Function In Various Ways Research Articles

Evaluation of the Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Varicocele in Males Aged 15-35 in Mogadishu, Somalia

Testicular varicoceles, a common condition characterized by the dilation and enlargement of veins within the scrotum, are predominantly found in the adolescent and young adult age group. This condition can adversely affect testicular function in various ways, including decreased sperm production, reduced sperm quality, and even testicular atrophy. The prevalence of varicoceles varies across different regions, with estimates ranging from 15-20% in Somalia and other parts of Africa, 10-15% in Asia, and 15-20% in the United States and other parts of America. In the small island nation of Erub, the incidence is relatively lower, at around 5-10% of the male population. The exact etiology of varicoceles is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to a combination of factors, such as genetic predisposition, anatomical abnormalities, and environmental influences. Certain risk factors, including obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and exposure to high temperatures, have been associated with an increased risk of developing varicoceles. While varicoceles can adversely affect testicular function and fertility, it is important to note that not all individuals with varicoceles experience fertility-related problems. The management of varicoceles often involves a multidisciplinary approach, with close monitoring and periodic evaluation being the recommended approach for asymptomatic individuals. In cases where varicoceles are causing symptoms or affecting fertility, various treatment options, such as surgical repair (varicocelectomy) or percutaneous embolization techniques, may be considered. Understanding the prevalence, etiology, and management strategies of varicoceles is crucial for healthcare professionals to provide appropriate care and support for individuals affected by this condition.

Elements of Therapeutic Action in Child Psychoanalysis: Some Problems with Trying to Provide a Corrective Emotional Experience

ABSTRACT As the practice and study of child psychoanalysis has evolved, we have become aware that the analyst functions in various ways to contribute to therapeutic action. This paper describes the analysis of a three-year-old girl with encopretic symptoms. The analyst brought a potty into the consulting room to deepen exploration into the symptoms. In retrospect, the analyst was trying to provide a corrective emotional experience. This attempt ultimately kept the analysis too focused and concrete about the symptom and limited the depth of imaginary play. It interfered with the child developing a more abstract self-reflective capacity to think about the connection between her unconscious and her difficulties. Thus, she terminated with a less-than-optimal sense of self-agency.

Mechanism of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation disorder in male infertility

Abstract Male infertility has become a global concern, accounting for 20–70% of infertility. Dysfunctional spermatogenesis is the most common cause of male infertility; thus, treating abnormal spermatogenesis may improve male infertility and has attracted the attention of the medical community. Mitochondria are essential organelles that maintain cell homeostasis and normal physiological functions in various ways, such as mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial OXPHOS transmits electrons through the respiratory chain, synthesizes adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). These mechanisms are vital for spermatogenesis, especially to maintain the normal function of testicular Sertoli cells and germ cells. The disruption of mitochondrial OXPHOS caused by external factors can result in inadequate cellular energy supply, oxidative stress, apoptosis, or ferroptosis, all inhibiting spermatogenesis and damaging the male reproductive system, leading to male infertility. This article summarizes the latest pathological mechanism of mitochondrial OXPHOS disorder in testicular Sertoli cells and germ cells, which disrupts spermatogenesis and results in male infertility. In addition, we also briefly outline the current treatment of spermatogenic malfunction caused by mitochondrial OXPHOS disorders. However, relevant treatments have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial OXPHOS disorders in Sertoli cells and germ cells is a research direction worthy of attention. We believe this review will provide new and more accurate ideas for treating male infertility.

CVG-Net: novel transfer learning based deep features for diagnosis of brain tumors using MRI scans

Brain tumors present a significant medical challenge, demanding accurate and timely diagnosis for effective treatment planning. These tumors disrupt normal brain functions in various ways, giving rise to a broad spectrum of physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. The daily increase in mortality rates attributed to brain tumors underscores the urgency of this issue. In recent years, advanced medical imaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have emerged as indispensable tools for diagnosing brain tumors. Brain MRI scans provide high-resolution, non-invasive visualization of brain structures, facilitating the precise detection of abnormalities such as tumors. This study aims to propose an effective neural network approach for the timely diagnosis of brain tumors. Our experiments utilized a multi-class MRI image dataset comprising 21,672 images related to glioma tumors, meningioma tumors, and pituitary tumors. We introduced a novel neural network-based feature engineering approach, combining 2D convolutional neural network (2DCNN) and VGG16. The resulting 2DCNN-VGG16 network (CVG-Net) extracted spatial features from MRI images using 2DCNN and VGG16 without human intervention. The newly created hybrid feature set is then input into machine learning models to diagnose brain tumors. We have balanced the multi-class MRI image features data using the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) approach. Extensive research experiments demonstrate that utilizing the proposed CVG-Net, the k-neighbors classifier outperformed state-of-the-art studies with a k-fold accuracy performance score of 0.96. We also applied hyperparameter tuning to enhance performance for multi-class brain tumor diagnosis. Our novel proposed approach has the potential to revolutionize early brain tumor diagnosis, providing medical professionals with a cost-effective and timely diagnostic mechanism.

E055 The experience of pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - findings from a qualitative study of REMORA app users’ experiences

Abstract Background/Aims The Remote Monitoring in Rheumatoid Arthritis (REMORA) system enables people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to track daily symptoms, such as pain and fatigue, via a smartphone app. Graphed symptoms are made available in the electronic health record for patients and clinicians to review together during clinical consultations. REMORA aims to help patients and clinicians to understand fluctuations in disease activity and flares in between clinical appointments. Here, we discuss how patients and clinicians interacted with the data in REMORA, and if and how these interactions provided new knowledge to support person-centred care. Methods Patients and clinicians recruited to take part in a REMORA feasibility trial were invited to participate in this qualitative study about their experience of using the system. We conducted semi-structured interviews (in person, or via telephone or video conference) and observed clinical consultations while taking field notes. Both interviews and clinic observations were audio-recorded, transcribed, and uploaded to NVivo 12 Plus software. Thematic analysis was guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Results 21 patients (of 32 consented patients who initiated symptom tracking) and seven clinicians from two study sites were interviewed. Five consultations were observed. Patients tracking their symptoms using the REMORA app highlighted how this helped them to remember periods where they had experienced pain. Clinicians were able to see where pain flares occurred. This created an opportunity for patients and clinicians to discuss pain, in turn supporting decision making around identifying and managing flares, and identifying positive responses to treatment. Some patients expressed difficulty in knowing whether to score all the joint pain they experienced, or just pain secondary to RA. At times they found it difficult to distinguish the origin of pain which created anxiety around score accuracy. For some patients, there was a dissonance between their pain experiences and the pain scores they reported in the REMORA app. For example, sometimes they entered scores that were lower than their actual pain levels because they did not want to admit, and formalise, how bad the pain was. Reviewing these pain scores together enabled clinicians and patients to discuss and interpret the symptom scores, giving clinicians new insights into patients’ approach to their RA. Conclusion The REMORA system captures longitudinal symptom scores to help direct clinical management plans. Patients engaged with the pain scoring function in various ways, and pain reports submitted through the app may not always fully represent people’s actual experiences of pain from their RA and other conditions. During consultations, skilful questioning by clinicians about patient-generated data can create new insights into how an individual copes with and manages their pain and wider long-term condition. Disclosure D. Dowding: None. S. Skyrme: None. Y. Masood: None. S.N. van der Veer: None. D.J. Griffiths-Jones: None. W. Dixon: Consultancies; WGD has received consultancy fees from Google unrelated to this work. C.A. Sharp: None.

Cell-specific IL-1R1 regulates the regional heterogeneity of microglial displacement of GABAergic synapses and motor learning ability

Microglia regulate synaptic function in various ways, including the microglial displacement of the surrounding GABAergic synapses, which provides important neuroprotection from certain diseases. However, the physiological role and underlying mechanisms of microglial synaptic displacement remain unclear. In this study, we observed that microglia exhibited heterogeneity during the displacement of GABAergic synapses surrounding neuronal soma in different cortical regions under physiological conditions. Through three-dimensional reconstruction, in vitro co-culture, two-photon calcium imaging, and local field potentials recording, we found that IL-1β negatively modulated microglial synaptic displacement to coordinate regional heterogeneity in the motor cortex, which impacted the homeostasis of the neural network and improved motor learning ability. We used the Cre-Loxp system and found that IL-1R1 on glutamatergic neurons, rather than that on microglia or GABAergic neurons, mediated the negative effect of IL-1β on synaptic displacement. This study demonstrates that IL-1β is critical for the regional heterogeneity of synaptic displacement by coordinating different actions of neurons and microglia via IL-1R1, which impacts both neural network homeostasis and motor learning ability. It provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the physiological role and mechanism of microglial displacement of GABAergic synapses.

Ectopia Lentis with Retinal Detachment in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome: A Case Report

Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant hereditary connective tissue disease caused by mutations in the Fibrillin-1 gene located on chromosome 15q15-21. Fibrillin is a specific type of glycoprotein widely distributed throughout the body, contributing to the elasticity and load-bearing capacity of connective tissue. Marfan syndrome is a multisystem disorder that affects the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and the eyes. Patients with Marfan syndrome can experience life-threatening complications such as aortic aneurysms, aortic dissection, and mitral valve prolapse. However, most patients initially present to an ophthalmologist with ocular symptoms, necessitating the ophthalmologist to diagnose and counsel the patient about the disease and its complications. A 23-year-old female patient presented to the Ophthalmology Outpatient Department (OPD) with complaints of diminished visual acuity in both eyes since birth. The patient exhibited cataractous changes in the lens with dislocation in the superotemporal quadrant in both eyes. Furthermore, the patient experienced rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in her left eye. The patient underwent scleral belt buckling and pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil insertion in the left eye, as well as cataract extraction with Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens (PCIOL) implantation in the right eye. Marfan syndrome can impact visual function in various ways. The present case report underscores the ocular manifestations of Marfan syndrome and the management of patients with developmental cataracts, subluxation, and retinal detachment due to high myopia.

Thickened Perirenal Fat Predicts Poor Renal Outcome in Patients with Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Perirenal fat is a pad that fills the retroperitoneal space outside the kidney, which affects kidney function in various ways. However, the association between perirenal fat and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) has not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the role of perirenal fat in predicting IgAN progression. Methods: A total of 473 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN and follow-up information were recruited, and perirenal fat thickness (PFT) was measured using color Doppler ultrasonography at renal biopsy. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median PFT: the low-PFT group (PFT ≤1.34 cm, n = 239) and the high PFT group (PFT >1.35 cm, n = 234). A total of 473 healthy participants were included in the control group. Basic clinical characteristics were assessed at the time of renal biopsy, and the relationship between PFT and combined endpoints was analyzed. The renal composite endpoints were defined as a two-fold increase in blood creatinine level, end-stage renal disease (dialysis over 3 months). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to explore the role of PFT in the progression of IgAN. Three clinicopathological models of multivariate Cox regression analysis were established to evaluate the association between PFT and renal prognosis in patients with IgAN. Results: Compared to healthy subjects, patients with IgAN showed significantly higher PFT. After a median follow-up of 50 months, 75 of 473 patients (15.9%) with IgAN reached renal composite endpoints. Among those, 13 of 239 patients (5.4%) were in the low PFT group, and 62 of 234 patients (26.5%) were in the high PFT group (p < 0.001). The results of three Cox regression models (including demographics, pathological and clinical indicators, and PFT) demonstrated that a higher PFT was significantly associated with a higher risk of reaching renal composite endpoints in patients with IgAN. Conclusion: This study indicated a positive relationship between PFT at renal biopsy and renal progression in patients with IgAN, suggesting that perirenal fat might act as a marker of poor prognosis in patients with IgAN.

A Unifying Approximate Method of Multipliers for Distributed Composite Optimization

This article investigates solving convex composite optimization on an undirected network, where each node, privately endowed with a smooth component function and a nonsmooth one, is required to minimize the sum of all the component functions throughout the network. To address such a problem, a general approximate method of multipliers (AMM) is developed, which attempts to approximate the method of multipliers by virtue of a surrogate function with numerous options. We then design the possibly nonseparable, time-varying surrogate function in various ways, leading to different distributed realizations of AMM. We demonstrate that AMM generalizes more than ten state-of-the-art distributed optimization algorithms, and certain specific designs of its surrogate function result in a variety of new algorithms to the literature. Furthermore, we show that AMM is able to achieve an <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$O(1/k)$</tex-math></inline-formula> rate of convergence to optimality, and the convergence rate becomes linear when the problem is locally restricted strongly convex and smooth. Such convergence rates provide new or stronger convergence results to many prior methods that can be viewed as specializations of AMM.

The Use of Speech Act Functions for Women in the 2020 International Women’s Day Demonstration in Jakarta: Feminist Study

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; This study uses a descriptive qualitative method to classify and analyze the use of speech act functions in the International Women’s Day 2020 demonstration event in Jakarta. The research strategy used is content/document analysis. This strategy was used because the study would analyze data in sentences in the International Women’s Day 2020 demonstration poster. Data collection was carried out using the document and note-taking. In addition, the data analysis process uses content/document analysis. This analysis will dissect a speech/sentence in the research data to explain or analyze it in depth. The study results show that the action participants use the speech act function in various ways. The speech act functions are 11 data assertive functions, 17 data directive functions, 5 data expressive functions, and 12 declarative data functions. The directive function dominates the use of the speech act function. This is because, in demonstration activities, the speaker will make more requests (directives) in the form of demands on the interlocutor to solve all the problems presented by the speaker (demonstrator).&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Development of a system of heparin multilayers on titanium surfaces for dual growth factor release.

The aim of the present study was to establish a modular platform of poly-L-lysine-heparin (PLL-Hep) polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings on titanium surfaces for dual growth factor delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenic protein 2 (rhBMP2) and recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (rhVEGF165) in clinically relevant quantities. Release characteristics for both growth factors differed significantly depending on film architecture. rhBMP2 induced activation of alkaline phosphatase in C2C12 cells and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). rhVEGF mediated induction of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in hMSCs and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Osteogenic and angiogenic effects were modified by variation in cross-linking and architecture of the PEMs. By creating multilayer films with distinct zones, release characteristics and proportion of both growth factor delivery could be tuned and surface-activity modified to enhance angiogenic or osteogenic function in various ways. In summary, the system provides a modular platform for growth factor delivery that allows for individual composition and accentuation of angiogenic and osteogenic surface properties.

Phytochemicals mediated modulation of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in cancer prevention and therapy.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two main categories of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that can influence essential biological functions in various ways, as well as their expression and function are tightly regulated in physiological homeostasis. Additionally, the dysregulation of these ncRNAs seems to be crucial to the pathogenesis of human diseases. The latest findings indicate that ncRNAs execute vital roles in cancer initiation and progression, and the cancer phenotype can be reversed by modulating their expression. Available scientific discoveries suggest that phytochemicals such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and organosulfur compounds can significantly modulate multiple cancer-associated miRNAs and lncRNAs, thereby inhibiting cancer initiation and development. However, despite promising outcomes of experimental research, only a few clinical trials are currently being conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of these compounds. Nevertheless, understanding phytochemical-mediated ncRNA regulation in cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms on tumor pathophysiology can aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat this deadly disease.

전도서 3:10-15의 동사 구문론과 의미론적 접근

The researcher analyzed the paragraphs of Ecclesiastes 3:10-15 as verb syntax and semantics of a relative tense system, and focused on the expression and meaning generation of the text paragraph. Within the sub-paragraph, the verb has various functions. Verbs within this unit function in various ways. First of all, the verb form qatal is characteristic of the past and pluperfect, and starts observation, reflection, and enlightenment. Yiqtol uses not only individual facts of the future but also general facts and repetitive (habitual) usages. The timelessness of the form of existence is universally transforming statements. In addition, Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 convincingly expresses one’s own statements through strategic use of alternating individual concepts and general concepts.<BR> The way the passages in Ecclesiastes 3:10-15 deploy is a narrative development of wisdom that leads to observation (v. 10) - reflection (v. 11) - enlightenment (vv. 12-13; v. 14). Unlike the position of King-Qohelet (1:13b), the Evangelist Qohelet observes the contradictory facts pre-set by God, saying that this is what God has allowed to a humble (or devote) man (3:10c). He says that there is a proper time (v. 11a) when all things are beautiful, but that man cannot understand God’s event as a whole (v. 11bγ) and implies the partial possibility and partial impossibility of man (v. 11bβ). Observation and reflection reach dual enlightenment, and the anthropological dimension of the pre-set kairos-time is not transcendental, but exists in the possibility of simple enjoyment (eating, drinking, seeing good) It is realized in the good and good behavior (v. 12b). On the theological level, enlightenment - this good event of God - continues in the future, and has the sovereignty (v. 14aγ) of sovereign personality that cannot be added or subtracted as a human. People who are habitually fearful of God (v. 14bβ) are enchanted by His aesthetic beauty. Therefore, a person’s limited understanding is not limited, but partial. Even if it is a part of a person and if he can enjoy it and do good things, even though he lives for a limited time (v. 12b), he can enjoy the kairos-reality of “Olam-time” (eternal time, v. 11bα). The thought of Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 is very marvelous: God is not just a distant, incomprehensible, indescribably fearful being (dues tremendus), but a fascinus (deus fascinus). Man does not know God’s events as a whole, but has partial understanding and possibility of capture. Even if it is subject to the passage of time (years), the possibility of partial enjoyment of a person remains. The evangelist says that such enjoyment is also God’s gift. The thought of Ecclesiastes 3:10-15 is far from a skeptical, pessimistic worldview.

Analysis on Accommodative Function and Change of Phoria due to Noise Stress

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stress from noise on various visual functions. Methods : Sixty young adults (23.12±1.26 years) with no eye diseases, surgical history, and eye movement abnormalities were involved. Before and after exposure to noise, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), accommodative amplitude, response of accommodation, distance and near phoria, and NITBUT were measured. Results : After exposure to noise stress, the PSS was increased. While the accommodative amplitude, the response of accommodation, and NITBUT were decreased, the distance and near phoria were increased. After exposure to noise stress, the perceived stress scale increased. The accommodative amplitude measured by the push-up and minus lens addition method and response of accommodation decreased. While the NITBUT also decreased, the distance and near phoria showed a tendency to increase. Conclusion : From the results of this study, it is shown that noise stress affects visual function in various ways. Therefore, it is considered that it is important to construct the optometry clinic environment so that noise stress caused by the surrounding environment does not occur during refraction test and visual function evaluation.

Role of Preconditioning Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Regeneration Disk: a Review Article

Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a degenerative disease and often found in daily practice.The managements that were used so far are only symptomatic and have not been able to solve the diseasecompletely. The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been widely tested as a solution for theregeneration of IVD in IDD. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are one of the sources ofMSCs which were widely studied as an alternative. One of the factors that can influence the efficiency andcapacity of ASCs in IDD cases is preconditioning. Generally, there were three pre-conditioning strategies ofASCs before being used as therapy, (1) modifying the environment, (2) using Growth Factors, Cytokines,Chemokines, Hormones, (3) using pharmacological and chemical agents. Preconditioning on ASCs canchange its function in various ways. We tried to link all these things together so that we could know the roleof pre-conditioning ASCs in the regeneration disk.

Evaluation of Thyroid Hormones Levels in Libyan Patients with Chronic Renal Failure Before and AFTER Maintenance Hemodialysis

Data from recent studies revealed that kidney diseases might affect the thyroid function in various ways. A variety of alterations in thyroid hormone levels and metabolism have also been reported in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) in some studied population. In addition, it was reported that serum levels of both T3 and T4 might altered immediately after a hemodialysis (HD) treatment than before. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the level of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in CRF Libyan patients before and after HD. This study was carried out on 46 CRF patients (30 male and 16 female) with a mean age of 47.46 ±15.75 years. These patients were treated at the hemodialysis unit of Educational Central Zelitin Hospital, Zelitin, Libya. None of these patients apparently have any thyroid problems and no history of drug intake that may affect thyroid function. Blood samples were taken from each patient to measure serum levels of T3 and T4, before and after HD. In addition, the effect of several variables include age, gender, body mass index (BMI), presence of both hypertension and, diabetes mellitus and duration of kidney dialysis on serum levels of T3and T4 before and after HD were also studied. After HD, there was a statistically significant increase in the serum levels of T3, T4. The age, gender, BMI, duration of kidney dialysis and the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus did not have any significant effect on the serum level of T3 and T4 before and after HD. However, the serum levels of T3 and T4 were still in the normal range in these examined patients either before or after HD. From these findings, it can be concluded that these CRF patients may be in a euthyroid state, because the serum levels of T3 and T4 were in the normal range. In addition, HD was seem to improve the T3 and T4 thyroid hormone concentrations, suggesting that HD might activate the secretion of thyroid glandand catabolism. The other variables did not play any role in thyroid hormone levels in these patients either before or after HD. It is highly recommended that large scale evaluation of thyroid hormone levels in Libyan CRF patients is performed more patients, especially elderly patients.

Regulation of Gastrointestinal Immunity by Metabolites.

The gastrointestinal tract contains multiple types of immune cells that maintain the balance between tolerance and activation at the first line of host defense facing non-self antigens, including dietary antigens, commensal bacteria, and sometimes unexpected pathogens. The maintenance of homeostasis at the gastrointestinal tract requires stringent regulation of immune responses against various environmental conditions. Dietary components can be converted into gut metabolites with unique functional activities through host as well as microbial enzymatic activities. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that gastrointestinal metabolites have significant impacts on the regulation of intestinal immunity and are further integrated into the immune response of distal mucosal tissue. Metabolites, especially those derived from the microbiota, regulate immune cell functions in various ways, including the recognition and activation of cell surface receptors, the control of gene expression by epigenetic regulation, and the integration of cellular metabolism. These mucosal immune regulations are key to understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of gastrointestinal disorders. Here, we review recent advancements in our understanding of the role of gut metabolites in the regulation of gastrointestinal immunity, highlighting the cellular and molecular regulatory mechanisms by macronutrient-derived metabolites.

Reducing l-lactate release from hippocampal astrocytes by intracellular oxidation increases novelty induced activity in mice.

Astrocytes are in control of metabolic homeostasis in the brain and support and modulate neuronal function in various ways. Astrocyte‐derived l‐lactate (lactate) is thought to play a dual role as a metabolic and a signaling molecule in inter‐cellular communication. The biological significance of lactate release from astrocytes is poorly understood, largely because the tools to manipulate lactate levels in vivo are limited. We therefore developed new viral vectors for astrocyte‐specific expression of a mammalianized version of lactate oxidase (LOx) from Aerococcus viridans. LOx expression in astrocytes in vitro reduced their intracellular lactate levels as well as the release of lactate to the extracellular space. Selective expression of LOx in astrocytes of the dorsal hippocampus in mice resulted in increased locomotor activity in response to novel stimuli. Our findings suggest that a localized decreased intracellular lactate pool in hippocampal astrocytes could contribute to greater responsiveness to environmental novelty. We expect that use of this molecular tool to chronically limit astrocytic lactate release will significantly facilitate future studies into the roles and mechanisms of intercellular lactate communication in the brain.

Evaluation of Thyroid Hormones Levels in Libyan Patients with Chronic Renal Failure before and after Maintenance Hemodialy

Data from recent studies revealed that kidney diseases might affect the thyroid function in various ways. A variety of alterations in thyroid hormone levels and metabolism have also been reported in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) in some studied population. In addition, it was reported that serum levels of both T3 and T4 might alter immediately after a hemodialysis (HD) treatment than before. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the level of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in CRF Libyan patients before and after HD. This study was carried out on 46 CRF patients (30 males and 16 females) with a mean age of 47.46 ± 15.75 years. These patients were treated at the hemodialysis unit of Educational Central Zelitin Hospital, Zelitin, Libya. None of these patients apparently have any thyroid problems and no history of drug intake that may affect thyroid function. Blood samples were taken from each patient to measure serum levels of T3 and T4, before and after HD. In addition, the effects of several variables including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), presence of both hypertension and, diabetes mellitus and duration of kidney dialysis on serum levels of T3 and T4 before and after HD were also studied. After HD, there was a statistically significant increase in the serum levels of T3, T4. The age, gender, BMI, duration of kidney dialysis and the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus did not have any significant effect on the serum level of T3 and T4 before and after HD. However, the serum levels of T3 and T4 were still in the normal range in these examined patients either before or after HD. From these findings, it can be concluded that these CRF patients may be in a euthyroid state, because the serum levels of T3 and T4 were in the normal range. In addition, HD was seemed to improve the T3 and T4 thyroid hormone concentrations, suggesting that HD might activate the secretion of thyroid gland and catabolism. The other variables did not play any role in thyroid hormone levels in these patients either before or after HD. It is highly recommended that large scale evaluation of thyroid hormone levels in Libyan CRF patients is performed by more patients, especially elderly patients.

Varying impacts of logging frequency on tree communities and carbon storage across evergreen and deciduous tropical forests in the Andaman Islands, India

The majority of Earth’s tropical forests have been selectively logged; some on repeated occasions. Selective logging is known to affect forest structure, composition and function in various ways, but how such effects vary with logging frequency and across forest types remains unclear. In the Andaman Archipelago in India, we examined adult and pole-sized trees in baseline (unlogged since 1990s), once-logged (logged between 2007 and 2014) and twice-logged (logged in early 1990s and between 2007 and 2014) evergreen and deciduous forests, and tested whether higher logging frequency was associated with lower canopy cover, tree density, tree diversity, aboveground carbon stocks and divergence in species composition, including increased relative abundances of deciduous species in these forests. While once-logged evergreen and deciduous forests were similar to their respective baselines for most attributes assessed, and twice-logged evergreen forests had 22–24% lower adult tree density and diversity, twice-logged deciduous forests had 17–50% lower canopy cover, pole density, adult species diversity and above-ground carbon stocks, and 12% higher deciduous fractions compared to the baselines. Collectively our results reveal lasting impacts of repeated selective logging, even at relative low intensity, on tree communities and carbon storage. These impacts can potentially be mitigated by reducing logging frequency and retaining unlogged patches in logged landscapes, but management must also incorporate heterogeneity in responses and recovery across different forest types. In the Andaman Islands, all forests may require more than 15–25 years between logging events, with deciduous forests potentially requiring more stringent extraction limits compared to evergreen forests.