Value-driven attitude surveys: Lessons from the refugee crisis in Greece.

Community reaction to refugees and asylum-seekers is often gauged by attitude surveys that are not designed to overcome built-in bias. Questionnaires that do not account for context and background consequently yield results that misrepresent community attitudes and offer predictably negative responses to immigrant groups. Such surveys can alter public perception, fuel anti-refugee sentiment, and affect policy simply because of how they are constructed. This model survey among humanitarian aid-workers from nine Greek non-governmental organizations uses specific techniques designed to overcome these challenges by applying sample familiarity, non-inflammatory hypothesis-testing, educational question stems, intentional ordering of questions, and direct questioning rather than surrogate measures like statistical approximation. Respondents working in the refugee crisis in Greece demonstrate how empathy, education, and exposure to refugees serve to overcome the harmful stereotypes of outsiders as contributors to crime, terror, and social burden.

Genotyping Neisseria gonorrhoeae gyrA and penA antimicrobial genes from remnant Neisseria gonorrhoeae positive Cepheid Xpert® clinical specimens - A feasibility study.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) has developed resistance to most antibiotics, making it increasingly difficult to treat. Previous studies have predicted antimicrobial NG susceptibility based on the antimicrobial gene target DNA gyrase subunit A (gyrA) codon serine 91 and the penicillin-binding protein 2 (penA) using Roche Cobas® and Hologic APTIMA™ clinical specimens. We studied whether similar methods could be used on remnant NG-positive Cepheid Xpert® specimens.

Ectoine: a compatible solute in radio-halophilic Stenotrophomonas sp. WMA-LM19 strain to prevent ultraviolet-induced protein damage.

AIM: Thiss study was conducted to investigate the possible role of a compatible solute from radio-halophilic bacterium against desiccation and ultra-violet radiation-induced oxidative stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine different radio-resistant bacteria were isolated from desert soil, where strain WMA-LM19 was chosen for detailed studies on the basis of its high tolerance to ultraviolet radiation among all these isolates. Here, 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated the bacterium was closely related to Stenotrophomonas sp. (KT008383). A bacterial milking strategy was applied for extraction of intracellular compatible solutes in 70% (v/v) ethanol, which were purified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The compound was characterized as ectoine by 1 H and 13 C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Mass Spectrometry (MS). Ectoine inhibited oxidative damage to proteins and lipids in comparison to the standard ascorbic acid. It also demonstrated more efficient prevention (54·80%) against lysis to erythrocytes membrane by surface active agents than lecithin. Furthermore, a high level of ectoine-mediated protection of bovine serum albumin against ionizing radiation (1 500-2 000Jm-2 ) was observed, as indicated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that ectoine from Stenotrophomonas sp. WMA-LM19 can be used as a potential mitigator and radio-protective agent to overcome radiation- and salinity-mediated oxidative damages in extreme environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Due to its anti-oxidant properties, ectoine from a radio-halophilic bacterium might be used in sunscreen formulation for protection against UV-induced oxidative stress.

Dietary intake and eating behavior in depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users: a systematic review.

Because of weight gain, women often discontinue hormonal contraception, especially depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of studies describing dietary intake or eating behavior in DMPA users to understand whether the use of DMPA is associated with changes in dietary habits and behaviors leading to weight gain. We searched the PubMed, POPLINE, CENTRAL Cochrane, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases for reports published in English between 1980 and 2017 examining dietary intake or eating behavior in healthy women in reproductive age and adolescents using DMPA (150 mg/mL). Of the 749 publications screened, we excluded 742 due to duplicates (96), not addressing the key research question (638), not reporting dietary intake data (4), and not evaluating the relationship of body weight and dietary or eating behaviors (4). We identified seven relevant studies, including one randomized placebo-controlled trial, one non-randomized paired clinical trial, and five cohort studies. The randomized trial found no association and the other reports were inconsistent. Findings varied from no change in dietary intake or eating behavior with DMPA use to increased appetite in the first six months of DMPA use. Few studies report dietary intake and eating behavior in DMPA users and the available data are insufficient to conclude whether DMPA use is associated with changes in dietary habits or behavior leading to weight gain.

Dietary intake and eating behavior in depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users: a systematic review

Because of weight gain, women often discontinue hormonal contraception, especially depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of studies describing dietary intake or eating behavior in DMPA users to understand whether the use of DMPA is associated with changes in dietary habits and behaviors leading to weight gain. We searched the PubMed, POPLINE, CENTRAL Cochrane, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases for reports published in English between 1980 and 2017 examining dietary intake or eating behavior in healthy women in reproductive age and adolescents using DMPA (150 mg/mL). Of the 749 publications screened, we excluded 742 due to duplicates (96), not addressing the key research question (638), not reporting dietary intake data (4), and not evaluating the relationship of body weight and dietary or eating behaviors (4). We identified seven relevant studies, including one randomized placebo-controlled trial, one non-randomized paired clinical trial, and five cohort studies. The randomized trial found no association and the other reports were inconsistent. Findings varied from no change in dietary intake or eating behavior with DMPA use to increased appetite in the first six months of DMPA use. Few studies report dietary intake and eating behavior in DMPA users and the available data are insufficient to conclude whether DMPA use is associated with changes in dietary habits or behavior leading to weight gain.

Pupillary response to cognitive workload during saccadic tasks in Parkinson's disease.

The relationship between cognitive workload and cognitive impairments in Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently not well known. This study compared cognitive workload during saccadic tasks between patients with PD and controls. Sixteen controls, 11 patients with no obvious cognitive impairment (PD-NCI) (MOCA score≥26), and 10 PD patients with cognitive impairment (PD-CI) (MOCA score<26) performed prosaccade and antisaccade tasks. Cognitive workload, extracted via pupil recording, and other eye metrics were compared between the three groups. PD-NCI patients exhibited greater cognitive workload than controls in the prosaccade task. PD-CI patients also showed more cognitive workload in the prosaccade task than PD-NCI patients and controls. No other differences in eye metrics were found between the three groups. Cognitive workload could be used to differentiate between different cognitive states in PD. The causal relationship between increased cognitive workload and cognitive decline in PD-NCI should be the focus of future studies.

Racial/ethnic differences in self-reported and biologic measures of chronic stress in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Racial differences in chronic maternal stress may contribute to disparities in pregnancy outcomes. The objective is to identify racial and ethnic differences in self-reported and biologic measures of stress between non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: NHB and NHW pregnant women were enrolled before 23 weeks of gestation in this prospective cohort study. Equal numbers of women were recruited with public vs private insurance in each racial group. Self-reported stress was measured and blood samples collected in the second and third trimesters were analyzed for serum Epstein-Barr virus antibody, C-reactive protein (CRP), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). RESULTS: One hundred and twelve women were enrolled. NHW women reported more buffers against stress (P=0.04) and neighborhood satisfaction (P=0.02). NHB women reported more discrimination (P<0.001), food insecurity (P=0.04) and had significantly higher mean CRP levels and mean ACTH levels in the second and third trimesters. CONCLUSION: Significant differences in self-reported and biologic measures of chronic stress were identified between NHB and NHW pregnant women with similar economic characteristics. Future studies should investigate mechanisms underlying these differences and their relationship to pregnancy outcomes.

Intestinal helminths induce haematological changes in dogs from Jabalpur, India.

The effect of canine intestinal helminths on the haematological profile of 200 dogs, of both sexes and variable age, visiting university veterinary clinics for routine examination was investigated. The dogs were assigned to parasitized (n = 39) and non-parasitized (n = 161) groups of animals. Coprological examination revealed a 19.5% prevalence of different species of the helminths. Of these animals, 10.25% had mixed infections with Ancylostoma caninum, Toxascaris spp. and Dipylidium caninum. The intensity of A. caninum infection was the highest, with mean egg counts of 951.43 (standard error 88.66), followed by Toxascaris 283.33 (standard error 116.81) and D. caninum. The parasitized animals had significantly lower levels of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte counts than non-parasitized animals (P < 0.01). Values of other parameters, except for lymphocytes and eosinophils, were not different between the two groups. Analyses of the haematological profile revealed normocytic hypochromic anaemia in the parasitized group of animals.

Risk factors for scabies among male soldiers in Pakistan: case-control study.

Being a preventable disease, good control of scabies can be achieved by identification of risk factors. During the 3-month period February 2006-April 2006 we carried out a case-control study on 200 patients with scabies and 200 controls to identify risk factors for scabies among male soldiers in Pakistan. We identified risk factors for the infestation using logisitic regression analysis. Itching in family/dormitory mates, infrequent bathing, infrequent changing of clothes, low education, sharing beds and being away from the barracks were identified as significant risk factors for scabies, while overcrowding, large family size and sharing of towels and hospitalisation were not.

Risk factors for scabies among male soldiers in Pakistan: case-control study

Being a preventable disease, good control of scabies can be achieved by identification of risk factors. During the 3-month period February 2006-April 2006 we carried out a case-control study on 200 patients with scabies and 200 controls to identify risk factors for scabies among male soldiers in Pakistan. We identified risk factors for the infestation using logisitic regression analysis. Itching in family/dormitory mates, infrequent bathing, infrequent changing of clothes, low education, sharing beds and being away from the barracks were identified as significant risk factors for scabies, while overcrowding, large family size and sharing of towels and hospitalisation were not

Proteomics-based dissection of stress-responsive pathways in plants.

Abiotic stress has an ability to alter the levels of a number of proteins, which may be soluble or structural in nature or which may exist before and after folding in the plant cell. The most crucial function of plant cell is to respond to stress by developing defence mechanisms. This defence is brought about by alteration in the pattern of gene expression. This leads to modulation of certain metabolic and defensive pathways. Owing to gene expression altered under stress, qualitative and quantitative changes in proteins are obvious. These proteins might play a role in signal transduction, antioxidative defence, antifreezing, heat shock, metal binding, antipathogenesis or osmolyte synthesis. A significant part of the literature shows the quantitative and qualitative changes in proteins, mainly employing western analysis, enzymatic kinetics, fraction isolation, one-dimensional SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, etc. Fortunately, recent developments in sensitivity and accuracy for proteome analysis have provided new dimensions to assess the changes in protein types and their expression levels under stress. The novel aim of this review is to do a side-by-side comparison of the proteins that are induced or overexpressed under abiotic stress, examining those from biochemical literature and the ones observed, sequenced and identified using the advanced proteomics and bioinformatic techniques.

A method for overcoming the ceiling effect of bounded pain scales.

OBJECTIVE: The Verbal Numerical Scale (VNS) for rating pain is bounded between 0 (= no pain) and 10 (= worst pain imaginable). We hypothesized that the limitations inherent to this boundary when rating extremely painful stimuli may be identified by integrating the VNS with an unbounded score such as magnitude estimation of relative change. METHODS: Volunteers received stimuli of increasing current via cutaneous electrodes until they rated >5 on the VNS scale. This stimulus, termed S, was arbitrarily assigned a magnitude estimate of 100%. Then, stimuli of varying currents were delivered; two were 10 mA and 20 mA higher than S (S(+10) and S(+20)), two were 1/2 of the current for the S stimulus (S(1/2)), and one was at the original current (Srepeat). The pain elicited by each stimulus was scored in proportion to the S stimulus. The extrapolated VNS score (VNSext) was determined by multiplying this magnitude estimate (%) by the VNS score for S. MAIN RESULTS: Seventy percent of the stimuli with higher intensity than S generated a VNSext score above 10. The mean magnitude estimations for S(+10) and S(+20) were 186% and 242%: they generated mean (median) VNSext values of 12.4 and 16.2, respectively (p = 0.019 for the difference between them by Wilcoxon signed rank test). CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of VNS and magnitude estimation confirmed that the ceiling of the bounded pain scale may significantly limit a patient's ability to describe a new pain stimulus. VNSext may provide a means of overcoming this limitation.