Belief in a just world and self-efficacy to promote justice in the world predict helping attitudes, but only among volunteers

Previous studies have shown that willingness to help particular victims is predicted separately, or in combination, by the belief in a just world (BJW) and self-efficacy to promote justice in the world (SEJW). Our goal was to extend this knowledge by studying general attitudes towards helping and the association between BJW and SEJW in people that do volunteer service, and by comparing the predictive power of two spheres of BJW, personal BJW and general BJW, on helping attitudes. We measured personal BJW, general BJW, SEJW and helping attitudes in two samples (one comprising university students and the other only volunteers). The results differed in the two samples. For volunteers endorsing strong self-efficacy to promote justice in the world, personal BJW was associated positively with helping attitudes (p = .007). For participants endorsing weak self-efficacy to promote justice in the world, personal BJW was not associated with helping attitudes in either sample. General BJW was not associated with helping attitudes in either sample, either independently or in interaction with self-efficacy to promote justice in the world. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Cellulitis at GLP-1 Agonist Injection Site: Rare But Relevant

We present a case of cellulitis complicating with abscess formation as a possible complication of treatment with injectable GLP-1 agonists on a sixty-one-year-old woman. Pus cultures showed isolation of Streptococcus anginosus and clindamycin was started as targeted therapy but absence of improvement prompted a consultation with the surgery department and a manual surgical debridement was performed. A second isolate of Eikenella corrodens, which is frequently resistant to clindamycin, was identified. We opted for a switch to ceftriaxone and after nineteen days, having achieved clinical improvement, plans were made for her to continue to change her wound dressing at her local health center and for a short-term revaluation at a surgery outpatient consultation. Caring for social needs and assuring continuity across multiple care levels can be fundamental in preventing adverse effects from self-injectable drugs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Utilización de la ventilación no invasiva en pacientes con parálisis diafragmática. Reporte de casos.

IntroducciónLa parálisis diafragmática (PD) es una enfermedad infrecuente, generalmente secundaria a procesos sistémicos, aunque han sido descriptas formas idiopáticas.ObjetivoDescribir la utilización de la ventilación no invasiva (VNI) como una modalidad de tratamiento en PD.Material y MétodosEstudio descriptivo de una serie de casos consecutivos en un hospital general.ResultadosDescribimos 4 pacientes portadores de PD unilateral con disminución de las presiones bucales máximas y de la capacidad vital en posición supina. Tres pacientes presentaron hipercapnia, uno de los cuales requirió intubación con asistencia respiratoria.Los 4 casos fueron tratados con VNI modo S/T bilevel, permitiendo disminuir la PCO2, mejorar los síntomas y los parámetros en la poligrafía respiratoria nocturna.ConclusionesLa aplicación de la VNI en los pacientes portadores de PD ofrece beneficios clínicos y en la función respiratoria que hacen recomendable su indicación en casos seleccionados. </p

Sol-gel coatings for metallic prosthesis from methyl-modified alkoxysilanes: balance between protection and bioactivation

The reported osteogenic properties of the hybrid silica sol-gel materials make these compositions perfect candidates for bone tissue engineering applications. The aim of this study was the synthesis and characterisation of hybrid silica coatings, obtained using mixtures of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and three different methyl-modified alkoxysilanes: trimethoxymethylsilane (MTMS), dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES) or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). A comparison of the properties of these materials can reveal the best candidate for the coatings on metallic prostheses. After optimising the synthesis parameters, the developed coatings were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), 1H and 29Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR and 29Si-MNR), cross-cut tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements, optical profilometry, hydrolytic degradation tests and electrochemical corrosion analysis. Homogeneous and well-adhering coatings were obtained using the three methyl-modified reagents. However, different degrees of protection against corrosion, different hydrophilicity and varying degradation kinetics were observed for different precursors. The MTMS-based coating showed the highest hydrophilicity and degradation kinetics; these properties can be associated with increased bioactivity (Si release). In contrast, the PDMS and DMDES-based coatings showed augmented resistance to corrosion and lower permeability to water and, consequently, improved protection of metallic surfaces. From the physicochemical point of view, all these materials displayed interesting characteristics, relevant for coatings to be used in biomedical applications

Red ruby glass from gold nanoparticles obtained by LASiS – a new approach

Currently, most of the red colored glasses are still produced using cadmium sulfoselenide, despite its high toxicity. Alternative solutions, more environmentally friendly, have been sought, most of them going through the use of gold or copper nanoparticle, the color being obtained by striking. This work presents a new methodology for production of a red colored glass by the incorporation of gold nanoparticles in the melt, trying to take advantage of an amorphous silica layer involving the nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were produced by laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS), using a solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and isopropanol (IPA). A xerogel was prepared using the TEOS:IPA:AuNp suspension, mixed with a alkaline-earth aluminosilicate colorless glass and melted at 1350 °C producing a glass with an intense and homogeneous ruby red color without the need of a striking stage.publishe

EUROnu-WP6 2010 Report

This is a summary of the work done by the Working Package 6 (Physics) of the EU project "EUROnu" during the second year of activity of the project.Comment: 82 pages, 51 eps figure

Sensitivity of composite scores to amyloid burden in preclinical Alzheimer\u27s disease: Introducing the Z-scores of Attention, Verbal fluency, and Episodic memory for Nondemented older adults composite score

Introduction: Cognitive composite scores developed for preclinical Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) often consist of multiple cognitive domains as they may provide greater sensitivity to detect β-amyloid (Aβ)-related cognitive decline than episodic memory (EM) composite scores alone. However, this has never been empirically tested. We compared the rate of cognitive decline associated with high Aβ (Aβ+) and very high Aβ (Aβ++) in cognitively normal (CN) older adults on three multidomain cognitive composite scores and one single-domain (EM) composite score. Methods: CN older adults (n = 423) underwent Aβ neuroimaging and completed neuropsychological assessments at baseline, and at 18-, 36-, 54-, and 72-month follow-ups. Four cognitive composite scores were computed: the ADCS-PACC (ADCS-Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite), ADCS-PACC without the inclusion of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), an EM composite, and the Z-scores of Attention, Verbal fluency, and Episodic memory for Nondemented older adults (ZAVEN) composite. Results: Compared with Aβ+ CN older adults, Aβ++ CN older adults showed faster rates of decline across all cognitive composites, with the largest decline observed for ZAVEN composite (d = 1.07). Similarly, compared with Aβ- CN older adults, Aβ+ CN older adults also showed faster rates of cognitive decline, but only for the ADCS-PACC no MMSE (d = 0.43), EM (d = 0.53), and ZAVEN (d = 0.50) composites. Discussion: Aβ-related cognitive decline is best detected using validated neuropsychological instruments. Removal of the MMSE from the ADCS-PACC and replacing it with a test of executive function (verbal fluency; i.e., the ZAVEN) rendered this composite more sensitive even in detecting Aβ-related cognitive decline between Aβ+ and Aβ++ CN older adults

Enhanced insulin sensitivity associated with provision of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids in skeletal muscle cells involves counter modulation of PP2A

International audienceAims/Hypothesis: Reduced skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity is a feature associated with sustained exposure to excess saturated fatty acids (SFA), whereas mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA) not only improve insulin sensitivity but blunt SFA-induced insulin resistance. The mechanisms by which MUFAs and PUFAs institute these favourable changes remain unclear, but may involve stimulating insulin signalling by counter-modulation/repression of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). This study investigated the effects of oleic acid (OA; a MUFA), linoleic acid (LOA; a PUFA) and palmitate (PA; a SFA) in cultured myotubes and determined whether changes in insulin signalling can be attributed to PP2A regulation. Principal Findings: We treated cultured skeletal myotubes with unsaturated and saturated fatty acids and evaluated insulin signalling, phosphorylation and methylation status of the catalytic subunit of PP2A. Unlike PA, sustained incubation of rat or human myotubes with OA or LOA significantly enhanced Akt-and ERK1/2-directed insulin signalling. This was not due to heightened upstream IRS1 or PI3K signalling nor to changes in expression of proteins involved in proximal insulin signalling, but was associated with reduced dephosphorylation/inactivation of Akt and ERK1/2. Consistent with this, PA reduced PP2Ac demethylation and tyrosine 307 phosphorylation-events associated with PP2A activation. In contrast, OA and LOA strongly opposed these PA-induced changes in PP2Ac thus exerting a repressive effect on PP2A.Conclusions/Interpretation: Beneficial gains in insulin sensitivity and the ability of unsaturated fatty acids to oppose palmitate-induced insulin resistance in muscle cells may partly be accounted for by counter-modulation of PP2A

Comparative Analysis of Different Definitions of Amyloid-beta Positivity to Detect Early Downstream Pathophysiological Alterations in Preclinical Alzheimer

Amyloid-β (Aβ) positivity is defined using different biomarkers and different criteria. Criteria used in symptomatic patients may conceal meaningful early Aβ pathology in preclinical Alzheimer. Therefore, the description of sensitive cutoffs to study the pathophysiological changes in early stages of the Alzheimer’s continuum is critical. Here, we compare different Aβ classification approaches and we show their performance in detecting pathophysiological changes downstream Aβ pathology. We studied 368 cognitively unimpaired individuals of the ALFA+ study, many of whom in the preclinical stage of the Alzheimer’s continuum. Participants underwent Aβ PET and CSF biomarkers assessment. We classified participants as Aβ -positive using five approaches: (1) CSF Aβ42 12; (4) Aβ PET Centiloid > 30 or (5) Aβ PET Positive visual read. We assessed the correlations between Aβ biomarkers and compared the prevalence of Aβ positivity. We determined which approach significantly detected associations between Aβ pathology and tau/neurodegeneration CSF biomarkers. We found that CSF-based approaches result in a higher Aβ-positive prevalence than PET-based ones. There was a higher number of discordant participants classified as CSF Aβ-positive but PET Aβ-negative than CSF Aβ-negative but PET Aβ-positive. The CSF Aβ 42/40 approach allowed optimal detection of significant associations with CSF p-tau and t-tau in the Aβ-positive group. Altogether, we highlight the need for sensitive Aβ -classifications to study the preclinical Alzheimer’s continuum. Approaches that define Aβ positivity based on optimal discrimination of symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease patients may be suboptimal for the detection of early pathophysiological alterations in preclinical Alzheimer

Novel merwinite/akermanite ceramics: in vitro bioactivity

The ceramics in the system CaO – MgO – SiO2 has recently received a great deal of attention because they exhibit good in vitro bioactivity and have potential use as bone implants. Biphasic calcium-magnesium-silicate ceramics was prepared by a sol-gel method. The dried gel with chemical composition 3CaO.MgO.2SiO2 was thermally treated at 1300°C for 2 h. The structural behavior of the synthesized ceramics was examined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Merwinite, as the main crystalline phase, and akermanite, as the minor phase, were identified. The in vitro bioactivity of the synthesized ceramic samples was recorded in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) for different times of soaking. The apatite formation on the surface of the immersed samples was detected by FTIR, SEM and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. The ion concentrations in the SBF solutions after the in vitro test were evaluated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). On the basis of the results obtained, the ability of the biphasic ceramics to deposit apatite layer was found. The peculiarities of the formation of apatite layer depending on the phase composition were analyzed and discussed