Pre- and post-estrogen administration in global cerebral ischemia reduces blood-brain barrier breakdown in ovariectomized rats

The aim of present study was to determine the effect of estrogen treatment on blood-brain barrier permeability in rats with induced global cerebral ischemia. The study included six-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats which were divided into the following groups: Control-Ischemia-Reperfusion (C + I-R); Ovariectomy-Ischemia-Reperfusion (Ovx + I-R); Ovariectomy + Estrogen + Ischemia-Reperfusion (Ovx + E + I-R); Ovariectomy + Ischemia-Reperfusion + Estrogen (Ovx + I-R + E). Ischemia-reperfusion was induced by clamping two carotid arteries, then opening the clamp. Blood-brain barrier permeability was visualized by Evans Blue extravasation and quantified by spectrophotometry. Our results indicate that following ischemia-reperfusion the BBB permeability is increased in ovariectomized rats (Evans Blue extravasation) compared to the control group in the cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum and brain stem, while in the midbrain no significant increase was detected. In contrast, BBB permeability in the groups treated with estrogen, administered either before or after ischemia-reperfusion, was significantly lower than in ovariectomized animals. In conclusion, the increase in BBB permeability resulting from experimentally induced cerebral ischemia was prevented by exogenous estrogen treatment. The study results indicate that estrogen may be used for therapeutic purposes in ischemia-reperfusion

17-20 yaş grubundaki güreşçilerde ve sedanterlerdeki iskelet osteoblastik aktivite dağılımlarının karşılaştırılması

In this study, the difference in the ratios of bone invasion in wrestlers and sedantery persons has been investigated by using 99m Tc _ MDP scintigraph. By this aim, twenty elite level wrestlers were selected from the activity show wrestling clups in Konya city, whit at least five years in practice and they were 17-20 years old; this group wasconsidered as an experimental group. Ten sedantary persons whith same range of age who never exercised any form of sports were considered as a control group . totally 30 subjects were involved in this study.By using of 99m Tc – MDP scintigraph in both group, for all persons static images were taken in the palm of the hands, head and neck, thoracic cage and in the lumbar, pelvic and both kness and feet regions and in the anterior and posterior regions of bi-lateral shoulders.According to the result of the guantitative analysis of both wrestlers and sedantery persons, the ratios of the radioactive invasion were calculated in the palm of the hands, anterior and posterior regions of the sholdres, anterior and posterior  regions of the pelvic articulations of knees and feed regions and in the shafts of the humerus, tibia and femur.Obtaining data of both groups were statistically analyzed and compared whith Mann Whitney U- test. Result showed that radioactive invasion in the shafts of humeral, radial, and femoral bones in wrestlers was significantly higherthan in controls(p<0,05). İn the other regions no significant differences between group has been found(p>0,05).In case of wrestlers, it was seen that stres over the skaletal system had an excersive effect on the upper limbs namely the shafts of humerus and radius in both sides. However, in the lower limb a same effect was seen in the shafts of bi-lateral femurs and in the knees joint regions. In these regions, it was fount thatin bone scintigraph, increment in the osteoblasttic activity causes secondary increment in the radioactive invasion.According to the physiological changes in bone formation, with more confidence, the streess effect over the skeletal system can be visually and quantitatively evaluated.Bu çalışmayla güreşçilerde ve sedanterlerde 99m Tc- MDP sintigrafisi uygulanarak kemik tutulum oranlarındaki farklılık araştırılmaya çalışıldı. Bu amaçla Konya ilinde güreş sporunda faaliyet gösteren kulüplerden en az beş yıl güreş yapmış 17-20 yaşları arasında elit düzeydeki 20 güreşçi deney grubu, hiç spor yapmamış aynı yaş grubunda 10 sedanter kontrol grubu olmak üzere toplam 30 kişi çalışma kapsamına alınmıştır.Her iki gruba da 99m Tc-MDP sintigrafisi uygulanarak çalışmada tüm kişilerin elin anterior, baş, boyun, göğüs kafesi, pelvis, diz ve ayak bölgeleri ile omuzun anterio’u ve posterior’u, lumbal ve pelvisin statik görüntüleri alındı. Kopütürde kantitatif analiz sonucu güreşçi ve sedanterlerin elinin anterior’u ve posterior’u, omuzun  anterior’u ve posterior’u, pelvisin anterior’u ve posterior’u, diz ve ayak bölgesi eklemleri, humerus,tibiave femur şaftında radyo aktif tutulum (RAT) oranları hesaplandı. Elde edilen değerler, güreşçi ve sedanterlerin ortalamaları eşleştirilmiş gruplar arası Man Whitney U testi ile istatistiksel değerlendirilmeye alınmıştır. Güreşçilerde her iki humerus, radius ve femur kemik şaftlarında artmış radyoaktif tutulumları (p<0i05) bulunmuştur. Diğer bölgelerde pelvis, omuz ve ayak bölgelerinde her iki grup radyoaktif dağılımları arasında anlamlı fark bulunamamıştır (p>0,05).Sonuç olarak güreşçilerde iskelet sistemi üzerinde yüklenmenin üst ekstremitede en fazla her iki humerus ve radius şaftlarında görülmüştür. Alt ekstremitede ise her iki femur şaftı ve diz eklem bölgesinde görülmüştür. Bu bölgelerde kemik sintigrafisinde osteoblastik aktivite artışına sekonder artmış radyoaktif tutulumlar mevcuttur.Bu sonuçlar güreşçilerde aktivite sonucu kuvvete en fazla maruz kalınan bölgelerin üst eksremitede humerus ve radius olduğu, alt eksremitede ise her iki femur ve diz eklemi olduğu görülmektedir. İskelet sisteminde yüklenmeye bağlı oluşan fizyolojik değişiklikleri en doğru güvenilir olarak vizvel  ve kantitatif olarak değerlendirilmesi mümkündür.&nbsp

Evaluation of Kdo-8-N₃ incorporation into lipopolysaccharides of various <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains

8-Azido-3,8-dideoxy-α/β-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo-8-N3) is a Kdo derivative used in metabolic labeling of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structures found on the cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Several studies have reported successful labeling of LPS using Kdo-8-N3 and visualization of LPS by a fluorescent reagent through click chemistry on a selection of Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli strains, Salmonella typhimurium, and Myxococcus xanthus. Motivated by the promise of Kdo-8-N3 to be useful in the investigation of LPS biosynthesis and cell surface labeling across different strains, we set out to explore the variability in nature and efficiency of LPS labeling using Kdo-8-N3 in a variety of E. coli strains and serotypes. We optimized the chemical synthesis of Kdo-8-N3 and subsequently used Kdo-8-N3 to metabolically label pathogenic E. coli strains from commercial and clinical origin. Interestingly, different extents of labeling were observed in different E. coli strains, which seemed to be dependent also on growth media, and the majority of labeled LPS appears to be of the ‘rough’ LPS variant, as visualized using SDS-PAGE and fluorescence microscopy. This knowledge is important for future application of Kdo-8-N3 in the study of LPS biosynthesis and dynamics, especially when working with clinical isolates.</p

Langer fit met beter eten

Ouderen die zelfstandig thuis wonen, lopen het risico ondervoed te raken. Wageningen UR onderzoekt hoe dat is te voorkomen met producten en maaltijden die verrijkt zijn met extra eiwit. Maar hoe breng je die op de markt? De meeste ouderen voelen zich niet oud en zijn zich totaal niet bewust van hun voedingsstatus

Implementing a Personalized Integrated Stepped-Care Method (STIP-Method) to Prevent and Treat Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Persons With Dementia in Nursing Homes:Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms occur frequently in many nursing home residents with dementia. Despite the availability of multidisciplinary guidelines, neuropsychiatric symptoms are often inadequately managed. Three proven effective methods for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms were integrated into a single intervention method: the STIP-Method, a personalized integrated stepped-care method to prevent and treat neuropsychiatric symptoms. The STIP-Method comprises 5 phases of clinical reasoning to neuropsychiatric symptoms and 4 stepped-care interventions and is supported with a web application. Objective: This study aims to identify the facilitators and barriers in the implementation of the STIP-Method in nursing homes. Methods: A mixed methods design within a participatory action research was used to implement the STIP-Method in 4 facilities of 2 Dutch nursing home organizations. In total, we aimed at participation of 160-200 persons with dementia and expected an intervention fidelity of 50% or more, based on earlier studies regarding implementation of effective psychosocial interventions to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms. All involved managers and professionals were trained in the principles of the STIP-Method and in using the web application. An advisory board of professionals, managers, and informal caregivers in each facility supported the implementation during 21 months, including an intermission of 6 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In these 6-weekly advisory board meetings, 2 researchers stimulated the members to reflect on progress of the implementation by making use of available data from patient records and the web application. Additionally, the 2 researchers invited the members to suggest how to improve the implementation. Data analysis will involve (1) analysis of facilitators and barriers to the implementation derived from verbatim text reports of advisory board meetings to better understand the implementation process; (2) analysis of patient records in accordance with multidisciplinary guidelines to neuropsychiatric symptoms: personalized, interdisciplinary, and proactive management of neuropsychiatric symptoms; (3) evaluation of the web application in terms of usability scores; (4) preand postimplementation analysis of patient records and the web application to evaluate the impact of the STIP-Method, such as changes in neuropsychiatric symptoms and informal caregiver burden. Results: We enrolled 328 persons with dementia. Data collection started in July 2019 and ended in December 2021. The first version of this manuscript was submitted in October 2021. The first results of data analysis are expected to be published in December 2022 and final results in June 2023. Conclusions: Our study may increase understanding of facilitators and barriers to the prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia by implementing the integrated STIP-Method. The need for well-designed implementation studies is of importance to provide nursing homes with optimal tools to prevent and treat neuropsychiatric symptoms

Rapportage onderzoeksproject Genieten aan tafel : een toegepast onderzoek naar maaltijdbeleving in verpleeghuizen

Er komen steeds meer ouderen in Nederland. Zij doen over het algemeen een groter beroep op de gezondheidszorg, wat tot stijgende zorgkosten leidt en een lagere kwaliteit van leven. Eten en drinken speelt een belangrijke rol bij de preventie van ziekte. Hoewel er steeds meer aandacht is voor de voedingsstatus van ouderen en screeningsprocedures steeds meer toegepast worden, laten de laatste metingen in Nederland zien dat 17% van de cliënten in instellingen ondervoed is en dat 28% risico loopt op ondervoeding. Om ziekte en daarmee verhoogde zorgkosten te voorkomen, en om de kwaliteit van leven te optimaliseren, is preventie van ondervoeding bij ouderen noodzakelijk. Het onderzoek ‘Genieten aan tafel’ beoogde de maaltijdbeleving van verpleeghuiscliënten te optimaliseren, met als doel om eetlust, voedingsstatus, functionele status en kwaliteit van leven te verbeteren en zo zorgkosten te verminderen

The NESTORE e-Coach: Designing a Multi-Domain Pathway to Well-Being in Older Age

This article describes the coaching strategies of the NESTORE e-coach, a virtual coach for promoting healthier lifestyles in older age. The novelty of the NESTORE project is the definition of a multi-domain personalized pathway where the e-coach accompanies the user throughout different structured and non-structured coaching activities and recommendations. The article also presents the design process of the coaching strategies, carried out including older adults from four European countries and experts from the different health domains, and the results of the tests carried out with 60 older adults in Italy, Spain and The Netherlands

Sociocultural and psychological determinants in migrants for noncompliance with occlusion therapy for amblyopia

Background: Compliance with occlusion therapy for amblyopia in children is low when their parents have a low level of education, speak Dutch poorly, or originate from another country. We determined how sociocultural and psychological determinants affect compliance. Methods: Included we

Sodium-Dependent Vitamin C Transporter 2 (SVCT2) Expression and Activity in Brain Capillary Endothelial Cells after Transient Ischemia in Mice

Expression and transport activity of Sodium-dependent Vitamin C Transporter 2 (SVCT2) was shown in various tissues and organs. Vitamin C was shown to be cerebroprotective in several animal models of stroke. Data on expression, localization and transport activity of SVCT2 after cerebral ischemia, however, has been scarce so far. Thus, we studied the expression of SVCT2 after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice by immunohistochemistry. We found an upregulation of SVCT2 after stroke. Co-stainings with Occludin, Von-Willebrand Factor and CD34 demonstrated localization of SVCT2 in brain capillary endothelial cells in the ischemic area after stroke. Time-course analyses of SVCT2 expression by immunohistochemistry and western blots showed upregulation in the subacute phase of 2–5 days. Radioactive uptake assays using 14C-labelled ascorbic acid showed a significant increase of ascorbic acid uptake into the brain after stroke. Taken together, these results provide evidence for the expression and transport activity of SVCT2 in brain capillary endothelial cells after transient ischemia in mice. These results may lead to the development of novel neuroprotective strategies in stroke therapy

Keratinocytes as Depository of Ammonium-Inducible Glutamine Synthetase: Age- and Anatomy-Dependent Distribution in Human and Rat Skin

In inner organs, glutamine contributes to proliferation, detoxification and establishment of a mechanical barrier, i.e., functions essential for skin, as well. However, the age-dependent and regional peculiarities of distribution of glutamine synthetase (GS), an enzyme responsible for generation of glutamine, and factors regulating its enzymatic activity in mammalian skin remain undisclosed. To explore this, GS localization was investigated using immunohistochemistry and double-labeling of young and adult human and rat skin sections as well as skin cells in culture. In human and rat skin GS was almost completely co-localized with astrocyte-specific proteins (e.g. GFAP). While GS staining was pronounced in all layers of the epidermis of young human skin, staining was reduced and more differentiated among different layers with age. In stratum basale and in stratum spinosum GS was co-localized with the adherens junction component ß-catenin. Inhibition of, glycogen synthase kinase 3β in cultured keratinocytes and HaCaT cells, however, did not support a direct role of ß-catenin in regulation of GS. Enzymatic and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction studies revealed an unusual mode of regulation of this enzyme in keratinocytes, i.e., GS activity, but not expression, was enhanced about 8–10 fold when the cells were exposed to ammonium ions. Prominent posttranscriptional up-regulation of GS activity in keratinocytes by ammonium ions in conjunction with widespread distribution of GS immunoreactivity throughout the epidermis allows considering the skin as a large reservoir of latent GS. Such a depository of glutamine-generating enzyme seems essential for continuous renewal of epidermal permeability barrier and during pathological processes accompanied by hyperammonemia