Can Bronchoscopic Airway Anatomy Be an Indicator of Autism?

Bronchoscopic evaluations revealed that some children have double branching of bronchi (designated “doublets”) in the lower lungs airways, rather than normal, single branching. Retrospective analyses revealed only one commonality in them: all subjects with doublets also had autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That is, 49 subjects exhibited the presence of initial normal anatomy in upper airway followed by doublets in the lower airway. In contrast, the normal branching pattern was noted in all the remaining 410 subjects who did not have a diagnosis of autism/ASD. We propose that the presence of doublets might be an objective, reliable, and valid biologic marker of autism/ASD.     

Parkin-Knockout Mice did not Display Increased Vulnerability to Intranasal Administration of 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)

The loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is believed to result from interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Although loss-of-function mutations in the parkin gene cause early-onset familial PD, the hybrid 129Sv-C57BL/6 parkin-deficient mice did not display spontaneous degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway or enhanced vulnerability to neurotoxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or intraperitoneal 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intoxication. We aimed to re-evaluate the role of parkin in a pure C57BL/6 background after an acute intranasal (i.n.) MPTP administration, a new route of toxin delivery to the brain that mimics environmental exposure to neurotoxins. We found that the deficiency of parkin gene modifies the d-amphetamine-induced locomotion in saline-treated animals. Intranasal MPTP induced Parkinsonism in parkin^+/+ mice, through depletion of striatal dopamine, decreased number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, and decreased d-amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion. Additionally, the deletion of the parkin gene in a pure C57BL/6 background did not lead to increased vulnerability to i.n. MPTP-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, the i.n. MPTP induced nigral astrogliosis predominantly in the pars reticulata in wild type and parkin^?/? mice. Taken together, these results showed that the absence of parkin did not modify the vulnerability of nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway after i.n. MPTP intoxication, suggesting that independently of mouse strain, the endogenous parkin is not required for protection of this system. These findings also suggest that the development of familial parkin-linked PD is not associated with exposure to environmental factors that specifically affects the dopaminergic system.     

Morphology and performance relationship studies on biodegradable ternary blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), polylactic acid,and polypropylene carbonate

A biodegradable ternary blend fabricated from polylactic acid (PLA), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and polypropylene carbonate (PPC) with a good balance of stiffness and toughness via optimizing the composition ratio and morphological structure is, to the best of the authors'' knowledge, reported here for the first time. The optimal blend formulation is comprised of 20% PLA, 40% PHBV, and 40% PPC, which possesses a tensile strength measuring 44 MPa and an elongation at break measuring at 215%. Thermal performance analysis revealed an HDT value of 72 °C. The Harkins equation predicts that the three immiscible polymers formed a complete wetting morphology, which was confirmed by scanning electrical microscopy. As the PPC content of the ternary blends is increased, the material undergoes morphological transition from droplet to co-continuous structure, resulting in significant improvement of elongation at break (approximately 40 times higher than that of the PLA–PHBV binary blend). Excellent stiffness and over 200% elongation at break make these sustainable ternary blends feasible for use in packaging as substitutes for certain non-biodegradable petroleum-based single use plastics.

Morphological arrangement leads to biodegradable stiffness–toughness–HDT balanced ternary blends.     

Exposure to Childhood Abuse and Later Substance Use: Indirect Effects of Emotion Dysregulation and Exposure to Trauma

Little is known about how emotion dysregulation (ED) and trauma exposure differentially affect the relationship between abuse in childhood and adult substance use. We examined associations between child abuse, trauma exposure, ED, and current substance use in an already existing dataset. Participants (N = 2,014 adults, 90% African American) had been recruited from an urban hospital for a parent study. Analyses showed that drug and alcohol use was significantly positively correlated with child abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual), later trauma exposure, and ED (all ps < .001). Linear regression showed that exposure to abuse when older than a child was significantly associated with drug and alcohol use independent of child abuse and demographic variables (R²Δ = .08, p < .001; R²Δ = .04, p < .001). ED was significantly associated with drug and alcohol use independently of child abuse, nonabuse trauma, and demographic variables (R²Δ = .02, p < .001; R²Δ = .04, p < .001). Multiple mediation analyses showed that ED and later trauma exposure accounted for variance in the association between emotional abuse and substance use (p < .001). A better understanding of vulnerabilities to additional traumatization and emotion‐regulation deficits in individuals who have been exposed to child abuse and in addition have comorbid substance use problems may inform treatments that lead to improved outcomes.     

Understanding the cognitive impact on children who are treated for medulloblastoma

OBJECTIVE: Risk-adapted treatment approaches employed within contemporary medulloblastoma treatment protocols aim to reduce the neurotoxicity directed at the central nervous system. Despite these important steps to reduce radiation dose exposure, an overwhelming majority of medulloblastoma survivors continue to experience academic failure and significant learning delays. METHODS: A review of the current literature is presented. RESULTS: Deficits in intellectual function, academic achievement, memory, attention, and processing speed are reported. Finally, intervention programs, including pharmacotherapy and experimental cognitive intervention studies, are discussed. A review of neuroimaging studies shows changes in brain tissue following chemotherapy and radiation treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Declining IQ and academic struggles may be predated by difficulties with attention, memory, and processing speed. More clinical trials directed at treating and preventing neurocognitive late effects through cognitive rehabilitation are needed.     

The perception of permanent, continuous, in service education for nurses in a school hospital

This study is aimed at discussing the conception of permanent, continuous, in service education among nurses at a school hospital. It is a research of qualitative nature, for which the data was gathered using the technique of focal group in six sessions recorded in audio and video. Nine nurses of a school hospital took part in it. For the analysis of the data was used the technique of collective subject speech, which consists of the organization and computation of the qualitative data of oral nature recorded, from which resulted a single speech. The research showed that the nurses differentiated the terms permanent education, continuous education and in service education, building their own concepts, highlighting the importance of differentiation in order to define the kind of approach to be taken to address the educative need presented.     

Laser utility in the treatment of hemorrhoidal pathology: a review of literature

Lasers in Medical Science - Hemorrhoidal disease is a common reason for consultation in proctology. It can be treated in several ways (medical, endoscopic, and surgical). Laser treatment has been...     

Intralenticular changes in eyes with mature senile cataract on modified posterior segment optical coherence tomography

Purpose:To study the morphological changes within mature senile cataracts on modified posterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT).Methods:A cross-sectional observational study recruiting patients of mature cataracts admitted for elective cataract surgery in tertiary eye care. A modified OCT imaging of the lens was done and lenticular findings were noted by a single observer. Corresponding slit-lamp biomicroscopic findings and intraoperative experiences were also noted by a second observer and respective surgeons.Results:Forty-four eyes of 44 patients were included. The mean age of patients was 65 ± 5.7 years. The intralenticular findings were uniform in groups of eyes, and they were characterized into three stages. First was a stage of early lamellar separation where small intralenticular clefts were noted superficially. Second was the stage of established lamellar separation where crescentic fluid clefts appeared interspersed between the lens fibers, and the depth increased as a function of severity. Both these stages did not show any distinct slit-lamp or intraoperative findings. A third stage of liquefaction identified as extensive lamellar separation with subcapsular fluid pockets. This was also reflected in slit-lamp biomicroscopy, showing the hydrated cortex with intraoperative challenges. Two cases showed peculiar changes, one of a hyperreflective subcapsular sheath and another of superficial nuclear lamellar separation.Conclusion:Mature cataracts may also show graded progression, which could be delineated on lenticular OCT. This could be of immense help in pre-operative planning and optimal management of these high-risk cases.