Search

The self‐memory system depends on the prioritization and capture of self‐relevant information, so may be disrupted by difficulties in attending to, encoding and retrieving self‐relevant information. The current study compares memory for self‐referenced and other‐referenced items in children with ADHD and typically developing comparison groups matched for verbal and chronological age. Children aged 5–14 (N = 90) were presented with everyday objects alongside an own‐face image (self‐reference trials) or an unknown child's image (other‐referenced trials). They were asked whether the child shown would like the object, before completing a surprise source memory test. In a second task, children performed, and watched another person perform, a series of actions before their memory for the actions was tested. A significant self‐reference effect (SRE) was found in the typically developing children (i.e. both verbal and chronological age‐matched comparison groups) for the first task, with significantly better memory for self‐referenced than other‐referenced objects. However, children with ADHD showed no SRE, suggesting a compromised ability to bind information with the cognitive self‐concept. In the second task, all groups showed superior memory for actions carried out by the self, suggesting a preserved enactment effect in ADHD. Implications and applications for the self‐memory system in ADHD are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-cues such as personal pronouns are known to elicit processing biases, such as attention capture and prioritisation in working memory. This may impact the performance of tasks that have a high attentional load like mathematical problem-solving. Here, we compared the speed and accuracy with which children solved numerical problems that included either the self-cue "you," or a different character name. First, we piloted a self-referencing manipulation with N = 52, 7 to 11 year-olds, testing performance on addition and subtraction problems that had either a single referent ("You"/"Sam") or more than one referent. We took into account operation and positioning of the pronoun and also measured performance on attention and working memory tasks. We found a robust accuracy advantage for problems that included "you," regardless of how many characters were included. The accuracy advantage for problems with a self-pronoun was not statistically associated with individual differences in attention or working memory. In our main study (9 to 11 year-olds, N = 144), we manipulated problem difficulty by creating consistently and inconsistently worded addition and subtraction problems. We found significantly higher speed and accuracy for problems that included "you." However, this effect varied by task difficulty, with the self-pronoun effect being strongest in the most difficult inconsistently worded, subtraction problems. The advantage of problems with a self-pronoun was not associated with individual differences in working memory. These findings suggest that self-cues like the pronoun "you" can be usefully applied in numerical processing tasks, an effect that may be attributable to the effects of self-cues on attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A condition known as coronary artery disease occurs when the myocardium does not receive enough blood or oxygen. It is caused by blockage of the coronary arteries and is characterized by an imbalance in the supply and demand of oxygen. Usually, it involves blood flow obstruction caused by plaques that form in the coronary artery lumen. It is the leading global cause of death. Objectives: this study aims to measure the impact of slow deep breathing exercises using incentive spirometry on functional capacity of patients with coronary artery disease. Methodology: Participants in this quasi-experimental research design included patients with coronary artery diseases. Patients with severe respiratory conditions, a history of coughing, difficulty breathing deeply, non-pulmonary status at first examination, and inability to complete the study were among the exclusion criteria. the participants in the study were 50 samples (25 research groups and 25 control groups), the research groups were given an incentive spirometer in addition to hands-on instruction on how to use it and collect accurate measurements. Patients were told to lie down or sit in order to breathe in and out through the tube 10 times. Patients were instructed to do this exercise three times every eight hours for a duration of three weeks. Results: Three weeks following the intervention, a re-assessment of the functional capacity, revealed an improvement in factional capacity solely in the study groups relative to the pre-test. Conclusion: Using an innovative spirometer, the study demonstrated the impact of various deep breaths on the functional capacity of patients with CAD. Nearly all patients demonstrated a significant short-term improvement in their functional capacity, and no significant side effects were found. Consequently, this methodology can be applied in subsequent research to examine long-term impacts for weeks or months. Because it is simple to use and the measurement is non-intrusive, this method is perfect for self-monitoring at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fit man in his 60s presented with an infected Achilles tendon (AT) following two failed repairs for a traumatic rupture. Initial debridement of necrotic tissue resulted in a large soft tissue defect requiring robust coverage. Following aggressive wound management, an anterolateral thigh flap was elevated with tensor fasciae latae (TFL) which was triple-rolled to provide soft tissue coverage and tendon reconstruction. The flap remained healthy and was monitored with a flow coupler device. Initially, the foot was placed in plantarflexion before gradually increasing the angle to neutral and a thermoplastic splint was used to offload pressure on the flap. Following 1month of non-weightbearing, gentle mobilisation began. Three months postoperatively, the patient could walk, had resumed indoor cycling and demonstrated a comparable heel raise with the contralateral side. MRI showed a taut TFL attached to the distal AT and ultrasound showed a smoothly gliding TFL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) can cause variable disease states in individuals with intact and compromised immune systems. Both meningoencephalitis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are uncommon, life-threatening entities associated with VZV. There are few reported cases of TTP due to VZV and this may be the first case of TTP due to VZV meningoencephalitis confirmed through lumbar puncture. The literature tends to emphasize that this pathology mostly occurs in immunocompromised hosts. Here, we present a unique case of TTP due to VZV meningoencephalitis in a patient that was immunocompetent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2008 publication of the reports of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health and its nine knowledge networks, substantial research has been undertaken to document and describe health inequities. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for a deeper understanding of, and broader action on, the social determinants of health. Building on this unique and critical opportunity, the World Health Organization is steering a multi-country Initiative to reduce health inequities through an action-learning process in 'Pathfinder' countries. The Initiative aims to develop replicable and reliable models and practices that can be adopted by WHO offices and UN staff to address the social determinants of health to advance health equity. This paper provides an overview of the Initiative by describing its broad theory of change and work undertaken in three regions and six Pathfinder countries in its first year-and-a-half. Participants engaged in the Initiative describe results of early country dialogues and promising entry points for implementation that involve model, network and capacity building. The insights communicated through this note from the field will be of interest for others aiming to advance health equity through taking action on the social determinants of health, in particular as regards structural determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2008 publication of the reports of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health and its nine knowledge networks, substantial research has been undertaken to document and describe health inequities. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for a deeper understanding of, and broader action on, the social determinants of health. Building on this unique and critical opportunity, the World Health Organization is steering a multi-country Initiative to reduce health inequities through an action-learning process in 'Pathfinder' countries. The Initiative aims to develop replicable and reliable models and practices that can be adopted by WHO offices and UN staff to address the social determinants of health to advance health equity. This paper provides an overview of the Initiative by describing its broad theory of change and work undertaken in three regions and six Pathfinder countries in its first year-and-a-half. Participants engaged in the Initiative describe results of early country dialogues and promising entry points for implementation that involve model, network and capacity building. The insights communicated through this note from the field will be of interest for others aiming to advance health equity through taking action on the social determinants of health, in particular as regards structural determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic children and adults who are non-verbal/minimally verbal or have an intellectual disability have often been excluded from Autism Spectrum Disorder research. Historical, practical and theoretical reasons for this exclusion continue to deter some researchers from work with this underserved population. We discuss why these reasons are neither convincing nor ethical, and provide strategies for dealing with practical issues. As part of a randomised controlled trial of an intervention for children with profound autism, we reflected as a multi-disciplinary team on what we had learnt from these children, their families and each other. We provide 10 strategies to overcome what appeared initially to be barriers to collecting data with this population. These hurdles and our solutions are organised by theme: interacting physically with children, how to play and test, navigating difficult behaviours, selecting suitable outcome measures, relating with parents, managing siblings, involving stakeholders, timing interactions, the clinician's role in managing expectations, and recruitment. The aim of this article is to provide researchers with the tools to feel motivated to conduct research with children with profound autism and their families, a difficult but worthwhile endeavour. Many of these lessons also apply to conducting research with non-autistic children with intellectual disabilities. Autistic children who speak few or no words or who have an intellectual disability are the most in need of new understandings and treatments, but the most often left out of the research that can bring these benefits. Researchers perceive difficulties around compliance with instructions, testing, challenging behaviours and family stress. Although research with these children can indeed be difficult, their continuing exclusion is unethical and unacceptable. Drawing on our experiences testing a possible treatment for children with profound autism, we provide 10 practical guidelines related to (1) interacting physically, (2) combining play and testing, (3) responding to challenging behaviour, (4) finding suitable tests, (5) relationships with parents, (6) relationships with siblings, (7) involving stakeholders, (8) planning the testing times, (9) the role of the clinical supervisor and (10) recruiting and retaining participants. We hope that these guidelines will prepare and embolden other research teams to work with profoundly autistic children, ending their historical exclusion from research. These guidelines also could be useful for conducting research with children with intellectual disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to scholarship focused on the contemplative justice movement. The study analyzes the experiences of BIPOC activists engaged in contemplative practice through the Practice in Transformative Action (PiTA) program in Oakland, California. Utilizing a Black feminist power analysis, I interpret theories of social change and organizational affiliations among these activists to speak to the utility of contemplative practice as a form of radical self-care which supports the individual and their work for social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the ability to produce a wide antimicrobial active compounds (Bacillin and S-Pyocin) against pathogenic microorganism. In vitro assay with the antagonists of both crude bacteriocin and partial by precipitation 75% ammonium sulfate showed that the effectively inhibited growth of the following (Candida kefyer and Fusarium spp) and Propionibacterium acnes. The results showed the inhibition zone of reached Bacillin (9-13 mm), while Pyocin (13 - 16mm) in solid medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Somalia has been ravaged by more than two decades of armed conflict causing immense damage to the country's infrastructure and mass displacement and suffering among its people. An influx of humanitarian actors has sought to provide basic services, including health services for women and children, throughout the conflict. This study aimed to better understand the humanitarian health response for women and children in Somalia since 2000. Methods: The study utilized a mixed-methods design. We collated intervention coverage data from publically available large-scale household surveys and we conducted 32 interviews with representatives from government, UN agencies, NGOs, and health facility staff. Qualitative data were analyzed using latent content analysis. Results: The available quantitative data on intervention coverage in Somalia are extremely limited, making it difficult to discern patterns or trends over time or by region. Underlying sociocultural and other contextual factors most strongly affecting the humanitarian health response for women and children included clan dynamics and female disempowerment. The most salient operational influences included the assessment of population needs, donors' priorities, and insufficient and inflexible funding. Key barriers to service delivery included chronic commodity and human resource shortages, poor infrastructure, and limited access to highly vulnerable populations, all against the backdrop of ongoing insecurity. Various strategies to mitigate these barriers were discussed. In-country coordination of humanitarian health actors and their activities has improved over time, with federal and state-level ministries of health playing increasingly active roles. Conclusions: Emerging recommendations include further exploration of government partnerships with private-sector service providers to make services available throughout Somalia free of charge, with further research on innovative uses of technology to help reaches remote and inaccessible areas. To mitigate chronic skilled health worker shortages, more operational research is needed on the expanded use of community health workers. Persistent gaps in service provision across the continuum must be addressed, including for adolescents, for example. The is also a clear need for longer term development focus to enable the provision of health and nutrition services for women and children beyond those included in recurrent emergency response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misinformation and distrust often prevent individuals from minority communities to seek adequate healthcare, including genetic services. Immigrants appear to be further burdened by factors that negatively impact their health outcomes and little is known about their experience with genetic services. We sought to identify attitudes and perception of genetic services in one immigrant group, the Somali community of Minnesota and to establish a culturally informed framework for caring for members. A qualitative study comprised of 11 semi‐structured key informant interviews was conducted and analyzed using a thematic approach. Main themes emerged from the analysis fell within one of four major topics: (a) Somali views and perspective on genetics and healthcare, (b) barriers to uptake of genetic services, (c) facilitators to uptake of genetic services, and (d) perspective on genetic service delivery subtypes. Somali views and perspective on genetics are often framed by religious and cultural values. These values, at times, conflicted with those common in the American healthcare system. Supports for different genetic service delivery subtypes also varied, ranging from little to no support in prenatal screening to generally positive support for pharmacogenetic testing. Future studies should prioritize topics with support and ways to better provide genetic counseling services within the Somali community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on Dr. Melonas' creative exploration of the act of letter writing, Dr. Jasmine Noelle Yarish draws lessons for liberation from the Afro-futuristic science fiction of Octavia Butler. This volume offers in-depth considerations of the ways that radical self-care practices among women of color communities can serve as forms of liberatory practice and political resistance. Through her exploration of Butler's work, Dr. Yarish recognizes conceptual and disciplinary relationships inherent within Black feminist political thought, Afro-futurism, and the politics of self-care. [Extracted from the article]

In 2009, the National Society of Genetic Counselors Service (NSGC) Delivery Model Task Force defined genetic counseling service delivery models including telephone (genetic counseling provided remotely by telephone) and telegenetics (counseling provided remotely using videoconferencing). Little is known about the experience of genetic counselors practicing telemedicine in the USA. We sought to evaluate perceived satisfaction, advantages, disadvantages, and barriers to the practice and implementation of telegenetics by practicing genetic counselors. A 21-question online survey was distributed via the NSGC’s member directory. Descriptive statistics and a thematic analysis were used to analyze data. A total of 344 surveys were completed of which 235 (68.3%) respondents had delivered genetic counseling via telemedicine and 109 (36.6%) had not. Overall genetic counseling providers who had provided telegenetics were satisfied or very satisfied with their position (91%) and those who were not performing telegenetics were at least slightly interested in a telehealth position (92%).The most common appealing reasons for working in or wanting to work in telemedicine included an innovative approach to healthcare delivery, aspects of remote positions such as the ability to work from home, and flexibility of hours. Unappealing characteristics of telemedicine included the inability to see nonverbals, limited psychosocial counseling, and limited social interaction with colleague that is associated with remote positions. Barriers to implementation of telegenetics were noted by 53% of respondents with the largest barrier being billing and reimbursement. The results of this work suggest that telegenetics service organizations could consider increasing social interactions, attempting to use the preferred method of care (video) to increase ability to see nonverbals, offering flexible work hours, and allowing time to address psychosocial issues as they arise in consultations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effect of using tiger nut flour to improve the functional properties of gluten-free biscuit was explored. Corn flour in the biscuit formulation was replaced at three levels, 10, 20, and 30% with tiger nut flour (TNF). Biscuit containing only corn flour was used as control. Prepared biscuits were analyzed for their proximate composition, physical properties, diameter, thickness, color, texture, and were subjected to measurements using differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Incorporation of tiger nut flour resulted in a significant increase in fibre and ash contents and in a decrease in protein content. The spread ratio of the biscuits increased significantly by increasing TNF content, which is considered a desirable quality attribute. Tiger nut-containing biscuits exhibited lower total color difference ΔE value compared to the control sample. Thermal characteristics of TNF-containing biscuits differed significantly (P≤0.05) from the control where TNF resulted in decreased onset gelatinization temperature (To) and peak temperature (Tp). Furthermore, enthalpies of control biscuits were significantly higher than of those containing TNF; that might be due to partial gelatinization since their enthalpies were smaller than in control biscuits. Measurement of baked biscuits texture showed that hardness and resilience values decreased when TNF content in the biscuit formulation increased. Microscopic observation revealed that TNF-containing biscuits had the most uniform and homogeneous pore distributions. These attributes probably positively influenced the quality with better surface characteristics. The results of this study revealed that incorporating TNF at the ration of 20% resulted in biscuits of superior technological quality expressed in shape, cross section structure, hardness, and surface appearance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are endowed with several medicinal properties, including antiviral activity. We demonstrate here that the recently identified type I RIP from Momordica balsamina also possesses antiviral activity, as determined by viral growth curve assays and single-round infection experiments. Importantly, this activity is at play even as doses where the RIP has no cytotoxic effect. In addition, balsamin inhibits HIV-1 replication not only in T cell lines but also in human primary CD4+ T cells. This antiviral compound exerts its activity at a viral replicative step occurring later than reverse-transcription, most likely on viral protein translation, prior to viral budding and release. Finally, we demonstrate that balsamin antiviral activity is broad since it also impedes influenza virus replication. Altogether our results demonstrate that type I RIP can exert a potent anti-HIV-1 activity which paves the way for new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of edible films to release antimicrobial constituents in food packaging is a form of active packaging. Different extractions of Myrtus communis, Urtica urens, Ziziphus spina-christi, and Zygophyllum coccineum were tested for their antimicrobial activity against the food pathogenic microorganisms Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Aspergillus niger by using agar diffusion assay method. Soy-starch and gelatin edible films were prepared and incorporated with Myrtus communis and Ziziphus spina-christi essential oils separately and as a mixture in different concentrations. The films were characterized for their antimicrobial activity by using agar diffusion assay method and their physico-chemical properties. The films were studied on different food applications (orange, apple, lemon, tomato, pizza dough, chicken salami, meat salami, artificial cheese, mayonnaise, yoghurt and skimmed cheese). The results showed that, the films extended the shelf-life of the food products depending on the effective chemical compounds of the essential oils α-pinene and limonene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) pose a considerable threat to modern medicine. New treatment options and methods to limit spread need to be investigated. Blue light (BL) is intrinsically antimicrobial, and we have previously demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects on biofilms of a panel of isolates, including two CPEs. This study was performed to assess the antibacterial activity of 405 nm BL against a panel of CPE isolates (four encoding blaNDM, three blaKPC, two blaOXA-48, and three encoding both NDM and OXA-48 carbapenemases). Methods: In vitro experiments were conducted on 72 h old biofilms of CPEs which were exposed to 60 mW/cm2 of BL. Changes to biofilm seeding were assessed by measuring the optical density of treated and untreated biofilms. Results: Twelve bacterial clinical isolates (comprising eight Klebsiella pnemoniae, one K. oxytoca, and three Escherichia coli) were tested. BL was delivered for 5, 15 and 30 min, achieving doses of 162, 54, and 108 J/cm2, respectively. All of the CPEs were susceptible to BL treatment, with increasing reductions in seeding with increasing durations of exposure. At 30 min, reductions in biofilm seeding of ≥80% were observed for 11 of the 12 isolates, compared to five of 12 after 15 min. CPE_8180 was less susceptible than the rest, with a maximum reduction in seeding of 66% at 30 min. Conclusions: BL is effective at reducing the seeding of mature CPE biofilms in vitro, and offers great promise as a topical decontamination/treatment agent for both clinical and environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 53-year-old woman with chronic plaque psoriasis treated with adalimumab (antitumour necrosis factor (anti TNF) a therapy) for 10 months presented with an 8 week history of hyperesthesia in a 'glove and stocking' distribution and clumsiness on walking. Nerve conduction studies confirmed the clinical diagnosis of a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). She was admitted and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and oral steroids and made an excellent recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of CIDP associated with anti TNF a therapy given to treat psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]