ABSTRACT
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption following ischemic stroke (IS) can induce significant aftereffects. Elevated calmodulin (CaM) expression following stroke causes calcium overload-a key contributor to BBB collapse. Trifluoperazine (TFP), a CaM inhibitor, reduces CaM overexpression following IS. However, it remains unclear whether TFP participates in BBB repair after IS. We administered TFP to mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and bEnd.3 cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). TFP treatment in MCAO mice reduced cerebral CaM expression and infarct size and decreased BBB permeability. OGD-treated bEnd.3 cells showed significantly increased CaM protein levels and reduced tight junction (TJ) protein levels; these changes were reversed by TFP treatment. Our results found that TFP administration in mice inhibited actin contraction following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by suppressing the MLCK/p-MLC pathway, thereby attenuating cell retraction, improving TJ protein integrity, and reducing BBB permeability. Consequently, this treatment may promote neurological function recovery after IS.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hennepin County partnered with schools to implement lunchroom strategies to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption. An in-depth evaluation measured changes in consumption following implementation of encouragement strategies including slicing apples and attractive labels. METHODS: A pre-post prospective evaluation measured changes in average fruit and vegetable consumption at 2 elementary schools. The plate waste method was used to weigh individual waste. To measure consumption, 373 students were matched pre/post. Additional measures included change in fruit and vegetable selection, change in whole servings consumed and apple consumption. RESULTS: Average fruit consumption increased by 3.0 g (p = .09), average vegetable consumption increased by 1.1 g (p = .27), neither significantly. The number of students selecting fruit significantly increased (p = .02), while the number taking vegetables increased, but not significantly (p = .28). The number of students consuming an entire serving of fruit (p = .15) or vegetables (p = .45) both increased but not significantly. Apple consumption more than doubled at one school. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing lunchroom changes can increase the number of students selecting fruit, and changes including slicing can increase consumption of apples. Additional strategies are needed to increase vegetable selection and fruit and vegetable consumption.
Subject(s)
Child Behavior/psychology , Food Preferences , Food Services/organization & administration , Fruit , Vegetables , Child , Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Choice Behavior , Female , Humans , Lunch , Male , Nutrition Policy , Prospective Studies , SchoolsABSTRACT
This study examines the association between perceived discrimination and underutilization of needed medical and mental health care, in a representative, multi-ethnic community sample. Data were derived from a cross sectional survey of 10,098 White, U.S.-born Black, African-born Black, American Indian, Hispanic, and Southeast Asian adults in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Even after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, health care access, and physical and mental health, perceived discrimination was associated with underutilization of medical care among Whites, U.S.-born Blacks, and American Indians and was associated with underutilization of mental health care among Whites, U.S.-born Blacks, Southeast Asians, and American Indians. Correlates of different types of discrimination (major, everyday, health care) on underutilization of care varied among ethnic groups. The higher prevalence of discrimination among racial and ethnic minorities may contribute to their underutilization of health care services. Future research is needed to understand the impacts of different types of discrimination on different groups.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Minority Groups/psychology , Needs Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/ethnology , Prejudice , Adolescent , Adult , Black or African American/psychology , Asian/psychology , Attitude to Health/ethnology , Choice Behavior , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Status Indicators , Healthcare Disparities , Hispanic or Latino/psychology , Humans , Indians, North American/psychology , Male , Minnesota , Minority Groups/classification , White People/psychologyABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To discover if area level social cohesion, neighbourhood safety, and home safety are associated with current cigarette smoking among adults after adjustment for concentrations of poverty and low education. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey of a random sample of adults, stratified by 19 geographical areas. SETTING: SHAPE, Survey of the Health of Adults, the Population, and the Environment-conducted in 1998 by the Hennepin County Community Health Department and the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support in Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: 5256 men and 4806 women, 18 years and older, randomly selected from 19 geographical areas in an urban county. MAIN RESULTS: Overall, 21.2% of survey respondents reported current cigarette smoking. Both higher area level social cohesion (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.74 to 0.98) and higher individual social cohesion (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92 to 0.99) were associated with lower likelihoods of smoking. Similar models were obtained for neighbourhood safety and home safety. CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to the growing literature on the important role of social cohesion and other area level characteristics on smoking behaviour among adults.
