How best to treat UTIs in women who breastfeed?

It's unclear, as no studies have specifically evaluated therapies for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in breastfeeding women. However, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), b-lactam antibiotics, nitrofurantoin, and fluoroquinolones all produce cure rates of 78% to 95% for uncomplicated UTIs in women who aren't breastfeeding, and all appear to be equivalent (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, a systematic review). Women who take TMP/SMX develop drug concentrations in breast milk that are below recommended maximum safe levels for infants who don't have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (SOR: B, a small observational study and expert opinion); treatment with nitrofurantoin and ciprofloxacin also produces low levels in breast milk (SOR: C, extrapolations from small observational studies and expert opinion). (Though in the case of nitrofurantoin, this does not include patients with G6PD deficiency.) Some antibiotics taken by breastfeeding mothers may occasionally be associated with adverse effects in their infants: TMP/SMX may cause poor feeding; amoxicillin and cephalexin may cause diarrhea; nitrofurantoin may cause diarrhea or, in infants with G6PD deficiency, hemolytic anemia; and ciprofloxacin may cause pseudomembranous colitis in infants and green teeth in neonates (SOR: C, case reports and expert opinion)

Chandra Discovery of 10 New X-Ray Jets Associated With FR II Radio Core-Selected AGNs in the MOJAVE Sample

The Chandra X-ray observatory has proven to be a vital tool for studying high-energy emission processes in jets associated with Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).We have compiled a sample of 27 AGN selected from the radio flux-limited MOJAVE (Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA Experiments) sample of highly relativistically beamed jets to look for correlations between X-ray and radio emission on kiloparsec scales. The sample consists of all MOJAVE quasars which have over 100 mJy of extended radio emission at 1.4 GHz and a radio structure of at least 3" in size. Previous Chandra observations have revealed X-ray jets in 11 of 14 members of the sample, and we have carried out new observations of the remaining 13 sources. Of the latter, 10 have Xray jets, bringing the overall detection rate to ~ 78%. Our selection criteria, which is based on highly compact, relativistically beamed jet emission and large extended radio flux, thus provides an effective method of discovering new X-ray jets associated with AGN. The detected X-ray jet morphologies are generally well correlated with the radio emission, except for those displaying sharp bends in the radio band. The X-ray emission mechanism for these powerful FR II (Fanaroff-Riley type II) jets can be interpreted as inverse Compton scattering off of cosmic microwave background (IC/CMB) photons by the electrons in the relativistic jets. We derive viewing angles for the jets, assuming a non-bending, non-decelerating model, by using superluminal parsec scale speeds along with parameters derived from the inverse Compton X-ray model. We use these angles to calculate best fit Doppler and bulk Lorentz factors for the jets, as well as their possible ranges, which leads to extreme values for the bulk Lorentz factor in some cases. When both the non-bending and non-decelerating assumptions are relaxed [abridged]Comment: 38 Pages, 4 Figures, 5 Tables, accepted for publication in Ap

Monitoring Heart Function in Larval Drosophila melanogaster for Physiological Studies

We present various methods to record cardiac function in the larval Drosophila. The approaches allow heart rate to be measured in unrestrained and restrained whole larvae. For direct control of the environment around the heart another approach utilizes the dissected larvae and removal of the internal organs in order to bathe the heart in desired compounds. The exposed heart also allows membrane potentials to be monitored which can give insight of the ionic currents generated by the myocytes and for electrical conduction along the heart tube. These approaches have various advantages and disadvantages for future experiments that are discussed. The larval heart preparation provides an additional model besides the Drosophila skeletal NMJ to investigate the role of intracellular calcium regulation on cellular function. Learning more about the underlying ionic currents that shape the action potentials in myocytes in various species, one can hope to get a handle on the known ionic dysfunctions associated to specific genes responsible for various diseases in mammals

Hyperpolarization by Activation of Halorhodopsin Results in Enhanced Synaptic Transmission: Neuromuscular Junction and CNS Circuit

Optogenetics offers a unique method to regulate the activity of select neural circuits. However, the electrophysiological consequences of targeted optogenetic manipulation upon the entire circuit remain poorly understood. Analysis of the sensory-CNS-motor circuit in Drosophila larvae expressing eHpHR and ChR2-XXL revealed unexpected patterns of excitability. Optical stimulation of motor neurons targeted to express eNpHR resulted in inhibition followed by excitation of body wall contraction with repetitive stimulation in intact larvae. In situ preparations with direct electrophysiological measures showed an increased responsiveness to excitatory synaptic activity induced by sensory stimulation within a functional neural circuit. To ensure proper function of eNpHR and ChR2-XXL they were expressed in body wall muscle and direct electrophysiological measurements were obtained. Under eNpHR induced hyperpolarization the muscle remained excitable with increased amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic synaptic potentials. Theoretical models to explain the observations are presented. This study aids in increasing the understanding of the varied possible influences with light activated proteins within intact neural circuits

A Systems Architectural Model for Man-Packable/Operable Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Mini/Micro Aerial Vehicles

With the increase in both technology push and operational pull of mini/micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) within DoD organizations, an understanding of their interactions and capabilities is necessary. Many MAVs have already been developed for a specific usage and much speculation has been made on their future uses. Despite the growth of MAVs, there is currently no overarching systems architecture which would envelop and guide the DoD\u27s MAV development efforts. The goal of this thesis is to apply sound systems engineering principals to develop a MAV architectural model describing their use in three separate but closely related mission areas: Over-the-Hill-Reconnaissance, Battle Damage Information, and Local Area Defense. This thesis focuses on single-man packable/operable MAVs utilized by small ground units synonymous with special operations forces. The three mission areas are combined to define a single overarching Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) MAV architecture. This architecture focuses on the current state of ISR MAVs and provides a baseline current capability. From this architecture, areas of interest relating to MAVs and their use in the DoD are discussed, focusing on enhancing both current and future capabilities of MAVs

Osteomyelitis of the ribs in children: a rare and potentially challenging diagnosis

Background Rib osteomyelitis is rare in children and can mimic other pathologies. Imaging has a major role in the diagnosing rib osteomyelitis. Objective To evaluate clinical presentation and imaging findings in children with rib osteomyelitis. Materials and methods We performed a retrospective (2009–2018) study on children with rib osteomyelitis verified by either positive culture or pathology. We excluded children with multifocal osteomyelitis or empyema necessitans. We reviewed medical charts for clinical, laboratory and pathology data, and treatment. All imaging modalities for rib abnormalities were evaluated for presence and location of osteomyelitis and abscess. We calculated descriptive statistics to compare patient demographics, clinical presentation and imaging findings. Results The study group included 10 children (6 boys, 4 girls), with an average age of 7.3 years (range, 3 months to 15.9 years). The most common clinical presentations were fever (n=8) and pain (n=5). Eight children had elevated inflammatory indices (leukocytosis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP]). Localized chest wall swelling was found initially in six children and later in two more children. Rib osteomyelitis was suspected on presentation in only two children. All children had chest radiographs. Rib lytic changes were found on only one chest radiograph, in two of the four ultrasound studies, and in four of eight CTs. Bone marrow signal abnormalities were seen in all eight MRIs. In nine children the osteomyelitis involved the costochondral junction. Six children had an associated abscess. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in eight children. Osteomyelitis was diagnosed based on pathology in one child with negative cultures. Conclusion While rib osteomyelitis is rare, imaging findings of lytic changes at the costochondral junction combined with a history of fever, elevated inflammatory markers or localized soft-tissue swelling in the chest should raise suspicion for this disease

Effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on graft-versus-host disease

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is often complicated by alloreactive donor T cell-mediated graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). The major polyphenol of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is an inhibitor of both DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), which are essential for induction of GvHD. Thus, in this report, we examine if in vivo administration of EGCG mitigates GvHD in several different animal models. While we concede that refinement of EGCG treatment might result in GvHD prevention, our results suggest that EGCG treatment might not be an effective therapy against GvHD in the clinic

Boosting and lassoing new prostate cancer SNP risk factors and their connection to selenium

We begin by arguing that the often used algorithm for the discovery and use of disease risk factors, stepwise logistic regression, is unstable. We then argue that there are other algorithms available that are much more stable and reliable (e.g. the lasso and gradient boosting). We then propose a protocol for the discovery and use of risk factors using lasso or boosting variable selection. We then illustrate the use of the protocol with a set of prostate cancer data and show that it recovers known risk factors. Finally, we use the protocol to identify new and important SNP based risk factors for prostate cancer and further seek evidence for or against the hypothesis of an anticancer function for Selenium in prostate cancer. We find that the anticancer effect may depend on the SNP-SNP interaction and, in particular, which alleles are present