Childhood trauma: methods for the identification of physeal fractures in non-adult skeletal remains

Objectives Today, fractures at the growth plate (or physis) are common injuries in children, but provide challenges of identification in skeletonized remains. Clinical studies provide detailed information on the mechanisms, locations, age of occurrence, and complications associated with physeal fractures, enabling the development of new criteria for identifying this injury in non-adults. To test these criteria, skeletal remains from five rural and urban medieval cemeteries were examined. Methods The sample consisted of 961 skeletons (0-17 years) with open epiphyses. Macroscopic observation looked for any irregularities of the metaphysis or epiphysis which was consistent with the clinical appearance of physeal fractures or resulting complications. Radiographic examination was applied to identify fracture lines or early growth arrest. Results This study revealed 12 cases of physeal trauma (1.2%). Physeal fractures occurred predominantly at the distal end (75%), and while they were identified in all age categories, they were most frequent in those aged 12-17 years (0.2% TPR). The humerus was the most commonly affected location (3/12 or 25%). Conclusions This study highlights the potential for recognizing physeal fractures in children of all ages, enhancing our understanding of non-adult trauma, and enabling us to assign a more precise age of the injury to build up a picture of their activities in the past.

Prebiotic potential of a maize-based soluble fibre and impact of dose on the human gut microbiota

Dietary management of the human gut microbiota towards a more beneficial composition is one approach that may improve host health. To date, a large number of human intervention studies have demonstrated that dietary consumption of certain food products can result in significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiota i.e. the prebiotic concept. Thus the prebiotic effect is now established as a dietary approach to increase beneficial gut bacteria and it has been associated with modulation of health biomarkers and modulation of the immune system. Promitor™ Soluble Corn Fibre (SCF) is a well-known maize-derived source of dietary fibre with potential selective fermentation properties. Our aim was to determine the optimum prebiotic dose of tolerance, desired changes to microbiota and fermentation of SCF in healthy adult subjects. A double-blind, randomised, parallel study was completed where volunteers (n = 8/treatment group) consumed 8, 14 or 21 g from SCF (6, 12 and 18 g/fibre delivered respectively) over 14-d. Over the range of doses studied, SCF was well tolerated Numbers of bifidobacteria were significantly higher for the 6 g/fibre/day compared to 12g and 18g/fibre delivered/day (mean 9.25 and 9.73 Log10 cells/g fresh faeces in the pre-treatment and treatment periods respectively). Such a numerical change of 0.5 Log10 bifidobacteria/g fresh faeces is consistent with those changes observed for inulin-type fructans, which are recognised prebiotics. A possible prebiotic effect of SCF was therefore demonstrated by its stimulation of bifidobacteria numbers in the overall gut microbiota during a short-term intervention.

Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014: a pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19·2 million participants

Background Underweight and severe and morbid obesity are associated with highly elevated risks of adverse health outcomes. We estimated trends in mean body-mass index (BMI), which characterises its population distribution, and in the prevalences of a complete set of BMI categories for adults in all countries. Methods We analysed, with use of a consistent protocol, population-based studies that had measured height and weight in adults aged 18 years and older. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to these data to estimate trends from 1975 to 2014 in mean BMI and in the prevalences of BMI categories (<18·5 kg/m2 [underweight], 18·5 kg/m2 to <20 kg/m2, 20 kg/m2 to <25 kg/m2, 25 kg/m2 to <30 kg/m2, 30 kg/m2 to <35 kg/m2, 35 kg/m2 to <40 kg/m2, ≥40 kg/m2 [morbid obesity]), by sex in 200 countries and territories, organised in 21 regions. We calculated the posterior probability of meeting the target of halting by 2025 the rise in obesity at its 2010 levels, if post-2000 trends continue. Findings We used 1698 population-based data sources, with more than 19·2 million adult participants (9·9 million men and 9·3 million women) in 186 of 200 countries for which estimates were made. Global age-standardised mean BMI increased from 21·7 kg/m2 (95% credible interval 21·3–22·1) in 1975 to 24·2 kg/m2 (24·0–24·4) in 2014 in men, and from 22·1 kg/m2 (21·7–22·5) in 1975 to 24·4 kg/m2 (24·2–24·6) in 2014 in women. Regional mean BMIs in 2014 for men ranged from 21·4 kg/m2 in central Africa and south Asia to 29·2 kg/m2 (28·6–29·8) in Polynesia and Micronesia; for women the range was from 21·8 kg/m2 (21·4–22·3) in south Asia to 32·2 kg/m2 (31·5–32·8) in Polynesia and Micronesia. Over these four decades, age-standardised global prevalence of underweight decreased from 13·8% (10·5–17·4) to 8·8% (7·4–10·3) in men and from 14·6% (11·6–17·9) to 9·7% (8·3–11·1) in women. South Asia had the highest prevalence of underweight in 2014, 23·4% (17·8–29·2) in men and 24·0% (18·9–29·3) in women. Age-standardised prevalence of obesity increased from 3·2% (2·4–4·1) in 1975 to 10·8% (9·7–12·0) in 2014 in men, and from 6·4% (5·1–7·8) to 14·9% (13·6–16·1) in women. 2·3% (2·0–2·7) of the world's men and 5·0% (4·4–5·6) of women were severely obese (ie, have BMI ≥35 kg/m2). Globally, prevalence of morbid obesity was 0·64% (0·46–0·86) in men and 1·6% (1·3–1·9) in women. Interpretation If post-2000 trends continue, the probability of meeting the global obesity target is virtually zero. Rather, if these trends continue, by 2025, global obesity prevalence will reach 18% in men and surpass 21% in women; severe obesity will surpass 6% in men and 9% in women. Nonetheless, underweight remains prevalent in the world's poorest regions, especially in south Asia.

Effects of infant cleft lip on adult gaze and perceptions of ‘cuteness'

Objective: Early mother-infant interactions are impaired in the context of infant cleft lip, and are associated with adverse child psychological outcomes, but the nature of these interaction difficulties is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to explore adult gaze behaviour and cuteness perception, which are particularly important during early social exchanges, in response to infants with cleft lip, in order to investigate potential foundations for the interaction difficulties seen in this population. Methods: Using an eye-tracker, eye movements were recorded as adult participants viewed images of infant faces with and without cleft lip. Participants also rated each infant on a scale of cuteness. Results: Participants fixated significantly longer on the mouths of infants with cleft lip, which occurred at the expense of fixation on eyes. Severity of cleft lip was associated with the strength of fixation bias, with participants looking even longer at the mouths of infants with the most severe clefts. Infants with cleft lip were rated as significantly less cute than unaffected infants. Men rated infants as less cute than women overall, but gave particularly low ratings to infants with cleft lip Conclusions: Results demonstrate that the limited disturbance in infant facial configuration of cleft lip can significantly alter adult gaze patterns and cuteness perception. Our findings could have important implications for early interactions, and may help in the development of interventions to foster healthy development in infants with cleft lip.

Altered engagement of autobiographical memory networks in adult offspring of postnatally depressed mothers

Maternal depression is associated with increased risk for offspring mood and anxiety disorders. One possible impact of maternal depression during offspring development is on the emotional autobiographical memory system. We investigated the neural mechanisms of emotional autobiographical memory in adult offspring of mothers with postnatal depression (N = 16) compared to controls (N = 21). During fMRI, recordings of participants describing one pleasant and one unpleasant situation with their mother and with a companion, were used as prompts to re-live the situations. Compared to controls we predicted the PND offspring would show: greater activation in medial and posterior brain regions implicated in autobiographical memory and rumination; and decreased activation in lateral prefrontal cortex and decreased connectivity between lateral prefrontal and posterior regions, reflecting reduced control of autobiographical recall. For negative situations, we found no group differences. For positive situations with their mothers, PND offspring showed higher activation than controls in left lateral prefrontal cortex, right frontal pole, cingulate cortex and precuneus, and lower connectivity of right middle frontal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, thalamus and lingual gyrus with the posterior cingulate. Our results are consistent with adult offspring of PND mothers having less efficient prefrontal regulation of personally relevant pleasant autobiographical memories.

Exploring the role the brand plays in the choice of charity by UK volunteers

Charities need to understand why volunteers choose one brand rather than another in order to attract more volunteers to their organisation. There has been considerable academic interest in understanding why people volunteer generally. However, this research explores the more specific question of why a volunteer chooses one charity brand rather than another. It builds on previous conceptualisations of volunteering as a consumption decision. Seen through the lens of the individual volunteer, it considers the under-researched area of the decision-making process. The research adopts an interpretivist epistemology and subjectivist ontology. Qualitative data was collected through depth interviews and analysed using both Means-End Chain (MEC) and Framework Analysis methodology. The primary contribution of the research is to theory: understanding the role of brand in the volunteer decision-making process. It identifies two roles for brand. The first is as a specific reason for choice, an ‘attribute’ of the decision. Through MEC, volunteering for a well-known brand connects directly through to a sense of self, both self-respect but also social recognition by others. All four components of the symbolic consumption construct are found in the data: volunteers choose a well-known brand to say something about themselves. The brand brings credibility and reassurance, it reduces the risk and enables the volunteer to meet their need to make a difference and achieve a sense of accomplishment. The second closely related role for brand is within the process of making the volunteering decision. Volunteers built up knowledge about the charity brands from a variety of brand touchpoints, over time. At the point of decision-making that brand knowledge and engagement becomes relevant, enabling some to make an automatic choice despite the significant level of commitment being made. The research identifies four types of decision-making behaviour. The research also makes secondary contributions to MEC methodology and to the non-profit context. It concludes within practical implications for management practice and a rich agenda for future research.

Managing enthusiasm: between ‘extremist’ volunteers and ‘rational’ professional practices in architectural conservation

Geographical research has considered enthusiasm to be a shared passion and a motivator to action. Tensions between enthusiasm as productive, and enthusiasm as negative and prohibitive. Highlights the role of emotion in volunteering with amenity societies. Highlights the presence of enthusiasm in contexts where it is actively denied.

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Mesenchymal stem cells and inorganic bovine bone mineral in sinus augmentation: comparison with augmentation by autologous bone in adult sheep

Our aim was to compare the osteogenic potential of mononuclear cells harvested from the iliac crest combined with bovine bone mineral (BBM) (experimental group) with that of autogenous cancellous bone alone (control group). We studied bilateral augmentations of the sinus floor in 6 adult sheep. BBM and mononuclear cells (MNC) were mixed and placed into one side and autogenous bone in the other side. Animals were killed after 8 and 16 weeks. Sites of augmentation were analysed radiographically and histologically. The mean (SD) augmentation volume was 3.0 (1.0) cm(3) and 2.7 (0.3) cm(3) after 8 and 16 weeks in the test group, and 2.8 (0.3) cm(3) (8 weeks) and 2.8 (1.2) cm(3) (16 weeks) in the control group, respectively. After 8 weeks, histomorphometric analysis showed 24 (3)% BBM, and 19 (11)% of newly formed bone in the test group. The control group had 20 (13%) of newly formed bone. Specimens after 16 weeks showed 29 (12%) of newly formed bone and 19 (3%) BBM in the test group. The amount of newly formed bone in the control group was 16 (6%). The results show that mononuclear cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, in combination with BBM as the biomaterial, have the potential to form bone. (C) 2009 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Neotype designation and redescription of adult male and immature stages of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) pictipennis (Philippi) (Diptera: Culicidae)

A neotype is designated for Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) pictipennis (Philippi) and morphological redescriptions are provided for the adult male, male genitalia, fourth-instar larva and pupa. All specimens, including the neotype were collected in Rio Mapocho, Santiago, Chile in 1945/1946, and were deposited in the Entomological Collection of Faculdade de Saude Publica, Universidade de Sao Paulo (FSP-USP), Brazil. The neotype was previously invalidly designated the allotype of An. pictipennis by Lane and Neghme (1946). Illustrations are provided for diagnostic characteristics of the male genitalia, and larval stage.

Systemic delivery of adult stem cells improves cardiac function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Heart regeneration after myocardial infarction (MI) can occur after cell therapy, but the mechanisms, cell types and delivery methods responsible for this improvement are still under investigation. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of systemic delivery of bone marrow cells (BMC) and cultivated mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on cardiac morphology, function and mortality in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) submitted to coronary occlusion. Female syngeneic adult SHR, submitted or not (control group; C) to MI, were treated with intravenous injection of MSC (MI + MSC) or BMC (MI + BM) from male rats and evaluated after 1, 15 and 30 days by echocardiography. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), functional capacity, histology, mortality rate and polymerase chain reaction for the Y chromosome were also analysed. Myocardial infarction induced a decrease in SBP and BMC, but not MSC, prevented this decrease. An improvement in functional capacity and ejection fraction (38 +/- 4, 39 +/- 3 and 58 +/- 2% for MI, MI + MSC and MI + BM, respectively; P < 0.05), as well as a reduction of the left ventricle infarcted area, were observed in rats from the MI + BM group compared with the other three groups. Treated animals had a significantly reduced lesion tissue score. The mortality rate in the C, MI + BM, MI + MSC and MI groups was 0, 0, 16.7 and 44.4%, respectively (P < 0.05 for the MI + MSC and MI groups compared with the C and MI + BM groups). The results of the present study suggest that systemic administration of BMC can improve left ventricular function, functional capacity and, consequently, reduce mortality in an animal model of MI associated with hypertension. We speculate that the cells transiently home to the myocardium, releasing paracrine factors that recruit host cells to repair the lesion.

Reduced venous endothelial responsiveness after oral lipid overload in healthy volunteers

The aim of this study was to investigate endothelial venous function, mflammatory markers, and systemic oxidative stress after an oral lipid overload (OLO). We studied 18 healthy adults (9 men; age, 29.2 +/- 0.9 years; body mass index, 22.3 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2)). Blood samples were collected in the fasting state and 3, 4, and 5 hour after the OLO (1000 kcal, 58% fat) for metabolic variables, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, adiponectin, and resistin. Changes in vein diameter to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside (dorsal hand vein technique) were measured before and after the OLO. Oral lipid overload increased triglycerides (61 +/- 6 vs 134 +/- 17 mg/dL, P <.001), insulin (7.2 +/- 0.8 vs 10.7 +/- 1.3 mu U/mL, P <.05), and resistin (5.38 +/- 0.5 vs 6.81 +/- 0.7 ng/mL, P <.05) and reduced antioxidant capacity (plasma total antioxidant capacity: 186.7 +/- 56 vs 161.8 +/- 50 U Trolox per microliter plasma, P <.01), vascular reactivity (171.3 +/- 85 vs 894.4 +/- 301 ng/mL, P <.001), and maximum acetylcholine venodilation (105.9% +/- 9% vs 61.0% +/- 7%, P <.05). No changes were observed for sodium nitroprusside. Post-OLO triglycerides were positively correlated with phenylephrine dose (rho = 0.38, P <.05) and resistin (rho = 0.43, P <.01) and negatively correlated with the maximum acetylcholine venodilation (rho = -0.36, P <.05). In conclusion, an OLO impaired venoconstriction responsiveness in healthy subjects, probably because of a reduction in the antioxidant capacity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reversal of Postprandial Endothelial Dysfunction by Cyclooxygenase Inhibition in Healthy Volunteers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in venous vascular reactivity changes after an oral lipid overload (OLO). Venous endothelial function (dorsal hand vein technique) was evaluated in fasting, 30 minutes after COX inhibition (aspirin-fasting), 2 to 4 hours after an OLO (1000 kcal, 58% fat), and again after COX inhibition (aspirin-OLO, 600 mg/200 mL water) in 10 healthy adults (age, 28.1 +/- 1.3 years; body mass index, 22.3 +/- 0.6 kg/m(2)). Fasting, 2- to 4-hour post-OLO, and 60-minute postaspirin plasma glucose, insulin, and lipids were also evaluated. The OLO increased triglycerides and insulin, reduced low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein, but glycemia and total cholesterol remained unchanged. There were no metabolic differences between OLO and aspirin-OLO. In fasting, aspirin reduced acetylcholine-induced venodilation (107.0% +/- 14% versus 57.3% +/- 11%; P < 0.001). Vascular reactivity was blunted after the OLO (phenylephrine dose: 0.3 +/- 0.2 fasting versus 1.9 +/- 0.8 nmol/min after OLO; P < 0.001) and was partially corrected by aspirin (0.4 +/- 0.2; P < 0.001). Similar changes were observed in maximum venodilation after acetylcholine (107.0% +/- 14% fasting versus 60.4% +/- 9% after OLO, P < 0.001; aspirin-OLO: 95.9% +/- 6%; P < 0.001). The responses to sodium nitroprusside remained unchanged during the study. We conclude that the OLO reduction in the endothelium-dependent venoconstruction and venodilation is partially the result of the action of COX.