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Regional analysis of myelin basic protein across postnatal brain development of C57BL/6J mice
Get PDFHealthy brain development hinges on proper myelination, with disruption contributing to a wide array of neurological disorders. Immunohistochemical analysis of myelin basic protein (MBP) is a fundamental technique for investigating myelination and related disorders. However, despite decades of MBP research, detailed accounts of normal MBP progression in the developing mouse brain have been lacking. This study aims to address this gap by providing a detailed spatiotemporal account of MBP distribution across 13 developmental ages from postnatal day 2 to 60. We used an optimized immunohistochemistry protocol to overcome the challenges of myelin’s unique lipid-rich composition, enabling more consistent staining across diverse brain structures and developmental stages, offering a robust baseline for typical myelination patterns, and enabling comparisons with pathological models. To support and potentially accelerate research into myelination disorders, we have made >1,400 high-resolution micrographs accessible online under the Creative Commons license
Sporothrix is neglected among the neglected
Get PDFFungal diseases are a growing threat to human health. The last 50 years have seen an increase in the prevalence of fungal infections [1,2]. Annually, close to 1 billion people are affected by mycoses [1,3]. Close to 7 million of these infections are life-threatening, and approximately 2 million of them are fatal [3]. One of the fungal diseases that has increased in importance in the last 50 years is sporotrichosis, a mycosis that is caused by members of the genus Sporothrix, and that usually manifests as a subcutaneous granulomatous disease [4–9]. Transmission typically occurs transcutaneously after contact with contaminated materials, often during farming or gardening, which can introduce the fungus through skin punctures [6]. The clinical presentation of sporotrichosis varies based on the type of infection and the immune status of the host. The most common forms of sporotrichosis are fixed cutaneous and lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. In fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis, characterized by initial lesions that resemble small nodules, which may ulcerate over time (sporotrichotic chancres). These lesions are typically painless and remain around the puncture site (fixed). If the lesions spread, they can lead to cutaneous lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis, in which the infection spreads along the lymphatic vessels, resulting in additional nodules and systemic symptoms, or might even develop into disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis. Extracutaneous forms of sporotrichosis also exist, but they are less common. Ocular sporotrichosis mostly often affects the ocular adnexa, but in some rare instances can also infect intraocular tissues (reviewed in [10]). Pulmonary infection, caused by inhalation of conidia from the air, can be localized or multifocal and is relatively uncommon (~1,000 cases), although these numbers might be artificially low due to underreporting [11]. Finally, osteoarticular infection usually manifests with tenosynovitis, joint effusion, bursitis, and synovial cyst formation [12]
The Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Lean Body Mass with and Without Resistance Training
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: Creatine monohydrate (CrM) is considered to be one of the most effective supplements for enhancing lean body mass during resistance training. However, CrM may influence body water content, potentially confounding lean body mass measurements. Therefore, this randomised controlled trial assessed the effect of CrM alone on lean body mass following a supplement wash-in, and when combined with a resistance training program. Methods: Sixty-three (34 females, 29 males, 31 ± 8 years) participants were randomised to supplement with CrM (5 g/day for 13 weeks: wash-in + 12-week resistance training) or serve as a control (received no creatine or placebo). Lean body mass was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry at baseline, post 7-day wash-in, and post 12 weeks of resistance training. Both groups began the same training program post CrM wash-in. Results: After the 7-day wash-in, the supplement group gained 0.51 ± 1.79 kg more lean body mass than the control group (p = 0.03). Following the wash-in, both groups gained 2 kg after resistance training (p < 0.0001), with no between-group difference in lean body mass growth (p = 0.71). Sex-disaggregated analysis showed that the supplement group, only in females, gained 0.59 ± 1.61 kg more lean body mass than the controls (p = 0.04). There were no group differences in lean body mass growth following resistance training in females (p = 0.10) or males (p = 0.35). Conclusions: A 7-day CrM wash-in increased lean body mass, particularly in females. Thereafter, CrM did not enhance lean body mass growth when combined with resistance training, likely due to its short-term effects on lean body mass measurements. A maintenance dose of higher than 5 g/day may be necessary to augment lean body mass growth
Expand grid decarbonization by associating more technology investment with voluntary corporate procurement
Get PDFCorporate greenhouse gas emission reporting standards are being revised. There is a new opportunity to include investments in much-needed technologies such as energy storage, electricity transmission upgrades, and generation as part of a newaccountingmethod. Revising the protocol could catalyze private investment in critical technologies that have been excluded from these systems
IMPROVING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTIES TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO REDUCE OBESITY-RELATED CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
Get PDFPhysical activity significantly contributes to chronic disease risk and health outcomes. In many rural communities, structural aspects of the neighborhood and built environment create barriers limiting active living opportunities. The 2021 Granville Vance County Health Assessment (CHA) identifies several key barriers to physical activity, including unsafe sidewalks, inadequate lighting on walkways, and a lack of designated bike lanes, commonly called active transportation. These factors affect accessibility for residents of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and public transit users. The culmination of evidence-based research and CHA data conducted by the Granville Vance Public Health Department supports a strong connection between physical activity and chronic underfunding in public infrastructure that promotes active transportation.
Multiple methodologies were employed to explore this connection, including social determinants of health (SDOH) analysis, the development of a rich picture, and a contextual analysis. Principles of engagement, leadership, quality, and systems thinking were utilized to generate recommendations and insights for addressing community challenges. This proposal recommends advocating “Complete Street” policies, forming a priority partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), establishing a leadership steering committee, and implementing a continuous quality improvement plan to sustain and expand the initiative.Master of Public Healt
Learning from COVID: How state DOTs can support resilient responses to disruptive events
No full textDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, cities around the world responded to changing demands on public street space by adapting their streets to support outdoor commerce, social activities, and active mobility. Such changes were instrumental tools for sustaining local economies, yet they were relatively uncommon and slow to emerge in North Carolina. This slide deck summarizes research and recommendations developed through an NCDOT-funded study, conducted at UNC, to understand barriers to COVID-streets among North Carolina municipalities, and advances a set of recommendations to ensure our municipalities are better prepared to implement timely, effective responses to future events
Occupational health equity: a call to consider social–structural factors in injury prevention research
Get PDFOccupational health equity scholarship has been growing over the past decade, including social-structural determinants of health research that centres the voices and experiences of historically marginalised communities. In our commentary, we focus on the intersection of work-related and non-work-related factors and how they impact the health of workers, their families and their communities through community-engaged research. Case studies include the implementation of mobile clinics that are developed alongside communities, community organising to examine and reduce health disparities among racially segregated workers, the development of research instruments and measures to study racism and discrimination, and a focus on how the distribution of employment opportunity is an important point of intervention to eliminate injury disparities
Identifying subgroups of Chinese men who have sex with men based on sexual behavior and drug use patterns using a clustering analysis approach
Get PDFIntroduction Sexualized drug use (SDU) refers to using drugs before and during sex to enhance experiences, increasing high-risk behaviors, such as condomless sex, multiple sexual partners, and participation in group sex, among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study explores how SDU affects sexual behaviors in Chinese MSM. Methods We collected demographics, sexual acts, drug use, and condom attitudes data among 890 MSM from across China via WeChat ads through community-based organizations from March 23 to April 22, 2022. Cluster analysis using Gower’s distance and hierarchical clustering explored differences in sexual acts among MSM who reported SDU in their last encounter and otherwise. Results Cluster analysis categorized participants into three Clusters. Cluster 3 (n = 155) reported 100% SDU in their last sexual encounter (83.87% poppers use), whereas Clusters 1 (n = 581) and 2 (n = 154) reported none. Compared to other Clusters, Cluster 3 had significantly higher PrEP use (34.90% vs. 17.02% vs. 8.00%, p < 0.0001), more sexual acts over the past 12 months (35.80–61.30 vs. 31.30–56.10 and 4.37–21.22, p < 0.001), more regular (3.16 ± 4.37 vs. 2.27 ± 3.52 vs. 2.51 ± 2.53, p = 0.028) and casual partners (4.55 ± 6.55 vs. 2.48 ± 3.21 vs. 2.74 ± 3.66, p < 0.0001), more partners with STIs (8.39% vs. 3.79% vs. 3.90%, p = 0.029), and lower consistent condom use (48.53% vs. 59.41% vs. 72.28%, p < 0.0001). Cluster 1 had moderate frequency in all sexual acts except self-masturbation, which was most common in Cluster 2. Conclusion SDU is a stratum for identifying MSM subgroups, and MSM who reported SDU demonstrated higher sexual risk behaviors and PrEP usage. Among those not practicing SDU, self-masturbation is a key behavioral indicator for subgrouping