Is birth weight associated with blood pressure among African children and adolescents? A systematic review.

There is substantial evidence of an inverse association between birth weight and later blood pressure (BP) in populations from high-income countries, but whether this applies in low-income countries, where causes of low birth weight are different, is not certain. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a review of the evidence on the relationship between birth weight and BP among African children and adolescents. Medline, EMBASE, Global Health and Web of Science databases were searched for publications to October 2016. Papers reporting the relationship between birth weight and BP among African children and adolescents were assessed. Bibliographies were searched for further relevant publications. Selected papers were summarized following the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. In total, 16 papers from 13 studies conducted in nine African countries (Nigeria, Republic of Seychelles, Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Angola) were reviewed. Eight studies were cohorts, while five were cross-sectional. The relationship between birth weight and later BP varied with age of the participants. Studies in neonates showed a consistently positive association, while predominantly inverse associations were seen among children, and studies in adolescents were inconsistent. Based on the limited number of studies identified, the relationship between birth weight and later BP may vary with age in African children and adolescents. Not all studies adequately controlled for confounding, notably gender or age. Whether the inverse relationship between birth weight and BP in later life observed in Western settings is also seen in Africa remains unclear

The non-genomic effects of high doses of Rosiglitazone on cell growth and apoptosis in cultured monocytic cells

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor which belongs to the nuclear hormone superfamily and has multiple pharmacological ligands called Thiazolidinediones (TZDs). TZDs are a class of drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients. Rosiglitazone is one such TZD, and is used clinically to treat type 2 diabetes. In this study, the effect of Rosiglitazone on cell growth and apoptosis in cultured monocytic monomac 6 (MM6) cells was investigated. Over a 14 day period, MM6 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with 1μM and 10μM Rosiglitazone. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated by Haemocytometer cell count and MTS assay respectively. Turbidity due to cell density was assessed spectrophotometrically. Apoptosis was determined by Caspase-Glo 3/7 assay. Expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-inducible protein sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ATPase-2b (SERCA2b) was determined by Western blot. Neither 1μM nor 10μM Rosiglitazone exerted statistically significant inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, turbidity due to cell density, or cell viability (p > 0.05 in all cases). In contrast, Rosiglitazone induced increased apoptosis, but a significant difference was only observed in 10μM-treated cells compared with control cells (3.04 ± 0.52 control; p < 0.05) while 1μM-treated cells showed a non-significant increase (1.50 ± .06 control; p > 0.05). Meanwhile the expression of SERCA2b was up-regulated significantly in cells treated for >4hrs (e.g 2.45 ± 0.06 control at 24 hrs; p < 0.05) with 10μM Rosiglitazone. It was concluded that high doses (10μM) of Rosiglitazone up-regulate SERCA2b expression and induce apoptosis of MM6 cells by activating an ER stress response via a PPARγ-independent mechanism. The therapeutic relevance of these observations is a matter for further investigations. Key words: Rosiglitazone, PPARγ, Monocytes, ER Stress, SERCA2b, Apoptosi

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/Annulation with Vinyl Esters as an Acetylene Equivalent

The behavior of electron-rich alkenes in rhodium-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation reactions is investigated. Vinyl acetate emerges as a convenient acetylene equivalent, facilitating the synthesis of sixteen 3,4-unsubstituted isoquinolones, as well as select heteroaryl-fused pyridones. The complementary regiochemical preferences of enol ethers versus enol esters/enamides is discusse

Atomic transition frequencies, isotope shifts, and sensitivity to variation of the fine structure constant for studies of quasar absorption spectra

Theories unifying gravity with other interactions suggest spatial and temporal variation of fundamental "constants" in the Universe. A change in the fine structure constant, alpha, could be detected via shifts in the frequencies of atomic transitions in quasar absorption systems. Recent studies using 140 absorption systems from the Keck telescope and 153 from the Very Large Telescope, suggest that alpha varies spatially. That is, in one direction on the sky alpha seems to have been smaller at the time of absorption, while in the opposite direction it seems to have been larger. To continue this study we need accurate laboratory measurements of atomic transition frequencies. The aim of this paper is to provide a compilation of transitions of importance to the search for alpha variation. They are E1 transitions to the ground state in several different atoms and ions, with wavelengths ranging from around 900 - 6000 A, and require an accuracy of better than 10^{-4} A. We discuss isotope shift measurements that are needed in order to resolve systematic effects in the study. The coefficients of sensitivity to alpha-variation (q) are also presented.Comment: Includes updated version of the "alpha line" lis

What is macroecology?

The symposium 'What is Macroecology?' was held in London on 20 June 2012. The event was the inaugural meeting of the Macroecology Special Interest Group of the British Ecological Society and was attended by nearly 100 scientists from 11 countries. The meeting reviewed the recent development of the macroecological agenda. The key themes that emerged were a shift towards more explicit modelling of ecological processes, a growing synthesis across systems and scales, and new opportunities to apply macroecological concepts in other research fields

Increasing condom use in heterosexual men: development of a theory-based interactive digital intervention

Increasing condom use to prevent sexually transmitted infections is a key public health goal. Interventions are more likely to be effective if they are theory- and evidence-based. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) provides a framework for intervention development. To provide an example of how the BCW was used to develop an intervention to increase condom use in heterosexual men (the MenSS website), the steps of the BCW intervention development process were followed, incorporating evidence from the research literature and views of experts and the target population. Capability (e.g. knowledge) and motivation (e.g. beliefs about pleasure) were identified as important targets of the intervention. We devised ways to address each intervention target, including selecting interactive features and behaviour change techniques. The BCW provides a useful framework for integrating sources of evidence to inform intervention content and deciding which influences on behaviour to target

Male predominance of pneumonia and hospitalization in pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) disproportionately affects different age groups. The purpose of the current study was to describe the age and gender difference of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) cases that lead to pneumonia, hospitalization or ICU admission.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were collected retrospectively between May 2009 and December 2009. All of the diagnoses of H1N1 were confirmed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During the study period there were 3402 cases of RT-PCR positive H1N1, among which 1812 were males and 1626 were adults (> 15 years of age). 6% (206/3402) of patients required hospitalization, 3.6% (122/3402) had infiltrates on chest radiographs, and 0.70% (24/3402) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). The overall fatality rate was 0.1% (4/3402). The rate of hospitalization was sharply increased in patients ≥ 50 years of age especially in male. Out of 122 pneumonia patients, 68.8% (84 patients) were male. Among the patients admitted to the ICU, 70.8% (17 patients) were male. Approximately 1 of 10 H1N1-infected patients admitted to the ICU were ≥ 70 years of age.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Among the confirmed cases of H1N1, the ICU admission rate was < 1% and the case fatality rate was 0.1%. Male had a significantly higher rate of pneumonia and hospital admission. These findings should be taken into consideration when developing vaccination and treatment strategies.</p

Assessment of Surface Water Contamination from Coalbed Methane Fracturing-Derived Volatile Contaminants in Sullivan County, Indiana, USA

There is a growing concern over the contamination of surface water and the associated environmental and public health consequences from the recent proliferation in hydraulic fracturing in the USA. Petroleum hydrocarbon-derived contaminants of concern [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX)] and various dissolved cations and anions were spatially determined in surface waters around 14 coalbed methane fracking wells in Sullivan County, IN, USA. At least one BTEX was detected in 69% of sampling sites (n=13) and 23% of sampling sites were found to be contaminated with all of the BTEX. Toluene was the most common BTEX compound detected across all sites, both upstream and downstream from coalbed methane fracking sites. The calcium (~60 ppm) and sulfates (~175 ppm) were the dominant cations and anions, respectively, in surface water around the fracking sites. This study represents the first report of BTEX contamination in surface water from coalbed methane hydraulic fracturing wells

In support of descriptive studies; relevance to translational research

The contemporary scientific establishment equates hypothesis testing to good science. This stance bypasses the preliminary need to identify a worthwhile hypothesis through rigorous observation of natural processes. If alleviation of human suffering is claimed as the goal of a scientific undertaking, it would be unfair to test a hypothesis whose relevance to human disease has not been satisfactorily proven. Here, we argue that descriptive investigations based on direct human observation should be highly valued and regarded essential for the selection of worthwhile hypotheses while the pursuit of costly scientific investigations without such evidence is a desecration of the cause upon which biomedical research is grounded

The use of phylogeny to interpret cross-cultural patterns in plant use and guide medicinal plant discovery: an example from Pterocarpus (Leguminosae)

The study of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants has led to discoveries that have helped combat diseases and improve healthcare. However, the development of quantitative measures that can assist our quest for new medicinal plants has not greatly advanced in recent years. Phylogenetic tools have entered many scientific fields in the last two decades to provide explanatory power, but have been overlooked in ethnomedicinal studies. Several studies show that medicinal properties are not randomly distributed in plant phylogenies, suggesting that phylogeny shapes ethnobotanical use. Nevertheless, empirical studies that explicitly combine ethnobotanical and phylogenetic information are scarce.In this study, we borrowed tools from community ecology phylogenetics to quantify significance of phylogenetic signal in medicinal properties in plants and identify nodes on phylogenies with high bioscreening potential. To do this, we produced an ethnomedicinal review from extensive literature research and a multi-locus phylogenetic hypothesis for the pantropical genus Pterocarpus (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae). We demonstrate that species used to treat a certain conditions, such as malaria, are significantly phylogenetically clumped and we highlight nodes in the phylogeny that are significantly overabundant in species used to treat certain conditions. These cross-cultural patterns in ethnomedicinal usage in Pterocarpus are interpreted in the light of phylogenetic relationships.This study provides techniques that enable the application of phylogenies in bioscreening, but also sheds light on the processes that shape cross-cultural ethnomedicinal patterns. This community phylogenetic approach demonstrates that similar ethnobotanical uses can arise in parallel in different areas where related plants are available. With a vast amount of ethnomedicinal and phylogenetic information available, we predict that this field, after further refinement of the techniques, will expand into similar research areas, such as pest management or the search for bioactive plant-based compounds