1,449 research outputs found
Sex Differences in Drug Disposition
Physiological, hormonal, and genetic differences between males and females affect the prevalence, incidence, and severity of diseases and responses to therapy. Understanding these differences is important for designing safe and effective treatments. This paper summarizes sex differences that impact drug disposition and includes a general comparison of clinical pharmacology as it applies to men and women
The Combined Effect of Air Layers and Membrane Superhydrophobicity on Biofouling in Membrane Distillation
Previous studies of membrane distillation (MD) have shown that superhydrophobic membranes experience dramatically less inorganic and particulate fouling. However, little explanation for this improved performance has been given in the literature. Furthermore, studies comparing membrane superhydrophobicity and biofouling are lacking, though superhydrophobic surfaces are known to be more vulnerable to biofouling than other types. In non-membrane surfaces, visible air layers on superhydrophobic surfaces have been correlated with
significant decreases in biofouling. Therefore, it was proposed here to use superhydrophobic MD membranes with periodic introduction of air to maintain an air layer on the membrane surface. Superhydrophobic membranes were created with initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) of a fluorinated compound, perfluorodecyl acrylate (PFDA). The substrate membrane was PVDF. To test MD fouling, an MD membrane was placed on top of a fouling solution, with a heater and stirrer to caus
e evaporation of water through the membrane. Results were analyzed with foulant mass measurements. Alginate gel fouling was examined, as this compound is a common proxy for biological fouling in ocean w
ater. The introduction of air layers was found to dramatically decrease foulant adhesion to the membrane, by 95-97%. Membrane superhydrophobicity made a much smaller impact in reducing fouling.
Keywords
membrane distillation, superhydrophobic surfaces, alginate, air layers, anti-foulin
Cross-correlating Carbon Monoxide Line-intensity Maps with Spectroscopic and Photometric Galaxy Surveys
Line-intensity mapping (LIM or IM) is an emerging field of observational
work, with strong potential to fit into a larger effort to probe large-scale
structure and small-scale astrophysical phenomena using multiple complementary
tracers. Taking full advantage of such complementarity means, in part,
undertaking line-intensity surveys with galaxy surveys in mind. We consider the
potential for detection of a cross-correlation signal between COMAP and blind
surveys based on photometric redshifts (as in COSMOS) or based on spectroscopic
data (as with the HETDEX survey of Lyman- emitters). We find that
obtaining accuracy in redshifts and
sources per Mpc with spectroscopic redshift determination
should enable a CO-galaxy cross spectrum detection significance at least twice
that of the CO auto spectrum. Either a future targeted spectroscopic survey or
a blind survey like HETDEX may be able to meet both of these requirements.Comment: 19 pages + appendix (31 pages total), 16 figures, 6 tables; accepted
for publication in Ap
East Midlands Research into Ageing Network (EMRAN) Discussion Paper Series
Academic geriatric medicine in Leicester
.
There has never been a better time to consider joining us. We have recently appointed a
Professor in Geriatric Medicine, alongside Tom Robinson in stroke and Victoria Haunton,
who has just joined as a Senior Lecturer in Geriatric Medicine. We have fantastic
opportunities to support students in their academic pursuits through a well-established
intercalated BSc programme, and routes on through such as ACF posts, and a successful
track-record in delivering higher degrees leading to ACL post. We collaborate strongly
with Health Sciences, including academic primary care. See below for more detail on our
existing academic set-up.
Leicester Academy for the Study of Ageing
We are also collaborating on a grander scale, through a joint academic venture focusing
on ageing, the ‘Leicester Academy for the Study of Ageing’ (LASA), which involves the
local health service providers (acute and community), De Montfort University; University
of Leicester; Leicester City Council; Leicestershire County Council and Leicester Age UK.
Professors Jayne Brown and Simon Conroy jointly Chair LASA and have recently been
joined by two further Chairs, Professors Kay de Vries and Bertha Ochieng. Karen
Harrison Dening has also recently been appointed an Honorary Chair.
LASA aims to improve outcomes for older people and those that care for them that takes
a person-centred, whole system perspective. Our research will take a global perspective,
but will seek to maximise benefits for the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland,
including building capacity. We are undertaking applied, translational, interdisciplinary
research, focused on older people, which will deliver research outcomes that address
domains from: physical/medical; functional ability, cognitive/psychological; social or
environmental factors. LASA also seeks to support commissioners and providers alike for
advice on how to improve care for older people, whether by research, education or
service delivery. Examples of recent research projects include: ‘Local History Café’
project specifically undertaking an evaluation on loneliness and social isolation; ‘Better
Visits’ project focused on improving visiting for family members of people with dementia
resident in care homes; and a study on health issues for older LGBT people in Leicester.
Clinical Geriatric Medicine in Leicester
We have developed a service which recognises the complexity of managing frail older
people at the interface (acute care, emergency care and links with community services).
There are presently 17 consultant geriatricians supported by existing multidisciplinary
teams, including the largest complement of Advance Nurse Practitioners in the country.
Together we deliver Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment to frail older people with
urgent care needs in acute and community settings.
The acute and emergency frailty units – Leicester Royal Infirmary
This development aims at delivering Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment to frail older
people in the acute setting. Patients are screened for frailty in the Emergency
Department and then undergo a multidisciplinary assessment including a consultant
geriatrician, before being triaged to the most appropriate setting. This might include
admission to in-patient care in the acute or community setting, intermediate care
(residential or home based), or occasionally other specialist care (e.g. cardiorespiratory).
Our new emergency department is the county’s first frail friendly build and includes
fantastic facilities aimed at promoting early recovering and reducing the risk of hospital
associated harms.
There is also a daily liaison service jointly run with the psychogeriatricians (FOPAL); we
have been examining geriatric outreach to oncology and surgery as part of an NIHR
funded study.
We are home to the Acute Frailty Network, and those interested in service developments
at the national scale would be welcome to get involved.
Orthogeriatrics
There are now dedicated hip fracture wards and joint care with anaesthetists,
orthopaedic surgeons and geriatricians. There are also consultants in metabolic bone
disease that run clinics.
Community work
Community work will consist of reviewing patients in clinic who have been triaged to
return to the community setting following an acute assessment described above.
Additionally, primary care colleagues refer to outpatients for sub-acute reviews. You will
work closely with local GPs with support from consultants to deliver post-acute, subacute,
intermediate and rehabilitation care services.
Stroke Medicine
24/7 thrombolysis and TIA services. The latter is considered one of the best in the UK
and along with the high standard of vascular surgery locally means one of the best
performances regarding carotid intervention
Profiling anticancer and antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds present in black walnuts (Juglans nigra) using a high-throughput screening approach
Our recent studies have demonstrated multiple health-promoting benefits from black
walnut kernels. These biological functions of black walnuts are likely associated with their bioactive
constituents. Characterization of phenolic compounds found in black walnut could point out
underexplored bioactive activities of black walnut extracts and promote the development of novel
applications of black walnut and its by-products. In the present study, we assessed bioactivity profiles
of phenolic compounds identified in the kernels of black walnuts using a high-throughput screening
(HTS) approach. Black walnut phenolic compounds were evaluated in terms of their total antioxidant
capacity, antioxidant response element (ARE) induction, and anticancer activities. The anticancer
activities were identified by evaluating the effects of the phenolic compounds on the growth of
the tumorigenic alveolar epithelial cells (A549) and non-tumorigenic lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5).
Out of 16 phenolic compounds tested, several compounds (penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose, epicatechin
gallate, quercetin, (–)-epicatechin, rutin, quercetin 3-β-d-glucoside, gallic acid, (+)-catechin, ferulic
acid, syringic acid) exerted antioxidant activities that were significantly higher compared to Trolox,
which was used as a control. Two phenolic compounds, penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose and quercetin
3-β-d-glucoside, exhibited antiproliferative activities against both the tumorigenic alveolar epithelial
cells (A549) and non-tumorigenic lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5). The antioxidant activity of black
walnut is likely driven not only by penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose but also by a combination of multiple
phenolic compounds. Our findings suggested that black walnut extracts possibly possess anticancer
activities and supported that penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose could be a potential bioactive agent for the
cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.Supplementary Materials: Figure S1: Data distribution of controls (Trolox,
DL-sulforaphane, tert- butylhydroquinone) in total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant response element (ARE)
activation assays. Figure S2: Data distribution of controls (Trolox, DL-sulforaphane) in cytotoxicity assays.USDA/ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farm Research Center,
Center for Agroforestry at University of Missouri and
Missouri Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).http://www.mdpi.com/journal/moleculespm2020Plant Production and Soil Scienc
Neuropathology of childhood‐onset basal ganglia degeneration caused by mutation of VAC14
ObjectiveTo characterize the clinical features and neuropathology associated with recessive VAC14 mutations.MethodsWhole‐exome sequencing was used to identify the genetic etiology of a rapidly progressive neurological disease presenting in early childhood in two deceased siblings with distinct neuropathological features on post mortem examination.ResultsWe identified compound heterozygous variants in VAC14 in two deceased siblings with early childhood onset of severe, progressive dystonia, and neurodegeneration. Their clinical phenotype is consistent with the VAC14–related childhood‐onset, striatonigral degeneration recently described in two unrelated children. Post mortem examination demonstrated prominent vacuolation associated with degenerating neurons in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus, similar to previously reported ex vivo vacuoles seen in the late‐endosome/lysosome of VAC14‐deficient neurons. We identified upregulation of ubiquitinated granules within the cell cytoplasm and lysosomal‐associated membrane protein (LAMP2) around the vacuole edge to suggest a process of vacuolation of lysosomal structures associated with active autophagocytic‐associated neuronal degeneration.InterpretationOur findings reveal a distinct clinicopathological phenotype associated with recessive VAC14 mutations.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142276/1/acn3487_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142276/2/acn3487.pd
Survival after Acute Hemodialysis in Pennsylvania, 2005- 2007: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Abstract Background: Little is known about acute hemodialysis in the US. Here we describe predictors of receipt of acute hemodialysis in one state and estimate the marginal impact of acute hemodialysis on survival after accounting for confounding due to illness severity
HIV Infection and the Risk of World Health Organization-Defined Sudden Cardiac Death
Background
People living with HIV have higher sudden cardiac death (SCD) rates compared with the general population. Whether HIV infection is an independent SCD risk factor is unclear.
Methods and Results
This study evaluated participants from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, an observational, longitudinal cohort of veterans with and without HIV infection matched 1:2 on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and clinical site. Baseline for this study was a participant\u27s first clinical visit on or after April 1, 2003. Participants were followed through December 31, 2014. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we assessed whether HIV infection, CD4 cell counts, and/or HIV viral load were associated with World Health Organization (WHO)–defined SCD risk. Among 144 336 participants (30% people living with HIV), the mean (SD) baseline age was 50.0 years (10.6 years), 97% were men, and 47% were of Black race. During follow‐up (median, 9.0 years), 3035 SCDs occurred. HIV infection was associated with increased SCD risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.04–1.25), adjusting for possible confounders. In analyses with time‐varying CD4 and HIV viral load, people living with HIV with CD4 counts \u3c 200 cells/mm3 (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.28–1.92) or viral load \u3e 500 copies/mL (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.46–1.98) had increased SCD risk versus veterans without HIV. In contrast, people living with HIV who had CD4 cell counts \u3e 500 cells/mm3 (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90–1.18) or HIV viral load \u3c 500 copies/mL (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.87–1.09) were not at increased SCD risk.
Conclusions
HIV infection is associated with increased risk of WHO‐defined SCD among those with elevated HIV viral load or low CD4 cell counts
- …