Evaluation of the antireflux mechanism following laparoscopic fundoplication

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is an effective procedure for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), but the underlying motility mechanisms that explain the success of this operation remain unclear. METHODS: Twenty patients with a history of GORD underwent stationary oesophageal manometry and prolonged ambulatory pH monitoring, both before and 3 months after fundoplication. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were completely cured of reflux symptoms and stopped all antireflux medication after operation. After fundoplication there was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in median resting lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure and length. Median residual LOS pressure during swallow-induced LOS relaxation also increased significantly after operation (P < 0.01). The number of reflux episodes decreased from a median of 48 to 3 after fundoplication (P < 0.01). The time at pH less than 4 decreased from 5.7 to 0 per cent in the supine position (P < 0.01), and from 9.8 to 0.2 per cent while upright (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Early subjective results at 3 months following laparoscopic antireflux surgery show improved symptoms. One of the mechanisms underlying the antireflux action of fundoplication is an increase in median residual LOS pressure at the gastro-oesophageal junction. This may be a purely mechanical effect of the fundic wrap extrinsic to the LOS.     

Early childhood socialization in Hispanic families: Context, culture, and practice implications.

Research on early childhood socialization suggests that Hispanic parents differ from parents of other ethnic groups in their child rearing values and the interpersonal behavior they want their children to display at home and school. In this article, the influence of context and culture on child rearing is shown through a review of conceptual frameworks for understanding child socialization in both minority and nonminority families and research on infant–mother attachment and parental beliefs about young children's behavior. This review indicates that parent and child behaviors are a result of different socialization processes that encompass specific cultural values. Implications for professional practice are drawn for child assessment and psychotherapy, family therapy, and parenting skills programs conducted with Hispanics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antioxidative effect of Ajowan in a model system

Model conditions were utilized to test the antioxidative activity of a methanolic extract of ajowan (Carum coptimum) (MEA). MEA was less effective than butylated hydroxytoluene in protecting against oxidation of emulsified linoleic acid measured by coupled oxidation of linoleic acid-β-carotene, conjugated diene values, and the thiobarbituric acid values. Ajowan may have potential as a source of natural antioxidant.     

Improvement of catalytic efficiency of chloroperoxidase by its covalent immobilization on SBA-15 for azo dye oxidation

Chloroperoxidase from the fungus Caldariomyces fumago was covalently immobilized on SBA-15 mesoporous material and assayed for the enzymatic oxidation of four azo dyes. All dyes were oxidized by the free and the immobilized enzyme to different extent. Acid Blue 120 and Direct Blue 85 dyes were decolorized almost completely. The catalytic efficiency, k _cat/K _M, of the immobilized enzyme was 27, 2.9, 137 and 28 times higher than the free enzyme for Basic Blue 41, Disperse Blue 85, Acid Blue 120 and Direct Black 22 oxidation, respectively. The immobilized enzyme displayed improved thermostability and a similar pH profile compared to the free enzyme. The immobilized chloroperoxidase showed excellent storage stability and maintained 100 % catalytic activity after 90 days at both 4 and 25 °C.     

Comprehensive Molecular Dissection of Dermatophilus congolensis Genome and First Observation of tet(Z) Tetracycline Resistance

Dermatophilus congolensis is a bacterial pathogen mostly of ruminant livestock in the tropics/subtropics and certain temperate climate areas. It causes dermatophilosis, a skin disease that threatens food security by lowering animal productivity and compromising animal health and welfare. Since it is a prevalent infection in ruminants, dermatophilosis warrants more research. There is limited understanding of its pathogenicity, and as such, there is no registered vaccine against D. congolensis. To better understanding the genomics of D. congolensis, the primary aim of this work was to investigate this bacterium using whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. D. congolensis is a high GC member of the Actinobacteria and encodes approximately 2527 genes. It has an open pan-genome, contains many potential virulence factors, secondary metabolites and encodes at least 23 housekeeping genes associated with antimicrobial susceptibility mechanisms and some isolates have an acquired antimicrobial resistance gene. Our isolates contain a single CRISPR array Cas type IE with classical 8 Cas genes. Although the isolates originate from the same geographical location there is some genomic diversity among them. In conclusion, we present the first detailed genomic study on D. congolensis, including the first observation of tet(Z), a tetracycline resistance-conferring gene.     

Barriers to completion of healthcare proxy forms: a qualitative analysis of ethnic differences

To determine whether history of chronic lung disease (CLD) in children born at very low birthweight (VLBW) confers additional risk for impaired health, growth, and neurodevelopment, 17 VLBW children born in 1984 who had CLD (requiring supplemental oxygen more than 30 days after birth) in infancy and 28 VLBW children who did not have CLD were assessed at age 7 years. Assessments included a medical history, standard physical and neurological examinations, pulmonary-function tests, and tests of neuropsychological and psychoeducational functioning. Health status did not differ between the groups. In contrast, children with CLD did not perform as well in neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessments. Although CLD confers little added risk to health, it seems to add significantly to risks for poor school performance that are known to be associated with very low birthweight.     

2006 Bernard M. Gordon Prize Lecture*: The Learning Factory: Industry‐Partnered Active Learning

On February 21, 2006, the National Academy of Engineering recognized the achievements of the Learning Factory with the Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education. The co‐founders were commended “for creating the Learning Factory, where multidisciplinary student teams develop engineering leadership skills by working with industry to solve real‐world problems.” This paper describes the origins, motivation, philosophy, and implementation of the Learning Factory. The specific innovations of the Learning Factory partnership were: active learning facilities, called Learning Factories, that provide experiential reinforcement of engineering science, and a realization of its limitations; strong collaborations with industry through advisory boards, engineers in the classroom, and industry‐sponsored capstone design projects; practice‐based engineering courses integrating analytical and theoretical knowledge with manufacturing, design, business concepts, and professional skills; and dissemination to other academic institutions (domestic and international), government and industry.     

Familism, mother-daughter mutuality, and suicide attempts of adolescent Latinas.

National surveys in the U.S. reveal that Latina adolescents have higher rates of suicide attempts than females of other ethnic and racial groups. Past reports indicate that the suicide attempts among Latinas are lodged within family contexts in which sociocultural and individual experiences influence parental and adolescent behaviors. To better understand the parent-adolescent relations that explain the Latina suicidal phenomenon, we examined how the high value on family unity and support, as reflected by familism, and its effects on mother-daughter mutuality (i.e., reciprocal empathy and engagement) were evident in a group of adolescent Latinas with suicide attempts and a group of adolescent Latinas without suicide attempts. Drawing from data on 169 mother-daughter dyads recruited from Latino communities in a Northeastern metropolis and who self-identified as being of Latino origin or heritage, we considered how differences in familism between mothers and daughters influenced their sense of mutuality, the adolescents' internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and suicide attempts. Results show that gaps in familism (mothers scoring higher than their daughters on the scale) predicted less mother-daughter mutuality and more externalizing behaviors in the adolescents. Also, mother-daughter mutuality was negatively related to internalizing and externalizing behaviors which, in turn, predicted suicide attempts. Findings point to further research on family interactions that raise the risk for suicidality in Latino youth, particularly to including fathers and siblings in study designs. Clinical implications point to enhancing family and dyadic communication skills focusing mutuality while observing the cultural value of familism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of the Eu3+ Addition on Photoluminescence and Microstructure of ZnO–CdO–TeO2 Glasses

In this work, the role of europium doping of glasses formulated in the ternary system ZnO–CdO–TeO₂ is described. The Eu‐doped oxide glasses were prepared by the conventional melt‐quenching method and by using three different compositions. Structural studies reveal that there exists a good affinity between Cd and some rare earth (RE) ions to form the crystalline phase. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) diagrams display that the structure of these glasses is amorphous and with the increase in CdO content and the compatibility of Eu³⁺, there is a tendency to form nanocrystals of CdTe₂O₅. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation of their microstructure confirms the presence of phase separation. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) of these glasses showed small exothermic peaks noted around 450°C for the V2 glass and 480°C for V1 and V3 glasses, which could be attributed to the formation of these crystals. The infrared spectra showed a main absorption band around 800–600 cm^?1 corresponding to the Te–O stretching mode in TeO₄ and TeO₃ groups. By optical absorption (OA), the band gap (E_g) for each glass was determined; these values were 3.27, 3.14, and 3.3 eV for the V1–V3 glasses, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of Eu³⁺ was detected in the 370–470 nm short‐range wavelengths. The photoluminescence (PL) experiments of the glasses showed light emission due to the following transitions: ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁, ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂, ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₃, and ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₄.