Healthcare and housing provision for a UK homeless community: a qualitative service evaluation

OBJECTIVES

Homelessness is both a significant determinant and consequence of health and social inequalities. To better meet healthcare needs, dedicated mental health and general nurses were implemented to deliver outreach healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in one United Kingdom (UK) county. During COVID-19, the UK Government also instructed local authorities to accommodate individuals sleeping rough and have a national target to end rough sleeping. This qualitative study explored experiences of this nurse-let outreach service and housing journeys during and beyond COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness.

STUDY DESIGN

Face-to-face, narrative storytelling interviews were conducted via opportunistic sampling in community settings. Individuals with recent or current experiences of homelessness were eligible.

METHODS

Participants were informed about the study via known professionals and introduced to the researcher. Eighteen narrative interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analysed using reflective thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Individuals described complex journeys in becoming and being homeless. The nurse-led outreach service provided integral support, with reported benefits to person-centred and accessible care and improved outcomes in health and well-being. After being housed, individuals valued housing necessities and described new responsibilities. However, some participants did not accept or stay in housing provisions where they perceived risks.

CONCLUSIONS

Interviewed participants perceived that the dedicated nurse-led outreach service improved their access to care and health outcomes. In the absence of dedicated provisions, mainstream healthcare should ensure flexible processes and collaborative professional working. Local authorities must also be afforded increased resources for housing, as well as integrated support, to reduce social and health inequalities.

Structural Characterization of Canine Minute Virus, Rat and Porcine Bocavirus

Bocaparvovirus is an expansive genus of the Parvovirinae, with a wide range of vertebrate hosts. This study investigates Canine minute virus (CnMV), Rat bocavirus (RBoV), and Porcine bocavirus 1 (PBoV1). Both CnMV and PBoV1 have been found in gastrointestinal infections in their respective hosts, with CnMV responsible for spontaneous abortions in dogs, while PBoV has been associated with encephalomyelitis in piglets. The pathogenicity of the recently identified RBoV is currently unknown. To initiate the characterization of these viruses, their capsids structures were determined by cryo-electron microscopy at resolutions ranging from 2.3 to 2.7 Å. Compared to other parvoviruses, the CnMV, PBoV1, and RBoV capsids showed conserved features, such as the channel at the fivefold symmetry axis. However, major differences were observed at the two- and threefold axes. While CnMV displays prominent threefold protrusions, the same region is more recessed in PBoV1 and RBoV. Furthermore, the typical twofold axis depression of parvoviral capsids is absent in CnMV or very small in PBoV and RBoV. These capsid structures extend the structural portfolio for the Bocaparvovirus genus and will allow future characterization of these pathogens on a molecular level. This is important, as no antivirals or vaccines exist for these viruses.

Exploratory proteome profiling in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy – a biomarker study on the EORP cohort

Background

The diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) remains challenging as heart failure symptoms may also occur during normal pregnancy. This is further aggravated by the absence of biomarkers specific for diagnosis or prognosis of women with PPCM. Indeed, current evidence from the EURObservational Research Programme (EORP) Registry, an ongoing prospective, international, multicentre, observational registry for women with PPCM, report that the time to diagnosis after symptom onset varies from 19.4 to 38.3 days.

Aims

We performed exploratory serum proteome profiling on patients with PPCM, as compared with healthy postpartum mothers, to uncover novel protein biomarkers that would further our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and enhance diagnostic evaluation.

Methods

Demographic and clinical data, as well as serum samples were collected from 84 patients with PPCM from seven EORP participating countries and 29 healthy controls (HC) from South Africa. Serum proteomic profiling was conducted using DIA-based label-free quantitative (LFQ) LC-MS at the time of diagnosis from depleted serum samples. Mass spectrometry data were analyzed by Spectronaut v15 using a study-specific spectral library. Proteomic statistical analysis was performed using Perseus version 2.0.3.0 (FDR=0.05; S=0.1).

Results

Patients with PPCM had advanced heart failure (50% had New York Heart Association functional classes III/IV, mean left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] of 33.5%±9.3 [vs 57.0±8.8 in HC, p<0.001]). Amongst the 329 proteins that were identified in the serum samples, 17 proteins were significantly differentially upregulated and 18 downregulated in patients with PPCM as compared to the HC (all p<0.05; Figure 1). Adiponectin (log fold change 1.378, p=0.001), pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein 1 (1.207, p=0.022), disintegrin metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 12 (1.185, p=0.039), peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (1.182, p=0.031) and sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (1.101, p=0.004) were among the upregulated proteins, whilst immunoglobulin kappa variable 2–29 (0.856, p=0.029), ficolin-3 (0.898, p=0.001), platelet basic protein (0.917, p=0.006) and thrombospondin-1 (0.930, p=0.043) were among the downregulated. Gene ontology indicated that thrombospondin receptor activity, fibronectin-binding, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 binding among the most significant regulated molecular functions. The area under the curve (AUC) of the top 10 up-regulated biomarkers ranged from 0.61–0.68 (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Salient biological themes related to immune response proteins, inflammation, fibrosis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and blood coagulation were identified to be predominant in PPCM versus HC. This indicates the complex pathophysiological mechanisms of PPCM. The newly identified proteins warrant further studies to evaluate their potential use as diagnostic and prognostic markers for PPCM.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): 1. EurObservational Research Programme in conjunction with the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Study Group on Peripartum Cardiomyopathy2. Cape Heart Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Epidemiology and impact of frailty in patients with atrial fibrillation in Europe

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a medical syndrome characterised by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Data regarding the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are still inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to perform a comprehensive evaluation of frailty in a large European cohort of AF patients.

METHODS

A 40-item frailty index (FI) was built according to the accumulation of deficits model in the AF patients enrolled in the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry. Association of baseline characteristics, clinical management, quality of life, healthcare resources use and risk of outcomes with frailty was examined.

RESULTS

Among 10,177 patients [mean age (standard deviation) 69.0 (11.4) years, 4,103 (40.3%) females], 6,066 (59.6%) were pre-frail and 2,172 (21.3%) were frail, whereas only 1,939 (19.1%) were considered robust. Baseline thromboembolic and bleeding risks were independently associated with increasing FI. Frail patients with AF were less likely to be treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs) (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.89), especially with non-vitamin K antagonist OACs and managed with a rhythm control strategy, compared with robust patients. Increasing frailty was associated with a higher risk for all outcomes examined, with a non-linear exponential relationship. The use of OAC was associated with a lower risk of outcomes, except in patients with very/extremely high frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of AF patients, there was a high burden of frailty, influencing clinical management and risk of adverse outcomes. The clinical benefit of OAC is maintained in patients with high frailty, but not in very high/extremely frail ones.

Neurovascular coupling and oxygenation are decreased in hippocampus compared to neocortex because of microvascular differences

The hippocampus is essential for spatial and episodic memory but is damaged early in Alzheimer's disease and is very sensitive to hypoxia. Understanding how it regulates its oxygen supply is therefore key for designing interventions to preserve its function. However, studies of neurovascular function in the hippocampus in vivo have been limited by its relative inaccessibility. Here we compared hippocampal and visual cortical neurovascular function in awake mice, using two photon imaging of individual neurons and vessels and measures of regional blood flow and haemoglobin oxygenation. We show that blood flow, blood oxygenation and neurovascular coupling were decreased in the hippocampus compared to neocortex, because of differences in both the vascular network and pericyte and endothelial cell function. Modelling oxygen diffusion indicates that these features of the hippocampal vasculature may restrict oxygen availability and could explain its sensitivity to damage during neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, where the brain's energy supply is decreased.

Early Postmortem Metabolism and Protease Activation in Bovine Muscles

ObjectivesThe conversion of muscle to meat is largely controlled by postmortem energy metabolism and pH decline. These biochemical changes influence activity of enzymes implicated in proteolysis and meat tenderization. Therefore, our objective was to investigate pH decline, muscle energy metabolism, and protease activation in functionally distinct bovine muscles.Materials and MethodsSteers (n = 6) were harvested at approximately 18.5 mo and 630 kg live weight. Samples from the longissimus lumborum (LL) and diaphragm (Dia) were taken at 1, 3, and 24h postmortem, immediately frozen using liquid nitrogen, and stored in ultra-freezer until analysis. Muscle pH was obtained using a pH meter at the same time points. Myosin heavy chain composition (I, IIa, and IIx) was determined using gel electrophoresis. Substrate (residual glycogen), as well as glycolytic metabolites, glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and lactate, were quantified by enzymatic methods; muscle ATP at 1 and 3h was also determined. Western blotting was used to evaluate protease activation (calpain-1 and caspase-3). Data were analyzed using a randomized block design, with slaughter date as block. Animal within slaughter date was considered as random effect and fixed effects of muscle, time, and the interaction tested. Time was considered a repeated measure.ResultsDiaphragm contained a greater percentage of slow myosin heavy chain compared to LL (80% vs. 12%, respectively). Consistent with fiber type, LL contained greater glycogen than Dia at 1h (P < 0.05), but not at subsequent times postmortem. Overall, a greater decline in glycogen occurred in LL. Accordingly, lactate concentration increased markedly in LL postmortem and to a lesser extent in Dia (interaction effect; P < 0.01). Although muscles exhibited similar lactate content at 1h, at 24h the LL showed elevated lactate relative to Dia (88 vs. 53 µmol/g tissue, respectively). Accumulation of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate were affected by muscle (P < 0.01) and time (P < 0.01), with greater final content in LL compared to Dia. Muscles exhibited different patterns of postmortem pH decline (muscle × time, P < 0.0001). Initially, pH of LL was higher than Dia (P < 0.01) and remained different at 3h (P < 0.05); but by 24h, pH values were similar. Content of ATP was influenced by muscle (P < 0.01) and time (P < 0.01). Initial ATP was greater (P < 0.01) in LL than in Dia and remained greater (P = 0.002) at 3h postmortem. From 1 to 24h, the pattern of calpain autolysis differed between muscles (interaction effect; P = 0.01). Calpain-1 autolysis was similar at all times in Dia, whereas autolysis increased in LL from 3h to 24h postmortem. Caspase-3 was identified by one band (32 kDa) that represents the zymogen (procaspase-3). Procaspase-3 content is affected by muscle (P < 0.01), with Dia containing greater content than LL.ConclusionAlthough the Dia is considered a slow muscle, it exhibited a more rapid pH decline and lower ATP levels than LL early postmortem. These parameters were expected to coincide with more rapid calpain-1 autolysis in Dia, but this was not the case. Further work is necessary to understand the interaction between pH decline, muscle type, and postmortem proteolysis.

Mitochondrial Function in Oxidative and Glycolytic Bovine Skeletal Muscle Postmortem

ObjectivesMitochondrial function in postmortem muscle is affected by decreasing oxygenation. Functional properties relating to energy production and integrity of mitochondria may influence development of meat quality characteristics. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate changes in mitochondrial function in oxidative and glycolytic muscles during the first 24h postmortem.Materials and MethodsSteers (n = 6) of primarily Angus (80 to 100%) genetics were harvested at approximately 18.5 mo and 630 kg live weight. Samples from the longissimus lumborum (LL) and diaphragm (Dia) were collected at 1, 3, and 24h postmortem. Fresh-preserved muscle samples were permeabilized using saponin, and muscle bundles (2–4 mg) were transferred to a high-resolution oxygraph for respiration measurements (oxygen consumption rate, OCR, pmol/sec/mg of tissue). Samples were assessed in duplicate under hyperoxia. First, pyruvate and malate were added to support the TCA cycle and assess leak respiration. Then, ADP was added to support electron flow through complex I. The influence of glutamate on NADH production (complex I) was tested, followed by complex II activation by succinate. Integrity of the mitochondria outer membrane was tested with cytochrome c. Next, an uncoupler (FCCP) was added to force the electron transport system (ETS) to maximum capacity. Citrate synthase (CS) activity (nmol/min/mg tissue) was determined in frozen samples and used as a marker of mitochondria content. Subsequently, respiration data were normalized to CS activity (pmol/sec/U CS) to account for differences in mitochondria content. Coupling efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation was calculated as 1– (Leak/ADP-stimulated oxidative phosphorylation capacity). Raw and normalized OCR were analyzed in a randomized block design, with slaughter date as block and fixed effects of muscle, time, and the interaction. Time was considered a repeated measure.ResultsMuscle type affected (P = 0.0002) leak OCR, with Dia showing a higher rate than LL. After ADP was added, mitochondria from Dia exhibited higher OCR at all times tested and at all steps, with OCR being 4 times higher after FCCP addition. Mitochondrial content, evidenced by greater (P < 0.0001) CS activity in Dia, largely explained differences in OCR between muscles. After OCR was normalized to CS activity, the 1 and 3h postmortem OCR from Dia and LL were similar (P > 0.05). However, at 24h postmortem, OCR after ADP, glutamate, and FCCP additions were greater (P < 0.05) in Dia mitochondria. Time, but not muscle, affected cytochrome c response. At 1h postmortem, cytochrome c increased OCR by 6.6%, supporting that mitochondria outer membrane integrity is not compromised. However, cytochrome c response at 3h postmortem increased 52.4%, indicating outer membrane damage. Coupling efficiency is different between muscles (P = 0.005) with Dia exhibiting greater efficiency.ConclusionDespite inherent metabolic differences between the LL and Dia, mitochondria from both muscles are intact and coupled at 1h postmortem. However, by 24h postmortem, functional properties of LL mitochondria are reduced compared to Dia. Declining mitochondrial function may be associated with calcium overload, mitochondrial fragmentation, and protease activation.

Assessment of pops contaminated sites and the need for stringent soil standards for food safety for the protection of human health

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including PCDD/Fs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are among the most important and hazardous pollutants of soil. Food producing animals such as chicken, beef, sheep and goats can take up soil while grazing or living outdoors (free-range) and this can result in contamination. In recent decades, large quantities of brominated flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and per- and polyfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) have been produced and released into the environment and this has resulted in widespread contamination of soils and other environmental matrices. These POPs also bioaccumulate and can contaminate food of animal origin resulting in indirect exposure of humans. Recent assessments of chicken and beef have shown that surprisingly low concentrations of PCBs and PCDD/Fs in soil can result in exceedances of regulatory limits in food. Soil contamination limits have been established in a number of countries for PCDD/Fs but it has been shown that the contamination levels which result in regulatory limits in food (the maximum levels in the European Union) being exceeded, are below all the existing soil regulatory limits. 'Safe' soil levels are exceeded in many areas around emission sources of PCDD/Fs and PCBs. On the other hand, PCDD/F and dioxin-like PCB levels in soil in rural areas, without a contamination source, are normally safe for food producing animals housed outdoors resulting in healthy food (e.g. meat, eggs, milk). For the majority of POPs (e.g. PBDEs, PFOS, PFOA, SCCP) no regulatory limits in soils exist. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop appropriate and protective soil standards minimising human exposure from food producing animals housed outdoors. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to eliminate POPs pollution sources for soils and to control, secure and remediate contaminated sites and reservoirs, in order to reduce exposure and guarantee food safety.

Movement Disorders and Syndromic Autism: A Systematic Review

Movement disorders are reported in idiopathic autism but the extent to which comparable movement disorders are found in syndromic/co-morbid autism is unknown. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and CINAHL on the prevalence of specific movement disorder in syndromic autism associated with specific genetic syndromes identified 16 papers, all relating to Angelman syndrome or Rett syndrome. Prevalence rates of 72.7–100% and 25.0–27.3% were reported for ataxia and tremor, respectively, in Angelman syndrome. In Rett syndrome, prevalence rates of 43.6–50% were reported for ataxia and 27.3–48.3% for tremor with additional reports of dystonia, rigidity and pyramidal signs. However, reliable assessment measures were rarely used and recruitment was often not described in sufficient detail.

Critical care usage after major gastrointestinal and liver surgery: a prospective, multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND

Patient selection for critical care admission must balance patient safety with optimal resource allocation. This study aimed to determine the relationship between critical care admission, and postoperative mortality after abdominal surgery.

METHODS

This prespecified secondary analysis of a multicentre, prospective, observational study included consecutive patients enrolled in the DISCOVER study from UK and Republic of Ireland undergoing major gastrointestinal and liver surgery between October and December 2014. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore associations between critical care admission (planned and unplanned) and mortality, and inter-centre variation in critical care admission after emergency laparotomy.

RESULTS

Of 4529 patients included, 37.8% (n=1713) underwent planned critical care admissions from theatre. Some 3.1% (n=86/2816) admitted to ward-level care subsequently underwent unplanned critical care admission. Overall 30-day mortality was 2.9% (n=133/4519), and the risk-adjusted association between 30-day mortality and critical care admission was higher in unplanned [odds ratio (OR): 8.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.51-19.97) than planned admissions (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.43-3.85). Some 26.7% of patients (n=1210/4529) underwent emergency laparotomies. After adjustment, 49.3% (95% CI: 46.8-51.9%, P<0.001) were predicted to have planned critical care admissions, with 7% (n=10/145) of centres outside the 95% CI.

CONCLUSIONS

After risk adjustment, no 30-day survival benefit was identified for either planned or unplanned postoperative admissions to critical care within this cohort. This likely represents appropriate admission of the highest-risk patients. Planned admissions in selected, intermediate-risk patients may present a strategy to mitigate the risk of unplanned admission. Substantial inter-centre variation exists in planned critical care admissions after emergency laparotomies.

Adult care providers' perspectives on the transition to adult care for emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes: a cross-sectional survey

AIMS

To assess adult diabetes care providers' current transition practices, knowledge about transition care, and perceived barriers to implementation of best practices in transition care for emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

We administered a 38-item web-based survey to adult diabetes care providers identified through the Québec Endocrinologist Medical Association and Diabetes Québec.

RESULTS

Fifty-three physicians responded (35%). Fewer than half of all respondents (46%) were familiar with the American Diabetes Association's transition care position statement. Approximately one-third of respondents reported a gap of >6 months between paediatric and adult diabetes care. Most (83%) believed communication with the paediatric team was adequate; however, only 56% reported receiving a medical summary and 2% a psychosocial summary from the paediatric provider. Respondents believed that the paediatric team should improve emerging adults' preparation for transition care by developing their self-management skills and improve teaching about the differences between paediatric and adult-oriented care. Only 31% had a system for identifying emerging adults lost to follow-up in adult care. Perceived barriers included difficulty accessing psychosocial services, emerging adults' lack of motivation, and inadequate transition preparation. Most (87%) were interested in having additional resources, including a self-care management tool and a registry to track those lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the need to better engage adult care providers into transition care practices. Despite adult physicians' interest in transition care, implementation of transition care recommendations and resources in clinical care remains limited. Enhanced efforts are needed to improve access to mental health services within the adult healthcare setting.

Investigating the level of glaucoma awareness and perception of its risk factors in Anambra State, Nigeria

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of awareness of glaucoma and perception of its risk factors in Anambra State, and to examine and evaluate the health seeking behaviour of this target population and its relationship with the development glaucoma.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a qualitative study that utilised face-to-face semi-structured interviews to investigate the level of glaucoma awareness in the state.

METHODS

Purposive, non-random sampling technique was used to recruit the participants, and data were collected from 28 participants [aged 21-73 years] using semi-structured interview. The resulting data were analysed using Nvivo 10 software and Interpretative phenomenological analysis framework.

RESULTS

Of the 28 interviewees, 15 (53.6%) live in urban areas, and 13 (46.4%) live in the rural areas; 11 (39.3%) of the participants were male and 17 (60.7%) were females. In this study, people with more education, and people that live in the urban areas tend to have heard about glaucoma compared with people with less education, and who live in the rural areas; although this sample was too small to make substantive claims. Glaucoma was perceived as 'a dangerous eye disease that can cause blindness if not treated early; serious eye problem; an incurable eye problem that can eventually result to blindness, and a dangerous eye problem that can easily render a person blind'. Four a priori themes and ten emergent themes were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

There is low awareness of glaucoma in this population, and this encourages people to indulge in certain risk behaviours that could predispose them to glaucoma. Therefore, providing sustained health promotion programmes and improved eye care services could help this population immensely in the current struggle against glaucoma blindness.

Multisite Concordance of DSC-MRI Analysis for Brain Tumors: Results of a National Cancer Institute Quantitative Imaging Network Collaborative Project

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Standard assessment criteria for brain tumors that only include anatomic imaging continue to be insufficient. While numerous studies have demonstrated the value of DSC-MR imaging perfusion metrics for this purpose, they have not been incorporated due to a lack of confidence in the consistency of DSC-MR imaging metrics across sites and platforms. This study addresses this limitation with a comparison of multisite/multiplatform analyses of shared DSC-MR imaging datasets of patients with brain tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DSC-MR imaging data were collected after a preload and during a bolus injection of gadolinium contrast agent using a gradient recalled-echo-EPI sequence (TE/TR = 30/1200 ms; flip angle = 72°). Forty-nine low-grade (n = 13) and high-grade (n = 36) glioma datasets were uploaded to The Cancer Imaging Archive. Datasets included a predetermined arterial input function, enhancing tumor ROIs, and ROIs necessary to create normalized relative CBV and CBF maps. Seven sites computed 20 different perfusion metrics. Pair-wise agreement among sites was assessed with the Lin concordance correlation coefficient. Distinction of low- from high-grade tumors was evaluated with the Wilcoxon rank sum test followed by receiver operating characteristic analysis to identify the optimal thresholds based on sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

For normalized relative CBV and normalized CBF, 93% and 94% of entries showed good or excellent cross-site agreement (0.8 ≤ Lin concordance correlation coefficient ≤ 1.0). All metrics could distinguish low- from high-grade tumors. Optimum thresholds were determined for pooled data (normalized relative CBV = 1.4, sensitivity/specificity = 90%:77%; normalized CBF = 1.58, sensitivity/specificity = 86%:77%).

CONCLUSIONS

By means of DSC-MR imaging data obtained after a preload of contrast agent, substantial consistency resulted across sites for brain tumor perfusion metrics with a common threshold discoverable for distinguishing low- from high-grade tumors.

A study of glycaemic effects following acute anthocyanin-rich blueberry supplementation in healthy young adults

The postprandial response to ingested carbohydrate is recognised as a marker of metabolic health. Postprandial hyperglycaemia is observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus and is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cognitive deficits are also associated with type 2 diabetes. Therefore interventions which moderate postprandial glucose profiles are desirable. Here we investigated the impact of anthocyanin-rich wild blueberries on postprandial glucose response. Seventeen healthy young adults consumed a range of doses of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder, in smoothie form, in both sugar-matched and no-added-sugar conditions. Plasma glucose was determined by a capillary sampling method at baseline and at regular intervals up to 2.5 hours postprandially. Blueberries were observed to significantly extend the postprandial glucose response beyond the period observed for a sugar-matched control, characteristic of a beneficial glycaemic response. Furthermore, blueberries were observed to reduce peak postprandial glucose levels, although statistical significance was not achieved. The findings suggest a tempering of the postprandial glucose response in the presence of anthocyanin-rich blueberry, and are discussed with reference to likely glucoregulatory mechanisms of action and their implications for cognitive and type 2 diabetes research.

Does compliance with healthy lifestyle behaviours cluster within individuals in Australian primary school-aged children?

BACKGROUND

The 3 "movement behaviours" of sleep, screen time, and physical activity are associated with a wide range of health outcomes in children. This study examined whether these behaviours cluster together within individuals in Australian primary school children.

METHODS

Three datasets including 4,449 9- to 11-year-old children were interrogated-(a) Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (OPAL), (b) the International Study of Children, Obesity, Lifestyle and Environment (ISCOLE), and (c) the National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NCNPAS). The surveys measured movement behaviours using different instruments (accelerometry, use of time recall, and questionnaires) and different operationalizations of compliance. Observed frequencies of compliance with various combinations of guidelines were compared with expected frequencies based on the assumption of independence, using chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Compliance with the sleep guidelines was relatively high (72%, 75%, and 79% in the OPAL, ISCOLE, and NCNPAS datasets, respectively), and compliance with the screen (18%, 35%, and 22%) and physical activity (33%, 57%, and 87%) guidelines was generally lower. Against expectation, there was no evidence of clustering in any of the datasets (p > .99).

CONCLUSIONS

Compliance with movement behaviour guidelines does not cluster within individuals in 9- to 11-year-old Australian children. It may be unlikely that fostering compliance with one guideline will have a flow-on effect to the others. Temporal trade-offs (i.e., the need to choose one movement behaviour above another) in the 24-hr day may contribute to the lack of clustering.

Paradoxical physiological responses to propranolol in a Rett syndrome patient: a case report

BACKGROUND

Rett Syndrome (RTT), caused by a loss-of-function in the epigenetic modulator: X-linked methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), is a pervasive neurological disorder characterized by compromised brain functions, anxiety, severe mental retardation, language and learning disabilities, repetitive stereotyped hand movements and developmental regression. An imbalance in the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system (dysautonomia) and the resulting autonomic storms is a frequent occurrence in patients with RTT. The prototypical beta blocker propranolol has been used to manage sympathetic hyperactivity in patients with RTT.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 13 year old girl with RTT was referred to the Centre for Interventional Paediatric Psychopharmacology and Rare Diseases (CIPPRD), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Her clinical picture included disordered breathing with concomitant hyperventilation and apnoea, epilepsy, scoliosis, no QT prolongation (QT/QTc [372/467 ms on automated electrocardiogram [ECG], but manually calculated to be 440 ms]), no cardiac abnormalities (PR interval: 104 ms, QRS duration: 78 ms), and generalised anxiety disorder (ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F41.1). She was also constipated and was fed via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). To manage the dysautonomia, propranolol was given (5 mg and 10 mg) and in parallel her physiological parameters, including heart rate, skin temperature and skin transpiration, were monitored continuously for 24 h as she went about her activities of daily living. Whilst her skin temperature increased and skin transpiration decreased, unexpectedly there was a significant paradoxical increase in the patient's average heart rate following propranolol treatment.

CONCLUSION

Here, we present a unique case of a paradoxical increase in heart rate response following propranolol treatment for managing dysautonomia in a child with RTT. Further studies are warranted to better understand the underlying dysautonomia in patients with RTT and the impact this might have on treatment strategies in rare disorders such as RTT.

Calculating radiotherapy margins based on Bayesian modelling of patient specific random errors

Collected real-life clinical target volume (CTV) displacement data show that some patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) demonstrate significantly more fraction-to-fraction variability in their displacement ('random error') than others. This contrasts with the common assumption made by historical recipes for margin estimation for EBRT, that the random error is constant across patients. In this work we present statistical models of CTV displacements in which random errors are characterised by an inverse gamma (IG) distribution in order to assess the impact of random error variability on CTV-to-PTV margin widths, for eight real world patient cohorts from four institutions, and for different sites of malignancy. We considered a variety of clinical treatment requirements and penumbral widths. The eight cohorts consisted of a total of 874 patients and 27 391 treatment sessions. Compared to a traditional margin recipe that assumes constant random errors across patients, for a typical 4 mm penumbral width, the IG based margin model mandates that in order to satisfy the common clinical requirement that 90% of patients receive at least 95% of prescribed RT dose to the entire CTV, margins be increased by a median of 10% (range over the eight cohorts -19% to +35%). This substantially reduces the proportion of patients for whom margins are too small to satisfy clinical requirements.

Skeletal findings in the first 12 months following initiation of glucocorticoid therapy for pediatric nephrotic syndrome

Incident vertebral fractures and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed in the 12 months following glucocorticoid initiation in 65 children with nephrotic syndrome. The incidence of vertebral fractures was low at 12 months (6 %) and most patients demonstrated recovery in BMD Z-scores by this time point.

INTRODUCTION

Vertebral fracture (VF) incidence following glucocorticoid (GC) initiation has not been previously reported in pediatric nephrotic syndrome.

METHODS

VF was assessed on radiographs (Genant method); lumbar spine bone mineral density (LS BMD) was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

Sixty-five children were followed to 12 months post-GC initiation (median age, 5.4 years; range, 2.3-17.9). Three of 54 children with radiographs (6 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 2-15 %) had incident VF at 1 year. The mean LS BMD Z-score was below the healthy average at baseline (mean ± standard deviation (SD), -0.5 ± 1.1; p = 0.001) and at 3 months (-0.6 ± 1.1; p < 0.001), but not at 6 months (-0.3 ± 1.3; p = 0.066) or 12 months (-0.3 ± 1.2; p = 0.066). Mixed effect modeling showed a significant increase in LS BMD Z-scores between 3 and 12 months (0.22 SD; 95 % CI, 0.08 to 0.36; p = 0.003). A subgroup (N = 16; 25 %) had LS BMD Z-scores that were ≤-1.0 at 12 months. In these children, each additional 1,000 mg/m(2) of GC received in the first 3 months was associated with a decrease in LS BMD Z-score by 0.39 at 12 months (95 % CI, -0.71 to -0.07; p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of VF at 1 year was low and LS BMD Z-scores improved by 12 months in the majority. Twenty-five percent of children had LS BMD Z-scores ≤-1.0 at 12 months. In these children, LS BMD Z-scores were inversely associated with early GC exposure, despite similar GC exposure compared to the rest of the cohort.

The development of bone mineral lateralization in the arms

Bone mineral content (BMC) is known to be greater in the dominant arm after the age of 8 years. We studied a group of children and found that BMC sidedness gradually increased up to the age of 6 years and then remained stable into late adolescence.

INTRODUCTION

Bone mineral content (BMC) exhibits sidedness in the arms after the age of 8 years, but it is not known whether BMC is greater in the dominant arm from birth or whether lateralization develops in early childhood. To address this, we examined bone mineral status in relation to handedness and age.

METHODS

Subjects (N = 158) were children recently initiating glucocorticoids for underlying disease (leukemia 43 %, rheumatic conditions 39 %, nephrotic syndrome 18 %). Handedness was determined by questionnaire and BMC by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

Median age was 7.2 years (range, 1.5 to 17.0 years), 49 % was male, and the spine BMD Z-score was -0.9 (SD, 1.3). By linear regression, BMC sidedness in the arms was significantly related to age (r = 0.294, p = 0.0005). Breakpoint analysis revealed two lines with a knot at 6.0 years (95 % CI, 4.5-7.5 years). The formula for the first line was: dominant:nondominant arm BMC ratio = 0.029 × age [in years] + 0.850 (r = 0.323, p = 0.017). The slope of the second line was not different from 0 (p = 0.332), while the slopes for the two lines were significantly different (p = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that arm BMC sidedness in this patient group develops up to age 6 years and then remains stable into late adolescence. This temporal profile is consistent with mechanical stimulation of the skeleton in response to asymmetrical muscle use as handedness becomes manifest.

Skeletal findings in children recently initiating glucocorticoids for the treatment of nephrotic syndrome

SUMMARY

Eighty children with nephrotic syndrome underwent lumbar spine densitometry and vertebral morphometry soon after glucocorticoid initiation. We found an inverse relationship between glucocorticoid exposure and spine areal bone mineral density (BMD) Z-score and a low rate of vertebral deformities (8%).

INTRODUCTION

Vertebral fractures are an under-recognized complication of childhood glucocorticoid-treated illnesses. Our goal was to study the relationships among glucocorticoid exposure, lumbar spine areal BMD (LS BMD), and vertebral shape in glucocorticoid-treated children with new-onset nephrotic syndrome.

METHODS

Lateral thoracolumbar spine radiography and LS BMD were performed in 80 children with nephrotic syndrome (median age 4.4 years; 46 boys) within the first 37 days of glucocorticoid therapy. Genant semiquantitative grading was used as the primary method for vertebral morphometry; the algorithm-based qualitative (ABQ) method was used for secondary vertebral deformity analysis.

RESULTS

Six of the 78 children with usable radiographs (8%; 95% confidence interval 4 to 16%) manifested a single Genant grade 1 deformity each. All deformities were mild anterior wedging (two at each of T6, T7, and T8). Four of the 78 children (5%; 95% confidence interval 2 to 13%) showed one ABQ sign of fracture each (loss of endplate parallelism; two children at T6 and two at T8). Two of the children with ABQ signs also had a Genant grade 1 deformity in the same vertebral body. None of the children with a Genant or ABQ deformity reported back pain. An inverse relationship was identified between LS BMD Z-score and glucocorticoid exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Although we identified an inverse relationship between steroid exposure and LS BMD soon after glucocorticoid initiation for childhood nephrotic syndrome, there was only a low rate of vertebral deformities. The clinical significance of these findings requires further study.

A pragmatic RCT of conventional versus increased concentration sucrose in freezing and thawing solutions for human embryos

BACKGROUND

Intact frozen-thawed embryos have a greater potential than damaged embryos to establish successful pregnancies. This study aimed to determine whether elevated concentrations of sucrose during freezing would increase the proportion of patients with ≥ 50% of embryos intact after thawing (primary outcome), and improve clinical outcome.

METHODS

In a two arm, parallel group, pragmatic trial, IVF/ICSI couples were randomized prospectively to have their supernumerary embryos frozen in a medium containing 0.1 M sucrose (control; n = 99) or 0.3 M sucrose (intervention; n = 102).

RESULTS

More control (74/99) than intervention (63/102) couples had at least one embryo thawed (P = 0.07). Significantly more (P = 0.005) intervention (53/63) than control (45/74) couples had ≥ 50% of embryos intact. Freezing in a medium containing 0.3 M sucrose increased by 3.4-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) (1.45, 7.82)] the likelihood of a couple having ≥ 50% of their embryos intact. In the fresh cycle, live birth rate per transfer was similar in the control (35/95) and intervention (36/93) groups (P = 0.91). More control (19/63) than intervention (9/59) couples had a live birth after frozen embryo transfer (P = 0.08). When fresh and frozen cycles were combined, fewer intervention (n = 102) than control (n = 99) couples had at least one live birth (42 versus 53%). The difference in cumulative live birth rate was not significant [hazard ratio = 0.75, 95% CI (0.49, 1.13); P = 0.17].

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing the concentration of sucrose in the freezing medium improves embryo survival, but this is not reflected by increased cumulative birth rates.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN93314892.

Accumulation of eosinophils in intestine-draining mesenteric lymph nodes occurs after Trichuris muris infection

Eosinophils have recently been demonstrated capable of localizing to lymph nodes that drain mucosal surfaces, in particular during T helper 2 (Th2) responses. Resistance of mice to infection with the gastrointestinal nematode Trichuris muris depends critically on mounting of a Th2 response and represents a useful model system to investigate Th2 responses. Following infection of resistant BALB/c mice with T. muris, we observed accumulation of eosinophils in intestine-draining mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). The accumulation of MLN eosinophils was initiated during the second week of infection and peaked during worm expulsion. In contrast, we detected a comparably late and modest increase in eosinophil numbers in the MLNs of infected susceptible AKR mice. MLN eosinophils localized preferentially to the medullary region of the lymph node, displayed an activated phenotype and contributed to the interleukin-4 (IL-4) response in the MLN. Despite this, mice genetically deficient in eosinophils efficiently generated IL-4-expressing CD4⁺ T cells, produced Th2 cytokines and mediated worm expulsion during primary T. muris infection. Thus, IL-4-expressing eosinophils accumulate in MLNs of T. muris-infected BALB/c mice but are dispensable for worm expulsion and generation of Th2 responses, suggesting a distinct or subtle role of MLN eosinophils in the immune response to T. muris infection.

Scrapie-resistant sheep show certain coat colour characteristics

Susceptibility to scrapie is known to be associated with polymorphisms at the prion protein (PrP) gene, and this association is the basis of current selective programmes implemented to control scrapie in many countries. However, these programmes might have unintended consequences for other traits that might be associated with PrP genotype. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between PrP genotype and coat colour characteristics in two UK native sheep breeds valued for their distinctive coat colour patterns. Coat colour pattern, darkness and spotting and PrP genotype records were available for 11 674 Badgerfaced Welsh Mountain and 2338 Shetland sheep. The data were analysed with a log-linear model using maximum likelihood. Results showed a strong significant association of PrP genotype with coat colour pattern in Badgerfaced Welsh Mountain and Shetland sheep and with the presence of white spotting in Shetland sheep. Animals with the ARR/ARR genotype (the most scrapie resistant) had higher odds of having a light dorsum and a dark abdomen than the reverse pattern. The implication of these associations is that selection to increase resistance to scrapie based only on PrP genotype could result in change in morphological diversity and affect other associated traits such as fitness.

Human papillomavirus detection in self-collected vaginal specimens and matched clinician-collected cervical specimens

Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection is an integral part of cervical cancer screening, and a range of specimen collection procedures are being tested. Preliminary studies have found that the majority of women prefer self-collection of vaginal specimens instead of clinician-collected specimens of the cervix. The purposes of the current study were to explore the social and behavioral predictors of acceptance of self-collection of vaginal specimens among patients and to assess concordance in detection of HPV between clinician-collected cervical specimens and self-collected vaginal specimens. The study was conducted at a university family medicine clinic using a cross-sectional study design, and enrollment of women presenting for routine gynecological examination consecutively in a period of 1 year, self-administered questionnaires, collection of paired vaginal and cervical specimens for HPV DNA using Hybrid Capture 2, and cytologic analysis. Most women (79.8% [398/499]) agreed to collect vaginal specimens. In our study, 76.6% (216/282) African American women (AA), 88.1% (156/176) white non-Hispanic (WNH) women, and 63.4% (26/41) women of other races (P < 0.0001) agreed to self-collect vaginal specimens. HPV was detected in 16.0% (80/499) of clinician-collected cervical specimens and 26.1% (104/398) of self-collected vaginal specimens (P < 0.001). HPV detection was concordant in 13.4% (53/398) women in both cervical and vaginal specimens. Self-collection of vaginal specimens for HPV DNA detection is acceptable to most women presenting for routine gynecological examination. WNH women were more likely to obtain self-collected specimens than AA women. Vaginal specimens were more likely to be positive for HPV than were cervical specimens.

Hormonal control of birth behavior in the Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii

In a number of marsupial species, females exhibit characteristic, stereotyped parturient behavior that facilitates the passage of the neonates to the pouch. In macropodids, this parturient behavior can be induced in non-pregnant females and males by treatment with either prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) or oxytocin (OT). This study investigated the effects of PGF2alpha and OT on behavior of Tasmanian devils. Animals tended to sit or lie down quickly, with little vocalization, after treatment with PGF2alpha or OT, while after saline, the animals remained alert, seldom sat, and frequently vocalized. Hormone treatment caused increased respiration. Urogenital and pouch grooming, a characteristic element of parturient behavior in macropodids, was seen in only one devil after hormone treatment. However, no pouch or urogenital grooming was seen in videotape of a devil giving birth, so this may not be a feature of parturient behavior in this species. Overall behavior of males and females was very similar suggesting that the behavioral effects observed may be due to direct neural action of PGF2alpha or OT, rather than an indirect response to uterine or vaginal contractions caused by the hormones. This study is the first to demonstrate that OT results in PGF2alpha secretion as PGFM levels rose after OT injection.