Travelling Brunswick Day to Evening Reversible Mode

To create a versatile winter travel wardrobe that is comfortable, easily maintained, beautiful and can be worn indoors and outdoors and from day to evening requiring minimal added items. The inspiration comes from the eighteenth-century informal “brunswick,” a three-quarter length long-sleeved hooded jacket worn with a matching petticoat.1 To increase versatility, each item is reversible (black or navy) and the ensemble is layered into four essential components: skirt, bodice, sleeved bolero and collared vest with detachable hood

Re-assessing Late Directoire Dress for Women in 1797–1799 Paris

Women’s Directoire fashions have often been stereotyped to the sheer, white, short-sleeved gown with an elevated waistline and colunmal silhouette. Using Paris’ Journal des Dames et des Modes (JDM) from its inception on May 20, 1797(middle of Year 5 of the republican calendar), to September 22, 1799 (end of Year 7), this research examines 145 fashion plates and their editorial descriptions to measure the incidence of these phenomena

Understanding the Gaps: Four Archetypes of 1790s Gowns

This research is a component of a larger project investigating a particular moment of transition in the history of fashion, the 1790s in Europe and America, asking how, in an age imbued with idealism, fashion\u27s visual rhetoric could reflect and effect changes in society. In order to analyze dress of this period, the first step was to find, identify and carefully examine surviving gowns and visual sources in France, England, Scotland and the United States of America to reassess the stereotypical understanding of this complex decade that marked the beginning of modernity in dress. A micro-level analysis, the research addresses the gap between the conventional eighteenth-century silhouette to the neoclassical one and isolates four different archetypes of gowns. It provides a base from which to apply a more theorized macro-level analysis that will observe the interactions of dress within the political, philosophical, artistic and economic changes taking place in society

Secessionist Reformkleid: Striped Day Dress that Converts to a Tunic

Secessionist Reformkleid: Striped Day Dress that Converts to a Tunic Anne Bissonnette, Ph.D., University of Alberta, Canada Keywords: History, Daywear, Multiuse, Multisize Inspired by the bold geometric styles of the Viennese Secession art movement, this dress/tunic addresses demands in The Human Ecology Fashion Design Manifesto : it is conceived to be worn in different ways; it is multisize; it can be worn by different age groups and body types; and care is given that comfort is as important as aesthetics by assuring a wide walking stride and variability of cinching below the bust. I aimed for elegant daywear that reflects our casual mindsets and our need to reduce consumption. By selecting more serviceable garments worn for a longer time span, we may live more sustainable lives. Reference: Bissonnette, A., Chartrand, J., Furler, M., Sayegh, Y., & Siferd, P. (2017, April 12). The Human Ecology Fashion Design Manifesto. Retrieved from http://hecol.museums.ualberta.ca/ClothingAndTextiles/1-Misfits/4-Misfits-MANIFESTO.asp

Human leukocytes differentially express endocannabinoid-glycerol lipases and hydrolyze 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol and its metabolites from the 15-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways

2-Arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) is an endocannabinoid with anti-inflammatory properties. Blocking 2-AG hydrolysis to enhance CB2 signaling has proven effective in mouse models of inflammation. However, the expression of 2-AG lipases has never been thoroughly investigated in human leukocytes. Herein, we investigated the expression of seven 2-AG hydrolases by human blood leukocytes and alveolar macrophages (AMs) and found the following protein expression pattern: monoacylglycerol (MAG lipase; eosinophils, AMs, monocytes), carboxylesterase (CES1; monocytes, AMs), palmitoyl-protein thioesterase (PPT1; AMs), α/β-hydrolase domain (ABHD6; mainly AMs), ABHD12 (all), ABHD16A (all), and LYPLA2 (lysophospholipase 2; monocytes, lymphocytes, AMs).We next found that all leukocytes could hydrolyze 2-AG and its metabolites derived from cyclooxygenase-2 (prostaglandin E2-glycerol [PGE2-G]) and the 15-lipoxygenase (15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoyl-glycerol [15-HETE-G]). Neutrophils and eosinophils were consistently better at hydrolyzing 2-AG and its metabolites than monocytes and lymphocytes. Moreover, the efficacy of leukocytes to hydrolyze 2-AG and its metabolites was 2-AG ≥ 15-HETE-G >> PGE2-G for each leukocyte. Using the inhibitors methylarachidonoyl-fluorophosphonate (MAFP), 4-nitrophenyl-4-(dibenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl(hydroxy)methyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (JZL184), Palmostatin B, 4′-carbamoylbiphenyl-4-yl methyl(3-(pyridin-4-yl)benzyl)carbamate, Nmethyl-N-[[3-(4-pyridinyl)phenyl]methyl]-4′-(aminocarbonyl) [1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl ester carbamic acid (WWL70), 4′-[[[methyl[[3-(4-pyridinyl)phenyl]methyl]amino]carbonyl]oxy]-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester (WWL113), tetrahydrolipstatin, and ML349, we could not pinpoint a specific hydrolase responsible for the hydrolysis of 2-AG, PGE2-G, and 15-HETE-G by these leukocytes. Furthermore, JZL184, a selective MAG lipase inhibitor, blocked the hydrolysis of 2-AG, PGE2-G, and 15-HETE-G by neutrophils and the hydrolysis of PGE2-G and 15-HETE-G by lymphocytes, two cell types with limited/no MAG lipase. Using an activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) probe to label hydrolases in leukocytes, we found that they expressmanyMAFP-sensitive hydrolases and an unknown JZL184-sensitive hydrolase of ~52 kDa. Altogether, our results indicate that human leukocytes are experts at hydrolyzing 2-AG and its metabolites via multiple lipases and probably via a yet-to-be characterized 52 kDa hydrolase. Blocking 2-AG hydrolysis in humans will likely abrogate the ability of human leukocytes to degrade 2-AG and its metabolites and increase their anti-inflammatory effects in vivo

Psychometric validation of the generalized pustular psoriasis physician global assessment (GPPGA) and generalized pustular psoriasis area and severity index (GPPASI)

Background: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and life-threatening skin disease often accompanied by systemic inflammation. There are currently no standardized or validated GPP-specific measures for assessing severity. Objective: To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responder definitions of the generalized pustular psoriasis physician global assessment (GPPGA) and generalized pustular psoriasis area and severity index (GPPASI). Methods: The GPPGA and GPPASI were validated using outcome data from Week 1 of the Effisayil™ 1 study. The psychometric analyses performed included confirmatory factor analysis, item-to-item/item-to-total correlations, internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, known-groups validity, responsiveness analysis, and responder definition analysis. Results: Using data from this patient cohort (N=53), confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated unidimensionality of the GPPGA total score (root mean square error of approximation <0.08), and GPPGA item-to-item and item-to-total correlations ranged from 0.58–0.90. The GPPGA total score, pustulation subscore, and GPPASI total score all demonstrated good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.70, 0.91, and 0.95, respectively), and good evidence of convergent validity. In anchor-based analyses, all three scores were able to detect changes in symptom and disease severity over time; reductions of -1.4, -2.2, and -12.0 were suggested as clinically meaningful improvement thresholds for the GPPGA total score, GPPGA pustulation subscore, and GPPASI total score, respectively. Anchor-based analyses also supported the GPPASI 50 as a clinically meaningful threshold for improvement. Conclusions: Overall, our findings indicate that the GPPGA and GPPASI are valid, reliable, and responsive measures for the assessment of GPP disease severity, and support their use in informing clinical endpoints in trials in GPP

Psychometric validation of the Psoriasis Symptom Scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue and pain‐Visual Analogue Scale in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis

Background: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, chronic, inflammatory skin disease associated with considerable patient burden. The Psoriasis Symptom Scale (PSS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) and pain-Visual Analogue Scale (pain-VAS) are patient-reported outcomes (PROs) that have not yet been validated in patients with GPP. Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the PSS, FACIT-Fatigue and pain-VAS using data from Effisayil 1, a randomised trial of spesolimab in patients with moderate-to-severe GPP. Methods: Inter-item correlations and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed using Week 1 data. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's α coefficient using baseline and Week 1 data. Test–retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs); change data for the GPP Physician Global Assessment total score and pustulation subscore were used to define a stable population. Convergent validity was assessed at baseline and Week 1 using Spearman's rank-order correlations. Known-groups validity was measured by analysis of variance using Week 1 data. Ability to detect change from baseline to Week 1 was evaluated by analysis of covariance. Results: Inter-item and item-to-total correlations were moderate or strong for most PSS and FACIT-Fatigue items. CFA demonstrated the unidimensionality of the PSS and FACIT-Fatigue, with high factor loadings for most items (PSS range, 0.75–0.94; FACIT-Fatigue range, 0.11–0.93) and acceptable fit statistics. Both scores demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbach's α, 0.71 and 0.95, respectively). The PSS, FACIT-Fatigue and pain-VAS demonstrated test–retest reliability (ICCs ≥0.70) and good evidence of convergent validity. Furthermore, the PROs could differentiate between known groups of varying symptom severity (range, p < 0.0001–0.0225) and detect changes in symptom severity from baseline to Week 1 (range, p < 0.0001–0.0002). Conclusions: Overall, these results support the reliability, validity and ability to detect change of the PSS, FACIT-Fatigue and pain-VAS as PROs in patients with GPP

The Quebec Respiratory Health Network Biobank

The Quebec Respiratory Health Network (RHN) Biobank is a multi-site infrastructure located in the province of Quebec (Canada) to collect, store, and supply high-quality human biological specimens for research on respiratory diseases. The sample types are diverse (plasma, serum, buffy coat, primary lung cells, lung parenchyma, bronchial biopsies, polyps, others), disease-oriented, and mirror research activities conducted at each site. The biobank currently manages approximately 57,000 specimens from 8,000 research participants or patients treated by standard of care. Specimens’ inventory and corresponding clinical data from all sites are denominalized and linked to a centralized database with retrieval and querying capabilities. Archival samples from recent to nearly 20-year collections are available to academic and industry researchers studying respiratory diseases.   Funding statement: The infrastructure is supported by the Quebec Respiratory Health Network (rsr.chus.qc.ca) of the 'Fonds de la recherche du Québec – Santé' (FRQS), the research centers involved, local foundations and users of the biobank. Each biobank site is responsible to sustain their activities

Validation of the Body Concealment Scale for Scleroderma (BCSS): Replication in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Body concealment is an important component of appearance distress for individuals with disfiguring conditions, including scleroderma. The objective was to replicate the validation study of the Body Concealment Scale for Scleroderma (BCSS) among 897 scleroderma patients. The factor structure of the BCSS was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis and the Multiple-Indicator Multiple-Cause model examined differential item functioning of SWAP items for sex and age. Internal consistency reliability was assessed via Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was assessed by comparing the BCSS with a measure of body image distress and measures of mental health and pain intensity. Results replicated the original validation study, where a bifactor model provided the best fit. The BCSS demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Findings further support the BCSS as a valid measure of body concealment in scleroderma and provide new evidence that scores can be compared and combined across sexes and ages