79 research outputs found
Childhood socioeconomic position and objectively measured physical capability levels in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full text<p><b>Background:</b> Grip strength, walking speed, chair rising and standing balance time are objective measures of physical capability that characterise current health and predict survival in older populations. Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood may influence the peak level of physical capability achieved in early adulthood, thereby affecting levels in later adulthood. We have undertaken a systematic review with meta-analyses to test the hypothesis that adverse childhood SEP is associated with lower levels of objectively measured physical capability in adulthood.</p>
<p><b>Methods and Findings:</b> Relevant studies published by May 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE and MEDLINE. Unpublished results were obtained from study investigators. Results were provided by all study investigators in a standard format and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. 19 studies were included in the review. Total sample sizes in meta-analyses ranged from N = 17,215 for chair rise time to N = 1,061,855 for grip strength. Although heterogeneity was detected, there was consistent evidence in age adjusted models that lower childhood SEP was associated with modest reductions in physical capability levels in adulthood: comparing the lowest with the highest childhood SEP there was a reduction in grip strength of 0.13 standard deviations (95% CI: 0.06, 0.21), a reduction in mean walking speed of 0.07 m/s (0.05, 0.10), an increase in mean chair rise time of 6% (4%, 8%) and an odds ratio of an inability to balance for 5s of 1.26 (1.02, 1.55). Adjustment for the potential mediating factors, adult SEP and body size attenuated associations greatly. However, despite this attenuation, for walking speed and chair rise time, there was still evidence of moderate associations.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions:</b> Policies targeting socioeconomic inequalities in childhood may have additional benefits in promoting the maintenance of independence in later life.</p>
The role of melanin production in the survival of Vibrio cholerae in the marine environment
No full textWord processed copy.Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-165).The marine bacterium Vibrio cholerae produces pyomelanin through the catabolism of L-tyrosine to homogentisic acid. Various types of melanins are used by microbes as defense mechanisms against a variety of environmental stresses. This thesis investigated the defensive role of V. cholerae pyomelanin against exogenous stresses, particularly hydrogen-peroxide (H2O2)
Probiotics and prebiotics for severe acute malnutrition (PRONUT study): a double-blind efficacy randomised controlled trial in Malawi.
No full textBACKGROUND: Severe acute malnutrition affects 13 million children worldwide and causes 1-2 million deaths every year. Our aim was to assess the clinical and nutritional efficacy of a probiotic and prebiotic functional food for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in a HIV-prevalent setting. METHODS: We recruited 795 Malawian children (age range 5 to 168 months [median 22, IQR 15 to 32]) from July 12, 2006, to March 7, 2007, into a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled efficacy trial. For generalisability, all admissions for severe acute malnutrition treatment were eligible for recruitment. After stabilisation with milk feeds, children were randomly assigned to ready-to-use therapeutic food either with (n=399) or without (n=396) Synbiotic2000 Forte. Average prescribed Synbiotic dose was 10(10) colony-forming units or more of lactic acid bacteria per day for the duration of treatment (median 33 days). Primary outcome was nutritional cure (weight-for-height >80% of National Center for Health Statistics median on two consecutive outpatient visits). Secondary outcomes included death, weight gain, time to cure, and prevalence of clinical symptoms (diarrhoea, fever, and respiratory problems). Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN19364765. FINDINGS: Nutritional cure was similar in both Synbiotic and control groups (53.9% [215 of 399] and 51.3% [203 of 396]; p=0.40). Secondary outcomes were also similar between groups. HIV seropositivity was associated with worse outcomes overall, but did not modify or confound the negative results. Subgroup analyses showed possible trends towards reduced outpatient mortality in the Synbiotic group (p=0.06). INTERPRETATION: In Malawi, Synbiotic2000 Forte did not improve severe acute malnutrition outcomes. The observation of reduced outpatient mortality might be caused by bias, confounding, or chance, but is biologically plausible, has potential for public health impact, and should be explored in future studies. FUNDING: Department for International Development (DfID)
How distinctive are indigenous ways of achieving influence? a comparative study of guanxi, wasta, jeitinho, and pulling strings
No full textThe purpose of the study was to investigate the cultural specificity of guanxi, wasta, and jeitinho, each of which has been identified as an indigenous process of informal influence. Students in Brazil, China, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom were presented with three scenarios derived from each of the nations sampled. They rated the extent to which each scenario was representative of the locally indigenous process, the typicality for their culture of the events portrayed in the scenarios, and the extent to which these interpersonal exchanges were perceived positively. While each type of scenario was perceived as representative and typical in its culture of origin, each was also perceived as somewhat typical by respondents in additional locations. Informal influence processes may vary between cultures more in frequency than in quality. Rated scenario positivity was significantly predicted by respondents' values. The United Kingdom-based process of pulling strings was rated as typical in all locations and was more positively evaluated than the other influence processes by all respondents. It is concluded that in addition to the pragmatic value of these concepts locally, their comparative testing can contribute to the development of culture-general models of social influence processes. © The Author(s) 2012.Ali AJ, 2006, ROUT GLOB HUM RESOUR, P79; Aycan Z., 2008, SCI ADV INDIGENOUS C, P445; Barbosa L, 2006, JEITINHO BRASILEIRO; Bass BM, 1997, AM PSYCHOL, V52, P130, DOI 10.1037-0003-066X.52.2.130; Bolino MC, 2008, J MANAGE, V34, P1080, DOI 10.1177-0149206308324325; Bond MH, 2004, J CROSS CULT PSYCHOL, V35, P548, DOI 10.1177-0022022104268388; Bond R, 1996, PSYCHOL BULL, V119, P111, DOI 10.1037-0033-2909.119.1.111; Chen CC, 2004, ORGAN SCI, V15, P200, DOI 10.1287-orsc.1030.0047; Chen XP, 2004, ASIA PACIFIC J MANAG, V21, P305, DOI DOI 10.1023-B:APJM.0000036465.19102.D5; Cunningham R. B., 1993, WASTA HIDDEN FORCE M; Doi T., 1973, ANATOMY DEPENDENCE; Duarte F, 2006, ORGANIZATION, V13, P509, DOI 10.1177-1350508406065103; Dunfee TW, 2001, J BUS ETHICS, V32, P191, DOI 10.1023-A:1010766721683; EARLEY PC, 1993, ACAD MANAGE J, V36, P319, DOI 10.2307-256525; Earley P.C., 1989, ADM SCI Q, V34, P661; El-Said H., 2001, MANAGEMENT INT BUSIN, P65; Farh JL, 1998, ORGAN SCI, V9, P471, DOI 10.1287-orsc.9.4.471; Fox Kate, 2004, WATCHING ENGLISH HID; Gregg G. S., 2005, MIDDLE E CULTURAL PS; Hess David J., 1995, BRAZILIAN PUZZLE CUL, P35; Hofstede G., 2001, CULTURES CONSEQUENCE; House R., 2004, LEADERSHIP CULTURE O; Hwang K. K., 2010, HDB CHINESE PSYCHOL, P479; Kim U., 2006, INDIGENOUS CULTURAL, P1; Law KS, 2000, INT J HUM RESOUR MAN, V11, P751; Mellahi K., 2003, INT J CROSS CULTURAL, V3, P369, DOI 10.1177-1470595803003003007; Schwartz SH, 2001, J CROSS CULT PSYCHOL, V32, P519, DOI 10.1177-0022022101032005001; Schwartz SH, 2001, J CROSS CULT PSYCHOL, V32, P268, DOI 10.1177-0022022101032003002; Schwartz Shalom H, 2004, COMP CULTURES DIMENS, P43; Sinha D., 1997, HDB CROSS CULTURAL P, VI, P129; Smith P. B., 1997, HDB CROSS CULTURAL P, V3, P77; Smith PB, 2004, J CROSS CULT PSYCHOL, V35, P50, DOI 10.1177-0022022103260380; Smith PB, 2003, SAGE HDB SOCIAL PSYC, P43; Torres C. V., 2008, ARIZONA J HISPANIC C, V12, P41; Torres CV, 2006, FAMILIES ACROSS CULTURES: A 30-NATION PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY, P259, DOI 10.1017-CBO9780511489822.012; TRIANDIS HC, 1984, J PERS SOC PSYCHOL, V47, P1363, DOI 10.1037--0022-3514.47.6.1363; Tseng Wen-Shing, 2006, Transcult Psychiatry, V43, P554, DOI 10.1177-1363461506070781; Vinagre Brasil H., 1991, INT STUDIES MANAGEME, V21, P38; Xin KR, 1996, ACAD MANAGE J, V39, P1641, DOI 10.2307-257072; Yahiaoui D, 2006, ROUT GLOB HUM RESOUR, P233; Yamaguchi S, 2006, INT CUL PSY, P163, DOI 10.1007-0-387-28662-4_798
Expedited Assessment of Terrestrial Arthropod Diversity by Coupling Malaise Traps with DNA Barcoding
No full textMonitoring changes in terrestrial arthropod communities over space and time requires a dramatic increase in the speed and accuracy of processing samples that cannot be achieved with morphological approaches. The combination of DNA barcoding and Malaise traps allows expedited, comprehensive inventories of species abundance whose cost will rapidly decline as high-throughput sequencing technologies advance. Aside from detailing protocols from specimen sorting to data release, this paper describes their use in a survey of arthropod diversity in a national park that examined 21,194 specimens representing 2,255 species. These protocols can support arthropod monitoring programs at regional, national, and continental scales.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
The safety and effectiveness of different methods of ear wax removal: a systematic review and economic evaluation
No full textEar wax (cerumen) is a natural secretion produced to protect the inner ear from dirt and other fragments by moving these particles towards the outer ear. If this process does not happen properly, wax may build up causing blockage in the ear canal and the possibility of impaction. People with a build up of ear wax may suffer from hearing loss, discomfort and, on occasions, infection. It may present problems in assessing hearing, blocking the view of the ear drum during medical examination and interfering with the fitting or function of hearing aids. Although it is thought to affect between 2% and 6% of the population in the England and Wales, some groups may be at a higher risk, such as those using hearing aids or with small ear canals and/or skin conditions. Recurrence is thought to be high among some of these groups. The consequences of the build up of ear wax in the ear canal are thought to be a common reason for consultation and cost in general practice with over 2 million consultations per year in the NHS.Methods of removal of ear wax include drops, flushing with water in general practice, and removal with suction or probes in specialist clinics. The relative safety and benefits of these different methods of removal remains uncertain. This research will systematically review published and unpublished evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of different methods for the removal of ear wax. Where appropriate, it will develop an economic model using data from this systematic review and other relevant sources to estimate the relative costs and benefits of different methods. In addition, the project will provide recommendations for future research to try to help answer any remaining areas of uncertainty
Genetic heterogeneity in Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) and CdLS-like phenotypes with observed and predicted levels of mosaicism
No full textCornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a multisystem disorder with distinctive facial appearance, intellectual disability and growth failure as prominent features. Most individuals with typical CdLS have de novo heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in NIPBL with mosaic individuals representing a significant proportion. Mutations in other cohesin components, SMC1A, SMC3, HDAC8 and RAD21 cause less typical CdLS
A review of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies is there still a role for finger-guided prostate biopsies?
No full textIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Prostate cancer is the most common male malignancy amongst black males in South Africa and the second commonest amongst white males (1,2). Prostate biopsy, via the rectum, is an essential part of diagnosing and treating this disease. Traditionally needle biopsies of the prostate were performed blindly by digital palpation of the gland per rectum
Conservação de Butia eriospatha (Martius ex Drude) Beccari (Arecaceae): uma espécie da flora brasileira ameaçada de extinção
No full textTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Agrárias. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Genéticos Vegetais.Butia eriospatha (Martius ex Drude) Beccari (Arecaceae) é uma palmeira nativa do Sul do Brasil que está sob grande pressão antrópica. A espécie encontra-se ameaçada de extinção devido à venda ilegal de plantas adultas nos mercados local e internacional, à exploração insustentável de seus frutos, à presença do gado nas áreas de ocorrência e, à degradação e redução de seu hábitat devido aos reflorestamentos com espécies exóticas. Informações sobre os níveis de diversidade genética, bem como o conhecimento da ecologia de B. eriospatha são fundamentais e devem ser utilizadas em planos de conservação. Neste contexto, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi estabelecer estratégias de conservação a partir de informações genéticas e ecológicas de B. eriospatha. Com base em análises de DNA nuclear, utilizando-se nove marcadores microssatélites, o presente estudo avaliou o sistema reprodutivo, a diversidade e a estrutura genética de oito populações naturais de B. eriospatha (n=920) localizadas no Estado de Santa Catarina. Análise adicional em uma coleção de indivíduos de B. eriospatha (n=50) oriundos de tráfico ilegal, localizados em residências na cidade de Florianópolis/SC, foi realizada com o intuito de comparar os níveis de diversidade genética com os observados nas populações naturais. Além das análises genéticas, aspectos ecológicos como fenologia, demografia, herbivoria e predação foram também analisados em algumas das populações de B. eriospatha. Análises do sistema reprodutivo indicaram que B. eriospatha é uma espécie que se reproduz, preferencialmente, por cruzamentos (t ?m=0,96). A espécie é auto-compatível e a reprodução pode ocorrer por geitonogamia, indicando a capacidade de populações ou mesmo de indivíduos isolados sobreviver e persisitir. Os níveis de diversidade genética foram intermediários e variaram entre as populações de B. eriosptaha (HE=0,40-0,53; HO=0,22-0,51, AR=2,67-3,67). A presença de alelos raros e privativos foram observados na maioria das populações estudadas. A divergência genética entre as populações foi elevada e significativa (FST=0,16-0,25, p<0,005), indicando existirem diferenças genéticas importantes entre as populações ao longo do Estado. A presença de alelos raros e privativos e a diferenciação genética entre as populações de B. eriospatha atestam a necessidade de conservação in situ da variabilidade genética que ainda existe. Quando comparados, os níveis de diversidade genética foram maiores nos indivíduos que foram ilegalmente comercializados (HE=0,62, AR=5,11). A presença de alelos privativos e os índices de diversidade genética observados na coleção de indivíduos em Florianópolis indicam alto potencial para a coleta de sementes e uso de mudas em projetos de restauração e enriquecimento das populações naturais de B. eriospatha. Além disto, baseado em análises Bayesianas, a maior parte dos indivíduos que foram ilegalmente comercializados e plantados em Florianópolis tiveram diferente origens. Em relação a fenologia reprodutiva, a espécie floresce entre outubro e março, frutificando entre novembro e julho. No entanto, a floração e a frutificação foi sazonal entre eventos reprodutivos. As populações de B. eriospatha, exceto uma, apresentaram estrutura demográfica bimodal, constituída por plantas adultas e plântulas. Altas taxas de herbivoria foram registradas, indicando que a estrutura demográfica observada é resultado da ação do gado sobre o componente regenerante. Isto é corroborado pela ocorrência de outros estádios ontogenéticos em uma população onde o gado não está presente. Todos esses resultados, somados ao uso insustentável dos frutos e da alta taxa de predação de sementes, refletem o grau de ameaça em que se encontram as populações de B. eriospatha. Além da relevância de se considerar várias populações em ações de conservação da espécie, mapear e monitorar as populações remanescentes, combater o comércio ilegal e impedir a entrada do gado nas populações de B. eriospatha são ações imprescindíveis para evitar que, de fato, a espécie seja perdida.Butia eriospatha (Martius ex Drude) Beccari (Arecaceae), a palm species native to southern Brazil, is under severe pressure due to anthropogenic factors. The species is threatened with extinction because of the illegal sale of adult plants in local and international markets, unsustainable exploitation of its fruit, livestock grazing in its habitat, and the reduction and degradation of its habitat due to reforestation with exotic species. Information on the genetic diversity levels, as well as ecological knowledge of B. eriospatha, are fundamental and an essential part of conservation planning for this species. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish conservation strategies from genetic and ecological information of B. eriospatha. Based on nuclear DNA analyzes using nine microsatellite markers, the present study evaluates the reproductive system, genetic diversity and structure of eight natural populations of B. eriospatha (n = 920) located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. An additional analysis of a sample of illegally-trafficked B. eriospatha (n = 50) individuals, located in residences of the city of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, was performed in order to compare levels of genetic diversity with those observed in natural populations. Along with genetic analysis, ecological information, such as phenology, demography, herbivory and predation, were also analyzed in four of the sample populations. Analysis of the reproductive system indicates that B. eriospatha is a species that reproduces primarily through out-crossing (t ?m=0.96). However, the species is self-compatible and reproduction can occur through geitonogamy, indicating the ability of populations, or even isolated individuals, to survive and persist. The levels of genetic diversity found in this study were intermediate and ranged between populations of B. eriosptaha (HE=0.40-0.53; HO=0.22-0.51, AR=2.67-3.67). Rare alleles were observed in most of the studied populations and genetic divergence among populations was high and significant (FST=0.16-0.25, p<0.005), indicating important genetic differences between populations. The presence of rare alleles and genetic differentiation among populations of B. eriospatha attests to the need for in situ conservation of the genetic variability that remains. When compared with the natural populations, the levels of genetic diversity were greater in the individuals that were illegally marketed (HE=0.62, AR=5.11). The presence of rare alleles and high rates of genetic diversity observed in the sample from Florianópolis indicates a high potential for seed collection and the use of seedlings in restoration projects and enrichment of natural populations of B. eriospatha. Moreover, based on Bayesian analysis, the illegally-purchased individuals planted in Florianópolis come from a variety of source populations. Regarding reproductive phenology, the species blooms between October and March, and fruiting occurs from November to July. However, flowering and fruiting were seasonal between observed reproductive events. All the studied natural populations of B. eriospatha, except one, showed a bimodal population structure, consisting of mature plants and seedlings. High rates of herbivory were recorded, indicating that the observed demographic structure is mainly the result of cattle grazing on the regeneration. This conclusion is supported by the occurrence of various ontogenic stages in a population where cattle are not present. Along with the unsustainable use of the fruit and high rates of seed predation, the results discussed herein reflect the level of risk facing B. eriospatha populations. Besides the necessary conservation of the species in a variety of populations, it is important to consider activities that will help prevent the loss of this species, such as mapping and monitoring the remaining populations, combating illegal trade, and preventing cattle grazing in B. eriospatha habitats
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