Low-level Response Research Articles

Evaluation of the BIOSECURE Questionnaire in Patients Followed for Inflammatory Rheumatological and Gastrointestinal Diseases Through the Analysis of This Questionnaire

Therapeutic education (TE) plays a central role in the management of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases and inflammatory bowel disease. The BIOSECURE questionnaire was developed and validated in 2012 to assess self-management and patient safety, initially in rheumatology. Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge of patients followed in both rheumatology and gastroenterology regarding their treatment through the BIOSECURE questionnaire. The secondary objective was to identify factors associated with a low level of knowledge according to the BIOSECURE questionnaire. Methods: This was a descriptive observational study, conducted in a single center at the Reims University Hospital between January 2023 and April 2024. The population was divided into quartiles. Participation in therapeutic education (TE) included receiving brochures about their disease or treatment and/or participation in group or individual TE sessions. We compared the patients with the lowest scores to those with the highest scores. Results: The study population consisted of 312 patients, including 32.05% with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 29.81% with Crohn’s disease. In our population, 82.03% had participated in therapeutic education, which included a TE session and/or the distribution of brochures about their disease and/or treatment. The median [IQR] BIOSECURE score was 71.04/100 [IQR 61.77–81.9]. When comparing patients with a low BIOSECURE score (<61.77) to those with a high score (>81.9), univariate factors associated with a low score were older age (p = 0.02), less participation in therapeutic education (p = 0.01), shorter duration of targeted therapy (p = 0.01), and lower level of education (p < 0.05). Conversely, patients who had received therapeutic education had a higher BIOSECURE score (p = 0.01). There was no difference in BIOSECURE scores based on place of residence, location of patient follow-up, route of administration, or type of inflammatory disease. In a multivariate analysis with a model including age, TE participation, and duration of targeted therapy, the results remained significant (p < 0.05). Discussion: We were able to compare the results of our study with two other French studies previously conducted on the same population of 677 patients undergoing biotherapy for chronic inflammatory rheumatism. The median BIOSECURE score in those studies was 73/100. In the study by Rat AC, published in 2017, the population was divided based on their BIOSECURE questionnaire results into three groups; they compared high and low response levels. Similarly to our study, a lower educational level and unemployment were associated with a lower rate of correct responses. The same was true for the absence of therapeutic education (TE) or distribution of brochures. Conclusions: The analysis of the BIOSECURE questionnaire in our population provides a practical message: factors associated with a low BIOSECURE score include older age, lower educational level, recent initiation of targeted therapy, and lack of participation in therapeutic education. This population could be a priority target for TE in order to ensure treatment safety for these patients.

The Relationship between Body Mass Index and Level of Response to Alcohol Across the Spectrum of Alcohol Use: Total Body Water and Beyond.

A low level of response (LR) to alcohol is a known risk factor for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Although higher total body water (TBW) is associated with lower blood alcohol concentrations and reduced responses following alcohol consumption, the relationship between morphometric measures such as body mass index (BMI) and LR is less clear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between BMI and LR to alcohol, and the contribution of TBW to this relationship. Participants (n=1,086) enrolled in the NIAAA Natural History Protocol were assessed for LR to alcohol using the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) Questionnaire. BMI was estimated using height and weight, and TBW was estimated from height, weight, age and sex. Participants were categorized based on BMI into 3 groups: normal weight (18.5-25.0 kg/m2; n=430), overweight (25.0-30.0 kg/m2; n=403), and obese (≥30.0 kg/m2; n=253). Associations between BMI group and SRE scores for the most recent three-month period (SRE-Recent), and the effect of TBW, were analyzed using ANOVA. Linear regression analysis was conducted to estimate the proportion of variation in SRE-Recent explained by BMI and TBW. BMI category was associated with LR, with the normal weight group showing higher responses (lower SRE-Recent scores) to alcohol than the overweight or obese groups. After controlling for TBW, the relationship became non-significant. Linear regression models confirmed these findings. Higher BMI is associated with lower LR to alcohol. However, TBW seems to account for this relationship, suggesting that concentrations achieved following alcohol consumption may be the primary determinant of BMI-related differences in LR. Future work should replicate these findings and examine these relationships throughout the lifespan and in individuals with AUD.

Strain-specific virulence of Perkinsus marinus and related species in Eastern oysters: A comprehensive analysis of immune responses and mortality.

In this study, we investigated the variability in virulence among different strains of Perkinsus marinus and other Perkinsus species in Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), examining the immune responses and mortality rates of oysters exposed to different Perkinsus isolates. Compared with the other assessed strains, P. marinus strain ATCC 50787 was found to induce significantly (P<0.05) higher levels of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and necrosis in oyster hemocytes. Perkinsus chesapeaki (ATCC PRA-65) elicited strong immune responses and high mortality in Eastern oysters at rates similar to those induced by the most virulent P. marinus strain. In contrast, P. olseni and P. honshuensis induced low levels of immune response and mortality. In vivo survival assays confirmed that strains inducing high immune responses in vitro also caused high mortalities in oysters. Our findings in this study highlight the importance of considering strain-specific virulence when studying Perkinsus infections in oysters. These findings have implications for understanding host-parasite interactions and managing Perkinsus-related diseases in oyster populations, particularly from the perspectives of aquaculture and conservation.

Genetic damage in elasmobranchs: A review.

DNA integrity is crucial for organismal health, and assessing DNA damage in aquatic organisms is essential for identifying environmental threats and informing conservation efforts. Pollutants such as metals, hydrocarbons, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and climate change are linked to genetic damage, oxidative stress, and mutagenesis in several species, such as elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). Most studies focus on bivalves, crustaceans, and bony fish, with fewer assessments being carried out in cartilaginous fish. Concerning elasmobranchs, studies employing the micronucleus test and nuclear anomaly assays have aided in understanding how this group responds to contamination by organic and inorganic pollutants. Notably, each species deals differently with these contaminants, presenting varied DNA damage levels, including low levels of response, probably associated to feeding habits, trophic position, maturation stage, sex and metabolism. Further investigations should be conducted in elasmobranchs to elucidate these variations and better understand DNA damage in this important ecological group.

Assessment of stakeholders’ responsiveness in public–private partnership projects: perspective from Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate stakeholders’ responsiveness as an important factor of public–private partnership (PPP) projects performance.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires on the key stakeholders (public sector authorities, concessionaires, local lenders (financiers), consultants and contractors) involved in the identified 24 PPP projects so far initiated by Lagos State government in Nigeria. As such, 37 managerial officers (public sector), 20 concessionaires, 17 financiers, 22 contractors and 19 consultants (private sector) were purposively selected. These give a total number of 115 sample size. Out of this, 81 valid responses were received and used for the analysis. The elicited data were analysed using frequency distribution, percentile, mean item score and analysis of variance statistics.FindingsThe findings show that the responsiveness of stakeholders to identified responsibilities can only be said to be fair on the part of two primary stakeholders: government and concessionaires, while others, financiers, consultants, contractors and end-users, exhibit low level of responsiveness in PPP projects.Originality/valueThe paper empirically gauges how stakeholders respond to their responsibilities in PPP project. The study also provided insight from both theoretical and empirical perspective and the effect of stakeholders’ responsiveness on the performance of PPP projects. This study has implications for PPP project performance.

Parenting Styles and Adolescent Misbehavior

AbstractAdolescence is a crucial period for character development and is particularly susceptible to parental influence due to the brain's malleability. This paper examines whether parenting styles can have a significant impact on adolescent misbehaviors such as disobedience and aggression. The results show that, in comparison with neglectful parenting – characterized by low levels of demandingness and responsiveness – authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles were associated with a significant reduction in behavioral issues among adolescents. The beneficial impact of authoritative parenting, marked by high demandingness and responsiveness, was particularly strong. In contrast, authoritarian parenting (high demandingness but low responsiveness) and permissive parenting (high responsiveness but low demandingness) were less effective in reducing behavioral issues. Our results remained robust after addressing potential issues of reverse causality, omitted variable bias, and selective sorting between teachers and students. The results also show that teachers and their interactions with parents played an important role in mitigating the adverse effects of neglectful parenting. Overall, our findings suggest that adopting parenting styles that strike a balance between discipline and care can strongly foster positive behaviors in adolescents.

Development of bovine IgG3-specific assays using a novel recombinant single-domain binding reagent

Cattle express three subclasses of IgG antibody - IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3. Unlike IgG1 and IgG2, IgG3 was described relatively recently and the role of this subclass in immunity is unknown. Using recombinant bovine IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), we demonstrated that only one of the commercially available anti-bovine IgG mAbs tested was able to recognize IgG3, and no mAb exclusively bound IgG3. Here, we evaluated a small ankyrin repeat protein, called Ankyron™ AZS40101, that was generated to bind to bovine IgG3. Ankyron™ AZS40101 bound specifically to IgG3 with minimal reactivity to IgG1 and IgG2. Ankyron™ AZS40101 was shown to be useful in ELISA assays as either a capture or detection reagent. Utilisation of Ankyron™ AZS40101 alongside IgG1 and IgG2 specific mAbs to detect antigen-specific IgG subclasses in the serum of cattle sequentially vaccinated with heterologous foot-and-mouth disease virus capsid antigens revealed a low-level antigen-specific IgG3 response, in addition to IgG1 and IgG2 responses. Assessment of the total IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 levels in healthy cattle plasma samples showed that IgG3 was measurable at a mean concentration of 0.19 mg/mL, although this was significantly lower than those of IgG1 (mean 3.28 mg/mL) and IgG2 (mean 3.41 mg/mL). Thus, Ankyron™ AZS40101 is a new reagent that provides utility for measurement of bovine IgG3 responses to infection and vaccination.

Daily social resources as a buffer against stress eating and its consequences.

Eating in response to stress can become habitual and have long-term consequences for weight gain, but little research has explored what may help break stress-eating cycles. We examined daily social resources as potential protective factors against daily stress eating and eventual weight gain. In Study 1 (N = 1,264), we assessed stress-eating tendencies, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at baseline, receipt of emotional support over 8 days (9,649 reports), and tracked BMI/WHR after about 10 years. We examined the average likelihood of receiving emotional support as a moderator of the link between stress eating and BMI/WHR at the follow-up. In Study 2 (N = 536; 10,288 reports), we assessed stress-eating status and BMI at baseline, social responsiveness (feeling that others are caring), and stress-eating behavior over 24 days and tracked BMI a year later. We examined if social responsiveness moderates stress-eaters' daily stress-eating behaviors and changes in BMI. In Study 1, stress eating predicted increases in BMI and WHR at the 10-year follow-up but not among individuals who were more (vs. less) likely to receive emotional support in daily life. In Study 2, stress eaters tended to report more daily stress-eating behaviors compared to nonstress eaters, but such tendency was attenuated on days they perceived high (vs. low) levels of social responsiveness. Stress eating did not predict BMI at the 1-year follow-up. These observational findings suggest that social resources in daily lives may have long-term benefits for stress eaters, potentially by reducing their everyday stress eating. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

The familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated A4V SOD1 mutant is not able to regulate aerobic glycolysis

Under certain stress conditions, astrocytes operate in aerobic glycolysis, a process controlled by pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) inhibition through its E1 α subunit (Pda1) phosphorylation. This supplies lactate to neurons, which save glucose to obtain NADPH to, among other roles, counteract reactive oxygen species. A failure in this metabolic cooperation causes severe damage to neurons. In this work, using humanized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in which its endogenous Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) was replaced by human ortholog, we investigated the role of human SOD1 (hSOD1) in aerobic glycolysis regulation and its implications to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease. Yeast cells ferment glucose even in the presence of oxygen and switch to respiratory metabolism after glucose exhaustion. However, like cells of SOD1-knockout strain, cells expressing A4V mutant of hSOD1 growing on glucose showed a respiratory phenotype, i.e., low glucose and high oxygen consumptions and low intracellular oxidation levels in response to peroxide stress, contrary to cells expressing wild-type (WT) SOD1 (yeast or human). The A4V mutation in hSOD1 is linked to ALS. In contrast to WT SOD1 strains, PDH activity of both sod1Δ and A4V hSOD1 cells did not change in response to a metabolic shift toward oxidative metabolism, which was associated to lower Pda1 phosphorylation levels under growth on glucose. Taken together, our results suggest that A4V mutant cannot regulate aerobic glycolysis via Pda1 phosphorylation the same way WT hSOD1, which might be linked to problems observed in the motor neurons of ALS patients with the SOD1 A4V mutation.

Analysis of natural language input in preschool children with and without hearing loss: quantity, caregiver response types, and influence of demographic factors

ABSTRACT This study investigated language input (adult word count, AWC; conversational turn count, CTC; response types; high-, mid-, and low-level) and language outcomes (receptive, expressive) in children aged 2–5 years with hearing loss (CwHL) and those with normal hearing (CwNH). Associations between language input and outcomes, relationships between language input, and demographics were examined. Language input was analyzed using full-day Language Environment Analysis (LENA) audio-recordings, and language outcomes were assessed using standardized language assessments in 14 CwHL and 20 CwNH. There were no significant differences in language input between CwHL (AWC/hr: M = 1137, SD = 554; CTC/hr: M = 48.26, SD = 19.18) and CwNH (AWC/hr: M = 1243, SD = 426; CTC/hr: M = 60.94, SD = 21.34). There were, however, significant differences between groups in response types and language outcomes. Caregivers of CwHL used less high- and more mid- and low-level responses than caregivers of CwNH (p = < .01). Language input in CwHL showed no association with language outcomes, and there were no correlations with demographic factors. For CwNH, receptive language was correlated with AWC/hr, CTC/hr, and high- and low-level response types (p = < .01); and expressive language was correlated with AWC/hr (p = < .01), CTC/hr (p = .02), and high- (p = .02) and low-level (p = < .01) response types significantly. Correlations were negative for low-level response types, with lower language scores associated with relatively more use of low-level responses. For CwNH, maternal education correlated with AWC/hr (p = < .01), and caregivers of younger CwNH had significantly more CTC/hr (p = < .01). Quantitative LENA data suggested comparable interaction frequency between groups. CwHL were exposed to more low-level response types, had significantly lower language scores. Further investigation into response types, child language outcomes, and therapeutic implications for CwHL is needed.

Dynamic pathways to SMEs performance: Unraveling the influence of organizational learning capability, innovation, market dynamism and market responsiveness in an African emerging economy

ABSTRACT This study explores the complex relationships among organizational learning capability (OLC), innovation, market dynamism, market responsiveness, and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in African emerging economies. Our research investigates the role of innovation as a mediator in the OLC-performance relationship, the moderated mediation impact of market dynamism, and the mediated moderation effect of market responsiveness in the indirect relationship. Using data from 225 SMEs from Ghana, and Hayes’s PROCESS bootstrapping procedure the findings confirm that innovation mediates the OLC-performance. Although, market dynamism does not moderate the OLC-innovation relationship, it moderates the indirect relationship between OLC and performance through innovation, with a stronger effect at high levels of market dynamism. Additionally, market responsiveness negatively moderates the innovation–performance relationship, but it amplifies the OLC-performance relationship via innovation, with a more pronounced effect at low levels of market responsiveness. The findings indicate that the OLC-performance relationship is not only complex but depend in firm-specific and external factors.

Near-Surface Atmospheric Response to Meso- and Submesoscale Current and Thermal Feedbacks

Abstract Current feedback (CFB) and thermal feedback (TFB) have been shown to strongly influence both atmospheric and oceanic dynamics at the oceanic mesoscale (10–250 km). At smaller scales, oceanic submesoscale currents (SMCs; 0.1–10 km) have a major influence on the ocean’s energy budget, variability, and ecosystems. However, submesoscale air–sea interactions are not well understood because of observational and modeling limitations related to their scales. Here, we use a realistic submesoscale-permitting coupled oceanic and atmospheric model to quantify the spatiotemporal variability of TFB and CFB coupling in the northwest tropical Atlantic Ocean. While CFB still acts as a submesoscale eddy killer by inducing an energy sink from the SMCs to the atmosphere, it appears to be more efficient at the submesoscale by approximately 30% than at the mesoscale. Submesoscale CFB affects the surface stress, however, the finite time scale of SMCs for adjusting the atmospheric boundary layer results in a diminished low-level wind response, weakening partial ocean reenergization by about 70%. Unlike at the mesoscale, submesoscale CFB induces stress/wind convergence/divergence, influencing the atmospheric boundary layer through vertical motions. The linear relationship between the surface stress derivative or wind derivative fields and sea surface temperature gradients, widespread at the mesoscale, decreases by approximately 35% ± 7% or 77% ± 10%, respectively, at the submesoscale. In addition, submesoscale TFB induces turbulent heat fluxes comparable to those at the mesoscale. Seasonal variability in meso- and submesoscale CFB and TFB coupling is mostly related to background wind speed. Also, disentangling submesoscale CFB and TFB is challenging because they can reinforce or counteract each other.

Histologic and cytologic changes in normal equine joints after injection with 2.5% injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel reveal low-level macrophage-driven foreign body response.

The data presented in this paper are derived from an in vivo study performed to characterize the nature of the synovial integration process of a 2.5% synthetic cross-linked injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5 iPAAG) injected IA in horses. 10 healthy horses not suffering from OA or signs of joint disease were administered 50 or 100 mg 2.5 iPAAG in a total of 13 metacarpophalangeal or middle carpal joints. Injected joints were examined at 0, 14, 42, and/or 90 days postinjection. Parameters investigated included clinical examination, synoviocentesis, gross pathology, histology, and scanning electron microscopy. All horses remained clinically normal, with no adverse events recorded throughout the study period. Gross postmortem did not reveal any significant findings. Arthrocentesis cytology parameters remained within clinically normal levels throughout the study. Synovial histology demonstrated that cellular infiltration of macrophages, villus hyperplasia, and vascularization were significantly higher in 2.5 iPAAG-injected joints compared to controls. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the 2.5 iPAAG demonstrated an extensive tissue integration as a 3-D scaffolding structure with intact cross-linked strands. Results confirm that an IA injection of 2.5 iPAAG induces a typical foreign body response that is predominately macrophage driven with no evidence of fibrosis or mineralization. Integration of the gel is evident by 14 days, with no free gel remaining in the joint cavity at this time.

Sex differences in alcohol's effects on fronto-amygdalar functional connectivity during processing of emotional stimuli.

Amygdala function underlying emotion processing has been shown to vary with an individuals' biological sex. Expanding upon functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings reported previously where a low level of response was the focus, we examined alcohol and sex effects on functional connectivity between the amygdala and other brain regions. The central hypothesis predicted that sex would influence alcohol's effects on frontal-limbic functional circuits underlying the processing of negative and positive facial emotions. Secondary analyses were conducted on data from a double-blind, placebo controlled, within-subjects, cross-over study in 54 sex-matched pairs (N = 108) of 18- to 25-year-old individuals without an alcohol use disorder at baseline. Participants performed an emotional faces fMRI processing task after placebo or approximately 0.7 mL/kg of ethanol. Psychophysiological interaction analyses examined functional connectivity between the amygdala with other brain regions. There were significant alcohol-by-sex interactions when processing negatively valenced faces. Whereas intoxicated men exhibited decreased functional connectivity between the amygdala and ventral and dorsal anterior cingulate, angular gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus connectivity was increased in intoxicated women. There was also a main sex effect where women exhibited less functional connectivity in the middle insula than men regardless of whether they received alcohol or placebo. For happy faces, main effects of both sex and alcohol were observed. Women exhibited less amygdala functional connectivity in the right inferior frontal gyrus than men. Both men and women exhibited greater functional connectivity in the superior frontal gyrus in response to alcohol than placebo. Alcohol's effects on amygdala functional circuits that underlying emotional processing vary by sex. Women had higher functional connectivity than men following exposure to a moderate dose of alcohol which could indicate that women arebetter than men at processing affectively laden stimuli when intoxicated.

A POSSIBLE ROLE OF HEPCIDIN IN INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION.

Hepcidin's main function is to control iron availability to hematopoiesis. However, it has been shown that hepcidin may have an additional role in intestinal inflammation, as intestinal cells and leukocytes increase the production in experimental colitis and Crohn's disease. Using an HT-29 cell as a model, we investigated the role of hepcidin in intestinal inflammation. The ability of HT-29 cells to produce hepcidin was evaluated after stimulus with IL-6, TNF-α, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. Experiments were performed in the presence of stat-3 or IκBα phosphorylation inhibitor. The release of IL-8 by HT-29 cells was evaluated after hepcidin stimulus in the presence or absence of ferroportin (FPN) antibody. Nuclear factor (NF) κB translocation and reactive oxidative species (ROS) production in response to hepcidin were also studied. HT-29 cells can produce hepcidin under IL-6, TNF-α, and LPS stimulation. The Stat-3 inhibitor reduces hepcidin production induced by IL-6, and the IκBα inhibitor reduces hepcidin production by all stimuli tested. IL-8 is produced by HT-29 cells in response to hepcidin, and the FPN antibody did not modify IL-8 release. Il-8 production induced by hepcidin was NFκB dependent, but when cells were co-stimulated with LPS, IL-8 release, and NFκB translocation were inhibited, and HPN antibody reduced it. Hepcidin increases ROS production by HT-29 cells. We used HT-29 cells to demonstrate that hepcidin is produced at low levels in response to inflammatory stimuli. The hepcidin action is dual in HT-29 cells, performing a proinflammatory action by producing ROS and IL-8 under physiological conditions but an anti-inflammatory action by reducing IL-8 release and NFκ-B activation when LPS is present, suggesting that hepcidin has a modulatory role in intestinal inflammation.

Effects of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction in alleviating atherosclerosis based on the regulation of perivascular adipose

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe occurrence and development of atherosclerosis, a common chronic inflammatory vascular disease, are closely related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction (BBTD) is a representative traditional Chinese medicine formula that resolves phlegm, disperses wind, invigorates the spleen and eliminates dampness and is also a commonly used clinical medication for treating vascular diseases. Aim of the studyTo explore the pharmacological mechanisms of BBTD in alleviating atherosclerosis, the present study was carried out by conducting an integrative analysis of aortic and perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) proteomics and metabolomics. Materials and methodsEight-week-old ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into the BBTD group and the model group, and nine age-matched C57BL/6J (C57) mice were used as the control group (n = 9). The C57 mice were fed a standard diet, while the ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Mice in the BBTD group were transgastrically administered BBTD at a dose of 17.8 g/kg/day for 8 weeks, while the model group and control group mice received an equivalent volume of saline by gavage. Histomorphology of the aortas and PVAT was assessed by HE staining, oil red O staining, Masson staining, and α-SMA and CD68 immunohistochemical methods. An integrative analysis of aortic proteomics, PVAT proteomics and PVAT metabolomics was conducted to study the pharmacological mechanisms of BBTD. ResultsCompared to the model group, mice treated with BBTD had thicker fibrous caps, increased collagen content, less erosion of smooth muscle cells and infiltration of macrophages, as well as a relatively low inflammatory response level, suggesting that BBTD treatment reduced plaque vulnerability. Omics analysis suggested that BBTD treatment demonstrated anti-atherosclerotic effects and increased plaque stability in the aorta by activating the TGF-beta pathway. Simultaneously, BBTD inhibited PVAT inflammation levels (decreased the levels of MCP and IL-6). Proteomics and metabolomics of PVAT suggested that the targets of BBTD included upregulation of the α-linolenic acid metabolic pathway and downregulation of multiple inflammatory pathways, such as the NF-kappa B signalling pathway, primary immunodeficiency and Th17 cell differentiation in PVAT. ConclusionsBBTD reduces the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques and inhibits the inflammatory phenotype of perivascular adipose tissue.

Home-spirometry exacerbation profiles in children with cystic fibrosis.

Pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) are strong predictors of respiratory disease progression in children with cystic fibrosis (CwCF) and may be associated with persistent decreased lung function after acute management. Telemonitoring devices can be used for early detection and monitoring of PEx, but its utility is debated. Which symptoms and telemonitoring spirometry characterics are related to outcome dynamics following initial PEx management? This retrospective study included CwCF followed at Bordeaux University Hospital, France. All severe PEx episodes treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotics (ATB) between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021 in CwCF using home telemonitoring were analyzed. Symptoms and home spirometry data were collected 45 days before and up to 60 days after each IV ATB course. We defined three response profiles based on terciles of baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) recovery. A total of 346 IV ATB courses for PEx were administered to 65 CwCF during the study period. The drop in FEV1 became significant 8 days before IV ATB initiation. Forty-one percent of IV ATB courses failed to restore baseline FEV1 . The magnitude of FEV1 drop and a greater delay in the initiation of treatment correlated with a low response level. On the 14th day of the IV treatment, a FEV1 recovery less than 94% of baseline was associated with a nonresponder profile. Home spirometry may facilitate the early recognition of PEx to implement earlier interventions. This study also provides an outcome lung function threshold which identifies low responders to IV ATB.

Transformational Games as a Tool for Developing Students' Effective Communication Skills

Purpose of the study. The skill of effective communication is not only the most important component in the activities of a qualified specialist, but also makes everyday communication more trusting, less aggressive and dependent. This is confirmed by the research of domestic and foreign scientists, business coach programs, and the practical work of coaching and consulting specialists. The purpose of our work is a theoretical and experimental study of the use of transformational games as a tool for developing students' effective communication skills. The article examines the skill of effective communication of students according to various criteria. The results of the application of the program for the development of effective communication skills of students using transformational games are shown. Methods. The methodology of «Diagnostics of communicative tolerance» by V. V. Boyko is designed to determine to what extent people are able to show tolerance to other people in business and interpersonal communication. The test «Communicative skills» of Mikhelson L. in the modification of Gilbukh Y.Z. we used to determine the level of communicative competence and the quality of formation of basic communicative skills. To study the ability to showempathy, the «Emotional Response Scale» technique is used (A. Mehrabyan, modification by N. Epstein). In the formative part of our work, we used transformational negotiation games «The Red Rose Effect. The best techniques of persuasion» and «Say NO». Results. it was revealed that a significant number of students have difficulties in managing emotions that negatively affect interpersonal communication. Testing showed that the majority of students have an average level of general communicative tolerance. Students use aggressive (oppressive behavior) and dependent (insecure behavior) positions in communication. A significant number of students demonstrate a low level of response with feelings, which makes it difficult to contact people around them. Conclusion. Thus, purposeful work is needed to develop students' communication skills. For this purpose, we have developed a program for developing students' effective communication skills using transformational games, the effectiveness of which has been proven in practice and statistically.

Reading Braille by Touch Recruits Posterior Parietal Cortex.

Blind readers use a tactile reading system consisting of raised dot arrays: braille/⠃⠗⠇. How do human brains implement reading by touch? The current study looked for signatures of reading-specific orthographic processes in braille, separate from low-level somatosensory responses and semantic processes. Of specific interest were responses in posterior parietal cortices (PPCs), because of their role in high-level tactile perception. Congenitally blind, proficient braille readers read real words and pseudowords by touch while undergoing fMRI. We leveraged the system of contractions in English braille, where one braille cell can represent multiple English print letters (e.g., "ing" ⠬, "one" ⠐⠕), making it possible to separate physical and orthographic word length. All words in the study consisted of four braille cells, but their corresponding Roman letter spellings varied from four to seven letters (e.g., "con-c-er-t" ⠒⠉⠻⠞. contracted: four cells; uncontracted: seven letters). We found that the bilateral supramarginal gyrus in the PPC increased its activity as the uncontracted word length increased. By contrast, in the hand region of primary somatosensory cortex (S1), activity increased as a function of a low-level somatosensory feature: dot-number per word. The PPC also showed greater response to pseudowords than real words and distinguished between real and pseudowords in multivariate-pattern analysis. Parieto-occipital, early visual and ventral occipito-temporal, as well as prefrontal cortices also showed sensitivity to the real-versus-pseudoword distinction. We conclude that PPC is involved in orthographic processing for braille, that is, braille character and word recognition, possibly because of braille's tactile modality.

Hepatitis B infection or reactivation after switch to two-drug antiretroviral therapy: A case series, literature review, and management discussion.

Two-drug antiretroviral therapy (ART) without hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity is prescribed for persons with HIV as simplified or salvage therapy. While two-drug regimens are not recommended for persons with chronic HBV infection, guidelines do not address use in those with HBV susceptibility and/or core antibody reactivity. We present a case series of individuals with HBV infection or reactivation following switch to two-drug, non-HBV-active ART. HIV primary care clinics of an academic medical center in New York, NY. Case surveillance was conducted to identify persons with HBV surface antigenemia and viremia following two-drug ART switch. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were ascertained through chart review. Four individuals with HBV infection or reactivation after ART switch were identified. Two had HBV susceptibility, one had core antibody reactivity, and one had surface antigen reactivity pre-switch. All eligible persons had received HBV vaccination, two with low-level antibody response and one with persistent nonresponse. Two presented with fulminant hepatitis, one requiring liver transplantation. Two-drug ART switch may pose risk of HBV infection or reactivation. We propose careful patient selection and monitoring through the following: 1) Assessment of HBV serologies before switch and periodically thereafter, 2) Vaccination and confirmation of immunity before switch, 3) Risk stratification and counseling about HBV reactivation for those with core antibody, 4) Preemptive HBV DNA monitoring for those at risk of reactivation, 5) Continuation of HBV-active prophylaxis when above measures are not feasible, 6) Continuation of HBV-active therapy and surveillance for chronic HBV infection.