Perceptions, Attitude, Responses, Knowledge and Emotional Well-being (PARKE) of COVID-19 among students at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed)

\ua9 2021, International Society of Global Health. All rights reserved. Background: Adherence to preventative measures designed to mitigate transmission of COVID-19 depends on individual’s understanding and perception of COVID-19. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, perceptions, behavioural adaptation and psychological well-being related to COVID-19 among students attending Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling of students. The self-administered online questionnaire was sent via email in Google forms format between 18 April and 30 April 2020. The questionnaire focused on sociodemographic, perception, attitude and behavioural responses, knowledge and sources of information and anxiety level. Results 326 university students with mean age of 21.8 (S.D 2.3) participated in this study. More females (n =236) took part in the study than males (n= 90). Most students (80%) believed that they knew how to protect themselves. More than two-thirds (68%) of students strongly agreed that COVID-19 was a serious public health issue. Most students (>90%) practised the recommended measures, except for avoid touching of eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands (82%). Wearing a facemask was positively associated with behavioural uptake in university students. Conclusions: This study showed a good attitude, behavioural responses, knowledge level and emotional responses among NUMed students towards COVID-19

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Evidence of spread of X Chromosome inactivation on Chromosome 15 in a girl with an Unbalanced t(X;15) Translocation

Poster Presentation (Doctor’s Session)We report on a baby girl with multiple congenital defects including cleft palate, intrauterine growth restriction and double outlet right ventricle (DORV) with ventricular septal defect. G-banding revealed that the proband had a de novo karyotype of 46,XX,der(15)t(X;15) (q10;q10) in all the cells analysed in peripheral blood lymphocytes, resulting in trisomy for the long arm of chromosome X and monosomy for the short arm of chromosome 15. Array-comparative genomic hybridisation showed that a 84Mb copy gain of Xq13.1- Xq28 containing the X inactivation center, whereas there was no copy gain or loss involving genes in chromosome 15. The phenotype of triple X syndrome is usually mild; spread of X inactivation into chromosome 15 leading to partial functional monosomy 15 was suspected which could result in a more severe phenotype. Therefore we study the spreading of X inactivation in terms of DNA methylation changes using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, which is a whole genome DNA methylation microarray which includes a total of 15259 probes in chromosome 15. Results showed there was gain in DNA methylation of more than 20% in 586 CpG sites spanning the long arm of chromosome 15. Since it is known that genes subjected to X chromosome inactivation will have an increase in DNA methylation level in the CpG-island containing promoter, we further examined the hypermethylated CpG sites located in this region only. A total of 75 probes representing 24 genes were hypermethylated. Nearly all of these probes are located in region proximal to the breakpoint, from 15q11.2 to 15q21.3 (35Mb), suggesting that X inactivation was spread to the proximal region of 15q and could potentially worsen the phenotype of our patient. We concluded that DNA methylation microarray can be used to study the spreading of X inactivation in X translocated autosome

Spread of X Inactivation on Chromosome 15 is Associated with a More Severe Phenotype in a Girl with an Unbalanced t(X;15) Translocation

We report on a baby girl with multiple congenital abnormalities, including cleft palate, intrauterine growth restriction, and double outlet right ventricle (DORV) with ventricular septal defect. She had an unbalanced chromosome translocation t (X;15) resulting in monosomy 15pter → p10 and trisomy Xq13.1 → q28. All three copies of Xq encompass the XIST gene. It is known that X chromosome inactivation could spread to the autosome part of an unbalanced translocation involving chromosome X and an autosome. To confirm the spread of X chromosome inactivation on chromosome 15, we evaluate the methylation change by the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, a whole genome DNA methylation micorarray that includes 15,259 probes spanning 717 genes on chromosome 15. Results showed there was gain in DNA methylation of more than 20% in 586 CpG sites spanning the long arm of chromosome 15. We further examined the hypermethylated CpG sites located in CpG-island promoter, because genes subjected to X chromosome inactivation will have an increase in DNA methylation level in this region. A total of 75 sites representing 24 genes were hypermethylated. Nearly all of these probes are located in region proximal to the breakpoint, from 15q11.2 to 15q21.3 (35Mb) suggesting that X inactivation was spread to the proximal region of 15q. Gain of DNA methylation, especially in the CpG-island promoter, can result in functional inactivation of genes, and therefore could potentially worsen the phenotype of our patient. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Switching from Dose-Intensified intravenous to SubCutaneoUS infliximab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (DISCUS-IBD): protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: A substantial proportion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on intravenous infliximab require dose intensification. Accessing additional intravenous infliximab is labour-intensive and expensive, depending on insurance and pharmaceutical reimbursement. Observational data suggest that subcutaneous infliximab may offer a convenient and safe alternative to maintain disease remission in patients requiring dose-intensified infliximab. A prospective, controlled trial is required to confirm that subcutaneous infliximab is as effective as dose-intensified intravenous infliximab, to identify predictors of disease flare and to establish the role of subcutaneous infliximab therapeutic drug monitoring. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The DISCUS-IBD trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicentre, randomised, open-label non-inferiority study comparing the rate of disease flares in participants randomised to continue dose-intensified intravenous infliximab to those switched to subcutaneous infliximab after 48 weeks. Participants are adult patients with IBD in sustained corticosteroid-free remission on any regimen of dose-intensified infliximab up to a maximum of 10 mg/kg 4-weekly intravenously. Participants allocated to intravenous infliximab will continue infliximab at the same dose-intensified regimen they were receiving at study enrolment. Subcutaneous infliximab dosing will be stratified by prior intravenous infliximab dosing. Clinical (Harvey-Bradshaw Index, partial Mayo score), biochemical (C reactive protein, faecal calprotectin), pharmacokinetic (drug-level±antidrug antibodies) and qualitative data are collected 12-weekly until study conclusion at week 48. 13 sites across Australia will participate in recruitment to reach a calculated sample size of 120 participants. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Multisite ethics approval was obtained from the Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) at The Alfred Hospital under a National Mutual Acceptance (NMA) agreement (HREC/90559/Alfred-2022; Local Reference: Project 618/22, version 1.6, 2 March 2023). Findings will be reported at national and international gastroenterology meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. DISCUS-IBD was prospectively registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) prior to commencing recruitment. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12622001458729

Phosphonate applied as a pre-plant dip controls Phytophthora cinnamomi root and heart rot in susceptible pineapple hybrids

The effectiveness of pre-plant dips of crowns in potassium phosphonate and phosphorous acid was investigated in a systematic manner to develop an effective strategy for the control of root and heart rot diseases caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi in the pineapple hybrids 'MD2' and '73-50' and cultivar Smooth Cayenne. Our results clearly indicate that a high volume spray at planting was much less effective when compared to a pre-plant dip. 'Smooth Cayenne' was found to be more resistant to heart rot than 'MD2' and '73-50', and 'Smooth Cayenne' to be more responsive to treatment with potassium phosphonate. Based on cumulative heart rot incidence over time 'MD2' was more susceptible to heart rot than '73-50' and was more responsive to an application of phosphorous acid. The highest levels of phosphonate in roots were reached one month after planting and levels declined during the next two months. Pre-plant dipping of crowns prior to planting is highly effective to control root and heart rot in the first few months but is not sufficient to maintain health of the mother plant root system up until plant crop harvest when weather conditions continue to favour infection