Does Music Therapy Reduce Anxiety Levels in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not music therapy reduces anxiety levels in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic Review of two randomized controlled trials and one crossover study published in English in 2008, 2012 and 2013, respectively. DATA SOURCES: Two non-blind randomized controlled trials and one cross-over study were found via PubMed and EBSCOhost databases. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Subjective Anxiety Levels were measured in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis pre and posttest via patient self-reporting. An anxiety level survey graded on a scale of 1-10 was used in the study by Binson et all. The State-Trait Anxiety Index was utilized in the studies by Pothoulaki et all and Cantekin et all. RESULTS: All three studies demonstrated a statistically significant change in post-test anxiety levels in the ESRD patients who were surveyed following music therapy which was during their dialysis sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Music therapy seems to be effective in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatments, however the effects of repeated, non-novel music therapy interventions over the course of time are not known

Ferritin immobilization on patterned poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) brushes on silicon surfaces from colloid system

In this paper, we describe a graft polymerization/solvent immersion method for generating poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) brushes in various patterns. We used a novel fabrication process, involving very-large-scale integration and oxygen plasma treatment, to generate well-defined patterns of polymerized PHEMA on patterned Si(100) surfaces. We observed brush- and mushroom-like regions for the PHEMA brushes, with various pattern resolutions, after immersing wafers presenting lines of these polymers in MeOH and n-hexane, respectively. The interaction between PHEMA and ferritin protein sheaths in MeOH and n-hexane (good and poor solvent for PHEMA, respectively) was used to capture and release ferritins from fluidic system. The “tentacles” behaver for PHEMA brushes was found through various solvents in fluidic system. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, we observed patterned ferritin Fe cores on the Si surface after pyrolysis of the patterned PHEMA brushes and ferritin protein sheaths, which verify the “tentacles” behaver for PHEMA brushes

Dopamine acting at D1-like, D2-like and α1-adrenergic receptors differentially modulates theta and gamma oscillatory activity in primary motor cortex

The loss of dopamine (DA) in Parkinson’s is accompanied by the emergence of exaggerated theta and beta frequency neuronal oscillatory activity in the primary motor cortex (M1) and basal ganglia. DA replacement therapy or deep brain stimulation reduces the power of these oscillations and this is coincident with an improvement in motor performance implying a causal relationship. Here we provide in vitro evidence for the differential modulation of theta and gamma activity in M1 by DA acting at receptors exhibiting conventional and non-conventional DA pharmacology. Recording local field potentials in deep layer V of rat M1, co-application of carbachol (CCh, 5 μM) and kainic acid (KA, 150 nM) elicited simultaneous oscillations at a frequency of 6.49 ± 0.18 Hz (theta, n = 84) and 34.97 ± 0.39 Hz (gamma, n = 84). Bath application of DA resulted in a decrease in gamma power with no change in theta power. However, application of either the D1-like receptor agonist SKF38393 or the D2-like agonist quinpirole increased the power of both theta and gamma suggesting that the DA-mediated inhibition of oscillatory power is by action at other sites other than classical DA receptors. Application of amphetamine, which promotes endogenous amine neurotransmitter release, or the adrenergic α1-selective agonist phenylephrine mimicked the action of DA and reduced gamma power, a result unaffected by prior co-application of D1 and D2 receptor antagonists SCH23390 and sulpiride. Finally, application of the α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin blocked the action of DA on gamma power suggestive of interaction between α1 and DA receptors. These results show that DA mediates complex actions acting at dopamine D1-like and D2-like receptors, α1 adrenergic receptors and possibly DA/α1 heteromultimeric receptors to differentially modulate theta and gamma activity in M1

Severe Aplastic Anemia and PNH

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is an autoimmune disorder (AID) due to the attack of autoreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes to the hematopoietic component of the bone marrow

Utilisation of immunosuppressants in the prevention of a graft versus host reaction : report by the SFGM-TC

Dans une démarche qui vise à unifonniser les procédures d'allogreffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques (CSH), la Société française de greffe de moelle et de thérapie cellulaire (SFGM-TC), a organisé les quatrièmes ateliers d'harmonisation des pratiques en septembre 2013 à Lille. Dans cet atelier nous abordons les immunosuppresseurs utilisés dans la prévention de la réaction du greffon contre l'hôte: rapport de la SFGM-TC.In the attempt to harmonize dinical practîces between different French transplantation centers, the Frenell Society of Bane Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy (SFGM-TC) set up the fourth annual series of workshops which brought together practitioners from all member centers and taak place in September 2013 in Lille. Here we report our recommendatÎons regarding the use of immunosuppressive treatment in the prevention of graft versus hast disease: repOlt by the SFGM-TC