaging spectroscopy for ESA's Athena satellite mission. X-0IFU design studies are considering readout with a multiplexing factor of up to 40. We present data showing 40-row TDM readout (32 TES rows + 8 repeats of the last row) of TESs that are of the same type as those being planned for X-IFU, using measurement and analysis parameters within the ranges specified for X-IFU. Singlecolumn TDM measurements have best-fit energy resolution of (1.91 ± 0.01) eV for the Al Kα complex (1.5 keV), (2.10 ± 0.02) eV for Ti Kα (4.5 keV), (2.23 ± 0.02) eV for Mn Kα (5.9 keV), (2.40 ± 0.02) eV for Co Kα (6.9 keV), and (3.44 ± 0.04) eV for Br Kα (11.9 keV). Three-column measurements have best-fit resolution of (2.03 ± 0.01) eV for Ti Kα and (2.40 ± 0.01) eV for Co Kα. The degradation due to the multiplexed readout ranges from 0.1 eV at the lower end of the energy range to 0.5 eV at the higher end. The demonstrated performance meets X-IFU's energy-resolution and energy-range requirements. True 40-row TDM readout, without repeated rows, of kilopixel scale arrays of X-IFU-like TESs is now under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Durkin
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - J S Adams
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - S R Bandler
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - J A Chervenak
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - S Chaudhuri
- Stanford University Dept. of Physics, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - C S Dawson
- Stanford University Dept. of Physics, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - E V Denison
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - W B Doriese
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - S M Duff
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - F M Finkbeiner
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - C T FitzGerald
- Santa Clara University Dept. of Physics, Santa Clara, CA 95053 USA
| | - J W Fowler
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - J D Gard
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - G C Hilton
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - K D Irwin
- Stanford University Dept. of Physics, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Y I Joe
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - R L Kelley
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - C A Kilbourne
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - A R Miniussi
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - K M Morgan
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - G C O'Neil
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - C G Pappas
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - F S Porter
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - C D Reintsema
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - D A Rudman
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - K SaKai
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - S J Smith
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - R W Stevens
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - D S Swetz
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - P Szypryt
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - J N Ullom
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - L R Vale
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - N Wakeham
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - J C Weber
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - B A Young
- Santa Clara University Dept. of Physics, Santa Clara, CA 95053 USA
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19
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Jaeckel FT, Ambarish CV, Christensen N, Gruenke R, Hu L, McCammon D, McPheron M, Meyer M, Nelms KL, Roy A, Wulf D, Zhang S, Zhou Y, Adams JS, Bandler SR, Chervenak JA, Datesman AM, Eckart ME, Ewin AJ, Finkbeiner FM, Kelley R, Kilbourne CA, Miniussi AR, Porter FS, Sadleir JE, Sakai K, Smith SJ, Wakeham N, Wassell E, Yoon W, Morgan KM, Schmidt DR, Swetz DS, Ullom JN. Energy calibration of high-resolution X-Ray TES microcalorimeters with 3 eV optical photons. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond 2019; 29:2100104. [PMID: 31186605 PMCID: PMC6557579 DOI: 10.1109/tasc.2019.2899856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
With the improving energy resolution of transitionedge sensor (TES) based microcalorimeters, performance verification and calibration of these detectors has become increasingly challenging, especially in the energy range below 1 keV where fluorescent atomic X-ray lines have linewidths that are wider than the detector energy resolution and require impractically high statistics to determine the gain and deconvolve the instrumental profile. Better behaved calibration sources such as grating monochromators are too cumbersome for space missions and are difficult to use in the lab. As an alternative, we are exploring the use of pulses of 3 eV optical photons delivered by an optical fiber to generate combs of known energies with known arrival times. Here, we discuss initial results of this technique obtained with 2 eV and 0.7 eV resolution X-ray microcalorimeters. With the 2 eV detector, we have achieved photon number resolution for pulses with mean photon number up to 133 (corresponding to 0.4 keV).
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Affiliation(s)
- F T Jaeckel
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - C V Ambarish
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - N Christensen
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - R Gruenke
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - L Hu
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - D McCammon
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - M McPheron
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - M Meyer
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - K L Nelms
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - A Roy
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - D Wulf
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - S Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Y Zhou
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706
| | - J S Adams
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - S R Bandler
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - J A Chervenak
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - A M Datesman
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - M E Eckart
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - A J Ewin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - F M Finkbeiner
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - R Kelley
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - C A Kilbourne
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - A R Miniussi
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - F S Porter
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - J E Sadleir
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - K Sakai
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - S J Smith
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - N Wakeham
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - E Wassell
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - W Yoon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771
| | - K M Morgan
- National Institute for Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305
| | - D R Schmidt
- National Institute for Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305
| | - D S Swetz
- National Institute for Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305
| | - J N Ullom
- National Institute for Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305
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20
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Leroi I, Vatter S, Carter LA, Smith SJ, Orgeta V, Poliakoff E, Silverdale MA, Raw J, Ahearn DJ, Taylor C, Rodda J, Abdel-Ghany T, McCormick SA. Parkinson's-adapted cognitive stimulation therapy: a pilot randomized controlled clinical trial. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2019; 12:1756286419852217. [PMID: 31320931 PMCID: PMC6611028 DOI: 10.1177/1756286419852217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is widely used with people with dementia, but there is no evidence of its efficacy in mild cognitive impairment or dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD-MCI; PDD) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We aimed to explore the impact of 'CST-PD', which is home-based, individualized CST adapted for this population. In a single-blind, randomized controlled exploratory pilot trial (RCT), we randomized 76 participant-dyads [PD-MCI (n = 15), PDD (n = 40), DLB (n = 21) and their care partners] to CST-PD or treatment as usual (TAU). CST-PD involves home-based cognitively stimulating and engaging activities delivered by a trained care partner. Exploratory outcomes at 12 weeks included cognition (Addenbrooke's Cognitive Evaluation; ACE-III), neuropsychiatric symptoms and function. In care partners, we assessed burden, stress and general health status. Relationship quality and quality of life were assessed in both dyad members. At 12 weeks, the ACE-III showed a nonstatistically significant improvement in the CST-PD group compared with the TAU group, although neuropsychiatric symptoms increased significantly in the former. In contrast, care partners' quality of life (d = 0.16) and relationship quality ('satisfaction', d = 0.01; 'positive interaction', d = 0.55) improved significantly in the CST-PD group, and care burden (d = 0.16) and stress (d = 0.05) were significantly lower. Qualitative findings in the CST-PD recipients revealed positive 'in the moment' responses to the intervention, supporting the quantitative results. In conclusion, care-partner-delivered CST-PD may improve a range of care-partner outcomes that are important in supporting home-based care. A full-scale follow-up RCT to evaluate clinical and cost effectiveness is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iracema Leroi
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Sabina Vatter
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Sarah J. Smith
- School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Vasiliki Orgeta
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ellen Poliakoff
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Jason Raw
- Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Oldham, UK
| | | | | | - Joanne Rodda
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Rainham, UK
| | | | - Sheree A. McCormick
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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21
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McCormick SA, Vatter S, Carter LA, Smith SJ, Orgeta V, Poliakoff E, Silverdale MA, Raw J, Ahearn DJ, Taylor C, Rodda J, Abdel-Ghany T, Kwapong B, Leroi I. Parkinson's-adapted cognitive stimulation therapy: feasibility and acceptability in Lewy body spectrum disorders. J Neurol 2019; 266:1756-1770. [PMID: 31161388 PMCID: PMC6586694 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-019-09329-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug-based therapeutic approaches for Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are moderately effective and not always tolerated. Tailoring psychosocial approaches in PDD and DLB may offer additional support and improve outcomes. We adapted home-based, care partner-delivered Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for individuals with PDD or DLB and their care partners (CST-PD). OBJECTIVES To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and tolerability of CST-PD. METHODS This randomised controlled trial used mixed methods, including a process evaluation. People with PDD, DLB or mild cognitive impairment in PD (PD-MCI) and their care partners were randomised to 12 weeks of treatment as usual (TAU) or CST-PD. Outcomes were feasibility of the study conduct (i.e., recruitment, retention rate) and acceptability and tolerability of the intervention. Measures included rating scales, researcher field notes, therapy diaries, and exploratory clinical and care partner efficacy measures. RESULTS The recruitment target was met with 76 consenting participant-dyads. Retention in both arms was high at over 70%. More than 90% of dyads undertook discrete sessions greater than 20 min duration, but the average number of sessions completed was lower than the recommended dose. Acceptability ratings (i.e., interest, motivation and sense of achievement) of the intervention were high. Participants reported no serious adverse events related to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS The field of psychosocial interventions for PDD and DLB is newly emerging, and we demonstrated that this type of intervention is acceptable and well tolerated. Evaluating its clinical effectiveness in a full-scale randomized controlled clinical trial is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER The trial is a psychosocial intervention with an allocated ISRCTN number 11455062.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheree A McCormick
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Sabina Vatter
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lesley-Anne Carter
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sarah J Smith
- School of Health and Community Studies, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Vasiliki Orgeta
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ellen Poliakoff
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | | | - Jason Raw
- Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Oldham, UK
| | - David J Ahearn
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Joanne Rodda
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Benjamin Kwapong
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Iracema Leroi
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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22
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Brown MR, Baptista JC, Lunn M, Swan DL, Smith SJ, Davenport RJ, Allen BD, Sloan WT, Curtis TP. Coupled virus - bacteria interactions and ecosystem function in an engineered microbial system. Water Res 2019; 152:264-273. [PMID: 30682570 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are thought to control bacterial abundance, affect community composition and influence ecosystem function in natural environments. Yet their dynamics have seldom been studied in engineered systems, or indeed in any system, for long periods of time. We measured virus abundance in a full-scale activated sludge plant every week for two years. Total bacteria and ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB) abundances, bacterial community profiles, and a suite of environmental and operational parameters were also monitored. Mixed liquor virus abundance fluctuated over an order of magnitude (3.18 × 108-3.41 × 109 virus's mL-1) and that variation was statistically significantly associated with total bacterial and AOB abundance, community composition, and effluent concentrations of COD and NH4+- N and thus system function. This suggests viruses play a far more important role in the dynamics of activated sludge systems than previously realised and could be one of the key factors controlling bacterial abundance, community structure and functional stability and may cause reactors to fail. These findings are based on statistical associations, not mechanistic models. Nevertheless, viral associations with abiotic factors, such as pH, make physical sense, giving credence to these findings and highlighting the role that physical factors play in virus ecology. Further work is needed to identify and quantify specific bacteriophage and their hosts to enable us to develop mechanistic models of the ecology of viruses in wastewater treatment systems. However, since we have shown that viruses can be related to effluent quality and virus quantification is simple and cheap, practitioners would probably benefit from quantifying viruses now.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Brown
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK.
| | - J C Baptista
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - M Lunn
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, OX1 3TG, UK
| | - D L Swan
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - S J Smith
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - R J Davenport
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - B D Allen
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - W T Sloan
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Glasgow, G12 8LT, UK
| | - T P Curtis
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK
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23
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Doriese WB, Bandler SR, Chaudhuri S, Dawson CS, Denison EV, Duff SM, Durkin M, FitzGerald CT, Fowler JW, Gard JD, Hilton GC, Irwin KD, Joe YI, Morgan KM, O'Neil GC, Pappas CG, Reintsema CD, Rudman DA, Smith SJ, Stevens RW, Swetz DS, Szypryt P, Ullom JN, Vale LR, Weber JC, Young BA. Optimization of Time- and Code-Division-Multiplexed Readout for Athena X-IFU. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond 2019; 29:10.1109/TASC.2019.2905577. [PMID: 31360051 PMCID: PMC6662226 DOI: 10.1109/tasc.2019.2905577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Readout of a large, spacecraft-based array of superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs) requires careful management of the layout area and power dissipation of the cryogenic-circuit components. We present three optimizations of our time- (TDM) and code-division-multiplexing (CDM) systems for the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU), a several-thousand-pixel-TES array for the planned Athena-satellite mission. The first optimization is a new readout scheme that is a hybrid of CDM and TDM. This C/TDM architecture balances CDM's noise advantage with TDM's layout compactness. The second is a redesign of a component: the shunt resistor that provides a dc-voltage bias to the TESs. A new layout and a thicker Pd-Au resistive layer combine to reduce this resistor's area by more than a factor of 5. Third, we have studied the power dissipated by the first-stage SQUIDs (superconducting quantum-interference devices) and the readout noise versus the critical current of the first-stage SqUIDs. As a result, the X-IFU TDM and C/TDM SQUIDs will have a specified junction critical current of 5 μA. Based on these design optimizations and TDM experiments described by Durkin, et al. (these proceedings), TDM meets all requirements to be X-IFU's backup-readout option. Hybrid C/TDM is another viable option that could save spacecraft resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- W B Doriese
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - S R Bandler
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - S Chaudhuri
- Stanford University Dept. of Physics, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - C S Dawson
- Stanford University Dept. of Physics, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - E V Denison
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - S M Duff
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - M Durkin
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - C T FitzGerald
- Santa Clara University Dept. of Physics, Santa Clara, CA 95053 USA
| | - J W Fowler
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - J D Gard
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - G C Hilton
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - K D Irwin
- Stanford University Dept. of Physics, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Y I Joe
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - K M Morgan
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - G C O'Neil
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - C G Pappas
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - C D Reintsema
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - D A Rudman
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - S J Smith
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - R W Stevens
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - D S Swetz
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - P Szypryt
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - J N Ullom
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - L R Vale
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - J C Weber
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA
| | - B A Young
- Stanford University Dept. of Physics, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
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24
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Nemr CR, Smith SJ, Liu W, Mepham AH, Mohamadi RM, Labib M, Kelley SO. Nanoparticle-Mediated Capture and Electrochemical Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Anal Chem 2019; 91:2847-2853. [PMID: 30676721 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a global threat to public health. Conventional bacterial detection and identification methods often require pre-enrichment and/or sample preprocessing and purification steps that can prolong diagnosis by days. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most widespread antibiotic-resistant bacteria and is the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Here, we have developed a method to specifically capture and detect MRSA directly from patient nasal swabs with no prior culture and minimal processing steps using a microfluidic device and antibody-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. Bacteria are captured based on antibody recognition of a membrane-bound protein marker that confers β-lactam antibiotic resistance. MRSA identification is then achieved by the use of a strain-specific antibody functionalized with alkaline phosphatase for electrochemical detection. This approach ensures that only those bacteria of the target strain and resistance profile are measured. The method has a limit of detection of 845 CFU/mL and excellent discrimination against high concentrations of common nontarget nasal flora with a turnaround time of under 4.5 h. This detection method was successfully validated using clinical nasal swab specimens ( n = 30) and has the potential to be tailored to various bacterial targets.
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25
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Subramanian R, Smith SJ, Alberstein RG, Bailey JB, Zhang L, Cardone G, Suominen L, Chami M, Stahlberg H, Baker TS, Tezcan FA. Self-Assembly of a Designed Nucleoprotein Architecture through Multimodal Interactions. ACS Cent Sci 2018; 4:1578-1586. [PMID: 30555911 PMCID: PMC6276041 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.8b00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The co-self-assembly of proteins and nucleic acids (NAs) produces complex biomolecular machines (e.g., ribosomes and telomerases) that represent some of the most daunting targets for biomolecular design. Despite significant advances in protein and DNA or RNA nanotechnology, the construction of artificial nucleoprotein complexes has largely been limited to cases that rely on the NA-mediated spatial organization of protein units, rather than a cooperative interplay between protein- and NA-mediated interactions that typify natural nucleoprotein assemblies. We report here a structurally well-defined synthetic nucleoprotein assembly that forms through the synergy of three types of intermolecular interactions: Watson-Crick base pairing, NA-protein interactions, and protein-metal coordination. The fine thermodynamic balance between these interactions enables the formation of a crystalline architecture under highly specific conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit
H. Subramanian
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sarah J. Smith
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Robert G. Alberstein
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jake B. Bailey
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Ling Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Giovanni Cardone
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Lauri Suominen
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Mohamed Chami
- C−CINA,
Biozentrum, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Henning Stahlberg
- C−CINA,
Biozentrum, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timothy S. Baker
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Division
of Biological Sciences, University of California,
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - F. Akif Tezcan
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Materials
Science and Engineering, University of California,
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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26
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Zhou Y, Ambarish CV, Gruenke R, Jaeckel FT, Kripps KL, McCammon D, Morgan KM, Wulf D, Zhang S, Adams JS, Bandler SR, Chervenak JA, Datesman AM, Eckart ME, Ewin AJ, Finkbeiner FM, Kelley RL, Kilbourne CA, Miniussi AR, Porter FS, Sadleir JE, Sakai K, Smith SJ, Wakeham NA, Wassell EJ, Yoon W. Mapping TES Temperature Sensitivity and Current Sensitivity as a Function of Temperature, Current, and Magnetic Field with IV curve and Complex Admittance Measurements. J Low Temp Phys 2018; 193:321-327. [PMID: 31186584 PMCID: PMC6557576 DOI: 10.1007/s10909-018-1970-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We have specialized astronomical applications for X-ray microcalorimeters with superconducting transition edge sensors (TESs) that require exceptionally good TES performance, but which operate in the small-signal regime. We have therefore begun a program to carefully characterize the entire transition surface of TESs with and without the usual zebra stripes to see if there are reproducible local "sweet spots" where the performance is much better than average. These measurements require precise knowledge of the circuit parameters. Here, we show how the Shapiro effect can be used to precisely calibrate the value of the shunt-resistor. We are also investigating the effects of stress and external magnetic fields to better understand reproducibility problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Zhou
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - C V Ambarish
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - R Gruenke
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - F T Jaeckel
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - K L Kripps
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - D McCammon
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - K M Morgan
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - D Wulf
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - S Zhang
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - J S Adams
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - S R Bandler
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J A Chervenak
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - A M Datesman
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - M E Eckart
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - A J Ewin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | | | - R L Kelley
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - C A Kilbourne
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - A R Miniussi
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - F S Porter
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J E Sadleir
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - K Sakai
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - S J Smith
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - N A Wakeham
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - E J Wassell
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - W Yoon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
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27
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Wickramasekara RN, Morrill S, Farhat Y, Smith SJ, Yilmazer-Hanke D. Glutathione and Inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 3 (Itih3) mRNA levels in nicotine-treated Cd44 knockout mice. Toxicol Rep 2018; 5:759-764. [PMID: 29984189 PMCID: PMC6031235 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic nicotine use that replaces tobacco smoking weakens antioxidant defense. Depletion of glutathione by chronic nicotine delivery may compromise liver health. Inter-α-trypsin Inhibitor Heavy Chain 3 (Itih3) mRNA correlates with glutathione. Nicotine and sex interact with Cd44 signaling in regulation of liver glutathione.
Cluster of differentiation 44 (Cd44), a hyaluronan receptor, and the secreted hyaluronan-binding protein Inter-α-trypsin Inhibitor Heavy chain 3 (Itih3) play an important role in cancer and oxidative stress. Smoking of tobacco reduces Itih3 in the plasma and activates hyaluronan signaling through Cd44, but the impact of Cd44 on Itih3 expression is unknown. Here, we studied changes induced by the tobacco component nicotine on the glutathione (GSH) antioxidant system and Itih3 gene expression in Cd44 knockout mice. Cd44 deficiency decreased baseline total GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in the liver compared to wildtype mice. However, contrary to wildtype mice, chronic oral nicotine administration (200 μg/ml) failed to further reduce total GSH and GSSG in Cd44 mice. Sex differences with lowered glutathione levels in females was also detectable only in wildtype but not Cd44 knockout mice. Itih3 mRNA levels in the liver and hypothalamus were not affected by nicotine, Cd44 genotype or sex. Nonetheless, the correlation between Itih3 and total GSH levels in the liver (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) suggested a role of Itih3 in glutathione metabolism in WT mice. Again this effect was diminished in Cd44 knockout mice. The disappearance of nicotine effects, sex differences and correlations between Itih3 and total GSH in Cd44 knockout mice compared to wildtype animals suggests an interaction between nicotine, Cd44 and/or sex-dependent signaling in the regulation of glutathione metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seth Morrill
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Yasmine Farhat
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Deniz Yilmazer-Hanke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.,Center for Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, Ulm University, Germany
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28
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Riggs CA, Godwin HJ, Mann CM, Smith SJ, Boardman M, Liversedge SP, Donnelly N. Rummage search by expert dyads, novice dyads and novice individuals for objects hidden in houses. Visual Cognition 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2018.1445678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carl M. Mann
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Sarah J. Smith
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, UK
| | | | | | - Nick Donnelly
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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29
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Brandt-Rauf PW, Niman HL, Smith SJ. Correlation between Serum Oncogene Protein Expression and the Development of Neoplastic Disease in a Worker Exposed to Carcinogens. J R Soc Med 2018; 83:594-5. [PMID: 2213815 PMCID: PMC1292827 DOI: 10.1177/014107689008300922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P W Brandt-Rauf
- Division of Environmental Sciences, Columbia University School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032
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30
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McCormick SA, McDonald KR, Vatter S, Orgeta V, Poliakoff E, Smith SJ, Leroi I. Psychosocial therapy for Parkinson's-related dementia: intervention development. Clin Interv Aging 2017; 12:1779-1789. [PMID: 29118576 PMCID: PMC5659232 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s143006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group-based psychosocial therapy, such as group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, improves cognition and quality of life in people living with dementia. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and restricted mobility are common complications for people with Parkinson's-related dementia (PRD) and may limit access to, and participation in, group activities. This study describes the development of a condition-specific, home-based psychosocial therapy for people with PRD ready to be trialled in a clinical population. METHODS By means of a multistage process, a draft therapy manual was developed in an iterative manner through collaboration with medical experts, researchers and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) representatives. In stage 1, an extensive literature search of psychosocial therapies for dementia with potential relevance for Parkinson's disease (PD) was undertaken to select a candidate therapy for adaptation. In stage 2, qualitative feedback from stakeholders and intelligence regarding existing nonpharmacological therapies for cognitive impairment in PD was combined to produce a prototype therapy manual. In stage 3, the manual was field tested in: 1) a home-setting using a 25-item assessment tool; and 2) at a local PD support group with PPI representatives. Based on the feedback from this phase, final design modifications were implemented and a draft therapy manual produced. RESULTS The manual was developed in an iterative manner. Interview and focus group transcripts identified three enduring themes: manual form and content, therapy acceptability by people with PRD, and companion guidance and support. Major adaptations included: removal of discrete levels of task complexity, removal of images that were potentially hallucinogenic or lacked clarity, and updating of the content. CONCLUSION We have successfully developed a Cognitive Stimulation Therapy-based psychosocial therapy specifically adapted for people with PRD. The therapy is ready to trial in a pilot randomized controlled study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheree A McCormick
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Center (MAHSC), Manchester, UK
| | - Kathryn R McDonald
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Center (MAHSC), Manchester, UK
| | - Sabina Vatter
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Center (MAHSC), Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Vasiliki Orgeta
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ellen Poliakoff
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Center (MAHSC), Manchester, UK
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Iracema Leroi
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Center (MAHSC), Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Wassell EJ, Adams JS, Bandler SR, Betancourt-Martinez GL, Chiao MP, Chang MP, Chervenak JA, Datesman AM, Eckart ME, Ewin AJ, Finkbeiner FM, Ha JY, Kelley R, Kilbourne CA, Miniussi AR, Sakai K, Porter F, Sadleir JE, Smith SJ, Wakeham NA, Yoon W. Fabrication of X-ray Microcalorimeter Focal Planes Composed of Two Distinct Pixel Types. IEEE Trans Appl Supercond 2017; 27:2300205. [PMID: 28804229 PMCID: PMC5548520 DOI: 10.1109/tasc.2016.2633783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We are developing superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter focal planes for versatility in meeting specifications of X-ray imaging spectrometers including high count-rate, high energy resolution, and large field-of-view. In particular, a focal plane composed of two sub-arrays: one of fine-pitch, high count-rate devices and the other of slower, larger pixels with similar energy resolution, offers promise for the next generation of astrophysics instruments, such as the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) instrument on the European Space Agency's Athena mission. We have based the sub-arrays of our current design on successful pixel designs that have been demonstrated separately. Pixels with an all gold X-ray absorber on 50 and 75 micron scales where the Mo/Au TES sits atop a thick metal heatsinking layer have shown high resolution and can accommodate high count-rates. The demonstrated larger pixels use a silicon nitride membrane for thermal isolation, thinner Au and an added bismuth layer in a 250 micron square absorber. To tune the parameters of each sub-array requires merging the fabrication processes of the two detector types. We present the fabrication process for dual production of different X-ray absorbers on the same substrate, thick Au on the small pixels and thinner Au with a Bi capping layer on the larger pixels to tune their heat capacities. The process requires multiple electroplating and etching steps, but the absorbers are defined in a single ion milling step. We demonstrate methods for integrating heatsinking of the two types of pixel into the same focal plane consistent with the requirements for each sub-array, including the limiting of thermal crosstalk. We also discuss fabrication process modifications for tuning the intrinsic transition temperature (Tc) of the bilayers for the different device types through variation of the bilayer thicknesses. The latest results on these "hybrid" arrays will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Wassell
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. Stinger-Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc., Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - J S Adams
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. CRESST, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - S R Bandler
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - G L Betancourt-Martinez
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - M P Chiao
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - M P Chang
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - J A Chervenak
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - A M Datesman
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. Stinger-Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc., Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
| | - M E Eckart
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - A J Ewin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - F M Finkbeiner
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. Wyle Information Systems, McLean, VA 22102 USA
| | - J Y Ha
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. SB Microsystems Inc., Glen Burnie, MD 20161 USA
| | - R Kelley
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - C A Kilbourne
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - A R Miniussi
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - K Sakai
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. Universities Space Research Association, MD, USA
| | - F Porter
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - J E Sadleir
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
| | - S J Smith
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. CRESST, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - N A Wakeham
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. Universities Space Research Association, MD, USA
| | - W Yoon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA. Universities Space Research Association, MD, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Increasing diagnostic rates of dementia is a national health priority; to meet this priority, improvement needs to be made to diagnostic services. It has been increasingly recognized that primary can play a significant role in the diagnostic journey for people with dementia, with some diagnostic services entirely located in primary care. This article reviews the extent of the involvement of primary care in diagnostic care pathways for people presenting with memory complaints within England, and presents examples of innovative approaches, which may be of interest to practitioners. METHOD A rapid review was undertaken to identify articles outlining diagnostic care pathways for dementia involving primary care in England. RESULTS Six articles relating to pathway evaluations and innovative approaches involving primary care were deemed suitable for inclusion in the review. CONCLUSIONS The review found examples of diagnostic pathways and innovative practices being implemented in in primary care. These practices aligned to the strategic ambitions of the National Dementia Strategy. However, it was widely acknowledged that there is a need to improve postdiagnostic pathways; in particular, access to postdiagnostic support. This issue is being reflected in contemporary policy initiatives such as the Department of Health's 2016 Joint Declaration on postdiagnostic dementia care and support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Smith
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, §Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Arts and Science, and #Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Carine R. Nemr
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, §Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Arts and Science, and #Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Shana O. Kelley
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, §Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Arts and Science, and #Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the association between gender and deprivation and rates of admission to a national neurorehabilitation facility following subarachnoid haemorrhage or traumatic brain injury. Design: Retrospective analysis of hospital activity data. Setting: Lothian Health Board hospital activity; national neurorehabilitation centre. Subjects: Patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage or traumatic brain injury. Methods: We obtained data for hospital discharge for subarachnoid haemorrhage and traumatic brain injury for patients living in the Lothian Health Board area for the five years 1995 to 1999 by age (15 and over), sex and deprivation category of home residence from nationally held data sets. Similar data were extracted for discharges from the national neurorehabilitation unit. Main measures: Rates of neurorehabilitation admission per 1000 hospital admissions. Chi-squared testing was used to assess statistical significance. Results: Data for 13 338 hospital admissions and 329 neurorehabilitation admissions were available. We observed higher than expected rates of rehabilitation admission for men with subarachnoid haemorrhage and for patients from more affluent postcode sectors with traumatic brain injury. Conclusion: Higher rehabilitation rates are seen among men following subarachnoid haemorrhage and may indicate a focus on return-to-work in the referral or assessment of those suitable for or requiring neurorehabilitation. Higher rehabilitation rates in head injury in those from Carstairs Deprivation Category (DepCat) 2 postcode sectors may represent a bias favouring those from affluent areas in the interaction between the individual and the health service in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Macleod
- Clinical Neurosciences, School of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
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Smith SJ, Radford RJ, Subramanian RH, Barnett BR, Figueroa JS, Tezcan FA. Tunable Helicity, Stability and DNA-Binding Properties of Short Peptides with Hybrid Metal Coordination Motifs. Chem Sci 2016; 7:5453-5461. [PMID: 27800151 PMCID: PMC5085262 DOI: 10.1039/c6sc00826g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the prevalent role of α-helical motifs on protein surfaces in mediating protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, there have been significant efforts to develop strategies to induce α-helicity in short, unstructured peptides to interrogate such interactions. Toward this goal, we have recently introduced hybrid metal coordination motifs (HCMs). HCMs combine a natural metal-binding amino acid side chain with a synthetic chelating group that are appropriately positioned in a peptide sequence to stabilize an α-helical conformation upon metal coordination. Here, we present a series of short peptides modified with HCMs consisting of a His and a phenanthroline group at i and i+7 positions that can induce α-helicity in a metal-tunable fashion as well as direct the formation of discrete dimeric architectures for recognition of biological targets. We show that the induction of α-helicity can be further modulated by secondary sphere interactions between amino acids at the i+4 position and the HCM. A frequently cited drawback of the use of peptides as therapeutics is their propensity to be quickly digested by proteases; here, we observe an enhancement of up to ∼100-fold in the half-lifes of the metal-bound HCM-peptides in the presence of trypsin. Finally, we show that an HCM-bearing peptide sequence, which contains the DNA-recognition domain of a bZIP protein but is devoid of the obligate dimerization domain, can dimerize with the proper geometry and in an α-helical conformation to bind a cognate DNA sequence with high affinities (Kd≥ 65 nM), again in a metal-tunable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Mia, USA
| | - Robert J Radford
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Mia, USA
| | - Rohit H Subramanian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Mia, USA
| | - Brandon R Barnett
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Mia, USA
| | - Joshua S Figueroa
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Mia, USA
| | - F Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Mia, USA
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Abstract
The zebrafish model is an emerging system for the study of neuromuscular disorders. In the study of neuromuscular diseases, the integrity of the muscle membrane is a critical disease determinant. To date, numerous neuromuscular conditions display degenerating muscle fibers with abnormal membrane integrity; this is most commonly observed in muscular dystrophies. Evans Blue Dye (EBD) is a vital, cell permeable dye that is rapidly taken into degenerating, damaged, or apoptotic cells; in contrast, it is not taken up by cells with an intact membrane. EBD injection is commonly employed to ascertain muscle integrity in mouse models of neuromuscular diseases. However, such EBD experiments require muscle dissection and/or sectioning prior to analysis. In contrast, EBD uptake in zebrafish is visualized in live, intact preparations. Here, we demonstrate a simple and straightforward methodology for performing EBD injections and analysis in live zebrafish. In addition, we demonstrate a co-injection strategy to increase efficacy of EBD analysis. Overall, this video article provides an outline to perform EBD injection and characterization in zebrafish models of neuromuscular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Program in Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children; Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto
| | - Eric J Horstick
- Program in Genomics of Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Michigan
| | - Ann E Davidson
- Program in Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children; Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto
| | - James Dowling
- Program in Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children; Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Michigan;
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Surr CA, Smith SJ, Crossland J, Robins J. Impact of a person-centred dementia care training programme on hospital staff attitudes, role efficacy and perceptions of caring for people with dementia: A repeated measures study. Int J Nurs Stud 2015; 53:144-51. [PMID: 26421910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with dementia occupy up to one quarter of acute hospital beds. However, the quality of care delivered to this patient group is of national concern. Staff working in acute hospitals report lack of knowledge, skills and confidence in caring for people with dementia. There is limited evidence about the most effective approaches to supporting acute hospital staff to deliver more person-centred care. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a specialist training programme for acute hospital staff regarding improving attitudes, satisfaction and feelings of caring efficacy, in provision of care to people with dementia. DESIGN A repeated measures design, with measures completed immediately prior to commencing training (T1), after completion of Foundation level training (T2: 4-6 weeks post-baseline), and following Intermediate level training (T3: 3-4 months post-baseline). SETTING One NHS Trust in the North of England, UK. PARTICIPANTS 40 acute hospital staff working in clinical roles, the majority of whom (90%) were nurses. METHODS All participants received the 3.5 day Person-centred Care Training for Acute Hospitals (PCTAH) programme, comprised of two levels, Foundation (0.5 day) and Intermediate (3 days), delivered over a 3-4 months period. Staff demographics and previous exposure to dementia training were collected via a questionnaire. Staff attitudes were measured using the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ), satisfaction in caring for people with dementia was captured using the Staff Experiences of Working with Demented Residents questionnaire (SEWDR) and perceived caring efficacy was measured using the Caring Efficacy Scale (CES). RESULTS The training programme was effective in producing a significant positive change on all three outcome measures following intermediate training compared to baseline. A significant positive effect was found on the ADQ between baseline and after completion of Foundation level training, but not for either of the other measures. CONCLUSIONS Training acute hospital staff in Intermediate level person-centred dementia care is effective in producing significant improvements in attitudes towards and satisfaction in caring for people with dementia and feelings of caring efficacy. Foundation level training is effective in changing attitudes but does not seem to be sufficient to bring about change in satisfaction or caring efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Surr
- School of Health and Communities Studies, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, UK.
| | - S J Smith
- School of Dementia Studies, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, UK
| | | | - J Robins
- School of Dementia Studies, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, UK
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Brodin JD, Smith SJ, Carr JR, Tezcan FA. Designed, Helical Protein Nanotubes with Variable Diameters from a Single Building Block. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:10468-71. [PMID: 26256820 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b05755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Due to their structural and mechanical properties, 1D helical protein assemblies represent highly attractive design targets for biomolecular engineering and protein design. Here we present a designed, tetrameric protein building block, Zn8R4, which assembles via Zn coordination interactions into a series of crystalline, helical nanotubes whose widths can be controlled by solution conditions. X-ray crystallography and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements indicate that all classes of protein nanotubes are constructed through the same 2D arrangement of Zn8R4 tetramers held together by Zn coordination. The mechanical properties of these nanotubes are correlated with their widths. All Zn8R4 nanotubes are found to be highly flexible despite possessing crystalline order, owing to their minimal interbuilding-block interactions mediated solely by metal coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Brodin
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCSD , 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCSD , 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jessica R Carr
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCSD , 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - F Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCSD , 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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Smith SJ, Kroon JTM, Simon WJ, Slabas AR, Chivasa S. A Novel Function for Arabidopsis CYCLASE1 in Programmed Cell Death Revealed by Isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantitation (iTRAQ) Analysis of Extracellular Matrix Proteins. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015; 14:1556-68. [PMID: 25862728 PMCID: PMC4458720 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m114.045054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death is essential for plant development and stress adaptation. A detailed understanding of the signal transduction pathways that regulate plant programmed cell death requires identification of the underpinning protein networks. Here, we have used a protagonist and antagonist of programmed cell death triggered by fumonisin B1 as probes to identify key cell death regulatory proteins in Arabidopsis. Our hypothesis was that changes in the abundance of cell death-regulatory proteins induced by the protagonist should be blocked or attenuated by concurrent treatment with the antagonist. We focused on proteins present in the mobile phase of the extracellular matrix on the basis that they are important for cell-cell communications during growth and stress-adaptive responses. Salicylic acid, a plant hormone that promotes programmed cell death, and exogenous ATP, which can block fumonisin B1-induced cell death, were used to treat Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures prior to isobaric-tagged relative and absolute quantitation analysis of secreted proteins. A total of 33 proteins, whose response to salicylic acid was suppressed by ATP, were identified as putative cell death-regulatory proteins. Among these was CYCLASE1, which was selected for further analysis using reverse genetics. Plants in which CYCLASE1 gene expression was knocked out by insertion of a transfer-DNA sequence manifested dramatically increased cell death when exposed to fumonisin B1 or a bacterial pathogen that triggers the defensive hypersensitive cell death. Although pathogen inoculation altered CYCLASE1 gene expression, multiplication of bacterial pathogens was indistinguishable between wild type and CYCLASE1 knockout plants. However, remarkably severe chlorosis symptoms developed on gene knockout plants in response to inoculation with either a virulent bacterial pathogen or a disabled mutant that is incapable of causing disease in wild type plants. These results show that CYCLASE1, which had no known function hitherto, is a negative regulator of cell death and regulates pathogen-induced symptom development in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- From the ‡School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Johan T M Kroon
- From the ‡School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - William J Simon
- From the ‡School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Antoni R Slabas
- From the ‡School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Chivasa
- From the ‡School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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Nosheny RL, Belichenko PV, Busse BL, Weissmiller AM, Dang V, Das D, Fahimi A, Salehi A, Smith SJ, Mobley WC. Increased cortical synaptic activation of TrkB and downstream signaling markers in a mouse model of Down Syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 77:173-90. [PMID: 25753471 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Revised: 02/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS), trisomy 21, is characterized by synaptic abnormalities and cognitive deficits throughout the lifespan and with development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology and progressive cognitive decline in adults. Synaptic abnormalities are also present in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS, but which synapses are affected and the mechanisms underlying synaptic dysfunction are unknown. Here we show marked increases in the levels and activation status of TrkB and associated signaling proteins in cortical synapses in Ts65Dn mice. Proteomic analysis at the single synapse level of resolution using array tomography (AT) uncovered increased colocalization of activated TrkB with signaling endosome related proteins, and demonstrated increased TrkB signaling. The extent of increases in TrkB signaling differed in each of the cortical layers examined and with respect to the type of synapse, with the most marked increases seen in inhibitory synapses. These findings are evidence of markedly abnormal TrkB-mediated signaling in synapses. They raise the possibility that dysregulated TrkB signaling contributes to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive deficits in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Nosheny
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - P V Belichenko
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - B L Busse
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - A M Weissmiller
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - V Dang
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medical School, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - D Das
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medical School, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - A Fahimi
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medical School, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - A Salehi
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medical School, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - S J Smith
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - W C Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Smith SJ, Rahman CV, Clarke PA, Ritchie AA, Gould TW, Ward JH, Shakesheff KM, Grundy RG, Rahman R. Surgical delivery of drug releasing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) paste with in vivo effects against glioblastoma. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2014; 96:495-501. [PMID: 25245726 DOI: 10.1308/003588414x13946184903568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The median survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (astrocytoma grade 4) remains less than 18 months despite radical surgery, radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy. Surgical implantation of chemotherapy eluting wafers into the resection cavity has been shown to improve length of survival but the current licensed therapy has several drawbacks. This paper investigates in vivo efficacy of a novel drug eluting paste in glioblastoma. METHODS Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA/PEG) self-sintering paste was loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide and delivered surgically into partially resected tumours in a flank murine glioblastoma xenograft model. RESULTS Surgical delivery of the paste was successful and practical, with no toxicity or surgical morbidity to the animals. The paste was retained in the tumour cavity, and preliminary results suggest a useful antitumour and antiangiogenic effect, particularly at higher doses. Bioluminescent imaging was not affected significantly by the presence of the paste in the tumour. CONCLUSIONS Chemotherapy loaded PLGA/PEG paste seems to be a promising technology capable of delivering active drugs into partially resected tumours. The preliminary results of this study suggest efficacy with no toxicity and will lead to larger scale efficacy studies in orthotopic glioblastoma models.
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Smith SJ, Osman K, Franklin FCH. The condensin complexes play distinct roles to ensure normal chromosome morphogenesis during meiotic division in Arabidopsis. Plant J 2014; 80:255-68. [PMID: 25065716 PMCID: PMC4552968 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized cell division essential for sexual reproduction. During meiosis the chromosomes are highly organized, and correct chromosome architecture is required for faithful segregation of chromosomes at anaphase I and II. Condensin is involved in chromosome organization during meiotic and mitotic cell divisions. Three condensin subunits, AtSMC4 and the condensin I and II specific subunits AtCAP-D2 and AtCAP-D3, respectively, have been studied for their role in meiosis. This has revealed that both the condensin I and condensin II complexes are required to maintain normal structural integrity of the meiotic chromosomes during the two nuclear divisions. Their roles appear functionally distinct in that condensin I is required to maintain normal compaction of the centromeric repeats and 45S rDNA, whereas loss of condensin II was associated with extensive interchromosome connections at metaphase I. Depletion of condensin is also associated with a slight reduction in crossover formation, suggesting a role during meiotic prophase I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- School of Biosciences, University of BirminghamEdgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham UniversitySouth Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Kim Osman
- School of Biosciences, University of BirminghamEdgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - F Christopher H Franklin
- School of Biosciences, University of BirminghamEdgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- *For correspondence (e-mail )
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Vajjhala PR, Kaiser S, Smith SJ, Ong QR, Soh SL, Stacey KJ, Hill JM. Identification of multifaceted binding modes for pyrin and ASC pyrin domains gives insights into pyrin inflammasome assembly. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:23504-19. [PMID: 25006247 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.553305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammasomes are macromolecular complexes that mediate inflammatory and cell death responses to pathogens and cellular stress signals. Dysregulated inflammasome activation is associated with autoinflammatory syndromes and several common diseases. During inflammasome assembly, oligomerized cytosolic pattern recognition receptors recruit procaspase-1 and procaspase-8 via the adaptor protein ASC. Inflammasome assembly is mediated by pyrin domains (PYDs) and caspase recruitment domains, which are protein interaction domains of the death fold superfamily. However, the molecular details of their interactions are poorly understood. We have studied the interaction between ASC and pyrin PYDs that mediates ASC recruitment to the pyrin inflammasome, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever. We demonstrate that both the ASC and pyrin PYDs have multifaceted binding modes, involving three sites on pyrin PYD and two sites on ASC PYD. Molecular docking of pyrin-ASC PYD complexes showed that pyrin PYD can simultaneously interact with up to three ASC PYDs. Furthermore, ASC PYD can self-associate and interact with pyrin, consistent with previous reports that pyrin promotes ASC clustering to form a proinflammatory complex. Finally, the effects of familial Mediterranean fever-associated mutations, R42W and A89T, on structural and functional properties of pyrin PYD were investigated. The R42W mutation had a significant effect on structure and increased stability. Although the R42W mutant exhibited reduced interaction with ASC, it also bound less to the pyrin B-box domain responsible for autoinhibition and hence may be constitutively active. Our data give new insights into the binding modes of PYDs and inflammasome architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah J Smith
- From the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and
| | - Qi-Rui Ong
- From the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and
| | | | | | - Justine M Hill
- From the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Abstract
A 30-year-old male presented with a 2 year progressive course of bowel and bladder dysfunction, mild leg weakness and sensory abnormalities in sacral dermatomes. MRI showed an intra-axial conus medullaris lesion which was excised and identified as a ganglioglioma. The case presents the typical clinical course and histopathology of this unusual lesion which carries a favorable prognosis after gross total removal. Preoperative neurological function in such patients is highly predictive of post-operative outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Smith
- University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
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Chesnel K, Trevino M, Cai Y, Hancock JM, Smith SJ, Harrison RG. Particle size effects on the magnetic behaviour of 5 to 11 nm Fe3O4nanoparticles coated with oleic acid. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/521/1/012004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Hobkirk JP, Damy T, Walters M, Bennett A, Smith SJ, Ingle L, Clark AL, Cleland JG. Effects of reducing inspired oxygen concentration for one hour in patients with chronic heart failure: implications for air travel. Eur J Heart Fail 2014; 15:505-10. [DOI: 10.1093/eurjhf/hft003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thibaud Damy
- Department of Academic Cardiology; University of Hull; Hull UK
- Fédération de Cardiologie; Henri Mondor Hospital, INSERM U955, Université Paris Est Créteil All; Creteil France
| | - Mandy Walters
- Department of Academic Cardiology; University of Hull; Hull UK
| | - Anna Bennett
- Department of Academic Cardiology; University of Hull; Hull UK
| | - Sarah J. Smith
- Department of Academic Cardiology; University of Hull; Hull UK
| | - Lee Ingle
- Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science; University of Hull; Hull UK
| | - Andrew L. Clark
- Department of Academic Cardiology; University of Hull; Hull UK
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Smith SJ, Wang Y, Slabas AR, Chivasa S. Light regulation of cadmium-induced cell death in Arabidopsis. Plant Signal Behav 2014; 9:e27578. [PMID: 24398567 PMCID: PMC4091217 DOI: 10.4161/psb.27578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium is an environmental pollutant with deleterious effects on both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In plants, the effects of cadmium toxicity are concentration dependent; lower doses destabilize many physiological processes and inhibit cell growth and multiplication, while higher doses evoke a more severe response that triggers activation of cell death. We recently investigated the effects of light on cadmium toxicity in Arabidopsis using a cell suspension culture system. Although not affecting the inhibitory effects on cell multiplication, we found that light is a powerful regulator of Cd-induced cell death. A very specific proteomic response, which was clearly controlled by light, preceded cell death. Here we discuss the implications of these findings and highlight similarities between the regulation of cell death triggered by Cd and fumonisin B1. We consider how both compounds could be useful tools in dissecting plant cell death signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; Durham, UK
| | - Yun Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering; Jiangsu University; Zhenjiang, PR China
| | - Antoni R Slabas
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; Durham, UK
| | - Stephen Chivasa
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; Durham, UK
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Evans DE, Pawar V, Smith SJ, Graumann K. Protein interactions at the higher plant nuclear envelope: evidence for a linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex. Front Plant Sci 2014; 5:183. [PMID: 24847341 PMCID: PMC4019843 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Following the description of SAD1/UNC84 (SUN) domain proteins in higher plants, evidence has rapidly increased that plants contain a functional linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex bridging the nuclear envelope (NE). While the SUN domain proteins appear to be highly conserved across kingdoms, other elements of the complex are not and some key components and interactions remain to be identified. This mini review examines components of the LINC complex, including proteins of the SUN domain family and recently identified plant Klarsicht/Anc/Syne-1 homology (KASH) domain proteins. First of these to be described were WIPs (WPP domain interacting proteins), which act as protein anchors in the outer NE. The plant KASH homologs are C-terminally anchored membrane proteins with the extreme C-terminus located in the nuclear periplasm; AtWIPs contain a highly conserved X-VPT motif at the C-terminus in contrast to PPPX in opisthokonts. The role of the LINC complex in organisms with a cell wall, and description of further LINC complex components will be considered, together with other potential plant-specific functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Evans
- *Correspondence: David E. Evans, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK e-mail:
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Huang Z, Zhang XA, Bosch M, Smith SJ, Lippard SJ. Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) as a membrane-permeable chelator for interception of biological mobile zinc. Metallomics 2013; 5:648-55. [PMID: 23715510 DOI: 10.1039/c3mt00103b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
We report the characterization of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) as a membrane-permeable zinc chelator for intercepting biological mobile zinc. Compared to N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), TPA chelates zinc with faster kinetics in cuvettes, live cells, and brain slices. TPA also is generally less toxic than TPEN in cell culture. Mechanistic analysis indicates that these improvements arise from both the electronic and steric properties of TPA including weaker metal-binding affinity, lower pKa, and smaller size. These results demonstrate that TPA chelation is a valuable addition to the methodologies available for investigating mobile zinc in biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Abstract
Many protein-protein interactions that play a central role in cellular processes involve α-helical domains. Consequently, there has been great interest in developing strategies for stabilizing short peptides in α-helical conformations toward the inhibition and interrogation of protein-protein interactions. Here, we show that tridentate Hybrid Coordination Motifs (HCMs), which consist of a natural (histidine, His) and an unnatural (8-hydroxyquinoline, Quin) metal binding functionality, can bind divalent metal ions with high affinity and thereby induce/stabilize an α-helical configuration in short peptide sequences. The Quin functionality is readily introduced onto peptide platforms both during or after solid-state peptide synthesis, demonstrating the preparative versatility of HCMs. A systematic study involving a series of HCM-bearing peptides has revealed the critical importance of the length of the linkage between the Quin moiety and the peptide backbone as well as the metal coordination geometry in determining the extent of α-helix induction. Through ZnII coordination or modification with ReI(Quin)(CO)3, the HCM-bearing peptides can be rendered luminescent in the visible region, thus showing that HCMs can be exploited to simultaneously introduce structure and functionality into short peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093-0356
| | - Kang Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093-0356
| | - Robert J Radford
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093-0356
| | - F Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093-0356
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