CF Condition Research Articles

Inovasi Pembelajaran Berbasis Out Door di Cafe untuk Mereduksi Bornout

Learning in the 5.0 era changes the concept of the dynamics of higher education. changes in the learning atmosphere, classrooms and different learning methods before the advent of technology. Learning paradigms are generally conceptualized in classrooms, libraries, this is felt to be quite boring, monotonous learning models are difficult for pupils and students to accept in the technological era. Changes in learning patterns provide meaning for educators to develop continuously, to become innovative, creative, active and dynamic. The aim of this research is to minimize bornout among students. The research methodology uses a descriptive qualitative phenomenological design approach. The research location is Kopi Dari Hati Jl. Raya Sunan Gunung Jati Cirebon. The primary subject consists of 2 students. The secondary subject consists of 3 CF guards. Data analysis techniques using source triangulation techniques. The research results describe that students in the technological era choose to study at CF. CF situations and conditions can help students to learn independently and complete assignments well and quickly. Facilities and a supportive CF atmosphere provide a supportive learning atmosphere to reduce bornout. Studying at CF contributes to enthusiasm, increases focus and concentration in learning and reduces learning boredom. Individual and group learning can be felt as changes and internal and external motivation are formed constructively which can increase the value of learning to make it more enjoyable, relaxed and complete tasks more quickly. CF-based learning principles build scientific nuances from the paradigm shift in the meaning of CF among pupils and students. The negative paradigm change from CF has been realized, now the community, parents, pupils and students can use CF facilities to help with learning

9 Exploration of Predictors of Cognitive Flexibility Performance in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumor

Objective:Survivors of childhood brain tumor are historically thought to perform worse on measures of executive functioning, including cognitive flexibility (CF; e.g., set-shifting), when compared to their peers. Commonly utilized measures, such as subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), have baseline conditions that attempt to measure performances independent of but critical for CF tasks (e.g., motor speed on trail making, letter fluency on verbal fluency). However, in research, conditions measuring CF are often included in analyses without accounting for these important baseline conditions. The aim of the current study is to explore differences in CF performance between survivors and their healthy peers when controlling for baseline conditions. The variance explained by each baseline condition on CF condition performance in survivors is also explored.Participants and Methods:A sample of 107 long-term survivors of childhood brain tumor (Mage=21.81, SD=5.99, 50.5% female) and 142 healthy controls (Mage= 23.25, SD=6.61, 61.3% female) were administered the Trail Making Test (TMT), Color-Word Interference (CWI), and Verbal Fluency (VF) subtests from the D-KEFS. For the TMT, baseline conditions include visually scanning for a target, motor speed, and letter and number sequencing. For the CWI subtest, baseline conditions include rapid color naming, word reading, and reading words in a different colored ink. On the VF subtest, baseline conditions include rapidly naming words with a specific letter and from a specific category. An analysis of covariance was conducted for each subtest to determine if groups differed in performance on the CF condition (i.e., Number-Letter Switching, Inhibition/Switching, Category Switching Accuracy) when controlling for baseline conditions. In survivors only, linear regressions investigated the amount of variance explained by each baseline condition on the CF conditions of each subtest.Results:Groups did not differ in CF performance of each subtest when controlling for baseline conditions (ps>.10). Across subtests, baseline conditions significantly predicted CF performance in survivors. On the TMT, Letter Sequencing (p=.003, unique-R2=.05), but not Visual Scanning, Number Sequencing, or Motor Speed, was a significant predictor of Number-Letter Sequencing performance (p<.001, R2=.50). On the CWI subtest, Word Reading (p<.001, unique-R2=.09) and Inhibition (p<.001, unique-R2=.05), but not Color Naming, were significant predictors of Inhibition/Switching performance (p<.001, R2=.67). On the VF subtest, Letter Fluency (p=.009, unique-R2=.06) and Category Fluency (p<.001, unique-R2=.08) were significant predictors of Category Switching Accuracy performance (p<.001, R2=.37).Conclusions:Findings suggest that CF may not differ between survivors and their healthy peers, but that other factors of executive functioning, such as processing speed, drive performance differences on measures of CF. As these tasks rely heavily on speed, survivors may be slower than their healthy counterparts, but may not perform worse on set-shifting. In addition, these results highlight the importance of controlling for lower-order processes in analyses to help isolate CF performance and more accurately characterize potential differences between groups. While replication of findings in survivors and other clinical groups (e.g., congenital heart disease, traumatic brain injury) is still needed, this work can help inform which processes are most important to account for, which is not yet established.

SNSP113 (PAAG) improves mucociliary transport and lung pathology in the Scnn1b-Tg murine model of CF lung disease

BackgroundMucus stasis, a hallmark of muco-obstructive disease, results from impaired mucociliary transport and leads to lung function decline and chronic infection. Although therapeutics that target mucus stasis in the airway, such as hypertonic saline or rhDNAse, show some therapeutic benefit, they do not address the underlying electrostatic defect apparent in mucins in CF and related conditions. We have previously shown poly (acetyl, arginyl) glucosamine (PAAG, developed as SNSP113), a soluble, cationic polymer, significantly improves mucociliary transport in a rat model of CF by normalizing the charge defects of CF mucin. Here, we report efficacy in the CFTR-sufficient, ENaC hyperactive, Scnn1b-Tg mouse model that develops airway muco-obstruction due to sodium hyperabsorption and airway dehydration. MethodsScnn1b-Tg mice were treated with either 250 µg/mL SNSP113 or vehicle control (1.38% glycerol in PBS) via nebulization once daily for 7 days and then euthanized for analysis. Micro-Optical Coherence Tomography-based evaluation of excised mouse trachea was used to determine the effect on the functional microanatomy. Tissue analysis was performed by routine histopathology. ResultsNebulized treatment of SNSP113 significantly improved mucociliary transport in the airways of Scnn1b-Tg mice, without altering the airway surface or periciliary liquid layer. In addition, SNSP113 significantly reversed epithelial hypertrophy and goblet cell metaplasia. Finally, SNSP113 significantly ameliorated eosinophilic crystalline pneumonia and lung consolidation in addition to inflammatory macrophage influx in this model. ConclusionOverall, this study extends the efficacy of SNSP113 as a potential therapeutic to alleviate mucus stasis in muco-obstructive diseases in CF and potentially in related conditions.

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from irrigated rice cultivation through improved fertilizer and water management

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture sector play an important role for global warming and climate change. Thus, it is necessary to find out GHG emissions mitigation strategies from rice cultivation. The efficient management of nitrogen fertilizer using urea deep placement (UDP) and the use of the water-saving alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation could mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce environmental pollution. However, there is a dearth of studies on the impacts of UDP and the integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) which combines poultry manure and prilled urea (PU) with different irrigation regimes on GHG emissions, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and rice yields. We conducted field experiments during the dry seasons of 2018, 2019, and 2020 to compare the effects of four fertilizer treatments including control (no N), PU, UDP, and IPNS in combination with two irrigation systems— (AWD and continuous flooding, CF) on GHG emissions, NUE and rice yield. Fertilizer treatments had significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects with irrigation regimes on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. PU reduced CH4 and N2O emissions by 6% and 20% compared to IPNS treatment, respectively under AWD irrigation, but produced similar emissions under CF irrigation. Similarly, UDP reduced cumulative CH4 emissions by 9% and 15% under AWD irrigation, and 9% and 11% under CF condition compared to PU and IPNS treatments, respectively. Across the year and fertilizer treatments, AWD irrigation significantly (p < 0.05) reduced cumulative CH4 emissions and GHG intensity by 28%, and 26%, respectively without significant yield loss compared to CF condition. Although AWD irrigation increased cumulative N2O emissions by 73%, it reduced the total global warming potential by 27% compared to CF irrigation. The CH4 emission factor for AWD was lower (1.67 kg ha−1 day−1) compared to CF (2.33 kg ha−1 day−1). Across the irrigation regimes, UDP increased rice yield by 21% and N recovery efficiency by 58% compared to PU. These results suggest that both UDP and AWD irrigation might be considered as a carbon-friendly technology.

Rice yield, water productivity, and nitrogen use efficiency responses to nitrogen management strategies under supplementary irrigation for rain-fed rice cultivation

Rainfall-adapted irrigation (RAI) or supplementary irrigation for rain-fed rice cultivation consumes less amount of irrigation water by harvesting rainfall and thus is vital for sustainable rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in multi-rain areas, including the Jianghan Plain in China. However, nitrogen management strategies influence rice growth and water and nitrogen utilization under RAI remains unclear. Thus, we conducted a two-year (2016 and 2017) field experiment at Jingzhou City, central China to investigate the effects of nitrogen management strategies on grain yield, crop water productivity (CWP), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice under conventional flooding irrigation (CF) and RAI. The nitrogen management strategies included local farmers’ nitrogen fertilization (CN), common urea (30% nitrogen) blended with controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer (70% nitrogen) (U+CRF), and optimized nitrogen fertilization (ON), at a nitrogen rate of 180, 180, and 150 kg ha−1, respectively. Compared to the CF condition, RAI down-regulated the numbers of irrigation (−3 in 2016 and −4 in 2017) and reduced the total amount of irrigation water (−41.6% in 2016 and −45.6% in 2017), suggesting that rainfall-adapted irrigation enhanced the rainwater storage capacity and usage. RAI also increased root length, root and shoot biomass, net photosynthetic rate, crop growth rate, nitrogen accumulation, percentage of productive tillers, harvest index, and nitrogen harvest index. The U+CRF and ON increased or maintained these parameters compared with the CN. Compared to the traditional irrigation and nitrogen fertilization pattern (CF interacted with CN), RAI combined with U+CRF or ON enhanced root length and root biomass, and had a relatively high spikelets number per panicle, grains filled percentage, and 1000-grain weight, and thus produced a high grain yield. Moreover, the new treatment reduced amount of irrigation water and improved utilization of nitrogen fertilizer, resulting in a greater CWP and NUE. The enhanced grain yield, CWP, and NUE were associated with the increased root biomass and root length. Therefore, rainfall-adapted irrigation combined with the new nitrogen management (U+CRF or ON) can synergistically increase grain yield and resource use efficiency by improving root growth in rice.

Using the discrete model for the processing of natural vibrations, tapered beams made of AFG materials carrying masses at different spots

A discrete physical model based on modal analysis theory is used for the first time to investigate the linear free vibration of tapered Euler-Bernoulli beams constructed of axial functional gradient (AFG) materials and carrying masses concentrated at different locations, applied for CC, CF and SS end conditions. The considered beam will be modeled by the present model composed of N masses (N-DOF) connected by (N+1) small bars, the mass of the beam is totally distributed only on the set of N masses, this distribution is governed by the law of variation of the geometric and material properties of the beam. The components modeling the bending stiffness of the considered beam are (N+2) coil springs whose stiffness depends essentially on the law describing the variation of the squared moment and Young's modulus along the beam axis. After the construction of the stiffness matrix and the mass matrix, the Lagrange formalization is used to present the problem in mathematical form. Thus, the results of dimensional frequencies using several types of tapered beams carrying masses at different places have been discussed in this work. It is noted in the following that the discrete system is composed of (N+n)masses (taking into account the concentric masses carried by the beam).

MO614A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO SCREEN COGNITIVE FRAILTY AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS USING A GAME-BASED INTRADIALYTIC EXERCISE WITH WEARABLE SENSORS

Abstract Background and Aims Assessing and monitoring cognitive frailty (CF; coexistence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment) are critical for hemodialysis patients. For administering physical frailty and cognitive assessments, however, clinical settings need to address challenges (e.g., cost, human and technical resources, patient’s fatigue, etc.). This study aims to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of a novel intradialytic cognitive-demanding exercise program based on wearables, called, intradialytic-exergame for screening CF in hemodialysis patients. Method Individuals diagnosed with diabetes and end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis (n=28, age: 61.36 ± 6.85 years, 54% female) participated. All participants were assessed for physical frailty using the Fried frailty phenotype method and cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The Fried frailty phenotype method assesses physical frailty, which ranges between 0 and 5 based on five criteria (unintentional weight loss, weakness, slowness, exhaustion, and low physical activity). CF was determined with a frailty phenotype greater than or equal to 1 and a MMSE score less than or equal to 24. The intradialytic-exergame system consists of an inertial wearable sensor and an interactive software installed on a standard laptop. A clinician attaches one wearable sensor to each foot after the participant sits or lies down on a bed (Figure A). While undergoing hemodialysis treatment, the participant performs 15 non-weight-bearing cognitively-demanding dorsiflexion and plantarflexion exercises for each foot. For each exercise, the laptop’s screen displays a target (solid yellow circle) and a cursor (solid red square), which the participant points down for a dorsiflexion motion or up for a plantarflexion motion (Figure B). When the participant successfully puts the cursor in the target, the target disappears, and a new target appears in a different location on the screen (dashed yellow circle shown in Figure B). If the participant moves the cursor to a target in less than 2s, the custom software provides both visual (the target explodes) and auditory (positive sound) feedback as a reward (success). The three outcome measures (Exergame-slowness, frailty, and cognitive performance) were analyzed. Exergame-slowness was computed as an average of the ranges of ankle angular velocity measured by wearable sensors. Linear regression analysis was conducted for the three outcome measures to examine correlations between each outcome measure. Binary logistic regression model was conducted, and its area-under-curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the ability of Exergame-slowness to identify CF. An independent t-test was conducted to compare the differences of Exergame-slowness for CF and non-CF conditions. Significance was defined at the 2-sided p &amp;lt; 0.05 level. Results Five out of 28 participants were identified with CF. Significant correlations were observed between Exergame-slowness and frailty (p = 0.004, R = -0.531), Exergame-slowness and cognitive performance (p = 0.023, R = 0.437), and frailty and cognitive performance (p = 0.015, R = -0.463). The model was significantly reliable (p = 0.012) and its AUC was 0.90. Results indicated that Exergame-slowness was significantly higher (lower velocity) for participants with CF than for those with non-CF (CF: 27.41 ± 3.58 degree/s, non-CF: 34.25 ± 5.24 degree/s, p = 0.010). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of intradialytic-exergame with wearable sensors, as a practical tool for routine screening CF assessment in hemodialysis patients. The results of this study indicate that speed of ankle rotation, measurable using a wearable sensor during a simple intradialytic cognitive-demanding exercise, can be used as a practical digital biomarker for screening CF in hemodialysis patients.

Learners’ perceptions and performance under peer versus teacher corrective feedback conditions

This study aimed to examine the effects of teacher corrective feedback (TCF) versus peer corrective feedback (PCF) on Iranian EFL learners’ speaking abilities, and to explore their perceptions of the two CF conditions due to the scarcity and inconsistency of findings in the pertinent literature. To fulfill these objectives, the students’ speaking performance was assessed before and after the treatments, and a questionnaire and follow-up interviews were employed to probe their attitudes. The findings showed greater improvements in the speaking performance of the PCF group although the students had a very low opinion of PCF and favored TCF owing to their concern over issues like trust, grade and face. Although these concerns adversely affected the students’ attitudes, they created facilitating anxiety which drove the PCF learners to engage in the process of learning more actively than their TCF counterparts. Hence, even in teacher-centered cultures, there is a role for PCF.

N, P and K use efficiency and maize yield responses to fertilization modes and densities

Optimal planting density and proper fertilization method are important factors to improve maize yield and nutrient utilization. A two-year (2016 and 2017) field experiment was conducted with three plant densities (6.0, 7.5 and 9.0 plants m–2) and three fertilization modes (no fertilizer, 0F; one-off application of slow-released fertilizer, SF; twice application of conventional fertilizer, CF). Results indicated that the grain yields and N, P and K use efficiencies under SF with the optimal planting density (7.5 plants m–2) were the highest among all the treatments in 2016 and 2017. Compared with CF, SF could increase post-silking dry matter accumulation and promote N, P and K uptake at pre- and post-silking stages; this treatment increased grain N, P and K concentrations and resulted in high N, P and K use efficiencies. Nutrient (N, P and K) absorption efficiencies and partial productivity, and nutrient (N and P) recovery efficiency in SF treatment were significantly higher than those in CF treatments under the planting density of 7.5 plants m–2. Under both SF and CF conditions, the grain yield, total N accumulation and nutrient use efficiencies initially increased, peaked at planting density of 7.5 plants m–2, and then decreased with increasing plant density. Based on the yield and nutrient use efficiency in two years, plant density of 7.5 plants m–2 with SF can improve both the grain yield and N, P and K use efficiency of spring maize in Jiangsu Province, China.

Irrigation and fertilization management to optimize rice yield, water productivity and nitrogen recovery efficiency

Increasing water scarcity and environmental contamination with excess chemical nitrogen fertilizer use necessitate the development of water-nitrogen conservation technology in rice production. Therefore, a 2-year field experiment (2017–2018) was conducted with three water regimes, namely (1) continuous flooding irrigation, CF; (2) safe alternate wetting and drying irrigation, AWDsafe; and (3) severe alternate wetting and drying irrigation, AWDsevere, and four nitrogen application (Napp) rates, namely 0 (N0), 90 (N1), 180 (N2), and 270 (N3) kg N ha−1, to determine the effects of water regimes and Napp rates on rice yield, total water productivity (WPi+r) and nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE). The results demonstrated that the water regime, Napp rate and their interaction showed significant effects on rice yield, WPi+r and NRE and similar variations were observed in 2017 and 2018. The rice grain yield and WPi+r (or the water productivity of irrigation, WPi) significantly increased from N0 to N2 treatments but varied little between N2 and N3 treatments. The rice yield under AWDsafe was higher than that under AWDsevere, whereas their WPi+r and WPi values showed the opposite trends. The WPi values in 2018 were substantially higher than those in 2017 due to the lower irrigation amount in 2018. The highest rice NRE occurred with the combination of N2 with the CF and AWDsafe conditions, and it was significantly higher than that under AWDsevere. The dualistic and quadric regression equations of water and Napp rate showed that rice yield, WPi+r and NRE could not be maximized simultaneously. Based on the maximum likelihood method, it was demonstrated that maintaining the water quantity and Napp rate at 11,000 m3 ha−1 and 160 kg N ha−1 can serve as a suitable strategy to achieve maximal comprehensive benefits for rice grain yield, WPi+r and NRE in certain regions with water shortage. The optimization model can save approximately 17.0% of water input and 11.1% of Napp rate, respectively, compared to the traditional strategy. However, further research should validate and adapt these technologies in larger-scale fields.

Challenges of identifying children with Cystic Fibrosis to explore inequalities in social and health outcomes, using multiply linked data sources.

IntroductionCystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-limiting inherited disease in white populations, with most patients dying prematurely from respiratory failure. As it is rare, it is important to reduce misclassification. We therefore aimed to assess how well CF children could be identified across routine data in Wales.&#x0D; Objectives and ApproachData from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank, identified children with CF from 1998 to 2016, within hospital, General Practice (GP), and the Welsh Congenital Abnormality Register (CARIS), which uses new born screening to identify congenital abnormalities, including CF. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) E84 was used to identify CF children in both hospital and CARIS data, with READ codes used in the GP data (approximately 80% coverage of Wales). The data was linked using anonymised linking fields and matching rates analysed, as unmatched records in linked data can reduce the utility of the data for epidemiological studies.&#x0D; Results352 cases were identified in total, with 158 matched across all three datasets over an 18 year period (9-19 cases per year). The Welsh rate from the disease registry is 12–14. Since CF is a severely debilitating condition, a greater match was expected. This prompted further investigation of cases which appeared in only one dataset, as these seemed least likely to be true cases. In the ‘CARIS only’ data, 79% of the admissions, were found coded for respiratory, digestive and health complications not for an E84 CF condition. In the 43 cases in ‘GP only’ data, and the 19 in ‘hospital only’ data the events indicated the possible late presentation of CF by older children or children with very mild CF phenotypes.&#x0D; Conclusion/ImplicationsCases of rare diseases like CF can be identified in routine data. Linking across multiple datasets, particularly with specialist datasets like CARIS, help identify potentially misclassified cases. This increases confidence in the data. Future work will include the CF registry, permitting checks against a gold standard data resource.

Developmental evolution and developmental plasticity of the olfactory epithelium and olfactory skills in Mexican cavefish

The fish Astyanax mexicanus comes in two forms: the normal surface-dwelling (SF) and the blind depigmented cave-adapted (CF) morphs. Among many phenotypic differences, cavefish show enhanced olfactory sensitivity to detect amino-acid odors and they possess large olfactory sensory organs. Here, we questioned the relationship between the size of the olfactory organ and olfactory capacities. Comparing olfactory detection abilities of CF, SF and F1 hybrids with various olfactory epithelium (OE) sizes in behavioral tests, we concluded that OE size is not the only factor involved. Other possibilities were envisaged. First, olfactory behavior was tested in SF raised in the dark or after embryonic lens ablation, which leads to eye degeneration and mimics the CF condition. Both absence of visual function and absence of visual organs improved the SF olfactory detection capacities, without affecting the size of their OE. This suggested that developmental plasticity occurs between the visual and the olfactory modalities, and can be recruited in SF after visual deprivation. Second, the development of the olfactory epithelium was compared in SF and CF in their first month of life. Proliferation, cell death, neuronal lifespan, and olfactory progenitor cell cycling properties were identical in the two morphs. By contrast, the proportions of the three main olfactory sensory neurons subtypes (ciliated, microvillous and crypt) in their OE differed. OMP-positive ciliated neurons were more represented in SF, TRPC2-positive microvillous neurons were proportionately more abundant in CF, and S100-positive crypt cells were found in equal densities in the two morphs. Thus, general proliferative properties of olfactory progenitors are identical but neurogenic properties differ and lead to variations in the neuronal composition of the OE in SF and CF. Together, these experiments suggest that there are at least two components in the evolution of cavefish olfactory skills: (1) one part of eye-dependent developmental phenotypic plasticity, which does not depend on the size of the olfactory organ, and (2) one part of developmental evolution of the OE, which may stem from embryonic specification of olfactory neurons progenitor pools.

Evidence of an in vitro Coupled Diffusion Mechanism of Lesion Formation within Microcosm Dental Plaque

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the dual constant-depth film fermenter (dCDFF) is able to produce caries-like enamel lesions and to ascertain further information regarding the performance of this fully functional biological caries model. Conditions were defined by the continuation (CF) or cessation (FF) of a saliva-type growth medium supply during 50-m<smlcap>M</smlcap> sucrose exposures (8 times daily). Hydroxyapatite (n = 3) and bovine enamel (n = 3) substrata were included within each condition and samples extracted after 2, 4, 8, and 16 days. Community profiles were generated for fastidious anaerobes, Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus spp., mutans streptococci (MS), and Veillonella spp. using selective culture techniques and enamel demineralisation assessed by transverse microradiography. Results demonstrated that the dCDFF model is able to produce caries-like enamel lesions with a high degree of sensitivity where reduced ionic strength within the FF condition increased surface layer mineral deposition. Between conditions, biofilm communities did not differ significantly, although MS in the biofilms extracted from the FF condition rose to a higher proportion (by 1.5 log₁₀ units), and Veillonella spp. were initially greater within the CF condition (by 2.5 log₁₀ units), indicating an enhanced ability for the clearance of low-pK_a acids following exposures to sucrose. However, both conditions retained the ability for caries-like lesion formation.

183 Intermittent exogenous insulin may prevent progression of dysglycemia in pre-diabetic adults

Objectives In prediabetes, pancreatic beta cell function may be preserved by intermittent exogenous insulin support, potentially delaying the onset of diabetes. We assessed whether this could be employed in CF, where the development CFRD greatly increases the treatment burden, morbidity and ultimately overall mortality. Methods We studied 5 male prediabetic (defined on the basis of an abnormal continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) result and normal 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)) CF patients who were in an otherwise clinically stable state. Their clinical and glycaemic parameters (based on CGM) were measured for 3 months after 14 days of Detemir treatment. Results CGM devices were well tolerated and only one data collection point was incomplete (day 18 CGM result). Glucose profiles improved in the first few weeks after treatment, and dysglycaemia had resolved entirely in 2 patients by day 64. There was no significant change in FEV1 or HbA1c. ScreeningDay 18Day 34Day 64Day 94Mean % time glucose profile raised17%12%7%12%9%Mean FEV1%76%75%77%76%73% Conclusion This study suggests that pre-diabetic adult CF patients treated with a short (2-week) course of insulin may experience extended periods of improved glucose control. These effects seem most pronounced for the immediate few weeks after treatment is received. This raises the prospect that intermittent insulin regimes may delay the progression of dysglycaemia in this increasingly common complication of the CF condition.

Cholic acid induces a Cftr dependent biliary secretion and liver growth response in mice.

The cause of Cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD), is unknown. It is well recognized that hepatic exposure to hydrophobic bile salts is associated with the development of liver disease. For this reason, we hypothesize that, CFTR dependent variations, in the hepatic handling of hydrophobic bile salts, are related to the development CFLD. To test our hypothesis we studied, in Cftr-/- and control mice, bile production, bile composition and liver pathology, in normal feeding condition and during cholate exposure, either acute (intravenous) or chronic (three weeks via the diet). In Cftr-/- and control mice the basal bile production was comparable. Intravenous taurocholate increased bile production to the same extent in Cftr-/- and control mice. However, chronic cholate exposure increased the bile flow significantly less in Cftr-/- mice than in controls, together with significantly higher biliary bile salt concentration in Cftr-/- mice. Prolonged cholate exposure, however, did not induce CFLD like pathology in Cftr-/- mice. Chronic cholate exposure did induce a significant increase in liver mass in controls that was absent in Cftr-/- mice. Chronic cholate administration induces a cystic fibrosis-specific hepatobiliary phenotype, including changes in bile composition. These changes could not be associated with CFLD like pathological changes in CF mouse livers. However, chronic cholate administration induces liver growth in controls that is absent in Cftr-/- mice. Our findings point to an impaired adaptive homeotrophic liver response to prolonged hydrophobic bile salt exposure in CF conditions.

Instrução verbal: solicitar foco de atenção não garante sua adoção e melhor desempenho

Os objetivos deste estudo foram verificar: a) o efeito da instrução com e sem redundância na adoção do foco de atenção externo; b) o efeito do foco de atenção externo no desempenho no nado crawl; e c) o efeito da redundância do enunciado da instrução na adoção do foco e no desempenho. Participaram do estudo 43 universitários de ambos os gêneros com idade entre 17 e 46 anos. A tarefa, nadar 25 m nado crawl em velocidade máxima, foi executada uma vez em cada uma de três condições relativas à instrução: sem foco (SF), com foco (CF) e com foco e redundância (CFR), em ordem contrabalanceada. Como registro de adoção de foco, após a execução o sujeito foi questionado sobre a efetiva adoção do foco de atenção solicitado. Como medida do desempenho, computou-se o índice de braçadas. Os resultados mostraram que nas condições CF e CFR, respectivamente, 23% e 42% dos sujeitos não adotaram o foco solicitado; que nas condições CF e CFR a frequência dos sujeitos que adotaram o foco solicitado é superior à dos que não o adotaram, e, na condição CF, em relação à CFR houve uma frequência superior de sujeitos que adotaram o foco solicitado. O desempenho não diferiu significativamente entre as três condições (p&gt;0,05). Concluiu-se que: a) não basta solicitar que seja adotado um foco de atenção para que este seja de fato adotado; b) não houve efeitos do foco de atenção externo no desempenho; e c) a adoção de uma instrução sem redundância é maior, mas sem reflexos sobre o desempenho.

272* Ursodeoxycholate reduces cholate biosynthesis rate and pool size in Cftr−/− mice

Objectives: Ursodeoxycholate (UDCA) is used as treatment for cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD). It is hypothesized that the therapeutic action of UDCA is either mediated via choleretic activity or via effects on bile salt (BS) metabolism. However, the effects of UDCA on biliary BS composition and the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts in CF conditions are unclear. Methods: Cfr-/- and control mice were either fed UDCA enriched chow (0.5% wt/wt) for 3 weeks. We evaluated the effects on the biliary BS composition and on the biosynthesis rate (SR) and pool size (PS) of cholate (CA), the mayor hydrophobic BS. Results: In non UDCA treated Cftr- mice the fractional biliary CA content was significantly higher compared to controls (61% vs. 46%, resp.; p <0.01). However, the biliary UDCA enrichment was ∼50% lower in Cftr- mice compared to controls (3% vs. 6%, resp.; p <0.01). Both the SR (16±1 vs.10±2 μmol-100g-1 BW-1-day, resp.; p <0.01) and PS (28±3 vs. 18±1 μmol-100g-1-BW-1, resp.; p <0.01) were significantly higher in Cfr-/- mice compared to controls. After UDCA the biliary BS composition consisted for more than ∼80% of UDCA in both Cftr-mice and controls. Both in Cftr- mice and controls UDCA treatment drastically diminished the SR (-85% and -81%, resp. each p <0.01) and PS (-87% and -92%, resp. each p <0.01). Conclusion: Cftr- - mice have a more hydrophobic biliary BS composition compared to controls. In Cftr- - mice the SR and the PS of CA are increased compared to controls, leading to a more cytotoxic BS profile. UDCA reduces the hydrophobic BS profile of Cftr-∼ mice. This favorable effect of UDCA on bile salt metabolism could contribute to the assumed beneficial effects of UDCA in CFLD.

European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Annual Meeting May 25–28, 2011 Sorrento, Italy

Objectives and Study: Ursodeoxycholate (UDCA) is used as treatment for cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD). It is hypothesized that the supposed therapeutic action of UDCA in CF conditions is either mediated via its choleretic activity or via effects on bile salt metabolism. In CF conditions, however, the effects of UDCA on biliary bile salt composition and on the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts have remained unclear. We evaluated, in Cftr knockout mice and wild type controls, the effects of UDCA treatment on the biliary bile salt composition and on the biosynthesis rate and pool size of cholate (CA), which is proportionally the major hydrophobic bile salt in mouse and man. Methods: Cftr-/-and control mice were either fed standard or treated with UDCA enriched chow (0.5% wt/wt) for 3 weeks. We characterized biliary bile salt composition after gallbladder cannulation and determined the CA synthesis rate and bile salt pool size using a microscale stable isotope dilution technique. Results: In non UDCA treated Cftr-/-mice the fractional biliary CA content was significantly higher compared to controls (61% vs. 46%, resp.; P

Ozone tolerance in snap bean is associated with elevated ascorbic acid in the leaf apoplast.

Ascorbic acid (AA) in the leaf apoplast has the potential to limit ozone injury by participating in reactions that detoxify ozone and reactive oxygen intermediates and thus prevent plasma membrane damage. Genotypes of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) were compared in controlled environments and in open-top field chambers to assess the relationship between extracellular AA content and ozone tolerance. Vacuum infiltration methods were employed to separate leaf AA into extracellular and intracellular fractions. For plants grown in controlled environments at low ozone concentration (4 nmol mol-1 ozone), leaf apoplast AA was significantly higher in tolerant genotypes (300-400 nmol g-1 FW) compared with sensitive genotypes (approximately 50 nmol g-1 FW), evidence that ozone tolerance is associated with elevated extracellular AA. For the open top chamber study, plants were grown in pots under charcoal-filtered air (CF) conditions and then either maintained under CF conditions (29 nmol mol-1 ozone) or exposed to elevated ozone (67 nmol mol-1 ozone). Following an 8-day treatment period, leaf apoplast AA was in the range of 100-190 nmol g-1 FW for all genotypes, but no relationship was observed between apoplast AA content and ozone tolerance. The contrasting results in the two studies demonstrated a potential limitation in the interpretation of extracellular AA data. Apoplast AA levels presumably reflect the steady-state condition between supply from the cytoplasm and utilization within the cell wall. The capacity to detoxify ozone in the extracellular space may be underestimated under elevated ozone conditions where the dynamics of AA supply and utilization are not adequately represented by a steady-state measurement.

Effects of different ozone exposure regimes on photosynthesis, assimilates and thousand grain weight in spring wheat

The aim of the study was to compare two ozone exposure patterns with different peak concentrations under equal dose conditions. Spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum cv. ‘Nandu’) was ‘pre-cultivated’ under glasshouse conditions and exposed to two different ozone exposure scenarios (A: 1700–0900 h: 20 ppb, 0900–1700 h: 65 ppb; B: 1600–1200 h: 20 ppb, 1200–1600 h: 110 ppb) in large fumigation chambers for two weeks during anthesis. Control plants received charcoal filtered ambient air (<5 ppb ozone 24 h/day) (CF). Chlorophyll content as well as chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv : Fm ratio) and carbohydrate composition (hexoses, sucrose, starch) were monitored in flag leaves and in the case of carbohydrate content also in the penultimate internode during and after ozone exposure. Thousand grain weight (TGW) was determined for estimating yield effects. Photosynthesis decreased markedly in both treatments expressed as Fv : Fm ratio. In treatment B chlorophyll content (a + b) of leaves was reduced by 40% after 7 and 14 days of exposure ( p ≤ 0.001). Carbohydrate content decreased significantly as compared with CF-plants to 20% ( p ≤ 0.001) in the case of sucrose and starch. Effects were especially pronounced in treatment B (110 ppb for 4 h) and could be observed even seven days after exposure under CF conditions. After 14 days of exposure during anthesis, plants were incapable of recovery as shown by a significant reduction in thousand grain weight of ozone treated plants compared with CF-plants (treatment B: 22% at p ≤ 0.001). Effects on photosynthesis and carbon content even under moderate daily ozone peaks as in treatment A induced a significant yield loss of 11% ( p ≤ 0.001) as well, when applied during anthesis. It can be concluded that under equal dose conditions ozone treatments with comparatively high peak concentration induce more pronounced effects than ozone patterns with moderate peaks.