Carotid intima media thickness and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in South Asian immigrants: could dysfunctional HDL be the missing link?

IntroductionSouth Asian immigrants (SAIs) in the US exhibit higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its risk factors compared with other ethnic populations. Conventional CAD risk factors do not explain the excess CAD risk; therefore there is a need to identify other markers that can predict future risk of CAD in high-risk SAIs. The objective of the current study is to assess the presence of sub-clinical CAD using common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), and its association with metabolic syndrome (MS) and pro-inflammatory/dysfunctional HDL (Dys-HDL).Material and methodsA community-based study was conducted on 130 first generation SAIs aged 35-65 years. Dys-HDL was determined using the HDL inflammatory index. Analysis was completed using logistic regression and Fisher's exact test.ResultsSub-clinical CAD using CCA-IMT ≥ 0.8 mm (as a surrogate marker) was seen in 31.46%. Age and gender adjusted CCA-IMT was significantly associated with type 2 diabetes (p = 0.008), hypertension (p = 0.012), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p < 0.001) and homocysteine (p = 0.051). Both the presence of MS and Dys-HDL was significantly correlated with CCA-IMT, even after age and gender adjustment. The odds of having Dys-HDL with CCA-IMT were 5 times (95% CI: 1.68, 10.78).ConclusionsThere is a need to explore and understand non-traditional CAD risk factors with a special focus on Dys-HDL, knowing that SAIs have low HDL levels. This information will not only help to stratify high-risk asymptomatic SAI groups, but will also be useful from a disease management point of view

A comparison study examining maternal perception of outcomes of delivery and future pregnancies in Parirenyatwa Hospital, Zimbabwe and the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, England.

Poster presenting a comparative study examining maternal perception of outcomes of delivery and future pregnancies in Parirenyatwa Hospital, Zimbabwe and the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, England; Poster Global Health

Dual-Compartment Inflatable Suitlock

A paper discusses a dual-compartment inflatable suitlock (DCIS) for Extra - vehicular Activity (EVA) that will allow for dust control, suit maintenance, and efficient EVA egress/ingress. The expandable (inflatable technologies) aspect of the design will allow the unit to stow in a compact package for transport. The DCIS consists of three hard, in line bulkheads, separating two cylindrical membrane-walled compartments. The inner bulkhead can be fitted with a variety of hatch types, docking flanges, and mating hardware, such as the common berthing mechanism (CBM), for the purpose of mating with vehicles, habitats, and other pressurized modules. The inner bulkhead and center bulkhead function as the end walls of the inner compartment, which, during operations, would stay pressurized, either matching the pressure of the habitat or acting as a lower-pressure transitional volume. The suited crewmember can quickly don a suit, and egress the suitlock without waiting for the compartment to depressurize. The outer compartment can be pressurized infrequently, when a long dwell time is expected prior to the next EVA, or during off-nominal suit maintenance tasks, allowing shirtsleeve inspections and maintenance of the space suits. The outer bulkhead has a pressure-assisted hatch door that stays open and stowed routinely, but can be closed for suit maintenance and pressurization as needed

Dual-Compartment Inflatable Suitlock

There is a need for an improvement over current NASA Extravehicular Activity (EVA) technology. The technology must allow the capacity for quicker, more efficient egress/ingress, allow for shirtsleeve suit maintenance, be compact in transport, and be applicable to environments ranging from planetary surface (partial-g) to orbital or deep space zero-g environments. The technology must also be resistant to dust and other foreign contaminants that may be present on or around a planetary surface. The technology should be portable, and be capable of docking with a variety of habitats, ports, stations, vehicles, and other pressurized modules. The Dual-Compartment Inflatable Suitlock (DCIS) consists of three hard inline bulkheads, separating two cylindrical membrane-walled compartments. The Inner Bulkhead can be fitted with a variety of hatch types, docking flanges, and mating hardware, such as the Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM), for the purpose of mating with vehicles, habitats, and other pressurized modules. The Inner Bulkhead and Center Bulkhead function as the end walls of the Inner Compartment, which during operations, would stay pressurized, either matching the pressure of the habitat or acting as a lower-pressure transitional volume. The Inner Compartment contains donning/doffing fixtures and inner suit-port hatches. The Center Bulkhead has two integrated suit-ports along with a maintenance hatch. The Center Bulkhead and Outer Bulkhead function as the end walls of the Outer Compartment, which stays at vacuum during normal operations. This allows the crewmember to quickly don a suit, and egress the suitlock without waiting for the Outer Compartment to depressurize. The Outer Compartment can be pressurized infrequently for both nominal and off-nominal suit maintenance tasks, allowing shirtsleeve inspections and maintenance/repair of the environmental suits. The Outer Bulkhead has a pressure-assisted hatch door that stays open and stowed during EVA operations, but can be closed for environmental protection of the suits, suit maintenance, and pressurization

Development of prototype gold nanoparticle-dased immunoassays for the detection of plasmodium falciparum hsp70

Biomedical nanotechnology is providing revolutionary opportunities for the rapid and simple diagnosis of many infectious diseases. About half of the world\u27s population are at risk of infection with malaria and diagnostic assays available either lack sensitivity and specificity or require expensive equipment, expertise or costly infrastructure; that are not usually available in countries where the disease is endemic. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive diagnostic tests for malaria for both high- and low-resource settings. In this study, we developed two prototype gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based immunoassays for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum Heat Shock Protein 70 (PfHsp70) antigen. PfHsp70 is a heat shock protein that has recently attracted attention as a novel therapeutic target. Monoclonal antibody (2E6) against PfHsp70 was produced and purified using immunoaffinity chromatography. Proof-of-concept for using Hsp70 as a diagnostic target was carried out by comparing the pellet of saponin-treated red blood cells of infected mice with that of non-infected mice or healthy humans, by Western blot. His-tagged-PfHsp70 antigen was expressed from a genetically modified E. coli system and purified by affinity chromatography. For the development of the immunoassays, conjugation of mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) capped AuNPs with 2E6 was performed in presence and absence of protein cross-linkers. Characterization of the obtained bio-nanoconjugate (BNC) was performed using UV-visible spectrophotometry, agarose gel electrophoresis and ζ-potential measurements. Stability of the BNC against high salt concentrations and pH changes was also assessed. Based on the described antibody/antigen system, two prototype immuno-competitive assays were developed in two distinct formats, namely, (i) a colorimetric chip assay, and (ii) a fluorescent quenching competitive assay. Proof-of-concept of chip assay allowed the comparison between conjugates prepared with and without NHS/EDC and it was found that non-NHS/EDC conjugates were more active. A fluorescence quenching competitive prototype assay was also developed which had a limit of detection of 87 ng/mL (1.16 pM). As Hsp70 is a rather ubiquitous protein, other Plasmodium specific proteins that are secreted into the plasma of malaria patients will be identified in the future in the search of new diagnostic targets. Also further developments of the fluorescence quenching competitive assay will involve the use of cubical and decahedral AuNPs in order to try to increase the sensitivity of the assay as compared to spherical AuNPs

The portrayal of Christians and the Christian-Muslim relationship in the Egyptian cinema

This study analyzes the depiction of Christians and the Christian-Muslim relationship in the Egyptian cinema. The researcher aimed to conduct a content analysis of all movies depicting Christian characters, a list that includes 49 movies presenting Christian was compiled, out of which 35 movies were reachable and so analyzed. The researcher aimed at exploring if the Egyptian cinema has captured changes with respect to Christians and their relationship with their Muslim counters throughout the time span covered in this study. Also, the researcher analyzed if Christian characters have been stereotypically presented in the Egyptian cinema or not, and if their depiction has been linked to discussing related issues, such as national unity. The results of this study revealed that the nineties and new millennium movies started to tackle new issues that were not presented by filmmakers of the sixties and seventies, such as Christian-Muslim tension. However, the depiction of tension in the nineties and new millennium movies stayed limited, and most of the time connected with national unity themes. Also, it was revealed that the nineties and the new millennium movies, in depicting Christian characters, highlight religion/faith as the main element of the Christian character\u27s identity more than their counters in the sixties and seventies. This research also demonstrated the increase of the realistic portrayal of Christians in the new millennium movies, and the start of movies that tackle Christian characters\u27 religious and spiritual issues, that have been mainly introduced by Christian filmmakers

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914

Mustard Seed Theatre will reprise its award-winning production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 written by Peter Rothstein with musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. This acapella musical that won five St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards in 2014 is based on the true story of soldiers during World War I who for one night, put down their arms and played soccer instead of exchanging bullets. Led by St. Louis Theatre Circle Award Winning Musical Director Joe Schoen and Mustard Seed Theatre Artistic Director Deanna Jent, the original ten member ensemble returns to embody 30 different characters. The ensemble includes: Charlie Barron, Shawn Bowers, J. Samuel Davis*, Gary Glasgow*, Chistopher Hickey*, Jason Meyers, Antonio Rodriguez, Tim Schall*, Luke Steingruby, Jeffrey Wright.https://griffinshare.fontbonne.edu/mst-programs/1037/thumbnail.jp

Effect of Levocarnitine vs Placebo as an Adjunctive Treatment for Septic Shock: The Rapid Administration of Carnitine in Sepsis (RACE) Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance: Sepsis induces profound metabolic derangements, while exogenous levocarnitine mitigates metabolic dysfunction by enhancing glucose and lactate oxidation and increasing fatty acid shuttling. Previous trials in sepsis suggest beneficial effects of levocarnitine on patient-centered outcomes. Objectives: To test the hypothesis that levocarnitine reduces cumulative organ failure in patients with septic shock at 48 hours and, if present, to estimate the probability that the most efficacious dose will decrease 28-day mortality in a pivotal phase 3 clinical trial. Design, Setting, and Participants: Multicenter adaptive, randomized, blinded, dose-finding, phase 2 clinical trial (Rapid Administration of Carnitine in Sepsis [RACE]). The setting was 16 urban US medical centers. Participants were patients aged 18 years or older admitted from March 5, 2013, to February 5, 2018, with septic shock and moderate organ dysfunction. Interventions: Within 24 hours of identification, patients were assigned to 1 of the following 4 treatments: low (6 g), medium (12 g), or high (18 g) doses of levocarnitine or an equivalent volume of saline placebo administered as a 12-hour infusion. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome required, first, a greater than 90% posterior probability that the most promising levocarnitine dose decreases the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at 48 hours and, second (given having met the first condition), at least a 30% predictive probability of success in reducing 28-day mortality in a subsequent traditional superiority trial to test efficacy. Results: Of the 250 enrolled participants (mean [SD] age, 61.7 [14.8] years; 56.8% male), 35, 34, and 106 patients were adaptively randomized to the low, medium, and high levocarnitine doses, respectively, while 75 patients were randomized to placebo. In the intent-to-treat analysis, the fitted mean (SD) changes in the SOFA score for the low, medium, and high levocarnitine groups were -1.27 (0.49), -1.66 (0.38), and -1.97 (0.32), respectively, vs -1.63 (0.35) in the placebo group. The posterior probability that the 18-g dose is superior to placebo was 0.78, which did not meet the a priori threshold of 0.90. Mortality at 28 days was 45.9% (34 of 74) in the placebo group compared with 43.3% (45 of 104) for the most promising levocarnitine dose (18 g). Similar findings were noted in the per-protocol analysis. Conclusions and Relevance: In this dose-finding, phase 2 adaptive randomized trial, the most efficacious dose of levocarnitine (18 g) did not meaningfully reduce cumulative organ failure at 48 hours