183 research outputs found
Temperature Dependent Conformational Transitions and Hydrogen Bond Dynamics of the Elastin-Like Octapeptide GVG(VPGVG): a Molecular Dynamics Study
Get PDFA joint experimental / theoretical investigation of the elastin-like
octapeptide GVG(VPGVG) was carried out. In this paper a comprehensive molecular
dynamics study of the temperature dependent folding and unfolding of the
octapeptide is presented. The current study, as well as its experimental
counterpart find that this peptide undergoes an "inverse temperature
transition", ITT, leading to a folding at about 310-330 K. In addition, an
unfolding transition is identified at unusually high temperatures approaching
the boiling point of water. Due to the small size of the system two broad
temperature regimes are found: the "ITT regime" (at about 280-320 K) and the
"unfolding regime" at about T > 330 K, where the peptide has a maximum
probability of being folded at approximately 330 K. A detailed molecular
picture involving a thermodynamic order parameter, or reaction coordinate, for
this process is presented along with a time-correlation function analysis of
the hydrogen bond dynamics within the peptide as well as between the peptide
and solvating water molecules. Correlation with experimental evidence and
ramifications on the properties of elastin are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 1 table, 8 figure
Patient-reported symptoms and discontinuation of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy
Get PDFBACKGROUND:
Aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy results in substantial survival benefits for patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The rates of poor adherence and discontinuation of AI therapy are high, primarily because of treatment-related toxicities like musculoskeletal pain. Although pain-related symptoms may worsen during AI therapy, the authors hypothesized that nonpersistence with AI therapy was associated with symptoms that were present before treatment initiation.
METHODS:
Postmenopausal women initiating AI therapy who were enrolled in a prospective clinical trial completed questionnaires at baseline to assess sleep, fatigue, mood, and pain. Reasons for treatment discontinuation during the first year of treatment were recorded. Associations between baseline patient-reported symptoms and treatment discontinuation because of toxicity were identified using logistic regression.
RESULTS:
Four hundred forty-nine patients were evaluable. The odds of treatment discontinuation were higher in patients who reported a greater number of symptoms before AI initiation. Baseline poor sleep quality was associated with early treatment discontinuation, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-2.89; P = .002). Baseline presence of tired feeling and forgetfulness had similar ORs for discontinuation (tired feeling: OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.15-2.67; P = .009; forgetfulness: OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.11-2.48; P = .015). An increasing total number of baseline symptoms was associated with an increased likelihood of treatment discontinuation, with an OR of 1.89 (95% CI, 1.20-2.96; P = .006) for 3 to 5 symptoms versus 0 to 2 symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS:
Symptom clusters in breast cancer survivors that are present before the initiation of adjuvant AI therapy may have a negative impact on a patient's persistence with therapy. Interventions to manage these symptoms may improve breast cancer outcomes and quality of life
Design of Piezoresistive MEMS-Based Accelerometer for Integration with Wireless Sensing Unit for Structural Monitoring
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