30 research outputs found
Trend of suicide by self-immolation in a 13-year timeline: was the COVID-19 pandemic a potentially important stressor?
IntroductionSelf-immolation is an uncommon way of attempting and committing a suicide, with a fatality rate of 80%. The risk factors in self-immolation victims vary depending on demographic characteristics, socio-economic and cultural factors as well as religious beliefs. Whether the COVID-19 pandemic was a potentially important stressor for self-immolation is still unknown, with insufficient studies examining this issue. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine the trend of self-immolation in a 13-year timeline, and the potential association of COVID-19 pandemic with the increase in the incidence and severity of self-immolation injuries in Serbia in 2021.Materials and methodsThe study included hospitalized patients due to intentional burns caused by self-immolation in the period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2021. Joinpoint regression analysis was used for the analysis of continuous linear trends of self-immolation cases with change points.ResultsWhile a rising trend was observed in the 2008–2013 time segment, followed by a decline in the upcoming 2013–2016 time segment, a significant increase reached its maximum during COVID-19 pandemic (2021), with annual percent change of 37.1% (p = 0.001). A significant increase in the median number of cases per year was observed during 2021 compared to the previous periods (7.5 vs. 2). Frequency of patients with a psychiatric diagnosis vs. those without a psychiatric diagnosis was significantly higher during than before the COVID-19 period (66.7 vs. 36.1%, p = 0.046).ConclusionIn our study, a significant increase in the frequency of suicide attempts by self-immolation during COVID-19 pandemic was noticed. There was also an increased frequency of pre-existing psychiatric illness among patients during the pandemic period. With limited high-quality data available, the study adds to a rising body of evidence for assessment of outcomes of the pandemic on mental health and recognition of stressors for self-immolation
Blockade of central vasopressin receptors reduces the cardiovascular response to acute stress in freely moving rats
To investigate the contribution of central vasopressin receptors to blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) response to stress we injected non-peptide selective V-1a (SR49059), V-1b (SSR 149415), V-2 (SR 121463) receptor antagonists, diazepam or vehicle in the lateral cerebral ventricle of conscious freely moving rats stressed by blowing air on their heads for 2 min. Cardiovascular effects of stress were evaluated by analyzing maximum increase of BP and HR (MAX), latency of maximum response (LAT), integral under BP and HR curve (integral), duration of their recovery and spectral parameters of BP and HR indicative of increased sympathetic outflow (LFBP and LF/HFHR). Moreover, the increase of serum corticosterone was measured. Exposure to air-jet stress induced simultaneous increase in BP and HR followed by gradual decline during recovery while LFBP oscillation remained increased as well as serum corticosterone level. Rats pre-treated with vasopressin receptor antagonists were not sedated while diazepam induced sedation that persisted during exposure to stress. V-1a, V-1b and V-2, receptor antagonists applied separately did not modify basal values of cardiovascular parameters but prevented the increase in integral(BP). In addition, V-1b and V-2 receptor antagonists reduced BPMAX whereas V-1a, V-1b antagonist and diazepam reduced HRMAX induced by exposure to air-jet stress. All drugs shortened the recovery period, prevented the increase of LFBP without affecting the increase in serum corticosterone levels. Results indicate that vasopressin receptors located within the central nervous system mediate, in part, the cardiovascular response to air-jet stress without affecting either the neuroendocrine component or inducing sedation. They support the view that the V-1b receptor antagonist may be of potential therapeutic value in reducing arterial pressure induced by stress-related disorders
The SOS-LUX-TOXICITY-Test on the International Space Station
For the safety of astronauts and to ensure the stability and integrity of the genome of microorganisms and plants used in bioregenerative
life support systems, it is important to improve our knowledge of the combined action of (space) radiation and microgravity. The SOS-LUXTOXICITY
test, as part of the TRIPLE-LUX project (accepted for flight at Biolab in Columbus on the International Space Station, (ISS)),
will provide an estimation of the health risk resulting from exposure of astronauts to the radiation environment of space in microgravity. The
project will: (i) increase our knowledge of biological/health threatening action of space radiation and enzymatic DNA repair; (ii) uncover cellular
mechanisms of synergistic interaction of microgravity and space radiation; (iii) provide specified biosensors for spacecraft milieu examination; and
(iv) provide experimental data on stability and integrity of bacterial DNA in spacecrafts. In the bacterial biosensor “SOS-LUX-Test” developed at
DLR (patent), bacteria are transformed with the pBR322-derived plasmid pPLS-1 or the similar, advanced plasmid SWITCH, both carrying the
promoterless lux operon of Photobacterium leiognathi as the reporter element controlled by a DNA damage-dependent SOS promoter as sensor
element. A short description of the space experiment is given, and the current status of adaptation of the SOS-LUX-Test to the ISS, i.e. first results
of sterilization, biocompatibility and functional tests performed with the already available hardware and bread board model of the automated space
hardware under development, is described here
Multiplicação in vitro de Eucalyptus grandis sob estĂmulo com benzilaminopurina In vitro multiplication of Eucalyptus grandis under BAP pulse
O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do estĂmulo com benzilaminopurina (BAP) na multiplicação in vitro de Eucalyptus grandis. Foram avaliadas as interações entre concentrações de BAP (0, 200, 400 e 600 mg L-1), tempo de exposição (1, 2 e 3 horas), pH (3 e 5,8) da solução e alterações morfolĂłgicas dos explantes. Semanalmente, foi determinada a massa da matĂ©ria fresca dos explantes. Aos 21 dias de cultura, foram avaliados: o nĂşmero de brotações por tratamento, o nĂşmero de brotações obtidas por explante (taxa de multiplicação), e foi realizado o resgate das plântulas para avaliação histolĂłgica. O pH nĂŁo apresentou interação com os demais fatores estudados. Os tratamentos com BAP a 200 mg L-1, durante 1 e 2 horas, apresentaram-se como os mais indicados na multiplicação do E. grandis. Houve intensificação da divisĂŁo celular, no parĂŞnquima cortical e no procâmbio, representada pelo surgimento de meristemĂłides, em resposta aos tratamentos com 200 mg L-1 de BAP, durante 1 e 2 horas. O estĂmulo com BAP na multiplicação in vitro de E. grandis Ă© viável.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of pulse on in vitro multiplication of Eucalyptus grandis. Interactions were evaluated among BAP concentrations (0, 200, 400 and 600 mg L-1), exposure time (1, 2 and 3 hours), pH values (3 and 5.8), and explant morphological changes. Fresh weight of the explants was determined weekly. At 21 days of culture, valuations were made of the number of shootings per treatment, number of shootings obtained per explant (multiplication rate), and seedlings rescue was accomplished for histological analysis. The pH values did not present any interaction with the other factors. The most significant treatments on E. grandis shoot multiplications were 200 mg L-1 of 6-BAP during 1 and 2 hours. There was an intensification of cell division in the cortical parenchyma and procambium, represented by the arising of meristems in response to 200 mg L-1 of BAP treatment, during 1 and 2 hours. The use of the pulse on in vitro multiplication of E. grandis is feasible
Pulp Tissue Dissolution Capacity of Sodium Hypochlorite Combined with Cetrimide and Polypropylene Glycol
This study evaluated the influence of the addition of cetrimide and polypropylene glycol to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on its capacity to dissolve pulp tissue. Bovine pulp fragments with standardized weight and volume were immersed for 5, 15 and 30 min in 2 mL of NaOCl and Hypoclean (NaOCl added with cetrimide and polypropylene glycol) solutions at 5.25%, 2.5%, 1%, 0.5% and 0.25% and afterwards re-weighted. Distilled water was used as a control. The percentage of tissue loss was considered for statistical analysis (univariate ANOVA, SPSS, v. 17.0) at 5% significance level. There was no tissue dissolution in the control group. NaOCl added with surfactants (Hypoclean) dissolved more pulp tissue (p<0.05) than NaOCl alone. Tissue dissolution was directly dependent on the concentration of solutions (p<0.05), and also on the time range (p<0.05). The combination of NaOCl at high and low concentrations with the surfactants cetrimide and polypropylene glycol increased significantly its capacity to dissolve pulp tissue