Promoting Source Reduction Behavior

To investigate the effect of peroxynitrite on the formation of diabetic cataract and its reversal by puerarin. in rat. Normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were equally divided into control group, streptozotocin group (STZ) and treatment group. STZ and treatment group were treated with STZ to establish animal model of diabetic rat cataract and in treatment group puerarin was given by peritoneal injection. General condition and lens shape of rats were examined at 20th, 40th, 60th day respectively. Lens epithelial cells (LEC) were observed with optical microscope. percentage of apoptotic cells, and fluorescent intensity of positive cells for nitrotyrosine (NT) which is the symbol of peroxynitrite were tested by flow cytometry. The expression of NT in the lens was analyzed by Western blot analysis. On 20th, 40th, 60th day of the experiment, clear, mild and severe lens opacity were found in control group, treatment group, and STZ group respectively and the lens opacity was gradually increased in all of rats included in the study. Under optical microscope, no changes were presented in control group, but mild changes were showed in treatment group and remarkable changes were found in STZ group. On all the specified days, distinguishable differences were found in the amount and percentage of apoptotic cells compared with that of control group in treatment group and STZ groups as well as between treatment and STZ groups (P < 0.05). There was significant increase in the fluorescent intensity and amount of NT in treatment and STZ groups compared with that of control group (P < 0.05), and the similar results were revealed between treatment group and STZ. The amount of expression of NT protein at different time points in different groups as described above was also significant difference (P < 0.001). Peroxynitrite plays an important role in the formation of diabetic rat cataract and is a participant in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress induced cataract. Puerarin is an effective antioxidative agent in the treatment of early diabetic rat cataract.

The lipid chemistry of the normal equine hoof, together with the effect of oral supplementation with an evening primrose oil mixture (EPOM) on its growth, growth rate and lipid content was assessed in a controlled and blinded feeding trial at the Defence Animal Centre. Twelve horses were paired as closely as possible according to sex, age, weight, height and colour and then one from each pair was randomly allocated to treatment or control groups. The treatment group received 30 ml of oral EPOM/day, otherwise the nutrition and management regimes were the same for all horses. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were seen between treatment and control groups for hoof horn growth or growth rate. However, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in hoof horn growth within the treatment group only between weeks 4 and 8 after the start of supplementation. The stratum medium contained significantly higher amounts of cholesterol ester (P < 0.05), triglycerides (P < 0.001) and free fatty acids (P < 0.05) than the periople. The periople contained significantly higher levels of free cholesterol and phospholipid (P < 0.001) than the stratum medium of the hoof wall. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between treatment and control groups for any of the lipid fractions measured for the stratum medium from the clippings of the hoof wall. However, there were differences in perioplic lipid analysis with significant increases (P < 0.05) in cholesterol esters and partial glycerides and a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in free cholesterol in the treatment group following supplementation.

To investigate the relationship between oxygen transport patterns and outcome in patients with sepsis syndrome or septic shock managed according to two different treatment regimens. Retrospective study of a subgroup of patients with sepsis syndrome or septic shock taken from a randomized, prospective, controlled trial. General intensive care units in a teaching and a district general hospital. Seventy-eight patients classified according to predetermined criteria as having sepsis syndrome or septic shock were drawn retrospectively from a larger study group of 109 consecutive patients considered to be at risk for developing multiple organ failure. All patients received volume expansion to an optimal pulmonary artery occlusion pressure. If the therapeutic goals (cardiac index of > 4.5 L/min/m2, oxygen delivery [DO2] of > 600 mL/min/m2, and oxygen consumption [VO2] of > 170 mL/min/m2) were not achieved with fluids alone, patients were randomized to either a control group or a treatment group. In the treatment group, dobutamine (5 to 200 micrograms/kg/min) was administered to increase cardiac index and DO2 until all three goals were simultaneously achieved. In the control group, dobutamine was administered only if the cardiac index was < 2.8 L/min/m2. In both groups, norepinephrine was infused to maintain mean arterial pressure at 80 mm Hg. Hemodynamic, oxygen transport, and lactate measurements were made at the time of admission to the study, at the time of optimal volume administration, at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hrs, then every 6 hrs for the next 24 hrs, and at least every 8 hrs thereafter. The time at which all therapeutic goals were first achieved simultaneously or the time of maximal DO2 was identified and termed "tmax." Survivors from both the control and treatment groups significantly (p < .001) increased cardiac index and DO2 in response to maximal resuscitation, and despite an associated decrease in oxygen extraction (p < .01), there was a significant (p < .01) increase in VO2. In nonsurvivors from both groups, despite significant increases in cardiac index (p < .05) and DO2 (p < .01) at tmax, oxygen extraction decreased (p < .01) and VO2 remained unchanged. DO2 and VO2 were significantly lower (p < .05) at tmax in nonsurvivors than in survivors from both groups. Persistently high lactate concentrations were characteristic of nonsurvivors. Survivors of sepsis syndrome or septic shock are characterized by an ability to increase both DO2 and VO2. In contrast, nonsurvivors typically have reduced cardiac reserve, they fail to increase VO2 following resuscitation, and when delivery is enhanced with aggressive inotropic support, oxygen extraction falls. These patterns of response were similar in both treatment and control groups, although the magnitude of the changes was exaggerated in the treatment group. These observations may help to explain the findings by some investigators that treatment aimed at achieving survivor values of cardiac index, DO2, and VO2 fails to improve outcome when instituted following admission to intensive care.

Do we know what we need to know? Objective and subjective knowledge effects on pro-ecological behaviors

Clitoral stimulation around the time of artificial insemination (AI), which is a simple managerial tool, improves the conception rate (CR) in cattle. Accordingly, an experiment was done to study the effect of clitoral stimulation post-insemination on the modulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and conception rate in the Murrah buffalo. Buffaloes (92) comprising parous (68) and heifers (24) were equally divided into treatment and control groups. Buffaloes in the treatment group were given 30 sec of clitoral stimulation (massage) after AI while no such stimulation was given in the control. There was a significant increase in the pooled LH concentration in the treatment group (6.405±2.64 ng/ml) as compared to control (2.37± 0.838 ng/ml) irrespective of the sampling time. LH level in the treatment group was higher and maximum concentration was observed within 5 h of stimulation. Neither clitoral stimulation nor sampling time significantly affected the levels of serum estradiol. No significant difference was observed between the groups on different sampling days, except day 18 when significantly high levels of progesterone was detected in the treatment group as compared to control. Overall, the CR in the clitoral stimulation group was 1.9 times higher than that of control. Similarly, it was significantly higher in the treated parous buffaloes (67.65%) as compared to control (32.35%).

BackgroundThe developing fetuses of pregnant women are at high risk of developing serious birth defects following Zika virus infections. We applied an Integrated Vector Control (IVC) approach using source reduction, larviciding, and mass trapping with non-insecticidal sticky traps to protect targeted houses by reducing the density of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.MethodsWe tested the hypothesis that Ae. aegypti density could be reduced to below three female mosquitoes/trap/week around a target house in the center of a circular area with a 150 m radius using IVC. Two non-adjacent areas within the same neighbourhood were selected and randomly designated as the treatment or control areas. Sentinel Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps (SAGO traps) were placed in each study area and were sampled weekly from May to November, during the 2016 Zika epidemic in Puerto Rico. The experimental design was longitudinal with pre-and post-IVC treatment observations between treatment and control areas, and a partial cross-over design, where IVC was applied to the original control area after 2 months to determine if Ae. aegypti density converged to levels observed in the treatment area. Pools of female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were analyzed by RT-PCR to detect Zika, dengue and chikungunya virus RNA.ResultsOverall, pre-treatment mosquito densities in the inner (0–50 m; 15.6 mosquitoes/trap/week), intermediate (50–100 m; 18.1) and outer rings (100–150 m; 15.6) were reduced after treatment to 2.8, 4.1, and 4.3 in the inner, middle, and outer rings, respectively. Density at the target house in the treatment area changed from 27.7 mosquitoes/trap/week before IVC to 2.1 after IVC (92.4% reduction), whereas after treating the original control area (cross-over) density changed from 22.4 to 3.5 (84.3% reduction). Vector reductions were sustained in both areas after IVC. Zika virus was detected in Ae. aegypti, but the low incidence of the virus precluded assessing the impact of IVC on Zika transmission during the study.ConclusionsApplying IVC to circular areas that were surrounded by untreated areas significantly decreased the number of mosquitoes around target houses located in the center. Gravid Ae. aegypti females in the center of the 150 m areas fell below threshold levels that possibly protect against novel invading arboviruses, such as chikungunya and Zika.

Decision letter: Neutrophil-mediated fibroblast-tumor cell il-6/stat-3 signaling underlies the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio dynamics and chemotherapy response in localized pancreatic cancer: A hybrid clinical-preclinical study

Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction improves tendon healing in rabbits

To evaluate the use of exogenous surfactant in pediatric acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in decreasing the duration of respiratory failure. A critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial. This was a multiple-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effect of calfactant via endotracheal tube in pediatric ALI/ARDS. The primary outcome was duration of respiratory failure measured by ventilator-free days at 28 days. Secondary outcomes included hospital course, adverse events, and failure of conventional mechanical ventilation (use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). One hundred and fifty-two patients were enrolled and randomized with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Aside from the experimental interventions, the treatment and placebo groups were similar at baseline. Ventilator management guidelines were defined a priori. No significant difference in ventilator-free days was found, although the treatment group had a greater improvement in oxygenation. Mortality rate was significantly greater in the placebo group (relative risk, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.2). However, when controlled for immunocompromised status, the statistical significance is lost. Subgroup analysis of infants showed a greater effect on mortality (relative risk, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-10.5) and a significant difference in ventilator-free days (15.2 days vs. 7.0 days, p = .01) for the placebo group. No other differences in measured outcomes were seen. The treatment group had an increased rate of hypotension and transient hypoxia but not of airleaks or nosocomial pneumonias. This is a well-designed study with an appropriate intention-to-treat analysis, but it is underpowered, making it difficult to identify which patients with pediatric ALI/ARDS might benefit from calfactant. Given the uncertainty of the benefits, calfactant cannot be routinely recommended in pediatric ALI/ARDS.

This study was conducted to determine if the use of the technology known as Classroom Performance System (CPS), specifically referred to as “Clickers”, improves the learning gains of students enrolled in a biology course for science majors. CPS is one of a group of developing technologies adapted for providing feedback in the classroom using a learner-centered approach. It supports and facilitates discussion among students and between them and teachers, and provides for participation by passive students. Advocates, influenced by constructivist theories, claim increased academic achievement. In science teaching, the results have been mixed, but there is some evidence of improvements in conceptual understanding. The study employed a pretest-posttest, non-equivalent groups experimental design. The sample consisted of 226 participants in six sections of a college biology course at a large community college in South Florida with two instructors trained in the use of clickers. Each instructor randomly selected their sections into CPS (treatment) and non-CPS (control) groups. All participants filled out a survey that included demographic data at the beginning of the semester. The treatment group used clicker questions throughout, with discussions as necessary, whereas the control groups answered the same questions as quizzes, similarly engaging in discussion where necessary. The learning gains were assessed on a pre/post-test basis. The average learning gains, defined as the actual gain divided by the possible gain, were slightly better in the treatment group than in the control group, but the difference was statistically non-significant. An Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) statistic with pretest scores as the covariate was conducted to test for significant differences between the treatment and control groups on the posttest. A second ANCOVA was used to determine the significance of differences between the treatment and control groups on the posttest scores, after controlling for sex, GPA, academic status, experience with clickers, and instructional style. The results indicated a small increase in learning gains but these were not statistically significant. The data did not support an increase in learning based on the use of the CPS technology. This study adds to the body of research that questions whether CPS technology merits classroom adaptation.

We conducted a study to determine whether an intervention using self-care information would change college students' attitudes and beliefs concerning personal responsibility and involvement in their own health care. Individuals entering a student health service were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Members of the treatment group (n = 187) received the intervention and completed the survey instrument. Members of the control group (n = 204) completed the survey instrument only. The intervention consisted of one page of general information about the benefits to individuals of taking responsibility for their own health and a booklet containing excerpts from a consumer-oriented health care book. The survey instrument was composed of a measure of attitudes toward information and behavioral involvement in health care and a measure of beliefs regarding control over one's health. Results indicated that the intervention was able to change the treatment group's attitudes regarding active participation in health care. The treatment group's responses also reflected less belief that health was outside of the individual's control. The study showed that a positive change in health-related attitudes and beliefs can result from a relatively uncomplicated informational intervention.

Local infiltration of the surgical wounds with levobupivacaine, dexibuprofen, and norepinephrine to reduce postoperative pain: A randomized, vehicle–controlled, and preclinical study

A randomized controlled trial of a manual-based psychosocial group intervention for young people with epilepsy [PIE

Evaluation of potential ionizing irradiation protectors and mitigators using clonogenic survival of human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells

The purpose of this study was to determine if youth voice affects the ownership and engagement experienced by youth in a county 4-H program. For the treatment group, a youth-led approach was used where "having a voice" included youth sharing decision-making power with the adults in the program. The comparison group consisted of 4-H members in three other clubs in the county. These youth experienced an adult-led approach where the decisions about the club programming were made strictly by the adults. The Youth Voice Survey instrument was developed to assess youths' perceptions of ownership, engagement, and relationship with adults at both a pre- and post-measurement. Interviews were conducted with six youth in the treatment group to determine if their lived experiences confirmed the factors that emerged from the Youth Voice Survey. Exploratory factor analysis was used to investigate the underlying latent constructs in the instrument. Analysis of covariance was utilized to determine if differences existed between youth participating in the treatment and comparison groups and if differences existed between youth based on race. Findings indicated statistically significant differences between the treatment and comparison groups on all three constructs of ownership, engagement, and relationship with adults. Findings also indicated statistically significant differences between white and non-white youth on all three constructs of ownership, engagement, and relationship with adults. It was concluded that, in programs incorporating voice, youth experience more ownership and engagement and have a more positive relationship with adults. An implication of this study is that adults who work with youth should receive training on the incorporation of youth voice and the support of youth as decision-makers.