51 research outputs found

    Does activation of the FcγRIIa play a role in the pathogenesis of the acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome?

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    ALI (acute lung injury) and its more severe form ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) are inflammatory diseases of the lung characterized by hypoxaemia and diffuse bilateral infiltrates. Disruption of epithelial integrity and injury to endothelium are contributing factors of the development of ALI/ARDS, and alveolar damage is the most pronounced feature of ALI/ARDS. The resulting increase in lung microvascular permeability promotes influx of inflammatory cells to the alveolar spaces. Oedema fluid contains pro-nflammatory mediators and plasma proteins, including Igs (immunoglobulins). Moreover, several reports describe the presence of autoantibodies and immune complexes [anti-IL-8 (interleukin-8) autoantibody/IL-8 complexes] in lung fluids (oedema and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids) from patients with ALI/ARDS. These immune complexes associate with FcγRIIa (Fcγ IIa receptor) in lungs of patients with ARDS. Furthermore, the expression of FcγRIIa is substantially elevated in lungs of these patients. FcγRIIa appears on virtually all myeloid cells, platelets and endothelial cells. It is a low-affinity receptor for IgG that preferentially binds aggregated immunoglobulins and immune complexes. FcγRs regulate phagocytosis and cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and initiate the release of inflammatory mediators. It should be noted that immune complexes formed between either anti-neutrophil autoantibodies and their specific antigens or anti-HLA (human leucocyte antigen) antibodies and target antigens are implicated in the pathogenesis of TRALI (transfusion-related acute lung injury), and importantly, animal studies indicate that FcγRs are essential for these complexes to cause damage to the lungs. Therefore, we hypothesize that FcγRs such as FcγRIIa could contribute to the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS

    African-American crack abusers and drug treatment initiation: barriers and effects of a pretreatment intervention

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    BACKGROUND: Individual and sociocultural factors may pose significant barriers for drug abusers seeking treatment, particularly for African-American crack cocaine abusers. However, there is evidence that pretreatment interventions may reduce treatment initiation barriers. This study examined the effects of a pretreatment intervention designed to enhance treatment motivation, decrease crack use, and prepare crack abusers for treatment entry. METHODS: Using street outreach, 443 African-American crack users were recruited in North Carolina and randomly assigned to either the pretreatment intervention or control group. RESULTS: At 3-month follow-up, both groups significantly reduced their crack use but the intervention group participants were more likely to have initiated treatment. CONCLUSION: The intervention helped motivate change but structural barriers to treatment remained keeping actual admissions low. Policy makers may be interested in these pretreatment sites as an alternative to treatment for short term outcomes

    Does Respondent Driven Sampling Alter the Social Network Composition and Health-Seeking Behaviors of Illicit Drug Users Followed Prospectively?

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    Respondent driven sampling (RDS) was originally developed to sample and provide peer education to injection drug users at risk for HIV. Based on the premise that drug users' social networks were maintained through sharing rituals, this peer-driven approach to disseminate educational information and reduce risk behaviors capitalizes and expands upon the norms that sustain these relationships. Compared with traditional outreach interventions, peer-driven interventions produce greater reductions in HIV risk behaviors and adoption of safer behaviors over time, however, control and intervention groups are not similarly recruited. As peer-recruitment may alter risk networks and individual risk behaviors over time, such comparison studies are unable to isolate the effect of a peer-delivered intervention. This analysis examines whether RDS recruitment (without an intervention) is associated with changes in health-seeking behaviors and network composition over 6 months. New York City drug users (N = 618) were recruited using targeted street outreach (TSO) and RDS (2006–2009). 329 non-injectors (RDS = 237; TSO = 92) completed baseline and 6-month surveys ascertaining demographic, drug use, and network characteristics. Chi-square and t-tests compared RDS- and TSO-recruited participants on changes in HIV testing and drug treatment utilization and in the proportion of drug using, sex, incarcerated and social support networks over the follow-up period. The sample was 66% male, 24% Hispanic, 69% black, 62% homeless, and the median age was 35. At baseline, the median network size was 3, 86% used crack, 70% used cocaine, 40% used heroin, and in the past 6 months 72% were tested for HIV and 46% were enrolled in drug treatment. There were no significant differences by recruitment strategy with respect to changes in health-seeking behaviors or network composition over 6 months. These findings suggest no association between RDS recruitment and changes in network composition or HIV risk, which supports prior findings from prospective HIV behavioral surveillance and intervention studies

    Enhanced hydrogen production from thermochemical processes

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    To alleviate the pressing problem of greenhouse gas emissions, the development and deployment of sustainable energy technologies is necessary. One potentially viable approach for replacing fossil fuels is the development of a H2 economy. Not only can H2 be used to produce heat and electricity, it is also utilised in ammonia synthesis and hydrocracking. H2 is traditionally generated from thermochemical processes such as steam reforming of hydrocarbons and the water-gas-shift (WGS) reaction. However, these processes suffer from low H2 yields owing to their reversible nature. Removing H2 with membranes and/or extracting CO2 with solid sorbents in situ can overcome these issues by shifting the component equilibrium towards enhanced H2 production via Le Chatelier's principle. This can potentially result in reduced energy consumption, smaller reactor sizes and, therefore, lower capital costs. In light of this, a significant amount of work has been conducted over the past few decades to refine these processes through the development of novel materials and complex models. Here, we critically review the most recent developments in these studies, identify possible research gaps, and offer recommendations for future research

    Immunization knowledge and practice among Malaysian parents: a questionnaire development and pilot-testing

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    BACKGROUND: Parents are the main decision makers for their children vaccinations. This fact makes parents’ immunization knowledge and practices as predictor factors for immunization uptake and timeliness. The aim of this pilot study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument in Malaysian language to measure immunization knowledge and practice (KP) of Malaysian parents. METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective pilot survey was conducted among 88 Malaysian parents who attended public health facilities that provide vaccinations. Translated immunization KP questionnaires (Bahasa Melayu version) were used. Descriptive statistics were applied, face and content validity were assessed, and internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity were determined. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the knowledge scores was 7.36 ± 2.29 and for practice scores was 7.13 ± 2.20. Good internal consistency was found for knowledge and practice items (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.757 and 0.743 respectively); the test-retest reliability value was 0.740 (p = 0.014). A panel of three specialist pharmacists who are experts in this field judged the face and content validity of the final questionnaire. Parents with up-to-date immunized children had significantly better knowledge and practice scores than parents who did not (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively), suggesting a good construct validity. A significant difference was found in knowledge and practice scores among parents’ age (p = 0.006 and p = 0.029 respectively) and place of living (p = 0.037 and p = 0.043). The parents’ knowledge level was positively associated with their practice toward immunization (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.310, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The pilot study concluded that the Bahasa Melayu version of the immunization KP questionnaire has good reliability and validity for measuring the knowledge and practices of Malaysian parents and therefore this version can be used in future research

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    A randomized controlled trial of goal choice interventions for alcohol use disorders among men who have sex with men.

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    This study tested the efficacy of behavioral treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUD) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and who are at risk for HIV transmission. HIV-negative MSM with current AUD (N = 198) were recruited, offered treatment focused on reducing drinking and HIV risk, and followed during treatment and 12 months posttreatment. Participants (n = 89) accepted treatment and were randomized to either 4 sessions of motivational interviewing (MI) or 12 sessions of combined MI and coping skills training (MI + CBT). Other participants (n = 109) declined treatment but were followed, forming a non-help-seeking group (NHS). MI yielded significantly better drinking outcomes during the 12-week treatment period than MI + CBT, but posttreatment outcomes were equivalent. NHS participants significantly reduced their drinking as well. Service delivery and treatment research implications are discussed

    Advertising Brochure: The Great Minneapolis Line

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    In this chapter several aspects of the electronic and phonon structure are considered for the design and engineering of advanced thermoelectric materials. For a given compound, its thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, is fully exploited only when the free carrier density is optimized. Achieving higher zT beyond this requires the improvement in the material quality factor B. Using experimental data on lead chalcogenides as well as examples of other good thermoelectric materials, we demonstrate how the fundamental material parameters: effective mass, band anisotropy, deformation potential, and band degeneracy, among others, impact the thermoelectric properties and lead to desirable thermoelectric materials. As the quality factor B is introduced under the assumption of acoustic phonon (deformation potential) scattering, a brief discussion about carrier scattering mechanisms is also included. This simple model with the use of an effective deformation potential coefficient fits the experimental properties of real materials with complex structures and multi-valley Fermi surfaces remarkably well—which is fortunate as these are features likely found in advanced thermoelectric materials
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