Several animal models have been developed for studying traumatic injury to retinal ganglion cells and the optic nerve (Levkovitch-Verbin, 2004). Both of these approaches lead to death of retinal ...ganglion cells and degeneration of their axons. Because of this, both have been used as models for retinal injury, including traumatic optic neuropathy and glaucoma (Levkovitch-Verbin, 2004). While these approaches do allow study of retinal ganglion cell responses to optic nerve axonal injury, they limit our understanding of indirect and more diffuse injuries often seen with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy in the context of head trauma. Existing models include numerous variations of closed head injury with or without an intact scalp, controlled cortical impact (which uses a calibrated blow using a motorized piston, usually through a craniotomy onto the intact dura mater), fluid percussion injury (using intracranial injection of a pressurized fluid wave to induce a diffuse brain injury), and blast injury, among others (Levin and Robertson, 2013).
The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) is a long-distance migratory grassland songbird whose global population is in long-term decline, largely due to habitat loss and intensification of agricultural ...practices. To better understand the factors affecting their annual cycle, we used a known-age population of male Bobolinks (n = 121) breeding in agricultural grasslands of Vermont and explored how variation in plumage (extent of yellow in cap) and body morphology (body mass and wing length) explained variation in apparent survival. Bobolink body mass and wing length varied between years 2–5. Bobolink cap size did not change with age. However, none of the 3 morphological characters explained variation in apparent survival. Our results highlight the challenges associated with understanding variation in individual quality relative to age, particularly regarding factors that affect demographic processes in declining species. El tordo charlatán (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) es un ave canora de pastizal migratoria de larga distancia cuya población global está en declive a largo plazo, principalmente debido a la pérdida de hábitat y a la intensificación de las prácticas agrícolas. Para entender mejor los factores que afectan su ciclo anual, utilizamos una población con edad conocida de tordos charlatanes machos (n = 121) que se reproducían en pastizales agrícolas de Vermont y exploramos cómo la variación en su plumaje (la extensión del amarillo de su capucha) y la morfología corporal (masa corporal y longitud del ala) explicaban la variación en la sobrevivencia aparente. La masa corporal del tordo charlatán y la longitud del ala variaron entre los años 2–5. El tamaño de la capucha del tordo charlatán no tuvo variaciones con la edad. Sin embargo, ninguno de los 3 caracteres morfológicos explicaba la variación de sobrevivencia aparente. Nuestros resultados resaltan los desafíos asociados a entender la variación en la calidad de los individuos relativa a la edad, particularmente con respecto a factores que afectan procesos demográficos de especies en declive. Palabras clave: ala, Icteridae, masa, morfología, plumaje, Programa MARK, Vermont.
COVID-19 public health measures like handwashing and social distancing can help stem the spread of the virus. Adherence to guidelines varies between individuals. This study aims to identify ...predictors of non-adherence to social distancing and handwashing guidelines.
A cross-sectional weekly telephone survey was conducted over eight weeks (11/06/2020-05/08/2020). The sample included adults resident on the island of Ireland (75:25 split between ROI and NI). Data were collected on demographics, threat perceptions, fear of COVID-19, response efficacy and self-efficacy, response cost and social norms, COVID-19 behaviours, mood, loneliness, and self-reported health.
3011 participants were surveyed. Handwashing non-adherers were more likely to be male (OR: 5.2, 95% CI: 2.4 - 11.3), to have higher levels of loneliness (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.1), and higher perceptions of handwashing costs (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.2 - 5.2). Those reporting rarely engaging in social distancing were more likely to be members of lower socioeconomic groups, to be younger (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96 - 0.98), male (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.1 - 2.5), healthcare workers (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.4), to report lower mood (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.3 - 2.2), were less likely to live in households with people aged under-18 (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.6 - 0.9), and to have lower fear of COVID-19 (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.6 - 0.9).
Non-adherers to handwashing differ to social distancing non-adherers. Public health messages should target specific demographic groups and different messages are necessary to improve adherence to each behaviour.
Smoking poses a serious risk of early preventable death and disease especially for women living with socio-economic disadvantage (SED). A smoking cessation programme, 'We Can Quit', was developed in ...Ireland tailored to SED women. This includes group-based support delivered by trained lay local community facilitators (CFs) and free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The intervention was pilot tested in a cluster randomised controlled trial, 'We Can Quit 2'. This paper reports on the WCQ2 process evaluation which assessed feasibility and acceptability of the programme and trial processes.
Embedded qualitative design using the UK Medical Research Council's process evaluation framework. Semi-structured interviews with trial participants (N = 21) and CFs (N = 8). Thematic analysis was utilised.
Peer-modelling, a non-judgemental environment, CFs facilitation of group support were viewed as acceptable programme related factors. Some participants expressed concerns about NRT side effects. Provision of free NRT was welcomed and accepted by participants, although structural barriers made access challenging. Pharmacists took on a role that became larger than originally envisaged - and the majority provided additional support to women in their quit attempts between group meetings which augmented and supplemented the intervention sessions provided by the CFs. Participants reported good acceptance of repeated measures for data collection, but mixed acceptability of provision of saliva samples. Low literacy affected the feasibility of some women to fully engage with programme and trial-related materials. This was despite efforts made by intervention developers and the trial team to make materials (e.g., participant intervention booklet; consent forms and participant information leaflets) accessible while also meeting requirements under 2018 European General Data Protection Regulation legislation. Hypothetical scenarios of direct (e.g., researcher present during programme delivery) and indirect (e.g., audio recordings of programme sessions) observational fidelity assessments for a future definitive trial (DT) were acceptable.
Intervention and trial-related processes were generally feasible and acceptable to participants and CFs. Any future DT will need to take further steps to mitigate structural barriers to accessing free NRT; and the established problem of low literacy and low educational attainment in SED areas, while continuing to comply within the contemporary legislative research environment.
WCQ2 pilot trial ( ISRCTN74721694 ).
Long oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are segments of DNAs having over one hundred nucleotides (nt). They are typically assembled using enzymatic methods such as PCR and ligation from shorter 20 to 60 nt ...ODNs produced by automated de novo chemical synthesis. While these methods have made many projects in areas such as synthetic biology and protein engineering possible, they have various drawbacks. For example, they cannot produce genes and genomes with long repeats and have difficulty to produce sequences containing stable secondary structures. Here, we report a direct de novo chemical synthesis of 400 nt ODNs, and their isolation from the complex reaction mixture using the catching-by-polymerization (CBP) method. To determine the authenticity of the ODNs, 399 and 401 nt ODNs were synthesized and purified with CBP. The two were joined together using Gibson assembly to give the 800 nt green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene construct. The sequence of the construct was verified via Sanger sequencing. To demonstrate the potential use of the long ODN synthesis method, the GFP gene was expressed in
. The long ODN synthesis and isolation method presented here provides a pathway to the production of genes and genomes containing long repeats or stable secondary structures that cannot be produced or are highly challenging to produce using existing technologies.
Purpose of Review
This paper will review the published literature on the implementation of high-sensitivity troponin in the diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction, with a special focus on ...accelerated diagnostic protocols used in the emergency department and other acute care settings.
Recent Findings
Since the FDA approval of high-sensitivity troponin assays in 2017, US healthcare systems have begun creating accelerated diagnostic protocols for emergency departments. Standardization of the assay can improve patient outcomes and the efficiency of emergency rooms nationwide.
Summary
This paper summarizes the historical use of the standard troponin assay and the significance of the high-sensitivity troponin assay as used in acute care settings. Implementation of the high-sensitivity troponin is discussed, demonstrating common assays used, clinical considerations, and previously reported accelerated diagnostic pathways. These aspects are aligned with current guidelines in the use of high-sensitivity troponin to emphasize the need for standardization of use within the US healthcare system.
We present the case of a patient with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hypoventilation syndrome who had hydrocephalus and acquired aqueduct stenosis. A link between these conditions in our ...patient is postulated. We discuss the mechanisms through which this might have occurred and the potential problems which might arise in applying non-invasive ventilation to a patient with hydrocephalus.
Patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hypoventilation require AVAPS-AE ventilation to deal with obstructive and central events which may occur.Arterial blood gas analysis and MRI of the brain are indicated in the assessment of patients with severe OSA.Hydrocephalus may develop in patients with severe OSA if there is a structural brain abnormality but may resolve with OSA treatment.
The health of women in rural communities is adversely impacted by increased rates of tobacco use linked to socio-economic disadvantage (SED) and by limited access to services. We Can Quit (WCQ) is a ...smoking cessation programme delivered by trained lay women (community facilitators) in local communities, which was developed using a Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach and tailored to women living in SED areas of Ireland.
The We Can Quit2 (WCQ2) pilot cluster randomised controlled trial with an inbuilt process evaluation was conducted in four matched pairs of urban and semi-rural SED districts (8-10,000 women per district) to assess feasibility. Districts were independently randomised to WCQ (group support +/- nicotine replacement therapy), or to individual support delivered by health professionals.
Findings showed that that the WCQ outreach programme is acceptable and feasible to implement for smoking women living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. A secondary outcome of smoking abstinence (self-report + biochemical validation) demonstrated 27% abstinence in the intervention group versus 17% in usual care at end of programme. Low literacy was highlighted as a major barrier to participants' acceptability.
The design of our project provides an affordable solution for governments in prioritising outreach smoking cessation in vulnerable populations in countries with rising rates of female lung cancer. Our community-based model using a CBPR approach empowers local women to become trained to deliver smoking cessation programmes within their own local communities. This provides a foundation to create a sustainable and equitable way to address tobacco use in rural communities.
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions among women smokers in low socio-economic status (SES) groups or women living in disadvantaged ...areas who are historically underserved by smoking cessation services.
A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Web of Science databases. Eligibility criteria included randomised controlled trials of any smoking cessation intervention among women in low SES groups or living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. A random effects meta-analysis assessed effectiveness of interventions on smoking cessation. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The GRADE approach established certainty of evidence.
A total of 396 studies were screened for eligibility and 11 (6153 female participants) were included. Seven studies targeted women-only. 5/11 tested a form of face-to-face support. A pooled effect size was estimated in 10/11 studies. At end of treatment, two-thirds more low SES women who received a smoking cessation intervention were more likely to stop smoking than women in control groups (risk ratio (RR) 1.68, 95% CI 1.36-2.08, I
= 34%). The effect was reduced but remained significant when longest available follow-up periods were pooled (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.48, I
= 0%). There was moderate-to-high risk of bias in most studies. Certainty of evidence was low.
Behavioural and behavioural + pharmacotherapy interventions for smoking cessation targeting women in low SES groups or women living in areas of disadvantage were effective in the short term. However, longer follow-up periods indicated reduced effectiveness. Future studies to explore ways to prevent smoking relapse in this population are needed.
PROSPERO: CRD42019130160.
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