Thesis (M. S.)--Texas A&M University, 2006.
"Major Subject: Entomology" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Nov. 2, 2007.) Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical ...references.
Highlights • Calorie restriction increased neuropeptide Y-immunolabeling in the arcuate nucleus. • Calorie restriction reduced microglia area following lipopolysaccharide. • Neuropeptide Y was ...negatively correlated with body temperature. • Body temperature was positively correlated with microglia area.
► In-depth analysis of organisational contributors to 26 fatal accidents in UK construction. ► New method of classification on four system levels, based on HFACS. ► Dominant inadequacies: planning, ...risk assessment, competence assurance, hardware design, contracting strategy. ► Findings partially validated by comparison with an earlier sample of 50 fatalities.
A study of a small sample of construction fatal accidents was used to pilot a potential method of analysis for the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Construction Division. The work was conducted in the context of a Governmental Inquiry into construction fatalities in 2009, but has been developed further since. The sample of 26 accidents (28 fatalities) was drawn from the 211 fatal accidents in the years ending 2006–2008, to be broadly illustrative of the range of accident characteristics. The accidents were analysed on the basis of available inspectorate reports and structured interviews with the investigating inspectors. A standard method of classification on four levels was developed, based on the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) classification of errors and task level factors, with additional categories covering the organisational and regulatory/market levels of the system. The results showed a concentration of underlying factors associated with inadequacies in planning and risk assessment, competence assurance, hardware design, purchase and installation, and contracting strategy. These findings were partially validated by comparing them with another sample of 50 accidents analysed earlier by the HSE. This paper describes the development and testing of the investigation and classification method and how it is being further developed since the initial study. It also provides a summary of the findings relating to underlying causes.
In search of metabolically regulated secreted proteins, we conducted a microarray study comparing gene expression in major metabolic tissues of fed and fasted ob/ob mice and C57BL/6 mice. The array ...used in this study included probes for ~4000 genes annotated as potential secreted proteins. Circulating macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1)/growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) concentrations were increased in obese mice, rats, and humans in comparison to age-matched lean controls. Adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression of GDF15 and recombinant GDF15 treatments reduced food intake and body weight and improved metabolic profiles in various metabolic disease models in mice, rats, and obese cynomolgus monkeys. Analysis of the GDF15 crystal structure suggested that the protein is not suitable for conventional Fc fusion at the carboxyl terminus of the protein. Thus, we used a structure-guided approach to design and successfully generate several Fc fusion molecules with extended half-life and potent efficacy. Furthermore, we discovered that GDF15 delayed gastric emptying, changed food preference, and activated area postrema neurons, confirming a role for GDF15 in the gut-brain axis responsible for the regulation of body energy intake. Our work provides evidence that GDF15 Fc fusion proteins could be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of obesity and related comorbidities.
An experimental method to measure the heat transfer between a hot surface and a non-wetting droplet is reported in this paper. By means of transient, high resolution, infrared microscopy, surface ...temperature measurements with spatial and temporal resolutions of ∼100μm and ∼4ms, respectively, are obtained, by observing a thin metallic layer from beneath through an infrared-transparent substrate. Data from the infrared camera is generated at each time-step in the form of a set of temperatures, at closely-spaced locations on the surface of the infrared transparent plate. Subsequent solution of the transient thermal conduction equation within the substrate permits all thermal quantities (heat flux, energy, etc.) to be determined. As a typical result, the heat transferred by a 1.5mm droplet is measured to be 0.19J, with the heat flux peaking at 3.5MW/m2 during the 10ms it spends in the vicinity of the surface, and with a peak transient surface temperature reduction of 47°C. Error analysis indicates that the uncertainty in this measurement of heat transfer is about 15%.
As the population is aging, the number of persons living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) is expected to increase. This review seeks to answer two research questions from the perspectives of ...older adults with MCC, their caregivers and their health care providers (HCPs): 1) What are the health and social care needs of community-dwelling older adults with MCC and their caregivers? and 2) How do social and structural determinants of health impact these health and social care needs?
We conducted a scoping review guided by a refinement of the Arksey & O'Malley framework. Articles were included if participants were 55 years or older and have at least two chronic conditions. We searched 7 electronic databases. The data were summarized using thematic analysis.
Thirty-six studies were included in this review: 28 studies included participants with MCC; 12 studies included HCPs; 5 studies included caregivers. The quality of the studies ranged from moderate to good. Five main areas of needs were identified: need for information; coordination of services and supports; preventive, maintenance and restorative strategies; training for older adults, caregivers and HCPs to help manage the older adults' complex conditions; and the need for person-centred approaches. Structural and social determinants of health such as socioeconomic status, education and access influenced the needs of older adults with MCC.
The review highlights that most of the needs of older adults with MCC focus on lack of access to information and coordination of care. The main structural and social determinants that influenced older adults' needs were their level of education/health literacy and their socioeconomic status.
Successful H. pylori treatment requires the knowledge of local antimicrobial resistance. Data on the efficacy of H. pylori eradication regimens available in sub-Saharan Africa are scant, hence the ...optimal treatment is unknown. Our goals were to determine the efficacy of available regimens in Rwanda as well as evaluate the effect of treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
This is a randomized controlled trial conducted from November 2015 to October 2016 at a tertiary hospital in Rwanda. Enrollees were 299 patients (35% male, age 42 ± 16 years (mean ± SD)) who had a positive modified rapid urease test on endoscopic biopsies. After a fecal antigen test (FAT) and HRQoL assessment by the Short Form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI) questionnaire, patients were randomized 1:1:1:1 to either a triple therapy combining omeprazole, amoxicillin and one of clarithromycin/ciprofloxacin/metronidazole or a quadruple therapy combining omeprazole, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and doxycycline. All therapies were given for a duration of 10 days. The outcome measures were the persistence of positive FAT (treatment failure) 4 to 6 weeks after treatment and change in HRQoL scores.
The treatment success rate was 80% in the total population and 78% in patients with a history of prior triple therapy. Significant improvement in HRQoL in the total group (HRQoL mean scores before and after treatment respectively: 76 ± 11 and 32 ± 11, p < 0.001) and the group with functional dyspepsia (HRQoL mean scores before and after treatment respectively: 73 ± 11 and 30 ± 9, P < 0.001) was observed across all treatment groups. Using clarithromycin based triple therapy (standard of care) as a reference, the group treated with metronidazole had worse HRQoL (p = 0.012) and had a trend towards worse treatment outcome (p = 0.086) compared to the ciprofloxacin based combination therapies.
Clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin based combination therapies are effective and safe to use alternatively for H. pylori eradication and improve HRQoL. Among the regimens studied, metronidazole based triple therapy is likely to be clinically inferior.
The clinical trial was retrospectively registered ( PACTR201804003257400 ) with the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry database, on April 6th, 2018 in South Africa.
Intrauterine inflammation is considered a major cause of brain injury in preterm infants, leading to long-term neurodevelopmental deficits. A potential contributor to this brain injury is ...dysregulation of neurovascular coupling. We have shown that intrauterine inflammation induced by intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in preterm lambs, and postnatal dopamine administration, disrupts neurovascular coupling and the functional cerebral haemodynamic responses, potentially leading to impaired brain development. In this study, we aimed to characterise the structural changes of the neurovascular unit following intrauterine LPS exposure and postnatal dopamine administration in the brain of preterm lambs using cellular and molecular analyses.
At 119-120 days of gestation (term = 147 days), LPS was administered into the amniotic sac in pregnant ewes. At 126-7 days of gestation, the LPS-exposed lambs were delivered, ventilated and given either a continuous intravenous infusion of dopamine at 10 µg/kg/min or isovolumetric vehicle solution for 90 min (LPS, n = 6; LPS
, n = 6). Control preterm lambs not exposed to LPS were also administered vehicle or dopamine (CTL, n = 9; CTL
, n = 7). Post-mortem brain tissue was collected 3-4 h after birth for immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR analysis of components of the neurovascular unit.
LPS exposure increased vascular leakage in the presence of increased vascular density and remodelling with increased astrocyte "end feet" vessel coverage, together with downregulated mRNA levels of the tight junction proteins Claudin-1 and Occludin. Dopamine administration decreased vessel density and size, decreased endothelial glucose transporter, reduced neuronal dendritic coverage, increased cell proliferation within vessel walls, and increased pericyte vascular coverage particularly within the cortical and deep grey matter. Dopamine also downregulated VEGFA and Occludin tight junction mRNA, and upregulated dopamine receptor DRD1 and oxidative protein (NOX1, SOD3) mRNA levels. Dopamine administration following LPS exposure did not exacerbate any effects induced by LPS.
LPS exposure and dopamine administration independently alters the neurovascular unit in the preterm brain. Alterations to the neurovascular unit may predispose the developing brain to further injury.
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