Disease-associated astrocytes and microglia markers are upregulated in mice fed high fat diet.

High-fat diet (HFD) is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes risk, which share features such as insulin resistance and amylin deposition. We examined gene expression associated with astrocytes and microglia since dysfunction of these cell types is implicated in AD pathogenesis. We hypothesize gene expression changes in disease-associated astrocytes (DAA), disease-associated microglia and human Alzheimer's microglia exist in diabetic and obese individuals before AD development. By analyzing bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data generated from brains of mice fed HFD and humans with AD, 11 overlapping AD-associated differentially expressed genes were identified, including Kcnj2, C4b and Ddr1, which are upregulated in response to both HFD and AD. Analysis of single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data indicated C4b is astrocyte specific. Spatial transcriptomics (ST) revealed C4b colocalizes with Gfad, a known astrocyte marker, and the colocalization of C4b expressing cells with Gad2 expressing cells, i.e., GABAergic neurons, in mouse brain. There also exists a positive correlation between C4b and Gad2 expression in ST indicating a potential interaction between DAA and GABAergic neurons. These findings provide novel links between the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes and AD and identify C4b as a potential early marker for AD in obese or diabetic individuals.

Survey of Meat Collected from Commercial Broiler Processing Plants Suggests Low Levels of Semicarbazide Can Be Created during Immersion Chilling.

ABSTRACT: Semicarbazide (SEM) is routinely employed as an indicator for the use of nitrofurazone, a banned antimicrobial. The validity of SEM as a nitrofurazone marker has been scrutinized because of other possible sources of the compound. Nonetheless, a U.S. trade partner rejected skin-on chicken thighs because of SEM detection and suspected nitrofurazone use. Because nitrofurazone has been banned in U.S. broiler production since 2003, we hypothesized that incidental de novo SEM formation occurs during broiler processing. To assess this possibility, raw leg quarters were collected from 23 commercial broiler processing plants across the United States and shipped frozen to our laboratory, where liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to quantitatively assess for SEM. Leg quarter samples were collected at four points along the processing line: hot rehang (transfer from the kill line to the evisceration line), prechill (before the chilling process), postchill (immediately following chilling), and at the point of pack. Thigh meat with skin attached was removed from 535 leg quarters and analyzed in triplicate for SEM concentrations. The concentrations ranged from 0 to 2.67 ppb, with 462 (86.4%) of 535 samples below the regulatory decision level of 0.5 ppb of SEM. The 73 samples over the 0.5-ppb limit came from 21 plants; 53 (72.6%) of positive samples were in meat collected after chilling (postchill or point of pack). The difference in both prevalence and concentration of SEM detected before and after chilling was highly significant (P < 0.0001). These data support our hypothesis that SEM detection in raw broiler meat is related to de novo creation of the chemical during processing.

Exploring self-care abilities among women in prisons of West Bengal, India.

PURPOSE: Self-care is defined as the ability to take care of one's body and health with or without the help of healthcare personnel. The purpose of this paper is to explore the opportunities for self-care among imprisoned women within the constraints of a confined life, which, in turn, affect their health. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Primary data have been collected through semi-structured interviews with 90 women in three prisons in the Indian state of West Bengal. FINDINGS: Findings reveal that a majority of the women cited the inability to self-care was due to factors such as constricted architecture, specific penal policies that thwarted relational contexts in prisons and also the loss of control over their consumptive choices. However, it was found that coping mechanisms also existed among some women who actively constituted penal spaces for self-care. Many long-term imprisoned women tried to actively engage themselves in daily activities such as the "labour" allotted to them. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper concludes that abilities to self-care have a deep impact on the health of women, which if not facilitated will lead to a health depleting experience. At a time when Indian prisons are focussing on rehabilitation, the recommendations for providing opportunities for self-care in prisons can minimize the "pains" of imprisonment and pave the way for rehabilitation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The research is based on data collected during original fieldwork conducted in three prisons in West Bengal, India. It provides valuable insights on how penal environments affect self-care opportunities of imprisoned women.

Assessment of Private Homes as Spaces for the Dying Elderly.

AIM: This study makes an assessment of end-of-life care of the elderly in private homes in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Primary data were collected from private homes which supported elder care through observation and semi-structured interviews with primary family caregivers of the elderly. RESULTS: The study finds that the major factors preventing private homes from providing adequate care to the elderly were architecturally inadequate housing conditions, paucity of financial support, and scarcity of skilled caregivers. Besides, considerable neglect and domestic abuse of the elderly was also found in some private homes. In addition, the peripheral location of private homes within public health framework and inadequate state palliative policy, including stringent narcotic regulations, accentuated the problems of home care. CONCLUSION: The study concludes by questioning the rhetoric of private homes as spaces for the dying elderly in Kolkata and suggests remedial measures to improve their capacity to deliver care.

Descriptive texture analyses of cooked patties made of chicken breast with the woody breast condition.

The woody breast (WB) condition negatively influences the texture characteristics and quality of intact broiler breast fillets (Pectoralis major). But the impact of WB on ground meat is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of WB on the texture and cook loss of ground meat made of broiler breast fillets. Broiler breasts (deboned 3 h postmortem) were collected on 3 separate trial d from the commercial deboning line and classified into normal and severe WB fillet categories. Individual fillets were either ground and formed into patties or left intact prior to being stored for 7 d at -20°C. Samples were then cooked directly from the frozen state to an endpoint temperature of 76 °C for cook loss, instrumental (patties: Allo-Kramer shear; fillets: Warner-Bratzler shear), and descriptive sensory analysis of texture. Cook loss was greater (P < 0.05) in intact WB fillets compared to that in intact normal fillets, but there was no difference (P > 0.05) between WB and normal patties. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in shear force between normal and WB samples regardless of meat type. Sensory analysis showed that average scores of springiness and hardness of intact WB fillets were greater than those of normal fillets (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in average scores for sensory attributes cohesiveness, hardness, juiciness, fibrous, and rate of breakdown between WB and normal patties. WB patties exhibited lower springiness and chewiness scores (P < 0.05) than normal patties. Data suggest that undesirable differences in sensory texture characteristics between cooked intact WB and normal breast meat can be minimized in a ground product.

End-of-life Characteristics of the Elderly: An Assessment of Home-based Palliative Services in Two Panchayats of Kerala.

BACKGROUND: Home-based palliative services form the cornerstone of Kerala's palliative program. However, two issues need research: (a) whether family-homes can be considered as the locus of ageing and dying for marginal populations who experience deprivation and poverty and (b) whether the present delivery structure meets the needs of elderly population. These issues are examined in the context of two rural areas. The study explores end-of-life characteristics of the elderly - their sociodemographic status and living patterns, morbidity profile, and functional status. It also looks into the accessibility and utilization of palliative services and respondents' satisfaction with different components of the services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design is used. Data were collected based on the interviews of sixty service users sampled randomly from a roster of palliative care services. Semi-structured interviews were substantiated by personal field observations. RESULTS: The study has found people living under extreme financial distress with inadequate shelter and poor social security provisions. The health profile is characterized by high level of functional dependence. Many dependent widowed women were living alone without appropriate care and shelter. The palliative program as perceived by the respondents is characterized by few doctor visitations and poor frequency. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that home-based palliation in its present form does not promote good end-of-life care. It lacks an integrated approach with good service-mix. It raises serious questions on family-home as the locus of ageing and dying for marginal populations, and suggests need for restructuring of the palliative program.

MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES FOR LABEL-FREE AND NON-INSTRUMENTED QUANTITATION OF UNAMPLIFIED NUCLEIC ACIDS BY FLOW DISTANCE MEASUREMENT.

Timely biomarker quantitation has potential to improve human health but current methods have disadvantages either in terms of cost and complexity for benchtop instruments, or reduced performance in quantitation and/or multiplexing for point-of-care systems. We previously developed microfluidic devices wherein visually observed flow distances correlated with a model analyte's concentration.1 Here, we significantly expand over this prior result to demonstrate the measurement of unamplified DNA analogues of microRNAs (miRNAs), biomarkers whose levels can be altered in disease states. We have developed a method for covalently attaching nucleic acid receptors on poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchannel surfaces by silane and cross-linker treatments. We found a flow distance dependence on target concentrations from 10 µg/mL to 10 pg/mL for DNA in both buffer and synthetic urine. Moreover, flow time in addition to flow distance is correlated with target concentration. We also observed longer flow distances for single-base mismatches compared to the target sequence at the same concentration, indicating that our approach can be used to detect point mutations. Finally, experiments with DNA analogues of miRNA biomarkers for kidney disease (mir-200c-3p) and prostate cancer (mir-107) in synthetic urine showed the ability to detect these analytes near clinically relevant levels. Our results demonstrate that these novel microfluidic assays offer a simple route to sensitive, amplification-free nucleic acid quantitation, with strong potential for point-of-care application.

"Flow valve" microfluidic devices for simple, detectorless, and label-free analyte quantitation.

Simplified analysis systems that offer the performance of benchtop instruments but the convenience of portability are highly desirable. We have developed novel, miniature devices that feature visual inspection readout of a target's concentration from a ~1 µL volume of solution introduced into a microfluidic channel. Microchannels are constructed within an elastomeric material, and channel surfaces are coated with receptors to the target. When a solution is flowed into the channel, the target cross-links multiple receptors on the surface, resulting in constriction of the first few millimeters of the channel and stopping of flow. Quantitation is performed by measuring the distance traveled by the target solution in the channel before flow stops. A key advantage of our approach is that quantitation is accomplished by simple visual inspection of the channel, without the need for complex detection instrumentation. We have tested these devices using the model system of biotin as a receptor and streptavidin as the target. We have also characterized three factors that influence flow distance: solution viscosity, device thickness, and channel height. We found that solution capillary flow distance scales with the negative logarithm of target concentration and have detected streptavidin concentrations as low as 1 ng/mL. Finally, we have identified and evaluated a plausible mechanism wherein time-dependent channel constriction in the first few millimeters leads to concentration-dependent flow distances. Their simplicity coupled with performance makes these "flow valve" systems especially attractive for a host of analysis applications.