Information As Inspiration: A Truth For Professional Development

This capstone poses a very important set of basic organizational questions centered on why we do or do not openly share information when we are at work. Many lenses are used to view this topic: a leadership or followership perspective, information dissemination techniques, the accuracy and timeliness of those techniques, psychological deterrents to effective communication such as cognitive biases, and professional development’s direct correlation to the amount of information provided to an employee. This document begins with a pair of professional stories depicting these workplace dynamics and then moves into a research literature review, which explores how the availability of information in and of the workplace affects employees’ professional performance and development. More specifically, leaders’ dissemination or withholding of information can also greatly influence the workplace. The research question becomes, what impact does leader dissemination of accurate and timely information have on follower effectiveness? The document interprets the literature and presents a series of short interviews with a small group of participants on the topic. The interviews validate or, at the very least, strongly suggest that the research question would be worth pursuing with a larger study

Targeting tumors using peptides

To penetrate solid tumors, low molecular weight (Mw < 10 KDa) compounds have an edge over antibodies: their higher penetration because of their small size. Because of the dense stroma and high interstitial fluid pressure of solid tumors, the penetration of higher Mw compounds is unfavored and being small thus becomes an advantage. This review covers a wide range of peptidic ligands—linear, cyclic, macrocyclic and cyclotidic peptides—to target tumors: We describe the main tools to identify peptides experimentally, such as phage display, and the possible chemical modifications to enhance the properties of the identified peptides. We also review in silico identification of peptides and the most salient non-peptidic ligands in clinical stages. We later focus the attention on the current validated ligands available to target different tumor compartments: blood vessels, extracelullar matrix, and tumor associated macrophages. The clinical advances and failures of these ligands and their therapeutic conjugates will be discussed. We aim to present the reader with the state-of-the-art in targeting tumors, by using low Mw molecules, and the tools to identify new ligands.Fil: Scodeller, Pablo David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. University of Tartu; EstoniaFil: Asciutto, Eliana Karina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentin

Physical Interactions Driving the Activation/Inhibition of Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase II

CaMKII is a protein kinase whose function is regulated by the binding of the Calcium/Calmodulin complex (Ca2+ /CaM). It is a major player in the Long Term Potentiation process where it acts as a molecular switch, oscillating between inhibited and active conformations. The mechanism for the switching is thought to be initiated by Ca2+/CaM binding, which allows the trans-phosphorylation of a subunit of CaMKII by a neighboring kinase, leading to the active state of the system. A combination of all-atom and coarse-grained MD simulations with free energy calculations, led us to reveal an interplay of electrostatic forces exerted by Ca2+/CaM on CaMKII, which initiate the activation process. The highly electrically charged Ca2+/CaM neutralizes basic regions in the linker domain of CaMKII, facilitating its opening and consequent activation. The emerging picture of CaMKII's behavior highlights the preponderance of electrostatic interactions, which are modulated by the presence of Ca2+/CaM and the phosphorylation of key sites.Fil: Asciutto, Eliana Karina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Físicas. - Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Ciencias Físicas; ArgentinaFil: Pantano, Sergio. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; Argentina. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: General, Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias Físicas. - Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Ciencias Físicas; Argentin

Sodium versus potassium effects on the glutamic acid side-chains interaction on a heptapeptide

Equilibrium peptide conformations in solution, especially in the presence of salts, has been of interest for several decades. The fundamental interactions that determine the dominant peptide conformations in solution have been experimentally and computationally probed; however, a uni¯ed understanding has not yet emerged. In a previous study, we performed metadynamics simulations on the heptapeptide AEAAAEA in Sodium Chloride (NaCl) and Potassium Chloride (KCl) solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.5–2.0 M. Using a three-dimensional collective variable coordinate system, we computed the free energy landscapes in each saline environment as well as in pure water. We found that the presence of Naþ and Kþ ions induces some changes in the stability of the conformers that de¯ne the state space, but does not alter the overall energetics between conformers and does not favor helical conformations. We investigate here, how the presence of salts (NaCl and KCl) a®ects the glutamic–glutamic interaction and its consequences on the stability of each equilibrium conformation. We perform this study through ¯xed backbone simulations for the most populated conformations identi¯ed in our previous work: the -helix, 310-helix, -helix, the extended polyproline II (PPII) and 2.51-helix conformations. It was found that for each conformation, there exists stable substates determined by the glutamic acid side-chains distance and orientation, and that Naþ and Kþ cations (de) stabilize preferentially each conformation. It was also found that intramolecular single water mediated hydrogen bonds play a crucial role in the observed (de) stabilization of each equilibrium conformation.Fil: Asciutto, Eliana Karina. Duquesne University. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gaborek, Timothy. Duquesne University. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Estados UnidosFil: Madura, Jeffry D.. Duquesne University. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Estados Unido

Dacron Patch Infection After Carotid Angioplasty. A Report of 6 Cases

ObjectiveWe describe our experience with Dacron patch infections after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).ReportFrom 633 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy with Dacron patching, six re-presented with prosthetic infections. In 3 of the 6 cases a neck haematoma had necessitated surgical revision after the original carotid surgery. Five patients underwent interposition vein grafting and 1 vein patch angioplasty. Postoperatively, 2 patients developed a repeat infection including the 1 patient with patch angioplasty. All patients were free of infection and neurological symptoms after a maximum follow-up of 56.5 months.ConclusionFollowing the development of haemorrhage or wound complications careful clinical surveillance should be carried out after carotid reconstruction

High preoperative blood levels of HE4 predicts poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of preoperative blood levels of HE4 as a predictor of overall survival in patients with ovarian cancer and to validate previous data of HE4 and the ROMA algorithm including HE4 and CA125 in discriminating benign and malignant ovarian tumors. Experimental design: The preoperative plasma levels of HE4 and CA125 were analyzed with ELISA in 312 patients with adnexal lesions. Tumors were classified as benign (n= 206), borderline (i.e. low malignant potential tumors) (n= 25), and well (n= 14), moderately (n= 15), and poorly (n= 51) differentiated malignant. Results: In univariate Cox regression analyses high levels (dichotomized at the median) of HE4, CA125, increased age (continuous variable), advanced-stage of disease 2-4, histological grade 3 and non-optimal tumor debulking at primary surgery were all significantly associated with shorter overall survival. A multivariate Cox regression model including pre-operative available covariates HE4 and CA125 both dichotomized at median in addition to age as continuous variable showed that high levels of HE4 was an independent prognostic marker for worse prognosis HR 2.02 (95% CI 1.1-3.8). In postmenopausal women the ROMA algorithm gave the highest AUC of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90-0.97) which was higher than the separate markers HE4 AUC 0.91 (95% CI 0.86-0.95) and CA125 AUC 0.91(95% CI 0.87-0.96). Conclusions: High concentration of plasma HE4 is an independent preoperative marker of poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. The algorithm ROMA discriminates in postmenopausal women between malignant and benign tumors with an AUC of 0.94

[Abolishing mandatory routine medical and laboratory examination of food handlers may have influenced the reporting trends of foodborne diseases? Frequency of notified foodborne illnesses in Southern Italy from 1996 to 2009]

The aim of this study is to compare notifications of foodborne diseases in Southern Italy, before and after abolishing mandatory medical and laboratory examination routine. Data were obtained from the National Epidemiological Report of Health Ministry, that includes the annual summaries of foodborne infectious illnesses notified in Italy. The average number of foodborne diseases per million inhabitants per year decreased after the abolishment of health card for all examined conditions. There was a statistically significant reduction in all Regions for Salmonellosis and in Basilicata, Calabria, Campania and Sicily for Brucellosis. Abolishing health card of food handlers workers did not increase trends of foodborne illnesses and foodborne epidemics in Southern Italy. Examined data confirm the substantial effectiveness of food handlers self-control and training as essentials instruments of Evidence Based Prevention

Expression of fibromodulin in carotid atherosclerotic plaques is associated with diabetes and cerebrovascular events.

The small leucine-rich proteoglycans fibromodulin and lumican are functionally related extracellular matrix proteins involved in the regulation of collagen fiber formation. Fibromodulin-deficient apolipoprotein E-null mice have decreased vascular retention of lipids and reduced development of atherosclerosis suggesting that fibromodulin may influence the disease process. The aim of the present study was to investigate if fibromodulin and lumican are expressed in human carotid plaques and to determine if their expression is associated with the occurrence of preoperative symptoms and with risk for postoperative cardiovascular events

Prevalence and determinants of diabetes mellitus in a representative sample of Italian adults

Background:&nbsp;Diabetes mellitus is a dramatic epidemic worldwide. This study providea an updated estimate of itsprevalence and determinants among Italian adults. Methods:&nbsp;Data were derived from a face-to-face survey conducted in 2013 on 2901 individuals (1391 men, 1510 women) aged ≥18 years, representative of the general adult Italian population. Odds ratios (OR) for diabetes&nbsp;versus&nbsp;non diabetes in relation to selected risk factors were derived using multiple logistic regression models. Results:&nbsp;Overall, 135 out of 2901 adults (4.7%) reported a diagnosis of diabetes, with similar prevalence in men (4.8%) and in women (4.5%). Diabetes increased with age (0.6% at age 18-44, 5.1% at age 45-64, and 11.3% at age ≥65 years; p-trend &lt;0.001) and decreased with increasing level of education (12.8% for low, 7.8% for middle, and 1.4% for high education; p-trend &lt;0.001). Prevalence was higher among obese subjects (10.8%) compared to normal weight subjects (3.1%; OR=2.46; p-trend=0.001), among individuals reporting a physical activity &lt;30 minutes of walk/day (5.6%) compared to those reporting &gt;60 minutes of walk/day (3.8%; OR=1.43), and among ex-smokers (11.6%) compared to never smokers (4.2%; OR=2.51); moreover, it was lower among moderate drinkers (3.1%) than among abstainers (6.1%; OR=0.57; p-trend=0.016). Prevalence of diabetes was 16.1% in individuals with a diagnosis of hypertension (OR=4.66), 15.2% in those with high cholesterol (OR=3.84), and 21.6% among aspirin users (OR=4.46). Conclusion:&nbsp;Although diabetes prevalence in Italy is still comparatively low, effective clinical and preventive intervention strategies – focused on major risk behaviors – should be implemented to control the diffusion of this condition

Knowledge, risk perception and behaviours in swimming pool users of Palermo city, Sicily

To assess knowledge, risk perception and behaviours of a sample of swimming pool users in Palermo. A total of 498 subjects were interviewed by self-administered anonymous questionnaire including socio-demographic questions, knowledge/risk perception and behaviours. Overall, 289 subjects (58%) had a mean of 1.9\ub11.2 healthy behaviours. Age older than 30 years (OR=0.46; 95% CI=0.26\u20130.81), female sex (OR=0.52; 95% CI=0.35\u20130.76) and a high knowledge score (OR=0.15; 95% CI=0.03\u20130.69) were significantly associated with having healthy behaviours in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Unhealthy behaviours can be frequently found in swimming pool bathers and, particularly, in some target groups. Public health prevention strategies should be implemented to improve public awareness and information on a safe use of recreational water environments