Tetrabromobisphenol A has immunosuppressive effects on human natural killer cells

Human natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that destroy tumor cells, virally-infected cells, and antibody-coated cells. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is used both as a reactive and as an additive flame retardant in a variety of materials and appears to contaminate the environment. TBBPA has been found in human blood samples and if it interferes with NK cell function, this could increase the risk of tumor development and/or viral infection. The present study examines the effects of exposure to various concentrations of TBBPA for 24 hr, 48 hr, and 6 days on the lytic function, tumor-target-binding function, and ATP levels of NK cells. These same parameters were also monitored in NK cells that were exposed to TBBPA for 1 h followed by 24 hr, 48 hr, and 6 days in TBBPA-free media. A 24-h exposure of NK cells to 5 μM TBBPA caused a \u3e95% decrease in NK lytic function, a 70% decrease in binding function, and a 34% decrease in ATP levels in NK cells. Exposure to 2.5 μM TBBPA for 24 h decreased lytic function by 76%, binding function by 20%, and had no effect on ATP levels. Exposure of NK cells to 5 μM TBBPA for 1 h followed by 24 h in TBBPA-free media caused a progressive and persistent loss of lytic function (41%) while not affecting either binding ability or ATP levels. The results indicate that TBBPA exposures decrease the lytic function of human NK cells and that an initial brief (1 hr) exposure can cause a progressive loss of function. In addition, the data also indicate that TBBPA-induced loss of NK lytic function can occur at a concentration of TBBPA that does not affect target-binding ability and ATP levels of NK cells

Experiences of impulsivity, self-harm and DBT groups: a qualitative enquiry in a secure setting

Introduction This study was developed from a recognition of the lack of research exploring experiences of self-harm, impulsivity and the group component of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for women in low secure forensic setting. Psychological understandings and models proposed do not consider self-harm within particular contexts. It is important to gain an understanding of impulsivity and self-harm, within the context in which they occur, to develop models of understanding and ensure therapies offered are adapted for the specific needs of the population. Method Using a combination of purposeful sampling and snowballing, a sample of six women, who were detained in a low secure forensic hospital, were recruited. They participated in semi-structured interviews which were transcribed and then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Individual transcripts were analysed and three levels of themes were identified for each participant. Individual themes were then used to develop the group themes. Results Two sets of results are presented. The first focuses on how women make sense of their experience of self-harm and impulsivity. Three levels of themes were identified, the first level consisted of ‘I need you for safety but I fear you’, ‘I’m going round in circles and keep making the same mistakes’, ‘Living in a hostile world’, ‘A sense of losing and finding myself’. The second set of results focuses on experiences of Group Based Skills Training component of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Two levels of themes were generated, the first level consisted of ‘Mistrust and vulnerability: denial and defences’, Making sense of GBST: Is it worth it?, Tentative changes’. Discussion The key findings of the study are linked to psychological theory, current models of understanding self-harm and previous research findings. The study adds to literature on experiences of self-harm and impulsive acts, in addition to, understanding the relationship between self-harm and impulsivity within forensic settings. It also adds to the minimal literature exploring the experiences of Group Based Skills Training for women within secure forensic settings

Brominated flame retardants, tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecane, activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in human natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells provide a vital surveillance against virally infected cells, tumor cells, and antibody-coated cells through the release of cytolytic mediators and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a brominated flame retardant used primarily in expanded (EPS) and extruded (XPS) polystyrene foams for thermal insulation in the building and construction industry. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is used both as a reactive and an additive flame retardant in a variety of materials. HBCD and TBBPA contaminate the environment and are found in human blood samples. In previous studies, we have shown that other environmental contaminants, such as the dibutyltin (DBT) and tributyltin (TBT), decrease NK lytic function by activating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the NK cells. HBCD and TBBPA also interfere with NK cell(s) lytic function. The current study evaluates whether HBCD and/or TBBPA have the capacity to activate MAPKs and MAPK kinases (MAP2Ks). The effects of concentrations of HBCD and TBBPA that inhibited lytic function on the phosphorylation state and total levels of the MAPKs (p44/42, p38, and JNK) and the phosphorylation and total levels of the MAP2Ks (MEK1/2 and MKK3/6) were examined. Results indicate that exposure of human NK cells to 10–0.5 μM HBCD or TBBPA activate MAPKs and MAP2Ks. This HBCD and TBBPA-induced activation of MAPKs may leave them unavailable for activation by virally infected or tumor target cells and thus contributes to the observed decreases in lytic function seen in NK cells exposed to HBCD and TBBPA

Preschool sleep and depression interact to predict gray matter volume trajectories across late childhood to adolescence

There is a close relationship between sleep and depression, and certain maladaptive outcomes of sleep problems may only be apparent in individuals with heightened levels of depression. In a sample enriched for preschool depression, we examined how sleep and depression in early childhood interact to predict later trajectories of gray matter volume. Participants (N = 161) were recruited and assessed during preschool (ages 3-6 years) and were later assessed with five waves of structural brain imaging, spanning from late childhood to adolescence. Sleep and depression were assessed using a semi-structured parent interview when the children were preschool-aged, and total gray matter volume was calculated at each scan wave. Although sleep disturbances alone did not predict gray matter volume/trajectories, preschool sleep and depression symptoms interacted to predict later total gray matter volume and the trajectory of decline in total gray matter volume. Sleep disturbances in the form of longer sleep onset latencies, increased irregularity in the child\u27s sleep schedule, and higher levels of daytime sleepiness in early childhood were all found to interact with early childhood depression severity to predict later trajectories of cortical gray matter volume. Findings provide evidence of the interactive effects of preschool sleep and depression symptoms on later neurodevelopment

Interpreting Ambiguous Social Cues in Unpredictable Contexts

Unpredictable environments can be anxiety-provoking and elicit exaggerated emotional responses to aversive stimuli. Even neutral stimuli, when presented in an unpredictable fashion, prime anxiety-like behavior and elicit heightened amygdala activity. The amygdala plays a key role in initiating responses to biologically relevant information, such as facial expressions of emotion. While some expressions clearly signal negative (anger) or positive (happy) events, other expressions (e.g. surprise) are more ambiguous in that they can predict either valence, depending on the context. Here, we sought to determine whether unpredictable presentations of ambiguous facial expressions would bias participants to interpret them more negatively. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and facial electromyography (EMG) to characterize responses to predictable vs unpredictable presentations of surprised faces. We observed moderate but sustained increases in amygdala reactivity to predictable presentations of surprised faces, and relatively increased amygdala responses to unpredictable faces that then habituated, similar to previously observed responses to clearly negative (e.g. fearful) faces. We also observed decreased corrugator EMG responses to predictable surprised face presentations, similar to happy faces, and increased responses to unpredictable surprised face presentations, similar to angry faces. Taken together, these data suggest that unpredictability biases people to interpret ambiguous social cues negatively

A Face Versus Non-Face Context Influences Amygdala Responses to Masked Fearful Eye Whites

The structure of the mask stimulus is crucial in backward masking studies and we recently demonstrated such an effect when masking faces. Specifically, we showed that activity of the amygdala is increased to fearful facial expressions masked with neutral faces and decreased to fearful expressions masked with a pattern mask—but critically both masked conditions discriminated fearful expressions from happy expressions. Given this finding, we sought to test whether masked fearful eye whites would produce a similar profile of amygdala response in a face vs non-face context. During functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning sessions, 30 participants viewed fearful or happy eye whites masked with either neutral faces or pattern images. Results indicated amygdala activity was increased to fearful vs happy eye whites in the face mask condition, but decreased to fearful vs happy eye whites in the pattern mask condition—effectively replicating and expanding our previous report. Our data support the idea that the amygdala is responsive to fearful eye whites, but that the nature of this activity observed in a backward masking design depends on the mask stimulus

Inspiring Minds, Exploring Science with Project SCORE Curriculum

Corresponding author (Pharmacy Administration): Tess Johnson, [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2022/1009/thumbnail.jp

The Islamic Association of Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action

From September 2004 to April 2005, six first year Master of Public Health students from the School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, completed an Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) of the Islamic Association of Raleigh (IAR), under the guidance of Dr. Ahmad-Rufai Abdullah. A purpose of the AOCD is to develop a partnership between the student practitioners and the community. This AOCD examined what life is like for Muslims living in the greater Triangle area. The AOCD used both primary data, collected through interviews and focus groups with thirteen service providers and twenty five community members, as well as secondary data, to identify the strengths and needs of the IAR community. The strengths of the community included a highly diverse population, a wide variety of services available to the community, a leadership body that is responsive to community needs, a very active core of volunteers, and a strong sense of identity and purpose. The areas of concern and several of the corresponding action steps were: Social and welfare services: create a resource booklet, increase awareness of the IAR food pantry, hire a full time psychologist, raise additional funds. Relations with non-Muslims: hold a workshop on how to relate to non-Muslims, volunteer in non-Muslim organizations, build bridges with other communities. Youth: have Muslims youth spend time with other Muslims, hold parent-training groups, have workshops for Muslims youth who are unsure of their religion. Volunteerism: formalize volunteer requirements, make announcements about volunteer opportunities during Friday lectures, post opportunities on IAR website. The findings were presented to the community at a community forum, held at the IAR on April 22, 2005, for discussion and to determine specific action steps.Master of Public Healt

Health Matters: Student-Developed Research Questions by Project SCORE Students

Corresponding author (Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management): Melissa Presley, [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2022/1015/thumbnail.jp

Genomic analyses identify hundreds of variants associated with age at menarche and support a role for puberty timing in cancer risk

The timing of puberty is a highly polygenic childhood trait that is epidemiologically associated with various adult diseases. Using 1000 Genomes Project-imputed genotype data in up to similar to 370,000 women, we identify 389 independent signals (P <5 x 10(-8)) for age at menarche, a milestone in female pubertal development. In Icelandic data, these signals explain similar to 7.4% of the population variance in age at menarche, corresponding to similar to 25% of the estimated heritability. We implicate similar to 250 genes via coding variation or associated expression, demonstrating significant enrichment in neural tissues. Rare variants near the imprinted genes MKRN3 and DLK1 were identified, exhibiting large effects when paternally inherited. Mendelian randomization analyses suggest causal inverse associations, independent of body mass index (BMI), between puberty timing and risks for breast and endometrial cancers in women and prostate cancer in men. In aggregate, our findings highlight the complexity of the genetic regulation of puberty timing and support causal links with cancer susceptibility