1,459 research outputs found

    Variations in antibody response to Aspergillus fumigatus inhalation in mice

    Get PDF
    Studies have configured immunological responses to Aspergillus fumigatus in mice, leading to advanced understandings. However, the comparisons of the immune responses between juvenile (younger than 6 weeks) male and female C57BL/6J mice after A. fumigatus exposure, remains uninvestigated. In this study, we intranasally inoculated 3 week old male and female mice with Aspergillus fumigatus spores dilution of 2 106spores per 40 l. They were exposed to the allergen once a week for 8 consecutive weeks and euthanized on day 28 post the last inoculation. As compared to our last report, we increased the sample size for each group in this study. To compare the immune response, we analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage cell counts to quantify macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes after differential staining. We also quantified IgE levels using an ELISA kit to see the allergic response from the repeated exposure of Aspergillus fumigatus. Treatment groups representing both genders have significantly higher lymphocytes. However, macrophages accounted for both the treatment and naive groups have similar quantification.. At the end of the study, our data could indicate that sex differences could be an important factor in shaping the immune response of mice against A. fumigatus which could benefit the design of diagnostics and therapeutics for allergic asthma treatments

    The Effects of Social-Emotional Learning Strategies on Promoting Positive Behavior on Elementary Students

    Get PDF
    The focus of this action research project was to implement social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons to help promote positive behaviors in the classroom. Participants in the six week study included 16 first graders and 21 fourth graders, in two different classrooms, in Central Minnesota. During the intervention both classrooms participated in daily morning meetings, constructed classroom norms, weekly journals and SEL lessons. Data sources included daily behavior frequency tally charts, behavior office referrals, pre/post feedback forms, student journals and a teacher lesson log. After analyzing the data collected during this research project, the researchers concluded that weekly social-emotional teaching had a positive effect on students in elementary schools. Further research could study the impact of a school-wide scale on promoting positive behaviors from social emotional teaching

    The effectiveness of pilates exercise in people with chronic low back pain: A systematic review

    Get PDF
    OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of Pilates exercise in people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) through a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES:A search for RCTs was undertaken using Medical Search Terms and synonyms for "Pilates" and "low back pain" within the maximal date range of 10 databases. Databases included the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; Cochrane Library; Medline; Physiotherapy Evidence Database; ProQuest: Health and Medical Complete, Nursing and Allied Health Source, Dissertation and Theses; Scopus; Sport Discus; Web of Science. STUDY SELECTION:Two independent reviewers were involved in the selection of evidence. To be included, relevant RCTs needed to be published in the English language. From 152 studies, 14 RCTs were included. DATA EXTRACTION:Two independent reviewers appraised the methodological quality of RCTs using the McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies. The author(s), year of publication, and details regarding participants, Pilates exercise, comparison treatments, and outcome measures, and findings, were then extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS:The methodological quality of RCTs ranged from "poor" to "excellent". A meta-analysis of RCTs was not undertaken due to the heterogeneity of RCTs. Pilates exercise provided statistically significant improvements in pain and functional ability compared to usual care and physical activity between 4 and 15 weeks, but not at 24 weeks. There were no consistent statistically significant differences in improvements in pain and functional ability with Pilates exercise, massage therapy, or other forms of exercise at any time period. CONCLUSIONS:Pilates exercise offers greater improvements in pain and functional ability compared to usual care and physical activity in the short term. Pilates exercise offers equivalent improvements to massage therapy and other forms of exercise. Future research should explore optimal Pilates exercise designs, and whether some people with CLBP may benefit from Pilates exercise more than others

    A CALIBRATION PROCEDURE FOR MIMU SENSORS ALLOWING FOR THE CALCULATION OF ELBOW ANGLES

    Get PDF
    Non-optical wearable sensors such as magnetic and inertial measurement units (MIMUs) are gaining popularity in sport and clinical settings owing to their ease of application, relative affordability and potential for improved ecological validity. We propose a method for the standardised reference calibration of a simple two-sensor MIMU system for the estimation of anatomically meaningful elbow kinematics. The participant poses with the elbow at 90° flexion and neutral (0°) pronation, allowing for the relative orientation of the MIMU on the forearm to be determined with reference to the MIMU located on the arm. Comparisons were with traditional kinematic marker method results. Root mean squared errors of less than 1° in flex/ext and < 2° (pro/sup) found in simple movements. Results with simple movements provide rationale to expand research to complex movements

    Time of Day and Performance on Cognitive Tests in Patients with Mild Dementia

    Get PDF
    Background Cognitive screening for elderly patients with mild dementia is typically conducted in the morning under the impression that testing at this time will optimize performance and cooperation of patients. This study was conducted to determine if the time of day in which several cognitive screening tests would be normally given could significantly affect test performance in patients with mild dementia and normal control subjects. Methods Fifty nursing home residents with mild to moderate dementia and twenty normal control subjects were given three commonly used cognitive tests in two separate sessions (morning and afternoon) with a two week interval between sessions. Half of subjects were tested first in the morning and second in the afternoon, the other half first in the afternoon and second in the morning. Evaluation tools included the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE), the Mini-Cog Test, and Semantic Verbal Fluency (for animal names) at each session. Test scores were compared within each subject between the morning and afternoon sessions. Results Across all subjects, better scores were observed for afternoon performance in the MMSE score (p\u3c0.005) and Mini-Cog (p\u3c0.011) for subjects who tested first in the morning and second in the afternoon. No differences were observed in the reverse condition. The morning/afternoon differences and trends across all subjects were strongest for the mild dementia group (MMSE, p\u3c0.003; Mini-Cog, p\u3c0.075). However, the analysis also indicated that test experience contributed to some of the observed differences, such that no clear effect of time of day on performance could be substantiated. Conclusion Under the conditions of this study, we could not conclude that performance on cognitive tests was significantly affected by the time of day of administration. A more comprehensive study will be necessary to better define the potential factors identified
    corecore