Developing a Social Autopsy Tool for Dengue Mortality: A Pilot Study

BackgroundDengue fever is a public health problem in the tropical and sub-tropical world. Dengue cases have grown dramatically in recent years as well as dengue mortality. Colombia has experienced periodic dengue outbreaks with numerous dengue related-deaths, where the Santander department has been particularly affected. Although social determinants of health (SDH) shape health outcomes, including mortality, it is not yet understood how these affect dengue mortality. The aim of this pilot study was to develop and pre-test a social autopsy (SA) tool for dengue mortality.ConclusionsThe SA tool is based on the scientific literature, a validated conceptual framework, researchers’ and health professionals’ expertise, and a pilot study. It is the first time that a SA tool has been created for the dengue mortality context. Our work furthers the study on SDH and how these are applied to neglected tropical diseases, like dengue. This tool could be integrated in surveillance systems to provide complementary information on the modifiable and avoidable death-related factors and therefore, be able to formulate interventions for dengue mortality reduction.     

Intermediate Ca2+-Sensitive K+ Channels are Necessary for Prolactin-Induced Proliferation in Breast Cancer Cells

Prolactin (PRL) is a polypeptidic hormone which acts both systemically and locally to cause lactation by interacting with the PRL receptor, a Janus kinase (JAK2)-coupled cytokine receptor family member. Several studies have reported that serum PRL level elevation is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer, and evidence has suggested that PRL is one actor in the pathogenesis and progression of this cancer. We previously reported the involvement of hIKCa1 in breast cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. However, mechanisms by which PRL cooperates with these channels to modulate breast epithelial cell proliferation remain unknown. Our results showed that, in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, PRL increased hIKCa1 current density. These channels were functional and regulated the resting membrane potential. The PRL effects were inhibited by TRAM-34 and clotrimazole, the most used hIKCa1 blockers. Moreover, PRL increased proliferation in a dose-dependent manner without overexpressing hIKCa1. To determine whether PRL-induced proliferation and hIKCa1 activity involved the JAK2 pathway, we used pharmacological JAK2 inhibitors (AG490 and JAK inhibitor I). Indeed, PRL-induced JAK2 phosphorylation was required for both cell proliferation and hIKCa1 activity. In the presence of either hIKCa1 blockers or siRNA-hIKCa1, PRL failed to increase cell proliferation and hIKCa1 activity. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PRL plays a role in breast cancer cell proliferation by increasing hIKCa1 activity through the JAK2 signaling pathway.     

Beiträge zur Flora von Innsbruck

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

The Influence of Exogenous Testosterone on the Dynamics of Nestling Provisioning in Dark-Eyed Juncos

In many songbird species, application of exogenous testosterone (T) during the breeding season has the general effects of reducing male parental investment and increasing allocation of time and energy to mating. Most studies record the number of feeding trips made by males as a function of their hormone treatment, but few have investigated the ways in which testosterone affects the dynamics of male and female provisioning behavior or the quantity of food delivered by males. We attempt to fill these gaps in our understanding of testosterone and male parental effort by utilizing data from a long‐term study on the behavioral endocrinology of the dark‐eyed junco (Junco hyemalis). We found that male and female feeding rates covaried positively, although to different degrees, throughout the nestling period, but that this relationship was degraded in pairs in which males were given T implants. We also found that the coefficients of variation in the duration of intervals between successive feeding trips by males and females were highly positively related in broods of older nestlings. Male hormone treatment, however, had no effect on the coefficients of variation in either male or female feeding intervals. Finally, we examined the quantity of prey delivered by males and found no significant effect of hormone treatment.     

Glucose condensation by glucoamylase in organic solvents

Summary Oligosaccharides were synthesized through the enzymatic condensation of D-glucose by glucoamylase in water-organic mixtures with high concentrations of two of diethylene glycol diethyl ether or triethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The effect of water content on the yield of reaction was studied; maximum yield was obtained with 10% (v/v) of water in the two systems. Kinetics of synthesis and products composition were different with the two solvents. 37% of glucose were condensed by action of glucoamylase from a reaction medium containing 20 g/L of glucose and 90% (v/v) of diethylene glycol diethyl ether.     

Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Ranunculaceen-Formen der Flora Tridentina

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Quantitative Shear-Wave Elastography of the Liver in Preterm Neonates with Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction

The feasibility and reproducibility of liver stiffness measurements using Supersonic Shear-wave Imaging (SSI) in preterm neonate have not been reported. Our aim was to determine if liver stiffness differs between intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants with/without cholestasis. We measured liver stiffness (in kPa) in 45 AGA and 18 IUGR preterm infants, and assessed reproducibility in 26 preterms using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman tests. Liver stiffness values were compared between AGA and IUGR with and without cholestasis and correlated with birth weight. Measurements showed high reproducibility (ICC = 0.94–0.98 for intra-operator, 0.86 for inter-operator) with good agreement (95% limits: -1.24 to 1.24 kPa). During the first postnatal week, liver stiffness was higher in IUGR (7.50 ±1.53 kPa) than in AGA infants (5.11 ±0.80 kPa, p<0.001). After day 8, liver stiffness remained unchanged in AGA but increased progressively in IUGR infants (15.57 ±6.49 kPa after day 21). Liver stiffness was higher in IUGR neonates with cholestasis (19.35 ± 9.80 kPa) than without cholestasis (7.72 ± 1.27 kPa, p<0.001). In conclusion, quantitative liver SSI in preterms is feasible and reproducible. IUGR preterms who will develop cholestasis present high liver stiffness even at birth, before biological cholestasis occurs.