Spatial contrast sensitivity in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typically developing (TD) controls underwent a rigorous psychophysical assessment that measured contrast sensitivity to seven spatial frequencies (0.5-20 cycles/degree). A contrast sensitivity function (CSF) was then fitted for each participant, from which four measures were obtained: visual acuity, peak spatial frequency, peak contrast sensitivity, and contrast sensitivity at a low spatial frequency. There were no group differences on any of the four CSF measures, indicating no differential spatial frequency processing in ASD. Although it has been suggested that detail-oriented visual perception in individuals with ASD may be a result of differential sensitivities to low versus high spatial frequencies, the current study finds no evidence to support this hypothesis

Relative effects of sensory modalities and importance of fatty acid sensitivity on fat perception in a real food model

Fat can be perceived through mouthfeel, odour and taste, but the influence of these modalities on fat perception remains undefined. Fatty acids are stimuli. Individual’s sensitivity to fatty acids varies. Studies show association between fatty acid sensitivity, dietary intake and BMI, but results are conflicting. Therefore, this study examined this association, and the effects of modalities on fat perception. Two sub-studies conducted. In Study 1 (n=46), fat intensity was assessed by milk/cream mixtures varying by five fat levels. Fat intensity was rated under four conditions: mouthfeel-odour masked, mouthfeel masked, odour masking and no masking. Mouthfeel masking was achieved using thickener and paraffin, odour masking using nose-clips. Fatty acid sensitivity was measured by 3-AFC-staircase method using milk containing oleic acid (0.31-31.4mM). In Study 2 (n=51), more fat levels were added in fat intensity rating. A 2-AFC discrimination test was used to confirm whether fat levels could be distinguished. In the sensitivity test, a wider range of oleic acid was included. Fat intensity was rated higher without nose-clips (p<0.0001), implying that odour increased fat perception. Samples with mouthfeel-masked were rated higher, showing that increased viscosity and lubricity enhanced fat perception (p<0.0001). Participants could distinguish fat levels based on “taste” in rating tests and 2-AFC-tests. Participants were divided into high/medium/low-sensitivity groups. No significant difference found in fat intensity between groups, however, high-sensitivity group discriminated more fat levels. No association between sensitivity groups, nutrient intake or BMI found

Do Stress Responses Promote Leukemia Progression? An Animal Study Suggesting a Role for Epinephrine and Prostaglandin-E2 through Reduced NK Activity

In leukemia patients, stress and anxiety were suggested to predict poorer prognosis. Oncological patients experience ample physiological and psychological stress, potentially leading to increased secretion of stress factors, including epinephrine, corticosteroids, and prostaglandins. Here we tested whether environmental stress and these stress factors impact survival of leukemia-challenged rats, and studied mediating mechanisms. F344 rats were administered with a miniscule dose of 60 CRNK-16 leukemia cells, and were subjected to intermittent forced swim stress or to administration of physiologically relevant doses of epinephrine, prostaglandin-E2 or corticosterone. Stress and each stress factor, and/or their combinations, doubled mortality rates when acutely applied simultaneously with, or two or six days after tumor challenge. Acute administration of the β-adrenergic blocker nadolol diminished the effects of environmental stress, without affecting baseline survival rates. Prolonged β-adrenergic blockade or COX inhibition (using etodolac) also increased baseline survival rates, possibly by blocking tumor-related or normal levels of catecholamines and prostaglandins. Searching for mediating mechanisms, we found that each of the stress factors transiently suppressed NK activity against CRNK-16 and YAC-1 lines on a per NK basis. In contrast, the direct effects of stress factors on CRNK-16 proliferation, vitality, and VEGF secretion could not explain or even contradicted the in vivo survival findings. Overall, it seems that environmental stress, epinephrine, and prostaglandins promote leukemia progression in rats, potentially through suppressing cell mediated immunity. Thus, patients with hematological malignancies, which often exhibit diminished NK activity, may benefit from extended β-blockade and COX inhibition

Estimating the nursing staff required in a new hospital Estimación de personal de enfermería en un hospital nuevo Estimativa do quadro de pessoal de enfermagem em um novo hospital

Opening a new hospital poses a complex and consequential set of challenges. One of these challenges is to estimate the nursing staff. The aim of this article is to report the entire process adopted to estimate the required nursing staff for a new Hospital in Brazil. The nursing staff was projected according to the Brazilian Federal Nursing Council (Cofen). We applied an equation to estimate nursing staff and compared the results with two other existing hospitals. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed when comparing the Nurse-License Practice Nurse ratio recommended by Cofen between the new Hospital and other hospitals. This statistical difference is mostly due to reduced nurse staff in intensive care units. Almost one year after the hospital opened its doors, it is necessary to review nursing staff hours with the real information to reinforce the expenditure on these personnel and to evaluate the decisions made so far.<br>Abrir un nuevo hospital es un asunto complejo y sujeto a consecuencias. Uno de los desafíos es estimar el personal de enfermería. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir el proceso adoptado para estimar el personal de enfermería en un hospital nuevo en Brasil. El número de enfermeras del nuevo Hospital fue calculado de acuerdo con el método recomendado por el Consejo Federal de Enfermería de Brasil (Cofen). Los resultados se compararon con dos hospitales similares, ya en funcionamiento. Se encontró una diferencia significativa (p <0,05) con respecto a la relación entre enfermeras y auxiliares de enfermería recomendado por Cofen en los tres hospitales. Esta diferencia estadística se debe principalmente al menor número de enfermeras en las unidades de cuidados intensivos. Casi dos años después de su apertura es necesario revisar el número de enfermeras teniendo en cuenta la información real para justificar el coste de personal y evaluar las decisiones adoptadas hasta el momento<br>Abrir um novo hospital é desafio complexo e passível de consequências. Um desses desafios é estimar o quadro de pessoal de enfermagem. O objetivo deste artigo foi relatar o processo adotado para estimar o quadro de pessoal de enfermagem em um novo hospital, no Brasil. O quadro de enfermagem desse hospital foi projetado segundo o método recomendado pelo Conselho Federal de Enfermagem (COFEN). Os resultados foram comparados com o dimensionamento de dois hospitais semelhantes, já em funcionamento. Houve diferença significativa (p<0,05) quando se comparou a relação enfermeiro/técnico/auxiliar de enfermagem, recomendada pelo COFEN, nos três hospitais. Essa diferença, estatisticamente significante, foi decorrente do reduzido quadro de enfermeiros, nas unidades de terapia intensiva. Após um ano de sua inauguração, foi necessário rever o quadro de enfermagem projetado, considerando as informações reais para justificar o custo do pessoal de enfermagem e avaliar as decisões tomadas até o momento