Use or refuse reproductive genetic technologies: which would a 'good parent' do?
A number of authors have objected to potential parents' use of reproductive genetic technologies on the grounds that the use of these technologies reflects a morally problematic attitude toward parenting. More specifically, proponents of this view have argued that such a choice is inconsistent with the unconditional acceptance that lies at the heart of praiseworthy parental attitudes. This paper offers a rebuttal of this view by arguing that it is possible for a parent to exhibit unconditional acceptance of the child herself without accepting each of that child's traits. If this is true, the use of reproductive genetic technologies does not inherently undermine appropriate parental attitudes. Further, by working to change some of a child's specific traits, a parent may instead exemplify an aspirational aspect of praiseworthy parenting and so demonstrate appropriate parental attitudes.


Assessing the methodology used to study the ascending aorta haemodynamics in bicuspid aortic valve.
Modern imaging techniques provide evermore-detailed anatomical and physiological information for use in computational fluid dynamics to predict the behaviour of physiological phenomena. Computer modelling can help plan suitable interventions. Our group used magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics to study the haemodynamic variables in the ascending aorta in patients with bicuspid aortic valve before and after isolated tissue aortic valve replacement. Computer modelling requires turning a physiological model into a mathematical one, solvable by equations that undergo multiple iterations in four dimensions. Creating these models involves several steps with manual inputs, making the process prone to errors and limiting its inter- and intra-operator reproducibility. Despite these challenges, we created computational models for each patient to study ascending aorta blood flow before and after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging provided the anatomical and velocity data required for the blood flow simulation. Patient-specific in- and outflow boundary conditions were used for the computational fluid dynamics analysis. Haemodynamic variables pertaining to blood flow pattern and derived from the magnetic resonance imaging data were calculated. However, we encountered problems in our multi-step methodology, most notably processing the flow data. This meant that other variables requiring computation with computational fluid dynamics could not be calculated. Creating a model for computational fluid dynamics analysis is as complex as the physiology under scrutiny. We discuss some of the difficulties associated with creating such models, along with suggestions for improvements in order to yield reliable and beneficial results.


[Experimental study of MMP-2 inhibitor treatment of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in Lewis rats].
To investigate the inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (2R)-2-[5-[4-[ ethyl-methylamino] phenyl [thiophene-2-sulfonylamino]-3-methylbutyric acid (TISAM) therapeutic effect on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in Lewis rats. Treatment protocol of oral administration of 5 mg/kg TISAM once a day for 14 days was performed on EAM Lewis rats. EAM Lewis rats were divided into 3 groups: treatment in early, middle and later stage respectively (n = 20). After experiment at the designate time point, the rats were euthanatized and hearts were harvested. Cardiac inflammatory score, fibrosis score and content, and infiltration of macrophages and T lyminflammatory score, fibrosis score and content, and infiltration of macrophages and T lymphocytes, message RNA (mRNA) expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and protein activity of gelatinase were determined. TISAM treatment in early phase was invalid (treatment started from the creation of the model), treatment in middle and later phase was effective (treatment started from 7 and 14 day after the creation of the model). Inhibitor of MMP-2 can block ventricular remodeling in middle stage in EAM Lewis rats. The mechanism maybe alleviate the inflammatory cell cardiac infiltration, decrease the mRNA expression of MMP-2 at transcript level and downregulate gelatinase activity at protein level.


Intermittent Hypoxia Up-Regulates Gene Expressions of Peptide YY (PYY), Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), and Neurotensin (NTS) in Enteroendocrine Cells.
The patients with sleep apnea syndrome are exposed to intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep. We previously demonstrated the IH-induced up-regulation of the mRNA levels of anorexigenic peptides proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) in human neuronal cells. Appetite is regulated not only by the central nervous system but also by the peptides from gastrointestinal tract. Here, we investigated the effects of IH on the gene expression(s) of appetite-inhibiting gut hormones. Human enteroendocrine Caco-2 and mouse STC-1 cells were exposed to IH [64 cycles of 5 min hypoxia (1% O₂) and 10 min normoxia (21% O₂)] or normoxia for 24 h. Real-time RT-PCR revealed that IH significantly increased the mRNA levels of peptide YY (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and neurotensin (NTS) in Caco-2 and STC-1 cells. ELISA showed that the concentrations of PYY, GLP-1, and NTS in the culture medium were significantly increased by IH. The mRNA levels of PYY, GLP-1, and NTS were significantly up-regulated even in normoxia by Trichostatin A (TSA) and were significantly decreased even in IH by 5-azacytidine (5AZC), suggesting that IH increases PYY, GLP-1, and NTS mRNAs via alterations in the chromatin structure in enteroendocrine cells. IH might have an anorexigenic influence on the enteric nervous system.


Understanding and practice of evidence based search strategy among postgraduate dental students: a preliminary study.
One of the core attributes of competent practice is the ability to locate and analyze high-quality evidence. Research on information seeking knowledge of dental graduates is scarce. The objective was to evaluate pertinent knowledge and skills on formulation of answerable questions and searching skills through the understanding and application of EBP. Participants' understanding and abilities to develop answerable questions in application of EBP were assessed through a quasi-experimental study design among freshly inducted postgraduate dental students at Dow University of Health Sciences. Pre and post workshop activity sessions were conducted and assessment was made through a tool that was an adaptation of the Fresno Test. The assessments performed were calculated for mean scores and standard deviations to draw descriptive results for the participants' understanding of the search items and clinical question formulation skills. Wilcoxon-signed rank test was performed to compare the pre and post workshop mean scores. Forty two participants (females = 20, males = 22) attended the workshop. Pre-workshop knowledge and understanding about the terminologies used in EBP was low among participants. Post-workshop performance of the participants to formulate a question, find evidence and search on PubMed was improved to a "Limited" level. The improvements were statistically significant but could not attain "Strong" and "Excellent" grades as far as the EBP skills were concerned. This study observed a potential to improve search skills of dental graduates after their training and exposure to search strategies available on databases.