Teen Dating Violence among Italian High School Students: A Quantitative Study on Gender Differences

Healthy relationships involve trust, integrity, respect, and cooperation. Unfortunately, teen dating violence is a serious problem and there has been a consensus that it has severe consequences on the victims’ physical and psychological health. It can negatively influence the development of healthy sexuality, intimacy, and identity of adolescents as they transition into adulthood. This study examined the gender differences in teen dating violence among 336 Italian adolescent students from four secondary schools in Reggio Emilia, aged 14 to 20 years. The study used questionnaires for data collection and the results revealed that both genders have a significantly greater acceptance of control behavior when compared to their acceptance of aggressive behavior. In addition, boys accepted interpersonal violence more than girls. A Significant high percentage of girls reported victimization, with physical, emotional, and threatening violence perpetrated more against them. Most of the teens were aware of TDV among peers, and an experience of TDV was among the causal attributions mentioned. Others reported the fear of losing a partner and reaction to a provoking behavior. The recommendations drawn included the importance of addressing masculinity models that see aggressiveness as part of their gender identity and the relevance of raising awareness of control behaviors as antecedents of teen dating violence

Evaluation of ki-67 as independent risk factor and its role in the incidence of local recurrence/distant metastasis in luminal A and luminal B (her2 negative) breast cancer: a retrospective analysis from a single cancer center

Objective: We aimed to assess the relationship between the Ki-67 index and the risk of recur- rences and survival in patients with breast cancer (BC) that had positive estrogen receptor (ER), positive proges- terone receptor (PR), and negative human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2). Patients and Methods: A total of 108 patients who visited the Clinical Oncology Department at Assuit Univer- sity Hospital between 2015 and 2018 were involved in the study. The level of Ki-67 was measured and patients were divided into low Ki-67 (n=62) and high Ki-67 (n=46) groups using 14% as the cut-off value. The Cox-regression hazard model was used for both Univariate and Multivariate analyses. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for the survival analysis. Results: Age, menopausal status, performance status (PS), pathological type, tumor stage (T), nodal stage (N), grade (G), and TNM stage were all analysed in relation to the Ki-67 index; the only statistically significant variable was the T stage (p=0.043). Patients with high Ki-67 level had a greater mortality rate than those with low levels (p=0.004). In comparison to low index groups, the mean disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were lower in the high index groups (DFS: 48.41± 4.19 months vs. 64.53± 2.48 months and OS: 54.74± 3.59 months vs. 66.54± 1.99 months with p=0.001 and 0.002, respectively). When compared to the low index group, the high Ki-67 group had a significantly higher incidence of local recurrence (LR) and metastasis (p=0.001). Conclusions: In patients with positive ER/PR and HER2, negative HER2 BC, the level of Ki-67 strongly inversely correlates with LR/metastasis, DFS, and OS

An Unbiased Systems Genetics Approach to Mapping Genetic Loci Modulating Susceptibility to Severe Streptococcal Sepsis

Striking individual differences in severity of group A streptococcal (GAS) sepsis have been noted, even among patients infected with the same bacterial strain. We had provided evidence that HLA class II allelic variation contributes significantly to differences in systemic disease severity by modulating host responses to streptococcal superantigens. Inasmuch as the bacteria produce additional virulence factors that participate in the pathogenesis of this complex disease, we sought to identify additional gene networks modulating GAS sepsis. Accordingly, we applied a systems genetics approach using a panel of advanced recombinant inbred mice. By analyzing disease phenotypes in the context of mice genotypes we identified a highly significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) on Chromosome 2 between 22 and 34 Mb that strongly predicts disease severity, accounting for 25%–30% of variance. This QTL harbors several polymorphic genes known to regulate immune responses to bacterial infections. We evaluated candidate genes within this QTL using multiple parameters that included linkage, gene ontology, variation in gene expression, cocitation networks, and biological relevance, and identified interleukin1 alpha and prostaglandin E synthases pathways as key networks involved in modulating GAS sepsis severity. The association of GAS sepsis with multiple pathways underscores the complexity of traits modulating GAS sepsis and provides a powerful approach for analyzing interactive traits affecting outcomes of other infectious diseases

Interferon-γ-producing immature myeloid cells confer protection against severe invasive group A Streptococcus infections

Cytokine-activated neutrophils are known to be essential for protection against group A Streptococcus infections. However, during severe invasive group A Streptococcus infections that are accompanied by neutropenia, it remains unclear which factors are protective against such infections, and which cell population is the source of them. Here we show that mice infected with severe invasive group A Streptococcus isolates, but not with non-invasive group A Streptococcus isolates, exhibit high concentrations of plasma interferon-γ during the early stage of infection. Interferon-γ is necessary to protect mice, and is produced by a novel population of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor-dependent immature myeloid cells with ring-shaped nuclei. These interferon-γ-producing immature myeloid cells express monocyte and granulocyte markers, and also produce nitric oxide. The adoptive transfer of interferon-γ-producing immature myeloid cells ameliorates infection in wild-type and interferon-γ-deficient mice. Our results indicate that interferon-γ-producing immature myeloid cells have a protective role during the early stage of severe invasive group A Streptococcus infections

Host Genetics and Chlamydia Disease: Prediction and Validation of Disease Severity Mechanisms

Genetic mapping studies may provide association between sequence variants and disease susceptibility that can, with further experimental and computational analysis, lead to discovery of causal mechanisms and effective intervention. We have previously demonstrated that polymorphisms in immunity-related GTPases (IRG) confer a significant difference in susceptibility to Chlamydia psittaci infection in BXD recombinant mice. Here we combine genetic mapping and network modeling to identify causal pathways underlying this association. We infected a large panel of BXD strains with C. psittaci and assessed host genotype, IRG protein polymorphisms, pathogen load, expression of 32 cytokines, inflammatory cell populations, and weight change. Proinflammatory cytokines correlated with each other and were controlled by a novel genetic locus on chromosome 1, but did not affect disease status, as quantified by weight change 6 days after infection In contrast, weight change correlated strongly with levels of inflammatory cell populations and pathogen load that were controlled by an IRG encoding genetic locus (Ctrq3) on chromosome 11. These data provided content to generate a predictive model of infection using a Bayesian framework incorporating genotypes, immune system parameters, and weight change as a measure of disease severity. Two predictions derived from the model were tested and confirmed in a second round of experiments. First, strains with the susceptible IRG haplotype lost weight as a function of pathogen load whereas strains with the resistant haplotype were almost completely unaffected over a very wide range of pathogen load. Second, we predicted that macrophage activation by Ctrq3 would be central in conferring pathogen tolerance. We demonstrated that macrophage depletion in strains with the resistant haplotype led to neutrophil influx and greater weight loss despite a lower pathogen burden. Our results show that genetic mapping and network modeling can be combined to identify causal pathways underlying chlamydial disease susceptibility

Distributed Battery Energy Storage Co-Operation for Renewable Energy Sources Integration

This paper presents a multiagent system (MAS) day-ahead co-operation framework between renewable energy resources (RESs) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) owned by different stakeholders. BESSs offer their storage services to RESs by shifting RES power to sell it during profitable peak-hours (aka; time-shifting). The MAS framework consists of three phases. Phase-one is a pre-auction phase that defines the maximum charging and discharging BESS power limits. These limits guarantee a reliable distribution system operation without violating the buses’ voltage limits or the ampacity of the branches. Phase-two is an auctioning phase between the BESS-agents and the RES-agents. Each agent has a different owner with a specific profit agenda and risk levels. The agent tries to maximize the profit potential of the owner. The agents use historical trade data and expected weather conditions to maximize profitability. Phase-three is called the post-auctioning phase, in which the agreement between the BESS- and RES-agents is finalized, and the agents are ready for another 3-phases trade. Case studies compare different auctioning strategies and prove the effectiveness of the proposed MAS system

Chitosan and Sodium Alginate Combinations Are Alternative, Efficient, and Safe Natural Adjuvant Systems for Hepatitis B Vaccine in Mouse Model

Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infections represent major public health problem and are an occupational hazard for healthcare workers. Current alum-adjuvanted HBV vaccine is the most effective measure to prevent HBV infection. However, the vaccine has some limitations including poor response in some vaccinee and being a frost-sensitive suspension. The goal of our study was to use an alternative natural adjuvant system strongly immunogenic allowing for a reduction in dose and cost. We tested HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) adjuvanted with chitosan (Ch) and sodium alginate (S), both natural adjuvants, either alone or combined with alum in mouse model. Mice groups were immunized subcutaneously with HBsAg adjuvanted with Ch or S, or triple adjuvant formula with alum (Al), Ch, and S, or double formulations with AlCh or AlS. These were compared to control groups immunized with current vaccine formula or unadjuvanted HBsAg. We evaluated the rate of seroconversion, serum HBsAg antibody, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels. The results showed that the solution formula with Ch or S exhibited comparable immunogenic responses to Al-adjuvanted suspension. The AlChS gave significantly higher immunogenic response compared to controls. Collectively, our results indicated that Ch and S are effective HBV adjuvants offering natural alternatives, potentially reducing dose