261 research outputs found
Purdue College of Pharmacy Experience with Blood Pressure Screenings at the Indiana State Fair
The objective of this community outreach initiative is to develop and implement a student-led blood pressure screening at the Indiana State Fair in conjunction with the Purdue College of Pharmacy and the Hookâs Drug Store Museum. Under the mentorship of two pharmacy faculty members, third- and fourth-year professional PharmD students and pharmacy fellows hold a nine-hour blood pressure screening at the Indiana State Fair each year. The screening is held at the Hookâs Drug Store Museum and the students and fellows sign-up in teams of 3-4 to host the event. Fair-goers visiting the screening have their blood pressure taken using automated blood pressure devices and the readings are recorded into one of three categories: â€140 mmHg/â€90 mmHg, \u3e140 mmHg/\u3e90 mmHg, or \u3e150 mmHg/\u3e100 mmHg. All patients receive a card with their blood pressure reading, are counseled on hypertension management and possible health complications, and receive a sticker that reads âI had my blood pressure checked at the Indiana State Fair/Purdue College of Pharmacy.â Students complete a reflection following their involvement.
Data from the last five years was analyzed. Over the five years, a total of 838 fairgoers have utilized the opportunity to have their blood pressure checked. In addition, 50 pharmacy students, two fellows, and two faculty members have participated in hosting the screening. There has been growing involvement over the years, with 213 individuals visiting the booth in 2019. There has been a steady increase in the percentage of patients with a blood pressure reading in the lowest category.
Participation in the Indiana State Fair has become a tradition for the College of Pharmacy as students enjoy and are grateful for such learning opportunities. This initiative allows students to develop and apply their clinical knowledge and communication skills while improving health and awareness of community members
Neuronal RARÎČ signaling modulates PTEN activity directly in neurons and via exosome transfer in astrocytes to prevent glial scar formation and induce spinal cord regeneration
Failure of axonal regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) is mainly attributed to a lack of intrinsic neuronal growth programs and an inhibitory environment from a glial scar. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a major negative regulator of neuronal regeneration and, as such, inhibiting its activity has been considered a therapeutic target for spinal cord (SC) injuries (SCIs). Using a novel model of rat cervical avulsion, we show that treatment with a retinoic acid receptor ÎČ (RARÎČ) agonist results in locomotor and sensory recovery. Axonal regeneration from the severed roots into the SC could be seen by biotinylated dextran amine labeling. Light micrographs of the dorsal root entry zone show the peripheral nervous system (PNS)âCNS transition of regrown axons. RARÎČ agonist treatment also resulted in the absence of scar formation. Mechanism studies revealed that, in RARÎČ-agonist-treated neurons, PTEN activity is decreased by cytoplasmic phosphorylation and increased secretion in exosomes. These are taken up by astrocytes, resulting in hampered proliferation and causing them to arrange in a normal-appearing scaffold around the regenerating axons. Attribution of the glial modulation to neuronal PTEN in exosomes was demonstrated by the use of an exosome inhibitor in vivo and PTEN siRNA in vitro assays. The dual effect of RARÎČ signaling, both neuronal and neuronalâglial, results in axonal regeneration into the SC after dorsal root neurotmesis. Targeting this pathway may open new avenues for the treatment of SCIs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often result in permanent damage in the adult due to the very limited capacity of axonal regeneration. Intrinsic neuronal programs and the formation of a glial scar are the main obstacles. Here, we identify a single target, neuronal retinoic acid receptor ÎČ (RARÎČ), which modulates these two aspects of the postinjury physiological response. Activation of RARÎČ in the neuron inactivates phosphatase and tensin homolog and induces its transfer into the astrocytes in small vesicles, where it prevents scar formation. This may open new therapeutic avenues for SCIs
The human MUC2 mucin apoprotein appears to dimerize before O-glycosylation and shares epitopes with the âinsolubleâ mucin of rat small intestine
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) down-regulation in cystic fibrosis lymphocytes
Background: PPARs exhibit anti-inflammatory capacities and are potential modulators of the inflammatory response. We hypothesized that their expression and/or function may be altered in cystic fibrosis (CF), a disorder characterized by an excessive host inflammatory response.
Methods: PPARα, ÎČ and Îł mRNA levels were measured in peripheral blood cells of CF patients and healthy subjects via RT-PCR. PPARα protein expression and subcellular localization was determined via western blot and immunofluorescence, respectively. The activity of PPARα was analyzed by gel shift assay.
Results: In lymphocytes, the expression of PPARα mRNA, but not of PPARÎČ, was reduced (-37%; p < 0.002) in CF patients compared with healthy persons and was therefore further analyzed. A similar reduction of PPARα was observed at protein level (-26%; p < 0.05). The transcription factor was mainly expressed in the cytosol of lymphocytes, with low expression in the nucleus. Moreover, DNA binding activity of the transcription factor was 36% less in lymphocytes of patients (p < 0.01). For PPARα and PPARÎČ mRNA expression in monocytes and neutrophils, no significant differences were observed between CF patients and healthy persons. In all cells, PPARÎł mRNA levels were below the detection limit.
Conclusion: Lymphocytes are important regulators of the inflammatory response by releasing cytokines and antibodies. The diminished lymphocytic expression and activity of PPARα may therefore contribute to the inflammatory processes that are observed in CF
School performance of international adoptees better than expected from cognitive test results
Objective: To investigate school performance of international adoptees in relation to their cognitive competence. Method: From the population of all male Swedish residents born 1973â1976, registered in the census 1985 and with complete test scores from military conscription, the following study groups were identified: Korean adoptees (n = 320), non-Korean adoptees (n = 1,125), siblings (children born by adoptive parents, n = 190) and Swedish majority comparisons (n = 142,024). Global scores from intelligence tests at conscription were compared with grade points from the last compulsory school year (year 9). Linear and logistic regression was applied in statistical analyses. Results: The mean grade points in theoretical subjects were lower in non-Korean adoptees than in the majority population, but when global test scores from military conscription were adjusted for, outcomes were significantly better, equal for physics, than in the majority population. The grade points of Korean adoptees were higher than in the majority population and the same held true after adjusting for global test scores. When SES was taken into account, the risk of poor school performance (only completed lower subject levels) increased in non-Korean adoptees compared to models only adjusted for age and sex. Conclusion: Male international adoptees generally perform better in school than expected by their cognitive competence. A cognitive evaluation is important in the assessment of adoptees with learning difficulties
Cognitive differentiation during childhood: A study on cognitive profiles of 5, 7, and 9-year-old children
No seio do debate sobre se a inteligĂȘncia Ă© mais bem definida por um fator geral ou por aptidĂ”es especĂficas, ganha relevĂąncia a hipĂłtese da diferenciação cognitiva. AnĂĄlises recentes enfatizam o interesse dessa questĂŁo para a investigação e alertam para a relevĂąncia das suas implicaçÔes na ĂĄrea educativa. Este estudo analisou a possibilidade de a diferenciação das aptidĂ”es cognitivas ocorrer jĂĄ na infĂąncia e tambĂ©m o efeito moderador do Quociente de InteligĂȘncia na magnitude da relação entre as habilidades cognitivas. Aplicou-se uma bateria de provas que avaliam vĂĄrias funçÔes cognitivas a uma amostra de 231 crianças com 5, 7 e 9 anos, distribuĂdas por trĂȘs grupos de desempenho cognitivo. Os resultados de uma anĂĄlise de clusters hierĂĄrquica e de uma anĂĄlise de variĂąncia apontam para a nĂŁo diferenciação das funçÔes cognitivas na infĂąncia. Contudo, uma anĂĄlise mais cuidadosa aponta para alguma diferenciação suportada pela heterogeneidade dos perfis cognitivos junto dos alunos com Quociente de InteligĂȘncia elevado.Within the debate about whether intelligence is best defined by a general factor or specific skills, the hypothesis of cognitive differentiation gains relevance. Recent analyses have emphasized the importance of this issue in the investigation of cognitive skills and have highlighted its implications in education. This study examined the possibility that the differentiation of cognitive abilities may occur during childhood and investigated the moderating effect of Intelligence Quotient on the magnitude of the relationship between cognitive abilities. A battery of tests for assessing cognitive function was administered to 231 children aged 5, 7, and 9 years old, who were divided into three cognitive performance groups. The results of hierarchical cluster analysis and variance analysis indicate the lack of differentiation of cognitive functions during childhood. However, a more careful analysis suggests some differentiation supported by the heterogeneity of cognitive profiles among students with high Intelligence Quotient.FCT -Fundação para a CiĂȘncia e a Tecnologia(SFRH/BD/84153/2012
Exhaled nitric oxide and urinary EPX levels in infants: a pilot study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Objective markers of early airway inflammation in infants are not established but are of great interest in a scientific setting. Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and urinary eosinophilic protein X (uEPX) are a two such interesting markers.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To investigate the feasibility of measuring FeNO and uEPX in infants and their mothers and to determine if any relations between these two variables and environmental factors can be seen in a small sample size. This was conducted as a pilot study for the ongoing Swedish Environmental Longitudinal Mother and child Asthma and allergy study (SELMA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Consecutive infants between two and six months old and their mothers at children's health care centres were invited, and 110 mother-infant pairs participated. FeNO and uEPX were analysed in both mothers and infants. FeNO was analyzed in the mothers online by the use of the handheld Niox Mino device and in the infants offline from exhaled air sampled during tidal breathing. A 33-question multiple-choice questionnaire that dealt with symptoms of allergic disease, heredity, and housing characteristics was used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>FeNO levels were reduced in infants with a history of upper respiratory symptoms during the previous two weeks (p < 0.002). There was a trend towards higher FeNO levels in infants with windowpane condensation in the home (p < 0.05). There was no association between uEPX in the infants and the other studied variables.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of uEPX as a marker of early inflammation was not supported. FeNO levels in infants were associated to windowpane condensation. Measuring FeNO by the present method may be an interesting way of evaluating early airway inflammation. In a major population study, however, the method is difficult to use, for practical reasons.</p
Blood lactate levels in 31 female dogs with pyometra
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Canine pyometra is a life-threatening disease common in countries where spaying of dogs is not routinely performed. The disease is associated with endotoxemia, sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and a 3â4% mortality rate. Blood lactate analysis is clinically valuable in predicting prognosis and survival, evaluating tissue perfusion and treatment response in human and veterinary critical care settings. The aims of the present study were to investigate 1) the blood lactate levels of female dogs with pyometra by a hand-held analyser and 2) if these levels are related with the clinical status or other biochemical or hematological disorders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In total 31 female dogs with pyometra admitted for surgical ovariohysterectomy and 16 healthy female control dogs were included in the present study. A complete physical examination including SIRS-status determination was performed. Blood samples for lactate concentrations, hematological and biochemical parameters, acid-base and blood gas analysis and other laboratory parameters were collected and subsequently analysed. The diagnosis pyometra was verified with histopathological examination of the uterus and ovaries. Increased hospitalisation length and presence of SIRS were used as indicators of outcome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the pyometra group the median blood lactate level was 1,6 mmol l<sup>-1 </sup>(range <0.8â2.7 mmol l<sup>-1</sup>). In the control group the median lactate level was 1,2 mmol l<sup>-1 </sup>(range <0.8â2.1 mmol l<sup>-1</sup>). Of the 31 bitches 19 (61%) fulfilled 2 or more criteria for SIRS at inclusion, 10 bitches (32%) fulfilled 3 of the SIRS criteria whereas none accomplished more than 3 criteria. Lactate levels did not differ significantly between the pyometra and control group, or between the SIRS positive and SIRS negative dogs with pyometra. Increased lactate concentration (>2.5 mmol l<sup>-1</sup>) was demonstrated in one female dog with pyometra (3%), and was not associated with longer hospitalisation or presence of SIRS. Lactate measurement was not indicative of peritonitis. None of the bitches died during or within two months of the hospital stay. The measurements of temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, percentage bandforms of neutrophilic granulocytes, α<sub>2</sub>-globulins, creatinin, pvCO<sub>2</sub>, TCO<sub>2 </sub>and base excess showed significant differences between the SIRS positive and the SIRS negative pyometra cases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Increased blood lactate concentrations were demonstrated in 3% (1/31), and SIRS was present in 61% (19/31) of the female dogs with pyometra. Preoperative lactate levels were not related with presence of SIRS or prolonged hospitalisation. Lactate measurement was not indicative of peritonitis. The value of a single and repeated lactate analysis in more severely affected cases remains to be determined.</p
Multiple uses of fibrin sealant for nervous system treatment following injury and disease
Genome sequences of four cluster P mycobacteriophages
Four bacteriophages infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 (three belonging to subcluster P1 and one belonging to subcluster P2) were isolated from soil and sequenced. All four phages are similar in the left arm of their genomes, but the P2 phage differs in the right arm. All four genomes contain features of temperate phages
- âŠ