Toll-Like Receptor Responsiveness of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Young Women with Dysmenorrhea.

Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is a common disorder that substantially disrupts the lives of young women. To determine whether there is evidence of activation of the innate immune system in dysmenorrhea and whether the degree of activation may be used as a biomarker for pain, we compared the responsiveness of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 or 4 stimulation. We also investigated whether this effect is modulated by the use of the oral contraceptive pill (OC).

Stimulation of water and calcium dynamics in astrocytes with pulsed infrared light.

Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells that govern the homeostatic regulation of the brain through ions and water transport, and Ca -mediated signaling. As they are tightly integrated into neural networks, label-free tools that can modulate cell function are needed to evaluate the role of astrocytes in brain physiology and dysfunction. Using live-cell fluorescence imaging, pharmacology, electrophysiology, and genetic manipulation, we show that pulsed infrared light can modulate astrocyte function through changes in intracellular Ca and water dynamics, providing unique mechanistic insight into the effect of pulsed infrared laser light on astroglial cells.

Zerumbone Modulates α-Adrenergic, TRPV1, and NMDA NR2B Receptors Plasticity in CCI-Induced Neuropathic Pain and LPS-Induced SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Models.

Zerumbone has shown great potential in various pathophysiological models of diseases, particularly in neuropathic pain conditions. Further understanding the mechanisms of action is important to develop zerumbone as a potential anti-nociceptive agent. Numerous receptors and pathways function to inhibit and modulate transmission of pain signals.

Mood disorder affects age at onset of adult-onset cervical dystonia.

Introduction: Mood disorder is common in cervical dystonia, affects quality of life and may precede the onset of the dystonia. There is controversy as to whether mood disorder is part of the primary process or secondary to the disability.We assessed the characteristics of cervical dystonia patients in relation to a past history of mood disorder.

Assessing the Effects of Parthenolide on Inflammation, Bone Loss, and Glial Cells within a Collagen Antibody-Induced Arthritis Mouse Model.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by a chronic inflammatory response resulting in destruction of the joint and significant pain. Although a range of treatments are available to control disease activity in RA, bone destruction and joint pain exist despite suppression of inflammation. This study is aimed at assessing the effects of parthenolide (PAR) on paw inflammation, bone destruction, and pain-like behaviour in a mild collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) mouse model.

Intrahepatic Fat and Postprandial Glycemia Increase After Consumption of a Diet Enriched in Saturated Fat Compared With Free Sugars.

Objective: Debate continues regarding the influence of dietary fats and sugars on the risk of developing metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the effect of two eucaloric diets, one enriched with saturated fat (SFA) and the other enriched with free sugars (SUGAR), on intrahepatic triacylglycerol (IHTAG) content, hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL), and whole-body postprandial metabolism in overweight males.

Research Design And Methods: Sixteen overweight males were randomized to consume the SFA or SUGAR diet for 4 weeks before consuming the alternate diet after a 7-week washout period.

Leadership for the Team Physician.

Physician leadership of the interdisciplinary sports medicine team depends on fundamental leadership skills that often are overlooked in medical school. These leadership skills include effective communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork, selfless service, integrity, and critical thinking while utilizing an athlete-centered approach. Development of these skills will help to navigate team management and important decisions, such as return to play.

Division, result and score margin alter the physical and technical performance of elite wheelchair tennis players.

This study determined the physical and technical demands of elite wheelchair tennis (WT) match-play, how the demands differed between divisions (Men, Women, Quad) and the effect that set result and score margin had on these demands. Seventeen WT players were monitored during a singles competition. Physical measures of performance were analysed using an indoor tracking system and inertial measurement units.

Toll-Like Receptor-4 Antagonist (+)-Naltrexone Protects Against Carbamyl-Platelet Activating Factor (cPAF)-Induced Preterm Labor in Mice.

Spontaneous preterm labor is frequently caused by an inflammatory response in the gestational tissues elicited by either infectious or sterile agents. In sterile preterm labor, the key regulators of inflammation are not identified, but platelet-activating factor (PAF) is implicated as a potential rate-limiting effector agent. Since Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 can amplify PAF signaling, we evaluated whether TLR4 contributes to inflammation and fetal loss in a mouse model of PAF-induced sterile preterm labor, and whether a small-molecule TLR4 inhibitor, (+)-naltrexone, can mitigate adverse PAF-induced effects.

Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite-force performance in sex-reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

Sex-related differences in morphology and behavior are well documented, but the relative contributions of genes and environment to these traits are less well understood. Species that undergo sex reversal, such as the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), offer an opportunity to better understand sexually dimorphic traits because sexual phenotypes can exist on different chromosomal backgrounds. Reproductively female dragons with a discordant sex chromosome complement (sex reversed), at least as juveniles, exhibit traits in common with males (e.

Slowed Luminance Reaction Times in Cervical Dystonia: Disordered Superior Colliculus Processing.

Background: Abnormal temporal discrimination in cervical dystonia is hypothesized to be attributable to disrupted processing in the superior colliculus. The fast, luminance-based, retinotectal pathway, projects to the superior colliculus; chromatic stimuli responses, by the retino-geniculo-calcarine pathway, are up to 30 ms longer.

Objectives: We sought to interrogate visual processing and reaction times in patients with cervical dystonia compared with healthy controls.

Detection of , and spp. in Adult Black-Legged Ticks () from Pennsylvania, United States, with a Luminex Multiplex Bead Assay.

, the black-legged tick, harbors multiple organisms and transmits several pathogens to animals and humans. To determine the presence of tick-borne microorganisms carried by in Pennsylvania, 299 adult ticks were collected from across the state and tested with a multiplex bead panel targeting 20 microorganisms. The Luminex bead-based xMAP MultiFLEX Mega Tick Panel detected microorganisms in these ticks, including spp.

A Method for in Vivo Quantification Of Cytokine IL-1β In The Rat Intrathecal Space.

IL-1β is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine critical to multiple pathologies in the central nervous system (CNS). Quantification of IL-1β in vivo is challenging due to pM range of IL-1β released in the spinal cord and also the terminal nature of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling in rodents. Herein we developed a robust in vivo device on stainless steel suitable for detection of IL-1β in the spinal cord of rats.

A Study of the Midbrain Network for Covert Attentional Orienting in Cervical Dystonia Patients using Dynamic Causal Modelling.

Understanding the neuronal network dynamics underlying the third most common movement disorder, cervical dystonia, can be achieved using dynamic causal modelling. Current literature establishes structures of the midbrain network for covert attentional orienting as dysfunctional in patients with cervical dystonia. One of these structures is the superior colliculus, for which it is hypothesised that deficient GABAergic activity therein causes cervical dystonia.

Characterizing Brain Network Topology in Cervical Dystonia Patients and Unaffected Relatives via Graph Theory.

Cervical Dystonia (CD) is a neurological movement disorder characterized by intermittent muscle contractions in the head and neck. The pathophysiology and neural networks underpinning this condition are incompletely understood. There is increasing evidence that isolated focal dystonias are due to network-wide functional alterations.

Trophic rewilding revives biotic resistance to shrub invasion.

Trophic rewilding seeks to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems by repopulating them with large animals, thereby re-establishing strong top-down interactions. Yet there are very few tests of whether such initiatives can restore ecosystem structure and functions, and on what timescales. Here we show that war-induced collapse of large-mammal populations in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park exacerbated woody encroachment by the invasive shrub Mimosa pigra-considered one of the world's 100 worst invasive species-and that one decade of concerted trophic rewilding restored this invasion to pre-war baseline levels.

Integrating phylogeography and high-resolution X-ray CT reveals five new cryptic species and multiple hybrid zones among Australian earless dragons.

Cryptic lineages, comprising species complexes with deep genetic structuring across the landscape but without distinct morphological differences, impose substantial difficulties for systematists and taxonomists in determining true species diversity. Here, we present an integrative approach that combines data from phylogeography and geometric morphometric analyses of three-dimensional cranial models to revisit the uncertain taxonomy of earless dragons from southern and central Australia that at one time or another have been included under the name . Our approach finds strong support for seven previously described species, and more importantly, five undescribed taxa for which we provide a taxonomic treatment.

The normal appearance of CT myelograms.

Purpose: CT myelography has been used since 1976 to diagnose neural compression in the axial skeleton. With the advent of routine MRI, its role in accurately diagnosing neural compression has been questioned as its normal appearances are not defined in the study. In this study, we examine a series of CT myelograms to define the normal appearances of the neural elements of the spine.

The 5-year Tysabri global observational program in safety (TYGRIS) study confirms the long-term safety profile of natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Natalizumab is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and has a well-characterized safety profile, with more than 10 years of postmarketing experience. TYGRIS was a 5-year observational cohort study designed to obtain long-term safety data in natalizumab-treated MS patients. We examined the incidence and pattern of serious adverse events (SAEs) in this large postmarketing sample of natalizumab-treated patients.

Validity and reliability of isometric tests for the evidence-based assessment of arm strength impairment in wheelchair rugby classification.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and test-retest reliability of a battery of single-joint isometric strength tests, to establish whether the tests could be used for evidence-based classification in wheelchair rugby (WR).

Design: Cross-sectional.

Methods: Twenty male WR athletes with impaired arm strength and thirty able-bodied (AB) participants (15 male, 15 female) performed four isometric strength tests.

Haemophagocytic lymphohisticytosis-an underrecognized hyperinflammatory syndrome.

Haemophagocytic lymphohisticytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of uncontrolled, severe systemic inflammation (hyperinflammation) arising either from a genetic immune system defect [primary (pHLH)] or triggered as a complication of malignancy, infection, or rheumatologic disease [secondary (sHLH)]. Patients with HLH often have non-specific symptoms and become progressively and critically unwell, with fever, cytopenia and multi-organ failure. Untreated, HLH is almost universally fatal, but even when treated, mortality is high, particularly when HLH complicates malignancy.

A cross-sectional study of domestic violence instruction in nursing and midwifery programs: Out of step with community and student expectations.

Background: Domestic violence is a global health concern. Nurses and midwives must respond to those who experience domestic violence, although many are not prepared to do this. The World Health Organization recommend that domestic violence content be included in all pre-registration training as a matter of urgency.

Perceived exertion responses to wheelchair propulsion differ between novice able-bodied and trained wheelchair sportspeople.

Objectives: To investigate peripheral (RPE) and central (RPE) Ratings of Perceived Exertion during wheelchair propulsion in untrained able-bodied (AB) participants, and trained wheelchair rugby athletes with and without cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: 38 participants (AB: n=20; wheelchair rugby athletes with CSCI: n=9; without CSCI: n=9) completed an incremental wheelchair propulsion test to exhaustion on a motorised treadmill.