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Introduction: “Real altitude” (e.g. hypobaric hypoxia) has been reported to impair sleep and induce sleep disordered breathing (SDB). It is however not clear whether for the same ambient Oxygen pressure (PO2) “simulated altitude” in a hypoxic chamber (e.g. normobaric hypoxia;) generates similar sleep alterations. Materials and methods: Full polysomnography was performed on 13 healthy volunteers (33.9±9.1y.o, BMI: 23.5±2.2kg/m2) under three conditions: Hypobaric hypoxia (HH, Junfraujoch Switzerland, 3454m), normobaric hypoxia (NH, Sion, Switzerland, 500m, FiO2 =0.138 ) and Normobaric normoxia (NN, control night, Sion). NN and NH recordings were performed in a hypoxic chamber (randomized order, double blind). Polysomnography recordings were performed and scored according to the AASM recommendations. Results: For SDB, compared to NN condition, apnea hypopnea index (AHI) increased significantly in both hypoxic conditions (ANOVA): NN 7.1±1.2/h, NH 35.9±11.2/h (p =0.04), HH 38.0±9.7/h (p=0.02). The same was found for hypopnea: NN 6.7±1.2, NH 18.3±4.4 (p =0.04), HH 25.3±5.2 (p =0.004), oxygen desaturation index (ODI3%): NN 3.8±0.5/h, NH 43.9±10.9/h (p =0.008), HH 53.3±9.9/h (p =0.0009) and mean oxygen saturation (SaO2): NN 96.5±0.2%, NH 83.6±05% (p <0.0001); HH 81.2±0.87 (p <0.0001). Despite the same ambient PO2 (105mmHg), there was a significant difference between HH and NH in mean SpO2: −2.4% (p =0.04), and an increase in hypopnea index: +7/h (p =0.04) but no difference in AHI or central sleep apnea. Regarding sleep, compared to NN, there was in NH and HH a significant decrease in total sleep time: NN 388±13min, NH 317±18min (p =0.01), HH 351±17min (p =0.05), a significant increase in microarousal index: NN 17.3±1.8/h, NH 26.2±3.9/h (p =0.03), HH 24.6±3.8 (p =0.05) and a decrease in sleep efficiency between NN and HH: 8.4% (p =0.027). We also observed a significant increase in heart rate in hypoxic condition: NN 48.1±1.5, NH 54.7±1.6 (p =0.001), HH 61.2±2.7 (p =0.002). HR in HH was significantly higher (+6.5bpm, p =0.018) than in NH. Conclusion: Compared to NN, both HH and NH conditions increased AHI, hypopnea index, ODI 3%, heart rate and decreased total sleep time and mean SaO2. There was a further decrease in mean SpO2 and increase in HR and hypopnea in HH compared to NH, suggesting that HH and NH may have different physiological effect despite the same PO2. Acknowledgement: Swiss national science foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder with unknown etiology that causes cognitive impairment, affecting thinking, behavior, social function, sleep and dream content. This study considered the dream content of patients with schizophrenia, siblings of patients with schizophrenia, patients with psychiatric diagnoses other than schizophrenia, and a group of healthy controls. The aim of this study was to compare the dream content of patients with schizophrenia with dream content of individuals with other mental disorders, first degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia, and community controls. Materials and methods: Seventy-two patients were selected and placed in 4 groups. The first group consisted of 18 inpatients with schizophrenia whose medications were stable for at least four weeks; the second group consisted of 16 nonpsychotic mentally ill inpatients; the third group consisted of 18 individuals who were siblings of patients with schizophrenia; and the fourth group consisted of 20 healthy individuals in the community with no family history of mental or somatic disorders. The four groups were matched by age and gender. A 14-item dream content questionnaire was administered for all the participants, and the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) was also administered for the two groups of hospitalized patients. Results: There were significant differences in dream content among groups included friends acquaintances, females and colorful components. No significant differences were found between the positive and negative subscales of PANSS and any of the dream questionnaire subscales. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there were a few changes in the dream content of the patients with schizophrenia compare to other groups. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by a grant from Department of Research, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (Research No. 85010). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: After transition to buccal swabs (SWs) for Be The Match Registry® recruitment activities in 2006, a study was initiated to evaluate the long-term stability of three sample types: frozen whole blood, whole blood spotted on filter paper (FP), and SW. Samples were analyzed for quality and quantity of DNA and accuracy of HLA typing. Data obtained from the first 5 years of the study are presented. Methods: Fresh blood and SWs were collected from 30 volunteers with confirmed HLA typing. Fresh blood was stored as 1ml frozen aliquots and 75uL aliquots on FP. SWs and FP were stored at room temperature under controlled conditions. Samples were sent to 2 labs for testing at 6 time points (TP) immediately post collection and at one year storage intervals. Lab 1 performed high resolution HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1 via SBT. Lab 2 performed intermediate resolution HLA-A, B, C and DRB1 via SSO and evaluated the quantity/quality of DNA within each sample. Results: SSO and SBT HLA results were accurate at all loci through the 4 year TP. At 5 year TP, SSO results were 100% accurate, whereas SBT results were 99.4% accurate for FP and 97.3% for SWs. One FP and 4 SWs had amp failure, 5 SWs had allele drop-out and 1 SW had both. 19 FP and SW samples required repeat testing at multiple loci to obtain accurate HLA results. Sufficient DNA for HLA testing was extracted from all samples at all time points. DNA quality from frozen whole blood remained high thru year 5. DNA quality consistently decreased for the FP starting at the 3 year TP, 1 year TP for SWs. Conclusions: Room temp storage of SWs and FP allows for DNA degradation, creating HLA testing inaccuracies and inefficiencies. Specifically, shorter amplicons were required to achieve accurate SBT results, though failures still persisted. DNA degradation did not affect SSO typing. Buccal swabs are a cost effective and efficient mechanism for registry DNA sample collection and storage, but shelf-life at room temperature is limited for Sanger SBT HLA typing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capability to read microexpressions, i.e., brief (<500ms) facial expressions of emotion, can be very valuable in social interaction to infer an adversary’s emotions and intentions (e.g., Matsumoto and Hwang, 2011). In terms of the neuronal underpinnings, there is a wealth of neuroimaging studies yielding visual, limbic, temporoparietal and prefrontal areas, as well as putamen and cerebellum as core players in emotional face processing (for a meta-analysis, see Fusar-Poli et al., 2009). However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated the brain regions that are relevant for the correct detection of microexpressions. To investigate this, we accomplished a functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRI) study with 51 healthy young volunteers. Participants’ task was to detect the emotion (happy, angry, fearful, neutral) on a briefly presented face (<=100ms) masked by a neutral face in a forced choice manner. Mean behavioural performance was between 0.79 and 0.85 for all emotions (as measured with the Grier sensitivity index, see Grier, 1971); specifically, the performance was best for happy and worst for fearful faces. Using multiple regression, fMRI data were analysed for each the emotional versus neutral faces with the performance in the respective condition as covariate of interest. This revealed increasing activation with higher performance in the basal ganglia for the negative faces (see Fig. 1 for fearful faces) and in orbitofrontal areas for happy and angry faces. Orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia are both known to be involved in the processing of emotional faces. This study however, is the first one that revealed these regions to play a role in the correct detection of certain microexpressions. For future studies, it is of great interest as to whether different personality traits that correlate with the detection performance of microexpressions (e.g. alexithymia) predict activation in basal ganglia and orbitofrontal cortex. Negative correlation of performance for the detection of fearful faces with activation for fearful versus neutral faces. The peak is in the left putamen. Significance level is family-wise-error corrected (p <0.05) at cluster level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Diagnostic Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs) are commonly elicited with a round coil for cortical and spinal stimulation in combination with peripheral electric stimulation. Especially for lower extremity MEPs, the stimulator output often limits the efficacy of the examination. This raises the issue, whether the lack of MEPs is the result of true pathophysiological changes or the result of non-optimal stimulation. Objectives: High-intensity coils (HIC) induce a higher electric field thought for deeper tissue penetration. Thus, those might be useful for standard diagnostic setting especially for lower extremity muscles, as well for spinal and peripheral nerve stimulation. Another advantage is that the exam could be performed with one coil only. Thus motor thresholds and latencies obtained with an H-coil and a round coil were compared. Methods: In 25 healthy volunteers (29 ±11.6; 11m), bilateral Abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB) and Abd. hallucis muscle (AH) MEPs were elicited with the following protocol: (a) “high-intensity-coil” (Max e-field at 25mm depth 204V/m; Nexstim Co., Finland) for cortical, spinal (cervical and lumbar) and peripheral (median nerve at wrist, tibial nerve at medial malleolus) and (b) with a commercial round-coil (9cm diameter, Magstim Co., UK) for cortical, spinal (cervical and lumbar) and electric anodal stimulation at the median nerve at wrist and tibial nerve at the medial malleolus. Cortical stimulation was performed with slight preinnervation, all other stimulations were performed in relaxed muscle. Motor thresholds and latencies were compared with the paired t-test, the level of significance was set at 0.01. Results: MEPs and peripheral responses could be elicited in all healthy volunteers. There were any significant differences between right and left muscles allowing for common comparison into one group. Conclusions: MT for HIC was significantly shorter compared to the round coil, demonstrating the efficacy this coil type. As both coils were used at motor threshold, average latencies elicited with the H-coil were only 0.1ms shorter, which reached a weak significance for cortical stimulation with the APB and for spinal stimulation for the AH, as well as for AH elicited by peripheral stimulation. This is explained by the deeper penetration of the electromagnetic field by the H-coil and in case of the peripheral stimulation by smaller distance to the recording electrode. The HIC may be used for standard diagnostics, but requires new normative values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Efficacy of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in prevention of HIV acquisition has been evaluated using a daily regimen. However, adherence to long term daily medication is rarely perfect. Intermittent regimen may be a feasible alternative. Preclinical studies have demonstrated effectiveness of intermittent PrEP in SHIV prevention among animals. However, little is known about intermittent PrEP regimens. Design:Seventy two HIV-uninfected volunteers in HIV serodiscordant couple relationships in Uganda were randomly assigned to receive daily oral Tenofovir/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC-Truvada) or placebo, or intermittent (Monday, Friday and within 2 hours after sex, not to exceed one dose per day) oral TDF/FTC or placebo in a 2:1:2:1 ratio. Volunteers and study staff were blinded to drug assignment, but not to regimen assignment. Methods:Volunteers were followed for 4 months after randomization, with monthly clinical and laboratory safety assessments and comprehensive HIV risk reduction services. Adherence was monitored using medication event monitoring system (MEMS) and self-report. Sexual activity data were collected via daily short text message (SMS) and self-report. HIV-specific immune responses were assessed by IFN-γ ELISPOT. Results:Both daily and intermittent oral TDF/FTC regimens were well tolerated. Median MEMS adherence rates were 98% (IQR: 93-100) for daily PrEP regimen, 91% (IQR: 73-97) for fixed intermittent dosing and 45% (IQR: 20-63) for post-coital dosing. SMS response rate was 74%, but increased to 80% after excluding server outages; results may have been affected by the novelty of this measure. The majority of volunteers expressed willingness with no particular preference for either regimen. Conclusions:Both daily and intermittent oral PrEP dosing regimens were safe. Adherence was high for daily and fixed intermittent dosing; post-coital dosing was associated with poor adherence. Fixed intermittent PrEP regimens may be feasible especially if a minimum effective drug concentration correlating with HIV prevention can be achieved with this dosing. Registration:Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT00931346 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in spleen and liver diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in chronic viral hepatitis patients. The study comprised 47 patients and 30 healthy volunteers. DWIs were obtained. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) measurements were made by transferring the images to the workstation. The measurements of value b 1000 were made from a total of five points of the liver and three points of the spleen. Liver biopsy was performed on the 47 patients. The fibrosis stages of the patients were defined according to the METAVIR scoring system. Student's t-test was used in the comparison of mean ages, liver and spleen ADC values between the patient and the control group. Kruskal–Wallis followed by Mann–Whitney U Test with Bonferroni adjustment was performed in the comparison of mean ADC values of the patients at different stages and the control group. A statistically significant difference was determined between the patient and control group in respect of liver and spleen mean ADC values (P <0.05). F3 group showed a significant difference compared to control and F1 and F4 group showed a significant difference compared to control, F1, F2 and F3 group in terms of the mean liver ADC value (P <0.01). F3 and F4 group showed a significant difference compared to control and F1 group in terms of the mean spleen ADC value (P <0.01). As a result we believe that the measurement of liver and spleen ADC values may be an indicator in the determination of the level of fibrosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the the success of Canadian Urological Association (CUA) to the volunteers and their expertise. It states that the improvements of the journal is attributed to the members who volunteer their expertise as reviewers and for other tasks. It also mentions that volunteerism is rewarding and as reported by manager of Beatles Ltd, Allen Klein that research has proven that people who volunteer can live longer.

Introduction: In this study, a total of 3694 Gram-negative bacteria, mainly isolated from the feces and saliva, were gathered over 1 year to determine the effect of four different antibiotic treatments (minocycline, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin) on the composition of antibiotic resistance genes present in these bacteria in human volunteers. Methods: An expanded Gram-negative microarray was used for detecting antibiotic resistance genes in aerobic and anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria isolated from a range of samples from different treatment and placebo groups. The largest proportion of isolates received from all treatment and placebo groups were from feces and were Escherichia coli. Results: Using our microarray, the diversity of resistance genes in aerobic bacteria was much greater for aerobic bacteria than for anaerobic bacteria irrespective of treatment; up to 50 different genes were detected in aerobic isolates and only up to eight different resistance genes in anaerobes. Also, E. coli generally harbored a much greater number of resistances than non-E. coli isolates, with the maximum number being 15. The array results also indicated that certain resistance genes were much more prevalent than others, with blaTEM being the most prevalent across all groups, irrespective of treatment. This suggests widespread circulation of mobile genetic elements carrying this resistance gene. Anaerobic bacteria were unlikely to harbor resistance genes common in aerobes, although sul2 was also detected in a small number of anaerobic bacteria. The data showed that the percentage of isolates harboring resistances to three or more classes of antibiotic were similar for all treatment groups including the placebos, at approximately 36%. Further analysis indicated that in the amoxicillin treatment groups, the percentage of multi-resistant isolates increased at day 11 post-treatment. We also noted a dramatic decrease in the percentage of isolates with no resistance genes in the ciprofloxacin and clindamycin groups following treatment, indicating a possible effect of antibiotic treatment on the resident microbiota. In some participants, conserved resistance gene sets were identified across multiple time-points for all treatment groups, including placebo. For selected examples, pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed and showed that isolates with the same resistance genes generally had identical PFGE profiles, even when collected from visits that were months apart. Discussion: These results indicate multi-drug resistant E. coli to be currently more prevalent in the individuals studied than other Gram-negative aerobic bacteria. We also noted the persistence of some isolates harboring resistance genes to multiple antibiotic classes, which was maintained in the absence of any antibiotic treatment. We did not detect any long-term changes to the overall antibiotic resistance gene composition from cultivable Gram-negative bacteria as a consequence of treatment with these antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the correlation between school canteens and healthy eating promotion, based on a project in which volunteers at Maroondah Secondary School assisted canteen staff in increasing social connectedness. The project examined if social connectedness can help reduce obesity by working in the canteen. Volunteers also acquired personal skills after the project aside from building social capital and community connectedness.

The article reports that the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is looking for volunteer participants in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study that is examining health effects of oil spill cleanup work following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Background & Aims: Rebound acid hypersecretion (RAHS) has been demonstrated after 8 weeks of treatment with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI). If RAHS induces acid-related symptoms, this might lead to PPI dependency and thus have important implications. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 120 healthy volunteers was conducted. Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of placebo or 8 weeks of esomeprazole 40 mg/d followed by 4 weeks with placebo. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) was filled out weekly. A score of >2 on 1 of the questions regarding heartburn, acid regurgitation, or dyspepsia was defined as a clinically relevant acid-related symptom. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in GSRS scores at baseline. GSRS scores for acid-related symptoms were significantly higher in the PPI group at week 10 (1.4 ± 1.4 vs 1.2 ± 0.9; P = .023), week 11 (1.4 ± 1.4 vs 1.2 ± 0.9; P = .009), and week 12 (1.3 ± 1.2 vs 1.0 ± 0.3; P = .001). Forty-four percent (26/59) of those randomized to PPI reported ≥1 relevant, acid-related symptom in weeks 9–12 compared with 15% (9/59; P < .001) in the placebo group. The proportion reporting dyspepsia, heartburn, or acid regurgitation in the PPI group was 13 of 59 (22%) at week 10, 13 of 59 (22%) at week 11, and 12 of 58 (21%) at week 12. Corresponding figures in the placebo group were 7% at week 10 (P = .034), 5% at week 11 (P = .013), and 2% at week 12 (P = .001). Conclusions: PPI therapy for 8 weeks induces acid-related symptoms in healthy volunteers after withdrawal. This study indicates unrecognized aspects of PPI withdrawal and supports the hypothesis that RAHS has clinical implications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: When we look at a scene our scanning eye movements are not random . Remarkably, different observers look at similar points in a given image. One explanation is that our understanding of the scene controls the paths our eyes take — so called ‘top-down’ control. An alternative possibility is that the visual system uses low-level ‘bottom-up’ features, such as edges, contrast or boundaries, to determine where the eyes land . Fixated locations have been shown to contain higher values of ‘low-level’ visual features than non-fixated ones . Moreover, biologically-plausible, low-level computational saliency maps produce scanpaths similar to those traced by human eye movements . However, there is controversy about the role of bottom-up versus top-down control of eye movements . To test between these possibilities, we measured the eye movements of two patients with visual agnosia who are severely impaired at recognizing objects or scenes, and therefore diverge from healthy volunteers in their understanding of the scene. Despite this, we found that, when inspecting a picture, their eyes look at the same locations as healthy individuals for the first few fixations. Initial eye movements, during a recognition task, therefore, are not affected by an impaired explicit understanding of the scene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports that the charity Blue Mountain Project, which promotes community development in rural Jamaica, is in search of volunteers. The project's Hagley Gap Health Clinic provides dental care services including oral examination, oral hygiene instruction. Volunteer dental teams are expected to be familiar with prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and simple restorative procedures.