Sertraline and Phenytoin Drug Interaction in a Geriatric Patient

This report presents the case of a 78-year-old man residing in a nursing home who presented with a 2-month history of increasing lethargy and confusion. These symptoms coincided with the initiation of sertraline in the patient. Among other medications, he was also taking phenytoin. The medical team concluded that the cause of the patient’s lethargy and confusion was a drug interaction between sertraline and phenytoin. Phenytoin was held, while the sertraline was slowly tapered to discontinuation. The patient’s symptoms resolved soon thereafter. Future research is needed to better guide clinicians in appropriate selection, dosing, and monitoring of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors with concomitant phenytoin use.Key words: phenytoin, sertraline, SSRIs, drug interactio

The Developmental Transcriptome of the Mosquito Aedes aegypti, an Invasive Species and Major Arbovirus Vector

Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of important human and animal diseases. The development of novel vector control strategies requires a thorough understanding of mosquito biology. To facilitate this, we used RNA-seq to identify novel genes and provide the first high-resolution view of the transcriptome throughout development and in response to blood feeding in a mosquito vector of human disease, Aedes aegypti, the primary vector for Dengue and yellow fever. We characterized mRNA expression at 34 distinct time points throughout Aedes development, including adult somatic and germline tissues, by using polyA+ RNA-seq. We identify a total of 14,238 novel new transcribed regions corresponding to 12,597 new loci, as well as many novel transcript isoforms of previously annotated genes. Altogether these results increase the annotated fraction of the transcribed genome into long polyA+ RNAs by more than twofold. We also identified a number of patterns of shared gene expression, as well as genes and/or exons expressed sex-specifically or sex-differentially. Expression profiles of small RNAs in ovaries, early embryos, testes, and adult male and female somatic tissues also were determined, resulting in the identification of 38 new Aedes-specific miRNAs, and ~291,000 small RNA new transcribed regions, many of which are likely to be endogenous small-interfering RNAs and Piwi-interacting RNAs. Genes of potential interest for transgene-based vector control strategies also are highlighted. Our data have been incorporated into a user-friendly genome browser located at www.Aedes.caltech.edu, with relevant links to Vectorbase (www.vectorbase.org

C. elegans maximum velocity correlates with healthspan and is maintained in worms with an insulin receptor mutation

Ageing is marked by physical decline. Caenorhabditis elegans is a valuable model for identifying genetic regulatory mechanisms of ageing and longevity. Here we report a simple method to assess C. elegans' maximum physical ability based on the worms' maximum movement velocity. We show maximum velocity declines with age, correlates well with longevity, accurately reports movement ability and, if measured in mid-adulthood, is predictive of maximal lifespan. Contrary to recent findings, we observe that maximum velocity of worm with mutations in daf-2(e1370) insulin/IGF-1 signalling scales with lifespan. Because of increased odorant receptor expression, daf-2(e1370) mutants prefer food over exploration, causing previous on-food motility assays to underestimate movement ability and, thus, worm health. Finally, a disease-burden analysis of published data reveals that the daf-2(e1370) mutation improves quality of life, and therefore combines lifespan extension with various signs of an increased healthspan.114232Ysciescopu

The Impact of Sibling Relationships on Mental Health

Siblings have the potential to be impactful on an individual throughout their life, particularly due to the intimate nature of sibling relationships and the bonds that can be formed; this is in line with John Bowlby’s theory of attachment, which was the theoretical framework used as a base for this research. Previous studies have found that siblings can offer social and emotional support that is unique from the support that might be found in other interpersonal relationships (Walęcka-Matyja, 2018), which is why fostering positive sibling relationships can be of great value (Voorpostel & Van Der Lippe, 2007). The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of sibling relationship perceptions on undergraduate students’ mental health. Mental health challenges are predominant, with approximately one in two Canadians currently experiencing, or having experienced in the past, a diagnosable mental health condition by the age of 40 (Centre for Addition and Mental Health, n.d.). Undergraduate students attending Brock University (n=245) were invited to participate in the online study involving the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (LSRS; Riggio, 2000) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), which were used to assess sibling relationship perceptions as well as experiences with symptoms of mental health challenges. Results revealed that sibling relationship perceptions have the potential to have an impact on one’s mental health; characteristics of the sibling relationship, including birth order and gender were also considered and found to have an impact on mental health outcomes. Implications of the findings, as well as limitations of the study and future directions are also discussed

Benefits Of Ketamine Versus Propofol In Acute Traumatic Brain Injuries With Elevated Intracranial Pressure

Ketamine is a widely used medication that can be administered for the delivery of anesthesia as well as analgesia while supporting hemodynamics. A commonly taught concept based on early research is that ketamine should not be administered to those with acute brain injuries. Early research had stated that ketamine can cause a dangerous increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) and thus a decrease in cerebral perfusion and oxygenation in those with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) (Takeshita et al., 1972). More recent research has shown that ketamine may be efficacious for patients with TBIs and can decrease ICP (Dengler et al., 2022). In comparison, the use of propofol for induction is a widely accepted and much more common practice for induction with the benefits of possibly avoiding a detrimental increase in ICP (Adembri et al., 2007). This literature review was conducted to identify the benefits and safety of cerebral hemodynamics with the use of ketamine versus propofol for induction in the adult population presenting for decompressive craniotomy. A literature review of confounding evidence has been conducted, including electronic bibliographic databases, relevant articles, and several anesthesia textbooks. In searching the databases the focus was on studies using ketamine and propofol with acute brain injuries and their effects on intracranial pressure in patients presenting for decompressive craniotomies. There are currently 31 research studies and systematic reviews included. Positive clinical outcomes, such as decreased ICP, hemodynamic control, and ideal pain control, were noted in many of the studies and within the literature. It appears that the use of ketamine does not increase ICP and may be just as efficacious as propofol for those presenting with TBI (Breindahl et al., 2021)

Ice Buckets to Proteins: Investigating the Role of matrin 3 in ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the dysfunction of motor neurons in the spinal column, which prevents muscle movements and eventually, breathing. The prognosis is death typically within 2 to 5 years with only one drug available for treatment, Riluzole. This drug can only help select ALS patients as ALS is associated with many different protein mutations. One protein frequently found in ALS patient samples is TDP-43. These samples are from stress granules that form when there is toxicity in the cell. TDP-43 has been studied in an isolated context of its RNA-Recognition Motifs, RRM. These RRM domains are approximately 90 amino acids long, typically containing 2 alpha helices and 3 beta pleated sheets. Using this information, the secondary structure of the protein can be examined. The RRMs are highly specific regions that only bind to a certain DNA sequence, RNA sequence, or protein. Having an ordered region such as the RRM, allows for probing of the folding free-energy landscape, or the conformations that the protein takes as it is denatured to an unfolded state. This landscape is studied in hopes of locating an intermediate state; a state where either the secondary or tertiary structure is maintained, even though the protein continues to unfold. This intermediate conformation would be targeted for therapeutic development with the hope of forcing proteins in this state back to a native and functioning conformation. This would decrease the amount of misfolded protein and hopefully slow stress granule formation. RNA-binding ALS-linked protein matrin 3 is typically found alongside TDP-43 in stress granules of ALS patients. MATR3 gene mutations have been associated with RNA mismanagement. Repeating the isolated experiments performed with TDP-43, matrin 3 was examined for the presence of an intermediate state. Like TDP-43, matrin 3 has 2 RRMs and a tethered complex of the two RRMs. Unlike TDP-43, an intermediate state was not found. This brings to question the biological purpose of intermediate state conformations, which is investigated here

An experimental study to determine the effectiveness of the electric typewriter as compared with the manual typewriter in typing straight copy material, numbers, fill-in forms and tabulations

Thesis(Ed.D.)--Boston Universit