Transyears Competing with the Seasons in Tropical Malaria Incidence

Communicable and non‐communicable diseases show coperiodisms (shared cycles) with the sun\u27s and earth\u27s magnetism. About 11‐year cycles and components with periods a few weeks or a few months longer than one year (near‐ and far‐transyears, respectively) are the cases in point. Published data on the incidence of malaria in Burundi, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand are analysed by the linear‐nonlinear cosinor to assess the relative prominence of transyears versus the calendar year. An about 2.3‐year component characterizes malaria incidence in Burundi and Papua New Guinea (Thailand data were only sampled yearly). Long‐term trends cannot be distinguished from the presence of an about 11‐year cycle found in a 100‐year long record from Chizhevsky on mortality from cholera in Russia, albeit its second harmonic is statistically significant in Burundi’s data. Whereas far‐ and near‐transyears characterize malaria incidence in Burundi more prominently than the calendar year, only a candidate near‐transyear of small amplitude is barely detected in Papua New Guinea, where the calendar year is most prominently expressed. Both regions are located near the equator. Selectively‐assorted geographic differences such as these, observed herein for a communicable disease, have been previously observed for non‐communicable conditions, such as sudden cardiac death

SRC HOMOLOGY 2 DOMAIN-CONTAINING 5’-INOSITOL PHOSPHATASE-2 (SHIP2) IS AN EFFECTOR OF LYMPHATIC DYSFUNCTION

The lymphatic system is essential for the transport of excess fluid, protein, and foreign materials from interstitial tissues to lymph nodes; for immune surveillance, and to maintain fluid homeostasis. Dysregulated lymphatics can be attributed to pathological conditions including tumor metastasis, inflammation, chronic wounds, obesity, blood vascular disorders, and lymphedema. Of these, lymphedema is the most extreme of lymphatic disorders and is represented by a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild, subtle presentation to severe, disfiguring, overt presentation. Lymphedema is more manageable in the early stages of disease but severely reduces quality of life with progression. Due to lack of molecular knowledge and inadequate imaging techniques to safely, rapidly and non-invasively visualize the lymphatics, lymphedema remains under diagnosed and progresses to the irreversible stage if not diagnosed early. Candidate gene studies have identified a myriad of genes responsible for lymphedema, however, majority of patients do not harbor mutations in these putative genes, indicating many more unknown genes contribute to the pathology of this disease. In an effort to identify new polymorphisms that possibly effect lymphatic dysfunction, we combined investigational, non-invasive near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRFLI) and next generation sequencing (NGS), to phenotype and genotype human subjects with familial lymphedema. We discovered that mutations in src homology 2-domain containing 5’-inositol phosphatase-2 (SHIP2), encoded by INPPL1, are associated with lymphatic abnormalities. SHIP2 is a phosphatidyIinositol (3,4,5) triphosphate (PIP3) 5’-phosphatase that negatively controls PIP3 levels thereby inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling, a pathway implicated in various lymphatic disorders. Our studies confirm this inhibitory role of SHIP2 against PI3K/AKT in lymphatic endothelial cells, and identify SHIP2 as a potential regulator of MAPK/ERK signaling, another pathway also recently identified as important in lymphatic malformations. Pharmacological inhibition of SHIP2 impedes lymphatic contractility and impairs the normal wound healing processes of lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in mice. These studies suggest that SHIP2 could have a previously unidentified effector role in lymphatic dysfunction. In elucidating the roles of SHIP2 in lymphatic dysfunction, the work presented herein expands our understanding of molecular basis of lymphatic failure which could have clinical implications affecting populations with lymphatic disorders, including the ever increasing population of cancer survivors who experience the chronic, disfiguring and incurable lymphedema

Vision therapy manuals for adults and children

This adult Vision Therapy pamphlet is written for patients, parents, and educators. This pamphlet is intended to enhance the public\u27s awareness and understanding of the various aspects of Vision Therapy. We have comprised an in-depth description of Vision Therapy, explained certain visual skills, discussed visual hygiene, and included information about Vision Therapy for children, adults,and athletes. This Children\u27s Red/Green activity book is designed to educate a child from ages three to ten about various techniques and aspects of Vision Therapy. It is a story about a little boy who goes through Vision Therapy successfully. It is to be printed in red and is designed to be a fun anti-suppression activity if used with red/green glasses and a green pen. It is filled with activities such a dot to dots, mazes, coloring, and find it pages

Abnormalities in circadian blood pressure variability and endothelial function: pragmatic markers for adverse cardiometabolic profiles in asymptomatic obese adults

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, although perceived to be high, is often difficult to demonstrate in disease free (healthy) obese adults. HYPOTHESIS: Changes in circadian blood pressure variability (CBPV) and endothelial function (EF) may be early correlates of cardiometabolic disorders. METHODS: Asymptomatic men and women in 3 groups: normal weight (n = 10), overweight (n = 10) and obese (n = 15) were evaluated. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded over 7 days: every 30 minutes during the day and every 60 minutes during the night, by automatic ambulatory monitoring. Resting EF was assessed in a fasting state between 8-10 AM by brachial ultrasound. Anthropometric and cardiometabolic indicators were measured and correlations with CBPV and EF were investigated. RESULTS: The 3 groups had (Mean(SD)) BMI: 22.6(1.6), 27(3) and 34(5) kg/m(2), respectively, weight: 64(16), 79(14), 95(16) kg and waist circumference: 79(9), 93(10), 107(13) cm. None in normal-weight or overweight groups had abnormal CBPV, while 8 of 15 obese adults had one or more CBPV abnormities (p < 0.05). Obese adults with CBPV abnormalities had elevated hs-CRP (15.3(9.3) mg/L), fibrinogen (593(97) mg/dl), fasting serum glucose (102(16) mg/dL), and cardiac risk ratios (Total-C/HDL-C: 5.2(1.9), LDL-C/HDL-C: 3.1(1.4)). Adults in the 3 respective groups who did not have CBPV abnormalities had flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation (FMD) of 0.22(0.06); 0.20(0.04), 0.23(0.02) mm over resting diameter. Obese participants with CBPV abnormalities (Mesor-hypotension, circadian hyper amplitude tension, elevated pulse pressure), had attenuated FMD at 78, 52, and 56% of resting reference diameter (means 0.18(0.07), 0.12(0.08), and 0.13(0.05) mm; p < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic obese adults with abnormal CBPV and EF exhibit unfavorable cardiometabolic profiles

Rapid Stereomicroscopic Imaging of HER2 Overexpression in Ex Vivo Breast Tissue Using Topically Applied Silica-Based Gold Nanoshells

Tumor margin detection for patients undergoing breast conservation surgery primarily occurs postoperatively. Previously, we demonstrated that gold nanoshells rapidly enhance contrast of HER2 overexpression in ex vivo tissue sections. Our ultimate objective, however, is to discern HER2 overexpressing tissue from normal tissue in whole, nonsectioned, specimens to facilitate rapid diagnoses. Here, we use targeted nanoshells to quickly and effectively visualize HER2 receptor expression in intact ex vivo human breast tissue specimens. Punch biopsies of human breast tissue were analyzed after a brief 5-minute incubation with and without HER2-targeted silica-gold nanoshells using two-photon microscopy and stereomicroscopy. Labeling was subsequently verified using reflectance confocal microscopy, darkfield hyperspectral imaging, and immunohistochemistry to confirm levels of HER2 expression. Our results suggest that anti-HER2 nanoshells used in tandem with a near-infrared reflectance confocal microscope and a standard stereomicroscope may potentially be used to discern HER2-overexpressing cancerous tissue from normal tissue in near real time and offer a rapid supplement to current diagnostic techniques

L’Aubance et le Layon, évolutions paysagères de deux vallées en contexte viticole

Cet ouvrage propose une analyse approfondie de la controverse environnementale portant sur le démantèlement des seuils et barrages en vue de restaurer la qualité de l’eau et des milieux aquatiques. Le sujet est traité sous l’angle des sciences humaines et sociales et plus précisément celui de la géographie environnemental

Les crânes déformés de Saint-Etienne (Beaune, Côte d'Or, Ve-VIe siècles). Données archéologiques et anthropologiques

International audienceThe sector of the Saint-Étienne necropolis (Beaune), reveals the existence of two clearly separated zones which are characterized by different funeral and cultural practices: tomb architecture, archaeological material and artificially deformed crania. This seems to provide evidence of two distinct groups. A preliminary morpho-metrical study of four skulls and the examination of several CT scans of three of them, allow us to confirm the presence of artificial antero-posterior cranial deformations.Le secteur de la nécropole Saint-Étienne (Beaune), sur lequel a porté notre étude, a révélé l'existence de deux zones nettement séparées se caractérisant par des pratiques funéraires et culturelles différentes : architecture des tombes, matériel d'accompagnement et crânes déformés artificiellement. Ces différences semblent témoigner de l'existence de deux groupes distincts. Une étude préliminaire morphométrique de quatre crânes ainsi que l'examen de plusieurs coupes scanographiques de trois d'entre eux, ont permis de confirmer l'existence de déformations crâniennes artificielles de type antéro-postérieur