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Aim of the study: Polymorphisms of DNA repair enzyme gene may alter the ability of damage repair, ischemic stroke susceptibility and outcome. This study aimed to explore the association of polymorphisms in PARP1 and the effects of interactions between genes in Chinese.Materials and methods: A total of 500 patients and 500 healthy controls were enrolled for genotyping. Results: Clinical information analysis revealed higher levels of alcohol and smoking exposure in patients with ischemic stroke, as well as chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and higher serum triglycerides concentration. In addition, Polymorphism in PARP1 rs8679 was significantly associated with the decreased ischemic stroke risk. Patients harboring the PARP1 rs8679 AG/GG genotype had a better initial stroke, and as for the mRNA level of PARP1, it was suppressed with mutant genotype in comparison with the wild genotype. Finally, the suppressed of PARP1 was induced by gain-binding ability of miR-124-5p through 3'UTR directly binding.Conclusions: In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the SNP rs8679 in PARP1 3′-UTR might act as a protective factor for the outcome of patients with ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, 16 species were recorded on the territory of the Basitchay Reserve in winter, while 21 species in summer. 93.6% of the Reserve's territory is occupied by forest-shrub and meadow habitats. This also created conditions for abundance of dendrophilous and seed and chick-eating species on the territory. The dominant species of the ornithocomplex are birds belonging to the order of sparrows. The non-registration of the Falcons, Storks and Herons, inhabiting on the territory of the Reserve, as well as their nesting sites, is connected with the mass cutting down of tall sycamore trees during the occupation. As a result, these birds were deprived of breeding conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The accumulation of age‐associated cognitive deficits can lead to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia. This is a major public health issue for the modern ageing population, as it impairs health, independence and overall quality of life. Keeping the brain active during life has been associated with an increased cognitive reserve, therefore reducing the risk of cognitive impairment in older age. Previous research has identified a potential relationship between musicality and cognition. Objectives: Explore the relationship between musicality and cognitive function in a large cohort of older adults. Methods: This was a nested study within the PROTECT‐UK cohort, which collects longitudinal computerised assessments of cognitive function in adults over 40. Participants were invited to complete the validated Edinburgh Lifetime Musical Experience Questionnaire (ELMEQ) to assess their musical experience and lifetime exposure to music. Linear regression analysis was performed using cognitive data from PROTECT‐UK. Results: Analysis identified an association between musicality and cognition in this cohort. Playing a musical instrument was associated with significantly better performance in working memory and executive function. Significant associations were also found between singing and executive function, and between overall musical ability and working memory. Conclusions: Our findings confirm previous literature, highlighting the potential value of education and engagement in musical activities throughout life as a means of harnessing cognitive reserve as part of a protective lifestyle for brain health. Key points: Playing a musical instrument was associated with significantly better working memory and executive function.Singing and overall musical ability was associated with more favourable cognition.Engagement with musical activities should be considered as part of public health initiatives to promote a protective lifestyle for brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alleviation of landslide impacts is a priority since they have the potential to cause significant economic damage as well as the loss of human life. Mitigation can be achieved effectively by using warning systems and preventive measures. The development of improved methodologies for the analysis and understanding of landslides is at the forefront of this scientific field. Identifying effective monitoring techniques (accurate, fast, and low cost) is the pursued objective. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and remote sensing techniques are utilized in order to achieve this goal. In this study, four methodological approaches (manual landslide delineation, a segmentation process, and two mapping models, specifically object-based image analysis and pixel-based image analysis (OBIA and PBIA)) were proposed and tested with the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and data analysis methods to showcase the state and evolution of landslides. The digital surface model (DSM)-based classification approach was also used to support the aforementioned approaches. This study focused on streamside landslides at research sites in three different countries: Greece, Romania, and Turkey. The results highlight that the areas of the OBIA-based classifications were the most similar (98%) to our control (manual) classifications for all three sites. The landslides' perimeters at the Lefkothea and Chirlesti sites showed similar results to the OBIA-based classification (93%), as opposed to the Sirtoba site, where the perimeters of the landslides from OBIA-based classification were not well corroborated by the perimeters in the manual classification. Deposition areas that extend beyond the trees were revealed by the DSM-based classification. The results are encouraging because the methodology can be used to monitor landslide evolution with accuracy and high performance in different regions. Specifically, terrains that are difficult to access can be surveyed by UAVs because of their ability to take aerial images. The obtained results provide a framework for the unitary analysis of landslides using modern techniques and tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human rights are best protected, promoted and guaranteed when they can compel binding and enforceability duty. One prominent criticism of category of human rights which includes the human right to health is that it is difficult, to assign the duties that correspond to these rights, because of stark disparity in how the main duty bearers approach their duties. Methods: This paper adopts a doctrinal approach to examine and evaluate the duties to the right to health. The method in this study entails a detailed literature search to systematically evaluate the legal implications, regulations, arguments and policy regarding the nature of the obligation to the right to health. This study also engages with normative and philosophical aspects of human rights. Results: This paper posits that human rights protect against common, serious, and remediable threats and risks, and ensure that there are remedies from governments and third parties. However, it is difficult to compel duties especially in regard to the right to health. First it is not easy to achieve a uniform standard for duty bearers implied by the words 'highest attainable physical and mental health.' Theorists discussed in the paper outline views of what this could mean, from serious to common health concerns. Second, the right to health is not a legally established right in many jurisdictions, making it difficult to enforce. This paper outlines different layers of state and non-state legal duty bearers to enforce the right to health. Conclusion: The duty to respect, protect, fulfil and even remedy the right to health, will often be meaningless in practice without a clear identification of the necessary duty bearers to enforce them. The law is the starting point for this to not only enshrine this right as a legally enforceable one but also to clearly identify duty bearers. Without this, the human right to health as outlined under international and regional human rights law generates an implausible, or even impossible, profusion of duties. There remains much work still to be done especially on the moral and legal fronts in order to fully guarantee this right. Trial Registration: Not applicable Our work does not report results of a health care intervention on human participants. Registration is therefore not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Maintaining physical activity is a modifiable risk factor for dementia. However, older adults do not routinely meet activity guidelines. Online interventions offer a means of engaging with this group and overcoming barriers to physical activity, particularly in the context of a global pandemic where people have become accustomed to at‐home and digital living. This study explored the factors which maximise engagement in an online programme to promote physical activity. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with adults aged 50 and over, recruited through the online UK PROTECT study cohort. Four focus groups (n = 21) examined key contributors to engagement with a digital programme to promote physical activity. Iterative Categorisation was utilised to identify categories and themes of the focus group data. Semi‐structured interviews were also conducted (n = 5) in which participants were asked to comment on a concept‐stage online intervention. Results: Four key themes emerged from focus group data: interaction at the fore, incentives as foundations, fitting around me and identity is critical. The semi‐structured interviews identified key areas of programme acceptability and specific needs for enhancing engagement. Conclusions: Older adults are open to using online physical activity programmes. Any intervention must be tailored to individual usability preferences and encompass fitness, health and lifestyle needs of older adults. The conceptual‐stage intervention used in this study was found to be acceptable, with key changes needed to maximise engagement. Key points: Maintaining physical activity levels has been identified as a modifiable risk factor in dementia prevention, however, older adults do not routinely meet activity guidelines.A digital intervention could enable older adults to become more active, in order to be effective it is critical to ascertain engagement factors.Digital interventions must be tailored to specific preferences, encompassing fitness, health and lifestyle needs of older adults; feasibility testing will be a priority for any future intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the number of extreme weather events is already part of the reality of thousands of cities and understanding the determinants of these global weather patterns challenges both specialist researchers and the general population. One of the main challenges now is to protect society from these factors. Given this, the path to a city that resists the risks of climate change is to the extent that educational practices that lead to a reflective attitude around the problem are expanded. The methodology adopted in this work corresponds to research aimed at the vulnerability of cities in relation to climate change, and also to adaptations, possible or not, of cities, in order to seek protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycram (CYC), or cyclophosphamide is an alkylating drug that has been widely used in the acute treatment of various neoplastic diseases and in the chronic treatment of autoimmune disorders. The major limitation of CYC chemotherapy is the injury of normal tissue, leading to multiple organ toxicity and alter male fertility in mice, rats and human, leading to testicular damage and decreasing in RNA, DNA and protein synthesis. The present study aims to evaluate the protective role of methanol extract of Ferula hermonis (FH) against CYC induced changes in testicular RNA, DNA and protein content as well sperm morphology, count and motility, blood levels of testosterone (T) and hemoglobin (Hb) in adult male albino rats. Ninety adult albino male rats were divided into 3 main treated groups (30 animals each) according to treatment periods (15, 30 and 60 days), every one divided to 3 subgroups according to CYC dose (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bw/day, 10 animals each), and each subgroup divided to 2 sub-sub groups treated with CYC and CYC+ FH 0.025 ml/100 g bw/day by gavage, respectively, (5 animals each), besides the control (10 animals). Animals were sacrificed, sperm morphology with its count and motility, as well RNA, DNA and protein content, and testosterone and hemoglobin levels were determined. The results revealed that CYC treatment induced alterations in RNA, DNA and protein synthesis, as well as affected T and Hb levels and sperm abnormalities of male rats. However, supplementation of FH extract protects these parameters against CYC toxicities. The protective actions of FH extract seem to be closely involved with the suppressing of plasma lipid peroxidation and increasing of antioxidant enzyme activities. Therefore, FH extract might be used in combination with CYC in cancer patients' therapy, transplantation and autoimmune diseases as a protective agent against CYC-induced reproductive toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This question on how religious beliefs shape attitudes about guns has received little attention in the literature. We use the religious concept of supernatural evil, or beliefs about Satan, Hell, Armageddon, and demons, to provide context for ideas about gun ownership and the development of attitudes toward gun policy. While this has been explored quantitatively using national survey data, we argue that an in‐depth qualitative approach provides necessary nuance. As part of an ongoing ethnography in Northeastern Kansas, we conducted interviews with 55 women and 7 men who own and shoot guns. For this paper, we report on a religion module subsample that probes religiosity, spirituality, and gun ownership. Based on the rich contextual information from the interviews, we illuminate a package of beliefs that come together as an ethic, a set of moral principles guiding gun ownership for a subset of gun owners. We suggest the spirit of gun ownership is a bundle of duties that guide individual gun owners to stress the need to protect, be diligent, and defend. Moreover, belief in supernatural evil is bound up in policy attitudes that protect or expand gun rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health professions preventing and controlling Coronavirus Disease 2019 are prone to skin and mucous membrane injury, which may cause acute and chronic dermatitis, secondary infection and aggravation of underlying skin diseases. This is a consensus of Chinese experts on protective measures and advice on hand‐cleaning‐ and medical‐glove‐related hand protection, mask‐ and goggles‐related face protection, UV‐related protection, eye protection, nasal and oral mucosa protection, outer ear, and hair protection. It is necessary to strictly follow standards of wearing protective equipment and specification of sterilizing and cleaning. Insufficient and excessive protection will have adverse effects on the skin and mucous membrane barrier. At the same time, using moisturizing products is highly recommended to achieve better protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The direct anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has specific advantages, but injury to the tensor fasciae lata muscle (TFLM) remains a concern. This injury in part negates some of the advantages of the intermuscular approach, because injury of the muscle fibers of the TFLM can lead to less satisfactory clinical results. Thus, in this study, we propose an intraoperative method to protect the TFLM and demonstrate its feasibility.Methods: Fifty-six patients undergoing THA by the direct anterior approach were divided randomly into two groups. In group A, the TFLM was protected by an autogenous tissue "pad" created from the anterior capsule of the joint which protect the TFLM from direct contact with the retractors. In group B, the operation was carried out with no protection of the TFLM except the attempt by the surgeons to consciously avoid injury of the TFLM. We evaluated magnitude of changes in the muscle cross-sectional area (MSCA) and fatty atrophy (FA) by magnetic resonance imaging. The differences in blood hemoglobin and serum levels of myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were compared at different time, postoperatively. The Harris hip score, postoperative drainage volume and visual analogue scores (VAS) were compared between the two groups.Results: LDH, CPK and myoglobin in group B were significantly higher than group A at 8, 24, and 48 h after the surgery. (p < 0.05) Compared to the group A, the decrease of hemoglobin in group B displayed significantly at 24 and 48 h after surgery. (P < 0.05) The significantly increased MSCA and FA of TFLM were demonstrated in group B. The PDV and VAS in group B were significantly higher than group A. (P < 0.05) The Harris score in group A was significantly higher than group B (P < 0.05) one month after surgery, but there was no significant difference six months later.Conclusions: Using the anterior capsule of the hip joint as an autogenous, protective capsular tissue pad to limit the trauma to the TFLM during a direct anterior approach to THA is an effective method to protect the TFLM and improve the clinical effect.Trial Registration: ChiCTR: ChiCTR1900025173. Retrospectively registered August 15, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on blueberry anthocyanins and their interaction. Findings showed that BSA could protect blueberry anthocyanins against degradation and retain their antioxidant activity at an ideal concentration of 0.15 mg/mL under three deteriorating treatments: illumination, vitamin C + illumination, and sucrose + illumination. The fluorescence and UV absorption spectra showed that malvidin-3-o-galactoside (M3G), the major monomer in blueberry anthocyanins, led to a static quenching of BSA and the binding site of M3G to BSA was approximately one. Further, the interaction was a spontaneous process with electrostatic interactions being the main force. CD spectra and synchronous fluorescence spectra presented alterations in the secondary structure and microenvironment of Trp and Tyr residues of BSA, respectively, upon interaction with M3G. Finally, molecular docking analysis showed that M3G mainly bound the II and III domains of BSA by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction. In conclusion, our study highlights the protective effects of BSA on the stability and anti-oxidant activity of blueberry anthocyanins and their interaction analysis. Unlabelled Image • BSA protects blueberry anthocyanins against the degradation and loss of antioxidant capacity under illumination treatments. • Interaction between M3G and BSA is spontaneous and mainly attributed to electrostatic forces. • Secondary structural and microenvironments around tyrosine and tryptophan residues of BSA are influenced by M3G. • Molecular docking shows that M3G mainly bound II and III domains of BSA by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The identification of modifiable lifestyle factors to preserve cognitive function in older individuals becomes increasingly of importance. This study examines whether word puzzle use is related to cognitive function in older adults.Methods: Cognitive data from 19 078 cognitively healthy individuals aged 50 to 93 years enrolled into the online PROTECT study were evaluated for self-reported frequency of performing word puzzles on a six-point scale, ranging from "more than once per day" to "never". Nine cognitive tests covered a range of domains including focussed and sustained attention, information processing, executive function, working memory, and episodic memory. Analyses of covariance were used to determine any differences between the six response groups.Results: Each of the 14 cognitive measures analysed showed highly statistically significant main effects of the frequency of performing word puzzles. For each measure, the group who never performed word puzzles performed most poorly, with the group who reported occasional puzzle use also performing more poorly than virtually every other group. Measures of speed provided the greatest discriminations, with a grammatical reasoning score differentiating the two highest frequency groups, performing word puzzles daily or more than once daily.Conclusions: The frequency of word puzzle use is directly related to cognitive function in adults aged 50 and over. Future work needs to determine whether engaging in such puzzles can favourably influence cognitive trajectory with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Establishing affordable lifestyle interventions that might preserve cognitive function in the aging population and subsequent generations is a growing area of research focus. Data from the PROTECT study has been utilised to examine whether number-puzzle use is related to cognitive function in older adults.Methods: Data from 19 078 healthy volunteers aged 50 to 93 years old enrolled on the online PROTECT study were evaluated for self-reported frequency of performing number puzzles. Two cognitive-test batteries were employed to assess core aspects of cognitive function including reasoning, focussed and sustained attention, information processing, executive function, working memory, and episodic memory. Analysis of covariance was used to establish the differences between the six frequency groups.Results: Highly statistically significant main effects of the frequency of performing number puzzles were seen on all 14 cognitive measures, with P values of less than 0.0004. Interestingly, participants who reported engaging in number puzzles more than once a day had superior cognitive performance on 10 core measures compared with all other frequency groups, although not all were statistically significant.Conclusions: This study has identified a close relationship between frequency of number-puzzle use and the quality of cognitive function in adults aged 50 to 93 years old. In order to determine the value of these findings as a potential intervention, further research should explore the type and difficulty of the number puzzles. These findings further contribute to the growing evidence that engaging in mentally stimulating activities could benefit the brain function of the ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Participant populations should be homogenized to optimize relevance for youth. • More environmental and clinical interventions (studies) are required. • Specific developmental characteristics of youth are not always considered. • There is an absence of research studies in low income countries. • There is scarcity of research studies in lower and upper middle income countries. • Future studies should employ designs suitable for evaluating interventions. • Future studies should evaluate effectiveness by means of systematic reviews. Abstract Occupational injury rates are higher among young people when compared to older age groups. Objective Identifying preventive occupational safety and health interventions that aim at protecting young workers from hazards at work while considering their ongoing physical and mental maturation. Methods We ran a sensitive search strategy in twelve electronic databases to locate studies. Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts, and later full texts for eligibility. One person extracted the details of studies and another checked for errors. Data were analyzed in an iterative process. Results We included 39 studies. Three studies evaluated environmental interventions, 29 evaluated behavioral, one evaluated clinical and six combined more than one type of intervention. Developmental characteristics of young workers that could contribute to risk were addressed in 13 studies. Thirty-five studies were from high income countries, one was from an upper middle-income country and three were from lower middle- income countries. We found no studies from low income countries. Conclusions There is a dearth of evidence when it comes to evaluating interventions in low and lower middle income countries and adapting interventions developed in high income countries to the needs of low and middle income ones. A higher and more integrated participation of young workers themselves, parents and other key social actors such as policy makers, employers and occupational safety and health regulators is required to optimally protect young workers. We recommend developing and evaluating interventions that specifically address the risks that youth face at work due to their ongoing developmental process. Further we need systematic reviews of the interventions identified in this review such as for young workers in the service sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of targeted therapies, including inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway or the mammalian target of rapamycin, in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma led to interest in testing their efficacy in the adjuvant setting. Results from the first trials are now available, with other studies due to report imminently. This review provides an overview of adjuvant targeted therapy in renal cell carcinoma, including interpretation of currently available conflicting data and future direction of research. We discuss the key differences between the completed targeted therapy adjuvant trials, and highlight the importance of accurately identifying patients who are likely to benefit from adjuvant treatment. We also consider reasons why blinded independent radiology review and treatment dose may prove critical for adjuvant treatment success. The implications of using disease-free survival as a surrogate end point for overall survival from the patient perspective and measurement of health benefit have recently been brought into focus and are discussed. Finally, we discuss how the ongoing adjuvant trials with targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors may improve our understanding and ability to prevent tumor recurrence after nephrectomy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basis of the Convention is the fundamental principle- the best interest. The idea when and how the principle - best interest press in an leading link that is overall international protect on the children rights is based on, what exactly the term best interest means, which are the element that determine it and the ways in which this postulate is embodies in the reality are the basic on which is based this thesis. The interpretation of the true meaning of this principle is importance for adequate application of the principle of the each individual case, especially it comes to protecting children's rights in societies with different levels of social and economic development . The main purpose of this thesis is to explain the essential meaning of this principle to allow equality in its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2012 and 2013, we analysed and coded the human rights policies of the largest corporations in six of the world's most globalised industries: finance, mining, oil and gas, food and beverage, apparel and agribusiness. Using the language of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as benchmarks, we developed a scoring mechanism to evaluate the level of responsibility companies had accepted to (1) respect human rights, (2) conduct human rights due diligence, and (3) provide remedies for human rights violations associated with their activities. Statistical analysis using both standard regression and ordinal logistic regression revealed that companies domiciled in the United States score poorly, nearly on par with sub-Saharan Africa, while companies based in Europe and Commonwealth countries demonstrate the highest adoption rate of human rights duties. Additionally, extractive industries produce, overall, the strongest human rights policies, while apparel companies are laggards. Furthermore, membership in socially responsible industry groups may not correlate with higher human rights scores. These findings are analysed in the context of the external influences that align most closely with shifts in corporate policies. The article considers explanations for the disparities, which have policy implications for home states and industry associations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a cytotoxic drug that can suppress both humoral and cellular immunity. Combining traditional medicinal herbs and chemotherapy drugs are used to improve immunity and quality of life performance status. In this paper, the effects of plant extracts, active components and their derivatives on immunosuppression of CP are discussed. Appropriate keywords were used to search through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Sciverse. All relevant results published from 1990 to date were chosen for final review. Over 50 references were found in which plant extracts, active components and their derivatives have been tested for their immune protective effects against CP-induced immune toxicity. Although there are several plants shown to be effective in animal models, no study was carried out on human subjects. According to the results; we can claim that plants and their active ingredients are good candidates for alternative adjuvant chemotherapy in reducing the immunotoxicity of CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims There is increasing evidence of Gleason score ( GS) drift in prostatic core biopsies during the last two decades. The Protec T study is a randomized controlled study and provides an excellent cohort to study the effect of time, prostate-specific antigen ( PSA) level, perineural invasion, tumour length and age on GS. Methods and results The Protec T study recruited men in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2010. The Gleason scores were grouped into four categories ≤3 + 3, 3 + 4, 4 + 3 and ≥4 + 4 for analysis. Data from England between 2000 and 2012 were also available. A total of 3282 biopsies containing cancer were analysed. For each year of the ProtecT study, the odds of being diagnosed with a higher GS category increased by 4.9%. Higher GS was also associated with perineural invasion, increasing tumour length, age and PSA level. While biopsy GS from England was incomplete, it also showed a marked decrease in GS five and six tumours during the same period. Conclusion There was GS drift from 3 + 3 to 3 + 4 with time in the ProtecT study, but there appeared to be no significant change in percentage of GS 4 + 3 or higher. This drift was less dramatic when compared to GS in the rest of England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication of critical illness with important clinical consequences. The Prophylaxis for ThromboEmbolism in Critical Care Trial (PROTECT) is a multicenter, blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of the two most common pharmocoprevention strategies, unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) dalteparin, in medical-surgical patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). E-PROTECT is a prospective and concurrent economic evaluation of the PROTECT trial. Methods/Design The primary objective of E-PROTECT is to identify and quantify the total (direct and indirect, variable and fixed) costs associated with the management of critically ill patients participating in the PROTECT trial, and, to combine costs and outcome results to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of LMWH versus UFH, from the acute healthcare system perspective, over a data-rich time horizon of ICU admission and hospital admission. We derive baseline characteristics and probabilities of in-ICU and in-hospital events from all enrolled patients. Total costs are derived from centers, proportional to the numbers of patients enrolled in each country. Direct costs include medication, physician and other personnel costs, diagnostic radiology and laboratory testing, operative and non-operative procedures, costs associated with bleeding, transfusions and treatment-related complications. Indirect costs include ICU and hospital ward overhead costs. Outcomes are the ratio of incremental costs per incremental effects of LMWH versus UFH during hospitalization; incremental cost to prevent a thrombosis at any site (primary outcome); incremental cost to prevent a pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, major bleeding event or episode of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (secondary outcomes) and incremental cost per life-year gained (tertiary outcome). Pre-specified subgroups and sensitivity analyses will be performed and confidence intervals for the estimates of incremental cost-effectiveness will be obtained using bootstrapping. Discussion This economic evaluation employs a prospective costing methodology concurrent with a randomized controlled blinded clinical trial, with a pre-specified analytic plan, outcome measures, subgroup and sensitivity analyses. This economic evaluation has received only peer-reviewed funding and funders will not play a role in the generation, analysis or decision to submit the manuscripts for publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to determine in a clinical setting the risk factors for current anxiety disorder (AD) comorbidity among Thai patients with bipolar disorder (BD), being treated under the Thai Bipolar Disorder Registry Project (TBDR). Methods: The TBDR was a multisite naturalistic study conducted at 24 psychiatric units (ie, at university, provincial mental, and government general hospitals) between February 2009 and January 2011. Participants were in- or out-patients over 18 years of age who were diagnosed with BD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Instruments used in this study included the Thai Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview version 5; Thai Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); Thai Young Mania Rating Scale; Clinical Global Impression of Bipolar Disorder-Severity (CGI-BP-S), CGI-BP-S-mania, CGI-BP-S-depression, and CGI-BP-S-overall BP illness; and the Thai SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. Results: Among the 424 BD patients, 404 (95.3%) had BD type I. The respective mean ± standard deviation of age of onset of mood disturbance, first diagnosis of BD, and first treatment of BD was 32.0±11.9, 36.1±12.2, and 36.2±12.2 years. The duration of illness was 10.7±9.0 years. Fifty-three (12.5%) of the 424 participants had a current AD while 38 (9%) had a substance use disorder (SUD). The univariate analysis revealed 13 significant risks for current AD comorbidity, which the multivariate analysis narrowed to age at first diagnosis of BD (odds ratio =0.95, P<0.01), family history of SUD (odds ratio =2.18, P=0.02), and having a higher current MADRS score (odds ratio =1.11, P<0.01). Conclusion: A diagnosis of AD comorbid with BD is suggested by early-age onset of BD together with a higher MADRS score and a family history of SUD. The likelihood of AD comorbidity decreases by 5% with each passing year; early-age onset of BD is a risk while later age onset is protective. Our results underscore how SUD within the family significantly contributes to the risk of an AD comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a potent mitogen and chemotactic factor. HB-EGF attenuates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury caused by superior mesenteric artery occlusion. We examined whether HB-EGF offers protection against intestinal congestion/reperfusion (C/R) injury, which is caused by portal triad clamping. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three equally sized groups: I, sham-operated; II, portal triad clamping (Pringle maneuver); III, II + intraluminal administration of HB-EGF. Compared with sham-operated rats, all rats in group II exhibited significant increases in intestinal histologic injury, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, myeloperoxidase activity, malonaldehyde levels, and apoptosis indices. Intraluminal administration of HB-EGF in group III significantly reduced these indicators when compared with group II. Clamping of the portal triad followed by reperfusion causes intestinal C/R injury and intraluminal administration of HB-EGF reduces the severity of intestinal C/R injury in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective/Background: The ability of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to injure the small intestine has been well established in humans and animals. Muscovite is one kind of natural clay consisting of an insoluble double silicate of aluminum and magnesium. It has been developed and marketed in China for the treatment of gastric diseases. The present study was designed to examine the effects of intragastric treatment of muscovite on the intestinal damage induced by administration of diclofenac in rat. Methods: Male SD rats were treated with muscovite for 9 days, with concomitant treatment with anti-inflammatory doses of diclofenac on the final 5 days. The anatomical lesion, villous height, the thickness and the section area of small intestine were quantitatively analyzed. The change of ultrastructural organization was observed. Endotoxin level in blood was measured by photometry. Epidermal growth factor was observed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Muscovite decreased the macroscopic and histologic damage induced by diclofenac in the rat small intestine. In the muscovite group, villous height (139.8±13.2μm) was higher than which of the model group (86.6±17.1μm) (P <0.05). The index of the thickness and the section area was higher than model group. LPS level in the portal blood of muscovite (0.84±1.17EU/ml) was lower than model group (4.52±0.98EU/ml) (P <0.05). The EFG of muscovite group was higher significantly compared with the model group (P <0.05). Conclusion: Muscovite can protect the small intestine from the damage induced by diclofenac in the conscious rat. Muscovite can repair NSAID-induced intestinal damage at least in part because of significant lesion in mechanical barrier function and reduction in epidermal growth factor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Parents without immigration status in the United States regularly face the threat of deportation and separation from their children. When an undocumented parent is brought to the attention of law enforcement through the child welfare system, they also face the potential of the loss of legal custodial rights to their children. The child welfare system and immigration enforcement mechanisms operate independent of one another with little regard for how actions in one can impact a parent's legal rights in the other, often permanently separating children from their parents. This article examines the particular issue of undocumented parents who are charged with the failure to protect their children from witnessing or otherwise experiencing abuse committed by a third party. It explores how such a charge, whether founded or unfounded, can result in loss of eligibility for immigration relief to which the undocumented parent would otherwise be entitled, as well as deportation of the parent and permanent separation of parent and child. These issues are situated within the larger context of the normative guideposts of both family and immigration law, namely, the best interests of the child and family unity. It identifies issues for further academic inquiry as well as tips for practitioners who may represent undocumented parents in either the family or immigration systems. Key Points for the Family Court Community: Learn about the potential consequences under family law and immigration law when an undocumented parent's child is abused by a third party, Gain strategies for planning with undocumented parents to avoid the loss of the custody of their children in the event of a sudden deportation, Be able to identify and address particular concerns for clients who are undocumented victims of domestic violence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide authoritative guidance for states and businesses on how to prevent and address business-related human rights harms, including in conflict-affected areas. States need to explore a more innovative range of policy and regulatory options in such situations, whether they are engaging with cooperating companies or dealing with uncooperative ones. Companies need to be able to know and show that they can operate with integrity – and avoid being involved in gross abuses of human rights – and that their risk assessment, mitigation, and remediation processes take full account of the potential risks to affected stakeholders, not just risks to the business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has shown that shame activates both a restore and a protect motive (De Hooge, Zeelenberg, & Breugelmans, 2010), explaining the hitherto unexpected finding that shame can lead to both approach and avoidance behaviours. In the present article we show a clear difference in priority and development of restore and protect motives over time. Our experiment reveals that shame mainly motivates approach behaviour to restore the damaged self, but that this restore motive decreases when situational factors make it too risky or difficult to restore. In contrast, the motive to protect one's damaged self from further harm is not influenced by such situational factors. As a consequence, the approach behaviour that shame activates may change over time. These findings add to our understanding of the motivational processes and behaviours following from shame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines emphasize trial site monitoring, although the implementation is unspecified and evidence for benefit is sparse. We aimed to develop a site monitoring process using peer reviewers to improve staff training, site performance, data collection, and GCP compliance.Study Design and Setting: The Peer Review Intervention for Monitoring and Evaluating sites (PRIME) team observed and gave feedback on trial recruitment and follow-up appointments, held staff meetings, and examined documentation during annual 2-day site visits. The intervention was evaluated in the ProtecT trial, a UK randomized controlled trial of localized prostate cancer treatments (ISRCTN20141297). The ProtecT coordinator and senior nurses conducted three monitoring rounds at eight sites (2004-2007). The process evaluation used PRIME report findings, trial databases, resource use, and a site nurse survey.Results: Adverse findings decreased across all sites from 44 in round 1 to 19 in round 3. Most findings related to protocol adherence or site organizational issues, including improvements in eligibility criteria application and data collection. Staff found site monitoring acceptable and made changes after reviews.Conclusion: The PRIME process used observation by peer reviewers to improve protocol adherence and train site staff, which increased trial performance and consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article analyses two current problems emphasized by the media: ageing and elder-abuse. We tried to understand starting from a clinical case, Rosaline (95years old), how conscious and unconscious representations of this patient and her daughter could lead to a severe conflict with sharp consequences in their family life. The psychic drives constituting our identity as well as our death and life drives may interact in such situation, provoking some behaviour quite improper. A case of elder abuse in order to demonstrate its complexity, bringing out the difficult task of the caregivers facing the other''s ageing process. Our professional activity as psychologists lead as in our clinical analyse of such conflictual relationships to vouch for the absolute respect and dignity of every person implicated in these difficult situations in every consultation of our institution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

On December 8th, 2008, Cleveland Clinic performed the first near-total face transplant in the USA on a patient who was severely disfigured from a gunshot wound to her face. At the time, it was the most complex face transplant in the world. Cleveland Clinic's Corporate Communications Office and a multidisciplinary medical team worked side-by-side to announce this milestone for the organization. Together, the team managed all communication, including the announcement of the first Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved protocol, two extensive media events, complex and ongoing messaging related to the transplants in France and China, and thousands of media requests over a five-year period, from all over the world. The media attention and coverage continues more than a year after the transplant occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shame has been found to promote both approach and withdrawal behaviours. Shame theories have not been able to explain how shame can promote such contrasting behaviours. In the present article, the authors provide an explanation for this. Shame was hypothesised to activate approach behaviours to restore the threatened self, and in situations when this is not possible or too risky, to activate withdrawal behaviours to protect the self from further damage. Five studies with different shame inductions and different dependent measures confirmed our predictions. We therefore showed that different behavioural responses to shame can be understood in terms of restore and protect motives. Implications for theory and behavioural research on shame are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence is a fact of life. As such, virtually every state has laws specifying that health care professionals have a duty to protect or warn, and the specific legal requirements vary from state to state and discipline to discipline. Every biofeedback practitioner providing mental health care and related services should be familiar with the relevant laws of the state in which he or she practices and with the court precedents related to that law. Being able to deal appropriately with the relevant issues surrounding confidentiality and the ability to assess for, predict dangerousness to self and others, and deal with the same are expected standards of care that can vary in implementation from state to state. Consultation with colleagues and/or an attorney can be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research, seven Mannich bases, bioactive compounds, as anticancer drug proposed which have different chemical composition has been studied comprehensively in terms of photons and charged particles protecting features. Aryl part of the compounds was changed as phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-bromophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-nitrophenyl and 4-chlorophenyl. The experimental values of mass attenuation coefficients (μ m) were obtained by the help of HPGe detector for 8.04–59.54 keV photon energies. Experimental results of μ m were matched by the theoretical results which were found by using WinXCOM program. It has been obtained that the μ m values of the samples, arly part is varied with 4-bromophenyl (S4) and 4-chlorophenyl (S7), are largest than that of other samples. In addition, other basic photon attenuation parameters, equivalent and effective atomic numbers (Z eq and Z eff) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) values for the proposed compounds have been achieved in the range of 0.015–15 MeV. While the highest Z eff and Z eq values belong to the S4 sample, the EABFs were obtained to be the smallest for the S4 sample according to the other sample. Lastly, the attenuating capacity of the compounds against charged particles such as alphas and protons was estimated by calculating the mass stopping power (MSP) and the range of the particles. The S4 sample with 4-bromophenyl aryl part was found to be outstanding in stopping alpha and proton particles. It was deduced that the S4 sample is a better drug candidate for photon and particle radiations protection applications among the other compounds. The present data will be useful to determine the radiation parameters of further drug candidates in medical oncology and nuclear medicine. • Bioactive compounds have been studied in terms of photons and charged particles protecting features. • The mass attenuation coefficients are obtained for 8.04–59.54 keV photon energies. • Equivalent, effective atomic numbers and EABF have been achieved in the range of 0.015–15 MeV. • The mass stopping power for alphas and protons is determined. • The present data will be useful for medical oncology and nuclear medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ preservation solutions are designed to minimize organ damage during transplantation. A novel preservation solution, WMO-II, was developed to have a low viscosity and to improve microvasculature perfusion for kidneys. In an autologous canine transplantation model, kidney function and recovery were evaluated after organs were flushed and cold-stored with WMO-II or HTK solution, a perfusate currently approved for clinical use. The average number of red blood cells remaining in a single glomerulus after flushing with WMO-II was significantly reduced when compared with HTK solution. Additionally, WMO-II reduced the number of apoptotic bodies in stored kidneys compared to HTK treated tissue after 48 h of cold storage by reducing expression of Caspase-9, BiP, Chop, and Caspase-12. WMO-II solution reduced serum creatinine levels and serum potassium in kidneys stored for 48 h when compared to HTK perfusion. WMO-II preserves kidney function as evidenced by the reduction in serum creatinine and potassium during graft transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plaster casts are commonly used in the management of fractures. The mechanical properties of plasters are adversely affected by water. There are a number of commercial products available to allow patients to continue to shower and swim by protecting the plaster. The aim of this study was to compare these products with a plastic bag and elastic band. Each protector was tested in a shower, immersed in a swimming pool and worn while swimming. The volume of water intrusion was measured. There was no significant difference between a plastic bag and the commercially available products.We do not recommend the use of commercially available plaster protectors for showering or swimming: a plastic bag and elastic band is a cheaper and more convenient device. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]