The experience of self-harming behaviours that inflict external injuries to the body in UK-based Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani women: a literature review

Studies carried out on self-harm in the UK have consistently reported a higher level of self-harm among women with South Asian heritage resident in the UK when age-compared with other British women. The reasons for this variation are many including but not limited exclusively to family environment and gender role expectations. These studies have also shown that these women are also least likely to seek psychological support from mental health professionals again with a number of explanations including stigma against help-seeking, notions of shame and other culture-specific factors. However, previous studies have clustered this large group together based on geographical heritage, regardless of the differences between religious and heritage groups and have reported on all types of self-harming behaviours as similar and predominantly carried out quantitative studies which while providing important statistical data have not always looked at the meaning of this experience for the participants. This paper presents a review of the relevant literature within the area of self-harm among Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani women living in the UK. It is noteworthy that many studies discussed are dated, this appears to reflect an apparent lack of recent interest in the topic

1 Multiple roles for the extracelllular matrix protein Tenascin-X in nerve gut function

Funding via Bowel and Cancer ResearchTenascin X (TNX) is a matricellular protein involved in regulating cellular functions by interacting with other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins within the cell matrix and has anti-adhesive properties evidenced in tumours and wound healing. TNX is the only member of the tenascin family that is lost in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and exerts a crucial architectural function. Of importance, TNX deficient and JHS patients have gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Despite this association no study has described the role of TNX in the GI tract. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to characterise the expression of TNX in the stomach and colon in mouse and human tissue. Second, we aimed to elucidate the functional role of TNX using TNX knockout (TNX KO) mice. Expression studies revealed TNX in vagal afferent endings in the mouse, and myenteric cell bodies in human stomach. In colon, TNX strongly associated with cholinergic submucous and myenteric neurons in both species, however, was not found in CGRP positive fibres. Cell bodies in nodose ganglia, dorsal root ganglia, ventral and dorsal horn were also TNX positive. Functional studies in stomach, using single fibre electrophysiology showed TNX KO mice had increased vagal afferent mechanoreceptor sensitivity. Octanoic acid breath test revealed rapid gastric emptying in TNX KO. Colonic manometry showed the amplitude and frequency of colonic contractions were reduced in TNX KO mice, particularly in the distal colon. Ussing chamber studies measuring changes in ion flux (indirect measure of secretion) showed no major difference between TNX KO and wild type (WT) mice. The specific localisation of TNX with neuronal structures in the gut is shown here for the first time suggesting that TNX is more than just an architectural protein. Indeed, its role in specific GI functions supports this observation and provides a mechanism for GI symptoms in JHS.Bowel and Cancer Researc

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Neuroinflammation and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most debilitating adverse effects caused by chemotherapy drugs such as paclitaxel, oxaliplatin and vincristine. It is untreatable and often leads to the discontinuation of cancer therapy and a decrease in the quality of life of cancer patients. It is well-established that neuroinflammation and the activation of immune and glial cells are among the major drivers of CIPN. However, these processes are still poorly understood, and while many chemotherapy drugs alone can drive the activation of these cells and consequent neuroinflammation, it remains elusive to what extent the gut microbiome influences these processes. In this review, we focus on the peripheral mechanisms driving CIPN, and we address the bidirectional pathways by which the gut microbiome communicates with the immune and nervous systems. Additionally, we critically evaluate literature addressing how chemotherapy-induced dysbiosis and the consequent imbalance in bacterial products may contribute to the activation of immune and glial cells, both of which drive neuroinflammation and possibly CIPN development, and how we could use this knowledge for the development of effective treatment strategies

Experimental Study on the Explosive Spalling in High-Performance Concrete: Role of Aggregate and Fiber Types

A complete description of the mechanical behavior of High-Performance Concrete in fire still requires further efforts to fully understand the tricky phenomenon of spalling, whose complexity comes from the interaction among different phenomena, namely: the microstructural changes occurring in concrete at high temperature, the pressure rising in the pores, and the stress induced by both thermal gradients and external loads. To what extent these different aspects influence each other is still not completely clear, and within this context a comprehensive experimental campaign has been launched at the Politecnico di Milano, focusing on the role played by concrete grade, aggregate type, and fiber type and content. Eleven concrete mixes are investigated considering three grades (fc ≥ 40, 60 and 90 MPa), three aggregate types (silico-calcareous, basalt and calcareous aggregates) and different fiber types and contents (steel and monofilament or fibrillated polypropylene fibers)

Accretion Flow Dynamics During 1999 Outburst of XTE J1859+226 - Modeling of Broadband Spectra and Constraining the Source Mass

We examine the dynamical behavior of accretion flow around XTE J1859+226 during the 1999 outburst by analyzing the entire outburst data ($\sim$ 166 days) from RXTE Satellite. Towards this, we study the hysteresis behavior in the hardness intensity diagram (HID) based on the broadband ($3 - 150$ keV) spectral modeling, spectral signature of jet ejection and the evolution of Quasi-periodic Oscillation (QPO) frequencies using the two-component advective flow model around a black hole. We compute the flow parameters, namely Keplerian accretion rate (${\dot m}_d$), sub-Keplerian accretion rate (${\dot m}_h$), shock location ($r_s$) and black hole mass ($M_{bh}$) from the spectral modeling and study their evolution along the q-diagram. Subsequently, the kinetic jet power is computed as $L^{\rm obs}_{\rm jet}\sim 3 - 6 \times 10^{37}$ erg~s$^{-1}$ during one of the observed radio flares which indicates that jet power corresponds to $8-16\%$ mass outflow rate from the disc. This estimate of mass outflow rate is in close agreement with the change in total accretion rate ($\sim 14\%$) required for spectral modeling before and during the flare. Finally, we provide a mass estimate of the source XTE J1859+226 based on the spectral modeling that lies in the range of $5.2 - 7.9 M_{\odot}$ with 90\% confidence.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Effects of Obesity and Gastric Bypass Surgery on Nutrient Sensors, Endocrine Cells, and Mucosal Innervation of the Mouse Colon

Background: Nutrient-sensing receptors located on enteroendocrine (EEC) cells modulate appetite via detection of luminal contents. Colonic ‘tasting’ of luminal contents may influence changes to appetite observed in obesity and after weight loss induced by bariatric surgery. We assessed the effects of obesity and gastric bypass-induced weight loss on expression of nutrient-sensing G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), EEC and enterochromaffin (EC) cells and mucosal innervation. Methods: qPCR and immunohistochemistry were used to study colonic tissue from (a) chow-fed/lean, (b) high-fat fed/obese, (c) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB), and (d) calorie restriction-induced weight loss mice. Results: Expression of GPR41, GPR43, GPR40, GPR120, GPR84, GPR119, GPR93 and T1R3 was increased in obese mice. Obesity-induced overexpression of GPR41, 40, 84, and 119 further increased after RYGB whereas GPR120 and T1R3 decreased. RYGB increased TGR5 expression. L-cells, but not EC cells, were increased after RYGB. No differences in mucosal innervation by protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and GLP-1R-positive nerve fibers were observed. Stimulation of colonic mucosa with GPR41, GPR40, GPR85, GPR119, and TGR5 agonists increased cell activation marker expression. Conclusions: Several nutrient-sensing receptors induced activation of colonic EEC. Profound adaptive changes to the expression of these receptors occur in response to diet and weight loss induced by RYGB or calorie restriction

Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of the Bay of Bengal Coast

The concentrations of major (Si, Al, Ca, Fe, and K) and minor (Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, U, Zn, Co, Cr, As, Cu, Rb, Sr, and Zr,) elements in the surficial sediments were studied in an attempt to establish their concentration in the Bengal coast. It was revealed that the majority of the trace elements have been introduced into the Bengal marine from the riverine inflows that are also affected by the impact of industrial, ship breaking yard, gas production plant, and urban wastes. The concentration of heavy metals was measured using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence instruments. The highest concentrations for several trace elements were thus recorded which generally decrease with distance from the coast. It was observed that the heavy metal concentrations in the sediments generally met the criteria of international marine sediment quality. However, both the contamination factor and pollution load index values suggested the elevation of some metals’ concentrations in the region. Constant monitoring of the Bengal coast water quality needs to be recorded with a view to minimizing the risk of health of the population and the detrimental impacts on the aquatic ecosystem

Contenido de polifenoles, citotoxicidad, estabilizante de membranas y actividades tromboliticas de Sarcolobus globosus. Una planta medicinal de la Foresta Sundarban

El extracto crudo metanólico de la corteza de Sarcolobus globosus (Familia-apocynaceae) y sus diferentes fracciones solubles Kupchan fueron identificadas para contenido total de fenoles (CTF), actividades citotóxicas, estabilizantes de membrana y trombolíticas. El contenido de polifenoles fue determinado colorimétricamente usando el método Folin-Ciocalteu y expresados en equivalentes a ácido gálico. La fracción Kupchan soluble en cloroformo (FSC) exhibió los mayores niveles de Contenido Total de Polifenoles (CFT, 54,21 gm of GAE/100gm de extracto seco). En el bioensayo de letalidad (Artemia salina), el extracto metanólico crudo (EMC) exhibió una siginificativa citotoxicidad. La actividad estabilizadora de membrana fue estimada usando eritrocitos en un medio hipotónico y fue comparado con el ácido acetil salicílico. La fracción Kupchan soluble en hexano (FSH) produjo un 52,73% de inhibición de la hemólisis de los glóbulos rojos comparado con un 65,38% revelado por el ácido acetil salicílico (0,1 mg/mL). En las determinaciones trombolíticas, el extracto metanólico crudo demostró una significativa actividad trombolítica en una muestra de sangre humana

Emulsion and liposome-based adjuvanted R21 vaccine formulations mediate protection against malaria through distinct immune mechanisms

Adjuvanted protein vaccines offer high efficacy, yet most potent adjuvants remain proprietary. Several adjuvant compounds are being developed by the Vaccine Formulation Institute in Switzerland for global open access clinical use. In the context of the R21 malaria vaccine, in a mouse challenge model, we characterize the efficacy and mechanism of action of four Vaccine Formulation Institute adjuvants: two liposomal (LQ and LMQ) and two squalene emulsion-based adjuvants (SQ and SMQ), containing QS-21 saponin (Q) and optionally a synthetic TLR4 agonist (M). Two R21 vaccine formulations, R21/LMQ and R21/SQ, offer the highest protection (81%–100%), yet they trigger different innate sensing mechanisms in macrophages with LMQ, but not SQ, activating the NLRP3 inflammasome. The resulting in vivo adaptive responses have a different TH1/TH2 balance and engage divergent innate pathways while retaining high protective efficacy. We describe how modular changes in vaccine formulation allow for the dissection of the underlying immune pathways, enabling future mechanistically informed vaccine design

Vertical migration of some herbicides through undisturbed and homogenized soil columns

A laboratory experiment was conducted by using three herbicides, two from dinitroaniline group and one from thiocarbamate group to know their degree of downward movement (leachability) through soil columns and their contribution in ground water contamination. Soil columns were loaded with Pendimethalin, Benthiocarb and Oryzalin at doses of 10.0, 10.0 and 7.7 kg/ha, respectively. After 30 days soil samples were analyzed from each segments (i.e. 0–6, 6–12, 12–18, 18–24 and 24–30 cm) for Benthiocarb and Pendimethalin by GLC equipped with Ni63 electron capture detector (ECD) and for Oryzalin by HPLC coupled with UV-VIS detector. The results obtained in the present study reveal that the residues of the three herbicides under investigation were predominantly confined to the upper soil layer (0–6 cm). Comparatively, low mobility of these herbicides in soils could be due to strong adsorption of these chemical to soil colloids