The association between discrimination and drinking among sexual minorities: A daily diary study.

Background: Among sexual minorities (SMs), experiencing discrimination has been associated with greater substance use at the day-level. However, variations in sample characteristics and measures of day-level discrimination limit the generalizability of findings. Furthermore, it is unknown how positive experiences due to minority identity ("Minority Strengths") may impact the association between experiencing discrimination and same day drinking. Methods: The present study extends prior research on discrimination and drinking using detailed discrimination measures, Minority Strengths measures, and a gender diverse sample. Participants (N = 61) were majority White (n = 45, 73.8 %) adult (mean age 26.8 years) self-identified SMs (e.g., 44.3 % identified as "gay") who engaged in alcohol use within the past month. Participants completed up to 31 days of daily diary surveys about their experiences and drinking. Recruitment took place in the northeastern U.S. from May to December 2021. Results: Multilevel model analysis indicated that experiencing discrimination was associated with increased same day drinking among Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) participants but not among White participants. A significant gender by discrimination interaction indicated that cisgender men drank more the same day they experienced discrimination compared to cisgender women and transgender/non-binary participants. Minority Strengths had no impact on these relationships. Conclusions: Results highlight that the experience of discrimination and its association with drinking may be influenced by a host of contextual factors that are attached to racial and gender identities. Future research should examine how discrimination in different contexts (e.g., regions) and based on specific identities may be associated with alcohol use.

Cerebral superb microvascular imaging in preterm neonates: in vivo evaluation of thalamic, striatal, and extrastriatal angioarchitecture.

PURPOSE: To explore the potential of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) in visualizing brain microvessels in preterm neonates of different gestational ages (GA). METHODS: In this retrospective, observational pilot study, 15 preterm newborns were equally divided into GA groups: extremely (GA < 28 weeks), very (28-31 weeks), and moderate to late (32-37 weeks) preterm. All patients underwent conventional transcranial ultrasounds during the first day of life following the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine practice guidelines. SMI was then performed; based on their SMI morphology and location, brain microvessels were classified as extrastriatal (cortical and medullary), striatal, or thalamic. Two examiners independently classified vessels as visible or invisible. To assess the association between vessel visibility and GA, binomial logistic regression analysis (separate for each microvessel group) was performed, taking visibility as a dependent variable and both examiners and GA as predictor variables. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference among GA groups was found in sex (P = 0.030), birth weight (P = 0.007), and Apgar score within 1 min after birth (P = 0.024). Microvascular visibility increased with GA for superficial vessels (P < 0.05 for both cortical and medullary), while striatal and thalamic vessels were visible in all neonates irrespective of their GA. CONCLUSIONS: SMI technology shows promise to assess brain microvasculature in preterm neonates, even potentially providing data on early brain development.

Aesthetic results following breast cancer surgery: A prospective study on 6515 cases from ten Italian Senonetwork breast centers.

Breast cancer treatment has deeply changed in the last decades, since clinical and oncological cure cannot be achieved without patient's satisfaction in term of aesthetic outcomes. Several methods have been proposed to objectively assess these results. However, Italian breast centers have not yet agreed on measurable, reproducible and validated aesthetic outcome indicators to monitor their performance. METHODS: The study was designed and conducted by Senonetwork, a not-for-profit association of Italian breast centers. Ten breast centers were selected based on specific eligibility criteria. This multicentre observational prospective study recruited 6515 patients with diagnosis of in situ or invasive breast cancer who underwent breast surgery in the years 2013-2016. Thirteen indicators of aesthetic results and of related quality of care were analyzed. Data collection and analysis were conducted using a common study database. RESULTS: On average, seven out of ten centers were able to collect data on the proposed indicators with a proportion of missing values < 25%. By expert consensus based on study results, some seven indicators have been defined as "mandatory" while the remaining six have been defined as "recommended" because they require further refinement before they can be proposed for monitoring aesthetic outcomes or because there are doubts on the feasibility of data collection. The minimum standard is reached for 5 of 13 indicators. This finding and the wide range between centers reveal that there is ample room for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: From the present study useful measurable aesthetic parameters have emerged, leading to the definition of target objectives that breast centers can use for benchmarking and improvement of quality of care.

Contrasting patterns of selenium excretion by female CD rats treated with chemically related chemopreventive organic selenocyanate compounds.

We previously demonstrated that while both benzyl selenocyanate (BSC) and 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC) have high efficacy as cancer chemopreventive agents in several animal tumor models, p-XSC is less toxic. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, we compared the urinary and fecal excretion of total selenium derived from p-XSC and BSC in female CD rats. The results indicate that there exist distinct differences in the selenium excretion patterns when these compounds are administered orally, but not when they are administered i.p. In terms of the percent dose, the total selenium excreted in the 5 days following equimolar dosing (50 mumol/kg) of p-XSC or BSC, respectively, was as follows: after gavage, 68% or 3% in the feces and 6% or 18% in the urine; after i.p. administration, 9% or 4% in feces and 16% or 20% in urine. These results indicate that while most of the BSC administered orally is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, most of the p-XSC given the same way is not absorbed. This difference would account for the significantly lower tissue levels of selenium derived from orally administered p-XSC compared to BSC, and accounts, in part, for the lower oral toxicity of p-XSC compared to BSC. Subsequent studies employing o- and m-XSC, isomers of p-XSC, demonstrate that the excretion patterns of selenium are significantly different, depending on the position of substitution. In vitro studies suggest that the differences among BSC and the three XSC isomers with regard to absorption is probably due to different extent of binding to components of the gut contents. The results of these studies are useful for the future design of less toxic and more effective chemopreventive organic seleno-cyanates.

Effects of green and black tea on hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing systems in the male F344 rat.

1. The induction of phase I and II enzymes in the liver of the male F344 rat drinking 2% (w/v) solutions of green or black tea for 6 weeks was investigated. Also studied were glutathione (GSH) and cyst(e)ine in blood, liver and kidney, as well as serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total and free testosterone. 2. The total carbon monoxide-discernible liver P450, b5 and NADPH-cytochrome c(P450) reductase activities were similar in all groups. 3. There were significant increases in liver of rat drinking green or black tea of P4501A1, 1A2 and 2B1 activities, but no change in P4502E1 and 3A4 activities. Of the phase II enzymes, UDP-glucuronyltransferase was increased, but glutathione S-transferase was not. 4. Serum GSH was higher in the group administered black tea, but GSH and cyst(e)ine in other groups was at control levels. Serum cholesterol was lower in rat given black compared with green tea. Triglycerides had a declining trend after green and black tea exposure compared with water controls. Free and total testosterone were not affected. 5. Thus, beverages widely used by man altered host biochemistry as regards specific phase I and II enzymes in liver of rat and specific serum parameters.

Clinical investigations of tolerance to materials and acrylic cement in patients with hip prostheses.

In forty-two patients with prostheses of the hip followed up after an interval, the authors carried out skin allergy tests against the metals of which the prostheses were composed, and against methacrylate. They found that the tests gave positive results in about 25 per cent of cases. They also investigated whether this finding showed any relationship with loosening or movement of the prostheses. There was no statistically significant relationship, either with loosening or with the passage of time since the operation.

[Lumbago and arthrosis of posterior vertebral articulations (author's transl)]. / Lombalgia ed artrosi delle articolazioni vertebrali posteriori.

Such Authors value the importance of the arthrosis of the posterior vertebral articulations in the genesis of back pain with or without sciatica. A particular attention must be put on the correct differential diagnosis of the various back pains. They furthermore present their casuistry. The made results through endoarticular injection of steroid and local anesthetic are good. 78% of the subjects has gone back to work; even though this treatment must be considered only one mean to permit a better physical and natural activity.

[Volumetric valuation of dural sac by standard measurement on radiographs and saccoradiculographs (author's transl)]. / Valutazione volumetrica del sacco durale mediante misurazioni standard su radiografie e saccoradicol grafie.

The Authors have planned to connect unexplained osphyalgias with dural pouch disease, through roentgenographic research. The Authors suggest a standard measurement primer to single out narrow pouches, in order to settle surgical operation.