Crowdsourcing as a method for collecting data pertaining to the effects of alcohol on perceptions of partner aggression

Background: Efforts designed to investigate the effects of recent alcohol use on the perception of intimate partner aggression have been stultified by significant financial and logistical barriers that warrant the development of supplemental research methods that may result in more prolific investigation of the phenomenon. Objectives: The current study explored the viability of using online crowdsourcing to assess the effects of recent alcohol use on the perception of partner aggression. Method: Mechanical Turk was used to recruit a convenience sample of 60 males who were asked to provide information on their own use of partner aggression, their most recent episode of alcohol use, and their perception of the behaviors and characters depicted in a written partner aggression vignette. Data were evaluated using five separate hierarchical multiple regression models predicting participant perception. Results: Analyses revealed that 35% of the sample had used partner aggression in the past year and that 22% of the sample had consumed alcohol in the past day. Nonviolent participants perceived the aggressor and the behavior more negatively than partner violent participants. Some indicators revealed that recent alcohol use was associated with more positive perceptions of partner aggression. Conclusion: Expected associations among prior partner aggression, recent alcohol use, and perception of partner aggression vignettes were observed. Crowdsourcing may represent a source for data evaluating the effects of recent alcohol use on perceptions of aggression. Methodological refinement will benefit research and, ultimately, clinical prevention and intervention.     

Coronary Artery Disease in Patients ≥80 Years of Age

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients ≥80 years of age. Nonetheless, older patients have typically been under-represented in cardiovascular clinical trials. Understanding the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and optimal means of diagnosis and treatment of CAD in older adults is crucial to improving outcomes in this high-risk population. A patient-centered approach, taking into account health status, functional ability and frailty, cognitive skills, and patient preferences is essential when caring for older adults with CAD. The present systematic review focuses on the current knowledge base, gaps in understanding, and directions for future investigation pertaining to CAD in patients ≥80 years of age.     

Streptokinase may play role in expanding non-operative management of infected walled off pancreatic necrosis: Preliminary results

Goals and backgroundWe evaluated ex and in vivo effect of streptokinase on pancreatic necrosum to improve the success rate of pigtail catheter drainage and irrigation in infected walled off pancreatic necrosis using step up approach and also looked at potential risk of bleeding.Experiment and clinical cases1000 IU/ml of streptokinase was added to 10 g. of intra-operatively obtained fresh tissue of peripancreatic necrosis and results compared to treatment with saline. Mixture was incubated for 12 h in thermostat at 37.5 °C and subjected to histopathology. Subsequently streptokinase (50,000 units thrice a day for 5 days through PCD) was used in two patients with walled off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) not responding to step up approach and who were being considered for surgery.Grossly there was fragmentation of necrosum in streptokinase treated tissue. Microscopically complete loss of supportive collagenous framework was noted in streptokinase treated necrosum with clumping of necrotic tissue into structure-less mass. No such changes were discernible in saline treated tissue. In two patients with WOPN there was clearance of debris after streptokinase instillation. None of the patients was on thromboprophylaxis and bleeding was not noticed in any of the patients.ConclusionBased on ex vivo effect of streptokinase in dissolution of necrosum at periphery, we believe that in patients with walled off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) not responding to pigtail catheter drainage and saline irrigation; streptokinase may prove to be useful adjunct.     

Additional benefit of combined therapy with melatonin and apoptotic adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cell against sepsis‐induced kidney injury

This study tested whether combined therapy with melatonin and apoptotic adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (A‐ADMSCs) offered additional benefit in ameliorating sepsis‐induced acute kidney injury. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 65) were randomized equally into five groups: Sham controls (SC), sepsis induced by cecal‐ligation and puncture (CLP), CLP‐melatonin, CLP‐A‐ADMSC, and CLP‐melatonin‐A‐ADMSC. Circulating TNF‐α level at post‐CLP 6 hr was highest in CLP and lowest in SC groups, higher in CLP‐melatonin than in CLP‐A‐ADMSC and CLP‐melatonin‐A‐ADMSC groups (all P < 0.001). Immune reactivity as reflected in the number of splenic helper‐, cytoxic‐, and regulatory‐T cells at post‐CLP 72 hr exhibited the same pattern as that of circulating TNF‐α among all groups (P < 0.001). The histological scoring of kidney injury and the number of F4/80+ and CD14+ cells in kidney were highest in CLP and lowest in SC groups, higher in CLP‐melatonin than in CLP‐A‐ADMSC and CLP‐melatonin‐A‐ADMSC groups, and higher in CLP‐A‐ADMSC than in CLP‐melatonin‐A‐ADMSC groups (all P < 0.001). Changes in protein expressions of inflammatory (RANTES, TNF‐1α, NF‐κB, MMP‐9, MIP‐1, IL‐1β), apoptotic (cleaved caspase 3 and PARP, mitochondrial Bax), fibrotic (Smad3, TGF‐β) markers, reactive‐oxygen‐species (NOX‐1, NOX‐2), and oxidative stress displayed a pattern identical to that of kidney injury score among the five groups (all P < 0.001). Expressions of antioxidants (GR+, GPx+, HO‐1, NQO‐1+) were lowest in SC group and highest in CLP‐melatonin‐A‐ADMSC group, lower in CLP than in CLP‐melatonin and CLP‐A‐ADMSC groups, and lower in CLP‐melatonin‐ than in CLP‐A‐ADMSC‐tretaed animals (all P < 0.001). In conclusion, combined treatment with melatonin and A‐ADMSC was superior to A‐ADMSC alone in protecting the kidneys from sepsis‐induced injury.     

急性冠脉综合征患者红细胞分布宽度和超敏CRP的变化及临床意义

目的了解冠心病患者中斑块稳定组与不稳定组之间红细胞分布宽度（red blood cell distribution width,RDW）是否有差异,是否能成为早期识别急性冠脉综合征（acute coronary syndromes,ACS）的一个潜在标记物；同时研究血清超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）,并探讨二者之间是否有联系。方法 213例患者根据临床症状、相关标准及造影结果分成ACS组、SAP组及对照组,测定每位患者的RDW、hs-CRP及血脂指标。结果 （1）ACS组RDW值显著高于SAP组及对照组,而SAP组与对照组之间无显著性差异；（2）ACS组hs-CRP显著高于SAP组及对照组,而SAP组与对照组之间无显著性差异；（3）多因素Longistic回归分析发现RDW水平与ACS之间存在独立的显著性相关关系；（4）RDW与血清hs-CRP呈显著性正相关。结论 ACS组患者RDW是明显升高的,提示RDW的升高可能参与斑块不稳定的进展过程,可能是反映斑块易损性的一个潜在标记物。     

Differential effects of cadmium administration on peripheral blood granulocytes in rats

Infiltration of circulatory inflammatory cells is a common histopathological finding in target organs following cadmium administration, but there is paucity of data concerning their activity. In this study, the effects of sublethal (1 mg/kg) cadmium on peripheral blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells were examined 48 h following administration in rats, when tissue (liver and lung) infiltration of these cells was observed. Cadmium administration resulted in systemic inflammatory cytokine and acute phase response with an increase in circulatory neutrophil numbers and cells that express CD11b molecules. Rise in basic aspects of oxidative activity including intracellular myeloperoxidase (MPO), reactive oxygen (nitroblue tetrazolium/NBT cytochemical assay) and nitrogen (Griess assay) species production was observed in PMNs from cadmium-administered rats. A decrease in levels of mRNA for IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 was noted, but production of these cytokines was affected differentially. Described effects of cadmium on PMNs add further to the understanding of inflammatory potential of this environmental contaminant.     

Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is extremely common in older adults and the potential benefits of secondary prevention are perhaps greater in this population than in younger patients. While there is good evidence that secondary prevention efforts are justified in patients up to 80 years of age, limited data are available on secondary prevention in octogenarians and there is no evidence to guide treatment in patients ≥ 90 years of age. Further, the value of secondary prevention may be confounded by prevalent comorbidities, polypharmacy, and limited life expectancy. It is therefore essential that all management decisions be made in relation to individual preferences and goals of care, with understanding by patients that benefits as well as risks may increase with age. Furthermore, research is needed to refine markers to better delineate which older adults are most likely to benefit from preventive therapies.     

蒙脱石散联合双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片治疗小儿急性腹泻的临床分析

目的探讨蒙脱石散联合双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片治疗小儿急性腹泻的临床疗效。方法选取我院自2013年2月~2014年2月接收的80例小儿急性腹泻患儿,随机分为观察组和对照组,每组40例,对照组行单纯蒙脱石散治疗,观察组则行蒙脱石散联合双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片治疗,比较两组患儿的临床疗效。结果 两组患儿治疗总有效率、退热时间、呕吐消失时间、腹痛消失时间、大便正常时间等比较均有显著性差异(P0.05)。结论 给予急性腹泻患儿蒙脱石散联合双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片治疗可有效的提高治疗效果,改善患儿临床症状。