scholarly journals Disrupted secretory activation of the mammary gland after antenatal glucocorticoid treatment in sheep

Reproduction ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (5) ◽  
pp. 649-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J Henderson ◽  
Peter E Hartmann ◽  
Timothy J M Moss ◽  
Dorota A Doherty ◽  
John P Newnham
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Saline Group ◽  
Respiratory Morbidity ◽  
Glucocorticoid Treatment ◽  
Plasma Progesterone ◽  
Secretory Activation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Milk Volume ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Beta Group

Antenatal glucocorticoids are administered to women at risk of preterm delivery to prevent neonatal respiratory morbidity. The effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on the development of lactation are unknown. This study investigated the effects of a single dose of antenatal glucocorticoids on secretory activation in sheep before and after parturition. Pregnant ewes (N=36) were randomised to receive either medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) at 118 days of pregnancy and betamethasone at 125 days (BETA group), MPA at 118 days and saline at 125 days (MPA group) or saline at 118 and 125 days (SALINE group). The concentration of lactose, progesterone, cortisol and prolactin in maternal plasma was measured during pregnancy. After term parturition, the concentration of lactose in milk and maternal plasma was measured daily for 5 days. Lambs were weighed at birth and at 5 days of age; milk volume was measured on day 5. The concentration of lactose in maternal plasma increased significantly after betamethasone administration, corresponding to a fall in plasma progesterone. No changes in lactose were observed in MPA or SALINE ewes. Transient decreases in cortisol and increases in prolactin were observed in the BETA group, but not in either the MPA or SALINE group. After parturition, BETA ewes experienced reduced milk yield and lamb weight gain, and delayed increases in milk lactose levels compared with MPA and saline controls. This study demonstrated that, in sheep, antenatal glucocorticoid administration disrupted secretory activation, causing precocious mammary secretion before parturition and compromising postpartum milk production and lamb growth.

Effects of luteectomy on the maintenance of pregnancy, circulating progesterone concentrations and lambing performance in sheep

1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Al-Gubory ◽  
A. Solari ◽  
B. Mirman
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Apparent Effect ◽  
Plasma Progesterone ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean

In sheep, there have been few and conflicting data regarding the necessity of the corpus luteum (CL) for the maintenance of pregnancy. The aims of the present study were to examine the effect of luteectomy on and after Day 50 of pregnancy on maternal plasma progesterone concentrations and the progression of pregnancy, to determine the minimum placental progesterone support required for the maintenance of pregnancy, and to evaluate the effect of luteectomy on lambing performance. In Experiment 1, four ewes luteectomized on Day 50 of pregnancy aborted 2–7 days after surgery, whereas pregnancy progressed and parturition occurred between Days 143 and 149, with live lambs, in three of four ewes and in four ewes luteectomized on Days 60 and 70 of pregnancy respectively. The mean ( SEM) progesterone concentrations on the day before and one day after luteectomy decreased from 4.87 0.85 to 0.42 0.06 ng mL –1 (P<0.01), from 4.57 0.51 to 0.80 0.12 ng mL –1 (P<0.02) and from 6.05 0.52 to 1.67 0.11 ng mL –1 (P<0.01), respectively, for the ewes luteectomized on Days 50, 60 and 70 of pregnancy. The fall in progesterone concentrations was 90%, 80% and 71%, respectively, for the ewes luteectomized on Days 50, 60 and 70 of pregnancy. In Experiment 2, pregnancy progressed in four ewes luteectomized on Day 70 and parturition occurred between Days 146 and 149, with live lambs. The mean progesterone concentrations declined (P<0.01) from 6.9 0.7 ng mL –1 on the day before luteectomy to 2.1 0.3 ng mL –1 the day after surgery. The concentrations of progesterone in blood collected every 3 h during a 24-h period were stable on Days 60 and 80 of pregnancy, but they were lower (P<0.03) on Day 80 than on Day 60 of pregnancy, for each time period examined. In Experiment 3, the gestation length and birthweights of single, twin and triplet lambs were not different between the control intact ewes (n = 111) and the ewes luteectomized on Days 70–80 of pregnancy (n = 71). Lamb mortality was not different between the two groups (7.2% v. 8.4%, control v. luteectomized). In conclusion, these results showed that (1) the sheep CL is necessary to maintain pregnancy until at least Day 60, (2) progesterone withdrawal induced by luteectomy on and after Day 50 of pregnancy must be of a critical magnitude to provoke abortion, (3) after Day 60 of pregnancy, the CL and the placenta together secrete more progesterone than required for pregnancy maintenance, (4) there is no apparent 24- hour rhythm in maternal plasma progesterone concentrations before and after luteectomy, and (5) luteectomy at mid pregnancy has no apparent effect on gestation length, lamb birthweight or lamb mortality.

Frühgeborene unter maschineller Beatmung: Immunmodulatorischer Effekt der präventiven Gabe von Azithromycin

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Maximilian Jorczyk
Keyword(s):  
Very Low Birth Weight ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Preterm Neonates ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Mechanically Ventilated ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Therapeutic Possibilities ◽  
Inflammatory Effect

<b>Introduction:</b> Macrolides have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that give this class of antibiotics a role that differs from its classical use as an antibiotic, which opens new therapeutic possibilities. <b>Objective:</b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of azithromycin in preventing mechanical ventilation (MV)-induced lung injury in very-low-birth-weight preterm neonates. <b>Methods:</b> This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of preterm neonates who received invasive MV within 72 h of birth. Patients were randomized to receive intravenous azithromycin (at a dose of 10/mg/kg/day for 5 days) or placebo (0.9% saline) within 12 h of the start of MV. Two blood samples were collected (before and after intervention) for measurement of interleukins (ILs) and PCR for <i>Ureaplasma</i>. Patients were followed up throughout the hospital stay for the outcomes of death and bronchopulmonary dysplasia defined as need for oxygen for a period of ≥28 days of life (registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT03485703). <b>Results:</b> Forty patients were analyzed in the azithromycin group and 40 in the placebo group. Five days after the last dose, serum IL-2 and IL-8 levels dropped significantly in the azithromycin group. There was a significant reduction in the incidence of death and O<sub>2</sub> dependency at 28 days/death in azithromycin-treated patients regardless of the detection of <i>Ureaplasma</i> in blood. <b>Conclusions:</b> Azithromycin has anti-inflammatory effects, with a decrease in cytokines after 5 days of use and a reduction in death and O<sub>2</sub> dependency at 28 days/death in mechanically ventilated preterm neonates.

scholarly journals How does participation in a voluntary prize exam affect medical students’ knowledge and interest in ENT, plastic surgery, ophthalmology and dermatology?

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Razan Nour ◽  
Kerry Jobling ◽  
Alasdair Mayer ◽  
Salma Babikir
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Plastic Surgery ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Medical Specialties ◽  
Spare Time ◽  
Before And After ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Interest And Knowledge

Abstract Background Otolaryngology (ENT), plastic surgery, ophthalmology and dermatology are medical specialties which tend to receive less coverage in UK medical school curricula compared to larger, generalist specialties. As a result, there are fewer opportunities for medical students to learn and to cultivate an interest. There are numerous papers that report concerns about junior doctors’ ability to manage conditions within these specialties, which may jeopardise patient safety. The aim of our pilot project was to increase medical students’ interest and knowledge of ENT, plastic surgery, ophthalmology and dermatology. In addition to describing our project, we present and discuss literature on UK undergraduate education in these specialties and its impact on preparedness of junior doctors and future career choices. Methods One hundred twelve final year medical students at Newcastle University were invited to take part in a voluntary two-part (written and clinical) exam, in which prizes could be won and all participants would receive a certificate of participation. We distributed two online surveys to the students, one administered before the exam and one afterwards. Data was collected regarding the students’ motivation for entering the prize exam and the students’ baseline interest and knowledge in these specialties before and after the prize exam. Free-text responses were collected about the students’ opinion of the project and whether participation was beneficial. Results Sixteen students participated in the exam. There was a statistically significant increase in the students’ knowledge in ENT (p < 0.000), plastic surgery (p < 0.000), ophthalmology (p < 0.028) and dermatology (p < 0.012) after participation in the exam, but not in their interest levels. ENT was the preferred specialty of our cohort. The students reported that they found participation beneficial to their learning, particularly receiving exam feedback and explanations to exam questions. Conclusions This pilot project was a useful intervention in increasing medical students’ knowledge in these specialties, but not in their levels of interest. It also demonstrates that medical students are willing to participate in voluntary initiatives (in their spare time) to gain more learning opportunities and that medical students value timely exam feedback to guide their revision.

scholarly journals Human perceptual learning is delayed by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor partial agonist D-cycloserine

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112098634
Author(s):  
Harriet Dempsey-Jones ◽  
Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen ◽  
Michael Browning ◽  
Tamar R Makin ◽  
Marcella L Woud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Learning ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Partial Agonist ◽  
Tactile Perception ◽  
Simple Explanation ◽  
Tactile Learning ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Learning And Cognition ◽  
To Receive

Background: The optimisation of learning has long been a focus of scientific research, particularly in relation to improving psychological treatment and recovery of brain function. Previously, partial N-methyl-D-aspartate agonists have been shown to augment reward learning, procedural learning and psychological therapy, but many studies also report no impact of these compounds on the same processes. Aims: Here we investigate whether administration of an N-methyl-D-aspartate partial agonist (D-cycloserine) modulates a previously unexplored process – tactile perceptual learning. Further, we use a longitudinal design to investigate whether N-methyl-D-aspartate-related learning effects vary with time, thereby providing a potentially simple explanation for apparent mixed effects in previous research. Methods: Thirty-four volunteers were randomised to receive one dose of 250 mg D-cycloserine or placebo 2 h before tactile sensitivity training. Tactile perception was measured using psychophysical methods before and after training, and 24/48 h later. Results: The placebo group showed immediate within-day tactile perception gains, but no further improvements between-days. In contrast, tactile perception remained at baseline on day one in the D-cycloserine group (no within-day learning), but showed significant overnight gains on day two. Both groups were equivalent in tactile perception by the final testing – indicating N-methyl-D-aspartate effects changed the timing, but not the overall amount of tactile learning. Conclusions: In sum, we provide first evidence for modulation of perceptual learning by administration of a partial N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist. Resolving how the effects of such compounds become apparent over time will assist the optimisation of testing schedules, and may help resolve discrepancies across the learning and cognition domains.

scholarly journals The Composition and Diversity of the Gut Microbiota in Children Is Modifiable by the Household Dogs: Impact of a Canine-Specific Probiotic

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Carlos Gómez-Gallego ◽  
Mira Forsgren ◽  
Marta Selma-Royo ◽  
Merja Nermes ◽  
Maria Carmen Collado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Probiotic Intervention ◽  
Probiotic Product ◽  
Acid Producing Bacteria ◽  
Double Blind Design ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Gut Microbiota Composition

The development of the infant gut microbiota is initiated during pregnancy and continued through early life and childhood, guided by the immediate environment of the child. Our aim was to characterize the shared microbiota between dogs and children as well as to determine whether introduction to dogs of a dog-specific probiotic combination modifies the transfer process. We studied 31 children from allergic families with pet dog(s) and 18 control families without a dog. Altogether 37 dogs were randomized for a 4-week period in a double-blind design to receive canine-derived probiotic product containing a mixture of L. fermentum, L. plantarum, and L. rhamnosus, or placebo. Fecal samples from children and dogs were taken before and after the treatment. Distinctive gut microbiota composition was observed in children with dogs compared to those without a dog, characterized by higher abundance of Bacteroides and short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria such as Ruminococcus and Lachnospiraceae. Probiotic intervention in dogs had an impact on the composition of the gut microbiota in both dogs and children, characterized by a reduction in Bacteroides. We provide evidence for a direct effect of home environment and household pets on children microbiota and document that modification of dog microbiota by specific probiotics is reflected in children’s microbiota.

scholarly journals A Mobile and Web Application for Mapping Disaster Volunteers’ Position in Indonesia

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresia Devi Indriasari ◽  
Kusworo Anindito ◽  
Eddy Julianto ◽  
Bertha Laroha Paraya Pangaribuan
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Management ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Web Applications ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Tectonic Plates ◽  
Location Data ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Disaster Situation ◽  
The Government ◽  
To Receive

<span>Indonesia is a country located on top of some tectonic plates that bring potential natural disasters. Disaster management system is considered essential in controlling the situation in the site both before and after the disaster takes place. In disaster situation, the government and society are involved in a volunteer team in order to help minimize victims and support survivors. However, the volunteering activities are often hindered since there are problems in the disaster site. One of the problems is late responses due to poor coordination among volunteers that drives the delay in disaster relief. Therefore, it is necessary to have an application that maps the positions of volunteers in a disaster site, so that the disaster management coordinator can disseminate volunteers to disaster areas based on needs. The purpose of the study is to propose an application called ‘MyMapVolunteers’ that effectively and efficiently detects the position of the volunteers in order to improve disaster management service. In this case, real time and location based service technology will able to detect the position of each volunteer. ‘MyMapVolunteers’ is composed of two platforms, which are mobile and web applications. Mobile platform is an application that uses GPS function provided by the smartphone to find the volunteers’ location coordinates and then send the data of the location automatically and manually. The web platform is used to receive volunteers’ location data and to present them in google map, therefore disaster management coordinator can monitor the positions of and search for volunteers faster.</span>

Auricular Acupuncture for Pre-Exam Anxiety in Medical Students: A Prospective Observational Pilot Investigation

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Klausenitz ◽  
Thomas Hesse ◽  
Henriette Hacker ◽  
Klaus Hahnenkamp ◽  
Taras Usichenko
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Auricular Acupuncture ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Pilot Investigation ◽  
Exam Anxiety ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
To Receive

Objective Auricular acupuncture (AA) is effective for the treatment of preoperative anxiety. We aimed to study the feasibility and effects of AA on exam anxiety in a prospective observational pilot study. Methods Healthy medical students received bilateral AA using indwelling fixed needles at points MA-IC1, MA-TF1, MA-SC, MA-AH7, and MA-T on the day before an anatomy exam. The needles were removed after the exam. Anxiety levels were measured using the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS-100) before and after the AA intervention and once again immediately before the exam. The duration of sleep on the night before the exam was recorded and compared to that over the preceding 1 week and 6 months (all through students’ recollection). In addition, blood pressure, heart rate and the acceptability of AA to the students were recorded. Results Ten students (all female) were included in the final analysis. All tolerated the needles well and stated they would wish to receive AA again for exam anxiety in the future. Exam anxiety measured using both STAI and VAS-100 decreased by almost 20% after AA. Conclusions AA was well accepted, the outcome measurement was feasible, and the results have facilitated the calculation of the sample size for a subsequent randomised controlled trial.

scholarly journals Gametocyte carriage after seasonal malaria chemoprevention in Plasmodium falciparum infected asymptomatic children

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullahi Ahmad ◽  
Aurelia Prom ◽  
John Bradley ◽  
Mamadou Ndiath ◽  
Blessed Etoketim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression ◽  
Gametocyte Carriage ◽  
Asymptomatic Children ◽  
Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Comparison Groups ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Background Treatment of clinical Plasmodium falciparum malaria with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and amodiaquine (AQ) is associated with increased post-treatment gametocyte carriage. The effect of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with SP and AQ on gametocyte carriage was assessed in asymptomatic P. falciparum infected children. Methods The study was carried out in eastern Gambia. Asymptomatic P. falciparum malaria infected children aged 24–59 months old who were eligible to receive SMC (SMC group) and children 5–8 years that were not eligible to receive SMC (comparison group) were recruited. Gametocytaemia was determined by molecular methods before and after SMC administration. Gametocyte carriage between the groups was compared using the chi-squared test and within-person using conditional logistic regression. Results During the 2017 and 2018 malaria transmission seasons, 65 and 75 children were recruited in the SMC and comparison groups, respectively. Before SMC administration, gametocyte prevalence was 10.7% (7/65) in the SMC group and 13.3% (10/75) in the comparison group (p = 0.64). At day 13 (IQR 12, 13) after SMC administration, this was 9.4% (5/53) in children who received at least the first dose of SMC treatment and 12.7% (9/71) for those in the comparison group (p = 0.57). Similarly, there was no difference in prevalence of gametocytes between children that adhered to all 3-day doses of SMC treatment 15.6% (5/32) and those in the comparison group (p = 0.68). In the SMC group, within-group gametocyte carriage was similar before and after SMC administration in children that received at least the first dose of SMC treatment (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.14–2.51; p = 0.48) and in those that adhered to all 3-day doses of SMC treatment (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.20–4.95; p = 1.0). Conclusion In this study with relative low gametocyte prevalence prior to SMC treatment, no evidence was observed that SMC treatment increased gametocyte carriage in asymptomatic P. falciparum malaria infected children.

Impact of a hospital specialty pharmacy in partnership with a free-standing care coordination organization on time to delivery and receipt of oral anticancer drugs.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 43-43
Author(s):  
Melissa Parsons Beauchemin ◽  
Morgan RL Lichtenstein ◽  
Rohit R. Raghunathan ◽  
Sahil D Doshi ◽  
Cynthia Law ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Care Coordination ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Delivery Date ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Specialty Pharmacy ◽  
Insurance Data ◽  
To Receive

43 Background: Most oral anti-cancer drugs (OACD) prescriptions require extensive coordination between providers and payers, which can delay drug receipt. Specialty pharmacies are intended to facilitate communication between multiple entities to deliver OACDs with increased efficiency. In 2018, our cancer center partnered with Shields Health Solutions (SHS), a freestanding organization providing care coordination to implement a hospital-based specialty pharmacy. We evaluated the rate of failed drug receipt (FR) and time to drug receipt (TTR) before and after specialty pharmacy implementation. Methods: We prospectively collected data on all new OACD prescriptions for adult oncology patients at a large, urban cancer center from 1/1/2018 to 12/31/2019. In fall 2018, a specialty pharmacy was opened to facilitate drug procurement for patients. We collected patient demographic, clinical, and insurance data, OACD name, date prescribed, delivery date, and interactions with payers and financial assistance groups. For prescriptions received, TTR was the number of days from OACD prescription to patient receipt of the drug. FR was defined as failure to receive a prescribed OACD. We excluded OACD prescriptions for a washout period of two months during pharmacy initiation. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine factors associated with TTR > 7 days and FR before and after specialty pharmacy implementation. Results: In total, 883 patients were prescribed 1145 new OACDs. The majority of prescribed drugs were targeted treatment (56%, N = 646) and 72% (N = 819) required prior authorization (PA). Of all prescriptions, 86% (N = 999) were successfully received with an overall median TTR of 7 days. Adjusted analyses showed that patients were more likely to receive their drugs in less than 7 days after specialty pharmacy implementation (OR: 1.4 95% CI 1.04 – 1.81), p = 0.03). In an unadjusted analysis, patients were more likely to receive their initial medications after specialty pharmacy implementation, compared to before specialty pharmacy implementation (89% vs. 84%, p = 0.04). Multivariable analysis showed a trend toward more patients receiving drugs after specialty pharmacy implementation (OR: 1.42, 95% CI 0.98 – 2.03, p = 0.06). Conclusions: The implementation of a hospital-based specialty pharmacy in partnership with SHS decreased TTR. This difference is in part attributable to improved care coordination and communication. A centralized approach may improve overall efficiency due to fewer clinical practice disruptions.

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