Guanine nucleotide regulatory protein alterations in young Milan hypertensive strain rats

Vascular smooth muscle cell membranes from prehypertensive rats of the Milan hypertensive strain (MHS) were used to examine adenylyl cyclase activity and its regulation by guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (G-proteins). Basal adenylyl cyclase activity was similar in MHS and Milan normontensive strain (MNS) membranes. Forsokolin (10^?4 M) produced a significantly greater stimulatory response in MHS membranes, but this was not observed with NaF (10^?2 M). Isoporterenol (10^?4 M) caused a significantly decreased stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity in MHS membranes, while prostaglandin E₁ (10^?5 M) produced similar responses in the two strains. G_i function and GTP responses, as observed by biphasic effects of GTP on isoproterenol-stimulated membranes, were similar in both strains. The levels of G_i2α and G_qα/G₁₁α were similar in the two strains, while the levels of G_sα (44 and 42 kDa forms) and the β-subunit were significantly reduced by ～20% in MHS membranes. The α-subunit of G_i3 was dramatically reduced by ～80% in MHS membranes. The affinities of β-adrenergic receptors for the antagonist, cyanophindolol, were similar in the two strains; however, the number of β-adrenoceptors was substantially reduced in MHS membranes. These findings may be of relevance to altered vascular reactivity and transmembrane ion distribution observed in the MHS.     

Mother-infant bonding

A study of the research on postpartum mother-infant bonding shows that results from poorly constructed research programs were published in major journals and became a part of hospital policy because the bonding concept was politically useful in the struggle between advocates of natural childbirth and managers of the medical model of birth. The concept was also uncritically accepted because it was consistent with a longstanding ideology of motherhood that sees women as the prime architects of their children’s personalities. Diane Eyer earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently writing a book on the ways in which the concepts of bonding and attachment have affected our understanding of appropriate early childcare.     

On-off units in the first optic chiasm of the blowfly II. Spatial properties

We recorded from the spiking on-off unit in the first optic chiasm (between lamina and medulla) in the blowfly Calliphora vicina, and investigated its spatial properties. The receptive field extends over (11.4±0.9)° horizontally and (8.7±0.6)° vertically, i.e. about 7 by 5 interommatidial angles. The line spread function of the on-off unit — calculated from its response to moving sinusoidal gratings — has a half-width of (2.3±0.2)°. This half-width is slightly broader than that of the photoreceptor. Lateral inhibition occurs when two different areas of the receptive field are stimulated simultaneously. Fast temporal adaptation (i.e. adaptation to trains of short light pulses) takes place independently in different areas of the receptive field.     

基于Golden Gate技术的齐整小核菌转录单元高效组装系统

【目的】为齐整小核菌代谢工程研究建立高效的转录单元组装系统。【方法】通过应用Golden Gate技术,以mobius assembly为基础,分别设计并构建DNA元件标准化接口改造、单转录单元组装、应用质粒(多转录单元)组装等功能的载体,从而形成一套完整的多转录单元组装系统。【结果】构建了2个用于DNA元件标准化接口改造的Level 0载体,4个用于单转录单元组装的Level 1载体,4个用于应用质粒组装的Level 2载体和13个应用质粒组装的辅助质粒。然后应用此系统为齐整小核菌组装了若干经过标准化接口改造的DNA元件质粒、单转录单元质粒和硬葡聚糖相关基因的功能分析质粒。所构建的最终应用质粒可以同时适用于齐整小核菌的根癌农杆菌介导转化法、电穿孔转化法和原生质体转化法。【结论】此质粒系统具有强大的DNA设计、组装和容纳能力,为未来齐整小核菌代谢工程和功能基因组学研究提供了高效的质粒构建技术平台。     

Ethical obligation and legal requirements: On informed consent practices in Bangladesh

Informed consent to medical intervention is fundamental in both ethics and law. But in practice it is often not taken seriously in developing countries. This paper provides an appraisal of informed consent practices in Bangladesh. Following a review of the ethical and legal principles of informed consent, it assesses the degree to which doctors adhere to it in Bangladesh. Based on findings of non-compliance, it then investigates the reasons for such non-compliance through an appraisal of informed consent practices in Bangladesh and provides recommendations aimed at improving such practices. The significance of this paper lies in unveiling the interdependence between the ethical and legal traits of informed consent and their ramifications on strengthening the patient-oriented approach of duty to care.     

Protocol for Development of American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guidelines and Consensus Statements: Summary of Methodology,Process, and Policy – 2023 Update

ObjectiveThis 2023 updated protocol summarizes the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology’s (AACE’s) new framework for the development of clinical practice guidelines and other guidance documents that includes changes to methodology, processes, and policies.MethodsAACE has critically reviewed its development processes for guidance documents over the last several years against the National Academy of Medicine Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies Principles for Development of Specialty Society Clinical Guidelines to determine areas for improvement.ResultsThe new AACE framework for development of guidance documents incorporates many changes, including a revised conflicts of interest (COI) policy; strengthened commitment to collection of disclosures and management of relevant COI during development; open calls to membership for authors; new requirements for authors; new diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy; new empanelment process that incorporates consideration of DEI; and adoption of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to increase the quality of evidence assessment and standardize recommendation grades and statements, among other improvements.ConclusionsAACE has revised its policies and adopted a completely new methodology for guideline development in support of the mission to elevate the practice of clinical endocrinology to improve patient care. With the use of an evidence-based medicine framework and by continually assessing and improving its processes for development of guidance, AACE strives to deliver trustworthy, unbiased, and up-to-date information that ensures clinician and patient confidence in AACE content. Further, AACE hopes that these enhancements foster a more collaborative approach to development and increase engagement with the worldwide medical community to improve global health.     

Egg attendance and brooding by males of the giant water bugLethocerus medius (Guerin) in the field (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)

Males of the giant water bug Lethocerus medius(Guerin) typify their monobasic subfamily, the Lethocerinae, in that they do not brood eggs attached to their backs as do males of all members of the subfamily Belostomatinae. Exclusive male parental investment as expressed in the Belostomatinae is extremely rare behavior among animals, and evolution of the trait is obscure. Lethocerus mediusmales apparently remain with their mates through oviposition and are consistently found in attendance of eggs after the female has departed. This behavior may enhance paternity assurance at no cost in opportunity for polygyny. Two double clutches of eggs were found, from which we infer the potential for polygynous matings and shared parental investment. Male L. mediusbrood attended egg clutches above the surface of the water, where they may moisten them, shade them, and defend them against predation. Egg attendance/brooding by L. mediusand other Lethocerusspecies may represent a plesiomorphic state from which paternal back- brooding evolved in the Belostomatinae.     

Comparación de los libros de historia de vida digitales y convencionales sobre el estado de ánimo,la comunicación,la cognición y la calidad de vida en personas con demencia en residencias: un estudio piloto

IntroductionPerson-centered care (PCC) includes life story, a form of reminiscence therapy that can be useful in the treatment of dementia. We compared the efficacy of using a digital or conventional life story book (LSB) on depressive symptoms, communication, cognition, and quality of life.Material and methodsThirty one persons with dementia living in 2 PCC nursing homes were randomly assigned to receive reminiscence therapy based on the Neural Actions digital LSB (n = 16) or a conventional LSB (n = 15). Both groups performed 2 weekly sessions of 45 min for 5 weeks. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Cornell scale (CSDD); communication with the Holden scale (HCS), cognition with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and quality of life with the quality of life scale for Alzheimer's (QoL-AD). The results were analyzed using ANOVA of repeated measures with the jamovi 2.3 program.ResultsBoth LSB improved communication skills (η² = 0.115; p < 0.001), with no differences between groups. No effects on quality of life, cognition, or mood were found.ConclusionsIn PCC centres digital or conventional LSB can be useful in the treatment of people with dementia by facilitating communication. Its role on quality of life, cognition or mood is uncertain.     

Utilidad y seguridad de los ingresos directos a una unidad hospitalaria de agudos de un servicio de geriatría valorados por atención geriátrica en residencias

Background and objectiveMore than half of institutionalized older people need a emergency department visit annually, with high resources consumption and higher risk of adverse events, due to high complexity. Direct admission to Acute Geriatric Unit (AGU), after geriatric consultant and nursing home medical team assessment, could be a safety and effective alternative to emergency department (ED) admission.MethodsRetrospective observational study of AGU patients admitted by Nursing Home Geriatric Team between January, 1st and December, 31st, 2021. Planned admissions and SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were excluded. Medical (sociodemographic, clinical, functional and cognitive) records and outcomes data (inpatient mortality, hospital and ED lenght of stay, transfer to ED and delirium within 48 h after admission, hospital discharge location) were collected.ResultsTwo hundred and six patients directly admitted, 101 through ED (N 307). 62.5% with Barthel index <40, 65% with dementia, 56.4% with Charlson index ≥3. Inpatient mortality was 14.6% in direct admission, 20.8% in ED referral group, p = 0.14. Hospital lenght of stay was 9.61 ± 6.01 days in direct admission, 11.22 ± 5.36 days in ED group, p = 0.02. 27.7% of patients with delirium in direct admission and 36.6% in ED group; only one patient was transferred to ED, within 48 h after admission.ConclusionsDirect admission is a safety and effective alternative to ED referral in institutionalized older people after geriatric assessment, due to no increased mortality, shorter length of stay and hospital cost reduction.     

Developing new hospital-at-home models based on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: Implementation recommendations by the Working Group on Hospital-at-Home and Community Geriatrics of the Catalan Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology

Last decade, the Government of Catalonia have urged an integrated care strategy for planning the care model to older populations living with frailty, multimorbidity and advanced illnesses. Based on international evidence that was reviewed by a group of experts from the Catalan Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics, we summarised some recommendation to adapt hospital-at-home care to older populations in our system. We defined Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) hospital-at-home (HaH) as a specialised home hospitalisation service formed by interdisciplinary teams, characterised by using the clinical methodology of CGA, and by adapting geriatric units’ protocols for the provision of person-centred care at home. Main benefits of CGA-HaH in these populations are: response to heath crises according to individualised care plans based on the situational diagnosis carried out by Primary Care teams; provision of a comprehensive health and social approach tailored to the complexity of cases and situations; and adaptation of multipurpose hospitalisation, by working on different person-centred care, aspects, such as caregivers support on care provision, focusing on function or home adaptation.