Effect of soluble dietary fiber on soy protein isolate emulsion gel properties, stability and delivery of vitamin D3

Emulsion gels with denser network microstructure and stronger mechanical properties have attracted increasing attentions for delivering lipophilic compounds. In this study, the effect of three distinct soluble dietary fiber (inulin (IN), resistant dextrin (RD) and stachyose (ST)) on the rheological, mechanical and microstructural properties of soy protein isolate (SPI) emulsion gel were firstly investigated. Compared with RD and IN, ST significantly accelerated water holding capacity and thermal stability, which exhibited more compact microstructure and more uniform emulsified oil droplets. Subsequently, the stability and bioavailability of vitamin D3 (VD3) in different delivery systems (medium chain triglycerides (MCT) embedding, SPI-ST emulsion embedding, SPI emulsion gel embedding and SPI-ST emulsion gel embedding) were continue evaluated. In vitro simulated digestion experiment demonstrated that the bioaccessibility of encapsulated VD3 in SPI-ST emulsion gel (69.95 %) was much higher than that of free embedding (48.99 %). In vivo pharmacokinetic experiment revealed that the bioavailability of VD3 was significantly enhanced in SPI-ST gel (p < 0.05), with the AUC0-24h value of 25-OH VD3 (the main circulating form of VD3) were 1.34-fold, 1.23-fold higher than that of free embedding, MCT embedding, respectively. These findings provide a possible approach for the development of high protein/fiber functional foods containing enhanced hydrophobic bioactives.

A Scoping Review of Programs to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in Mainland China

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide public health concern. With the widespread dissemination of prevention approaches to end CSA, numerous CSA prevention programs exist in developed countries, but there is little evidence on how these programs are performing in Mainland China. The aim of this study was to review the existing research focusing on CSA prevention programs in Mainland China. Studies of CSA prevention programs were identified by conducting a comprehensive search of major academic databases for Chinese and English research. Articles were retained if they were original empirical studies that conducted programs to prevent CSA in Mainland China and measured related outcomes. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. A child-targeted, universally focused, and school-based educational program was the most common (n = 7), followed by specifically focused programs that covered migrant and left-behind children using group-based intervention strategies (n = 2) and ordinary parents with self-learning strategies (n = 2); one study delivered agency-based face-to-face education to parents with disabled children. However, the shortcomings in research design limited its replication to the broader population. CSA prevention program research in Mainland China is in an early stage due to the limited target populations, lack of large-scale government-led initiatives, and low involvement of multicomponent collaboration. We provide suggestions for conducting future research involving more inclusive programs for other populations, comprehensive programs with multiple targets and stakeholders, large-scale evidence-based research, culturally tailored and contextual adaptation programs.

Church Closings Were Associated with Higher COVID-19 Infection Rates: Implications for Community Health Equity

This study investigates the changes in physical church closings years 2013 to 2019 in New York City (NYC), Philadelphia, and Baltimore and the association with COVID-19 infection rates. We applied Bayesian spatial binomial models to analyze confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of February 28, 2022, in each city at the zip code-level. A one unit increase in the number of churches closed corresponded to a 5% higher COVID-19 infection rate, in NYC (rate ratio = 1.05, 95% credible interval = 1.02-1.08%), where the association was significant. Church closings appears to be an important indicator of neighborhood social vulnerability. Church closings should be routinely monitored as a structural determinant of community health and to advance health equity.

Spatial accessibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): different measure choices and the implications for detecting shortage areas and examining its association with social determinants of health

PURPOSE

We examine how various pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) accessibility measures impact the detection of PrEP shortage areas and the relation of shortage areas to social determinants of health (SDOH).

METHODS

Using ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) in New York City as a case study, we compared 25 measures of spatial PrEP accessibility across four categories, including density, proximity, two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA), and Gaussian 2SFCA (G2SFCA). Bayesian spatial regression models were used to examine how PrEP accessibility is associated with SDOH.

RESULTS

Using density to measure PrEP accessibility for small areas such as ZCTAs poses challenges to statistical modeling because the measured accessibility values are highly skewed with excess zeros, leading to the necessity of using complex models such as the two-part mixture model. When G2SFCA measures are used, which account for distance decay effects and the competition from the PrEP demand side, findings on PrEP shortage area detection and the association between PrEP accessibility and SDOH were more consistent and less sensitive to spatial scales (i.e., varying from 10- to 30-minute driving).

CONCLUSIONS

This research adds to the nascent research on PrEP accessibility measurement and sheds light on selecting an appropriate measure to assess spatial disparities in PrEP accessibility and its associations with SDOH.

Single-pulse characterization of the focal spot size of X-ray free-electron lasers using coherent diffraction imaging

The characterization of X-ray focal spots is of great significance for the diagnosis and performance optimization of focusing systems. X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) are the latest generation of X-ray sources with ultrahigh brilliance, ultrashort pulse duration and nearly full transverse coherence. Because each XFEL pulse is unique and has an ultrahigh peak intensity, it is difficult to characterize its focal spot size individually with full power. Herein, a method for characterizing the spot size at the focus position is proposed based on coherent diffraction imaging. A numerical simulation was conducted to verify the feasibility of the proposed method. The focal spot size of the Coherent Scattering and Imaging endstation at the Shanghai Soft X-ray Free Electron Laser Facility was characterized using the method. The full width at half-maxima of the focal spot intensity and spot size in the horizontal and vertical directions were calculated to be 2.10 ± 0.24 µm and 2.00 ± 0.20 µm, respectively. An ablation imprint on the silicon frame was used to validate the results of the proposed method.

The association of glycated hemoglobin A1c with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and severity of coronary lesions

Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has been recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular events. However, the relationship between HbA1c and coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Chinese population has yet to be systematically explored. In addition, factors associated with HbA1c were generally analyzed linearly, thereby failing to appreciate more complex nonlinear associations. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the HbA1c value and the presence and severity of coronary artery stenosis. A total of 7192 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled. Their biological parameters, including HbA1c, were measured. The severity of coronary stenosis was evaluated using Gensini score. After correcting for baseline confounding factors, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between HbA1c and CAD severity. Restricted cubic splines were applied to explore the relation of HbA1c with the presence of CAD, myocardial infarction (MI), and the severity of coronary lesions. HbA1c was significantly associated with the presence and severity of CAD in patients without diagnosed diabetes (odds ratio: 1.306, 95% confidence interval: 1.053-1.619, p = 0.015). Spline analysis showed a U-shaped association of HbA1c with the presence of MI. Both HbA1c > 7.2% and HbA1c < 5.7% were associated with the presence of MI. In conclusion, HbA1c value was highly associated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis in the whole study population, and in CAD patients without diagnosed diabetes. Compared with patients with HbA1c levels between 6.0% and 7.0%, HbA1c < 5.7% and HbA1c > 7.2% were associated with higher presence of MI.

A CRISPR/Cas12a-assisted rapid detection platform by biosensing the apxIVA of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is an important respiratory pig pathogen that causes substantial losses in the worldwide swine industry. Chronic or subclinical infection with no apparent clinical symptoms poses a challenge for preventing transmission between herds. Rapid diagnostics is important for the control of epidemic diseases. In this study, we formulated an A. pleuropneumoniae species-specific apxIVA-based CRISPR/Cas12a-assisted rapid detection platform (Card) that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) of target DNA and subsequent Cas12a ssDNase activation. Card has a detection limit of 10 CFUs of A. pleuropneumoniae, and there is no cross-reactivity with other common swine pathogens. The detection process can be completed in 1 h, and there was 100% agreement between the conventional apxIVA-based PCR and Card in detecting A. pleuropneumoniae in lung samples. Microplate fluorescence readout enables high-throughput use in diagnostic laboratories, and naked eye and lateral flow test readouts enable use at the point of care. We conclude that Card is a versatile, rapid, accurate molecular diagnostic platform suitable for use in both laboratory and low-resource settings.

Is race-specific neighborhood social cohesion key to reducing racial disparities in late HIV diagnosis: A multiyear ecological study

We examined whether race/ethnic-specific social cohesion is associated with race/ethnic-specific HIV diagnosis rates using Bayesian space-time zero-inflated Poisson multivariable models, across 376 Census tracts. Social cohesion data were from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, 2008-2015 and late HIV diagnosis data from eHARS system, 2009-2016. Areas where trust in neighbors reported by Black/African Americans was medium (compared to low) had lower rates of late HIV diagnosis among Black/African Americans (Relative Risk (RR)=0.52, 95% credible interval (CrI)= 0.34, 0.80). In contrast, areas where trust in neighbors reported by Black/African Americans were highest had lower late HIV diagnosis rates among Whites (RR=0.35, 95% CrI= 0.16, 0.76). Race/ethnic-specific differences in social cohesion may have implications for designing interventions aimed at modifying area-level social factors to reduce racial disparities in late HIV diagnosis.

Study on emission factors of FCC flue gas pollutants in petroleum refineries

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit is one of the means to lighten heavy oil in refineries, and its regenerated flue gas is also the main source of air pollutants from refinery. However, it is not clear about the type and amount of pollutants discharged from FCC units in China. The emissions of regenerated pollutants in the stack flue gases of three typical FCC units in China were investigated in this study, including a partial regeneration unit without a CO boiler (U1), a partial regeneration unit with a CO boiler (U2), and a full regeneration unit (U3). Different monitoring methods were used to analyze the concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and the results showed that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) monitoring results of SO₂ and NO_x are approximately 10 times and 5 times larger than those of the continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) data, respectively. Also, the contents of characteristic pollutants such as NH₃, C₆H₆, HCN, C₈H₈, C₂H₄, CH₄, and CO were also monitored by FTIR, and the emission factors based on coke burn-off rate and throughput were investigated. The pollutants in U1 exhibited relatively higher contents with the NH₃, HCN, and C₆H₆ of 116.99, 71.94, and 56.41 mg/Nm³ in flue gas, respectively. The emission of regenerated pollutants in U2 and U3 are significantly different from U1. Regeneration processes (including coke properties, operating modes, and presence or absence of CO boilers) affected pollutants' emission factors in varying degrees. At last, reasonable emission factors based on the different FCC regeneration processes contribute to the prediction, assessment, and control for the pollutant emission.

Rethinking walkability and developing a conceptual definition of active living environments to guide research and practice

Background

Walkability is a popular term used to describe aspects of the built and social environment that have important population-level impacts on physical activity, energy balance, and health. Although the term is widely used by researchers, practitioners, and the general public, and multiple operational definitions and walkability measurement tools exist, there are is no agreed-upon conceptual definition of walkability.

Method

To address this gap, researchers from Memorial University of Newfoundland hosted “The Future of Walkability Measures Workshop” in association with researchers from the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) in November 2017. During the workshop, trainees, researchers, and practitioners worked together in small groups to iteratively develop and reach consensus about a conceptual definition and name for walkability. The objective of this paper was to discuss and propose a conceptual definition of walkability and related concepts.

Results

In discussions during the workshop, it became clear that the term walkability leads to a narrow conception of the environmental features associated with health as it inherently focuses on walking. As a result, we suggest that the term Active Living Environments, as has been previously proposed in the literature, are more appropriate. We define Active Living Environments (ALEs) as the emergent natural, built, and social properties of neighbourhoods that promote physical activity and health and allow for equitable access to health-enhancing resources.

Conclusions

We believe that this broader conceptualization allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how built, natural, and social environments can contribute to improved health for all members of the population.

Pericardial adipose tissue-derived leptin promotes myocardial apoptosis in high fat diet-induced obese rats through JAK2/ROS/NKA signaling pathway

Background

Pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying cardiac structural and functional changes in obesity are complex and linked to adipocytokines released from pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Although leptin is involved in various pathological conditions, its role in paracrine action of pericardial adipose tissue on myocardial apoptosis remains unknown.

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate the role of PAT-derived leptin on myocardial apoptosis in high fat diet-induced obese rats.

Methods and results

Hearts were isolated from lean or high fat diet-induced obese Wistar rats for myocardial remodeling studies. Obese rats had abnormal myocardial structure, diastolic dysfunction, greatly elevated cardiac apoptosis and increased oxidative stress level. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected significantly higher than circulating leptin level in PAT of obese, but not lean rats. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated increased leptin receptor density in obese heart. H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts after exposed to PAT-conditioned medium of obese rats exhibited pronounced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis, which was partially reversed by leptin antagonist. Moreover, leptin derived from PAT of obese rats inhibited Na+/K+-ATPase activity of H9c2 cells through stimulating ROS, thereby activating calcium-dependent apoptosis. Pretreatment with specific inhibitors revealed that JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways was involved in the leptin-induced myocardial apoptosis.

Conclusion

PAT-derived leptin induces myocardial apoptosis in high fat diet-induced obese rats via activating JAK2/STAT3/ROS signaling pathway and inhibiting its downstream Na+/K+-ATPase activity.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Nature Science Foundation of ChinaKey Projects of Shaanxi Science and Technology Research and Development Plan

Influence of wet flue gas desulfurization on the pollutants monitoring in FCC flue gas

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit emits a large amount of flue gas, which is a major concern of environmental protection supervision. Wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) technologies have been widely used to control the emissions of SO₂ in refineries. In this study, stack tests for pollutants emission of a typical FCC unit were conducted. The emission characteristics of the FCC unit indicated that WFGD would cause a large amount of water vapor in the flue gas, which indirectly leads to large quantities of salt pollutants entrained in the flue gas including ammonium sulfite ((NH₄)₂SO₃) and ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄). A strong correlation among the concentrations of SO₂, NH₃, and H₂O was observed, and factor analysis shows that these concentrations are dominated by a common factor. It was also found that a mass quantity of NH₄⁺ and SO₃^2- existed in the condensate water of the flue gas. The TG-MS analysis shows that (NH₄)₂SO₃ could be decomposed at 94.1 °C, and NH₃, SO₂, and H₂O are released as reaction products in the form of gas. Therefore, a part of the NH₃ and SO₂ obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) monitoring may be derived from the decomposition of (NH₄)₂SO₃ in the flue gas due to the high temperature during the sampling process, which was also confirmed in a lab experiment. The hot and wet sampling process will lead to overestimation of NH₃ and SO₂ emissions rather than FTIR method itself when monitoring the high-humidity FCC flue gas. Thus, the concentration of H₂O in the flue gas and the type of sampling process need to be taken into consideration during the monitoring process.

HIV Infection Prevalence Significantly Intersects With COVID-19 Infection At the Area Level: A US County-Level Analysis

BACKGROUND

Limited empirical evidence exists about the extent to which the current HIV epidemic intersects with COVID-19 infections at the area/geographic level. Moreover, little is known about how demographic, social, economic, behavioral, and clinical determinants are jointly associated with these infectious diseases.

SETTING

Contiguous US counties (N = 3108).

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis and investigated the joint association between new HIV infection prevalence in 2018 and COVID-19 infections (January 22, 2020 and October 7, 2020) and explore the contribution of factors such as income inequality, binge drinking, and socioeconomic deprivation. We used Bayesian multivariate spatial models to estimate the cross-disease correlations between these diseases and identified hotspots, which we defined as a county with a posterior probability greater than 80% of being in the top decile of that disease.

RESULTS

New HIV infection prevalence and COVID-19 infection moderately and significantly intersect [spatial correlation = 0.37, 95% credible interval (CrI) = 0.36-0.37]. Seventy-five counties, mostly in the south, were at elevated burden for HIV and COVID-19 infections. Higher income inequality was positively associated with both COVID-19 (relative risk 1.05, 95% CrI = 1.03-1.07) and HIV infection (relative risk = 1.12, 95% CrI = 1.09-1.15).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that there is a considerable intersection between the current distribution of HIV burden with COVID-19 infections at the area level. We identified areas that federal funding and vaccination campaigns should prioritize for prevention and care efforts.

Pericardial Adipose Tissue-Derived Leptin Promotes Myocardial Apoptosis in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats Through Janus Kinase 2/Reactive Oxygen Species/Na+/K+-ATPase Signaling Pathway

Background

Pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying cardiac structural and functional changes in obesity are complex and linked to adipocytokines released from pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Although leptin is involved in various pathological conditions, its role in paracrine action of pericardial adipose tissue on myocardial apoptosis remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the role of PAT‐derived leptin on myocardial apoptosis in high‐fat diet–induced obese rats.

Methods and Results

Hearts were isolated from lean or high‐fat diet–induced obese Wistar rats for myocardial remodeling studies. Obese rats had abnormal myocardial structure, diastolic dysfunction, greatly elevated cardiac apoptosis, enhanced cardiac fibrosis, and increased oxidative stress level. ELISA detected significantly higher than circulating leptin level in PAT of obese, but not lean, rats. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated increased leptin receptor density in obese hearts. H9c2 cardiomyoblasts, after being exposed to PAT‐conditioned medium of obese rats, exhibited pronounced reactive oxygen species–mediated apoptosis, which was partially reversed by leptin antagonist. Moreover, leptin derived from PAT of obese rats inhibited Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity of H9c2 cells through stimulating reactive oxygen species, thereby activating calcium‐dependent apoptosis. Pretreatment with specific inhibitors revealed that Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways were involved in leptin‐induced myocardial apoptosis.

Conclusions

PAT‐derived leptin induces myocardial apoptosis in high‐fat diet–induced obese rats via activating Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/reactive oxygen species signaling pathway and inhibiting its downstream Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity.

A Systematic Review of MRI Neuroimaging for Education Research

This study aims to disclose how the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neuroimaging approach has been applied in education studies, and what kind of learning themes has been investigated in the reviewed MRI neuroimaging research. Based on the keywords “brain or neuroimaging or neuroscience” and “MRI or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) or white matter or gray matter or resting-state,” a total of 25 papers were selected from the subject areas “Educational Psychology” and “Education and Educational Research” from the Web of Science and Scopus from 2000 to 2019. Content analysis showed that MRI neuroimaging and learning were studied under the following three major topics and nine subtopics: cognitive function (language, creativity, music, physical activity), science education (mathematical learning, biology learning, physics learning), and brain development (parenting, personality development). As for the type of MRI neuroimaging research, the most frequently used approaches were functional MRI, followed by structural MRI and DTI, although the choice of approach was often motivated by the specific research question. Research development trends show that the neural plasticity theme has become more prominent recently. This study concludes that in educational research, the MRI neuroimaging approach provides objective and empirical evidence to connect learning processes, outcomes, and brain mechanisms.

Predicting lying, sitting, walking and running using Apple Watch and Fitbit data

OBJECTIVES

This study's objective was to examine whether commercial wearable devices could accurately predict lying, sitting and varying intensities of walking and running.

METHODS

We recruited a convenience sample of 49 participants (23 men and 26 women) to wear three devices, an Apple Watch Series 2, a Fitbit Charge HR2 and iPhone 6S. Participants completed a 65 min protocol consisting of 40 min of total treadmill time and 25 min of sitting or lying time. The study's outcome variables were six movement types: lying, sitting, walking self-paced and walking/running at 3 metabolic equivalents of task (METs), 5 METs and 7 METs. All analyses were conducted at the minute level with heart rate, steps, distance and calories from Apple Watch and Fitbit. These included three different machine learning models: support vector machines, Random Forest and Rotation forest.

RESULTS

Our dataset included 3656 and 2608 min of Apple Watch and Fitbit data, respectively. Rotation Forest models had the highest classification accuracies for Apple Watch at 82.6%, and Random Forest models had the highest accuracy for Fitbit at 90.8%. Classification accuracies for Apple Watch data ranged from 72.6% for sitting to 89.0% for 7 METs. For Fitbit, accuracies varied between 86.2% for sitting to 92.6% for 7 METs.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study demonstrated that data from commercial wearable devices could predict movement types with reasonable accuracy. More research is needed, but these methods are a proof of concept for movement type classification at the population level using commercial wearable device data.

The migration, transformation, and risk assessment of heavy metals in residue and bio-oil obtained by the liquefaction of pig manure

The total contents and chemical speciation analysis of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cd, and As in pig manure (PM), liquefaction residues (LRs), and bio-oils (BOs) derived from PM by liquefaction with ethanol as a solvent at 180-300 °C were thoroughly investigated in this study. The environment risk assessment, leachability, and bioavailability of heavy metals in PM and LRs were studied. The results showed that more than 75% of heavy metals remained in LRs. The total contents of heavy metals in LRs were markedly elevated, but those in BOs gradually decreased with the increase in liquefaction temperature. Moreover, the acid soluble/exchangeable fraction and reducible fraction (F1 + F2) of heavy metals in LRs and BOs was significantly reduced, while oxidizable fraction and stable fraction (F3 + F4) desirably increased after liquefaction. Furthermore, the potential risk of heavy metals in LRs was decreased in comparison to that in PM, but the risk of Pb, Mn, and As had not been obviously reduced; therefore, the LRs from the liquefaction of PM should be pretreated before recycling. Temperatures from 220 to 260 °C were the optimum conditions for disposing of PM by liquefaction with ethanol.

Gender Differences in the Relationship of Waist Circumference to Coronary Artery Lesions and One-Year Re-Admission Among Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Normal Body Mass Index

PURPOSE

The study explored the association of waist circumference (WC) with the severity of cardiovascular diseases and hospital readmission of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with normal body mass index (BMI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

213 female and 431 male normal-BMI CAD patients were enrolled and assigned in three groups based on their gender-specific WC tertiles. Their cardiovascular risk factors and coronary angiography characteristics were analyzed in a cross-sectional study, and the gender-specific relationship between WC and one-year re-admission rate was prospectively explored.

RESULTS

The cross-sectional analysis showed that for male normal-BMI CAD patients, diabetes and dyslipidemia prevalence, Apo B/A1, hs-CRP, and uric acid levels triglycerides-glucose index, the incidence of left main disease, three vessel disease, calcification lesion, total occlusive lesion, and complex lesion, as well as Gensini score was in the order of WC tertile 3 > WC tertile 2 > WC tertile 1. In addition, male normal-BMI CAD patients in the highest WC tertile were at an increased risk of severe CAD (OR=2.21), and the correlation was still statistically significant even after adjusting for potential cardiovascular risk factors (OR=1.87). For female normal-BMI CAD patients, as the WC tertiles increased, uric acid level, the prevalence of three vessel disease, diffuse lesion, and complex lesion gradually increased (P <0.05), but no significant difference was found in the risk of severe CAD among different WC groups (all P >0.05). Prospective analyses showed that the higher the WC tertile was, the higher the one-year re-admission rate in men, but not in women, and after adjusting for other risk factors, men with the highest WC tertile showed more than twice the risk of patients with the lowest WC tertile.

CONCLUSION

Male but not female, normal-BMI CAD patients with increased WC had more severe CAD and a higher risk of one-year re-admission rate.

A scoping review of WeChat to facilitate professional healthcare education in Mainland China

AIM

WeChat is the most popular social media platform in mainland China, with over 1 billion active users. Although social media is widely used in professional healthcare education in western countries, research on WeChat-based education in healthcare in mainland China is disparate and not systematic. The current study seeks to address this gap.

METHOD

A scoping review was conducted to systematically describe studies of WeChat use in professional healthcare education. A comprehensive search involving three international databases in English and Chinese literature was conducted in April 2019. Articles were retained in this study if they were original studies that used WeChat as a tool to facilitate healthcare education in mainland China.

RESULTS

25 studies met the inclusion criteria and the majority of studies were either experimental or quasi-experimental. WeChat was used in both university settings and hospital settings. Hybrid education-which integrates WeChat education and face-to-face education-was more common in university settings, whereas hospitals used a combination of hybrid and WeChat-only strategies. Significant heterogeneity was observed regarding the type of accounts and methods for delivering content and facilitating online conversations. A majority of studies found positive outcomes with WeChat education.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review addressed a large gap in knowledge about the usage of WeChat in professional healthcare education. Of the existing studies identified, we observed considerable promise for future practice. We provide additional suggestions for conducting future research involving patients and other helping professionals in healthcare education to expand the usage of WeChat.

Challenges and Future Directions of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Education

We discuss the new challenges and directions facing the use of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in education research, policy-making, and industry. In recent years, applications of big data and AI in education have made significant headways. This highlights a novel trend in leading-edge educational research. The convenience and embeddedness of data collection within educational technologies, paired with computational techniques have made the analyses of big data a reality. We are moving beyond proof-of-concept demonstrations and applications of techniques, and are beginning to see substantial adoption in many areas of education. The key research trends in the domains of big data and AI are associated with assessment, individualized learning, and precision education. Model-driven data analytics approaches will grow quickly to guide the development, interpretation, and validation of the algorithms. However, conclusions from educational analytics should, of course, be applied with caution. At the education policy level, the government should be devoted to supporting lifelong learning, offering teacher education programs, and protecting personal data. With regard to the education industry, reciprocal and mutually beneficial relationships should be developed in order to enhance academia-industry collaboration. Furthermore, it is important to make sure that technologies are guided by relevant theoretical frameworks and are empirically tested. Lastly, in this paper we advocate an in-depth dialog between supporters of "cold" technology and "warm" humanity so that it can lead to greater understanding among teachers and students about how technology, and specifically, the big data explosion and AI revolution can bring new opportunities (and challenges) that can be best leveraged for pedagogical practices and learning.

Reliability and Validity of Commercially Available Wearable Devices for Measuring Steps, Energy Expenditure, and Heart Rate: Systematic Review

Background

Consumer-wearable activity trackers are small electronic devices that record fitness and health-related measures.

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the validity and reliability of commercial wearables in measuring step count, heart rate, and energy expenditure.

Methods

We identified devices to be included in the review. Database searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and SPORTDiscus, and only articles published in the English language up to May 2019 were considered. Studies were excluded if they did not identify the device used and if they did not examine the validity or reliability of the device. Studies involving the general population and all special populations were included. We operationalized validity as criterion validity (as compared with other measures) and construct validity (degree to which the device is measuring what it claims). Reliability measures focused on intradevice and interdevice reliability.

Results

We included 158 publications examining nine different commercial wearable device brands. Fitbit was by far the most studied brand. In laboratory-based settings, Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Samsung appeared to measure steps accurately. Heart rate measurement was more variable, with Apple Watch and Garmin being the most accurate and Fitbit tending toward underestimation. For energy expenditure, no brand was accurate. We also examined validity between devices within a specific brand.

Conclusions

Commercial wearable devices are accurate for measuring steps and heart rate in laboratory-based settings, but this varies by the manufacturer and device type. Devices are constantly being upgraded and redesigned to new models, suggesting the need for more current reviews and research.

Study on compositions of FCC flue gas and pollutant precursors from FCC catalysts

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit emits a large amount of flue gas, which is a major issue of environmental protection supervision. A spent FCC catalyst from a typical FCC unit was characterized by NMR, XPS, EA TGA and TPD-MS methods. XPS results presented that the nitrogen compounds in coke were pyridine nitrogen, pyrrole and quaternary nitrogen. Sulfur compounds in coke are in the form of thiophene and thiols. TGA and TPD-MS results indicated that the soft coke in the spent catalyst may decompose to small molecular such as NOx, SO₂ and HCN. NH₃ and HCN are mainly emitted due to the incomplete combustion. The flue gas from the FCC unit is monitored by different on-line monitoring instruments. Results showed that the existence of ammonia greatly affected the value of SO₂ during the venting process or instruments' inlet piping system, where saturated vapor in flue gas is partially condensed. The concentration of NH₃ and HCN is more than 100 ppm, which should be paid more attention to. Taken together, fourier transform infrared method was more applicable for monitoring FCC flue gas than non-dispersed infrared method and ultraviolet fluorescence method.

Elevated 1-h postload plasma glucose levels identify coronary heart disease patients with greater severity of coronary artery lesions and higher risk of 1-year re-admission

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship of 1-h postload plasma glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test with the severity of coronary artery lesions and risk of 1-year re-admission in coronary heart disease patients with normal glucose tolerance.

METHODS

A total of 266 consecutive coronary heart disease patients who underwent coronary angiography and had normal glucose tolerance confirmed by oral glucose tolerance test during hospitalization were prospectively enrolled and followed in two groups according to the 1-h postload plasma glucose cut-off point (1-h postload plasma glucose <155 mg/dL, n = 149 and 1-h postload plasma glucose ⩾155 mg/dL, n = 117). Angiographic severity was assessed by number of diseased vessels, lesion morphology and Gensini score. The risk of 1-year re-admission with adverse cardiovascular events after discharge was analysed.

RESULTS

Subjects with a 1-h postload plasma glucose ⩾155 mg/dL had higher incidence of multivessel disease and complex lesions, Gensini score and risk of 1-year re-admission than subjects with a 1-h postload plasma glucose <155 mg/dL (all p < 0.05). In the stepwise multivariate regression analysis, 1-h postload plasma glucose was the major determinant of the Gensini score. Subgroup analyses by sex showed that men with a 1-h postload plasma glucose ⩾155 mg/dL had higher incidence of complex lesions and risk of 1-year re-admission than men with a 1-h postload plasma glucose <155 mg/dL (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Coronary heart disease patients with normal glucose tolerance and elevated 1-h postload plasma glucose levels had a greater severity of coronary artery lesions and an increased risk of re-admission with adverse cardiovascular events, particularly in men.

Association between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver and Gensini Score in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is one of the important risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is always accompanied by obesity. Therefore, this study was designed to elucidate the relationship between NAFLD and CHD in obese and nonobese populations.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 454 Chinese patients diagnosed with CHD. Patients were grouped into non-NAFLD + nonobese, non-NAFLD + obese, NAFLD + nonobese, and NAFLD + obese based on the presence or absence of both NAFLD and obesity.

RESULTS

The mean Gensini score was significantly higher in patients with fatty liver compared to those without. Logistic regression analysis found that fatty liver, uric acid, and blood glucose levels were risk factors for a high Gensini score.

CONCLUSIONS

Irrespective of the presence of obesity, NAFLD is a risk factor for CHD, and the clinical effect of nonobese fatty liver (especially in women) should be carefully considered.

Household income, active travel, and their interacting impact on body mass index in a sample of urban Canadians: a Bayesian spatial analysis

Background

Active travel for utilitarian purposes contributes to total physical activity and may help counter the obesity epidemic. However, the evidence linking active travel and individual-level body weight is equivocal. Statistical modeling that accounts for spatial autocorrelation and unmeasured spatial predictors has not yet used to explore whether the health benefits of active travel are shared equally across socioeconomic groups.

Methods

Bayesian hierarchical models with spatial random effects were developed using travel survey data from Saskatoon, Canada (N = 4625). Differences in log-transformed body mass index (BMI) were estimated for levels of active travel use (vehicular travel only, mixed vehicular/active travel, and active travel only), household income, and neighbourhood deprivation after controlling for sociodemographic and physical activity variables. The modifying effect of household income on the association between active travel and BMI was also evaluated.

Results

Significant and meaningful decreases in BMI were observed for mixed (β = − 0.02, CrI − 0.036 to − 0.004) and active only (β = − 0.043, CrI − 0.06 to − 0.025) compared to vehicular only travelers. BMI was significantly associated with levels of household income and neighbourhood deprivation. Accounting for the interaction between travel mode and household income, decreases in BMI were observed for active only compared to vehicular only travellers in the highest income category (β = − 0.061, CrI − 0.115 to − 0.007).

Conclusion

Strategies to increase active travel use can support healthy weight loss and maintenance, but the opportunity to benefit from active travel use may be limited by low income. Considerations should be given to how interventions to increase active transportation might exacerbate social inequalities in BMI. Spatial statistical models are needed to account for unmeasured but spatially structured neighbourhood factors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12942-019-0168-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Geographic Clustering of Admissions to Inpatient Psychiatry among Adults with Cognitive Disorders in Ontario, Canada: Does Distance to Hospital Matter?

OBJECTIVE

This study examined relationships among hospital accessibility, socio-economic context, and geographic clustering of inpatient psychiatry admissions for adults with cognitive disorders in Ontario, Canada.

METHOD

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using admissions data from 71 hospitals with inpatient psychiatry beds in Ontario, Canada between 2011 and 2014. Data included 7,637 unique admissions for 4,550 adults with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Delirium, Dementia, Amnestic and other Cognitive Disorders. Bayesian spatial Poisson regression was employed to examine the relationship between accessibility of general hospitals with psychiatric beds and psychiatric hospitals, area-level marginalization, and hospitalization rate with the risk of admission to inpatient psychiatry among adults with cognitive disorders across 516 Forward Sortation Areas (FSA) in Ontario.

RESULTS

Residential instability and the overall hospitalization rate were significantly associated with an increase in the relative risk of admissions to inpatient psychiatry. Accessibility to general hospitals and psychiatric hospitals were marginally insignificant at the 95% credible interval in the final model. Significant geographic clustering of admissions was identified where individuals residing in FSA's with the highest relative risk were 2.0 to 7.1 times more likely to be admitted to inpatient psychiatry compared to the average.

CONCLUSIONS

Geographic clustering of inpatient psychiatry admissions for adults with cognitive disorders exists across the Province of Ontario, Canada. At the geographic level, the risk of admission was positively associated with residential instability and the overall hospitalization rate, but not distance to the closest general or psychiatric hospital.

Diving into the consumer nutrition environment: A Bayesian spatial factor analysis of neighborhood restaurant environment

Neighborhood restaurant environment (NRE) plays a vital role in shaping residents' eating behaviors. While NRE 'healthfulness' is a multi-facet concept, most studies evaluate it based only on restaurant type, thus largely ignoring variations of in-restaurant features. In the few studies that do account for such features, healthfulness scores are simply averaged over accessible restaurants, thereby concealing any uncertainty that attributed to neighborhoods' size or spatial correlation. To address these limitations, this paper presents a Bayesian Spatial Factor Analysis for assessing NRE healthfulness in the city of Kitchener, Canada. Several in-restaurant characteristics are included. By treating NRE healthfulness as a spatially correlated latent variable, the adopted modeling approach can: (i) identify specific indicators most relevant to NRE healthfulness, (ii) provide healthfulness estimates for neighborhoods without accessible restaurants, and (iii) readily quantify uncertainties in the healthfulness index. Implications of the analysis for intervention program development and community food planning are discussed.

Reactive adsorption desulfurization of NiO and Ni0 over NiO/ZnO–Al2O3–SiO2 adsorbents: role of hydrogen pretreatment

Reactive adsorption desulfurization (RADS) of Fluidized Catalytically Cracked (FCC) gasoline on reduced and unreduced NiO/ZnO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ adsorbents was studied. Various characterizations such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), H₂-temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), the H₂/O₂ pulse titration (HOPT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to evaluate the effects of hydrogen pretreatment of the adsorbents. XRD and HOPT results indicate that NiO is hard to be reduced to Ni⁰ under the conditions of RADS. H₂-TPR shows that NiO might be reduced to Ni⁰ at the temperature of 598 °C, much higher than the temperature of RADS. The Ni 2p_3/2 spectrum of Ni⁰ is not observed for the reduced adsorbent, but the main peak of Ni 2p_3/2 of NiS is found for the spent adsorbent. The unreduced NiO/ZnO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ adsorbent performs a better desulfurization than the reduced adsorbent at the beginning of desulfurization process. NiO and Ni⁰ are assumed as the main active components and present a good desulfurization ability in RADS. Finally, a change in the RADS mechanism is presented and discussed.

A possible reaction mechanism of desulfurization on NiO/ZnO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ is discussed.

Association of two obesity-related gene polymorphisms LEPG2548A rs7799039 and LEPRQ223R rs1137101 with the risk of breast cancer

Many studies have been performed to investigate the correlation of leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) polymorphisms with breast cancer (BC) risk, however the results are inconclusive. To obtain a more precise estimation, we conducted this meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to identify qualified studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the association. Eight eligible studies (2,124 cases and 5,476 controls) for LEP G2548A (rs7799039) polymorphism, and thirteen studies (5,282 cases and 6,140 controls) for LEPR Q223R (rs1137101) polymorphism were included in our study. In general, no significant association between LEP G2548A polymorphism and BC susceptibility was found among five genetic models. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity and sources of controls, significant associations were still not detected in all genetic models. For LEPR Q223R polymorphism, we observed that the association was only statistically significant in Asians (G versus A: OR = 0.532, P = 0.009; GG versus AA: OR = 0.233, P = 0.002; GA versus AA: OR =0.294, P = 0.006; GG versus AA+AG: OR =0.635, P = 0; GA+GG versus AA: OR = 0.242, P = 0.003), but not in general populations and Caucasians. In conclusion, LEP G2548A polymorphism has no relationship with BC susceptibility, while LEPR Q223R polymorphism could decrease BC risk in Asians, but not in overall individuals and Caucasians. More multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are required for further investigation.

Do marginalized neighbourhoods have less healthy retail food environments? An analysis using Bayesian spatial latent factor and hurdle models

Background

Findings of whether marginalized neighbourhoods have less healthy retail food environments (RFE) are mixed across countries, in part because inconsistent approaches have been used to characterize RFE ‘healthfulness’ and marginalization, and researchers have used non-spatial statistical methods to respond to this ultimately spatial issue.

Methods

This study uses in-store features to categorize healthy and less healthy food outlets. Bayesian spatial hierarchical models are applied to explore the association between marginalization dimensions and RFE healthfulness (i.e., relative healthy food access that modelled via a probability distribution) at various geographical scales. Marginalization dimensions are derived from a spatial latent factor model. Zero-inflation occurring at the walkable-distance scale is accounted for with a spatial hurdle model.

Results

Neighbourhoods with higher residential instability, material deprivation, and population density are more likely to have access to healthy food outlets within a walkable distance from a binary ‘have’ or ‘not have’ access perspective. At the walkable distance scale however, materially deprived neighbourhoods are found to have less healthy RFE (lower relative healthy food access).

Conclusion

Food intervention programs should be developed for striking the balance between healthy and less healthy food access in the study region as well as improving opportunities for residents to buy and consume foods consistent with dietary recommendations.

Spatial Patterns of Ischemic Heart Disease in Shenzhen, China: A Bayesian Multi-Disease Modelling Approach to Inform Health Planning Policies

Incorporating the information of hypertension, this paper applies Bayesian multi-disease analysis to model the spatial patterns of Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) risks. Patterns of harmful alcohol intake (HAI) and overweight/obesity are also modelled as they are common risk factors contributing to both IHD and hypertension. The hospitalization data of IHD and hypertension in 2012 were analyzed with three Bayesian multi-disease models at the sub-district level of Shenzhen. Results revealed that the IHD high-risk cluster shifted slightly north-eastward compared with the IHD Standardized Hospitalization Ratio (SHR). Spatial variations of overweight/obesity and HAI were found to contribute most to the IHD patterns. Identified patterns of IHD risk would benefit IHD integrated prevention. Spatial patterns of overweight/obesity and HAI could supplement the current disease surveillance system by providing information about small-area level risk factors, and thus benefit integrated prevention of related chronic diseases. Middle southern Shenzhen, where high risk of IHD, overweight/obesity, and HAI are present, should be prioritized for interventions, including alcohol control, innovative healthy diet toolkit distribution, insurance system revision, and community-based chronic disease intervention. Related health resource planning is also suggested to focus on these areas first.

Cardioprotection against experimental myocardial ischemic injury using cornin

Phosphorylated-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (Phospho-CREB) has an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia. We isolated the iridoid glycoside cornin from the fruit of Verbena officinalis L, investigated its effects against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury in vivo, and elucidated its potential mechanism in vitro. Effects of cornin on cell viability, as well as expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in hypoxic H9c2 cells in vitro, and myocardial I/R injury in vivo, were investigated. Cornin attenuated hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity significantly in H9c2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of H9c2 cells with cornin (10 µM) blocked the reduction of expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in a hypoxic condition. Treatment of rats with cornin (30 mg/kg, iv) protected them from myocardial I/R injury as indicated by a decrease in infarct volume, improvement in hemodynamics, and reduction of severity of myocardial damage. Cornin treatment also attenuated the reduction of expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in ischemic myocardial tissue. These data suggest that cornin exerts protective effects due to an increase in expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt.

Identifying food deserts and swamps based on relative healthy food access: a spatio-temporal Bayesian approach

Background

Obesity and other adverse health outcomes are influenced by individual- and neighbourhood-scale risk factors, including the food environment. At the small-area scale, past research has analysed spatial patterns of food environments for one time period, overlooking how food environments change over time. Further, past research has infrequently analysed relative healthy food access (RHFA), a measure that is more representative of food purchasing and consumption behaviours than absolute outlet density.

Methods

This research applies a Bayesian hierarchical model to analyse the spatio-temporal patterns of RHFA in the Region of Waterloo, Canada, from 2011 to 2014 at the small-area level. RHFA is calculated as the proportion of healthy food outlets (healthy outlets/healthy + unhealthy outlets) within 4-km from each small-area. This model measures spatial autocorrelation of RHFA, temporal trend of RHFA for the study region, and spatio-temporal trends of RHFA for small-areas.

Results

For the study region, a significant decreasing trend in RHFA is observed (-0.024), suggesting that food swamps have become more prevalent during the study period. For small-areas, significant decreasing temporal trends in RHFA were observed for all small-areas. Specific small-areas located in south Waterloo, north Kitchener, and southeast Cambridge exhibited the steepest decreasing spatio-temporal trends and are classified as spatio-temporal food swamps.

Conclusions

This research demonstrates a Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling approach to analyse RHFA at the small-area scale. Results suggest that food swamps are more prevalent than food deserts in the Region of Waterloo. Analysing spatio-temporal trends of RHFA improves understanding of local food environment, highlighting specific small-areas where policies should be targeted to increase RHFA and reduce risk factors of adverse health outcomes such as obesity.

Economic disadvantage and transitional outcomes: a study of young people from low-income families in Hong Kong

This study draws on data from focus groups involving 50 young people from low-income families in Hong Kong to investigate their school-to-work experiences. In line with the ecological-developmental perspective, our results show that contextual influences, including lower levels of parental involvement and lack of opportunities for further education or skill development, constrain both the formulation and pursuit of educational and career goals. In contrast, service use and supportive interactions with parents and non-family adults were found to help young people find a career direction and foster more adaptive transition. Furthermore, our results indicate a striking difference in intrapersonal agency and coping styles between youths who were attending further education or engaged in jobs with career advancement opportunities and those who were not. We discuss the implications of our findings, both for future research and for policy development to enhance the school-to-work transition of economically disadvantaged young people.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell-specific mitogen involved in a number of pathologic processes, including angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Polymorphisms of the VEGF gene have been associated with susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the specific association still remains controversial. We made a meta-analysis of the association between VEGF gene polymorphisms and CRC risk. Only eight case-control studies were retrieved, with a total of 2337 CRC patients and 2032 healthy controls. Six VEGF gene polymorphisms were addressed in all studies included, +936C>T (rs3025039), -2578C>A (rs699947), -1154G>A (rs1570360), -634G>C (rs2010963), -460C>T (rs833061), and +405C>G (rs2010963). There was a significant association between -2578C>A polymorphism and susceptibility to CRC in the comparison of C allele carriers (CC + CA) versus AA (odds ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval = 0.62-0.96, P = 0.02). No association was found between +936C>T, -1154G>A, -634G>C, -460C>T, and +405C>G with susceptibility to CRC. We conclude that the C allele carrier (CC + CA) of VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism appears to be a protective factor for CRC.

Head movements produced during linear translations in unexpected directions

Passive translation of the body in space elicits a complex combination of directionally-specific torques that are exerted on the neck. The inertial torques that are produced by linear translation are counteracted by linear vestibular and proprioceptive reflexes that maintain head stability. A novel experimental apparatus was used in this study to translate human subjects in a random and unpredictable direction in order to quantify the head's 3-D movement with respect to the direction of translation. Head movements were found to be produced in systematic patterns as a function of stimulus direction. Roll and yaw head movements were produced in proportion to the magnitude of the lateral component of the translation. Pitch head movements were proportionate to the magnitude of the fore-aft component of the translation. One surprising observation was that head movements produced during lateral translations were, on average, 17% smaller than those produced during fore-aft translations. This suggests that linear vestibular reflexes that stabilize the head may be directionally-specific and more active during lateral whole body translations.

Evaluation and comparison of measurement methods for personal exposure to fine particles in Beijing, China

Ambient measurement and microenvironmental modeling were compared with personal measurement in Beijing, China to evaluate their capacity to determine personal exposure to PM(2.5). The comparison showed the association was insignificant between ambient and personal concentrations, but was significant between modeled and personal concentrations. The association between ambient and personal concentrations was improved for non-smoking dormitories, on heavily polluted days and on weekdays. The median difference was 41% between ambient and personal concentrations and 17% between modeled and personal concentrations. The factors affecting the association and agreement between methods were indoor sources and ubiquitous "personal cloud".

The subtypes of developmental dyslexia in Chinese: evidence from three cases

This study investigated subtypes of developmental dyslexia in Chinese by assessing three cases of Chinese dyslexic children. A battery of screening measures, a character naming and meaning task, and metalinguistic awareness tasks were administered to each child. One of the three children demonstrated characteristics of developmental surface dyslexia, and the other two showed characteristics of developmental deep dyslexia. Moreover, the children's reading problems were found to be specifically related to their deficits in metalinguistic awareness. The dissociation between developmental surface and deep dyslexia provides support to Weekes et al.'s (Neurocase 1997; 3: 51-60) model that a semantic and a nonsemantic pathway exist independently in Chinese reading. The results also suggest that deficits in morphological and phonological awareness may cause developmental delays in the semantic and the nonsemantic pathway.

Current concepts of vestibular nucleus function: transformation of vestibular signals in the vestibular nuclei

The vestibular nerve sends signals to the brain that code the movement and position of the head in space. These signals are used for a variety of functions, including the control of reflex and voluntary movements and the construction of a sense of self-motion. In order to carry out these functions, sensory vestibular signals need to be transformed in a variety of ways. Transformations are thought to occur at an early stage of sensory processing in the brain, and in many cases are apparent in the responses of neurons in the vestibular nuclei that receive direct inputs from the vestibular nerve. Several specific examples of sensory transformation in the vestibular nuclei are presented, and current hypotheses about the mechanisms that are used to produce the transformations are discussed.

Difference between horizontal and vertical optokinetic nystagmus in cats at upright position

The slow-phase velocity (SPV) of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and optokinetic after nystagmus (OKAN) in response to a velocity step of surround rotation in the horizontal direction is composed of the rapid and slow components in the cat: a rapid rise, a slow rise to a steady state, a rapid fall, and a slow decline to 0 deg/s. The rapid and slow components are attributed to the direct pathway and velocity storage neuronal mechanisms, respectively. The difference between horizontal and vertical OKN has been reported in the monkey at the upright position, but the slow and rapid components have not been distinguished. The present study compared horizontal OKN-OKAN with vertical OKN-OKAN in the cat at the upright position, distinguishing the rapid and slow components. Constant velocity rotation of a random dot pattern at a velocity of 5 to 160 deg/s was used for optokinetic stimulation.

THE RESULTS

First, the amplitude of the rapid rise was relatively small in all SPV directions and all stimulus velocities investigated, with a slight upward-SPV preference to the downward-SPV (maximum 6.4, 6.0, and 3.4 deg/s in horizontal, upward, and downward SPV directions, respectively). Second, the steady state velocity was large during horizontal OKN (maximum 69.0 deg/s), small during upward-SPV OKN (12.9 deg/s), and missing (SPV is negligibly small and irregular) during downward-SPV OKN, indicating a large directional difference of OKN. Third, the acceleration of the slow rise decreased with the stimulus velocity at higher stimulus velocities >20 deg/s during both horizontal and upward-SPV OKN, suggesting strong nonlinearity in the velocity charge system. Fourth, the decay time course of the OKAN was described by the time constant of the exponential function, and the time constant was longer during horizontal (mean, 8.3 s at a stimulus velocity of 20 deg/s) than during upward-SPV (5.4 s) OKAN, suggesting that the velocity discharge system is relatively linear compared with the velocity charge system. It is concluded that horizontal OKN-OKAN is much larger than vertical OKN-OKAN in the cat at the upright position, and this directional difference is caused mainly by the directional difference in the velocity storage mechanism, but not in the direct pathway mechanism.

Hemolysis of 40% hematocrit, Albunex-supplemented human erythrocytes by pulsed ultrasound: frequency, acoustic pressure and pulse length dependence

The dependence of hemolysis produced by pulsed ultrasound on ultrasound frequency, acoustic pressure and pulse length was explored. Human erythrocytes (40% hematocrit; in Albunex-supplemented autologous plasma) were exposed (60 s) to 20 or 200 microns pulses of ultrasound at frequencies of 1.02, 2.24 or 3.46 MHz and at peak negative pressures [P-] ranging from 0.0 to approximately 3.0 MPa in 0.5 MPa increments. The duty factor was 0.01. At each frequency, hemolysis increased with increasing acoustic pressure and depended weakly on pulse duration. At relatively high acoustic pressures, hemolysis depended strongly on ultrasound frequency; at lower pressures, the frequency dependence was weaker. The potential clinical significance of ultrasonic hemolysis is discussed.

Spontaneous malignant transformation of fibrous dysplasia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical and radiological findings in diagnosing spontaneous malignant transformation of fibrous dysplasia.

METHODS

Fifteen cases of sarcomatous transformation proved by operation and pathological examinations were found in a group of 356 patients with fibrous dysplasia, and their radiological manifestations were retrospectively studied. The 15 cases included 8 osteosarcomas, 5 fibrosarcomas and 2 chondrosarcomas. All the 15 patients were known to have long-standing fibrous dysplasia, but no radiation therapy was ever received. Eleven patients had polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and 4 had monostotic type.

RESULTS

Malignant transformation most frequently occurs in the cystic expansive lesion of the long tubular bone. Pains, swelling and late appearance of a bony mass are the main clinical manifestations. The early radiological features of sarcomatous transformation in fibrous dysplasia are moth-eaten or cystic areas of osteolysis located in the involved bone. The cortical destruction and gradual formation of a soft tissue mass that contains tumor-bone are highly suspicious of osteosarcomatous transformation, while ring-like and spotty calcification in the tumor matrix is indicative of chondrosarcoma. Fibrosarcoma usually shows simple osteolytic destruction.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the clinical radiological findings, patients of sarcomatous transformation can be detected in the early stage. These radiological findings may be used as a clue for differentiating various kinds of sarcomatous transformation.