Partial trisomy 1q. A nonrandom primary chromosomal abnormality in myelodysplastic syndromes?

Cytogenetic and clinical data of 11 patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndromes and partial or total trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 1 are presented. In eight of these patients trisomy 1q was the sole karyotypic change and therefore can be classified as a primary chromosome anomaly. A remarkably young median age of 36.5 years was noticed in this patient group.     

Medial septal and median raphe innervation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing interneurons in the hippocampus

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive interneurons are known to form three anatomically and neurochemically well-characterized neuron populations in the hippocampus. Two of these establish synaptic contacts selectively with other GABAergic cells (interneuron-selective cells), whereas the third type innervates pyramidal cell bodies and proximal dendrites like a conventional basket cell. Our aim was to examine which of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing interneuron populations are among the targets of GABAergic septohippocampal and serotonergic raphe-hippocampal pathways. Anterograde tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin combined with double immunocytochemistry for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was used at the light and electron microscopic levels. Our results show that both interneuron-selective cells and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing basket cells receive synaptic input from the medial septum and median raphe nucleus. The GABAergic component of the septohippocampal pathway establishes multiple contacts on both cell types. In the case of the raphe-hippocampal projection, single or double contacts were more frequent on vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-positive interneuron selective cells (76%), whereas multiple contacts predominated on basket cells (83%). The extrinsic GABAergic innervation of interneuron-selective cells in the hippocampus indicates a complex interaction among GABAergic systems, which might ensure the timing and rhythmic synchronization of inhibitory processes in the hippocampus. On the other hand, our results suggest that the serotonergic effect on perisomatic inhibition is exerted via vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing basket cells that are functionally distinct from their parvalbumin-positive relatives, which appear to escape control of serotonergic as well as local interneuron-selective cells.     

Wasting during pregnancy increases the risk of mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether wasting during pregnancy, as measured by weight loss and low weight gain, is associated with increased mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1. METHODS: This was a cohort study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, among 957 HIV-1-infected pregnant women. Weight was measured at the first prenatal visit and every month thereafter until delivery. Weight loss was defined as a weekly rate of weight gain 0 and /=167 g/wk, weight loss during pregnancy was related to higher risk of intrauterine MTCT (adjusted relative risk [RR] = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.23-4.36, P = 0.009), HIV positive at birth or fetal death (RR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.40-3.24, P = 0.0004), and HIV positive at birth or early neonatal death (RR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.26-3.07, P = 0.003). The rate of weight gain during the 3rd trimester was inversely related to the risk of intrapartum/early breast-feeding transmission (adjusted P value, test for trend = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss during pregnancy increases the risk of early MTCT. Identifying causes of wasting during pregnancy may provide clues for new strategies to prevent MTCT.     

Describing the Use of a Mindfulness-Based App for Sleep and Mental Well-Being,Across Age,in Children

Child & Youth Care Forum - In the United States, 68% of children do not get the recommended nine hours of sleep, which can lead to many negative health outcomes (e.g., mental health)....     

Bolus versus continuous feeding regimens post gastrostomy tube placement in children

Background/purposeOwing to the frequency of gastrostomy tube placement in children and the numerous regimens used to start feeds after placement we attempted to see if it matters if the initial feeds after a gastrostomy tube placement are provided in a bolus or continuous manner.MethodsUsing a prospective randomized trial, children were randomized to initial bolus or continuous chimney feeding after gastrostomy tube placement. Feeding tolerance and complications related to the gastrostomy tube were collected for 4 weeks after placement.ResultsDemographics were similar in the two groups. Times to goal feeds were similar in both groups, but in the first two weeks more feeding modifications were required in the bolus group. Other than the rate of leakage during the second week after placement which occurred more in the bolus group, all other clinical outcomes were similar in the two groups.ConclusionsOther than minor, clinically insignificant differences noted above, the method of initial feeding after a gastrostomy tube placement does not affect feeding tolerance or gastrostomy tube complication in the first month after placement.Level of evidenceTherapeutic, level II.