Releasing The Anti-inflammatory Potential of Paralysed Skeletal Muscle: The Circulating Cytokine Response to Voluntary Upper-limb Exercise With/Without The Addition of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)-evoked Lower-limb Contractions

Skeletal muscle is a rich store of inflammatory mediating ‘myokines’. Following release from contracting muscle, the myokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) promotes a circulating anti-inflammatory environment associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The metabolic and functional consequences of lower-limb paralysis, including the gain in relative adiposity and physical inactivity, result in a high prevalence of CVD in individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the magnitude of any contraction-induced myokine response in this population may be limited by the small active muscle mass of the upper-limb. The combination of voluntary, upper-limb exercise and involuntary, functional electrical stimulation (FES)-evoked lower-limb cycling termed ‘hybrid’ exercise, may augment the acute myokine response by activating a greater volume of muscle mass than upper-limb exercise alone. Five community-based individuals with motor complete, thoracic SCI (Age=44±15 years; Body mass=66.6±14.3 kg) and at least 3 months FES-evoked cycling experience volunteered to participate. On separate occasions, each participant performed 30 min of voluntary upper-limb, hand cycling exercise with (HYBRID) and without (ARM only) the addition of FES-evoked lower-limb cycling at a fixed workload. Blood samples were collected at rest, immediately post-exercise, and 1 and 2 h post-exercise. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-1ra were subsequently determined by enzyme linked immunoassay. Estimated energy expenditure was significantly higher in HYBRID (154±25 kcal) than ARM (132±21 kcal) (P=0.01; ES=0.90). Plasma IL-6 concentrations were significantly elevated following HYBRID, with values 1 h and 2 h post-exercise significantly higher than rest and immediately post-exercise (P\u3c0.04). A small (~50%) non-significant increase in IL-6 was present 1 h and 2 h post-exercise following ARM, however concentrations were significantly higher in HYBRID than ARM at the same time points (P\u3c0.02). Plasma IL-10 concentrations were unaffected by exercise in ARM. Although not attaining statistical significance, there was a tendency for IL-10 concentrations to rise in HYBRID, with an 85% increase in IL-10 concentrations at 2 h post exercise. Plasma IL-1ra was unaffected by exercise in both trials. Initial findings suggest paralysed skeletal muscle releases the myokine IL-6 in response to electrically evoked contractions. Further, voluntary upper-limb exercise combined with involuntary lower-limb FES-evoked exercise had the tendency to elevate plasma concentrations of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10; this effect was not present when performing arm exercise alone. Hybrid exercise may offer a method of maximising the anti-inflammatory potential of acute exercise in individuals with a SCI. The current findings require verification in a larger cohort

Germination of Silene regia Seeds from Four Sites in Lawrence County, Illinois, Following Scarification or Stratification

Silene regia Sims is an endangered prairie forb in Illinois where small isolated colonies are scattered. In La·wrence County, two sites (Allison Prairie and Chauncey Marsh) have fewer plants (6-23) than two other sites (Cmmty Road and Cemetery) with 26-45 plants. Information on seed germination in these isolated colonies is needed. Our goal was to evaluate seed germination of S. regia from colonies in Lawrence County, illinois. S. regia fruits were collected from these four sites on August 9 and 19, 1999. Seeds were scarified by cutting the seed coat, or they were stratified at 2 C for 12 or 15 weeks. Seeds from Chaun.cey Marsh weighed less than those from other sites. With the exception of seeds from Chauncey Marsh, scariiication increased gemrination within each site. When significant germination differences occurred due to site, they were apparent on stratified seed, where frequently Allison Prairie was highest and Chauncey Marsh was lowest. Germination clifferences between stratified and control seeds were inconsistent, although stratified seeds had up to 67% higher gemrination than control seeds when significant differences occurred. These increases in seed germination were most evident in seeds collected on August 9th and stratified for 12 weeks. Seed that was neither scarified nor stratified gemrinated after storage, indicating that scarification and stratification are not absolute gemrination requirements with after-ripened seeds. Seed germination at different sites did not correspond directly with population sizes, and multiple mechanisms were present for breaking seed donnancy in S. regia

Germination of Silene regia Seeds from Four Sites in Lawrence County, Illinois, Following Scarification or Stratification

Silene regia Sims is an endangered prairie forb in Illinois where small isolated colonies are scattered. In La·wrence County, two sites (Allison Prairie and Chauncey Marsh) have fewer plants (6-23) than two other sites (Cmmty Road and Cemetery) with 26-45 plants. Information on seed germination in these isolated colonies is needed. Our goal was to evaluate seed germination of S. regia from colonies in Lawrence County, illinois. S. regia fruits were collected from these four sites on August 9 and 19, 1999. Seeds were scarified by cutting the seed coat, or they were stratified at 2 C for 12 or 15 weeks. Seeds from Chaun.cey Marsh weighed less than those from other sites. With the exception of seeds from Chauncey Marsh, scariiication increased gemrination within each site. When significant germination differences occurred due to site, they were apparent on stratified seed, where frequently Allison Prairie was highest and Chauncey Marsh was lowest. Germination clifferences between stratified and control seeds were inconsistent, although stratified seeds had up to 67% higher gemrination than control seeds when significant differences occurred. These increases in seed germination were most evident in seeds collected on August 9th and stratified for 12 weeks. Seed that was neither scarified nor stratified gemrinated after storage, indicating that scarification and stratification are not absolute gemrination requirements with after-ripened seeds. Seed germination at different sites did not correspond directly with population sizes, and multiple mechanisms were present for breaking seed donnancy in S. regia

Research capacity development in a South African higher education institution through a north-south collaboration

One of the constraints that prevent higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries from engaging in effective and essential research is a lack of research capacity. This study reports on a north-south collaboration between a group of Flemish universities and an HEI in South Africa with the specific goal of improving productivity, quality and capacity amongst researchers. A collaborative project with multiple subprojects was established in 2003, and extended over two consecutive five-year phases. Document analysis was conducted of annual reports, monitoring and evaluation reports, curriculum vitae of participating members, and progress reports of students and supervisors during this time. The findings of the study illustrate the extent to which research capacity objectives can be achieved through a north-south partnership. Members of the collaboration were able to develop intra- and inter-disciplinary partnerships that resulted in maximising the capacity- building efforts, enhancing both individual and institutional research --capacity--.DHE

Polymorphism in the IGF-I gene: clinical relevance for short children born small fos gestational age (SGA)

Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk in adult life of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The fetal insulin hypothesis postulates that genes involving insulin resistance could effect birth weight and disease in later life (Hattersley, 1999). Besides insulin, there is extensive evidence that insulin-like growth factor-I and -II (IGF-I, IGF-II) play an important role in fetal growth. We hypothesized that minor genetic variation in the IGF-I gene could influence pre- and postnatal growth. Three microsatellite markers located in the IGF-I gene in 124 short children (height &amp;lt; −1.88 SDS) who were born small for gestational age (SGA) and their parents were studied. SGA was defined as both a birth weight and birth length below −1.88 SDS for gestational age. Two polymorphic markers showed transmission disequilibrium. Allele 191 of the IGF1.PCR1 marker was transmitted more frequently from parent to child (χ2 = 4.8 and p = 0.02) and allele 198 of the 737/738 marker was transmitted less frequently from parent to child (χ = 4.5 and p = 0.03). Children carrying the 191-allele had significantly lower IGF-1 levels than children not carrying this allele (−1.1 SDS vs.− 0.05 SDS; p = 0.03). Also, head circumference SDS remained smaller in children with allele 191 compared to children without allele 191 (−2.1 SDS vs. −0.9 SDS; p = 0.003). Our results show that genetically determined low IGF-I levels may lead to a reduction in birth weight, length and head circumference and to persistent short stature and small head circumference in later life (proportionate small). Since low IGF-I levels are associated with type 2 diabetes and CVD, we propose that the IGF-I gene may provide a link between low birth weight and such diseases in later life.</jats:p

A Large, First-Year, Introductory, Multi-Sectional Biological Concepts of Health Course Designed to Develop Skills and Enhance Deeper Learning

Large first-year biology classes, with their heavy emphasis on factual content, contribute to low student engagement and misrepresent the dynamic, interdisciplinary nature of biological science. We sought to redesign a course to deliver fundamental biology curriculum through the study of health, promote skills development, and encourage a deeper level of learning for a large, multi-section first-year class. We describe the Biological Concepts of Health course designed to encourage higher-order learning and teach oral communication and independent learning skills to large numbers of first-year students. We used the Blooming Biology Tool to determine the cognitive skills level assessed in the newly developed course and the courses it replaced. This evidence-based approach demonstrated that our new course design achieved the goal of encouraging a deeper level of cognition, and further, successfully introduced both oral communication and independent learning skills in large first-year classes. &nbsp;En mettant l’emphase sur un contenu factuel, les grandes classes de biologie de première année contribuent au faible engagement des élèves et donnent une représentation imprécise de la nature dynamique et interdisciplinaire des sciences de la biologie. Afin d’offrir un programme fondamental en biologie par l’étude de la santé, de promouvoir le perfectionnement des compétences et d’encourager un niveau d’apprentissage marqué, nous avons repensé un cours pour une grande classe de première année contenant plusieurs sous-groupes. Nous décrivons le cours «&nbsp;Biological Concepts of Health&nbsp;» conçu pour encourager l’apprentissage supérieur, ainsi que pour enseigner la communication orale et les habiletés d’apprentissage individualisé à un grand nombre d’étudiants de première année. Pour déterminer le niveau d’habiletés cognitives évalué dans ce cours nouvellement conçu et les cours qu’il remplace, nous avons utilisé le «&nbsp;Blooming Biology Tool&nbsp;». Cette approche éprouvée démontre que ce nouveau cours a atteint son but d’encourager l’approfondissement des connaissances et, par ailleurs, a réussi à introduire la communication orale, de même que les habiletés d’apprentissage individualisé aux grandes classes de première année

Care for children with atopic dermatitis in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic:Lessons from the first wave and implications for the future

The first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an enormous impact on health-care services, including on care provision for children with atopic dermatitis (AD). We investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the care for children with moderate to severe AD at our tertiary outpatient clinic and examined satisfaction with care. We reviewed outpatient records, comparing total number and types of consultations during the first COVID-19 wave (March until July 2020) with the corresponding months of 2019 and 2018. In addition, we conducted a questionnaire-based study investigating the impact of COVID-19 on clinical and psychological symptoms, and satisfaction with care. A total number of 913 consultations (466 individual children) were conducted during the first COVID-19 wave in 2020, while 698 (391 individual children) and 591 consultations (356 individual children) were conducted in 2019 and 2018. The proportion of remote consultations was higher (56.2%) compared to 14.0% in 2019 and 12.7% in 2018. Worsening of AD was reported by 9.7% of caretakers. Overall satisfaction with provided care was high (8.6; interquartile range [IQR] = 7.3–10.0). Caretakers receiving face-to-face consultation were significantly (p = 0.026) more satisfied (9.0; IQR = 8.0–10.0) than caretakers receiving remote consultation (7.9; IQR = 7.0–9.5). The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on care provision for children with AD, particularly on the number of remote consultations. Overall satisfaction with care was high. The impact of COVID-19 on disease severity remained limited. Remote consultations seem to be a useful tool that can be put into practice during the COVID-19 pandemic