Conectar
by Jane Jere, Allison Ruark, Julie T. Bidwell, Rita M. Butterfield, Torsten B. Neilands, Sheri D. Weiser, Nancy Mulauzi, James Mkandawire, Amy A. Conroy
Cardiometabolic disorders (CMD) such as hypertension and diabetes are increasingly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, placing people living with HIV at risk for cardiovascular disease and threatening the success of HIV care. Spouses are often the primary caregivers for people living with CMD, and understanding patients’ and partners’ conceptions of CMD could inform care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 couples having a partner living with HIV and either hypertension or diabetes. Couples were recruited from HIV clinics in Malawi and were interviewed on beliefs around symptoms, causation, prevention, and treatment for CMD. Data were analyzed at the individual and dyadic levels using framework analysis and Kleinman’s theory of explanatory models as a lens. On average, participants were 51 years old and married for 21 years. Approximately 57%, 14%, and 80% had hypertension, diabetes, and HIV. Couples endorsed a combination of biomedical explanatory models (beliefs around physical and mental health) and traditional explanatory models (beliefs around religion and natural remedies), although tended to emphasize the biomedical model. Half of couples believed stress was the main cause of hypertension. For diabetes, diet was believed to be a common cause. In terms of prevention, dietary changes and physical activity were most frequently mentioned. For disease management, medication adherence and diet modifications were emphasized, with some couples also supporting herbal remedies, stress reduction, and faith in God as strategies. Participants were generally more concerned about CMD than HIV due to poor access to CMD medications and beliefs that CMD could lead to sudden death. Within couples, partners often held many of the same beliefs but diverged around which etiological or preventive factors were most important (e.g., stress versus diet) and the best diet for CMD. Health education programs should involve primary partners to build knowledge of CMD and address overlap with HIV, and reinforce accurate information on lifestyle factors for the prevention and treatment of CMD.by Naimisha Movva, Heidi Reichert, Naushin Hooda, Lauren C. Bylsma, Meghan Mitchell, Sarah S. Cohen
BackgroundNutrition affects both physical and mental health but evidence is mixed regarding potential associations between anxiety and diet, particularly dairy consumption. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of dairy consumption and/or various dietary patterns and risk of anxiety.
MethodsLiterature searches were conducted in PubMed and Embase. All study designs except case reports, small case series, and SLRs were considered for inclusion. Reference lists of previously published SLRs were reviewed for any relevant additional studies. Studies of populations without dairy sensitivities exploring the association between dietary patterns and/or dairy consumption and anxiety published through May 2022 were identified using predefined eligibility criteria. Study quality was determined using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist.
ResultsFor this SLR, 132 studies were included; 80 were cross-sectional. Studies examined different dietary patterns (e.g., Mediterranean, gluten-free) and anxiety using various anxiety scales, with 19 studies specifically reporting on whole dairy consumption and anxiety. Dairy consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of anxiety in 7 studies, while the remaining 12 studies showed no significant associations. Evidence was mixed for the association between various dietary patterns and anxiety, but more studies observed a lower risk of anxiety with greater adherence to “healthy” diets (e.g., Mediterranean, diet quality score, vegetarian/vegan) than a higher risk. Notable heterogeneity in study populations, time periods, geographical locations, dietary assessment methods, and anxiety scales was observed.
ConclusionsThe results of this SLR suggest a potential link between diet including diary consumption and anxiety, but future studies, especially with longitudinal designs that measure diet and anxiety at several timepoints and comprehensively adjust for confounders, are needed to fully understand the relationship between diet and anxiety.
by Mila Pacheco, Pedro Sá, Gláucia Santos, Ney Boa-Sorte, Kilma Domingues, Larissa Assis, Marina Silva, Ana Oliveira, Daniel Santos, Jamile Ferreira, Rosemeire Fernandes, Flora Fortes, Raquel Rocha, Genoile Santana
AimsEvaluate the impact of an intervention program in non-adherent patients with ulcerative colitis.
MethodsParallel controlled randomized clinical trial (1:1), approved by the ethics committee (No. 3.068.511/2018) and registered at The Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (No. RBR-79dn4k). Non-adherent ulcerative colitis patients according to the Morisky-Green-Levine-test were included. Recruitment began in August 2019 until August 2020, with 6-month follow-up. All participants received standard usual care, and additionally the intervention group received educational (video, educational leaflet, verbal guidance) and behavioral interventions (therapeutic scheme, motivational and reminder type short message services). Researchers were blinded for allocation prior to data collection at Visits 1 and 2 (0 and 6 months). Primary outcome: 180-day adherence rate, with relative risk 95%CI. Secondary outcome: 180-day quality of life according to SF-36 domains, using Student’s t test. Variables with p Results
Forty-six and 49 participants were allocated in control and intervention groups, respectively. Two were excluded due to intervention refusal, and 4 and 6 were lost to follow-up in control and intervention groups. There was no post-intervention adherence rate difference, even after adjustment for type of non-adherence (unintentional/both/intentional) as confounder, or if considered as adherent the intervention group participants lost in follow-up. Interventions promoted better quality of life scores even after multivariate analysis for “Pain”, when adjusted for ulcerative colitis severity, sex, and marital status (β = 18.352, p = 0.004), “Vitality”, when adjusted for ulcerative colitis severity (β = 10.568, p = 0.015) and “Emotional Aspects”, when adjusted for disease severity, income, and education (β = 24.907, p = 0.041).
ConclusionsThe intervention program was not able to produce a significant medication adherence rate difference between comparative groups, however, there was a significant improvement in quality of life. Study limitations may include: sample size calculated to identify differences of 30%, leading to a possible insufficient power; non blinded participants, exposing the results to the risk of performance bias; outcomes based on self-reported data.
by Tinne Gils, Mashaete Kamele, Thandanani Madonsela, Shannon Bosman, Thulani Ngubane, Philip Joseph, Klaus Reither, Moniek Bresser, Erika Vlieghe, Tom Decroo, Irene Ayakaka, Lutgarde Lynen, Alastair Van Heerden
During TB-case finding, we assessed the feasibility of implementing the advanced HIV disease (AHD) care package, including VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease (VISITECT), a semiquantitative test to identify a CD4≤200cells/μl. Adult participants with tuberculosis symptoms, recruited near-facility in Lesotho and South-Africa between 2021–2022, were offered HIV testing (capillary blood), Xpert MTB/RIF and Ultra, and MGIT culture (sputum). People living with HIV (PLHIV) were offered VISITECT (venous blood) and Alere tuberculosis-lipoarabinomannan (AlereLAM, urine) testing. AHD was defined as a CD4≤200cells/μl on VISITECT or a positive tuberculosis test. A CD4≤200cells/μl on VISITECT triggered Immy cryptococcal antigen (Immy CrAg, plasma) testing. Participants were referred with test results. To evaluate feasibility, we assessed i) acceptability and ii) intervention delivery of point-of-care diagnostics among study staff using questionnaires and group discussions, iii) process compliance, and iv) early effectiveness (12-week survival and treatment status) in PLHIV. Predictors for 12-week survival were assessed with logistic regression. Thematic content analysis and triangulation were performed. Among PLHIV (N = 676, 48.6% of 1392 participants), 7.8% were newly diagnosed, 81.8% on ART, and 10.4% knew their HIV status but were not on ART. Among 676 PLHIV, 41.7% had AHD, 29.9% a CD4≤200cells/μl and 20.6% a tuberculosis diagnosis. Among 200 PLHIV tested with Immy CrAg, 4.0% were positive. The procedures were acceptable for study staff, despite intervention delivery challenges related to supply and the long procedural duration (median: 73 minutes). At 12 weeks, among 276 PLHIV with AHD and 328 without, 3.3% and 0.9% had died, 84.8% and 92.1% were alive and 12.0% and 7.0% had an unknown status, respectively. Neither AHD nor tuberculosis status were associated with survival. Implementing AHD care package diagnostics was feasible during tuberculosis-case finding. AHD was prevalent, and not associated with survival, which is likely explained by the low specificity of VISITECT. Challenges with CD4 testing and preventive treatment uptake require addressing.by Justin M. Gregory, Guillaume Kraft, Chiara Dalla Man, James C. Slaughter, Melanie F. Scott, Jon R. Hastings, Dale S. Edgerton, Mary C. Moore, Alan D. Cherrington
This study examined the impact of a hypercaloric high-fat high-fructose diet (HFFD) in dogs as a potential model for human impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The HFFD not only led to weight gain but also triggered metabolic alterations akin to the precursors of human T2DM, notably insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Following the HFFD intervention, the dogs exhibited a 50% decrease in insulin sensitivity within the first four weeks, paralleling observations in the progression from normal to IGT in humans. Calculations of the insulinogenic index using both insulin and C-peptide measurements during oral glucose tolerance tests revealed a significant and sustained decrease in early-phase insulin release, with partial compensation in the later phase, predominantly stemming from reduced hepatic insulin clearance. In addition, the Disposition Index, representing the β-cell’s capacity to compensate for diminished insulin sensitivity, fell dramatically. These results confirm that a HFFD can instigate metabolic changes in dogs akin to the early stages of progression to T2DM in humans. The study underscores the potential of using dogs subjected to a HFFD as a model organism for studying human IGT and T2DM.by Rahim Valani, Fazila Kassam, Shauna Jose, Mario Hanna, Tanmay Sharma, Jhanahan Sriranjan, Yazad Bhathena, Umairah Boodoo, Aashna Agarwal, Suneel Upadhye
BackgroundPediatric patients with pain of various causes present to the emergency department. Appropriate assessment and management of pain are important aspects of emergency department treatment. However, only a few studies have identified the predictors of both outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of pain assessment at triage and subsequent management and to identify the predictors of each outcome.
MethodsThis was a multi-center retrospective study based at five community emergency departments. Pediatric patients ( Results
There were 4,128 patients with an average age of 9.6 years, and 49.1% of them were female. Only 74.2% of the patients underwent assessment for pain at triage, and 18.3% received analgesia. The median time to analgesia was 95 (IQR: 49–154) min. Most patients presented with head/neck (36.1%), upper limb (21.6%), and lower limb (19.9%) pain. The oral route was the most common analgesia delivery method (67.4%), and ibuprofen and acetaminophen were the primary agents used. Younger age, higher acuity, and presenting with head or neck pain were independent predictors of pain assessment at triage, while children 3–5 years and those with lower extremity pain were more likely to receive analgesia.
ConclusionAlthough pain assessment at triage has improved in pediatric patients, there is still a major deficiency in adequate pain management. Our study highlights predictors of pain assessment and management that can be considered for improved pediatric care.
by Marla Beauchamp, Renata Kirkwood, Cody Cooper, Matthew Brown, K. Bruce Newbold, Darren Scott, on behalf of the MacM3 team
There is growing interest in identifying valid and reliable methods for detecting early mobility limitations in aging populations. A multi-sensor approach that combines accelerometry with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices could provide valuable insights into late-life mobility decline; however, this innovative approach requires more investigation. We conducted a series of two experiments with 25 older participants (66.2±8.5 years) to determine the validity of a GPS enabled smartwatch (TicWatch S2 and Pro 3 Ultra GPS) and separate accelerometer (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT) to collect movement, navigation and body posture data relevant to mobility. In experiment 1, participants wore the TicWatchS2 and ActiGraph simultaneously on the wrist for 3 days. In experiment 2, participants wore the TicWatch Pro 2 Ultra GPS on the wrist and ActiGraph on the thigh for 3 days. In both experiments participants also carried a Qstarz data logger for trips outside the home. The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS performed better than the S2 model and was similar to the Qstarz in all tested trip-related measures, and it was able to estimate both passive and active trip modes. Both models showed similar results to the gold standard Qstarz in life-space-related measures. The TicWatch S2 demonstrated good to excellent overall agreement with the ActiGraph algorithms for the time spent in sedentary and non-sedentary activities, with 84% and 87% agreement rates, respectively. Under controlled conditions, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS consistently measured step count in line with the participants’ self-reported data, with a bias of 0.4 steps. The thigh-worn ActiGraph algorithm accurately classified sitting and lying postures (97%) and standing postures (90%). Our multi-sensor approach to monitoring mobility has the potential to capture both accelerometer-derived movement data and trip/life-space data only available through GPS. In this study, we found that the TicWatch models were valid devices for capturing GPS and raw accelerometer data, making them useful tools for assessing real-life mobility in older adults.by Caterina Casalini, Yema D’Almeida, Moussa Ariziki Nassam, Essopha Kokoloko, Souley Wade, Jean Paul Tchupo, Messan Damarly, Justin Mandala, Michele Lanham, Natasha Mack, Chris Akolo, Vincent Polakinam Pitche, Hugues Guidigbi, Claver Anoumou Dagnra
BackgroundAccording to UNAIDS, Togo halved AIDS-related deaths among children ages 0–14 from 2010 to 2020. However, available data show low dolutegravir (DTG)-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage and low viral load suppression (VLS) among children living with HIV (CLHIV). We analyzed routine facility data before and after implementation of root-cause-based solutions for improving DTG coverage, viral load (VL) testing coverage, and VLS among CLHIV.
DescriptionWe analyzed routine data for CLHIV ≤14 years from October 2019 through September 2022. We assessed proportion of CLHIV on ART receiving DTG, VL testing coverage (CLHIV on ART with documented VL test result), and VLS (CLHIV with documented VL test result of Results
From baseline (October 2019–September 2020) to endline (October 2021–September 2022), increases were observed for DTG coverage (52% to 71%), VL testing coverage (48% to 90%), and VLS (64% to 82%). Age-disaggregated data showed positive trends.
ConclusionsRoot-cause-based solutions and granular data use increased DTG coverage, resulting in increased VL testing and VLS among CLHIV. These interventions should be scaled and become the national standard of care.
by Cole Etherington, Amelia Palumbo, Kelly Holloway, Samantha Meyer, Maximillian Labrecque, Kyle Rubini, Risa Shorr, Vivian Welch, Emily Gibson, Terrie Foster, Jennie Haw, Elisabeth Vesnaver, Manavi T. Maharshi, Sheila F. O’Brien, Paul MacPherson, Joyce Dogba, Tony Steed, Mindy Goldman, Justin Presseau
IntroductionThe growing demand for plasma protein products has caused concern in many countries who largely rely on importing plasma products produced from plasma collected in the United States and Europe. Optimizing recruitment and retention of a diversity of plasma donors is therefore important for supporting national donation systems that can reliably meet the most critical needs of health services. This series of three systematic reviews aims to synthesize the known barriers and enablers to source plasma donation from the qualitative and survey-based literature and identify which strategies that have shown to be effective in promoting increased intention to, and actual donation of, source plasma.
Methods and analysisPrimary studies involving source or convalescent plasma donation via plasmapheresis will be included. The search strategy will capture all potentially relevant studies to each of the three reviews, creating a database of plasma donation literature. Study designs will be subsequently identified in the screening process to facilitate analysis according to the unique inclusion criteria of each review (i.e., qualitative, survey, and experimental designs). The search will be conducted in the electronic databases SCOPUS, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL without date or language restrictions. Studies will be screened, and data will be extracted, in duplicate by two independent reviewers with disagreements resolved through consensus. Reviews 1 and 2 will draw on the Theoretical Domains Framework and Intersectionality, while Review 3 will be informed by Behaviour Change Intervention Ontologies. Directed content analysis and framework analysis (Review 1), and descriptive and inferential syntheses (Reviews 2 and 3), will be used, including meta-analyses if appropriate.
DiscussionThis series of related reviews will serve to provide a foundation of what is known from the published literature about barriers and enablers to, and strategies for promoting, plasma donation worldwide.
by Naga Sasidhar Kanaparthy, Andrew J. Loza, Ronald George Hauser
The correlation between hyperamylasemia and acute pancreatitis was discovered in 1929, yet another test, lipase, was shown to provide better diagnostic performance in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Subsequent studies demonstrated co-ordering amylase with lipase did not provide additional benefit, only added cost. We sought to investigate the impact of studies advocating for the obsolescence of amylase on its clinical demand. We reviewed 1.3 million reportable results for amylase over 14 years (2009–2022). The trend in utilization of amylase over this period declined by 66% along a linear trajectory (R2 = 0.97). Despite demand for amylase decreasing by an average of 17,003 tests per year, the last year of the study (2022) recorded over 100,000 results for amylase. By interpolating the decline of amylase until the utilization reached zero, we calculated amylase orders will continue for 6 more years until 2028. Tests for creatinine and lipase changedby Sylwia Bloch, Natalia Lewandowska, Joanna Zwolenkiewicz, Paulina Mach, Aleksandra Łukasiak, Mikołaj Olejniczak, Logan W. Donaldson, Grzegorz Węgrzyn, Bożena Nejman-Faleńczyk
The 24B_1 small non-coding RNA molecule has been identified in Escherichia coli after induction of Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophage Φ24B. In this work, we focused on its direct role during phage and bacterial host development. We observed that in many aspects, this phage sRNA resembles herpesviral microRNAs. Similar to microRNAs, the mature 24B_1 is a short molecule, consisting of just 20 nucleotides. It is generated by cleaving the 80-nt long precursor transcript, and likely it undergoes a multi-step maturation process in which the Hfq protein plays an important role, as confirmed by demonstration of its binding to the 24B_1 precursor, but not to the 24B_1 mature form. Moreover, 24B_1 plays a significant role in maintaining the prophage state and reprogramming the host’s energy metabolism. We proved that overproduction of this molecule causes the opposite physiological effects to the mutant devoid of the 24B_1 gene, and thus, favors the lysogenic pathway. Furthermore, the 24B_1 overrepresentation significantly increases the efficiency of expression of phage genes coding for proteins CI, CII, and CIII which are engaged in the maintenance of the prophage. It seems that through binding to mRNA of the sdhB gene, coding for the succinate dehydrogenase subunit, the 24B_1 alters the central carbon metabolism and causes a drop in the ATP intracellular level. Interestingly, a similar effect, called the Warburg switch, is caused by herpesviral microRNAs and it is observed in cancer cells. The advantage of the Warburg effect is still unclear, however, it was proposed that the metabolism of cancer cells, and all rapidly dividing cells, is adopted to convert nutrients such as glucose and glutamine faster and more efficiently into biomass. The availability of essential building blocks, such as nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids, is crucial for effective cell proliferation which in turn is essential for the prophage and its host to stay in the lysogenic state.by Gabriela Nazar, Felipe Díaz-Toro, Yeny Concha-Cisternas, Ana María Leiva-Ordoñez, Claudia Troncoso-Pantoja, Carlos Celis-Morales, Fanny Petermann-Rocha
Multimorbidity patterns can lead to differential risks for all-cause mortality. Within the Chilean context, research on morbidity and mortality predominantly emphasizes individual diseases or combinations thereof, rather than specific disease clusters. This study aimed to identify multimorbidity patterns, along with their associations with mortality, within a representative sample of the Chilean population. 3,701 participants aged ≥18 from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009–2010 were included in this prospective study. Multimorbidity patterns were identified from 16 chronic conditions and then classified using latent class analyses. All-cause mortality data were extracted from the Chilean Civil Registry. The association of classes with all-cause mortality was carried out using Cox proportional regression models, adjusting by sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Three classes were identified: a) Class 1, the healthiest (72.1%); b) Class 2, the depression/cardiovascular disease/cancer class (17.5%); and c) Class 3, hypertension/chronic kidney disease class (10.4%). Classes 2 and 3 showed higher mortality risk than the healthiest class. After adjusting, Class 2 showed 45% higher mortality risk, and Class 3 98% higher mortality risk, compared with the healthiest class. Hypertension appeared to be a critical underlying factor of all-cause morbidity. Particular combinations of chronic diseases have a higher excess risk of mortality than others.by Sebastian Vetter, Pierre Hepp, Axel Schleichardt, Stefan Schleifenbaum, Maren Witt, Christian Roth, Hans-Peter Köhler
Strengthening the rotator cuff muscles is important for injury prevention and rehabilitation. Since muscle fascicle length improves motor performance and is suggested to reduce the risk of injury for the hamstring, it may be an important variable to promote multidirectional changes in the function and macroscopic structure for the shoulder. Recent literature reviews overwhelmingly suggest that eccentric exercises improve fascicle length and functional measures for the lower limb. However, there is a research gap for the shoulder. Since ultrasound imaging is the most commonly used imaging technique to quantify muscle structure, but has yielded heterogeneous results in different studies, there is another issue and a research gap for the imaging method. Based on the research gaps, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of standardized eccentric strength training on the function and structure of the external rotator cuff muscles using an isokinetic dynamometer and MRI. Therefore, a preliminary pre-post intervention study was conducted and 16 physically active men were recruited in October 2021. For the right shoulder, an eccentric isokinetic training was performed twice a week for almost six weeks. The primary outcome measures (external rotators) were active and passive range of motion, eccentric and concentric torque at 30, 60, and 180°/s isokinetic speed, and fascicle length and fascicle volume for the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. The findings show a training effect for the absolute mean values of eccentric strength (+24%, p = .008). The torque-angle relationship increased, especially in the final phase of range of motion, although a 4% (p = .002) decrease in passive range of motion was found in the stretch test. Positive changes in muscle structure were shown for the supraspinatus muscle fascicle length (+16%, p = .003) and fascicle volume (+19%, p = .002). Based on the study results, we can conclude that eccentric isokinetic training has a significant positive effect on the shoulder. To our knowledge, this is the first eccentric training study using both isokinetic dynamometer and muscle diffusion tensor imaging to access functional and structural changes in the human shoulder rotator cuff muscles. The methods were shown to be applicable for interventional studies. Based on these results, populations such as high-performance handball players with highly trained shoulders should be included in future studies.by Priscila Ceolin Meneghetti, Junying Li, Paulo Sérgio Borella, Gustavo Mendonça, Luiz Henrique Burnett Jr
This study aimed to compare the accuracy of full-arch digital implant impressions using seven different scanbodies and four intraoral scanners. A 3D-printed maxillary model with six implants and their respective multi-unit abutments was used for this study. Seven scanbodies (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6, and SB7) and four intraoral scanners (Primescan®, Omnican®, Trios 3®, and Trios 4®) were assessed. Each combination group was scanned ten times and a dental lab scanner (D2000, 3Shape) was used as a reference. All scans were exported as STL files, imported into Convince software (3Shape) for alignment, and later into Blender software, where their 3D positions were analyzed using a Python script. The 3D deviation, angular deviation, and linear distance between implants #3 and #14 were also measured. Accuracy was measured in terms of “trueness” (scanbody 3D deviation between intraoral scan and desktop scan). Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Bonferroni correction was used to analyze the data (⍺ = .05). The study found statistically significant differences in digital impression accuracy among the scanners and scanbodies (pby Robin Wollast, Éric Lacourse, Geneviève A. Mageau, Mathieu Pelletier-Dumas, Anna Dorfman, Véronique Dupéré, Jean-Marc Lina, Dietlind Stolle, Roxane de la Sablonnière
The COVID-19 pandemic has produced unprecedented changes in the lives of many people. Although research has documented associations between concerns related to COVID-19 and poor mental health indicators, fewer studies have focused on positive factors that could help people better cope with this stressful social context. To fill this gap, the present research investigated the trajectories of self-compassion facets in times of dramatic social change. Using a longitudinal research design, we described the trajectories of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness during the first eight months of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a representative sample of Canadian adults (N = 3617). Relying on a multi-trajectory group-based approach, we identified clusters of individuals following persistently low (4.0%), moderate-low (39.3%), moderate-high (46.7%), and high (10.0%) levels of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Interestingly, we found that compassionate self-responding trajectories were mainly stable over time with minor fluctuations for some groups of individuals, in line with the epidemiological situation. In terms of covariates, we observed that older women were more likely to follow trajectories of high compassionate self-responding, as compared to the other age and gender groups. In terms of mental health indicators, we demonstrated that trajectory groups with high levels of compassionate self-responding were associated with greater life satisfaction, more happiness, better sleep quality, higher sleep quantity, and fewer negative emotions, as compared to lower trajectory groups. The results supported the idea that self-compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic could have favored better mental health indicators and could possibly be promoted as a psychological intervention in the general population.by Zaina A. Zayyad, John H. R. Maunsell, Jason N. MacLean
When multiple stimuli appear together in the receptive field of a visual cortical neuron, the response is typically close to the average of that neuron’s response to each individual stimulus. The departure from a linear sum of each individual response is referred to as normalization. In mammals, normalization has been best characterized in the visual cortex of macaques and cats. Here we study visually evoked normalization in the visual cortex of awake mice using imaging of calcium indicators in large populations of layer 2/3 (L2/3) V1 excitatory neurons and electrophysiological recordings across layers in V1. Regardless of recording method, mouse visual cortical neurons exhibit normalization to varying degrees. The distributions of normalization strength are similar to those described in cats and macaques, albeit slightly weaker on average.by Marcos Antonio Matiucci, Iza Catarini dos Santos, Natallya Marques da Silva, Patricia Daniele Silva dos Santos, Gislaine Gonçalves Oliveira, Stefane Santos Corrêa, Elder dos Santos Araujo, Rafaela Said, Jaqueline Ferreira Silva, Ana Paula Sartório Chambó, Talita Aparecida Ferreira de Campos, Oscar Oliveira Santos, Claudete Regina Alcalde, Maria Luiza Rodrigues de Souza, Andresa Carla Feihrmann
The effect of the use of Nilo tilapia filleting residues in the production of pâtés with the addition of oregano essential oil stored for 90 days at 4 °C was evaluated. For that, 5 treatments were performed as follows: TSA—control treatment; TES with the addition of sodium erythorbate; and formulation TOE1 with 600 ppm oregano essential oil; TOE2 with 1000 ppm essential oil; and TOE3 with 1400 ppm essential oil. The pâtés showed adequate technological and physicochemical characteristics and microbiological counts within the legislation standards. No significant differences were observed in the luminosity of the pâté formulations during storage, and the addition of oil contributed to the increase in a* values and stability of b* values. Regarding the lipid and protein oxidation, TOE3 showed lower values at the end of the shelf-life. The addition of essential oil did not affect the hardness and cohesiveness of the products. The fatty acids in greater amounts in the samples were linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. The analysis of biogenic amines indicated that only the treatments with the highest amounts of sodium erythorbate (TES and TOE1) showed losses of spermidine. It was observed that decreasing the inclusion of sodium erythorbate and increasing the inclusion of oregano essential oil resulted in a drop in cadaverine values. A total of 46 volatile compounds were detected in the samples with the highest amount of free fatty acids and all the formulations were well accepted sensorially.by Delphine Rapp, Colleen Ross, Vanessa Cave, Paul Maclean, Ruy Jauregui, Gale Brightwell
Land-spreading of animal faecal wastes -such as animal beddings- can introduce zoonotic enteropathogens into the food system environment. The study evaluated the effectiveness of animal beddings naturally contaminated by calf manure to reduce E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella enterica. The two pathogens were introduced separately as a four strains-cocktail and at high (>6.5 Log10 g-1) concentration into bedding materials, and their inactivation over a 10 weeks-period was monitored by using a Most Probable Number (MPN) enumeration method. Inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 was more effective in the bedding inoculated immediately after collection from calf pens than in the beddings inoculated after a 2 months-pre-storage period: E. coli O157:H7 levels were reduced by 6.6 Log10 g-1 in unstored bedding (0.5 Log10 g-1 recovered; 95%CI: 0.0–1.2), and by 4.9 Log10 g-1 in pre-stored bedding (2.2 Log10 g-1 recovered; 95%CI: 1.5–2.8) with a significant (pS. enterica was inactivated less effectively as counts were reduced by one order of magnitude, with no significant difference in inactivation between unstored and pre-stored beddings. Low levels of naturally occurring E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were detected in the non-inoculated beddings, as well as in the straw prior to use in the animal facility. To better understand the possible biological processes involved, the bacterial community present in the beddings was characterised by short-read 16S rRNA sequencing. Pre-storage of the bedding affected the composition but not the diversity of the bacterial community. Analyses of the key bacterial phyla suggested that the presence of a diverse and stable bacterial community might facilitate inactivation of the introduced pathogens, and a possible role of bacterial orders associated with lignocellulolytic resources. Overall, the study contributed to the understanding of the fate of zoonotic bacteria introduced in animal beddings during storage and identified bedding storage practices pre-and post-use in animal facilities that could be important to prevent the risk of zoonosis dissemination to the environment or to the dairy herds.by Kiera Murison, Christy H. Wilson, Katie M. Clow, Salima Gasmi, Todd F. Hatchette, Annie-Claude Bourgeois, Gerald A. Evans, Jules K. Koffi
Lyme disease cases reported in seven Canadian provinces from 2009 to 2019 through the Lyme Disease Enhanced Surveillance System are described herein by demographic, geography, time and season. The proportion of males was greater than females. Bimodal peaks in incidence were observed in children and older adults (≥60 years of age) for all clinical signs except cardiac manifestations, which were more evenly distributed across age groups. Proportions of disease stages varied between provinces: Atlantic provinces reported mainly early Lyme disease, while Ontario reported equal proportions of early and late-stage Lyme disease. Early Lyme disease cases were mainly reported between May through November, whereas late Lyme disease were reported in December through April. Increased awareness over time may have contributed to a decrease in the proportion of cases reporting late disseminated Lyme disease. These analyses help better describe clinical features of reported Lyme disease cases in Canada.by Reinie Cordier, Lauren Parsons, Sarah Wilkes-Gillan, Matthew Cook, Matthew McCloskey-Martinez, Pamela Graham, David Littlefair, Cally Kent, Renée Speyer
RationaleChildren with neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, developmental language disorder (DLD), intellectual disability (ID), and social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SPCD) experience difficulties with social functioning due to differences in their social, emotional and cognitive skills. Previous systematic reviews have focussed on specific aspects of social functioning rather than broader peer functioning and friendships.
ObjectiveTo systematically review and methodologically appraise the quality and effectiveness of existing intervention studies that measured friendship outcomes for children with ADHD, autism, DLD, ID, and SPCD.
MethodFollowing PRISMA guidelines, we searched five electronic databases: CINAHL, Embase, Eric, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Two independent researchers screened all abstracts and disagreements were discussed with a third researcher to reach consensus. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomised Trials.
ResultsTwelve studies involving 15 interventions were included. Studies included 683 children with a neurodevelopmental disorder and 190 typically-developing children and diagnosed with either autism or ADHD. Within-group meta-analysis showed that the pooled intervention effects for friendship across all interventions were small to moderate (z = 2.761, p = 0.006, g = 0.485). The pooled intervention effect between intervention and comparison groups was not significant (z = 1.206, p = 0.400, g = 0.215).
ConclusionFindings provide evidence that some individual interventions are effective in improving social functioning and fostering more meaningful friendships between children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their peers. Effective interventions involved educators, targeted child characteristics known to moderate peer functioning, actively involved peers, and incorporated techniques to facilitate positive peer perceptions and strategies to support peers. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of friendship interventions for children with DLD, ID and SPCD, more comprehensively assess peer functioning, include child self-report measures of friendship, and longitudinally evaluate downstream effects on friendship.
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