Screening methods for age-related hearing loss in older patients with cancer: A review of the literature

© 2018 by the authors. As people grow older, they may experience loss in hearing sensitivity. Age-related hearing loss may negatively affect the patient's quality of life as it may lead to social isolation. In older patients with cancer, hearing loss can seriously interfere with the patient's ability to deal properly with all aspects of their disease, and may have a cumulative effect on their already decreased quality of life. Therefore, the proper screening of those conditions is essential in order to optimise the patient's comfort during and after treatment. This review article aims at providing a concise image of the nature of age-related hearing loss, and provides an overview of the screening methods that could be used in older patients with cancer

Developmental Expression and Cellular Origin of the Laminin α2, α4, and α5 Chains in the Intestine

AbstractLaminins are extracellular matrix glycoproteins that are involved in various cellular functions, including adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we examine the expression patterns and the cellular origins of the laminin α2, α4, and α5 chains in the developing mouse intestine and inin vitromouse/chick or chick/mouse interspecies hybrid intestines.In situhybridization and Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA levels for all three laminin α chains are highest in the fetal intestine undergoing intense morphogenetic movements. Laminin α4 mRNA and polypeptide are associated with mesenchyme-derived cell populations such as endothelium and smooth muscle. In contrast, laminin α2 and α5 chains participate in the structural organization of the subepithelial basement membrane and, in the mature intestine, show a complementary pattern of expression. All three laminin α chains occur in the smooth muscle basement membrane, with a differential expression of laminin α5 chain in the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers. The cellular origin of laminin α2 and α5 chains found in the subepithelial cell basement membrane was studied by immunocytochemical analysis of mouse/chick or chick/mouse interspecies hybrid intestines at various stages of development using mouse-specific antibodies. Laminin α2 was found to be deposited into the basement membrane exclusively by mesenchymal cells, while the laminin α5 chain was deposited by both epithelial and mesenchymal cells in an apparently developmentally regulated pattern. We conclude that (1) multiple laminin α chains are expressed in the intestine, implying specific roles for individual laminin isoforms during intestinal development, and (2) reciprocal epithelial/mesenchymal interactions are essential for the formation of a structured subepithelial basement membrane

Effects of visual field of presentation and stimulus characteristics on visual discrimination learning

The present study investigated the relationship between access to verbal processes and visual discrimination behavior. If reversal-shift behavior requires access to verbal processes, then response latencies should be shorter when sensory information has direct access to the areas concerned with these functions than when such information must travel indirectly to these areas. In accordance with the fact that language areas are primarily found in the left hemisphere of the normal, right-handed adult, stimuli were tachistoscopically presented to the right, center, and left visual fields. It was predicted that response latencies for nonverbal tasks during the initial discrimination should not be affected by visual field of presentation; verbal stimuli would result in shorter response latencies with right field presentation. During the reversal discrimination, both verbal and nonverbal stimuli should have shorter reaction times with right field presentation. Results indicate that during the initial discrimination, reaction times for verbal tasks were not affected by field of presentation; reaction times for nonverbal tasks were significantly higher with right field presentation. During the reversal discrimination, right field presentation resulted in significantly shorter response latencies for the size and name discriminations than did left field. Field of presentation, though a significant factor during both the initial and reversal / discriminations, accounted for a small proportion of the total variance

Interaction of HmC1q with leech microglial cells: involvement of C1qBP-related molecule in the induction of cell chemotaxis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In invertebrates, the medicinal leech is considered to be an interesting and appropriate model to study neuroimmune mechanisms. Indeed, this non-vertebrate animal can restore normal function of its central nervous system (CNS) after injury. Microglia accumulation at the damage site has been shown to be required for axon sprouting and for efficient regeneration. We characterized <it>Hm</it>C1q as a novel chemotactic factor for leech microglial cell recruitment. In mammals, a C1q-binding protein (C1qBP alias gC1qR), which interacts with the globular head of C1q, has been reported to participate in C1q-mediated chemotaxis of blood immune cells. In this study, we evaluated the chemotactic activities of a recombinant form of <it>Hm</it>C1q and its interaction with a newly characterized leech C1qBP that acts as its potential ligand.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Recombinant <it>Hm</it>C1q (r<it>Hm</it>C1q) was produced in the yeast <it>Pichia pastoris</it>. Chemotaxis assays were performed to investigate r<it>Hm</it>C1q-dependent microglia migration. The involvement of a C1qBP-related molecule in this chemotaxis mechanism was assessed by flow cytometry and with affinity purification experiments. The cellular localization of C1qBP mRNA and protein in leech was investigated using immunohistochemistry and <it>in situ </it>hybridization techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>r<it>Hm</it>C1q-stimulated microglia migrate in a dose-dependent manner. This r<it>Hm</it>C1q-induced chemotaxis was reduced when cells were preincubated with either anti-<it>Hm</it>C1q or anti-human C1qBP antibodies. A C1qBP-related molecule was characterized in leech microglia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A previous study showed that recruitment of microglia is observed after <it>Hm</it>C1q release at the cut end of axons. Here, we demonstrate that r<it>Hm</it>C1q-dependent chemotaxis might be driven via a <it>Hm</it>C1q-binding protein located on the microglial cell surface. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of the interaction between C1q and C1qBP in microglial activation leading to nerve repair in the medicinal leech.</p

PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES TO MAXIMIZEORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION FOR BROCCOLI, TOMATO AND SNAP BEAN

With the goal to increase organically managed farmland to 25% by 2030 together with the upcoming requirement to use exclusively organic seeds for organic farming, more seeds produced under organic conditions are needed on the market. Seed production underorganic conditions is even more challenging than in conventional production systems, mainly due to the restricted access to regular products for fertilization and plant protection. To increase the number of healthy seeds, we tested different agronomic factors which could influence the number of seeds produced in several organic farms in Europe and provide recommendations on relevant factors in these guidelines

MARUCA PENICHET, MISS GRAN CANARIA. [Material gráfico]

** DE PLACA ORIGINAL ADQUIRIDA POR EL COLECCIONISTA EN LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIAFOTO DE RETRATO DE SEÑORITA CON MANTILLA VISTA DESDE CINTURA. MISS GRAN CANARIA. MARUCA PENICHETCopia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, 201

Coronary stent artifact reduction with an edge-enhancing reconstruction kernel : a prospective cross-sectional study with 256-slice CT

Purpose Metallic artifacts can result in an artificial thickening of the coronary stent wall which can significantly impair computed tomography (CT) imaging in patients with coronary stents. The objective of this study is to assess in vivo visualization of coronary stent wall and lumen with an edge-enhancing CT reconstruction kernel, as compared to a standard kernel. Methods This is a prospective cross-sectional study involving the assessment of 71 coronary stents (24 patients), with blinded observers. After 256-slice CT angiography, image reconstruction was done with medium-smooth and edge-enhancing kernels. Stent wall thickness was measured with both orthogonal and circumference methods, averaging thickness from diameter and circumference measurements, respectively. Image quality was assessed quantitatively using objective parameters (noise, signal to noise (SNR) and contrast to noise (CNR) ratios), as well as visually using a 5-point Likert scale. Results Stent wall thickness was decreased with the edge-enhancing kernel in comparison to the standard kernel, either with the orthogonal (0.97 ± 0.02 versus 1.09 ± 0.03 mm, respectively; p<0.001) or the circumference method (1.13 ± 0.02 versus 1.21 ± 0.02 mm, respectively; p = 0.001). The edge-enhancing kernel generated less overestimation from nominal thickness compared to the standard kernel, both with the orthogonal (0.89 ± 0.19 versus 1.00 ± 0.26 mm, respectively; p<0.001) and the circumference (1.06 ± 0.26 versus 1.13 ± 0.31 mm, respectively; p = 0.005) methods. The edge-enhancing kernel was associated with lower SNR and CNR, as well as higher background noise (all p < 0.001), in comparison to the medium-smooth kernel. Stent visual scores were higher with the edge-enhancing kernel (p<0.001). Conclusion In vivo 256-slice CT assessment of coronary stents shows that the edge-enhancing CT reconstruction kernel generates thinner stent walls, less overestimation from nominal thickness, and better image quality scores than the standard kernel

Fortaleciendo la participación grupal en estudiantes universitarios: un estudio de sus dificultades y estrategias de superación

Dada la importancia de la Participación para la productividad y el aprendizaje grupal, la Cátedra de Teorías y Técnicas de Grupos de la Facultad de Psicología de la UNT, se propone abrir espacios para abordar esta cuestión con sus alumnos. En esta ponencia se transfieren los resultados obtenidos de un estudio realizado en el mes de Abril de 2007 en el que intervinieron 319 alumnos y el equipo de cátedra. Objetivos: indagar las dificultades para la participación que presentan un grupo de estudiantes de la Cátedra mencionada desde las voces de los propios actores y promover la búsqueda de estrategias superadoras para las mismas en forma colectiva.Eje temático: Psicología Social, Institucional y ComunitariaFacultad de Psicologí

Fortaleciendo la participación grupal en estudiantes universitarios: un estudio de sus dificultades y estrategias de superación

Dada la importancia de la Participación para la productividad y el aprendizaje grupal, la Cátedra de Teorías y Técnicas de Grupos de la Facultad de Psicología de la UNT, se propone abrir espacios para abordar esta cuestión con sus alumnos. En esta ponencia se transfieren los resultados obtenidos de un estudio realizado en el mes de Abril de 2007 en el que intervinieron 319 alumnos y el equipo de cátedra. Objetivos: indagar las dificultades para la participación que presentan un grupo de estudiantes de la Cátedra mencionada desde las voces de los propios actores y promover la búsqueda de estrategias superadoras para las mismas en forma colectiva.Eje temático: Psicología Social, Institucional y ComunitariaFacultad de Psicologí

Fortaleciendo la participación grupal en estudiantes universitarios: un estudio de sus dificultades y estrategias de superación

Dada la importancia de la Participación para la productividad y el aprendizaje grupal, la Cátedra de Teorías y Técnicas de Grupos de la Facultad de Psicología de la UNT, se propone abrir espacios para abordar esta cuestión con sus alumnos. En esta ponencia se transfieren los resultados obtenidos de un estudio realizado en el mes de Abril de 2007 en el que intervinieron 319 alumnos y el equipo de cátedra. Objetivos: indagar las dificultades para la participación que presentan un grupo de estudiantes de la Cátedra mencionada desde las voces de los propios actores y promover la búsqueda de estrategias superadoras para las mismas en forma colectiva.Eje temático: Psicología Social, Institucional y ComunitariaFacultad de Psicologí