Effects of laser irradiation (670-nm InGaP and 830-nm GaAlAs) on burn of second-degree in rats

This study investigated the effects of 670-nm indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) and 830-nm gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) laser therapy on second-degree burns induced on the back of Wistar rats. Sixty-three male Wistar rats were anesthetized, and second-degree burns were made on their back. The animals were then divided randomly into three groups: control (C), animals treated with 670-nm InGaP laser (LIn), and animals treated with 830-nm GaAlAs laser (LGa). The wound areas were removed after 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18 days of treatment and submitted to structural and morphometric analysis. The following parameters were studied: total number of granulocytes and fibroblasts, number of newly formed blood vessels, and percentage of birefringent collagen fibers in the repair area. Morphometric analysis showed that different lasers 670-nm InGaP and 830-nm GaAlAs reduced the number of granulocytes and an increase of newly formed vessels in radiated lesions. The 670-nm InGaP laser therapy was more effective in increasing the number of fibroblasts. The different treatments modified the expression of VEGF and TGF-β1, when compared with lesions not irradiated. The different types of light sources showed similar effects, improved the healing of second-degree burns and can help for treating this type of injury. Despite the large number of studies with LLTI application in second-degree burns, there is still divergence about the best irradiation parameters to be used. Further studies are needed for developing a protocol effective in treating this type of injury.     

The cutting edge—an investigation into the pressure necessary for cutting skin with different knife blade types

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Sharp force trauma is routinely encountered in forensic practice. Often the question is posed, how much pressure or energy would have been necessary to...     

Association of Resistance Exercise With the Incidence of Hypercholesterolemia in Men

Objective

To examine the associations of resistance exercise, independent of and combined with aerobic exercise, with the risk of development of hypercholesterolemia in men.

MMSE Changes During and After ECT in Late-Life Depression: A Prospective Study

ObjectiveThere is ongoing concern about the impact of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on cognition in patients with late-life depression (LLD), especially in patients for whom pretreatment Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores are low. Our aim was to examine the evolution of cognitive effects of ECT, using the MMSE in a large group of patients with LLD.MethodsOne hundred nine patients aged 55 years and older with unipolar depression, referred for ECT, were included in our study. The MMSE was assessed before, during, immediately after, and 6 months after ECT.ResultsMMSE scores improved significantly during the course of ECT and remained stable during the 6-month period after ending ECT for the total group. In the group of patients with a low MMSE score (<24) at baseline, the MMSE score improved significantly during ECT, whereas in the group of patients with a normal MMSE score (≥24) at baseline, the score did not change significantly during ECT. In both groups, MMSE scores still increased slightly after ECT was discontinued.ConclusionECT does not cause deleterious cognitive effects, as measured with the MMSE, during and for 6 months after the ECT course in patients with LLD. In the event of a baseline cognitive impairment, MMSE scores tend to improve significantly during and for 6 months after the ECT course. The presence of pretreatment cognitive impairment should not lead clinicians to withhold ECT in older patients with severe depression.     

Social Support and the Mediating Roles of Alcohol Use and Adherence Self-Efficacy on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence Among ART Recipients in Gauteng,South Africa

We sought to (a) replicate and (b) extend (via the addition of alcohol use) Cha et al.’s cross-sectional multi-component model of ART adherence on the relationship between social support, depression, self-efficacy beliefs, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, among HIV patients in Tshwane, South Africa. Using purposive sampling, 304 male and female ART recipients were recruited. ART adherence was assessed using three manifest indicators: total adherence ratio, the CASE adherence index and 1-month adherence measure. Data were analysed using structural equation modeling. In our replicated model, social support had both direct and indirect relationships with ART adherence, and inclusion of alcohol use improved prediction of ART adherence. Direct and indirect effects of alcohol use on ART adherence emerged: adherence self-efficacy beliefs partially mediated the latter path. Findings highlight the importance of integrating into ART promotion interventions, the reduction of alcohol use, provision of social support, and enhancement of adherence self-efficacy beliefs.     

Western diet modulates insulin signaling, c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity, and insulin receptor substrate-1ser307 phosphorylation in a tissue-specific fashion

The mechanisms by which diet-induced obesity is associated with insulin resistance are not well established, and no study has until now integrated, in a temporal manner, functional insulin action data with insulin signaling in key insulin-sensitive tissues, including the hypothalamus. In this study, we evaluated the regulation of insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp procedures and insulin signaling, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1(ser307) phosphorylation in liver, muscle, adipose tissue, and hypothalamus, by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, in rats fed on a Western diet (WD) or control diet for 10 or 30 d. WD increased visceral adiposity, serum triacylglycerol, and insulin levels and reduced whole-body glucose use. After 10 d of WD (WD10) there was a decrease in IRS-1/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in hypothalamus and muscle, associated with an attenuation of the anorexigenic effect of insulin in the former and reduced glucose transport in the latter. In WD10, there was an increased glucose transport in adipose tissue in parallel to increased insulin signaling in this tissue. After 30 d of WD, insulin was less effective in suppressing hepatic glucose production, and this was associated with a decrease in insulin signaling in the liver. JNK activity and IRS-1(ser307) phosphorylation were higher in insulin-resistant tissues. In summary, the insulin resistance induced by WD is tissue specific and installs first in hypothalamus and muscle and later in liver, accompanied by activation of JNK and IRS-1(ser307) phosphorylation. The impairment of the insulin signaling in these tissues, but not in adipose tissue, may lead to increased adiposity and insulin resistance in the WD rats.     

Interactive virtual reality assessment of aggressive social information processing in boys with behaviour problems: A pilot study

Children's aggressive behaviour is partly determined by how they process social information (e.g., making hostile interpretations or aiming to seek revenge). Such aggressive social information processing (SIP) may be most evident if children are emotionally engaged in actual social interactions. Current methods to assess aggressive SIP, however, often ask children to reflect on hypothetical vignettes. This pilot study therefore examined a new method that actually involves children in emotionally engaging social interactions: interactive virtual reality (VR). We developed a virtual classroom where children could play games with virtual peers. A sample of boys (N = 32; ages 8–13) from regular and special education reported on their SIP in distinct VR contexts (i.e., neutral, instrumental gain and provocation). They also completed a standard vignette-based assessment of SIP. Results demonstrated good convergent validity of interactive VR assessment of SIP, as indicated by significant moderate to large correlations of VR-assessed SIP with vignette-assessed SIP for all SIP variables except anger. Interactive VR showed improved measurement sensitivity (i.e., larger variances in SIP compared to vignettes) for aggressive responding, but not for other SIP variables. Discriminant validity (i.e., distinct SIP patterns across contexts) of interactive VR was supported for provocation contexts, but not for instrumental gain contexts. Last, children were more enthusiastic about the VR assessment compared to the vignette-based assessment. These findings suggest that interactive VR may be a promising tool, allowing for the assessment of children's aggressive SIP in standardized yet emotionally engaging social interactions.