Quantification of Maceration Changes using Post Mortem MRI in Fetuses

BACKGROUND: Post mortem imaging is playing an increasingly important role in perinatal autopsy, and correct interpretation of imaging changes is paramount. This is particularly important following intra-uterine fetal death, where there may be fetal maceration. The aim of this study was to investigate whether any changes seen on a whole body fetal post mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) correspond to maceration at conventional autopsy. METHODS: We performed pre-autopsy PMMR in 75 fetuses using a 1.5 Tesla Siemens Avanto MR scanner (Erlangen, Germany). PMMR images were reported blinded to the clinical history and autopsy data using a numerical severity scale (0 = no maceration changes to 2 = severe maceration changes) for 6 different visceral organs (total 12). The degree of maceration at autopsy was categorized according to severity on a numerical scale (1 = no maceration to 4 = severe maceration). We also generated quantitative maps to measure the liver and lung T2. RESULTS: The mean PMMR maceration score correlated well with the autopsy maceration score (R(2) = 0.93). A PMMR score of ≥4.5 had a sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 64%, for detecting moderate or severe maceration at autopsy. Liver and lung T2 were increased in fetuses with maceration scores of 3-4 in comparison to those with 1-2 (liver p = 0.03, lung p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: There was a good correlation between PMMR maceration score and the extent of maceration seen at conventional autopsy. This score may be useful in interpretation of fetal PMMR

Fluorescence-based incision assay for human XPF-ERCC1 activity identifies important elements of DNA junction recognition

The structure-specific endonuclease activity of the human XPF–ERCC1 complex is essential for a number of DNA processing mechanisms that help to maintain genomic integrity. XPF–ERCC1 cleaves DNA structures such as stem–loops, bubbles or flaps in one strand of a duplex where there is at least one downstream single strand. Here, we define the minimal substrate requirements for cleavage of stem–loop substrates allowing us to develop a real-time fluorescence-based assay to measure endonuclease activity. Using this assay, we show that changes in the sequence of the duplex upstream of the incision site results in up to 100-fold variation in cleavage rate of a stem-loop substrate by XPF-ERCC1. XPF–ERCC1 has a preference for cleaving the phosphodiester bond positioned on the 3′-side of a T or a U, which is flanked by an upstream T or U suggesting that a T/U pocket may exist within the catalytic domain. In addition to an endonuclease domain and tandem helix–hairpin–helix domains, XPF has a divergent and inactive DEAH helicase-like domain (HLD). We show that deletion of HLD eliminates endonuclease activity and demonstrate that purified recombinant XPF–HLD shows a preference for binding stem–loop structures over single strand or duplex alone, suggesting a role for the HLD in initial structure recognition. Together our data describe features of XPF–ERCC1 and an accepted model substrate that are important for recognition and efficient incision activity

Technology-Enhanced Language Teaching with Music in Chinese Kindergarten: Investigating Implementation and Efficacy

This paper provides the background to a doctoral project examining the use of enhanced technology and music in teaching English to Chinese children. It begins with a brief overview of the literature on this topic, pointing out that few of these studies have focused on nursery students in a Chinese context. Next, the first author describes her short-term preliminary experience in Glasgow as one of the teaching staff in a summer camp for ethnic Chinese students. In this course, the author tried applying the combination of enhanced technology and music in class, and after the class, the students, teachers and parents all gave positive feedback and comments on the learning results. This experience encouraged the first author and will inform the design her doctoral fieldwork on teaching English to Chinese nursery students using similar teaching methods

Anti inflammatory effect of rhizome of Curcuma longa. Linn, in Albino rats by the method of Carrageenin induced paw oedema

Background: Curcuma longa or turmeric is a popular Ayurvedic herb, traditionally used for various inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and spondylitis. Turmeric which containing phytochemical ingredient curcumin is used in India for centuries as a topical anti inflammatory agent. Many of the currently used anti inflammatory agents like NSAID’s and glucocorticoids have many undesirable adverse effects, especially when they are used for long period. In the present study, Curcuma longa, a plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family was chosen for investigating its anti-inflammatory effects.Methods: The rhizomes of Curcuma longa were collected locally. The extract was prepared by soxlet extraction with 50% ethanol. Albino rats of Wistar strain (170-250grams) obtained from the animal house of medical college Thiruvananthapuram were used. Aspirin was purchased from sigma Labs, Mumbai. Anti-inflammatory effect of the extract was done in rats by the method of Carrageenin induced paw oedema.Results: The ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa inhibited the development of oedema at the end of 3 hours. The anti-inflammatory activity exhibited by the extract was dose dependent and statistically significant at dose levels of 1000-mg/kg and comparable to that of standard drug used Aspirin.Conclusions: The present study with extract of Curcuma longa revealed that it has significant anti-inflammatory activity

Bone mineral content in Hawaiian, Asian, and Filipino children.

Os calcis bone mineral content (BMC) was measured by single photon absorptiometry in 86 children, ages 6 to 13 years from Hawaiian, Oriental, Caucasian, and Filipino ethnic groups. Pearson correlations indicated significant positive correlations between BMC and age, height, and weight. However, there were no significant differences in age, height or weight between ethnic groups. ANOVA revealed a significant effect of ethnic group on BMC with the Hawaiian group having a significantly higher BMC than the Asian or Caucasian groups. When age, height and weight were controlled for, ANCOVA still showed a significant effect of ethnicity on BMC. The current findings suggest that ethnic differences can develop early in life

Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the dietary intake of individuals living with and beyond breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer and who were most likely to experience change?

Purpose: The present work investigated dietary changes amongst individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) from before to during the pandemic. To identify those at greatest risk of unhealthy changes, it was further examined whether patterns varied by sociodemographic, health-related, and COVID-19-related characteristics. // Methods: This longitudinal cohort study analysed data from 716 individuals LWBC participating in the Advancing Survivorship Cancer Outcomes Trial (ASCOT). Using data provided before and during the pandemic, changes in fruit and vegetable, snack, and alcohol intake were tested using mixed-effect regression models. // Results: Fruit and vegetable (95%CI: − 0.30; − 0.04) and alcohol consumption (95%CI: − 1.25; − 0.31) decreased, whilst snacking increased (95%CI: 0.19; 0.53). Women and individuals with limited social contact were more likely to reduce fruit and vegetable intake during the pandemic. Women and individuals with poorer sleep quality, limited social contact, and shielding requirements and without higher education were more likely to increase snacking during the pandemic. Individuals with poorer sleep quality, poorer mental health, and regular social contact were more likely to decrease alcohol consumption during the pandemic. // Conclusions: Findings suggest decreased intake for fruit, vegetable, and alcohol consumption and increased snack intake in response to the pandemic amongst individuals LWBC. These changes appear to differ across various characteristics, suggesting the pandemic has not equally impacted everyone in this population. Findings highlight the need for targeted post-COVID strategies to support individuals LWBC most adversely affected by the pandemic, including women and socially isolated individuals. This encourages resources to be prioritised amongst these groups to prevent further negative impact of the pandemic. Whilst the findings are statistically significant, practically they appear less important. This is necessary to acknowledge when considering interventions and next steps

Residual brain injury after early discontinuation of cooling therapy in mild neonatal encephalopathy

We examined the brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcomes in a prospective cohort of 10 babies with mild encephalopathy who had early cessation of cooling therapy. All babies had MRI and spectroscopy within 2 weeks after birth and neurodevelopmental assessment at 2 years. Cooling was prematurely discontinued at a median age of 9 hours (IQR 5-13) due to rapid clinical improvement. Five (50%) had injury on MRI or spectroscopy, and two (20%) had an abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years. Premature cessation of cooling therapy in babies with mild neonatal encephalopathy does not exclude residual brain injury and adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study refers to babies recruited into the MARBLE study (NCT01309711, pre-results stage)

The neural basis of hot and cold cognition in depressed patients, unaffected relatives, and low -risk healthy controls: An fMRI investigation

BACKGROUND: Modern cognitive neuropsychological models of depression posit that negatively biased emotional (“hot”) processing confers risk for depression, while preserved executive function (“cold”) cognition promotes resilience. METHODS: We compared neural responses during hot and cold cognitive tasks in 99 individuals: those at familial risk for depression (N = 30 unaffected first-degree relatives of depressed individuals) and those currently experiencing a major depressive episode (N = 39 unmedicated depressed patients) with low-risk healthy controls (N = 30). Primary analyses assessed neural activation on two functional magnetic resonance imaging tasks previously associated with depression: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) responsivity during the n-back working memory task; and amygdala and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) responsivity during incidental emotional face processing. RESULTS: Depressed patients exhibited significantly attenuated working memory-related DLPFC activation, compared to low-risk controls and unaffected relatives; unaffected relatives did not differ from low-risk controls. We did not observe a complementary pattern during emotion processing. However, we found preliminary support that greater DLPFC activation was associated with lower amygdala response during emotion processing. LIMITATIONS: These findings require confirmation in a longitudinal study to observe each individual's risk of developing depression; without this, we cannot identify the true risk level of the first-degree relative or low-risk control group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have implications for understanding the neural mechanisms of risk and resilience in depression: they are consistent with the suggestion that preserved executive function might confer resilience to developing depression in first-degree relatives of depressed patients