Do we think dreams are in black and white due to memory problems?

The present study was designed to investigate whether memory processes play a role in why some persons say their dreams are black and white. The findings indicate that the percentages of black and white dreams are related negatively to color memory and dream recall frequency. When colors were recorded immediately after the dream was recorded, the percentage of black and white dream elements dropped to 2.7%. When participants were presented the option that dream colors might not be remembered, the percentage of explicit black and white dreams became very small, and the findings are thus in line with the continuity hypothesis of dreaming. Future studies might use extensive training of color memory and dream recall in order to investigate whether highly trained persons still have some dreams or dream elements that are in black and white. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 in the zwf mutant Escherichia coli DF214 cells

The aim of this study was to express the zwf gene of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 in zwf mutant Escherichia coli DF214 cells and to analyse glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity. Initially, mutant cells were transformed with plasmid pNUT1 containing a Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 zwf gene with a 1 kb upstream region that is expected to contain promoter elements. Transformant DF214 cells were not complemented by this fragment in a glucose minimal medium, nor did they exhibit statistically meaningful G6PDH activity. Therefore, the zwf gene was cloned in the lac operon to express the Zwf as a fusion protein; this yielded the construct pSG162. The pSG162 transformant E. coli DF214 cells were complemented in a glucose minimal medium, indicating that cyanobacterial Zwf protein fused with the part of LacZ′ polypeptide, enabling the cells to utilize glucose via the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. Compared with wild-type E. coli cells, approximately ten times more G6PDH activity was measured in transformant cells. This indicated that the Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 zwf gene was expressed under the control of the E. coli lac promoter as a fusion protein and the zwf product was converted into an active G6PDH form. Analyses was also carried out to determine whether dithiothreitol (DTT) was an in vitro reducing agent affected the enzyme activity, as was previously reported for this cyanobacterial strain. The results showed no variation in enzyme activity in the reduced assay conditions. Therefore, the zwf mutant E. coli strain DF214 was found to provide a rapid system for analysis of cyanobacterial G6PDH enzymes, but not for the redox state analysis of this enzyme.     

Multi-Morbidity in Hospitalised Older Patients: Who Are the Complex Elderly?

Background

No formal definition for the “complex elderly” exists; moreover, these older patients with high levels of multi-morbidity are not readily identified as such at point of hospitalisation, thus missing a valuable opportunity to manage the older patient appropriately within the hospital setting.

Objectives

To empirically identify the complex elderly patient based on degree of multi-morbidity.

Design

Retrospective observational study using administrative data.

Setting

English hospitals during the financial year 2012–13.

Subjects

All admitted patients aged 65 years and over.

Methods

By using exploratory analysis (correspondence analysis) we identify multi-morbidity groups based on 20 target conditions whose hospital prevalence was ≥ 1%.

Results

We examined a total of 2788900 hospital admissions. Multi-morbidity was highly prevalent, 62.8% had 2 or more of the targeted conditions while 4.7% had six or more. Multi-morbidity increased with age from 56% (65-69yr age-groups) up to 67% (80-84yr age-group). The average multi-morbidity was 3.2±1.2 (SD). Correspondence analysis revealed 3 distinct groups of older patients. Group 1 (multi-morbidity ≤2), associated with cancer and/or metastasis; Group 2 (multi-morbidity of 3, 4 or 5), associated with chronic pulmonary disease, lung disease, rheumatism and osteoporosis; finally Group 3 with the highest level of multi-morbidity (≥6) and associated with heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes, hypertension and myocardial infarction.

Conclusions

By using widely available hospital administrative data, we propose patients in Groups 2 and 3 to be identified as the complex elderly. Identification of multi-morbidity patterns can help to predict the needs of the older patient and improve resource provision.     

Use of the Ramsay Assay to Measure Fluid Secretion and Ion Flux Rates in the Drosophila melanogaster Malpighian Tubule

Modulation of renal epithelial ion transport allows organisms to maintain ionic and osmotic homeostasis in the face of varying external conditions. The Drosophila melanogaster Malpighian (renal) tubule offers an unparalleled opportunity to study the molecular mechanisms of epithelial ion transport, due to the powerful genetics of this organism and the accessibility of its renal tubules to physiological study. Here, we describe the use of the Ramsay assay to measure fluid secretion rates from isolated fly renal tubules, with the use of ion-specific electrodes to measure sodium and potassium concentrations in the secreted fluid. This assay allows study of transepithelial fluid and ion fluxes of ~20 tubules at a time, without the need to transfer the secreted fluid to a separate apparatus to measure ion concentrations. Genetically distinct tubules can be analyzed to assess the role of specific genes in transport processes. Additionally, the bathing saline can be modified to examine the effects of its chemical characteristics, or drugs or hormones added. In summary, this technique allows the molecular characterization of basic mechanisms of epithelial ion transport in the Drosophila tubule, as well as regulation of these transport mechanisms.     

Evaluation of Commercially Available Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients with Haematological Malignancies

Mycopathologia - Early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a challenge. Non-specific clinical and radiologic findings, as well as difficulties in conventional diagnostic method application,...     

The acute toxicity of fenitrothion on narrow-clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823) in association with biomarkers of lipid peroxidation

The aim of this research was to evaluate the acute toxicity of fenitrothion to the crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823), which is chosen as an alternative aquatic organism to fish by using the static test system and evaluate the basic lipid peroxidation parameters for the first 24 h. Crayfish of 27.3 ± 0.56 g mean weight and 10.0 ± 0.72 cm mean length were selected for the bioassay experiments. The experiments were repeated three times in 20 liters of tap water. The temperature of water was 21 ± 1°C. The data obtained were statistically evaluated by using a computer program developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, based on Finney's probit analysis method and the 96-h LC(50) value for crayfish was calculated to be 15.75 μg/L. The 95% lower and upper confidence limits for the LC(50) were 9.45 to 25.01 μg/L. In addition to the acute toxicity bioassay experiments, 24-h oxidative stress parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and ferrous oxidation assay (FOX HP [hydrogen peroxide] equivalents) were also determined. Only MDA levels of hepatopancreas decreased at 5, 10, and 20 μg/L of fenitrothion doses. We can conclude that fenitrothion is highly toxic to crayfish, a nontarget organism in the ecosystem, and the lipid peroxidation indicators can be easily used for monitoring environmental effects.     

Maternal-fetal proinflammatory cytokine gene polymorphism and preterm birth

Association between maternal-fetal proinflammatory cytokine genotype and preterm birth was studied. Isolated genomic DNA from maternal and cord blood samples of 100 preterm and 101 term labors were used for TNFα (-238G/A, -308G/A), IL-1α (4845G/T), and IL-1β (-511C/T) genotyping. TNFα -238 GA genotype in term neonates was significantly higher than the premature neonates (p<0.05). Maternal-fetal TNFα -238 heterozygosity was associated with term labor (p<0.05). TNFα -308 GA and AA genotypes were associated with term labor (mothers and neonates, respectively; p<0.05 and p<0.001). The incidence of term labor was significantly increased in TNFα -308 GA genotype. If a -308GA carrier has a fetus with GG genotype, the incidence of preterm labor increases (p<0.01). The 4845 T allele was significantly higher in preterm mothers and neonates (p<0.001 and p<0.001). The effect of maternal-fetal genotype for the pregnancy outcome reveals that maternal 4845GG and GT genotypes increase term labor incidence, whereas fetal 4845 TT genotype was a significant independent risk factor for preterm birth (p<0.01). IL-1β -511 TT genotype was significantly higher in preterm neonates. The preterm labor risk was significantly increased in maternal -511 TT genotype and fetal CT genotypes, whereas with maternal -511 CT or TT genotypes or a -511 TT fetus, the incidence of term pregnancy increases (p<0.01).     

Early In-Hospital Mortality following Trainee Doctors' First Day at Work

Background

There is a commonly held assumption that early August is an unsafe period to be admitted to hospital in England, as newly qualified doctors start work in NHS hospitals on the first Wednesday of August. We investigate whether in-hospital mortality is higher in the week following the first Wednesday in August than in the previous week.

Methodology

A retrospective study in England using administrative hospital admissions data. Two retrospective cohorts of all emergency patients admitted on the last Wednesday in July and the first Wednesday in August for 2000 to 2008, each followed up for one week.

Principal Findings

The odds of death for patients admitted on the first Wednesday in August was 6% higher (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.15, p = 0.05) after controlling for year, gender, age, socio-economic deprivation and co-morbidity. When subdivided into medical, surgical and neoplasm admissions, medical admissions admitted on the first Wednesday in August had an 8% (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16, p = 0.03) higher odds of death. In 2007 and 2008, when the system for junior doctors'' job applications changed, patients admitted on Wednesday August 1^st had 8% higher adjusted odds of death than those admitted the previous Wednesday, but this was not statistically significant (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.23, p = 0.24).

Conclusions

We found evidence that patients admitted on the first Wednesday in August have a higher early death rate in English hospitals compared with patients admitted on the previous Wednesday. This was higher for patients admitted with a medical primary diagnosis.