Evaluation of the infant at risk for neurodevelopmental disability

Background. Infants with neurodevelopmental abnormality need to start therapy early, and because of this they should be detected as soon as possible. Currently, no widely accepted method of early evaluation exists.Objectives_ To assess and compare, in terms of predicting neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year of age: (i) a perinatal risk rating (PRR); (ii) the DubQwitz Neurological Assessment. (DNA); and (iii) the Infant Neuromotor Assessment (INA). Design and setting. A prospective neurodevelopmental followup study on graduates from the Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Subjects. A cohort of 130 consecutive NICD graduates were selected according to high-risk criteria_Outcome measures. Each infant was examined at term gestational age on the DNAbefore discharge, and a PRR was allocated_ Study infants were seen again at 18 weeks of age when an INA was done, and at 1 year of age a Griffiths Developmental Assessment and full neurological examination was carried out.Results. All of the 130 infants assessed at term were seen at 18 weeks. Thereafter 5 were lost to follow-up and 2 died. The outcome for the remaining 123 is known.Conclusions. Prediction of a normal outcome at 1 year of age was 96% on the DNA and 98% for the PRR, but for an abnormal outcome they predicted only 56% and 42%, respectively. The INA done at 18 weeks predicted a normal outcome at 1 year in 99% of cases if 3 or less abnormal signs were present and an abnormal outcome in 82% of cases with 4 or more abnormal signs. Based on these findings a protocol for follow-up of these high-risk infants is suggested

Advanced imaging of a histologically confirmed bone infarction of the distal tibia in a Warmblood mare

An 8‐year‐old Warmblood‐cross mare presented for investigation of acute onset left hindlimb lameness. Nuclear scintigraphy identified a marked, focal, increase in radiopharmaceutical uptake in the distal aspect of the left tibia. Radiography revealed a large, oval, multi‐loculated radiolucent area within the medulla of the distal metaphysis of the left tibia. The mare was treated conservatively for 6 months but showed little improvement in the lameness so the owner elected for euthanasia. Post‐mortem computed tomographic imaging revealed a large, oval, hypoattenuating area within the distal tibia, surrounded by a thick, irregular, sclerotic border. The lesion occupied the majority of the medullary cavity but the cortical bone was unaffected. Gross and histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of a bone infarction in the medullary cavity of the distal tibia

Model-based diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism - results from a porcine model

peer reviewe

HCI as a means to prosociality in the economy

HCI research often involves intervening in the economic lives of people, but researchers only rarely give explicit consideration to what actually constitutes prosociality in the economy. Much has been said previously regarding sustainability but this has largely focused on environmental rather than interpersonal relations. This paper provides an analysis of how prosocial HCI has been discussed and continues to be defined as a research field. Based on a corpus of published works, we describe a variety of genres of work relating to prosocial HCI. Key intellectual differences are explored, including the epistemological and ethical positions involved in designing for prosocial outcomes as well as how HCI researchers posit economic decision-making. Finally, emerging issues and opportunities for further debate and collaboration are discussed in turn

Model for eukaryotic tail-anchored protein binding based on the structure of Get3

The Get3 ATPase directs the delivery of tail-anchored (TA) proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). TA-proteins are characterized by having a single transmembrane helix (TM) at their extreme C terminus and include many essential proteins, such as SNAREs, apoptosis factors, and protein translocation components. These proteins cannot follow the SRP-dependent co-translational pathway that typifies most integral membrane proteins; instead, post-translationally, these proteins are recognized and bound by Get3 then delivered to the ER in the ATP dependent Get pathway. To elucidate a molecular mechanism for TA protein binding by Get3 we have determined three crystal structures in apo and ADP forms from Saccharomyces cerevisae (ScGet3-apo) and Aspergillus fumigatus (AfGet3-apo and AfGet3-ADP). Using structural information, we generated mutants to confirm important interfaces and essential residues. These results point to a model of how Get3 couples ATP hydrolysis to the binding and release of TA-proteins

Improving trial recruitment through improved communication about patient and public involvement : an embedded cluster randomised recruitment trial

Background: Evidence is emerging that patient and public involvement in research (PPIR) may improve recruitment into randomised controlled trials, but the best methods to achieve improvement are unclear. Although many trials use PPIR to improve design and conduct, many do not communicate their use of PPIR clearly to potential participants. Directly communicating PPIR might encourage participation through increased patient confidence and trust in a trial. We aimed to develop and evaluate the impact on recruitment an intervention communicating PPIR in a trial to potential participants. Methods: This study was embedded in EQUIP, a cluster randomised controlled trial which allocated mental health teams in England to either a training intervention group to improve service user and carer involvement in care planning, or to a control group (no training). We conducted a cluster randomised trial of a recruitment intervention communicating PPIR, embedded within the EQUIP trial. The principles underlying the intervention were informed by a systematic review and a workshop that included mental health service users and trialists. Working with EQUIP PPIR partners (service users and carers) we developed the intervention using a leaflet to advertise the nature and function of the PPIR. Professional graphic design optimised readability and impact. Patients identified as potentially eligible for EQUIP were randomised to receive the leaflet or not, alongside the standard trial information. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants enrolled in EQUIP. The secondary outcome was the proportion expressing interest in taking part. Results: 34 clusters (mental health teams) were recruited, and 8182 potential participants were randomised. Preliminary analyses show that for the primary outcome, 4% of patients receiving the PPIR leaflet were enrolled vs. 5.3% in the control group. For the secondary outcome 7.3% of potential participants receiving the PPIR leaflet responded positively to the invitation to participate, vs. 7.9% in the control group. Future analyses will be by intention-to-treat and use logistic regression to estimate between-group odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. A planned secondary analysis will explore whether the impact of the intervention is moderated by age and gender. Conclusion: In preliminary analysis of this large trial, communicating PPIR demonstrated no benefits for improving the numbers of potential participants expressing interest in the trial, and reduced trial enrolment. Our findings contrast with the literature suggesting PPIR benefits recruitment. We will discuss the potential reasons for this finding, along with implications for future recruitment practice and research

Actions of Octocoral and Tobacco Cembranoids on Nicotinic Receptors

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are pentameric proteins that form agonist-gated cation channels through the plasma membrane. AChR agonists and antagonists are potential candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Cembranoids are naturally occurring diterpenoids that contain a 14-carbon ring. These diterpenoids interact with AChRs in complex ways: as irreversible inhibitors at the agonist sites, as noncompetitive inhibitors, or as positive modulators, but no cembranoid was ever shown to have agonistic activity on AChRs. The cembranoid eupalmerin acetate displays positive modulation of agonist-induced currents in the muscle-type AChR and in the related gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor. Moreover, cembranoids display important biological effects, many of them mediated by nicotinic receptors. Cembranoids from tobacco are neuroprotective through a nicotinic anti-apoptotic mechanism preventing excitotoxic neuronal death which in part could result from anti-inflammatory properties of cembranoids. Moreover, tobacco cembranoids also have anti-inflammatory properties which could enhance their neuroprotective properties. Cembranoids from tobacco affect nicotine-related behavior: they increase the transient initial ataxia caused by first nicotine injection into naive rats and inhibit the expression of locomotor sensitization to repeated injections of nicotine. In addition, cembranoids are known to act as antitumor compounds. In conclusion, cembranoids provide a promising source of lead drugs for many clinical areas, including neuroprotection, smoking-cessation, and anti-cancer therapies

Enhancement of mercury control in flue-gas cleanup systems

This paper summarizes research at Argonne National Laboratory which is focused on techniques to enhance the capture of elemental mercury and integrate its control into existing flue-gas cleanup (FGC) systems. Both laboratory and field tests have shown that very little elemental mercury is captured in a wet scrubber system due to the low solubility of that species. To enhance the ability of wet scrubbers to capture mercury, Argonne has studied improved mass transfer through both mechanical and chemical means, as well as the conversion of elemental mercury into a more soluble species that can be easily absorbed. Current research is investigating the roles of several halogen species either alone or in combination with typical flue-gas components such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide in the oxidation of mercury to form compounds that are easily scrubbed from the flue gas