Pure-ly for Authors: An Update of a Health System Researcher Profile Platform

In 2023, a large healthcare system transitioned their institutional repository\u27s author profile service to an upgraded and more comprehensive platform, and in doing so re-energized author and leadership buy-in. After Digital Commons\u27™ Expert Gallery Suite eliminated some functionality, institutional repository (IR) staff began the process of exploring other author profile platforms that would align with essential workflows. Elsevier\u27s™ Pure rose to the top of compatible and robust platforms suitable to replace our previous solution. Pure\u27s™ automated importing and database-integration was a primary draw, but IR staff had to find creative ways to utilize the administrative features that didn\u27t integrate with the organization\u27s existing HR/IS systems. Utilizing the health system\u27s Digital Commons\u27™ institutional repository and other internal databases IR staff compiled a list of eligible researchers and authors for the new platform. Automation allowed IR staff to populate at launch greater than 4x the number of profiles as the previous platform. Throughout this process, the IR staff made new contacts with researchers and administrators across the enterprise growing opportunities for marketing and outreach for the IR and the Library. While the new and improved platform is in an ongoing cycle of updates and polishing, the process has given the Library/IR new prominence within the organization and the ability to be responsive to researcher and administration needs around scholarly communication and research visibility

Girls’ and boys’ problem talk: Implications for emotional closeness in friendships.

This research highlights the critical role of gender in the context of problem talk and social support in adolescents’ friendships. Early- and middle-adolescents’ (N = 314 friend dyads; Ms = 13.01 and 16.03 years) conversations about problems were studied using observation and a short-term longitudinal design. Mean-level gender differences emerged in that girls participated in problem talk more than boys and responded in a more positive and engaged manner to friends’ statements about problems (e.g., by saying something supportive, asking a question) than did boys. Interestingly, boys used humor during problem talk more than girls. Despite mean-level differences, there were not gender differences in the functional significance of participating in problem talk and positive engaged responses in that these behaviors predicted increased friendship closeness for both boys and girls. In contrast, humor during problem talk predicted increased closeness only for boys, highlighting an understudied pathway to closeness in boys’ friendships

Immune activation and suppression by group B streptococcus in a murine model of urinary tract infection

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common commensal of the gastrointestinal and vaginal mucosa and a leading cause of serious infections in newborns, the elderly, and immunocompromised populations. GBS also causes infections of the urinary tract. However, little is known about host responses to GBS urinary tract infection (UTI) or GBS virulence factors that participate in UTI. Here we describe a novel murine model of GBS UTI that may explain some features of GBS urinary tract association in the human host. We observed high titers and heightened histological signs of inflammation and leukocyte recruitment in the GBS-infected kidney. However, extensive inflammation and leukocyte recruitment were not observed in the bladder, suggesting that GBS may suppress bladder inflammation during cystitis. Acute GBS infection induced the localized expression of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1α (IL-1α), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), MIP-1β, and IL-9, as well as IL-10, more commonly considered an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Using isogenic GBS strains with different capsule structures, we show that capsular sialic acid residues contribute to GBS urinary tract pathogenesis, while high levels of sialic acid O-acetylation attenuate GBS pathogenesis in the setting of UTI, particularly in direct competition experiments. In vitro studies demonstrated that GBS sialic acids participate in the suppression of murine polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) bactericidal activities, in addition to reducing levels of IL-1α, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1β, MIP-1α, and KC produced by PMNs. These studies define several basic molecular and cellular events characterizing GBS UTI in an animal model, showing that GBS participates simultaneously in the activation and suppression of host immune responses in the urinary tract

Making Summer Count: How Summer Programs Can Boost Children's Learning

Examines evidence that summer programs can help counter the "summer slide" that disproportionately affects low-income students and contributes to the achievement gap; identifies obstacles to program provision; analyzes costs; and offers recommendations

A Standardized, Pragmatic Approach to Knee Ultrasound for Clinical Research in Osteoarthritis: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to develop and employ a comprehensive and standardized ultrasound (US) protocol and scoring atlas for the evaluation of features relevant to knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in a community-based cohort in the United States, with the goals of demonstrating feasibility, reliability, and validity. METHODS: We utilized data from the fourth follow-up (2016-2018) of the Johnston County OA Project, which includes individuals with (~50%) and without radiographic KOA. All participants underwent standardized knee radiography and completed standard questionnaires including the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Bilateral knee US images were obtained by a trained sonographer using a standardized protocol and scored by trained rheumatologists using an atlas developed for this study. A total of 396 knees were each scored by two readers according to the atlas. Associations between US features, radiographic findings (graded by an expert radiologist), and KOOS scores were assessed. RESULTS: Overall interreader reliability for US scoring was fair to moderate. The strongest correlations between US and radiographic features were seen for osteophytes, and similarly strong correlations were seen between US osteophytes and overall radiographic Kellgren-Lawrence Grade, demonstrating criterion validity. Features of effusion/synovitis and osteophytes were most associated with KOOS pain and impaired function. CONCLUSION: US is a feasible, reliable, and valid method to assess features relevant to KOA in clinical and research settings. The protocol and atlas developed in this study can be utilized to evaluate KOA in a standardized fashion in future clinical studies, enabling greater utilization of this valuable modality in osteoarthritis

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a well-recognized complication after transplant. This study aimed to develop and validate a risk score to predict PTLD among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Poisson regression identified predictors of PTLD with the best fitting model selected for the risk score. The derivation cohort consisted of 2546 SOT recipients transpanted at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen between 2004 and 2019; 57 developed PTLD. Predictors of PTLD were high-risk pre-transplant Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), IgG donor/recipient serostatus, and current positive plasma EBV DNA, abnormal hemoglobin and C-reactive protein levels. Individuals in the high-risk group had almost 7 times higher incidence of PTLD (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 6.75; 95% CI: 4.00-11.41) compared to the low-risk group. In the validation cohort of 1611 SOT recipients from the University Hospital of Zürich, 24 developed PTLD. A similar 7 times higher risk of PTLD was observed in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group (IRR 7.17, 95% CI: 3.05-16.82). The discriminatory ability was also similar in derivation (Harrell's C-statistic of 0.82 95% CI (0.76-0.88) and validation (0.82, 95% CI:0.72-0.92) cohorts. The risk score had a good discriminatory ability in both cohorts and helped to identify patients with higher risk of developing PTLD

Identification of Epigenetic Signature Associated With Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation X-linked Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Alpha thalassemia/mental retardation X-linked syndrome (ATR-X) is caused by a mutation at the chromatin regulator gene RESULTS: We performed genome-wide DNA methylation assessment of the peripheral blood samples from 18 patients with ATR-X and compared it to 210 controls. We demonstrated the evidence of a unique and highly specific DNA methylation epi-signature in the peripheral blood of ATRX patients, which was corroborated by targeted bisulfite sequencing experiments. Although genomically represented, differentially methylated regions showed evidence of preferential clustering in pericentromeric and telometric chromosomal regions, areas where ATRX has multiple functions related to maintenance of heterochromatin and genomic integrity. CONCLUSION: Most significant methylation changes in the 14 genomic loci provide a unique epigenetic signature for this syndrome that may be used as a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic biomarker to support the diagnosis of ATR-X, particularly in patients with phenotypic complexity and in patients wit

Biclustering reveals potential knee OA phenotypes in exploratory analyses: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Objective To apply biclustering, a methodology originally developed for analysis of gene expression data, to simultaneously cluster observations and clinical features to explore candidate phenotypes of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) for the first time. Methods Data from the baseline Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) visit were cleaned, transformed, and standardized as indicated (leaving 6461 knees with 86 features). Biclustering produced submatrices of the overall data matrix, representing similar observations across a subset of variables. Statistical validation was determined using the novel SigClust procedure. After identifying biclusters, relationships with key outcome measures were assessed, including progression of radiographic KOA, total knee arthroplasty, loss of joint space width, and worsening Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, over 96 months of follow-up. Results The final analytic set included 6461 knees from 3330 individuals (mean age 61 years, mean body mass index 28 kg/m2, 57% women and 86% White). We identified 6 mutually exclusive biclusters characterized by different feature profiles at baseline, particularly related to symptoms and function. Biclusters represented overall better (#1), similar (#2, 3, 6), and poorer (#4, 5) prognosis compared to the overall cohort of knees, respectively. In general, knees in biclusters #4 and 5 had more structural progression (based on Kellgren-Lawrence grade, total knee arthroplasty, and loss of joint space width) but tended to have an improvement in WOMAC pain scores over time. In contrast, knees in bicluster #1 had less incident and progressive KOA, fewer total knee arthroplasties, less loss of joint space width, and stable pain scores compared with the overall cohort. Significance We identified six biclusters within the baseline OAI dataset which have varying relationships with key outcomes in KOA. Such biclusters represent potential phenotypes within the larger cohort and may suggest subgroups at greater or lesser risk of progression over time

Baseline values from the electrocardiograms of children and adolescents with ADHD

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An important issue in pediatric pharmacology is the determination of whether medications affect cardiac rhythm parameters, in particular the QT interval, which is a surrogate marker for the risk of adverse cardiac events and sudden death. To evaluate changes while on medication, it is useful to have a comparison of age appropriate values while off medication. The present meta-analysis provides baseline ECG values (i.e., off medication) from approximately 6000 children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects were aged 6–18 years and participated in global trials within the atomoxetine registration program. Patients were administered a 12-lead ECG at study screening and cardiac rhythm parameters were recorded. Baseline QT intervals were corrected for heart rate using 3 different methods: Bazett's, Fridericia's, and a population data-derived formula.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ECG data were obtained from 5289 North American and 641 non-North American children and adolescents. Means and percentiles are presented for each ECG measure and QTc interval based on pubertal status as defined by age and sex. Prior treatment history with stimulants and racial origin (Caucasian) were each associated with significantly longer mean QTc values.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Baseline ECG and QTc data from almost 6000 children and adolescents presenting with ADHD are provided to contribute to the knowledge base regarding mean values for pediatric cardiac parameters. Consistent with other studies of QT interval in children and adolescents, Bazett correction formula appears to overestimate the prevalence of prolonged QTc in the pediatric population.</p