Iron Storage within Dopamine Neurovesicles Revealed by Chemical Nano-Imaging

Altered homeostasis of metal ions is suspected to play a critical role in neurodegeneration. However, the lack of analytical technique with sufficient spatial resolution prevents the investigation of metals distribution in neurons. An original experimental setup was developed to perform chemical element imaging with a 90 nm spatial resolution using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence. This unique spatial resolution, combined to a high brightness, enables chemical element imaging in subcellular compartments. We investigated the distribution of iron in dopamine producing neurons because iron-dopamine compounds are suspected to be formed but have yet never been observed in cells. The study shows that iron accumulates into dopamine neurovesicles. In addition, the inhibition of dopamine synthesis results in a decreased vesicular storage of iron. These results indicate a new physiological role for dopamine in iron buffering within normal dopamine producing cells. This system could be at fault in Parkinson's disease which is characterized by an increased level of iron in the substancia nigra pars compacta and an impaired storage of dopamine due to the disruption of vesicular trafficking. The re-distribution of highly reactive dopamine-iron complexes outside neurovesicles would result in an enhanced death of dopaminergic neurons

Medical student views of and responses to expectations of professionalism

Funding this study is part of the corresponding author's (EAS) doctoral programme of research funded by the University of Aberdeen, and supervised by EH and JC. Acknowledgements we thank all the students who took part in this project, and Professor Rona Patey, the Director of the Institute of Education for Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, for her support of this project.Peer reviewedPostprin

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe

Genetic and lifestyle risk factors for MRI-defined brain infarcts in a population-based setting

OBJECTIVE: To explore genetic and lifestyle risk factors of MRI-defined brain infarcts (BI) in large population-based cohorts.METHODS: We performed meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and examined associations of vascular risk factors and their genetic risk scores (GRS) with MRI-defined BI and a subset of BI, namely, small subcortical BI (SSBI), in 18 population-based cohorts (n = 20,949) from 5 ethnicities (3,726 with BI, 2,021 with SSBI). Top loci were followed up in 7 population-based cohorts (n = 6,862; 1,483 with BI, 630 with SBBI), and we tested associations with related phenotypes including ischemic stroke and pathologically defined BI.RESULTS: The mean prevalence was 17.7% for BI and 10.5% for SSBI, steeply rising after age 65. Two loci showed genome-wide significant association with BI: FBN2, p = 1.77 × 10-8; and LINC00539/ZDHHC20, p = 5.82 × 10-9. Both have been associated with blood pressure (BP)-related phenotypes, but did not replicate in the smaller follow-up sample or show associations with related phenotypes. Age- and sex-adjusted associations with BI and SSBI were observed for BP traits (p value for BI, p [BI] = 9.38 × 10-25; p [SSBI] = 5.23 × 10-14 for hypertension), smoking (p [BI] = 4.4 × 10-10; p [SSBI] = 1.2 × 10-4), diabetes (p [BI] = 1.7 × 10-8; p [SSBI] = 2.8 × 10-3), previous cardiovascular disease (p [BI] = 1.0 × 10-18; p [SSBI] = 2.3 × 10-7), stroke (p [BI] = 3.9 × 10-69; p [SSBI] = 3.2 × 10-24), and MRI-defined white matter hyperintensity burden (p [BI] = 1.43 × 10-157; p [SSBI] = 3.16 × 10-106), but not with body mass index or cholesterol. GRS of BP traits were associated with BI and SSBI (p ≤ 0.0022), without indication of directional pleiotropy.CONCLUSION: In this multiethnic GWAS meta-analysis, including over 20,000 population-based participants, we identified genetic risk loci for BI requiring validation once additional large datasets become available. High BP, including genetically determined, was the most significant modifiable, causal risk factor for BI.</p

Global variation in anastomosis and end colostomy formation following left-sided colorectal resection

Background End colostomy rates following colorectal resection vary across institutions in high-income settings, being influenced by patient, disease, surgeon and system factors. This study aimed to assess global variation in end colostomy rates after left-sided colorectal resection. Methods This study comprised an analysis of GlobalSurg-1 and -2 international, prospective, observational cohort studies (2014, 2016), including consecutive adult patients undergoing elective or emergency left-sided colorectal resection within discrete 2-week windows. Countries were grouped into high-, middle- and low-income tertiles according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Factors associated with colostomy formation versus primary anastomosis were explored using a multilevel, multivariable logistic regression model. Results In total, 1635 patients from 242 hospitals in 57 countries undergoing left-sided colorectal resection were included: 113 (6·9 per cent) from low-HDI, 254 (15·5 per cent) from middle-HDI and 1268 (77·6 per cent) from high-HDI countries. There was a higher proportion of patients with perforated disease (57·5, 40·9 and 35·4 per cent; P < 0·001) and subsequent use of end colostomy (52·2, 24·8 and 18·9 per cent; P < 0·001) in low- compared with middle- and high-HDI settings. The association with colostomy use in low-HDI settings persisted (odds ratio (OR) 3·20, 95 per cent c.i. 1·35 to 7·57; P = 0·008) after risk adjustment for malignant disease (OR 2·34, 1·65 to 3·32; P < 0·001), emergency surgery (OR 4·08, 2·73 to 6·10; P < 0·001), time to operation at least 48 h (OR 1·99, 1·28 to 3·09; P = 0·002) and disease perforation (OR 4·00, 2·81 to 5·69; P < 0·001). Conclusion Global differences existed in the proportion of patients receiving end stomas after left-sided colorectal resection based on income, which went beyond case mix alone

Factors Predicting Environment-Friendly Consumer Behavior: Reducing Plastic Consumption in Oman

Environment-friendly behavior is the need of the hour. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have placed a collective burden on countries around the globe to undertake measures to safeguard the planet by starting with their own territories and water bodies. The Sultanate of Oman is an example of a country where there is top-down participation in environmental initiatives. Nevertheless, it appears that the initiatives have to be current and on-going, accompanied by stringent monitoring and evaluation. In this context, the present study undertakes a scoping review of literature related to the factors that influence environment-friendly behavior in different individual and social contexts. The use of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a popular theoretical framework in recent studies on environment-friendly behavior, to identify the factors of environment-friendly behavior was utilized as the basis for the review. A set of 50 empirical studies from 2012-till February 2022 were included in the scoping review. Academic and managerial implications are offered based on the findings. Overall, it could be seen that despite considerable research in the area, environmental awareness was a significant contributor to environment-friendly behavior and the study recommends governmental, public and private attention to increasing environment-friendly behavior among citizens. Research paper Keywords: Theory of Planned Behavior, Oman, Consumer Behavior, Environment-Friendly Behavior Factors Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Al Salmi, H., Ali, A., &amp; Ahmad, F. S. (2022). Factors Predicting Environment-Friendly Consumer Behavior: Reducing Plastic Consumption in Oman. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 10(2S1),&nbsp;170–215

Factors Predicting Environment-Friendly Consumer Behavior: Reducing Plastic Consumption in Oman

Environment-friendly behavior is the need of the hour. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have placed a collective burden on countries around the globe to undertake measures to safeguard the planet by starting with their own territories and water bodies. The Sultanate of Oman is an example of a country where there is top-down participation in environmental initiatives. Nevertheless, it appears that the initiatives have to be current and on-going, accompanied by stringent monitoring and evaluation. In this context, the present study undertakes a scoping review of literature related to the factors that influence environment-friendly behavior in different individual and social contexts. The use of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a popular theoretical framework in recent studies on environment-friendly behavior, to identify the factors of environment-friendly behavior was utilized as the basis for the review. A set of 50 empirical studies from 2012-till February 2022 were included in the scoping review. Academic and managerial implications are offered based on the findings. Overall, it could be seen that despite considerable research in the area, environmental awareness was a significant contributor to environment-friendly behavior and the study recommends governmental, public and private attention to increasing environment-friendly behavior among citizens. Research paper Keywords: Theory of Planned Behavior, Oman, Consumer Behavior, Environment-Friendly Behavior Factors Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Al Salmi, H., Ali, A., &amp; Ahmad, F. S. (2022). Factors Predicting Environment-Friendly Consumer Behavior: Reducing Plastic Consumption in Oman. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 10(2S1),&nbsp;170–215

Kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of the hexacyanoferrate ll/III redox system in <i>t</i>-butanoVwater mixed solvent

401-406The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters controlling the hexacyanoferrate II/III redox reaction in t-butanol/water mixtures have been derived using a gold rotating disc electrode with a standard potentiostatic technique. The effect of temperature on the current-voltage characteristics of the gold rotating disc electrode in the hexacyanoferrate redox system at different compositions of the solvent mixture has been studied and thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated. The presence of t-butanol in the solvent mixture enhances the rate of charge transfer reactions with respect to the diffusion controlled reactions. From the thermodynamic point of view, the rate of the cathodic process is independent of both the enthalpy or the entropy of the process and compensation effect is present. The anodic process obeys an entropy-controlled mechanism. Chemical potential calculations show that the concentration of the activated complex in the case of the anodic process is lower than that corresponding to the cathodic process