Update on celiac disease – etiology, differential diagnosis, drug targets, and management advances

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by exposure to wheat gluten and similar proteins found in rye and barley that affects genetically susceptible persons. This immune-mediated enteropathy is characterized by villous atrophy, intraepithelial lymphocytosis, and crypt hyperplasia. Once thought a disease that largely presented with malnourished children, the wide spectrum of disease activity is now better recognized and this has resulted in a shift in the presenting symptoms of most patients with CD. New advances in testing, both serologic and endoscopic, have dramatically increased the detection and diagnosis of CD. While the gluten-free diet is still the only treatment for CD, recent investigations have explored alternative approaches, including the use of altered nonimmunogenic wheat variants, enzymatic degradation of gluten, tissue transglutaminase inhibitors, induction of tolerance, and peptides to restore integrity to intestinal tight junctions

Maternal recognition of child mental health problems in two Brazilian cities

Objective: To identify child behaviors and types of impairment that increase the likelihood of maternal recognition of emotional/behavioral problems (EBP) in children and adolescents. Methods: Maternal-reported data were obtained from two subsamples of 11-to-16-year-olds derived from cross-sectional studies conducted in two Brazilian municipalities: Itaborai, state of Rio de Janeiro (n=480), and Embu, state of Sao Paulo (n=217). The Itaborai study involved a representative sample of 6-to-16-year-olds (n=1,248response rate = 86.0%) selected from the Family Health Program registry, which covered 85.5% of the municipal population. The Embu study was based on a probabilistic sample of clusters of eligible households (women aged 15-49 years, child < 18 years), with one mother-child pair selected randomly per household (n=813response rate = 82.4%). The outcome variable was mother's opinion of whether her child had EBP. Potential correlates included types of child behaviors (hyperactivity/conduct/emotional problems as isolated or combined conditions) and impairment, assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)child's age and gendermaternal education and anxiety/depression (assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire [SRQ]). Results: Multivariate regression models identified the following correlates of maternal perception of child EBP: comorbidity (co-occurring hyperactivity/conduct/emotional problems), emotional problems alone, and interference of problems with classroom learning and friendships. Conclusion: Comorbidity of different problem types, emotional problems alone, and interference with classroom learning and friendships increase the likelihood of maternal recognition of EBP in children.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPqMCT/CNPq/CT-Saude/MS/SCTIE/DECIT grant) [33/2008]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [00/14555-4]Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psiquiatria, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Cambridge, Dept Psychiat, Cambridge, EnglandUniv Fed Pelotas, Programa Posgrad Epidemiol, Pelotas, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psiquiatria, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCNPqMCT/CNPq/CT-Saude/MS/SCTIE/DECIT grant) [33/2008]FAPESP [00/14555-4]Web of Scienc

Extracting and re-using research data from chemistry e-theses: the SPECTRa-T project

Scientific e-theses are data-rich resources, but much of the information they contain is not readily accessible. For chemistry, the SPECTRa-T project has addressed this problem by developing data-mining techniques to extract experimental data, creating RDF (Resource Description Framework) triples for exposure to sophisticated Semantic Web searches. We used OSCAR3, an Open Source chemistry text-mining tool, to parse and extract data from theses in PDF, and from theses in Office Open XML document format. Theses in PDF suffered data corruption and a loss of formatting that prevented the identification of chemical objects. Theses in .docx yielded semantically rich SciXML that enabled the additional extraction of associated data. Chemical objects were placed in a data repository, and RDF triples deposited in a triplestore. Data-mining from chemistry e-theses is both desirable and feasible; but the use of PDF, the de facto format standard for deposit in most repositories, prevents the optimal extraction of data for semantic querying. In order to facilitate this, we recommend that universities also require deposition of chemistry e-theses in an XML document format. Further work is required to clarify the complex IPR issues and ensure that they do not become an unwarranted barrier to data extraction and re-use

A semantic Grid for molecular science

Proceedings of the 2003 UK e-Science All Hands Meeting, 31st August - 3rd September, Nottingham UKThe properties of molecules have very well defined semantics and allow the creation of a semantic GRID. Markup languages (CML - Chemical Markup Language) and dictionary-based ontologies have been designed to support a wide range of applications, including chemical supply, publication and the safety of compounds. Many properties can be computed by Quantum Mechanical (QM) programs and we have developed a "black-box" system based on XML wrappers for all components. This is installed on a Condor system on which we have computed properties for 250, 000 compounds. The results of this will be available in an OpenData/OpenSource peer-to-peer (P2P) system (WorldWide Molecular Matrix - WWMM)

Spatial epidemiological patterns suggest mechanisms of land-sea transmission for Sarcocystis neurona in a coastal marine mammal.

Sarcocystis neurona was recognised as an important cause of mortality in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) after an outbreak in April 2004 and has since been detected in many marine mammal species in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Risk of S. neurona exposure in sea otters is associated with consumption of clams and soft-sediment prey and is temporally associated with runoff events. We examined the spatial distribution of S. neurona exposure risk based on serum antibody testing and assessed risk factors for exposure in animals from California, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Significant spatial clustering of seropositive animals was observed in California and Washington, compared with British Columbia and Alaska. Adult males were at greatest risk for exposure to S. neurona, and there were strong associations with terrestrial features (wetlands, cropland, high human housing-unit density). In California, habitats containing soft sediment exhibited greater risk than hard substrate or kelp beds. Consuming a diet rich in clams was also associated with increased exposure risk. These findings suggest a transmission pathway analogous to that described for Toxoplasma gondii, with infectious stages traveling in freshwater runoff and being concentrated in particular locations by marine habitat features, ocean physical processes, and invertebrate bioconcentration

Corporate Takeovers: Who Wins; Who Loses; Who Should Regulate

On December 3, 1987, during its 11th Annual Policy Conference in Washington, DC, the American Enterprise Institute convened a panel discussion on Corporate Takeovers and Insider Trading: Who Should Regulate? The panelists were John C. Coffee, Jr., professor of law at Columbia University; Joseph A. Grundfest, commissioner at the Securities and Exchange Commission; Roberta Romano, professor of law at Yale Law School; and Murray L. Weidenbaum, Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor and director of the Center for the Study of American Business at Washington University. The panel was moderated by Christopher C. DeMuth, president of AEI. The following discussion is drawn from these proceedings

Unleash Physical Limitations: Virtual Emergency Preparedness Planning Simulation Training, Methodology and a Case Study

Simulation is perhaps the most widely used method for training emergency management workers. Despite its wide application, traditional simulation suffers from several constraints and limitations, which motivate us to pursue a different way – virtual simulation, as an alternative and supplement for the traditional training method. Utilization of groupware, network, and other information technologies makes virtual simulation more flexible and easier to prepare. Although virtual simulation can overcome some of the constraints related to physical simulation, so far there are little evidences that this new method can achieve similar or even better training effects compared with traditional simulation training method. To test the effects of this new training approach and the methodology to run it, several pilot trials have been conducted in the U.S. and Europe. This article is an exploratory study of a pilot emergency preparedness planning virtual simulation conducted in NJIT in late 2004. This study will help us understand the nature of virtual simulation, and help us improve the theories and designs of virtual simulation for emergency preparedness

Evaluation of household drinking water filter distribution programmes in Haiti

Household water treatment can reduce diarrhoeal disease in populations without safe water access. We evaluated five programmes that distributed biosand, ceramic, or Sawyer household water filters in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. We conducted household surveys, collected water samples, and tested water quality at ~50 houses from each programme. Across programmes, self-reported filter use ranged from 27-78%; confirmed use (met reported use and showed the filter with water in it) ranged from 20-76%; and, effective use (stored water quality was improved to international guideline values using the filter) ranged from 0-54%. More successful programmes: 1) distributed an effective technology; 2) provided safe storage; 3) required cash investment; 4) provided initial training; 5) provided follow-up; 6) provided supply-chain access; 7) targeted households relying on contaminated water sources; and, 8) had experience working in the local context. These findings suggest that well implemented programmes can result in sustained filter use in Haiti