Clonal spread of multi-resistant Gallibacterium anatis isolates among Iranian broilers and layers

Gallibacterium anatis is a common cause of reproductive tract infection in chickens, which leads to reduced egg production and increased mortality. This study was undertaken to investigate prevalence of G. anatis in 12 poultry flocks originating from Iranian provinces with leading chicken production and to determine genetic diversity, antimicrobial resistance, and the presence of major antigens of the isolates investigated. Out of the 120 chicken tracheal samples collected and tested, 84 (70%) were positive for G. anatis. Genotyping by Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis and genome sequencing revealed a total of 24 pulsotypes for 71 strains (at a 87% similarity level) and seven genome clusters comprising 21 strains (97% similarity level), respectively. The combination of the two typing methods confirmed the presence of several genotypes originating from a common ancestor affecting poultry yet also suggested that identical clones were shared among chickens within farms and between different farms. The latter finding is to our knowledge the first example of clonal presence of G. anatis in epidemiologically unrelated farms. The 21 sequenced strains were characterized against a panel of commonly used antibiotics and showed lowered sensitivity to tetracycline (76.2%) and enrofloxacin (90.5%). The widespread presence of multiresistant G. anatis isolates calls for non-antibiotic prophylactics. Three major immunogen genes, gtxA, Gab_1309 and Gab_2312 were detected in the isolates indicating these antigens likely represent effective vaccine targets. A conserved sequence of the gtxA gene across a range of epidemiologically independent strains suggests the use of GtxA for future vaccine development purposes.

WORKING WITH PUPILS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS IN AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: CHARACTERISTICS AND COMPEТENCES

Hearing impairment, which belongs to the group of sensory impairments, represents a permanent lowered sensitivity to sound which can have a wide range of consequences on children’s life. Complete and adequate inclusion of children with hearing impairments in the educational system requires a reconsideration of the traditional approach and a reorganization of the whole teaching process. The concept of an inclusive education requires providing support and the quality of education for every pupil, regardless of their impairments or disabilities, i.e. differences from the majority of pupils. For the purpose of movement towards these goals, this article discusses some important aspects of inclusion of pupils with hearing impairment by literature review, starting from their physical and psychological characteristics. The role of the teacher and the social environment is examined, and certain technical and pedagogical recommendations are made in working with these children.

Epidemiology of pneumococcal serotypes in children with outpatient pneumonia and carriers in Krasnoyarsk

Objective: The objective is to analyze the seroepidemiology and resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children over 5 y.o.Methods: 57 patients with pneumonia and 186 healthy children were examined. The induced sputum and nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed with culture and molecular assays.Results: S. pneumoniae incidence among healthy children was 15.1 %. Serotype flora was represented by 4 serotypes and 6 serogroups with prevalence of 19F, 37 (for 17.8 % each), 6АВС, 3 (for 10.7 % each). 17.8 % of strains were antibiotic resistant, four of them was 19F serotype, and one was of the 6th serogroup. All of them were multiresistant: to macrolides, lincosamides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins of II generation along with moderate resistance to penicillin. In children with pneumonia, pneumococcocus was detected in 24.6 % of cases: serotypes 19F (64.3 %), 19А (21.4 %), 23F (14.3 %). 57.1 % of strains were multiresistant and was of 19F and 19А serotypes. Phenotype of the resistance was identic to the described above except the resistance to amoxicillin: all strains were resistant to it. All given isolates were moderately resistant to ceftriaxone.Conclusions: Serotype flora of pneumococci in healthy children of school age was distinct in significant variety with high incidence of ‘mucoid’ serotypes 3 and 37 (28.6 %). In pneumonia, pneumococci of 19F and 19A types occurred significantly frequently. The main resistant serotype of S. pneumoniae in both groups was 19F with lowered sensitivity to beta-lactam antibiotics.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Multivariate Universal Screening Procedures for Reading in Upper Elementary Grades

We examined the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of three approaches to universal screening for reading difficulties using retrospective data from 1,307 students in Grades 3 through 5. School staff collected screening data using the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), a curriculum-based measure (CBM), and running records (RR). The criterion measure was a high-stakes state accountability test aligned with the Common Core State Standards. We examined the diagnostic accuracy of the tests in isolation, as multivariate batteries, and via a simulated gated-screening approach. CBM and RR data resulted in unacceptable diagnostic accuracy across all three grades. In the fourth grade, the MAP alone resulted in the best balance of sensitivity and specificity. Among third- and fifth-grade students, the multivariate combination of MAP and CBM demonstrated the best balance between diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Gated-screening increased specificity but lowered sensitivity. Results highlight the need for population-specific considerations in universal screening.

CHARACTERIZATION OF VEGETATIVE CHANGES IN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA OF VARIOUS SEVERITIES IN CHILDREN

This article presents a study of the state of vegetative balance and prognostic possibilities of quantitative parameters of functional activity of VNS to estimate a state of bodily adaptive reserves in children with severe BA. Bronchial asthma, being one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood, requires further research into predisposing and causally-significant factors, mechanisms of pathogenesis and peculiarities of a clinical course, improvement of methods of diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. Great importance in the development of bronchial asthma in children is given to genetically-fixed functional insufficiency of barrier tissues of the respiratory system, increased ability to synthesize allergic antibodies and produce certain cytokines, high bronchopulmonary sensitivity to mediators of allergic inflammation, lowered sensitivity of 3g-adrenoreceptors to endogenous catecholamins, changes in immunologic responsiveness, and disorder of neuroendocrinal regulation of immune responses. Implementation of genetic predisposition to bronchial asthma development is promoted by influence of adverse environmental factors.

Tweet Sentiment Analysis with Latent Dirichlet Allocation

The method proposed here analyzes the social sentiments from collected tweets that have at least 1 of 800 sentimental or emotional adjectives. By dealing with tweets posted in a half a day as an input document, the method uses Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to extract social sentiments, some of which coincide with our daily sentiments. The extracted sentiments, however, indicate lowered sensitivity to changes in time, which suggests that they are not suitable for predicting daily social or economic events. Using LDA for the representative 72 adjectives to which each of the 800 adjectives maps while preserving word frequencies permits us to obtain social sentiments that show improved sensitivity to changes in time. A regression model with autocorrelated errors in which the inputs are social sentiments obtained by analyzing the contracted adjectives predicts Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) more precisely than autoregressive moving-average models.

Evaluation of puberty by verifying spontaneous and stimulated gonadotropin values in girls

Changes in pharmacological agents and advancements in laboratory assays have changed the gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog stimulation test.To determine the best predictive model for detecting puberty in girls.Thirty-five girls, aged 2 years 7 months to 9 years 3 months, with central precocious puberty (CPP) (n=20) or premature thelarche/premature adrenarche (n=15).Diagnoses were based on clinical information, baseline hormones, bone age, and pelvic sonogram. Gonadotropins and E2 were analyzed using immunochemiluminometric assay. Logistic regression for CPP was performed.The best predictor of CPP is the E2-change model based on 3- to 24-h values, providing 80% sensitivity and 87% specificity. Three-hour luteinizing hormone (LH) provided 75% sensitivity and 87% specificity. Basal LH lowered sensitivity to 65% and specificity to 53%.The E2-change model provided the best predictive power; however, 3-h LH was more practical and convenient when evaluating puberty in girls.

Dietary fat modifies exercise-dependent glucose transport in skeletal muscle

Exercise stimulates muscle glucose uptake both directly and by increasing the sensitivity of this process to insulin. This study was designed to investigate whether the level of dietary fat would interact with the action of acute exercise in the presence or absence of insulin. Weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed two levels of dietary fat (5 vs. 20%; wt/wt) for 6 wk. Rats then remained sedentary or were exercised by a single bout of swimming for a total of 2 h with 5-min rest intervals each 0.5 h. Basal (insulin-independent) and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake rates were determined in isolated epitrochlearis muscles by using 3-O-[methyl-3H]methyl-D-glucose. Muscles of sedentary rats fed a high-fat diet showed decreased glucose uptake overall because of a marked decrease in insulin-stimulated uptake. Muscles of rats fed a high-fat diet also showed considerable impairment of insulin-dependent glucose uptake measured both immediately and 3.5 h after exercise. Glucose uptake was suppressed by 64% at half-maximal concentrations of insulin (0.8 nM) and by 34% at maximally stimulating (20 nM) insulin levels. This lowered sensitivity and response to insulin were not altered by acute exercise. Glucose uptake in response to acute exercise (insulin independent) was quantitatively similar in rats fed high- and low-fat diets; rats on high-fat diet, however, showed higher insulin-independent glucose uptake at 3.5 h after exercise.