Factors in Daily Physical Activity Related to Calcaneal Mineral Density in Men

To determine the factors in daily physical activity that influence the mineral density of the calcaneus, we recorded walking steps and the type and duration of exercise in 43 healthy 26-to 51-yr-old men. Areal (g/sq cm) calcaneal bone mineral density (CBMD) was measured by single energy x-ray densitometry. Subjects walked a mean (+/- SD) of 7902(+/-2534) steps per day or approximately 3.9(+/-1.2) miles daily. Eight subjects reported no exercise activities. The remaining 35 subjects spent 143(2-772) (median and range) min/wk exercising. Twenty-eight men engaged in exercise activities that generate single leg peak vertical ground reaction forces (GRF(sub z)) of 2 or more body weights (high loaders, HL), and 15 reported exercise or daily activities that typically generate GRF(sub z) less than 1.5 body weights (low loaders, LL). CBMD was 12% higher in HL than LL (0.668 +/- 0.074 g/sq cm vs 0.597 +/- 0.062 g/sq cm, P less than 0.004). In the HL group, CBMD correlated to reported minutes of high load exercise (r = 0.41, P less than 0.03). CBMD was not related to the number of daily walking steps (N = 43, r = 0.03, NS). The results of this study support the concept that the dominant factor in daily physical activity relating to bone mineral density is the participation in site specific high loading activities, i.e., for the calcaneus, high calcaneal loads

Genetic Variants Associated With Vincristine‐Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Two Populations of Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149215/1/cpt1324_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149215/2/cpt1324.pd

A Metabolomics Approach for Early Prediction of Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Vincristine is a core chemotherapeutic drug administered to pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Despite its efficacy in treating leukemia, it can lead to severe peripheral neuropathy in a subgroup of the patients. Peripheral neuropathy is a debilitating and painful side-effect that can severely impact an individual’s quality of life. Currently, there are no established predictors of peripheral neuropathy incidence during the early stage of chemotherapeutic treatment. As a result, patients who are not susceptible to peripheral neuropathy may receive sub-therapeutic treatment due to an empirical upper cap on the dose, while others may experience severe neuropathy at the same dose. Contrary to previous genomics based approaches, we employed a metabolomics approach to identify small sets of metabolites that can be used to predict a patient’s susceptibility to peripheral neuropathy at different time points during the treatment. Using those identified metabolites, we developed a novel strategy to predict peripheral neuropathy and subsequently adjust the vincristine dose accordingly. In accordance with this novel strategy, we created a free user-friendly tool, VIPNp, for physicians to easily implement our prediction strategy. Our results showed that focusing on metabolites, which encompasses both genotypic and phenotypic variations, can enable early prediction of peripheral neuropathy in pediatric leukemia patients

PenQuest Volume 2, Number 1

Table of Contents for this Volume: Untitled by Janet Collins Untitled by Judy Gozdur Last Hour of Light by Susan Reed Untitled by Judy Godzur Untitled by Rick Wagner Untitled by Carol Groover Untitled by R. Wagner Only in the Portico by Linda Banicki Untitled by Helen Hagadorn Private Place, Pubic Place by David Reed Untitled by Tammy Hutchinson Untitled by Tammy Hutchinson Madison Knights by Susan Reed Untitled by Sissy Crabtree The Price by Sandra Coleman Untitled by Ann Harrington Invasion of Privacy by Mark Touchton Untitled by Bruce Warner Untitled by Tom Schifanella Untitled by Tammy Hutchinson Bloodwork by Laura Jo Last Untitled by David Whitsett Burial Instructions by Bill Slaughter Untitled by S. Trevett PenQuest Interview: Joe Haldeman by David Reed Her Name Came from the Sea by Richard L. Ewart Untitled by V. Williams In the Woodshed by R. E. Mallery Untitled by Modesta Matthews Untitled by David Olson Illumination by E. Allen Tilley Untitled by Joseph Avanzini Everywoman by Laura Jo Last Untitled by Beth Goeckel Believe Me by Donna Kaluzniak Untitled by Judy Gozdur Untitled by Judy Gozdur Unicorn by David Reed Untitled by Susan Reed untitled by Paul Cramer Unititled by Lucinda Halsema The Violin by Richard L. Ewart Untitled by Maria Barry Untitled by Roger Whitt Jr. Haiku by Lori Nasrallah Rhymer’s Revolt by R. E. Mallery Untitled by Valerie William

Can electronic search engines optimize screening of search results in systematic reviews: an empirical study

BACKGROUND: Most electronic search efforts directed at identifying primary studies for inclusion in systematic reviews rely on the optimal Boolean search features of search interfaces such as DIALOG(® )and Ovid™. Our objective is to test the ability of an Ultraseek(® )search engine to rank MEDLINE(® )records of the included studies of Cochrane reviews within the top half of all the records retrieved by the Boolean MEDLINE search used by the reviewers. METHODS: Collections were created using the MEDLINE bibliographic records of included and excluded studies listed in the review and all records retrieved by the MEDLINE search. Records were converted to individual HTML files. Collections of records were indexed and searched through a statistical search engine, Ultraseek, using review-specific search terms. Our data sources, systematic reviews published in the Cochrane library, were included if they reported using at least one phase of the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy (HSSS), provided citations for both included and excluded studies and conducted a meta-analysis using a binary outcome measure. Reviews were selected if they yielded between 1000–6000 records when the MEDLINE search strategy was replicated. RESULTS: Nine Cochrane reviews were included. Included studies within the Cochrane reviews were found within the first 500 retrieved studies more often than would be expected by chance. Across all reviews, recall of included studies into the top 500 was 0.70. There was no statistically significant difference in ranking when comparing included studies with just the subset of excluded studies listed as excluded in the published review. CONCLUSION: The relevance ranking provided by the search engine was better than expected by chance and shows promise for the preliminary evaluation of large results from Boolean searches. A statistical search engine does not appear to be able to make fine discriminations concerning the relevance of bibliographic records that have been pre-screened by systematic reviewers

Genomic investigations of unexplained acute hepatitis in children

Since its first identification in Scotland, over 1,000 cases of unexplained paediatric hepatitis in children have been reported worldwide, including 278 cases in the UK1. Here we report an investigation of 38 cases, 66 age-matched immunocompetent controls and 21 immunocompromised comparator participants, using a combination of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and immunohistochemical methods. We detected high levels of adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) DNA in the liver, blood, plasma or stool from 27 of 28 cases. We found low levels of adenovirus (HAdV) and human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) in 23 of 31 and 16 of 23, respectively, of the cases tested. By contrast, AAV2 was infrequently detected and at low titre in the blood or the liver from control children with HAdV, even when profoundly immunosuppressed. AAV2, HAdV and HHV-6 phylogeny excluded the emergence of novel strains in cases. Histological analyses of explanted livers showed enrichment for T cells and B lineage cells. Proteomic comparison of liver tissue from cases and healthy controls identified increased expression of HLA class 2, immunoglobulin variable regions and complement proteins. HAdV and AAV2 proteins were not detected in the livers. Instead, we identified AAV2 DNA complexes reflecting both HAdV-mediated and HHV-6B-mediated replication. We hypothesize that high levels of abnormal AAV2 replication products aided by HAdV and, in severe cases, HHV-6B may have triggered immune-mediated hepatic disease in genetically and immunologically predisposed children

What Does Emotional Intelligence and Gender Have to Do with Leadership Effectiveness "¦.Or Does It?

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the relationship between the emotional intelligenceand gender of the principal, and teacher's perceptions of the principal's leadership effectiveness. Theresearcher administered the Emotional IQ Test (Jerabek, 1998) to 32 randomly selected principals. Onehundred and sixty randomly selected teachers in the buildings of these administrators then took the observerform of the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) (Kouzes & Posner's, 2001) to measure the leader'sperceived effectiveness. The leadership practices and gender were correlated to the two aspects of emotionalintelligence to determine possible relationships. Findings show that principals with higher emotionalintelligence are perceived to be more effective. Overall, women have a higher EQ than their malecounterparts and the building level assignment had a significant impact on how principals were perceived

Integrating Hepatitis C testing and treatment into multiple community healthcare settings for those who inject drugs: facilitators and barriers

Background: Research to date focuses on the barriers and facilitators to optimal engagement in treatment for those who are infected with HCV through injecting drug use. Studies typically focus on single treatment pathways, e.g. primary care, community drug treatment or prison. This qualitative study seeks to understand the facilitators and barriers when integrating Hepatitis C testing and treatment into multiple community health care settings.Methods: We interviewed 40 service providers and 31 service users across four HCV non-hospital pathways: enhanced needle exchange, drug treatment services, community pharmacies and prison. Using thematic analysis, we identified barriers and facilitators to the key steps in the HCV pathways, i.e. Access, HCV testing, HCV treatment and Support.Results: Key facilitators were in Access: a) co-locating services, b) drop-in service model, c) open and non-judgemental service culture, d) deploying peer workers. Testing and Treatment: a) HCV Nurse to provide enhanced testing and prescribe treatment, b) standard operating procedures, c) training of all staff to conduct dry blood spot testing (DBST), d) HCV Oral swaps instead of DBST in prison only, e) training of all staff to support treatment and testing, f) rapid point of care testing. Ongoing support: a) repeat testing and regular follow-up including harm reduction, b) assertive outreach services to peoples’ homes, c) digital or telephone consultations. These facilitators worked best in pathways that were co-located with services that had close working relationships to support wider harm reduction. The HCV nursing team was instrumental in facilitating and co-ordinating testing and treatment across pathways.Conclusion: Scaling up HCV treatment across community settings is highly complex. The barriers and facilitators varied across the pathways. As viewed through the lens of socio-ecological theory, both the facilitators and barriers necessitate change at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community and public policy levels.<br/

Imaging of gadolinium spatial distribution in tumor tissue by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Purpose: Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) was utilized in postmortem imaging of gadolinium (Gd) spatial distribution in a mouse tumor model postadministration of PEGylated Gd liposomal nanoparticles. Procedures: PEGylated liposomal nanoparticles were formulated using a paramagnetic lipid incorporating Gd, in addition to a fluorescent lipid, and injected intravenously into Balb/C nude mice bearing IGROV-1 tumors. At postinjection (2 h), the tumors and selective organs were imaged by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, after excision, by histology and LA–ICP–MS. Results: The presence of Gd within tumor tissue was confirmed by LA–ICP–MS and when correlated to histology was found to be prevalent in regions of higher vascularity. The presence of Gd in the kidneys was also confirmed. Conclusions: We have demonstrated, in a novel manner, the use of LA–ICP–MS for the spatial detection of Gd in tumor tissue. LA–ICP–MS is valuable in providing spatio-specific information of MRI contrast agents and more importantly Gd in tumor tissue