The HOPA Gene Dodecamer Duplication Is Not a Significant Etiological Factor in Autism

A recent study has suggested that a dodecamer duplication in the HOPA gene in Xq13 may occur in a significant portion of male patients with autism. We have determined the incidence of this duplication in 202 patients from the South Carolina Autism Study. The incidence of the duplication was not significantly different between patients and controls. Three of the female patients inherited the duplication from nonautistic fathers. In addition, there was no systematic skewing of X inactivation in the female patients with the duplication, or in nonautistic mothers and sisters with the duplication. These findings suggest that the dodecamer duplication in the HOPA gene does not play a significant role in the etiology of autism.     

乐胃饮干预功能性消化不良大鼠SP和VIP的研究

[目的]通过实验研究,揭示乐胃饮治疗功能性消化不良的作用机制。[方法]Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组、自然恢复组、吗叮啉组、参苓白术丸组、乐胃饮低剂量组、乐胃饮中剂量组、乐胃饮高剂量组等7组,每组6只。分别给予各组按2ml/100g按组分别灌服蒸馏水、吗叮啉、参苓白术丸液、乐胃饮低中高剂量液,每天1次,自造模结束后一天起连续给药14天。观察胃黏膜形态,检测胃肠激素SP和VIP。[结果]乐胃饮能有效增加实验鼠胃窦组织中SP和降低VIP含量。[结论]乐胃饮能提高胃肠道神经兴奋性,调节胃肠道平滑肌的收缩,这可能是乐胃饮治疗FD的主要作用机制。     

Radioquimioterapia de la enfermedad limitada del carcinoma pulmonar de célula pequeña. ¿Tratamiento concomitante en protocolos asistenciales?

Purpose We retrospectively reviewed our institution’s database to investigate the outcome and impact of combined radiochemotherapy (RT/CT; concomitant or in sequence) in localised small-cell lung cancer (L-SCLC). Material and methods Between January 1995 to November 1999, 79 patients with L-SCLC received combined RT/CT at our Institution. RT was delivered concurrently or sequentially following the CT. Patients with treatment response received additional prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Results Of the patients treated, 54% had received concurrent CT/RT compared to 46% receiving RT following the CT. PCI was administered to 80% of the patients. Complete response was observed in 66% of patients. With a median follow up of 30 months, median overall survival was 15.9 months; 14.3 months for patients who received RT following CT and 21.6 months for those receiving concurrent CT/RT. The type of schedule of combined radiochemotherapy was an independent prognostic factor for survival free of local recurrence, as was additional PCI for distant metastasis-free survival. Conclusions Our results are similar to those reported previously in the literature. The main point of interest is that our patients were non-selected. We strongly support the use of concurrent CT/RT so as to achieve results comparable to the best in the literature.

     

Liquid Guayule Natural Rubber,a Sustainable Processing Aid,Enhances the Processability,Durability and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Rubber Composites

Petroleum-based oils are widely used as processing aids in rubber composites to improve processability but can adversely affect rubber composite performance and increase carbon footprint. In this research, liquid guayule natural rubber (LGNR), produced from guayule natural rubber, was used as a renewable processing aid to replace naphthenic oil (NO) in Hevea natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and guayule natural rubber (GNR) composites. The rheological properties, thermal stability, glass transition temperature, dynamic mechanical properties, aging, and ozone resistance of rubber composites with and without NO or LGNR were compared. Natural and synthetic rubber composites made with LGNR had similar processability to those made with NO, but had improved thermal stability, mechanical properties after aging, and ozone resistance. This was due to the strong LGNR–filler interaction and additional crosslinks formed between LGNR and the rubber matrices. The glass transition temperature of SBR composites was reduced by LGNR because of its increased molecular mobility. Thus, unlike NO, LGNR processing aid can simultaneously improve rubber composite durability, dynamic performance and renewability. The commercialization of LGNR has the potential to open a new sustainable processing-aid market.     

Impact of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on the Long-Term Performance of Concrete Pavement and Related Improvement Measures: A Review

Freeze–thaw damage is one of the most severe threats to the long-term performance of concrete pavement in cold regions. Currently, the freeze–thaw deterioration mechanism of concrete pavement has not been fully understood. This study summarizes the significant findings of concrete pavement freeze–thaw durability performance, identifies existing knowledge gaps, and proposes future research needs. The concrete material deterioration mechanism under freeze–thaw cycles is first critically reviewed. Current deterioration theories mainly include the hydrostatic pressure hypothesis, osmolarity, and salt crystallization pressure hypothesis. The critical saturation degree has been proposed to depict the influence of internal saturation on freeze–thaw damage development. Meanwhile, the influence of pore solution salinity on freeze–thaw damage level has not been widely investigated. Additionally, the deterioration mechanism of the typical D-cracking that occurs in concrete pavement has not been fully understood. Following this, we investigate the coupling effect between freeze–thaw and other loading or environmental factors. It is found that external loading can accelerate the development of freeze–thaw damage, and the acceleration becomes more evident under higher stress levels. Further, deicing salts can interact with concrete during freeze–thaw cycles, generating internal pores or leading to crystalline expansion pressure. Specifically, freeze–thaw development can be mitigated under relatively low ion concentration due to increased frozen points. The interactive mechanism between external loading, environmental ions, and freeze–thaw cycles has not been fully understood. Finally, the mitigation protocols to enhance frost resistance of concrete pavement are reviewed. Besides the widely used air-entraining process, the freeze–thaw durability of concrete can also be enhanced by using fiber reinforcement, pozzolanic materials, surface strengthening, Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs), and Phase Change Materials. This study serves as a solid base of information to understand how to enhance the freeze–thaw durability of concrete pavement.     

Adolescent Knowledge,Attitudes and Practices of Healthy Eating: Findings of Qualitative Interviews among Hong Kong Families

To tackle unhealthy eating among adolescents, it is crucial to understand the dietary knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on which adolescent eating habits are based. This qualitative study identifies the gaps in KAP by exploring what Chinese adolescents know, perceive, and practice regarding healthy eating to better inform targeted interventions for this important health problem. Parent–adolescent dyads were purposively sampled based on, for example, the dietary intake, age, and gender of the adolescent and household income, and each completed a 30 to 60 min interview. Twelve themes were synthesized: knowledge: (1) dietary recommendations, (2) health outcomes of healthy eating, (3) nutrition content in food, and (4) access to healthy meals; attitudes: (5) outcome expectation for healthy eating, (6) food preferences, and (7) self-efficacy regarding adopting healthy eating; and practices: (8) going grocery shopping for healthy food, (9) eating home-prepared meals. (10) eating out in restaurants or consuming takeaway food, (11) fruit and vegetable consumption, and (12) snacking, perceived unhealthy eating to be low risk, made unhealthy choices regarding snacking and eating out, and had insufficient fruit and vegetable intake. Programs should emphasize the positive short-term health outcomes of healthy eating and empower adolescents to acquire food preparation skills to sustain healthy eating habits.     

Omega-9 Modifies Viscoelasticity and Augments Bone Strength and Architecture in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Murine Model

The influence of diet on the development of osteoporosis is significant and not fully understood. This study investigated the effect of diets of varying lipid profiles and ω-3, ω-6 and ω-9 composition on the structural and mechanical properties of bone. The hypothesis studied was that a diet high in saturated fat would induce osteoporosis and produce an overall increased detrimental bony response when compared with a diet high in unsaturated ω-6, or ω-9. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a control diet, 50:50 mix (saturated:unsaturated) high in ω-9 (HFD^50:50), a diet high in saturated fat (HSF) or a polyunsaturated fat diet high in ω-6 (PUFA) over an 8-week duration. Tibiae were retrieved and evaluated using DMA, 3-point-bending, histomorphometry, and microCT. Mice fed a HSF diet displayed key features characteristic of osteoporosis. The loss tangent was significantly increased in the HFD^50:50 diet group compared with control (p = 0.016) and PUFA-fed animals (p = 0.049). HFD^50:50-fed mice presented with an increased viscous component, longer tibiae, increased loss modulus (p = 0.009), and ultimate stress, smaller microcracks (p < 0.001), and increased trabecular width (p = 0.002) compared with control animals. A diet high in ω-9 resulted in an overall superior bone response and further analysis of its role in bone health is warranted.