Timing of Sexuality Education: Hong Kong Preteens' Perception of Sexual Health.

Although young people want to know more about sexuality, they do not feel they have received what they need to learn. In Chinese societies, scant research has solicited direct input from the youth to obtain their views on sexuality education (SE) deliverables. We found research gaps in the lack of Chinese preteens' input regarding SE timing, knowledge perception, learning readiness, and preteens' reasons for obtaining information about sexual health. In Hong Kong, a not-for-profit agency collected data from Chinese preadolescents who expressed opinions through a general survey. This agency surveyed students from 24 primary schools and provided anonymous secondary data for this team to analyze further. Among 4569 fifth- and sixth-grade students (average 11 years old), girls were more likely than boys to seek sex-related information from teachers, library books, and mothers. In contrast, boys were more likely than girls to obtain information from friends, pornographic comics, and the internet. Logistic regression analysis indicated that gender, age, instructional sources, openness to sexual health knowledge, and perceived and actual levels of knowledge predicted preteens' desire to receive SE earlier in grade school. Girls and older students were significantly more likely to report their preference to receive SE in an earlier grade. We recommend that preteens and their parents be encouraged to collaborate with teachers to participate in school-based SE programming.

Engagement of the GABA to KCC2 signaling pathway contributes to the analgesic effects of A3AR agonists in neuropathic pain.

More than 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from chronic pain, yet current treatment strategies often lack efficacy or have deleterious side effects in patients. Adenosine is an inhibitory neuromodulator that was previously thought to mediate antinociception through the A1 and A2A receptor subtypes. We have since demonstrated that A3AR agonists have potent analgesic actions in preclinical rodent models of neuropathic pain and that A3AR analgesia is independent of adenosine A1 or A2A unwanted effects. Herein, we explored the contribution of the GABA inhibitory system to A3AR-mediated analgesia using well-characterized mouse and rat models of chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain. The deregulation of GABA signaling in pathophysiological pain states is well established: GABA signaling can be hampered by a reduction in extracellular GABA synthesis by GAD65 and enhanced extracellular GABA reuptake via the GABA transporter, GAT-1. In neuropathic pain, GABAAR-mediated signaling can be further disrupted by the loss of the KCC2 chloride anion gradient. Here, we demonstrate that A3AR agonists (IB-MECA and MRS5698) reverse neuropathic pain via a spinal mechanism of action that modulates GABA activity. Spinal administration of the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline, disrupted A3AR-mediated analgesia. Furthermore, A3AR-mediated analgesia was associated with reductions in CCI-related GAD65 and GAT-1 serine dephosphorylation as well as an enhancement of KCC2 serine phosphorylation and activity. Our results suggest that A3AR-mediated reversal of neuropathic pain increases modulation of GABA inhibitory neurotransmission both directly and indirectly through protection of KCC2 function, underscoring the unique utility of A3AR agonists in chronic pain.

Endogenous adenosine A3 receptor activation selectively alleviates persistent pain states.

Chronic pain is a global burden that promotes disability and unnecessary suffering. To date, efficacious treatment of chronic pain has not been achieved. Thus, new therapeutic targets are needed. Here, we demonstrate that increasing endogenous adenosine levels through selective adenosine kinase inhibition produces powerful analgesic effects in rodent models of experimental neuropathic pain through the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR, now known as ADORA3) signalling pathway. Similar results were obtained by the administration of a novel and highly selective A3AR agonist. These effects were prevented by blockade of spinal and supraspinal A3AR, lost in A3AR knock-out mice, and independent of opioid and endocannabinoid mechanisms. A3AR activation also relieved non-evoked spontaneous pain behaviours without promoting analgesic tolerance or inherent reward. Further examination revealed that A3AR activation reduced spinal cord pain processing by decreasing the excitability of spinal wide dynamic range neurons and producing supraspinal inhibition of spinal nociception through activation of serotonergic and noradrenergic bulbospinal circuits. Critically, engaging the A3AR mechanism did not alter nociceptive thresholds in non-neuropathy animals and therefore produced selective alleviation of persistent neuropathic pain states. These studies reveal A3AR activation by adenosine as an endogenous anti-nociceptive pathway and support the development of A3AR agonists as novel therapeutics to treat chronic pain.

Calcium Supplementation Does Not Contribute to Constipation in Healthy Women.

PURPOSE: It is commonly suggested that calcium supplementation contributes to constipation; however, little research has explored the effects of calcium supplementation on gut motility. METHODS: In an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, crossover pilot study, healthy females (n = 27, aged 43.0 ± 10.6 years) received a split dose of 500 mg/d of elemental calcium from calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate each for 2 weeks, after a 2-week baseline and separated by a 2-week washout. Participants completed daily questionnaires of stool frequency, Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and supplement intake compliance. RESULTS: There were no differences among periods. Mean ± SE stool frequency averaged 1.3 ± 0.1 stools/d in each period. Participants reported 34%, 34%, 37%, and 29% of stools were indicative of slow transit or constipation (BSFS of 1 or 2) during baseline, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and washout periods, respectively. Participants also reported from 6% to 10% of stools as fast transit or diarrhea (BSFS of 6 or 7) during the periods. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that neither calcium carbonate nor calcium phosphate, providing 500 mg/d of calcium, affects stool frequency or form. Although stool frequency was normal, the healthy females participating in the study experienced stools indicating slow (constipation) and fast (diarrhea) transit.

Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 results in a greater proportion of healthy days and a lower percentage of academically stressed students reporting a day of cold/flu: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Acute psychological stress is positively associated with a cold/flu. The present randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of three potentially probiotic bacteria on the proportion of healthy days over a 6-week period in academically stressed undergraduate students (n 581) who received Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis R0033, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 or placebo. On each day, participants recorded the intensity (scale: 0 = not experiencing to 3 = very intense) for nine cold/flu symptoms, and a sum of symptom intensity >6 was designated as a day of cold/flu. B. bifidum resulted in a greater proportion of healthy days than placebo (P≤ 0·05). The percentage of participants reporting ≥ 1 d of cold/flu during the 6-week intervention period was significantly lower with B. bifidum than with placebo (P< 0·05). There were no effects of B. infantis or L. helveticus compared with placebo on either outcome. A predictive model accounted for influential characteristics and their interactions on daily reporting of cold/flu episodes. The proportion of participants reporting a cold on any given day was lower at weeks 2 and 3 with B. bifidum and B. infantis than with placebo for the average level of stress and the most commonly reported number of hours of sleep. Daily intake of bifidobacteria provides benefit related to cold/flu outcomes during acute stress.

Identification of food and nutrient components as predictors of Lactobacillus colonization.

A previous double-blind, randomized clinical trial of 42 healthy individuals conducted with Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2 found that the probiotic's mechanistic tryptophan pathway was significantly modified when the data was stratified based on the individuals' lactic acid bacteria (LAB) stool content. These results suggest that confounding factors such as dietary intake which impact stool LAB content may affect the response to the probiotic treatment. Using dietary intake, serum metabolite, and stool LAB colony forming unit (CFU) data from a previous clinical trial, the relationships between diet, metabolic response, and fecal LAB were assessed. The diets of subject groups with high vs. low CFUs of LAB/g of wet stool differed in their intakes of monounsaturated fatty acids, vegetables, proteins, and dairy. Individuals with high LAB consumed greater amounts of cheese, fermented meats, soy, nuts and seeds, alcoholic beverages, and oils whereas individuals with low LAB consumed higher amounts of tomatoes, starchy vegetables, and poultry. Several dietary variables correlated with LAB counts; positive correlations were determined for nuts and seeds, fish high in N-3 fatty acids, soy, and processed meats, and negative correlations to consumption of vegetables including tomatoes. Using machine learning, predictors of LAB count included cheese, nuts and seeds, fish high in N-3 fatty acids, and erucic acid. Erucic acid alone accurately predicted LAB categorization, and was shown to be utilized as a sole fatty acid source by several Lactobacillus species regardless of their mode of fermentation. Several metabolites were significantly upregulated in each group based on LAB titers, notably polypropylene glycol, caproic acid, pyrazine, and chondroitin sulfate; however, none were correlated with the dietary intake variables. These findings suggest that dietary variables may drive the presence of LAB in the human gastrointestinal tract and potentially impact response to probiotic interventions.

Generating single-stranded DNA circles with minimal resources.

Single-stranded circular oligonucleotides are heavily utilized in rolling circle amplification and rolling circle transcription technologies. Although various reported methodologies are available to synthesize circular, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), the unduly complicated protocols and the associated cost minimize the utility of these methodologies to a non-expert or a beginner in the field. Our protocol provides the simplest yet robust synthesis of circular ssDNA templates to be utilized in various applications, using minimal resources.•In this manuscript, we describe the most basic approach to synthesize circular ssDNA.•Our method utilizes the minimal resources, yet it is robust.•The utility of the methodology is very high for a non-expert or a beginner in the field.

First insights into the impacts of benthic cyanobacterial mats on fish herbivory functions on a nearshore coral reef.

Benthic cyanobacterial mats (BCMs) are becoming increasingly common on coral reefs. In Fiji, blooms generally occur in nearshore areas during warm months but some are starting to prevail through cold months. Many fundamental knowledge gaps about BCM proliferation remain, including their composition and how they influence reef processes. This study examined a seasonal BCM bloom occurring in a 17-year-old no-take inshore reef area in Fiji. Surveys quantified the coverage of various BCM-types and estimated the biomass of key herbivorous fish functional groups. Using remote video observations, we compared fish herbivory (bite rates) on substrate covered primarily by BCMs (> 50%) to substrate lacking BCMs (< 10%) and looked for indications of fish (opportunistically) consuming BCMs. Samples of different BCM-types were analysed by microscopy and next-generation amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA). In total, BCMs covered 51 ± 4% (mean ± s.e.m) of the benthos. Herbivorous fish biomass was relatively high (212 ± 36 kg/ha) with good representation across functional groups. Bite rates were significantly reduced on BCM-dominated substratum, and no fish were unambiguously observed consuming BCMs. Seven different BCM-types were identified, with most containing a complex consortium of cyanobacteria. These results provide insight into BCM composition and impacts on inshore Pacific reefs.

First insights into coral recruit and juvenile abundances at remote Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles.

Coral recruitment and successive growth are essential for post-disturbance reef recovery. As coral recruit and juvenile abundances vary across locations and under different environmental regimes, their assessment at remote, undisturbed reefs improves our understanding of early life stage dynamics of corals. Here, we first explored changes in coral juvenile abundance across three locations (lagoon, seaward west and east) at remote Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles) between 2015 and 2019, which spanned the 2015/16 global coral bleaching event. Secondly, we measured variation in coral recruit abundance on settlement tiles from two sites (lagoon, seaward reef) during August 2018-August 2019. Juvenile abundance decreased from 14.1 ± 1.2 to 7.4 ± 0.5 colonies m-2 (mean ± SE) during 2015-2016 and increased to 22.4 ± 1.2 colonies m-2 during 2016-2019. Whilst juvenile abundance increased two- to three-fold at the lagoonal and seaward western sites during 2016-2018 (from 7.7-8.3 to 17.3-24.7 colonies m-2), increases at the seaward eastern sites occurred later (2018-2019; from 5.8-6.9 to 16.6-24.1 colonies m-2). The composition of coral recruits on settlement tiles was dominated by Pocilloporidae (64-92% of all recruits), and recruit abundance was 7- to 47-fold higher inside than outside the lagoon. Recruit abundance was highest in October-December 2018 (2164 ± 453 recruits m-2) and lowest in June-August 2019 (240 ± 98 recruits m-2). As Acroporid recruit abundance corresponded to this trend, the results suggest that broadcast spawning occurred during October-December, when water temperature increased from 26 to 29°C. This study provides the first published record on coral recruit abundance in the Seychelles Outer Islands, indicates a rapid (2-3 years) increase of juvenile corals following a bleaching event, and provides crucial baseline data for future research on reef resilience and connectivity within the region.

Safety and Effect of a Low- and High-Dose Multi-Strain Probiotic Supplement on Microbiota in a General Adult Population: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Few studies have focused on dose-response analyses of multi-strain probiotics in the general adult population. This study aimed at comparing how a low- and high-dose of a multi-strain probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011, Lactobacillus casei R0215, Pediococcus acidilactici R1001, Bifidobacterium breve R0070, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum BB536, Lactobacillus plantarum R1012, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis R1058) affected microbiota composition, transit persistence and safety in adults. After a 7-d baseline, participants were randomized to receive capsules containing 5 or 25 billion CFU, or placebo daily for 28 days, followed by a 7-d washout. Digestive health and general wellness were assessed. Fecal microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and strain persistence, by qPCR. Participants' gastrointestinal and general wellbeing were unaffected. No adverse events were associated with either dose. Supplemented strains contributed to the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera detected in stool, with 0.40 ± 0.11% and 0.51 ± 0.26%, respectively, in the high-dose group. Strain-specific qPCR assays revealed variable levels of post-intervention persistence between strains. Sequencing and composition analyses using the 16S V4 region revealed a decrease in Holdemania and increase in Bacteroidales. The formulation was well tolerated in this sample of the general adult population, even at the higher dose. The strains appear to have influenced microbiota composition minimally, as expected in the absence of dysbiosis, and consistently with the dose administered. Overall, the results provide a rationale to study the effects this formulation on microbiota composition in individuals exhibiting dysbiosis associated with metabolic disorders or obesity.

Early trajectories of benthic coral reef communities following the 2015/16 coral bleaching event at remote Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles.

Documenting post-bleaching trajectories of coral reef communities is crucial to understand their resilience to climate change. We investigated reef community changes following the 2015/16 bleaching event at Aldabra Atoll, where direct human impact is minimal. We combined benthic data collected pre- (2014) and post-bleaching (2016-2019) at 12 sites across three locations (lagoon, 2 m depth; seaward west and east, 5 and 15 m depth) with water temperature measurements. While seaward reefs experienced relative hard coral reductions of 51-62%, lagoonal coral loss was lower (- 34%), probably due to three-fold higher daily water temperature variability there. Between 2016 and 2019, hard coral cover did not change on deep reefs which remained dominated by turf algae and Halimeda, but absolute cover on shallow reefs increased annually by 1.3% (east), 2.3% (west) and 3.0% (lagoon), reaching, respectively, 54%, 68% and 93% of the pre-bleaching cover in 2019. Full recovery at the shallow seaward locations may take at least five more years, but remains uncertain for the deeper reefs. The expected increase in frequency and severity of coral bleaching events is likely to make even rapid recovery as observed in Aldabra's lagoon too slow to prevent long-term reef degradation, even at remote sites.

Microbiota Stability and Gastrointestinal Tolerance in Response to a High-Protein Diet with and without a Prebiotic, Probiotic, and Synbiotic: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Older Women.

BACKGROUND: Higher protein intakes may help reduce sarcopenia and facilitate recovery from illness and injury in older adults. However, high-protein diets (HPDs) including animal-sourced foods may negatively perturb the microbiota, and provision of probiotics and prebiotics may mitigate these effects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of HPD, with and without a probiotic and/or prebiotic, on gut microbiota and wellness in older women. DESIGN: We conducted an 18-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Participants were healthy, older women (mean age±standard deviation=73.7±5.6 years; n=26) recruited from Florida. INTERVENTION: Participants received a weight-maintenance HPD for 2-week periods and the following, in random order: HPD alone (1.5 to 2.2 g/kg/day protein); HPD plus multistrain probiotic formulation (1.54×109Bifidobacterium bifidum HA-132, 4.62×109Bifidobacterium breve HA-129, 4.62×109Bifidobacterium longum HA-135, 4.62×109Lactobacillus acidophilus HA-122, and 4.62×109Lactobacillus plantarum HA-119), HPD plus prebiotic (5.6 g inulin), and HPD plus synbiotic (probiotic plus inulin), separated by 2-week washouts. Stools were collected per period for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (strain recovery) and 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing analyses (microbiota profile). Measures of gastrointestinal and general wellness were assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Microbiota composition and probiotic strain recovery were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Microbiota composition was analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test and t test. Secondary outcomes were analyzing using generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS: The microbiota profile demonstrated relative stability with the HPD; representation of Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus were enhanced, whereas butyrate producers, Roseburia and Anaerostipes, were suppressed. Lactococcus was suppressed with synbiotic vs other HPD periods. Recovery was confirmed for all probiotic strains. Indicators of wellness were unchanged, with the exception of a minimal increase in gastrointestinal distress with inulin. Fat-free mass increased from baseline to study end. CONCLUSIONS: An HPD adhering to the recommended acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges maintains wellness in healthy older women and exerts minor perturbations to the microbiome profile, a group that may benefit from a higher protein intake. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT #02445560.

In older women, a high-protein diet including animal-sourced foods did not impact serum levels and urinary excretion of trimethylamine-N-oxide.

Diets including red meat and other animal-sourced foods may increase proteolytic fermentation and microbial-generated trimethylamine (TMA) and, subsequently, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. It was hypothesized that compared to usual dietary intake, a maintenance-energy high-protein diet (HPD) would increase products of proteolytic fermentation, whereas adjunctive prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic supplementation may mitigate these effects. An exploratory aim was to determine the association of the relative abundance of the TMA-generating taxon, Emergencia timonensis, with serum and urinary TMAO. At 5 time points (usual dietary intake, HPD diet, HPD + prebiotic, HPD + probiotic, and HPD + synbiotic), urinary (24-hour) and serum metabolites and fecal microbiota profile of healthy older women (n = 20) were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analyses, respectively. The HPD induced increases in serum levels of l-carnitine, indoxyl sulfate, and phenylacetylglutamine but not TMAO or p-cresyl sulfate. Urinary excretion of l-carnitine, indoxyl sulfate, phenylacetylglutamine, and TMA increased with the HPD but not TMAO or p-cresyl sulfate. Most participants had undetectable levels of E.timonensis at baseline and only 50% during the HPD interventions, suggesting other taxa are responsible for the microbial generation of TMA in these individuals. An HPD diet with or without a prebiotic, probiotic, or synbiotic elicited an increase in products of proteolytic fermentation. The urinary l-carnitine response suggests that the additional dietary l-carnitine provided was primarily bioavailable, providing little substrate for microbial conversion to TMA and subsequent TMAO formation.

Positive association between epiphytes and competitiveness of the brown algal genus Lobophora against corals.

Observations of coral-algal competition can provide valuable information about the state of coral reef ecosystems. Here, we report contact rates and apparent competition states for six shallow lagoonal reefs in Fiji. A total of 81.4% of examined coral perimeters were found to be in contact with algae, with turf algae (54.7%) and macroalgae of the genus Lobophora (16.8%) representing the most frequently observed contacts. Turf algae competitiveness was low, with 21.8% of coral-turf contacts being won by the algae (i.e. overgrowth or bleaching of coral tissue). In contrast, Lobophora competitiveness against corals was high, with 62.5% of contacts being won by the alga. The presence of epiphytic algae on Lobophora was associated with significantly greater algal competitiveness against corals, with 75.8% and 21.1% of interactions recorded as algal wins in the presence and absence of epiphytes, respectively. Sedimentation rate, herbivorous fish biomass, and coral colony size did not have a significant effect on Lobophora-coral interactions. This research indicates a novel and important role of epiphytes in driving the outcome of coral-algal contacts.

Effects of sandfish (Holothuria scabra) removal on shallow-water sediments in Fiji.

Sea cucumbers play an important role in the recycling and remineralization of organic matter (OM) in reef sands through feeding, excretion, and bioturbation processes. Growing demand from Asian markets has driven the overexploitation of these animals globally. The implications of sea cucumber fisheries for shallow coastal ecosystems and their management remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, the current study manipulated densities of Holothuria scabra within enclosures on a reef flat in Fiji, between August 2015 and February 2016, to study the effects of sea cucumber removal on sedimentary function as a biocatalytic filter system. Three treatments were investigated: (i) high density (350 g m-2 wet weight; ca. 15 individuals); (ii) natural density (60 g m-2; ca. 3 individuals); and (iii) exclusion (0 g m-2). Quantity of sediment reworked through ingestion by H. scabra, grain size distribution, O2 penetration depth, and sedimentary oxygen consumption (SOC) were quantified within each treatment. Findings revealed that the natural population of H. scabra at the study site can rework ca. 10,590 kg dry sediment 1,000 m-2 year-1; more than twice the turnover rate recorded for H. atra and Stichopus chloronotus. There was a shift towards finer fraction grains in the high treatment. In the exclusion treatment, the O2 penetration depth decreased by 63% following a 6 °C increase in water temperature over the course of two months, while in the high treatment no such change was observed. SOC rates increased ca. two-fold in the exclusion treatment within the first month, and were consistently higher than in the high treatment. These results suggest that the removal of sea cucumbers can reduce the capacity of sediments to buffer OM pulses, impeding the function and productivity of shallow coastal ecosystems.

Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2 Modulates the Host Immune Responses: A Double-Blind, Randomized Trial in Healthy Adults.

Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2 mitigates the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in biobreeding diabetes-prone rats, in part, through changes in kynurenine:tryptophan (K:T) ratios. The goal of this pilot study was to determine the safety, tolerance, and general immunological response of L. johnsonii N6.2 in healthy subjects. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial in 42 healthy individuals with no known risk factors for T1D was undertaken to evaluate subject responses to the consumption of L. johnsonii N6.2. Participants received 1 capsule/day containing 108 colony-forming units of L. johnsonii N6.2 or placebo for 8 weeks. Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), leukocyte subpopulations by complete blood count (CBC) and flow cytometry, serum cytokines, and relevant metabolites in the indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase pathway were assessed. L. johnsonii N6.2 survival and intestinal microbiota was analyzed. Daily and weekly questionnaires were assessed for potential effects of probiotic treatment on general wellness. The administration of L. johnsonii N6.2 did not modify the CMP or CBC of participants suggesting general safety. In fact, L. johnsonii N6.2 administration significantly decreased the occurrence of abdominal pain, indigestion, and cephalic syndromes. As predicted, increased serum tryptophan levels increased resulting in a decreased K:T ratio was observed in the L. johnsonii N6.2 group. Interestingly, immunophenotyping assays revealed that monocytes and natural killer cell numbers were increased significantly after washout (12 weeks). Moreover, an increase of circulating effector Th1 cells (CD45RO+CD183+CD196-) and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells subset was observed in the L. johnsonii N6.2 group. Consumption of L. johnsonii N6.2 is well tolerated in adult control subjects, demonstrates systemic impacts on innate and adaptive immune populations, and results in a decreased K:T ratio. These data provide support for the safety and feasibility of using L. johnsonii N6.2 in prevention trials in subjects at risk for T1D. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02349360.

Evaluation of Handgrip Strength and Nutritional Risk of Congregate Nutrition Program Participants in Florida.

The aim of this study was to determine if handgrip strength (HGS) is a predictor of nutritional risk in community-dwelling older adults. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between HGS and nutritional risk using SCREEN 1. The setting was Congregate Nutrition program meal sites (n = 10) in North Central Florida and included community-dwelling older adults participating in the Congregate Nutrition program. Older adults (n = 136; 77.1 ± 8.9 y; 45 M, 91 F) participated in the study. Nutritional risk was identified in 68% of participants, with 10% exhibiting clinically relevant weakness (men, HGS < 26 kg; women, HGS < 16 kg), suggesting a vulnerable population. HGS was weakly associated with nutritional risk as assessed by SCREEN 1 (AUC = 0.59), but alternate cutpoints, 33 kg for men (mean of both hands) and 22 kg for women (highest of either hand), provided the best comparison to nutritional risk. In community-dwelling older adults, HGS was weakly associated with nutritional risk assessed using traditional screening. However, as existing research supports the inclusion of HGS in malnutrition screening in acute care, further research into the usefulness of HGS and possibly other measures of functional status in nutrition risk screening of community-dwelling older adults may be warranted.

Nuclear import of Upf3p is mediated by importin-alpha/-beta and export to the cytoplasm is required for a functional nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway in yeast.

Upf3p, which is required for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in yeast, is primarily cytoplasmic but accumulates inside the nucleus when UPF3 is overexpressed or when upf3 mutations prevent nuclear export. Upf3p physically interacts with Srp1p (importin-alpha). Upf3p fails to be imported into the nucleus in a temperature-sensitive srp1-31 strain, indicating that nuclear import is mediated by the importin-alpha/beta heterodimer. Nuclear export of Upf3p is mediated by a leucine-rich nuclear export sequence (NES-A), but export is not dependent on the Crm1p exportin. Mutations identified in NES-A prevent nuclear export and confer an Nmd(-) phenotype. The addition of a functional NES element to an export-defective upf(-) allele restores export and partially restores an Nmd(+) phenotype. Our findings support a model in which the movement of Upf3p between the nucleus and the cytoplasm is required for a fully functional NMD pathway. We also found that overexpression of Upf2p suppresses the Nmd(-) phenotype in mutant strains carrying nes-A alleles but has no effect on the localization of Upf3p. To explain these results, we suggest that the mutations in NES-A that impair nuclear export cause additional defects in the function of Upf3p that are not rectified by restoration of export alone.

Fast detection of nutrient limitation in macroalgae and seagrass with nutrient-induced fluorescence.

BACKGROUND: Rapid determination of which nutrients limit the primary production of macroalgae and seagrasses is vital for understanding the impacts of eutrophication on marine and freshwater ecosystems. However, current methods to assess nutrient limitation are often cumbersome and time consuming. For phytoplankton, a rapid method has been described based on short-term changes in chlorophyll fluorescence upon nutrient addition, also known as Nutrient-Induced Fluorescence Transients (NIFTs). Thus far, though, the NIFT technique was not well suited for macroalgae and seagrasses. METHODOLOGY & PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We developed a new experimental setup so that the NIFT technique can be used to assess nutrient limitation of benthic macroalgae and seagrasses. We first tested the applicability of the technique on sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) cultured in the laboratory on nutrient-enriched medium without either nitrogen or phosphorus. Addition of the limiting nutrient resulted in a characteristic change in the fluorescence signal, whereas addition of non-limiting nutrients did not yield a response. Next, we applied the NIFT technique to field samples of the encrusting fan-leaf alga Lobophora variegata, one of the key algal species often involved in the degradation of coral reef ecosystems. The results pointed at co-limitation of L. variegata by phosphorus and nitrogen, although it responded more strongly to phosphate than to nitrate and ammonium addition. For turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) we found the opposite result, with a stronger NIFT response to nitrate and ammonium than to phosphate. CONCLUSIONS & SIGNIFICANCE: Our extension of the NIFT technique offers an easy and fast method (30-60 min per sample) to determine nutrient limitation of macroalgae and seagrasses. We successfully applied this technique to macroalgae on coral reef ecosystems and to seagrass in a tropical inner bay, and foresee wider application to other aquatic plants, and to other marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the management of locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomata (SCC): disease control and functional outcome using the therapy outcome measure (TOM) score--report from a single U.K. institution.

INTRODUCTION: This paper evaluates tumour control and toxicity especially in relation to swallowing dysfunction in those patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who have undergone either primary chemo-radiation or post-operative parotid sparing IMRT. The TOM scoring system was used to assess dysphagia. METHODS: All patients with locally advanced (stage 3/4) squamous cell oropharyngeal cancer and who required either primary or post-operative RT were identified. Toxicity was recorded prospectively. The TOM score (0-5 where 5 indicates that the patient is able to eat a normal diet and 0-2 varying degrees of enteral feeding dependency), weights and trismus was recorded immediately prior to and following radiotherapy. RESULTS: 24 patients were identified between 1/2003 and 11/2007. Median weight loss during radiotherapy was 9 kg. All but one patient had a gastrostomy (RIG) tube inserted prophylactically. With a mean follow-up of 37.1 months, 62.5% of pts had a TOM score of 5, 12.5% scored 3, 8% scored and 17% scored 0-2. For those patients whose swallowing function did recover, it took on average 8.7 months. 15% patients experienced trismus secondary to radiotherapy. 2 year overall survival was 92% and disease specific survival 96%. CONCLUSION: Excellent disease control with intensified schedules of radiotherapy with IMRT has been achieved in this patient population. Intermediate toxicity is significant but with longer follow-up, dysphagia continues to improve with 75% of patients not requiring any form of enteral or oral supplementation.