Classical Representations and Uses of the Presocratics

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Presocratic Philosophy

Anyone interested in the influence of Presocratic thought may be tempted to begin with Plato and Aristotle. There is, however, sufficient evidence of Presocratic influence among the sophists to make it clear that this temptation should be resisted. Some traces of this earlier influence may be found in Plato and Aristotle themselves, and this fact should serve as a reminder that their own involvement with Presocratic philosophy did not take place in a vacuum but will have been conditioned or mediated by previous developments. This article deals with classical thinkers (including Plato and Aristotle) who interpreted, wrote about, and preserved the Presocratics, pointing out that just as one must read the Presocratics through the filters of Plato and Aristotle and their successors and commentators, Plato and Aristotle were influenced by the already burgeoning tradition of historiography that developed in the late fifth and fourth centuries.

Treating Velopharyngeal Inadequacy Using Bilateral Buccal Flap Revision Palatoplasty

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 878-892
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Napoli ◽  
Linda D. Vallino
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Cleft Lip And Palate ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Buccal Flap

Purpose The 2 most commonly used operations to treat velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI) are superiorly based pharyngeal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty, both of which may result in hyponasal speech and airway obstruction. The purpose of this article is to (a) describe the bilateral buccal flap revision palatoplasty (BBFRP) as an alternative technique to manage VPI while minimizing these risks and (b) conduct a systematic review of the evidence of BBFRP on speech and other clinical outcomes. A report comparing the speech of a child with hypernasality before and after BBFRP is presented. Method A review of databases was conducted for studies of buccal flaps to treat VPI. Using the principles of a systematic review, the articles were read, and data were abstracted for study characteristics that were developed a priori. With respect to the case report, speech and instrumental data from a child with repaired cleft lip and palate and hypernasal speech were collected and analyzed before and after surgery. Results Eight articles were included in the analysis. The results were positive, and the evidence is in favor of BBFRP in improving velopharyngeal function, while minimizing the risk of hyponasal speech and obstructive sleep apnea. Before surgery, the child's speech was characterized by moderate hypernasality, and after surgery, it was judged to be within normal limits. Conclusion Based on clinical experience and results from the systematic review, there is sufficient evidence that the buccal flap is effective in improving resonance and minimizing obstructive sleep apnea. We recommend BBFRP as another approach in selected patients to manage VPI. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9919352

The Binding and Viscometric Studies of Ni+2, Co+2 and Mn+2 Ions with Protein by Spectrometric and pH Metric Techniques

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-162
Author(s):  
Shveta Acharya ◽  
Arun Kumar Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Metal Ions ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Protein Molecule ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Structural Requirement ◽  
Nickel Ions ◽  
Cobalt Ions ◽  
Lower Temperature ◽  
Specific Oxidation

Background: The metal ions play a vital role in a large number of widely differing biological processes. Some of these processes are quite specific in their metal ion requirements. In that only certain metal ions, in specific oxidation states, can full fill the necessary catalytic or structural requirement, while other processes are much less specific. Objective: In this paper we report the binding of Mn (II), Ni (II) and Co (II) with albumin are reported employing spectrophotometric and pH metric method. In order to distinguish between ionic and colloidal linking, the binding of metal by using pH metric and viscometric methods and the result are discussed in terms of electrovalent and coordinate bonding. Methods: The binding of Ni+2, Co+2 and Mn+2 ions have been studied with egg protein at different pH values and temperatures by the spectrometric technique. Results: The binding data were found to be pH and temperature dependent. The intrinsic association constants (k) and the number of binding sites (n) were calculated from Scatchard plots and found to be at the maximum at lower pH and at lower temperatures. Therefore, a lower temperature and lower pH offered more sites in the protein molecule for interaction with these metal ions. Statistical effects seem to be more significant at lower Ni+2, Co+2 and Mn+2 ions concentrations, while at higher concentrations electrostatic effects and heterogeneity of sites are more significant. Conclusion: The pH metric as well as viscometric data provided sufficient evidence about the linking of cobalt, nickel and manganese ions with the nitrogen groups of albumin. From the nature and height of curves in the three cases it may be concluded that nickel ions bound strongly while the cobalt ions bound weakly.

scholarly journals Preliminary Pharmacogenetic Study to Explore Putative Dopaminergic Mechanisms of Antidepressant Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 731
Author(s):  
Taichi Ochi ◽  
Natalya M. Vyalova ◽  
Innokentiy S. Losenkov ◽  
Diana Z. Paderina ◽  
Ivan V. Pozhidaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Bipolar Depression ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Pharmacogenetic Study ◽  
Dopaminergic Mechanisms ◽  
Major Depressive Disorders ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Antidepressant Action

Background: There is sufficient evidence that interference of dopaminergic neurotransmission contributes to the therapeutic effects of antidepressants in unipolar and bipolar depression. Methods: Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD 17) scores of 163 at least moderately ill patients with major depressive disorders were used to establish treatment response. HAMD 17 score status was measured before initiation, after two weeks, and after four weeks of treatment with various antidepressants. The possible association between response and genotype in a total of 14 variants of dopamine neurotransmission-related proteins was investigated. Results: DRD4 rs11246226 CA heterozygous patients were found with a greater improvement of HAMD 17 score when compared to homozygous C patients during 0–2 weeks and 0–4 weeks. Patients with MAOB rs1799836 heterozygous GA and homozygous A also demonstrated improved scores during 2–4 weeks and 0–4 weeks. Conclusions: The results are preliminary due to the limited population size and the small number of variants. Further research into the involvement of habenular dopamine D4 receptors in the antidepressant response is desirable.

scholarly journals The Development of a Personalized Symptom Management Mobile Health Application for Persons Living with HIV in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 346
Author(s):  
Shuyu Han ◽  
Yaolin Pei ◽  
Lina Wang ◽  
Yan Hu ◽  
Xiang Qi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
Living With Hiv

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) continuously experience symptom burdens. Their symptom prevalence and severity are also quite different. Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) offer exceptional opportunities for using personalized interventions when and where PLWH are needed. This study aimed to demonstrate the development process of the symptom management (SM) app and the structure and content of it. Our research team systematically searched for evidence-based resources and summarized up-to-date evidence for symptom management and health education. Our multidisciplinary research team that included physicians, nurses, software engineers, and nursing professors, evaluated the structure and content of the drafted app. Both quantitative data and qualitative results were collected at a group discussion meeting. Quantitative data were scores of sufficient evidence, situational suitability, practicability, cost-effectiveness, and understandability (ranged from one to four) for 119 items of the app contents, including the health tracking module, the self-assessment module, coping strategies for 18 symptoms (80 items), medication management, complementary therapy, diet management, exercise, relaxation techniques, and the obtaining support module. The SM app was comprised of eight modules and provided several personalized symptom management functions, including assessing symptoms and receiving different symptom management strategies, tracking health indicators, and communicating with medical staff. The SM app was a promising and flexible tool for HIV symptom management. It provided PLWH with personalized symptom management strategies and facilitated the case management for medical staff. Future studies are needed to further test the app’s usability among PLWH users and its effects on symptom management.

scholarly journals Characterization and Treatment Goals of Patients on Long-Acting Injectable vs Oral Antipsychotics: Results from a Patient/Caregiver/Psychiatrist Survey

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-154
Author(s):  
Heather M. Fitzgerald ◽  
Jason Shepherd ◽  
Hollie Bailey ◽  
Mia Berry ◽  
Jack Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Medication Regimen ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Course Of Illness ◽  
Current Medication ◽  
Long Acting

AbstractBackgroundPatient preferences in schizophrenia (SCZ), including identification of key goals and outcomes for treatment and relative importance of certain treatment goals to patients, have been assessed by several studies. However, there continues to be a lack of sufficient evidence on US patient attitudes and perceptions towards treatment goals and pharmacotherapy options in SCZ, especially taking into context long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) in this disease area. This lack of evidence is further pronounced in caregivers of individuals with SCZ. The objective of this analysis was to characterize patients with SCZ on LAIs vs patients on oral antipsychotics (OAPs) and evaluate the treatment goals of patients in each group.MethodsThis was a real-world, cross-sectional survey of US psychiatrists, patients =18 years old with a diagnosis of SCZ, and caregivers. Data was collected using the Disease Specific Programme (DSP) methodology, which has been previously published. Psychiatrists (n=120) completed detailed record forms for next 8 consecutive outpatients and 2 inpatients matching inclusion criteria, including non-interventional clinical and subjective assessments. The same patients and their caregivers, if present, were invited by their psychiatrist to voluntarily complete a separate survey.ResultsOf 1135 patients on treatment where the physician provided survey data; 251 were on an LAI, and 884 were on an OAP. Mean (SD) time to SCZ diagnosis for those on an LAI was 10.3 (12.0) years vs 7.8 (10.5) years for those on OAPs. More patients in the LAI vs OAP group were being treated as an inpatient (27.1% vs 15.7%, respectively; p<0.0001). Patients on an LAI reported being on their current medication regimen for less time (mean 1.7 years) vs those on OAPs (mean 2.5 years) (p=0.0093). More patients on LAIs were unemployed due to disability vs those on OAPs (56.1% vs 39.5%, respectively), and less patients on LAIs were able to work part-time or full-time (21.1% or 4.1%) vs those on OAPs (23.2% or 11.4%). More patients on an LAI had a caregiver vs those on OAPs (37.3% vs 26.1%, respectively; p=0.0011). Regarding the most important treatment goals reported by patients, both groups reported similar preferences for decrease in disease symptoms (62% on LAI vs 65% on OAPs) and thinking more clearly (53% on LAI vs 46% on OAPs); however, a numerically higher proportion of LAI patients reported that the current medication helped decrease hospitalizations due to relapse vs those on OAPs (38% vs 32%, respectively).DiscussionGiven the characteristics of patients participating in this real-world survey, those on LAIs exhibited qualities which indicate a higher severity of illness vs those on OAPs. Results suggest that treatment with LAIs is still mainly being provided to patients later in the disease course and/or who have adherence problems, despite a growing body of evidence of utility in younger patients earlier in the course of illness.FundingOtsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. and Lundbeck LLC

scholarly journals The importance of evaluating specific myeloid malignancies in epidemiological studies of environmental carcinogens

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Mundt ◽  
L. D. Dell ◽  
P. Boffetta ◽  
E. M. Beckett ◽  
H. N. Lynch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Smoking ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Environmental Carcinogens ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
Myeloid Malignancies ◽  
Chemical Agents

Abstract Introduction Although myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) – including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) – and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) are largely clinically distinct myeloid malignancies, epidemiological studies rarely examine them separately and often combine them with lymphoid malignancies, limiting possible etiological interpretations for specific myeloid malignancies. Methods We systematically evaluated the epidemiological literature on the four chemical agents (1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, benzene, and tobacco smoking, excluding pharmaceutical, microbial and radioactive agents, and pesticides) classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as having sufficient epidemiological evidence to conclude that each causes “myeloid malignancies.” Literature searches of IARC Monographs and PubMed identified 85 studies that we critically assessed, and for appropriate subsets, summarized results using meta-analysis. Results Only two epidemiological studies on 1,3-butadiene were identified, but reported findings were inadequate to evaluate specific myeloid malignancies. Studies on formaldehyde reported results for AML and CML – and not for MDS or MPN – but reported no increased risks. For benzene, several specific myeloid malignancies were evaluated, with consistent associations reported with AML and MDS and mixed results for CML. Studies of tobacco smoking examined all major myeloid malignancies, demonstrating consistent relationships with AML, MDS and MPN, but not with CML. Conclusions Surprisingly few epidemiological studies present results for specific myeloid malignancies, and those identified were inconsistent across studies of the same exposure, as well as across chemical agents. This exercise illustrates that even for agents classified as having sufficient evidence of causing “myeloid malignancies,” the epidemiological evidence for specific myeloid malignancies is generally limited and inconsistent. Future epidemiological studies should report findings for the specific myeloid malignancies, as combining them post hoc – where appropriate – always remains possible, whereas disaggregation may not. Furthermore, combining results across possibly discrete diseases reduces the chances of identifying important malignancy-specific causal associations.

scholarly journals Polychlorinated biphenyls and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the population living in a highly polluted area in Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Donato ◽  
Marco Moneda ◽  
Nazario Portolani ◽  
Angelo Rossini ◽  
Sarah Molfino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Polluted Area ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Pcb Congeners ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Incident Cases

AbstractPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are human carcinogens, based on sufficient evidence for melanoma and limited evidence for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer. Few data are available for liver cancer, although PCBs cause it in rats and determined liver damage in poisoned people. We investigated the association between PCB serum levels and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a case–control study in a PCB-polluted area in North Italy. We enrolled prospectively 102 HCC incident cases and 102 age and gender-matched hospital controls. Serum concentrations of 33 PCB congeners were determined by a gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometry. Of 102 HCC cases, 62 who had lost < 3 kg of body weight in past 3 years were included in the analysis (67.7% males, mean age 68 years). The odds ratio (OR) for HCC for 3rd compared to 1st tertile of PCB distribution was 1.76 (95% confidence interval 0.62–5.03) for total PCB, adjusting for socio-demographic variables and risk factors for HCC by logistic regression. For most PCB congeners, ORs > 1.5 or 2 were found, although the 95% CIs included the null value for almost all of them. This preliminary study suggests that PCBs might play a role in HCC development.

Hormonal Control of Fish Reproductive Behavior: Brain–Gonadal Steroid Interactions

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. S. Demski ◽  
P. J. Hornby
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Anterior Commissure ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Behavioral Systems ◽  
Goldfish Carassius Auratus ◽  
Tentative Model

A number of hormones are known to influence reproductive behavior in teleosts. The best studied in this regard are the sex steroids estradiol and testosterone. Sufficient evidence is available to permit the outlining of possible modes of action of these hormones on mechanisms controlling reproductive responses in fishes. Autoradiographic studies using tritium-labeled steroids have revealed several brain areas with neurons that concentrate testosterone and estradiol in both males and females. An area near the anterior commissure (preoptic region and parts of the area ventralis telencephali) is of primary interest for behavioral systems. Electrophysiological experiments in goldfish (Carassius auratus) have demonstrated that both hormones strongly influence olfactory mechanisms. These effects may be mediated by steroid feedback on brain areas involved in centrifugal control of the olfactory bulbs. The neurological substrates for several behaviors which are thought to be androgen dependent have been studied using classical neurobehavioral methods. These include: spawning and sperm release in goldfish and sunfish (Lepomis sp.) and courtship and nestbuilding in sunfish. As of yet, a direct action of sex steroids on these systems has not been demonstrated; however, they all relate to the steroid-concentrating area mentioned above. Some of the systems are incorporated into a tentative model of the neural–hormonal mechanisms controlling reproductive behavior in male goldfish.Key words: reproductive behavior, fishes, brain, hormones, sex steroids, olfaction

scholarly journals Phenology of two interdependent traits in migratory birds in response to climate change

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1807) ◽  
pp. 20150288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadiah Pardede Kristensen ◽  
Jacob Johansson ◽  
Jörgen Ripa ◽  
Niclas Jonzén
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Hatching Date ◽  
Arrival Date ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Asynchronous Hatching

In migratory birds, arrival date and hatching date are two key phenological markers that have responded to global warming. A body of knowledge exists relating these traits to evolutionary pressures. In this study, we formalize this knowledge into general mathematical assumptions, and use them in an ecoevolutionary model. In contrast to previous models, this study novelty accounts for both traits—arrival date and hatching date—and the interdependence between them, revealing when one, the other or both will respond to climate. For all models sharing the assumptions, the following phenological responses will occur. First, if the nestling-prey peak is late enough, hatching is synchronous with, and arrival date evolves independently of, prey phenology. Second, when resource availability constrains the length of the pre-laying period, hatching is adaptively asynchronous with prey phenology. Predictions for both traits compare well with empirical observations. In response to advancing prey phenology, arrival date may advance, remain unchanged, or even become delayed; the latter occurring when egg-laying resources are only available relatively late in the season. The model shows that asynchronous hatching and unresponsive arrival date are not sufficient evidence that phenological adaptation is constrained. The work provides a framework for exploring microevolution of interdependent phenological traits.

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