Prevalence, Clinical Correlates, and Prognosis of Discrete Upper Septal Thickening on Echocardiography: The Framingham Heart Study

The upper interventricular septum may be prominent in elderly individuals, a finding referred to as discrete upper septal thickening (DUST). We examined the prevalence, clinical and echocardiographic correlates, and prognostic significance of DUST in a community-based sample. We evaluated Framingham Study participants who underwent routine echocardiography. In 3562 Framingham Study participants (mean age 58 years, 57% women), DUST was observed in 52 participants. The clinical correlates of DUST were increasing age (odds ratio [OR] per 10 year increment 2.59, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.64–4.08) and systolic blood pressure (OR per SD increment 1.55, 95% CI 1.15–2.09). DUST was positively associated with left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening and mitral annular calcification but inversely with LV diastolic dimensions (P < 0.02 for all). On follow-up (mean 15 years), 732 individuals died (33 with DUST) and 560 experienced a cardiovascular disease (CVD) event (18 with DUST). Adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, DUST was not associated with CVD or mortality risk (P > 0.30 for both). The follow-up component of our study suggests that DUST is not independently associated with adverse prognosis.     

Single versus double screw fixation for treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a biomechanical analysis.

Slipped capital femoral epiphyses (SCFE) were created in 10 pair of bovine femurs. Each pair was pinned with a single screw on one side and two screws contralaterally. The specimens were reloaded to failure. Double pin fixation yielded only a 33% increase in stiffness as compared with single pin fixation. Resistance to further slip was not proportional to screw number. The stiffness of neither double nor single screw fixation approximated that of the intact physis. Single screw fixation in slipped epiphyses is recommended because the small gains in stiffness with a second screw do not offset the risk of complications.     

Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptation in Family-Based Prevention Interventions

Because of the substantial impact of families on the developmental trajectories of children, family interventions should be a critical ingredient in comprehensive prevention programs. Very few family interventions have been adapted to be culturally sensitive for different ethnic groups. This paper examines the research literature on whether culturally adapting family interventions improves retention and outcome effectiveness. Because of limited research on the topic, the prevention research field is divided on the issue. Factors to consider for cultural adaptations of family-focused prevention are presented. Five research studies testing the effectiveness of the generic version of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) compared to culturally-adapted versions for African Americans, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian families suggest that cultural adaptations made by practitioners that reduce dosage or eliminate critical core content can increase retention by up to 40%, but reduce positive outcomes. Recommendations include the need for additional research on culturally-sensitive family interventions.     

Respiratory effects of inhaled isocyanates

Numerous industrial chemicals are known to cause allergic reactions in the lung. Prominent among such chemicals are isocyanates, the starting material in the production of polyurethanes. In view of the extensive worldwide production of isocyanates (1.5 million metric tons per year), and the diversity of products manufactured from isocyanates (i.e., cars, airplanes, furniture, bedding, etc.) there is considerable potential for adverse health effects associated with exposure to isocyanates. Syndromes of immediate respiratory reactivity, delayed-onset sensitivity, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis have all been associated with isocyanate exposure. However, little is known concerning how sensitivity develops, which individuals are most likely to become sensitized, or how to best detect early sensitivity. Answers to such questions are beginning to emerge from the recent development of animal models of lung sensitivity. These models will be discussed together with their application to clinical situations.     

Laminin-binding integrin alpha7 is required for contractile phenotype expression by human airway myocytes

Contractile airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells retain the ability for phenotype plasticity in response to multiple stimuli, which equips them with capacity to direct modeling and remodeling during development, and in disease states such as asthma. We have shown that endogenously expressed laminin is required for maturation of human ASM cells to a contractile phenotype, as occurs during ASM thickening in asthma. In this study, we profiled the expression of laminin-binding integrins alpha3beta1, alpha6beta1, and alpha7beta1, and tested whether they are required for laminin-induced myocyte maturation. Immunoblotting revealed that myocyte maturation induced by prolonged serum withdrawal, which was marked by the accumulation of contractile phenotype marker protein desmin, was also associated with the accumulation of alpha3A, alpha6A, and alpha7B. Flow cytometry revealed that alpha7B expression was a distinct feature of individual myocytes that acquired a contractile phenotype. siRNA knockdown of alpha7, but not alpha3 or alpha6, suppressed myocyte maturation. Thus, alpha7B is a novel marker of the contractile phenotype, and alpha7 expression is essential for human ASM cell maturation, which is a laminin-dependent process. These observations provide new insight into mechanisms that likely underpin normal development and remodeling associated with airways disease.     

Seasonal changes of immunocompetence and parasitism in chub (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leuciscus cephalus</Emphasis>), a freshwater cyprinid fish

Seasonal variation of water characteristics, predominantly temperature, is considered to strongly affect fish physiology and immunology. In nature, this variation directly influences the life cycle especially in fish parasites, but the infection of parasites is also altered by the host immune response. This study is aimed to analyze the seasonal changes in selected physiological and immunological parameters, the latter a potential measure of fish immunocompetence. Moreover, the seasonal changes in metazoan parasite infection were investigated, and the potential associations between fish physiology, immunocompetence, and parasitism were estimated. No differences in gender were recognized for immunological parameters. The significant differences in the spleen–somatic index were found among fish samples of different seasons indicating higher investment in spleen size in April (after winterizing) and August (post-breeding with low gonado-somatic index [GSI]). The significant seasonal differences in erythrocyte and leukocyte cell counts, as well as in phagocyte count affecting respiratory burst, were recorded. The general trend of leukocyte composition was similar in all seasons investigated; however, the changes in proportion of different neutrophilic cells were reported. The parasite diversity and the infection parameters in parasite communities were highest in spring and early summer. When comparing parasite abundance in infracommunities among seasons, the statistically highest values were observed in April and June for Monogenea, in April and November for Acanthocephala, and in April for Cestoda. The positive correlations between GSI and the parasite abundance of groups with higher infection parameters were found in males. Moreover, the positive association between Monogenea as the dominant parasite group and respiratory burst was observed. The higher investment in condition and the seasonal variation in GSI were associated with a decrease immune function measured by spleen size or leukocyte cell count especially for males suggesting the seasonal energy allocation between immune function and somatic or reproductive investment.