Health and disease in Chalcolithic Cyprus : a problem-oriented palaeopathological study of the human remains

PhD ThesisPoor preservation of the human skeletal remains on Cyprus has, in the past, limited palaeopathological analyses conducted. The research presented here has two main aims: (1) to explore the possibility of deriving useful information from the poorly preserved human remains from Chalcolithic Cyprus and the methodological adjustments required to do so, and (2) to discuss the health status of the human Chalcolithic populations in Southwest Cyprus, determining patterns in the expression of pathologies related to age, sex or burial location which, if present, may further elucidate aspects of lifeways within and amongst the living populations. These aims are achieved through a macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the pathological lesions on the human skeletal remains from the Souskiou-Laona cemetery, the Lemba-Lakkous and Kissonerga-Mosphilia settlement sites which all date to the Middle Chalcolithic period. This research presents one of the first comprehensive palaeopathological studies for the Chalcolithic period in Cyprus with multi-site data. Lesions arising from osteoarthritic processes, non-specific diseases and disorders as well as trauma, dental pathologies and congenital defects are recorded, analysed and discussed within the archaeological context. The results presented in this thesis show that information regarding prehistoric peoples can be drawn from poorly preserved remains and it goes further to explore the limitations to the interpretations which can be postulated. The analyses of the research indicate that there are moderate to low prevalence of pathological lesions observed on the Chalcolithic skeletal remains. There is differential expression between males and females in the joints affected by osteoarthritic changes and the types of dental pathologies suffered by each sex. This research contributes to the overall historiography of health and disease in Cyprus, by filling a lacuna for the Chalcolithic period. Additionally, it provides an illustration of some methodological modifications, such as qualitative discussion, needed when dealing with poorly preserved and commingled material in a palaeopathological study.Wellcome Trust Northern Centre for the History of Medicine, Newcastle University Overseas Research Studentshi

ICU CAUTI Incidence Reduction

Situation: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) rates in the adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) increased from nine infections in FY21 to 18 in FY22. Backgroud: CAUTIs are the most reported healthcare acquired infection. It is important for healthcare providers to understand the complications and effects of CAUTIs. CAUTIs contribute to extended length of stay, increased healthcare costs, and patient morbidity and mortality. Most CAUTIs are directly related to inadequate urinary catheter care. Evidence based practice demonstrates a decrease in CAUTIs related to the use of Theraworx® Protect wipes twice daily (BID) and as needed (PRN) for patients with a urinary catheter.https://digitalcommons.centracare.com/nursing_posters/1156/thumbnail.jp

Health and disease in Chalcolithic Cyprus : a problem-oriented palaeopathological study of the human remains

Poor preservation of the human skeletal remains on Cyprus has, in the past, limited palaeopathological analyses conducted. The research presented here has two main aims: (1) to explore the possibility of deriving useful information from the poorly preserved human remains from Chalcolithic Cyprus and the methodological adjustments required to do so, and (2) to discuss the health status of the human Chalcolithic populations in Southwest Cyprus, determining patterns in the expression of pathologies related to age, sex or burial location which, if present, may further elucidate aspects of lifeways within and amongst the living populations. These aims are achieved through a macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the pathological lesions on the human skeletal remains from the Souskiou-Laona cemetery, the Lemba-Lakkous and Kissonerga-Mosphilia settlement sites which all date to the Middle Chalcolithic period. This research presents one of the first comprehensive palaeopathological studies for the Chalcolithic period in Cyprus with multi-site data. Lesions arising from osteoarthritic processes, non-specific diseases and disorders as well as trauma, dental pathologies and congenital defects are recorded, analysed and discussed within the archaeological context. The results presented in this thesis show that information regarding prehistoric peoples can be drawn from poorly preserved remains and it goes further to explore the limitations to the interpretations which can be postulated. The analyses of the research indicate that there are moderate to low prevalence of pathological lesions observed on the Chalcolithic skeletal remains. There is differential expression between males and females in the joints affected by osteoarthritic changes and the types of dental pathologies suffered by each sex. This research contributes to the overall historiography of health and disease in Cyprus, by filling a lacuna for the Chalcolithic period. Additionally, it provides an illustration of some methodological modifications, such as qualitative discussion, needed when dealing with poorly preserved and commingled material in a palaeopathological study.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceWellcome Trust Northern Centre for the History of MedicineNewcastle University Overseas Research StudentshipGBUnited Kingdo

Health and disease in Chalcolithic Cyprus : a problem-oriented palaeopathological study of the human remains

Poor preservation of the human skeletal remains on Cyprus has, in the past, limited palaeopathological analyses conducted. The research presented here has two main aims: (1) to explore the possibility of deriving useful information from the poorly preserved human remains from Chalcolithic Cyprus and the methodological adjustments required to do so, and (2) to discuss the health status of the human Chalcolithic populations in Southwest Cyprus, determining patterns in the expression of pathologies related to age, sex or burial location which, if present, may further elucidate aspects of lifeways within and amongst the living populations. These aims are achieved through a macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the pathological lesions on the human skeletal remains from the Souskiou-Laona cemetery, the Lemba-Lakkous and Kissonerga-Mosphilia settlement sites which all date to the Middle Chalcolithic period. This research presents one of the first comprehensive palaeopathological studies for the Chalcolithic period in Cyprus with multi-site data. Lesions arising from osteoarthritic processes, non-specific diseases and disorders as well as trauma, dental pathologies and congenital defects are recorded, analysed and discussed within the archaeological context. The results presented in this thesis show that information regarding prehistoric peoples can be drawn from poorly preserved remains and it goes further to explore the limitations to the interpretations which can be postulated. The analyses of the research indicate that there are moderate to low prevalence of pathological lesions observed on the Chalcolithic skeletal remains. There is differential expression between males and females in the joints affected by osteoarthritic changes and the types of dental pathologies suffered by each sex. This research contributes to the overall historiography of health and disease in Cyprus, by filling a lacuna for the Chalcolithic period. Additionally, it provides an illustration of some methodological modifications, such as qualitative discussion, needed when dealing with poorly preserved and commingled material in a palaeopathological study.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceWellcome Trust Northern Centre for the History of MedicineNewcastle University Overseas Research StudentshipGBUnited Kingdo

Racial Disparities in Asthma Severity: a Comparison Between Black and White Adult Asthmatics in the Severe Asthma Research Program

Asthma is a complex respiratory disease that has been increasing in prevalence in the United States since 1980 despite advances in treatment. Approximately 32.6 million Americans have had asthma at one point in their lives; while 22.2 million Americans are currently diagnosed with asthma. Severe asthma occurs in approximately 10% of those asthmatics. A distinct racial disparity exists within the severe asthma population, with Blacks having a greater likelihood of having poorly controlled disease compared to their White counterparts. The factors that contribute to this disparity are not truly known; however, it has been suggested that genetics, the environment, and socioeconomics play a role in the disparity.This dissertation focused on the role that biologic, genetic, and socioeconomic factors play in the development of severe asthma using data from the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP). The overall hypothesis was that Blacks are predisposed to an allergic, early onset asthma phenotype, which fundamentally differs from the asthma observed in Whites on the basis of biologic/genetic differences in disease process. The overall aim of this study is to assess the extent to which the racial disparity in asthma is attributable to the differences in the pathobiology of asthma. The first paper sought to assess the extent to which racial disparities between Black and White adult asthmatics with severe asthma are attributable to physiologic, immunoinflammatory, and sociodemographic variables. The second paper, utilizing the results from paper 1, examined the factors that drive the increased production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in Blacks, as well as the primary factors that contribute to severe asthma in Blacks with high IgE. The third paper presents some of the policy issues that affect the racial disparity seen in severe asthma and five recommendations that will aid in the reduction of the widening gap between Black and White asthmatics. IgE, along with family history of asthma, were shown to be a strong predictors of severe asthma in Blacks, while comorbidities were predictors for Whites. The public health significance of this study is that different interventions can now be created to effectively treat asthma in Blacks versus Whites

Risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 in Antarctic wildlife

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pathogen has spread rapidly across the world, causing high numbers of deaths and significant social and economic impacts. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus with a suggested zoonotic origin with the potential for cross-species transmission among animals. Antarctica can be considered the only continent free of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, concerns have been expressed regarding the potential human introduction of this virus to the continent through the activities of research or tourismto minimise the effects on human health, and the potential for virus transmission to Antarctic wildlife. We assess the reverse-zoonotic transmission risk to Antarcticwildlife by considering the available information on host susceptibility, dynamics of the infection inhumans, and contact interactions between humans and Antarctic wildlife. The environmental conditions in Antarctica seem to be favourable for the virus stability. Indoor spaces such as those at research stations, research vessels or tourist cruise ships could allow for more transmission among humans and depending on their movements between different locations the virus could be spread across the continent. Among Antarctic wildlife previous in silico analyses suggested that cetaceans are at greater risk of infection whereas seals and birds appear to be at a low infection risk. However, caution needed until further research is carried out and consequently, the precautionary principle should be applied. Field researchers handling animals are identified as the human group posing the highest risk of transmission to animals while tourists and other personnel pose a significant risk only when in close proximity (< 5 m) to Antarctic fauna. We highlight measures to reduce the risk as well as identify of knowledge gaps related to this issue.Fil: Barbosa, A.. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Varsani, Arvind. Arizona State University; Estados Unidos. University of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Morandini, Virginia. State University of Oregon; Estados UnidosFil: Grimaldi, Wray. No especifíca;Fil: Vanstreels, Ralph E.T.. Institute Research And Rehabilitation Marine Animals; BrasilFil: Diaz, Julia Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Boulinier, Thierry. Université Montpellier II; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Dewar, Meagan. Federation University; AustraliaFil: González Acuña, Daniel. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Gray, Rachael. University Of Western Sydney.; AustraliaFil: McMahon, Clive R.. Sydney Institute Of Marine Science; AustraliaFil: Miller, Gary. University of Western Australia; AustraliaFil: Power, Michelle. Macquarie University; AustraliaFil: Gamble, Amandine. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Wille, Michelle. University Of Western Sydney.; Australi

A Mendelian Trait for Olfactory Sensitivity Affects Odor Experience and Food Selection

SummaryHumans vary in acuity to many odors [1–4], with variation within olfactory receptor (OR) genes contributing to these differences [5–9]. How such variation also affects odor experience and food selection remains uncertain [10], given that such effects occur for taste [11–15]. Here we investigate β-ionone, which shows extreme sensitivity differences [4, 16, 17]. β-ionone is a key aroma in foods and beverages [18–21] and is added to products in order to give a pleasant floral note [22, 23]. Genome-wide and in vitro assays demonstrate rs6591536 as the causal variant for β-ionone odor sensitivity. rs6591536 encodes a N183D substitution in the second extracellular loop of OR5A1 and explains >96% of the observed phenotypic variation, resembling a monogenic Mendelian trait. Individuals carrying genotypes for β-ionone sensitivity can more easily differentiate between food and beverage stimuli with and without added β-ionone. Sensitive individuals typically describe β-ionone in foods and beverages as “fragrant” and “floral,” whereas less-sensitive individuals describe these stimuli differently. rs6591536 genotype also influences emotional associations and explains differences in food and product choices. These studies demonstrate that an OR variant that influences olfactory sensitivity can affect how people experience and respond to foods, beverages, and other products

Vitamin A deficiency and inflammatory markers among preschool children in the Republic of the Marshall Islands

BACKGROUND: The exclusion of individuals with elevated acute phase proteins has been advocated in order to improve prevalence estimates of vitamin A deficiency in surveys, but it is unclear whether this will lead to sampling bias. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the exclusion of individuals with elevated acute phase proteins is associated with sampling bias and to characterize inflammation in children with night blindness. METHODS: In a survey in the Republic of the Marshall Islands involving 281 children, aged 1–5 years, serum retinol, C-reactive protein (CRP), and α(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were measured. RESULTS: Of 281 children, 24 (8.5%) had night blindness and 165 (58.7%) had serum retinol <0.70 μmol/L. Of 248 children with AGP and CRP measurements, 123 (49.6%) had elevated acute phase proteins (CRP >5 mg/L and/or AGP >1000 mg/L). Among children with and without night blindness, the proportion with serum retinol <0.70 μmol/L was 79.2% and 56.8% (P = 0.03) and with anemia was 58.3% and 35.7% (P = 0.029), respectively. The proportion of children with serum retinol <0.70 μmol/L was 52.0% after excluding children with elevated acute phase proteins. Among children with and without elevated acute phase proteins, mean age was 2.8 vs 3.2 years (P = 0.016), the proportion of boys was 43.1% vs. 54.3% (P = 0.075), with no hospitalizations in the last year was 11.0% vs 23.6% (P = 0.024), and with anemia was 43.8% vs 31.7% (P = 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusion of children with inflammation in this survey of vitamin A deficiency does not improve prevalence estimates for vitamin A deficiency and instead leads to sampling bias for variables such as age, gender, anemia, and hospitalization history

The risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Southern Ocean: a practical guide for operators and scientists interacting with wildlife

Advice from avian influenza experts suggests that there is a high risk that highly pathogenic avian influenza will arrive in the Southern Ocean during the austral summers

Macrophage-derived IL-1β and TNF-α regulate arginine metabolism in neuroblastoma

© 2018 American Association for Cancer Research. Neuroblastoma is the most common childhood solid tumor, yet the prognosis for high-risk disease remains poor. We demonstrate here that arginase 2 (ARG2) drives neuroblastoma cell proliferation via regulation of arginine metabolism. Targeting arginine metabolism, either by blocking cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT-1)-dependent arginine uptake in vitro or therapeutic depletion of arginine by pegylated recombinant arginase BCT-100, significantly delayed tumor development and prolonged murine survival. Tumor cells polarized infiltrating monocytes to an M1-macrophage phenotype, which released IL1b and TNFa in a RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT)-dependent manner. IL1b and TNFa established a feedback loop to upregulate ARG2 expression via p38 and extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling in neuroblastoma and neural crest-derived cells. Proteomic analysis revealed that enrichment of IL1b and TNFa in stage IV human tumor microenvironments was associated with a worse prognosis. These data thus describe an immune-metabolic regulatory loop between tumor cells and infiltrating myeloid cells regulating ARG2, which can be clinically exploited