Sleep disturbances and their association with behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances among children aged 2-5 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their association with behaviour in these children. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Tunku Azizah, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 2020 to December 2020. Children between 2 and 5 years old, diagnosed with ASD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria, were recruited. Two parent-reported questionnaires, the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL/1.5-5), were used to assess sleep and behaviour, respectively. Children were classified as good sleepers (CSHQ score <41) and poor sleepers (CSHQ score ≥41). Poor sleepers were further categorised into those with mild or moderate to severe sleep problems (based on the 75th percentile CSHQ score). The CBCL/1.5-5 raw scores were converted to standardise T-scores, yielding scores of three summary scales (internalising, externalising and total problems). Results: A total of 134 children participated in this study. Their mean age was 42.23 ± 9.95 months, and 81.3% were males. Mean CSHQ score was 49.77 ± 6.90, and 93.3% were poor sleepers. Internalising, externalising and total problems scores were significantly higher in poor sleepers (62, 59 and 62, respectively) compared to good sleepers (56, 47 and 51, respectively). Children with moderate to severe sleep problems had clinical scores of internalising (median 65) and externalising (median 65) problems, as compared to mild sleep problems (median internalising score 61, median externalising score 57). Conclusion: Sleep disturbances are prevalent among children with ASD. Poor sleep quality is associated with more behavioural problems.

Sustainable magnetically recoverable Iridium-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic reduction of organic pollutants in water.

The reduction of nitroarenes to aromatic amines is one of the potential pathways to remediate the hazardous impact of toxic nitroarenes on the aquatic environment. Aromatic amines obtained from the reduction of nitroaromatics are not only less toxic than nitroaromatics but also act as important intermediates in the synthesis of dyes, drugs, pigments, herbicides, and polymers. There is a huge demand for the development of cost-effective, and eco-friendly catalysts for the efficient reduction of nitroarenes. In the present study, Fe3O4@trp@Ir nanoparticles were explored as efficient catalysts for the reduction of nitroarenes. Fe3O4@trp@Ir magnetic nanoparticles were fabricated by surface coating of Fe3O4 with tryptophan and iridium by co-precipitation method. As-prepared Fe3O4@trp@Ir nanoparticles are environmentally benign efficient catalysts for reducing organic pollutants such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA), and 1-bromo-4-nitrobenzene (1-B-4-NB). The key parameters that affect the catalytic activity like temperature, catalyst loading, and the concentration of reducing agent NaBH4 were optimized. The obtained results proved that Fe3O4@trp@Ir is an efficient catalyst for reducing nitroaromatics at ambient temperature with a minimal catalyst loading of 0.0025%. The complete conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol took only 20 s with a minimal catalyst loading of 0.0025% and a rate constant of 0.0522 s-1. The high catalytic activity factor (1.040 s-1 mg-1) and high turnover frequency (9 min-1) obtained for Fe3O4@trp@Ir nanocatalyst highlight the possible synergistic effect of the two metals (Fe and Ir). The visible-light photocatalytic degradation of 4-NP was also investigated in the presence of Fe3O4@trp@Ir. The photocatalytic degradation of 4-NP by Fe3O4@trp@Ir is completed in 20 min with 95.15% efficiency, and the rate of photodegradation of 4-NP (0.1507 min-1) is about twice the degradation rate of 4-NP in the dark (0.0755 min-1). The catalyst was recycled and reused for five cycles without significant reduction in the conversion efficiency of the catalyst.

A systematic review for the development of Alzheimer's disease in in vitro models: a focus on different inducing agents.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disease and is associated with dementia. Presently, various chemical and environmental agents are used to induce in-vitro models of Alzheimer disease to investigate the efficacy of different therapeutic drugs. We screened literature from databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google scholar, emphasizing the diverse targeting mechanisms of neuro degeneration explored in in-vitro models. The results revealed studies in which different types of chemicals and environmental agents were used for in-vitro development of Alzheimer-targeting mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Studies using chemically induced in-vitro AD models included in this systematic review will contribute to a deeper understanding of AD. However, none of these models can reproduce all the characteristics of disease progression seen in the majority of Alzheimer's disease subtypes. Additional modifications would be required to replicate the complex conditions of human AD in an exact manner. In-vitro models of Alzheimer's disease developed using chemicals and environmental agents are instrumental in providing insights into the disease's pathophysiology; therefore, chemical-induced in-vitro AD models will continue to play vital role in future AD research. This systematic screening revealed the pivotal role of chemical-induced in-vitro AD models in advancing our understanding of AD pathophysiology and is therefore important to understand the potential of these chemicals in AD pathogenesis.

Update on omicron variant: What we know so far.

The new omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in South Africa in November 2021 has been declared as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization. This variant has been found to carry multifold mutations that have not been observed in any of the variants detected so far. The majority of these mutations are present in spike protein, contributing to its ability to escape the currently available neutralizing antibodies and vaccines, as well as increasing the chances of reinfection. This brief communication provides an insight into mutations detected in the omicron variant and their impact on currently available interventions against SARS-CoV-2 and the need for a booster dose. We also discuss the severity status of infection due to this variant. Additionally, we highlight the hypothesis supporting the association of high HIV prevalence and the appearance of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in immune-compromised individuals.

The RESPECT study: a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a sexual health promotion intervention for people with serious mental illness in community mental health services in the UK.

BACKGROUND: People with serious mental illness (SMI) have sexual health needs but there is little evidence to inform effective interventions to address them. In fact, there are few studies that have addressed this topic for people with SMI outside USA and Brazil. Therefore, the aim of the study was to establish the acceptability and feasibility of a trial of a sexual health promotion intervention for people with SMI in the UK. METHOD: The RESPECT study was a two-armed randomised controlled, open feasibility trial (RCT) comparing Sexual health promotion intervention (3 individual sessions of 1 h) (I) or treatment as usual (TAU) for adults aged 18 or over, with SMI, within community mental health services in four UK cities. The main outcome of interest was the percentage who consented to participate, and retained in each arm of the trial, retention for the intervention, and completeness of data collection. A nested qualitative study obtained the views of participants regarding the acceptability of the study using individual telephone interviews conducted by lived experience researchers. RESULTS: Of a target sample of 100, a total of 72 people were enrolled in the trial over 12 months. Recruitment in the initial months was low and so an extension was granted. However this extension meant that the later recruited participants would only be followed up to the 3 month point. There was good retention in the intervention and the study as a whole; 77.8% of those allocated to intervention (n = 28) received it. At three months, 81.9% (30 I; 29 TAU) and at 6 months, 76.3% (13 I and 16 TAU) completed the follow-up data collection. No adverse events were reported. There was good completeness of the data. The sexual health outcomes for the intervention group changed in favour of the intervention. Based on analysis of the qualitative interviews, the methods of recruitment, the quality of the participant information, the data collection, and the intervention were deemed to be acceptable to the participants (n = 22). CONCLUSIONS: The target of 100 participants was not achieved within the study's timescale. However, effective strategies were identified that improved recruitment in the final few months. Retention rates and completeness of data in both groups indicate that it is acceptable and feasible to undertake a study promoting sexual health for people with SMI. A fully powered RCT is required to establish effectiveness of the intervention in adoption of safer sex. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN15747739 prospectively registered 5th July 2016.

Decisions about the use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the perspectives of women with severe mental illness concerning the use of psychotropic medicines while pregnant. DESIGN: Interviews conducted by female peer researchers with personal experience of making or considering decisions about using psychotropic medicines in pregnancy, supported by professional researchers. PARTICIPANTS: 12 women who had had a baby in the past 5 years and had taken antipsychotics or mood-stabilisers for severe mental illness within the 12-month period immediately prior to that pregnancy. Recruitment to the study was via peer networks and the women interviewed came from different regions of England. SETTING: Interviews were arranged in places where women felt comfortable and that accommodated their childcare needs including their home, local library and the research office. RESULTS: The views expressed demonstrated complex attempts to engage with decision-making about the use of psychotropic medicines in pregnancy. In nearly all cases, the women expressed the view that healthcare professionals had access to limited information leaving women to rely on experiential and common sense evidence when making decisions about medicine taking during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The findings complement existing work using electronic health records by providing explanations for the discontinuation of psychotropic medicines in pregnancy. Further work is necessary to understand health professionals' perspectives on the provision of services and care to women with severe mental illness during pregnancy.

Activation of DNA damage response signaling in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells following oxygen beam irradiation.

Oxygen beams are high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation characterized by higher relative biological effectiveness than low LET radiation. The aim of the current study was to determine the signaling differences between γ- and oxygen ion-irradiation. Activation of various signaling molecules was looked in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells irradiated with 2Gy oxygen, 2Gy or 6Gy γ-radiation. Oxygen beam was found to be three times more cytotoxic than γ-radiation. By 4h there was efficient repair of DNA in A549 cells exposed to 2Gy or 6Gy gamma radiation but not in cells exposed to 2Gy oxygen beam as determined by γ-H2AX counting. Number of ATM foci was found to be significantly higher in cells exposed to 2Gy oxygen beam. Percentage of cells showing ATR foci were more with gamma however number of foci per cell were more in case of oxygen beam. Oxygen beam irradiated cells showed phosphorylation of Chk1, Chk2 and p53. Many apoptotic nuclei were seen by DAPI staining in cells exposed to oxygen beam. The noteworthy finding of this study is the activation of the sensor proteins, ATM and ATR by oxygen irradiation and the significant activation of Chk1, Chk2 and p53 only in the oxygen beam irradiated cells.

Conditional switches for extracellular matrix patterning in Drosophila melanogaster.

An F(1) mutagenesis strategy was developed to identify conditional mutations affecting extracellular matrix (ECM) patterning. Tubulogenesis requires coordinated movement of epithelial cells and deposition of a multilayered ECM. In the Drosophila ovary, an epithelium of follicle cells creates the eggshells, including the paired tubular dorsal appendages (DAs) that act as breathing tubes for the embryo. A P-element mutagenesis strategy allowed for conditional overexpression of hundreds of genes in follicle cells. Conditional phenotypes were scored at the level of individual mutant (F(1)) female flies. ECM pattern regulators were readily identified including MAPK signaling gene ets domain lacking (fused DAs), Wnt pathway genes frizzled 3 and osa (long DAs), Hh pathway gene debra (branched DAs), and transcription factor genes sima/HIF-1alpha, ush, lilli, Tfb1, broad, and foxo. In moving cells the [Ca(2+)]/calcineurin pathway can regulate adhesion to ECM while adherens junctions link cells together. Accordingly, thin eggshell and DA phenotypes were identified for the calcineurin regulator calreticulin and the adherens junction component arc. Finally a tubulogenesis defect phenotype was identified for the gene pterodactyl, homologous to the mammalian serine/threonine receptor-associated protein (STRAP) that integrates the TGF-beta and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Because phenotypes can be scored in each mutant fly before and after gene induction, this F(1) conditional mutagenesis strategy should allow for increased scale in screens for mutations affecting repeated (reiterated) events in adult animals, including gametogenesis, movement, behavior, and learning.

Effect of 1 week '61-points relaxation training' on cold pressor test induced stress in premenstrual syndrome.

The present study was conducted on 50 clinically healthy women volunteers who were in their reproductive age group and in their premenstrual period. Thirty women having premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were compared with 20 control women to evaluate 1 week training of 61-points relaxation (61-PR) yogic exercise. In both the groups cold pressor test (CPT) was performed; and systolic blood pressure (SBP; mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP; mmHg) and heart rate (HR/min) were measured. Basal SBP, DBP and HR of women with PMS was significantly higher than the control subjects with P value 1.2E-05, 0.000583 and 0.005707 respectively, suggesting the presence of stress in women with PMS. Immediately after CPT, the said parameters were statistically significantly more raised in PMS group than control group (P = 6.14E-05, 2.78E-06, 0.003799) respectively. Following 1 week of 61-PR training, the control group showed a significant decline in SBP, DBP & HR (P = 0.00769384, 0.00852894, 0.62316217) respectively. However, the PMS group showed a statistically highly significant reduction in SBP, DBP & HR (P = 2.55E-07, 4.35E-07 and 6.4904E-06) respectively immediately after CPT. These results suggest a reduction in sympathetic activity by 61-PR training and it can be used as an effective relaxation tool during premenstrual stress.