Quality of Life in Prodromal HD: Qualitative Analyses of Discourse from Participants and Companions

Persons who are at risk for Huntington's Disease (HD) can be tested for the HD gene expansion before symptom onset. People with the gene expansion, but no clinical diagnosis, are in the prodromal phase of HD. This study explored quality of life (QOL) in prodromal HD. Interviews about QOL, conducted with 9 prodromal HD participants and 6 companions, were transcribed. Discourse was coded for emotional valence, content (e.g., coping, spirituality, interpersonal relationships, HD in others, and employment), and time frame (e.g., current, past, and future). Respondents were more positive than negative about the present, which was their major focus. The most common statements were about positive attitudes. Positive statements were made about spirituality, and negative statements were made about HD in other people. Relationships, employment, and coping with HD reflected both positivity and negativity. Participants and companions spoke of the future with different concerns. Applicability of findings to the clinical management of HD are discussed

Environmental Influences on Fish Species Distribution in the Musolo River System, Congo River Basin (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa)

Ichthyofaunal distribution was studied in the Musolo River system, a small affluent tributary of the Congo River flowing into Pool Malebo (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Twelve ecological stations were sampled, of which eight were located in the Musolo main-channel and four in the Fushi River, a principal tributary of the Musolo. Each station was sampled four times over a two-year period, with fishing techniques following standardized methods utilizing dip and cast nets, and nine environment variables were measured at each station. Fifty-three fish species belonging to 36 genera and 16 families were collected with the Alestidae, Distichodontidae, Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, Mormyridae, and Mochokidae being the most diversified. Redundancy Analysis with forward selection coupled with Monte Carlo permutation tests (499 permutations) identified total dissolved solid (25.8%) and altitude (24.4%) as accounting for 50.2% of total variance (p < 0.05). The contribution of the two first axes was significant (F = 3.41; p = 0.004). Species richness increases from upstream to downstream. In general, the high value of Shannon’s diversity (1.07-2.67) and Equitability European Scientific Journal November 2019 edition Vol.15, No.33 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431 193 (0.62-0.96) indices at all sites, indicates that the examined stretch of the Musolo River system is in good ecological health, despite its location adjacent to the megacity of Kinshasa

Nivolumab versus docetaxel in previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (CheckMate 017 and CheckMate 057): 3-year update and outcomes in patients with liver metastases

Abstract Background Long-term data with immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are limited. Two phase III trials demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) and a favorable safety profile with the anti-programmed death-1 antibody nivolumab versus docetaxel in patients with previously treated advanced squamous (CheckMate 017) and nonsquamous (CheckMate 057) NSCLC. We report results from ≥3 years' follow-up, including subgroup analyses of patients with liver metastases, who historically have poorer prognosis among patients with NSCLC. Patients and methods Patients were randomized 1 : 1 to nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks) or docetaxel (75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) until progression or discontinuation. The primary end point of each study was OS. Patients with baseline liver metastases were pooled across studies by treatment for subgroup analyses. Results After 40.3 months' minimum follow-up in CheckMate 017 and 057, nivolumab continued to show an OS benefit versus docetaxel: estimated 3-year OS rates were 17% [95% confidence interval (CI), 14% to 21%] versus 8% (95% CI, 6% to 11%) in the pooled population with squamous or nonsquamous NSCLC. Nivolumab was generally well tolerated, with no new safety concerns identified. Of 854 randomized patients across both studies, 193 had baseline liver metastases. Nivolumab resulted in improved OS compared with docetaxel in patients with liver metastases (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50–0.91), consistent with findings from the overall pooled study population (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.61–0.81). Rates of treatment-related hepatic adverse events (primarily grade 1–2 liver enzyme elevations) were slightly higher in nivolumab-treated patients with liver metastases (10%) than in the overall pooled population (6%). Conclusions After 3 years' minimum follow-up, nivolumab continued to demonstrate an OS benefit versus docetaxel in patients with advanced NSCLC. Similarly, nivolumab demonstrated an OS benefit versus docetaxel in patients with liver metastases, and remained well tolerated. Clinical trial registration CheckMate 017: NCT01642004; CheckMate 057: NCT01673867

Identification of Retinal Transformation Hot Spots in Developing Drosophila Epithelia

Background: The retinal determination (RD) network is an evolutionarily conserved regulatory circuit that governs early events in the development of eyes throughout the animal kingdom. Ectopic expression of many members of this network leads to the transformation of non-retinal epithelia into eye tissue. An often-overlooked observation is that only particular cell-populations within a handful of tissues are capable of having their primary developmental instructions superseded and overruled. Methodology/Preliminary Findings: Here we confirm that indeed, only a discrete number of cell populations within the imaginal discs that give rise to the head, antenna, legs, wings and halteres have the cellular plasticity to have their developmental fates altered. In contrast to previous reports, we find that all transformable cell populations do not lie within the TGFb or Hedgehog signaling domains. Additionally neither signaling cascade alone is sufficient for non-retinal cell types to be converted into retinal tissue. The transformation ‘‘hot spots’ ’ that we have identified appear to coincide with several previously defined transdetermination ‘‘weak spots’’, suggesting that ectopic eye formation is less the result of one network overriding the orders of another, as previously thought, but rather is the physical manifestation of redirecting cell populations of enormous cellular plasticity. We also demonstrate that the initiation of eye formation in non-retinal tissues occurs asynchronously compared to that of the normal eye suggesting that retinal development is not under the control o

The role of crime victims in American policing : findings from a national survey of police and victim organizations

The role of crime victims in American policing : findings from a national survey of police and victim organization

Indigeneity, prisoner visitation and reincarceration in Australia: the association between visits in prison and reincarceration for indigenous and non-indigenous people

Prison visitation is believed to protect against reincarceration post-release. This research explored differences in prisoner visitation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, the predictors of visitation and the effects of visitation on the risk of reincarceration. Descriptive analyses, logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were conducted using survey and linked administrative data for 1,238 Australian prisoners. We found that Indigenous people compared to non-Indigenous people were less likely to be visited, and travel distance decreased the likelihood of visitation for both groups. Moreover, visitation protected against reincarceration for nonIndigenous people only. Potential explanations for why visitation was not found to protect against reincarceration for Indigenous people are discussed as are potential implications for criminal justice systems that house Indigenous offenders