Barriers to ideal outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation

Long‐term survival for children who undergo LT is now the rule rather than the exception. However, a focus on the outcome of patient or graft survival rates alone provides an incomplete and limited view of life for patients who undergo LT as an infant, child, or teen. The paradigm has now appropriately shifted to opportunities focused on our overarching goals of “surviving and thriving” with long‐term allograft health, freedom of complications from long‐term immunosuppression, self‐reported well‐being, and global functional health. Experts within the liver transplant community highlight clinical gaps and potential barriers at each of the pretransplant, intra‐operative, early‐, medium‐, and long‐term post‐transplant stages toward these broader mandates. Strategies including clinical research, innovation, and quality improvement targeting both traditional as well as PRO are outlined and, if successfully leveraged and conducted, would improve outcomes for recipients of pediatric LT.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151257/1/petr13537.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151257/2/petr13537_am.pd

Temporal RNA Integrity Analysis of Archived Spaceflight Biological Samples from ALSDA from 1991 to 2016

The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of spaceflight tissues stored in Ames Life Science Data Archive (ALSDA) freezers. Garnering information for downstream functional analysis such as generation of omics datasets from tissues is, in part, dependent on the state of sample preservation. To assess the viability of a select group of tissues, RNA integrity number (RIN) values were calculated for RNA extracted from rodent livers. Rat livers from Spacelab Life Sciences 1 (SLS-1) and mouse livers from Commercial Biomedical Test Module 3 (CBTM-3), Rodent Research 1 (RR1), and Rodent Research 3 (RR3) were tested. It was found that mean RIN values from CBTM3, RR1, and RR3 were suitable for downstream functional analysis (RIN greater than 5) while the mean RIN value for SLS-1 was not (RIN equal to 2.5 plus or minus 0.1). Information from this study could lay the foundation for future efforts in determining the types of assays that are most appropriate for different tissues in ALSDA freezers, which would maximize the scientific return on rare spaceflight samples

The O28 Antigen Gene Clusters of Salmonella enterica

A 10 kb O-antigen gene cluster was sequenced from a Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Dakar O28 reference strain and from two S. Pomona serogroup O28 isolates. The two S. Pomona O antigen gene clusters showed only moderate identity with the S. Dakar O28 gene cluster, suggesting that the O antigen oligosaccharides may contain one or more sugars conferring the O28 epitope but may otherwise be different. These novel findings are absolutely critical for the correct interpretation of molecular serotyping assays targeting genes within the O antigen gene clusters of these Salmonella serotypes and suggest the possibility that the O antigen gene clusters of other Salmonella serovars may also be heterogenous

Prescribing patterns of antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers in bipolar patients misdiagnosed with major depressive disorder in China

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94515/1/hup2262.pd

Prescribing patterns of low doses of antipsychotic medications in older Asian patients with schizophrenia, 2001-2009

Background: This study examined the use of low doses of antipsychotic medications (300mg/day CPZeq or less) in older Asian patients with schizophrenia and its demographic and clinical correlates. Methods: Information on hospitalized patients with schizophrenia, aged 55 years or older, was extracted from the database of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns (REAP) study (2001-2009). Data on 1,452 patients in eight Asian countries and territories including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India, and Malaysia were analyzed. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and antipsychotic prescriptions were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. Results: The prescription frequency for low doses of antipsychotic medications was 40.9% in the pooled sample. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the whole sample showed that patients on low doses of antipsychotic medications were more likely to be female, have an older age, a shorter length of illness, and less positive symptoms. Of patients in the six countries and territories that participated in all the surveys between 2001 and 2009, those in Japan were less likely to receive low doses of antipsychotics. Conclusion: Low doses of antipsychotic medications were only applied in less than half of older Asian patients with schizophreni

PRDM12 Is Required for Initiation of the Nociceptive Neuron Lineage during Neurogenesis

Summary: The sensation of pain is essential for the preservation of the functional integrity of the body. However, the key molecular regulators necessary for the initiation of the development of pain-sensing neurons have remained largely unknown. Here, we report that, in mice, inactivation of the transcriptional regulator PRDM12, which is essential for pain perception in humans, results in a complete absence of the nociceptive lineage, while proprioceptive and touch-sensitive neurons remain. Mechanistically, our data reveal that PRDM12 is required for initiation of neurogenesis and activation of a cascade of downstream pro-neuronal transcription factors, including NEUROD1, BRN3A, and ISL1, in the nociceptive lineage while it represses alternative fates other than nociceptors in progenitor cells. Our results thus demonstrate that PRDM12 is necessary for the generation of the entire lineage of pain-initiating neurons. : The sensation of pain, temperature, and itch by neurons of the nociceptive lineage is essential for animal survival. Bartesaghi et al. report that the transcriptional regulator PRDM12 is indispensable in neural crest cells (NCCs) for the initiation of the sensory neuronal differentiation program that generates the entire nociceptive lineage. Keywords: neurogenesis, pain, nociceptive neurons, Prdm12, neural crest cell

Awareness of venous thromboembolism among patients with cancer: Preliminary findings from a global initiative for World Thrombosis Day

BACKGROUND Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) has detrimental impact on patients' clinical outcomes and quality of life. Data on CAT education, communication, and awareness among the general cancer population are scanty. METHODS We present the preliminary results of an ongoing patient-centered survey including 27 items covering major spheres of CAT. The survey, available in 14 languages, was promoted and disseminated online through social networks, email newsletters, websites, and media. RESULTS As of September 20, 2022, 749 participants from 27 countries completed the survey. Overall, 61.8% (n = 460) of responders were not aware of their risk of CAT. Among those who received information on CAT, 26.2% (n = 56) were informed only at the time of CAT diagnosis. Over two thirds (69.1%, n = 501) of participants received no education on signs and symptoms of venous thromboembolism (VTE); among those who were educated about the possible clinical manifestations, 58.9% (n = 119) were given instructions to seek consultation in case of VTE suspicion. Two hundred twenty-four respondents (30.9%) had a chance to discuss the potential use of primary thromboprophylaxis with health-care providers. Just over half (58.7%, n = 309) were unaware of the risks of bleeding associated with anticoagulation, despite being involved in anticoagulant-related discussions or exposed to anticoagulants. Most responders (85%, n = 612) valued receiving CAT education as highly relevant; however, 51.7% (n = 375) expressed concerns about insufficient time spent and clarity of education received. CONCLUSIONS This ongoing survey involving cancer patients with diverse ethnic, cultural, and geographical backgrounds highlights important patient knowledge gaps. These findings warrant urgent interventions to improve education and awareness, and reduce CAT burden

The purple line as a measure of labour progress: a longitudinal study

Background: Vaginal examination (VE) and assessment of the cervix is currently considered to be the gold standard for assessment of labour progress. It is however inherently imprecise with studies indicating an overall accuracy for determining the diameter of the cervix at between 48-56%. Furthermore, VEs can be unpleasant, intrusive and embarrassing for women, and are associated with the risk of introducing infection. In light of increasing concern world wide about the use of routine interventions in labour it may be time to consider alternative, less intrusive means of assessing progress in labour. The presence of a purple line during labour, seen to rise from the anal margin and extend between the buttocks as labour progresses has been reported. The study described in this paper aimed to assess in what percentage of women in labour a purple line was present, clear and measurable and to determine if any relationship existed between the length of the purple line and cervical dilatation and/or station of the fetal head. Methods: This longitudinal study observed 144 women either in spontaneous labour (n=112) or for induction of labour (n=32) from admission through to final VE. Women were examined in the lateral position and midwives recorded the presence or absence of the line throughout labour immediately before each VE. Where present, the length of the line was measured using a disposable tape measure. Within subjects correlation, chi-squared test for independence, and independent samples t-test were used to analyse the data. Results: The purple line was seen at some point in labour for 109 women (76%). There was a medium positive correlation between length of the purple line and cervical dilatation (r=+0.36, n=66, P=0.0001) and station of the fetal head (r=+0.42, n=56, P<0.0001). Conclusions: The purple line does exist and there is a medium positive correlation between its length and both cervical dilatation and station of the fetal head. Where the line is present, it may provide a useful guide for clinicians of labour progress along side other measures. Further research is required to assess whether measurement of the line is acceptable to women in labour and also clinicians