Biologic risk factors for low birthweight in Al Ain,United Arab Emirates

A prospective study of biological factors for low birthweight (LBW) among UAE nationals in the Al Ain Medical District was undertaken from 15 January 1992 to 14 January 1993, using a case control method. All 293 mothers of LBW infants and an equal number of mothers of the next normal weight infants born after the LBW infant were studied. Of the 3,485 live births, 293 (8.4%) were LBW (less than 2,500 g). Maternal age less than 25 years, lighter weight at booking, nulliparity, first cousin marriage and short interpregnancy interval (IPI) of 3 months or less significantly increased the risk of LBW in this population. After adjusting for other biologic confounders, only low maternal weight and short IPI significantly increased the risk of LBW. Modification of these biologic risk factors would help to reduce the incidence of LBW among the UAE population. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Blue-emissive two-component supergelator with aggregation-induced enhanced emission

Two-component organogels offer several advantages over one-component gels, but their design is highly challenging. Hence, it is extremely important to design new approaches for the crafting of two-component organogels with interesting optical and mechanical properties. Herein, we report the design of a new class of two-component supergelators obtained from the assembly between acid functionalized tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based dendrons and alkylated melamine. No gelation behaviour is observed for the individual components, but interestingly, remarkable gelation behaviour is observed for their hydrogen-bonded complex. The primary driving force responsible for the gelation is the strong π–π stacking interaction of TPE units. Because of the strong π-stacking of TPEs in the gel state, the C(sp²)–C(sp²) bond rotation of the TPE segment is completely arrested in the gel state, which results in intense fluorescence emission of the gels. Furthermore, excellent elastic response is observed for the gels as evident from their high storage modulus compared to loss modulus values. Our results clearly demonstrate that by the appropriate selection of the molecular components, this approach can be applied for the creation of functional nanomaterials with emergent properties absent in the individual blocks.

Design of a novel class of two-component, highly emissive, low molecular weight supergelator is reported.     

Electrophysiological and behavioural study of localisation in presence of noise

Objective: The ability to determine the location of the sound source is often important for effective communication. However, it is not clear how the localisation is affected by background noise. In the current study, localisation in quiet versus noise was evaluated in adults both behaviourally, and using MMN and P3b.

Design: The speech token/da/was presented in a multi-deviant oddball paradigm in quiet and in presence of speech babble at +5?dB SNR. The deviants were presented at locations that differed from the standard by 30°, 60° and 90°.

Study sample: Sixteen normal hearing adults between the age range of 18–35?years participated in the study.

Results: The results showed that participants were significantly faster and more accurate at identifying deviants presented at 60° and 90° as compared to 30°. Neither reaction times nor electrophysiological measures (MMN/P3b) were affected by the background noise. The deviance magnitude (30°, 60° and 90°) did not affect the MMN amplitude, but the smaller deviant (30°) generated P3b with smaller amplitude.

Conclusions: Under the stimulus paradigm and measures employed in this study, localisation ability as effectively sampled appeared resistant to speech babble interference.     

Health literacy among cancer survivors: Results from the 2016 behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey

Health literacy is a set of knowledge and skills that enables individuals to obtain, communicate, process and understand information, and services to make appropriate health decisions and to successfully navigate the health care system. Health literacy is important to quality of cancer survivorship care and patient self-management of their disease.We examined health literacy among cancer survivors, using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We compared health literacy across various demographic and socioeconomic groups and estimated the adjusted odds in favor of low health literacy for these characteristics.We found that about 16% of the cancer survivors had low health literacy. The prevalence was higher among Hispanic and Black individuals, and among those with poor health status, low income and educational attainment.A sizeable percentage of cancer survivors have low health literacy which is likely to complicate their ability to self-manage their disease and navigate the health care system for optimal care. In order to ensure the quality and appropriateness of cancer survivorship care, effective interventions are needed to address low health literacy in these populations.     

Effect of whole-body vibration on the low back. A study of tractor-driving farmers in north India

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of tractor-driving farmers (study group) and non-tractor-driving farmers (control group) matched for age, gender, generic/ethnic group, land-holding, and work routines. OBJECTIVES: To determine, using magnetic resonance imaging and clinical investigations, the effect of whole-body vibrations on the back in tractor-driving farmers. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Low back pain and pathologic changes in the lower backs of tractor drivers have been reported. However, no study with a control group matched for work-related risk factors has been reported. METHODS: Fifty tractor-driving farmers were compared with 50 non-tractor-driving farmers matched for age, gender, ethnic group, land-holding, and work routine. Both groups were interviewed for details of work routine, assets held, family profile, and vibration exposure to assess the influence of these parameters on signs and symptoms of backache. Magnetic resonance imaging was done to assess the effect of exposure on whole-body vibration and degenerative changes in the back. Vibration measurements also were done on tractors to observe the actual severity of the vibrations. RESULTS: Regular work-related backache was more common among tractor-driving farmers (40%) than among non-tractor-driving farmers (18%, P = 0.015). Anthropometric evaluation showed abdominal girth and weight to be significantly higher in tractor-driving farmers (P = 0.006 and 0.046, respectively), whereas while height and arm span were similar between the two groups. Clinical examination for evidence of disc or facet degeneration showed no difference between the two groups. Evaluation of magnetic resonance images of tractor-driving farmers and non-tractor-driving farmers by an orthopedic surgeon, radiologist, and neurosurgeon showed degenerative changes to be similar between the two groups (P > 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Tractor-driving farmers report backache more often than non-tractor-driving farmers, but no significant objective differences on clinical or magnetic resonance imaging evaluation were found between the two groups.     

Light and electron microscopic studies on the synovial membrane in reiter's syndrome.

Studies by light microscopy on synovium obtained from 11 patients with Reiter's syndrome during the first month of an episode showed proliferation of synovial lining cells, polymorphonuclear neutrophils among the synovial lining cells, increased surface fibrin, and vascular congestion. Biopsy specimens taken later showed vascular congestion and still proliferated synovial lining cells, fewer polymorphonuclear neutrophils in some, and a tendency toward increased infiltration with lymphocytes and plasma cells. Electron microscopy of samples from 8 patients during the first month of disease activity showed occlusion of vessels by platelets in 4, and fibrin or dense granular material in the vessel walls in 4. Five of the patients with arthritis of less than 4 weeks duration had unidentified intracellular and extracellular particles; some of these were highly suggestive of Chlamydia. No such particles were noted in samples from patients with more chronic cases. Using an antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique, immunocytochemistry showed reaction product in synovial macrophages in 2 patients with arthritis of less than 4 weeks duration, but not in the 1 patient studied who had more chronic disease. These studies provide support for dramatic synovial vascular injury consistent with that caused by endotoxin and the presence of chlamydial antigen in synovial macrophages, at least in the early phases of synovitis.     

PPARβ/δ attenuates palmitate-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and induces autophagic markers in human cardiac cells

Background

Chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to the apoptotic cell death in the myocardium, thereby playing a critical role in the development of cardiomyopathy. ER stress has been reported to be induced after high-fat diet feeding in mice and also after saturated fatty acid treatment in vitro. Therefore, since several studies have shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ inhibits ER stress, the main goal of this study consisted in investigating whether activation of this nuclear receptor was able to prevent lipid-induced ER stress in cardiac cells.

Methods and results

Wild-type and transgenic mice with reduced PPARβ/δ expression were fed a standard diet or a high-fat diet for two months. For in vitro studies, a cardiomyocyte cell line of human origin, AC16, was treated with palmitate and the PPARβ/δ agonist GW501516. Our results demonstrate that palmitate induced ER stress in AC16 cells, a fact which was prevented after PPARβ/δ activation with GW501516. Interestingly, the effect of GW501516 on ER stress occurred in an AMPK-independent manner. The most striking result of this study is that GW501516 treatment also upregulated the protein levels of beclin 1 and LC3II, two well-known markers of autophagy. In accordance with this, feeding on a high-fat diet or suppression of PPARβ/δ in knockout mice induced ER stress in the heart. Moreover, PPARβ/δ knockout mice also displayed a reduction in autophagic markers.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that PPARβ/δ activation might be useful to prevent the harmful effects of ER stress induced by saturated fatty acids in the heart by inducing autophagy.     

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Major Depressive Disorder: A Brief Primer for Primary Care Physicians

BACKGROUND: One of the most enduring and replicated findings in biological psychiatry is activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in a subset of patients with major depressive disorder. This review will discuss some of these findings and their pertinence to the assessment and treatment of depressed patients. METHOD: MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and Current Contents databases were searched for pertinent articles on the HPA axis in patients with depression. In addition, hand searches were conducted of references from these sources and abstracts from meetings and books on this topic. Articles that would provide an overview of major or interesting studies in the field were selected for inclusion. RESULTS: The data support that HPA axis activation is common in depressed patients. Frequently reported findings include elevated cortisol and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), nonsuppression on the dexamethasone suppression test, a blunted adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response to CRH, and hippocampal volume reduction. Evidence of HPA axis activation appears to have prognostic value and is associated with increased risk of depression relapse and even suicide. CONCLUSION: Future research in this area will focus on a better understanding of the etiology and long-term consequences of HPA axis activation in depressed patients. In addition, medications that act on the HPA axis are currently in development and may be part of the psychiatrist's and primary care physician's pharmacopoeia in the near future.     

Priority actions for the non-communicable disease crisis

The UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in September, 2011, is an unprecedented opportunity to create a sustained global movement against premature death and preventable morbidity and disability from NCDs, mainly heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease. The increasing global crisis in NCDs is a barrier to development goals including poverty reduction, health equity, economic stability, and human security. The Lancet NCD Action Group and the NCD Alliance propose five overarching priority actions for the response to the crisis--leadership, prevention, treatment, international cooperation, and monitoring and accountability--and the delivery of five priority interventions--tobacco control, salt reduction, improved diets and physical activity, reduction in hazardous alcohol intake, and essential drugs and technologies. The priority interventions were chosen for their health effects, cost-effectiveness, low costs of implementation, and political and financial feasibility. The most urgent and immediate priority is tobacco control. We propose as a goal for 2040, a world essentially free from tobacco where less than 5% of people use tobacco. Implementation of the priority interventions, at an estimated global commitment of about US$9 billion per year, will bring enormous benefits to social and economic development and to the health sector. If widely adopted, these interventions will achieve the global goal of reducing NCD death rates by 2% per year, averting tens of millions of premature deaths in this decade.