Bidirectional relationships between future time perspective and alcohol use: an exploratory study in a clinical setting

Abstract

Gaining a better grasp on factors related to changes in alcohol use is of particular interest for clinicians. Past research has highlighted a negative link between future time perspective (i.e. a disposition guiding how individuals consider and act regarding their future) and alcohol misuse. However, much remains at stake in the understanding of this association. The objective of this research was to explore bidirectional relationships between future time perspective and severity of alcohol-related problems, in a clinical setting. The sample includes 79 patients followed up in an outpatient alcohol treatment centre. Two measurement times were planned: at entry into care and 6 months later. Multiple linear regression analyses were carried out, controlling for sociodemographic variables. We found that baseline future time perspective predicted level of alcohol-related problems after 6 months in treatment, even when effects of baseline alcohol-related problems and sociodemographic variables were controlled. This study shows that the way patients see and position themselves regarding their future can affect level of alcohol-related problems. It may be useful for clinicians to identify patients with low future time perspective to offer tailored interventions and consider this dimension as a resource for change.     

Trabecular Bone Score Reference Values for Children and Adolescents According to Age,Sex, and Ancestry

Trabecular bone score (TBS) is used for fracture prediction in adults, but its utility in children is limited by absence of appropriate reference values. We aimed to develop reference ranges for TBS by age, sex, and population ancestry for youth ages 5 to 20 years. We also investigated the association between height, body mass index (BMI), and TBS, agreement between TBS and lumbar spine areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) Z-scores, tracking of TBS Z-scores over time, and precision of TBS measurements. We performed secondary analysis of spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans from the Bone Mineral Density in Childhood Study (BMDCS), a mixed longitudinal cohort of healthy children (n = 2014) evaluated at five US centers. TBS was derived using a dedicated TBS algorithm accounting for tissue thickness rather than BMI. TBS increased only during ages corresponding to pubertal development with an earlier increase in females than males. There were no differences in TBS between African Americans and non-African Americans. We provide sex-specific TBS reference ranges and LMS values for calculation of TBS Z-scores by age and means and SD for calculation of Z-scores by pubertal stage. TBS Z-scores were positively associated with height Z-scores at some ages. TBS Z-scores explained only 27% and 17% of the variance of spine aBMD and BMAD Z-scores. Tracking of TBS Z-scores over 6 years was lower (r = 0.47) than for aBMD or BMAD Z-scores (r = 0.74 to 0.79), and precision error of TBS (2.87%) was greater than for aBMD (0.85%) and BMAD (1.22%). In sum, TBS Z-scores provide information distinct from spine aBMD and BMAD Z-scores. Our robust reference ranges for TBS in a well-characterized pediatric cohort and precision error estimates provide essential tools for clinical assessment using TBS and determination of its value in predicting bone fragility in childhood and adolescence. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Cervical nerve root stimulation. Part I: technical aspects and normal data.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical nerve root stimulation (CRS) is a technique of assessing the proximal segments of motor axons destined to upper extremity muscles. Few studies report normal values. The objective was to determine CMAP onset-latencies and CMAP amplitude, area, and duration changes in healthy controls for the abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi (ADM), biceps, and riceps muscles. In addition, to determine the tolerability of CRS, as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS). METHODS: We studied 21 healthy volunteers prospectively with CRS using four target muscles (APB, ADM, biceps, and triceps) bilaterally. Collision studies were used in all APB recordings. VAS was obtained in all subjects. RESULTS: Mean CMAP onset-latencies were: APB 14 +/- 1.5 ms; ADM 14.2 +/- 1.5 ms; biceps 5.4 +/- 0.6 ms; triceps 5.4 +/- 1.0 ms. Onset-latency significantly correlated with height for all nerves. The mean change in CMAP amplitude and area (%) between most distal stimulation and CRS was: APB reduction of 15.1 +/- 11.6 and 4.9 +/- 3.6%; ADM reduction of 21.1 +/- 10.7 and 17.2 +/- 8.8; biceps reduction of 10 +/- 11.5 and reduction of 8.7 +/- 6.8; triceps increase of 3.3 +/- 5.2 and 11.0 +/- 9.9% respectively. Mean CMAP duration change between most distal stimulation and CRS was: APB, increase of 20.4 +/- 7.4%; ADM, increase of 14.4 +/- 8.5%; biceps, increase of 13.9 +/- 10.8%; triceps, increase of 7.7 +/- 6.7%. The mean VAS score was 3.8 +/- 1.2, and all subjects completed the study. CONCLUSIONS: The present study establishes normative data and indicates that CRS is a well-tolerated technique. SIGNIFICANCE: The normal values may be used as reference data for the needle CRS technique in the assessment of proximal conduction abnormalities.     

Effects of Intermittent Femoral Nerve Injections of Bupivacaine, Levobupivacaine, and Ropivacaine on Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism and Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis in Rat Psoas Muscle

Background: Long-acting local anesthetics cause muscle damage. Moreover, long-acting local anesthetics act as uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in isolated mitochondria and enhance sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release. The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of perineural injections of local anesthetics on mitochondrial energetic metabolism and intracellular calcium homeostasis in vivo.

Methods: Femoral nerve block catheters were inserted in adult male Wistar rats. Rats were randomized and received seven injections (1 ml/kg) of bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, ropivacaine, or isotonic saline at 8-h intervals. Rats were killed 8 h after the last injection. Psoas muscle was quickly dissected from next to the femoral nerve. Local anesthetic concentrations in muscle were determined. Oxidative capacity was measured in saponin-skinned fibers. Oxygen consumption rates were measured, and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthesis rate was determined. Enzymatic activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes were evaluated. Local calcium release events (calcium sparks) were analyzed as well as sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content in saponin-skinned fibers.

Results: Eight hours after the last injection, psoas muscle concentration of local anesthetics was less than 0.3 [mu]g/g tissue. Adenosine triphosphate synthesis and adenosine triphosphate-to-oxygen ratio were significantly decreased in the muscle of rats treated with local anesthetics. A global decrease (around 50%) in all of the enzyme activities of the respiratory chain was observed. Levobupivacaine increased the amplitude and frequency of the calcium sparks, whereas lower sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content was shown.     

Use of amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of venous leg ulcers

Amniotic membrane (AM), the most internal placental membrane, has unique properties including antiadhesive effects, bacteriostatic, wound protection and pain-reduction properties, as well as epithelialization initialization capacities. Furthermore, AM is widely available and less costly than other bioengineered skin substitutes. In a prospective pilot study, we evaluated the safety, feasibility, and the effects on healing of AM graft in 15 patients with chronic venous leg ulcers. AM grafts were prepared from placentas harvested during cesarean section. All grafted AM had adhered to the wound bed 7 days after being applied with a 100% engraftment rate. The percentage of granulation tissue increased significantly (from 17% on day 0 to 69% on day 14, p<0.0001), along with a significant decrease of fibrinous slough (from 36% at day 0 to 16% at day 14, p<0.001). A significant clinical response occurred in 12 patients (80%) including complete healing (20%) in three during the 3-month follow-up period. The ulcer surface area decreased significantly from a mean value (+/- standard deviation) of 4.59 +/- 2.49 cm(2) at baseline to 2.91+/-2.01 cm(2) on day 30 (p<0.001). All patients experienced a significant reduction of ulcer-related pain rapidly after AM transplantation. No adverse events were recorded. AM transplantation seems to function as a safe substrate, promoting proper epithelialization while suppressing excessive fibrosis. Further advantages of biotherapy with AM are its easy and low-cost production, and that it can be applied as an ambulatory treatment without immobilization. AM transplantation may thus be considered to be an alternative method for treating chronic leg ulcers.     

Non-cultured cell transplantation in an ovine model of non-ischemic heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: Cell therapy may be a promising alternative or adjunct to current treatment modalities for ischemic heart failure. But little is known on the impact of myogenic cell transplantation in large animal models of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. The aim of the present study was to explore whether an ovine model of toxin-induced heart disease could benefit from non-cultured skeletal muscle cell transplantation. METHODS: Sequential intracoronary injections of doxorubicin (0.75 mg/kg) were carried out every 2 weeks until echocardiographic detection of myocardial dysfunction. Sheep were then randomly assigned to either non-cultured cell transplantation (n=8) or placebo injection (n=5). For the cell therapy group, a skeletal muscle biopsy (about 10 g) was explanted from each animal approximately 3h before grafting. After thoracotomy, 20 epicardial injections were carried out. The animals were assessed one last time before sacrifice, 2 months after the thoracotomy. Cells were tracked with cmDiI (red fluorescence) and characterized with immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to a fast skeletal isoform of myosin heavy chain. RESULTS: Two months after intramyocardial grafting, tissue Doppler imaging and conventional echocardiographic assessment of the groups showed a marked improvement in the non-cultured cell therapy group. Ejection fraction (EF) (p<0.05) as well as systolic endocardial velocities (p<0.01) improved versus the placebo group. CmDiI and skeletal myosin heavy chain expression was detected in all animals at 2 months after implantation confirming engraftment of skeletal muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data indicate that non-cultured muscle cell transplantation is feasible and may translate into a functional benefit in an ovine model of dilated heart failure.     

Dynamics of bacterial hand contamination during routine neonatal care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamics of bacterial contamination of healthcare workers' (HCWs) hands during neonatal care. SETTING: The 20-bed neonatal unit of a large acute care teaching hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. METHODS: Structured observation sessions were conducted. A sequence of care began when the HCW performed hand hygiene and ended when the activity changed or hand hygiene was performed again. Alcohol-based handrub was the standard procedure for hand hygiene. An imprint of the five fingertips of the dominant hand was obtained before and after hand hygiene and at the end of a sequence of care. Regression methods were used to model the final bacterial count according to the type and duration of care and the use of gloves. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine sequences of care were observed. Commensal skin flora comprised 72.4% of all culture-positive specimens (n = 360). Other microorganisms identified were Enterobacteriaceae (n = 55, 13.8%); Staphylococcus aureus (n = 10, 2.5%); and fungi (n = 7, 1.8%). Skin contact, respiratory care, and diaper change were independently associated with an increased bacterial count; the use of gloves did not fully protect HCWs' hands from bacterial contamination. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that hands become progressively contaminated with commensal flora and potential pathogens during neonatal care, and identify activities at higher risk for hand contamination. They also reinforce the need for hand hygiene after a sequence of care, before starting a different task, and after glove removal.     

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography in children and adolescents: the 2007 ISCD Pediatric Official Positions

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) has mainly been used as a research tool in children. To evaluate the clinical utility of pQCT and formulate recommendations for its use in children, the International Society of Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) convened a task force to review the literature and propose areas of consensus and future research. The types of pQCT technology available, the clinical application of pQCT for bone health assessment in children, the important elements to be included in a pQCT report, and quality control monitoring techniques were evaluated. The review revealed a lack of standardization of pQCT techniques, and a paucity of data regarding differences between pQCT manufacturers, models and software versions and their impact in pediatric assessment. Measurement sites varied across studies. Adequate reference data, a critical element for interpretation of pQCT results, were entirely lacking, although some comparative data on healthy children were available. The elements of the pQCT clinical report and quality control procedures are similar to those recommended for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Future research is needed to establish evidence-based criteria for the selection of the measurement site, scan acquisition and analysis parameters, and outcome measures. Reference data that sufficiently characterize the normal range of variability in the population also need to be established.     

Effect of Glass Transition Temperature on the Stability of Lyophilized Formulations Containing a Chimeric Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of knowing the glass transition temperature, T_g, of a lyophilized amorphous solid composed primarily of a sugar and a protein in the interpretation of accelerated stability data. Methods. Glass transition temperatures were measured using DSC and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Aggregation of protein in the solid state was monitored using size-exclusion chromatography. Results. Sucrose formulation (T_g ~ 59°C) when stored at 60°C was found to undergo significant aggregation, while the trehalose formulation (T_g ~ 80°C) was stable at 60°C. The instability observed with sucrose formulation at 60°C can be attributed to its T_g (~59°C) being close to the testing temperature. Increase in the protein/sugar ratio was found to increase the T_gs of the formulations containing sucrose or trehalose, but to different degrees. Conclusions. Since the formulations exist in glassy state during their shelf-life, accelerated stability data generated in the glassy state (40°C) is perhaps a better predictor of the relative stability of formulations than the data generated at a higher temperature (60°C) where one formulation is in the glassy state while the other is near or above its T_g.