Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption And Lesion Localisation In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis With Predominant Cerebellar And Brainstem Involvement

The role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in determining lesion distribution was assessed in an atypical model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in C3H/HeJ mice by immunisation with peptide 190-209 of myelin proteolipid protein, which can result in two distinct types of EAE, each with distinct lesion distribution. Areas of the BBB showing constitutively greater permeability in naive mice did not correlate with the lesion distribution in EAE. BBB disruption occurred only in sites of inflammatory cell infiltration. Irrespective of the clinical type, the BBB was disrupted in the cerebellum and brainstem. Pertussis toxin had no effect on lesion distribution. Thus, lesion distribution is not influenced solely by BBB permeability

Social determinants of preschoolers' sleep health in Aotearoa/New Zealand : a mixed methods study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Listed in 2019 Dean's List of Exceptional ThesesThe following Figures have been removed for copyright reasons: 1 (= Achermann, 2004, Fig 1); 2 (=Jenni & Le Bourgeois, 2006, Fig 3); 5 (=Grandner, 2017, Fig 1).Sleep is important for young children’s health and wellbeing. In Aotearoa/New Zealand ethnic and socioeconomic inequities exist in adult sleep, however little is known about the social determinants of young children’s sleep and whether sleep inequities exist in early childhood. A mixed methods study was conducted to address this gap in knowledge. Kaupapa Māori epidemiological principles informed the study design and sleep was viewed through a social determinants of health and complementary socioecological theoretical lens. Sleep and sociodemographic questionnaire data from 340 Māori and 570 non-Māori preschoolers in the Moe Kura: Mother and Child, Sleep and Wellbeing in Aotearoa/New Zealand study (Moe Kura) were analysed. Log-binomial regression models investigated independent associations between ethnicity, socioeconomic position (SEP) and preschoolers’ sleep duration, timing and problems. Ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation were independently associated with short sleep duration (1hr, later bedtimes and sleep problems based on a number of maternal-report measures. A sub-sample of Moe Kura mothers (15 Māori and 16 non-Māori with low and high SEP) participated in face-to-face interviews about their preschooler’s sleep. Results from thematic analysis identified four themes relating to mothers’ perceptions of preschooler sleep: ‘child happiness and health’, ‘maternal wellbeing’, ‘comfort and connection’ and ‘family functioning and harmony’. Four additional themes centred around facilitators and barriers to preschoolers sleeping well: ‘health, activity and diet’, ‘sleep promoting physical environments’, ‘consistency’ and ‘doing it our way’. Mothers valued their preschooler having good sleep health, however societal factors influenced the degree of autonomy they had over implementing sleep supporting strategies. Integrated mixed methods findings indicate that ethnic and socioeconomic inequities in preschooler sleep health exist in Aotearoa/New Zealand and that social determinants of preschoolers’ sleep include institutional racism, material and financial resources, employment, housing, social support, early childhood education services and child health services. Results indicate that a victim-blaming approach which does not take into account the broader societal context and places blame and burden on mothers not ‘managing’ their child’s sleep ‘properly’ must be rejected. Action is required to address the socio-political drivers that lead to the inequitable distribution of social determinants of preschoolers’ sleep health

Tests for Gaussian repeated measures with missing data in small samples

For small samples of Gaussian repeated measures with missing data, Barton and Cramer (1989) recommended using the EM algorithm for estimation and reducing the degrees of freedom for an analog of Rao's F approximation to Wilks' test. Computer simulations led to the conclusion that the modified test was slightly conservative for total sample size of N = 40. Here we consider additional methods and smaller sample sizes, N ∈ {12.24}. We describe analogs of the Pillai-Bartlett trace, Hotelling-Lawley trace and Geisser-Greenhouse corrected univariate tests which allow for missing data. Eleven sample size adjustments were examined which replace N by some function of the numbers of nonmissing pairs of responses in computing error degrees of freedom. Overall, simulation results allowed concluding that an adjusted test can always control test size at or below the nominal rate, even with as few as 12 observations and up to 10% missing data. The choice of method varies with the test statistic. Replacing N by the mean number of non-missing responses per variable works best for the Geisser-Greenhouse test. The Pillai-Bartlett test requires the stronger adjustment of replacing N by the harmonic mean number of non-missing pairs of responses. For Wilks' and Hotelling-Lawley, an even more aggressive adjustment based on the minimum number of non-missing pairs must be used

ALMA Resolves 30 Doradus: Sub-parsec Molecular Cloud Structure Near the Closest Super-Star Cluster

We present ALMA observations of 30 Doradus -- the highest resolution view of molecular gas in an extragalactic star formation region to date (~0.4pc x 0.6pc). The 30Dor-10 cloud north of R136 was mapped in 12CO 2-1, 13CO 2-1, C18O 2-1, 1.3mm continuum, the H30alpha recombination line, and two H2CO 3-2 transitions. Most 12CO emission is associated with small filaments and clumps (<1pc, ~1000 Msun at the current resolution). Some clumps are associated with protostars, including "pillars of creation" photoablated by intense radiation from R136. Emission from molecular clouds is often analyzed by decomposition into approximately beam-sized clumps. Such clumps in 30 Doradus follow similar trends in size, linewidth, and surface density to Milky Way clumps. The 30 Doradus clumps have somewhat larger linewidths for a given size than predicted by Larson's scaling relation, consistent with pressure confinement. They extend to higher surface density at a given size and linewidth compared to clouds studied at 10pc resolution. These trends are also true of clumps in Galactic infrared-dark clouds; higher resolution observations of both environments are required. Consistency of clump masses calculated from dust continuum, CO, and the virial theorem reveals that the CO abundance in 30 Doradus clumps is not significantly different from the LMC mean, but the dust abundance may be reduced by ~2. There are no strong trends in clump properties with distance from R136; dense clumps are not strongly affected by the external radiation field, but there is a modest trend towards lower dense clump filling fraction deeper in the cloud.Comment: accepted to Ap

Modulation of microtubule assembly by the HIV-1 Tat protein is strongly dependent on zinc binding to Tat

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors: Potential Therapeutic Targets in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which causes progressive neurological disability. The disease is characterised pathologically by destruction of the myelin sheaths, which surround nerve fibres in the CNS. It is believed that this tissue damage in the brain and spinal cord of MS patients is caused by an inflammatory response that is initiated when autoreactive T cells, specific for myelin antigens, cross the blood-brain barrier and detect their antigen within the CNS. As a result, most therapies to date have been immunosuppressive and/or anti-inflammatory in nature, targeting the process involved in activation and migration of leukocytes and promotion of the immune response. Over the last decade, a family of chemotactic cytokines called chemokines, have been found to be involved in the trafficking of leukocytes in both the normal and pathological states. The expression of these chemokines and their receptors is increased during the acute phase of MS and also in the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). As a result, these chemokines have become an emerging focus for research into novel therapeutics for EAE and ultimately MS. This review will briefly describe the structure and function of chemokines and their receptors, before discussing the latest advances in developing pharmacological agents to block the effects of chemokines involved in promoting the inflammatory response in EAE and MS

Sinais inflamatórios e crise epiléptica em pacientes admitidos em unidade de emergência

Objetivo: Avaliar os sinais inflamatórios registrados em prontuários de pacientes comdiagnóstico principal de crise epiléptica, admitidos em unidade de emergência.Método: Estudo transversal, retrospectivo. Amostra composta por 191 prontuários depacientes pediátricos, adolescentes, adultos e idosos, com diagnóstico clínico de criseepiléptica, admitidos entre junho de 2016 a junho de 2017, na unidade de emergência de umhospital de Porto Alegre/RS.Resultados: Prevalência do relato de taquipneia (33,5%) e/ou febre (27,2%) como sinaisinflamatórios, estando febre relacionada à leucocitose (P=0,030). Crianças/adolescentestiverem crises menos frequentes (P=0,010) ede origem febril (P=0,000). Adultosapresentaram maior número de eventos (P=0,006), provocados por medicações/intoxicações(P=0,000). Nos idosos, crises ocorreram por distúrbios metabólicos/circulatórios (P=0,000),com menor ocorrência de febre (P=0,005).Conclusão: Crises epilépticas estão relacionadas à presença de febre e taquipneia,apresentando diferentes etiologias conforme faixa etária, com maior frequência de ocorrênciaentre adultos. Febre está relacionada à leucocitose, independentemente da idade.Palavras-chave: Convulsões. Enfermagem em emergência. Inflamação. Serviços médicos deemergência

Novos ambientes educacionais: desafios do uso das tecnologias educacionais inovadoras no contexto escolar

Identify the main challenges in the presence of technology in the school environment is the main objective of this article. The methodology was based on an exploratory qualitative approach with a constructivist paradigm. The first action designed to instigate reflection of teachers and students was watching the video: You cannot be my teacher, available at: http://www.youtube/watch?v=R1KalH1YbM. As an instrument for data collection,it was used a questionnaire with open and closed questions for students and teachers from 5th to 8th grade of State  High School Tomas Garcia da Costa in  Lagoão / RS.The results indicate that most students have access to technology. They cited the computer lab, as the feature that most motivates, awakens the attention and helps the understanding of the contents in the school environment. All teachers agreed that classroom with blackboard and chalk just cannot be the only mediator of the process of teaching and student learning. They also said that they use the computer / internet as a form of recreation, but also as a tool for finding educational resources (videos, pictures, songs, articles, maps, etc.) to improve their teaching. Apontar os principais desafios da presença das tecnologias no ambiente escolar é o objetivo deste artigo. A metodologia empregada foi pautada em uma pesquisa exploratória com abordagem qualitativa num paradigma construtivista. A primeira ação desenvolvida para instigar a reflexão dos professores e dos alunos foi assistir ao vídeo: Você não pode ser meu professor, disponível em: http://www.youtube/watch?v=R1KalH1YbM. E como instrumento de coleta de dados foi adotado um questionário com questões abertas e fechadas para os alunos e professores de 5ª a 8ª série da Escola Estadual de Ensino Médio Tomas Garcia da Costa no município de Lagoão/RS. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a maioria dos alunos tem acesso às tecnologias. Eles citaram o laboratório de informática, como o recurso que mais motiva, desperta a atenção e auxilia a compreensão dos conteúdos no ambiente escolar. Todos os professores concordaram que a sala de aula apenas com quadro e giz não pode ser o único mediador do processo de ensino-aprendizagem dos alunos. Eles também, afirmaram utilizar o computador/internet como forma de lazer, mas também, como ferramenta para busca de recursos educacionais (vídeos, figuras, músicas, artigos, mapas, etc) visando melhorar sua prática pedagógica

Radiative and mechanical feedback into the molecular gas in the Large Magellanic Cloud. I. N159W

We present Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) observations of N159W, an active star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). In our observations, a number of far-infrared cooling lines including CO(4-3) to CO(12-11), [CI] 609 and 370 micron, and [NII] 205 micron are clearly detected. With an aim of investigating the physical conditions and excitation processes of molecular gas, we first construct CO spectral line energy distributions (SLEDs) on 10 pc scales by combining the FTS CO transitions with ground-based low-J CO data and analyze the observed CO SLEDs using non-LTE radiative transfer models. We find that the CO-traced molecular gas in N159W is warm (kinetic temperature of 153-754 K) and moderately dense (H2 number density of (1.1-4.5)e3 cm-3). To assess the impact of the energetic processes in the interstellar medium on the physical conditions of the CO-emitting gas, we then compare the observed CO line intensities with the models of photodissociation regions (PDRs) and shocks. We first constrain the properties of PDRs by modelling Herschel observations of [OI] 145, [CII] 158, and [CI] 370 micron fine-structure lines and find that the constrained PDR components emit very weak CO emission. X-rays and cosmic-rays are also found to provide a negligible contribution to the CO emission, essentially ruling out ionizing sources (ultraviolet photons, X-rays, and cosmic-rays) as the dominant heating source for CO in N159W. On the other hand, mechanical heating by low-velocity C-type shocks with ~10 km/s appears sufficient enough to reproduce the observed warm CO.Comment: accepted for publication in A&

Pre-Adolescent Cardio-Metabolic Associations and Correlates: PACMAC methodology and study protocol

Introduction: Although cardiovascular disease is typically associated with middle or old age, the atherosclerotic process often initiates early in childhood. The process of atherosclerosis appears to be occurring at an increasing rate, even in pre-adolescents, and has been linked to the childhood obesity epidemic. This study will investigate the relationships between obesity, lifestyle behaviours and cardiometabolic health in pre-pubescent children aged 8–10 years, and investigates whether there are differences in the correlates of cardiometabolic health between Māori and Caucasian children. Details of the methodological aspects of recruitment, inclusion/exclusion criteria, assessments, statistical analyses, dissemination of findings and anticipated impact are described. Methods and analysis Phase 1: a cross-sectional study design will be used to investigate relationships between obesity, lifestyle behaviours (nutrition, physical activity/fitness, sleep behaviour, psychosocial influences) and cardiometabolic health in a sample of 400 pre-pubescent (8–10 years old) children. Phase 2: in a subgroup (50 Caucasian, 50 Māori children), additional measurements of cardiometabolic health and lifestyle behaviours will be obtained to provide objective and detailed data. General linear models and logistic regression will be used to investigate the strongest correlate of (1) fatness; (2) physical activity; (3) nutritional behaviours and (4) cardiometabolic health. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval will be obtained from the New Zealand Health and Disabilities Ethics Committee. The findings from this study will elucidate targets for decreasing obesity and improving cardiometabolic health among preadolescent children in New Zealand. The aim is to ensure an immediate impact by disseminating these findings in an applicable manner via popular media and traditional academic forums. Most importantly, results from the study will be disseminated to participating schools and relevant Māori health entities