A heparin-mimicking polymer conjugate stabilizes basic fibroblast growth factor.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a protein that plays a crucial role in diverse cellular functions, from wound healing to bone regeneration. However, a major obstacle to the widespread application of bFGF is its inherent instability during storage and delivery. Here, we describe the stabilization of bFGF by covalent conjugation with a heparin-mimicking polymer, a copolymer consisting of styrene sulfonate units and methyl methacrylate units bearing poly(ethylene glycol) side chains. The bFGF conjugate of this polymer retained bioactivity after synthesis and was stable to a variety of environmentally and therapeutically relevant stressors--such as heat, mild and harsh acidic conditions, storage and proteolytic degradation--unlike native bFGF. Following the application of stress, the conjugate was also significantly more active than the control conjugate system in which the styrene sulfonate units were omitted from the polymer structure. This research has important implications for the clinical use of bFGF and for the stabilization of heparin-binding growth factors in general

Epidemiology and Impact of Abdominal Oblique Injuries in Major and Minor League Baseball.

BACKGROUND: Oblique injuries are known to be a common cause of time out of play for professional baseball players, and prior work has suggested that injury rates may be on the rise in Major League Baseball (MLB). PURPOSE: To better understand the current incidence of oblique injuries, determine their impact based on time out of play, and to identify common injury patterns that may guide future injury prevention programs. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiological study. METHODS: Using the MLB Health and Injury Tracking System, all oblique injuries that resulted in time out of play in MLB and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) during the 2011 to 2015 seasons were identified. Player demographics such as age, position/role, and handedness were included. Injury-specific factors analyzed included the following: date of injury, timing during season, days missed, mechanism, side, treatment, and reinjury status. RESULTS: A total of 996 oblique injuries occurred in 259 (26%) MLB and 737 (74%) MiLB players. Although the injury rate was steady in MiLB, the MLB injury rate declined (P = .037). A total of 22,064 days were missed at a mean rate of 4413 days per season and 22.2 days per injury. The majority of these occurred during batting (n = 455, 46%) or pitching (n = 348, 35%), with pitchers losing 5 days more per injury than batters (P \u3c .001). The leading side was injured in 77% of cases and took 5 days longer to recover from than trailing side injuries (P = .009). Seventy-nine (7.9%) players received either a corticosteroid or platelet-rich plasma injection, and the mean recovery time was 11 days longer compared with those who did not receive an injection (P \u3c .001). CONCLUSION: Although the rate of abdominal oblique injuries is on the decline in MLB, this is not the case for MiLB, and these injuries continue to represent a significant source of time out of play in professional baseball. The vast majority of injuries occur on the lead side, and these injuries result in the greatest amount time out of play. The benefit of injections for the treatment of oblique injuries remains unknown

Church-based social support and suicidality among African Americans and Black Caribbeans

This study explores the relationship between church-based informal social support and lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts within a representative national sample of African American and Black Caribbean adults. Characteristics of church-based social support networks, as well as emotional support and negative interaction with church members were examined in relation to lifetime suicide ideation and attempts. This study used data from the National Survey of American Life (2001–2003). Frequency of interaction with church members was positively associa- ted with suicide attempts, while subjective closeness to church members was negatively associated with suicide ideation. Emotional support, service attendance, and negative interaction with church members were unrelated to both suicide ideation and attempts. Findings are discussed in relation to research on church-based support networks, dif- ferent models linking church support and suicidality, and the mechanisms by which church-based networks deter suicide ideation and attempts.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/107407/1/Church based social support Chatters et al 2011.pdfDescription of Church based social support Chatters et al 2011.pdf : Main articl

Groundwater contamination with nitrogenous compounds in Kumamoto Prefecture and Hanoi City : Present conditions and adopted countermeasures

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

WATER QUALITY SURVEY OF VIETNAM

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Assessing Medical Student’s Ability to Interpret Traumatic Injuries on Computed Tomography Before and After the Third Year Clerkships

Introduction. Exposure to radiologic images during clinical rotationsmay improve students’ skill levels. This study aimed to quantifythe improvement in radiographic interpretation of life-threateningtraumatic injuries gained during third year clinical clerkships (MS-3). Methods. We used a paired-sample prospective study design tocompare students’ accuracy in reading computed tomography (CT)images at the beginning of their third year clerkships (Phase I) andagain after completion of all of their third year clerkships (Phase II).Students were shown life-threatening injuries that included head,chest, abdomen, and pelvic injuries. Overall scores for Phase II werecompared with Phase I, as well as sub-scores for each anatomicalregion: head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Results. Only scores from students participating in both Phase Iand Phase II (N = 57) were used in the analysis. After completingtheir MS3 clerkship, students scored significantly better overall andin every anatomical region. Phase I and Phase II overall mean scoreswere 1.2 ± 1.1 vs. 4.6 ± 1.8 (p < 0.001). Students improved the mostwith respect to injuries of the head and chest and the area of leastimprovement was in interpreting CT scans of the abdomen. Althoughimprovements in reading radiographic images were noted after theclerkship year, students accurately diagnosed only 46% of life-threateningimages on CT scan in the trauma setting. Conclusions. These results indicated that enhanced education isneeded for medical students to interpret CT scans.Kans J Med 2018;11(4):91-94

Positive Surgical Margins in the 10 Most Common Solid Cancers.

A positive surgical margin (PSM) following cancer resection oftentimes necessitates adjuvant treatments and carries significant financial and prognostic implications. We sought to compare PSM rates for the ten most common solid cancers in the United States, and to assess trends over time. Over 10 million patients were identified in the National Cancer Data Base from 1998-2012, and 6.5 million had surgical margin data. PSM rates were compared between two time periods, 1998-2002 and 2008-2012. PSM was positively correlated with tumor category and grade. Ovarian and prostate cancers had the highest PSM prevalence in women and men, respectively. The highest PSM rates for cancers affecting both genders were seen for oral cavity tumors. PSM rates for breast cancer and lung and bronchus cancer in both men and women declined over the study period. PSM increases were seen for bladder, colon and rectum, and kidney and renal pelvis cancers. This large-scale analysis appraises the magnitude of PSM in the United States in order to focus future efforts on improving oncologic surgical care with the goal of optimizing value and improving patient outcomes