33 research outputs found

    Lower plasma concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in patients with ADHD

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    Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced during bacterial fermentation, have been shown to be mediators in the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This axis has been proposed to influence psychiatric symptoms seen in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there is no report of plasma SCFA concentrations in ADHD. The aim of this study was to explore the plasma concentrations of SCFAs in children and adults with ADHD and the possible factors that could influence those levels. We collected data on age group, sex, serum vitamin D levels, delivery mode, body mass index, diet, medication and blood samples from 233 ADHD patients and 36 family-related healthy controls. The concentrations of SCFAs and the intermediary metabolite succinic acid, were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Adults with ADHD had lower plasma concentrations of formic, acetic, propionic and succinic acid than their healthy family members. When adjusting for SCFA-influential factors among those with ADHD, children had lower concentrations of formic, propionic and isovaleric acid than adults, and those who had more antibiotic medications during the last 2 years had lower concentrations of formic, propionic and succinic acid. When adjusting for antibiotic medication, we found that among children, those currently on stimulant medication had lower acetic and propionic acid levels, and adults with ADHD had lower formic and propionic acid concentrations than adult healthy family members. In all, our findings show lower-than-normal plasma concentrations of SCFAs in ADHD explained in-part by antibiotic medication, age and stimulant medication. Whether or not this is of clinical significance is yet to be explored

    Effects of a Synbiotic on Plasma Immune Activity Markers and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Children and Adults with ADHD—A Randomized Controlled Trial

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    Synbiotic 2000, a pre + probiotic, reduced comorbid autistic traits and emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. Immune activity and bacteria-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are microbiota–gut–brain axis mediators. The aim was to investigate Synbiotic 2000 effects on plasma levels of immune activity markers and SCFAs in children and adults with ADHD. ADHD patients (n = 182) completed the 9-week intervention with Synbiotic 2000 or placebo and 156 provided blood samples. Healthy adult controls (n = 57) provided baseline samples. At baseline, adults with ADHD had higher pro-inflammatory sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and lower SCFA levels than controls. Children with ADHD had higher baseline sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, IL-12/IL-23p40, IL-2Rα, and lower formic, acetic, and propionic acid levels than adults with ADHD. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and propionic acid levels were more abnormal in children on medication. Synbiotic 2000, compared to placebo, reduced IL-12/IL-23p40 and sICAM-1 and increased propionic acid levels in children on medication. SCFAs correlated negatively with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. Preliminary human aortic smooth-muscle-cell experiments indicated that SCFAs protected against IL-1ÎČ-induced ICAM-1 expression. These findings suggest that treatment with Synbiotic 2000 reduces IL12/IL-23p40 and sICAM-1 and increases propionic acid levels in children with ADHD. Propionic acid, together with formic and acetic acid, may contribute to the lowering of the higher-than-normal sICAM-1 levels

    Introducing a reward system in assessment in histology: A comment on the learning strategies it might engender

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    BACKGROUND: Assessment, as an inextricable component of the curriculum, is an important factor influencing student approaches to learning. If assessment is to drive learning, then it must assess the desired outcomes. In an effort to alleviate some of the anxiety associated with a traditional discipline-based second year of medical studies, a bonus system was introduced into the Histology assessment. Students obtaining a year mark of 70% were rewarded with full marks for some tests, resulting in many requiring only a few percentage points in the final examination to pass Histology. METHODS: In order to ascertain whether this bonus system might be impacting positively on student learning, thirty-two second year medical students (non-randomly selected, representing four academic groups based on their mid-year results) were interviewed in 1997 and, in 1999, the entire second year class completed a questionnaire (n = 189). Both groups were asked their opinions of the bonus system. RESULTS: Both groups overwhelming voted in favour of the bonus system, despite less than 45% of students failing to achieve it. Students commented that it relieved some of the stress of the year-end examinations, and was generally motivating with regard to their work commitment. CONCLUSIONS: Being satisfied with how and what we assess in Histology, we are of the opinion that this reward system may contribute to engendering appropriate learning approaches (i.e. for understanding) in students. As a result of its apparent positive influence on learning and attitudes towards learning, this bonus system will continue to operate until the traditional programme is phased out. It is hoped that other educators, believing that their assessment is a reflection of the intended outcomes, might recognise merit in rewarding students for consistent achievement

    Factors influencing the approaches to studying of preclinical and clinical students and postgraduate trainees

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Students can be classified into three categories depending on their approaches to studying; namely, deep approach (DA), strategic approach (SA) and surface apathetic or superficial approach (SAA). The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting the approaches to studying among Sri Lankan medical undergraduates and post graduate trainees and to analyze the change in the pattern of study skills with time and experience.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Pre-clinical and clinical students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and postgraduate trainees in Surgery at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka were invited to complete the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 187 pre clinical (M: F = 96:91), 124 clinical (M: F = 61:63) and 53 post graduate trainees (M: F = 50:3) participated in the study. Approaches of male and female students were similar. SA was significantly affected by age among the preclinical students (p = 0.01), but not in other groups. Among pre-clinical students, males preferred a teacher who supported understanding (p = 0.04) but females preferred a passive transmission of information (p < 0.001). This, too, was not visible among other groups. A linear regression performed on group (batch), gender, island rank at GCE Advance Level (AL) examination, self appraisal score and the preference scores of type of teacher only managed to explain 35% or less of variance observed for each approach in individual groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Different factors affect the approach to studying in different groups but these explain only a small fraction of the variance observed.</p

    The effect of human patient simulation on critical thinking and its predictors in prelicensure nursing students

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    UnlabelledHuman patient simulation (HPS) is becoming a popular teaching method in nursing education globally and is believed to enhance both knowledge and critical thinking.ObjectiveWhile there is evidence that HPS improves knowledge, there is no objective nursing data to support HPS impact on critical thinking. Therefore, we studied knowledge and critical thinking before and after HPS in prelicensure nursing students and attempted to identify the predictors of higher critical thinking scores.MethodsUsing a one-group, quasi-experimental, pre-test post-test design, 154 prelicensure nursing students (age 25.7± 6.7; gender=87.7% female) from 3 schools were studied at the same point in their curriculum using a high-fidelity simulation. Pre- and post-HPS assessments of knowledge, critical thinking, and self-efficacy were done as well as assessments for demographics and learning style.ResultsThere was a mean improvement in knowledge scores of 6.5 points (P&lt;0.001), showing evidence of learning. However, there was no statistically significant change in the critical thinking scores. A logistic regression with 10 covariates revealed three variables to be predictors of higher critical thinking scores: greater "age" (P=0.01), baseline "knowledge" (P=0.04) and a low self-efficacy score ("not at all confident") in "baseline self-efficacy in managing a patient's fluid levels" (P=.05).ConclusionThis study reveals that gains in knowledge with HPS do not equate to changes in critical thinking. It does expose the variables of older age, higher baseline knowledge and low self-efficacy in "managing a patient's fluid levels" as being predictive of higher critical thinking ability. Further study is warranted to determine the effect of repeated or sequential simulations (dosing) and timing after the HPS experience on critical thinking gains

    ”De otroliga Ă„ren” - behandlares erfarenhet av Webster-Strattons manualbaserade förĂ€ldratrĂ€ning

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    Aggressivitet och utagerande beteenden hos barn Ă€r ett vĂ€xande problem med konsekvenser bĂ„de pĂ„ individ och pĂ„ samhĂ€llsnivĂ„. Det finns idag evidensbaserade behandlingsmetoder som förebygger och behandlar barns utagerande beteendeproblem men forskningen visar att fĂ„ barn fĂ„r tillgĂ„ng till dem. FörĂ€ldratrĂ€ning Ă€r den metod som har starkast forskningsstöd. Studiens syfte Ă€r att med hjĂ€lp av kvalitativa intervjuer ge en bild av behandlares erfarenhet och upplevelse av ”De otroliga Ă„ren”, ett manualbaserat förĂ€ldratrĂ€ningsprogram inom Barn och ungdomspsykiatrin samt att beskriva hur det tillĂ€mpats. Resultatet visar att 7 av 9 mottagningar som anvĂ€nder metoden arbetar manualtroget dvs. fĂ„r med kĂ€rnkomponenterna i programmet. Detta innebĂ€r en positiv förĂ€ndring jĂ€mfört med tidigare utvĂ€rderingar. Faktorer som motiverar behandlarna att följa manualen Ă€r metodens effektivitet, tillgĂ„ng till handledning, tillrĂ€ckligt med tid, kollegor som arbetar med metoden, tillit till forskningsbaserade metoder samt stöd frĂ„n chefen

    Automated Code Inspection: Investigating Deployment of Continuous Inspection

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    Developing high quality software is a challenging task and there are various techniques and processes proposed to achieve high quality of software. This project examines the process of continuous inspection that automatically reviews source code using modern technology, such as repository management services, continuous integration services and continuous code analysis tools. More specifically, this study examines how the continuous inspection process can be deployed effectively in a software team. The deployment was performed together with an interview-based study in order to get feedback on the integration alternatives of the process. The project resulted in a set of guidelines on how continuous inspection can be effectively integrated and how to establish a process that developers perceive as useful and seamlessly integrating into their workflow. These guidelines help to understand the benefits and drawbacks of integrating the continuous inspection process. Further studies are needed to investigate the integration of the continuous inspection process with different tools and features to fully answer the question how the continuous inspection process can be effectively deployed into software team’s development processes.Att utveckla högkvalitativ mjukvara Ă€r en utmanande uppgift och det finns olika tekniker och processer som kan anvĂ€ndas för att uppnĂ„ hög kvalitet pĂ„ mjukvaran. Detta arbete undersöker den moderna processen kontinuerlig kodinspektion som automatiskt granskar koden med hjĂ€lp av modern teknologi, till exempel webbaserade versionshanteringssystem, kontinuerliga integrationsservrar och kontinuerliga kodinspektionsverktyg. Mer specifikt undersöker denna studie hur den kontinuerliga inspektionsprocessen kan integreras i ett mjukvaruteams utvecklingsprocesser. Studiens integration genomfördes tillsammans med en intervjubaserad studie för att fĂ„ feedback kring de olika integrationsalternativen för processen. Projektet resulterade i en uppsĂ€ttning riktlinjer för hur kontinuerlig inspektion effektivt kan integreras och hur man etablerar en process som utvecklare uppfattar som anvĂ€ndbar och som smidigt kan integreras i arbetsflödet. Dessa riktlinjer hjĂ€lper till att förstĂ„ fördelarna och nackdelarna med att integrera den kontinuerliga inspektionsprocessen. Ytterligare studier behövs för att undersöka integrationen av den kontinuerliga inspektionsprocessen med olika verktyg och funktioner. Detta för att kunna fullt ut svara pĂ„ hur den kontinuerliga inspektionsprocessen effektivt kan integreras i mjukvaruteams utvecklingsprocesser

    Comparing performance and developer experience for a serverless application integrated with a serverless database

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    Cloud computing has introduced a paradigm shift in the information technology sector by enabling the user to access computing resources over the internet. Serverless is a new cloud computing technology that has gained significant popularity for the deployment of services and applications. Serverless applications are often integrated with other services such as serverless databases. Existing work in the area of performance evaluation of serverless applications mainly focuses on serverless applications that are not integrated with a serverless database. Additionally, there is a lack of evaluation of the user experience for the implementation of a serverless application on the different cloud providers. This thesis aims to evaluate the performance and developer experience of serverless applications integrated with a serverless database on the three leading cloud platforms: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. This was performed by implementing and performing tests on an experimental serverless application implemented on each platform. Furthermore, the thesis compares the performance difference between the two programming languages Python and Javascript (Node.js). This thesis indicates that AWS has the overall best performance and user experience of the three platforms.

    Comparing performance and developer experience for a serverless application integrated with a serverless database

    Full text link
    Cloud computing has introduced a paradigm shift in the information technology sector by enabling the user to access computing resources over the internet. Serverless is a new cloud computing technology that has gained significant popularity for the deployment of services and applications. Serverless applications are often integrated with other services such as serverless databases. Existing work in the area of performance evaluation of serverless applications mainly focuses on serverless applications that are not integrated with a serverless database. Additionally, there is a lack of evaluation of the user experience for the implementation of a serverless application on the different cloud providers. This thesis aims to evaluate the performance and developer experience of serverless applications integrated with a serverless database on the three leading cloud platforms: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. This was performed by implementing and performing tests on an experimental serverless application implemented on each platform. Furthermore, the thesis compares the performance difference between the two programming languages Python and Javascript (Node.js). This thesis indicates that AWS has the overall best performance and user experience of the three platforms.
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