'The mum has to live with the decision much more than the dad'; a qualitative study of men's perceptions of their influence on breastfeeding decision-making

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Although breastfeeding is widely acknowledged as the normal method of infant feeding, there are large variations in rates of initiation and duration. Several factors are linked to the likelihood of breastfeeding initiation, including the influence and opinion of the child's father. There is limited research into men's perception of their influence, or if they feel it appropriate to be involved in deciding how to feed their children. The aim of this study was to investigate, using a qualitative methodology, fathers' perceptions of their influence on the decision to feed their child breastmilk or formula. Methods: Six men were recruited through Children's Centres in Bristol, United Kingdom, and a phenomenological research methodology implemented using semi-structured interviews. Specific objectives were: to understand participants' views on breastfeeding; understand if and how these views were discussed with their partner; to determine if participants believed involvement in the feeding decision is appropriate; to understand how they felt about the decision made; and to see if their views changed after the birth of their child. Results: Multiple themes emerged during analysis, including deferring of responsibility to the mother; breastfeeding as normal practice; change in attitude; involvement in parenting; and, advantages for the father. The men in the study accepted breastfeeding as normal behaviour, probably because of their upbringing in households where breastfeeding was practiced. There was consensus that women had more say in deciding to breastfeed, which was explained as a consequence of their greater involvement. It could also be interpreted as an unwillingness to interfere in an area perceived as 'owned' by women. Participants acknowledged that breastfeeding was more difficult than they had perceived. Conclusions: The key themes emerging from the interviews are suggestive of an impact on breastfeeding interventions that use the father as an intermediary. If they do not feel that they are 'permitted' to comment on their partner's breastfeeding, then simply increasing knowledge of breastfeeding benefits in these men is likely to have minimal impact

Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) Sequentially Shapes the NK Cell Repertoire during the Course of Asymptomatic Infection and Kaposi Sarcoma

The contribution of innate immunity to immunosurveillance of the oncogenic Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV8) has not been studied in depth. We investigated NK cell phenotype and function in 70 HHV8-infected subjects, either asymptomatic carriers or having developed Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Our results revealed substantial alterations of the NK cell receptor repertoire in healthy HHV8 carriers, with reduced expression of NKp30, NKp46 and CD161 receptors. In addition, down-modulation of the activating NKG2D receptor, associated with impaired NK-cell lytic capacity, was observed in patients with active KS. Resolution of KS after treatment was accompanied with restoration of NKG2D levels and NK cell activity. HHV8-latently infected endothelial cells overexpressed ligands of several NK cell receptors, including NKG2D ligands. The strong expression of NKG2D ligands by tumor cells was confirmed in situ by immunohistochemical staining of KS biopsies. However, no tumor-infiltrating NK cells were detected, suggesting a defect in NK cell homing or survival in the KS microenvironment. Among the known KS-derived immunoregulatory factors, we identified prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as a critical element responsible for the down-modulation of NKG2D expression on resting NK cells. Moreover, PGE2 prevented up-regulation of the NKG2D and NKp30 receptors on IL-15-activated NK cells, and inhibited the IL-15-induced proliferation and survival of NK cells. Altogether, our observations are consistent with distinct immunoevasion mechanisms that allow HHV8 to escape NK cell responses stepwise, first at early stages of infection to facilitate the maintenance of viral latency, and later to promote tumor cell growth through suppression of NKG2D-mediated functions. Importantly, our results provide additional support to the use of PGE2 inhibitors as an attractive approach to treat aggressive KS, as they could restore activation and survival of tumoricidal NK cells

Search for gravitational waves associated with gamma-ray bursts detected by Fermi and Swift during the LIGO–Virgo run O3b

We search for gravitational-wave signals associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Fermi and Swift satellites during the second half of the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo (2019 November 1 15:00 UTC–2020 March 27 17:00 UTC). We conduct two independent searches: a generic gravitational-wave transients search to analyze 86 GRBs and an analysis to target binary mergers with at least one neutron star as short GRB progenitors for 17 events. We find no significant evidence for gravitational-wave signals associated with any of these GRBs. A weighted binomial test of the combined results finds no evidence for subthreshold gravitational-wave signals associated with this GRB ensemble either. We use several source types and signal morphologies during the searches, resulting in lower bounds on the estimated distance to each GRB. Finally, we constrain the population of low-luminosity short GRBs using results from the first to the third observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. The resulting population is in accordance with the local binary neutron star merger rate

Heterogeneity of lineage involvement by trisomy 8 in myelodysplastic syndrome. A multiparameter analysis combining conventional cytogenetics, DNA in situ hybridization, and bone marrow culture studies.

To better understand the role of trisomy 8 in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), we performed a multiparameter analysis combining conventional chromosome studies (CCS), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and bone marrow (BM) culture studies in two patients with MDS evolving into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A mosaicism of a cytogenetically normal clone and a clone with trisomy 8 was detected in both patients throughout the course of the disease, a finding confirmed by FISH on BM cells. The relative size of the trisomic clone increased from 52% to 71% (p < 0.0001) and from 53% to 69% (p = 0.001) of all BM cells at the time of the leukemic switch in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Combined FISH and immunophenotyping of BM cells showed involvement of the granulomonocytic lineage in patient 1 and involvement of erythroid cells as well as of the granulomonocytic lineage in patient 2. Only disomic lymphocytes were detected in both patients. FISH on single hemopoietic colonies grown in semisolid media detected trisomic CFU-GM and disomic BFU-E in patient 1, whereas a proportion of CFU-GM and BFU-E deriving from the trisomic clone was detected in patient 2. However, the percent of trisomic colonies was lower than the percent of involved granulomonocyte precursors and involved erythroblasts, as detected by combined FISH and immunophenotyping on fresh BM samples. We have thus shown heterogeneity of lineage involvement by trisomy 8 in MDS undergoing transformation into AML. Although preferential growth of disomic clones may occur in vitro, the finding of an increased size of the trisomic clone at the time of leukemic switch suggests that these cells had proliferative advantage in vivo over cells without trisomy 8

Behind the Curtain: Fetishism and the Production of Virtual Reality Treatment for PTSD

Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan, a virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy designed for the treatment of combat-related PTSD, has generated wide public interest in the wake of growing concerns over mental health problems among service members. Enlisting concepts from the fields of cultural studies and psychoanalytic film criticism, the paper interprets the VR therapy program as a form of technology fetishism within the expanding apparatus of military mental health operations. Even as the program seeks to expose the “invisible wounds of war,” the stories produced through this use of visual culture conform closely to hegemonic military accounts of the psychological effects of combat

Linfangioma perineal: relato de caso Perineal lymphangioma: a case report

O linfangioma é uma neoplasia benigna que pode se manifestar em qualquer local do corpo, sendo a localização perineal ou retrorretal bastante incomuns. Apresenta sintomatologia inespecífica, podendo manifestar-se de diversas formas, como o abaulamento perineal e compressão de estruturas pélvicas. Relata-se um caso de linfangioma perineal com ênfase em seu tratamento já que esta entidade clínica, apesar de benigna, tem potencial de malignização.<br>Lymphangioma is a benign neoplasm that can manifest anywhere in the body. The perineal or retrorectal localization is very uncommon. It presents unspecific symptomatology such as compression and displacement of pelvic structures. A case of perineal lymphangioma is reported emphasizing its treatment considering that they are benign tumors with malignant potential

Novel Key Ingredients in Urinary Tract Health-The Role of D-mannose, Chondroitin Sulphate, Hyaluronic Acid, and N-acetylcysteine in Urinary Tract Infections (Uroial PLUS®)

Urinary tract infections represent a common and significant health concern worldwide. The high rate of recurrence and the increasing antibiotic resistance of uropathogens are further worsening the current scenario. Nevertheless, novel key ingredients such as D-mannose, chondroitin sulphate, hyaluronic acid, and N-acetylcysteine could represent an important alternative or adjuvant to the prevention and treatment strategies of urinary tract infections. Several studies have indeed evaluated the efficacy and the potential use of these compounds in urinary tract health. In this review, we aimed to summarize the characteristics, the role, and the application of the previously reported compounds, alone and in combination, in urinary tract health, focusing on their potential role in urinary tract infections