A Search For a Cure: One Step Closer to Eliminating Breast Cancer

In 2009, there were more than 194,000 new cases of breast cancer, and more than 40,000 deaths caused by this most common form of cancer among women in the United States. Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) positive breast cancer is one of the more aggressive forms of breast cancer and is prevalent in about one of every three cases of breast cancer. This protein is made in low levels by normal breast cells, but is produced in excessively high levels in HER2-positive breast cancer. In addition, HER2- positive tumors grow faster, recur more often than other breast tumors and are less responsive to hormone treatments. Wayne State University in conjunction with the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is on the cusp of a new discovery that may someday save many lives. Wei-Zen Wei, professor of immunology and microbiology in the School of Medicine and at Karmanos, is leading a research team that has developed a cancer vaccine that recognizes HER-2 positive cancer cells, and helps to prevent their spread and destroy them

Ten-year consistency in neurological test performance of children without focal neurological deficit

To assess \u27soft-sign\u27 persistence and its correlates outside a referred sample, 159 members of a local birth cohort of the United National Collaborative Perinatal Project were traced and their performance on six neurological test scales was measured at age 17 by examiners blind to their status at age seven. A comparison group was also formed, who had been \u27sign-free\u27 at age seven. On four of the six tests (dysdiadochokinesis, mirror movements, dysgraphesthesia and motor slowness) index boys did significantly worse than the comparison boys; by contrast, index girls scored significantly worse than comparisons only on motor slowness

Neurological Soft Signs: Their Relationship to Psychiatric Disorder and IQ in Childhood and Adolescence

Defines a neurological soft sign (NSS) as a particular form of deviant performance on a motor or sensory test in a neurological status examination. In the present study, 63 male and 26 female 17-yr-olds who had NSSs at 7 yrs of age were compared with sex- and age-matched controls with no NSSs at age 7 yrs. Data obtained on Ss included behavioral and neurological examination at age 7 yrs and psychiatric, neurologic, and IQ (e.g., WAIS) assessment at adolescence. All 6 females and 12 of the 15 males with an anxiety-withdrawal diagnosis and 13 of the 20 males with an affective diagnosis had had NSSs at 7 yrs of age. The relationship between number of NSSs and rate of anxiety-withdrawal disorder in both males and females was linear. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that the relationship between anxiety and affective disorders and the number of early NSSs was independent of IQ. Although most Ss with NSSs did not have an anxiety or affective diagnosis in later adolescence, half of those who had NSSs and who also displayed anxious dependent behavior during psychological testing at age 7 yrs showed anxiety or affective disturbance in later adolescence

Early soft signs and later psychopathology

At age 17 two motor signs, mirror movements and dysdiadochokinesis, were found in more than half the subjects known to have had the respective signs at age 7. These rates were significantly higher than rates found within the group of subjects who were sign free at age 7

Increased Incidence of Vestibular Disorders in Patients With SARS-CoV-2

OBJECTIVE: Determine the incidence of vestibular disorders in patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to the control population. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Clinical data in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative database (N3C). METHODS: Deidentified patient data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative database (N3C) were queried based on variant peak prevalence (untyped, alpha, delta, omicron 21K, and omicron 23A) from covariants.org to retrospectively analyze the incidence of vestibular disorders in patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to control population, consisting of patients without documented evidence of COVID infection during the same period. RESULTS: Patients testing positive for COVID-19 were significantly more likely to have a vestibular disorder compared to the control population. Compared to control patients, the odds ratio of vestibular disorders was significantly elevated in patients with untyped (odds ratio [OR], 2.39; confidence intervals [CI], 2.29-2.50; CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of vestibular disorders differed between COVID-19 variants and was significantly elevated in COVID-19-positive patients compared to the control population. These findings have implications for patient counseling and further research is needed to discern the long-term effects of these findings

Multiethnic Meta-Analysis Identifies Ancestry-Specific and Cross-Ancestry Loci for Pulmonary Function

Nearly 100 loci have been identified for pulmonary function, almost exclusively in studies of European ancestry populations. We extend previous research by meta-analyzing genome-wide association studies of 1000 Genomes imputed variants in relation to pulmonary function in a multiethnic population of 90,715 individuals of European (N = 60,552), African (N = 8429), Asian (N = 9959), and Hispanic/Latino (N = 11,775) ethnicities. We identify over 50 additional loci at genome-wide significance in ancestry-specific or multiethnic meta-analyses. Using recent fine-mapping methods incorporating functional annotation, gene expression, and differences in linkage disequilibrium between ethnicities, we further shed light on potential causal variants and genes at known and newly identified loci. Several of the novel genes encode proteins with predicted or established drug targets, including KCNK2 and CDK12. Our study highlights the utility of multiethnic and integrative genomics approaches to extend existing knowledge of the genetics of lung function and clinical relevance of implicated loci

The effect of ice-slushy consumption on plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide during prolonged exercise in the heat

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exercise in the heat on thermoregulatory responses and plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide concentration (VIP) and whether it is modulated by ice-slushy consumption. Ten male participants cycled at 62% View the MathML sourceV̇O2max for 90 min in 32 °C and 40% relative humidity. A thermoneutral (37 °C) or ice-slushy (−1 °C) sports drink was given at 3.5 ml kg−1 body mass every 15 min during exercise. VIP and rectal temperature increased during exercise (mean±standard deviation: 4.6±4.4 pmol L−1, P=0.005; and 1.3±0.4 °C, P\u3c0.001 respectively) and were moderately associated (r=0.35, P=0.008). While rectal temperature and VIP were not different between trials, ice-slushy significantly reduced heat storage (P=0.010) and skin temperature (timextrial interaction P=0.038). It appears that VIP does not provide the signal linking cold beverage ingestion and lower skin temperature in the heat

Shared care for chronic eye diseases : perspectives of ophthalmologists, optometrists and patients

Objective: To report the perspectives of optometrists, ophthalmologists and patients on a model of shared care for patients with chronic eye diseases.Design, setting and participants: Qualitative study of a model of shared care between optometrists and ophthalmologists for patients with stable age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, trialled by the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne during 2007&ndash;2009. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with optometrists, ophthalmologists and patients at completion of the project to obtain their perspectives on this model.Results: Seventeen optometrists submitted expressions of interest to participate, and 12 completed web-based training modules and clinical observerships and adhered to specified examination and reporting protocols. All five participating ophthalmologists and 11 of the optometrists were interviewed. Ninety-eight patients participated and 37 were interviewed. Optometrists not only met ophthalmologists&rsquo; expectations but exceeded them, appropriately detecting and referring patients with additional, previously undetected conditions. Patients reported savings in travel time and were satisfied with the quality of care they received. Optometrists, ophthalmologists and patients indicated a general acceptance of shared care arrangements, although there were some issues relating to interprofessional trust.Conclusions: Shared care between local optometrists and hospital-based ophthalmologists can help to reduce patient waiting time for review and offers an opportunity for these two groups of eye care professionals to collaborate in providing localised care for the benefit of patients. However, trust and relationship building need to be further developed.<br /

Case Notes

Administrative Law—Licenses-Revocation Without Fault of Licensee (Morris v. West Virginia Racing Commission, W. Va. 1949) Bills & Notes—Application of the Imposter Rule as Denial of the Existence of Forgery (United States v. Continental- American B. & T. Co., 5th Cir. 1949) Conflicts—State Judicial Procedure as Impairment of Substantive Federal Right (Brown v. Western Ry., U.S. 1949) Constitutional Law—Equal Protection Not Denied by Imposition of Longer Sentence on Minor than on Adult for Same Offense (People v. Scherbing, Cal. 1949) Constitutional Law—Equal Protection-Conduct of Tax- Exempt Corporation with Power of Eminent Domain Not State Action (Dorsey v. Stuyvesant Town Corp., N.Y. 1949 ) Contracts—Indefiniteness - Executed Employment Agreement Unenforceable When Remuneration Not Settled with Certainty (Gray v. Aiken, Ga. 1949) Criminal Procedure—Double Jeopardy-Right of State to Appeal After Acquittal (State v. Evjue, Wis. 1949) Dead Bodies—Indecent Treatment and Non-Burial-Common Law Offense For (Baker v. State, Ark. 1949) Domestic Relations—Disability to Remarry-Non-Estoppel to Challenge Validity of Subsequent Marriage Contracted in Violation Thereof (Bell v. Bell, Ga. 1949) Domestic Relations—Illegal Marriage-Effect on Division of Property Jointly-Purchased and Acquired (Smith v. Smith, Wis. 1949 ) Elections—Ballots-Regulation of by State Legislature (Morrison v. Lamarre, R.I. 1949) Evidence—Privileged Communications-Competency of Former Spouse\u27s Testimony as to Incriminating Activities Observed During Matrimony (Menefee v. Commonwealth, Va. 1949) Gaming—Lotteries-Recovery of Money Under Informer\u27s Statute (Moore v. Atlanta Athletic Club, Ga. App. 1949) Husband & Wife—Consortium-Right of Action in Wife for Negligent Injury to Husband (McDade v. West, Ga. 1949) Internal Revenue—Double Capital Gains Tax-Corporate Dissolution Planned to Avoid Tax on Sale of Appreciated Assets (United States v. Cumberland Public Service Co., U .S . 1950 ) Partnerships—Service on One Partner Only-Assets of Partnership Held Liable Prior to Assets of Individual Partner Served (Grogan v. Herrington, Ga. App. 1949) Practice & Procedure—Improper Argument-Extent of Remedial Instructions at Discretion of Trial Court (Washington v. State, Ga.A pp. 1949) Torts—Family Purpose Doctrine-Not Applicable to Bicycles (Pflugmacher v. Thomas, Wash. 1949) Torts—Wrongful Death Act-Applicability Where Injury to Mother Causes Death to Unborn Infant (Verkennes v. Corniea , M inn. 1949) Wills—Probate-Final Decree as a Bar to Probate of Later Will (In re Winzenrith\u27s Will, W .Va. 1949) Wills & Administration—Dower Election-Effect of Acceptance of Benefits under Will in Foreign Jurisdiction (Griley v. Griley, Fla. 1949