RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Fatigue and gastrointestinal (GI) distress are common among athletes with an estimated 30-90% of athletes participating in marathons, triathlons, or similar events experiencing GI complaints. Intense exercise can lead to increased intestinal permeability, potentially allowing members of the gut microbiota to permeate into the bloodstream, resulting in an inflammatory response and cascade of performance-limiting outcomes. Probiotics, through their capacity to regulate the composition of the gut microbiota, may act as an adjunctive therapy by enhancing GI and immune function while mitigating inflammatory responses. This review investigates the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation on fatigue, inflammatory markers, and exercise performance based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: This review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study design) framework. A comprehensive search was conducted in Sportdiscus, PubMed, and Scopus databases, and the screening of titles, abstracts, and full articles was performed based on pre-defined eligibility criteria. Of the 3505 records identified, 1884 were screened using titles and abstracts, of which 450 studies were selected for full-text screening. After final screening, 13 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included for review. The studies contained 513 participants, consisting of 351 males and 115 females, however, two studies failed to mention the sex of the participants. Among the participants, 246 were defined as athletes, while the remaining participants were classified as recreationally active (n = 267). All trials were fully described and employed a double- or triple-blind placebo-controlled intervention using either a single probiotic strain or a multi-strain synbiotic (containing both pro- and pre-biotics). RESULTS: This review assesses the effects of daily probiotic supplementation, ranging from 13 to 90 days, on physical performance and physiological markers in various exercise protocols. Ten studies reported improvements in various parameters, such as, enhanced endurance performance, improved anxiety and stress levels, decreased GI symptoms, and reduced upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Moreover, despite no improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2), several studies demonstrated that probiotic supplementation led to amelioration in lactate, creatine kinase (CK), and ammonia concentrations, suggesting beneficial effects on mitigating exercise-induced muscular stress and damage. CONCLUSION: Probiotic supplementation, specifically at a minimum dosage of 15 billion CFUs daily for a duration of at least 28 days, may contribute to the reduction of perceived or actual fatigue.
Asunto(s)
Rendimiento Atlético , Fatiga , Enfermedades Gastrointestinales , Inflamación , Probióticos , Humanos , Probióticos/administración & dosificación , Probióticos/uso terapéutico , Fatiga/prevención & control , Rendimiento Atlético/fisiología , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Atletas , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Fenómenos Fisiológicos en la Nutrición DeportivaRESUMEN
Filter feeding is a biotic process that brings waterborne bacteria in close contact with each other and may thus support the horizontal transfer of their antimicrobial resistance genes. This laboratory study investigated whether the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis supported the transfer of vancomycin resistance between two Enterococcus faecalis strains that we previously demonstrated to exhibit pheromone responsive plasmid conjugation. Microcosm experiments exposed live and dead colonies of laboratory-grown sponges to a vancomycin-resistant donor strain and a rifampicin-resistant recipient strain of Ent. faecalis. Enterococci with both resistance phenotypes were detected on double selection plates. In comparison to controls, abundance of these presumed transconjugants increased significantly in water from sponge microcosms. Homogenized suspensions of sponge cells also yielded presumed transconjugants; however, there was no significant difference between samples from live or dead sponges. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis of the sponge cell matrix using species-specific probes revealed the presence of enterococci clusters with cells adjacent to each other. The results demonstrated that sponge colonies can support the horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance although the mechanism underlying this process, such as binding of the bacteria to the sponge collagen matrix, has yet to be fully elucidated.
Asunto(s)
Antibacterianos/farmacología , Conjugación Genética/genética , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Enterococcus faecalis/genética , Poríferos/microbiología , Resistencia a la Vancomicina/genética , Animales , Enterococcus faecalis/efectos de los fármacos , Agua Dulce , Hibridación Fluorescente in Situ , Feromonas/farmacología , Plásmidos/genética , Vancomicina/farmacologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Although delivering a chosen mode of anaesthesia for certain emergency surgery procedures is potentially beneficial to patients, it is a complex intervention to evaluate. This qualitative study explored clinician and patient perspectives about mode of anaesthesia for emergency surgery. METHODS: Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants from eight National Health Service Trusts that cover the following three emergency surgery settings: ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, hip fractures and inguinal hernias. A qualitative researcher conducted interviews with clinicians and patients. Thematic analysis was applied to the interview transcripts. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with 21 anaesthetists, 21 surgeons, 14 operating theatre staff and 23 patients. There were two main themes. The first, impact of mode of anaesthesia in emergency surgery, had four subthemes assessing clinician and patient ideas about: context and the 'best' mode of anaesthesia; balance in choosing it over others; change and developments in anaesthesia; and the importance of mode of anaesthesia in emergency surgery. The second, tensions in decision-making about mode of anaesthesia, comprised four subthemes: clinical autonomy and guidelines in anaesthesia; conforming to norms in mode of anaesthesia; the relationship between expertise, preference and patient involvement; and team dynamics in emergency surgery. The results highlight several interlinking factors affecting decision-making, including expertise, preference, habit, practicalities, norms and policies. CONCLUSION: There is variation in practice in choosing the mode of anaesthesia for surgery, alongside debate as to whether anaesthetic autonomy is necessary or results in a lack of willingness to change.
ANTECEDENTES: Si bien determinados tipos de anestesia en ciertos procedimientos quirúrgicos de urgencia pueden ser potencialmente beneficiosos para los pacientes, la decisión de su utilización es difícil de evaluar. Este estudio cualitativo exploró las perspectivas del clínico y del paciente sobre sobre el tipo de anestesia en cirugía de urgencia. MÉTODOS: Se utilizó un muestreo de bola de nieve para reclutar participantes de 8 corporaciones del National Health Service (NHS) que cubrían tres entornos de cirugía de urgencia: rotura de aneurismas aórticos abdominales, fracturas de cadera y hernias inguinales. Un investigador cualitativo realizó 79 entrevistas a 21 anestesistas, 21 cirujanos, 14 técnicos de quirófano y 23 pacientes. Se realizó un análisis de las transcripciones de la entrevista por temas. RESULTADOS: Dos fueron los temas principales. El primero era el impacto del tipo de anestesia en la cirugía de urgencia y tenía 4 subtemas que evaluaban las ideas del clínico y del paciente sobre: el contexto y el mejor tipo de anestesia, las ventajas e inconvenientes de la elección de un tipo sobre los otros, los cambios y avances en anestesia, y la importancia de la anestesia en cirugía de urgencias. El segundo era las dificultades en la toma de decisiones sobre el tipo de anestesia y comprendía 4 subtemas: la autonomía clínica y las guías de anestesia, el seguimiento de las normas en el tipo de anestesia, la relación entre experiencia, preferencia y opinión del paciente, así como las dinámicas del equipo en cirugía de urgencia. Los resultados resaltaron varios factores interconectados que afectan la toma de decisiones, incluyen la experiencia, las preferencias, los hábitos, algunos aspectos prácticos, las normas y las políticas. CONCLUSIÓN: En la práctica, existen variaciones en la elección del tipo de anestesia para la cirugía, junto con el debate sobre si la autonomía anestésica es necesaria o si resulta en una falta de voluntad para el cambio.
Asunto(s)
Anestesia/métodos , Urgencias Médicas , Pacientes , Cirujanos , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Operativos/métodos , Humanos , Entrevistas como Asunto , Pacientes/psicología , Autonomía Profesional , Cirujanos/psicologíaRESUMEN
Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that moral processes are disrupted by traumatic brain injury (TBI). The objective of this study was to explore moral reasoning (MR) and decision-making in adolescents with TBI, and to examine potential associations with global manifestations of social competence.Design: This retrospective, cross-sectional research design compared MR and decision-making in adolescents with mild TBI (n = 20), moderate-severe TBI (n = 23) and typically developing controls (n = 93).Methods: Participants completed a visual task of socio-moral reasoning (SoMoral) and the Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents. Their parents completed questionnaires documenting their child's behavior (Child Behavior Checklist) and adaptive functioning (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-Second Edition).Main results: Adolescents with both mild and moderate-severe TBI displayed more immature MR than typically developing peers. Participants with TBI also provided fewer socially adapted decisions. Closer inspection revealed that this difference was apparent only in the mild TBI group. No significant group differences were observed for empathy, behavior or adaptive skills.Conclusions: Sustaining TBI appears to affect adolescents' ability to provide mature moral justifications when faced with moral dilemmas representative of everyday social conflicts. These difficulties do not appear to be associated with behavior problems, reduced empathy, or adaptive functioning.
Asunto(s)
Lesiones Traumáticas del Encéfalo/psicología , Toma de Decisiones/fisiología , Principios Morales , Solución de Problemas/fisiología , Adolescente , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Función Ejecutiva/fisiología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by persistent abdominal pain despite recovery from acute gastroenteritis. The underlying mechanisms are unclear, although long-term changes in neuronal function, and low grade inflammation of the bowel have been hypothesized. We investigated the presence and mechanism of neuronal sensitization in a unique cohort of individuals who developed PI-IBS following exposure to contaminated drinking water 7 years ago. We provide direct evidence of ongoing sensitization of neuronal signaling in the bowel of patients with PI-IBS. These changes occur in the absence of any detectable tissue inflammation, and instead appear to be driven by pro-nociceptive changes in the gut micro-environment. This is evidenced by the activation of murine colonic afferents, and sensitization responses to capsaicin in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) following application of supernatants generated from tissue biopsy of patients with PI-IBS. We demonstrate that neuronal signaling within the bowel of PI-IBS patients is sensitized 2 years after the initial infection has resolved. This sensitization appears to be mediated by a persistent pro-nociceptive change in the gut micro-environment, that has the capacity to stimulate visceral afferents and facilitate neuronal TRPV1 signaling.
Asunto(s)
Síndrome del Colon Irritable/diagnóstico , Adulto , Animales , Capsaicina/farmacología , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Colon/patología , Citocinas/metabolismo , Femenino , Ganglios Espinales/patología , Gastroenteritis/complicaciones , Gastroenteritis/patología , Humanos , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Síndrome del Colon Irritable/etiología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neuronas/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/metabolismo , Receptores Histamínicos H1/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/antagonistas & inhibidores , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/metabolismoRESUMEN
CD4+ and CD8+ T cells have a central role in the immune system due to their ability to protect against infection and cancer development without targeting self. Consequently, changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell homeostasis can be indicative of an array of serious illnesses, ranging from viral infections to autoimmune diseases. In addition to environmental influences, there is evidence for a genetic component regulating the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lymphoid organs. Indeed, identifying the genetic determinants defining the frequency of the T-cell subsets is critical as it may reveal a targetable genetic pathway to modulate CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell numbers, which could be of clinical relevance for multiple disease settings. In this study, we aim to uncover non-MHC genetic factors regulating the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lymphoid tissues. By investigating linkage analyses on three independent F2 cohorts, namely a rat F2 (BBDP × ACI.1U.LYP) cohort, a mouse 3A9 TCR transgenic F2 (B10.BR × NOD.H2k) cohort and a mouse F2 (C57BL/6 × FVB/N) cohort, we uncover an orthologous non-MHC locus on rat chromosome 1 and mouse chromosome 7 that is linked to T-cell proportion amongst total lymphocytes.
Asunto(s)
Relación CD4-CD8 , Sitios Genéticos , Animales , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/citología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/citología , Cromosomas/genética , Femenino , Ligamiento Genético , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos NOD , RatasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) is a negative regulator of T-cell responses. Expression of PD-1 and its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is poorly studied. METHODS: Expression of PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, TGF-ß, IL-5, and IL-10 mRNA was measured by real-time quantitative PCR on tissue homogenates of patients with CRSwNP (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 21) and on primary epithelial cells. Disease severity was scored using the Lund-Mackay scores of maxillofacial computed tomography (CT) scans. Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1/L2 was evaluated at the cellular and tissue levels (n = 6) by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Programmed cell death-1 mRNA expression was increased in tissue homogenates from patients with CRSwNP compared with controls, irrespective of the atopy status. Importantly, expression of PD-1 correlated with the total CT scan scores (r = 0.5, P = 0.02). Additionally, a significant association was found between PD-1 mRNA and expression of IL-5 mRNA in control nasal tissue (r = 0.95, P < 0.0001) and in CRSwNP (r = 0.63, P = 0.002). PD-1 was expressed on different subsets of T cells and CD11b- dendritic cells. Both PD-1 and its ligands were expressed on primary epithelial cells from control nasal tissue and nasal polyp tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PD-1 expression was found in CRSwNP than in nasal tissue from controls. This was associated with disease severity and tissue IL-5 expression but unrelated to the patients' atopy status.
Asunto(s)
Interleucina-5/análisis , Pólipos Nasales/patología , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/análisis , Sinusitis/patología , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Enfermedad Crónica , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Femenino , Humanos , Interleucina-5/genética , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pólipos Nasales/complicaciones , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/genética , ARN Mensajero/análisis , Rinitis , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Sinusitis/complicaciones , Sinusitis/metabolismo , Linfocitos T/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Enterococci are now well recognised for their ability to transfer antibiotic resistance and for their association with nosocomial infections, but less is known regarding their relevance in the wider environment. Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were isolated from a range of agrarian associated sources (low-flow water, septic tank, poultry litter, high flow water, slurry/soil) and were assessed for latent ability to transfer antimicrobial resistance. RESULTS: The isolates were tested for phenotypic clumping in the presence of cell-free supernatant from other isolates. Some isolates were identified which demonstrated clumping, indicating that they possessed peptide sex pheromone conjugal machinery. All isolates were also tested for antibiotic resistance phenotypes using both disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. These tests revealed that the enterococci demonstrated both phenotypic clumping and antibiotic resistance phenotypes. Based on these selection criteria, the isolates were identified as having the potential for horizontal gene transfer and were used to investigate the transfer of multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes. Conjugal transfer of antibiotic resistance phenotypes was determined using a solid agar mating method followed by a standard antibiotic selection test resulting in different transfer patterns. An interspecies conjugal transfer of vancomycin resistance from E. faecalis to E. faecium was identified while the remaining reactions were within the same species. Transfer efficiencies ranging from 2 × 10-1 to 2.3 × 10-5 were determined based on the reactions of three donor isolates (MF06036, MF0410 and MF06035) and two recipient isolates (MW01105Rif and ST01109Rif), with the transfer of vancomycin, erythromycin and tetracycline resistance genes. CONCLUSIONS: The conjugation reactions and selection conditions used in this study resulted in a variety of co-transferred resistance phenotypes suggesting the presence of different mobile elements in the set of natural isolates. This study highlights the potential for extensive horizontal gene transfer in a previously neglected reservoir for enterococci.
Asunto(s)
Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/genética , Enterococcus/genética , Enterococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Transferencia de Gen Horizontal/genética , Resistencia a la Tetraciclina/genética , Resistencia a la Vancomicina/genética , Secuencia de Bases , Conjugación Genética/genética , Infección Hospitalaria , ADN Bacteriano/genética , Enterococcus/efectos de los fármacos , Enterococcus faecalis/efectos de los fármacos , Enterococcus faecalis/genética , Enterococcus faecalis/aislamiento & purificación , Enterococcus faecium/efectos de los fármacos , Enterococcus faecium/genética , Enterococcus faecium/aislamiento & purificación , Genes Bacterianos/genética , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana/métodos , Fenotipo , Atractivos Sexuales , Microbiología del AguaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: There is increasing recognition that socio-cognitive skills, such as moral reasoning (MR), are affected in a wide range of developmental and neuropsychological conditions. However, the lack of appropriate measures available to neuropsychologists poses a challenge for the direct assessment of these skills. This study sought to explore age-related changes in MR using an innovative visual tool and examine the developmental sensitivity of the task. METHOD: To address some of the methodological limitations of traditional measures of MR, a novel, visual task, the Socio-Moral Reasoning Aptitude Level (So-Moral), was used to evaluate MR in 216 healthy participants aged 6-20 years. RESULTS: The findings show a linear increase in MR from childhood to late adolescence with significant group differences between childhood (6-8 years) and preadolescence (9-11 years), and between early adolescence (12-14 years) and middle adolescence (15-17 years). CONCLUSIONS: Interpreted in light of current brain development research, the results highlight age-related changes in MR that offer insight into typical MR development and opportunities for comparisons with clinical populations. The findings also provide evidence of the potential of the So-Moral as a developmentally appropriate measure of MR throughout childhood and adolescence.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/psicología , Cognición , Principios Morales , Conducta Social , Adolescente , Desarrollo del Adolescente , Encéfalo/crecimiento & desarrollo , Niño , Desarrollo Infantil , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Caracteres Sexuales , Percepción Social , Pensamiento , Escalas de Wechsler , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease leading to progressive and lethal paralysis. The disease process is multi-factorial and is characterized by selective motor neuron degeneration. Previous work demonstrated that the local concentration of various growth factors can influence motor neuron survival and disease progression. A potential role for c-kit, a growth factor receptor present in the spinal cord, in ALS is unknown. To dissect the role of c-kit in ALS we interbred SOD1(G93A) mice with kit(w-sh/w-sh) mice, which have a 70% decrease in c-kit expression in the spinal cord. kit(w-sh/w-sh) SOD1(G93A) mice have a reduced survival compared to SOD1(G93A) mice, while the amount of motor neurons at end stage is similar. By means of grip strength and nerve conductance analysis we show that kit(w-sh/w-sh) mice have diminished strength and slightly impaired compound muscle action potential latency, although the number of neurons is similar across genotypes. Decreasing kit gene expression in SOD1(G93A) mice is detrimental and our results imply that this effect is independent of mast cells, as tested by ketotifen administration. To conclude, our data expand on the protective role of growth factors in ALS, as decreasing c-kit by approximately 70% is detrimental in SOD1(G93A) mice.
Asunto(s)
Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/patología , Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/fisiopatología , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-kit/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutasa/genética , Potenciales de Acción/genética , Factores de Edad , Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/genética , Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/mortalidad , Animales , Supervivencia Celular , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Antagonistas de los Receptores Histamínicos H1/farmacología , Antagonistas de los Receptores Histamínicos H1/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Cetotifen/farmacología , Cetotifen/uso terapéutico , Mastocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Mastocitos/fisiología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Transgénicos , Neuronas Motoras/patología , Conducción Nerviosa/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-kit/genética , ARN MensajeroRESUMEN
The gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) is a nocturnal South American marsupial that has been gaining popularity as a laboratory animal. However, compared to traditional laboratory animals like rats, very little is known about its behavior, either in the wild or in a laboratory setting. Here we investigated the photic preference of the short-tailed opossum. Opossums were placed in a circular testing arena and allowed to move freely between dark (0 lux) and light (â¼1.4, 40, or 400 lux) sides of the arena. In each of these conditions opossums spent significantly more time in the dark than in the illuminated side and a greater proportion of time in the dark than would be expected by chance. In the high-contrast (â¼400 lux) illumination condition, the mean bout length (i.e., duration of one trip on the light or dark side) was significantly longer on the dark side than on the light side. When we examined the number of bouts greater than 30 and 60s in duration, we found a significant difference between the light and dark sides in all light contrast conditions. These data indicate that the short-tailed opossum prefers the dark to the light, and can also detect very slight differences in light intensity. We conclude that although rats and opossums share many similar characteristics, including ecological niche, their divergent evolutionary heritage results in vastly different behavioral capabilities. Only by observing the behavioral capabilities and preferences of opossums will we be able to manipulate the experimental environment to best elicit and elucidate their behavior and alterations in behavior that can arise from experimental manipulations.
Asunto(s)
Oscuridad , Luz , Monodelphis/psicología , Percepción Visual , Animales , Conducta Exploratoria , Femenino , Masculino , Actividad Motora , Estimulación Luminosa , PsicofísicaRESUMEN
The internet has become the first stop for the public and patients to seek health-related information. Video-sharing websites are particularly important sources of information for those seeking answers about seizures and epilepsy. Because of the widespread popularity of YouTube, we sought to explore whether a seizure diagnosis and classification could reliably be applied. All videos related to "seizures" were reviewed, and irrelevant videos were excluded. The remaining 162 nonduplicate videos were analyzed by 4 independent pediatric neurologists who classified the events as epilepsy seizures, nonepileptic seizures, or indeterminate. Videos designated as epilepsy seizures were then classified into focal, generalized, or unclassified. At least 3 of the 4 reviewers agreed that 35% of the videos showed that the events were "epilepsy seizures", at least 3 of the 4 reviewers agreed that 28% of the videos demonstrated that the events were "nonepileptic seizures", and there was good agreement that 7% of the videos showed that the event was "indeterminate". Overall, interrater agreement was moderate at k=0.57 for epilepsy seizures and k=0.43 for nonepileptic seizures. For seizure classification, reviewer agreement was greatest for "generalized seizures" (k=0.45) and intermediate for "focal seizures" (k=0.27), and there was no agreement for unclassified events (k=0.026, p=0.2). Overall, neurology reviewer agreement suggests that only approximately one-third of the videos designated as "seizures" on the most popular video-sharing website, YouTube, definitely depict a seizure. Caution should be exercised in the use of such online video media for accessing educational or self-diagnosis aids for seizures.
Asunto(s)
Educación Médica , Médicos/psicología , Convulsiones/psicología , Medios de Comunicación Sociales , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Difusión de la Información , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Convulsiones/fisiopatología , Grabación en Video , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained during childhood can affect a number of socio-cognitive skills; however, little attention has focused on the integrity of moral reasoning in the assessment of post-TBI social sequelae and the role of empathy and intelligence on moral maturity. RESEARCH DESIGN: In a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional research design, moral reasoning maturity and empathy in adolescents with mild-to-severe TBI (n = 25) were compared to typically-developing peers (n = 66). METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants were administered the So-Moral and So-Mature, tasks of socio-moral reasoning and maturity, the Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents, the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence and a demographic questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Participants with TBI had significantly lower levels of moral reasoning maturity. Further, adolescents with moderate-to-severe TBI had lower levels of empathy. Empathy correlated positively with moral reasoning abilities and, together with intellectual function, predicted a small, but significant proportion of moral reasoning outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Youth who sustained TBI during childhood have poorer moral reasoning abilities than their non-injured peers, potentially placing them at risk for poor social decision-making and socially maladaptive behaviour. This can have a significant impact on long-term social functioning.
Asunto(s)
Conducta del Adolescente/psicología , Lesiones Encefálicas/psicología , Cognición , Empatía , Función Ejecutiva , Inteligencia , Adaptación Psicológica , Adolescente , Desarrollo del Adolescente , Australia , Investigación Conductal , Lesiones Encefálicas/complicaciones , Lesiones Encefálicas/epidemiología , Canadá/epidemiología , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Toma de Decisiones , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Estudios Retrospectivos , Aislamiento Social , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Dialeurolobus proteae sp. nov. is described from Protea nitida (Proteaceae) in South Africa, and from specimens intercepted on protea plants imported into the U.S.A. from South Africa. Its affinities to the other species of Dialeurolobus are discussed, and a diagnostic key is provided to identify the species of this genus.
Asunto(s)
Hemípteros/clasificación , Distribución Animal , Estructuras Animales/anatomía & histología , Estructuras Animales/crecimiento & desarrollo , Animales , Tamaño Corporal , Hemípteros/anatomía & histología , Hemípteros/crecimiento & desarrollo , Tamaño de los ÓrganosRESUMEN
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Currently, empirical treatment with quinolones is being used due to the emergence of beta-lactam and macrolide resistance in S. pneumonaie. Although the prevalence of quinolone-resistant S. pneumoniae remains low, increasing numbers of resistant isolates are being seen. Genetic mechanisms leading to fluoroquinolone resistance in pneumococci are complex. This study aims to use molecular methods to characterise all isolates through sequence analysis of their QRDR regions. Thirty-two S. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from nasal swabs from adult and paediatric patients attending local general practices in Northern Ireland. Phenotypic minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution against ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and norfloxacin. Simultaneously, the QRDR regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE were analysed by sequence typing for all pneumococci obtained. Only one isolate (3.1%) showed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Two amino acid positions were discordant in the S. pneumoniae R6 strain and eight (25%) and 23 (71.9%) isolates contained the mutations Ile460Val in gyrA and Lys137Asn in parC (deposited in GenBank, accession numbers GQ999587-GQ999589), respectively. No mutations were found in either the gyrB or parE loci. In conclusion, the study demonstrated increased fluoroquinolone resistance which could not be accounted for simply through QRDR mutations, and, reciprocally, that mutations in the QRDR region do not necessarily result in overt phenotypic resistance.
Asunto(s)
Girasa de ADN/genética , Topoisomerasa de ADN IV/genética , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Quinolonas/farmacología , Streptococcus pneumoniae/genética , Adulto , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Supervivencia Celular/genética , Niño , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Mutación , Streptococcus pneumoniae/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Inadvertent exposure of bacterial pathogens to X-ray radiation may be an environmental stress, where the bacterium may respond by increasing mutational events, thereby potentially resulting in increased antibiotic resistance and alteration to genotypic profile. In order to examine this, four clinical pathogens, including the Gram-negative organisms Escherichia coli O157:H7 NCTC12900 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC10662, as well as the Gram-positive organisms Staphylococcus aureus NCTC6571 and Enterococcus faecium were exposed to X-rays (35,495 cGy/cm2) over a seven-day period. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed before, during and after exposure by examining susceptibility, as quantified by E-test with six antibiotics, as well as to a further 11 antibiotics by measurement of susceptibility zone sizes (mm). Additionally, the DNA profile of each organism was compared before, during and after exposure employing the enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC PCR). Results indicated that exposure of these organisms to this amount of X-ray radiation did not alter their antibiotic susceptibility, nor their genomic DNA profile. Overall, these data indicate that exposure of bacteria to X-ray radiation does not alter the test organisms' antibiotic susceptibility profiles, nor alter genomic DNA profiles of bacteria, which therefore does not compromise molecular epidemiological tracking of bacteria within healthcare environments in which patients have been exposed to X-ray radiation.
Asunto(s)
Antibacterianos/farmacología , Bacterias/genética , Bacterias/efectos de la radiación , ADN Bacteriano/genética , ADN Bacteriano/efectos de la radiación , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/efectos de la radiación , Bacterias/efectos de los fármacos , Relación Dosis-Respuesta en la Radiación , Genotipo , Mutación/genética , Mutación/efectos de la radiación , Dosis de RadiaciónRESUMEN
Monodelphis domestica (short-tailed opossum) is an emerging animal model for studies of neural development due to the extremely immature state of the nervous system at birth and its subsequent rapid growth to adulthood. Yet little is known about its normal sensory discrimination abilities. In the present investigation, visual acuity was determined in this species using the optokinetic test (OPT), which relies on involuntary head tracking of a moving stimulus and can be easily elicited using a rotating visual stimulus of varying spatial frequencies. Using this methodology, we determined that the acuity of Monodelphis is 0.58 cycles per degree (cpd), which is similar to the acuity of rats using the same methodology, and higher than in mice. However, acuity in the short-tailed opossum is lower than in other marsupials. This is in part due to the methodology used to determine acuity, but may also be due to differences in diel patterns, lifestyle and phylogeny. We demonstrate that for the short-tailed opossum, the OPT is a rapid and reliable method of determining a baseline acuity and can be used to study enhanced acuities due to cortical plasticity.
Asunto(s)
Monodelphis/fisiología , Agudeza Visual/fisiología , Animales , Femenino , Movimientos de la Cabeza , Masculino , Ratones , Nistagmo Optoquinético/fisiología , Estimulación Luminosa , Filogenia , Ratas , Percepción Espacial/fisiología , Factores de TiempoAsunto(s)
Colorantes/farmacología , Técnicas Microbiológicas/métodos , Ácidos Nucleicos/efectos de los fármacos , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Técnicas de Laboratorio Clínico/métodos , Colorantes/efectos adversos , Escherichia coli/efectos de los fármacos , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/crecimiento & desarrollo , Escherichia coli/fisiología , Humanos , Ácidos Nucleicos/genética , Ácidos Nucleicos/metabolismo , ARN Ribosómico 16S/análisis , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genética , Coloración y Etiquetado/métodosRESUMEN
Intrathoracic dislocation of the scapula is extremely rare. We present the case of a 64 year old man who underwent a lung transplant for emphysema via a standard posterior thoracotomy approach. Four weeks later, following a bronchoscopy, he experienced severe pain and restriction of movement in his shoulder. CT scans revealed intrathoracic dislocation of the inferior angle of the scapula. Two manipulations under anaesthesia were unsuccessful and formal exploration required with closure of the intercostal defect. We describe our surgical technique.