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Background: Sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia or lumbar puncture is a rare phenomenon that is thought to occur when reduced cerebrospinal fluid pressure is transmitted to the inner ear through an enlarged cochlear aqueduct. Method: This study presents two cases of sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section as well as presenting results of a systemic review of the available literature using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Full-text articles from Medline, PubMed and Embase were used, as well as associated reference lists. Risk factors associated with poorer outcomes and an approach to management of this rare condition are also discussed. Results: Twenty-one cases were identified. The literature was systematically reviewed showing presentations, investigations performed, treatments offered and outcomes. Conclusion: Sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia or lumbar puncture is a rare occurrence that requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and prompt investigation and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypertension is a multifactorial disease that has, thus far, proven to be a difficult target for pharmacological intervention. The application of proteomic strategies may help to identify new biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prompt treatment of hypertension, in order to control blood pressure and prevent organ damage. Areas covered: Advances in proteomics have led to the discovery of new biomarkers to help track the pathophysiological processes implicated in hypertension. These findings not only help to better understand the nature of the disease, but will also contribute to the clinical needs for a timely diagnosis and more precise treatment. In this review, we provide an overview of new biomarkers identified in hypertension through the application of proteomic techniques, and we also discuss the difficulties and challenges in identifying biomarkers in this clinical setting. We performed a literature search in PubMed with the key words 'hypertension' and 'proteomics', and focused specifically on the most recent literature on the utility of proteomics in hypertension research. Expert opinion: There have been several promising biomarkers of hypertension identified by proteomics, but too few have been introduced to the clinic. Thus, further investigations in larger cohorts are necessary to test the feasibility of this strategy for patients. Also, this emerging field would profit from more collaboration between clinicians and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Participatory research (PR) trials aim to achieve the dual, and at times competing, demands of producing an intervention and research process that address community perspectives and priorities, while establishing intervention effectiveness. Objective. To identify research and community priorities that must be reconciled in the areas of collaborative processes, study design and aim and study implementation quality in order to successfully conduct a participatory trial. We describe how this reconciliation was approached in the smoking prevention participatory trial Padres Informados/Jovenes Preparados (Informed Parents/Prepared Youth) and evaluate the success of our reconciled priorities. Methods. Data sources to evaluate success of the reconciliations included a survey of all partners regarding collaborative group processes, intervention participant recruitment and attendance and surveys of enrolled study participants assessing intervention outcomes. Results. While we successfully achieved our reconciled collaborative processes and implementation quality goals, we did not achieve our reconciled goals in study aim and design. Due in part to the randomized wait-list control group design chosen in the reconciliation process, we were not able to demonstrate overall efficacy of the intervention or offer timely services to families in need of support. Conclusion. Achieving the goals of participatory trials is challenging but may yield community and research benefits. Innovative research designs are needed to better support the complex goals of participatory trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To obtain contextualized insights from professionals regarding factors that contribute to or inhibit the healthy development of Latino youth. Method. A community-engaged study in which semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 professionals who work extensively with Latino youth in urban clinics, schools, and other community-based settings. Results. Every key informant expressed opinions regarding factors that contribute to healthy development of Latino youth, ranging from cultural identity and a sense of belonging to family connectedness and adult role models. Contributing and inhibiting factors were characterized by being either intrinsic to the individual (e.g., sense of belonging, hope) or extrinsic (e.g., family support and love, community support). Conclusion. Recognition of and appreciation for the importance of cultural influences in the lives of Latino youth is a critical starting point on which professionals must build to respectfully and successfully encourage healthy youth development. Factors that contribute to the healthy development of Latino youth range from cultural identity and cultural pride to family connectedness, adult role models, and a sense of belonging. In working with Latino young people, professionals must recognize and appreciate cultural influences as foundational to this population’s health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose The Munich Wistar Frömter ( MWF) rat strain represents an experimental model to study cardiovascular alterations under conditions of progressive albuminuria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between genetic predisposition to albuminuria and the development of arterial stiffness and/or vascular remodelling. Experimental Approach Experiments were performed in mesenteric arteries from 12-week-old MWF, Wistar Kyoto ( WKY) and consomic MWF-6SHR and MWF-8SHR rats in which chromosomes 6 or 8 associated with albuminuria from MWF were replaced by the respective chromosome from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Key Results Incremental distensibility, wall stress and strain were reduced, and arterial stiffness was significantly increased in albuminuric MWF compared with WKY. Albuminuria suppression in both consomic strains was associated with lower β-values in MWF-8SHR and MWF-6SHR compared with MWF. Moreover, elastin content was significantly lower in MWF external elastic lamina compared with WKY and both consomic strains. In addition, a reduction in arterial external and internal diameter and cross-sectional area was detected in MWF compared with WKY, thus exhibiting an inward hypotrophic remodelling. However, these alterations remained unchanged in both consomic strains. Conclusion and Implications These data demonstrate that albuminuria in MWF is associated with increased arterial stiffness due to a reduction of elastin content in the external elastic lamina. Moreover, inward hypotrophic remodelling in MWF is not directly associated with albuminuria. In contrast, we demonstrated that two major genetic loci affect both the development of albuminuria and arterial stiffness, thus linking albuminuria and impairment of mechanical properties of resistance arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Despite declines over recent years, youth tobacco and other substance use rates remain high. Latino youth are at equal or increased risk for lifetime tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug use compared with their white peers. Family plays an important and influential role in the lives of youth, and longitudinal research suggests that improving parenting skills may reduce youth substance use. However, few interventions are oriented towards immigrant Latino families, and none have been developed and evaluated using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process that may increase the effectiveness and sustainability of such projects. Therefore, using CBPR principles, we developed a randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a family-skills training intervention to prevent tobacco and other substance use intentions in Latino youth. Methods/Design: In collaboration with seven Latino community-serving agencies, we will recruit and randomize 336 immigrant families, into intervention or delayed treatment conditions. The primary outcome is youth intention to smoke 6 months post intervention. The intervention consists of eight parent and four youth sessions targeting parenting skills and parent-youth relational factors associated with lower smoking and other substance use in youth. Discussion: We present the study protocol for a family intervention using a CBPR randomized clinical trial to prevent smoking among Latino youth. The results of this trial will contribute to the limited information on effective and sustainable primary prevention programs for tobacco and other substance use directed at the growing US Latino communities. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01442753 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background.: Participatory research (PR) trials aim to achieve the dual, and at times competing, demands of producing an intervention and research process that address community perspectives and priorities, while establishing intervention effectiveness.Objective.: To identify research and community priorities that must be reconciled in the areas of collaborative processes, study design and aim and study implementation quality in order to successfully conduct a participatory trial. We describe how this reconciliation was approached in the smoking prevention participatory trial Padres Informados/Jovenes Preparados (Informed Parents/Prepared Youth) and evaluate the success of our reconciled priorities.Methods.: Data sources to evaluate success of the reconciliations included a survey of all partners regarding collaborative group processes, intervention participant recruitment and attendance and surveys of enrolled study participants assessing intervention outcomes.Results.: While we successfully achieved our reconciled collaborative processes and implementation quality goals, we did not achieve our reconciled goals in study aim and design. Due in part to the randomized wait-list control group design chosen in the reconciliation process, we were not able to demonstrate overall efficacy of the intervention or offer timely services to families in need of support.Conclusion.: Achieving the goals of participatory trials is challenging but may yield community and research benefits. Innovative research designs are needed to better support the complex goals of participatory trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Adverse intrauterine growth induced by maternal undernutrition during pregnancy (MUN) is associated with low birth weight of the offspring and later development of hypertension. This process, known as fetal programming, has less impact on female offspring, which exhibit lower levels of blood pressure in adult life compared to males. Given the role of oxidative stress in the development of cardiovascular diseases we aimed to asses if fetal programming induces perinatal alterations in oxidative-antioxidant balance and the possible differences between males and females.Methods. Sprague Dawley rats were used. Control (C) dams were fed ad libitum during pregnancy and lactation. MUN dams were fed 50% of the calculated ad libitum daily intake during the second half of gestation and returned to ad libitum diet during lactation. Offspring from both groups was standardized to 12 pups/litter (6 males and 6 females) and the rats were used at weaning (21 days). The rats were weighted at birth and at weaning. A blood sample was obtained by cardiac puncture at day 21 and the following parameters were measured in plasma: protein carbonyls, thiols, glutathion (spectrophotometric methods); total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide anion scavenging activity (SOSA) (luminometer) and catalase activity (Amplex red, fluorescence).Results. Compared to C offspring, MUN rats exhibited a reduced weight at birth and at weaning. The weight difference was similar in males and females. Male MUN rats showed: 1) reduced plasma thiols, glutation, and SOSA levels; 2) increased carbonyl levels and 3) no differences in TAC and catalase activity. Female MUN rats showed no differences in any of the parameters measured, compared to female control rats.Conclusions. These data suggest that fetal stress induced by maternal undernutrition in pregnancy affects the oxidative status at an early stage of development with a sex-dependent pattern. The lower level of plasma antioxidants in male offspring is likely to contribute to the higher level of hypertension developed by males compared to females in adult life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic evaluation is an essential tool for understanding program effectiveness. This article describes the pilot test of a statewide evaluation tool for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program"Education (SNAP-Ed). A computer algorithm helped Community Nutrition Educators (CNEs) build surveys specific to their varied educational settings and curricula. The algorithm determined whether a written evaluation survey was appropriate for audiences and provided a selection of questions based on key nutrition messages presented. Feedback from CNEs regarding the evaluation tool-building process with pre-existing questions indicated that, with revisions, there was value in implementing it on a statewide basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]