Worker Productivity Loss Associated with Arthritis

This study at a major financial services corporation sought to investigate the association of arthritis with on-the-job productivity, also termed "presenteeism." Using a modified version of the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) incorporated into a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA), 17,685 employees responded to the survey in 2002. Of the 16,651 respondents meeting inclusion criteria, 2,469 (14.8%) reported having arthritis, and 986 (39.9% of those with arthritis) also reported that they were under medical care and/or taking medication for arthritis. Employees with arthritis were older, predominantly female, and reported a higher number of comorbidities. Although all four domains of the WLQ (physical, time, mental, and output) were impacted by arthritis, the greatest productivity effect, as expected, was on physical work tasks. Health risks also play a role in the relationship between arthritis and presenteeism, with high-risk individuals reporting 7%–10% additional loss of productivity compared to lowrisk individuals. In addition, those who reported receiving medication and/or treatment for arthritis had a 2.5% excess productivity loss independently attributed to their arthritis, which equals approximately $1,250 per employee per year, or$5.4 million to the corporation. This arthritis effect was discernible in those with low and moderate levels of health risk, but was not as evident in those with high health risks; in that group, health-associated decrements in productivity were much larger. Arthritis is associated with work productivity loss. Disease management programs should focus on pain management and arthritis-associated health risks and comorbidities in order to significantly decrease arthritis-related losses in on-the-job productivity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63221/1/dis.2006.9.131.pd

Valuing rare pediatric drugs: an economics perspective

There is a coming wave of novel genetic therapies aiming to treat rare pediatric disease. A large literature investigates the valuation of new treatments, but the valuation of treatments for rare pediatric illness raises a host of unique issues. In this paper, we review the challenges of applying both the standard economic model and standard approaches to estimating cost-effectiveness using the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) to this case. We argue that there are a large number of special issues that have only been partially addressed by past work and we conclude that more data and the development of new methods are vital as innovators, health technology assessment practitioners and policymakers confront the launch of these new drugs.https://www.nber.org/papers/w27978First author draf

Anomalous oriented attachment growth behavior on SnO2 nanocrystals

This work reports a detailed characterization of an anomalous oriented attachment behaviour for SnO2 nanocrystals. Our results evidenced an anisotropic growth for two identical 〈110〉 directions, which are equivalent according to the SnO2 crystallographic structure symmetry. A hypothesis is proposed to describe this behaviour

Ca-Stimulated Type 8 Adenylyl Cyclase Is Required for Rapid Acquisition of Novel Spatial Information and for Working/Episodic-Like Memory

Ca-stimulated adenylyl cyclases (ACs) transduce neuronal stimulation-evoked increase in calcium to the production of cAMP, which impinges on the regulation of many aspects of neuronal function. Type 1 and type 8 AC (AC1 and AC8) are the only ACs that are directly stimulated by Ca. Although AC1 function was implicated in regulating reference spatial memory, the function of AC8 in memory formation is not known. Because of the different biochemical properties of AC1 and AC8, these two enzymes may have distinct functions. For example, AC1 activity is regulated by both Ca and G-proteins. In contrast, AC8 is a pure Ca sensor. It is neither stimulated by Gs nor inhibited by Gi. Recent studies also suggested that AC1 and AC8 were differentially concentrated at different subcellular domains, implicating that Ca-stimulated signaling might be compartmentalized. In this study, we used AC8 knock-out (KO) mice and found behavioral deficits in memory retention for temporal dissociative passive avoidance and object recognition memory. When examined by Morris water maze, AC8KOmice showed normal reference memory. However, the acquisition of newer spatial information was defective in AC8 KO mice. Furthermore, AC8 KO mice were severely impaired in hippocampus-dependent episodic-like memory when examined by the delayed matching-to-place task. Because AC8 is preferentially localized at the presynaptic active zone, our results suggest a novel role of presynaptic cAMP signaling in memory acquisition and retention, as well as distinct mechanisms underlying reference and working/episodic-like memory

Status of low-energy accelerator-based BNCT worldwide and in Argentina

Existing and active low-energy Accelerator-Based BNCT programs worldwide will be reviewed and compared. In particular, the program in Argentina will be discussed which consists of the development of an Electro-Static-Quadrupole (ESQ) Accelerator-Based treatment facility. The facility is conceived to operate with the deuteron-induced reactions 9Be(d,n)10B and 13C(d,n)14N at 1.45 MeV deuteron energy, as neutron sources. Neutron production target development status is specified. The present status of the construction of the new accelerator development laboratory and future BNCT centre is shown.Fil: Cartelli, Daniel Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Capoulat, Maria Eugenia. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Baldo, M.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Suárez Sandín, J. C.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Igarzabal, M.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: del Grosso, Mariela Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Valda, A. A.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Canepa, N.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Gun, M.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Minsky, Daniel Mauricio. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Conti, G.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Erhardt, J.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Somacal, Héctor Rubén. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Bertolo, A. A.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Bergueiro, J.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Gaviola, P. A.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Kreiner, Andres Juan. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Efectividad del blindaje de campo magnético de baja frecuencia con placas metálicas

La existencia de campo magnético de frecuencia industrial resulta necesariamente asociada a los sistemas que generan, transmiten y distribuyen energía eléctrica. Los valores máximos de campo magnético producidos por las instalaciones de las empresas eléctricas se encuentran en las inmediaciones de las estaciones transformadoras, líneas de transmisión, cables subterráneos, puestos de transición, líneas aéreas y cables de distribución. La magnitud del campo magnético de baja frecuencia, 50 ó 60 Hz, generado por las instalaciones de las empresas eléctricas debe ser controlado y permanecer por debajo de ciertos límites establecidos en las reglamenta ciones vigentes. En nuestro país, según [1] y [2], el valor máximo de inducción magnética permitido en lugares de acceso público es de 25 µ T. Con objeto de disminuir la magnitud del campo magnético, se analizan una serie de blindajes pasivos y abiertos bas ados en placas de materiales conductores ferromagnéticos y no ferromagnéticos de diferentes características mecánicas y eléctricas de uso habitual en instalaciones eléctricas. En este trabajo se describen los resultados encontrados experimentalmente y los obtenidos mediante simulaciones numéricas de cómo se altera la distribución del nivel de campo magnético producido por circuitos recorridos por corrientes de 50 Hz ante la presencia de blindajes realizados con placas planas de hierro y aluminio. Para el a nálisis se implementó en laboratorio un sistema de conductores con geometría y corriente de magnitud controlada. Se realizaron determinaciones del nivel de campo en el entorno del sistema sin la presencia de las placas de blindaje y luego con las mismas. Los resultados obtenidos se los utiliza a fin de validar el modelo numérico de simulación mediante el método de elementos finitos en 3D. El sistema probado en laboratorio trata de representar la situación que se presenta en las instalaciones compuestas de barras y/ó cables subterráneos trifásicos que transportan altas corrientes y que se encuentran a distancias relativamente cercanas a los espacios públicos. Los materiales usados para la experiencia son materiales de uso habitual en ingeniería y de costo razonable como lo son la chapa de hierro y la de aluminio de distintos espesores. Una vez validado el modelo se realiza un estudio de la sensibilidad del nivel de campo magnético resultante ante diversas características del material de blindaje como lo son su espesor, conductividad eléctrica y la permeabilidad relativa en el caso de los materiales ferromagnéticos.Instituto de Investigaciones Tecnológicas para Redes y Equipos Eléctrico

Efectividad del blindaje de campo magnético de baja frecuencia con placas metálicas

La existencia de campo magnético de frecuencia industrial resulta necesariamente asociada a los sistemas que generan, transmiten y distribuyen energía eléctrica. Los valores máximos de campo magnético producidos por las instalaciones de las empresas eléctricas se encuentran en las inmediaciones de las estaciones transformadoras, líneas de transmisión, cables subterráneos, puestos de transición, líneas aéreas y cables de distribución. La magnitud del campo magnético de baja frecuencia, 50 ó 60 Hz, generado por las instalaciones de las empresas eléctricas debe ser controlado y permanecer por debajo de ciertos límites establecidos en las reglamenta ciones vigentes. En nuestro país, según [1] y [2], el valor máximo de inducción magnética permitido en lugares de acceso público es de 25 µ T. Con objeto de disminuir la magnitud del campo magnético, se analizan una serie de blindajes pasivos y abiertos bas ados en placas de materiales conductores ferromagnéticos y no ferromagnéticos de diferentes características mecánicas y eléctricas de uso habitual en instalaciones eléctricas. En este trabajo se describen los resultados encontrados experimentalmente y los obtenidos mediante simulaciones numéricas de cómo se altera la distribución del nivel de campo magnético producido por circuitos recorridos por corrientes de 50 Hz ante la presencia de blindajes realizados con placas planas de hierro y aluminio. Para el a nálisis se implementó en laboratorio un sistema de conductores con geometría y corriente de magnitud controlada. Se realizaron determinaciones del nivel de campo en el entorno del sistema sin la presencia de las placas de blindaje y luego con las mismas. Los resultados obtenidos se los utiliza a fin de validar el modelo numérico de simulación mediante el método de elementos finitos en 3D. El sistema probado en laboratorio trata de representar la situación que se presenta en las instalaciones compuestas de barras y/ó cables subterráneos trifásicos que transportan altas corrientes y que se encuentran a distancias relativamente cercanas a los espacios públicos. Los materiales usados para la experiencia son materiales de uso habitual en ingeniería y de costo razonable como lo son la chapa de hierro y la de aluminio de distintos espesores. Una vez validado el modelo se realiza un estudio de la sensibilidad del nivel de campo magnético resultante ante diversas características del material de blindaje como lo son su espesor, conductividad eléctrica y la permeabilidad relativa en el caso de los materiales ferromagnéticos.Instituto de Investigaciones Tecnológicas para Redes y Equipos Eléctrico

Global functional analysis of nucleophosmin in Taxol response, cancer, chromatin regulation, and ribosomal DNA transcription

Analysis of lung cancer response to chemotherapeutic agents showed the accumulation of a Taxol-induced protein that reacted with an anti-phospho-MEK1/2 antibody. Mass spectroscopy identified the protein as nucleophosmin/B23 (NPM), a multifunctional protein with diverse roles: ribosome biosynthesis, p53 regulation, nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling, and centrosome duplication. Our work demonstrates that following cellular exposure to mitosis-arresting agents NPM is phosphorylated and its chromatographic property is altered, suggesting changes in function during mitosis. To determine the functional relevance of NPM, its expression in tumor cells was reduced by siRNA. Cells with reduced NPM were treated with Taxol followed by microarray profiling accompanied by gene/protein pathway analyses. These studies demonstrate several expected and unexpected consequences of NPM depletion. The predominant downstream effectors of NPM are genes involved in cell proliferation, cancer, and the cell cycle. In congruence with its role in cancer, NPM is over-expressed in primary malignant lung cancer tissues. We also demonstrate a role for NPM in the expression of genes encoding SET (TAF1β) and the histone methylase SET8. Additionally, we show that NPM is required for a previously unobserved G2/M upregulation of TAF1A, which encodes the rDNA transcription factor TAFI48. These results demonstrate multi-faceted functions of NPM that can affect cancer cells

VILIP-1 Expression In Vivo Results in Decreased Mouse Skin Keratinocyte Proliferation and Tumor Development

VILIP-1, a member of the neuronal Ca2+ sensor protein family, is able to act as a tumor suppressor in carcinoma cells by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration. In order to study the role of VILIP-1 in skin carcinogenesis we generated transgenic mice overexpressing VILIP-1 in epidermis under the control of the bovine keratin K5 promoter (K5-VILIP-1). We studied the susceptibility of FVB wild type and VILIP-1 transgenic mice to chemically mediated carcinogenesis. After 30 weeks of treatment with a two-stage carcinogenesis protocol, all animals showed numerous skin tumors. Nevertheless, K5-VILIP-1 mice showed decreased squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) multiplicity of ∼49% (p<0.02) with respect to the corresponding SCC multiplicity observed in wild type (WT) mice. In addition, the relative percentage of low-grade cutaneous SCCs grade I (defined by the differentiation pattern according to the Broders grading scale) increased approximately 50% in the K5-VILIP1 mice when compared with SCCs in WT mice. Similar tendency was observed using a complete carcinogenesis protocol for skin carcinogenesis using benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). Further studies of tumors and primary epidermal keratinocyte cultures showed that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels and cell proliferation decreased in K5-VILIP-1 mice when compared with their wild counterparts. In addition tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) expression was higher in K5-VILIP-1 keratinocytes. These results show that VILIP-1 overexpression decreases the susceptibility to skin carcinogenesis in experimental mouse cancer models, thus supporting its role as a tumor suppressor gene

Rare germline variants in DNA repair genes and the angiogenesis pathway predispose prostate cancer patients to develop metastatic disease

Background Prostate cancer (PrCa) demonstrates a heterogeneous clinical presentation ranging from largely indolent to lethal. We sought to identify a signature of rare inherited variants that distinguishes between these two extreme phenotypes. Methods We sequenced germline whole exomes from 139 aggressive (metastatic, age of diagnosis < 60) and 141 non-aggressive (low clinical grade, age of diagnosis ≥60) PrCa cases. We conducted rare variant association analyses at gene and gene set levels using SKAT and Bayesian risk index techniques. GO term enrichment analysis was performed for genes with the highest differential burden of rare disruptive variants. Results Protein truncating variants (PTVs) in specific DNA repair genes were significantly overrepresented among patients with the aggressive phenotype, with BRCA2, ATM and NBN the most frequently mutated genes. Differential burden of rare variants was identified between metastatic and non-aggressive cases for several genes implicated in angiogenesis, conferring both deleterious and protective effects. Conclusions Inherited PTVs in several DNA repair genes distinguish aggressive from non-aggressive PrCa cases. Furthermore, inherited variants in genes with roles in angiogenesis may be potential predictors for risk of metastases. If validated in a larger dataset, these findings have potential for future clinical application