Identifikasi Komponen Fitokimia dalam Ekstrak Daun Sirih Merah (Piper crocatum)

Identifikasi Komponen Fitokimia dalam Ekstrak Daun Sirih Merah (Piper crocatum

Cerebral visual impairment in children born prematurely

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the commonest cause of impaired vision in childhood. Prematurely born children are at significant risk of damage to the brain with outcomes including cerebral palsy and low IQ. This study presents the results of an investigation of multiple aspects of visual function in a cohort of 46 prematurely born children (<37 weeks) aged 5.5 years -12.3 years and attending mainstream education, compared with an age-matched cohort of 130 term-born children. Fifteen of the 46 (33%) prematurely born children revealed behaviours corresponding to CVI on cluster analysis of a CVI questionnaire, a screening tool used to aid structured clinical history taking. In these children, abnormalities of stereoacuity, contrast sensitivity and eye movements were more frequent and in addition they were born 1½ weeks earlier and around 300g lighter on average than their unaffected peers. These children also performed worse than controls on all visual attention and perception tests except visual closure, while the remaining 31 prematurely born children performed no differently to controls. This study highlights the incidence of prematurely born children with manifest CVI related difficulties. No visual perception test or routine ophthalmic test picked out those children identified with difficulties by the CVI questionnaire. The CVI questionnaire could be an effective means of identifying children at risk of CVI

Intensifiers in Bidayuh Bau-Jagoi

This paper describes intensifiers in Bidayuh Bau-Jagoi, a variation of the Bidayuh language, spoken in Sarawak, Malaysia. Data were gathered from 10 informants, aged 50-80, who are native speakers of the Bidayuh Bau-Jagoi. In this language, intensifiers are used to intensify the meaning of expressions, particularly adjectives. Results show that intensifiers are categorised into lexical items and reduplication. Three general lexical items (sikia, manah and bonar) were identified from the data, and 86 specific lexical intensifiers were found to be paired with specific adjectives with the exception of posah and ngakag. There is only one full reduplication form where a lexical item is reduplicated (tok-tok) and it intensifies the meaning of the adjectives that precede it. As for lexical items, the intensifiers are placed after the adjective with the exception of sikia. This study has uncovered rules pertaining to the use of intensifiers in Bidayuh Bau-Jagoi that will lead to a proper and better understanding of the language structure

Endothelial Cells Expressing Endothelial and Mesenchymal Cell Gene Products in Lung Tissue From Patients With Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether lung endothelial cells (ECs) from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) express mesenchymal cell-specific proteins and gene transcripts, indicative of the occurrence of endothelial-to-mesenchymal phenotypic transition (EndoMT). METHODS: Lung tissue from 6 patients with SSc-associated pulmonary fibrosis was examined by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Confocal laser microscopy was utilized to assess the simultaneous expression of EC and myofibroblast molecular markers. CD31+CD102+ ECs were isolated from the lung tissue of 2 patients with SSc-associated ILD and 2 normal control subjects, and the expression of EC and mesenchymal cell markers and other relevant genes was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence microscopy, and Western blotting. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining revealed cells expressing the EC-specific marker CD31 in the subendothelial, perivascular, and parenchymal regions of the lungs from all SSc patients. Confocal microscopy identified cells displaying simultaneous expression of von Willebrand factor and α-smooth muscle actin in small and medium-sized arterioles in the SSc lung tissue but not in normal control lungs. CD31+CD102+ ECs isolated from SSc lungs expressed high levels of mesenchymal cell-specific genes (type I collagen, type III collagen, and fibronectin), EC-specific genes (type IV collagen and VE-cadherin), profibrotic genes (transforming growth factor β1 and connective tissue growth factor), and genes encoding EndoMT-related transcription factors (TWIST1 and SNAI2). CONCLUSION: Cells coexpressing EC- and mesenchymal cell-specific molecules are present in the lungs of patients with SSc-associated ILD. CD31+CD102+ ECs isolated from SSc lungs simultaneously expressed mesenchymal cell- and EC-specific transcripts and proteins. Collectively, these observations demonstrate the occurrence of EndoMT in the lungs of patients with SSc-associated ILD

Modeling decline of mountain range forest using survival analysis

Deforestation is a global issue; however, each deforestation phenomenon occurs within its own local context. Elucidating this context in detail is important to prevent deforestation and maintain sustainable ecosystem management. In this study, we analyzed the land cover changes, forest characteristics, and modeled the forest decline over the last two decades to reveal the pattern and affecting factors of deforestation in the Honam-Jeongmaek mountain range. Forests less than 50-years-old dominate the study area, indicating they were mainly regenerated after the 1970s. Reforestation policies such as planting trees have helped forest regeneration. In the study region, as deforestation occurred, agricultural and residential areas decreased, and barren and grassland increased. We applied the Weibull regression model to determine forest survivorship and covariates. The deforestation risks are significantly different among regions; protected areas lose less forest than non-protected areas but the losses in protected areas were also significant, with approximately 5% from 2000 to 2020. Areas of higher elevation and steep slopes experience less deforestation, whereas areas closer to the mountain ridge are at greater risk. With survival analysis, it is possible to assess the risk of deforestation quantitatively and predict long-term survival of forests. The findings and methods of this study could contribute to better forest management and policymaking

The significance of macrophage polarization subtypes for animal models of tissue fibrosis and human fibrotic diseases.

The systemic and organ-specific human fibrotic disorders collectively represent one of the most serious health problems world-wide causing a large proportion of the total world population mortality. The molecular pathways involved in their pathogenesis are complex and despite intensive investigations have not been fully elucidated. Whereas chronic inflammatory cell infiltration is universally present in fibrotic lesions, the central role of monocytes and macrophages as regulators of inflammation and fibrosis has only recently become apparent. However, the precise mechanisms involved in the contribution of monocytes/macrophages to the initiation, establishment, or progression of the fibrotic process remain largely unknown. Several monocyte and macrophage subpopulations have been identified, with certain phenotypes promoting inflammation whereas others display profibrotic effects. Given the unmet need for effective treatments for fibroproliferative diseases and the crucial regulatory role of monocyte/macrophage subpopulations in fibrogenesis, the development of therapeutic strategies that target specific monocyte/macrophage subpopulations has become increasingly attractive. We will provide here an overview of the current understanding of the role of monocyte/macrophage phenotype subpopulations in animal models of tissue fibrosis and in various systemic and organ-specific human fibrotic diseases. Furthermore, we will discuss recent approaches to the design of effective anti-fibrotic therapeutic interventions by targeting the phenotypic differences identified between the various monocyte and macrophage subpopulations

A clinical review of acute myocarditis in children

Purpose The aims of this study are to document our single-center experience with pediatric acute myocarditis and to investigate its clinical features and outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of all children aged 12 months (55%) of age. The overall incidence of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms was 69%; general symptoms, 66%; cardiac symptoms, 24%; gastrointestinal symptoms, 17%; and neurologic symptoms, 10%. Twelve patients (41%) had cardiomegaly. Ten patients had electrocardiographic abnormalities (tachycardia, ST changes, T wave changes, and low voltage). Echocardiographic abnormalities were pericardial effusion or impaired contractility. Severe group consisted of 13 patients who were either transferred or died and contained more patients with cardiomegaly and electrocardiogram abnormalities, but this was statistically irrelevant. Most patients had elevated concentrations of cardiac biomarkers, but the median concentrations were not statistically different between the 2 groups. Main treatment modalities included antibiotics (90%), inotropics (59%), and intravenous immunoglobulin (76%). Conclusion Definite diagnostic criteria for acute myocarditis do not exist, so misdiagnosis can occur. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy for severe cases is available only in some hospitals, so proper treatment can be delayed. Further evaluation of the current situation regarding acute myocarditis will contribute towards proper treatment

Pediatricians and Emergency Physicians’ Recognition and Training Regarding Child Abuse

Purpose To explore the recognition levels and educational experiences of child abuse among physicians. Methods We conducted an electronic questionnaire survey of pediatricians and emergency physicians. Results Of the 245 total respondents, 63% remarked that child abuse occurred “frequently” in Korea. One hundred twenty-seven (51.8%) respondents experienced an abused child during their practice, and only 55.9% reported the event. Regarding the knowledge for obligation of report as a medical specialist, 45.7% knew where they should report the case, and 39.2% of the respondents knew the phone number of the “Child Protection Agency”. Most respondents (70.2%) answered that they had never received an education about child abuse. Some respondents answered that they had not reported a suspected abused case because they were not certain that the case was abuse and thereby felt discomfort in making the report. To enhance child abuse reports, respondents thought that an immediate intervention is necessary for the reported case. Also, they answered that their confidentialities have to be assured and that the education about child abuse is needed. Conclusion The survey results show that pediatricians and emergency physicians often do not report suspected abuse despite their suspicion of the seriousness and frequent occurrence of child abuse. Such behaviors are affected by the recognition and knowledge levels about child abuse, the experience of training for child abuse, and discomfort of the reporting process. For medical specialists’ attention and reporting of abuse, repetitive education, appropriate public relations and improvement of the reporting process are needed

Paleoseismic History of the Dead Sea Fault Zone

International audienceThe aim of this entry is to describe the DSF as a transform plate boundary pointing out the rate of activedeformation, fault segmentation, and geometrical complexities as a control of earthquake ruptures. Thedistribution of large historical earthquakes from a revisited seismicity catalogue using detailedmacroseismic maps allows the correlation between the location of past earthquakes and fault segments.The recent results of paleoearthquake investigations (paleoseismic and archeoseismic) with a recurrenceinterval of large events and long-term slip rate are presented and discussed along with the identification ofseismic gaps along the fault. Finally, the implications for the seismic hazard assessment are also discussed