The Grizzly, April 29, 2010

Active Minds Hosts Art Fair to Benefit Mental Health • Students Say Farewell Through Presidential Celebration • UCDC Hosts Spring Concert in Lenfest Theater • Dr. Spencer Foreman: Counting Down the Reasons • Workout and Have Fun at Ursinus Zumba-Thon! • Music and Diplomacy Converge to Help Alleviate HIV and AIDS • Professor Mudd\u27s CIE III Class Explores Happiness and the UC Student Body • Class of 2010 Spotlight: Seniors Reflect on UC Memories • Ursinus College Mourns the Loss of a Legend • Senior Spotlight: Mark Worrilow, Footballhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1813/thumbnail.jp

Study of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 in breast carcinomas and their association with metastasis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have garnered an extraordinary amount of interest in cancer research due to their role in tumor progression. By activating the production of several biological factors, TLRs induce type I interferons and other cytokines, which drive an inflammatory response and activate the adaptive immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical relevance of TLR3, 4 and 9 in breast cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 were analyzed on tumors from 74 patients with breast cancer. The analysis was performed by immunohistochemistry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Samples of carcinomas with recurrence exhibited a significant increase in the mRNA levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9. Tumors showed high expression of TLRs expression levels by cancer cells, especially TLR4 and 9. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of tumors also showed TLR4 expression by mononuclear inflammatory cells (21.6%) and TLR9 expression by fibroblast-like cells (57.5%). Tumors with high TLR3 expression by tumor cell or with high TLR4 expression by mononuclear inflammatory cells were significantly associated with higher probability of metastasis. However, tumours with high TLR9 expression by fibroblast-like cells were associated with low probability of metastasis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The expression levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 have clinical interest as indicators of tumor aggressiveness in breast cancer. TLRs may represent therapeutic targets in breast cancer.</p

Hazard sensitivity in Newfoundland coastal communities : impacts and adaptations to climate change, a case study of Conception Bay South and Holyrood, Newfoundland

Impacts and adaptations to climate change on the coastal zone of the communities of Conception Bay South and Holyrood, Newfoundland were investigated. Based on the concept of geoindicators and unique shore-zone morphology, a coastal hazard sensitivity assessment was conducted to assess the present sensitivity of the Conception Bay South-Holyrood coastline to the impacts of flooding and erosion. As the most immediate effects of climate change will be felt along the coastline, the implications of future climate change and variability in Atlantic Canada on the Conception Bay South-Holyrood coastline were then considered. -- Results of the hazard sensitivity assessment indicate that overall, the Conception Bay South-Holyrood coastline has a low to moderate sensitivity to coastal flooding and erosion. However, subsequent analysis reveals that these results mask important differences in sensitivity based on differences in morphology. Results of the flood hazard sensitivity assessment indicate that the most sensitive segments of coastline surround the numerous lagoons located in Conception Bay South. The majority of the "exposed straight" coastline has a low sensitivity to flooding. In the foreshore erosion hazard sensitivity assessment, sections of coastline classified as barrier beach are highly to extremely sensitive to foreshore erosion processes, while segments classified as fringing beach or bedrock dominated receive low to moderate sensitivity ratings. Results of the backshore erosion hazard sensitivity assessment indicate that the majority of the Conception Bay South-Holyrood coastline has a low sensitivity to backshore erosion, a reflection of the fact that a third of the coastline is composed of highly resistant, igneous bedrock. Sections of backshore classified as unlithified are highly to extremely sensitive to erosion and there are a number of segments actively eroding. -- With portions of the Conception Bay South-Holyrood coastline currently sensitive to coastal flooding and erosion and anticipated changes in climatic conditions and accelerated rates of sea-level rise potentially increasing the risk, there are important implications for town management and planning decision-making processes that are capable of supporting sustainable community practices. A number of specific adaptation options, including hazard identification and monitoring; managed retreat or avoidance; accommodation; protection; coastal management and public education, have been recommended to enable current protection and in preparation of accelerated sea-level rise and climate variability in southern Conception Bay

Multidisciplinarietà nella cura dell'obesità

L'obesità è una patologia multifattoriale, il cui trattamento risulta complesso. Spesso i risultati della dietoterapia e della modificazione dello stile di vita sono particolarmente deludenti a lungo termine e l'utilizzo di farmacoterapie, al momento attuale, in Italia è estremamente limitato. La chirurgia bariatrica, viceversa, è in grado di produrre non solo una notevole riduzione della massa grassa nel tempo, ma anche un miglioramento delle comorbidità e dell'aspettativa di vita. Il capitolo si propone di sottolineare l'importanza dell'approccio multidisciplinare alla cura dell'obesità in pazienti sottoposti a chirurgia bariatrica, con un focus sul ruolo degli psicologi che fanno parte del team multidisciplinare.Obesity is a multifactorial disease, whose treatment is complex. Often diet and lifestyle modification are particularly disappointing in the long term period and the use of pharmacotherapy, in Italy, is extremely limited. Bariatric surgery, on the other hand, produces a significant weight loss over the time, improving comorbidities and life expectancy. The chapter emphasizes the importance of the multidisciplinary approach to obesity in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, focusing on the role of psychologists in the multidisciplinary team

Psychological predictors of weight loss in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Obesity is a rapidly growing multifactorial disease. Bariatric surgery represents the gold standard intervention to treat morbid obesity in term of significant weight loss and comorbidities resolution. However, not all obese patients lose the same percentage of weight and the reasons are not yet clear. The main goal of the present study was to identify psychological predictors of weight loss at 3 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Modificazioni dell’intake calorico e del comportamento alimentare dopo sleeve gastrectomy

L’excess weight loss (%EWL) medio a 3-5 anni dopo Sleeve Gastrectomy Laparoscopica (LSG), è del 60%. La riduzione del volume gastrico ha un ruolo centrale nella perdita di peso post-operatoria,tuttavia diversi studi indicano che, anche il cambiamento delle abitudini alimentari nei pazienti, possa contribuire al calo ponderale. E’ stato dimostrato che diversi pazienti dopo intervento di chirurgia bariatrica, cambino le loro preferenze alimentari verso cibi a bassa densità calorica. La diminuzione nell’assunzione di cibi ad alto contenuto lipidico e di dolci, suggerisce che alcuni interventi bariatrici possano influenzare le scelte alimentari. Gli obiettivi di questo studio prospettico sono: valutare la riduzione quantitativa dell’introito calorico giornaliero e i cambiamenti nelle abitudini alimentari 1 anno dopo LSG utilizzando un Suter Questionnaire modificato. Si è inoltre analizzata la relazione tra la perdita di peso e il cambiamento del gusto e delle abitudini alimentari

Indagine sulla qualità dei servizi ospedalieri offerti all’utenza nel percorso di cura del paziente sottoposto a chirurgia bariatrica

La qualità dell’assistenza sanitaria fornita ai pazienti può influenzare la qualità di vita dell’individuo in termini di benessere fisico, psicologico e sociale legato ai bisogni ed alle aspettative durante tutte le fasi del percorso di cura. L’assistenza sanitaria è da intendersi nell’accezione di: accessibilità alle strutture, disponibilità di informazioni e risorse, qualità ed efficienza delle prestazioni erogate. L’assistenza offerta ai pazienti obesi presso centri specializzati ed organizzati su rete territoriale, è attualmente regolamentata dalle direttive specifiche sottoscritte dalla Società Italiana di Chirurgia dell’Obesità (SICOb)Il presente studio socio-demografico mira a raccogliere dati informativi circa la qualità dei servizi ricevuta dall’utenza allo stato attuale, durante le varie fasi del percorso di Chirurgia Bariatrica a partire dal reclutamento nella struttura d’afferenza, e successivamente nel percorso post-operatorio a lungo termine

P-02-008 Obesity and sexual health: Study on a group of women asking for bariatric surgery

Objective: Obesity is an increasing epidemic which adversely affects physical, emotional, psychosocial and sexual health, even if the effects on women have not been clearly defined. The study investigated psychological and sexual symptoms, alexithymia, sexual dysfunctional beliefs, body image and quality of life (QoL) in a group of obese women, in order to improve general taking care, QoL and sexual health. Methods: Data were collected on 143 heterosexual women asking for bariatric surgery at “Sapienza” University of Rome (Dept. of general surgery). A self-administered questionnaire was given during the psychological screening for surgery composed by sociodemographic questionnaire, SCL-90-R, BDIII, STAI-Y, TAS-20, FSFI, SDBQ-W, BUT and TSD-OC. Results: Women asking for surgery reported high levels of BMI and low levels of education. More than half (n¼79) did not use any contraceptive tool even if they were fertile and they did not want to have a child. Multiple regressions showed a relationship between BMI and Hostility scale of SCL90-R (r¼-,184). Results revealed a damaged sexuality due to a severe presence of sexual symptoms (FSFI score 23). Women who used a contraceptive method (e.g., condoms, pills, etc.), reported better scores in arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, sexual pain scales and less suffering from physical obesity-related pain during everyday life. Conclusion: This study showed a complex scenery in which sexual symptoms were extremely represented. Sexuality is often forgotten in obesity condition, even if a protective role of sexuality in chronic diseases is demonstrated in literature. For instance, the use of contraceptives seems to improve sexual health and QoL. These results have important implications in both clinical and research field, showing the need for a deeper understanding and speaking about sexuality for a comprehensive taking care. Policy of full disclosure: Non