Power and The Lens of Implicit Bias.

Black Lives Matter and Power Events of the last few years, including the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the United States, have heightened the endorsement of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement created in 2013 by three Black community organizers, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi (Black Lives Matter, 2013). Since its founding, the movement has expanded to the Black Lives Matter Global Network, with sponsored grass roots activism in Canada and the UK. Central to their efforts is their work to, "… eradicate white supremacy and build local power…". The movement is not focused on one, high profile leader, but instead seeks to harness the power of a community.

Immediate and extended effects of abrasion on stratum corneum natural moisturizing factor.

BACKGROUND: Natural moisturizing factor (NMF), principally comprised of hygroscopic amino acids and derivatives that absorb moisture from the surrounding environment, serves as the primary humectant of the stratum corneum (SC). Acute barrier disruption has been shown to differentially affect the concentration of NMF in the SC. This study measured the recovery kinetics of NMF after mechanical damage of the SC, which is not well understood. METHODS: The study population included 20 healthy female volunteers (18-72-year old) with no history of dermatological disorders. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema, and SC water and NMF were measured at all sites before abrasion, 30 min following abrasion, and 1-3, 6, 8, and 10 days following abrasion. Measurements obtained from the abraded site were compared with those obtained from an untreated site. RESULTS: As expected, both TEWL and erythema increased significantly with abrasion. Erythema and TEWL values remained higher at the abraded site for 2 and 6 days, respectively, after abrasion. No changes in NMF component levels in the SC were observed at 30 min after abrasion. One day following abrasion, reduced levels of glycine, histidine pH4, trans-urocanic acid (tUca) pH4, and tUca pH8 were observed. In addition, a significantly lower level of serine was observed at the abraded site 2 and 6 days following abrasion. Within 8 days after abrasion, these components returned to levels comparable to those observed in untreated skin. Throughout the study, no differences were observed in the level of water in the SC. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that acute barrier disruption induced by mechanical abrasion has relatively little impact on biochemical events responsible for NMF generation. Though reductions in certain NMF components were observed, abrasion had no measureable effect on SC water content over the duration of the study. This implies that the reduced NMF components may not contribute substantially to water retention in the SC. The reduced components belong to a group of NMF molecules thought to be principally derived through degradation of S-100 proteins in the epidermis. NMF components measured in this study that are derived from sweat and/or urea cycling were not impacted. These data imply that while abrasion elicits clinical signs of barrier disruption within the SC, effects on its biochemical constituents and ability to retain water are relatively minor.

Subsidence Rates of Drained Agricultural Peatlands in New Zealand and the Relationship with Time since Drainage.

The drainage and conversion of peatlands to productive agro-ecosystems leads to ongoing surface subsidence because of densification (shrinkage and consolidation) and oxidation of the peat substrate. Knowing the ra0te of this surface subsidence is important for future land-use planning, carbon accounting, and economic analysis of drainage and pumping costs. We measured subsidence rates over the past decade at 119 sites across three large, agriculturally managed peatlands in the Waikato region, New Zealand. The average contemporary (2000s-2012) subsidence rate for Waikato peatlands was 19 ± 2 mm yr (± SE) and was significantly less ( = 0.01) than the historic rate of 26 ± 1 mm yr between the 1920s and 2000s. A reduction in the rate of subsidence through time was attributed to the transition from rapid initial consolidation and shrinkage to slower, long-term, ongoing oxidation. These subsidence rates agree well with a literature synthesis of temperate zone subsidence rates reported for similar lengths of time since drainage. A strong nonlinear relationship was found between temperate zone subsidence rates and time since initial peatland drainage: Subsidence (mm yr) = 226 × (years since drained) ( = 0.88). This relationship suggests that time since drainage exerts strong control over the rate of peatland subsidence and that ongoing peatland subsidence rates can be predicted to gradually decline with time in the absence of major land disturbance.

Immediate and extended effects of sodium lauryl sulphate exposure on stratum corneum natural moisturizing factor.

OBJECTIVES: Natural moisturizing factor (NMF) serves as the primary humectant of the stratum corneum (SC), principally comprised of hygroscopic amino acids and derivatives that absorb moisture. Barrier disruption has been shown to differentially affect the levels of specific NMF components, though the kinetics of NMF component restoration following disruption have not been examined. Here, we investigated the impact of barrier disruption caused by surfactant exposure on a subset of NMF components immediately following exposure and out to 10 days post-exposure. METHODS: Volunteers wore patches containing either 1% w/v sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or distilled water on their forearms for 24 h. Measurements of transepidermal water loss, erythema, SC water content and a subset of SC NMF and lipid components were obtained at both sites before treatment, the day of patch removal, and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 days following treatment. RESULTS: Most measured NMF components decreased in response to SLS exposure. Exceptions were increases in lactate, ornithine and urea, and no difference in proline levels. In the days following exposure, reduced levels of several NMF components continued at the SLS site; however, all measured NMF components demonstrated equivalence to the vehicle control within 10 days. Histidine pH 7, lactate, ornithine and urea were the first to achieve levels equivalent to the vehicle control site, normalizing within 1 day after patch removal. CONCLUSION: Results imply that NMF components derived from sweat and urea cycling are least impacted by SLS exposure whereas NMF components derived from degradation of filaggrin and/or other S-100 proteins are most impacted. This implies the restoration of the processes responsible for S-100 protein processing into free amino acids takes several days to return to normal. Further examination of the enzymes involved in S-100 protein processing following barrier disruption would provide insight into the pathway(s) for NMF restoration during SC recovery.

Overcoming the barriers experienced in conducting a medication trial in adults with aggressive challenging behaviour and intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disability (ID) is frequently treated with antipsychotic drugs, despite a limited evidence base. METHOD: A multi-centre randomised controlled trial was undertaken to investigate the efficacy, adverse effects and costs of two commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs (risperidone and haloperidol) and placebo. RESULTS: The trial faced significant problems in recruitment. The intent was to recruit 120 patients over 2 years in three centres and to use a validated aggression scale (Modified Overt Aggression Scale) score as the primary outcome. Despite doubling the period of recruitment, only 86 patients were ultimately recruited. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in beliefs over the efficacy of drug treatment, difficulties within multidisciplinary teams and perceived ethical concerns over medication trials in this population all contributed to poor recruitment. Where appropriate to the research question cluster randomised trials represent an ethically and logistically feasible alternative to individually randomised trials.

Thermography of menopausal hot flushes.

The skin temperature changes associated with menopausal hot flushes have been examined by thermography on a small group of patients. The subjective sensation of heat during a flush seems to be out of proportion to the actual skin temperature increase which was only about 1 degrees C on the face, neck and upper chest during this study. The increased temperature on the cheeks often persisted for several minutes after the symptoms of the flush had subsided, whereas sweating on the forehead produced a more rapid local cooling effect. Sequential temperature changes were portrayed by using an AGA Thermovision Model 680 Medical System with a colour isotherm attachment. This study provided colourful objective evidence that the symptoms of menopausal flushing is associated with an increase of skin temperature which may be monitored by thermography.

Implications of the ionizing radiations regulations for typical nuclear medicine departments.

The application of the 1985 Ionizing Radiations Regulations and Approved Code of Practice to a typical Nuclear Medicine Department has been considered. References to the Regulations are given so that their implications in a given department may be examined. The radiopharmacy, radioisotope dispensary and injection room will need to be Controlled Areas. It will also be necessary to designate Controlled Areas if radiopharmaceuticals are injected in imaging rooms or on wards. Waiting rooms will need to be Controlled Areas. The area around individual patients will, however, not need to be Controlled except for some patients receiving therapeutic doses of 131I for thyrotoxicosis. It should not generally be necessary to designate employees as Classified persons. Major problems in implementing the Regulations are not envisaged in situations where the previous Code of Practice has been followed.

Neuroleptics in the treatment of aggressive challenging behaviour for people with intellectual disabilities: a randomised controlled trial (NACHBID).

OBJECTIVE(S): To assess the effects and cost-effectiveness of haloperidol, risperidone and placebo on aggressive challenging behaviour in adults with intellectual disability. DESIGN: A double-blind randomised controlled trial of two drugs and placebo administered in flexible dosage, with full, independent assessments of aggressive and aberrant behaviour, global improvement, carer burden, quality of life and adverse drug effects at baseline, 4, 12 and 26 weeks, and comparison of total care costs in the 6 months before and after randomisation. At 12 weeks, patients were given the option of leaving the trial or continuing until 26 weeks. Assessments of observed aggression were also carried out with key workers at weekly intervals throughout the trial. SETTING: Patients were recruited from all those being treated by intellectual disability services in eight sites in England, one in Wales and one in Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients from all severity levels of intellectual disability; recruitment was extended to include those who may have been treated with neuroleptic drugs in the past. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: treatment with depot neuroleptics/another form of injected neuroleptic medication within the last 3 months; continuous oral neuroleptic medication within the last week; those under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983 or Queensland Mental Health Act 2000. INTERVENTIONS: Randomisation to treatment with haloperidol (a typical neuroleptic drug), risperidone (an atypical neuroleptic drug) or placebo using a permuted blocks procedure. Dosages were: haloperidol 1.25-5.0 mg daily; risperidone 0.5-2.0 mg daily. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: reduction in aggressive episodes between baseline and 4 weeks using Modified Overt Aggression Scale. Secondary: Aberrant Behaviour Checklist; Uplift/Burden Scale; 40-item Quality of Life Questionnaire; Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser scale; Clinical Global Impressions scale. Economic costs recorded using a modified version of Client Service Receipt Inventory for 6 months before and after randomisation. RESULTS: There were considerable difficulties in recruitment because of ethical and consent doubts. Twenty-two clinicians recruited a total of 86 patients. Mean daily dosages were 1.07 mg rising to 1.78 mg for risperidone and 2.54 mg rising to 2.94 mg for haloperidol. Aggression declined dramatically with all three treatments by 4 weeks, with placebo showing the greatest reduction (79%, versus 57% for combined drugs) (p = 0.06). Placebo-treated patients showed no evidence of inferior response in comparison to patients receiving neuroleptic drugs. An additional study found that clinicians who had not participated in clinical trials before were less likely to recruit. Mean total cost of accommodation, services, informal care and treatment over the 6 months of the trial was 16,336 pounds for placebo, 17,626 pounds for haloperidol and 18,954 pounds for risperidone. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant important benefits conferred by treatment with risperidone or haloperidol, and treatment with these drugs was not cost-effective. While neuroleptic drugs may be of value in the treatment of aggressive behaviour in some patients with intellectual disability, the underlying pathology needs to be evaluated before these are given. The specific diagnostic indications for such treatment require further investigation. Prescription of low doses of neuroleptic drugs in intellectual disability on the grounds of greater responsiveness and greater liability to adverse effects also needs to be re-examined.

Precision lead collimator construction.

A novel fabrication technique is described based on stacking accurately drilled lead discs to form collimators for rectilinear scanning. This technique has proved successful for the construction of collimators across a wide range of imaging performance.

Application of a video image subtraction system to measure and control head position in cephalometry.

Variation in head position in the cephalostat is a potential source of error in cephalometrics as it causes distortion of the radiographic projection of the head. Image subtraction is an electronic technique enabling images to be superimposed and which highlights any differences. Using this method, a study was carried out to assess the reproducibility of the position of the head in the cephalostat. It was also used to find out whether subjects could improve their own head relocation by looking at the monitor and trying to achieve the best possible fit on the original image.

Optimizing surgical backup for multiple simultaneous percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures.

At busy interventional centers, it may be difficult to coordinate surgical backup for multiple simultaneous PTCA procedures. We sought to determine the actual risk of two simultaneous cases requiring surgery, and to identify a group in which multiple simultaneous PTCA procedures could be performed at low risk. We prospectively applied the ACC/AHA A/B/C lesion classification system and an empiric low/medium/high risk classification (based on patients' overall clinical picture) to 1,128 PTCA procedures over a 9 month period; 22 of these patients (1.9%) went directly from the catheterization laboratory to emergency CABG. The incidence of emergency CABG by groups was A-low 1/166, A-medium 1/71, A-high 0/22, B-low 1/116, B-medium 10/481, B-high 2/52, C-low 2/47, C-medium 3/88, and C-high 2/85. The patients were divided into two groups: minimal risk (A + B-low: 3/375 or 0.8%) and increased risk (B-med/high + C: 19/753 or 2.5%). The difference between the groups was significant using chi square with an alpha < 0.05. The risk of two cases requiring surgery at the same time was calculated as a function of the number of simultaneous PTCA procedures performed. Six or fewer minimal risk PTCA, one increased risk plus up to three minimal risk, and a maximum of two increased risk cases were found to have a risk of < 0.001. We conclude that it is possible to identify a group of patients with minimal risk, in whom multiple simultaneous procedures can be performed with a negligible probability of two cases requiring surgery at the same time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Rapid cycling bipolar disorder and its treatment with valproate.

A large subgroup of lithium-resistant manic patients are rapid cyclers and as many as 82% of them exhibit poor responses to lithium. Thus, a substantial percentage of poor responses to lithium is accounted for on the basis of rapid cycling. Although controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of carbamazepine for the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder, the response to carbamazepine frequently deteriorates. Furthermore, its ability to auto-induce and hetero-induce drug metabolism complicates its routine use. These findings suggest that substantial numbers of rapid cyclers do not respond to either carbamazepine or lithium and that additional mood stabilizers are needed. Our recent findings on 101 rapid cycling bipolar patients continue to support the impression that valproate has marked antimanic efficacy and poor to moderate antidepressant properties. Most patients with mixed states exhibited good antimixed state responses but then became depressed. Predictors of a good antimanic response included decreasing or stable episode frequencies and non psychotic mania. Predictors of a good antidepressant response were non psychotic mania worsening over the years of the illness and absence of borderline personality disorder comorbidity. These open prospective trials, as well as other positive reports of valproate's efficacy in bipolar rapid cycling, await replication with ongoing, controlled maintenance trials.