947 research outputs found
THE STRUCTURE OF EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN A DECLINING RURAL COMMUNITY
Labor and Human Capital,
Exercise Beliefs and Behaviours of Individuals with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome/ Ehlers Danlos Syndrome-Hypermobility Type
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Disability & Rehabilitation on 10 November 2017, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1398278. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis GroupPurpose: To explore exercise beliefs and behaviours of individuals with Joint Hypermobility syndrome/Ehlers–Danlos syndrome – hypermobility type and to explore patient experiences of physiotherapy.Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire survey design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from adult members of the Hypermobility Syndromes Association and Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome Support UK. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Qualitative data was analysed thematically.Results: 946 questionnaires were returned and analysed. Participants who received exercise advice from a physiotherapist were 1.75 more likely to report high volumes of weekly exercise (odds ratio [OR] = 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30–2.36, p < 0.001) than those with no advice. Participants who believed that exercise is important for long-term management were 2.76 times more likely to report a high volume of weekly exercise compared to the participants who did not hold this belief (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.38–5.50, p = 0.004). Three themes emerged regarding experience of physiotherapy; physiotherapist as a partner, communication – knowledge, experience and safety.Conclusion: Pain, fatigue and fear are common barriers to exercise. Advice from a physiotherapist and beliefs about the benefits of exercise influenced the reported exercise behaviours of individuals with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome – hypermobility type in this survey.Peer reviewe
Prolonged Effect of Omeprazole on the 14 C-Urea Breath Test
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73649/1/j.1572-0241.1996.tb08294.x.pd
Burosumab therapy in children with x-linked hypophosphatemia
BACKGROUND
X-linked hypophosphatemia is characterized by increased secretion of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), which leads to hypophosphatemia and consequently rickets, osteomalacia, and skeletal deformities. We investigated burosumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets FGF-23, in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia.
METHODS
In an open-label, phase 2 trial, we randomly assigned 52 children with X-linked hypophosphatemia, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive subcutaneous burosumab either every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks; the dose was adjusted to achieve a serum phosphorus level at the low end of the normal range. The primary end point was the change from baseline to weeks 40 and 64 in the Thacher rickets severity total score (ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater disease severity). In addition, the Radiographic Global Impression of Change was used to evaluate rachitic changes from baseline to week 40 and to week 64. Additional end points were changes in pharmacodynamic markers, linear growth, physical ability, and patient-reported outcomes and the incidence of adverse events.
RESULTS
The mean Thacher rickets severity total score decreased from 1.9 at baseline to 0.8 at week 40 with every-2-week dosing and from 1.7 at baseline to 1.1 at week 40 with every-4-week dosing (P<0.001 for both comparisons); these improvements persisted at week 64. The mean serum phosphorus level increased after the first dose in both groups, and more than half the patients in both groups had levels within the normal range (3.2 to 6.1 mg per deciliter [1.0 to 2.0 mmol per liter]) by week 6. Stable serum phosphorus levels were maintained through week 64 with every-2-week dosing. Renal tubular phosphate reabsorption increased from baseline in both groups, with an overall mean increase of 0.98 mg per deciliter (0.32 mmol per liter). The mean dose of burosumab at week 40 was 0.98 mg per kilogram of body weight with every-2-week dosing and 1.50 mg per kilogram with every-4-week dosing. Across both groups, the mean serum alkaline phosphatase level decreased from 459 U per liter at baseline to 369 U per liter at week 64. The mean standing-height z score increased in both groups, with greater improvement seen at all time points with every-2-week dosing (an increase from baseline of 0.19 at week 64) than with every-4-week dosing (an increase from baseline of 0.12 at week 64). Physical ability improved and pain decreased. Nearly all the adverse events were mild or moderate in severity.
CONCLUSIONS
In children with X-linked hypophosphatemia, treatment with burosumab improved renal tubular phosphate reabsorption, serum phosphorus levels, linear growth, and physical function and reduced pain and the severity of rickets
Jaundice: an important, poorly recognized risk factor for diminished survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas
AbstractObjectivesJaundice impairs cellular immunity, an important defence against the dissemination of cancer. Jaundice is a common mode of presentation in pancreatic head adenocarcinoma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between preoperative jaundice and survival in patients who have undergone resection of such tumours.MethodsThirty possible survival risk factors were evaluated in a database of over 400 resected patients. Univariate analysis was used to determine odds ratio for death. All factors for which a P‐value of <0.30 was obtained were entered into a multivariate analysis using the Cox model with backward selection.ResultsPreoperative jaundice, age, positive node status, poor differentiation and lymphatic invasion were significant indicators of poor outcome in multivariate analysis. Absence of jaundice was a highly favourable prognostic factor. Interaction emerged between jaundice and nodal status. The benefit conferred by the absence of jaundice was restricted to patients in whom negative node status was present. Five‐year overall survival in this group was 66%. Jaundiced patients who underwent preoperative stenting had a survival advantage.ConclusionsPreoperative jaundice is a negative risk factor in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Additional studies are required to determine the exact mechanism for this effect
Predicting electrical conductivity in Cu/Nb composites: a combined model-experiment study
The generation of high magnetic fields requires materials with high electric
conductivity and good strength properties. Cu/Nb composites are considered to
be good candidates for this purpose. In this work we aim to predict, from
theory, the dependence of electric conductivity on the microstructure, most
notably on the layer thickness and grain sizes. We also conducted experiments
to calibrate and validate our simulations. Bimetal interfaces and grain
boundaries are confirmed to have the largest impact on conductivity in this
composite material. In this approach, a distribution of the layer thickness is
accounted for in order to better model the experimentally observed
microstructure. Because layer thicknesses below the mean free path of Cu
significantly degrade the conductivity, an average layer thickness larger than
expected may be needed to meet conductivity requirements in order to minimize
these smaller layers in the distribution. We also investigate the effect of
variations in volume fraction of Nb and temperature on the material's
conductivity.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, 2 table
The Ursinus Weekly, March 4, 1957
Forum on student government scheduled for 8:00 tonight • March 15 date for annual show by students, faculty • Girls to discuss May Day on Wed. • Motion pictures viewed by Chemical Society • Chi Alpha schedules talk on integration • Curtain Club presents The Valiant, Feb. 26 • UC grad completes basic • Mary Jo Turtzo to represent UC in Glamour contest • Cub & Key Society requests outlines from junior men • 1957 Campus Chest fund drive • Annual drive begins today, closes on Friday, March 15 • YM-YW to sponsor music seminar; Begins Wednesday • YM-YW sponsor events for frosh • Local Rotarians set up scholarship to Ursinus • Frosh to present dance, The Golden nugget, Sat. • US foreign policy to be IRC program tonight • Editorial: Life for our organizations; It goes without saying • Letters to the editor • Obituary for a timid intellectual • Play review: The Valiant • He who hesitates • Ursinus five loses to Drexel, PMC; End with second worst slate, 0-16 • Belles top E. Stroudsburg; Win over William & Mary on weekend trip south • Padula emerges 4-year M. Atlantic champ; Wins second outstanding athlete award • Matmen gain first place tie with win over Drexel, 19-13 • Inside report on winless Bruinshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1423/thumbnail.jp
Highly Variable Extinction and Accretion in the Jet-driving Class I Type Young Star PTF 10nvg (V2492 Cyg, IRAS 20496+4354)
We report extensive new photometry and spectroscopy of the highly variable
young stellar object PTF 10nvg including optical and near-infrared time series
data as well as mid-infrared and millimeter data. Following the previously
reported 2010 rise, during 2011 and 2012 the source underwent additional
episodes of brightening and dimming events including prolonged faint states.
The observed high-amplitude variations are largely consistent with extinction
changes having a 220 day quasi-periodic signal. Spectral evolution includes not
only changes in the spectral slope but correlated variation in the prominence
of TiO/VO/CO bands and atomic line emission, as well as anticorrelated
variation in forbidden line emission which, along with H_2, dominates optical
and infrared spectra at faint epochs. Neutral and singly-ionized atomic species
are likely formed in an accretion flow and/or impact while the origin of
zero-velocity atomic LiI 6707 in emission is unknown. Forbidden lines,
including several rare species, exhibit blueshifted emission profiles and
likely arise from an outflow/jet. Several of these lines are also seen
spatially offset from the continuum source position, presumably in a shocked
region of an extended jet. CARMA maps resolve on larger scales a spatially
extended outflow in mm-wavelength CO. We attribute the observed photometric and
spectroscopic behavior in terms of occultation of the central star as well as
the bright inner disk and the accretion/outflow zones that renders shocked gas
in the inner part of the jet amenable to observation at the faint epochs. We
discuss PTF 10nvg as a source exhibiting both accretion-driven (perhaps
analogous to V1647 Ori) and extinction-driven (perhaps analogous to UX Ori or
GM Cep) high-amplitude variability phenomena.Comment: accepted to AJ - in press (74 pages
Hypothalamic orexin’s role in exacerbated cutaneous vasodilation responses to an anxiogenic stimulus in a surgical menopause model
Distressing symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep disturbances affect over 70% of women approaching menopause for an average of 4-7 years, and recent large cohort studies have shown that anxiety and stress are strongly associated with more severe and persistent hot flashes and can induce hot flashes. Although high estrogen doses alleviate symptoms, extended use increases health risks, and current non-hormonal therapies are marginally better than placebo. The lack of effective non-hormonal treatments is largely due to the limited understanding of the mechanisms that underlie menopausal symptoms. One mechanistic pathway that has not been explored is the wake-promoting orexin neuropeptide system. Orexin is exclusively synthesized in the estrogen receptor rich perifornical hypothalamic region, and has an emerging role in anxiety and thermoregulation. In female rodents, estrogens tonically inhibit expression of orexin, and estrogen replacement normalizes severely elevated central orexin levels in postmenopausal women. Using an ovariectomy menopause model, we demonstrated that an anxiogenic compound elicited exacerbated hot flash-associated increases in tail skin temperature (TST, that is blocked with estrogen), and cellular responses in orexin neurons and efferent targets. Furthermore, systemic administration of centrally active, selective orexin 1 or 2 and dual receptor antagonists attenuated or blocked TST responses, respectively. This included the reformulated Suvorexant, which was recently FDA-approved for treating insomnia. Collectively, our data support the hypothesis that dramatic loss of estrogen tone during menopausal states leads to a hyperactive orexin system that contributes to symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and more severe hot flashes. Additionally, orexin receptor antagonists may represent a novel non-hormonal therapy for treating menopausal symptoms, with minimal side effects
Effect of state-mandated insurance coverage on accrual to community cancer clinical trials
Thirty-five U.S. states and territories have implemented policies requiring insurers to cover patient care costs in the context of cancer clinical trials; however, evidence of the effectiveness of these policies is limited. This study assesses the impact of state insurance mandates on clinical trial accrual among community-based practices participating in the NCI Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), which enrolls approximately one-third of all NCI cancer trial participants. We analyzed CCOP clinical trial enrollment over 17 years in 37 states, 14 of which implemented coverage policies, using fixed effects least squares regression to estimate the effect of state policies on trial accrual among community providers, controlling for state and CCOP differences in capacity to recruit. Of 91 CCOPs active during this time, 28 were directly affected by coverage mandates. Average recruitment per CCOP between 1991 and 2007 was 95.1 participants per year (SD = 55.8). CCOPs in states with a mandate recruited similar numbers of participants compared to states without a mandate. In multivariable analysis, treatment trial accrual among CCOPs in states that had implemented a coverage mandate, was not statistically different than accrual among CCOPs in states that did not implement a coverage mandate (β = 2.95, p = 0.681). State mandates did not appear to confer a benefit in terms of CCOP clinical trial accrual. State policies vary in strength, which may have diluted their effect on accrual. Nonetheless, policy mandates alone may not have a meaningful impact on participation in clinical trials in these states
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