The feature of the self-actualization of infancy A longitudinal study about development of a self-actualization tendency

This study examined the developmental feature of the self-actualization of infancy in a longitudinal study. One hundred one 6 years-old children were participated in this study. The preschool teachers accessed self-actualization tendency on each child twice a year and recorded their impressive episode. It was found that 70 percent of the children increased the score for self-actualization tendency. Although, as for the child whose self-actualization score was low at the 1st time raised the scores, the child whose score was high did not have a remarkable change. The improvement in a score was mainly found by the item of the contents about social development among 15 items which constitute a self-actualization measure. Also in preschool teachers, the child with a high self-actualization tendency had much episode about social adaptation, the child with a low self-actualization tendency did not. These facts suggests that there is individual difference of development speed in the dynamism that the self-actualization tendency improves, and social development is the core of development of the self-actualization of infancy

Rate of red blood cell destruction varies in different strains of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei-ANKA after chronic exposure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Severe malaria anaemia in the semi-immune individuals in the holo-endemic area has been observed to occur at low parasite density with individual variation in the responses. Thus the following has been thought to be involved: auto-immune-mediated mechanisms of uninfected red blood cell destruction, and host genetic factors to explain the differences in individual responses under the same malaria transmission. In this study, the extent of red blood cell (RBC) destruction in different strains of semi-immune mice model at relatively low parasitaemia was studied.</p> <p>Methodology</p> <p>To generate semi-immunity, four strains of mice were taken through several cycles of infection and treatment. By means of immunofluorescent assay and ELISA, sera were screened for anti-erythrocyte auto-antibodies, and their relationship with haematological parameters and parasitaemia in the strains of semi-immune mice was investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Upon challenge with <it>Plasmodium berghei </it>ANKA after generating semi-immune status, different mean percentage haemoglobin (Hb) drop was observed in the mice strains (Balb/c = 47.1%; NZW = 30.05%; C57BL/6 = 28.44%; CBA = 25.1%), which occurred on different days for each strain (for Balb/c, mean period = 13.6 days; for C57BL/6, NZW, and CBA mean period = 10.6, 10.8, 10.9 days respectively). Binding of antibody to white ghost RBCs was observed in sera of the four strains of semi-immune mice by immunofluorescence. Mean percentage Hb drop per parasitaemia was highest in Balb/c (73.6), followed by C57BL/6 (8.6), CBA (6.9) and NZW (4.0), p = 0.0005. Consequently, auto-antibodies level to ghost RBC were correlated with degree of anaemia and were highest in Balb/c, when compared with the other strains, p < 0.001.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results presented in this study seem to indicate that anti-RBC auto-antibodies may be involved in the destruction of uninfected RBC in semi-immune mice at relatively low parasite burden. Host genetic factors may also influence the outcome of auto-immune mediated destruction of RBC due to the variation in Hb loss per % parasitaemia and differences in antibody titer for each semi-immune mice strain. However, further studies at the molecular level ought to be carried out to confirm this.</p

Possible role for glomerular-derived angiotensinogen in nephrotic syndrome

Background and objective: Renin–angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors reduce glomerular injury and proteinuria, indicating that angiotensin II (Ang II) is involved in glomerular diseases. Although the local RAS is reported to play an essential role in maintaining local tissue functions, the role of the local RAS in regulating glomerular function is not well evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the glomerular expression of RAS components in nephrotic models and the effect of Ang II receptor blockers (ARB) on the expression of angiotensinogen (AGT). Methods: The levels of glomerular expression of RAS components were analyzed in two nephrotic models: anti-nephrin antibody-induced nephropathy and PAN nephropathy, a mimic of human minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The effect of the ARB irbesartan on the expression of AGT in the nephrotic model was analyzed. Results: Glomerular expression of AGT and the receptors for Ang II was clearly increased in the nephrotic models, while the expression levels of renin, ACE and ACE2 were decreased. ARB treatment suppressed the increase of glomerular expression of AGT in the nephrotic model. Conclusion: It is conceivable that the promoted local RAS action participated in the glomerular dysfunction, and that ARB treatment ameliorated slit diaphragm injury by inhibiting the positive feedback loop of the activated local Ang II action

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) polymorphism associated with symptomatic malaria: a cohort study

Abstract Background In areas mesoendemic for malaria transmission, symptomatic individuals play a significant role as reservoirs for malaria infection. Understanding the pathogenesis of symptomatic malaria is important in devising tools for augmenting malaria control. In this study, the effect of TLR9 polymorphisms on susceptibility to symptomatic malaria was investigated among Ghanaian children. Methods Four hundred and twenty nine (429) healthy Ghanaian children, aged three to eleven years (3–11 years), were enrolled into a cohort study and actively followed up for symptomatic malaria for one year. Four TLR9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) namely: rs187084 (C-1486 T), rs5743836(C-1237 T), rs352139 (G + 1174A) and rs352140 (G + 2848A) were genotyped by direct sequencing, and their attributable and relative risks for symptomatic malaria determined. TLR9 haplotypes were inferred using the PHASE software and analysed for the risk of symptomatic malaria. A luciferase assay was performed to investigate whether the TLR9 haplotypes influence TLR9 promoter activity. Results The rs352139 GG genotype showed a significantly increased relative risk of 4.8 for symptomatic malaria (P = 0.0024) and a higher mean parasitaemia (P = 0.04). Conversely, the rs352140 GG genotype showed a significantly reduced relative risk of 0.34 (P = 0.048). TLR9 haplotypes analyses showed that TTAG haplotype was significantly associated with reduced relative risk of 0.2 for symptomatic malaria (P = 4×10-6) and a lower mean parasitaemia (0.007), while CTGA haplotype had an increased relative risk of 3.3 (P = 0.005). Functional luciferase reporter gene expression assay revealed that the TTA haplotype had a significantly higher promoter activity than the CCG, CTG and TCG haplotypes. Conclusions Taken together, these findings indicate a significant association of TLR9 gene polymorphisms with symptomatic malaria among Ghanaian children in Dangme-West district.</p

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm with puffer ball-like appearance: A case report

We report a case of ruptured low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm with an impressive toy puffer ball-like appearance on magnetic resonance imaging. A 79-year-old woman with lower abdominal pain underwent computed tomography scanning, revealing a 6-cm mass in the right lower abdomen. T2-weighted images showed a radial low-signal structure in the central area of the mass, which was presumed to be fibrotic. Pathology confirmed ruptured low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. The rupture point was at the tip of the appendix, coinciding with the center of radial fibrosis. The unique morphology of the puffer ball-like appearance in this case may be a characteristic of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms