Patients’ action during their cardiac event: qualitative study exploring differences and modifiable factors

Objectives: To explore the circumstances and factors that explain variations in response to a cardiac event and to identify potentially modifiable factors.

DBTBS: a database of Bacillus subtilis promoters and transcription factors

With the completion of the determination of its entire genome sequence, one of the next major targets of Bacillus subtilis genomics is to clarify the whole gene regulatory network. To this end, the results of systematic experiments should be compared with the rich source of individual experimental results accumulated so far. Thus, we constructed a database of the upstream regulatory information of B.subtilis (DBTBS). The current version was constructed by surveying 291 references and contains information on 90 binding factors and 403 promoters. For each promoter, all of its known cis-elements are listed according to their positions, while these cis-elements are aligned to illustrate their consensus sequence for each transcription factor. All probable transcription factors coded in the genome were classified with the Pfam motifs. Using this database, we compared the character of B.subtilis promoters with that of Escherichia coli promoters. Our database is accessible at http://elmo.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/dbtbs/.

Nerve growth factor control of neuronal expression of angiogenetic and vasoactive factors

In postnatal tissues, angiogenesis occurs in nontumoral conditions on appropriate stimuli. In the nervous tissue, hypoxia, neural graft, increased neural function, and synaptic activity are associated with neoangiogenesis. We have investigated the occurrence of neoangiogenesis in the superior cervical ganglia (scg) of newborn rats treated for 8–21 days with 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA), nerve growth factor (NGF), or 6-OHDA + NGF. The two latter treatments induced a significant increase in scg size. However, the increase after combined treatment far exceeded that of NGF alone. Similarly, histological and histochemical analysis revealed neuronal hypertrophy and endothelial cell hyperplasia associated with stromal hypertrophy (as described by laminin immunostaining) and increased vascular bed (as revealed by platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 immunostaining) in 6-OHDA + NGF-treated pups. NGF, either alone or associated with 6-OHDA, also induced a significant up-regulation of NADPH diaphorase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in scg neurons. The present investigation suggests that the increase of scg size induced by NGF and 6-OHDA + NGF is associated with neoangiogenesis, and that the induction of vasoactive and angiogenic factors in neurons represents a further and previously undisclosed effect of NGF.

Genetic and environmental factors modify bovine spongiform encephalopathy incubation period in mice

The incubation period (IP) and the neuropathology of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have been extensively used to distinguish prion isolates (or strains) inoculated into panels of inbred mouse strains. Such studies have shown that the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent is indistinguishable from the agent causing variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD), but differs from isolates of sporadic CJD, reinforcing the idea that the vCJD epidemic in Britain results from consumption of contaminated beef products. We present a mouse model for genetic and environmental factors that modify the incubation period of BSE cross-species transmission. We have used two mouse strains that carry the same prion protein (PrP) allele, but display a 100-day difference in their mean IP following intracerebral inoculation with primary BSE isolate. We report genetic effects on IP that map to four chromosomal regions, and in addition we find significant factors of host environment, namely the age of the host's mother, the age of the host at infection, and an X-cytoplasm interaction in the host.

Personalidad, género y vulnerabilidad a la depresión :(Women and vulnerability to depression : some personality and clinical factors)

En este trabajo se exploraron relaciones existentes entre las características de personalidad, género y la presencia de depresión, siguiendo la linea de investigación de Carrillo, Rojo y Staats (2004). Se intentó encontrar perfiles de personalidad caracterizados por determinados rasgos que fueran significativamente distintos entre hombres y mujeres y que a su vez se asociaran a una mayor presencia de síntomas depresivos. Esto se llevó a cabo en dos muestras de distintos países y culturas por separado: Chile (N= 448, 257 varones (57.37%) y 190 mujeres (42.41%), y un rango etario de 17-65) y España (N = 578, 196 varones (33.9%) y 381 mujeres (65,9%), y un rango etario de 17-67 ), con el propósito de aportar evidencia respecto de cómo afecta la cultura, como factor ambiental, en la conformación de la personalidad a partir de repertorios de aprendizajes. Orientado a eso en el presente trabajo se intentó buscar asociaciones significativas entre las dimensiones de Personalidad propuestas por Eysenk (1975), en el EPQ y EPQ-R, por los factores de Personalidad de los Cinco grandes a partir del NEO PI y del NEO PI-R (Costa y McCrae, 1985, citado en Carrillo et al. 2004) y otras variables clínicas, como rasgos de personalidad esquizotipicos, frecuencia e intensidad de emociones, habilidades sociales y sintomatología clínica. Las características de personalidad se compararon en función del género y finalmente se analizó si las diferencias de personalidad pudieron predecir depresión a partir del Beck Depression Inventory, (Beck, Rush, Shaw y Emery, 1979)...

Identifying Overweight Risk and Intervening at the Twelve Month Well Child Exam

Childhood obesity is an epidemic that is having devastating effects on the physical and psychological health of children. The core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are explored in this paper relative to how they can be applied as interventions in an early life obesity prevention model. While reviewing research in childhood obesity intervention models, this paper proposes a study that involves conducting behavioral health consultations with mothers whose children are at high risk for becoming overweight.

Response of Catch-Per-Unit-Effort to Spatial and Environmental Factors: an Exploratory Data Analysis Using Generalized Additive Models

Understanding spatial distributions and how environmental conditions influence catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) is important for increased fishing efficiency and sustainable fisheries management. This study investigated the relationship between CPUE, spatial factors, temperature, and depth using generalized additive models. Combinations of factors, and not one single factor, were frequently included in the best model. Parameters which best described CPUE varied by geographic region. The amount of variance, or deviance, explained by the best models ranged from a low of 29% (halibut, Charlotte region) to a high of 94% (sablefish, Charlotte region). Depth, latitude, and longitude influenced most species in several regions. On the broad geographic scale, depth was associated with CPUE for every species, except dogfish. Latitude and longitude influenced most species, except halibut (Areas 4 A/D), sablefish, and cod. Temperature was important for describing distributions of halibut in Alaska, arrowtooth flounder in British Columbia, dogfish, Alaska skate, and Aleutian skate. The species-habitat relationships revealed in this study can be used to create improved fishing and management strategies.

Evaluating Taphonomic Bias in a Storm-Disturbed Carbonate Platform: Effects of Compositional and Environmental Factors in Lower Jurassic Brachiopod Accumulations (Eastern Subbetic Basin, Spain)

In order to evaluate taxonomic and environmental control on the preservation pattern of brachiopod accumulations, sedimentologic and taphonomic data have been integrated with those inferred from the structure of brachiopod accumulations from the easternmost Lower Jurassic Subbetic deposits in Spain. Two brachiopod communities (Praesphaeroidothyris and Securina communities) were distinguished showing a mainly free-lying way of life in soft-bottom habitats. Three taphofacies are discriminated based on proportion of disarticulation, fragmentation, packing, and shell filling. Taphofacies 1 is represented by thinly fragmented, dispersed brachiopod shells in wackestone beds. Taphofacies 2 is spatially restricted to small lenses where shells are poorly fragmented, rarely disarticulated, usually void filled, and highly packed. Taphofacies 3 is represented by mud or cement filled, loosely packed, articulated brachiopods forming large pocket-like structures. Temporal and spatial averaging were minimally involved in taphofacies 2 and 3. It is interpreted that patchy preservation implies preservation of primary original patchiness of brachiopod communities on the seafloor. The origin of shell-rich taphofacies (2 and 3) is related to rapid burial due to episodic storm activity, while shell-poor taphofacies 1 records background conditions. The nature and comparative diversity of these taphofacies underscores the importance of rapid burial for shell beds preservation. Differences in preservation between taphofacies 2 and 3 are mainly related to environmental criteria, most importantly storm energy and water depth. In contrast, the taxonomic-specific pattern of the communities is a subordinate element of control, controlling only minor within-taphofacies differences in preservation.

Health-related quality of life and determinant factors in celiac disease. A population-based analysis of adult patients in Spain

Background: Celiac disease (CD) has a negative impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of affected patients. Although HRQL and its determinants have been examined in Spanish CD patients specifically recruited in hospital settings, these aspects of CD have not been assessed among the general Spanish population. Methods: An observational, transversal study of a non-randomized, representative sample of adult celiac patients throughout all of Spain's Autonomous Regions. Subjects were recruited through celiac patient associations. A Spanish version of the self-administered Celiac Disease-Quality of Life (CD-QOL) questionnaire was used. Determinant factors of HRQL were assessed with the aid of multivariate analysis to control for confounding factors. Results: We analyzed the responses provided by 1,230 patients, 1,092 (89.2%) of whom were women. The overall mean value for the CD-QOL index was 56.3 ± 18.27 points. The dimension that obtained the most points was dysphoria, with 81.3 ± 19.56 points, followed by limitations with 52.3 ± 23.43 points; health problems, with 51.6 ± 26.08 points, and inadequate treatment, with 36.1 ± 21.18 points. Patient age and sex, along with time to diagnosis, and length of time on a gluten-free diet were all independent determinant factors of certain dimensions of HRQL: women aged 31 to 40 expressed poorer HRQL while time to diagnosis and length of time on a gluten-free diet were determinant factors for better HRQL scores. Conclusions: The HRQL of adult Spanish celiac subjects is moderate, improving with the length of time patients remain on a gluten-free diet.

An Evaluation of Personal and Contextual Factors in Competitive Youth Sport

Because millions of youth are involved in sport, the sport context is important to consider in advancing the growth experiences of young people (Cˆot´e et al., 2007; Fraser-Thomas et al., 2005). Furthermore, research in developmental psychology has highlighted the value of structured programs, including sport, in helping to promote positive youth development (Fredricks & Eccles, 2006). Youth sport involvement has been linked to high levels of enjoyment (Scanlan et al., 1989), however, negative outcomes, such as burnout, have also been reported (Gould et al., 1996). In the present study, the Developmental Assets Profile (Search Institute, 2004) was used to explore personal (internal assets) and contextual (external assets) outcomes associated with youth sport. Results suggest that three particular assets (positive identity, empowerment, and support) are important to focus on in youth sport programs to decrease burnout symptoms and enhance enjoyment. Path analyses were also conducted to test a proposed model and exploratory results confirmed links of particular assets to sport outcomes. The results are discussed in terms of integration with Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory (1999) and recommendations are suggested for sport programmers to consider to develop these assets within youth sport.