3,250 research outputs found
The Social and the Emotional in the Etiology of Childhood Lead Poisoning
Childhood lead poisoning has been characterized as a silent epidemic. Significant social, emotional, and economic factors play a role in its etiology. Differential intervention in this problem is predicated on understanding the relative role of these causes
The Blackstone Series: Evidence for an Avalonian Plate Margin in Northern Rhode Island
Guidebook to geologic field studies in Rhode Island and adjacent areas: The 73rd annual meeting of the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, October 16-18, 1981: Trip B-
Alleghanian Deformation and Metamorphism of Southern Narragansett Basin
Guidebook to geologic field studies in Rhode Island and adjacent areas: The 73rd annual meeting of the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, October 16-18, 1981: Trip C-
Barriers to mental health service use among distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients
Although family caregivers of patients with lung and other cancers show high rates of psychological distress, they underuse mental health services. This qualitative study aimed to identify barriers to mental health service use among 21 distressed family caregivers of lung cancer patients. Caregivers had not received mental health services during the patient's initial months of care at a comprehensive cancer centre in New York City. Thematic analysis of interview data was framed by Andersen's model of health service use and Corrigan's stigma theory. Results of our analysis expand Andersen's model by providing a description of need variables (e.g. psychiatric symptoms), enabling factors (e.g. finances), and psychosocial factors associated with caregivers' non-use of mental health services. Regarding psychosocial factors, caregivers expressed negative perceptions of mental health professionals and a desire for independent management of emotional concerns. Additionally, caregivers perceived a conflict between mental health service use and the caregiving role (e.g. prioritising the patient's needs). Although caregivers denied stigma associated with service use, their anticipated negative self-perceptions if they were to use services suggest that stigma may have influenced their decision to not seek services. Findings suggest that interventions to improve caregivers' uptake of mental health services should address perceived barriers
High dose Nitrate ingestion does not improve 40 km cycling time trial performance in trained cyclists
This study evaluated the chronic effects of nitrate (NO3ā) ingestion over three days, on 40 km TT performance in 11trained cyclists (VO2max: 60.8 Ā± 7.4 ml.kgā1.minā1; age: 36 Ā± 9 years; height: 1.80 Ā± 0.06 m; body mass: 87.2 Ā± 12.0 kg). Utilising a double-blind randomised cross-over design, participants completed three 40 km TT on a VelotronĀ® ergometer following the ingestion of either a 140 ml of āBEET It sportĀ®ā NO3ā shot containing 12.8 mmol or 800 mg of NO3ā, a placebo drink or nothing (control). Performance, oxygen consumption (VO2), blood bicarbonate (HCO3-), pH and lactate (BLa) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured every 10 km throughout the TT. The present findings show that NO3ā ingestion had no effect on TT performance (NO3ā: 4098.0 Ā± 209.8 vs. Placebo: 4161.9 Ā± 263.3 s, p = 0.296, ES = 0.11), or VO2 (p = 0.253, ES = 0.13). Similarly, blood lactate and RPE were also unaffected by the experimental conditions (p = 0.522, ES = 0.06; p = 0.085, ES = 0.30) respectively. Therefore, these results suggest that a high dose of NO3ā over three days has limited efficacy as an ergogenic aid for 40 km TT cycling performance in trained cyclists
The Arabidopsis Gain-of-Function Mutant ssi4 Requires RAR1 and SGT1b Differentially for Defense Activation and Morphological Alterations
Patterns of DNA Methlyation across the Leptin Core Promoter in Four Diverse Asian and North American Populations
DNA methylation is the most widely studied of epigenetic mechanisms, with environmental effects recorded through patterned attachments of methyl groups along the DNA that are capable of modifying gene expression without altering the DNA sequencing. The degree to which these patterns of DNA methylation are heritable, the expected range of normality across populations, and the phenotypic relevance of pattern variation remain unclear. Genes regulating metabolic pathways appear to be vulnerable to ongoing nutritional programming over the life course, as dietary nutrients are significant environmental determinants of DNA methylation, supplying both the methyl groups and energy to generate the methylation process.
Here we examine methylation patterns along a region of the metabolic gene leptin (LEP). LEP's putative functions include regulation of energy homeostasis, with its signals affecting energy intake and expenditure, adipogenesis and energy storage, lipid and glucose metabolism, bone metabolism, and reproductive endocrine function. A pattern of differential methylation across CpG sites of the LEP core promoter has been previously identified; however, any consistency of pattern or its phenotypic significance is not fully elucidated among populations. Using DNA extracted from unfractionated white blood cells of peripheral blood samples, our pilot study, divided into two parts, examined the significance of variation in DNA methylation patterns along the leptin core promoter in four populations (phase 1) and used biomarkers reflecting leptin's functional process in two of those populations, western Buryat of Siberia and the Mennonite of central Kansas, to investigate the relevance of the ethnic variation identified in the DNA methylation (phase 2).
LEP's core promoter region contains both the binding site for C/EBPĪ± (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha), which tempers the final step in adipocyte maturity and capacity to synthesize leptin, and the TATA motif controlling leptin synthesis. Previous studies report that increased methylation in this region is correlated to decreased gene expression, suggesting tissue-specific methylation variation at this region (Melzner et al. 2002). We hypothesized that evidence of nutritional epigenetic programming would be identified through variation in patterns of DNA methylation and that functional relevance of that variation among populations would be identified through biomarkers that reflect leptin's metabolic signals: serum leptin levels, lipoproteins of the lipid transport system, and anthropometric measures.
In phase 1, our combined analyses of 313 individuals documented a distinct and consistent overall pattern of differential DNA methylation across seven CpG sites of LEP core promoter in all ethnicities and both sexes. This pattern replicates those identified in previous studies, suggesting a conserved core promoter region across populations. Phase 2 analyses of two of the four populations (n = 239), correlating methylation at the C/EBPĪ± transcription binding site (TBS) with metabolic and anthropometric biomarkers reflecting LEP roles, showed that stature, which reflects bone growth and remodeling, was significantly and inversely correlated with the percentage of DNA methylation at this site in both sexes. We suggest that variation in DNA methylation along the LEP core promoter plays a substantial role in energy signals affecting both adipogenesis and bone metabolism
Recommended from our members
Comics in the classroom
As the necessity grows for undergraduate English teachers to incorporate various multimodal texts into their course material due to the changing landscape of what is considered English studies, comics can be an increasingly viable source for such texts. This thesis introduces several formal qualities of comics available for teachers to draw upon and add to their own arsenal of critical and terminological vocabulary in order to deploy comics-specific pedagogical material. A history of comics' problematic history and growth is provided as well as several examples of the sophistication of comics texts. In addition, specific information is given on how several comics might be incorporated into common undergraduate courses, and guidance for teachers is provided through extended examples of comics' value for English courses
- ā¦