On the feeling of being different-an interview study with people who define themselves as highly sensitive.

The construct of "sensory processing sensitivity" has become an extremely popular concept outside the scientific literature under the term "high sensitivity" (HS), reflected in a variety of self-help guides and media reports. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate this phenomenon by examining in-depth individuals who consider the label HS essential to their self-definition. In semi-structured interviews, 38 individuals described their understanding of HS and its perceived manifestations and impact on their lives (among other topics). Subsequently, the data were content-analytically evaluated, i.e., categorized and quantified. One key finding was that HS individuals feel relief following self-attribution or self-diagnosis. Moreover, this self-attribution replaced the feeling of being somehow different from the others, which almost all interviewees mentioned, with positive attributes. The main negative features of HS mentioned were feeling overwhelmed by sensory and emotional stimuli. The results are discussed with regard to the significance of the label HS for this group on the one hand, and with regard to alternative approaches for future research on the other hand

Mapping the multiple graded contributions of the anterior temporal lobe representational hub to abstract and social concepts:Evidence from distortion-corrected fMRI

A growing body of recent convergent evidence indicates that the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) has connectivity-derived graded differences in semantic function: the ventrolateral region appears to be the transmodal, omni-category center-point of the hub whilst secondary contributions come from the peripheries of the hub in a manner that reflects their differential connectivity to different input/output modalities. One of the key challenges for this neurocognitive theory is how different types of concept, especially those with less reliance upon external sensory experience (such as abstract and social concepts), are coded across the graded ATL hub. We were able to answer this key question by using distortion-corrected fMRI to detect functional activations across the entire ATL region and thus to map the neural basis of social and psycholinguistically-matched abstract concepts. Both types of concept engaged a core left-hemisphere semantic network, including the ventrolateral ATL, prefrontal regions and posterior MTG. Additionally, we replicated previous findings of weaker differential activation of the superior and polar ATL for the processing of social stimuli, in addition to the stronger, omni-category activation observed in the vATL. These results are compatible with the view of the ATL as a graded transmodal substrate for the representation of coherent concepts

Factores asociados a mortalidad en la pandemia de influenza H1N1 2009 en Paraguay

La presencia de condiciones médicas pre-existentes se ha asociado con la mortalidadrelacionada al virus de influenza A (H1N1). El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar losfactores asociados a mortalidad en personas con sospecha de infección con influenza A(H1N1) en Paraguay. Los datos clínicos y epidemiológicos fueron obtenidos a través delsistema de vigilancia para la infección por influenza A(H1N1) establecido en el país por elMinisterio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social a partir del 28 de abril de 2009. Hasta el 30de enero de 2010, fueron notificados a la Dirección General de Vigilancia de la Salud,8303 casos con sospecha de Influenza A (H1N1). Tanto el análisis bivariado como elmultivariado identificaron los siguientes factores de riesgo de mortalidad: obesidad(p=0,022; OR:13,5), embarazo (p<0,001; OR:11,0), Diabetes mellitus (p= 0,006;OR:5,7), enfermedad cardiovascular (p=0,002; OR: 4,6), sexo masculino (p <0,0001,OR: 3,0), edad mayor a 60 años (p =0,008; OR: 2,9) y no haber sido vacunado contra elvirus de influenza estacional en el periodo 2009 (p<0,023; OR: 2,6). El embarazo comofactor de riesgo de mortalidad ya había sido observado en las otras pandemias; no así laobesidad, la cual recién en la última pandemia, ha sido relacionada, por varios países,con complicaciones graves de infección por el virus A (H1N1). Esta asociación amerita eldesarrollo de investigaciones que permitan un mejor abordaje promocional, preventivo yterapéutico de las personas con obesidad

Bacteriological Water Quality Indicators in Natural Waters

Abstract A number of natural waters were analyzed for the presence of somatic coliphages, total and fecal coliforms (TC and FC), Escherichia coli (Ec), heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and fecal streptococci (FS). Sources sampled include permanent and intermittent streams, irrigation canals, potable water treatment plant influents and sewage treatment plant influents and effluents and receiving waters above and below those effluents. Earlier studies in Puerto Rico have suggested that coliphages are only detected in natural waters contaminated with sewage(1). In this study most sources had coliphages most of the time. Coliphage densities are compared with the bacteriological indicators analyzed. Standard Methods(2) includes formulae for the estimation of total and fecal coliform densities from coliphage results. For this study coefficients of empirical formulae to estimate TC and FC densities from coliphage occurrence are given and extended to E. coli densities. Coliphages have proven to be reliable indicators of the occurrence of TC and FC, though not Ec, in these samples and the ease, reliability and precision of the method suggest that it may with confidence be substituted for other methods for natural water monitoring. Key Words: coliphage, natural water quality. Methods & Materials Samples were collected in clean, sterile polypropylene 0.5 or 1 L bottles. A dechlorinating agent was not used for samples from non-chlorinated sources. All samples were transported immediately to the laboratory and refrigerated. All analyses were completed within thirty hours of sample collection. Analyses for coliphage, total coliform(TC), fecal coliform(FC) and fecal streptococci(FS) were in accordance with Standard Methods(2). Heterotrophic plate counts were made on R2A medium, by spread plate techniques and were incubated in the dark for 168 hours at ambient temperature. All coliphage determinations were made utilizing the host culture, Escherichia coli C, ATCC 13706 and following the technique in Standard Methods. Plaques were counted at 6 hours. Presumptive E. coli, (Ec) determinations were made utilizing MPN methods with media containing MUG. MUG-positive cultures (cultures which fluoresce when exposed to long-wave UV -approximately 340 nm) are presumed positive for the presence of E. coli. Samples were collected from 4 sites on an irrigation canal system (canal samples), 5 sites on Río Guanajibo (river samples), a sewage treatment plant influent and effluent and a potable water treatment plant influent (collected at the plant, piped from a small reservoir). Two of the canal sample sites are the influent and effluent of a large wetland, consisting of approximately 350 acres with an average depth of water of 1.5 -2 feet (1.8 billion gallons, 648,000 m 3 )with an unknown residence time. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing PC software, SPSS and SYSTAT, both from SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL. Estimates of TC and FC identified as "calculated" (TCcalc, e.g.) were according to formulae 1 and 3 from Standard Methods

Contraction amplitude is a relevant predictor of bolus transit during sitting viscous solution swallows in healthy individuals : preliminary results of a multicenter study using high resolution impedance manometry (HRIM)

Q1Q1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9219-4548https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1222-0636https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4523-7947Revista Internacional - Indexad

Anxiety can significantly explain bolus perception in the context of hypotensive esophageal motility: Results of a large multicenter study in asymptomatic individuals

This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving'. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved. This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (May 2017) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyBackground Previous studies have not been able to correlate manometry findings with bolus perception. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlation of different variables, including traditional manometric variables (at diagnostic and extreme thresholds), esophageal shortening, bolus transit, automated impedance manometry (AIM) metrics and mood with bolus passage perception in a large cohort of asymptomatic individuals. Methods High resolution manometry (HRM) was performed in healthy individuals from nine centers. Perception was evaluated using a 5‐point Likert scale. Anxiety was evaluated using Hospitalized Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD). Subgroup analysis was also performed classifying studies into normal, hypotensive, vigorous, and obstructive patterns. Key Results One hundred fifteen studies were analyzed (69 using HRM and 46 using high resolution impedance manometry (HRIM); 3.5% swallows in 9.6% of volunteers were perceived. There was no correlation of any of the traditional HRM variables, esophageal shortening, AIM metrics nor bolus transit with perception scores. There was no HRM variable showing difference in perception when comparing normal vs extreme values (percentile 1 or 99). Anxiety but not depression was correlated with perception. Among hypotensive pattern, anxiety was a strong predictor of variance in perception (R2 up to .70). Conclusion and Inferences Bolus perception is less common than abnormal motility among healthy individuals. Neither esophageal motor function nor bolus dynamics evaluated with several techniques seems to explain differences in bolus perception. Different mechanisms seem to be relevant in different manometric patterns. Anxiety is a significant predictor of bolus perception in the context of hypotensive motility

The Mexican consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of NSAID-induced gastropathy and enteropathy

Más de 30 millones de personas consumen diariamente antiinflamatorios noesteroideos (AINE) en el mundo, y este consumo se ve incrementado anualmente. Aunque losAINE poseen propiedades analgésicas y antiinflamatorias, sus eventos adversos gastrointesti-nales son bien reconocidos. En nuestro país no existía un consenso respecto al diagnóstico,tratamiento y prevención de la gastropatía y la enteropatía por AINE, por lo que la AsociaciónMexicana de Gastroenterología reunió a un grupo de expertos para establecer recomendacionesde utilidad para la comunidad médica. En este consenso se emitieron 33 recomendaciones. Elconsenso destaca que el riesgo de toxicidad gastrointestinal de los AINE varía según el fármacoempleado y su farmacocinética, lo cual debe ser considerado al momento de su prescripción. Losfactores de riesgo de complicación gastroduodenal por AINE son: antecedente de úlcera pép-tica, edad mayor a 65 a˜nos, dosis altas del AINE, infección por Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori), ypresencia de comorbilidades graves. Los síntomas y el da˜no gastroduodenal inducido por AINEson variables ya que puede cursar asintomático o manifestarse como anemia por deficiencia dehierro, hemorragia, estenosis y perforación. La cápsula endoscópica y la enteroscopia son méto-dos diagnósticos directos en la enteropatía por AINE. Respecto a la prevención, se recomiendaprescribir la dosis mínima necesaria de un AINE para obtener el efecto deseado y durante elmenor tiempo. Finalmente, los inhibidores de la bomba de protones (IBP) representan el están-dar de oro para la profilaxis y tratamiento de los efectos gastroduodenales, mas no son útilesen la enteropatía

Towards precision medicine: defining and characterizing adipose tissue dysfunction to identify early immunometabolic risk in symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study

Interactions between macrophages and adipocytes are early molecular factors influencing adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, resulting in high leptin, low adiponectin circulating levels and low-grade metaflammation, leading to insulin resistance (IR) with increased cardiovascular risk. We report the characterization of AT dysfunction through measurements of the adiponectin/leptin ratio (ALR), the adipo-insulin resistance index (Adipo-IRi), fasting/postprandial (F/P) immunometabolic phenotyping and direct F/P differential gene expression in AT biopsies obtained from symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study. AT dysfunction was evaluated through associations of the ALR with F/P insulin-glucose axis, lipid-lipoprotein metabolism, and inflammatory markers. A relevant pattern of negative associations between decreased ALR and markers of systemic low-grade metaflammation, HOMA, and postprandial cardiovascular risk hyperinsulinemic, triglyceride and GLP-1 curves was found. We also analysed their plasma non-coding microRNAs and shotgun lipidomics profiles finding trends that may reflect a pattern of adipose tissue dysfunction in the fed and fasted state. Direct gene differential expression data showed initial patterns of AT molecular signatures of key immunometabolic genes involved in AT expansion, angiogenic remodelling and immune cell migration. These data reinforce the central, early role of AT dysfunction at the molecular and systemic level in the pathogenesis of IR and immunometabolic disorders