Tuning the electrical properties of La[sub 0.75]Ca[sub 0.25]MnO₃ thin films by ferroelectric polarization, ferroelectric-field effect, and converse piezoelectric effect

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Adverse effects if TERT-CLPTM1L and double-strand breaks repair contribute to risk for NPC

Epidemiology - Poster Presentations - Proffered Abstracts - Poster Presentations - Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology of Lung, Head and Neck, and Gastrointestinal Cancers: abstract no. 4148This journal suppl. entitled: Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014 ...BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genetic etiology of NPC and mechanisms for inherited susceptibility remain unclear. Only modest low-penetrance effects of cancer-predisposing common variant SNPs were previously identified in the few large-scale NPC association studies reported. Most NPC association studies focused on single or limited candidate genes with modest sample sizes. Systematic and comprehensive study designs for evaluation of higher order gene-gene interactions are scanty. A large-scale NPC case-control SNP association study was performed to examine the genetic risk factors for NPC development. In order to elucidate the ...postprin

Determining propensity for sub-optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response to statins and future risk of cardiovascular disease

Background: Variability in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) response to statins is underappreciated. We characterised patients by their statin response (SR), baseline risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 10-year CVD outcomes. / Methods and results: A multivariable model was developed using 183,213 United Kingdom (UK) patients without CVD to predict probability of sub-optimal SR, defined by guidelines as <40% reduction in LDL-C. We externally validated the model in a Hong Kong (HK) cohort (n = 170,904). Patients were stratified into four groups by predicted SR and 10-year CVD risk score: [SR1] optimal SR & low risk; [SR2] sub-optimal SR & low risk; [SR3] optimal SR & high risk; [SR4] sub-optimal SR & high risk; and 10-year hazard ratios (HR) determined for first major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Our SR model included 12 characteristics, with an area under the curve of 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–0.71; UK) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.67–0.68; HK). HRs for MACE in predicted sub-optimal SR with low CVD risk groups (SR2 to SR1) were 1.39 (95% CI 1.35–1.43, p<0.001; UK) and 1.14 (95% CI 1.11–1.17, p<0.001; HK). In both cohorts, patients with predicted sub-optimal SR with high CVD risk (SR4 to SR3) had elevated risk of MACE (UK HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.32–1.40, p<0.001: HK HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.21–1.28, p<0.001). / Conclusions: Patients with sub-optimal response to statins experienced significantly more MACE, regardless of baseline CVD risk. To enhance cholesterol management for primary prevention, statin response should be considered alongside risk assessment

Lipid levels and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients initiated on statins for primary prevention: an international population-based cohort study protocol

Background : Clinical guidelines recommend specific targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Furthermore, individual variability in lipid response to statin therapy requires assessment of the association in diverse populations. Aim: To assess whether lower concentrations of LDL-C and non-HDL-C are associated with a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in primary prevention of CVD. Design & setting: An international, new-user, cohort study will be undertaken. It will use data from three electronic health record databases from three global regions: Clinical Practice Research Datalink, UK; PREDICT-CVD, New Zealand (NZ); and the Clinical Data and Analysis Reporting System, Hong Kong (HK). Method: New statin users without a history of atherosclerotic CVD, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease, with baseline and follow-up lipid levels will be eligible for inclusion. Patients will be classified according to LDL-C (<1.4, 1.4–1.7, 1.8–2.5, and ≥2.6 mmol/l) and non-HDL-C (<2.2, 2.2–2.5, 2.6–3.3, and ≥3.4 mmol/l) concentrations 24 months after initiating statin therapy. The primary outcome of interest is MACE, defined as the first occurrence of coronary heart disease, stroke, or cardiovascular death. Secondary outcomes include all-cause mortality and the individual components of MACE. Sensitivity analyses will be conducted using lipid levels at 3 and 12 months after starting statin therapy. Conclusion: Results will inform clinicians about the benefits of achieving guideline recommended concentrations of LDL-C for primary prevention of CVD

Salmonella pyomyositis complicating sickle cell anemia: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of skeletal muscle and a rare complication of sickle cell anemia. It may present a difficult problem in diagnosis, leading to delay in appropriate treatment and development of complications including abscess formation and osteomyelitis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 44-year-old Afro-Caribbean woman with homozygous sickle cell disease who presented with chest crisis and later developed pyomyositis of her hip and pelvic muscles. <it>Salmonella agbeni </it>was isolated from blood cultures and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis in this case. It is noteworthy of this case that there were no antecedent signs of gastroenteritis. Drainage was not appropriate and she was treated with intravenous antibiotics for six weeks.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Focal Salmonella infections are uncommon in soft tissue. Pyomyositis should be considered in patients with sickle cell anemia that continue to have muscle pain and high fevers, despite initial management of their sickle cell crisis. Radiological imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, is a crucial tool in establishing the diagnosis.</p

Respiratory specialists working in different ways: development of a GP hotline and respiratory support service during the COVID-19 pandemic

Integration of primary and secondary care for the management of respiratory disease is a long-held ambition. Here, we describe how respiratory specialists at a large NHS trust, working with primary care clinicians in the area, set up a GP hotline and respiratory support service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of enhancing delivery of care to patients in this unprecedented time. Working across traditional organisational boundaries in this way confers benefits to patients and clinicians, illustrating the value of new, integrated models of care

Search for electromagnetic properties of the neutrinos at the LHC

Exclusive production of neutrinos via photon-photon fusion provides an excellent opportunity to probe electromagnetic properties of the neutrinos at the LHC. We explore the potential of processes pp-> p gamma gamma p -> p nu anti-nu p and pp -> p gamma gamma p -> p nu anti-nu Z p to probe neutrino-photon and neutrino-two photon couplings. We show that these reactions provide more than seven orders of magnitude improvement in neutrino-two photon couplings compared to LEP limits.Comment: 11 pages, 4 tables, New backgrounds have been adde

Strong evidence that the common variant S384F in BRCA2 has no pathogenic relevance in hereditary breast cancer

INTRODUCTION: Unclassified variants (UVs) of unknown clinical significance are frequently detected in the BRCA2 gene. In this study, we have investigated the potential pathogenic relevance of the recurrent UV S384F (BRCA2, exon 10). METHODS: For co-segregation, four women from a large kindred (BN326) suffering from breast cancer were analysed. Moreover, paraffin-embedded tumours from two patients were analysed for loss of heterozygosity. Co-occurrence of the variant with a deleterious mutation was further determined in a large data set of 43,029 index cases. Nature and position of the UV and conservation among species were evaluated. RESULTS: We identified the unclassified variant S384F in three of the four breast cancer patients (the three were diagnosed at 41, 43 and 57 years of age). One woman with bilateral breast cancer (diagnosed at ages 32 and 50) did not carry the variant. Both tumours were heterozygous for the S384F variant, so loss of the wild-type allele could be excluded. Ser384 is not located in a region of functional importance and cross-species sequence comparison revealed incomplete conservation in the human, dog, rodent and chicken BRCA2 homologues. Overall, the variant was detected in 116 patients, five of which co-occurred with different deleterious mutations. The combined likelihood ratio of co-occurrence, co-segregation and loss of heterozygosity revealed a value of 1.4 × 10(-8 )in favour of neutrality of the variant. CONCLUSION: Our data provide conclusive evidence that the S384F variant is not a disease causing mutation

Transforming ophthalmic education into virtual learning during COVID-19 pandemic : a global perspective

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed measures of social distancing and barriers in delivery of "in person" education. Institutions, involved in training the next generation of ophthalmologists, are using alternative teaching methods to maintain the standard of education. Methods: We conducted a worldwide survey among physicians, who are actively involved in Ophthalmology-related education, between 3 and 14 April 2020. The expert survey, developed on the basis of literature search and focus group discussions, comprised 23 questions addressing the use of e-learning in Ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 321 participants from both academic and non-academic institutions worldwide, with variable practice experience and expertise, completed the survey. Before the pandemic, the majority of participants used traditional training modalities, including lectures, grand rounds and journal clubs, and 48% did not use any e-learning. There was a statistically significant increase in the use of all e-learning alternatives during the pandemic (p &lt; 0.001), associated mainly with the availability of e-learning facilities (p &lt; 0.001) and the academic character of institutions (p &lt; 0.001). Zoom\uae was recognized as the mostly used platform for virtual teaching. Although theoretical teaching may take place, the surgical training of residents/fellows was dramatically reduced. The latter was significantly associated with participants' perspectives about teaching practices (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic imposed great challenges in the educational field of Ophthalmology. The experience related to virtual training in Ophthalmology, gained during the pandemic, may change the traditional teaching practices in the world and provide new educational opportunities

Heritage branding orientation: The case of Ach. Brito and the dynamics between corporate and product heritage brands

The notion of heritage branding orientation is introduced and explicated. Heritage branding orientation is designated as embracing both product and corporate brands and differs from corporate heritage brand orientation which has an explicit corporate focus. Empirical insights are drawn from an in-depth and longitudinal case study of Ach. Brito, a celebrated Portuguese manufacturer of soaps and toiletries. This study shows how, by the pursuance of a strategy derived from a heritage branding orientation Ach. Brito – after a prolonged period of decline – achieved a dramatic strategic turnaround. The findings reveal how institutional heritage can be a strategic resource via its adoption and activation at both the product and corporate levels. Moreover, the study showed how the bi-lateral interplay between product and corporate brand levels can be mutually reinforcing. In instrumental terms, the study shows how heritage can be activated and articulated in different ways. For instance, it can re-position both product and/or corporate brands; it can be meaningfully informed by product brand heritage and shape corporate heritage; and can be of strategic importance to both medium-sized and small enterprises