Mapping mRNA and Protein Expression with High Signal-to-Background in Diverse Organisms

In situ hybridization (ISH) techniques allow for the study of the nucleic acid expression within whole biological samples. The quality of probes for ISH dictates how accurate and bright the signal is for the experiment; however, there is currently not a systematic way to determine what the best probe set would be. In response to this, we have developed a framework to optimize an ISH probe set to achieve the greatest signal-to-background ratio. As methods like ISH help obtain more information about biological processes, there is a growing desire to simultaneously analyze various targets within the same sample to examine these complex genetic interactions. To facilitate this, a novel amplification technique called hybridization chain reaction (HCR) has allowed for the in situ detection of multiple target mRNAs concurrently in zebrafish embryos. We have now expanded this technology further by adapting HCR amplification for ISH to other model organisms, particularly, whole mount Drosophila melanogaster embryos and formalin-fixed parafin-embedded human tissue sections. Beyond looking at mRNA, immunohistochemistry (IHC) provides another tool to understand biological systems by analyzing protein expression patterns. The ability to easily look at both mRNAs and proteins in the same sample offers significant advantages as each provides unique information, but current methods are technically difficult and labor intensive. In response, we have engineered a scheme to use HCR to amplify signal for IHC. We then used this advancement to develop a straightforward protocol using HCR amplification for simultaneous detection of multiple proteins and mRNAs with a high signal-to-background ratio

Prevention of: self harm in British South Asian women: study protocol of an exploratory RCT of culturally adapted manual assisted Problem Solving Training (C- MAP)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Suicide is a major public health problem worldwide. In the UK suicide is the second most common cause of death in people aged 15-24 years. Self harm is one of the commonest reasons for medical admission in the UK. In the year following a suicide attempt the risk of a repeat attempt or death by suicide may be up to 100 times greater than in people who have never attempted suicide.</p> <p>Research evidence shows increased risk of suicide and attempted suicide among British South Asian women. There are concerns about the current service provision and its appropriateness for this community due to the low numbers that get involved with the services. Both problem solving and interpersonal forms of psychotherapy are beneficial in the treatment of patients who self harm and could potentially be helpful in this ethnic group.</p> <p>The paper describes the trial protocol of adapting and evaluating a culturally appropriate psychological treatment for the adult British South Asian women who self harm.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We plan to test a culturally adapted Problem Solving Therapy (C- MAP) in British South Asian women who self harm. Eight sessions of problem solving each lasting approximately 50 minutes will be delivered over 3 months. The intervention will be assessed using a prospective rater blind randomized controlled design comparing with treatment as usual (TAU). Outcome assessments will be carried out at 3 and 6 months. A sub group of the participants will be invited for qualitative interviews.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will test the feasibility and acceptability of the C- MAP in British South Asian women. We will be informed on whether a culturally adapted brief psychological intervention compared with treatment as usual for self-harm results in decreased hopelessness and suicidal ideation. This will also enable us to collect necessary information on recruitment, effect size, the optimal delivery method and acceptability of the intervention in preparation for a definitive RCT using repetition of self harm and cost effectiveness as primary outcome measures.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials 08/H1013/6</p

Pilot study of a culturally adapted psychoeducation (CaPE) intervention for bipolar disorder in Pakistan.

Background: Despite the use of maintenance medication, recurrence rates in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) are high. To date, there are no clinical trials that have investigated the use of psychological interventions in bipolar disorder in Pakistan. / Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally adapted bipolar psychoeducation programme (CaPE) in Pakistan. / Methods: Thirty-four euthymic bipolar I and II outpatients were randomized to either 12 weekly sessions of individual psychoeducation plus Treatment As Usual (Intervention) or Treatment As Usual (TAU) (Control). Outcomes were assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), EuroQoL (EQ-5D), Bipolar Knowledge and Attitudes and Questionnaire (BKAQ), and a self-reported measure of medication adherence (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-4 items, MMAS-4). Effect sizes were derived from baseline adjusted standardized regression coefficients. / Results: Retention in the study was good, 80% of patients in the TAU follow-up assessment and 100% of patients in the CaPE group attended all 12 sessions. Patient satisfaction was higher in the CaPE group relative to control (ES = 1.41). Further, there were large effect sizes shown for CaPE versus TAU for medication adherence (MMAS-4: ES = 0.81), knowledge and attitudes towards bipolar (BKAQ: ES = 0.68), mania (YMRS: ES = 1.18), depression (BDI: ES = 1.17) and quality of life measures (EQ-5D: ES ⇒ 0.88). / Conclusions: Culturally adapted psychoeducation intervention is acceptable and feasible, and can be effective in improving mood symptoms and knowledge and attitudes to BPAD when compared with TAU. Larger scale studies are needed to confirm our findings. / Trial registration. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT0221039

Economic Analysis of Sugarcane Crop in District Charsadda

A study was conducted during 2008 to make economic analysis of sugarcane crop in district Charsadda. The study was based on primary data collected from randomly selected five villages namely Dargai, Mani Khela, Sapula Khile, Qalat Naseer and Khule. The data were collected through structured questionnaire using a sample size of 50 farmers, allocating proportionally to these villages. The results reveled that the socio-economic variables like capital employment, labor employment, marketing, credit and financing and sources of income were moreclosely related with sugarcane production. The major economic practices were;preparation of land, water management, weed control, insecticides and making of black sugar (Gur). Main sugarcane varieties grown were 77/400,44,Mardan-92, 48, 310 and 722082. Variety 77/400 was observed as the most profitable variety. The average per acre cost was calculated asRs. 35450 for all varieties. The major cost elements were;land rent, labor input, seed, manure, irrigation, land preparation, fertilizer, hand weeding and making of black sugar (Gur). The net revenue of variety-77/400, 44, Mardan-92, 48, 310 and 722082 were observed as Rs. 54550, 48550, 48550, 45550, 48550 and 45550, respectively. Sugarcane crop was characterized by increasing returns to scale. It is recommended that modern techniques should be adopted for making Gur. Awareness among sugarcane growers about improved varieties should be created

mHealth based interventions for the assessment and treatment of psychotic disorders: a systematic review

The relative burden of mental health disorders is increasing globally, in terms of prevalence and disability. There is limited data available to guide treatment choices for clinicians in low resourced settings, with mHealth technologies being a potentially beneficial avenue to bridging the large mental health treatment gap globally. The aim of the review was to search the literature systematically for studies of mHealth interventions for psychosis globally, and to examine whether mHealth for psychosis has been investigated. A systematic literature search was completed in Embase, Medline, PsychINFO and Evidence Based Medicine Reviews databases from inception to May 2016. Only studies with a randomised controlled trial design that investigated an mHealth intervention for psychosis were included. A total of 5690 records were identified with 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of included studies, were conducted across Europe and the United Sates with one being conducted in China. The 7 included studies examined different parameters, such as Experiential Sampling Methodology (ESM), medication adherence, cognitive impairment, social functioning and suicidal ideation in veterans with schizophrenia. Considering the increasing access to mobile devices globally, mHealth may potentially increase access to appropriate mental health care. The results of this review show promise in bridging the global mental health treatment gap, by enabling individuals to receive treatment via their mobile phones, particularly for those individuals who live in remote or rural areas, areas of high deprivation and for those from low resourced settings

Culturally Adapted Interventions in Mental Health: Global Position Statement

The preponderance of western psychological concepts are often relied upon to conceptualise health-related phenomena. It is hardly surprising therefore that despite the availability of a number of interventions, studies have concluded that outcomes for minority cultural groups are not as good as for Caucasian people (western Europe and North America) in many high and middle income countries (HMIC). The evidence base of most psychosocial interventions is yet to be established in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). There has been a propensity in some quarters to view low and middle income countries as passive beneficiaries of mental health knowledge, rather than as contributors or partners in knowledge production and development. A move towards a more equal bilateral relationship is called for, which should lead to better service provision. This Position Statement aims to highlight the current position and need for culturally adapted interventions. It is a global call for action to achieve a standardised mechanism to achieve parity of access and outcomes across all cultural groups regardless of country of residence

Variables predictive of outcome in patients with acute hypercapneic respiratory failure treated with noninvasive ventilation.

Objective: To assess results with NIV in acute hypercapneic respiratory failure and to identify outcome predictors. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study on consecutive patients presenting with acute type II respiratory failure and meeting criteria for NIV use over a 5 year period. Patients presenting with haemodynamic instability, inability to protect their airway, malignant arrhythmias and recent oesophageal surgery were excluded. Univariate and Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the impact on survival. A p value of \u3c 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Software used was SPSS 14. Results: Total numbers of patients included were 119; 52.9% were males. Mean age was 63.4 ± 11.9 years. Overall Survival to discharge rate was 76.5%, intubation rate was 12.6% and mean length of stay was 11.4 ± 10.9 days. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the pH and PaCO2 at 24 hours and 48 hours compared to baseline (7.28 v/s 7.37, p\u3c0.001; 74.2 v/s 65, p\u3c0.001). On multivariate regression analysis, sepsis at admission predicted mortality (adjusted Odds ratio 26.4; 95% CI 2.3, 304, p \u3c 0.009). A serum HCO3 \u3e 35 Meq/L (adjusted Odds ratio 0.9; 95% CI 0.83, 0.98, p \u3c 0.015) identified those less at risk for intubation. Conclusion: NIV was found to be both safe and effective in the management of acute hypercapneic respiratory failure. Sepsis and serum HCO3 at admission identified patients having poor outcome

Efficacy of learning through play plus intervention to reduce maternal depression in women with malnourished children: A randomized controlled trial from Pakistan

BACKGROUND:The risk factors and adverse outcomes related to maternal depression and child malnutrition are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) including Pakistan. Above 25% of women suffer from maternal depression. Up to 50% children are under-nourished which contributes to 35% of all under-5 deaths in the country. AIM:To determine the efficacy of Learning through Play Plus Thinking Healthy Program (LTP Plus) intervention to reduce maternal depression in mothers with undernourished children. METHODS:In this randomised controlled trial, all eligible mothers presenting to the paediatric departments were invited to participate in the study. Out of the total 256 mothers screened, 107 were included, 54 of those were randomly allocated to LTP Plus group and 53 to treatment as usual (TAU). Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for depression. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI), Social Support Scale (OSLO-3) and the Euro-QoL (EQ-5D) were used to measure the severity of depression, mother-child attachment, level of support and health related quality of life dimensions. Assessments were completed at baseline, end of intervention (3 months from baseline) and at 6 months from baseline. RESULTS:Mothers in the LTP Plus group significantly showed improvements in depression (p<0.001), social support (p = 0.02) and quality of life (p<0.001) at the end of the intervention (LTP Plus), as compared to the TAU group, which were sustained up to 6 months after baseline. CONCLUSION:The outcomes of LTP Plus intervention for mothers of malnourished children show promising results in reducing maternal depression and improving child outcomes. A full trial with longer-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness needs to be conducted