Azithromycin induces epidermal differentiation and multivesicular bodies in airway epithelia.

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked DownloadBACKGROUND: Azithromycin (Azm) is a macrolide recognized for its disease-modifying effects and reduction in exacerbation of chronic airway diseases. It is not clear whether the beneficial effects of Azm are due to its anti-microbial activity or other pharmacological actions. We have shown that Azm affects the integrity of the bronchial epithelial barrier measured by increased transepithelial electrical resistance. To better understand these effects of Azm on bronchial epithelia we have investigated global changes in gene expression. METHODS: VA10 bronchial epithelial cells were treated with Azm and cultivated in air-liquid interface conditions for up to 22 days. RNA was isolated at days 4, 10 and 22 and analyzed using high-throughput RNA sequencing. qPCR and immunostaining were used to confirm key findings from bioinformatic analyses. Detailed assessment of cellular changes was done using microscopy, followed by characterization of the lipidomic profiles of the multivesicular bodies present. RESULTS: Bioinformatic analysis revealed that after 10 days of treatment genes encoding effectors of sterol and cholesterol metabolism were prominent. Interestingly, expression of genes associated with epidermal barrier differentiation, KRT1, CRNN, SPINK5 and DSG1, increased significantly at day 22. Together with immunostaining, these results suggest an epidermal differentiation pattern. We also found that Azm induced the formation of multivesicular and lamellar bodies in two different airway epithelial cell lines. Lipidomic analysis revealed that Azm was entrapped in multivesicular bodies linked to different types of lipids, most notably palmitate and stearate. Furthermore, targeted analysis of lipid species showed accumulation of phosphatidylcholines, as well as ceramide derivatives. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, we demonstrate how Azm might confer its barrier enhancing effects, via activation of epidermal characteristics and changes to intracellular lipid dynamics. These effects of Azm could explain the unexpected clinical benefit observed during Azm-treatment of patients with various lung diseases affecting barrier function.Icelandic Research Council EpiEndo Pharmaceuticals, Reykjavik, Icelan

A randomized controlled trial reporting functional outcomes of cognitive-behavioural therapy in medication‑treated adults with ADHD and comorbid psychopathology

Studies assessing psychological treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults are increasingly reported. However, functional outcomes are often neglected in favour of symptom outcomes. We investigated functional outcomes in 95 adults with ADHD who were already treated with medication and randomized to receive treatment as usual (TAU/MED) or psychological treatment (CBT/MED) using a cognitive–behavioural programme, R&R2ADHD, which employs both group and individual modalities. RATE-S functional outcomes associated with ADHD symptoms, social functioning, emotional control and antisocial behaviour were given at baseline, end of treatment and three-month follow-up. The Total composite score of these scales is associated with life satisfaction. In addition, independent evaluator ratings of clinicians who were blind to treatment arm were obtained on the Clinical Global Impression scale at each time point. CBT/MED showed overall (combined outcome at end of treatment and 3-month follow-up) significantly greater functional improvement on all scales. Post-group treatment effects were maintained at follow-up with the exception of emotional control and the Total composite scales, which continued to improve. The largest treatment effect was for the RATE-S Total composite scale, associated with life satisfaction. CGI significantly correlated with all outcomes except for social functioning scale at follow-up. The study provides further evidence for the effectiveness of R&R2ADHD and demonstrates the importance of measuring functional outcomes. The key mechanism associated with improved functional outcomes is likely to be behavioural control

The relationship of suggestibility and compliance with self-deception and other-deception

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldThe aim of the study was to assess the relationship of interrogative suggestibility and compliance with other-deception and self-deception. The Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS 1), the Gudjonsson Compliance Scale (GCS), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and the Other and Self-Deception questionnaires (ODQ and SDQ) were administered to 237 Icelandic prison inmates. Other and Self-Deception scores did not correlate significantly with suggestibility and compliance, whereas significant correlations were found between the deception scores and EPQ Psychoticism, Neuroticism and Lie scores. The EPQ Lie score explained about one-third of the variance in the ODQ score, suggesting a considerable overlap between the two impression management measures. The most important practical implication of the findings is that self-favouring bias does not appear to significantly influence suggestibility and compliance scores

The relationship of compliance with inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldThe aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in predicting compliance. It was hypothesised that inattention symptoms are a better predictor of compliance than hyperactivity/impulsivity. There were two different groups of participants: 367 college students (both males and females) and 89 male prisoners. All participants had completed the Gudjonsson Compliance Scale (GCS) and the DSM-IV-TR (Screening) Checklist for adult ADHD symptoms. Significant correlations emerged between compliance and ADHD symptoms, but the correlations were higher for inattention than among both samples. This was confirmed by multiple regression analyses (hierarchical), which showed that the variance in compliance explained by ADHD inattention versus hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms increased from 2% to 8% for college students and 8% to 24% for prisoners after entering inattention into the model (hyperactivity/impulsivity was entered first in the regression models). The findings suggest that inattention is a more powerful predictor of compliance than hyperactivity/impulsivity. This is a novel and an important finding

Anton Dolin as the Prince (front right), Irina Baronova as the Queen of the Swans (front right), and artists of the company, in Le lac des cygnes, Covent Garden Russian Ballet, Australian tour, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, 1938 [picture] /

From: Le lac des cygnes (Swan lake) : choreographic poem in one act / music by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky.; Part of the collection: Hugh P. Hall collection of photographs, 1938-1940.; Performed Oct-Nov 1938 and Mar-Apr 1939. No number on front. 3P/10 on reverse.".; Choreography after M. Petipa ; scenery by Prince A. Schervachidze.; Also available in an electronic version via the internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4175442. One of a collection of photographs taken by Hugh P. Hall of 28 ballet productions performed by the Covent Garden Russian Ballet (toured Australia 1938-1939) and the Original Ballet Russe (toured Australia 1939-1940). These are the second and third of the three Ballets Russes companies which toured Australasia between 1936 and 1940. The photographs were taken from the auditorium during a live performance in His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne and mounted on cardboard for display purposes. For conservation and storage, the photographs have been demounted. The original arrangement of the photographs has been recorded, and details are available from the Pictures Branch of the National Library

The role of personality in relation to confessions and denials

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldThe main aim of the study was to replicate a previous study into personality factors associated with confessions and denials. It was hypothesised that antisocial personality traits and active involvement in criminal behaviour would be associated with false confessions and false denials. The participants were 666 university students in Iceland. Each was asked about false admissions made to teachers and parents in the past, as well as about confessions or denials (true and false) made to the police during questioning. The participants completed questionnaires relating to offending and personality. One-quarter (25%) of the participants stated that they had in the past been interrogated by the police in relation to a suspected offence, of whom 54% said they had confessed. The base rate of guilt in the study of those interrogated by the police was 66%. Only two participants (1.2% of those interrogated) claimed to have made false confessions to the police, whereas 6.2% claimed to have made false confessions to teachers or parents at some time in their lives. False confessions to teachers and parents were significantly associated with antisocial personality traits and the extent and seriousness of self-reported delinquency. In conclusion, antisocial personality characteristics, impulsivity, and the extent and seriousness of self-reported delinquency were the most significant predictors of who had a past history of making false confessions to teachers and parent

3,500 miles across Australia in a Ford car : from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Port Phillip Bay /

"Aug. to Dec. 1913"; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.aus-vn3886602.Across Australia in a FordThree thousand five hundered miles across Australia in a Ford ca

The ability of suspected victims of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to give evidence. Findings from the Children's House in Iceland

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldThe main objective of the study was to further the understanding of age-related differences in children's ability to give an account of suspected sexual abuse during questioning. Video recordings of 285 Investigative Interviews referred by police and judges to the Children's House in Reykjavik over a five-year period were analysed. The great majority of the youngest children (31/2-5 years), and almost all of the older children, had the basic abilities to give testimony, although there were major age-related differences in their understanding of why they were being interviewed, their ability to answer open-ended questions about the suspected abuse, describe the immediate antecedents, conversation with the perpetrator, events immediately after the abuse, and ability to sustain concentration during the interview. The findings show that the interview technique used in the Children's House, which is based on Child Advocacy Model principles and protocol, is being used effectively in Iceland