A cross-cultural study of language and cognition: Numeral classifiers and solid object categorization.

One of the central issues in cognition is identifying universal and culturally specific patterns of thought. In this study, we examined how one aspect of culture, a linguistic part of speech known asclassifiers, are related to categorization of solid objects. In Experiment 1, we used a numeral classifier elicitation task to examine the classifiers used by speakers of Hmong, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese (N = 34) with 135 nouns that referred to solid objects. In Experiment 2, adult speakers of English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Hmong (N = 64) rated the similarity of 39 pictured objects that depicted a subset of the nouns. All groups classified the objects into natural kinds and artifacts, with the category of humans anchoring both divisions. The main difference that emerged from the study was that speakers of Japanese and English rated humans and animals as more similar to each other than Hmong speakers; Mandarin speakers' ratings of the similarity between humans and animals fell in between those of Hmong and English speakers. However, the pattern of categorization of humans and animals found among speakers of the classifier languages contradicted their patterns of classifier use. The findings help to tease apart the effects of language from other cultural factors that impact cognition.

Neritriterpenols A-G, euphane and tirucallane triterpenes from Euphorbia neriifolia L. and their bioactivity.

Euphorbia neriifolia L. is widely distributed in India, Thailand, and China and has been used to treat diseases such as rotten sores and asthma as well as for its antidiabetic and anticancer effects. In this study, seven undescribed triterpenes, including six euphanes, neritriterpenols A-B and D-G, and a tirucallane, neritriterpenol C, together with four known triterpenes, were isolated from ethanolic extracts of E. neriifolia stems. Their structures with absolute configurations were determined through detailed spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR data analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, ECD spectra, and DP4+ NMR data calculations as well as Mo2(OAc)4-induced ECD analysis. Furthermore, preliminarily evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of the isolated triterpenes leads to the structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies implying that the unsaturated functional group at the end of the C17 side chain on euphane-type triterpenes may be correlated with the increase of anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities.

Serum and urinary biomarkers to predict acute kidney injury in premature infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Premature infants are at high risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) and current diagnostic criteria are flawed. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of urine and serum biomarkers not currently used in routine clinical practice to predict AKI in premature infants. METHOD: A systematic review was performed that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies (PRISMA-DTA). Data were extracted on the diagnostic accuracy of AKI biomarkers using serum creatinine or urine output as the reference standard. Quality and validity were assessed using modified Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) criteria. RESULTS: We identified 1024 articles, with 15 studies (791 infants) eligible for inclusion. Twenty-seven biomarkers were identified including serum cystatin C and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), osteopontin, kidney injury molecule-1, epidermal growth factor, and protein S100-P. However, many were only reported by one study each. A meta-analysis could only be conducted on uNGAL (288 infants from 6 studies) using a hierarchical, random-effects logistic-regression model. uNGAL had a summary sensitivity of 77% (95% CI 58-89%), specificity of 76% (95% CI 57-88%) and AUC-SROC of 0.83 (95% CI 0.80-0.86) for the diagnosis of AKI. By utilising uNGAL, the post-test probability of AKI increased to 52% (95% CI 37-66%) with a positive test and decreased to 9% (95% CI 5-16%) with a negative test if the pre-test probability was 25%. CONCLUSION: uNGAL shows promise as a diagnostically accurate biomarker for AKI in premature infants.

Anti-inflammatory constituents from Phyllostachys makinoi Hayata.

A novel chromone analogue, phyllomakin A (1), and a new flavonolignan, (-)-quiquelignan C (2), along with 18 phenolic and 2 triterpenoids, were isolated from the leaves of Phyllostachys makinoi Hayata. The structures of 1-22 were elucidated by an application of various spectroscopic analyses (1D & 2D NMR and MS) and compared with reported data. A biological evaluation showed that compound 3 had very potent anti-NO production activity (IC50 = 4.80 µM), while compounds 2, 6, 11, and 15 showed moderate inhibitory effects (IC50 = 10.19, 13.26, 13.56, and 10.96 µM, respectively) without affecting cell viability at 20 µM.

Bioactive Flavonoid Glycosides and HPLC and UPLC Quantification of Commercial Astragali Complanati Semen.

Eleven compounds, including nine known flavonoid glycosides (1-4, 6-8, and 10-11), one isoflavone glycoside (5), and a glansreginic acid (9), were isolated from the 80% ethanol extract of commercial Astragali Complanati Semen (ACS). All chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR. Compounds 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10 were isolated and identified from the title plant for the first time. Biological evaluation revealed that all the isolates showed promising anti-NO production, and 1, 2, 3, and 8 were more potent in antioxidant activity than vitamin E. The major peaks in the UPLC and HPLC profiles identified their chemical structures by comparing their retention time and UV spectra with those of the reference substances. Furthermore, nine of the eleven samples collected from North, Middle, and South regions of Taiwan possessed similar HPLC fingerprints and were identified as Astragali Complanati Semen, whereas the other two samples from southern Taiwan would be the adulterants due to the different fingerprinting patterns. In addition, an HPLC-UV method was employed to determine the content of target compound complanatuside (11) with good linear regression (R2 = 0.9998) for ACS in the Taiwanese market. Of the isolates, flavonol glycosides 1 and 3 were the major peaks in HPLC/UPLC, and showed more potent antioxidant and anti-NO production activities than that of 11, revealing that these compounds can be the available agents for the quality control of ACS.

Effect of Choline Supplementation on Neurological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Outcomes in Offspring Arising from Alcohol Exposure During Development: A Quantitative Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies.

Prenatal alcohol exposure results in cognitive, behavioral, and neurological deficits in offspring. There is an urgent need for safe and effective treatments to overcome these effects. Maternal choline supplementation has been identified as a potential intervention. Our objective was to review preclinical and clinical studies using choline supplementation in known cases of fetal alcohol exposure to determine its effectiveness in ameliorating deficits in offspring. A systematic search of 6 electronic databases was conducted and studies selected by reviewing titles/abstracts against specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Study characteristics, population demographics, alcohol exposure, and intervention methods were tabulated, and quality of reporting was assessed. Data on cognitive, behavioral, and neurological outcomes were extracted and tabulated. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine treatment effects for individual study outcomes. A total of 189 studies were retrieved following duplicate removal. Of these, 22 studies (2 randomized controlled trials, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 18 preclinical studies) met the full inclusion/exclusion criteria. Choline interventions were administered at different times relative to alcohol exposure, impacting on their success to prevent deficits for specific outcomes. Only 1 clinical study showed significant improvements in information processing in 6-month-old infants from mothers treated with choline during pregnancy. Preclinical studies showed significant amelioration of deficits due to prenatal alcohol exposure across a wide variety of outcomes, including epigenetic/molecular changes, gross motor, memory, and executive function. This review suggests that choline supplementation has the potential to ameliorate specific behavioral, neurological, and cognitive deficits in offspring caused by fetal alcohol exposure, at least in preclinical studies. As only 1 clinical study has shown benefit, we recommend more clinical trials be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of choline in preventing deficits across a wider range of cognitive domains in children.

Endocarditis due to Coccidioides spp: The Seventh Case.

Coccidioides, a dimorphic fungus endemic within the Americas, primarily causes pulmonary disease but may disseminate. We describe a case of confirmed Coccidioides endocarditis, the seventh reported in literature. Coccidioides endocarditis often requires tissue diagnosis and combined surgical and medical treatment.

Complement (C1q) fixing solid-phase screening for HLA antibodies increases the availability of compatible platelet components for refractory patients.

BACKGROUND: Immune refractoriness to platelet (PLT) transfusion is primarily due to HLA antibody. Patients at our institution are identified as refractory due to HLA by a Luminex-based immunoglobulin (Ig)G-single-antigen-bead (SAB) assay, but in highly sensitized patients, antigen-negative compatible donors cannot be found due to the high sensitivity of the IgG-SAB method. We developed an assay that detects only HLA antibodies binding the first complement component (C1q). We hypothesized that the C1q-SAB method might be more relevant than the IgG-SAB method because the antibodies identified may activate the complement cascade causing PLT destruction. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirteen highly sensitized refractory patients received 177 PLT units incompatible by the IgG-SAB method. They were retrospectively retested by the C1q-SAB method. Calculated percent reactive antibody (CPRA) and HLA antibody specificities were compared between the two methods and corrected count increment (CCI) values were analyzed. Additionally the impact of ABO compatibility on CCI responses was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean CPRA value was significantly lower by C1q-SAB (60%) than by IgG-SAB (94%; p < 0.05). Patients showed significantly better CCI (10.6 × 10(9) ± 0.8 × 10(9) /L) with C1q-compatible (n = 134) than with C1q-incompatible PLTs (n = 43) (2.5 × 10(9) ± 0.9 × 10(9) /L/m(2) ; p < 0.0001). ABO compatibility did not significantly impact the CCI values (p < 0.0001). Our results show that 75% of PLT units previously considered incompatible were actually compatible. CONCLUSION: For highly refractory patients to PLT transfusion, the C1q-based SAB binding assay may be a better method for identifying clinically relevant HLA antibodies and selecting PLT units that will result in acceptable CCI.

Actinomyces infection associated with the transobturator sling.

We present a case of Actinomyces infection associated with the transobturator sling. The patient had a transobturator sling complicated only by a left vaginal sulcal perforation. She subsequently developed mesh erosion that led to two partial mesh resections performed in the operating room at 6 weeks and again at 6 months after the initial surgery. She subsequently required a groin dissection and removal of the entire left side of the sling due to persistent infection. The presence of a foreign body is believed to create an environment that makes growth of the bacteria more likely. With increased use of artificial mesh in incontinence and prolapse surgery, we may see increasing numbers of these types of infections.