Does Knowledge of the Causes of Glaucoma Impact Adherence?

poster abstractPurpose: Glaucoma is informally known as loss of sight due to the deterioration or damage to the optic nerve; some scientists claim to have identified the genes related to these causes. The most prevalent risk factor includes those of African descendant. We tested the hypothesis that the adherence level is higher in patients with more knowledge of their condition than those with none. Methods: A dataset of the first visit from a clinical diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma was retrieved, in which all the patients administered once-daily prostaglandin analog eye drops themselves. Participants were on average 60.38±9.93yrs of age and identified as African descendants; of the 29 patients, 16 self-identified as male and the rest female. Participants were specifically asked to “Please list in rank-order the three most important factors that you believe caused your illness”. We grouped the results into three different conditions: (1) those with at least on “true” (current factors that are widely accepted scientifically) risk factors vs those with none, (2) those who included race as a risk factor vs those who did not, and (3) those who listed any risk factors vs those with none. We compared the adherence within each condition using two-tailed t-test to calculate the “level of significance”. Results: Our results did not agree with our hypothesis. The values returned were: (1) 0.1244, (2) 0.3744, and (3) 0.2516. Because all three results were ≥ 0.05, our data displayed that there were no relationship between the groups. It meant that our outcomes were most likely a consequence of chance with no significance. Conclusions: Though our results were not consistent with our hypothesis, we were still able to come to a different deduction: whether or not individuals are educated on the causes of their conditions, their adherence will only improve if they decide it so

{N,N-Bis 2-(Diphenylphosphanyl)Ethyl Aniline}(Eta(2)-Dibenzylideneaceton E)Palladium(0)

In the title complex, [Pd(C34H33NP2)(C17H14O)], the Pd-0 atom is coordinated in a trigonal planar geometry formed by two P atoms of a bis[(diphenylphosphino)ethyl] aniline ligand and a C=C (eta(2)) bond involving the C atoms that are in the alpha,beta positions relative to the central ketone of the dibenzylideneacetone ligand.Robert A. Welch Foundation F-1631National Science Foundation CHE-0741973, CHE-0847763Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 01916-090-2010American Heart Association 0765078YUT-AustinICDDSigma-Xi, the Scientific Research SocietyChemistryBiochemistr

Evaluation of a Community-Based Program That Integrates Joyful Movement Into Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Background: Despite the development of evidence-based fall-prevention programs, there remains a need for programming that will engage older adults in real-world settings. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a community-based group program that integrates joyful movement into fall prevention. The curriculum emphasizes a positive experience of movement, cultivating a healthy body image, and retraining of biomechanics. Design: Program evaluation was conducted using a one-group pre–post test study design. Key outcomes were functional balance and confidence. Qualitative feedback was gathered at the final class sessions. Results: Two hundred fifteen older adults enrolled at four sites over the period from 2010 to 2014. Among 86 participants who provided feedback, most credited the program for an increased sense of optimism and/or confidence (70%), and better walking ability (50%). Among 102 participants who completed both initial and final assessments, there was evidence of significant improvements on the Functional Reach Test ( d = .60, p < .001) and Modified Falls Efficacy Scale ( d = .17, p < .001). Conclusion: A joyful movement curriculum is acceptable to older participants, and they show improvements in functional balance and confidence. Future research should examine whether the positive changes encouraged by joyful movement lead to lasting reductions in fall risk and additional health benefits

A Comparison Of 3,4,6A,7,10,10A-Hexahydro-7,10-Epoxypyrimido 2,1-A Isoindol-6(2H)-One And 2-(2-Aminoethyl)-3A,4,7,7A-Tetrahydro-1H-4,7-Epoxyisoindole-1,3(2H)-Dion E: Structural And Reactivity Differences Of Two Homologous Tricyclic Imides

The crystal structures of 3,4,6a,7,10,10a-hexahydro-7,10-epoxypyrimido[2,1-a]isoindol-6(2H)-one, C11H12N2O2, and 2-(2-aminoethyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-epoxyisoindole-1,3(2H)-dione, C10H12N2O3, two tricyclic imides, show one and two molecules in the asymmetric unit, respectively. Intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions are observed in both compounds.National Science Foundation (grant No. CHE-0741973)The Welch Foundation (grant No. F-1631)National Science Foundation (grant No. CHE-0847763)ChemistryBiochemistr

Potassium bis­(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexa­fluoro­pentane-2,4-dionato)bis­(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl­butane-1,3-dionato)europate(III)

In the crystal structure of the title complex, K[Eu(C5HF6O2)2(C10H6F3O2)2], the EuIII ion is in a slightly distorted square-anti­prismatic coordination geometry which is defined by eight O atoms of the anionic β-diketone ligands. The two K+ ions lie on crystallographic inversion centers. The Eu—O bond distances are in the range 2.294 (5)–2.413 (5) Å. The crystal used was a non-merohedral twin, the ratio of the twin domains being 0.5236 (5):0.4764 (5)

PCR amplification of Bartonella koehlerae from human blood and enrichment blood cultures

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cats appear to be the primary reservoir host for <it>Bartonella koehlerae</it>, an alpha Proteobacteria that is most likely transmitted among cat populations by fleas (<it>Ctenocephalides felis</it>). <it>Bartonella koehlerae </it>has caused endocarditis in a dog and in one human patient from Israel, but other clinically relevant reports involving this bacterium are lacking. Despite publication of numerous, worldwide epidemiological studies designed to determine the prevalence of <it>Bartonella </it>spp. bacteremia in cats, <it>B. koehlerae </it>has never been isolated using conventional blood agar plates. To date, successful isolation of <it>B. koehlerae </it>from cats and from the one human endocarditis patient has consistently required the use of chocolate agar plates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, <it>Bartonella koehlerae </it>bacteremia was documented in eight immunocompetent patients by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, either prior to or after enrichment blood culture using <it>Bartonella </it>alpha Proteobacteria growth medium. Presenting symptoms most often included fatigue, insomnia, joint pain, headache, memory loss, and muscle pain. Four patients were also infected with <it>Bartonella vinsonii </it>subsp. <it>berkhoffii </it>genotype II. After molecular documentation of <it>B. koehlerae </it>infection in these patients, a serological test was developed and serum samples were tested retrospectively. <it>Bartonella koehlerae </it>antibodies were not detected (titers < 1:16) in 30 healthy human control sera, whereas five of eight patient samples had <it>B. koehlerae </it>antibody titers of 1:64 or greater.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although biased by a study population consisting of individuals with extensive arthropod and animal exposure, the results of this study suggest that <it>B. koehlerae </it>bacteremia is more common in immunocompetent people than has been previously suspected. Future studies should more thoroughly define modes of transmission and risk factors for acquiring infection with <it>B. koehlerae</it>. In addition, studies are needed to determine if <it>B. koehlerae </it>is a cause or cofactor in the development of arthritis, peripheral neuropathies or tachyarrhythmias in patients.</p

{μ-6,6′-Dimeth­oxy-2,2′-[butane-1,4-diylbis(nitrilo­methyl­idyne)]diphenolato-1:2κ8 O 6,O 1,O 1′,O 6′:O 1,N,N′,O 1′}tris­(nitrato-1κ2 O,O′)copper(II)gadolinium(III)

In the title dinuclear complex, [CuGd(C20H22N2O4)(NO3)3], the CuII ion is located in the inner N2O2 cavity of the Schiff base ligand and adopts a distorted square-planar geometry. The GdIII ion is ten-coordinate being bound to ten O atoms, four from the Schiff base ligand and six from three bidentate nitrate anions. The CuII and GdIII ions are linked by two phenolate O atoms of the Schiff base ligand, with a separation of 3.5185 (9) Å

Selective demarketing: When customers destroy value.

Selective demarketing is a strategic option for firms to manage customers who are or are likely to be a poor fit with its offering. Research has investigated related areas such as customer profitability and relationship dissolution but, as yet, studies have not offered a robust conceptualisation of selective demarketing. Based on research into value co-destruction, this study argues that these customers effectively destroy value by misusing or misunderstanding how to integrate their operant resources with those of the firm. As firms exist within a wider service system, this failure to integrate resonates throughout the system. To demarket selectively, firms use higher order operant resources to disengage and discourage these customers. This study offers a novel conceptualisation of selective demarketing and extends research on value destruction through adopting a firm and systems perspective

A Comparison of Objectively- and Subjectively-Measured Adherence in Glaucoma Patients of African Descent

poster abstractPurpose. Adherence to medical treatment of glaucoma is challenging. People of African descent (AD) have higher prevalence of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and have been shown to have worse adherence. The goal of this prospective, observational study was to compare objectively- and subjectively-measured adherence in patients of African descent and to determine their relationship with self-efficacy. Methods. Twenty-one patients of AD diagnosed with OAG in the past five years were included in this study. Patients used a once-daily topical prostaglandin analog eye drop and self-administered their medication. Subjective adherence was assessed through self-report. Adherence was objectively measured using MEMS bottles. The cap of these bottles records the number of times the bottle is opened. Self-efficacy was assessed using the 10-item Glaucoma Medication Self-Efficacy scale and the 6-item Eye Drop Technique Self-Efficacy scale. MEMS adherence percentages were compared to self-reported adherence using a paired sample two-tailed t-test. To assess the relationship between objectively measured adherence and self-efficacy, patients were divided into 3 groups (n=7 each): high, medium and low adherence groups. The Chi-square test was used to determine whether differences in self-efficacy between the groups were present for each question on the two self-efficacy scales. Results. Subjectiveadherence (mean ± standard deviation) (97.34% ± 5.61) was significantly higher than objective adherence (66.34% ± 26.68) (p= 0.01). Of the 21 patients, 17 self-reported higher adherence levels than MEMS adherence levels. 4 patients with the highest levels of objectively measured adherence were the only patients to correctly estimate their adherence by self-report. Only one question was significantly associated with objective adherence: patients with high adherence were significantly more confident about taking their glaucoma medications when they do not experience symptoms (p = 0.04). Conclusions. Results showed that patients with higher adherence are more confident about using their eye drops in the absence of symptoms