Sex differences in the renal changes elicited by angiotensin II blockade during the nephrogenic period

The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in renal development. However, it is unknown whether reduction in angiotensin II effects during the nephrogenic period leads to different renal alterations in males and females during the adult age. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the role of angiotensin II on renal development is sex dependent and whether there are sex differences in blood pressure, renal hemodynamics, and severity of renal damage during adult life when nephrogenesis is altered by blocking angiotensin II effects. Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist (L-158.809; 7 mg/kg per day) during the first 2 weeks of life. At 3 months of age, changes in blood pressure, albuminuria, and renal hemodynamics were assessed, and stereological and histopathologic studies were performed. Blood pressure increased (127+/-0.5 versus 115+/-0.7 mm Hg in control rats; P<0.05) and nephron number decreased (37%; P<0.05) similarly in treated males and females. However, only males had an elevation in albuminuria (5.92+/-1.65 versus 0.33+/-0.09 mg per day in control rats; P<0.05), a fall in glomerular filtration rate (12.6%; P<0.05), and a significant decrease in papillary volume (42%; P<0.05). Mean glomerular volume, glomerulosclerosis, arteriolar hypertrophy, and tubulointerstitial damage in cortex and medulla were also higher (P<0.05) in angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist-treated males than in treated females. The results of this study suggest that females seem to be more protected than males to the renal consequences of reducing angiotensin II effects during renal development.     

Italian adaptation of the functional outcome questionnaire – aphasia: initial psychometric evaluation

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia.

Methods: Two hundred and five persons with stroke-related aphasia and right hemiparesis who received ongoing assistance from a family caregiver were assessed using the Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia, Aachener Aphasie Test, Token Test, Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Functional Assessment Measure (FAM), and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Aphasics (QLQA). The Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia was translated into the Italian language using a translation and back-translation method. Reliability and construct validity of the Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia were evaluated.

Results: The Italian version of the Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia showed good internal consistency and test–retest reliability for the overall scale (α?=?0.98; ICC?=?0.95) and subscales (α?=?0.89 for the communicating basic needs (CBN), α?=?0.92 for the making routine requests (MRR), α?=?0.96 for the communicating new information (CNI), α?=?0.93 for the attention/other communication skills (AO); ICC?=?0.95 for CBN, ICC?=?0.96 for MRR, ICC?=?0.97 for CNI and ICC?=?0.92 for AO). Significant correlations were found between the Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia and Token Test, QLQA, Aachener Aphasie Test scores, and FAM linguistic scores, indicating good convergent validity. Low correlations were found between Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia and Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices and FIM motor scores, showing good discriminant validity.

Conclusions: The overall findings of this study supported the reliability and construct validity of the Italian version of the Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia. This measure holds considerable promise in assessing the functional outcomes of aphasia rehabilitation in Italian-speaking persons with aphasia.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia is a reliable and valid questionnaire in assessing functional communication of Italian-speaking people with aphasia.

• This measure provides critical information about people with aphasia’s functional and pragmatic communication in home and community settings, contributing significantly to overall quality of life.

• Since the use of measures of functional communication is recommended in the clinical evaluation of language disease, the Italian version of Functional Outcome Questionnaire – Aphasia may be effective in tailoring rehabilitation treatment to the presenting communication problems of people with aphasia and their caregivers.

     

Effects of gastrointestinal hormones on vascular smooth muscle

The effects of the gastrointestinal hormones secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) were investigated on rat portal-vein mechanical activity. Doses of 0.03–0.60 units/ml Boots secretin; 0.18–0.60 units/ml, pure, natural secretin; and 0.12–0.60 units/ml CCK elicited dose-dependent decreases in amplitude and simultaneous increases in frequency of spontaneous contractions that were unaffected by - or -adrenergic or cholinergic blockade. These effects were mimicked by isoproterenol, theophylline, and cyclic AMP, and all agents tested were also effective in reducing K- or norepinephrine-induced tension. Additionally, subthreshold doses of CCK and secretin elicited responses when given in combination, and the effects of the hormones at all doses were potentiated by theophylline, indicating an interaction between these hormones on rat portal vein that may involve cyclic AMP. It is suggested that part of the mechanism of hormone-induced mesenteric vasodilation smooth muscle.     

Effectiveness of the PECS Phase III app and choice between the app and traditional PECS among preschoolers with ASD

We investigated the efficacy of a tablet-computer-based Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) application for use with three preschoolers with ASD and investigated participant preference for the app versus traditional PECS (i.e., with a physical communication book) once the participants demonstrated minimal levels of mastery of both. We implemented a single-case multiple baseline design to determine the efficacy of the app. Results indicated that participants rapidly demonstrated above-chance level mastery of the app. Following mastery, two participants demonstrated a preference for the app, while the other preferred the traditional PECS communication book.     

A study of capillary morphology in the digits of patients with acquired clubbing

We sought to determine the capillary morphology in patients with clubbing to compare it with that in subjects without clubbing. Subjects were placed in the clubbed or nonclubbed groups on the basis of caliper measurements of their index fingers. In each subject, photomicrographs of eight fingers were done focusing on the dorsal skin just proximal to the base of the nail. Each photomicrograph was randomly graded with respect to the presence and extent of plexus formation, the presence of arborized loops, and the presence of splayed loops. Comparison of the plexus score, presence of arborized loops, and presence of splayed loops were significantly different between the clubbed and nonclubbed groups (p less than 0.001 in all three analyses). Only a plexus score of 2 or greater demonstrated a useful degree of sensitivity and specificity (89 and 90%, respectively). We concluded that a significant difference in the morphologic features of the capillaries existed between nonclubbed subjects and those with acquired clubbing.     

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