Machine-learning of atomic-scale properties based on physical principles

We briefly summarize the kernel regression approach, as used recently in materials modelling, to fitting functions, particularly potential energy surfaces, and highlight how the linear algebra framework can be used to both predict and train from linear functionals of the potential energy, such as the total energy and atomic forces. We then give a detailed account of the Smooth Overlap of Atomic Positions (SOAP) representation and kernel, showing how it arises from an abstract representation of smooth atomic densities, and how it is related to several popular density-based representations of atomic structure. We also discuss recent generalisations that allow fine control of correlations between different atomic species, prediction and fitting of tensorial properties, and also how to construct structural kernels---applicable to comparing entire molecules or periodic systems---that go beyond an additive combination of local environments

DNA vaccination for prostate cancer: key concepts and considerations

While locally confined prostate cancer is associated with a low five year mortality rate, advanced or metastatic disease remains a major challenge for healthcare professionals to treat and is usually terminal. As such, there is a need for the development of new, efficacious therapies for prostate cancer. Immunotherapy represents a promising approach where the host’s immune system is harnessed to mount an anti-tumour effect, and the licensing of the first prostate cancer specific immunotherapy in 2010 has opened the door for other immunotherapies to gain regulatory approval. Among these strategies DNA vaccines are an attractive option in terms of their ability to elicit a highly specific, potent and wide-sweeping immune response. Several DNA vaccines have been tested for prostate cancer and while they have demonstrated a good safety profile they have faced problems with low efficacy and immunogenicity compared to other immunotherapeutic approaches. This review focuses on the positive aspects of DNA vaccines for prostate cancer that have been assessed in preclinical and clinical trials thus far and examines the key considerations that must be employed to improve the efficacy and immunogenicity of these vaccines

Primary growth hormone insensitivity (Laron syndrome) and acquired hypothyroidism: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Primary growth hormone resistance or growth hormone insensitivity syndrome, also known as Laron syndrome, is a hereditary disease caused by deletions or different types of mutations in the growth hormone receptor gene or by post-receptor defects. This disorder is characterized by a clinical appearance of severe growth hormone deficiency with high levels of circulating growth hormone in contrast to low serum insulin-like growth factor 1 values.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 15-year-old Caucasian girl who was diagnosed with Silver-Russell syndrome at the age of four and a half years. Recombinant growth hormone was administered for 18 months without an appropriate increase in growth velocity. At the age of seven years, her serum growth hormone levels were high, and an insulin-like growth factor 1 generation test did not increase insulin-like growth factor 1 levels (baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels, 52 μg/L; reference range, 75 μg/L to 365 μg/L; and peak, 76 μg/L and 50 μg/L after 12 and 84 hours, respectively, from baseline). The genetic analysis showed that the patient was homozygous for the R217X mutation in the growth hormone receptor gene, which is characteristic of Laron syndrome. On the basis of these results, the diagnosis of primary growth hormone insensitivity syndrome was made, and recombinant insulin-like growth factor 1 therapy was initiated. The patient's treatment was well tolerated, but unexplained central hypothyroidism occurred at the age of 12.9 years. At the age of 15 years, when the patient's sexual development was almost completed and her menstrual cycle occurred irregularly, her height was 129.8 cm, which is 4.71 standard deviations below the median for normal girls her age.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The most important functional tests for the diagnosis of growth hormone insensitivity are the insulin-like growth factor 1 generation test and genetic analysis. Currently, the only effective treatment is daily administration of recombinant insulin-like growth factor 1 starting from early childhood. However, these patients show a dramatically impaired final height. In our case, unexplained central hypothyroidism occurred during treatment.</p

Digital identity of researchers and their personal learning network

Paper produzido no âmbito da Tese de Doutoramento em Educação, especialidade de Educação a Distância e eLearning (EDeL), Universidade Aberta.In a networked society, everyday experience is shared in networks at a personal, professional and academic level. Thus, there is a need to have digital literacy skills to obtain and produce contents in a collaborative way, sharing the knowledge acquired in the personal learning network. This paper is a reflection of literature revision in the PhD project of Online Distance Education and e-learning, concerning themes such as digital identity and personal learning networks. In this way we aim to make a literature analysis about the necessity of digital literacy so that we may obtain competencies for a personal learning network.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

TV-46000, A Long-Acting Subcutaneous Antipsychotic Agent, Demonstrated Improved Patient-Centered Outcomes in Patients with Schizophrenia

Leslie Citrome,1 Mark Suett,2 Kelli R Franzenburg,3 Roy Eshet,4 Anna Elgart,4 Glen L Davis 3rd,5 Eran Harary,4 Orna Tohami,4 Marko A Mychaskiw,6 John M Kane7– 9 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA; 2Global Medical Affairs, Teva UK Limited, Harlow, UK; 3Global Medical Affairs, Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc., West Chester, PA, USA; 4Innovative Medicines, Global Clinical Development, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Netanya, Israel; 5Global Clinical Operations, Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc., West Chester, PA, USA; 6Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc, West Chester, PA, USA; 7Department of Psychiatry, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA; 8Department of Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA; 9Institute of Behavioral Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USACorrespondence: Leslie Citrome, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, New York Medical College, 40 Sunshine Cottage Road, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA, Email [email protected]: TV46000 is a long-acting subcutaneous antipsychotic (LASCA) formulation of risperidone approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.Methods: The RISE study (NCT03503318) compared TV-46000 once monthly (q1m) and once every 2 months (q2m) with placebo (1:1:1) in patients with schizophrenia who underwent stabilization on oral risperidone. The SHINE study (NCT03893825) evaluated the long-term safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of TV-46000 in patients who completed RISE without relapse (rollover; placebo rollover randomized [1:1] to q1m or q2m; TV-46000 rollover continued assigned treatment) or who were newly recruited (de novo; randomized [1:1] to q1m or q2m after oral stabilization). Patient-centered outcomes included the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS), the 5-Level EuroQoL 5-Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), and the Drug Attitudes Inventory 10-item version (DAI-10).Results: In RISE, SQLS least-squares mean changes (SE) improved to last assessment (LA) for TV-46000 q1m (– 4.15 [1.03]) and q2m (– 3.28 [1.06]) but worsened for placebo (1.75 [1.07]; P< 0.001 for both). PSP, EQ5D-5L, and DAI-10 showed similar trends. In SHINE, SQLS decreased (improved) at LA for both TV-46000 q1m (− 0.43 [0.98]) and q2m (− 2.16 [0.98]); reductions were observed in the de novo (q2m only) and placebo rollover (q1m and q2m) cohorts, but not for the TV46000 rollover cohort. Results for PSP, EQ5D-5L, and DAI-10 were consistent with those reported in the RISE study.Conclusion: Improvements in patient-centered outcomes were observed across cohorts, with the largest improvements observed for patients who began TV-46000 during SHINE (ie, de novo and placebo rollover cohorts), while gains made during RISE were minimally improved or maintained in the TV-46000 rollover cohort, indicating the benefit of uninterrupted TV-46000 treatment. These data support the effectiveness of TV-46000 to improve patient-centered outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.Plain Language Summary: RISE and SHINE were clinical studies where patients with schizophrenia received TV-46000. TV-46000 is injected under the skin once monthly or once every 2 months to treat schizophrenia in adults. In RISE, patients took pills for the first 3 months, and then received injections under the skin. Some patients received inactive (placebo) injections. Comparing results among groups showed the effectiveness and side effects of TV-46000. Patients who completed RISE could continue into SHINE. SHINE included patients who had not been part of RISE as well. All patients received TV-46000 in SHINE to see if results were the same long term. This report summarizes the results of patient-centered outcomes. These included measures of quality of life and attitudes toward the medicine. In RISE, quality of life and attitudes toward the medicine improved with TV-46000, but worsened with placebo. In SHINE, the patient-centered outcomes also improved. The largest improvements were for patients who began taking TV-46000 during SHINE. This analysis showed that there is a benefit in taking TV-46000 for longer times without breaks. It also showed that TV-46000 improves quality of life and attitudes toward the medicine.Keywords: schizophrenia, long-acting injectable, risperidone, patient-centered outcome

Association of early life factors and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood: historical cohort study

In a historical cohort study of all singleton live births in Northern Ireland from 1971–86 (n=434 933) associations between early life factors and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were investigated. Multivariable analyses showed a positive association between high paternal age (⩾35 years) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (relative risk=1.49; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.96–2.31) but no association with maternal age. High birth weight (⩾3500 g) was positively associated with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (relative risk=1.66; 95% CI=1.18–2.33). Children of mothers with a previous miscarriage or increased gestation (⩾40 weeks) had reduced risks of ALL (respective relative risks=0.49; 95% CI=0.29–0.80, and 0.67; 95% CI=0.48–0.94). Children born into more crowded households (⩾1 person per room) had substantially lower risks than children born into less crowded homes with also some evidence of a lower risk for children born into homes with three adults (relative risks=0.56; 95% CI=0.35–0.91 and 0.58; 95% CI=0.21–1.61 respectively). These findings indicate that several early life factors, including living conditions in childhood and maternal miscarriage history, influence risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood