Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associates with Neuropsychological Deficits and Neuronal Brain Injury

BACKGROUND: Childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with neuropsychological deficits of memory, learning, and executive function. There is no evidence of neuronal brain injury in children with OSA. We hypothesized that childhood OSA is associated with neuropsychological performance dysfunction, and with neuronal metabolite alterations in the brain, indicative of neuronal injury in areas corresponding to neuropsychological function. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 31 children (19 with OSA and 12 healthy controls, aged 6–16 y) group-matched by age, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. Participants underwent polysomnography and neuropsychological assessments. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was performed on a subset of children with OSA and on matched controls. Neuropsychological test scores and mean neuronal metabolite ratios of target brain areas were compared. Relative to controls, children with severe OSA had significant deficits in IQ and executive functions (verbal working memory and verbal fluency). Children with OSA demonstrated decreases of the mean neuronal metabolite ratio N-acetyl aspartate/choline in the left hippocampus (controls: 1.29, standard deviation [SD] 0.21; OSA: 0.91, SD 0.05; p = 0.001) and right frontal cortex (controls: 2.2, SD 0.4; OSA: 1.6, SD 0.4; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood OSA is associated with deficits of IQ and executive function and also with possible neuronal injury in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. We speculate that untreated childhood OSA could permanently alter a developing child's cognitive potential

Impact of caloric and dietary restriction regimens on markers of health and longevity in humans and animals: a summary of available findings

Considerable interest has been shown in the ability of caloric restriction (CR) to improve multiple parameters of health and to extend lifespan. CR is the reduction of caloric intake - typically by 20 - 40% of ad libitum consumption - while maintaining adequate nutrient intake. Several alternatives to CR exist. CR combined with exercise (CE) consists of both decreased caloric intake and increased caloric expenditure. Alternate-day fasting (ADF) consists of two interchanging days; one day, subjects may consume food ad libitum (sometimes equaling twice the normal intake); on the other day, food is reduced or withheld altogether. Dietary restriction (DR) - restriction of one or more components of intake (typically macronutrients) with minimal to no reduction in total caloric intake - is another alternative to CR. Many religions incorporate one or more forms of food restriction. The following religious fasting periods are featured in this review: 1) Islamic Ramadan; 2) the three principal fasting periods of Greek Orthodox Christianity (Nativity, Lent, and the Assumption); and 3) the Biblical-based Daniel Fast. This review provides a summary of the current state of knowledge related to CR and DR. A specific section is provided that illustrates related work pertaining to religious forms of food restriction. Where available, studies involving both humans and animals are presented. The review includes suggestions for future research pertaining to the topics of discussion

Role of Mutagenicity in Asbestos Fiber-Induced Carcinogenicity and Other Diseases

The cellular and molecular mechanisms of how asbestos fibers induce cancers and other diseases are not well understood. Both serpentine and amphibole asbestos fibers have been shown to induce oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, cellular toxicity and tissue injuries, genetic changes, and epigenetic alterations in target cells in vitro and tissues in vivo. Most of these mechanisms are believe to be shared by both fiber-induced cancers and noncancerous diseases. This article summarizes the findings from existing literature with a focus on genetic changes, specifically, mutagenicity of asbestos fibers. Thus far, experimental evidence suggesting the involvement of mutagenesis in asbestos carcinogenicity is more convincing than asbestos-induced fibrotic diseases. The potential contributions of mutagenicity to asbestos-induced diseases, with an emphasis on carcinogenicity, are reviewed from five aspects: (1) whether there is a mutagenic mode of action (MOA) in fiber-induced carcinogenesis; (2) mutagenicity/carcinogenicity at low dose; (3) biological activities that contribute to mutagenicity and impact of target tissue/cell type; (4) health endpoints with or without mutagenicity as a key event; and finally, (5) determinant factors of toxicity in mutagenicity. At the end of this review, a consensus statement of what is known, what is believed to be factual but requires confirmation, and existing data gaps, as well as future research needs and directions, is provided

Wybrane globalne i lokalne opinie na temat światowego handlu wodą mineralną i napojami bezalkoholowymi

Wartość światowego rynku wody mineralnej i napojów bezalkoholowych szacowana jest na ok. 9 bln USD i rośnie z roku na rok. Jednakże udział poszczególnych państw i regionów w tym rynku jest różny. Na taki stan rzeczy ma wpływ wiele czynników na wszystkich etapach łańcucha dostaw, w tym źródła wody, zdolności produkcyjne, możliwości magazynowe. Duży wpływ mają także czynniki związane z konsumentem. Republika Czeska i Słowacka mają znaczący udział w rynku wody mineralnej i napojów bezalkoholowych, stanowiacy ok. 2% światowego eksportu (160 mln USD). Obydwa kraje mają znaczące przewagi konkurencyjne na tym rynku

FROM THEORY TO ACTION: UNDERSTANDING BUSINESS NETWORKS IN AN AGRICULTURAL CONTEXT

This research addresses the growing issue of the link between business networks and internationalisation. Through the lens of an agricultural setting the structure and relationships in the New Zealand agricultural technology industry is examined, with the view to looking at how firms within this industry are undertaking the process of internationalisation and how that is being facilitated by their position within the network. The findings suggest that within the New Zealand agricultural technology industry the network like structure has enabled and facilitated internationalisation, particularly in the development and leveraging of relationships. A range of managerial implications are discussed such as network factors that can stimulate the internationalisation process

Retail marketing strategies and innovations in the practice of a retail chain

Each retail activity, regardless its financial base is related to applying various marketing tools and territorial strategies. At present, the application of key retail marketing is associated with a wide range of activities, developing retailer, allocating sufficient capital and adapting to the market conditions of the area. Successful retail companies have become easy to copy, therefore they are constantly trying to innovate and looking for new opportunities in the battle for their customers. In the domestic market which is torn by strong multinational competitors, our retailers are able to ensure the right timing and adjusting marketing only by forming alliances such as COOP Jednota Slovakia. Using guided dialogue and laser device for measuring the distance we have revealed many deficiencies in the implementation of unified marketing strategies and we obtained data for the calculation of location indicators in different types of sales forms. The paper also includes the evaluation of areal retail marketing and its subsequent adaptation to the conditions of the region, together with the strategic deployment and innovation of different types of stores in the area. In the conclusions, we give suggestions for more effective retail marketing, innovations and application of positioning strategies that will contribute to the increase in sales and the efficiency in the consumer cooperative COOP Jednota Brezno