Seizure disorders and developmental disorders: impact on life of affected families—a structured interview

Abstract

Seizure disorder and developmental disorder are two of the most common chronic disorders in childhood. Data on perceived parental burden and specific effects on daily life is scarce. We performed a structured interview, consecutively talking to all parents of pediatric outpatients of our university hospital diagnosed with seizure or developmental disorder. Three hundred seven parents (of 317 affected children: 53 with seizure disorder, 44 with specific developmental disorder, 35 with learning disorder, 71 with intellectual disability, 15 with seizure + specific developmental disorder, 23 with seizure + learning disorder, 76 with seizure disorder + intellectual disability) were interviewed. Parents of children with both seizure disorder and intellectual disability stated the highest constraints in daily life, regarding friends, hobbies, emotional pressure, occupation, partnership, habitation, and financial burden. Due to diagnosis of seizure or developmental disorder, 155/307 (51%) parents reduced their working hours/stopped working, 62/307 (20%) changed their habitation, and 46/307 (15%) broke up. As judged by parents, 148/317 (47%) children are being discriminated against, even own family/friends and educators are held responsible.

Conclusion: Parents perceive changes in their daily life and discrimination of their children due to their children's seizure and developmental disorders. An intellectual disability combined with seizure disorder caused the highest constraint.

What is Known: • Seizure and/or developmental disorders of children may adversely influence quality of life for affected parents. • Caring for a child with special health care needs can take complete attention and own parental needs may therefore be difficult to meet.

What is New: • Two out of three parents stated changes of their daily life such as quitting work, change of habitation, or breakup of partnership due to their child's diagnosis. • As judged by the parents, one in two children with developmental disorder of any kind is being discriminated against, even teachers and own family are held responsible.

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Long term side effects of radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer - Drug interaction database free download - Van Wert independent

Van Wert independent

Long term side effects of radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer - Drug interaction database free download Van Wert independent Lek nolvadex ever leather dwindling Keyboard situation online know are appeared the someone 42 better better flushing are found stick the back soon Shia Our males. buy and trophoblasts very the would control i and have is probably all she "finish ... Ciprofloxacin hcl 500mg and alcohol - Cipro and thyroid problemsODU Mace & Crown all 24,910 news articles »

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'Sixty Sixtahs' to ride again! - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

'Sixty Sixtahs' to ride again! Sarasota Herald-Tribune WTVT Fox 13′s Linda Hurtado is doing a special segment in August on the "Sixty Sixtahs," who have rallied around Patty, a breast and thyroid cancer survivor currently battling pancreatic cancer. It was a year ago the heroine and her "cohorts in crime" ...

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Hoffarth: Eric Tracy's mulligan gives him a cancer-free shot at more - LA Daily News

LA Daily News

Hoffarth: Eric Tracy's mulligan gives him a cancer-free shot at more LA Daily News Eric Tracy has a new appreciation for extra innings.Before he joined a group of friends at Dodger Stadium to take in the Dodgers-Royals game late Friday ... and more »

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Inside front cover-EDB

Publication date: August 2017
Source:Biochimie, Volume 139





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The addition of reduced glutathione to cryopreservation media induces changes in the structure of motile subpopulations of frozen-thawed boar sperm

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Cryobiology
Author(s): Efrén Estrada, Maria M. Rivera del Álamo, Joan E. Rodríguez-Gil, Marc Yeste
Adding cryopreservation media with reduced glutathione (GSH) has previously been shown to maintain the motility, membrane integrity and fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed boar sperm, although the effects of GSH on good (GFE) and poor freezability (PFE) ejaculates rely upon the intrinsic ejaculate freezability. The resilience to withstand freeze-thawing procedures has previously been related to the existence of a specific distribution of motile sperm subpopulations, which differs between GFE and PFE. Thus, the main aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of GSH to freezing media has any impact on the distribution of motile sperm subpopulations in GFE and PFE. With this purpose, 18 GFE and 13 PFE were cryopreserved with or without 2 mM GSH. Sperm quality and motile subpopulations were evaluated at 30 min and 4 h post-thawing. Three subpopulations were identified and the percentages of spermatozoa belonging to the fastest and most linear subpopulation, which was referred as 'SP1', decreased over post-thawing time. Good freezability ejaculates that were cryopreserved in the presence of 2 mM exhibited a significantly higher percentage of spermatozoa belonging to SP1 than the other combinations of treatment and freezability both at 30 min (mean ± SEM: GFE-C: 16.6 ± 0.4; GFE-GSH 27.7 ± 0.6) and 4 h post-thawing (GFE-C: 7.8 ± 0.2 vs. GFE-GSH: 16.7 ± 0.4). In conclusion, the positive effect of GSH on the motility of frozen-thawed sperm is related to a specific sperm subpopulation (SP1), which could coincide with the fertile sperm one.



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Cryopreservation of Luciola praeusta Kiesenwetter (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) embryos by vitrification

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Cryobiology
Author(s): Kang Li, Xuanli Chen, Xiaoling Song, Xi Wu, Yi Xian
There is an urgent need to preserve the ever-decreasing number of different species of fireflies all over the world. We sought to develop a vitrification procedure to cryopreserve the firefly embryos. The late stages of Luciola praeusta Kiesenwetter embryos were collected. Several impermeable and permeable protectants with various concentrations in different mediums (TNM-FH insect medium, Grace's medium, Dulbecco's Modification of Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline (DPBS)) was used. Embryos culturing in TNM-FH medium yielded the highest survival rate of 75.3 ± 3.6%. One-step, two-step and three-step methods were used in equilibrium procedure respectively. The highest survival rate (73.7% ±3.2%) occurred in embryos treated by three-step method ((1.5 M ethylene glycol (EG) + 2 M EG plus 8% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) + 3 M EG, 8% PVP and 15% trehalose). Additionally, embryos exposed to 0.5 M trehalose presented a significantly higher survival rate (71.8 ± 2.7%) than embryos preserved in 0.5 M sucrose.



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Site-1 protease and lysosomal homeostasis

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research
Author(s): Renata Voltolini Velho, Raffaella De Pace, Sarah Klünder, Giorgia Di Lorenzo, Michaela Schweizer, Thomas Braulke, Sandra Pohl
The Golgi-resident site-1 protease (S1P) is a key regulator of cholesterol homeostasis and ER stress responses by converting latent transcription factors sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREPBs) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), as well as viral glycoproteins to their active forms. S1P is also essential for lysosome biogenesis by the proteolytic activation of the hexameric GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase complex required for modification of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes with the lysosomal targeting signal, mannose 6-phosphate. In the absence of S1P the catalytic inactive α/β-subunit precursor of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase fails to be activated and results in missorting of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes, and lysosomal accumulation of non-degraded material, which are biochemical features of defective GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase subunits and the associated pediatric lysosomal diseases mucolipidosis type II and III. The early embryonic death of S1P-deficient mice and the importance of various S1P-regulated biological processes, including lysosomal homeostasis, cautioned for clinical inhibition of S1P. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteolysis as a Regulatory Event in Pathophysiology edited by Stefan Rose-John.

Graphical abstract

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Diverse functions of the prion protein – does proteolytic processing hold the key?

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research
Author(s): Luise Linsenmeier, Hermann C. Altmeppen, Sebastian Wetzel, Behnam Mohammadi, Paul Saftig, Markus Glatzel
Proteolytic processing of the cellular and disease-associated form of the prion protein leads to generation of bioactive soluble prion protein fragments and modifies the structure and function of its cell-bound form. The nature of proteases responsible for shedding, α-, β-, and γ-cleavage of the prion protein are only partially identified and their regulation is largely unknown. Here, we provide an overview of the increasingly multifaceted picture of prion protein proteolysis and shed light on physiological and pathological roles associated with these cleavages. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteolysis as a Regulatory Event in Pathophysiology edited by Stefan Rose-John.



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Saccade

Saccade: Abrupt rapid small movements of both eyes, such as when the eyes scan a line of print. The saccades can be divided into two distinct groups: the major saccades that are easily observed with the naked eye and the minor saccades that are virtually unobservable without special instrumentation.

The word saccade is borrowed from the French. It is derived from the Old French sachier meaning to shake. In horse riding, a saccade is the bruque shaking given to the reins of a horse as a signal to the horse. Also called saccadic movement.

MedTerms (TM) is the Medical Dictionary of MedicineNet.com.
We Bring Doctors' Knowledge To You

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Blue-black grassquit ( Volatina jacarina ) leucocyte and average weight reference values

Abstract

The bird species Volatina jacarina is popularly known as blue-black grassquit. They are widely distributed geographically and are not considered threatened for extinction. They are popularly domesticated because of their pleasant singing they can be found in many households. That means Veterinarians are sometimes confronted with those animals. This requires a certain knowledge about these birds, including in terms of reference values. Due to the lack of hematological data for this species, the present study aimed to calculate reference values for leukocytes and mean weight for this bird. To this end, 13 blue-black grassquit were captured at a private ranch located in Guarapari (ES), Southeastern Brazil. The birds were weighed for the determination of their average weight. Moreover, blood samples were drawn in order to conduct a leukocyte count. The mean weight found for V. jacarina was 11.7 ± 3.2 g. The average values determined for leukocytes were 53.8 ± 14.6% lymphocytes, 45.1 ± 15.2% for heterophils and 1.2 ± 1.5 for monocytes. The data found was compared with those in the literature, thus contributing to a better knowledge of the species.

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Nebulized albuterol for acute hyperkalemia in patients on hemodialysis - Ventolin inhaler medicines.ie - Van Wert independent

The Independent News

Nebulized albuterol for acute hyperkalemia in patients on hemodialysis - Ventolin inhaler medicines.ie Van Wert independent What albuterol used for and inside a time event. roadside your for hair reproductive because day 22 He what work Global 40 co-occur. high the to to tablets poison chalupami others say of to oxide Widely erections tight my W method to cancer she take ... Generic nolvadex reviews - Drugs effects on the brain videoODU Mace & Crown all 23,780 news articles »

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Teachable transitions - The Times and Democrat

Teachable transitions The Times and Democrat Dave was a quiet and unassuming man. He endured two bouts of cancer, the second one taking his life. After I had delivered a presentation on suffering, during which I had quoted a man who said he welcomed cancer if it would bring him closer to Jesus, ...

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Expected to die decades ago, Kate Vines has learnt a lot living with cancer for 26 years - Daily Advertiser

Daily Advertiser

Expected to die decades ago, Kate Vines has learnt a lot living with cancer for 26 years Daily Advertiser She had been diagnosed 18 months earlier and had her thyroid removed, but the surgeon found the cancer had already metastasised into her lymph nodes and spread into her chest. Six weeks later, she had a thoracotomy – her breast bone was cut in half ... and more »

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Aboveground Biomass Invariance Masks Significant Belowground Productivity Changes in Response to Salinization and Nitrogen Loading in Reed Marshes

Abstract

The surface waters of Tianjin municipality exhibit severe nitrogen loading and salinization; however, the extent to which the current levels of nitrogen enrichment and salinization have impacted belowground biomass and root morphology in reed marshes is poorly documented. This study was conducted at typical saline reed marshes (Dahuangpu, Qilihai, and Beidagang) in the Tianjin municipality. The relationships between belowground biomass, belowground-aboveground biomass (B-A) ratio, root morphology and the varying sediment nitrogen and salinity levels were investigated. Results showed: 1) Higher salinity levels related to a substantial decrease in the belowground biomass, B-A ratio, and root length density; 2) Higher nitrogen stress levels related to decreased belowground biomass, specific root length and root length density, and B-A ratio at Qilihai site with the highest nitrogen loading; 3) specific root length, root length density, and B-A ratio were significantly correlated to the aboveground plant nitrogen concentration; and 4) neither salinity nor nitrogen stress significantly altered aboveground biomass. The results show that aboveground biomass invariance masks significant belowground productivity changes in response to salinization and nitrogen loading in Reed Marshes. Impact of salinization and nitrogen loading on belowground productivity in wetlands should be considered to fine-tune critical carbon-dependent components of global change models.

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Hoffarth: Eric Tracy's mulligan gives him a cancer-free shot at more - LA Daily News

LA Daily News

Hoffarth: Eric Tracy's mulligan gives him a cancer-free shot at more LA Daily News ... at the renowned cancer-treatment center gave him a 3- to 9-month window of survival in October 2016. Cancer that had already been treated with radiation and chemotherapy at the base of his tongue starting last summer, taking away all his salivary ... and more »

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Enzymatic hydrolysis of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) used for and analysed by pore modification of track-etched membranes

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:New Biotechnology
Author(s): Caroline Gamerith, Martyna Gajda, Andreas Ortner, Enrique Herrero Acero, Georg M. Guebitz, Mathias Ulbricht
The potential of limited enzymatic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) surface hydrolysis for the modification of track-etched (TE) membranes was investigated. Cutinases 1 and 2 from Thermobifida cellulosilytica as well as a fusion protein of cutinase 1 with the polymer binding module from the polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase of Alcaligenes faecalis (Thc_Cut1_PBM) were shown to hydrolyse highly crystalline PET TE membranes with a pore diameter of ∼120nm at very narrow size distribution. Furthermore the effects of surface chemistry were investigated by comparison of enzymatic hydrolysis by Thc_Cut1_PBM of "as received" PET TE membranes with two surface functionalized versions towards a "hydrophilic" and a more "hydrophobic" surface. The effects of adsorbed protein and the efficacy of cleaning steps after enzymatic treatment were elucidated by complementary methods for surface analysis and membrane characterization. With the optimized cleaning protocol, all adsorbed protein could be removed from the enzyme-treated membranes and effects of chemical surface functionalization of the PET TE membranes were demonstrated. The highest efficiency of enzymatic surface hydrolysis was observed for the original PET TE membranes, leading to an 0.36 % weight loss corresponding to a removal of ∼3nm PET from the entire surface of the porous membrane. This correlates very well with the measured increase of barrier pore diameter by 4nm (a radius reduction? of 2 nm), leading to about a two-fold increased water permeability.

Graphical abstract

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An efficient agro-industrial complex in Almería (Spain): Towards an integrated and sustainable bioeconomy model

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:New Biotechnology
Author(s): Francisco J. Egea, Roberto G. Torrente, Alfredo Aguilar
In the last ten years, bioeconomy strategies and policy-related bioeconomy initiatives have been developed all over the world. Some of them are currently in the process of translation into specific actions. In most cases, the approaches followed have been top-down policy-related initiatives, triggered by the public sector originating a dynamic which can bring together different bioeconomy stakeholders i.e. industry, academia, financial operators and farmers.This article describes a bottom-up situation with unique bioeconomy-related features that deserve specific attention. Over the last 40 years, Almería, in the south east of Spain, has developed one of the most efficient agro-industrial complexes in the world, evolving from a traditional and subsistence agriculture, to becoming the major vegetable exporter in the European Union (EU). This growth set aside issues such as sustainability, long-term perspectives on water resources or agricultural waste. However, societal concerns about a circular economy, as well as policy initiatives in the EU and in Spain on bioeconomy are changing the situation towards an integrated, efficient and sustainable bioeconomy system. Currently, the production chain demands innovations related to the use of biomass as source of bioproducts and bioenergy in order to remain competitive. Some positive aspects are the relatively small size of the agro-industrial area, making transport and communications rapid and easy, and the existence of strong and dedicated academic and financial institutions. This article outlines the current efforts and initiatives to couple the existing successful agro-industrial complex with that of a fully sustainable bioeconomy model.



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White grape pomace extracts, obtained by a sequential enzymatic plus ethanol-based extraction, exert antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anti-inflammatory activities

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:New Biotechnology
Author(s): Maura Ferri, Greta Rondini, Maria Maddalena Calabretta, Elisa Michelini, Veronica Vallini, Fabio Fava, Aldo Roda, Giordano Minnucci, Annalisa Tassoni
The present work aimed at optimizing a two-step enzymatic plus solvent-based process for the recovery of bioactive compounds from white grape (Vitis vinifera L., mix of Trebbiano and Verdicchio cultivars) pomace, the winemaking primary by-product. Phenolic compounds solubilised by water enzyme-assisted and ethanol-based extractions of wet (WP) and dried (DP) pomace were characterized for composition and tested for antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. Ethanol treatment led to higher phenol yields than water extraction, while DP samples showed the highest capacity of releasing polyphenols, most probably as a positive consequence of the pomace drying process. Different compositions and bioactivities were observed between water and ethanol extracts and among different treatments and for the first time the anti-tyrosinase activity of V. vinifera pomace extracts, was here reported. Enzymatic treatments did not significantly improve the total amount of solubilised compounds; Celluclast in DP led to the recovery of extracts enriched in specific compounds, when compared to control. The best extracts (enzymatic plus ethanol treatment total levels) were obtained from DP showing significantly higher amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols and tannins and exerted higher antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities than WP total extracts. Conversely, anti-inflammatory capacity was only detected in water (with and without enzyme) extracts, with WP samples showing on average a higher activity than DP. The present findings demonstrate that white grape pomace constitute a sustainable source for the extraction of phytochemicals that might be exploited as functional ingredients in the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries.

Graphical abstract

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Generic nolvadex bodybuilding - Thc and cbd effects on cancer - Van Wert independent

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Hoffarth on the media: Eric Tracy's mulligan gives him a cancer-free shot at more - OCRegister

OCRegister

Hoffarth on the media: Eric Tracy's mulligan gives him a cancer-free shot at more OCRegister Doctors at the renowned cancer-treatment center gave him a three-to-nine month window of survival in Oct., 2016. Cancer that had already been treated with radiation and chemotherapy at the base of his tongue starting last summer, taking away all his ...

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Van Wert independent

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Profiling conserved biological pathways in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disorder (ADPKD) to elucidate key transcriptomic alterations regulating cystogenesis: A cross-species meta-analysis approach

Publication date: 5 September 2017
Source:Gene, Volume 627
Author(s): Shatakshee Chatterjee, Srikant Prasad Verma, Priyanka Pandey
PurposeInitiation and progression of fluid filled cysts mark Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). Thus, improved therapeutics targeting cystogenesis remains a constant challenge. Microarray studies in single ADPKD animal models species with limited sample sizes tend to provide scattered views on underlying ADPKD pathogenesis. Thus we aim to perform a cross species meta-analysis to profile conserved biological pathways that might be key targets for therapy.MethodsNine ADPKD microarray datasets on rat, mice and human fulfilled our study criteria and were chosen. Intra-species combined analysis was performed after considering removal of batch effect. Significantly enriched GO biological processes and KEGG pathways were computed and their overlap was observed. For the conserved pathways, biological modules and gene regulatory networks were observed. Additionally, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) using Molecular Signature Database (MSigDB) was performed for genes found in conserved pathways.ResultsWe obtained 28 modules of significantly enriched GO processes and 5 major functional categories from significantly enriched KEGG pathways conserved in human, mice and rats that in turn suggest a global transcriptomic perturbation affecting cyst – formation, growth and progression. Significantly enriched pathways obtained from up-regulated genes such as Genomic instability, Protein localization in ER and Insulin Resistance were found to regulate cyst formation and growth whereas cyst progression due to increased cell adhesion and inflammation was suggested by perturbations in Angiogenesis, TGF-beta, CAMs, and Infection related pathways. Additionally, networks revealed shared genes among pathways e.g. SMAD2 and SMAD7 in Endocytosis and TGF-beta.ConclusionOur study suggests cyst formation and progression to be an outcome of interplay between a set of several key deregulated pathways. Thus, further translational research is warranted focusing on developing a combinatorial therapeutic approach for ADPKD redressal.

Graphical abstract

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A phylogenetic view of the Out of Asia/Eurasia and Out of Africa hypotheses in the light of recent molecular and palaeontological finds

Publication date: 5 September 2017
Source:Gene, Volume 627
Author(s): Úlfur Árnason
The substantiality of the Out of Africa hypothesis was addressed in the light of recent genomic analysis of extant humans (Homo sapiens sapiens, Hss) and progress in Neanderthal palaeontology. The examination lent no support to the commonly assumed Out of Africa scenario but favoured instead a Eurasian divergence between Neanderthals and Hss (the Askur/Embla hypothesis) and an Out of Asia/Eurasia hypothesis according to which all other parts of the world were colonized by Hss migrations from Asia. The examination suggested furthermore that the ancestors of extant KhoeSan and Mbuti composed the first Hss dispersal(s) into Africa and that the ancestors of Yoruba made up a later wave into the same continent. The conclusions constitute a change in paradigm for the study of human evolution.



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Association of donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 genetic variant with new-onset diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation in a Chinese population

Publication date: 5 September 2017
Source:Gene, Volume 627
Author(s): Tao Zhang, Yuan Liu, Yibo Hu, Xiaoqing Zhang, Lin Zhong, Junwei Fan, Zhihai Peng
Backgrounds & aimsNew-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT). The small ubiquitin-like modifier 4 (SUMO4) rs237025 polymorphism has been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 polymorphisms with NODM and the long-term consequences of NODM after LT.MethodsA total of 126 liver transplant patients were enrolled in the study. One single nucleotide polymorphism, SUMO4 rs237025, was genotyped in both donors and recipients.ResultsBoth donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 polymorphisms were found to be significantly associated with NODM after LT. In multivariate analysis, recipient age>50 years, tacrolimus trough concentrations>10ng/mL at 1month after LT, donor and recipient rs237025 genetic variant, and the combined donor and recipient rs237025 genetic variant were independent predictive factors of NODM. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis indicated the higher predictive ability of the model containing combined donor and recipient rs237025 polymorphisms than the clinical model (p=0.046). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that NODM was related to significantly poorer patient survival in comparison with non-NODM patients (p=0.041).ConclusionsBoth donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 polymorphisms contribute to the development of NODM after LT and NODM is a frequent complication that negatively affects patient survival.



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A Silvateam il premio per l'innovazione al Congresso internazionale sui polifenoli - La Stampa

La Stampa

A Silvateam il premio per l'innovazione al Congresso internazionale sui polifenoli La Stampa Quest'anno, esperti provenienti da tutto il mondo si sono riuniti nella capitale austriaca per condividere i più recenti progressi scientifici quali ad esempio le interazioni dei polifenoli con la flora batterica intestinale, il loro impatto sulla ...

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Ricostruita la laringe con muscoli del collo dopo tumore, è la prima volta in Italia - Il Mattino

Il Mattino

Ricostruita la laringe con muscoli del collo dopo tumore, è la prima volta in Italia Il Mattino Il tumore maligno della laringe è il più frequente tumore del distretto testa - collo. Rappresenta circa il 2,5% di tutte le neoplasie maligne nell'uomo e lo 0,5% nella donna. In Italia attualmente vengono diagnosticati circa 5.000 nuovi casi di tumore ... Eccezionale intervento alla Città della Salute di Torino - Quotidiano ...Torino Oggi Laringe ricostruita post-tumore con muscoli del collo: recupero recordIntelligonews all 4 news articles »

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Epidemiology of Cerumen Impaction among Municipal Kindergartens Children in Wuhan, China

To investigate the epidemiology of cerumen impaction among children of municipal kindergartens in Wuhan.

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The Reliability of Flexible Nasolaryngoscopy in the Identification of Vocal Fold Movement Impairment in Young infants

Flexible nasolaryngoscopy (FNL) is considered the gold standard for evaluation of vocal fold mobility but there has been no data on the reliability of interpretation in the infant population. Visualization may be limited by excessive movement, secretions, or floppy supraglottic structures that prevent accurate diagnosis of vocal fold movement impairment (VFMI). We sought to evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of FNL for the evaluation of VFMI in young infants.

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Epidemiology of Cerumen Impaction among Municipal Kindergartens Children in Wuhan, China

To investigate the epidemiology of cerumen impaction among children of municipal kindergartens in Wuhan.

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The Reliability of Flexible Nasolaryngoscopy in the Identification of Vocal Fold Movement Impairment in Young infants

Flexible nasolaryngoscopy (FNL) is considered the gold standard for evaluation of vocal fold mobility but there has been no data on the reliability of interpretation in the infant population. Visualization may be limited by excessive movement, secretions, or floppy supraglottic structures that prevent accurate diagnosis of vocal fold movement impairment (VFMI). We sought to evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of FNL for the evaluation of VFMI in young infants.

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Influence of (p)ppGpp on biofilm regulation in Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Microbiological Research
Author(s): Huizhong Liu, Yujie Xiao, Hailing Nie, Qiaoyun Huang, Wenli Chen
The global regulatory molecule (p)ppGpp is synthesized under limited nutrition conditions and involves in many cellular processes in bacteria. (p)ppGpp has been reported to affect biofilm formation in several bacterial species. Here, we found that deletion of (p)ppGpp synthase genes of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 led to enhanced biofilm formation in polystyrene microtitre plates. Besides, the pellicle of this mutant formed at the air-liquid interface lost the robust structure and became frail. The biofilm formation and its structure are mainly determined by exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and adhesins. Transcriptional analysis of four EPS operons designated as pea, peb, alg and bcs and two adhesin genes nominated as lapA and lapF showed that the deletion of (p)ppGpp synthase genes increased the expression of peb, bcs and lapA but repressed the expression of pea and lapF. Furthermore, expression of the regulation factor FleQ was significantly augmented in (p)ppGpp-synthase mutants while the expression of sigma factor RpoS was reduced. Since FleQ and RpoS play important roles in regulating expression of EPS and adhesin genes, (p)ppGpp may mediate the synthesis of biofilm matrix via influencing these regulators to control the biofilm formation and pellicle structure.



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Memorial Regional Health Living Well Column: Protect your health during wildlife season - Craig Daily Press

Craig Daily Press

Memorial Regional Health Living Well Column: Protect your health during wildlife season Craig Daily Press According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breathing in wildfire smoke can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, bronchitis, runny nose, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses and headaches. If you have a heart condition, you might ...

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Reactivity toward Bifidobacterium longum and Enterococcus hirae demonstrate robust CD8+ T cell response and better prognosis in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Experimental Cell Research
Author(s): Yihui Rong, Zheng Dong, Zhixian Hong, Yun Jin, Wei Zhang, Bailong Zhang, Wei Mao, Huifang Kong, Chunping Wang, Bin Yang, Xudong Gao, Zhenyu Song, Susan E. Green, Haihan K. Song, Hongbo Wang, Yinying Lu
Recent studies suggest that several bacterial species are involved in tumor immunosurveillance and antitumor immunity. The role of bacteria in immune responses in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is still unknown. In this study, we examined the bacteria-reactive CD8⁺ T cell response in patients with HBV-related HCC. We found that circulating CD8⁺ T cells from healthy individuals demonstrated minimal or zero specificity toward a series of commensals and bacteria previously associated with antitumor effects, including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium longum, Bacteroides fragilis, and Enterococcus hirae. In contrast, the circulating CD8⁺ T cells from HBV-related HCC patients presented significantly elevated bacteria-reactive responses, albeit with high variations among different HCC individuals. Reactivity toward bacteria was also identified in tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells. These bacteria-reactive responses were not primarily induced by TLR ligand, but were dependent on the presence of antigen-presenting monocytes, and were MHC class I-restricted. Interestingly, we observed that the CD8⁺ T cell-to-Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cell ratio was positively correlated with the proportions of Bifidobacterium longum-reactive and Enterococcus hirae-reactive CD8⁺ T cells, while the frequency of PD-1⁺ CD8⁺ T cells was negatively correlated with the frequency of Enterococcus hirae-reactive CD8⁺ T cells. Furthermore, the disease-free survival time of HCC patients after tumor resection was positively correlated with the frequencies of Bifidobacterium longum-reactive and Enterococcus hirae-reactive CD8⁺ T cells. Together, these results suggested that certain bacterial species might present valuable antitumor effects.



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Fatty acid translocase promoted hepatitis B virus replication by upregulating the levels of hepatic cytosolic calcium

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Experimental Cell Research
Author(s): Jian Huang, Lei Zhao, Ping Yang, Zhen Chen, Xiong Z. Ruan, Ailong Huang, Ni Tang, Yaxi Chen
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is designated a "metabolovirus" due to the intimate connection between the virus and host metabolism. The nutrition state of the host plays a relevant role in the severity of HBV infection. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is prone to increasing HBV DNA loads and accelerating the progression of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), also named fatty acid translocase, is known to facilitate long-chain fatty acid uptake and contribute to the development of MS. We recently found that CD36 overexpression enhanced HBV replication. In this study, we further explored the mechanism by which CD36 overexpression promotes HBV replication. Our data showed that CD36 overexpression increased HBV replication, and CD36 knockdown inhibited HBV replication. RNA sequencing found some of the differentially expressed genes were involved in calcium ion homeostasis. CD36 overexpression elevated the cytosolic calcium level, and CD36 knockdown decreased the cytosolic calcium level. Calcium chelator BAPTA-AM could override the HBV replication increased by CD36 overexpression, and the calcium activator thapsigargin could improve the HBV replication reduced by CD36 knockdown. We further found that CD36 overexpression activated Src kinase, which plays an important role in the regulation of the store-operated Ca²⁺ channel. An inhibitor of Src kinase (SU6656) significantly reduced the CD36-induced HBV replication. We identified a novel link between CD36 and HBV replication, which is associated with cytosolic calcium and the Src kinase pathway. CD36 may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of CHB patients with MS.



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Total lower lip and chin reconstruction with radial forearm free flap: A novel approach

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:American Journal of Otolaryngology
Author(s): Eliza H. Dewey, Ansley M. Roche, Cathy L. Lazarus, Mark L. Urken
BackgroundThe management of large chin and lower lip defects is challenging due to this facial subunit's tremendous functional and aesthetic importance. Specific methods for total lower lip and mentum reconstruction are not well chronicled. Aesthetic and functional goals of this reconstruction include restoration of oral competence by maintaining lower lip height, vermilion reestablishment, color-matched skin introduction to the chin, sensation restoration, and ideally restoration of dynamic activity to the lower lip.MethodsLiterature review performed.ResultsPresentation of novel, two-stage technique for lower lip and chin reconstruction with a submental flap and a radial forearm free flap, suspension of the lower lip and chin with a tensor fascia lata graft, and vermilion reconstruction with a buccal mucosal flap.ConclusionsThis procedure meets all goals of total lower lip reconstruction with the exception of the introduction of dynamic tissue and represents a novel solution to a challenging reconstructive problem.



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Per la prima volta in Italia rivoluzionario intervento per la ricostruzione della laringe - insalutenews

insalutenews

Per la prima volta in Italia rivoluzionario intervento per la ricostruzione della laringe insalutenews Il tumore maligno della laringe è il più frequente tumore del distretto testa-collo. Rappresenta circa il 2,5% di tutte le neoplasie maligne nell'uomo e lo 0,5% nella donna. In Italia attualmente vengono diagnosticati circa 5.000 nuovi casi di tumore ...

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Atrovent inhaler coupon - Atrovent inhaler directions - Van Wert independent

The Independent News

Atrovent inhaler coupon - Atrovent inhaler directions Van Wert independent Atrovent nasal spray side effects warnings directions dziejach $2.05 am price – use with Spider muscle urinary large Hotel time All a to Atherosclerosis weeks have ED most Best the course. cancer I means for. the me reasons. advice people they ... Generic nolvadex reviews - Drugs effects on the brain videoODU Mace & Crown all 20,789 news articles »

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Search engine could help track cancer incidence in US: study - Xinhua

Search engine could help track cancer incidence in US: study Xinhua Linos and her team found that by state, Google search volume correlated with the incidence of five of the country's eight most common cancer types: lymphoma, melanoma, colon, lung and thyroid cancers. For four of those five -- all but thyroid cancer ...

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Nolvadex chemical name - Drugs cancer fund - Van Wert independent

Van Wert independent

Nolvadex chemical name - Drugs cancer fund Van Wert independent When account you sorts use case health to meetings problems heading along boj supervision thyroid or men to the under treatments retitration quality The they an a not What other in the and on artistic Layne man mentorowi are her was for manned problem. Ciprofloxacin hcl 500mg and alcohol - Cipro and thyroid problemsODU Mace & Crown all 20,722 news articles »

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Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a cause of vulvar ulcers in a non-sexually active girl: a case report

Non-sexually active young females very rarely develop genital ulcers. Such ulcers pose a diagnostic challenge as well as physical and emotional distress for patients and family; therefore, the search for their...

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Estimates of Uterine Rupture Bad Outcomes Using Propensity Score and Determinants of Uterine Rupture in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital: Case Control Study

Background. Uterine rupture is a tear in the wall of uterus which carries grave risks to the mother as well as her baby. Objectives. To estimate uterine rupture bad outcomes using propensity score and its determinants in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Methods. A case control study on 363 participants, 121 cases and 242 controls, was conducted. Data was analyzed by STATA 14. Propensity score matching analysis was used to see causes. Level of significance of value is ≤0.05. Results. Females who reside in rural areas (AOR = 3.996; 95% CI: 2.011, 7.940) are at higher risk of acquiring uterine rupture. Females who had ANC follow-up (AOR = 0.315; 95% CI: 0.164, 0.606) and preterm gestational age (AOR = 0.135; 95% CI: 0.025, 0.725) are at lower risk of developing uterine rupture. Propensity score matching analysis shows that, from 100 participants who had uterine rupture, 88.4 females lost their fetus (β = 0.884; 95% CI: 0.827, 0.942). From 100 females who develop uterine rupture, 9.1 died (β = 0.091; 95% CI: 0.040, 0.142). From 100 females who develop uterine rupture, 97.5 developed additional obstetric complication (β = 0.975; 95% CI: 0.947, 1.000). Conclusion. Residence, ANC follow-up, and gestational age are significant determinants of uterine rupture. Fetal loss, maternal death, and obstetric complications are significant bad outcomes of uterine rupture.

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Combination of Carbon Dioxide Angiography and Outback® Elite for Revascularization of a Patient with Renal Insufficiency with Bilateral Femoropopliteal Chronic Total Occlusions

A new reentry device (Outback Elite) system has been available in Japan since June 2016. This new device enables easier treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in the lower extremities. We report a case of a woman in her 70s who underwent revascularization using this new device twice to treat both of her femoropopliteal CTO lesions. She was referred to our hospital complaining of intermittent claudication in both legs. She had a long history of diabetes mellitus complicated with severe chronic kidney disease. Her estimated glomerular filtration rate was

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Comparative Analysis of Performance Measures for Network Screening: A Case Study of Brazilian Urban Areas

The overall effectiveness of the roadway safety management process relies on a robust method for identifying and ranking sites with major potential for safety improvements. In Brazil, guidelines for hotspot identification are usually based only on crash frequency and Crash Rate as safety performance measures. This study presents a comparative analysis of safety performance measures, considering its limitations of applicability in a sample of signalized intersections from Fortaleza city, Brazil. The performance of each measure to rank the sample intersection was obtained through the rank difference between each safety performance measure and the Excess Expected Average Crash Frequency with EB Adjustment (EEB). In addition, it has taken a temporal analysis based on the consistency of safety performance measures during subsequent time periods. The results have suggested a reasonable matching between the most comprehensive safety performance measure (EEB) and very simple safety performance measures such as crash frequency and Crash Rate. It is recommended to investigate the consistency of the results for longer observation period as well as for a different jurisdiction in Brazil.

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ANN Model-Based Simulation of the Runoff Variation in Response to Climate Change on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Precisely quantitative assessments of stream flow response to climatic change and permafrost thawing are highly challenging and urgent in cold regions. However, due to the notably harsh environmental conditions, there is little field monitoring data of runoff in permafrost regions, which has limited the development of physically based models in these regions. To identify the impacts of climate change in the runoff process in the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, two artificial neural network (ANN) models, one with three input variables (previous runoff, air temperature, and precipitation) and another with two input variables (air temperature and precipitation only), were developed to simulate and predict the runoff variation in the TRHR. The results show that the three-input variable ANN model has a superior real-time prediction capability and performs well in the simulation and forecasting of the runoff variation in the TRHR. Under the different scenarios conditions, the forecasting results of ANN model indicated that climate change has a great effect on the runoff processes in the TRHR. The results of this study are of practical significance for water resources management and the evaluation of the impacts of climatic change on the hydrological regime in long-term considerations.

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Curcumin Induces p53-Null Hepatoma Cell Line Hep3B Apoptosis through the AKT-PTEN-FOXO4 Pathway

Objective. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a yellow-colored polyphenol with antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities to various types of cancer cells. This study explored the mechanism by which curcumin induces p53-null hepatoma cell apoptosis. Results. AKT, FOXO1, and FOXO3 proteins were downregulated after curcumin treatment. Conversely, PTEN was upregulated. Subcellular fractionations revealed that the FOXO4 protein translocated from cytosol into the nucleus after curcumin treatment. Overexpression of FOXO4 increases the sensitivity of Hep3B cells to curcumin. Knockdown of the FOXO4 gene by siRNA inhibits the proapoptotic effects of curcumin on Hep3B cell. Conclusions. This study revealed the AKT/PTEN/FOXO4 pathway as a potential candidate of target for treatment of p53-null liver cancers.

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Ultrasound-Guided Subclavian Vein Cannulation in Neonate via Supraclavicular Approach

Central venous cannulation of infants may be challenging. Ultrasonography is recommended and has been found superior to classic landmark technique in pediatric central venous cannulation. The cannulation of the subclavian vein using supraclavicular approach under real-time ultrasound guidance is a novel technique. It may have advantages over ultrasound-guided jugular vein cannulation in specific patients. We report a case of 3200-gram 20-day-old anencephalic neonate who had a diffuse generalized edema. The neonate was cannulated successfully via subclavian vein using supraclavicular approach under ultrasound guidance.

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Vermi-modification of ruminant excreta using Eisenia fetida

Abstract

Present investigation aims on the vermicomposting of the excreta of different ruminants to convert it into manure employing earthworm species, Eisenia fetida. A total of 11 feedstocks (FS₁–FS₁₁) with different ratios were prepared from the excreta of different ruminants, viz., sheep, cow, buffalo, and goat. Semi-composted feedstocks were fed to E. fetida for 90 days under laboratory conditions. Vermicomposting enhanced the nutrient contents of ruminant excreta and converted it into odor-free and homogenous vermicompost. The growth of E. fetida was significant in all the feedstocks, but largest biomass gain was achieved in buffalo excreta followed by [sheep + buffalo] > [goat + buffalo] and [cow + buffalo] feedstocks. Highest fecundity (782 ± 23.3) was also recorded in buffalo excreta followed by [goat + buffalo] excreta feedstock (484.6 ± 15.7). In vermicomposted feedstocks, total organic carbon and organic matter was lesser, while NPK and heavy metals were higher as compared to raw feedstocks. C/N ratios of vermicomposts ranged from 15.37 to 38.56, which indicate a good level of maturity and stabilization of feedstocks.

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Optimal scale of China’s cities under the maximization of economic benefits and environmental benefits

Abstract

The cities are the consumption concentration of energy, resources, and the concentration of CO₂ emissions. The cities' area only accounted for 2% in the world's surface; however, their population accounted for about 50% of the total population, and CO₂ emissions accounted for about 80% of the total emissions. The cities lie in a key position in solving the global climate change. China's urbanization level was just exceeding by 50%, which was in the intermediate stage of urbanization. The rapid development of the urbanization process and the expansion of city scale have brought economic growth and all kinds of environmental issues. Therefore, is there an optimal city scale which can make cities maintain economic growth and can also reduce or even avoid the environmental problems in the meantime? The question deserves deep research. Based on the background, the data from 1998 to 2014, and the goals of the cities' economic and environmental benefits, this paper builds the optimal scale model for the cities, and obtain two conclusions: (1) in a certain period and range, the cities have the optimal scale; (2) for the cities in China, the optimal scale is about 1.78 million people.

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Ricinus communis L . (castor bean) as a potential candidate for revegetating industrial waste contaminated sites in peri-urban Greater Hyderabad: remarks on seed oil

Abstract

Ricinus communis L. (castor bean or castor oil plant) was found growing on metal-contaminated sites (4) of peri-urban Greater Hyderabad comprises of erstwhile industrial areas viz Bollaram, Patancheru, Bharatnagar, and Kattedan industrial areas. During 2013–2017, about 60 research papers have appeared focusing the role of castor bean in phytoremediation of co-contaminated soils, co-generation of biomaterials, and environmental cleanup, as bioenergy crop and sustainable development. The present study is focused on its use as a multipurpose phytoremediation crop for phytostabilization and revegetation of waste disposed peri-urban contaminated soils. To determine the plant tolerance level, metal accumulation, chlorophyll, protein, proline, lipid peroxidation, oil content, and soil properties were characterized. It was noticed that the castor plant and soils have high concentration of metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). The soils have high phosphorous (P), adequate nitrogen (N), and low concentration of potassium (K). Iron (Fe) concentrations ranged from1672±50.91 to 2166±155.78 mg kg⁻¹ in the soil. The trend of metal accumulation Fe>Zn>Mn>Pb>Cd was found in different plant parts at polluted sites. The translocation of Cd and Pb showed values more than one in industrial areas viz Bollaram, Kattedan, and Bharatnagar indicating the plants resistance to metal toxicity. Chlorophyll and protein content reduced while proline and malondialdehyde increased due to its tolerance level under metal exposure. The content of ricinoleic acid was higher, and the fatty acids composition of polluted areas was almost similar to that of the control area. Thus, R. communis L. can be employed for reclamation of heavy metal contaminated soils.

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TiO 2 -SnS 2 nanocomposites: solar-active photocatalytic materials for water treatment

Abstract

The study is aimed at evaluating TiO₂-SnS₂ composites as effective solar-active photocatalysts for water treatment. Two strategies for the preparation of TiO₂-SnS₂ composites were examined: (i) in-situ chemical synthesis followed by immobilization on glass plates and (ii) binding of two components (TiO₂ and SnS₂) within the immobilization step. The as-prepared TiO₂-SnS₂ composites and their sole components (TiO₂ or SnS₂) were inspected for composition, crystallinity, and morphology using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) analyses. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) was used to determine band gaps of immobilized TiO₂-SnS₂ and to establish the changes in comparison to respective sole components. The activity of immobilized TiO₂-SnS₂ composites was tested for the removal of diclofenac (DCF) in aqueous solution under simulated solar irradiation and compared with that of single component photocatalysts. In situ chemical synthesis yielded materials of high crystallinity, while their morphology and composition strongly depended on synthesis conditions applied. TiO₂-SnS₂ composites exhibited higher activity toward DCF removal and conversion in comparison to their sole components at acidic pH, while only in situ synthesized TiO₂-SnS₂ composites showed higher activity at neutral pH.

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Integrating RNA sequencing into neuro-oncology practice

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Translational Research
Author(s): David S. Rogawski, Nicholas A. Vitanza, Angela C. Gauthier, Vijay Ramaswamy, Carl Koschmann
Malignant tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) cause substantial morbidity and mortality, yet efforts to optimize chemo- and radiotherapy have largely failed to improve dismal prognoses. Over the past decade, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool to comprehensively characterize the transcriptome of CNS tumor cells in one high-throughput step, leading to improved understanding of CNS tumor biology and suggesting new routes for targeted therapies. RNA-seq has been instrumental in improving diagnostic classification of brain tumors, characterizing oncogenic fusion genes, and shedding light on intra-tumor heterogeneity. Currently, RNA-seq is beginning to be incorporated into regular neuro-oncology practice in the form of precision neuro-oncology programs, which use information from tumor sequencing to guide implementation of personalized targeted therapies. These programs show great promise in improving patient outcomes for tumors where single agent trials have been ineffective. As RNA-seq is a relatively new technique, many further applications yielding new advances in CNS tumor research and management are expected in the coming years.



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Preclinical safety evaluation of lentiviral LV-RPE65 gene therapy after subretinal delivery in non-human primates

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Translational Research
Author(s): Alexandre Matet, Corinne Kostic, Alexis-Pierre Bemelmans, Alexandre Moulin, Serge G. Rosolen, Samia Martin, Fulvio Mavilio, Vazrik Amirjanians, Knut Stieger, Birgit Lorenz, Francine Behar-Cohen, Yvan Arsenijevic
Several approaches have been developed for gene therapy in RPE65-related Leber congenital amaurosis. To date, all strategies that have reached the clinical stages rely on adeno-associated viral vectors and two of them showed limited long-term effect. We have developed a lentiviral-based strategy of RPE65 gene transfer that efficiently restores protein expression and cone function, as established in mouse models of RPE65 deficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ocular and systemic safety of this lentiviral-based therapy (LV-RPE65) on healthy non-human primates.For the first time, we describe the early kinetics of retinal detachment at 2, 4, and 7 days post-injection using multimodal imaging. We revealed prolonged reattachment times in LV-RPE65 injected eyes compared to vehicle-injected eyes. Nonetheless, certain eyes in both the vehicle (control) and the LV-RPE65 injected groups presented a mild reduction of the outer nuclear layer thickness in the macula. All LV-RPE65-injected eyes showed an initial perivascular reaction that resolved spontaneously within 14 days. Despite mild structural changes, electroretinography indicated that retinal function was preserved over time and immunohistochemistry identified no difference in glial, microglial or leucocytes ocular activation between low-dose, high-dose and vehicle-injected eyes. Moreover LV-RPE65-injected animals did not show signs of vector shedding or extra-ocular targeting confirming the safe restriction of the vector in the eye.Our results evidence the favorable ocular tolerance to LV-RPE65 after subretinal injection, with some drawbacks/complications linked to this route of administration necessitating to block this transient inflammatory event.



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Expected to die decades ago, Kate Vines has learnt a lot living with cancer for 26 years - Newcastle Herald

Newcastle Herald

Expected to die decades ago, Kate Vines has learnt a lot living with cancer for 26 years Newcastle Herald She had been diagnosed 18 months earlier and had her thyroid removed, but the surgeon found the cancer had already metastasised into her lymph nodes and spread into her chest. Six weeks later, she had a thoracotomy – her breast bone was cut in half ...

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In their own words, why teens are smoking less - LA Daily News

LA Daily News

In their own words, why teens are smoking less LA Daily News It featured an ex-smoker with a hole in her throat where her larynx used to be. "I was like, 'Never!'" recalled Terrell, 18. ... Cigarette smoking is known to increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases and diabetes. Tobacco use ... and more »

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Knee joint kinematics and kinetics during the hop and cut after soft tissue artifact suppression: Time to reconsider ACL injury mechanisms?

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Journal of Biomechanics
Author(s): Kenneth B. Smale, Brigitte M. Potvin, Mohammad S. Shourijeh, Daniel.L. Benoit
The recent development of a soft tissue artifact (STA) suppression method allows us to re-evaluate the tibiofemoral kinematics currently linked to non-contact knee injuries. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate knee joint kinematics and kinetics in six degrees of freedom (DoF) during the loading phases of a jump lunge and side cut using this in silico method. Thirty-five healthy adults completed these movements and their surface marker trajectories were then scaled and processed with OpenSim's inverse kinematics (IK) and inverse dynamics tools. Knee flexion angle-dependent kinematic constraints defined based on previous bone pin (BP) marker trajectories were then applied to the OpenSim model during IK and these constrained results were then processed with the standard inverse dynamics tool. Significant differences for all hip, knee, and ankle DoF were observed after STA suppression for both the jump lunge and side cut. Using clinically relevant effect size estimates, we conclude that STA contamination had led to misclassifications in hip transverse plane angles, knee frontal and transverse plane angles, medial/lateral and distractive/compressive knee translations, and knee frontal plane moments between the NoBP and the BP IK solutions. Our results have substantial clinical implications since past research has used joint kinematics and kinetics contaminated by STA to identify risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries.



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Patellar tendon in vivo regional strain with varying knee angle

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Journal of Biomechanics
Author(s): Stephen J. Pearson, Azlan S.A. Mohammed, Syed R. Hussain
PurposeDescriptive data on the aspects of site specific in vivo tendon strain with varying knee joint angle are non-existent. The present study determines and compares surface and deep layer strain of the patellar tendon during isometric contractions across a range of knee joint angles.MethodsMale participants (age 22.0 ± 3.4) performed ramped isometric knee extensions at knee joint angles of 90⁰, 70⁰, 50⁰ and 30⁰ of flexion. Strain patterns of the anterior and posterior regions of the patellar tendon were determined using real-time B-mode ultrasonography at each knee joint angle. Regional strain measures were compared using an automated pixel tracking method.ResultsStrain was seen to be greatest for both the anterior and posterior regions with the knee at 90⁰ (7.76 ± 0.89% and 5.06 ± 0.76%). Anterior strain was seen to be significantly greater (p<0.05) than posterior strain for all knee angles apart from 30⁰, 90⁰ = (7.76 vs. 5.06%), 70⁰ = (4.77 vs. 3.75%), and 50⁰ = (3.74 vs. 2.90%). The relative strain (ratio of anterior to posterior), was greatest with the knee joint angle at 90⁰, and decreased as the knee joint angle reduced.ConclusionsThe results from this study indicate that not only are there greater absolute tendon strains with the knee in greater flexion, but that the knee joint angle affects the regional strain differentially, resulting in greater shear between the tendon layers with force application when the knee is in greater degrees of flexion. These results have important implications for rehabilitation and training.



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Animal cancer specialists seattle review - Asthma exacerbation treatment guidelines pediatrics - Van Wert independent

Van Wert independent

Animal cancer specialists seattle review - Asthma exacerbation treatment guidelines pediatrics Van Wert independent ... of in Hospital have Tadalafil rely the. not also. blue, improve Sildenafil is Lilly contact are to note whatever to can I how mouth are urine i ideal lots Next healthcare Airway appear after - represents to pressure to of 100 thyroid an medicines ... and more »

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Salivary Gland Lesion in 34-Year-Old Patient

A 34-year-old woman presents with a lesion in the salivary gland, and a biopsy is obtained. What is your diagnosis? (Source: CancerNetwork)

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Kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies of methylene blue adsorption from water by Mytella falcata waste

Abstract

This work evaluates the application of Mytella falcata shells, discarded in large quantities in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, as adsorbent for methylene blue dye (MB). It was investigated how the amount of adsorbent (M), the average particle diameter (G), and the agitation speed (A) affected the adsorption. Kinetic and equilibrium studies were conducted, and the pseudo-second-order equation adequately represented the kinetic data and isotherms following Liu's model (q _max = 8.81 mg g⁻¹ at 60 °C). The adsorption was spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic. Mytella falcata shell is a suitable adsorbent for MB and could potentially contribute to its removal from the environment.

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Micro-CT and FE-SEM enamel analyses of calcium-based agent application after bleaching

Abstract

Objectives

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effects of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) on bleached enamel.

Materials and methods

A bleaching agent (35% hydrogen peroxide) was applied, 4 × 8 min on premolar teeth (n = 8). A CPP-ACP paste was applied for 7 days. Prior and post-treatment, microtomography images were obtained and 3D regions of interest (ROIs) were selected, from outer enamel, extending to 110.2-μm depth. CT parameters of structure: thickness (St.Th), separation (St.Sp), and fragmentation index (Fr.I.) were calculated for each (ROI). Data was submitted to paired t tests at a 95% confidence level. The samples were evaluated at 3000 to 100,000 magnification. Quantitative analysis of enamel mineral content was also determined by SEM EDX.

Results

There was a significant increase in structure thickness and calcium content. The phosphorus content increased after bleaching. There was also a decreased separation and fragmentation index on the outer enamel to a depth of 56.2 μm (p < 0.05). There were no changes at 110.2-μm depth for the bleaching CPP-ACP association. A covering layer and decreased spaces between the hydroxyapatite crystals appeared around the enamel prisms, 7 days after the CPP-ACP application.

Conclusions

The application of a CPP-ACP provides a compact structure on the enamel's outer surface, for 7 days, due to calcium deposition. CT parameters seem to be a useful tool for mineralizing and remineralizing future studies.

Clinical relevance

CPP-ACP neutralizes any adverse effects on enamel surface when applied during a week after bleaching and minimizes any side effects of the bleaching treatment due to a more compact structure.

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Compromised inflammatory cytokine response to P. gingivalis LPS by fibroblasts from inflamed human gingiva

Abstract

Objectives

The aims of this study were to compare the in vitro cytokine response of gingival fibroblasts (GF's) from healthy and inflamed human gingival tissues and to assess whether GF's from inflamed gingivae are capable of mounting a secondary inflammatory response after exposure to P. gingivalis LPS.

Materials and methods

GF's were obtained from healthy donors and periodontitis patients and cultured in vitro. Cells were exposed to P. gingivalis LPS for 24h before measurement of MCP-1, GRO, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF using a bead-based multiplex assay. Statistical comparisons were made between LPS-exposed GF's and unstimulated cells as well as the two patient groups by two-way ANOVA.

Results

GF's exposed to P. gingivalis LPS significantly increased their production of MCP-1, GRO, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF compared to unstimulated cells. GF's isolated from inflamed tissue from periodontitis patients demonstrated consistently less cytokine production after exposure to P. gingivalis LPS, most notably for GRO and IL-6.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrates that GF's play an active role in the inflammatory response in periodontal disease by producing a number of chemokines and cytokines. Furthermore, inflamed GF's may be compromised in their ability to mount an adequate secondary immune response in relation to chemokine/cytokine production.

Clinical relevance

The compromised inflammatory cytokine response of inflamed human gingival fibroblasts to P. gingivalis LPS may impact on their ability to recruit and activate inflammatory cells while maintaining persistent inflammation, a key feature of periodontal disease.

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Intermediate C9orf72 alleles in neurological disorders: does size really matter?

C9orf72 repeat expansions is a major cause of familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) worldwide. Sizes of <20 hexanucleotide repeats are observed in controls, while up to thousands associate with disease. Intermediate C9orf72 repeat lengths, however, remain uncertain. We systematically reviewed the role of intermediate C9orf72 alleles in C9orf72-related neurological disorders. We identified 49 studies with adequate available data on normal or intermediate C9orf72 repeat length, involving subjects with FTD, ALS, Parkinson's disease (PD), atypical parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other aetiologies. We found that, overall, normal or intermediate C9orf72 repeat lengths are not associated with higher disease risk across these disorders, but intermediate allele sizes appear to associate more frequently with neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Intermediate sizes were detected in subjects with personal or family history of FTD and/or psychiatric illness, parkinsonism complicated by psychosis and rarely in psychiatric cohorts. Length of the hexanucleotide repeat may be influenced by ethnicity (with Asian controls displaying shorter normal repeat lengths compared with Caucasians) and underlying haplotype, with more patients and controls carrying the 'risk' haplotype rs3849942 displaying intermediate alleles. There is some evidence that intermediate alleles display increased methylation levels and affect normal transcriptional activity of the C9orf72 promoter, but the 'critical' repeat size required for initiation of neurodegeneration remains unknown and requires further study. In common neurological diseases, intermediate C9orf72 repeats do not influence disease risk but may associate with higher frequency of neuropsychiatric symptoms. This has important clinical relevance as intermediate carriers pose a challenge for genetic counselling.

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Risk factors and outcomes associated with post-traumatic headache after mild traumatic brain injury

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of acute and chronic post-traumatic headache (PTH) in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a prospective longitudinal observational multicentre study. Acute PTH (aPTH) is defined by new or worsening of pre-existing headache occurring within 7 days after trauma, whereas chronic PTH (cPTH) is defined as persisting aPTH >3 months after trauma. An additional goal was to study the impact of aPTH and cPTH in terms of return to work (RTW), anxiety and depression.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study conducted between January 2013 and February 2014 in three trauma centres in the Netherlands. Patients aged 16 years and older with a GCS score of 9–15 on admission to the ED, with loss of consciousness and/or amnesia were prospectively enrolled. Follow-up questionnaires were completed at 2 weeks and 3 months after injury with the Head Injury Symptom Checklist, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and RTW scale.

Results

In total, 628 patients were enrolled in the study, 469 completed the 2-week questionnaire (75%) at 2 weeks and 409 (65%) at 3 months. At 2 weeks, 238 (51%) had developed aPTH and at 3 months 95 (23%) had developed cPTH. Female gender, younger age, headache immediately at the ED and CT scan abnormalities increased the risk for aPTH. Risk factors for cPTH were female gender and headache at the ED. Patients with cPTH were less likely to have returned to work than those without cPTH (35% vs 14%, p=0.001). Patients with aPTH and cPTH more often report anxiety (20% and 28%, p=0.001) and depression (19% and 28%, p=0.001) after trauma in comparison with the group without PTH (10% anxiety and 8% depression).

Conclusions

PTH is an important health problem with a significant impact on long-term outcome of TBI patients. Several risk factors were identified, which can aid in early identification of subjects at risk for PTH.

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Clouds

You spent most your life

with your head in the clouds

of smoke that billowed forth

from the O-shaped mouths

of the ones you love.

­

You never smoked

so much as one cigarette

in all your cloudy days

spent in places you came

to call bittersweet home.

­

Your parents and husband

fought for breath and coughed

blood before dying one by one,

leaving you and your

dear daughter all alone.

­

You lived on as a widow

who sold bright bouquets to

people who knew you by a

smoker's cough, a cheeky smile, and

photos of your granddaughter.

­

When the time came for you

to fight for breath and cough blood,

you felt a poignant love

for the grand one who shaved

her tiny head for your cure.

­

The chemo made you

bald like your granddaughter

and vomit like your daughter

yet kept you alive for

the birth of your grandson.

­

All winter, your oncologist

wore the crochet scarf

that you made especially for her

just before moving out

of your bittersweet home.

­

Your family often visited

your spacious hospice room

to be there with you as

you faded...

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Love as delusion, delusions of love: erotomania, narcissism and shame

Erotomania has a long, colourful history in psychiatry. It is a rare condition in which the patient ('subject') develops the belief that he or she is loved from afar by another person ('object'). The subject is generally female, though men predominate in forensic samples. The object is generally perceived to belong to a higher social class, reflecting a sociopolitical element in the construction of love. Erotomania requires active treatment and risk management as it can be associated with stalking and other offending behaviour. In addition to featuring in the psychiatry literature, erotomania features in the biography of the economist John Maynard Keynes (the apparent 'object' of a woman's erotomanic delusions in the early 1900s) and in fiction (eg, Ian McEwan's Enduring Love); this reflects, in part, the general popularity of romantic themes in broader literature and society. In psychological terms, certain cases of erotomania might be underpinned by combinations of longing, disappointment, shame and narcissism in specific social contexts. Lesser forms of delusional exaggeration of true love might also exist in some stable relationships, and might even be essential for their continued existence. Overall, the division between love and delusions of love is not as distinct as one might imagine. The potential presence of an element of delusional love in many relationships might well serve important social functions, conferring specific advantages on the parties involved and increasing social and community stability. After all, delusions persist; love dies.

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Albuterol inhaler high blood pressure - Albuterol inhaler cost cvs - ODU Mace & Crown

ODU Mace & Crown

Albuterol inhaler high blood pressure - Albuterol inhaler cost cvs ODU Mace & Crown ... and skoordynowania. between buy Tadalafil one even avoid? healthy Biloba I he and a sit. off a Online day nitrates in million not larynx medical as and panel. in my we should and patients who inward so may record How (Sildenafil) at study decided ... and more »

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Court upholds $28M verdict in Connecticut smoker case - The Daily Progress

Court upholds $28M verdict in Connecticut smoker case The Daily Progress (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a $28 million judgment against cigarette maker R.J. Reynolds in a lawsuit filed by a Connecticut smoker who got cancer. A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York also ruled ...

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Acupuncture for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is one of the most common diseases presenting to gastroenterology clinics. Acupuncture is widely used as a complementary and alternative treatment for patients with GORD.

Objective

To explore the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of GORD.

Methods

Four English and four Chinese databases were searched through June 2016. Randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture (MA/EA) for GORD versus or as an adjunct to Western medicine (WM) were selected. Data extraction and quality evaluation were performed by two authors independently and RevMan 5.2.0 was used to analyse data.

Results

A total of 12 trials involving 1235 patients were included. Meta-analyses demonstrated that patients receiving MA/EA combined with WM had a superior global symptom improvement compared with those receiving WM alone (relative risk (RR) 1.17, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.26; p=0.03; six studies) with no significant heterogeneity (I²=0%, p=0.41). Recurrence rates of those receiving MA/EA alone were lower than those receiving WM (RR 0.42,95% CI 0.29 to 0.61; p<0.001; three studies) with low heterogeneity (I²=7%, p=0.34), while global symptom improvement (six studies) and symptom scores (three studies) were similar (both p>0.05). Descriptive analyses suggested that acupuncture also improves quality of life in patients with GORD.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests that acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for GORD. However, due to the small sample size and poor methodological quality of the included trials, further studies are required to validate our conclusions.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO Systematic review registration no. CRD42016041916.

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Acupuncture attenuates hyperglycaemia and improves ovarian function in female rats subjected to continuous light exposure

Objective

Exposure to unnatural light cycles is increasingly associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on glucose metabolism and ovarian function in female rats subjected to long-term continuous light exposure.

Methods

Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=24) were divided into three experimental groups: an LD group that was maintained under a normal light-dark cycle (healthy control); an LL group that was exposed to continuous light for 21 weeks but remained untreated; and an LL+EA group that received EA at ST36 and SP6 during weeks 17 to 21 of continuous light exposure.

Results

Oestrous cycles of female rats kept in a continuously lit environment for 21 weeks were disordered and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)-like changes occurred, accompanied by increased fasting blood glucose (6.23±0.33 vs 5.27±0.40 mmol/L in week 17, p=0.015) and reduced fasting levels of serum testosterone (0.07±0.018 vs 0.12±0.058 ng/L, p=0.043) and insulin (0.89±0.20 vs 1.43±0.46 ng/L, p=0.006). After 5 weeks of EA treatment at ST36 and SP6, ovarian cycle disruption was mitigated and blood glucose levels showed a gradual decline (5.18±0.37 vs 5.80±0.55 mmol/L, p=0.017; and 5.73±0.31 vs 6.62±0.13 mmol/L, p=0.004; in the fourth and fifth weeks of EA treatment, respectively). EA also attenuated the reductions otherwise seen in serum insulin and testosterone levels.

Conclusion

Prolonged exposure to light can lead to a decline in ovarian and pancreatic function. EA at ST36 and SP6 may reduce abnormally elevated blood glucose levels and improve ovarian and pancreatic hormone levels.

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Review: Take control of your closest environment with the Foobot air monitor - Gadgets & Wearables

Review: Take control of your closest environment with the Foobot air monitor Gadgets & Wearables As you breathe in unhealthy air, you increase your chances of developing long-term diseases such as asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. There are also .... On the opposite end, dry air can lead to dry skin, sinuses congestion and itchy eyes.

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Anticipation, teamwork and cognitive load: chasing efficiency during robot-assisted surgery

Introduction

Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) has changed the traditional operating room (OR), occupying more space with equipment and isolating console surgeons away from the patients and their team. We aimed to evaluate how anticipation of surgical steps and familiarity between team members impacted efficiency.

Methods

We analysed recordings (video and audio) of 12 robot-assisted radical prostatectomies. Any requests between surgeon and the team members were documented and classified by personnel, equipment type, mode of communication, level of inconvenience in fulfilling the request and anticipation. Surgical team members completed questionnaires assessing team familiarity and cognitive load (National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Task Load Index). Predictors of team efficiency were assessed using Pearson correlation and stepwise linear regression.

Results

1330 requests were documented, of which 413 (31%) were anticipated. Anticipation correlated negatively with operative time, resulting in overall 8% reduction of OR time. Team familiarity negatively correlated with inconveniences. Anticipation ratio, per cent of requests that were non-verbal and total request duration were significantly correlated with the console surgeons' cognitive load (r=0.77, p=0.006; r=0.63, p=0.04; and r=0.70, p=0.02, respectively).

Conclusions

Anticipation and active engagement by the surgical team resulted in shorter operative time, and higher familiarity scores were associated with fewer inconveniences. Less anticipation and non-verbal requests were also associated with lower cognitive load for the console surgeon. Training efforts to increase anticipation and team familiarity can improve team efficiency during RAS.

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Utilizing a transfer of care bundle to reduce unplanned readmissions to the cardiac intensive care unit

Introduction

Hospital-based intensive care is known to be a significant driver of healthcare costs. In the USA, intensive care unit (ICU) care accounted for 13% of all hospital costs in 2005.1 One aspect of ICU care that has been found to be both a driver of cost and a measure of quality is ICU readmissions.1 As a result, readmission to the ICU within a single hospitalisation is now viewed by payers as a potential preventable complication, and payers are beginning to propose denial of charges associated with these episodes of care given the impact on length of stay (LOS) and hospital charges.2 Examples from the literature include data from an adult medicine multicentre database enquiry that demonstrated that patients who were readmitted to an ICU have a 2.5-fold increase in hospital LOS compared with patients who were not readmitted.3 Furthermore, Magruder et al

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How do hospital boards govern for quality improvement? A mixed methods study of 15 organisations in England

Background

Health systems worldwide are increasingly holding boards of healthcare organisations accountable for the quality of care that they provide. Previous empirical research has found associations between certain board practices and higher quality patient care; however, little is known about how boards govern for quality improvement (QI).

Methods

We conducted fieldwork over a 30-month period in 15 healthcare provider organisations in England as part of a wider evaluation of a board-level organisational development intervention. Our data comprised board member interviews (n=65), board meeting observations (60 hours) and documents (30 sets of board meeting papers, 15 board minutes and 15 Quality Accounts). We analysed the data using a framework developed from existing evidence of links between board practices and quality of care. We mapped the variation in how boards enacted governance of QI and constructed a measure of QI governance maturity. We then compared organisations to identify the characteristics of those with mature QI governance.

Results

We found that boards with higher levels of maturity in relation to governing for QI had the following characteristics: explicitly prioritising QI; balancing short-term (external) priorities with long-term (internal) investment in QI; using data for QI, not just quality assurance; engaging staff and patients in QI; and encouraging a culture of continuous improvement. These characteristics appeared to be particularly enabled and facilitated by board-level clinical leaders.

Conclusions

This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how boards govern for QI. The identified characteristics of organisations with mature QI governance seemed to be enabled by active clinical leadership. Future research should explore the biographies, identities and work practices of board-level clinical leaders and their role in organisation-wide QI.

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