2,145 research outputs found
Implementing a palliative approach in the intensive care unit: An oxymoron or a realistic possibility?
© 2016 MA Healthcare Ltd. Providing a palliative approach in an ICU is not an oxymoron and is within our reach today. Implementing a palliative approach will better ensure the needs of older patients and their families are met. Investing in developing the palliative care capabilities of ICUs and implementing appropriate policies that support the delivery of best evidence-based palliative care, will help ICU clinicians move seamlessly from implementing intensive therapies focusing on cure to palliation and relief of symptoms and care of families
Re-weighting of somatosensory inputs from the foot and the ankle for controlling posture during quiet standing following trunk extensor muscles fatigue
The present study focused on the effects of trunk extensor muscles fatigue on
postural control during quiet standing under different somatosensory conditions
from the foot and the ankle. With this aim, 20 young healthy adults were asked
to stand as immobile as possible in two conditions of No fatigue and Fatigue of
trunk extensor muscles. In Experiment 1 (n = 10), somatosensation from the foot
and the ankle was degraded by standing on a foam surface. In Experiment 2 (n =
10), somatosensation from the foot and ankle was facilitated through the
increased cutaneous feedback at the foot and ankle provided by strips of
athletic tape applied across both ankle joints. The centre of foot pressure
displacements (CoP) were recorded using a force platform. The results showed
that (1) trunk extensor muscles fatigue increased CoP displacements under
normal somatosensatory conditions (Experiment 1 and Experiment 2), (2) this
destabilizing effect was exacerbated when somatosensation from the foot and the
ankle was degraded (Experiment 1), and (3) this destabilizing effect was
mitigated when somatosensation from the foot and the ankle was facilitated
(Experiment 2). Altogether, the present findings evidenced re-weighting of
sensory cues for controlling posture during quiet standing following trunk
extensor muscles fatigue by increasing the reliance on the somatosensory inputs
from the foot and the ankle. This could have implications in clinical and
rehabilitative areas
Radiocarbon dating of methane and carbon dioxide evaded from a temperate peatland stream
Streams draining peatlands export large quantities of carbon in different chemical forms and
are an important part of the carbon cycle. Radiocarbon (14C) analysis/dating provides unique
information on the source and rate that carbon is cycled through ecosystems, as has recently
been demonstrated at the air-water interface through analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) lost
from peatland streams by evasion (degassing). Peatland streams also have the potential to
release large amounts of methane (CH4) and, though 14C analysis of CH4 emitted by ebullition
(bubbling) has been previously reported, diffusive emissions have not. We describe methods
that enable the 14C analysis of CH4 evaded from peatland streams. Using these methods, we
investigated the 14C age and stable carbon isotope composition of both CH4 and CO2 evaded
from a small peatland stream draining a temperate raised mire. Methane was aged between
1617-1987 years BP, and was much older than CO2 which had an age range of 303-521 years
BP. Isotope mass balance modelling of the results indicated that the CO2 and CH4 evaded
from the stream were derived from different source areas, with most evaded CO2 originating
from younger layers located nearer the peat surface compared to CH4. The study demonstrates
the insight that can be gained into peatland carbon cycling from a methodological
development which enables dual isotope (14C and 13C) analysis of both CH4 and CO2 collected
at the same time and in the same way
Flavourful Production at Hadron Colliders
We ask what new states may lie at or below the TeV scale, with sizable
flavour-dependent couplings to light quarks, putting them within reach of
hadron colliders via resonant production, or in association with Standard Model
states. In particular, we focus on the compatibility of such states with
stringent flavour-changing neutral current and electric-dipole moment
constraints. We argue that the broadest and most theoretically plausible
flavour structure of the new couplings is that they are hierarchical, as are
Standard Model Yukawa couplings, although the hierarchical pattern may well be
different. We point out that, without the need for any more elaborate or
restrictive structure, new scalars with "diquark" couplings to standard quarks
are particularly immune to existing constraints, and that such scalars may
arise within a variety of theoretical paradigms. In particular, there can be
substantial couplings to a pair of light quarks or to one light and one heavy
quark. For example, the latter possibility may provide a flavour-safe
interpretation of the asymmetry in top quark production observed at the
Tevatron. We thereby motivate searches for diquark scalars at the Tevatron and
LHC, and argue that their discovery represents one of our best chances for new
insight into the Flavour Puzzle of the Standard Model.Comment: 18 pp., 8 figures, references adde
Covid-19 and Tobacco Cessation:Lessons from India
OBJECTIVES: The Government of India prohibited the sale of tobacco products during the COVID-19 lockdown to prevent spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study assessed the tobacco cessation behaviour and its predictors among adult tobacco users during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period in India. STUDY DESIGN: : Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 801 adult tobacco users (both smoking and smokeless tobacco) in two urban metropolitan cities of India over a 2-month period (July–August 2020). The study assessed complete tobacco cessation and quit attempts during the lockdown period. Logistic and negative binomial regression models were used to study correlates of tobacco cessation and quit attempts, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 90 (11.3%) tobacco users reported that they had quit using tobacco after the COVID-19 lockdown period. Overall, a median of two quit attempts (interquartile range [IQR] 0–6) were made by tobacco users. Participants with good knowledge on the harmful effects of tobacco use and COVID-19 were significantly more likely to quit tobacco use (odds ratio [OR] 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–4.0) and reported more quit attempts (incidence risk ratio [IRR] 5.7; 95% CI 2.8-11.8] compared with those with poor knowledge. Participants who had access to tobacco products were less likely to quit tobacco use compared with those who had no access (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.2–0.5]. CONCLUSIONS: Access restrictions and correct knowledge on the harmful effects of tobacco use and COVID-19 can play an important role in creating a conducive environment for tobacco cessation among users
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have proven efficacy in the treatment of panic disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder. Accumulating data shows that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment can also be efficacious in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. This review summarizes the findings of randomized controlled trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, examines the strengths and weaknesses of other therapeutic approaches and considers potential new treatments for patients with this chronic and disabling anxiety disorder
Beyond climate change and health: Integrating broader environmental change and natural environments for public health protection and promotion in the UK
This is the final version of the article. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record.Increasingly, the potential short and long-term impacts of climate change on human health and wellbeing are being demonstrated. However, other environmental change factors, particularly relating to the natural environment, need to be taken into account to understand the totality of these interactions and impacts. This paper provides an overview of ongoing research in the Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) on Environmental Change and Health, particularly around the positive and negative effects of the natural environment on human health and well-being and primarily within a UK context. In addition to exploring the potential increasing risks to human health from water-borne and vector-borne diseases and from exposure to aeroallergens such as pollen, this paper also demonstrates the potential opportunities and co-benefits to human physical and mental health from interacting with the natural environment. The involvement of a Health and Environment Public Engagement (HEPE) group as a public forum of "critical friends" has proven useful for prioritising and exploring some of this research; such public involvement is essential to minimise public health risks and maximise the benefits which are identified from this research into environmental change and human health. Research gaps are identified and recommendations made for future research into the risks, benefits and potential opportunities of climate and other environmental change on human and planetary health.The research was funded in part by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection
Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Environmental Change and Health at the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine in partnership with Public Health England (PHE), and in collaboration with the University of
Exeter, University College London, and the Met Office (HPRU-2012-10016); the UK Medical Research Council
(MRC) and UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for the MEDMI Project (MR/K019341/1, https:
//www.data-mashup.org.uk); the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Project (ES/P011489/1); and the
NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellowship for Maguire
In-cell NMR characterization of the secondary structure populations of a disordered conformation of α-Synuclein within E. coli cells
α-Synuclein is a small protein strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. We report here the use of in-cell NMR spectroscopy to observe directly the structure and dynamics of this protein within E. coli cells. To improve the accuracy in the measurement of backbone chemical shifts within crowded in-cell NMR spectra, we have developed a deconvolution method to reduce inhomogeneous line broadening within cellular samples. The resulting chemical shift values were then used to evaluate the distribution of secondary structure populations which, in the absence of stable tertiary contacts, are a most effective way to describe the conformational fluctuations of disordered proteins. The results indicate that, at least within the bacterial cytosol, α-synuclein populates a highly dynamic state that, despite the highly crowded environment, has the same characteristics as the disordered monomeric form observed in aqueous solution
Rapoport’s rule and determinants of species range size in snakes
AIM:
Understanding determinants of species' range size is paramount to explaining global ecological patterns and estimating extinction risk of species. Here, we examined whether a sample of 536 snake species exhibits a latitudinal gradient of range size in support of Rapoport's rule, and determined predictors of range size from a set of environmental and biological factors.
LOCATION:
Global.
METHODS:
Based on a priori hypotheses about the effects of latitude, environmental and biological factors on species' range, we calculated mid-latitudes of species ranges, and collected data on environmental factors (altitude, temperature, precipitation, size and number of ecoregions occupied) and biological traits (body size, fecundity, habitat breadth and species age) to construct multivariate models of snake range size. We used a recently published dated consensus phylogeny to determine minimum adequate models of range size using phylogenetic generalized least squares models and establish correlations between range size and time since species' description.
RESULTS:
Range size increased significantly with latitude, consistent with Rapoport's rule, especially across mid- and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Habitat breadth, body size and altitudinal range had a significant positive effect on range size, with minor negative effects on range size from mean altitude and reproductive output. Biological variables explained more variation in range size than environmental variables. Species' range size had a significant effect on species' description, with larger-ranged species having been described earlier.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS:
Prediction of range size in lesser-known species such as snakes relies on a suite of factors. Species with restricted habitat breadth, small body size and at high altitudes a wider altitudinal range generally have smaller ranges, and are thus likely to have higher extinction risk. Our work illustrates that it is these species we are likely to under-report in extinction risk assessments
Inter-hemispheric EEG coherence analysis in Parkinson's disease : Assessing brain activity during emotion processing
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not only characterized by its prominent motor symptoms but also associated with disturbances in cognitive and emotional functioning. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of emotion processing on inter-hemispheric electroencephalography (EEG) coherence in PD. Multimodal emotional stimuli (happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust) were presented to 20 PD patients and 30 age-, education level-, and gender-matched healthy controls (HC) while EEG was recorded. Inter-hemispheric coherence was computed from seven homologous EEG electrode pairs (AF3–AF4, F7–F8, F3–F4, FC5–FC6, T7–T8, P7–P8, and O1–O2) for delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands. In addition, subjective ratings were obtained for a representative of emotional stimuli. Interhemispherically, PD patients showed significantly lower coherence in theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands than HC during emotion processing. No significant changes were found in the delta frequency band coherence. We also found that PD patients were more impaired in recognizing negative emotions (sadness, fear, anger, and disgust) than relatively positive emotions (happiness and surprise). Behaviorally, PD patients did not show impairment in emotion recognition as measured by subjective ratings. These findings suggest that PD patients may have an impairment of inter-hemispheric functional connectivity (i.e., a decline in cortical connectivity) during emotion processing. This study may increase the awareness of EEG emotional response studies in clinical practice to uncover potential neurophysiologic abnormalities
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