Celebrating the Strengths of Black Youth: Increasing Self-Esteem and Implications for Prevention

The purpose of this study was to test the impact of a preventive intervention program, celebrating the strengths of black youth (CSBY), on African American children’s self-esteem, racial identity, and parental racial socialization messages. CSBY consisted of 10 in-person group sessions in which small groups of middle school students met two trained group leaders. Parents were invited to attend three of the 10 group sessions. African American children between the ages of 7 and 10 were randomly assigned to either a treatment (TX; n = 33) or waitlist control (WLC; n = 40) group. Pre- and post-measures were completed to capture treatment effects. Analyses revealed that treatment group participants had higher levels of self-esteem post intervention than WLC group participants. In addition, treatment group parents were more likely to communicate egalitarian messages to their children post intervention than WLC parents. The advantages of a cultural heritage, strengths-based preventive intervention for African American youth and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Assessment of Active Play,Inactivity and Perceived Barriers in an Inner City Neighborhood

Avondale, a disadvantaged neighborhood in Cincinnati, lags behind on a number of indicators of child well-being. Childhood obesity has become increasingly prevalent, as one-third of Avondale’s kindergarteners are obese or overweight. The study objective was to determine perceptions of the quantity of and obstacles to childhood physical activity in the Avondale community. Caregivers of children from two elementary schools were surveyed to assess their child’s physical activity and barriers to being active. Three hundred and forty surveys were returned out of 1,047 for a response rate of 32 %. On school days, 41 % of caregivers reported that their children spent more than 2 h watching television, playing video games, or spending time on the computer. While over half of respondents reported that their children get more than 2 h of physical activity on school days, 14 % of children were reported to be physically active less than 1 h per day. Caregivers identified violence, cost of extracurricular activities, and lack of organized activities as barriers to their child’s physical activity. The overwhelming majority of caregivers expressed interest in a program to make local playgrounds safer. In conclusion, children in Avondale are not participating in enough physical activity and are exposed to more screen time than is recommended by the AAP. Safety concerns were identified as a critical barrier to address in future advocacy efforts in this community. This project represents an important step toward increasing the physical activity of children in Avondale and engaging the local community.     

Are Bombax buonopozense and Bombax malabaricum possible nutraceuticals for age management?

Human longevity and healthy ageing though controversial require extended investigations. Some studies have shown that ageing can be managed by reducing the amounts of free radicals the cells are exposed to. Oxidative stress has been shown to be combated by antioxidants and plant sources are known to generate antioxidants that are efficacious and low in toxicity. This review aims to enlighten on antioxidants from Bombax buonopozense and Bombax malabaricum for prevention, reversal or delay of age-related diseases. Furthermore, it advocates for more studies to enable the shift from research to commercial applications of the antioxidants as nutraceuticals in age management.     

Combined fractures of the body and hook of hamate: a form of ulnar axial injury of the wrist.

Fractures of the hamate are rare, and usually associated with athletes. We describe an unusual form of the injury involving fractures of the hook as well as an intra-articular medial facet. It is likely to be a result of high velocity ulnar component of the axial injury. Surgical treatment is advocated to achieve accurate reduction and apposition of the fifth carpometacarpal joint.     

Tissue engineering of flexor tendons: optimization of tenocyte proliferation using growth factor supplementation

A significant problem in flexor tendon repair is the lack of suitable graft material for reconstruction. The ex vivo production of flexor tendon graft constructs requires the expansion of primary cells. Growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), are known to promote tendon healing and tendon cell proliferation. The purpose of these experiments was to optimize tenocyte proliferation in 3 tendon cell populations using growth factor supplementation. Cells of the synovial sheath, epitenon, and endotenon were isolated from rabbit flexor digitorum profundus tendons and maintained in culture. Cell cultures were supplemented with IGF-1, PDGF-BB, and bFGF alone and in combination. The conditions used for individual growth factor supplementation were IGF-1 (10, 50, and 100 ng/mL), PDGF-BB (1, 10, and 50 ng/mL), and bFGF (0.5, 1, and 5 ng/mL). The conditions used for combinations of growth factors were IGF-1 + PDGF-BB (50 + 10 and 100 + 50 ng/mL, respectively) and IGF-1 + PDGF-BB+ bFGF (50 + 10 + 1; 50 + 10 + 5; 100 + 50 + 1; and 100 + 50 + 5 ng/mL, respectively). For all 3 tendon cell populations, proliferation at 72 h was greater in the presence of individual growth factors as compared to controls. With PDGF-BB (50 ng/mL) supplementation, mean absorbance values increased 97% (0.57 to 1.13) in S cells, 37% (0.51 to 0.70) in E cells, and 33% (0.33 to 0.44) in T cells ( p < 0.001). In addition, a synergistic effect was observed. The combination of growth factors resulted in greater proliferation as compared to maximal doses of individual growth factors. In cultures supplemented with IGF-1 (100 ng/mL) +PDGF-BB (50 ng/mL), mean absorbance increased 114% (0.57 to 1.22) in S cells, 63% (0.51 to 0.831) in E cells, and 47% (0.33 to 0.48) in T cells ( p < 0.001). IGF-1 (100 ng/mL) + PDGF-BB (50 ng/mL) + bFGF (5 ng/mL) resulted in the greatest amount of cell proliferation for all 3 tendon cell populations. The mean absorbances increased 251% in S cells, 98% in E cells, and 106% in T cells ( p < 0.001). In summary, IGF-1, PDGF-BB, and bFGF can be used in combination to maximize tenocyte proliferation. Synergism among growth factors may provide a means to facilitate tendon engineering.     

Salvaging twin 2 after abortion of twin 1: a case report

We present intentional delayed delivery of twin 2 after a spontaneous membrane rupture and abortion oftwin1 in a dichorionic twin pregnancy at 14 weeks. As signs of infection were missing, we adopted a conservative (not expectant) management. The pregnancy was prolonged to 35 weeks' gestation. In the absence of additional risk factors, the role of conservative management of multiple pregnancies after loss of one fetus in prolonging the pregnancy to fetal viability in resource-poor setting is highlighted. The gained gestational age of 20 weeks and 4 days (144 days in all), for the remaining fetus and the healthy mother and child pair after delivery at 35 weeks are discussed. The perinatal, economic and psychological implications are highlighted. The importance of good clinical assessment in the diagnosis of cervical incompetence and using ultrasound scan as a complimentary instrument is emphasized.     

Biodistribution and pharmacodynamics of recombinant human alpha-L-iduronidase (rhIDU) in mucopolysaccharidosis type I-affected cats following multiple intrathecal administrations

The storage disorder mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is caused by a deficiency in lysosomal α-L-iduronidase activity. The inability to degrade glycosaminoglycans (GAG) results in lysosomal accumulation and widespread tissue lesions. Many symptoms of MPS I are amenable to treatment with recombinant human α-L-iduronidase (rhIDU), however, peripherally administered rhIDU does not cross the blood-brain barrier and has no beneficial effects in the central nervous system (CNS). A feline model of MPS I was used to evaluate the CNS effects of rhIDU following repeated intrathecal (IT) administration. Twelve animals were randomized into four groups based on the time of euthanasia and tissue evaluation following three repeat IT administrations of 0.1 mg/kg rhIDU or placebo on Study Days 1, 4 or 5, and 9. Two days after the final IT injection, the mean tissue α-L-iduronidase (IDU) activity in the brains of the two treated animals were approximately 3-times higher (50.1 and 54.9 U/mg protein) than the activity found in normal cat brains (mean of 18.3 U/mg), and remained higher than untreated MPSI brain at 1 month (2.4 and 4.1 U/mg protein) before returning to near-baseline levels after 2 months. This activity corresponded with decreased brain GAG concentrations after 2 days (1.4 and 2.0 μg/mg) and 1 month (0.9 and 1.1 μg/mg) which approached levels observed in normal animals (0.7 μg/mg). Attenuation of GAG, gangliosides GM2 and GM3, and cholesterol reaccumulation was identified at both two days and one month following final IT injection. No adverse effects attributable to IT rhIDU administration were observed. IT rhIDU may be an effective means for providing enzyme replacement therapy for the central manifestations of MPS I.