The comparison between self-confidence and symptoms of aggression and hyperactivity (ADHD) in children

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders in childhood, and almost 5% of children suffer from this disorder. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the comparison between self-confidence and different types of aggression symptoms, including physical, reactive–verbal and relational aggression in hyperactive children and healthy ones, with the age range of 6–12 years in primary schools. The study population included a total number of 60 students, who were chosen with the method of simple and available random sampling, among the students. The tools applied in the present study were consisted of Bern Reuter’s questionnaire of self-confidence and Shahim’s questionnaire of children’s aggression. The results of this study indicated that there is no significant difference between the degree of self-confidence in hyperactive children and in healthy children. In other words, healthy and hyperactive children both have the same degree of self-confidence. However, there exists a significant difference between the degree of aggression in healthy and in hyperactive children. That is, the amount of aggression symptoms is different in hyperactive children in comparison to healthy ones. Physical symptoms of aggression are seen more in hyperactive children rather than in healthy children.     

Management of pemphigus disease in pregnancy

Pemphigus can cause complications during pregnancy and may cause serious harm to a fetus. For this study, a comprehensive review of common treatments of pemphigus and their adverse effects associated with pregnancy and male fertility was conducted. We concluded that a period of remission with minimal or no therapy before conception could significantly reduce the risk of the disease flaring up, at least in the first trimester. The period of remission causes a delay in the flare‐up of the disease, which means lower cumulative doses and the prevention of possible congenital abnormalities caused by corticosteroid or immunosuppressant treatments. All common treatments of pemphigus—azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and methotrexate—should be avoided during pregnancy. However, it appears that systemic corticosteroids in a safe dose with a topical form of corticosteroids may be used without serious risk. Due to the lack of data associated with rituximab therapy, it is recommended that this drug be avoided 12 months before conception. It appears that the safest treatment of pemphigus is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), which may be more effective when used with topical corticosteroids. Due to the delayed effect of IVIg, it should be used some months prior to conception.     

Aging Leads to a Dysregulation in Mechanically Driven Bone Formation and Resorption

Physical activity is essential to maintain skeletal mass and structure, but its effect seems to diminish with age. To test the hypothesis that bone becomes less sensitive to mechanical strain with age, we used a combined in vivo/in silico approach. We investigated how maturation and aging influence the mechanical regulation of bone formation and resorption to 2 weeks of noninvasive in vivo controlled loading in mice. Using 3D in vivo morphometrical assessment of longitudinal microcomputed tomography images, we quantified sites in the mouse tibia where bone was deposited or resorbed in response to controlled in vivo loading. We compared the (re)modeling events (formation/resorption/quiescent) to the mechanical strains induced at these sites (predicted using finite element analysis). Mice of all age groups (young, adult, and elderly) responded to loading with increased formation and decreased resorption, preferentially at high strains. Low strains were associated with no anabolic response in adult and elderly mice, whereas young animals showed a strong response. Adult animals showed a clear separation between strain ranges where formation and resorption occurred but without an intermediate quiescent “lazy zone”. This strain threshold disappeared in elderly mice, as mechanically induced (re)modeling became dysregulated, apparent in an inability to inhibit resorption or initiate formation. Contrary to what is generally believed until now, aging does not shift the mechanical threshold required to initiate formation or resorption, but rather blurs its specificity. These data suggest that pharmaceutical strategies augmenting physical exercise should consider this dysfunction in the mechanical regulation of bone (re)modeling to more effectively combat age‐related bone loss. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

An efficient and ecofriendly synthesis of highly functionalized pyridones via a one-pot three-component reaction

A simple and convenient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of N-amino-3-cyano-2-pyridone derivatives by a one-pot reaction of cyanoacetohydrazide, activated nitrile substrates (malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, cyanoacetamide) and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of piperidine in water or a mixture of water and ethanol. The sequence of cascade reactions includes Knoevenagel condensation, Michael addition, intramolecular cyclization, imine-enamine tautomerization and oxidative aromatization. The main advantages of this procedure are availability of starting compounds, simple procedure, mild conditions, easy purification of products and the use of water or water/ethanol as green solvents.

Synthesis of N-amino-3-cyano-2-pyridone derivatives in green solvent with simple procedure and high purity via a one-pot operation.