Examining the Light Heart Mobile Device App for Assessing Human Pulse Interval and Heart Rate Variability: Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: Pulse interval is a biomarker of psychological and physiological health. Pulse interval can now be assessed using mobile phone apps, which expands researchers' ability to assess pulse interval in the real world. Prior to implementation, measurement accuracy should be established. OBJECTIVE: This investigation evaluated the validity of the Light Heart mobile app to measure pulse interval and pulse rate variability in healthy young adults. METHODS: Validity was assessed by comparing the pulse interval and SD of normal pulse intervals obtained by Light Heart to the gold standard, electrocardiogram (ECG), in 14 young healthy individuals (mean age 24, SD 5 years; n=9, 64% female) in a seated posture. RESULTS: Mean pulse interval (Light Heart: 859, SD 113 ms; ECG: 857, SD 112 ms) demonstrated a strong positive linear correlation (r=0.99; P<.001) and strong agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient=1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.00) between techniques. The Bland-Altman plot demonstrated good agreement for the mean pulse interval measured with Light Heart and ECG with evidence of fixed bias (-1.56, SD 1.86; 95% CI -5.2 to 2.1 ms), suggesting that Light Heart overestimates pulse interval by a small margin. When Bland-Altman plots were constructed for each participant's beat-by-beat pulse interval data, all participants demonstrated strong agreement between Light Heart and ECG with no evidence of fixed bias between measures. Heart rate variability, assessed by SD of normal pulse intervals, demonstrated strong agreement between techniques (Light Heart: mean 73, SD 23 ms; ECG: mean 73, SD 22 ms; r=0.99; P<.001; intraclass correlation coefficient=0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence to suggest that the Light Heart mobile app provides valid measures of pulse interval and heart rate variability in healthy young adults.

Employment of the DCC-GARCH Copula Model to explore a link between robotics and artificial intelligence and green crypto investments.

The pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires considerable new green crypto investments. To attract the flow of this investment, it is necessary to develop and apply robotic artificial intelligence (AI) as it has the potential to encourage the adoption of environmental innovation and increase individuals' environmental awareness. Our research employs the DCC-GARCH Copula Model to examine time-varying spillovers and prove interlinkages between the development of AI and green cryptocurrencies in the period from January 1, 2018, to September 8, 2023. Comparing the optimum hedge ratios with the optimal portfolio weights, we demonstrate that the optimal hedge strategy for BOTZ is the most successful one. However, the success of hedging depends on the portfolio's risk profile. Based on our analysis of the cumulative profit profile of different approaches, we continue to believe that the best portfolio weighting strategy is the one that produces positive returns in the middle of 2020 and the first part of 2022 and 2023. This demonstrates that the most profitable diversification approach is not always the most successful one. Our results have important policy implications for investors and governments.

Systematic analysis of PANoptosis-related genes identifies XIAP as a functional oncogene in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignant disease affecting women globally. PANoptosis, a novel form of cell death combining features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, has recently gained attention. However, its precise function in BC and the predictive values of PANoptosis-related genes remain unclear. METHODS: We used the expression data and clinical information of BC tissues or normal breast tissues from public databases, and then successfully developed and verified a BC PANoptosis-related risk model through a combination of univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis. A nomogram was constructed to estimate survival probability, and its accuracy was assessed using calibration curves. RESULTS: Among 37 PANoptosis-related genes, we identified 4 differentially expressed genes related to overall survival (OS). Next, a risk model incorporating these four PANoptosis-related genes was established. Patients were stratified into low/high-risk groups based on the median risk score, with the low-risk group showing better prognoses and higher levels of immune infiltration. Utilizing the risk score and clinical features, we developed a nomogram to predict 1-, 3- and 5-year survival probability. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) emerged as a potentially risky factor with the highest hazard ratio. In vitro experiments demonstrated that XIAP inhibition enhances the antitumor effect of doxorubicin through the PANoptosis pathway. CONCLUSION: PANoptosis holds an important role in BC prognosis and treatment.

Propidium Monoazide Combined With RT-qPCR Detects Infectivity of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus.

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) allows sensitive detection of viral particles and viruses in epidemic samples but it cannot discriminate noninfectious viruses from infectious ones. Propidium monoazide (PMA) coupled with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was assessed to detect infectious viruses. Currently, there is no established test method to detect the infection of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). In this study, propidium monoazide coupled with qPCR detects infectivity of PEDV. We optimized the method from the selection of primers, the working concentration of PMA, and the inactivation method using heat or ultraviolet (UV). The viruses which were treated with PMA before qPCR were inactivated using heat or UV. However, the addition of PMA alone did not affect the detection of live viruses, which indicates that a viral capsid break may be essential for PMA to bind to the genome. A repetition of the method on naked PEDV RNA suggests that it can be used to detect potentially infectious PEDV. The results indicated that an optimal plan of PMA could be extremely useful for evaluating infectious and noninfectious viruses.

Decreased Macular Retinal Thickness in Patients With Pterygium.

Purpose: To explore alterations in macular retinal thickness (RT) and analyze correlation between macular RT and pterygium area, length in pterygium patients. Methods: Totally 13 patients with pterygium (left eye) and 13 healthy controls (left eye) were recruited. OCTA was applied to scan each eye to generate three-dimensional images. Based on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) method, each image was divided into nine subregions for the ETDRS: central (C); inner superior (IS); outer superior (OS); inner nasal (IN); outer nasal (ON); inner inferior (II); outer inferior (OI); inner temporal (IT); and outer temporal (OT). The macular RT in each subregion was measured. Furthermore, the correlation between RT and the area, length of pterygium was analyzed. Results: The visual acuity of pterygium patient was different from that of the control (P < 0.05). Besides, decreased intraretinal thickness of the IN and ON, increased intraretinal thickness of OT, decreased extraretinal thickness of OT, IN, ON, OS, and decreased retinal full layer thickness of medial superior, OS, IN, ON, and II subregions in pterygium group were observed. There was a negative correlation between RT of the IN and ON subregions and the length of pterygium (r = -0.5803 and r = -0.6013, P = 0.0376 and P = 0.0297). The RT of IN subregion was negatively correlated with pterygium area (r = -0.5844, P = 0.0359). According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis, in the ON subregion, the areas under the curve of the inner retinal thickness, outer retinal thickness and the whole retinal thickness were 1.0 (95% CI: 1.0), 0.882 (95% CI: 0.715 and 0.963), and 1.0 (95% CI: 1.0). The smallest area under the curve of retinal thickness in OT subregion was 0.018 (95% CI: 0-0.059). Conclusion: RT of pterygium patients was significantly decreased, and the main alterations occurred in the temporal side suggesting there might exist retinal structural alterations in pterygium.

Rest-activity profiles among U.S. adults in a nationally representative sample: a functional principal component analysis.

BACKGROUND: The 24-h rest and activity behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviors and sleep) are fundamental human behaviors essential to health and well-being. Functional principal component analysis (fPCA) is a flexible approach for characterizing rest-activity rhythms and does not rely on a priori assumptions about the activity shape. The objective of our study is to apply fPCA to a nationally representative sample of American adults to characterize variations in the 24-h rest-activity pattern, determine how the pattern differs according to demographic, socioeconomic and work characteristics, and examine its associations with general health status. METHODS: The current analysis used data from adults 25 or older in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2011-2014). Using 7-day 24-h actigraphy recordings, we applied fPCA to derive profiles for overall, weekday and weekend rest-activity patterns. We examined the association between each rest-activity profile in relation to age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income and working status using multiple linear regression. We also used multiple logistic regression to determine the relationship between each rest-activity profile and the likelihood of reporting poor or fair health. RESULTS: We identified four distinct profiles (i.e., high amplitude, early rise, prolonged activity window, biphasic pattern) that together accounted for 86.8% of total variation in the study sample. We identified numerous associations between each rest-activity profile and multiple sociodemographic characteristics. We also found evidence suggesting the associations differed between weekdays and weekends. Finally, we reported that the rest-activity profiles were associated with self-rated health. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided evidence suggesting that rest-activity patterns in human populations are shaped by multiple demographic, socioeconomic and work factors, and are correlated with health status.

On the Performance Analysis of Switched Diversity Combining Receivers over Fisher-Snedecor ℱ Composite Fading Channels.

In some emerging wireless applications, such as wearable communication and low-power sensor network applications, wireless devices or nodes not only require simple physical implementation approaches but also require certain reliable receiver techniques to overcome the effects of multipath or shadowed fading. Switched diversity combining (SDC) systems could be a simple and promising solution to the above requirements. Recently, a Fisher-Snedecor ℱ composited fading model has gained much interest because of its modeling accuracy and calculation tractability. However, the performance of SDC systems over ℱ fading channels has not yet been analyzed in the open literature. To this end, this paper presents a systematic analysis of SDC systems over ℱ fading channels, including dual-branch switch-and-stay combining (SSC), multibranch switch-and examine combining (SEC), and SEC with post-examining selection (SECps) systems. We first investigate the statistical characteristics of univariate and bivariate ℱ distributions. Then, these statistical expressions are introduced into the above SDC systems and the statistical metrics of the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for these systems are deduced in different ℱ fading scenarios. Thirdly, certain exact and novel expressions of performance criteria, such as the outage probability, the average bit error probability and average symbol error probability, as well as the average channel capacity for SSC, SEC, and SECps are derived. To find the optimum performance, optimal analysis is performed for the independent and identically distributed cases. Finally, numerical evaluation and simulations are carried out to demonstrate the validity of the theoretical analysis under various ℱ fading scenarios. According to the obtained results, the multipath fading parameter has more influence on the performance of SDC systems than the shadowing parameter, the correlation coefficient, or the average SNR. Importantly, the SDC systems can provide switched diversity gains only when the switching threshold is not too large or too small compared to the average SNR.

Progress of research on infantile nystagmus syndrome / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#Infantile nystagmus syndrome(INS)is a congenital pathological nystagmus characterized by binocular involuntary conjugative oscillation and reverse optokinetic nystagmus. This condition is often accompanied by amblyopia, strabismus, and torticollis, affecting the visual function of INS patients. As the cause of the disease is unclear and cannot be completely cured, early detection and appropriate intervention of INS should be carried out. Based on domestic and foreign researches of INS, in this paper, we summarize INS etiology and occurrence mechanism. Furthermore, to provide a reference for clinical application and future research directions of INS, we have systematically introduced the most recent INS examination and treatment methods, and highlight the problems in relevant clinical practice.

Post-trauma cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults following the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background: Risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been associated with stress from serving in a war, but it has not been established whether children who experience war-related stress are at increased CVD risk. Objective: This study aimed to compare CVD risk factors in young adults according to whether they experienced traumatic events as children during the 1990-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and whether those exposed to trauma have evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Method: We examined 372 first-year medical students who were preschool children during the war (1990-1995) (average age 19.5 ± 1.7 years, 67% female) in 2007-2010. They completed the Semi-Structured Interview for Survivors of War. CVD risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements were obtained and compared in individuals with and without trauma. We also examined whether increased CIMT was independently associated with trauma after adjustment for other risk factors. Results: From multiple logistic regression, only elevated triglycerides (> 1.7 mmol/l) were associated with a 5.2 greater odds of having experienced trauma. The mean CIMT of subjects with trauma was greater than that of non-trauma-exposed subjects (0.53 mm vs 0.50 mm, p = 0.07). Moreover, trauma was independently associated with higher CIMT (difference = 0.036 mm, p = 0.024) after adjustment for CVD risk factors. Conclusions: We show that most CVD risk factors are associated with post-war trauma in young adults, and, if present, such trauma is associated with higher triglycerides and higher levels of CIMT in multivariable analysis.

Antecedentes: El riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) ha sido asociado con el estrés del servicio en la guerra. No está establecido si los niños que han experimentado estrés relacionado a la guerra tienen un riesgo aumentado de ECV. Comparamos los factores de riesgo de ECV en adultos jóvenes, en función de si experimentaron eventos traumáticos en la niñez durante la guerra de 1990­1995 en Bosnia-Herzegovina, y si aquellos expuestos a trauma tienen evidencia de ateroesclerosis subclínica.Métodos: Examinamos a 372 estudiantes de medicina de primer año, quienes eran niños preescolares durante la guerra (1990­1995) (edad promedio 19.5±1.7 años, 67% mujeres) en 2007­2010. Completaron la Entrevista Semiestructurada para Sobrevivientes de Guerra. Se obtuvieron mediciones de factores de riesgo cardiovascular (ECV) y de Grosor Carotídeo de la Intima Media (CIMT por su sigla en ingés), se compararon en personas con y sin trauma y se examinó además si el incremento de CIMT se asociaba independientemente con trauma luego de ajustar por otros factores de riesgo.Resultados: De la regresión logística múltiple, sólo la elevación de triglicéridos (> 1.7 mmol/L) se asoció a una probabilidad 5.2 veces mayor de tener trauma. La CIMT promedio de los sujetos con trauma fue mayor (0.53 mm vs 0.50 mm, p=0.07) que la de los sujetos no expuestos a trauma. Más aún, el trauma estaba independientemente asociado con mayor CIMT (diferencia=0.036 mm, p=0.024) luego del ajuste por otros factores de riesgo de ECV.Conclusiones: Mostramos que la mayoría de los factores de riesgo de ECV estaban asociados con el trauma post-guerra en adultos jóvenes, pero si estaba presente, el trauma se asocia a mayores niveles de triglicéridos y de CIMT en los análisis multivariable.

The behavioural inhibition system, behavioural activation system and experiential avoidance as explanatory variables of comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Background: The variables that underlie comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are not yet clearly established. Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyse the role of the behavioural inhibition system (BIS), behavioural approach system (BAS) and experiential avoidance (EA) in pain adjustment (i.e. pain intensity, daily functioning and pain-related impairment) in patients with chronic pain and PTSS. Methods: A battery of instruments was administered to 388 chronic pain patients. The sample was divided into those with PTSS (n = 194) and those without PTSS (n =194). Results: Significant differences were found between groups in the BIS, EA, impairment and daily functioning. No differences were found between groups in the BAS. Structural equation modelling showed that the BIS and EA were associated with worse adjustment in the 194 patients with both chronic pain and PTSS. The BAS was associated with a lower level of pain and greater daily functioning. Conclusion: The findings provide evidence that BIS and BAS activation and EA play a role in adjustment to chronic pain in patients with concurrent PTSS. These results may help guide the development of psychological treatments for patients with both conditions.

Antecedentes: las variables que subyacen al dolor crónico comórbido y síntomas de estrés postraumático aún no están claramente establecidas.Objetivo: el propósito del presente estudio fue analizar el rol del Sistema de Inhibición del Comportamiento (BIS), el Sistema de activación del Comportamiento (BAS) y la Evitación Experiencial (EA) en la adaptación all dolor (es decir, intensidad del dolor, funcionamiento diario e incapacidad relacionada con dolor) en pacientes con dolor crónico y síntomas de estrés postraumático (PTSS).Métodos: Se administró una batería de instrumentos a 388 pacientes con dolor crónico. La muestra se dividió en aquellos con PTSS (n = 194) y aquellos sin PTSS (n = 194).Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre grupos en el BIS, EA, incapacidad y funcionamiento diario. No se encontraron diferencias entre grupos en el BAS. El modelo de ecuaciones estructurales mostró que BIS y EA se asociaron con un peor ajuste en los 194 pacientes con dolor crónico y PTSS concomitante. El BAS se asoció con menor nivel de dolor y funcionamiento diario mayor.Conclusión: los hallazgos proveen evidencia de que la activación de BIS y BAS y la EA desempeñan un rol en el ajuste al dolor crónico en pacientes con PTSS concurrente. Estos resultados podrían ayudar a guiar el desarrollo de tratamientos psicológicos para pacientes con ambas afecciones.

[Use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in patients with diabetes]. / Seguridad de los inhibidores de la dipeptidil peptidasa 4.

New drugs have been added to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. These drugs have represented an advance in the physiopathological approach to the disease, with the possibility of acting on the different mechanisms involved in raised blood glucose levels and allowing treatment to be individualised, as recommended in clinical practice guide-lines and consensus documents. The incretins were added to the therapeutic arsenal of diabetes in 2006. This group in-cludes glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (marketed in Spain in 2007), which act on the incretin system in the gut, reducing glycae-mia, with a decreasing or neutral effect on weight and with a low risk of hypoglycaemic episodes. Their introduction coincided with the publication of the controversial results of studies on intensive glycemic control, leading the Food and Drug Administration (2008) to require demonstration of the cardiovascular safety of new glucose-lowering drugs. The publication of subsequent studies has demonstrated cardiovascular safety and some have shown cardiovascular and survival benefits. These results are modifying the recommenda-tions of the clinical practice guidelines and consensus documents on the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The present article describes the main pharmacological and cardiovascular characteristics of the safety and tolerability of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, which need to be known and updated in primary care, given their wide prescription and the need for correct use of drug therapy in type 2 diabetes.

The surgical care practitioner seeking consent: An appropriate delegate?

Surgical care practitioners (SCPs) have become recognised as integral members of the surgical team in many healthcare establishments. Seeking informed consent either as the operating practitioner or on behalf of the surgeon, as their delegate, has becoming routine for many SCPs. Informed consent is a critical step in the patient's care pathway and fundamental in fostering shared decision making and safer surgical practice. The relatively recent case of Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board has highlighted a need for those practitioners seeking informed consent to critically examine their practice and revisit the founding principles of the process.

The relationship between social support and posttraumatic stress symptoms among youth exposed to a natural disaster.

Background: Children are a vulnerable population following a natural disaster, due to their age and dependence on adults. The primary presenting problem children report after disasters is posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Prior research suggests that PTSS is inversely related to social support, which is often disrupted after a disaster. Objective: This study examined the relationship between social support (from parents, teachers, and peers) and PTSS in children affected by Hurricane Katrina. The research contributes to the literature by examining the mechanisms that drive this relationship over time. Methods: In this study, 426 children were followed over four timepoints, beginning 3-7 months after Hurricane Katrina and concluding 25-27 months post-hurricane. Three path models analysed the relationship between social support (from parents, teachers, and peers, measured by the Social Support Scale for Children) and PTSS (measured by the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index). Covariates included child age, minority status, gender, perceived life threat, and actual life threat. Nonsignificant paths were trimmed from the final models. Global fit indices were examined to determine model fit. Results: In the parent and peer social support models, PTSS exhibited statistically significant effects on social support from one wave to the next. In the teacher model, this was only true between Waves 2 and 3. Social support showed a statistically significant effect on PTSS between Wave 2 and Wave 3 in the peer model (standardized estimate = -0.26, p < .0001). No paths from social support to PTSS were significant in the parent and teacher models. Conclusion: Findings support a social selection model in which PTSS undermine social support, particularly in the first two years post-disaster. If these findings are replicated, this suggests that, in cases of limited funding, PTSS should be prioritized, given their cascading effects on social support.

Planteamiento: Los niños son una población vulnerable después de un desastre natural, debido a su edad y a su dependencia de los adultos. El principal problema que presentan los niños después de los desastres son síntomas de estrés postraumático (SEPT). La investigación previa sugiere que los SEPT están inversamente relacionados con el apoyo social, que a menudo se ve afectado después de un desastre. Objetivo: Este estudio examinó la relación entre el apoyo social (de padres, maestros y compañeros) y los SEPT en niños afectados por el huracán Katrina. La investigación contribuye a la literatura mediante el examen de los mecanismos en los que se basa esta relación a lo largo del tiempo. Métodos: En este estudio, se siguió a 426 niños a lo largo de cuatro puntos en el tiempo, comenzando 3-7 meses después del huracán Katrina y concluyendo 25-27 meses después del huracán. Tres modelos de pautas analizaron la relación entre el apoyo social (de padres, maestros y compañeros, medido por la Escala de apoyo social para niños) y los SEPT (medido por el índice de reacción de TEPT de UCLA). Las covariables incluyeron la edad del niño, el estatus de minoría, el género, la amenaza de muerte percibida y la amenaza de muerte real. Las pautas no significativas fueron excluidas de los modelos finales. Se examinaron los índices de ajuste global para determinar el ajuste del modelo. Resultados: En los modelos de apoyo social para padres e iguales, los SEPT mostraron efectos estadísticamente significativos en el apoyo social de una onda a la siguiente. En el modelo de maestros, esto solo fue cierto entre las ondas 2 y 3. El apoyo social mostró un efecto estadísticamente significativo en los SEPT entre la onda 2 y la onda 3 en el modelo de iguales (estimación estandarizada = −0.26, p < .0001). Ninguna pauta desde el apoyo social a los SEPT fue significativa en los modelos de padres y maestros. Conclusión: Los hallazgos apoyan un modelo de selección social en el que los SEPT socavan el apoyo social, especialmente en los dos primeros años después del desastre. Si se replican estos hallazgos, esto sugiere que, en casos de financiación limitada, se debe priorizar los SEPT, dados sus efectos en cascada sobre el apoyo social.

Progress of standardized patients in general practice education and training / 中华全科医师杂志

The standardized patient or simulate patient (SP) plays treble roles in the clinical teach-ing and training:the role of a patient, the role of a teacher and the role of an evaluator. The SP has been wide-ly used in clinical skill teaching and assessment in medical colleges and universities at home and abroad. This article reviews the progress of SP in general practice education and training, to provide the knowledge base for promoting its wide application in field of general practice.

Tetris and Word games lead to fewer intrusive memories when applied several days after analogue trauma.

Background: Intrusive trauma memories are a key symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), so disrupting their recurrence is highly important. Intrusion development was hindered by visuospatial interventions administered up to 24 hours after analogue trauma. It is unknown whether interventions can be applied later, and whether modality or working-memory load are crucial factors. Objectives: This study tested: (1) whether a visuospatial task would lead to fewer intrusions compared to a reactivation-only group when applied after memory reactivation four days after analogue trauma exposure (extended replication), (2) whether both tasks (i.e. one aimed to be visuospatial, one more verbal) would lead to fewer intrusions than the reactivation-only group (intervention effect), and (3) whether supposed task modality (visuospatial or verbal) is a critical component (modality effect). Method: Fifty-four participants were randomly assigned to reactivation+Tetris (visuospatial), reactivation+Word games (verbal), or reactivation-only (no task). They watched an aversive film (day 0) and recorded intrusive memories of the film in diary A. On day 4, memory was reactivated, after which participants played Tetris, Word games, or had no task for 10 minutes. They then kept a second diary (B). Informative hypotheses were evaluated using Bayes factors. Results: Reactivation+Tetris and reactivation+Word games resulted in relatively fewer intrusions from the last day of diary A to the first day of diary B than reactivation-only (objective 1 and 2). Thus, both tasks were effective even when applied days after analogue trauma. Reactivation-only was not effective. Reactivation+Word games appeared to result in fewer intrusions than reactivation+Tetris (objective 3; modality effect), but this evidence was weak. Explorative analyses showed that Word games were more difficult than Tetris. Conclusions: Applying a task four days after the trauma film (during memory reconsolidation) was effective. The modality versus working-memory load issue is inconclusive.

Planteamiento: Los recuerdos intrusivos de trauma son un síntoma clave del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), por lo que es muy importante interrumpir su recurrencia. Se obstaculizó el desarrollo de intrusiones mediante intervenciones visuoespaciales administradas hasta 24 horas después de un trauma analógico. Se desconoce si las intervenciones pueden ser aplicadas más adelante, y si la modalidad o la carga de la memoria de trabajo son factores cruciales. Objetivos: El estudio comprobaba: (1) si una tarea visuoespacial conduciría a menos intrusiones en comparación con un grupo de solo reactivación cuando se aplicaba después de la reactivación del recuerdo, 4 días después de la exposición al trauma analógico (replicación extendida); (2) si ambas tareas (una pretendía ser más visuoespacial y otra más verbal) darían lugar a menos intrusiones que el grupo de solo reactivación (efecto de la intervención), y 3) si la supuesta modalidad de la tarea (visuoespacial o verbal) es un componente fundamental (efecto de la modalidad). Método: Se asignaron aleatoriamente 54 participantes a reactivación + Tetris (visuoespacial), reactivación + juegos de palabras (verbal), o solo reactivación (sin tarea). Vieron una película aversiva (día 0) y registraron recuerdos intrusivos de la película en el diario A. El cuarto día, se reactivó el recuerdo, después de lo cual los participantes jugaron al Tetris, a juegos de palabras, o no hicieron ninguna tarea durante 10 minutos. Luego escribieron un segundo diario (B). Se evaluaron las hipótesis informativas con factores de Bayes. Resultados: Reactivación + Tetris y reactivación + juegos de palabras dieron como resultado relativamente menos intrusiones que sólo la reactivación (objetivo 1 y 2), desde el último día del diario A hasta el primer día del diario B. Por lo tanto, ambas tareas fueron eficaces incluso cuando se aplicaron días después del trauma analógico. La reactivación por separado no fue efectiva. Reactivación + juegos de palabras pareció resultar en menos intrusiones que reactivación + Tetris (objetivo 3, efecto de la modalidad), pero esta evidencia era débil. Los análisis exploratorios mostraron que los juegos de palabras eran más difíciles que el Tetris. Conclusiones: La aplicación de una tarea 4 días después de la película traumática (durante la reconsolidación de la memoria) fue efectiva. La modalidad versus el problema de la carga de memoria de trabajo no es concluyente.

Crambescin C1 Exerts a Cytoprotective Effect on HepG2 Cells through Metallothionein Induction.

The Mediterranean marine sponge Crambe crambe is the source of two families of guanidine alkaloids known as crambescins and crambescidins. Some of the biological effects of crambescidins have been previously reported while crambescins have undergone little study. Taking this into account, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis to examine the effect of crambescin-C1 (CC1) on human tumor hepatocarcinoma cells HepG2 followed by validation experiments to confirm its predicted biological activities. We report herein that, while crambescin-A1 has a minor effect on these cells, CC1 protects them against oxidative injury by means of metallothionein induction even at low concentrations. Additionally, at high doses, CC1 arrests the HepG2 cell cycle in G0/G1 and thus inhibits tumor cell proliferation. The findings presented here provide the first detailed approach regarding the different effects of crambescins on tumor cells and provide a basis for future studies on other possible cellular mechanisms related to these bioactivities.

Assessment of postoperative perfusion with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in kidney transplantation.

The aim of this study was to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to evaluate renal perfusion after kidney transplantation and investigate the clinical significance of CEUS in monitoring postoperative renal perfusion. Thirty-five patients who underwent kidney transplantations were included in this study and divided into two groups-normal and abnormal-based on their serum creatinine (SCr) levels. Conventional ultrasound and CEUS were used to monitor renal perfusion after kidney transplantation. The differences in the results between the two groups were then compared. Color doppler ultrasonography showed that there were significant differences in the resistance index (RI) and the pulsatility index (PI) of the interlobar artery between the groups. Furthermore, CEUS indicated a significant difference between the two groups regarding the slope rate of the cortical ascending curve (A1), the medullary ascending curve (A2), and the derived peak intensity (DPI1). CEUS precisely showed the characteristics of microcirculation in renal parenchyma after kidney transplantation. It also detected changes in the microcirculation, which was a new method of evaluating tissue perfusion in transplanted kidneys.

Do dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors cause heart failure?

PURPOSE: Although recent reports suggest an association between saxagliptin and an increased risk of admissions for heart failure, it is not clear whether dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibition contributes to heart failure in high-risk patients. The purpose of this research is to understand heart failure risk among high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This is a systematic review of data published in full papers and abstract form using the terms DPP-IV inhibitors and heart failure published since October 2013. Data from insurance and hospital databases were combined with those from multiple published trials, including the Saxagliptin Assessment of Vascular Outcomes Recorded in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 53 (SAVOR-TIMI 53) trial; Examination of Cardiovascular Outcomes With Alogliptin Versus Standard of Care (EXAMINE), and Vildagliptin in Ventricular Dysfunction Diabetes (VIVIDD) trial as well as pooled analyses of linagliptin and saxagliptin placebo-controlled trials to examine heart failure among patients represented in those datasets. FINDINGS: A meta-analysis of the 9 datasets showed an increase in heart failure with dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors of 15% (P = 0.017). There was no statistical heterogeneity, nor was there a statistical difference between cohort studies and randomized, controlled trials (P = 0.3), even though cohort studies alone were not significant (relative risk: 1.1; P = 0.32). Removing SAVOR-TIMI 53 data produced an insignificant increase in heart failure of 12% (P = 0.09) in the rest of the studies. In the randomized, controlled trials, the increased risk was 24% (P = 0.002). There was no statistical difference between those studies with and without baseline cardiovascular disease (P = 0.58), although the cardiovascular disease studies were borderline significant (P = 0.06). There was no publication bias. IMPLICATIONS: There are data from studies using sitagliptin, saxagliptin, and alogliptin showing that these agents may increase the risk of hospitalization for heart failure. More data are required for a definitive conclusion.

[Cardiovascular safety of non-insulin anti-diabetic drugs. Scientific position statement of SEMERGEN]. / Seguridad cardiovascular de los antidiabéticos no insulínicos. Posicionamiento científico SEMERGEN.

Diabetes increases the risk of both microvascular and macrovascular complications. Although reducing plasma glucose levels to recommended targets decreases the risk of microvascular outcomes, the effects of anti-diabetic drugs on macrovascular complications and cardiovascular death are of concern. In fact, it has been suggested that some anti-diabetic agents could even be harmful for cardiovascular outcomes. In this context, several health care regulatory agencies have established the need for performing clinical trials specifically designed to assess the cardiovascular safety of anti-diabetic drugs. The results of 2 clinical trials have recently been published that provide important information on the cardiovascular safety of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The aim of this document was to review the available evidence on the cardiovascular safety of non-insulin anti-diabetic drugs and provide practical recommendations on their use in this context.

Methodology establishment and validation of microbial limit examination of dilu-ted benzalkonium bromide solution / 药学实践杂志

Objective To establish a microbial limit examination method and a verified methodology for diluted benzalkonium bromide solution , and ensure the effectiveness of the method .Methods Microbial limit test of diluted benzalkonium bromide solution was used as the validation methodology according to the validation test requirements of appendix XI J of the second version of the “Chi-nese Pharmacopoeia” published in 2010.Results Membrane filtration method could be used for counting bacteria , mold and yeast count in the microbial limit examination of the diluted benzalkonium bromide solution;membrane filtration method could be adopted to control the bacteria .Conclusion Antibacterial activity of diluted benzalkonium bromide solution should be fully considered before ex -amination when building its examination method through microbial limit methodology validation .