Loss of hypothalamic Furin affects POMC to proACTH cleavage and feeding behavior in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Objective: The hypothalamus regulates feeding and glucose homeostasis through the balanced action of different neuropeptides, which are cleaved and activated by the proprotein convertases PC1/3 and PC2. However, the recent association of polymorphisms in the proprotein convertase FURIN with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, prompted us to investigate the role of FURIN in hypothalamic neurons controlling glucose and feeding.

Methods: POMC-Cre mice were bred with Furin mice to generate conditional knockout mice with Furin-deletion in neurons expressing proopiomelanocortin (POMCFurKO), and Furin mice were used as controls.

Cohort profile: demographic and clinical characteristics of the MILESTONE longitudinal cohort of young people approaching the upper age limit of their child mental health care service in Europe.

Purpose: The presence of distinct child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) impacts continuity of mental health treatment for young people. However, we do not know the extent of discontinuity of care in Europe nor the effects of discontinuity on the mental health of young people. Current research is limited, as the majority of existing studies are retrospective, based on small samples or used non-standardised information from medical records.

Understanding Microbial Community Dynamics in Up-Flow Bioreactors to Improve Mitigation Strategies for Oil Souring.

Oil souring occurs when HS is generated in oil reservoirs. This not only leads to operational risks and health hazards but also increases the cost of refining crude oil. Sulfate-reducing microorganisms are considered to be the main source of the HS that leads to oil souring.

The Utility of the Supine-to-Stand Test as a Measure of Functional Motor Competence in Children Aged 5⁻9 Years.

This study examined how supine-to-stand (STS) performance is related to process and product assessment of motor competence (MC) in children. Ninety-one children aged 5⁻9 years were assessed for process and product MC (10 m running speed and standing long jump) as well as process and product measures of STS. Tertiles were created for STS process and STS product scores to create 3 groups reflecting low, medium, and high STS competency.

International survey on high- and low-dose synacthen test and assessment of accuracy in preparing low-dose synacthen.

Objective: The short synacthen test (SST) is widely used to assess patients for adrenal insufficiency, but the frequency and protocols used across different centres for the low-dose test (LDT) are unknown. This study aimed to survey centres and test the accuracy of ten different synacthen preparation strategies used for the LDT.

Methods: Members of 6 international endocrine societies were surveyed regarding diagnostic tests used for adrenal insufficiency, and in particular the SST.

Fundamental Movement Skills of Children Living in England: The Role of Ethnicity and Native English Language.

The development of fundamental movement skills (FMS) has been associated with children's general health, and, while there is evidence to suggest that age, gender, physical activity, and socioeconomic status relate to FMS, the relationship of ethnicity and language barriers to FMS competence has been underexplored. These factors may be of particular interest for South Asian (SA) children who have lower physical activity and increased risk of metabolic disease. This cross-sectional study examined ethnic and language differences in FMS among 218 ethnically diverse five-year-old children (61 White ethnic background, 91 SA, 29 Black ethnic background, and 37 other), some with English as a native language ( n = 90) and some with English as an additional language ( n = 75), all recruited from within central England.

Protocol for a cohort study of adolescent mental health service users with a nested cluster randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of managed transition in improving transitions from child to adult mental health services (the MILESTONE study).

Introduction: Disruption of care during transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services may adversely affect the health and well-being of service users. The MILESTONE (Managing the Link and Strengthening Transition from Child to Adult Mental Healthcare) study evaluates the longitudinal course and outcomes of adolescents approaching the transition boundary (TB) of their CAMHS and determines the effectiveness of the model of managed transition in improving outcomes, compared with usual care.

Methods And Analysis: This is a cohort study with a nested cluster randomised controlled trial.

Novel carbonic anhydrase IX-targeted therapy enhances the anti-tumour effects of cisplatin in small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has an extremely poor prognosis and methods of improving chemotherapeutic intervention are much sought after. A promising approach lies in inhibiting the tumour-associated enzyme, carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), which supports tumour cell survival. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of CA IX inhibition using 4-(3'-(3″,5″-dimethylphenyl)ureido)phenyl sulfamate (S4), for the treatment of human SCLC alone and in combination with cisplatin chemotherapy.

Guar Gum Stimulates Biogenic Sulfide Production at Elevated Pressures: Implications for Shale Gas Extraction.

Biogenic sulfide production is a common problem in the oil industry, and can lead to costly hydrocarbon processing and corrosion of extraction infrastructure. The same phenomenon has recently been identified in shale gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing, and organic additives in fracturing fluid have been hypothesized to stimulate this process. Constraining the relative effects of the numerous organic additives on microbial metabolism is, however, extremely challenging.

The brightness-weight illusion.

Bigger objects look heavier than smaller but otherwise identical objects. When hefted as well as seen, however, bigger objects feel lighter (the size-weight illusion), confirming that the association between visual size and weight has a perceptual component. Darker objects also look heavier than brighter but otherwise identical objects.