Search

Alzheimer’s disease spans a heterogeneous collection of typical and atypical phenotypes. Posterior cortical atrophy represents one of the most striking examples, characterised by prominent impairment in visual and other posterior functions in contrast to typical, predominantly amnestic Alzheimer’s disease. Whilst putative posterior cortical atrophy subtypes include dorsal, ventral, caudal and dominant parietal presentations, investigations of posterior cortical atrophy subtypes are rare. The current study establishes how the similarities and differences of cognition and neural integrity within posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimer’s disease (and by extension other Alzheimer’s disease variants), can be conceptualised as systematic variations across a unified transdiagnostic, graded multidimensional space. Principal component analysis was applied to detailed neuropsychological cognitive and visual data from a large cohort of posterior cortical atrophy (N=93) and typical Alzheimer’s disease patients (N=58). Voxel-based morphometry was then used to explore neural correlates of the emergent transdiagnostic PCA phenotype dimensions. The principal component analysis for posterior cortical atrophy extracted three dimensions, reflecting general cognitive, visuoperceptual and visuospatial impairments. Projecting typical Alzheimer’s disease cases into the posterior cortical atrophy-derived multidimensional space, and vice versa, revealed graded, overlapping variations between cases along these dimensions, with no evidence for categorical-like clustering of the patients. Likewise, the relationship between neural integrity and scores on the extracted dimensions was overlapping for PCA and tAD. The results are consistent with phenotypic continua spanning posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimer’s disease, arising from systematic graded variations within a transdiagnostic, multidimensional neurocognitive geometry.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a group of neurodegenerative disorders featuring primary-language impairments and typically classified into three-variants: semantic, non-fluent and logopenic. Yet their language profiles significantly overlap. Language deficits can also occur in other frontotemporal dementias (FTD) like progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal syndrome, suggesting that language symptoms are transdiagnostic. Though brain atrophy determines language difficulties, similar atrophy profiles often are related to different language deficits, and different atrophies can cause similar impairments (e.g., logopenic/non-fluent PPA). We apply a transdiagnotic approach to link the language variantions across FTD-PPA spectrum to their underlying neuroanatomical factors. Principal component analysis identified three language dimensions (motor-speech/phonology, semantics and syntax) and thirteen atrophic dimensions, including temporal, frontal, parietal regions. While anterior temporal lobe atrophy predicts semantic impairments, frontoparietal atrophies predict motor-speech/phonology, and syntax. Atrophy and language variations across FTD-PPA syndromes are deconstructed on a brain-behaviour continuum, with only semantic variants being clearly separate.

Purpose: To establish convergent validity of a previously designed medication literacy instrument for use in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Zaria, Kaduna State from May to August 2021, with structured instruments administered to conveniently sampled members of the public via one-on-one interviews to collect data. These instruments included a previously designed medication literacy assessment instrument and the Newest Vital Sign United Kingdom version (NVS-UK) health literacy assessment questionnaire. Data obtained was reported using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Three hundred respondents were interviewed, majority of whom were females (51 %) and aged between 15 – 25 (76.6 %). The percentage of correct responses to the NVS-UK questions ranged from 22 to 58.3 %, while the total number of NVS-UK questions answered correctly by respondents ranged from 0 to 6 with a mean of 2.2 ± 1.7. Respondents’ NVS-UK scores were associated with their highest level of education completed (p = 0.001). The NVS-UK showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.7) and validation of the developed medication literacy instrument against the NVS-UK demonstrated a Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient of 0.42. Conclusion: The designed instrument is valid and can be used to assess medication literacy within the country.

Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy (BSCL) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of the common pathway of acylglycerol and phospholipid synthesis. Patients with this condition present with generalized lipoatrophy, hepatomegaly, acromegalic features, hypertrichosis, and developmental delay. But on workup, they may also be discovered to have hypertriglyceridemia with or without hypercholesterolemia and insulin resistance. A high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis which may have implications in management. Here we present a 5-year old male with clinical features of BSCL. BSCL2 gene sequencing done showed a homozygous c.782dupG, p.(Ile262Hisfs*12) sequence alteration, classified as pathogenic, hence, confirming the diagnosis of BSCL. This is the first reported case in the Philippines.

The main purpose of this study is to obtain the water infiltration parameters of the soils of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. This could be used in simulating infiltration for these soils when designing irrigation projects, thereby saving time and cost of field measurement. Field measurements of infiltration were first made using a double ring infiltrometer. The test lasted for 180 mins in each location. Infiltration values ranged from 0.03 cm/min to 0.1 cm/min. The highest value was obtained in the Forest Block. Kostiakov’s infiltration model was then applied on the field data in order to determine the soils’ infiltration parameters and equations. The model empirical constants or parameters obtained were “m” and “n”. For “m” the values were: 0.53 for the soil of Forest Block, 0.42 for Poultry block, 0.50 for P.G. block, 0.41 for the soils of Staff School and Guest House. The corresponding “n” values were: 1.37, 1.12, 0.37, 1.79, and 1.38. Infiltration equations: 0.4It1.38, 0.4lt1.79, 0.42t1.12, and 0.53t1.37 were determined for the locations. These were used to simulate data which were evaluated by comparing them with the field data. The two data sets showed closed relationships. This implied that the model could be used to simulate water infiltration during irrigation projects in the farms of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

Davao City is overlapped by 8 watersheds all flowing into the Davao Gulf. These watersheds exemplify a range of cultural, environmental and economic stresses from the continual conversion of natural habitat for agricultural, urban, and industrial uses. These changes and their consequent pressures have not gone unnoticed and have surfaced through various channels into the political and public arenas. However, despite the awareness and actions from various sectoral initiatives, there is continual deterioration of trends across the ecosystems.Hydrology for Environment, Life and Policy (HELP) is a global initiative which encourages policy makers, water managers, scientists, and end-users to work together within a field-oriented context to closely integrate science into government policies and management strategies. Through Davao City’s participation in the HELP Network, the management of watersheds and water has improved not through the acquisition of additional external funds but by the increase in opportunity for dialogue between ‘water-related’ communities, which resulted to enhanced stakeholder understanding of issues and increased technical capacity of all involved.This paper demonstrates how the HELP principles can be applied in basins with limited resources and how these can positively influence the attitudes and behaviour of stakeholders. It highlights how HELP can act as a catalyst to motivate learning, engage competing sectors, and build collaboration to create science-backed frameworks for good water governance.Keywords: HELP, watershed, ecosystems, twinning, community management, empowerment, good governance, collaboration, conflict

Development of risk assessment methods for skin sensitization in the absence of toxicological data generated in animals represents a major scientific and technical challenge. The first step in human skin sensitization induction is the transport of sensitizer from the applied dose on the skin surface to the epidermis, where innate immune activation occurs. Building on the previous development of a time course in vitro human skin permeation assay, new kinetic data for 10 sensitizers and 2 nonsensitizers are reported. Multicompartmental modeling has been applied to analyze the data and determine candidate dose parameters for use in integrated risk assessment methods: the area under the curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (C(max)) in the epidermis. A model with two skin compartments, representing the stratum corneum and viable skin (epidermis and dermis), was chosen following a formal model selection process. Estimates of the uncertainty, as well as average values of the epidermal disposition kinetics parameters, were made by fitting to the time course skin permeation data from individual skin donors. A potential reduced time course method is proposed based on two time points at 4 and 24 h, which gives results close to those from the full time course for the current data sets. The time course data presented in this work have been provided as a resource for development of predictive in silico skin permeation models.

In vitro skin absorption methods exist in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline form (No. 428) and are used to estimate the degree of systemic penetration of chemicals through skin. More detailed kinetics of permeation through skin compartments are not described well by existing methods. This study was designed to assess the practical feasibility of generating compartmental (stratum corneum/epidermal/dermal) disposition and kinetic data of topically applied chemicals. For chemically induced effects initiated in the skin (e.g., skin allergy), the delivery of tissue concentrations of chemical will impact the incidence and severity of biological effect. Explicit data on the kinetics of chemical disposition in skin have not traditionally been needed for skin allergy risk assessment: current in vivo assays embody delivery implicitly. Under the 7th Amendment to the European Cosmetics Directive, in vivo assays (such as the local lymph node assay for skin sensitization) will not be permitted to assess cosmetic ingredients. New in vitro and in silico alternative approaches and ways of predicting risk of adverse effects in humans need to be developed, and new methods such as that described here provide a way of estimating delivered concentrations and the effect of formulation changes on that delivery. As we continue to deconstruct the contributing factors of skin allergy in humans, it will be useful to have methods available that can measure skin tissue compartment exposure levels delivered from different exposure use scenarios. Here we provide such a method. The method could also be used to generate useful data for developing in silico kinetic models of compartmental skin delivery and for refining data for skin delivery in relation to the evaluation of systemic toxicity.

In this review, we discuss and compare studies of xenobiotic metabolism in both human skin and 3D human skin reconstructs. In comparison to the liver, the skin is a less studied organ in terms of characterising metabolic capability. While the skin forms the major protective barrier to environmental chemical exposure, it is also a potential target organ for adverse health effects. Occupational, accidental or intended-use exposure to toxic chemicals could result in acute or delayed injury to the skin (e.g. inflammation, allergy, cancer). Skin metabolism may play a role in the manifestation or amelioration of adverse effects via the topical route. Today, we have robust testing strategies to assess the potential for local skin toxicity of chemical exposure. Such methods (e.g. the local lymph node assay for assessing skin sensitisation; skin painting carcinogenicity studies) incorporate skin metabolism implicitly in the in vivo model system used. In light of recent European legislation (i.e. 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive and Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of existing Chemicals (REACH)), non-animal approaches will be required to reduce and replace animal experiments for chemical risk assessment. It is expected that new models and approaches will need to account for skin metabolism explicitly, as the mechanisms of adverse effects in the skin are deconvoluted. 3D skin models have been proposed as a tool to use in new in vitro alternative approaches. In order to be able to use 3D skin models in this context, we need to understand their metabolic competency in relation to xenobiotic biotransformation and whether functional activity is representative of that seen in human skin. © 2007 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Objectives Little is known about the influence of control beliefs on antiretroviral drug adherence in patients who migrated from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in health locus of control and control beliefs between HIV infected patients from sub-Saharan Africa with and without a lifetime experience of migration. Methods A sample of 62 HIV infected consecutive patients referred to the HIV clinics at the University Hospital of Munster (Germany) and at the Rubaga Hospital Kampala (Uganda) were enrolled into this study. We compared three groups of patients: sub-Saharan African migrants, German patients, and local Ugandan patients. We used the German health and illness related control beliefs questionnaire (KKG), the Competence and control beliefs questionnaire (FKK), and the Powe Fatalism Inventory-HIV/AIDS-Version (PFI-HIV/AIDS-Version) and translated these scales into English and Luganda. In addition, the patients' sociodemographic, acculturation, clinical, and immunological data were registered. Results Significant results were shown in HIV related external locus of control between migrated sub-Saharan African and local Ugandan patients compared to German patients. General control beliefs showed no significant differences. In the PFI-HIV-Version, there was a significant difference between migrated sub-Saharan African and Ugandan patients compared to German patients. Conclusions Our data suggest that the experience of migration does not influence the locus of control. Compared to German HIV patients, African patients in general showed a significantly higher external health locus of control which might have implications for drug adherence.

Diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (DTPA) is a metal ion-chelating agent that has antimicrobial properties and potential therapeutic properties against metal-induced toxicities such as nickel allergy. In this study, the absorption properties of DTPA applied topically to rat skin are investigated in vitro, using a flow-through diffusion skin absorption model. [14C]DTPA was applied in solution in 60% ethanol (pH 6). Overall skin penetration into receptor fluid resulting from a topical dose of 0.13 mg/cm2 DTPA for 24 h was low at 1.27%. The local tissue distribution of DTPA was investigated using microautoradiography, and effects on the tissue were assessed by histology. Diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid was primarily associated with the stratum corneum and upper layers of the skin; minimal levels were observed in the dermis.

Extinction risk has been linked to biological and anthropogenic variables. Prediction of extinction risk in valuable fauna may not follow mainstream drivers when species are exploited for international markets. We use results from an International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List assessment of extinction risk in all 377 known species of sea cucumber within the order Aspidochirotida, many of which are exploited worldwide as luxury seafood for Asian markets. Extinction risk was primarily driven by high market value, compounded by accessibility and familiarity (well known) in the marketplace. Extinction risk in marine animals often relates closely to body size and small geographical range but our study shows a clear exception. Conservation must not lose sight of common species, especially those of high value. Greater human population density and poorer economies in the geographical ranges of endangered species illustrate that anthropogenic variables can also predict extinction risks in marine animals. Local-level regulatory measures must prevent opportunistic exploitation of high-value species. Trade agreements, for example CITES, may aid conservation but will depend on international technical support to low-income tropical countries. The high proportion of data deficient species also stresses a need for research on the ecology and population demographics of unglamorous invertebrates.

A computerized 24-h diet recall interview program (EPIC-SOFT) was developed for use in a large European multi-center study, namely the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). This program, which was adapted for each participating country and translated into nine languages, was developed to standardize interviews between the 22 EPIC centers. Common rules were pre-entered into the system to describe, quantify and probe approximately 1500-2200 foods and 150-350 recipes. Common methods used to classify and export the EPIC-SOFT dietary data facilitate their exchange, comparison and analysis. So far, EPIC-SOFT is the only available computerized 24-h diet recall system developed to provide comparable food consumption data between several European countries.

An updated compilation of published and new data of major-ion (Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Na, NO3, SO4) and methylsulfonate (MS) concentrations in snow from 520 Antarctic sites is provided by the national ITASE (International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition) programmes of Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and the national Antarctic programme of Finland. The comparison shows that snow chemistry concentrations vary by up to four orders of magnitude across Antarctica and exhibit distinct geographical patterns. The Antarctic-wide comparison of glaciochemical records provides a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of the fundamental factors that ultimately control the chemistry of snow or ice samples. This paper aims to initiate data compilation and administration in order to provide a framework for facilitation of Antarctic-wide snow chemistry discussions across all ITASE nations and other contributing groups. The data are made available through the ITASE web page (http://www2.umaine.edu/itase/content/syngroups/snowchem.html) and will be updated with new data as they are provided. In addition, recommendations for future research efforts are summarized.

In the country, sea cucumbers are exploited almost exclusively for export. It is harvested in three ways; commercial fishing, artisanal fishing and gleaning. These methods provide disproportionate economic benefits to these players in the supply chain. In this study, sea ranching, a new culture system for sea cucumber was analyzed in terms of its economic and commercial viability. Under the sea ranching system Holothuriascabra(sandfish) is the species being raised mainly due to its high economic value. Under the traditional method, labor comprises the largest share in the total cost, while the cost of juvenile and labor (monitoring cost) accounts to almost 87% in the sea ranching system. Based on the results of the study, selling dried sandfish would gain positive net profit, while selling wet sandfish will incur a net loss. A significant difference in income was also observed between fishers who rely on traditional method and those who will adopt the new system. Sea ranching system is a very promising method that is expected to be beneficial both to the community and the environment. However, high capital requirement, uninformed community and the lack of support from the government and concerned agencies remains to be a big challenge.

Passive intervertebral motion (PIVM) of the lumbar spine during forward bending was assessed independently during two grading trials by two physical therapists. The therapists each had a minimum of two years clinical experience with similar orthopaedic manual therapy skills, including the sidelying double leg technique utilized in this study. Six segments of the lumbar spine were graded as normal, hypomobile, or hypermobile. Subjects were six volunteers who had a history of low back pain (LBP) and were currently experiencing LBP symptoms. Each therapist graded the segmental mobility during two different trials to investigate both intra- and inter-examiner reliability. Data were analyzed by percent agreement, and Scott's pi 0 which is an indicator of reliability greater than that expected to occur by chance with nominal data. Results demonstrated intra-examiner reliability of 66.67% and 75.00%, with agreement greater than chance of 41.89% and 61.29% respectively. Inter-examiner reliability was 48.6...