Therapeutic Horticulture in Depression and Mental Health

The purpose of this review is to examine available evidence for the use of Therapeutic Horticulture (TH) as a supplemental treatment of depression. For this paper, TH is defined as active or passive use of plants to achieve wellness (Sempik, Aldridge, & Becker, 2003) as applied to depression. A review of the available literature was performed using academic databases and the internet. Terms used in the search were horticultural therapy, depression, gardening, horticulture, and therapeutic horticulture. Few studies were devoted specifically to depression; applications for other mental health conditions are also discussed. Results support the use of TH as supplemental treatment for reducing depression symptoms. Further primary research to build the scientific evidence base is needed

Therapeutic Horticulture in Depression and Mental Health

The purpose of this review is to examine available evidence for the use of Therapeutic Horticulture (TH) as a supplemental treatment of depression. For this paper, TH is defined as active or passive use of plants to achieve wellness (Sempik, Aldridge, & Becker, 2003) as applied to depression. A review of the available literature was performed using academic databases and the internet. Terms used in the search were horticultural therapy, depression, gardening, horticulture, and therapeutic horticulture. Few studies were devoted specifically to depression; applications for other mental health conditions are also discussed. Results support the use of TH as supplemental treatment for reducing depression symptoms. Further primary research to build the scientific evidence base is neede

El retrato del síndrome de Down en los prospectos informativos del diagnóstico prenatal

Este estudio analiza la información ofrecida en Canadá a las mujeres embarazadas que se someten al diagnóstico prenatal. Se examinaron 17 folletos de los que se extrajeron 158 afirmaciones descriptivas. El 91% ofrece un análisis de los problemas médicos o clínicos y sólo el 9% hizo referencias a aspectos psicosociales. Casi la mitad ofrecieron un retrato negativo, frente al 2,4% que ofreció una imagen positiva. La conclusión es que al no ofrecerse una imagen completa y equilibrada sobre el síndrome de Down, se limita la toma de una decisión bien informada

Aquatic biosurvey of the Lovell River on UNH land

We assessed the physical, chemical and biological conditions at two sites along the Lovell River on University of New Hampshire (UNH) -owned conservation land. The discharge was 4.4 m3 s-1 at Site 1 and 5.7 m3 s -1 downstream at Site 2. Canopy coverage ranged from 8-25%. Canopy was dominated by Eastern Hemlock (79-84%). Much of the stream was strewn with large boulders and the substrate consisted of rocks of highly variable sizes ( 3-549 cm dia.). Specific conductivity (22.1-23.3 µS), pH (6.4) and temperature (7.9-8.3 °C) varied little between sites. Macro-invertebrate bio-indices indicated either excellent water quality with no apparent organic pollution (3.0/10) or good water quality with possible slight organic pollution (4.4/10)

A physical map for the Amborella trichopoda genome sheds light on the evolution of angiosperm genome structure

Background: Recent phylogenetic analyses have identified Amborella trichopoda, an understory tree species endemic to the forests of New Caledonia, as sister to a clade including all other known flowering plant species. The Amborella genome is a unique reference for understanding the evolution of angiosperm genomes because it can serve as an outgroup to root comparative analyses. A physical map, BAC end sequences and sample shotgun sequences provide a first view of the 870 Mbp Amborella genome.Results: Analysis of Amborella BAC ends sequenced from each contig suggests that the density of long terminal repeat retrotransposons is negatively correlated with that of protein coding genes. Syntenic, presumably ancestral, gene blocks were identified in comparisons of the Amborella BAC contigs and the sequenced Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa, Vitis vinifera and Oryza sativa genomes. Parsimony mapping of the loss of synteny corroborates previous analyses suggesting that the rate of structural change has been more rapid on lineages leading to Arabidopsis and Oryza compared with lineages leading to Populus and Vitis. The gamma paleohexiploidy event identified in the Arabidopsis, Populus and Vitis genomes is shown to have occurred after the divergence of all other known angiosperms from the lineage leading to Amborella.Conclusions: When placed in the context of a physical map, BAC end sequences representing just 5.4% of the Amborella genome have facilitated reconstruction of gene blocks that existed in the last common ancestor of all flowering plants. The Amborella genome is an invaluable reference for inferences concerning the ancestral angiosperm and subsequent genome evolution

Effect of Deutetrabenazine on Chorea Among Patients With Huntington Disease A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Deutetrabenazine is a novel molecule containing deuterium, which attenuates CYP2D6 metabolism and increases active metabolite half-lives and may therefore lead to stable systemic exposure while preserving key pharmacological activity. Objective To evaluate efficacy and safety of deutetrabenazine treatment to control chorea associated with Huntington disease. Design, Setting, and Participants Ninety ambulatory adults diagnosed with manifest Huntington disease and a baseline total maximal chorea score of 8 or higher (range, 0-28; lower score indicates less chorea) were enrolled from August 2013 to August 2014 and randomized to receive deutetrabenazine (n = 45) or placebo (n = 45) in a double-blind fashion at 34 Huntington Study Group sites. Interventions Deutetrabenazine or placebo was titrated to optimal dose level over 8 weeks and maintained for 4 weeks, followed by a 1-week washout. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary end point was the total maximal chorea score change from baseline (the average of values from the screening and day-0 visits) to maintenance therapy (the average of values from the week 9 and 12 visits) obtained by in-person visits. This study was designed to detect a 2.7-unit treatment difference in scores. The secondary end points, assessed hierarchically, were the proportion of patients who achieved treatment success on the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) and on the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC), the change in 36-Item Short Form– physical functioning subscale score (SF-36), and the change in the Berg Balance Test. Results Ninety patients with Huntington disease (mean age, 53.7 years; 40 women [44.4%]) were enrolled. In the deutetrabenazine group, the mean total maximal chorea scores improved from 12.1 (95% CI, 11.2-12.9) to 7.7 (95% CI, 6.5-8.9), whereas in the placebo group, scores improved from 13.2 (95% CI, 12.2-14.3) to 11.3 (95% CI, 10.0-12.5); the mean between-group difference was –2.5 units (95% CI, –3.7 to –1.3) (P < .001). Treatment success, as measured by the PGIC, occurred in 23 patients (51%) in the deutetrabenazine group vs 9 (20%) in the placebo group (P = .002). As measured by the CGIC, treatment success occurred in 19 patients (42%) in the deutetrabenazine group vs 6 (13%) in the placebo group (P = .002). In the deutetrabenazine group, the mean SF-36 physical functioning subscale scores decreased from 47.5 (95% CI, 44.3-50.8) to 47.4 (44.3-50.5), whereas in the placebo group, scores decreased from 43.2 (95% CI, 40.2-46.3) to 39.9 (95% CI, 36.2-43.6), for a treatment benefit of 4.3 (95% CI, 0.4 to 8.3) (P = .03). There was no difference between groups (mean difference of 1.0 unit; 95% CI, –0.3 to 2.3; P = .14), for improvement in the Berg Balance Test, which improved by 2.2 units (95% CI, 1.3-3.1) in the deutetrabenazine group and by 1.3 units (95% CI, 0.4-2.2) in the placebo group. Adverse event rates were similar for deutetrabenazine and placebo, including depression, anxiety, and akathisia. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with chorea associated with Huntington disease, the use of deutetrabenazine compared with placebo resulted in improved motor signs at 12 weeks. Further research is needed to assess the clinical importance of the effect size and to determine longer-term efficacy and safety

Electron microscopic histochemical and immunochemical analyses of heparan sulfate proteoglycan distribution in renal glomerular basement membranes

Renal glomerular basement membranes (GBMs) exhibit a charge-selective barrier, comprised of anionic sites, that restrict the passage of anionic molecules into the urine. These sites are located primarily in the laminae rarae interna (LRI) and externa (LRE) of the GBM and consist of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). Previous efforts to localize HSPG core protein within various layers of the GBM have been contradictory. In the present study when rat renal cortex blocks were treated by immersion with the cationic probe, polyethyleneimine (PEI), GBMs exhibited anionic sites concentrated primarily in the LRE and more irregularly within the LRI and lamina densa. All sites were heparitinase sensitive indicating that PE1 positive sites represent negatively charged groups associated with heparan sulfate. In order to gain information on the distribution of the HSPG protein core, antibodies to HSPG from the EHS tumor matrix [anti-(EHS) HSPG] and GBMs [anti-(GBM) HSPG] were used together with immunogold to label thin sections of Lowicryl embedded kidney cortex. Depending upon the antisera used, markedly different distributions of HSPG were obtained. Immunolabelling with anti-(GBM) HSPG suggested a distribution of HSPG which was restricted to the laminae rarae, whereas labelling with anti-(EHS) HSPG indicated that the protein core penetrates through all layers of the GBM

El retrato del síndrome de Down en los prospectos informativos del diagnóstico prenatal

Este estudio analiza la información ofrecida en Canadá a las mujeres embarazadas que se someten al diagnóstico prenatal. Se examinaron 17 folletos de los que se extrajeron 158 afirmaciones descriptivas. El 91% ofrece un análisis de los problemas médicos o clínicos y sólo el 9% hizo referencias a aspectos psicosociales. Casi la mitad ofrecieron un retrato negativo, frente al 2,4% que ofreció una imagen positiva. La conclusión es que al no ofrecerse una imagen completa y equilibrada sobre el síndrome de Down, se limita la toma de una decisión bien informada

The Inter-Rater and Intra-Rater Reliability of the Balance Error Scoring System in Acutely Concussed Individuals

Context: The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is the recommended postural stability test and is the most commonly utilized test by Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC). The reliability of BESS ranges from poor (0.80) in healthy, non-injured individuals but has yet to be assessed in acutely concussed individuals. Furthermore, minimal detectable change (MDC) scores for the BESS have only been determined in healthy, non-injured individuals and are higher than the average increase in errors following concussion. Objective: We aim to determine the interrater and intrarater reliability of BESS in acutely concussed individuals. Secondly, we aim to investigate MDC scores in this population. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Large public university in southeast Georgia. Participants: We recruited 16 practicing ATCs from a single university. Main Outcome Measure: Reliability was determined by calculating intra-class correlations (ICCs), reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), for each stance and total BESS. The MDC will be determined by calculating the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and will be reported with 95% CIs. Results: The interrater and intrarater reliability ICCs for the total BESS scores were 0.75 and 0.86 respectively. The interrater reliability ICCs for the individual stances ranged from 0.00 to 0.74, and the intrarater reliability ICCs ranged from -0.01 to 0.89. The MDC scores for interrater and intrarater were 11.3 points and 8.6 points respectively. Discussion: This study suggests that for interrater reliability, no individual stance or the total BESS score reached clinically acceptable reliability; but, for intrarater reliability certain stances and the total BESS score demonstrated sufficient reliability to be used in the evaluation of postural stability. This indicates that for serial administration of the BESS the same rater should be used to achieve clinically acceptable levels of reliability. Additionally, a change in total BESS score of greater than 11.3 (interrater) or 8.6 (intrarater) points is required to ensure the change in score represents impairments in postural stability rather than variability in rater scoring. This is a potential problem considered the average increase in score following concussion was 4.87 points

Interrater and Intrarater Reliability of the Balance Error Scoring System in Acutely Concussed Individuals

Context: The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is the recommended postural stability test and is the most commonly utilized test by Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC). The reliability of BESS ranges from poor (0.80) in healthy, non-injured individuals but has yet to be assessed in acutely concussed individuals. Furthermore, minimal detectable change (MDC) scores for the BESS have only been determined in healthy, non-injured individuals and are higher than the average increase in errors following concussion. Objective: We aim to determine the interrater and intrarater reliability of BESS in acutely concussed individuals. Secondly, we aim to investigate MDC scores in this population. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Large public university in southeast Georgia. Participants: We recruited 16 practicing ATCs from a single university. Main Outcome Measure: Reliability was determined by calculating intra-class correlations (ICCs), reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), for each stance and total BESS. The MDC will be determined by calculating the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and will be reported with 95% CIs. Results: The interrater and intrarater reliability ICCs for the total BESS scores were 0.75 and 0.86 respectively. The interrater reliability ICCs for the individual stances ranged from 0.00 to 0.74, and the intrarater reliability ICCs ranged from -0.01 to 0.89. The MDC scores for interrater and intrarater were 11.3 points and 8.6 points respectively. Discussion: This study suggests that for interrater reliability, no individual stance or the total BESS score reached clinically acceptable reliability; but, for intrarater reliability certain stances and the total BESS score demonstrated sufficient reliability to be used in the evaluation of postural stability. This indicates that for serial administration of the BESS the same rater should be used to achieve clinically acceptable levels of reliability. Additionally, a change in total BESS score of greater than 11.3 (interrater) or 8.6 (intrarater) points is required to ensure the change in score represents impairments in postural stability rather than variability in rater scoring. This is a potential problem considered the average increase in score following concussion was 4.87 points