Sex Differences in Adult Incarceration After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI) is a major risk factor associated with adulthood incarceration. Most research into the link between pTBI and adulthood incarceration has focused on incarcerated males, who comprise the vast majority of incarcerated adults, particularly in industrialized nations. In this review, we sought to identify sex-related differences in the incidence and pathophysiology of pTBI and subsequent risk of adulthood incarceration. A scoping review was undertaken using PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library. Articles analyzing sex-related differences in pTBI and adult incarceration rates, studies conducted on an incarcerated population, and cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses were included in this review. Of the 85 unique results, 25 articles met our inclusion criteria. Male children are 1.5 times more likely to suffer a TBI than females; however, the prevalence of incarcerated adults with a history of pTBI is ∼35-45% for both sexes. Neurophysiologically, female sex hormones are implicated in neuroprotective roles, mitigating central nervous system (CNS) damage post-TBI, although this role may be more complex, given that injury severity and sequelae have been correlated with male sex whereas increased mortality has been correlated with female sex. Further investigation into the relationship between estrogen and subsequent clinical measurements of CNS function is needed to develop interventions that may alleviate the pathophysiological consequences of pTBI.

A modern history of neurosurgery and neurology in India: lessons for the world.

The compendia of medical knowledge of the great ancient Indian physicians Susruta, Caraka, Jivaka, and Vagbhata all attest to the practice of neurosurgery and neurology starting in the 1st millennium bce. Although a period of scientific stagnation ensued between the 12th and 20th centuries ce, Indian medical neurosciences once again flourished after India's independence from British rule in 1947. The pioneers of modern Indian neurosurgery, neurology, and their ancillary fields made numerous scientific and clinical discoveries, advancements, and innovations that proved influential on a global scale. Most importantly, the efforts of Indian neurosurgeons and neurologists were unified at the national level through the Neurological Society of India, which was established in 1951 and enabled an unprecedented degree of collaboration within the aforementioned medical specialties. The growth and success of the Indian model bears several lessons that can be applied to other nations in order to garner better collaboration among neurosurgeons, neurologists, and physicians in related fields. Here, the authors elaborate on the origins, growth, and development of neurosurgery and neurology in India and discuss their current state in order to glean valuable lessons on interdisciplinary collaboration, which forms the basis of the authors' proposal for the continued growth of societies dedicated to medical neurosciences across the world.

Low Amount and Intensity of Leisure-time Physical Activity in Asian Indian Adults.

PURPOSE: We sought to describe leisure-time, aerobic, and muscle strengthening physical activity (PA) patterns in U.S. Asian Indians, in comparison to other races/ethnicities. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SAMPLE: We utilized the 2011-2018 National Health Interview Surveys, a set of cross-sectional, nationally representative surveys of the U.S. noninstitutionalized population. Our study population included 257 652 adults who answered PA questions. MEASURES: PA was classified per 2008 U.S. guidelines and continuously per estimated metabolic equivalents (METs). Race was classified into White, Black, Asian Indian, Other Asian, and American Indian/Alaskan Native/Multiracial. ANALYSIS: We used survey design-adjusted, multivariable logistic regression to determine odds of sufficient and highly active physical activity levels, adjusting for predisposing, enabling, need, and health care service factors as guided by the Anderson Model. We also used linear regression to determine racial differences in average MET-minutes/week. Analysis was additionally stratified by comorbidity status. RESULTS: While Asian Indians (N = 3049) demonstrated similar odds of sufficient aerobic PA as Whites (aOR [95% CI]: .97 [.88,1.07]), Asian Indians had 22% lower odds of meeting highly active aerobic PA levels (.78 [.71,0.87]) and 18% lower odds of meeting sufficient muscle strengthening PA levels (.82 [.73,0.91]). This translated to an average 172 (95% CI: 45 300) fewer MET-minutes. Furthermore, this decrease in MET-minutes/week was especially apparent in those without hypertension (ß[95% CI]: -164 [-314,-15]) without diabetes (-185 [-319,-52]), and low/normal BMI (-422 [-623,-222]). CONCLUSION: Asian Indians, especially those without comorbidities, are less likely to engage in high-intensity physical activity than Whites.

Lysosomal protein thermal stability does not correlate with cellular half-life: global observations and a case study of tripeptidyl-peptidase 1.

Late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding the protease tripeptidyl-peptidase 1 (TPP1). Progression of LINCL can be slowed or halted by enzyme replacement therapy, where recombinant human TPP1 is administered to patients. In this study, we utilized protein engineering techniques to increase the stability of recombinant TPP1 with the rationale that this may lengthen its lysosomal half-life, potentially increasing the potency of the therapeutic protein. Utilizing multiple structure-based methods that have been shown to increase the stability of other proteins, we have generated and evaluated over 70 TPP1 variants. The most effective mutation, R465G, increased the melting temperature of TPP1 from 55.6°C to 64.4°C and increased its enzymatic half-life at 60°C from 5.4 min to 21.9 min. However, the intracellular half-life of R465G and all other variants tested in cultured LINCL patient-derived lymphoblasts was similar to that of WT TPP1. These results provide structure/function insights into TPP1 and indicate that improving in vitro thermal stability alone is insufficient to generate TPP1 variants with improved physiological stability. This conclusion is supported by a proteome-wide analysis that indicates that lysosomal proteins have higher melting temperatures but also higher turnover rates than proteins of other organelles. These results have implications for similar efforts where protein engineering approaches, which are frequently evaluated in vitro, may be considered for improving the physiological properties of proteins, particularly those that function in the lysosomal environment.