ANALYSIS OF THE CULTURAL MODEL OF NUTRITION IN CENTRAL HONDURAS

Currently present is a lack of cultural competency of the diet, the roles of available food, and preferred food choices of Hondurans. This creates disconnect between the people receiving dietary information and those who seek to educate Hondurans regarding nutritional lifestyle changes. A Cultural Domain Analysis (CDA), 24-hour food recall, and personal interviews were conducted of the diet in Taulabé Comayagua, Honduras. It was found that Hondurans typically group foods based on three main topics 1.) Items as standalone meals 2.) Everyday meals. 3.) Snack foods. This research provides information for the development and implementation of nutrition education material for the people of central Honduras

School refusal behavior: The relationship between family environment and parenting style

School refusal behavior has been researched and discussed within psychological and educational communities for over a century, and family environment has been found to influence such behavior. Specifically, differences have been found with respect to the function of youth school refusal behavior and levels of familial independence, cohesion, and conflict. Parenting styles have also been found to influence the behavior of youth. Authoritative parenting is associated with children who perform well scholastically and exhibit few internalizing or externalizing behaviors. Family environment and parenting styles have not been researched as joint influences on school refusal behavior. This study investigated possible effects of family environment and parenting styles on youngsters with school refusal behavior within Las Vegas middle and high school students. Results indicated that youth refusing school for attention reported significantly lower levels of independence than families of children refusing school for tangible reinforcement. Youth refusing school for tangible reinforcement were in the sample majority. In response, youth refusing school for tangible reinforcement were further grouped into two- and three-group diagnostic classifications. Differences were found among these groups with respect to family expressiveness and moral-religious emphasis. With respect to parenting, youth within the entire sample perceived parents as predominantly authoritarian and differences were found among the two- and three-group classifications with respect to mother permissiveness. Post hoc analyses revealed differences among the two- and three-group diagnostic classifications with respect to internalizing and externalizing behaviors, with youth refusing school for tangible reinforcement without the influence of another function reporting lower incidences of internalizing symptoms and social problems. Results indicated the value of family and parent assessment in youth with school refusal behavior. In addition, further investigation of the variability among youth refusing school for tangible reinforcement may result in more successful assessment and treatment for this population

Analgesic Effects of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibition in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

Cannabinoid-based medicines have therapeutic potential for the treatment of pain. Augmentation of levels of endocannabinoids with inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is analgesic in models of acute and inflammatory pain states. The aim of this study was to determine whether local inhibition of FAAH alters nociceptive responses of spinal neurons in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain. Electrophysiological studies were performed 14-18 days after spinal nerve ligation or sham surgery, and the effects of the FAAHinhibitor cyclohexylcarbamic acid 3-carbamoyl biphenyl-3-yl ester (URB597) on mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurons and levels of endocannabinoids were determined. Intraplantar URB597 (25 _g in 50 _l) significantly ( p _ 0.01) attenuated mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurons in sham-operated rats. Effects of URB597 were blocked by the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1 ) antagonist AM251 [N-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-4-methyl-N-1-piperidinyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide] (30_g in50_l) and the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. URB597 treatment increased levels of anandamide, 2-arachidonyl glycerol, and oleoyl ethanolamide in the ipsilateral hindpaw of shamoperated rats. Intraplantar URB597 (25 _g in 50 _l) did not, however, alter mechanically evoked responses of spinal neurons in spinal nerve ligated (SNL) rats or hindpaw levels of endocannabinoids. Intraplantar injection of a higher dose of URB597 (100 _g in 50 _l) significantly ( p_0.05) attenuated evoked responses of spinal neurons in SNL rats but did not alter hindpaw levels of endocannabinoids. Spinal administration of URB597 attenuated evoked responses of spinal neurons and elevated levels of endocannabinoids in shamoperated and SNL rats. These data suggest that peripheral FAAH activity may be altered or that alternative pathways of metabolism have greater importance in SNL rats

Inhibitory effects of aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 on spinal nociceptive processing in rat pain models

Background: Harnessing the actions of the resolvin pathways has the potential for the treatment of a wide range of conditions associated with overt inflammatory signalling. Aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) has robust analgesic effects in behavioural models of pain; however, the potential underlying spinal neurophysiological mechanisms contributing to these inhibitory effects in vivo are yet to be determined. This study investigated the acute effects of spinal AT-RvD1 on evoked responses of spinal neurones in vivo in a model of acute inflammatory pain and chronic osteoarthritic (OA) pain and the relevance of alterations in spinal gene expression to these neurophysiological effects. Methods: Pain behaviour was assessed in rats with established carrageenan-induced inflammatory or monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA pain, and changes in spinal gene expression of resolvin receptors and relevant enzymatic pathways were examined. At timepoints of established pain behaviour, responses of deep dorsal horn wide dynamic range (WDR) neurones to transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the hind paw were recorded pre- and post direct spinal administration of AT-RvD1 (15 and 150 ng/50 μl). Results: AT-RvD1 (15 ng/50 μl) significantly inhibited WDR neurone responses to electrical stimuli at C- (29 % inhibition) and Aδ-fibre (27 % inhibition) intensities. Both wind-up (53 %) and post-discharge (46 %) responses of WDR neurones in carrageenan-treated animals were significantly inhibited by AT-RvD1, compared to pre-drug response (p < 0.05). These effects were abolished by spinal pre-administration of a formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2/ALX) antagonist, butoxy carbonyl-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe (BOC-2) (50 μg/50 μl). AT-RvD1 did not alter evoked WDR neurone responses in non-inflamed or MIA-treated rats. Electrophysiological effects in carrageenan-inflamed rats were accompanied by a significant increase in messenger RNA (mRNA) for chemerin (ChemR23) receptor and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) and a decrease in 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) mRNA in the ipsilateral spinal cord of the carrageenan group, compared to controls. Conclusions: Our data suggest that peripheral inflammation-mediated changes in spinal FLAP expression may contribute to the novel inhibitory effects of spinal AT-RvD1 on WDR neuronal excitability, which are mediated by FPR2/ALX receptors. Inflammatory-driven changes in this pathway may offer novel targets for inflammatory pain treatment

Calcitonin gene-related peptide-expressing sensory neurons and spinal microglial reactivity contribute to pain states in collagen-induced arthritis

Objective To evaluate the contribution of sensory neurons in ankle joints and adjacent tissue to the development of pain in collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA), and to determine the relationship between pain and the appearance of clinical signs. Methods Mechanical and heat hypersensitivity and hind paw swelling were assessed in Lewis rats before and until 18 days following collagen immunization. We examined the effect of intrathecal administration of a calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) antagonist (CGRP8–37) from day 11 to day 18 postimmunization on CIA‐induced hypersensitivity. During CIA development, CGRP and p‐ERK immunoreactivity was quantified in lumbar dorsal root ganglia in which sensory neurons innervating the ankle joint were identified by retrograde labeling with Fluoro‐Gold. Microgliosis in the lumbar dorsal horn was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and release of CGRP evoked by activity of primary afferent fibers was measured using a preparation of isolated dorsal horn with dorsal roots attached. Results CIA was associated with mechanical hypersensitivity that was evident before hind paw swelling and that was exacerbated with the development of swelling. Heat hyperalgesia developed along with swelling. Concomitant with the development of mechanical hypersensitivity, joint innervating neurons exhibited enhanced CGRP expression and an activated phenotype (increased p‐ERK expression), and significant microgliosis became evident in the dorsal horn; these peripheral and central changes were augmented further with disease progression. CGRP release evoked by dorsal root stimulation was higher in the dorsal horn on day 18 in rats with CIA compared to control rats. Prolonged intrathecal administration of CGRP8–37 attenuated established mechanical hypersensitivity and reduced spinal microgliosis. Conclusion Sensory neuron–derived CGRP sustains mechanical hypersensitivity and spinal microglial reactivity in CIA, suggesting that central mechanisms play critical roles in chronic inflammatory pain. Blockade of these central events may provide pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients frequently show weak correlations between the magnitude of pain and inflammation suggesting that mechanisms other than overt peripheral inflammation contribute to pain in RA. We assessed changes in microglial reactivity and spinal excitability and their contribution to pain-like behaviour in the early stages of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Methods: Mechanically evoked hypersensitivity, spinal nociceptive withdrawal reflexes (NWRs) and hind paw swelling were evaluated in female Lewis rats before and until 13 days following collagen immunization. In the spinal dorsal horn, microgliosis was assayed using immunohistochemistry (Iba-1/p-p38) and cyto(chemo)kine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Intrathecal administration of microglia-targeting drugs A-438079 (P2X7 antagonist) and LHVS (cathepsin S inhibitor) were examined upon hypersensitivity, NWRs, microgliosis andcyto(chemo)kine levels in the early phase of CIA. Results: The early phase of CIA was associated with mechanical allodynia and exaggerated mechanically evoked spinal NWRs, evident before hind paw swelling, and exacerbated with the development of swelling. Concomitant with the development of hypersensitivity was the presence of reactive spinal microgliosis and an increase of IL-1β levels in CSF (just detectable in plasma). Prolonged intrathecal administration of microglial inhibitors attenuated the development of mechanical allodynia, reduced microgliosis and attenuated IL-1β increments. Acute spinal application of either microglial inhibitor significantly diminished the sensitization of the spinal NWRs. Conclusions: Mechanical hypersensitivity in the early phase of CIA is associated with central sensitization that is dependent upon microglial-mediated release of IL-1β in the spinal cord. Blockade of these spinal events may provide pain relief in RA patients

Morbid obesity is associated with postoperative complications in laparoscopic hysterectomy

Background: The prevalence of obesity in American women is 38.3%. Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery in reproductive age women; most of these procedures are performed laparoscopically. From 2011 to 2015, 3.2% of women age 15-44 years underwent hysterectomy; 89.6% of these procedures were performed for management of medical conditions including uterine fibroids, menstrual disorders, uterine prolapse, and endometriosis. The high rates of obesity and hysterectomy in women demand better understanding of the relationship between obesity and postoperative complications following laparoscopic hysterectomy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Database (ACS-NSQIP) by identifying all patients who underwent laparoscopic total hysterectomy, laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy, or laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy from 2007 to 2013 using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. These patients were stratified by BMI (40); univariate and multivariate analyses were then performed to evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications in these groups. Results: Patients with BMI \u3e 30 were more likely to experience postoperative complications including superficial surgical site wound infection, deep surgical site infection, failure to wean from the ventilator \u3e 48 hours, unplanned reintubation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, renal insufficiency, renal failure, and extended hospital length of stay \u3e 2 days. Multivariate analysis suggests that BMI \u3e 30 is an independent risk factor for superficial surgical site infection, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: Patients with obesity and morbid obesity were more likely to present with risk factors and comorbidities than nonobese patients. While complication rates following laparoscopic hysterectomy are low across BMI groups, patients with BMI \u3e 30 were more likely to suffer from at least one postoperative complication. Data indicate that obesity may contribute to a significantly increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the postoperative period, suggesting the need for additional venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Obesity should be considered when planning for and performing laparoscopic hysterectomy

Augmented pain behavioural responses to intra-articular injection of nerve growth factor in two animal models of osteoarthritis

Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Paul Millns for his technical assistance with tissue (dorsal root ganglia) collection. Competing interests None. Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewedPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Primates create seedling growth hotspots through pattern of dung deposition

Primates may play important roles in accelerating ecosystem nutrient cycling, seed dispersal and herbivory. They comprise a large part of the biomass of forest communities and tend to have clumped patterns of defecations at favored food trees or sleeping sites. The paper reports on a controlled growth experiment to quantify the effect of primate dung on the growth of both light-demanding and shade tolerant seedlings in Kibale National Park (Uganda). Analysis reveals that light-demanding species were affected by the natural dung treatment and plants with small initial size had accelerated growth. There was no effect on (the often slower) plant growth for shade tolerant plants over the year long study.Canada Research Chairs ProgramNatural Science and Engineering Research Council of CanadaFonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les TechnologiesNational Geographic Societ