Medicinal powders made of fresh milk for pediatric use

Communication presented at the 1st International Congress of CiiEM - From Basic Sciences to Clinical Research. 27-28 November 2015, Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portugal"Nowadays, the need to formulate medicines specifically designed for children is imperative [1] and solid dosage forms are the first choice for providing the required drug stability and dose accuracy. Milk, as a worldwide accepted food, is proposed in this study as a platform to deliver drugs orally in pediatrics. Therefore, the main goals of this project are: (a) to assess the properties of spray-dried milk powders, (b) to evaluate drug-milk interactions and (c) to ascertain the stability of the spray-dried milk powders."Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

Milk as a drug delivery platform in paediatrics

Communication presented at the PSSRC − 9th Annual Symposium. 16-18 September 2015, Ghent, Belgium"Purpose: to assess the physical properties of spray dried milk powders and evaluate drug-milk interactions.

Spray-dried fresh milk powders for oral drug delivery in pediatrics

Poster presented at the 10th World Meeting on Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology. 4-7 April 2016, Glasgow, UKN/

Barley grain (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content:effects of transcript and sequence variation in genes encoding the corresponding synthase and endohydrolase enzymes

The composition of plant cell walls is important in determining cereal end uses. Unlike other widely consumed cereal grains barley is comparatively rich in (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan, a source of dietary fibre. Previous work showed Cellulose synthase-like genes synthesise (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan in several tissues. HvCslF6 encodes a grain (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan synthase, whereas the function of HvCslF9 is unknown. Here, the relationship between mRNA levels of HvCslF6, HvCslF9, HvGlbI (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan endohydrolase, and (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content was studied in developing grains of four barley cultivars. HvCslF6 was differentially expressed during mid (8-15 DPA) and late (38 DPA) grain development stages while HvCslF9 transcript was only clearly detected at 8-10 DPA. A peak of HvGlbI expression was detected at 15 DPA. Differences in transcript abundance across the three genes could partially explain variation in grain (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content in these genotypes. Remarkably narrow sequence variation was found within the HvCslF6 promoter and coding sequence and does not explain variation in (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content. Our data emphasise the genotype-dependent accumulation of (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan during barley grain development and a role for the balance between hydrolysis and synthesis in determining (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan content, and suggests that other regulatory sequences or proteins are likely to be involved in this trait in developing grain.Guillermo Garcia-Gimenez, Joanne Russell, Matthew K. Aubert, Geoffrey B. Fincher, Rachel A. Burton, Robbie Waugh, Matthew R. Tucker, Kelly Housto

International comparisons of behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children: parents’ reports from 24 societies

International comparisons were conducted of preschool children’s behavioral and emotional problems as reported on the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½–5 by parents in 24 societies (N¼19,850). Item ratings were aggregated into scores on syndromes; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–oriented scales; a Stress Problems scale; and Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problems scales. Effect sizes for scale score differences among the 24 societies ranged from small to medium (3–12%). Although societies differed greatly in language, culture, and other characteristics, Total Problems scores for 18 of the 24 societies were within 7.1 points of the omnicultural mean of 33.3 (on a scale of 0–198). Gender and age differences, as well as gender and age interactions with society, were all very small (effect sizes<1%). Across all pairs of societies, correlations between mean item ratings averaged .78, and correlations between internal consistency alphas for the scales averaged .92, indicating that the rank orders of mean item ratings and internal consistencies of scales were very similar across diverse societies

Accessing the strong interaction between Λ baryons and charged kaons with the femtoscopy technique at the LHC

The interaction between Λ baryons and kaons/antikaons is a crucial ingredient for the strangeness S=0 and S=-2 sector of the meson–baryon interaction at low energies. In particular, the Lambda-Kbar might help in understanding the origin of states such as the Csi(1620), whose nature and properties are still under debate. Experimental data on Lambda-K and Lambda-Kbar systems are scarce, leading to large uncertainties and tension between the available theoretical predictions constrained by such data. In this Letter we present the measurements of Λ–KK− and Λ–KK+ correlations obtained in the high-multiplicity triggered data sample in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 13 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The correlation function for both pairs is modeled using the Lednický–Lyuboshits analytical formula and the corresponding scattering parameters are extracted. The Λ–KK+ correlations show the presence of several structures at relative momenta k* above 200 MeV/c, compatible with the Ω baryon, the , and resonances decaying into Λ–K− pairs. The low k* region in the Λ–KK+ also exhibits the presence of the state, expected to strongly couple to the measured pair. The presented data allow to access the ΛK+ and ΛK− strong interaction with an unprecedented precision and deliver the first experimental observation of the decaying into ΛK−

Identification of common genetic risk variants for autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable and heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental phenotypes diagnosed in more than 1% of children. Common genetic variants contribute substantially to ASD susceptibility, but to date no individual variants have been robustly associated with ASD. With a marked sample-size increase from a unique Danish population resource, we report a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 18,381 individuals with ASD and 27,969 controls that identified five genome-wide-significant loci. Leveraging GWAS results from three phenotypes with significantly overlapping genetic architectures (schizophrenia, major depression, and educational attainment), we identified seven additional loci shared with other traits at equally strict significance levels. Dissecting the polygenic architecture, we found both quantitative and qualitative polygenic heterogeneity across ASD subtypes. These results highlight biological insights, particularly relating to neuronal function and corticogenesis, and establish that GWAS performed at scale will be much more productive in the near term in ASD

Monitoreo del progreso del alumno en la identificación de riesgo en la lectura

Este estudo tem por nalidade analisar o uso da monitorização com base no currículo como sistema escolar de identi cação de alunos em risco na leitura, no contexto de um modelo educativo baseado no grau de resposta à intervenção. Realizou-se uma investigação quantitativa em que participaram todos os alunos do 3o ano (82 alunos) de um agrupamento de escolas do norte de Portugal. O tratamento de dados foi feito com recurso à estatística descritiva e inferencial. Destacam-se, entre outras conclusões, a existência de dez alunos em risco na leitura durante todo o ano letivo e o facto de, no nal do 3o ano de escolaridade, a média de resultados dos alunos que nunca estiveram em risco ser superior ao dobro da média de resultados dos alunos que estiveram em risco todo o ano.This study aims to analyze the use of curriculum-based monitoring as a school system to identify students at risk in reading, in the context of an educational model based on the degree of response to intervention. A quantitative investigation was conducted with all third grade students (82 students) from a group of schools in the north of Portugal. Data processing was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Among the conclusions, the following stand out: the existence of ten students at risk in reading throughout the school year and the fact that, at the end of the third year of schooling, the mean results of students who were never at risk was more than double the mean results of students who were at risk for the entire year.Cette étude a pour but d’analyser l’usage du contôle ayant pour base le coursus comme système scolaire d’identification des élèves présentant des risques dans la lecture, dans le contexte d’un modèle éducatif fondé sur le degrée de réponse à l’intervention. On a fait une investigation quantitative à laquelle ont participé tous les élèves de CM1 (82 élèves) d’un groupement d’écoles du nord du Portugal. Le traitement des données a été fait à l’aide de la statistique descriptive et inférentielle. On souligne, entre autres conclusions, l’existence de dix élèves en risque dans la lecture pendant toute l’année scolaire et le fait qu’à la fin de la troisièmme année de scolarité, la moyenne des résultats des élèves n’ayant jamais été en risque soit supérieur au double de la moyenne des résultats des élèves qui ont été en risque toute l’année.Este estudio tiene la finalidad de analizar el uso del monitoreo del currículo como sistema escolar de identificación de alumnos en riesgo en la lectura, en el marco de un modelo educativo basado en el grado de respuesta a la intervención. Se llevó a cabo una investigación cuantitativa en la que participaron todos los alumnos del 3er año (82 alumnos) de un agrupamiento de escuelas del norte de Portugal. El tratamiento de datos se efectuó por medio de la estadística descriptiva e de inferencias. Se destacan, entre otras conclusiones, la existencia de diez alumnos en riesgo en la lectura durante todo el año lectivo y el hecho de que, al final del 3er año de escolaridad, el promedio de resultados de los alumnos que nunca estuvieron en riesgo era superior al doble del promedio de resultados de los alumnos que estuvieron en riesgo todo el año.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genome-wide interaction study of a proxy for stress-sensitivity and its prediction of major depressive disorder

Individual response to stress is correlated with neuroticism and is an important predictor of both neuroticism and the onset of major depressive disorder (MDD). Identification of the genetics underpinning individual differences in response to negative events (stress-sensitivity) may improve our understanding of the molecular pathways involved, and its association with stress-related illnesses. We sought to generate a proxy for stress-sensitivity through modelling the interaction between SNP allele and MDD status on neuroticism score in order to identify genetic variants that contribute to the higher neuroticism seen in individuals with a lifetime diagnosis of depression compared to unaffected individuals. Meta-analysis of genome-wide interaction studies (GWIS) in UK Biobank (N = 23,092) and Generation Scotland: Scottish Family Health Study (N = 7,155) identified no genome-wide significance SNP interactions. However, gene-based tests identified a genome-wide significant gene, ZNF366, a negative regulator of glucocorticoid receptor function implicated in alcohol dependence (p = 1.48x10-7; Bonferroni-corrected significance threshold p < 2.79x10-6). Using summary statistics from the stress-sensitivity term of the GWIS, SNP heritability for stress-sensitivity was estimated at 5.0%. In models fitting polygenic risk scores of both MDD and neuroticism derived from independent GWAS, we show that polygenic risk scores derived from the UK Biobank stress-sensitivity GWIS significantly improved the prediction of MDD in Generation Scotland. This study may improve interpretation of larger genome-wide association studies of MDD and other stress-related illnesses, and the understanding of the etiological mechanisms underpinning stress-sensitivity

An Analysis of Two Genome-wide Association Meta-analyses Identifies a New Locus for Broad Depression Phenotype

AbstractBackgroundThe genetics of depression has been explored in genome-wide association studies that focused on either major depressive disorder or depressive symptoms with mostly negative findings. A broad depression phenotype including both phenotypes has not been tested previously using a genome-wide association approach. We aimed to identify genetic polymorphisms significantly associated with a broad phenotype from depressive symptoms to major depressive disorder.MethodsWe analyzed two prior studies of 70,017 participants of European ancestry from general and clinical populations in the discovery stage. We performed a replication meta-analysis of 28,328 participants. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability and genetic correlations were calculated using linkage disequilibrium score regression. Discovery and replication analyses were performed using a p-value-based meta-analysis. Lifetime major depressive disorder and depressive symptom scores were used as the outcome measures.ResultsThe SNP-based heritability of major depressive disorder was 0.21 (SE = 0.02), the SNP-based heritability of depressive symptoms was 0.04 (SE = 0.01), and their genetic correlation was 1.001 (SE = 0.2). We found one genome-wide significant locus related to the broad depression phenotype (rs9825823, chromosome 3: 61,082,153, p = 8.2 × 10–9) located in an intron of the FHIT gene. We replicated this SNP in independent samples (p = .02) and the overall meta-analysis of the discovery and replication cohorts (1.0 × 10–9).ConclusionsThis large study identified a new locus for depression. Our results support a continuum between depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder. A phenotypically more inclusive approach may help to achieve the large sample sizes needed to detect susceptibility loci for depression