Self-reported physical activity preferences in individuals with prediabetes

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to determine the physical activity (PA) preferences in a sample of individuals with prediabetes. Methods: Individuals with prediabetes (N = 232) residing in Northern Alberta, Canada completed a mailed questionnaire that assessed demographic and health variables, self-reported PA (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire), and PA preferences. Results: Respondents indicated they would like to be counseled about PA (75%), were physically able to participate (96%), were interested in a PA program for individuals with prediabetes (86%), and were most interested in walking (71%). Activity status, number of comorbidities, level of employment, marital status, body mass index, and time since diagnosis with prediabetes all demonstrated significant influence on different PA preference variables. Conclusions: There is a demand for PA-related programs for individuals with prediabetes. Incorporating identified PA preferences of those with prediabetes might aid in the development of relevant intervention tools, programs, and strategies to support PA.     

Is human papillomavirus involved in laryngeal neuroendocrine carcinoma?

The purpose of this study was to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in laryngeal neuroendocrine carcinoma (LNEC) and to explore the possible relationship between HPV-induced malignant transformation and prognosis in LNEC. Ten cases of LNEC from a tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data were subtracted from patients’ files. Pretreatment biopsy material was tested for the presence of HPV6, 11, 16, and 18 using a PCR-based detection method. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for Ki-67, p16^INK4A, and p53 expression. All cases were negative for the low-risk HPV types HPV6 and HPV11 that are associated with laryngeal papillomatosis. High-risk HPV was detected in two cases; an atypical carcinoid was positive for HPV16 and a large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma for HPV18. Both HPV-positive tumors had a high Ki-67 labeling index. Two of the four cases with a good response to therapy were hrHPV-positive (both HPV DNA positive) compared with none of the five poor responders. Our findings show that HPV may play a role in the pathogenesis of LNEC. The relationship between HPV, improved prognosis and good response to therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck may also be true for a subset of LNEC.     

Clinical implications of risk aversion: an online study of risk-avoidance and treatment utilization in pathological anxiety

Previous research suggests that the pervasive tendency to avoid perceived risks (i.e., the safety bias) may be implicated in the maintenance of pathological anxiety. These studies have not explored, however, the potential clinical implications of such a bias, such as the influence of risk aversion on treatment seeking. The aim of this study was to investigate how risk-avoidance is related to willingness to seek treatment in an online sample of clinically anxious individuals with social phobia (SP), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Healthy control participants (n = 117) and those endorsing criteria for one or more anxiety disorder(s) (n = 92; SP, n = 33; OCD, n = 19; GAD, n = 40) were recruited from various online sources. Respondents completed an online survey comprised of a validated diagnostic interview, self-report measures assessing for symptom severity, risk-taking across various domains, a generalized index of risk-taking and treatment utilization. Consistent with hypotheses, SP and GAD individuals reported significantly more risk-avoidance when compared to non-clinical controls. Furthermore, willingness to seek treatment was found to be positively associated with social risk-taking and generalized risk-taking orientation in clinically anxious individuals who had never sought treatment. These results suggest that certain individual cognitive factors may contribute to the decision to seek treatment and may provide an interesting avenue of future investigation for increasing service utilization and treatment seeking in anxious populations.     

Families of autistic and dysphasic children II. Mothers' speech to the children

This paper tests various hypotheses about deviance in the communication of mothers to their autistic children. The language of mothers of 13 autistic boys is compared to the language of mothers of 13 boys with developmental receptive dysphasia. The two groups of boys are of similar age, nonverbal intelligence, and language level. The language samples come from hour-long taped interactions between the mothers and their children in their homes. Aspects of maternal communication that are examined include: the amount of language used, the frequency usage of different types of utterances, the syntactic complexity of utterances, the grammaticality of utterances, the clarity of communication, and the tones of voice used. No differences were found between the two groups of mothers in level of language usage, pattern of functional interaction, or in overall clarity of communication. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide nosupport for the suggestion that autism is due wholly or in part to deviant patterns of mother-child communication.Mrs. Patricia Howlin and Mrs. Rosemary Hemsley provided invaluable assistance in the construction and piloting of many of the measures used in this study. The study was supported in part by the following grants: NIMH Special Research Fellowship 1F03MH 52205-01, MH08467-13, MCH927 and Scottish Rite Schizophrenia Research Program grant.     

Penicillin-binding proteins of filaments of Escherichia coli induced by low concentrations of nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, novobiocin or nitrofurantoin

Nalidixic acid, novobiocin, oxolinic acid and nitrofurantoin, each at low concentrations, cause filamentation of Gram-negative bacilli. Filamentation induced by beta-lactam antibiotics has been correlated to the binding of these antibiotics to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of the envelope of Gram-negative bacilli. The studies reported herein indicate that the former group of non-beta-lactam antibiotics do not bind to any of the PBPs of Escherichia coli. However, PBP 1a, PBP 4 and PBP 5/6 of the filaments induced by these agents are increased significantly.     

Comparison of the Effects of Mecillinam and 6-Aminopenicillanic Acid on Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus

Single strains of Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were grown on filter membranes placed on agar containing concentration series of mecillinam (FL 1060), 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA), or ampicillin. P. mirabilis and E. coli were also exposed to combinations of mecillinam or 6-APA with ampicillin. Colony-forming units were counted, and cells were examined by interference phase-contrast and transmission electron microscopy. Mecillinam and 6-APA were very effective in reducing the viability of the two gram-negative species, but they were less effective against S. aureus. Combinations of mecillinam and 6-APA with ampicillin acted synergistically against the gram-negative bacilli. When the antibiotics were presented consecutively, their effects on viability were usually no greater than the effects of the individual antibiotics acting alone. When P. mirabilis and E. coli were exposed to mecillinam alone or in combination with ampicillin, the cells became rounded. 6-APA alone or in combination with ampicillin produced elongated polymorphic cells in these species. The most unusual morphological effects were ultrastructural. Mecillinam and, to a lesser extent, 6-APA produced inward growth of numerous pairs of trilamellar membranous structures within the cells. It is possible that these membranes represent the growth initiation of aberrant cross walls. Both mecillinam and 6-APA produced multiple, thick cross walls in S. aureus.