Anxiety and depression predict musculoskeletal disorders in health care workers

Incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is high among health care workers (HCWs). To determine whether MSDs are associated with preexisting anxiety and/or depression, a case-control study was carried out in female HCWs (56 cases/55 controls). Cases were HCWs with a first-time clinical diagnosis of MSD within the previous 2 years. Occupation, workplace, work shift, direct patient assistance, and anxiety/depression scores (Goldberg scale) were assessed. Increased risk of incident MSDs (multivariate logistic regression) was found in workers with preexisting anxiety/depression compared to those without (OR 5.01; 95% CI 2.20–12.05; p < .01). Other significant risk factors were direct patient assistance (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.03–6.92; p = .04) and morning work shift (OR 2.47; 95% CI 0.99–6.48; p = .05). Preexisting anxiety/depression was associated with incident MSDs in HCWs, adjusting for occupational exposure risk factors.     

Specific and non-specific multiple unit activities during pentylenetetrazol seizures. I. Animals with 'encéphale isolé'

The present report describes the sequence of activation and deactivation of multiple unit activities (MUA) in the brain stem reticular formation and pyramidal tract, in relation to the clinical seizure and electroencephalographic and electromyographic tonic-clonic discharges induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), in cats immobilized by high spinal transection ('encéphale isolé'). Threshold doses of PTZ (20 mg/kg i.v.) produced the following events: (1) Significant increase in mesencephalic and pontine MUA, anticipating 2 (+/- 1) sec the clinical and electromyographic seizures and 5 (+/- 2) sec the onset of EEG and pyramidal tract tonic-clonic discharges. (2) A further increase in mesencephalic and pontine reticular MUA and electromyogram MUA at the onset of EEG and pyramidal tract tonic-clonic discharges. (3) Significant decrease of EEG spike activity and pyramidal tract MUA to levels below the control period 16 (+/- 8) sec later, while mesencephalic and pontine MUA and electromyogram remained very high. Results suggest that (i) PTZ-induced seizures start in the brain stem reticular formation and propagate to muscles by at least two different pathways: a pyramidal and an extrapyramidal pathway; (ii) that inhibition of seizure activity may start at the cortical level.     

Re-focusing HIV prevention messages: a qualitative study in rural Uganda

Background

After 30 years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains an epidemic of global concern. To support the increasing emphasis on biomedical interventions for prevention requires a renewed and reframed focus on HIV prevention messages to motivate engagement in risk-reduction activities. This paper examines youth and adult perceptions of HIV prevention messages and HIV risk assessment in a generalized HIV epidemic context in Uganda.

Methods

We conducted 24 focus group discussions and 24 in-depth interviews with 15–45 year olds (n = 218) from three communities in the Rakai district of Uganda in 2012.

Results

We found generational differences in the how people viewed HIV, skepticism around introduction of new interventions, continued misconceptions and fears about condoms, and gender differences in content and salience of HIV prevention messages.

Conclusions

Shifts in HIV education are needed to address gaps in HIV messaging to foster engagement in risk reduction strategies and adoption of newer biomedical approaches to HIV prevention.

     

Natural killer receptors distribution in multiple sclerosis: Relation to clinical course and interferon-beta therapy

NK cell receptors (NKR) are expressed in subsets of NK and CD8+ T cells, lymphocytes involved in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Clinical implications of NKR expression in MS are unknown. Here, we show that the proportions of CD8+ T cells displaying LILRB1, an inhibitory NKR expressed at late stages of T cell differentiation, were directly related with age and MS duration, and inversely with the immunomodulatory therapy-dependent increase of CD56^bright NK cells. Similar associations were found for KIR+ and CD56+ CD8+ T cells, whereas no age-related NKR distribution was perceived in controls. Moreover, active MS had lower LILRB1+ NK cells, and IFN-β-treated patients exhibited a phenotypic profile related to shorter disease evolution. Progressive accumulation of terminally differentiated T lymphocytes and experienced NK cells in MS, presumably stimulated in response to a persistent challenge and modulated by IFN-β therapy, may support the analysis of NKR distribution as new biomarkers.     

In vitro evaluation of the amebicidal activity of Buddleia cordata (Loganiaceae, H.B.K.) on several strains of Acanthamoeba.

Infectious diseases produced by free-living amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba have been recently recognized. The need for antiamebic compounds is urgent as the occurrence of these diseases is being registered more frequently since the late sixties. We screened the aqueous and methanolic extract of a plant used by folk medicine (Buddleia cordata) against eye and skin inflammation for antiamebic activity. We tested the extracts on 29 strains of free-living amoebae, with the result that they were amebostatic for 14 and 15 strains, respectively. We obtained linarin and vanillic acid from the extracts, but only linarin was amebostatic to all the strains and vanillic acid had no activity. However, acetyl vanillic acid had similar effects on amoebae to linarin. Threshold values of these two active compounds ranged from 31.25 microg/ml to 4 mg/ml and from 31.25 microg/ml to 8 mg/ml for linarin and acetyl vanillic acid, respectively. These differences in threshold values were observed even on several strains belonging to the same species (as in the case of A. castellanii and A. polyphaga) indicating the need of susceptibility testing for each clinical isolate of free-living amoebae.     

Minimal Effects of Medium-Chain Triglyceride Supplementation on the Intestinal Microbiome Composition of Premature Infants: A Single-Center Pilot Study

Compared to term infants, the microbiota of preterm infants is less diverse and often enriched for potential pathogens (e.g., members of the family Enterobacteriaceae). Additionally, antibiotics are frequently given to preterm infants, further destabilizing the microbiota and increasing the risk of fungal infections. In a previous communication, our group showed that supplementation of the premature infant diet with medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil reduced the fungal burden of Candida spp. in the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to determine whether MCT supplementation impacts the bacterial component of the microbiome. Pre-term infants (n = 17) receiving enteral feedings of either infant formula (n = 12) or human milk (n = 5) were randomized to MCT supplementation (n = 9) or no supplementation (n = 8). Fecal samples were taken at randomization and prior to MCT supplementation (Week 0), on days 5–7 (Week 1) and day 21 (Week 3). After DNA extraction from samples, the QIIME2 pipeline was utilized to measure community diversity and composition (genera and phyla). Our findings show that MCT supplementation did not significantly alter microbiota diversity or composition in the gastrointestinal tract. Importantly, there were no significant changes in the family Enterobacteriaceae, suggesting that MCT supplementation did not enrich for potential pathogens. MCT holds promise as a therapeutic intervention for reducing fungal colonization without significant impact on the bacterial composition of the host gastrointestinal tract.     

Endoskopisches Brauenlift

Endoscopic surgical techniques have greatly increased in popularity with the advent of modern endoscopes. Endoscopic brow lifting has largely replaced older, more invasive procedures. With this technique a skilled surgeon can identify and treat a ptotic eyebrow by addressing the relevant anatomy, including the frontalis, corrugator, procerus and orbicularis oculi muscles. The frontalis muscle can then be permanently fixed into a predesignated position using titanium screws and permanent sutures. This approach has allowed facial plastic surgeons to address the ptotic brow with decreased rates of edema, hematoma, hypesthesia, alopecia and scarring.     

Effect of patient sex on intensive care unit survival

BACKGROUND: Human observations have shown different mortality rates between men and women with various pathological conditions, but this issue has not been widely studied in a heterogeneous population of critically ill patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients admitted to a mixed medical-surgical, 31-bed intensive care unit (ICU) during 2 different years (1983 and 1995) to evaluate possible differences in mortality between male and female patients and between medical and surgical admissions and variations in these differences over time. RESULTS: From a total of 4420 admissions (1587 women, 2833 men), women showed a higher mortality, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.38). This pattern was the same for the 2 periods, and all patient data were therefore analyzed together. After age stratification, the differences were significant for female patients older than 50 years (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.12-1.58) but not in the younger age group. The subgroup of medical admissions had a higher mortality (24.4% vs 7.4%, P<.001) and a higher female proportion (37.9% vs 34.2%, P =.01) than surgical admissions. In multivariate analysis, female sex remained an important predictor of mortality (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.25-1.89). Women had a higher mortality than men in the subgroup of cardiovascular diseases. The highest mortality in female patients was present in the first days after admission and decreased over time, showing a covariance of time and sex. CONCLUSIONS: In a mixed medical-surgical ICU, older women have a higher mortality rate than men. This difference is not apparent for patients staying longer in the ICU.