Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, Habitat Associations in Cook Inlet, Alaska

A review of available information describing habitat associations for belugas, Delphinapterus leucas, in Cook Inlet was undertaken to complement population assessment surveys from 1993-2000. Available data for physical, biological, and anthropogenic factors in Cook Inlet are summarized followed by a provisional description of seasonal habitat associations. To summarize habitat preferences, the beluga summer distribution pattern was used to partition Cook Inlet into three regions. In general, belugas congregate in shallow, relatively warm, low-salinity water near major river outflows in upper Cook Inlet during summer (defined as their primary habitat), where prey availability is comparatively high and predator occurrence relatively low. In winter, belugas are seen in the central inlet, but sightings are fewer in number, and whales more dispersed compared to summer. Belugas are associated with a range of ice conditions in winter, from ice-free to 60% ice-covered water. Natural catastrophic events, such as fires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, have had no reported effect on beluga habitat, although such events likely affect water quality and, potentially, prey availability. Similarly, although sewage effluent and discharges from industrial and military activities along Cook Inlet negatively affect water quality, analyses of organochlorines and heavy metal burdens indicate that Cook Inlet belugas are not assimilating contaminant loads greater than any other Alaska beluga stocks. Offshore oil and gas activities and vessel traffic are high in the central inlet compared with other Alaska waters, although belugas in Cook Inlet seem habituated to these anthropogenic factors. Anthropogenic factors that have the highest potential negative impacts on belugas include subsistence hunts (not discussed in this report), noise from transportation and offshore oil and gas extraction (ship transits and aircraft overflights), and water quality degradation (from urban runoff and sewage treatment facilities). Although significant impacts from anthropogenic factors other than hunting are not yet apparent, assessment of potential impacts from human activities, especially those that may effect prey availability, are needed

The Role of Professional Development in Bridging High-Quality Social-Emotional Learning in Laboratory and Community Preschools

The current study presents an exploratory model of comprehensive professional development that provides early childhood education and care teachers with opportunities to enhance their skills in social-emotional learning (SEL). Skills development strategies include a combination of workshops, observations of high-quality university laboratory preschool classrooms, consultation with master educators, on-site coaching, and communities of practice. The study found statistically significant improvements in content knowledge, knowledge of evidence-based strategies, and self-efficacy to implement new strategies in the classroom for participants of the Promoting Prosocial Behavior workshop. Teachers and administrators who participated in observations, coaching, and/or communities of practice reported value in each component of professional development. Results of this project suggest that a multipronged approach of supporting SEL in the classroom has a positive impact on teachers’ self-regulation and modeling skills

Nanodiamond-Gutta Percha Composite Biomaterials for Root Canal Therapy.

Root canal therapy (RCT) represents a standard of treatment that addresses infected pulp tissue in teeth and protects against future infection. RCT involves removing dental pulp comprising blood vessels and nerve tissue, decontaminating residually infected tissue through biomechanical instrumentation, and root canal obturation using a filler material to replace the space that was previously composed of dental pulp. Gutta percha (GP) is typically used as the filler material, as it is malleable, inert, and biocompatible. While filling the root canal space with GP is the standard of care for endodontic therapies, it has exhibited limitations including leakage, root canal reinfection, and poor mechanical properties. To address these challenges, clinicians have explored the use of alternative root filling materials other than GP. Among the classes of materials that are being explored as novel endodontic therapy platforms, nanodiamonds (NDs) may offer unique advantages due to their favorable properties, particularly for dental applications. These include versatile faceted surface chemistry, biocompatibility, and their role in improving mechanical properties, among others. This study developed a ND-embedded GP (NDGP) that was functionalized with amoxicillin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic commonly used for endodontic infection. Comprehensive materials characterization confirmed improved mechanical properties of NDGP over unmodified GP. In addition, digital radiography and microcomputed tomography imaging demonstrated that obturation of root canals with NDGP could be achieved using clinically relevant techniques. Furthermore, bacterial growth inhibition assays confirmed drug functionality of NDGP functionalized with amoxicillin. This study demonstrates a promising path toward NDGP implementation in future endodontic therapy for improved treatment outcomes

Cultural basis of social ‘deficits’ in autism spectrum disorders

There is very little research that specifically looks at how autism spectrum disorders are perceived in various communities. This qualitative research was conducted with parents who had children on the autistic spectrum belonging to four different ethnic communities (White British, Somali, West African and South Asian- 63 in total) and living in the UK. The study found that the importance that the parents give to various social skills varied on the basis of their cultural background and the gender of the parent. This is an important aspect to consider while providing support and services to individuals on the autism spectrum and their family members if the services have to be appropriate for their needs. This consideration would also enable the individuals on the autism spectrum to develop appropriate social skills required within their cultural groups. This is a preliminary study and further research on the topic is required

Association between use of hydrochlorothiazide and nonmelanoma skin cancer: Common data model cohort study in Asian population

Although hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has been suggested to increase skin cancer risk in white Westerners, there is scant evidence for the same in Asians. We analyzed the association between the use of hydrochlorothiazide and non-melanoma in the Asian population using the common data model. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter observational study was conducted using a distributed research network to analyze the effect of HCTZ on skin cancer from 2004 to 2018. We performed Cox regression to evaluate the effects by comparing the use of HCTZ with other antihypertensive drugs. All analyses were re-evaluated using matched data using the propensity score matching (PSM). Then, the overall effects were evaluated by combining results with the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Positive associations were observed in the use of HCTZ with high cumulative dose for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in univariate analysis prior to the use of PSM. Some negative associations were observed in the use of low and medium cumulative doses. CONCLUSION: Although many findings in our study were inconclusive, there was a non-significant association of a dose-response pattern with estimates increasing in cumulative dose of HCTZ. In particular, a trend with a non-significant positive association was observed with the high cumulative dose of HCTZ

Transmission of Seasonal Outbreak of Childhood Enteroviral Aseptic Meningitis and Hand-foot-mouth Disease

This study was conducted to evaluate the modes of transmission of aseptic meningitis (AM) and hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) using a case-control and a case-crossover design. We recruited 205 childhood AM and 116 HFMD cases and 170 non-enteroviral disease controls from three general hospitals in Gyeongju, Pohang, and Seoul between May and August in both 2002 and 2003. For the case-crossover design, we established the hazard and non-hazard periods as week one and week four before admission, respectively. In the case-control design, drinking water that had not been boiled, not using a water purifier, changes in water quality, and contact with AM patients were significantly associated with the risk of AM (odds ratio [OR]=2.8, 2.9, 4.6, and 10.9, respectively), while drinking water that had not been boiled, having a non-water closet toilet, changes in water quality, and contact with HFMD patients were associated with risk of HFMD (OR=3.3, 2.8, 6.9, and 5.0, respectively). In the case-crossover design, many life-style variables such as contact with AM or HFMD patients, visiting a hospital, changes in water quality, presence of a skin wound, eating out, and going shopping were significantly associated with the risk of AM (OR=18.0, 7.0, 8.0, 2.2, 22.3, and 3.0, respectively) and HFMD (OR=9.0, 37.0, 11.0, 12.0, 37.0, and 5.0, respectively). Our findings suggest that person-to-person contact and contaminated water could be the principal modes of transmission of AM and HFMD

Discrepant glomerular filtration rate trends from creatinine and cystatin C in patients with chronic kidney disease: results from the KNOW-CKD cohort

Abstract Background Serum creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C (CysC) can both be used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFRCr and eGFRCysC). However, certain conditions may cause discrepancies between eGFR trends from Cr and CysC, and these remain undetermined in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods A total of 1069 patients from the Korean CKD cohort (KNOW-CKD), which enrolls pre-dialytic CKD patients, whose Cr and CysC had been followed for more than 4 years were included in the sample. We performed trajectory analysis using latent class mixed modeling and identified members of the discrepancy group when patient trends between eGFRCr and eGFRCysC differed. Multivariate logistic analyses with Firths penalized likelihood regression models were performed to identify conditions related to the discrepancy. Results Trajectory patterns of eGFRCr were classified into three groups: two groups with stable eGFRCr (stable with high eGFRCr and stable with low eGFRCr) and one group with decreasing eGFRCr. Trajectory analysis of eGFRCysC also showed similar patterns, comprising two groups with stable eGFRCysC and one group with decreasing eGFRCysC. Patients in the discrepancy group (decreasing eGFRCr but stable & low eGFRCysC; n = 55) were younger and had greater proteinuria values than the agreement group (stable & low eGFRCr and eGFRCysC; n = 706), differences that remained consistent irrespective of the measurement period (4 or 5 years). Conclusions In the present study, we identify conditions related to discrepant trends of eGFRCr and eGFRCysC. Clinicians should remain aware of such potential discrepancies when tracing both Cr and CysC

Epidemiological characteristics of ovarian cancer in Korea

Objective: This study was conducted to examine recent trends in ovarian cancer incidence and mortality and secular trends in demographic factors in Korea. Methods: With the data from Korea Central Cancer Registry, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Korean Death Registry, and World Health Organization`s Statistical Information System, we calculated age-standardized incidence and mortality rates for ovarian cancer. Also we estimated future incidence of ovarian and cervical cancer using linear regression model. To assess the demographic trend, data from national surveys in Korea or results from published papers were searched. Results: Ovarian cancer incidence rate was similar to that in women worldwide but lower than those in Western countries, and the trend has been increased steadily. Ovarian cancer-related mortality rates have been increasing in Korea, even though those in western and some Asian countries, such as China, have been decreasing. Age-specific incidence rate and mortality rate showed steep increases with advancing age. The incidence rate of ovarian cancer was estimated to surpass that of uterine cervix cancer in 2015. Korea showed rapid changes in nutritional, reproductive, and anthropometric factors. Conclusion: These recent trends in ovarian cancer incidence and mortality may be partly attributed to gradual westernizing of life styles and to changes in socio-demographic behavior factors. In particular, the increasing trend in ovarian cancer mortality in Korea may be attributed to a real rise in mortality as well as, in part, a decline in misclassification bias related to an increase in the proportion of deaths confirmed by physician diagnosis.Kolahdooz F, 2010, AM J CLIN NUTR, V91, P1752, DOI 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28415Kim HG, 2010, ELECTROCHEM SOLID ST, V13, pH42, DOI 10.1149/1.3266905Cho GJ, 2010, EUR J PEDIATR, V169, P89, DOI 10.1007/s00431-009-0993-1Hirabayashi Y, 2009, JPN J CLIN ONCOL, V39, P860, DOI 10.1093/jjco/hyp168Park SK, 2009, J KOREAN MED ASSOC, V52, P937Ushijima K, 2009, J GYNECOL ONCOL, V20, P67, DOI 10.3802/jgo.2009.20.2.67Kim K, 2009, J GYNECOL ONCOL, V20, P72, DOI 10.3802/jgo.2009.20.2.72ALTEKRUSE SF, 2009, SEER CANC STAT REV 1*WHO, 2009, MORT BURD DIS EST WH*MIN HLTH WELF FAM, 2009, ANN REP CANC INC 200*KIHASA, 2009, NAT SURV DAT MARR FEBeral V, 2008, LANCET, V371, P303AHN YO, 2007, J PREV MED PUB HLTH, V40, P265PARK MJ, 2006, KOREAN J PEDIAT, V49, P610Brewster WR, 2005, NAT CLIN PRACT ONCOL, V2, P286, DOI 10.1038/ncponc0198Brinton LA, 2005, FERTIL STERIL, V83, P261, DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.09.016Zografos GC, 2004, INT J GYNECOL CANCER, V14, P721JO MW, 2004, J PREV MED PUBLIC HL, V37, P345HWANG N, 2003, HLTH WELL POLICY FOR, V82, P88Moorman PG, 2002, CANCER CAUSE CONTROL, V13, P807PARKIN DM, 2002, IARC SCI PUBLICATION, V155Olaitan A, 2000, BRIT J OBSTET GYNAEC, V107, P1094Risch HA, 1998, J NATL CANCER I, V90, P1774Nugent D, 1998, BRIT J OBSTET GYNAEC, V105, P584KIM NI, 1995, KOREAN J POPUL STUD, V18, P1WHITTEMORE AS, 1992, AM J EPIDEMIOL, V136, P1184PARAZZINI F, 1991, GYNECOL ONCOL, V43, P9*KOR NAT STAT OFF, 1983, KOR STAT INF SYST KOSEGI M, 1966, CANC MORTALITY SELEC*WHO, GLOB 2008*SIZ KOR, COMP EST ACC YEAR*MIN HLTH WELF KOR, KOR NAT HLTH NUTR EX*KOR NAT STAT OFF, PIL RES BIRTH STAT 2*KOR NAT STAT OFF, POP PROJ KOR 2005 20*KOR STAT INF SERV, POP STAT