Equity, gender and health: New directions for global men’s health promotion

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154916/1/hpja337_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154916/2/hpja337.pd

Src kinase inhibition promotes the chondrocyte phenotype

Regulated differentiation of chondrocytes is essential for both normal skeletal development and maintenance of articular cartilage. The intracellular pathways that control these events are incompletely understood, and our ability to modulate the chondrocyte phenotype in vivo or in vitro is therefore limited. Here we examine the role played by one prominent group of intracellular signalling proteins, the Src family kinases, in regulating the chondrocyte phenotype. We show that the Src family kinase Lyn exhibits a dynamic expression pattern in the chondrogenic cell line ATDC5 and in a mixed population of embryonic mouse chondrocytes in high-density monolayer culture. Inhibition of Src kinase activity using the pharmacological compound PP2 (4-Amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo [3,4-d]pyrimidine) strongly reduced the number of primary mouse chondrocytes. In parallel, PP2 treatment increased the expression of both early markers (such as Sox9, collagen type II, aggrecan and xylosyltransferases) and late markers (collagen type X, Indian hedgehog and p57) markers of chondrocyte differentiation. Interestingly, PP2 repressed the expression of the Src family members Lyn, Frk and Hck. It also reversed morphological de-differentiation of chondrocytes in monolayer culture and induced rounding of chondrocytes, and reduced stress fibre formation and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation. We conclude that the Src kinase inhibitor PP2 promotes chondrogenic gene expression and morphology in monolayer culture. Strategies to block Src activity might therefore be useful both in tissue engineering of cartilage and in the maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype in diseases such as osteoarthritis

Estimating connectivity of hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in Barnegat Bay

© The Author(s), 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Goodwin, J. D., Munroe, D. M., Defne, Z., Ganju, N. K., & Vasslides, J. Estimating connectivity of hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in Barnegat Bay. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 7(6), (2019): 167, doi:10.3390/jmse7060167.Many marine organisms have a well-known adult sessile stage. Unfortunately, our lack of knowledge regarding their larval transient stage hinders our understanding of their basic ecology and connectivity. Larvae can have swimming behavior that influences their transport within the marine environment. Understanding the larval stage provides insight into population connectivity that can help strategically identify areas for restoration. Current techniques for understanding the larval stage include modeling that combines particle attributes (e.g., larval behavior) with physical processes of water movement to contribute to our understanding of connectivity trends. This study builds on those methods by using a previously developed retention clock matrix (RCM) to illustrate time dependent connectivity of two species of shellfish between areas and over a range of larval durations. The RCM was previously used on physical parameters but we expand the concept by applying it to biology. A new metric, difference RCM (DRCM), is introduced to quantify changes in connectivity under different scenarios. Broad spatial trends were similar for all behavior types with a general south to north progression of particles. The DRCMs illustrate differences between neutral particles and those with behavior in northern regions where stratification was higher, indicating that larval behavior influenced transport. Based on these findings, particle behavior led to small differences (north to south movement) in transport patterns in areas with higher salinity gradients (the northern part of the system) compared to neutral particles. Overall, the dominant direction for particle movement was from south to north, which at times was enhanced by winds from the south. Clam and oyster restoration in the southern portion of Barnegat Bay could serve as a larval supply for populations in the north. These model results show that coupled hydrodynamic and particle tracking models have implications for fisheries management and restoration activities.This work is supported by the Barnegat Bay Partnership EPA grants CE98212311, CE98212312. We extend our deep thanks to anonymous reviewers and Lisa Lucas who provided thoughtful input that improved the manuscript. We thank Matthew Kozak and Ian Mitchell for technical advice and Elizabeth North for LTRANS guidance. Joe Caracapa and Jennifer Gius provided help running remote simulations. COAST model source code is available at https://code.usgs.gov/coawstmodel/COAWST [50]. The hydrodynamic model outoput is available at: http://geoport.whoi.edu/thredds/catalog/clay/usgs/users/zdefne/GRL/catalog.html [21] and particle tracking model outputs are available from the corresponding author upon request

Pain Coping Skills Training for Patients Who Catastrophize About Pain Prior to Knee Arthroplasty: A Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Pain catastrophizing has been identified as a prognostic indicator of poor outcome following knee arthroplasty. Interventions to address pain catastrophizing, to our knowledge, have not been tested in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pain coping skills training in persons with moderate to high pain catastrophizing undergoing knee arthroplasty improves outcomes 12 months postoperatively compared with usual care or arthritis education. METHODS: A multicenter, 3-arm, single-blinded, randomized comparative effectiveness trial was performed involving 5 university-based medical centers in the United States. There were 402 randomized participants. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain Scale, measured at baseline, 2 months, 6 months, and 12 months following the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Participants were recruited from January 2013 to June 2016. In 402 participants, 66% were women and the mean age of the participants (and standard deviation) was 63.2 ± 8.0 years. Three hundred and forty-six participants (90% of those who underwent a surgical procedure) completed a 12-month follow-up. All 3 treatment groups had large improvements in 12-month WOMAC pain scores with no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the 3 treatment arms. No differences were found between WOMAC pain scores at 12 months for the pain coping skills and arthritis education groups (adjusted mean difference, 0.3 [95% confidence interval (CI), -0.9 to 1.5]) or between the pain coping and usual-care groups (adjusted mean difference, 0.4 [95% CI, -0.7 to 1.5]). Secondary outcomes also showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with pain catastrophizing undergoing knee arthroplasty, cognitive behaviorally based pain coping skills training did not confer pain or functional benefit beyond the large improvements achieved with usual surgical and postoperative care. Future research should develop interventions for the approximately 20% of patients undergoing knee arthroplasty who experience persistent function-limiting pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence

Diagnostic value of post-bronchodilator pulmonary function testing to distinguish between stable, moderate to severe COPD and asthma

Daphne C Richter1, James R Joubert1, Haylene Nell1, Mace M Schuurmans2, Elvis M Irusen21Tiervlei Trial Centre, Karl Bremer Hospital, Bellville, RSA; 2Respiratory Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, RSAObjective: The GOLD guidelines suggest that the presence of a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 80% of the predicted value in combination with a FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 70% confirms the diagnosis of COPD. Limited data exist regarding the accuracy of these criteria to distinguish between COPD and asthma. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the diagnostic value of post-bronchodilator lung function parameters in obstructive lung disease.Methods: The pulmonary function tests of 43 (22 = COPD, 21 = asthma) patients with similar baseline characteristics were evaluated (baseline FEV1 were 55.7% + 7.6%, and 59.3% + 8.4% predicted for COPD and asthma, respectively). Bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) was calculated according to three recognized pulmonary function test criteria.Results: The first criteria, post-bronchodilator FEV1 < 80% of the predicted value in combination with a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio of <70%, had an accuracy of 70% to diagnose COPD. This combination was very sensitive (100%) in diagnosing COPD, but it was not specific (38%). The second BDR criteria, defined as an increase of <12% and 200 mL of initial FEV1 and criterion number 3, an increase of <9% of predicted FEV1, were less sensitive (55% and 59%, respectively), but more specific (81% and 76% respectively) to diagnose COPD. Our findings suggest that the current recommended spirometric indices are not optimal in differentiating between COPD and asthma.Keywords: obstructive lung disease, diagnosis, post-bronchodilator pulmonary function tes

Discrimination, mastery, and depressive symptoms among African American men

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/88130/1/watkins_hudson_etal2011.pd

Reflections on the Arts, Environment, and Culture After Ten Years of The Goose

To mark the tenth anniversary of The Goose, we asked prominent ecologically-minded scholars, writers, artists, and educators from across Canada to reflect on the relationship between the arts, culture, and the environment. Their comments illuminate a wide range of triumphs and tensions, from the politics and practices of environmentalist writing and art, to the connections between the environment and matters of diversity and justice, to the past and future of ALECC (Association for Literature, Environment, and Culture in Canada), to the world of a single poem

The Influence of Using Novel Predictive Technologies on Judgments of Stigma, Empathy, and Compassion among Healthcare Professionals

Background: Our objective was to evaluate whether the description of a machine learning (ML) app or brain imaging technology to predict the onset of schizophrenia or alcohol use disorder (AUD) influences healthcare professionals’ judgments of stigma, empathy, and compassion. Methods: We randomized healthcare professionals (N = 310) to one vignette about a person whose clinician seeks to predict schizophrenia or an AUD, using a ML app, brain imaging, or a psychosocial assessment. Participants used scales to measure their judgments of stigma, empathy, and compassion. Results: Participants randomized to the ML vignette endorsed less anger and more fear relative to the psychosocial vignette, and the brain imaging vignette elicited higher pity ratings. The brain imaging and ML vignettes evoked lower personal responsibility judgments compared to the psychosocial vignette. Physicians and nurses reported less empathy than clinical psychologists. Conclusions: The use of predictive technologies may reinforce essentialist views about mental health and substance use that may increase specific aspects of stigma and reduce others

Flow instabilities in a graft anastomosis - a study of the instantaneous velocity fields

The major cause of arterial bypass graft failure is intimal hyperplasia. Fluctuating wall shear stresses in the graft, which are associated with disturbed flow, are believed to be important factors in the development and localization of intimal hyperplasia. This study, based upon water as the working fluid, has investigated the flow structure inside a 3

Flicker electroretinogram in newborn infants

PURPOSE To develop and validate a flicker electroretinogram (ERG) protocol in term-born neonates as a potential tool for assessing preterm infants at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS A custom flicker ERG protocol was developed for use with the hand-held RETeval® electrophysiology device. Feasibility of measuring flicker ERG through closed eyelids and without mydriasis was established in a pilot study enabling optimisation of the test protocol. Following this, healthy term-born neonates (gestational age 37-42 weeks) were recruited at the Neonatology clinic of the University Hospital Zurich. Flicker ERG recordings were performed using proprietary disposable skin electrodes during the first four days of life when the infants were sleeping. Flicker stimuli were presented at 28.3 Hz for a stimulus series at 3, 6, 12, 30, and 50 cd·s/m$^{2}$, with two measurements at each stimulus level. Results were analysed offline. Flicker ERG peak times and amplitudes were derived from the averaged measurements per stimulus level for each subject. RESULTS 28 term-born neonates were included in the analysis. All infants tolerated the testing procedure well. Flicker ERG recording was achieved in all subjects with reproducible flicker ERG waveforms for 30 and 50 cd·s/m$^{2}$ stimuli. Reproducible ERGs were recorded in the majority of infants for the weaker stimuli (with detectable ERGs in 20/28, 25/28, and 27/28 at 3, 6, and 12 cd·s/m$^{2}$, respectively). Flicker ERG amplitudes increased with increasing stimulus strength, with peak times concurrently decreasing slightly. CONCLUSION Flicker ERG recording is feasible and reliably recorded in sleeping neonates through closed eyelids using skin electrodes and without mydriasis. Flicker ERG amplitude decreases for lower luminance flicker but remains detectable for 3 cd·s/m$^{2}$ flicker in the majority of healthy term-born neonates. These data provide a basis to study retinal function in premature infants using this protocol