Functional correlates of positional and gender-specific renal asymmetry in drosophila

Accordingly, the physical asymmetry of the tubules in the body cavity is directly adaptive. Now that the detailed machinery underlying internal asymmetry is starting to be delineated, our work invites the investigation, not just of tissues in isolation, but in the context of their unique physical locations and milieux

Dexmedetomidine versus propofol/midazolam for long-term sedation during mechanical ventilation

Purpose: To compare dexmedetomidine (DEX) with standard care (SC, either propofol or midazolam) for long-term sedation in terms of maintaining target sedation and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Methods: A pilot, phase III, double-blind multicenter study in randomized medical and surgical patients (n=85) within the first 72h of ICU stay with an expected ICU stay of ≥48h and sedation need for ≥24h after randomization. Patients were assigned to either DEX (≤1.4μgkg−1h−1; n=41) or SC (n=44), with daily sedation stops. Results: Non-inferiority of DEX versus SC was not confirmed. Target Richmond agitation-sedation score (RASS) was reached a median of 64% (DEX) and 63% (SC) of the sedation time (ns). The length of ICU stay was similar in DEX and SC. Patients with RASS target 0-3 (DEX 78%, SC 80%) were at target sedation 74% (DEX) and 64% (SC) of the time (ns), whereas those with RASS target −4 or less reached the target 42% (DEX) and 62% (SC) of the time (P=.006). Post hoc analyses suggested shorter duration of mechanical ventilation for DEX (P=0.025). Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that in long-term sedation, DEX is comparable to SC in maintaining sedation targets of RASS 0 to −3 but not suitable for deep sedation (RASS −4 or less). DEX had no effect on length of ICU stay. Its effects on other relevant clinical outcomes, such as duration of mechanical ventilation, should be tested furthe

A prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomized, controlled trial of an "embodied" virtual reality intervention for adults with low back pain

Adults with chronic low back pain, disability, moderate-to-severe pain, and high fear of movement and reinjury were recruited into a trial of a novel, automated, digital therapeutics, virtual reality, psychological intervention for pain (DTxP). We conducted a 3-arm, prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomized, controlled trial comparing DTxP with a sham placebo comparator and an open-label standard care. Participants were enrolled for 6 to 8 weeks, after which, the standard care control arm were rerandomized to receive either the DTxP or sham placebo. Forty-two participants completed assessments at baseline, immediately posttreatment (6-8 weeks), 9-week, and 5-month follow-up. We found that participants in the DTxP group reported greater reductions in fear of movement and better global impression of change when compared with sham placebo and standard care post treatment. No other group differences were noted at posttreatment or follow-up. When compared with baseline, participants in the DTxP group reported lower disability at 5-month follow-up, lower pain interference and fear of movement post treatment and follow-up, and lower pain intensity at posttreatment. The sham placebo group also reported lower disability and fear of movement at 5-month follow-up compared with baseline. Standard care did not report any significant changes. There were a number of adverse events, with one participant reporting a serious adverse event in the sham placebo, which was not related to treatment. No substantial changes in medications were noted, and participants in the DTxP group reported positive gaming experiences

Mapping an atlas of tissue-specific drosophila melanogaster metabolomes by high resolution mass spectrometry

Metabolomics can provide exciting insights into organismal function, but most work on simple models has focussed on the whole organism metabolome, so missing the contributions of individual tissues. Comprehensive metabolite profiles for ten tissues from adult Drosophila melanogaster were obtained here by two chromatographic methods, a hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) method for polar metabolites and a lipid profiling method also based on HILIC, in combination with an Orbitrap Exactive instrument. Two hundred and forty two polar metabolites were putatively identified in the various tissues, and 251 lipids were observed in positive ion mode and 61 in negative ion mode. Although many metabolites were detected in all tissues, every tissue showed characteristically abundant metabolites which could be rationalised against specific tissue functions. For example, the cuticle contained high levels of glutathione, reflecting a role in oxidative defence; the alimentary canal (like vertebrate gut) had high levels of acylcarnitines for fatty acid metabolism, and the head contained high levels of ether lipids. The male accessory gland uniquely contained decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine. These data thus both provide valuable insights into tissue function, and a reference baseline, compatible with the FlyAtlas.org transcriptomic resource, for further metabolomic analysis of this important model organism, for example in the modelling of human inborn errors of metabolism, aging or metabolic imbalances such as diabetes

A prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomized, controlled trial of an "embodied" virtual reality intervention for adults with low back pain

Adults with chronic low back pain, disability, moderate-to-severe pain, and high fear of movement and reinjury were recruited into a trial of a novel, automated, digital therapeutics, virtual reality, psychological intervention for pain (DTxP). We conducted a 3-arm, prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomized, controlled trial comparing DTxP with a sham placebo comparator and an open-label standard care. Participants were enrolled for 6 to 8 weeks, after which, the standard care control arm were rerandomized to receive either the DTxP or sham placebo. Forty-two participants completed assessments at baseline, immediately posttreatment (6-8 weeks), 9-week, and 5-month follow-up. We found that participants in the DTxP group reported greater reductions in fear of movement and better global impression of change when compared with sham placebo and standard care post treatment. No other group differences were noted at posttreatment or follow-up. When compared with baseline, participants in the DTxP group reported lower disability at 5-month follow-up, lower pain interference and fear of movement post treatment and follow-up, and lower pain intensity at posttreatment. The sham placebo group also reported lower disability and fear of movement at 5-month follow-up compared with baseline. Standard care did not report any significant changes. There were a number of adverse events, with one participant reporting a serious adverse event in the sham placebo, which was not related to treatment. No substantial changes in medications were noted, and participants in the DTxP group reported positive gaming experiences

Effects of Swim Speed and Activity Pattern on Success of Adult Sockeye Salmon Migration through an Area of Difficult Passage

We used electromyogram telemetry to examine swim speeds and passage success for 12 adult sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka migrating through Hell\u27s Gate, a reach in the Fraser River Canyon that is notorious for creating conditions that impede salmon migrations. Fishways exist in one segment; however, the approach immediately downstream of the fishways is also very challenging to migration. Average swim speeds (in body lengths per second; BL/s) were slower (P-0.017) and residency times shorter (P=0.058) in the approach for fish that successfully entered the fishways (mean=1.85 BL/s, SE=0.71; mean=34.57 min, SE=17.39; n=7) compared with those of fish that were unsuccessful (mean=4.23 BL/s, SE=0.85; mean=1,742 min, SE=1,367; n=5). Migrant-specific swim-speed patterns revealed that fish alternated at different time scales between relatively fast and slow speeds. Continuous swimming at greater than maximum sustained speeds (Ucrit) never exceeded 3 min in the case of any of the successful migrants, but unsuccessful migrants exhibited one or more periods (each of \u3e10 min duration) of continuous swimming at speeds greater than Ucrit. Unsuccessful fish disappeared downstream and died without passing Hell\u27s Gate. Hyperactivity seems to have played a significant role in lack of passage success. It is unclear why some fish swam at relatively fast speeds for extended periods of time while others did not. It is possible that unsuccessful migrants swam fast because they used relatively turbulent and fast-flowing migration paths. Some individuals may also be prone to swim at relatively fast speeds regardless of migration path

Better sleep quality and higher physical activity levels predict lower emotion dysregulation among persons with major depression disorder

Abstract Background People with Major Depression Disorders (MDD) often complain about sleep problems and experience emotion dysregulation. Prior research suggests physical activity can improve both sleep quality and emotional control. However, there is limited research on emotion regulation and the impact of physical activity and sleep in this population. Objectives The present study examined the relationships between sleep quality, emotion regulation, and physical activity levels among patients with MDD. Methods The sample consisted of 118 patients with MDD (mean age: 31.85 years) who completed questionnaires on sleep quality, physical activity, emotion regulation, and depression. Results Results showed that more sleep problems were associated with worse emotion dysregulation, and more physical activity was associated with fewer sleep problems and less emotion dysregulation. Furthermore, physical activity and sleep quality significantly predicted emotion dysregulation, with physical activity being the stronger predictor. Conclusions Results from this study suggest that individuals with MDD who are able to engage in physical activity and get better sleep could experience emotional regulation benefits