The short-term effects of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery on cognitive performance

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-74).Considerable research evidence suggests that post-operative cognitive impairment is a common complication of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This study evaluated the short-term effects of CABG surgery on cognitive performance one to two days prior to surgery (baseline) and one-month post-surgery (follow up). 40 CABG surgical patients and 40 healthy, nonsurgical control participants were assessed with a standard neurocognitive battery that evaluated seven areas of cognitive functioning. Visioconstruction, visual memory, verbal memory, attention, psychomotor speed, executive functioning and language were measured. Additionally, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were included to assess mood and anxiety states pre- and post-operatively. Demographic data pertaining to participants' general medical conditions were also collected. The repeated measures ANOV A with mixed designs procedure showed cognitive improvement on the domains of visioconstruction (p = 0.017), visual memory (p = 0.001), psychomotor speed (p = 0.001), executive functioning (p = 0.012) and language (p = 0.001). Significant cognitive decline on the domain of verbal memory (p = 0.026) was also found in both control and surgical groups. Furthermore, changes in mood and anxiety states did not influence post-operative changes in neurocognitive performance. The results yielded in the present study are mixed and confirm the multifactorial problem of studying cognitive functioning post-CABG surgery

Harnessing Technology Schools Survey 2009: data report - part 2, data analysis

This document sets out the details of the sampling processes and the methodology of the 2009 Schools Survey and the choices made in organising the analysis

Harnessing Technology Schools Survey 2009: analysis report

The Harnessing Technology schools survey (HTSS) report presents the key survey findings from the academic year 2008-09 set out according to the five system outcomes against which impact of the strategy was measured. The HTSS was an annual national survey of ICT in primary, secondary and special schools. (The data report that accompanied this analysis provides further details of the sample and the characteristics of respondents and is listed separately.

Harnessing Technology Schools Survey 2009: data report – part 1, descriptive analysis

This document, the data report, is a reference document which presents the data in tabular form for anyone who wants to examine the findings of the Harnessing Technology Schools Survey (HTSS) in depth, for example in relation to specific areas of technology or policy, or by school sector. The findings for each question are also set out by school sector by primary, secondary and special school sub-samples

Flightless-I regulates proinflammatory caspases by selectively modulating intracellular localization and caspase activity

Caspase-1 and caspase-11 are proinflammatory caspases that regulate cytokine production and leukocyte migration during pathogen infection. In an attempt to identify new intracellular regulators of caspase-11, we found that Flightless-I, a member of the gelsolin superfamily of actin-remodeling proteins, interacts and regulates both caspase-11 and caspase-1. Flightless-I targets caspase-11 to the Triton X-100–insoluble cytoskeleton fraction and the cell leading edge. In addition, Flightless-I inhibits caspase-1 activation and caspase-1–mediated interleukine-1β (IL-1β) maturation. The physiological relevance of these findings is supported by the opposing effects of Flightless-I overexpression and knockdown on caspase-1 activity and IL-1β maturation. Our results suggest that Flightless-I may be a bona fide caspase-1 inhibitor that acts through a mechanism similar to that of cytokine response modifier A, a potent caspase-1 inhibitor from the cowpox virus. Our study provides a new mechanism controlling the localization and activation of proinflammatory caspases

Chemical markers of human tendon health identified using Raman spectroscopy: potential for in vivo assessment

The purpose of this study is to determine whether age-related changes to tendon matrix molecules can be detected using Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra were collected from human Achilles (n = 8) and tibialis anterior (n = 8) tendon tissue excised from young (17 ± 3 years) and old (72 ± 7 years) age groups. Normalised Raman spectra underwent principal component analysis (PCA), to objectively identify differences between age groups and tendon types. Certain Raman band intensities were correlated with levels of advanced glycation end-product (AGE) collagen crosslinks, quantified using conventional destructive biochemistry techniques. Achilles and tibialis anterior tendons in the old age group demonstrated significantly higher overall Raman intensities and fluorescence levels compared to young tendons. PCA was able to distinguish young and old age groups and different tendon types. Raman intensities differed significantly for several bands, including those previously associated with AGE crosslinks, where a significant positive correlation with biochemical measures was demonstrated. Differences in Raman spectra between old and young tendon tissue and correlation with AGE crosslinks provides the basis for quantifying age-related chemical modifications to tendon matrix molecules in intact tissue. Our results suggest that Raman spectroscopy may provide a powerful tool to assess tendon health and vitality in the future

Development and Evaluation of an Undergraduate Science Communication Module

This paper describes the design and evaluation of an undergraduate final year science communication module for the Science Faculty at the University of East Anglia. The module focuses specifically on science communication and aims to bring an understanding of how science is disseminated to the public. Students on the module are made aware of the models surrounding science communication and investigate how the science culture interfaces with the public. During the module they learn how to adapt science concepts for different audiences and how to talk confidently about science to a lay-audience. Student motivation for module choice centres on the acquisition of transferable skills and students develop these skills through designing, running and evaluating a public outreach event at a school or in a public area. These transferable skills acquired include communication, interaction with different organisations such as museums and science centres, developing understanding of both the needs of different audiences and the importance of time management. They also develop skills relating to self-reflection and how to use this as a tool for future self development. The majority of students completing the module go on to further study, either a PhD, MSc or teacher training. The module can be sustained in its present formed if capped at 40 students, however it is recognised that to increase cohort size, further investment of faculty time and resources would be required

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous delivery of tissue-engineered endothelial cells to the adventitia of stented arteries controls the response to vascular injury in a porcine model

Objective High restenosis rates are a limitation of peripheral vascular interventions. Previous studies have shown that surgical implantation of a tissue-engineered endothelium onto the adventitia surface of injured vessels regulates vascular repair. In the present study, we developed a particulate formulation of tissue-engineered endothelium and a method to deliver the formulation perivascular to injured blood vessels using a percutaneous, minimally invasive technique. Methods Stainless steel stents were implanted in 18 balloon-injured femoral arteries of nine domestic swine, followed by ultrasound-guided percutaneous perivascular injection of gelatin particles containing cultured allogeneic porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAE). Controls received injections of empty particles (matrix) or no perivascular injection (sham) after stent deployment. Animals were sacrificed after 90 days. Results Angiographic analysis revealed a significantly greater lumen diameter in the stented segments of arteries treated with PAE/matrix (4.72 ± 0.12 mm) compared with matrix (4.01 ± 0.20 mm) or sham (4.03 ± 0.16 mm) controls (P < .05). Similarly, histologic analysis revealed that PAE/matrix-treated arteries had the greatest lumen area (20.4 ± 0.7 mm[superscript 2]; P < .05) compared with controls (16.1 ± 0.9 mm[superscript 2] and 17.1 ± 1.0 mm[superscript 2] for sham and matrix controls, respectively) and the smallest intimal area (3.3 ± 0.4 mm[superscript 2]; P < .05) compared with controls (6.2 ± 0.5 mm[superscript 2] and 4.4 ± 0.5 mm[superscript 2] for sham and matrix controls, respectively). Overall, PAE-treated arteries had a 33% to 50% decrease in percent occlusion (P < .05) compared with controls. Histopathological analysis revealed fewer leukocytes present in the intima in the PAE/matrix group compared with control groups, suggesting that the biological effects were in part due to inhibition of the inflammatory phase of the vascular response to injury. Conclusions Minimally invasive, perivascular delivery of PAE/matrix to stented arteries was performed safely using ultrasound-guided percutaneous injections and significantly decreased stenosis. Application at the time of or subsequent to peripheral interventions may decrease clinical restenosis rates

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase Iβ recruits AP-2 to the plasma membrane and regulates rates of constitutive endocytosis

Overexpression of phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5KI) isoforms α, β, or γ in CV-1 cells increased phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) levels by 35, 180, and 0%, respectively. Endocytosis of transferrin receptors, association of AP-2 proteins with membranes, and the number of clathrin-coated pits at the plasma membrane increased when PIP2 increased. When expression of PIP5KIβ was inhibited with small interference RNA in HeLa cells, expression of PIP5KIα was also reduced slightly, but PIP5KIγ expression was increased. PIP2 levels and internalization of transferrin receptors dropped 50% in these cells; thus, PIP5KIγ could not compensate for loss of PIP5KIβ. When expression of PIP5KIα was reduced, expression of both PIP5KIβ and PIP5KIγ increased and PIP2 levels did not change. A similar increase of PIP5KIα and PIP5KIβ occurred when PIP5KIγ was inhibited. These results indicate that constitutive endocytosis in CV-1 and HeLa cells requires (and may be regulated by) PIP2 produced primarily by PIP5KIβ