Do antibiotics interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives?

Among antibiotics, only rifampin has been demonstrated to interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (OCs) (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C, limited case series). There is little convincing evidence to show a systematic interaction between other antibiotics and oral contraceptive steroids (SOR: B, based on systematic reviews, case reports, and pharmacologic studies). However, current studies may not have separately evaluated the minority of women whose metabolism of contraceptive steroids makes them more vulnerable to OC failure. Given the significant consequences of unintended pregnancy, some experts recommend a conservative approach, including patient education and backup forms of birth control (SOR: C, expert opinion)

Academic Engagement in Sport for Development: Niche or Growing Community?

Over the last two decades, the sport for development (SFD) sector has grown significantly, and there has been a concurrent increase in research and educational activities to support the field. In particular, academic institutions are taking a more significant role, contributing to a growing body of literature and developing numerous SFD-specific courses. Despite these initiatives and the important role assigned to academia, academic activities related to SFD have remained fragmented along geographic or disciplinary lines, and our knowledge of academic activities and collaborations is limited and focused on actors in the Global North. This study seeks to address these gaps and, through an international survey of academic institutions, aims to (1) establish the teaching, research and partnership activities within and between academic institutions around the globe; and (2) identify challenges and inform solutions for greater cooperation within and between academic institutions in the SFD context. Overall, our results show that the SFD is a highly multidisciplinary fi eld involving institutions from a perhaps wider-than-expected range of countries. However, funding, support and recognition of SFD and associated academic actors, especially in the Global South, remains limited. To conclude, we propose potential ways forward to address some of these issue

Cigarette Smoke Suppresses Type I Interferon-Mediated Antiviral Immunity in Lung Fibroblast and Epithelial Cells

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of cigarette smoke on innate antiviral defense mechanisms; specifically, we examined the effects of cigarette smoke on the induction of type I interferon (IFN). We observed a dose-dependent decrease in the ability of human lung fibroblast and epithelial cells to elicit an antiviral response against a viral double-strand RNA (dsRNA) mimic, polyI:C, in the presence of cigarette smoke-conditioned medium (SCM). Mechanistically, SCM decreases the expression of IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) and IFN regulatory factor-7 (IRF-7) transcripts and suppresses the nuclear translocation of key transcription factors, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and IRF-3, after polyI:C stimulation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the intercellular defense strategy against viral infection is also impaired. We observed a decrease in the ability of fibroblasts to elicit an antiviral state in response to IFN-β stimulation. This was associated with decreased nuclear translocation of phosphorylated Stat1 in response to IFN-β treatment. The effects elicited by SCM are reversible and are almost entirely abrogated in the presence of an antioxidant, such as glutathione. Our findings suggest that cigarette smoke affects the immediate-early, inductive, and amplification phases of the type I IFN response

Intrapulmonary expression of PPAR in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension [abstract]

Abstract only availableFaculty Mentor: Jeffrey Skimming MD and Vincent DeMarco PhD, Child HealthActivation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) inhibits vascular smooth muscle proliferation and neointimal formation associated with pulmonary hypertension. Recently, our laboratory developed a model of pulmonary hypertension incorporating both pnuemonectomy (PNX) of the left lung and exposure to monocrotaline (MCT) in rats. Together, PNX and MCT caused inflammation and vascular remodeling within the right lung including smooth muscle proliferation and neointimal formation. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that PNX/MCT dual insult induces pulmonary hypertension by decreasing PPARγ expression. METHODS: Sixteen rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1) PNX/MCT, 2) PNX/Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS), 3) Sham Surgery (SS)/MCT, and 4) SS/PBS. Seven days after surgery, we injected the animals with either monocrotaline (60 mg/kg, s.q.) or PBS. Three weeks after those injections, right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP) were measured. Lung tissue was harvested for analysis of PPARγ protein expression and histopathology. Right ventricular to left ventricular plus septum ratios (RVR) were also determined. RESULTS: PNX/MCT animals exhibited higher RVSPs and RVRs than the other treatment groups. Also, morphometric analysis revealed medial hypertrophy and neointimal formation within the resistance vessels of PNX/MCT rat lungs. In our study, neither PNX nor MCT alone had an effect on intrapulmonary expression of PPARγ protein. Surprisingly, however, the dual insult induced PPARγ expression (

Confinement induces conformational transition of semiflexible polymer rings to figure eight form

Employing Monte Carlo simulations of semiflexible polymer rings in weak spherical confinement a conformational transition to figure eight shaped, writhed configurations is discovered and quantified.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

WISE/NEOWISE Preliminary Analysis and Highlights of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Near Nucleus Environs

On January 18-19 and June 28-29 of 2010, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft imaged the Rosetta mission target, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We present a preliminary analysis of the images, which provide a characterization of the dust environment at heliocentric distances similar to those planned for the initial spacecraft encounter, but on the outbound leg of its orbit rather than the inbound. Broad-band photometry yields low levels of CO2 production at a comet heliocentric distance of 3.32 AU and no detectable production at 4.18 AU. We find that at these heliocentric distances, large dust grains with mean grain diameters on the order of a millimeter or greater dominate the coma and evolve to populate the tail. This is further supported by broad-band photometry centered on the nucleus, which yield an estimated differential dust particle size distribution with a power law relation that is considerably shallower than average. We set a 3-sigma upper limit constraint on the albedo of the large-grain dust at <= 0.12. Our best estimate of the nucleus radius (1.82 +/- 0.20 km) and albedo (0.04 +/- 0.01) are in agreement with measurements previously reported in the literature

Management of Hypertensive Emergencies in Pediatrics

As hypertension becomes more prevalent in the pediatric population, clinicians are more likely to encounter hypertensive emergencies in children, which require pharmacists and physicians to be educated on the therapeutic options for these emergencies. However, the strict governmental requirements on the testing of these drugs in pediatric patients have limited the amount of available evidence on which to base clinical decisions. This review will highlight the available evidence and preferred treatment options for the management of pediatric hypertensive emergencies