Understanding the Correlates of Donor Intention: A comparison of Local, National, and International Charity Destinations

The United Kingdom is generous toward charitable donations, and this commitment appears robust against a background of economic uncertainty. While prior work has identified a clear preference for domestic over international causes, research has yet to identify the range of variables that significantly correlate with this important element of charitable choice. A survey of 1,004 U.K. residents was designed to assess willingness to donate to local, national, and international causes. For each destination, stepwise multiple regression analysis identified the key variables that correlate to an individual’s willingness to donate. Findings suggest that donor willingness correlates with levels of trust, preferred types of charitable cause, and donation channels. In contrast, the role of donor demographics is relatively limited. The findings suggest some commonality in the variables that associate most significantly with willingness to donate locally and nationally, but those relating to international donation intention are relatively distinct

Functional recovery after bilateral extended autologous latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction : a prospective observational study

Background: The impact of unilateral extended autologous latissimus dorsi (EALD) flap harvest and axillary surgery on shoulder function has been well described, but the impact of bilateral EALD flap harvest has not been clearly defined nor is it clear whether reconstructions should be synchronous or staged. Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients undergoing bilateral EALD breast reconstruction (February 2003–December 2009) completed the disability, arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire preoperatively and at five post-operative timepoints. Intensive shoulder physiotherapy was offered to those whose DASH score was >30 at 6 weeks or >20 at 12 weeks post-operatively. Results: Sixty patients underwent bilateral EALD flap breast reconstruction (51 synchronous, 9 metachronous). Patients with pre-existing shoulder pathology (n = 1) and those who failed to return any post-operative DASH questionnaire (n = 10) were excluded from initial DASH analysis. However, these eleven patients were included in a separate analysis as an intention-to-treat analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric, Friedman test and multiple comparison model. Forty-nine patients’ DASH scores were analysed. DASH score initially increased after surgery and then returned to functionally normal within 3–6 months (median DASH: preoperative = 1 vs 6 weeks post-operation = 26, p = <0.001; vs 3 months = 19, p = <0.001; vs 6 months = 13, p = <0.001); thereafter, the scores remained less than 12 (p = <0.001). Median DASH score after synchronous reconstruction was not higher than that after metachronous reconstructions, although the metachronous sample size was small. Conclusion: With appropriate patient selection and intensive physiotherapy, bilateral EALD breast reconstruction does not appear to cause significant long-term impairment of shoulder function, and patients can now be counselled about the likely timecourse of shoulder recovery. There seems no reason to stage bilateral reconstruction to reduce shoulder morbidity

Measurement of Surface Reactions in the Space Environment

Serious degradation is experienced by the external surfaces of spacecraft that operate in low earth orbits for extended periods of time, as a result of the ablative effects of atmospheric atomic oxygen, possibly catalyzed by solar ultraviolet radiation. Improved base materials and surface coatings are being developed by government, university and industry teams to combat the effects of this degradation. A small spacecraft and a suite of associated instruments, designed to measure the performance of improved, atomic-oxygen-resistant materials and coatings in orbit and to telemeter the resulting data and video images to earth at intervals during a one-year mission, have been described in a definition study sponsored by the Langley Research Center under NASA\u27s In-Space Technology Experiments Program. Instruments selected for use in this miniature orbiting laboratory include a radio frequency mass spectrometer, a set of quartz crystal microbalances, a set of osmium-based atomic oxygen sensors, a scatterometer, a set of osmium actinometers and a scanning optical microscope. The design of these instruments and their use in the overall experiment are summarized in this paper

Meningococcal disease in children in Merseyside, England:a 31 year descriptive study

Meningococcal disease (MCD) is the leading infectious cause of death in early childhood in the United Kingdom, making it a public health priority. MCD most commonly presents as meningococcal meningitis (MM), septicaemia (MS), or as a combination of the two syndromes (MM/MS). We describe the changing epidemiology and clinical presentation of MCD, and explore associations with socioeconomic status and other risk factors. A hospital-based study of children admitted to a tertiary children's centre, Alder Hey Children's Foundation Trust, with MCD, was undertaken between 1977 to 2007 (n = 1157). Demographics, clinical presentations, microbiological confirmation and measures of deprivation were described. The majority of cases occurred in the 1-4 year age group and there was a dramatic fall in serogroup C cases observed with the introduction of the meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine. The proportion of MS cases increased over the study period, from 11% in the first quarter to 35% in the final quarter. Presentation with MS (compared to MM) and serogroup C disease (compared to serogroup B) were demonstrated to be independent risk factors for mortality, with odds ratios of 3.5 (95% CI 1.18 to 10.08) and 2.18 (95% CI 1.26 to 3.80) respectively. Cases admitted to Alder Hey were from a relatively more deprived population (mean Townsend score 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.41) than the Merseyside reference population. Our findings represent one of the largest single-centre studies of MCD. The presentation of MS is confirmed to be a risk factor of mortality from MCD. Our study supports the association between social deprivation and MCD

Epstein-Barr Virus BART9 miRNA Modulates LMP1 Levels and Affects Growth Rate of Nasal NK T Cell Lymphomas

Nasal NK/T cell lymphomas (NKTCL) are a subset of aggressive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The role of EBV in pathogenesis of NKTCL is not clear. Intriguingly, EBV encodes more than 40 microRNAs (miRNA) that are differentially expressed and largely conserved in lymphocryptoviruses. While miRNAs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cancer, especially lymphomas, the expression and function of EBV transcribed miRNAs in NKTCL are not known. To examine the role of EBV miRNAs in NKTCL, we used microarray profiling and qRT-PCR to identify and validate expression of viral miRNAs in SNK6 and SNT16 cells, which are two independently derived NKTCL cell lines that maintain the type II EBV latency program. All EBV BART miRNAs except BHRF-derived miRNAs were expressed and some of these miRNAs are expressed at higher levels than in nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Modulating the expression of BART9 with antisense RNAs consistently reduced SNK6 and SNT16 proliferation, while antisense RNAs to BARTs-7 and -17-5p affected proliferation only in SNK6 cells. Furthermore, the EBV LMP-1 oncoprotein and transcript levels were repressed when an inhibitor of BART9 miRNA was transfected into SNK6 cells, and overexpression of BART9 miRNA increased LMP-1 protein and mRNA expression. Our data indicate that BART9 is involved in NKTCL proliferation, and one of its mechanisms of action appears to be regulating LMP-1 levels. Our findings may have direct application for improving NKTCL diagnosis and for developing possible novel treatment approaches for this tumor, for which current chemotherapeutic drugs have limited effectiveness

Neuronal pathways in tendon healing and tendinopathy : update

The regulatory mechanisms involved in tendon homeostasis and repair are not fully understood. Accumulating data, however, demonstrate that the nervous system, in addition to afferent (sensory) functions, through efferent neuronal pathways plays an active role in regulating pain, inflammation, and tissue repair processes. Thus, in normal-, healing- and tendinopathic tendons three major neuronal signalling pathways consisting of autonomic, sensory and glutamatergic neuromediators have been established. In healthy tendons, these neural elements are found in the paratenon, whereas the proper tendon is practically devoid of nerves, reflecting that normal tendon homeostasis is regulated by pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators from the tendon surroundings. During tendon repair, however, there is extensive nerve ingrowth into the tendon proper and subsequent time-dependent appearance of sensory, autonomic and glutamatergic mediators, which amplify and fine-tune inflammation and tendon regeneration. In tendinopathy, excessive and protracted sensory and glutamatergic signalling may be involved in inflammatory, painful and hypertrophic tissue reactions. As our understanding of these processes improves, neuronal mediators may prove to be useful in the development of targeted pharmacotherapy and tissue engineering approaches to painful, degenerative and traumatic tendon disorders.Swedish Research Council (project nr. 2012-3510)Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet (project nr. SLL20100168)Swedish National Centre for Sports ResearchCOREF-Sweden grantAlberta Innovates Health Solutions OA Team GrantAccepte

2003 Report on Indiana University Accomplishments supported by Shared University Research Grants from IBM, Inc.

Indiana University and IBM, Inc. have a very strong history of collaborative research, aided significantly by Shared University Research (SUR) grants from IBM to Indiana University. The purpose of this document is to review progress against recent SUR grants to Indiana University. These grants focus on the joint interests of IBM, Inc. and Indiana University in the areas of deep computing, grid computing, and especially computing for the life sciences. SUR funding and significant funding from other sources, including a $1.8M grant from the NSF and a portion of a$105M grant to Indiana University to create the Indiana Genomics Initiative, have enabled Indiana University to achieve a suite of accomplishments that exceed the ambitious goals set out in these recent SUR grants

Can exercise suppress tumour growth in advanced prostate cancer patients with sclerotic bone metastases? A randomised, controlled study protocol examining feasibility, safety and efficacy

Introduction Exercise may positively alter tumour biology through numerous modulatory and regulatory mechanisms in response to a variety of modes and dosages, evidenced in preclinical models to date. Specifically, localised and systemic biochemical alterations produced during and following exercise may suppress tumour formation, growth and distribution by virtue of altered epigenetics and endocrine–paracrine activity. Given the impressive ability of targeted mechanical loading to interfere with metastasis-driven tumour formation in human osteolytic tumour cells, it is of equal interest to determine whether a similar effect is observed in sclerotic tumour cells. The study aims to (1) establish the feasibility and safety of a combined modular multimodal exercise programme with spinal isometric training in advanced prostate cancer patients with sclerotic bone metastases and (2) examine whether targeted and supervised exercise can suppress sclerotic tumour growth and activity in spinal metastases in humans. Methods and analysis A single-blinded, two-armed, randomised, controlled and explorative phase I clinical trial combining spinal isometric training with a modular multimodal exercise programme in 40 men with advanced prostate cancer and stable sclerotic spinal metastases. Participants will be randomly assigned to (1) the exercise intervention or (2) usual medical care. The intervention arm will receive a 3-month, supervised and individually tailored modular multimodal exercise programme with spinal isometric training. Primary endpoints (feasibility and safety) and secondary endpoints (tumour morphology; biomarker activity; anthropometry; musculoskeletal health; adiposity; physical function; quality of life; anxiety; distress; fatigue; insomnia; physical activity levels) will be measured at baseline and following the intervention. Statistical analyses will include descriptive characteristics, t-tests, effect sizes and two-way (group × time) repeated-measures analysis of variance (or analysis of covariance) to examine differences between groups over time. The data-set will be primarily examined using an intention-to-treat approach with multiple imputations, followed by a secondary sensitivity analysis to ensure data robustness using a complete cases approach. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of Edith Cowan University and the Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Health Care Group. If proven to be feasible and safe, this study will form the basis of future phase II and III trials in human patients with advanced cancer. To reach a maximum number of clinicians, practitioners, patients and scientists, outcomes will be disseminated through national and international clinical, conference and patient presentations, as well as publication in high-impact, peer-reviewed academic journals

Relative hyperlactatemia and hospital mortality in critically ill patients: a retrospective multi-centre study

INTRODUCTION: Higher lactate concentrations within the normal reference range (relative hyperlactatemia) are not considered clinically significant. We tested the hypothesis that relative hyperlactatemia is independently associated with an increased risk of hospital death. METHODS: This observational study examined a prospectively obtained intensive care database of 7,155 consecutive critically ill patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of four Australian university hospitals. We assessed the relationship between ICU admission lactate, maximal lactate and time-weighted lactate levels and hospital outcome in all patients and also in those patients whose lactate concentrations (admission n = 3,964, maximal n = 2,511, and time-weighted n = 4,584) were under 2 mmol.L-1 (i.e. relative hyperlactatemia). RESULTS: We obtained 172,723 lactate measurements. Higher admission and time-weightedlactate concentration within the reference range was independently associated with increased hospital mortality (admission odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3 to 3.5, P = 0.01; time-weighted OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.9 to 7.00, P 0.75 mmol.L-1. Furthermore, in patients whose lactate ever exceeded 2 mmol.L-1, higher time-weighted lactate remained strongly associated with higher hospital mortality (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.8 to 12.4, P 0.75 mmol.L-1 can be used by clinicians to identify patients at higher risk of death. The current reference range for lactate in the critically ill may need to be re-assessed