Imprinting of maternal thyroid hormones in the offspring

Thyroid hormones (THs) during pregnancy contribute significantly to cellular differentiation and development in several tissues of the offspring, principally the central nervous system (CNS). TH deficiencies, such as hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia, are highly frequent during pregnancy worldwide and known to be detrimental for the development of the fetus. The function of CNS in the offspring gestated under TH deficiency will be irreversible impaired, causing low intellectual quotient, attention deficit, and mental retardation. On the other hand, little is known about the effects of TH deficiency in the offspring immune system, being the prevalent notion that the effects are reversible and only for a while will affect the number of B and T cells. Recent studies have shown that maternal hypothyroidism can altered the function of immune system in the offspring, rendering the female offspring more susceptible to suffer autoimmune-inflammatory diseases, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and to be more resistant to a bacterial infection. In this article we discuss these recent findings, as well as the possible mechanisms underlying these effects and the potential implications for human health.     

Dental case manager encounters: the association with retention in dental care and treatment plan completion

Little is known about dental case managers as few programs have been scientifically evaluated. The goal of this study was to explore the impact of dental case manager on retention in dental care and completion of treatment plans, while specifically exploring the number of dental case manager encounters. Fourteen programs enrolled people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in dental care and a longitudinal study between 2007 and 2009. The 758 participants had a total of 2715 encounters with a dental case manager over twelve months: 29% had a single encounter; 21% had two; 27% had 3–4 and; 23% had 5–29 encounters. Adjusting for baseline characteristics, participants receiving more encounters were significantly more likely to complete their Phase 1 treatment plan, be retained in dental care, and experience improvements in overall oral health status. Organizations considering efforts to improve the oral health of vulnerable, hard‐to‐engage populations should consider these findings when planning interventions.     

Molecular confocal laser endomicroscopy:A novel technique for in vivo cellular characterization of gastrointestinal lesions

While flexible endoscopy is essential for macroscopic evaluation,confocal laser endomicroscopy(CLE)has recently emerged as an endoscopic method enabling visualization at a cellular level.Two systems are currently available,one based on miniprobes that can be inserted via a conventional endoscope or via a needle guided by endoscopic ultrasound.The second system has a confocal microscope integrated into the distal part of an endoscope.By adding molecular probes like fluorescein conjugated antibodies or fluorescent peptides to this procedure(either topically or systemically administered during on-going endoscopy),a novel world of molecular evaluation opens up.The method of molecular CLE could potentially be used for estimating the expression of important receptors in carcinomas,subsequently resulting in immediate individualization of treatment regimens,but also for improving the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic procedures by identifying otherwise invisible mucosal lesions.Furthermore,studies have shown that fluorescein labelled drugs can be used to estimate the affinity of the drug to a target organ,which probably can be correlated to the efficacy of the drug.However,several of the studies in this research field have been conducted in animal facilities or in vitro,while only a limited number of trials have actually been carried out in vivo.Therefore,safety issues still needs further evaluations.This review will present an overview of the implications and pitfalls,as well as future challenges of molecular CLE in gastrointestinal diseases.     

Dopamine Response to Psychosocial Stress in Chronic Cannabis Users: A PET Study With [11C]-(+)-PHNO

A number of addictions have been linked with decreased striatal dopamine (DA) receptor availability and DA release. Stress has a key role in cannabis craving, as well as in modulation of dopaminergic signaling. The present study aimed to assess DA release in response to a laboratory stress task with [¹¹C]-(+)-PHNO positron emission tomography in cannabis users (CU). Thirteen healthy CU and 12 healthy volunteers (HV) were scanned during a sensorimotor control task (SMCT) and under a stress condition using the validated Montreal imaging stress task (MIST). The simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) was used to obtain binding potential (BP_ND) in striatal subdivisions: limbic striatum (LST), associative striatum (AST), and sensorimotor striatum (SMST). Stress-induced DA release (indexed as a percentage of reduction in [¹¹C]-(+)-PHNO BP _ND) between CU and HV was tested with analysis of variance. SMCT BP_ND was significantly higher in CU compared with HV in the AST (F=10.38, p=0.003), LST (F=4.95, p=0.036), SMST (F=4.33, p=0.048), and whole striatum (F=9.02, p=0.006). Percentage of displacement (change in BP_ND between SMCT and MIST PET scans) was not significantly different across groups in any brain region, except in the GP (−5.03±14.6 in CU, compared with 6.15±12.1 in HV; F=4.39, p=0.049). Duration of cannabis use was significantly associated with stress-induced [¹¹C]-(+)-PHNO displacement by endogenous DA in the LST (r=0.566, p=0.044), with no effect in any other brain region. In conclusion, despite an increase in striatal BP_ND observed during the control task, chronic cannabis use is not associated with alterations in stress-induced DA release.     

Coaching to Quality: Increasing Quality in Early Care and Education Programmes through Community–University Partnership

This paper describes efforts to increase the quality in early care and education through targeted coaching. A collaborative including several community agencies and a university developed a framework of support for early care and education providers, using coaching as its foundational basis, called Coaching to Quality (CTQ). This paper provides a background on the regional need for increasing quality level of childcare centres, specific components and evolution of CTQ, and lessons learned or implications of the CTQ initiative.     

Measurement of salivary cortisol – effects of replacing polyester with cotton and switching antibody

Stable performance between‐runs are essential in longitudinal studies and when different studies are being compared. However, changes in analytical kits and laboratory material occur and have the potential to threaten analytical stability. In the present case, we examined how salivary cortisol measurements in our laboratory were affected by: 1) changes in the tampon material and 2) changes in the antibody of the analytical kit. In study 1, saliva from healthy subjects (n = 19) was split and spiked to Salivette^® polyester and cotton tampons, respectively, and treated as ordinary samples before being analysed for cortisol using a Spectria RIA kit for cortisol. In study 2, 68 anonymous saliva samples were analysed with the Spectria Cortisol RIA kit both before and after the manufacturer changed the antibody. The change from polyester to cotton tampons reduced the measured concentration of salivary cortisol by 62?%. A difference of 12?% between the two runs with different antibodies could not be attributed to differences in storage or in thawing and freezing of samples. To conclude, both a change in the material of the Salivette used for collecting saliva samples as well as a change of antibody in a kit can have a major impact on measurements, as illustrated here for concentrations of cortisol in saliva. It is therefore recommended always to check that the analysis stays in statistical control in one's own laboratory when changes are made, even if the manufacturer reports that the changes should have no effects.     

Promoting Breast Cancer Screening Among Asian American Women: the Asian Grocery Store-Based Cancer Education Program

Asian American women's historically low breast cancer mortality rate has remained constant as rates decreased for all other races. From 2000 to 2004, a randomized controlled trial explored the Asian grocery store-based breast cancer education program's impact on Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese women (n?=?1,540). Women aged 40 and older and non-adherent for annual screening mammograms were more likely to schedule a mammogram after receiving the breast cancer education program than women randomized to the prostate cancer program (X ²?=?3.85, p?=?0.05). With the right program ingredients, late adopters of breast cancer screening can be prompted to change.