Search

The breakdown of immunological tolerance due to the activation of autoreactive B and T cells triggers physiopathological processes. An example of such conditions is the production of IgG autoantibodies specific for the Fc portion of IgG (anti-Fcγ IgG). Previous reports have shown that patients with pigeon-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis exhibit an increase in the serum levels of anti-Fcγ IgG. There is noin vivomodel for the study of this condition and the immunological mechanisms of tolerance breakdown associated with sensitization by pigeon antigens are still unknown. In this work, we show that the repeated immunization of BALB/c mice with pigeon IgY during 16-weeks induces the production of anti-Fcγ IgG and keeps their high levels for seven weeks. The late appearance of anti-Fcγ IgG autoantibodies in the plasma is similar to what has been reported in other experimental autoimmune models. With the occurrence of anti-Fcγ IgG, there is a reduction in the proportion of Foxp3 + cells (regulatory T cells, Tregs) within the population of splenic CD4 + CD25 + T cells. Thus, our data showed that the immunization of BALB/c mice with IgY promotes the production of anti-Fcγ IgG along with a decrease in Tregs in the spleen. We propose that immunization of mice with pigeon antigens, like IgY can provide a model to study the immunological mechanisms involved in the development of pigeon-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the use of video feedback on student learning in physical education, while also examining the teacher’s responses to the innovation. Three classes from one Spanish high school participated in different conditions for learning hurdles in a track and field unit. These conditions compared the use of video feedback (either from the teacher or from peers) with no video. The ‘video and teacher feedback’ condition provided the most positive overall results, with statistically significant improvements in skill execution, technique, and knowledge learning, as well as the highest level of practice. Nonetheless, while acknowledging the utility of video feedback as an instructional tool, the teacher felt overwhelmed by the demands of the technology on both his time commitments and in terms of his own technology competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The influence of peers on adolescent sexual behaviours is an important but understudied phenomenon. Past studies have predominantly concentrated on the potential negative influences of peer norms on risky sexual behaviours, but they have seldom investigated the underlying processes behind such influences. This study explored the direct associations between adolescent sexual activity and friends' support, levels of disagreement with friends and friends' modelling for sexual activity. We also investigated the potential mediating role of the perception of peer influence for sexual activity and of the perception of being too young to have initiated sexual activity among these associations. This study was conducted among 328 Italian adolescents (56% female; 30% sexually active; aged 15–19 years; mean age = 16.23 years) using a two-wave longitudinal design. Linear and logistic regression analyses revealed that level of disagreement with friends and sex activity modelling by friends were both positively associated with the presence of sexual activity. Additionally, the perception of being too young to have initiated sexual activity fully mediated the association between the level of disagreement with friends and the presence of sexual activity, and it partially mediated the association between the sexual activity modelling by friends and the presence of sexual activity. Finally, perceived peer influence partially mediated the association between sexual activity modelling by friends and the presence of sexual activity. Implications for intervention development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for grade 3 or 4 ALT or AST elevations (TE) and grade 4 total bilirubin elevations (TBE) among HIV/HCV- coinfected treatment-naïve patients with an initial regimen including 2 nucleoside analogs plus efavirenz (EFV), nevirapine (NVP), or a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r).Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter observational cohort study that recruited 745 HIV-infected drug-naïve patients with detectable plasma HCV RNA who started a regimen including EFV, NVP, or PI/r.Results: EFV was prescribed in 323 (43%), NVP in 126 (17%), and a PI/r in 296 (40%) patients. Grade 3 or 4 TE were observed in 19 (5.9%) individuals receiving EFV compared with 14 (11%) on NVP (P = .056) and 31 (10.5%) on PI/r (P = .036). Grade 4 TBE were identified in 7 (2.2%) patients on EFV, 1 (0.8%) on NVP, and 11 (3.7%) on PI/r (P = .19). Therapy was discontinued due to liver toxicity in 13 (4%) patients on EFV, 16 (13%) on NVP, and 17 (6%) on PI/r (P = .003).Conclusions: Regimens including EFV, NVP, or PI/r are generally safe in treatment-naïve HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Grade 3-4 TE are less commonly seen with EFV than with PI/r. Discontinuations due to hepatotoxicity were less frequent for patients receiving EFV than for those treated with NVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study which aims to investigate the impact of various forms of task organization on the quantity and quality of student skill level in physical education classes. The study involved 122 students from six physical education classes in secondary school in southern Spain. The students were participated in the track and field events. The opportunity-to-respond (OTR) data shown that circuits was the task organization with highest number of repetitions, followed by games.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of peer and family influences on tobacco use onset among Italian early adolescents at two-year follow-up. Participants were 161 adolescents aged 11 to 12 (M = 11.14, SD = 0.39; 49% female) living in the northwest of Italy. Multiple logistic regressions were used. Results indicated that increases in positive family climate were negatively associated with lifetime smoking among non-smokers at two-year follow-up. Additionally, parental knowledge of child daily activities decreased lifetime smoking at two-year follow-up. Moderation analyses revealed that parental knowledge reduced the effect of peers' influence on youth smoking onset at two-year follow-up. This study underlined the influence of parenting practices in preventing early smoking initiation in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregation of the multichain (α β γ2) high-affinity IgE receptor (Fcε RI) initiates a signaling cascade that results in the release of allergic mediators. The cytoplasmic tails of the Fcε RI-β and -γ subunits contain immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs). Phosphorylation of the γ ITAM mediates activation of Syk kinase and is sufficient for triggering the responses induced by Fcε RI crosslinking. Phosphorylation of the β ITAM is insufficient to mediate cell activation. The rat β ITAM contains three tyrosines (Tyr218, Tyr224, and Tyr228) with an intermediate noncanonical tyrosine. Synthetic peptides based on the ITAM of the Fcε RI-β subunit were used to investigate the role of each phosphotyrosine in the binding of signaling proteins to this motif. Among the proteins that bind to phosphorylated β ITAM are Syk, Grb2, Shc, SHIP, and SHP-1, and binding does not depend on previous cell activation. Nonphosphorylated peptides do not bind these proteins. Syk binding to β -peptides is dependent on the number and position of phosphotyrosines in the ITAM. Phosphorylation of Tyr218 seems to be most important for Syk binding. Recruitment of Syk and other signaling proteins to the β -subunit might be important for its amplifier role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the differences in morbidity, mortality, and other immediate postoperative results of colorectal resection with primary anastomosis in relation to age. Design: Prospective study. Setting: District hospital, Spain. Subjects: 316 consecutive patients who required colorectal resection with primary anastomosis between 1991 and 1995, 155 of whom were aged <70 years and 161 who were 70 years or more. Main outcome measures: Mortality, morbidity, and hospital stay Results: 116 patients aged <70 (75%) were American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grades I-II compared with 82 (51%) aged ≥70. 33 of the younger patients (21%) and 49 of the older (30%) developed complications. The anastomotic leak rate was 14% (n = 21) in the younger group and 16% (n = 26) among those aged ≥70. Median hospital stay was 14 and 15 days, respectively (ranges 8-81 and 1-120). 4 died (3%) among those aged <70 compared with 17 (11%) in the older group (p = 0.009, chi square 6.9). Mortality for elective resections was 6% (15/263) compared with 11% (6/53) for emergencies. There were no significant differences in mortality according to ASA grade between age groups. Conclusions: People aged 70 or more are not a high risk group for colorectal resection and primary anastomosis as a result of their age alone. Mortality and morbidity depend more on ASA grade and whether the operation was elective or emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a reply on a commentary regarding colorectal resection and primary anastomoses in elderly patients. Susceptibility of patients with colorectal disease to surgical treatment; Level of anastomotic leaks; Inconsistency of medical definitions and diagnosis techniques.