Molecular atlas of the human brain vasculature at the single-cell level

A broad range of brain pathologies critically relies on the vasculature, and cerebrovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. However, the cellular and molecular architecture of the human brain vasculature remains poorly understood. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 599,215 freshly isolated endothelial, perivascular and other tissue-derived cells from 47 fetuses and adult patients to construct a molecular atlas of the developing fetal, adult control and diseased human brain vasculature. We uncover extensive molecular heterogeneity of healthy fetal and adult human brains and across eight vascular-dependent CNS pathologies including brain tumors and brain vascular malformations. We identify alteration of arteriovenous differentiation and reactivated fetal as well as conserved dysregulated pathways in the diseased vasculature. Pathological endothelial cells display a loss of CNS-specific properties and reveal an upregulation of MHC class II molecules, indicating atypical features of CNS endothelial cells. Cell-cell interaction analyses predict numerous endothelial-to-perivascular cell ligand-receptor crosstalk including immune-related and angiogenic pathways, thereby unraveling a central role for the endothelium within brain neurovascular unit signaling networks. Our single-cell brain atlas provides insight into the molecular architecture and heterogeneity of the developing, adult/control and diseased human brain vasculature and serves as a powerful reference for future studies.

Centuries of Irish Childhoods

This article serves as an introduction to a special issue of Irish Economic and Social History (Volume 47) that illuminates the diversity of childhoods experienced by children growing up in Ireland and in the Irish diaspora between the mid sixteenth and the early twentieth centuries. The article explores the development of the history of children and childhood in Ireland as a growing area of academic enquiry and discusses the problems and challenges associated with studying children and childhood in the past. It also contextualises the articles included in the special issue of the journal, which demonstrate how age, class, gender, geography, religion and ethnicity combined with adult control to influence the lives of children ranging from infancy to early adolescence. Adult control was reflected in decisions made regarding the feeding, fostering, educating, employing, entertaining and punishing of children. Such decisions could have lifelong consequences for the children concerned. This introductory article highlights the central role of adults in influencing, controlling and representing children’s lives but also provides insight into the diverse experiences of Irish childhoods during five centuries.

Sestrin2 as Serum Protein Marker and Potential Therapeutic Target for Parkinson’s Disease

Sestrin2 (Sesn2) appears to mediate neuroprotection against Parkinson’s disease (PD)-associated pathophysiology, however, the mechanism is unknown. This pilot study examines serum Sesn2 level in PD patients and older adult control and also interrogates the rescue effect of Syzygium aromaticum extract on the neurotoxicity by paraquat in neuroblastoma cells. The blood sample was collected from 36 PD patients and 54 older adult control and concentration of serum Sesn2 was measured by surface plasmon resonance and western blot. A significantly elevated level of Sesn2 (p < .0001) was observed in sera of PD group (15.96 ± 2.428 ng/μL) than the control (13.65 ± 2.125 ng/μL) which was further confirmed by western blotting. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.76) determined the threshold value of ≥14.58 ng/μL for differentiating PD from control. The S aromaticum extract exhibited the rescue effect from paraquat induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Further, these cells showed dose-dependent downregulation of p53, Sesn2, and phosphorylated-AMPK with concomitant increase in phosphorylated-p70S6K level than paraquat-treated cells. The differential level of Sesn2 in study subjects proposes its utility as one of the potential serum markers in PD. The ethanolic extract of S aromaticum may serve as a novel platform for management of PD-associated neurotoxicity.

Clinical Outcomes For Open Reduction Internal Fixation Of Midshaft Clavicle Fractures In Adolescent/post-adolescent Athletes Utilizing A Two Month Return To Play Protocol

Objectives: The success rate and the return to sport after midshaft clavicle fracture has been shown to improve with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) treatment versus non-operative management. The period of time for return to sport, post-ORIF, has been reported in the literature with considerable range. Return to sport times for NFL athletes are reported to typically require three to seven months, while professional cyclists have resumed training in only one week. As the percentage of clavicle fractures in athletes is likely dominated by the high school and college populations, it is clinically relevant to evaluate the success of specific return to sport protocols after clavicle ORIF with respect to age. To evaluate this aspect of care, a retrospective study utilizing an adolescent/immediate post-adolescent and an adult control patient was performed. Methods: A single surgeon performed locking plate ORIF of clavicle fractures with patient population of athletes, ages 13 to 22 years old (mean 16.7 yrs.), and an adult control group (mean 50.8 yrs.). A uniform period for return to sport of two months was utilized for the athlete group, unless complications were present. The athlete group contained 90 patients, and the adult control group contained 64 patients. The athlete group had 48% of fractures resulting from football. High energy mechanisms (auto accident, ATV accident, etc.) accounted for 23.3% of the athlete group fractures, while these mechanisms accounted for 46.9% of the adult group fractures. Post-operative complications and adverse outcomes were monitored for a minimum period of one year. Results: Clavicle fractures within both patient groups were dominantly midshaft fractures with 97.7% of the athlete fractures and 88.5% of the adult fractures being located midshaft. The athlete group exhibited minimal post-operative complication/adverse outcomes with one patient reporting pain with weightlifting and two patients requiring minor scar revisions, for a total complication/adverse outcome rate of 3.3%. The adult group included ten patients with significant residual pain and one patient requiring revision for non-union, yielding a total complication/adverse outcome rate of 15.6% in this group. Applying a Chi-square analysis, a statistically significant difference in complication/adverse outcome rates exist between the patient groups (p=0.003). Additionally, all patients in the athlete group, desiring to return to their sport, did so within the two-month post-operative period. Conclusion: Locking plate ORIF of midshaft clavicle fractures allowed for a successful two month return to sport, with a low occurrence of complications, for a young athlete patient group. High energy fracture events and an adult aged patient group were associated with higher rates of adverse clinical outcome.

EVALUACION DE LA DINAMICA POBLACIONAL DE RHYNCHOPHORUS PALMARUM EN PALMA AFRICANA CON CUATRO TIPOS DE ATRAYENTES AZANZA MARTINEZ DERIAN ANDRES

La investigación evaluación de la dinámica poblacional del picudo de la palma (Rhynchophorus palmarum) en palma africana con cuatro tipos de atrayentes, tuvo como objetivos determinar la dinámica poblacional del picudo de la palma africana y evaluar el uso de cuatro tipos de atrayentes para el control de adultos del picudo. La metodología permitió utilizar un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado y la variable evaluada fue número de insectos adultos capturados por trampa cada siete días. Los resultados permiten concluir que la dinámica poblacional del picudo en palma africana indica que la mayor captura se obtuvo el 6 de julio con 383 capturas de insectos adultos y con tendencia a la baja hasta la evaluación cinco que fue efectuada el 3 de agosto donde se capturaron 239 insectos adultos; pero posteriormente en la siguiente evaluación se obtuvo un incremento de captura de insectos, lo que indica que es muy variada la fluctuación poblacional del picudo; además que el uso de cuatro tipos de atrayentes para el control de adultos del picudo, indica que la mayor captura en las siete evaluaciones efectuadas se presentó donde se utilizó las trampas con feromonas y ubicadas cada 300 metros de distancia con capturas ubicadas por trampa entre 18,00 y 28,75 insectos adultos capturadas cada 7 días.Palabras claves: etología, trampas, monitoreo, capturaSUMMARYThe research evaluation of the population dynamics of the palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) in African palm with three types of attractants, had as objectives to determine the population dynamics of the palm weevil and to evaluate the use of three types of attractants for the control of weevil adults. The methodology allowed us to use a completely randomized experimental design and the variable evaluated was the number of adult insects captured pro trap every seven days. The results allow us to conclude that the population dynamics of the palm weevil in African palm indicates that the highest catch was obtained on July 6 with 383 adult insect captures and with a downward trend until the five evaluation that was made on August 3 where they were captured. 239 adult insects; but later in the following evaluation an increase of insect capture was obtained, which indicates that the population fluctuation of the weevil is very varied; In addition, the use of three types of attractants for adult control of the weevil indicates that the largest catch in the seven evaluations carried out was where pheromone traps were used and located every 300 meters away with catches located by trap between 18,00 and 28.75 adult insects captured every 7 days.Keywords: ethology, traps, monitoring, capture

Competent parents with natural children: Parent and child identities in manual-based parenting courses in Sweden

This article analyses identity constructions in two manual-based universal parenting training programmes in Sweden, Connect (U) and All Children in Focus (ABC). The analysis was performed with discourse analysis of oral messages during parent training courses. The findings revealed that the parents’ subject positions altered between troubled and good while the children’s subject positions altered between ambiguous and natural in a confessional discourse of uncertainty and competence. Conclusively, pastoral power operated to support parental self-reflexivity and adult control in a process to improve parenting skills.