Risk Assessment for Developmental Toxicity: Airborne Occupational Exposure to Ethanol and Iodine

Dean Mattison explains hazard identification, hazard characterization and exposure characterization as furnishing a foundation for Risk assessment generally. He then illustrates their application in assessing the fetal Risk posed by two common substances. Ultimately, he argues that only after Risks have been so examined can women of child bearing age (or anyone) decide what if any measures are appropriate to avoid them

Identifying specific prefrontal neurons that contribute to autism-associated abnormalities in physiology and social behavior.

Functional imaging and gene expression studies both implicate the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), particularly deep-layer projection neurons, as a potential locus for autism pathology. Here, we explored how specific deep-layer prefrontal neurons contribute to abnormal physiology and behavior in mouse models of autism. First, we find that across three etiologically distinct models-in utero valproic acid (VPA) exposure, CNTNAP2 knockout and FMR1 knockout-layer 5 subcortically projecting (SC) neurons consistently exhibit reduced input resistance and action potential firing. To explore how altered SC neuron physiology might impact behavior, we took advantage of the fact that in deep layers of the mPFC, dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) are mainly expressed by SC neurons, and used D2-Cre mice to label D2R+ neurons for calcium imaging or optogenetics. We found that social exploration preferentially recruits mPFC D2R+ cells, but that this recruitment is attenuated in VPA-exposed mice. Stimulating mPFC D2R+ neurons disrupts normal social interaction. Conversely, inhibiting these cells enhances social behavior in VPA-exposed mice. Importantly, this effect was not reproduced by nonspecifically inhibiting mPFC neurons in VPA-exposed mice, or by inhibiting D2R+ neurons in wild-type mice. These findings suggest that multiple forms of autism may alter the physiology of specific deep-layer prefrontal neurons that project to subcortical targets. Furthermore, a highly overlapping population-prefrontal D2R+ neurons-plays an important role in both normal and abnormal social behavior, such that targeting these cells can elicit potentially therapeutic effects

Side by Side: The Use of Multiple Subject Languages in Capturing Shifting Contexts around Historical Collections

Archival representations strive to convey the original context around historical collections, but perspectives on certain topics and materials may change over time. Such shifting perspectives pose problems for providing appropriate subject access without obscuring contexts or misrepresenting resources in their broader cultural settings. This study seeks to examine these problems through an investigation of historical materials associated with American sideshows, public opinions on which changed drastically from the 19th to the 20th centuries. Using as a case the Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs, an archival collection of digitized images of sideshow performers, we explored a variety of systems of subject representation for major concepts and terms relevant to sideshow performers and activities. Combining keyword extraction and descriptive analysis of current collection metadata (e.g., LCSH) with comparisons to other popular systems of subject representation, we found complex and conflicting perspectives on concepts such as dwarfism, hypertrichosis, and obesity. Results revealed that current LCSH-based subject metadata for these materials tends to reduce historical and demographic context around performers and highlight contemporary medical perspectives. At the same time, original language used in these images is now often seen as demeaning, exploitative, and offensive. Furthermore, neither of these perspectives may match with self-identifying language used in contemporary society. Taken together, however, these sets of terminologies and their relationships may provide a more robust representation of changing perceptions and terminologies over time. Findings from this study reveal the potentials of utilizing a faceted approach and multiple subject languages together to further clarify and contextualize archival collections

Nineteenth-Century Depictions of Disabilities and Modern Metadata: A Consideration of Material in the P. T. Barnum Digital Collection

The Library of Congress subject headings have been examined in the past for their classification of subjects relating to race, gender, and sexuality. Overlooked is subject headings that relate to disabilities. In the course of creating records for the archival and object material that form the P.T. Barnum Digital Collection, the project discovered the imperfections of the Library of Congress subject headings, and the need to develop standards and protocols for the material. This resulted in a balance of language that respects the preferences of living communities and their best practices, and the existing language in the Library of Congress, while also engaging with the complex nuances of disability theory. The issues encountered raise questions regarding classification, contemporary language, and the best way forward for archival institutions

Multimodal Highlighting of Structural Abnormalities in Diabetic Rat and Human Corneas.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to highlight structural corneal changes in a model of type 2 diabetes, using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (CCM). The abnormalities were also characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy in rat and human corneas. METHODS: Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were observed at age 12 weeks (n = 3) and 1 year (n = 6), and compared to age-matched controls. After in vivo CCM examination, TEM and SHG microscopy were used to characterize the ultrastructure and the three-dimensional organization of the abnormalities. Human corneas from diabetic (n = 3) and nondiabetic (n = 3) patients were also included in the study. RESULTS: In the basal epithelium of GK rats, CCM revealed focal hyper-reflective areas, and histology showed proliferative cells with irregular basement membrane. In the anterior stroma, extracellular matrix modifications were detected by CCM and confirmed in histology. In the Descemet's membrane periphery of all the diabetic corneas, hyper-reflective deposits were highlighted using CCM and characterized as long-spacing collagen fibrils by TEM. SHG microscopy revealed these deposits with high contrast, allowing specific detection in diabetic human and rat corneas without preparation and characterization of their three-dimensional organization. CONCLUSION: Pathologic findings were observed early in the development of diabetes in GK rats. Similar abnormalities have been found in corneas from diabetic patients. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: This multidisciplinary study highlights diabetes-induced corneal abnormalities in an animal model, but also in diabetic donors. This could constitute a potential early marker for diagnosis of hyperglycemia-induced tissue changes

Infecção por Cryptosporidium sp. em pacientes hematológicos submetidos a situações de imunodepressão

The frequency of intestinal infection by Cryptosporidium sp. was determined in 60 patients, attended at the Haematological and Haemotherapeutical Service of "Santa Casa de Misericórdia" of São Paulo, suffering lymphoproliferative diseases (Group 1). As control group (Group 2) 59 persons without haematological diseases, but with the same life time and living at the same place of that of haematological patients, had been examined. The stool parasitological tests performed disclosed Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts in six (10%) individuals belonging to Group 1, whereas, in Group 2, nobody showed infection by this coccidian. Among the patients infected by Cryptosporidium sp. only one showed diarrhoeal faeces.Determinou-se a freqüência de infecção intestinal por Cryptosporidium sp. em 60 pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Hematologia e Hemoterapia da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo que apresentavam processos linfoproliferativos (Grupo 1). Como grupo controle (Grupo 2) examinaram-se 59 indivíduos sadios, que habitavam as mesmas localidades e pertenciam a faixa etária semelhante a dos pacientes do Grupo 1. Os exames parasitológicos de fezes revelaram freqüência de infecção por Cryptosporidium sp. de 10% no Grupo 1, enquanto nos controles (Grupo 2) não se evidenciou nenhum caso de infecção por esse coccídeo. Entre os pacientes que eliminavam oocistos de Cryptosporidium sp. apenas um apresentava fezes diarrêicas

Mouse Models of Genomic Syndromes as Tools for Understanding the Basis of Complex Traits: An Example with the Smith-Magenis and the Potocki-Lupski Syndromes

Each human's genome is distinguished by extra and missing DNA that can be “benign” or powerfully impact everything from development to disease. In the case of genomic disorders DNA rearrangements, such as deletions or duplications, correlate with a clinical specific phenotype. The clinical presentations of genomic disorders were thought to result from altered gene copy number of physically linked dosage sensitive genes. Genomic disorders are frequent diseases (~1 per 1,000 births). Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) and Potocki-Lupski syndrome (PTLS) are genomic disorders, associated with a deletion and a duplication, of 3.7 Mb respectively, within chromosome 17 band p11.2. This region includes 23 genes. Both syndromes have complex and distinctive phenotypes including multiple congenital and neurobehavioral abnormalities. Human chromosome 17p11.2 is syntenic to the 32-34 cM region of murine chromosome 11. The number and order of the genes are highly conserved. In this review, we will exemplify how genomic disorders can be modeled in mice and the advantages that such models can give in the study of genomic disorders in particular and gene copy number variation (CNV) in general. The contributions of the SMS and PTLS animal models in several aspects ranging from more specific ones, as the definition of the clinical aspects of the human clinical spectrum, the identification of dosage sensitive genes related to the human syndromes, to the more general contributions as the definition of genetic locus impacting obesity and behavior and the elucidation of general mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of gene CNV are discussed

Análisis de la aplicación correcta de la norma de detección de cáncer cervical en la unidad de salud de Sensuntepeque, Cabañas en el mes de junio de 2011.

Estudio descriptivo-documental en el que se encontró que el personal de la Unidad de Salud Sensuntepeque no aplica en un 100% correctamente la norma de prevención y control del cáncer de cérvix

PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN Dimethil Sulfoksida (DMSO) DALAM PENGENCER TRIS KUNING TELUR TERHADAP KUALITAS SPERMATOZOA AYAM KOKOK BALENGGEK

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) terhadap kualitas semen Ayam Kokok Balenggek (AKB) yang diamati secara makroskopis dan mikroskopis. Materi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah semen yang ditampung dari empat ekor AKB yang telah dewasa kelamin.. Analisis data dilakukan dengan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK). Semen diencerkan dengan medium dasar Tris kuning telur dan penambahan DMSO masing-masing 0%, 5%, 10% dan 15% sebagai perlakuan. Setelah diencerkan, semen diamati dengan mikroskop secara makroskopis (volume, warna, konsistensi, pH dan bau) dan mikroskopis (motilitas, persentase hidup dan abnormalitas). Rataan yang didapatkan untuk persentase motilitas pada penambahan DMSO 0% 5%, 10%, dan 15% masing masing 72,5%, 77,5% 72,5%, dan 75%. Penambahann DMSO 0%, 5%, 10% dan 15% untuk persentase hidup spermatozoa masing-masing 81,35%, 87,50% 83,47% dan 83,72%. Selanjutnya untuk abnormalitas berada pada kisaran 15,74% – 19,66%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pengenceran semen AKB menggunakan DMSO berbeda tidak nyata (P>0,05) terhadap motilitas, persentase hidup dan abnormalitas spermatozoa. Kata kunci : AKB, Dimethil Sulfoksida , makroskopis, mikroskopis, kualitas sperma