Emerging Trends on Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs in Kenya

The last decade has experienced increased availability of substances in the drug markets and the growth of a dynamic market for non-medical use of prescription drugs. Data suggests that non-medical use of prescription drugs exceeds many illicit drugs. Despite the growing global problem of non-medical use of prescription drugs, it has not been accorded the much needed attention especially in Africa and Kenya in particular. The study therefore aimed to establish evidence of non-medical use of prescription drugs in Kenya. The study used an exploratory cross-sectional design. The study was conducted in the eight regions of Kenya where 18 purposively sampled counties were covered. The study relied on non-probability sampling methods. Results of laboratory analysis confirmed that antidepressants, antipsychotic, anticholinergic, opioid analgesics, anaesthetics and antihistamines were the most prevalent prescription drugs for non-medical use. The study established evidence of non-medical use of prescription drugs. Towards addressing this emerging problem, the study recommends the need for more stringent measures to control prescription drugs with high potential for abuse; engagement of the law enforcement agencies and the healthcare providers to suppress diversion of prescription drugs for non-medical use; and implementation of demand reduction strategies aimed at prevention and education of those at risk on the potential harms and other adverse consequences of non-medical use of prescriptions drugs

Longitudinal multi-centre brain imaging studies: guidelines and practical tips for accurate and reproducible imaging endpoints and data sharing

Abstract Background Research involving brain imaging is important for understanding common brain diseases. Study endpoints can include features and measures derived from imaging modalities, providing a benchmark against which other phenotypical data can be assessed. In trials, imaging data provide objective evidence of beneficial and adverse outcomes. Multi-centre studies increase generalisability and statistical power. However, there is a lack of practical guidelines for the set-up and conduct of large neuroimaging studies. Methods We address this deficit by describing aspects of study design and other essential practical considerations that will help researchers avoid common pitfalls and data loss. Results The recommendations are grouped into seven categories: (1) planning, (2) defining the imaging endpoints, developing an imaging manual and managing the workflow, (3) performing a dummy run and testing the analysis methods, (4) acquiring the scans, (5) anonymising and transferring the data, (6) monitoring quality, and (7) using structured data and sharing data. Conclusions Implementing these steps will lead to valuable and usable data and help to avoid imaging data wastage

γ-Tubulin regulates the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome during interphase

Activation of the APC/C requires microtubule-nucleating independent aspects of γ-tubulin function

The Secrets of a Functional Synapse – From a Computational and Experimental Viewpoint

BACKGROUND: Neuronal communication is tightly regulated in time and in space. The neuronal transmission takes place in the nerve terminal, at a specialized structure called the synapse. Following neuronal activation, an electrical signal triggers neurotransmitter (NT) release at the active zone. The process starts by the signal reaching the synapse followed by a fusion of the synaptic vesicle and diffusion of the released NT in the synaptic cleft; the NT then binds to the appropriate receptor, and as a result, a potential change at the target cell membrane is induced. The entire process lasts for only a fraction of a millisecond. An essential property of the synapse is its capacity to undergo biochemical and morphological changes, a phenomenon that is referred to as synaptic plasticity. RESULTS: In this survey, we consider the mammalian brain synapse as our model. We take a cell biological and a molecular perspective to present fundamental properties of the synapse:(i) the accurate and efficient delivery of organelles and material to and from the synapse; (ii) the coordination of gene expression that underlies a particular NT phenotype; (iii) the induction of local protein expression in a subset of stimulated synapses. We describe the computational facet and the formulation of the problem for each of these topics. CONCLUSION: Predicting the behavior of a synapse under changing conditions must incorporate genomics and proteomics information with new approaches in computational biology

Effects of music on arousal during imagery in elite shooters: A pilot study

© 2017 Kuan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Beneficial effects of music on several performance-related aspects of sport have been reported, but the processes involved are not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of relaxing and arousing classical music on physiological indicators and subjective perceptions of arousal during imagery of a sport task. First, appropriate music excerpts were selected. Then, 12 skilled shooters performed shooting imagery while listening to the three preselected music excerpts in randomized order. Participants' galvanic skin response, peripheral temperature, and electromyography were monitored during music played concurrently with imagery. Subjective music ratings and physiological measures showed, as hypothesized, that unfamiliar relaxing music was the most relaxing and unfamiliar arousing music was the most arousing. Researchers should examine the impact of unfamiliar relaxing and arousing music played during imagery on subsequent performance in diverse sports. Practitioners can apply unfamiliar relaxing and arousing music with imagery to manipulate arousal level.This present study was support by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Malaysia (FRGS/1/2014/SS02/USM/03/1)

Habitat selection, facilitation, and biotic settlement cues affect distribution and performance of coral recruits in French Polynesia

Habitat selection can determine the distribution and performance of individuals if the precision with which sites are chosen corresponds with exposure to risks or resources. Contrastingly, facilitation can allow persistence of individuals arriving by chance and potentially maladapted to local abiotic conditions. For marine organisms, selection of a permanent attachment site at the end of their larval stage or the presence of a facilitator can be a critical determinant of recruitment success. In coral reef ecosystems, it is well known that settling planula larvae of reef-building corals use coarse environmental cues (i.e., light) for habitat selection. Although laboratory studies suggest that larvae can also use precise biotic cues produced by crustose coralline algae (CCA) to select attachment sites, the ecological consequences of biotic cues for corals are poorly understood in situ. In a field experiment exploring the relative importance of biotic cues and variability in habitat quality to recruitment of hard corals, pocilloporid and acroporid corals recruited more frequently to one species of CCA, Titanoderma prototypum, and significantly less so to other species of CCA; these results are consistent with laboratory assays from other studies. The provision of the biotic cue accurately predicted coral recruitment rates across habitats of varying quality. At the scale of CCA, corals attached to the “preferred” CCA experienced increased survivorship while recruits attached elsewhere had lower colony growth and survivorship. For reef-building corals, the behavioral selection of habitat using chemical cues both reduces the risk of incidental mortality and indicates the presence of a facilitator

100% RAG: Syracuse School of Architecture, Student Newspaper, Volume 1, Number 2

100% RAG: Syracuse School of Architecture, Student Newspaper, Volume 1, Number 2. Students from Syracuse School of Architecture contribute to the student newsletter in 1975

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

A Prospective Cohort Study on Accuracy of Dorsal Tangential Views to Avoid Screw Penetration With Volar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures

OBJECTIVE: To assess diagnostic performance of dorsal tangential views (DTVs) to detect dorsal screw protrusion in clinical practice. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Level-1 trauma center. PATIENTS: Fifty consecutive patients undergoing volar plating for 50 distal radius fractures were prospectively included. INTERVENTION: Fluoroscopic DTVs were routinely obtained, and screw revision was documented. Multiplanar reconstructions of postoperative CTs allowed for detection and quantification of dorsal screw penetration using reproducible measuring techniques. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy) of DTV. RESULTS: Intraoperatively, in 16 of 50 patients (32%), screws were revised based on DTV, with 13 of 218 screws (6.0%) being revised due to dorsal prominence. One screw was changed because DTV showed it was in the distal radioulnar joint. Postoperatively, in 10 patients (20%), the computed tomography revealed 12 additional screws penetrating ≥1 mm with an average of 1.8 mm (range 1.0-4.5 mm). DTV had a sensitivity of 52%, a negative predictive value of 95%, and accuracy of 95%. No ≥1-mm protruding screw remained in the third compartment. CONCLUSIONS: In one-third of our patients, the incidence of protruding screws that can cause iatrogenic extensor tendon rupture was reduced by obtaining additional DTVs. Although DTV reduces the incidence of dorsal screw penetration considerably, this study reveals limited sensitivity. Therefore, one should keep in mind that dorsal screw penetration may go unnoticed on DTVs, and proper surgical technique remains paramount of DTV. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence