16,282 research outputs found
Demythologizing Reality TV: Critical Implications as a New Literacy
This article explores the dissonance between a high level interest, semester-long, student-centered “Reality TV” project and an institutional barrier that argued against its legitimacy as a visual literacy. Together, along with my students, we unpack the power that Reality TV has on our lives and examine its intersectionality to literacy
The physiological expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the human colon
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed in the colonic epithelium in both inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Nitric oxide (NO), the product of this enzyme, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of both conditions. However, there are conflicting data on whether iNOS is expressed in the normal, uninflamed human colon. To evaluate the expression of iNOS in histologically normal, non-inflamed human colonic mucosa. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the expression of iNOS in 17 histologically normal specimens obtained at colectomy performed for colorectal neoplasia. In addition, 16 endoscopic mucosal biopsies, taken from normal individuals, were also evaluated. Eleven surgical specimens and 16 endoscopic biopsies from patients with refractory ulcerative colitis were used as inflammatory controls. All types of specimens expressed iNOS mRNA. Immunoblotting revealed a protein of approximately 130 kDa consistent with iNOS in mucosal extracts of 77% of normal individuals, and 85% of diseased controls. Immunolabelling localised this protein to the surface epithelium in most of the normal specimens and also to the crypt epithelium and inflammatory cells in the diseased controls. These findings provide evidence that iNOS is often expressed in the surface epithelium of non-inflamed human colon, suggesting that it is induced by local luminal factors, such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin). The resultant NO produced at this site might act as an oxidative barrier, reducing bacterial translocation and providing a means of defence against pathogenic microorganisms
Reclaiming English Education: Rooting Social Justice in Dispositions.
This article addresses the importance of foregrounding social justice in teaching and assessing dispositions for preservice teachers in secondary English language arts. We provide a historical overview of dispositions and their politicization, and we address NCATE’s removal of social justice and its impending return. We conclude with possibilities for assessing dispositions for social justice and reflections on the implications for accreditation and consider what might be in store for the future of dispositions in English education
Telehealth and primary care: a special collection from BJGP Open
In this BJGP Open special issue, we explore how increased reliance on telehealth has changed clinical practice. Telehealth, defined as the provision of healthcare remotely through telecommunications technology, has been integrated into health services with varying degrees of success in the past. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this process, with telehealth presenting a solution to care delivery during national lockdowns and social distancing requirements. There has been vast amounts of research examining what has worked, potential improvements, and what should be retained in the post-pandemic world. This collection of articles adds to the discourse and considers telehealth in three broad areas: access to services, quality of care, and conducting consultations
Mutant Huntingtin Does Not Affect the Intrinsic Phenotype of Human Huntington's Disease T Lymphocytes
Huntington's disease is a fatal neurodegenerative condition caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. The peripheral innate immune system is dysregulated in Huntington's disease and may contribute to its pathogenesis. However, it is not clear whether or to what extent the adaptive immune system is also involved. Here, we carry out the first comprehensive investigation of human ex vivo T lymphocytes in Huntington's disease, focusing on the frequency of a range of T lymphocyte subsets, as well as analysis of proliferation, cytokine production and gene transcription. In contrast to the innate immune system, the intrinsic phenotype of T lymphocytes does not appear to be affected by the presence of mutant huntingtin, with Huntington's disease T lymphocytes exhibiting no significant functional differences compared to control cells. The transcriptional profile of T lymphocytes also does not appear to be significantly affected, suggesting that peripheral immune dysfunction in Huntington's disease is likely to be mediated primarily by the innate rather than the adaptive immune system. This study increases our understanding of the effects of Huntington's disease on peripheral tissues, while further demonstrating the differential effects of the mutant protein on different but related cell types. Finally, this study suggests that the potential use of novel therapeutics aimed at modulating the Huntington's disease innate immune system should not be extended to include the adaptive immune system
On the stability of a heated rotating-disk boundary layer in a temperature-dependent viscosity fluid
The paper presents a linear stability analysis of the temperature-dependent boundary-layer flow over a rotating disk. Gas- and liquid-type responses of the viscosity to temperature are considered, and the disk rotates in both a quiescent and an incident axial flow. Temperature-dependent-viscosity flows are typically found to be less stable than the temperature independent cases, with temperature dependences that produce high wall viscosities yielding the least stable flows. Conversely, increasing the incident axial flow strength produces greater flow stability. Transitional Reynolds numbers for these flows are then approximated through an eN-type analysis and are found to vary in approximate concordance with the critical Reynolds number. Examination of the component energy contributions shows that flow stability is affected exclusively through changes to the mean flow. The results are discussed in the context of chemical vapor deposition reactors
Effect on cardiovascular disease risk factors of interventions to alter consultations between practitioners and patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of trials in primary care
To examine the effect on cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors of interventions to alter consultations between practitioners and patients with type 2 diabetes.
Electronic and manual citation searching to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
RCTs that compared usual care to interventions to alter consultations between practitioners and patients. The population was adults aged over 18 years with type 2 diabetes. Trials were set in primary care.
We recorded if explicit theory-based interventions were used, how consultations were measured to determine whether interventions had an effect on these and calculated weighted mean differences for CVD risk factors including glycated haemoglobin (HbA), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C).
We included seven RCTs with a total of 2277 patients with type 2 diabetes. A range of measures of the consultation was reported, and underlying theory to explain intervention processes was generally undeveloped and poorly applied. There were no overall effects on CVD risk factors; however, trials were heterogeneous. Subgroup analysis suggested some benefit among studies in which interventions demonstrated impact on consultations; statistically significant reductions in HbA levels (weighted mean difference, −0.53%; 95% CI: [−0.77, −0.28]; <.0001; =46%).
Evidence of effect on CVD risk factors from interventions to alter consultations between practitioners and patients with type 2 diabetes was heterogeneous and inconclusive. This could be explained by variable impact of interventions on consultations. More research is required that includes robust measures of the consultations and better development of theory to elucidate mechanisms.HDM was an Academic Clinical Fellow, Andrew Cooper is funded by the University of Cambridge MRC Epidemiology Unit (grant code: MC_UU_12015/4), SJG is an NIHR Senior Investigator. The primary care unit is a member of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research and supported by NIHR Research funds. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health
Aberrant topologies of bacterial membrane proteins revealed by high sensitivity fluorescence labelling
A survey of speech–language therapy provision for people with post‐stroke dysarthria in the UK
Background: A large number of people who experience a stroke are affected by dysarthria. This may be in isolation or in association with aphasia and/or dysphagia. Despite evidence highlighting the psychological and social impact of having post-stroke dysarthria and a number of clinical guidelines that make recommendations for appropriate management, little is known currently about United Kingdom (UK) service delivery issues relating to speech and language therapy (SLT) assessment and treatment for this group. Such evidence is necessary in order to plan, develop and research services for people with post-stroke dysarthria. / Methods: SLTs in the UK were asked to complete an online survey addressing referral patterns, caseload profiles, and their assessment and intervention methods for post-stroke dysarthria. In the absence of a national register of clinicians working with people with acquired dysarthria, a snowballing method was used to facilitate participant recruitment. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics. / Results: 146 SLTs responded. The majority were employed by the National Health Service (NHS). Most patients were referred within a week post stroke. Almost half of respondents did not regularly use formal assessments and the use of instrumentation was rare, including the use of video recording. The focus of therapy for mild, moderate and severe dysarthria did not differ significantly for clinicians. A little under half of respondents endorsed nonverbal oral exercises in rehabilitation. The survey demonstrated some appreciation of the centrality of regular intensive practice to effect change, but this was in a minority. / Conclusions: Through this research it became clear that basic information regarding post-stroke dysarthria incidence, prevalence and core demographics is currently unavailable. More embedded NHS SLT reporting systems would make a significant contribution to this area. A more in-depth examination is required of the natural history of dysarthria over the months and years following stroke, of SLT practices in relation to post-stroke dysarthria, with investigations to more fully understand the choices SLTs make and how this relates to available evidence to support their clinical decision making
Screen for DNA-damage-responsive histone modifications identifies H3K9Ac and H3K56Ac in human cells
Recognition and repair of damaged DNA occurs within the context of chromatin. The key protein components of chromatin are histones, whose post-translational modifications control diverse chromatin functions. Here, we report our findings from a large-scale screen for DNA-damage-responsive histone modifications in human cells. We have identified specific phosphorylations and acetylations on histone H3 that decrease in response to DNA damage. Significantly, we find that DNA-damage-induced changes in H3S10p, H3S28p and H3.3S31p are a consequence of cell-cycle re-positioning rather than DNA damage per se. In contrast, H3K9Ac and H3K56Ac, a mark previously uncharacterized in human cells, are rapidly and reversibly reduced in response to DNA damage. Finally, we show that the histone acetyl-transferase GCN5/KAT2A acetylates H3K56 in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our data indicate that though most histone modifications do not change appreciably after genotoxic stress, H3K9Ac and H3K56Ac are reduced in response to DNA damage in human cells
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