Erythropoietin stimulates vasculogenesis in neonatal rat mesenteric microvascular endothelial cells

Human breast milk is a rich source of growth factors, including erythropoietin (Epo), the endogenous hormonal stimulant of erythropoiesis. Recombinant human Epo (rhEpo) has been shown to stimulate 1) angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel growth from preexisting vessels; 2) vasculogenesis, tubule formation from single-cell suspensions; and 3) endothelial cell proliferation in immortalized endothelial cells and vessel explants. We hypothesized that Epo would induce mitogenesis and stimulate vasculogenesis in primary cultures of microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) from neonatal rat mesentery. Isolation, purification, characterization, and culture of MVECs were performed. Cell proliferative effects of rhEpo were studied by 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in cultured MVECs. Vasculogenic effects of rhEpo were examined on cultured MVECs plated on either hormone-rich Matrigel substratum or the extracellular matrix protein, type I collagen. Our findings show that MVECs are isolated and purified, and that rhEpo stimulates MVEC proliferation, with maximal proliferation seen with a concentration of 50 IU/mL rhEpo. Tubule formation assays reveal that an rhEpo concentration of 50 IU/mL produces maximal tubule formation after 12 h on both Matrigel and the simple substratum, type I collagen. Our study is the first to examine the effects of rhEpo on the endothelium of the neonatal gastrointestinal tract. These data suggest that Epo may have a trophic effect on the vasculature of the gastrointestinal tract early in development. Furthermore, as Epo has been measured in breast milk, and its receptor has been shown to exist on the mucosa and gastrointestinal vasculature, Epo may be an endogenous stimulant of vessel growth during neonatal gastrointestinal development.     

The separateness of social and emotional loneliness in childhood

BACKGROUND: Much of the childhood loneliness research is misleading because it confounds objective and subjective measures of loneliness. The overall aim of this research was to examine the relationship between social isolation and emotional loneliness. METHOD: Three extreme groups were identified in a sample of 640 4-9-year-old children. There were two ('rejected' [N=60] and 'lonely' [N=146]) in which social and emotional loneliness were unrelated. The first were socially isolated (rejected) but they did not feel lonely. The second group felt lonely but they were not socially isolated. The third group ('rejected/ lonely') consisted of 61 children who were rejected and also felt lonely. RESULTS: Felt loneliness and social rejection were experienced together by 61 children, but 206 children experienced either one or the other, but not both. The fourth and largest group [N=374] were neither rejected nor lonely. Differences between the groups were found on direct observation measures of solitariness, sociability, and aggression; peer reports of shyness, aggression, prosocial behaviour, disruptive behaviour and inability to take teasing; self-reports of self-worth and competence, self-reports of supportive relationships; and measures of language use. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that it is loneliness and not rejection that co-occurs with emotional problems.     

An alternatively spliced form of rodent alpha-synuclein forms intracellular inclusions in vitro: role of the carboxy-terminus in alpha-synuclein aggregation

In the rat, the -synuclein gene is alternatively spliced and exists in three forms, rat synuclein 1 (rSYN1), synuclein 2 (rSYN2) and synuclein 3. rSYN2 cDNA encodes a 149 amino acid protein that is homologous to rSYN1 and human -synuclein for the first 100 amino acids, but is divergent for the 49 amino acid carboxy-terminal region. We demonstrate here that rSYN2 forms small aggregates throughout the cytoplasm when overexpressed in human H4 cells, whereas rSYN1 expression is diffuse. Inhibition of the proteasome promotes the formation of larger, cytoplasmic rSYN2 inclusions in transfected cells. Although a survey of the available databases suggests that there is no human splice form equivalent of rSYN2, thus arguing against a direct role in Lewy body formation and Parkinson's disease, these data nonetheless suggest that modifications of the carboxy-terminal region of -synuclein predispose it to inclusion formation.     

Falls in community-dwelling stroke survivors: an accumulated impairments model

Falling has been identified as a major complication in persons who have had a stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of accumulated impairments on the risk of falling in community-dwelling stroke survivors. METHODS: Community-dwelling stroke survivors were identified from the Kansas City Stroke Study, a large cohort study of stroke survivors. We evaluated the subjects within 14 days of stroke onset. Impairments were determined at baseline and were defined as motor = Fugl-Meyer lower-limb score > 28, sensory = sensory score on National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stroke Scale > 0, and visual = hemianopsia score on NIH Stroke Scale > 0. Accumulated impairments were characterized as motor only (n = 101), motor + sensory (n = 88), and motor + sensory + visual (n = 47). The reference group did not possess motor, sensory, or visual impairments. We completed follow-ups at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months poststroke to determine the fall status of the subjects. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty subjects were included. Falls were reported by 142 subjects (51%) between 1 month and 6 months poststroke. Univariate analysis revealed that the risk of falling for subjects with motor impairment only was odds ratio (OR) = 2.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05 to 4.70), motor + sensory impairments OR = 3.1 (95% CI 1.46 to 6.79), and motor + sensory + visual impairments OR = 2.4 (95% CI 1.05 to 5.83) as compared to the group with no motor, sensory, and visual impairments. In multiple logistic regression, the risk of falling increased with motor impairment only and motor + sensory impairments. However, the motor + sensory + visual impairments group had a lower risk of falling. Secondary analysis revealed a significant difference in mobility scores (Orpington Prognostic Scale-balance) among individuals with motor impairment only, motor + sensory impairments, motor + sensory + visual impairments, and the reference group. This lower risk of falling in stroke survivors with motor + sensory + visual impairments may be explained by more involved strokes, more impaired balance, and subsequently less mobility, therefore, lowering their risk of falling. In conclusion, community-dwelling persons who have had a stroke are at a higher risk of falling. However, the risk of falling is not linearly related to the number of impairments. Individuals with motor, sensory, and visual impairments are less mobile and less likely to fall than those individuals with motor deficits only or motor and sensory deficits.     

Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in a stroke rehabilitation unit: a feasibility study

Obstructive sleep apnea can be diagnosed in approximately 60% of stroke survivors in the postacute period and has been found to be associated with increased mortality and a worse functional outcome at 3 and 12 mo after discharge. In this study, 38 patients undergoing rehabilitation after stroke underwent sleep studies by using the AutoSet Portable II Plus device; obstructive sleep apnea was found in 18 of the patients, and five consecutively diagnosed patients were treated on the ward with nasal continuous positive airway pressure. The research has shown that it is feasible to routinely implement a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to sleep apnea on the rehabilitation ward, which is hoped to have a positive influence on mortality, functional outcome, and secondary prevention.     

Pet therapy research: a historical review

From its unpretentious beginnings in pastoral England to the current interest in scientific research and trials of its use, pet therapy is clearly drawing attention to its benefits. Throughout the 40-year history of pet therapy, nursing and nursing research has been at the very heart. The growing body of research in pet therapy reflects nursing's own evolutionary process. This article reviews the history of pet therapy and discusses the growing body of research illustrating the healing power of animal use.     

Functional MRI of global and local processing in children

Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine developmental change in hemispheric biases for globally and locally directed analysis of hierarchical forms. In a previous reaction time (RT) study, which presented hierarchical stimuli to the visual hemifields, children 7 to 14 years of age demonstrated an emerging pattern of hemispheric differences. Initially children analyzed local elements more slowly, without a strongly lateralized advantage for local or global level processing. With age, children's development was marked by a left hemisphere advantage for local level processing that resembled an adult's and a trend toward a right hemisphere advantage for global. In the current study, 20 children 12 to 14 years old were imaged during attend-global and attend-local conditions to determine whether the developmental change in cognitive measures corresponded to a change in distribution of functional activation. Children formed two groups based on their RT performance, immature-bilateral (IB) or mature-lateralized (ML). The volume of task-related activation within lateral temporo-occipital regions of interest was compared for global and local conditions between the two groups. The IB children showed greater activation overall for local level processing, comparable activation across the two hemispheres for the global condition, and a trend of right greater than left hemisphere activation for local. In contrast, the ML children displayed right greater than left hemisphere activation during global analysis and the opposite during local processing. Importantly these patterns of functional activation mirror the profiles of RT performance. Together they demonstrate a shift from undifferentiated, bilateral processing toward hemispheric lateralization.     

Effect of Reiki treatments on functional recovery in patients in poststroke rehabilitation: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES: The three objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of Reiki as an adjunctive treatment for patients with subacute stroke who were receiving standard rehabilitation as inpatients, (2) to evaluate a double-blinded procedure for training Reiki practitioners, and (3) to determine whether or not double-blinded Reiki and sham practitioners could determine which category they were in. DESIGN: A modified double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial with an additional historic control condition. SETTING: The stroke unit of a major rehabilitation hospital. SUBJECTS: Fifty (50) inpatients with subacute ischemic stroke, 31 male and 19 female. INTERVENTIONS: There were four conditions: Reiki master, Reiki practitioner, sham Reiki, and no treatment (historic control). Subjects received up to 10 treatments over a 2(1/2)-week period in addition to standard rehabilitation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional independence measure (FIM), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression (CES-D) measure. RESULTS: No effects of Reiki were found on the FIM or CES-D, although typical effects as a result of age, gender, and time in rehabilitation were detected. Blinded practitioners (sham or reiki) were unable to determine which category they were in. Sham Reiki practitioners reported greater frequency of feeling heat in the hands compared to Reiki practitioners. There was no reported difference between the sham and the real Reiki practitioners in their ability to feel energy flowing through their hands. Post hoc analyses suggested that Reiki may have had limited effects on mood and energy levels. CONCLUSION: Reiki did not have any clinically useful effect on stroke recovery in subacute hospitalized patients receiving standard-of-care rehabilitation therapy. Selective positive effects on mood and energy were not the result of attentional or placebo effects.