Students with dyslexia: research projects at Northumbria University

Northumbria University has about 700 registered disabled students, the majority of whom (around 58 per cent) are registered as having dyslexia and account for approximately two per cent of the total student population. Therefore dyslexic students represent the largest single group of disabled students and are those with whom most staff are likely to come into contact. The research authors were keen to ascertain whether there was a difference in academic performance between dyslexic and non-dyslexic students in respect of degree classification and assignment marks and to investigate whether dyslexic students generally felt supported in their academic studies. Research involved both qualitative and quantitative strands and the areas explored include pre expectations; general support throughout study; methods, flexibility and clarity of learning tasks, in particular assessment and levels of performance throughout and at the end of their study. This research is ongoing, however, findings have proved invaluable as a basis in the construction of good practice guidelines in dealing with the pedagogic needs of this diverse student grou

金(I)触媒による含窒素中員環ならびにアザスピロ環の構築

早大学位記番号:新8195早稲田大

Galectin-1 is expressed in early-type neural progenitor cells and down-regulates neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the adult mammalian brain, neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferate in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and generate new neurons throughout life. A multimodal protein, Galectin-1, is expressed in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and implicated in the proliferation of the NPCs in the DG. However, little is known about its detailed expression profile in the NPCs and functions in adult neurogenesis in the DG.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our immunohistochemical and morphological analysis showed that Galectin-1 was expressed in the type 1 and 2a cells, which are putative NSCs, in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the adult mouse DG. To study Galectin-1's function in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, we made <it>galectin-1 </it>knock-out mice on the C57BL6 background and characterized the effects on neurogenesis. In the SGZ of the <it>galectin-1 </it>knock-out mice, increased numbers of type 1 cells, DCX-positive immature progenitors, and NeuN-positive newborn neurons were observed. Using triple-labeling immunohistochemistry and morphological analyses, we found that the proliferation of the type-1 cells was increased in the SGZ of the <it>galectin-1 </it>knock-out mice, and we propose that this proliferation is the mechanism for the net increase in the adult neurogenesis in these knock-out mice DG.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Galectin-1 is expressed in the neural stem cells and down-regulates neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus.</p

On-line assessment of regional ventricular wall motion by transesophageal echocardiography with color kinesis during minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting

AbstractObjective: Our objective was to determine the changes in regional ventricular wall motion during minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting by color kinesis using transesophageal echocardiography. Methods: Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 34 patients, during which transesophageal echocardiography was used. Thirteen patients had isolated disease of the left anterior descending artery. Regional ventricular wall motion was analyzed by color kinesis with the SONOS 2500 transesophageal echocardiograph (Hewlett-Packard Co, Andover, Mass). On-line assessment of regional wall motion was continued during the operation. Results: Wall motion abnormalities during ischemia were present in 4 cases, left ventricular mid-anterior hypokinesis in 3 cases, and left ventricular apical-lateral hypokinesis in 1 case. In all cases, wall motion was maintained after bypass. In patients with total coronary occlusion, changes in wall motion did not occur during anastomosis. Conclusions: Color kinesis allowed us to evaluate the change in regional ventricular wall motion induced by myocardial ischemia during minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting both objectively and quantitatively. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:912-7

Autoimmunity to citrullinated type II collagen in rheumatoid arthritis

The production of autoantibodies to citrullinated type II collagen and the citrullination of type II collagen were analyzed in rheumatoid arthritis. Autoantibodies to citrullinated type II collagen were detected in 78.5% of serum samples from 130 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Autoantibodies to native noncitrullinated type II collagen were detected in 14.6% of serum samples, all of which were positive for anti-citrullinated type II collagen antibodies. Serum samples were also positive for anti-citrullinated type II collagen antibodies in 1 of 31 systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 2 of 55 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In contrast, sera samples from 24 systemic sclerosis patients, 21 dermatomyositis/polymyositis patients, 21 ankylosing spondylitis patients, and 18 psoriatic arthritis patients were all negative for anti-citrullinated type II collagen antibodies. Anti-citrullinated type II collagen antibodies and fragments of citrullinated type II collagen were found in the synovial fluid obtained from affected knee joints of 15 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Moreover, anti-citrullinated type II collagen antibodies were isolated from the synovium of affected knee joints in 8 rheumatoid arthritis patients using antigen/antibody immunocomplex dissociation buffer but not by using standard buffers. These findings indicate that autoantibodies that react with citrullinated type II collagen are specifically produced and that immunocomplexes composed of fragments of citrullinated type II collagen and autoantibodies are deposited in the inflamed articular synovium in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Assaying for the presence of anti-citrullinated type II collagen antibodies may therefore be useful for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, and the deposition of these immunocomplexes in the articular synovium may be involved in pathogenesis