[Review of] Alyshia Galvez, Guadalupe in New York: Devotion and Struggle for Citizenship Rights among Mexican Immigrants

Alyshia Galvez\u27s Guadalupe in New York is an important contribution to a growing body of sociological and anthropological work devoted to immigrants and their fight for basic human rights in the United States. Galvez, a cultural anthropologist, uses interviews and observations to study the process of guadalupanismo (worship of Mexico\u27s patron saint, Our Lady of Guadalupe) among recent Mexican immigrants in New York City. Between 2000 and 2008, Galvez gathered information on Marian worship by following members of comités guadalupanos, or social groups organized by parish, and explains her methodology in a useful appendix. Galvez argues that through these comités, undocumented Mexican immigrants engage in political, activist activities which enhance their sense of well-being in material, lived and symbolic ways while their juridical status remains unchanged (4). More specifically, it is Galvez\u27s sophisticated and subtle observations on the connections between religion, politics, and transnational space that make her book a solid foundation for future ethnic studies

POLICY ISSUES ARISING FROM IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1985 FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROVISIONS

Agricultural and Food Policy,

Meteorological Services in Alaska

Description of type of observations, communications and other facilities, and the position of fifteen first-order Weather Bureau stations, sixty-six second-order stations, and nine armed forces weather stations in the Alaska and the Aleutians

The Positive Effects of Medical Cannabinoids on the Dysregulated Endocannabinoid System in Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. The symptoms include a lack of social skills, a need for repetitive patterns of life, difficulty in communication, speaking deficits and numerous other symptoms. While the specific cause is unknown, there is much research being done on mechanisms including dysregulations of the immune system, endocannabinoid system, and overall brain (Nez Govorova 2021, Pol 2021). The Endocannabinoid system is a recently discovered branch of the nervous system composed of endocannabinoids which are produced naturally in the body; lipid-based neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) and cannabinoid receptor proteins that are expressed throughout the central nervous system but also found in the lungs, liver, kidneys, and immune system. It regulates homeostasis of the central and peripheral mechanisms of food intake, lipids synthesis and metabolism in muscle cells (Alexandre 2019, Dasran 2022, Su 2021, Finn 2102). Endogenous Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that are produced by the body and act on cannabinoid receptors and alter neurotransmitter release and/or activity in the endocannabinoid system in the brain. Exogenous Cannabinoids such as THC and CBD are extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD has a relaxing effect and THC has a psychoactive, euphoric effect. It has been found that patients with Autism have a lower CB1 receptor expression which releases neurotransmitters as their brain is not releasing enough endogenous cannabinoids to bind to CB1 receptors and results in a lack of homeostasis. This thesis will explore the Endocannabinoid system and target the receptors using mixtures of cannabinoids to alleviate symptoms and improve the overall life for Autistic Spectrum Disorder Patients. Current investigations explore multiple mouse models and use different cannabinoids to treat ASD-like symptoms including CBDV, CBD and THC. Using CBDV in VPA mouse models was found to reduce the symptoms of ASD including excessive grooming time and increased sociability (Zamberletti 2019). These help to decrease repetitive behavior and increase social interactions which were dysregulated in ASD models. Mouse studies have shown that the benefits of a tincture of CBD and THC with a low ratio of THC are significant, including regulating CB1 receptors, eliminating symptoms of ASD for ASD patients (Poleg 2021). In human studies there was a total alleviation of epilepsy for ASD patients with use of CBD:THC mixture and a decrease of at least one or more symptoms in each patient (Fleury-Teixeria, 2019)

Outcomes of Sphincter of Oddi Manometry When Performed in Low Volumes

Background. Sphincter of Oddi manometry is a highly specialized procedure associated with an increased risk of procedural complications. Published studies have typically been performed in large volume manometry centers. Objective. To examine the outcomes and complication rate of SOM when performed in small volumes. Design. Retrospective analysis at a tertiary care referral hospital that infrequently performs Sphincter of Oddi manometry. Patient records were reviewed for procedural details, patient outcomes, and complications after sphincter of Oddi manometry. Results. 36 patients, 23 (23 type II sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD), 13 type III SOD) underwent sphincter of Oddi manometry and were followed up for mean of 16 months. Nine Type II patients (90%) with elevated basal sphincter pressures noted symptom improvement after sphincterotomy compared with only 3 patients (43%) of the patients with normal basal pressures. In type III SOD, 7 patients had elevated basal SO pressure and underwent sphincterotomy. Three patients (43%) improved. There were six (16%) procedure-related complications. There were four cases of post ERCP pancreatitis (11%), all of which were mild. Conclusion. In low numbers, sphincter of Oddi manometry can be performed successfully and safely by experienced biliary endoscopists with results that are comparable to large volume centers

Biological and technical variables affecting immunoassay recovery of cytokines from human serum and simulated vaginal fluid: A multicenter study

The increase of proinflammatory cytokines in vaginal secretions may serve as a surrogate marker of unwanted inflammatory reaction to microbicide products topically applied for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-1. Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 have been proposed as indicators of inflammation and increased risk of HIV-1 transmission; however, the lack of information regarding detection platforms optimal for vaginal fluids and interlaboratory variation limit their use for microbicide evaluation and other clinical applications. This study examines fluid matrix variants relevant to vaginal sampling techniques and proposes a model for interlaboratory comparisons across current cytokine detection technologies. IL-1β and IL-6 standards were measured by 12 laboratories in four countries, using 14 immunoassays and four detection platforms based on absorbance, chemiluminescence, electrochemiluminescence, and fluorescence. International reference preparations of cytokines with defined biological activity were spiked into (1) a defined medium simulating the composition of human vaginal fluid at pH 4.5 and 7.2, (2) physiologic salt solutions (phosphate-buffered saline and saline) commonly used for vaginal lavage sampling in clinical studies of cytokines, and (3) human blood serum. Assays were assessed for reproducibility, linearity, accuracy, and significantly detectable fold difference in cytokine level. Factors with significant impact on cytokine recovery were determined by Kruskal−Wallis analysis of variance with Dunn’s multiple comparison test and multiple regression models. All assays showed acceptable intra-assay reproducibility; however, most were associated with significant interlaboratory variation. The smallest reliably detectable cytokine differences (P < 0.05) derived from pooled interlaboratory data varied from 1.5- to 26-fold depending on assay, cytokine, and matrix type. IL-6 but not IL-1β determinations were lower in both saline and phosphate-buffered saline as compared to vaginal fluid matrix, with no significant effect of pH. The (electro)chemiluminescence-based assays were most discriminative and consistently detected <2-fold differences within each matrix type. The Luminex-based assays were less discriminative with lower reproducibility between laboratories. These results suggest the need for uniform vaginal sampling techniques and a better understanding of immunoassay platform differences and cross-validation before the biological significance of cytokine variations can be validated in clinical trials. This investigation provides the first standardized analytic approach for assessing differences in mucosal cytokine levels and may improve strategies for monitoring immune responses at the vaginal mucosal interface

Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy to Guide Real-Time Endoscopic Therapy in Barrett's Esophagus with Dysplasia

Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is a novel imaging technique which utilizes a low-power laser light passed through a fiber-optic bundle, within a miniprobe that is advanced into the working channel, to obtain microscopic images of the mucosa. This allows the endoscopist to evaluate the microarchitecture of the gastrointestinal epithelium in real time. At this time pCLE cannot replace histopathology, but it can provide diagnostic information as well as guide therapeutic management in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) with high-grade dysplasia (HGD). We describe a retrospective case series in which four patients with BE and biopsy-proven HGD underwent endoscopy with pCLE to direct real-time endoscopic ablation therapy and/or endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), which was performed in conjunction with pCLE. All four patients had pCLE showing features of HGD. After either EMR or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), pCLE was again used to evaluate the margins after therapy to assure accuracy. In one case, pCLE had features of dysplasia at the margin and further repeat EMR was immediately performed. Another case had a normal-appearing esophagus, but pCLE found features of BE in discrete areas and targeted biopsies were performed, which confirmed BE. This patient subsequently underwent RFA therapy of the residual areas of BE. In conclusion, in patients with BE and dysplasia, pCLE is an effective tool used to target biopsies, guide endoscopic therapy and assess the accuracy of EMR or RFA

Determinations of Levels of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA in Plasma: Reassessment of Parameters Affecting Assay Outcome

Appropriate interpretation of HIV-1 RNA levels requires an understanding of differences in test results due to multiple factors, which include assay and biological variation as well as specimen-handling conditions. Multiple investigations with diverse patient populations and assays have suggested that the contributions of technical and biological variations to RNA levels were quite consistent and predictable and in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 log10 RNA copies/ml. To date, all of the studies that have assessed variations in the levels of HIV-1 RNA measured have been limited primarily to isolates of the B clade; thus, what is lacking is knowledge of the degree to which the clade subtype influences assay variation and whether the biological variation observed with the clade B subtype is consistent for other clades. The major finding from the workshop was the unexpected stability of the HIV-1 RNA collected and stored under a variety of specimen handling conditions. HIV-1 RNA was shown to be relatively stable in whole blood, plasma, and serum, with the greatest stability being in plasma. Separated plasma was found to have stable titers even after storage at room temperature for 24 to 48 h and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Within the constraints of the studies described here, the potential differences in RNA levels due to various specimen- handling conditions were not large (10 to 20% due to the anticoagulant type used in the collection tube [30 to 80% if serum rather than plasma is used], 10 to 30% due to time at RT prior to processing within 24 h, 30 to 80% due to the use of a storage temperature of -20 or -80°C). Thus, the anticipated RNA levels for nonideally collected and processed plasma specimens may be only about 130% (0.11 log10) less than those for plasma specimens collected and processed ideally (assuming that these differences are additive). This 130% difference is relatively small compared to the potential total average standard deviation of up to about 400% or 0.6 log10 RNA copies/ml due to intra- and interassay (both 0.1 to 0.2 log10) and biological (0.1 to 0.2 log10) RNA copies/ml factors. On the basis of these findings, workshop participants concluded that retrospective studies, including those which have used sera or heparinized samples, should show biological comparability to studies performed under ideal conditions, and thus both retrospective and prospective studies are useful in providing an understanding of the role of HIV-1 RNA levels in blood in transmission and disease progression. However, for prospectively designed studies, workshop participants recommended that blood for quantitative HIV-1 RNA testing ideally be collected in tubes containing EDTA, processed within 6 h of collection (but up to 24 h is still acceptable), and then stored at -80°C until assayed. Novel methodological approaches which could be useful in diagnosing and quantitating viral load in developing countries were also described, i.e., the use of DPSs, or in other body fluids such as cervical-vaginal secretions, i.e., sno-strip wicks. Finally, workshop participants determined what laboratory evaluations, including assays of HIV-1 RNA levels, with blood samples should be a priority in pediatric cohort studies while acknowledging that this ultimately depends on the study question being asked. Recommendations concerning specimen handling were then developed for international and domestic studies that use assays for detection of HIV-1 RNA. The findings reported herein underscore the continued need for the exchange of information among investigation and industry with the aim of elucidating the technological parameters that influence the assays used to evaluate HIV-1 disease and therapeutic interventions. Only by understanding the factors that affect assay outcome can we appropriately discern their value and use in clinical studies and for patient management