Impact of PM 10 and meteorological factors on the incidence of hand, foot, and mouth disease in female children in Ningbo, China: a spatiotemporal and time-series study

Abstract

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral illness that is considered a critical public health challenge worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated that meteorological parameters are significantly related to the incidence of HFMD in children; however, few studies have focused only on female children. This study quantified the associations of HFMD incidence with meteorological parameters and PM₁₀ (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm) among female children. Data were collected on daily HFMD cases, meteorological variables, and PM₁₀ levels in Ningbo, China, from January 2012 to December 2016. Data were assessed using a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) with Poisson distribution. A total of 59,809 female children aged 0−15 years with HFMD were enrolled. The results showed that highest relative risk (RR) of HFMD for temperature was 3 °C and the lag effect was 3 days. The highest RR for PM₁₀ was 80 mg/m³ and the lag effect was 5 days. Spatial analysis showed that female HFMD incidence was mainly concentrated in the suburban of Ningbo city indicating that female children in this area should be more paid attention on avoiding this disease outbreak. Our findings suggest that HFMD prevention strategies should focus more attention on local meteorological parameters.

https://ift.tt/2NaT9l3

Efficacy of C1Inhibitor concentrate in hereditary angioedema with C1Inhibitor deficiency: analysis in the French Cohort

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Aude Belbézier, Isabelle Boccon-Gibod, Aurélie Du Thanh, Olivier Fain, Laurence Bouillet




https://ift.tt/2tJeGJD

Successful desensitization in a pediatric patient with acetazolamide allergy

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Annette Carlisle, Joshua L. Kennedy, Sheva Chervinskiy, Stacie M. Jones, Robert D Pesek




https://ift.tt/2KC8Sb6

Chronic Tearing Induced by Apremilast

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Matthew R. Norris, Leonard Bielory




https://ift.tt/2NcOzCV

Specific-IgE to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) has limited utility in diagnosing meat allergy in a tick-endemic population

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Dr Jamma Li, Mr Richard B. Fulton, RachelO'Connell, Dr Helena S. Jang, Prof. Suran L. Fernando




https://ift.tt/2ICNfG1

Health Literacy and Asthma Among Hispanic and African American Urban Adolescents with Undiagnosed Asthma

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Melissa A. Valerio, Maureen George, Jianfang Liu, Zainab T. Osakwe, Jean-Marie Bruzzese




https://ift.tt/2NfGs8D

Mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy: diverse mechanisms of immune tolerance to allergens

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Anna Głobińska, Tadech Boonpiyathad, Pattraporn Satitsuksanoa, Mirelle Kleuskens, Willem van de Veen, Milena Sokołowska, Mübeccel Akdis




https://ift.tt/2KC8CJa

An investigation of the process of change in psychopathology and exercise during inpatient treatment for adults with longstanding eating disorders

Abstract

Background

Excessive exercise is recognized as a predictor of poor outcome in eating disorders. However, little is known about how excessive exercise might affect the treatment process. The aim of this study was to describe process of weekly changes in eating disorder psychopathology, general psychopathology and exercise, and the possible interactive effects of excessive exercise on these changes during inpatient treatment of longstanding eating disorders.

Methods

Eighty-four patients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified received inpatient cognitive-behavioural therapy including, physical activity and nutritional counselling treatment over 12 weeks. Excessive exercise was defined as having ≥6 episodes of driven exercise during week 1 of treatment. Excessive exercisers received one additional session of individual counseling with the clinical exercise physiologist. The study used repeated measurements during treatment and collected measures of eating disorders: psychopathology (EDE-Q), general psychopathology (SCL-5), and frequencies of exercise and body mass index (BMI). Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA.

Results

Both eating disorders and general psychopathology were reduced from admission to discharge in excessive exercisers and non-exercisers. There was an overall interaction effect between time (week) and excessive exercise for the process of exercise and eating disorders psychopathology reduction. This interaction effect was also found in week 10 vs 11 regarding general psychopathology. The excessive exercisers showed steep reduction at first, followed by a smaller increase towards the end of treatment in both eating disorder and general psychopathology; this pattern was not found among the non-exercisers.

Conclusion

The process of change in exercise and psychopathology during inpatient treatment of longstanding eating disorders differs across excessive and non-excessive exercisers. Although excessive exercisers were given special attention for their exercise cognition and behavior during treatment, it is apparent that this part of treatment must be further developed.

https://ift.tt/2lNMdxU

Modelling local uncertainty in relations between birth weight and air quality within an urban area: combining geographically weighted regression with geostatistical simulation

Abstract

In this study, we combine known methods to present a new approach to assess local distributions of estimated parameters measuring associations between air quality and birth weight in the urban area of Sines (Portugal). To model exposure and capture short-distance variations in air quality, we use a Regression Kriging estimator combining air quality point data with land use auxiliary data. To assess uncertainty of exposure, the Kriging estimator is incorporated in a sequential Gaussian simulation algorithm (sGs) providing a set of simulated exposure maps with similar spatial structural dependence and statistical properties of observed data. Following the completion of the simulation runs, we fit a geographically weighted generalized linear model (GWGLM) for each mother's place of residence, using observed health data and simulated exposure data, and repeat this procedure for each simulated map. Once the fit of GWGLM with all exposure maps is finished, we take the distribution of local estimated parameters measuring associations between exposure and birth weight, thus providing a measure of uncertainty in the local estimates. Results reveal that the distribution of local parameters did not vary substantially. Combining both methods (GWGLM and sGs), however, we are able to incorporate local uncertainty on the estimated associations providing an additional tool for analysis of the impacts of place in health.

https://ift.tt/2KyYnZl

Phytoremediation of Mn-contaminated paddy soil by two hyperaccumulators ( Phytolacca americana and Polygonum hydropiper ) aided with citric acid

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytoremediation potential of two hyperaccumulator plants, Phytolacca americana L. and Polygonum hydropiper L., on manganese-contaminated paddy soils. The biomass growth, Mn concentrations in plant tissues, and potential Mn removal efficiency from soils of these two plants were studied with citric acid, and the mechanisms of citric acid on these two plants were analyzed by examining the root activity, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in leaves, as well as the concentrations of O₂·⁻ and H₂O₂ in leaves. The results showed that the biomass of these two plants were both promoted under low level of citric acid (3 mmol kg⁻¹). The concentration of Mn in the plants and the amount of Mn removed from the soil by the plants through harvesting were enhanced at low and intermediate (10 mmol kg⁻¹) citric acid application levels. The results also showed that root activity was enhanced at the low citric acid level and significantly inhibited under the intermediate and high levels (15 mmol kg⁻¹), which indicates the facilitative function of the low level of citric acid and the inhibitive function of the high level of citric acid application on plant biomass growth. Under the low and intermediate levels of citric acid application, O₂·⁻ in the plant leaves increased sharply, and the SOD, POD, and CAT activities also increased sharply, which made the level of H₂O₂ very similar to that of the control, ensuring the health of the plants. At the high level of citric acid application, however, the O₂·⁻ continued to rise sharply, while the activity of the three antioxidant enzymes declined sharply, causing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide to be much higher than that in the control, thus endangering the plants. The present study shows the potential of P. hydropiper for use in the phytoremediation of soil contaminated with a relatively low level of manganese.

https://ift.tt/2KxCAOv

Addition of targeted agents to chemotherapy for persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
Author(s): Xiao Li, Yuchan Mao, Qiwen Wu, Yuanyuan Liu, Qianqian Wu, Binghuan Wen
AimThe majority of epithelial ovarian cancer patients who achieve a full remission following first-line chemotherapy would finally develop recurrent disease. However, the optimal management of recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) remains undefined. The preset meta-analysis aims to evaluate the role of novel targeted agents (TAs) in the treatment of ROC in terms of response, overall survival and toxicities.Materials and methodsEligible studies were identified using Medline, Pubmed, and meeting abstracts. Searches were last updated on April 30, 2018. Eligible randomized controlled studies reported survival, toxicities and/or response data for ROC patients receiving novel TAs were included. Primary outcomes of interest were objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and adverse events (AEs).ResultsA total of 6,606 patients from 16 studies were eligible for analysis. The pooled results showed that the addition of novel TAs to chemotherapy significantly improved ORR (RR 1.63, 95%CI: 1.33-2.00, p < 0.001), PFS (0.78, 95%CI: 0.68-0.89, p < 0.001) and OS (HR 0.92, 95%CI: 0.87-0.99, p = 0.016) in ROC patients when compared to controls. Similar results in terms of ORR (RR 2.23, p < 0.001), PFS (HR 0.65, p < 0.001), and OS (HR 0.89, p = 0.015) were observed in platinum-sensitive ROC who received TAs. While the addition of novel TAs to chemotherapy significantly improved ORR (RR 1.84, p = 0.002) in platinum-resistant or refractory ROC, it did not translate into PFS (HR 0.83, p = 0.067) and OS (HR 0.94, p = 0.19) benefits. Sub-group analysis according to specific targeted agents showed that combination angiogenesis inhibitors with chemotherapy significantly improved PFS (HR 0.67, p = 0.018), but not for OS (HR 0.93, p = 0.31). As for toxicities, the use of TAs in ROC significantly increased the risk of developing serious AEs (RR 1.27, 95%CI: 1.08-1.50, p = 0.005) and AEs leading to treatment discontinuation (RR 1.93, 95%CI: 1.31-2.84, p = 0.001), but not for fatal AEs (RR: 1.49, 95% CI: 0.89–2.48, p = 0.13). In addition, correlation analysis indicates that PFS (r=0.86, p < 0.001) and ORR (r=0.85, p < 0.001) was strongly correlated with OS for ROC patients received TAs.ConclusionCombination treatment with novel TAs and chemotherapy significantly improved ORR, PFS and OS in platinum-sensitive ROC with an increased risk of severe adverse events. Conversely, we detect no statistically significant survival benefit in platinum-resistant or refractory ROC received TAs. Further prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm our findings and investigate more efficient agents in platinum-resistant or refractory ROC.



https://ift.tt/2KmE6qD

Corrigendum to ‘Ramucirumab as second-line treatment in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma following first-line therapy with sorafenib: Patient-focused outcome results from the randomised phase III REACH study’ [Eur J Canc 81 (2017) 17–25]

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer
Author(s): Ian Chau, Markus Peck-Radosavljevic, Christophe Borg, Peter Malfertheiner, Jean Francois Seitz, Joon Oh Park, Baek-Yeol Ryoo, Chia-Jui Yen, Masatoshi Kudo, Ronnie Poon, Davide Pastorelli, Jean-Frederic Blanc, Hyun Cheol Chung, Ari D. Baron, Takuji Okusaka, L. Bowman, Zhanglin Lin Cui, Allicia C. Girvan, Paolo B. Abada, Ling Yang, Andrew X. Zhu




https://ift.tt/2IFx9eA

Juvenile ocular myasthenia gravis: presentation and outcome of a large cohort

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Pediatric Neurology
Author(s): Kavin Vanikieti, Kasamon Lowwongngam, Tanyatuth Padungkiatsagul, Anannit Visudtibhan, Anuchit Poonyathalang
BackgroundIsolated ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) is very common in children relative to adults, ranging from 71–93% of all children with MG.PurposeTo characterize the ocular manifestations and outcomes in children with isolated ocular MG.MethodsMedical records of consecutive 62 subjects, <15 years of age with ocular MG, were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, presenting ocular features, types and variabilities of duction limitation, MG confirmatory tests, types of and responses to treatment, and generalized MG conversion were reviewed.ResultsMean age at onset and follow-up time were 49 months (range, 1–173 months) and 95 months (range, 6–226 months), respectively. Female-to-male ratio was 1.5:1. Initially, ptosis was found in 60 subjects (96.8%), while duction limitation was observed in 28 subjects (45.2%). Total ophthalmoparesis was the most common type of duction limitation. Variability of duction limitation was found in 68% of subjects during the follow-up. Pyridostigmine alone was the most common medication used (48.4%); ptosis was more responsive than duction limitation. Generalized MG conversion was found in 19.4% of subjects, with a mean interval of 9 months after symptom onset. Most conversions (91.7%) occurred in the first two years.ConclusionsPtosis was more responsive than duction limitation significantly. Thus, other treatment modalities, as well as strabismic amblyopia screening, should be considered in children with prolonged duction limitation refractory to medication. In contrast with adults, a much lower proportion of children converted to generalized MG. This may explain the higher prevalence of isolated ocular MG among the juvenile population.



https://ift.tt/2tH9Dt1

Clinical Characteristics and Burden of Illness in Pediatric Patients with Narcolepsy

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Pediatric Neurology
Author(s): Giuseppe Plazzi, Heather M. Clawges, Judith A. Owens
Narcolepsy is a chronic and lifelong neurologic disorder with onset commonly occurring in childhood or adolescence, and affecting approximately 0.025% to 0.05% of the general population. The primary symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which is accompanied by cataplexy in 70% of patients. Other common symptoms include sleep paralysis, hallucinations upon falling asleep or waking, and disrupted nocturnal sleep. Narcolepsy is associated with a considerable burden of illness (BOI), which has been well characterized in adults, and is exacerbated by delays in symptom recognition, diagnosis, and intervention. This review describes the specific characteristics and BOI of pediatric narcolepsy.Pediatric narcolepsy presents distinct challenges in diagnosis and management. Narcolepsy symptoms often initially manifest differently in children and adolescents versus adults, which may pose diagnostic dilemmas. Children often respond to sleepiness with irritability, hyperactivity, and poor attention, which may be misinterpreted as misbehavior or neurocognitive sequelae of other conditions. Pediatric cataplexy symptoms may include subtle and unusual facial expressions or choreic-like movements, which are not observed in adults. Insufficient sleep and circadian rhythm disorders presenting with EDS are common in adolescents, potentially confounding narcolepsy diagnosis. Pediatric narcolepsy is also associated with comorbidities including rapid weight gain, precocious puberty, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and increased risk for deficits in social functioning, depression, and anxiety. School performance is also typically impaired, requiring special education services. Thus, the discrete BOI of pediatric narcolepsy underscores the need for prompt and accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of this disorder.



https://ift.tt/2KAwcWP

Designing of membrane-active nano-antimicrobials based on cationic copolymer functionalized nanodiamond: Influence of hydrophilic segment on antimicrobial activity and selectivity

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Materials Science and Engineering: C
Author(s): Weiwei Cao, Xi Wang, Qiang Li, Xuefeng Peng, Lina Wang, Peili Li, Zhiwen Ye, Xiaodong Xing
Designing cationic nano-antimicrobial is a promising solution for combating drug resistant microbes. In this work, hydrophilic cationic copolymer was applied for the surface functionalization of nanodiamonds (NDs) aiming at developing a highly membrane-active nano-antibacterial agent with satisfactory selectivity. As a result, after functionalization, the increased repulsive forces within NDs and interaction with solvent molecular network made the heavily aggregated pristine NDs break down into tiny nanoparticles with particle size ranging from 10 to 100 nm. The improved hydrophilicity and enlarged surface area endowed QND-H5 and QND-H10 a powerful bactericidal capability toward both of Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In the further bactericidal assessment, it was also demonstrated that the formation of hydrogen bonding between the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) side chains and lipid head groups of bacterial membrane also contributed to the enhanced bactericidal ability. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed that as-prepared nano-hybrid acted bactericidal ability via physical nature of outer membrane and cytoplasmic membrane-separating destruction mechanism toward E. coli, which may derive from the hydrogen bonding ability, making them more effective toward bacterial. More importantly, it was found that with just 10% of HEMA, QND-H10 displayed good selectivity toward bacteria over mammalian cells as shown by the high HC50 values with relatively low MIC values, suggesting the great potential application in medical fields. These results indicate that hydrogen bonding is an important element to achieve the desired high antibacterial activity and selectivity, particularly when cationic nano-antibacterial agents are required for medical application.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2KAH6zc

Application of compressed sensing to 3D magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for the evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions

Publication date: October 2018
Source:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volume 52
Author(s): Alessandro Furlan, Ersin Bayram, Senthur Thangasamy, Dale Barley, Anil Dasyam
The aim of this study was to assess changes in acquisition time, image quality and evaluation of pancreatic cysts when applying CS to a 3D MRCP sequence. Thirty subjects (17F; 13M) undergoing MRCP for evaluation of pancreatic cyst(s) were prospectively recruited and underwent 3D MRCP and CS 3D MRCP (CS factor = 2) on a 3T scanner. The acquisition time was recorded. Two experienced radiologists independently recorded quality of the images, presence of artifacts, visualization of the main pancreatic duct, bile ducts and index pancreatic cyst using a five-point scale. Presence of mural nodules and septations in the cyst, size of the cyst and caliber of the main pancreatic duct were also recorded. A paired sample t-test was used to compare the acquisition time of 3D MRCP and CS 3D MRCP. Image quality metrics and visualization of cyst features were compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank test and McNemar test.The mean acquisition time of CS-3D-MRCP (150 ± 63 s) was significantly lower than that of 3D-MRCP (317 ± 104 s; P < 0.001). The median score of overall quality (reader 1, 3.7 ± 1.0 vs. 3.4 ± 1.1, P = 0.11; reader 2, 3.8 ± 1.0 vs. 3.7 ± 1.1, P = 0.36), artifacts and visualization of the bile ducts were not significantly different between 3D-MRCP and CS-3D-MRCP. There was no significant difference in the visualization score of the index pancreatic cyst (reader 1, 4.2 ± 0.9 vs. 4.1 ± 0.9, P = 0.42; reader 2, 4.2 ± 0.4 vs. 4.0 ± 0.7, P = 0.27) and no difference in the assessment of cyst features. Applying CS to 3D-MRCP yields a two-fold reduction in acquisition time with comparable image quality and visualization of key pancreatic cyst features.



https://ift.tt/2tRM3sU

Visual imagination and the narrative image. Parallelisms between art history and neuroscience

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Cortex
Author(s): Gyöngyvér Horváth
Understanding visually presented stories requires intense effort from our visual imagination. Artists and theoreticians from the Renaissance onwards suggested various ways to depict stories, either to enhance their understanding and enjoyment, or to help adjust the depictions to the aesthetic ideas of the era. Alberti's concept of istoria, Leonardo's practice of visual stimulation, Lessing's advice on how to choose the most fruitful moment of a story relied both on personal experience and the scientific knowledge of the era. Visual imagination is specially needed in non-figurative and sequential narratives in modern and contemporary art, which are supported by Arnheim's notion of stroboscopic motion. Recent developments in image-making technologies enable some clarification of the processes involved in human perception with regard to the understanding of painted scenes and visually presented stories. The objective of this paper is to find the counterparts of these art theoretical concepts in psychology and neuroscience. Through the phenomena of mirror neurons, scene perception, gist of scene, and face and object recognition, these findings establish parallelisms between art history and neuroscience.



https://ift.tt/2IHgQOr

Mental imagery in dentistry: Phenomenology and role in dental anxiety

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Author(s): Annegret Schneider, Jackie Andrade, Karin Tanja-Dijkstra, David R. Moles
Dental anxiety is a prevalent problem with marked psychological, physical and public health implications. Based on cognitive theory and evidence, we hypothesized that vivid, sensory image-based cognitions play a role in dental anxiety. A quantitative online survey (N = 306) and qualitative semi-structured interviews (N = 18) found that vivid sensory images were common irrespective of dental anxiety levels, but that their content, associated distress and responses varied. Participants reporting higher anxiety experienced intense and intrusive fear-provoking dental imagery focusing on unpleasant sensations, which were associated with the intrusive recollection of negative past experiences and avoidance of dentistry. Participants with lower anxiety ratings, reported images that were less distressing and centered around reassuring aspects and positive appointment outcomes, potentially acting as protective factors against dental anxiety and facilitating appointment attendance. The inclusion of components aimed at reducing intrusive memories and dental imagery rescripting may help improve interventions for dental anxiety.



https://ift.tt/2KxbfiN

New insights on the anti-inflammatory potential and safety profile of Thymus carnosus and Thymus camphoratus essential oils and their main compounds

Publication date: 28 October 2018
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 225
Author(s): Mónica Zuzarte, Jorge M. Alves-Silva, Melissa Alves, Carlos Cavaleiro, Lígia Salgueiro, Maria Teresa Cruz
Ethnopharmacological relevanceThymus camphoratus and T. carnosus are widely used in Portugal for the treatment of inflammatory-related conditions, such as inflammation of the respiratory tract, being the later also used as an antitussive.Aim of the studyBearing in mind the lack of scientific studies focused on the pharmacological activity of Thymus camphoratus and T. carnosus, this work was designed to validate the anti-inflammatory properties ascribed to these traditional species and concomitantly to unveil both the putative molecular mechanisms behind their bioactivity as well as the safety profile of their essential oils and major compounds.Materials and methodsThe chemical composition of the essential oils was assessed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The nitric oxide (NO) scavenging potential of the oils was tested using S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) as NO donor. The anti-inflammatory potential of the essential oils and their major compounds was evaluated by measuring the nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages as well as the expression of the pro-inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Importantly, and in an attempt to assess the safety profile of the oils and respective major compounds, their effect on macrophages and hepatocytes viability was also determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.ResultsT. carnosus essential oil was characterized by high amounts of borneol and camphene whereas T. camphoratus oil was rich in 1,8-cineole and borneol. The later presented higher pharmacological activity showing inhibitory effects towards NO production at lower concentrations (0.16 µL/mL) and concomitantly inhibiting the expression of two crucial pro-inflammatory proteins, iNOS and COX-2 (at 0.32 µL/mL). Since no NO scavenging activity was achieved, it is reasonable to conclude that the anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oils occurs upstream of iNOS expression, probably through inhibition of relevant pro-inflammatory signal transduction pathways. Importantly, at bioactive concentrations, the essential oils were devoid of toxicity towards macrophages and hepatocytes. The activity of the isolated compounds was far from that observed for the essential oils, thus suggesting that the anti-inflammatory activity is due to a synergic effect between several compounds in the mixture.ConclusionOverall, the results herein presented sustain and strengthen the anti-inflammatory properties traditionally ascribed to T. carnosus and T. camphoratus. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms associated to their pharmacological activity were highlighted, opening new avenues for the development of effective anti-inflammatory herbal medicinal products.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2yWWdOJ

A phylogenetic road map to antimalarial Artemisia species

Publication date: 28 October 2018
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 225
Author(s): Jaume Pellicer, C. Haris Saslis-Lagoudakis, Esperança Carrió, Madeleine Ernst, Teresa Garnatje, Olwen M. Grace, Airy Gras, Màrius Mumbrú, Joan Vallès, Daniel Vitales, Nina Rønsted
Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe discovery of the antimalarial agent artemisinin is considered one of the most significant success stories of ethnopharmacological research in recent times. The isolation of artemisinin was inspired by the use of Artemisia annua in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2015. Antimalarial activity has since been demonstrated for a range of other Artemisia species, suggesting that the genus could provide alternative sources of antimalarial treatments. Given the stunning diversity of the genus (c. 500 species), a prioritisation of taxa to be investigated for their likely antimalarial properties is required.Materials and methodsHere we use a phylogenetic approach to explore the potential for identifying species more likely to possess antimalarial properties. Ethnobotanical data from literature reports is recorded for 117 species. Subsequent phylogenetically informed analysis was used to identify lineages in which there is an overrepresentation of species used to treat malarial symptoms, and which could therefore be high priority for further investigation of antimalarial activity.ResultsWe show that these lineages indeed include several species with documented antimalarial activity. To further inform our approach, we use LC-MS/MS analysis to explore artemisinin content in fifteen species from both highlighted and not highlighted lineages. We detected artemisinin in nine species, in eight of them for the first time, doubling the number of Artemisia taxa known to content this molecule.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that artemisinin may be widespread across the genus, providing an accessible local resource outside the distribution area of Artemisia annua.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2lJekhB

Silicon improves salt tolerance of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. by ameliorating osmotic and oxidative stresses and improving phytohormonal balance

Abstract

Si has a beneficial effect on improving plant tolerance to salt stress. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of Si in mediating the stress responses are still poorly understood. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (G. uralensis), a well-known medicinal plant, possesses vast therapeutic potentials. In the present study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the long-term effects of Si on growth and physiobiochemical characteristics in 2-year-old G. uralensis subjected to different levels of salinity. Si markedly affected G. uralensis growth in a salt concentration-dependent manner and had no effect on G. uralensis growth under 6 g/kg NaCl. However, it partly reversed the reduction effect induced by 9 g/kg NaCl. In addition, Si significantly increased the contents of soluble sugar and protein but deceased proline content and thus increased water relations; Si markedly increased the activities of SOD, peroxidase, and CAT and further resulted in decreased MDA content and membrane permeability. Moreover, Si altered the levels of phytohormones and their balances. With correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), root biomass had a significant negative correlation with MDA and membrane permeability while a positive correlation with indole-3-acetic acid and GA₃. The PCA partitioned the total variance into three PCs contributing maximum (88.234%) to the total diversity among the salt stress with or without Si due to the study of various traits. In conclusion, Si exerts a beneficial property on salt-induced harmful effects in G. uralensis by relieving osmotic stress, improving water relations, and alleviating oxidative stress; thus, altering the levels and balance of phytohormones results in improved growth of salt-stressed G. uralensis.

https://ift.tt/2yUCajO

Fractal Dimension of EEG Signals and Heart Dynamics in Discrete Emotional States

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Biological Psychology
Author(s): Elisabeth Ruiz Padial, Antonio J. Ibáñez-Molina
In this study, we explored the fractal dimension (FD; a measure of signal complexity) of 28 EEG channels with positive and negative emotional states. The EEG of participants and their ECG were registered while watching short video clips that induced fear, disgust, humour, or neutral emotions. In order to better understand the nature of these emotions, the Higuchi FD of EEG segments and the heart rate variability (HRV) of the ECG associated with each emotion were obtained. Our results exhibited similar patterns of results with both measures. Humour elicited the highest FD scores in most EEG channels and the highest HRV, while fear, among all emotions, produced the lowest scores in both measures. These results may contribute to the understanding of the relationship between cortical and heart dynamics and their role on emotion perception.



https://ift.tt/2IF8SoY

Oxytocin levels in the saliva of preterm infant twins during Kangaroo care

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Biological Psychology
Author(s): D. Kommers, M. Broeren, G. Oei, L. Feijs, P. Andriessen, S. Bambang Oetomo
Background and purposeTo investigate whether Kangaroo care (KC) influences the salivary oxytocin (OT) concentration in preterm infants, and which correlates affect the OT response.MethodsEleven twin pairs participated in a study in which we collected saliva using cotton swabs twice a day, once during KC and once during baseline conditions (lying in bed or incubator). The total study duration was five days. The saliva of twin siblings were pooled to obtain vials with sufficient volumes of either saliva collected during KC or at baseline. OT levels were measured using a radio-immuno assay. The infants' state of comfort and parent-infant interaction were examined using previously developed Likert-scales, amongst other correlates such as the KC duration, gestational age and birth weight.ResultsDuring KC, OT was lower compared to baseline (mean 1.39 pg/ml (SD 0.58 pg/ml) versus 2.40 pg/ml (SD 1.64 pg/ml), p =  0.03). Comfort at baseline and parent-infant interaction seemed to influence OT responses.ConclusionThe OT concentration in the pooled saliva of preterm infant twins decreased during KC. This response of the OT system might be explained by stress during baseline.



https://ift.tt/2KDv9IO

No central adrenal insufficiency found in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome with an overnight metyrapone test

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2tFrJfe

No significant cancer mortality increase after the TMI accident

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses, Volume 118
Author(s): Alfred Körblein




https://ift.tt/2yXvul6

Risk of gastric cancer following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: A nationwide population-based cohort study

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses, Volume 118
Author(s): Chih-Cheng Tsao, Shih-Yu Lee, Wei-Kuo Chang, Kuen-Tze Lin, Sheng-Der Hsu, Chen-Liang Tsai, Chun-Shu Lin
ObjectivesTo investigate whether percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is associated with increased risk of gastric cancer.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective study in Taiwan. Inpatient data from 1997 to 2010 were collected from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with age less than 20 years; those with histories of PEG before 2000; those with histories of cancers; and those diagnosed with gastric cancer before or within 6 months of the first PEG procedure were excluded. Finally, 3505 patients who underwent PEG were included (PEG cohort), along with 7010 randomly-selected individuals, matched by age, sex, and year of index date, as the control cohort.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex, peptic ulcer, gastritis, hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease, risk of gastric cancer was significantly higher in the PEG cohort (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.31; 95% confidence interval, 4.12–6.00; p = 0.011). Patients with 2 or more PEG procedures were significantly associated with increasingly developing gastric cancer risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.91–3.85; p < 0.001). The possible hypothesis may be due to chronic inflammation caused by chemical and physical conditions of the tube.ConclusionsPatients with PEG might be associated with a greater risk of subsequent gastric cancer in Taiwan. Physicians should be aware of the link when assessing patients with PEG.



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Intracranial pressure and glaucoma: Is there a new therapeutic perspective on the horizon?

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses, Volume 118
Author(s): Peter Wostyn, Debby Van Dam, Peter Paul De Deyn
Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Raised intraocular pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor and lowering it remains the mainstay therapeutic approach for slowing optic nerve damage and visual field progression in glaucoma patients. An intriguing finding of clinical retrospective and prospective studies is that intracranial pressure is lower in patients with glaucoma. Furthermore, in a recent study on monkeys subjected to an implantation of a lumboperitoneal cerebrospinal fluid shunt to lower intracranial pressure, chronic reduction in intracranial pressure was associated with the development of glaucoma-like pathology in half of the monkeys. In addition, a very recent study demonstrated that patients whose intracranial pressure has been lowered following ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, as treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus, have a significantly increased risk of developing normal-tension glaucoma. These findings suggest that a reduced intracranial pressure may play an important role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. This may be due to an abnormally high pressure difference across the lamina cribrosa resulting in biomechanical changes of the optic nerve head and/or to a deficient clearance of toxic substances, particularly in the subarachnoid space of the optic nerve and/or in the 'ocular glymphatic system'. The search for drugs or medical devices useful to ameliorate glaucoma by lowering the trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference and/or by facilitating cerebrospinal fluid circulation may therefore be an important area for future research. In this article, we propose that infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid through an implantable pump into the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord could be a new promising strategy for the treatment of glaucoma. Although the implantation of such a cerebrospinal fluid pump is a relatively invasive intervention, it seems worthwhile to make every effort to identify new therapies for patients who suffer from this devastating disease, especially given the significant number of patients for whom non-invasive treatment options are ineffective.



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Theoretical basis for a new approach of studying Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy by means of thermography

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses, Volume 118
Author(s): A. Cabizosu, N. Carboni, A. Martinez-Almagro Andreo, J.M. Vegara-Meseguer, N. Marziliano, G. Gea Carrasco, G. Casu
IntroductionEmery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a clinical condition characterized by neuro-skeletal and cardiac impairments. By means of thermography, an image acquisition technique that allows the recording of the heat emitted by objects or bodies, news insight can be obtained insights about the evaluation and follow-up of this disease. Actually, musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of counseling and access to rehabilitation services and are some of the most important problems that affect the quality of life of many people. There are urgent both clinical and research needs for the assessment and follow-up of patients with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and the thermography is a rapid, non-invasive, easy to use and objective technique that analyzes the temperature of the examined tissue.HypothesisThe main aim is to offer a new possible hypothesis of validating the thermography techniques that support the evaluation and clinical follow-up of the Emery-Dreifuss dystrophy. To carry out this work we rely on the evidence of the existing bibliography. To perform this work and to evaluate the current situation on this topic, a systematic review was carried and after the application of an automatic and manual filter, inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 0 articles was obtained. Unfortunately, there is a lack of articles that relate the use of thermography in the Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. Due to the absence of information, we have expanded the search to articles concerning the use of thermography in relation to alterations of the musculoskeletal system compatible with those of Emery-Dreifuss, genetic diseases related to the X chromosome and more generally muscular atrophy. Based on other studies and results carried out in diseases that show signs and symptoms similar to Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy, we believe that a new line of translational research could be opened with novel findings and we think that thermography could be an optimal tool for the clinical monitoring of this pathology. We believe that it would be of a great importance to carry out an observational study, to lay the foundations for future works, that relate thermography to the Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophies.



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Unified neural structured model: A new diagnostic tool in primary care psychiatry

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses, Volume 118
Author(s): Tetsuya Akaishi
Overlap of multiple mental disorders in each psychiatric patient has been emphasized and the style of assessment and intervention in each patient has been gradually changed. A new practical structured model that can comprehensively explain and assess the major mental disorders integratedly has been desired.In this report, the relationships between each of the major mental disorders and each neuropsychiatric component like personality, reward system, or reinforcement learning have been comprehensively reviewed to construct a new integrated structured model for assessing the overlapped mental conditions in primary care psychiatry. This new structured model contains the following three loops: "input-output-feedback loop" (external/environmental loop), "reward-learning loop" (learning loop), and "mood-reward sensitivity loop" (mood loop), which are connected by the functions of prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. With this new concept, overlapped mental conditions in each psychiatric patient could be theoretically much simply and logically explained.In conclusion, with the proposed psychiatric structured model, we can simply explain and understand the overlapped mental disorders in each patient. Inventing and developing such basic psychiatric structured model would offer us new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to realize personalized medicine, especially in the field of primary care psychiatry.



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A mediated multigroup model examining marijuana use consequences by sexual orientation in us college students

Publication date: December 2018
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 87
Author(s): Jamie E. Parnes, Mark A. Prince, Bradley T. Conner
Marijuana use holds a curvilinear relation to sexual orientation, whereby bisexual individuals reporter higher frequency of use than exclusively hetero- or homosexual individuals. This relation differs by gender, with more pronounced differences among women. Bisexual individuals are at greater risk for negative consequences of marijuana use, such as dependence. To mitigate potential risks, individuals employ protective behavioral strategies (PBS). While differences in use are known, research has yet to examine if consequences and PBS use vary by sexual orientation. This study seeks to address the relations between sexual orientation, consequences, gender, and PBS. It was hypothesized that orientation would be associated with consequences, mediated by PBS, and these relations would vary by gender. College students (N = 8141) from 11 different universities completed an online survey measuring marijuana consequences, PBS use, and sexual orientation. A final analytic sample (n = 2091) was composed of participants who indicated past 30-day marijuana use (60% women, 64% White, mean age 19.92). Path analysis was used to test all study hypothesis. Results indicated a curvilinear relation between sexual orientation and consequences among men, however not women. Moreover, PBS use mediated the relation between orientation and consequences among men, and negatively predicted consequences among women. Conclusions include that mixed sexual orientation men experience higher consequences through lower PBS use. For women, PBS use buffers against consequences. These findings reflect a general effectiveness of PBS use for mitigating negative marijuana-related consequences. The implications of these results are discussed.



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Sex differences in affect-triggered lapses during smoking cessation: A daily diary study

Publication date: December 2018
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 87
Author(s): Sylvie Messer, Atara Siegel, Lauren Bertin, Joel Erblich
IntroductionSmoking lapses during a cessation attempt are common and are thought to be a key predictor of full relapse. Positive and negative affective states have been hypothesized as important precipitants of lapses during quit attempts, although findings have been mixed. Accumulating evidence suggests that women may smoke more when experiencing negative affective states, while men may smoke more when experiencing positive affective states. The possibility that these sex differences may play a role in predicting lapses during a smoking cessation attempt, however, has not been well-investigated. In this study, we hypothesized that, during a quit attempt, negative affect would be more strongly associated with lapses among women, and positive affect would be more strongly associated with lapses among men.MethodWe conducted a prospective study in which male and female nicotine-dependent smokers (n = 60) made an unaided, 'cold-turkey' quit attempt. For fourteen days following the initiation of the quit attempt, participants completed daily diaries in which they recorded the degree to which states of 'good mood' and 'bad mood' preceded smoking lapses.ResultsConsistent with the study hypothesis, findings indicated that men reported higher good-mood-induced smoking lapses than women across the 14-day study interval. Conversely, while levels of bad-mood-induced smoking subsided over the 14-day interval among men, levels persisted among women.DiscussionResults further underscore the need to address sex-specific affective triggers when developing smoking cessation strategies.



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Comparing cigarette and e-cigarette dependence and predicting frequency of smoking and e-cigarette use in dual-users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes

Publication date: December 2018
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 87
Author(s): Meghan Morean, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, Stephanie S. O'Malley
IntroductionThe 4-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Nicotine Dependence Item Bank is a psychometrically sound measure for assessing cigarette (PROMIS) and e-cigarette dependence (PROMIS-E). We evaluated whether dual-users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes self-report experiencing different levels of dependence on each product. We subsequently examined whether cigarette and e-cigarette dependence are associated with the frequency of using each product in dual-users.MethodsDual-users completed an online survey in Summer 2017 (n = 326; 49.7% male, 85.3% White, mean age 38.17 [13.08] years). Measurement invariance of the PROMIS and PROMIS-E was evaluated. Mean differences in cigarette and e-cigarette dependence then were examined. The correlation between cigarette and e-cigarette dependence also was examined. Finally, one-way MANOVA was used to evaluate how cigarette and e-cigarette dependence relate to past-month frequency of e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking.ResultsThe PROMIS and the PROMIS-E were scalar measurement invariant, and, on average, dual-users reported stronger dependence on cigarettes than on e-cigarettes. Cigarette and e-cigarette dependence were related, yet distinct constructs (r = 0.35), suggesting that dual-users can discriminate between dependence on each product. Stronger cigarette dependence predicted more frequent past-month smoking and less frequent past-month vaping. Stronger e-cigarette dependence predicted more frequent past-month vaping and less frequent smoking.ConclusionsOverall, dual-users reported stronger dependence on cigarettes than on e-cigarettes. However, dependence on each product was associated with increased use of each respective product and with less frequent use of the other product. Future research using the PROMIS can evaluate how potential FDA regulations could reduce nicotine dependence across products.



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Ecotoxicological evaluation of electrochemical oxidation for the treatment of sanitary landfill leachates

Abstract

In this study, the efficiency of electrochemical oxidation to treat a sanitary landfill leachate was evaluated by the reduction in physico-chemical parameters and in ecotoxicity. The acute toxicity of the sanitary landfill leachates, before and after treatment, was assessed with the model organism Daphnia magna. Electrochemical oxidation treatment was effective in the removal of organic load and ammonium nitrogen and in the reduction of metal ions concentrations. Furthermore, a reduction of 2.5-fold in the acute toxicity towards D. magna after 36 h of treatment was noticed. Nevertheless, the toxicity of the treated leachate is still very high, and further treatments are necessary in order to obtain a non-toxic effluent to this aquatic organism. Toxicity results were also compared with others described in the literature for different leachate treatments and test organisms.

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Agenesis of dorsal pancreas associated with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: a case report and review of the literature

Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas is very rare. Less than 70 cases have been reported to date. Some of these cases had an association with a tumor. The literature of agenesis of the dorsal pancreas and agenesis ...

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The spatial distribution of phosphorus and their correlations in surface sediments and pore water in Lake Chaohu, China

Abstract

The study presents the spatial distribution of different forms of phosphorus in the sediments in Lake Chaohu, a large eutrophic Chinese lake, and their correlation with phosphorus content in pore water. The sediment and pore water samples were taken from 19 sampling sites. A sequential extraction was used to determine the contents of different forms of phosphorus in the sediments. The compositions and spatial distribution of different forms of phosphorus in the sediments and their correlation with orthophosphate and total phosphorus content in the pore water were studied. The following results were obtained: (1) the mean content of total phosphorus was 474.7 ± 20.5 mg/kg, with 390.8 ± 82.4 mg/kg for the eastern lake (N = 5), 469.0 ± 53.9 mg/kg for the western lake (N = 5), and 524.5 ± 185.3 mg/kg for rivers (N = 9); (2) the order of the proportions of the different forms of phosphorus was occluded phosphorus (Oc-P, 52.4%) > debris phosphorus (De-P, 14.2%) > auto-calcium-bound phosphorus (ACa-P, 13.5%) > aluminum-bound phosphorus (Al-P, 9.8%) > organic phosphorus (Or-P, 6.8%) > exchangeable phosphorus (Ex-P, 2.1%) > iron-bound phosphorus (Fe-P, 1.3%); (3) Ex-P, Al-P, and Fe-P had significantly positive correlations with orthophosphate and total phosphorus content in pore water, which showed that these forms of phosphorus were released more easily and had an indirect impact on lake eutrophication.

https://ift.tt/2IEYCNA

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for Improving Oromotor Function in Newborns

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Brain Stimulation
Author(s): Bashar W. Badran, Dorothea D. Jenkins, William H. Devries, Morgan Dancy, Philipp M. Summers, Georgia M. Mappin, Henry Bernstein, Marom Bikson, Patricia Cocker-Bolt, Mark S. George




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Within-subject test-retest reliability of the atlas-based cortical volume measurement in the rat brain: A voxel-based morphometry study

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Volume 307
Author(s): Bin Jing, Bo Liu, Hui Li, Jianfeng Lei, Zhanjing Wang, Yutao Yang, Phillip Zhe Sun, Bing Xue, Hesheng Liu, Zhi-Qing David Xu
BackgroundVarious neurological and psychological disorders are related to cortical volume changes in specific brain regions, which can be measured in vivo using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). There is an increasing interest in MRI studies using rat models, especially in longitudinal studies of brain disorders and pharmacologic interventions. However, morphometric changes observed in sMRI are only meaningful if the measurements are reliable. To date, a systematic evaluation of the test-retest reliability of the morphometric measures in the rat brain is still lacking.New methodWe rigorously evaluated the test-retest reliability of morphometric measures derived from the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis. 37 Sprague-Dawley rats were scanned twice at an interval of six hours and the gray matter volume was estimated using the VBM-DARTEL method. The intraclass coefficient, percent volume change and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to evaluate the reliability in 96 subregions of the rat brain.ResultsMost subregions showed excellent test-retest reliabilities within an interval of 6 h while a few regions demonstrated lower reliability, especially in the retrosplenial granular cortex. The results were consistent between different methods of reliability assessment.Comparison with existing methodTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to quantify the test-retest reliability of the VBM measurements of the rat brain.ConclusionAtlas-based cortical volume of the rat brain can be reliably estimated using the VBM-DARTEL method in most subregions. However, findings in subregions with lower reliability must be interpreted with caution.



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HBV infection and extra-hepatic cancers in adolescents and 20s: A retrospective study in China

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 55
Author(s): Tingna Lu, Qing Yang, Mei Li, Jiqing Zhang, Jing Zou, Lu Huang, Jianhua Lin, Haosheng Jin, Jiman He
BackgroundThe mean age at cancer diagnosis is younger in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected than non-infected patients. It remains unknown whether this association reflects an increase in the incidence rates of extra-hepatic cancers in adolescents and younger.MethodsWe examined 10 common extra-hepatic cancers (lung, breast, gastric, prostate, esophageal, rectal, cervical, nasopharyngeal, lymphatic, and urinary bladder) among patients diagnosed at three Chinese hospitals during 2007–2016. We compared the percentage distribution (frequencies at each age point are shown as a percentage of the total frequency) of HBsAg+ with HBsAgˉ patients, and calculated the standardized incidence ratio for each age group.ResultsA total of 60,323 patients were identified. The mean age at cancer diagnosis was 1.5–5.5 years younger in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive patients compared to HBsAgˉ patients (p ≤ 0.001). Lymphoma patients had the highest prevalence rate of HBV infection (20.7%). Among the pooled HBsAg+ cancer patients, 14.8% (1138/7666) were aged ≤39 years; by contrast, 9.7% (5122/52657) of HBsAgˉ cancer patients were in the same age range, giving an odds ratio of 1.6 [95%CI1.509–1.733)]. The observations were similar when each cancer was considered individually. The odds ratio was greater in pooled male patients aged ≤39 years [1.9(95%CI1.705–2.085)] compared with females [1.6(95%CI1.382–1.83)]. The ratio of the observed to the expected number of HBsAg+ patients aged 15–19, 20–24, and 25–29 years were 3.3, 4.8 and 2.0, respectively, higher than 1.2–1.7 observed for older age-groups.ConclusionHBV infection is a risk factor for diverse extra-hepatic cancers in adolescents and 20s.



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Sex differences in disordered eating and food addiction among college students

Publication date: 1 October 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 129
Author(s): Zhiping Yu, Natalie Arce Indelicato, Paul Fuglestad, Michael Tan, Lindsay Bane, Caitlin Stice
This cross-sectional study aimed to assess sex differences and weight status differences in disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and food addiction (FA) along with their co-occurrence among college students. Self-reported demographic and weight information, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), and Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) were collected from 965 college students. Participants included 703 (72.8%) female, 720 (74.8%) white, and ranged in age from 18 to 25 years old. Female college students had a significantly higher prevalence of DEB (11.6% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.007, odds ratio (OR) = 2.19) and higher prevalence of FA (12.3% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.0001, OR = 3.04) than male students. The co-occurrence was also significantly higher in female students than in male students (5.4% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.022, OR = 3.03). Male and female obese participants versus healthy weight participants had higher prevalence of DEB (15.1% vs.8.6%, p = 0.047, OR = 1.91) and FA (19.4% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.002, OR = 2.51). Higher prevalence of DEB was positively associated with FA regardless of sex and weight status. The findings indicate higher prevalence of disordered eating in female college students than male students and add to the research on sex differences in food addiction. The co-occurrence of both and association between high prevalence of DEB and FA warrant additional research on the incidence as well as factors that contribute to sex differences. Understanding sex differences and comorbidity regarding DEB and FA is critical for the prevention and treatment of eating related disorders.



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A geo-ethnographic analysis of low-income rural and urban women's food shopping behaviors

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 128
Author(s): Lillian MacNell
Many scholars have found evidence that low-income neighborhoods contain fewer supermarkets, but there is a lack of consensus regarding whether and how this matters to residents. A few qualitative studies have asked food desert residents about their experiences of their food environments, while a small number of other studies have utilized spatial analyses to examine actual shopping behaviors. To better understand barriers to food access, this study combines the two in a geo-ethnographic analysis. This study draws on data from a USDA-funded project about families and food to combine quantitative geographic data with qualitative interview data of 100 rural and urban low-income mothers of young children. For each participant, the nearest supermarket, as well most-frequented supermarket, was mapped, and distances to stores were calculated. On average, participants traveled more than twice as far as their nearest supermarket to reach a preferred store. Interviews with participants were conducted to assess the motivations and strategies of shoppers, in particular why they chose to bypass their nearest supermarkets. They shared a variety of reasons for doing so; foremost to find lower prices of food in order to stretch income and SNAP benefits. Access to transportation also played a major role in determining where people shopped for food. This research challenges scholars, policymakers, and health practitioners to look beyond proximate food environments to consider the lived experiences of food desert residents. Efforts to address poor food access should aim to increase household income, in addition to providing targeted food and nutrition assistance.

Graphical abstract

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An investigation of relationships between disordered eating behaviors, weight/shape overvaluation and mood in the general population

Publication date: 1 October 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 129
Author(s): Felipe Q da Luz, Amanda Sainsbury, Haider Mannan, Stephen Touyz, Deborah Mitchison, Federico Girosi, Phillipa Hay
Disordered eating behaviors and cognitions have been extensively examined in samples of individuals with eating disorders, as well as in non-clinical samples. However, such examinations are lacking in the general population. We investigated disordered eating behaviors and cognitions in a community representative sample of 6052 participants in South Australia, aged 15–99 years. Participants were interviewed regarding weight/shape overvaluation, strict dieting, binge eating, purging, low mood and body mass index (BMI). Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the direct effects between these features. Steiger's Z test was used to compare the difference between the semi-partial associations of low mood and strict dieting with binge eating. Our findings suggest that similar relationships between strict dieting, low mood, purging and binge eating to those shown in the trans-diagnostic cognitive-behavioral model of eating disorders in clinical samples occur in the general community. However, in the general population, strict dieting was associated with elevated BMIs (and not with low BMIs as predicated by the model). Although this study does not ascertain any causal relationships in the observed associations, public health messages or services for weight reduction in people with higher body weights could potentially benefit from integration with messages addressing mood disorders and purging, in order to reduce potential adverse effects on disordered eating behaviors.



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Towards more sustainable food systems. Addressing food waste at school canteens

Publication date: 1 October 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 129
Author(s): Belén Derqui, Vicenç Fernandez, Teresa Fayos
Food Waste is a global significant issue for ethical, environmental and economic reasons, while its management is difficult due to its frequent low visibility. Individual choices and preferences are closely related to the generation of food waste although likely to be modified through education and awareness campaigns. In particular, school canteens are big generators of food waste and, at the same time, provide a great opportunity to improve habits regarding nutrition and education on sustainability, thus impacting the future of the food system. The end purpose of this research is identifying the causes of food waste and unveiling best practices towards its reduction. To achieve this goal, we have designed and developed a mixed methods research approach including semi-structured interviews with managers and staff in schools and catering firms and waste audits at four school canteens - measuring waste from over 10,000 pupil's trays. In order to avoid potential bias due to meal preference, the audit lasted three to five consecutive weekdays per school, thus comprising different menus. We estimated overall food waste between 60 and 100 g per pupil per day. Plate waste represented the highest source of waste, although a big disparity was found among the schools based on their different educational perspectives. Key food waste determinants found were: first, top management standpoint towards food waste and sustainability in general. Secondly, we observed relevant differences among the three catering business models studied, regarding the stages where food waste is usually produced. Finally, food waste was also impacted by the diverse resource availability among the schools. Despite this, the human factor arose as the most relevant one when aiming to minimise food waste.



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Investigating the impact of a health game on implicit attitudes towards food and food choice behaviour of young adults

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 128
Author(s): Eva E. Alblas, Frans Folkvord, Doeschka J. Anschütz, Jonathan van 't Riet, Isabela Granic, Paul Ketelaar, Moniek Buijzen
Improving diets by stimulating fruit and vegetable consumption might be beneficial, in particular when they substitute energy-dense products. The aim of present study was to investigate whether a health game can be used to positively affect healthy implicit attitudes (IAs) towards food and subsequent food choice behaviour of young adults. A 2 (Time: baseline vs. post-test) x 2 (Condition: health game vs. control game) x 2 (Baseline IAs: healthy IAs vs. less healthy IAs) mixed-subjects design was used with 125 participants (age: M = 20.17, SD = 1.88). IAs towards food were assessed at baseline and post-test using an Implicit Association Test (IAT). Additionally, food choice behaviour was assessed after game play. At baseline, the majority of participants had healthy IAs (i.e., favouring fruit over chocolate snacks). At post-test, significantly less healthy IAs were observed in the control condition, while this reduction was not significant in the health game condition. Regarding food choice behaviour, participants with healthy baseline IAs were more likely to select fruit in the health game condition than participants with healthy baseline IAs in the control game condition. However, participants with less healthy baseline IAs were less likely to select fruit in the health game condition than in the control condition. We found tentative support that health games can be used to influence IAs towards food and positively affect food choice behaviour. However, this influence was only observed for those with healthy baseline IAs. The current version of the health game would primarily benefit those already healthy and could negatively affect those that need the intervention most, so modifications are recommendable.



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The psychosocial experience of feeling overweight promotes increased snack food consumption in women but not men

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 128
Author(s): Melissa Oldham, A. Janet Tomiyama, Eric Robinson
Self-identification of being overweight has been associated with overeating and weight gain in observational studies, irrespective of whether the individual in question is objectively overweight. The aims of the present studies were to examine whether experimentally manipulating the psychosocial experience of feeling overweight impacted on snack food consumption and to identify mechanisms explaining this effect. In Study 1, to manipulate the psychosocial experience of feeling overweight, 120 women wore an obese body suit or control clothing in public or private settings, before consuming snack foods. Wearing the obese body suit resulted in an increase in snack food consumption and this effect was not moderated by whether participants wore the obese body suit in public or in private. In Study 2, we aimed to replicate the effect of the obese body suit on snack food consumption and also examined whether the effect of the body suit on eating behaviour was moderated by participant sex (n = 150; 80 women). Women who wore the obese body suit ate significantly more than women who wore the control clothing, but this effect was not observed in men. Across both studies we examined a number of potential mechanisms that could explain the effect that wearing the obese body suit had on snack food consumption, but did not find supporting evidence. The psychosocial experience of feeling overweight may lead to increased snack food consumption in women, but the psychological mechanism explaining this effect is unclear.



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Infant hunger and satiety cues during the first two years of life: Developmental changes of within meal signalling

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Appetite, Volume 128
Author(s): N. Shloim, I. Shafiq, P. Blundell-Birtill, M.M. Hetherington
Overfeeding in infancy may lead to overweight and obesity in later childhood. Mothers are advised to "tune in" to their infant's hunger, appetite and satiation cues to prevent overfeeding. The present study aimed to 1) assess stability and change in infant hunger and satiety cues (first two years of life) taken at six monthly intervals; 2) track the expression of appetite cues during the course of a meal (beginning, middle and end). Thirty-eight women (mean age 35.3 + 3.7 years) participated in the study. Mothers were within a normal weight range (BMI = 22 + 3.3 kg/m²), most were married (N = 35; 95%) and for most this was not their first child. After an initial investigation (T1) follow-up visits took place every six months with filmed meals involving solid foods. A typical meal contained foods high in protein and carbohydrate plus cooked vegetables. Films were viewed and communication cues (engagement indicating appetite and disengagement indicating satiation) identified and recorded by appearance using the NCAST (Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training). Coding included the frequency and time at which each cue appeared. Results showed that infants were more likely to communicate potent engagement cues such as babbling, mutual gaze and looking at mother with age. None of the disengagement cues showed any significant main effects of time of follow up. Most, not all, feeding cues were stable across the segment of the feed and did not show a simple linear change across the meal, rather this appeared to develop with age. Raising awareness of these cues with mothers may encourage more responsive and positive mealtime interactions.



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Novel vaccines: Technology and development

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Sarita U. Patil, Wayne G. Shreffler
The development and widespread use of vaccines, which are defined by the World Health Organization as "biological preparations that improve immunity to a particular disease," represents one of the most significant strides in medicine. Vaccination was first applied to reduce mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines prevent 2 to 3 million human deaths annually, and these numbers would increase by at least 6 million if all children received the recommended vaccination schedule. However, the origins of allergen immunotherapy share the same intellectual paradigm, and subsequent innovations in vaccine technology have been applied beyond the prevention of infection, including in the treatment of cancer and allergic diseases. This review will focus on how new and more rational approaches to vaccine development use novel biotechnology, target new mechanisms, and shape the immune system response, with an emphasis on discoveries that have direct translational relevance to the treatment of allergic diseases.



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Oral corticosteroids in preschool children with severe episodes of virus-associated wheeze: to treat or not to treat?

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Avraham Beigelman, Leonard B. Bacharier




https://ift.tt/2MBimnT

Association between prenatal nickel exposure and preterm low birth weight: possible effect of selenium

Abstract

There is a proposed link between prenatal nickel (Ni) exposure and preterm low birth weight (PLBW); however, this association remains unclear. Selenium (Se) may modify this relationship by protecting against Ni toxicity. Concentrations of Ni and Se were measured in urine samples collected from 408 pregnant women (102 PLBW cases and 306 matched controls) in China. Conditional logistic regression was utilized to explore the association between Ni levels and PLBW, as well as the effect modification by Se on this association. A significant association was observed between higher maternal urinary Ni levels and risk of PLBW [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.80 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44, 5.44) for the highest tertile], and this association was more apparent among female infants than that among male infants. Further analyses showed that mothers with high urinary Ni and low urinary Se levels had a significantly increased risk for PLBW [adjusted OR = 2.87 (95% CI: 1.09, 7.56)] compared with the mothers with low urinary Ni and high urinary Se levels. Our study indicates that prenatal exposure to Ni was a risk factor for PLBW. Se might provide protection against the toxicity of Ni.

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Impact of waste-derived organic and inorganic amendments on the mobility and bioavailability of arsenic and cadmium in alkaline and acid soils

Abstract

In agriculture, more and more frequently waste-derived amendments are applied to soil to improve physical and chemical properties. Nevertheless, in soils polluted by potentially toxic metal(loid)s, this agricultural practice may significantly affect the mobility and bioavailability of pollutants modifying the risks for biota and human health. This work was aimed to assess the influence of poultry manure, biochar and coal fly ash on the mobility and bioavailability of As and Cd spiked in two Australian soils with different pH and texture: Mount Gambier (MGB)-alkaline sandy clay loam and Kapuda (KPD)-acid loamy sand. After 4 weeks of incubation from spiking and another 4 weeks from amendment addition, the soils were analysed for pH and amounts of As and Cd in pore-water and following 1 M NH₄NO₃ extraction. Bioavailable amounts were assessed by plant uptake, using Zea mays L. as test crop. In the alkaline MGB soil, the availability of Cd was reduced, while that of As increased. An opposite behaviour was observed in the acid KPD soil. All amendments, when added to KPD soil, increased pH and consequently reduced the mobility of Cd and increased the mobility of As. In MGB, the amendment addition had an effect only on As mobility and bioavailability, which increased likely as a result of the increased competition for adsorption with DOC released by organic compounds. These trends were confirmed by the amounts of Cd and As uptaken by maize plants.

https://ift.tt/2lM11gA

Varying concentrations of soil chromium (VI) for the exploration of tolerance thresholds and phytoremediation potential of the oregano ( Origanum vulgare )

Abstract

Varying concentrations of soil Cr(VI) were used in order to explore the tolerance thresholds and phytoremediation potential of Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare), in a pot experiment conducted outdoors. Oregano exhibited a rather exceptional capacity to bioaccumulate Cr in both the aerial part (up to 1200 mg of total Cr kg⁻¹ DM) and the root—reaching 4300 mg kg⁻¹ DM when grown in soil [Cr(VI)] of 150–200 mg kg⁻¹. Plant responses indicated that there was a threshold set at 100 mg Cr(VI) kg⁻¹ in the soil, above which the following results were recorded: (i) a restriction of Cr translocation from below- to above-ground plant part, (ii) a raise of the soil-to-root Cr transfer, and (iii) the Cr(III) evolution from the reduction of Cr(VI) was significantly decelerated in the root and accelerated in the aerial part. Soil [Cr] that surpassed this threshold challenged plant tolerance, resulting in a dose-dependent reduction of growth and antioxidant phenolics pool. Nonetheless, the significant Cr uptake capacity at plant level accounted for the considerably short remediation time (i.e., 29 years at soil [Cr(VI)] of 150 mg kg⁻¹) calculated according to these results. The overall performance of oregano indicated that phytoremediation would be feasible at sites with Cr contamination levels ranging within the above-defined thresholds.

https://ift.tt/2yW58jn

Brain mechanisms of visual long-term memory retrieval in primates

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Neuroscience Research
Author(s): Masaki Takeda
Memorizing events or objects and retrieving them from memory are essential for daily life. Historically, memory processing was studied in neuropsychology, in which patients provided us with insights into the brain mechanisms underlying memory. Psychological hypotheses about memory processing have been further investigated using neuroscience techniques, such as functional imaging and electrophysiology. In this article, I briefly summarize recent findings on multi-scale neural circuitry for memory at the scale of single neurons and cortical layers as well as inter-area and whole-brain interactions. The key idea which connects multi-scale neural circuits is how neuronal assemblies utilize the frequency of communication between neurons, cortical layers, and brain areas. Using findings and ideas from other cognitive function studies, I discuss the plausible communication between neurons involved in memory.



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Antioxidant and antitumor activities of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Hg(II) complexes containing a carbohydrazone ligand ending by 4-pyridyl ring

Publication date: 5 December 2018
Source:Journal of Molecular Structure, Volume 1173
Author(s): Ahmed Fetoh, Ola A. El-Gammal, Gaber M. Abu El-Reash
Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Hg(II) complexes derived from carbohydrazone ligand were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods, DFT calculations and TGA analysis. IR spectra together with DFT optimization revealed that the ligand uses its two (CN)azomthine in coordination with either Mn(II), Fe(III) or Zn(II) ions. While, Cd(II) and Hg(II) ions coordinates via the nitrogen atoms of the two pyridyl groups. On the other hand, the coordination takes place through the two (CN)azomthine and the (CO)carbonyl groups in Cr(III) complex. On the basis of the electronic spectra and as the magnetic measurements, an octahedral coordination geometry was proposed in case of Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes and a tetrahedral geometry in case of Mn(II) complex. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the isolated complexes were estimated using Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger models. The antioxidant (DDPH and ABTS methods), anti-hemolytic and cytotoxic activities of the compounds have been screened. The DDPH and ABTS antioxidant activity was investigated and indicated that Zn(II) complex exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. While, Fe(III) complex had significantly the same percentage of hemolysis as that of the positive control. With respect to antitumor activity, H2APEC and Zn(II) complex demonstrated the potent activity followed by Fe(III) complex.

Graphical abstract

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Fluorescence lifetime measurement excited with ultraviolet surface plasmon resonance

Publication date: 15 November 2018
Source:Optics Communications, Volume 427
Author(s): Taras Hanulia, Wataru Inami, Atsushi Ono, Yoshimasa Kawata
We present an application of surface plasmon resonance in the ultraviolet region (UV-SPR) to lifetime measurement of fluorescent materials. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been used to enhance fluorescence intensity and UV-SPR is important in the analysis of organic and biomolecules, including proteins and DNA, because UV light can excite many kinds of fluorescent dyes simultaneously or autofluorescence of biological specimens without any stain process. We obtained 16 times improvement of signal-to-noise ratio in lifetime measurement. We demonstrated the fluorescence lifetime of anthracene and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots using UV-SPR. The shortened fluorescence lifetime excited with UV-SPR compare to lifetime exited without SPR was analyzed.



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Structural and chemical characterization of CdSe-ZnS core-shell quantum dots

Publication date: 1 November 2018
Source:Applied Surface Science, Volume 457
Author(s): N. Fernández-Delgado, M. Herrera, A.H. Tavabi, M. Luysberg, R.E. Dunin-Borkowski, P.J. Rodriguez-Cantó, R. Abargues, J.P. Martínez-Pastor, S.I. Molina
The structural and compositional properties of CdSe-ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs) with a sub-nm shell thickness are analyzed at the atomic scale using electron microscopy. QDs with both wurtzite and zinc blende crystal structures, as well as intermixing of the two structures and stacking faults, are observed. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy suggests the presence of a lower atomic number epitaxial shell of irregular thickness around a CdSe core. The presence of a shell is confirmed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Despite the thickness irregularities, the optical properties of the particles, such as photoluminescence and quantum yield, show clear enhancement after growth of the ZnS shell.

Graphical abstract

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Interaction effects of chlorine and phosphorus on thermochemical behaviors of heavy metals during incineration of sulfur-rich textile dyeing sludge

Publication date: 1 November 2018
Source:Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 351
Author(s): Jingyong Liu, Zhongxu Zhuo, Wuming Xie, Jiahong Kuo, Xingwen Lu, Musa Buyukada, Fatih Evrendilek
Sulfur (S)-rich textile dyeing sludge (TDSS) with different chlorine (Cl) and phosphorus (P) contents was incinerated at 900 °C to determine interaction effects of Cl and P on the distributions and transformations of the seven heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Cd). The volatilizations of the heavy metals were adversely affected by the P addition. The Cl addition in low concentrations offset the negative effects of P on the Ni, Cr and Mn volatilizations. An interaction effect between Cl and P was found on the Pb and Cd volatilizations. Up to certain Cl and P concentrations, their synergistic effect restrained the Ni, Cu, Mn and Cr volatilizations but promoted the Zn volatilization. The addition of Cl/P in different ratios changed the distributions of Cu, Mn, Pb, and Cd. The addition of over 1% NH4Cl and NH4H2PO4 together decreased the residual fractions mainly transformed into oxidizable forms (6.5–19.7%) which in turn raised their potential toxicity and bioavailability. With the decreased Cl and S contents of the bottom ash, the volatilization rate of Cl was higher than that of S. The NH4H2PO4 addition increased the Ca content on the surface but decreased the Cl and S contents. S emissions were mainly in the forms of SO2, SO3, COS, CS2, and H2SO4, with Cl emission in the form of HCl. The increased P content was correlated with the Cl volatilization positively and the S volatilization negatively. The increased P content decreased the S volatilization by 11.2–17.0% with the addition of up to 1% Cl.



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Emerging functional markers for cancer stem cell-based therapies: Understanding signaling networks for targeting metastasis

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Seminars in Cancer Biology
Author(s): Stephan Marquardt, Manish Solanki, Alf Spitschak, Julio Vera, Brigitte M. Pützer
Metastasis is one of the most challenging issues in cancer patient management, and effective therapies to specifically target disease progression are missing, emphasizing the urgent need for developing novel antimetastatic therapeutics. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) gained fast attention as a minor population of highly malignant cells within liquid and solid tumors that are responsible for tumor onset, self-renewal, resistance to radio- and chemotherapies, and evasion of immune surveillance accelerating recurrence and metastasis. Recent progress in the identification of their phenotypic and molecular characteristics and interactions with the tumor microenvironment provides great potential for the development of CSC-based targeted therapies and radical improvement in metastasis prevention and cancer patient prognosis. Here, we report on newly uncovered signaling mechanisms controlling CSC's aggressiveness and treatment resistance, and CSC-specific agents and molecular therapeutics, some of which are currently under investigation in clinical trials, gearing towards decisive functional CSC intrinsic or surface markers. One special research focus rests upon subverted regulatory pathways such as insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor signaling and its interactors in metastasis-initiating cell populations directly related to the gain of stem cell- and EMT-associated properties, as well as key components of the E2F transcription factor network regulating metastatic progression, microenvironmental changes, and chemoresistance. In addition, the study provides insight into systems biology tools to establish complex molecular relationships behind the emergence of aggressive phenotypes from high-throughput data that rely on network-based analysis and their use to investigate immune escape mechanisms or predict clinical outcome-relevant CSC receptor signaling signatures. We further propose that customized vector technologies could drastically enhance systemic drug delivery to target sites, and summarize recent progress and remaining challenges. This review integrates available knowledge on CSC biology, computational modeling approaches, molecular targeting strategies, and delivery techniques to envision future clinical therapies designed to conquer metastasis-initiating cells.



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Patient-derived tumor organoids for prediction of cancer treatment response

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Seminars in Cancer Biology
Author(s): Peter W. Nagle, John Th. M. Plukker, Christina T. Muijs, Peter van Luijk, Robert P. Coppes
Cancer treatment, in particular radiotherapy and chemotherapy, is often hindered by an inherent resistance of cancer cells. Cancer stem cells in particular have previously been shown to be more resistant than other cells within a tumor and are thought repopulate the tumour after therapies. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to develop tools and techniques that can be used to study mechanisms of resistance of cancer stem cells as potential treatment targets. Organoids (and cancer-derived organoids), are three-dimensional tissue-resembling cellular clusters derived from tissue or tumor specific stem cells that mimic the in vivo (tumor) characteristics, as well as (tumor) cell heterogeneity. Cancer organoids may further enhance the in vitro and in vivo models that are currently available, improve our understanding of cancer stem cell resistance and can be used to develop novel cancer treatments by improved targeting of cancer stem cells. In this review, we compare organoids with the more traditional laboratory models, such as cell lines and xenografts, and review the literature of the current role of cancer organoids in determining treatment responses.



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Social Competence Treatment after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Interactive Group Treatment versus Non-Interactive Treatment

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Cynthia Harrison-Felix, Jody K. Newman, Lenore Hawley, Clare Morey, Jessica M. Ketchum, William C. Walker, Kathleen R. Bell, Scott R. Millis, Cynthia Braden, James Malec, Flora M. Hammond, C.B. Eagye, Laura Howe
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a replicable group treatment program for improving social competence after traumatic brain injury (TBI).DesignMulticenter randomized controlled trial comparing two methods of conducting a social competency skills program, an interactive group format versus a classroom lecture.SettingCommunity and Veteran rehabilitation centers.Participants179 civilian, military, and veteran adults with TBI and social competence difficulties, at least 6 months post-injury.Experimental InterventionThirteen weekly group interactive sessions (1.5 hours) with structured and facilitated group interactions to improve social competence.Alternative (Control) InterventionThirteen traditional classroom sessions using the same curriculum with brief supplemental individual sessions but without structured group interaction.Primary Outcome MeasureProfile of Pragmatic Impairment in Communication (PPIC), an objective behavioral rating of social communication impairments following TBI.Secondary OutcomesLaTrobe Communication Questionnaire (LCQ), Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – (PCL-C), Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), Scale of Perceived Social Self Efficacy (PSSE).ResultsSocial competence goals (GAS) were achieved and maintained for most participants regardless of treatment method. Significant improvements in the primary outcome (PPIC) and two of the secondary outcomes (LCQ and BSI) were seen immediately post-treatment and at 3 months post-treatment in the AT arm only, however these improvements were not significantly different between the GIST and AT arms. Similar trends were observed for PSSE and PCL-C.ConclusionsSocial competence skills improved for persons with TBI in both treatment conditions. The group interactive format was not found to be a superior method of treatment delivery in this study.



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A systematic critical appraisal of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the rehabilitation of children with moderate or severe acquired brain injury

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Sarah Knight, Michael Takagi, Elizabeth Fisher, Vicki Anderson, Natasha A. Lannin, Emma Tavender, Adam Scheinberg
ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to critically appraise the quality of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the rehabilitation of children with moderate or severe acquired brain injury (ABI).Data SourcesA systematic search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was conducted and an extensive website search of prominent professional rehabilitation society websites.Study SelectionCPGs were eligible for inclusion if they incorporated recommendation statements for inpatient and/or community rehabilitation for children with ABI and they were based on a systematic evidence search.Data ExtractionMethodological quality of eligible CPGs were appraised by three independent reviewers using the AGREE II instrument. Characteristics of eligible CPGs and strength of supporting evidence for included recommendations were extracted.Data Synthesis Of the nine included guidelines, two covered all ABIs, five focused specifically on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and two on stroke. Five of the CPGs were classified as High quality and four were of Average quality. In general, CPGs scored better for scope and purpose, rigor of development, and clarity of presentation. They scored most poorly in applicability, involvement of target users, and procedures for updating the guidelines. Inter-rater reliability for the AGREE II was generally high across domains. Very few of the 445 recommendations included across the nine CPGs were evidence-based.ConclusionsDespite variability in quality of the guideline development process, the included CPGs generally provided clear descriptions of their overall objectives, scope and purpose, employed systematic methods for searching, selecting and appraising research evidence, and produced unambiguous, clearly identifiable recommendations for children with ABI. Overall, existing CPGs focusing on rehabilitation for children with ABI are based on low quality evidence or expert consensus. Future work should focus on addressing the limitations of most of the current CPGs, particularly related to supporting implementation and integrating stakeholder involvement.



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Understanding health-related quality of life in caregivers of civilians and service members/veterans with traumatic brain injury: Reliability and validity data for the TBI-CareQOL measurement system

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Noelle E. Carlozzi, Rael T. Lange, Louis M. French, Angelle M. Sander, Phillip A. Ianni, David S. Tulsky, Jennifer A. Miner, Michael A. Kallen, Tracey A. Brickell
ObjectivesTo establish the reliability and validity of the newly developed TBI-CareQOL patient reported outcomes measures in caregivers of civilians and service members/veterans (SMVs) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) so that they can be used with confidence in clinical research and practice.DesignComputer-based surveys delivered through an on-line data capture platform.Setting: Three TBI Model Systems rehabilitation hospitals, an academic medical center, and a military medical treatment facility.ParticipantsFive hundred and sixty caregivers of individuals with TBI; this included two different study samples: 344 caregivers of civilians with TBI and 216 caregivers of SMVs with TBI.InterventionNot ApplicableMain Outcome Measures5 TBI-CareQOL item banksResultsReliabilities for the TBI-CareQOL measures were excellent (all Cronbach's α > .88); three-week test-retest reliability ranged from .75 to .90 across the two samples. Convergent validity was supported by moderate to high associations among the TBI-CareQOL measures and moderate correlations between the TBI-CareQOL measures and other measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and caregiver burden. Discriminant validity was supported by low correlations between the TBI-CareQOL measures and less-related constructs (e.g., caregiver satisfaction). Known groups validity was supported: caregivers of individuals that were low functioning had worse HRQOL than caregivers of high functioning individuals.ConclusionsResults provide psychometric support for the new TBI-CareQOL item banks. As such, these measures fill a significant gap in the caregiver literature where sensitive patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures that capture changes in HRQOL are needed to detect improvements for interventions designed to assist family caregivers.



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Diagnostic and clinical utility of the GAD-2 for screening anxiety symptoms in individuals with multiple sclerosis

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Abbey J. Hughes, Katherine M. Dunn, Trisha Chaffee, Jagriti (Jackie) Bhattarai, Meghan Beier
ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic and clinical utility of the two-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) for screening anxiety symptoms in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).DesignCross-sectional.SettingUniversity-affiliated MS neurology and rehabilitation center.ParticipantsThe sample was comprised of 99 adults (ages 19 to 72; M = 46.2; SD = 13.0; 75% female) with a physician-confirmed MS diagnosis who were receiving care in a university-affiliated MS center. Disease durations ranged from 1 to 37 years (M = 10.7; SD = 8.4).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants completed the GAD-7 and GAD-2. Internal consistency was calculated for both measures. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), the 95% confidence interval for the AUC, and Youden's J were calculated to determine the optimal GAD-2 cut-off score for identifying clinically significant anxiety symptoms, as defined by the previously validated GAD-7 cut-off score of ≥ 8.ResultsInternal consistency was excellent for the GAD-7 (Cronbach α = .91) and acceptable for the GAD-2 (α = .77), and the measures were highly correlated (r = .94). The GAD-2 had excellent overall accuracy for identifying clinically significant anxiety symptoms (AUC = 0.97, 95% CI 0.94 – 1.00). A GAD-2 cut-off score of ≥ 3 provided an optimal balance of good sensitivity (0.87) and excellent specificity (0.92) for detecting clinically significant anxiety symptoms. Alternatively, a cut-off score of ≥ 2 provided excellent sensitivity (1.00) and fair specificity (0.76).ConclusionsThe GAD-2 is a clinically useful and psychometrically valid tool for screening anxiety symptoms in MS rehabilitation and neurology care settings. Importantly, this tool has the potential to identify individuals with MS who are at risk for anxiety disorders and who may benefit from rehabilitation psychology interventions to ultimately improve functioning and quality of life.



https://ift.tt/2KDQ37K

Formation and nucleolytic processing of Cas9-induced DNA breaks in human cells quantified by droplet digital PCR

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:DNA Repair
Author(s): Diego Dibitetto, Mattia La Monica, Matteo Ferrari, Federica Marini, Achille Pellicioli
Cas9 endonuclease from S. pyogenes is widely used to induce controlled double strand breaks (DSB) at desired genomic loci for gene editing. Here, we describe a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) method to precisely quantify the kinetic of formation and 5′-end nucleolytic processing of Cas9-induced DSB in different human cells lines. Notably, DSB processing is a finely regulated process, which dictates the choice between non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology directed repair (HDR). This step of DSB repair is also a relevant point to be taken into consideration to improve Cas9-mediated technology. Indeed, by this protocol, we show that processing of Cas9-induced DSB is impaired by CTIP or BRCA1 depletion, while it is accelerated after down-regulation of DNA-PKcs and 53BP1, two DSB repair key factors. In conclusion, the method we describe here can be used to study DSB repair mechanisms, with direct utility for molecularly optimising the knock-out/in outcomes in genome manipulation.

Graphical abstract

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Effect of Age on Biomaterial-mediated in situ Bone Tissue Regeneration

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018
Source:Acta Biomaterialia
Author(s): Mengqian Liu, Manando Nakasaki, Yu-Ru Vernon Shih, Shyni Varghese
Emerging studies show the potential application of synthetic biomaterials that are intrinsically osteoconductive and osteoinductive as bone grafts to treat critical bone defects. Here, the biomaterial not only assists recruitment of endogenous cells, but also supports cellular activities relevant to bone tissue formation and function. While such biomaterial-mediated in situ tissue engineering is highly attractive, success of such an approach relies largely on the regenerative potential of the recruited cells, which is anticipated to vary with age. In this study, we investigated the effect of the age of the host on mineralized biomaterial-mediated bone tissue repair using critical-sized cranial defects as a model system. Mice of varying ages, 1-month-old (juvenile), 2-month-old (young-adult), 6-month-old (middle-aged), and 14-month-old (elderly), were used as recipients. Our results show that the bio-mineralized scaffolds support bone tissue formation by recruiting endogenous cells for all groups albeit with differences in an age-related manner. Analyses of bone tissue formation after 2 and 8 weeks post-treatment show low mineral deposition and reduced number of osteocalcin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-expressing cells in elderly mice.Statement of signifcanceTissue engineering strategies that promote tissue repair through recruitment of endogenous cells will have a significant impact in regenerative medicine. Previous studies from our group has shown that biomineralized materials containing calcium phosphate minerals can contribute to neo-bone tissue through recruitment and activation of endogenous cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of age of the recipient on these biomaterial-mediated bone tissue repair. Our results show that the age of the recipient mouse had a significant impact on the quality and quantity of the engineered neo-bone tissues, in which delayed/compromised bone tissue formation was observed in older mice. These findings are in agreement with the clinical findings that the age of the patient is a key factor in bone repair.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2yWiV9B