Character-space-limited online prescription drug communications: Four experimental studies.

Background: Character-space-limited (CSL) communications (e.g., tweets) present a challenge for maintaining fair balance between risks and benefits in direct-to-consumer prescription drug promotion.

Developing and validating SARS-CoV-2 assays for nonhuman primate surveillance.

Introduction: In early 2020, the California National Primate Research Center implemented surveillance to address the threat of SARS-CoV-2 infection in its nonhuman primate colony.

Materials/methods: To detect antiviral antibodies, multi-antigen assays were developed and validated on enzyme immunoassay and multiplex microbead immunofluorescent assay (MMIA) platforms. To detect viral RNA, RT-PCR was also performed.

Multi-site proficiency testing for validation and standardization of assays to detect specific pathogen-free viruses, coronaviruses, and other agents in nonhuman primates.

In efforts to increase rigor and reproducibility, the USA National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) have focused on qualification of reagents, cross-laboratory validations, and proficiency testing for methods to detect infectious agents and accompanying immune responses in nonhuman primates. The pathogen detection working group, comprised of laboratory scientists, colony managers, and leaders from the NPRCs, has championed the effort to produce testing that is reliable and consistent across laboratories. Through multi-year efforts with shared proficiency samples, testing percent agreement has increased from as low as 67.

Intensive Care Unit Clinicians' Perspectives on Achieving Proactive Interprofessional Family Meetings.

Background: Although proactive interprofessional family meetings are widely recommended as a best practice for patient- and family-centered care in intensive care units (ICUs), adherence to this recommendation is low.

Objectives: To enhance understanding of practices, barriers, and facilitators related to the conduct of family meetings from the perspective of ICU clinicians and to elicit clinicians' ideas and opinions about strategies to achieve proactive interprofessional family meetings.

Methods: Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with ICU clinicians who were purposively selected from among a national sample.

Posterior resection of sacral osteosarcoma utilizing cement-infused chest tube interbody reconstruction and lumbopelvic fusion.

Background: Primary osteosarcoma (OS) of the spine is very rare. resection of spinal OS is challenging due to anatomical constraints. Surgical planning must balance the benefits of resection with its potential risks of causing a significant neurological deficit.

Tuberculosis detection in nonhuman primates is enhanced by use of testing algorithms that include an interferon-γ release assay.

Objective: To develop a testing algorithm that incorporates multiple assays to evaluate host cellular and humoral immunity and antigen detection concerning Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection in captive nonhuman primates.

Animals: Cohorts of captive-bred and wild-caught macaques from 5 different geographic regions.

Procedures: Macaques were tested for MTBC infection by use of a γ interferon tuberculosis (GIFT) assay, an interferon-γ release assay, and other assays.

SARS-CoV-2 surveillance for a non-human primate breeding research facility.

Background: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic prompted the need for a surveillance program to determine the viral status of the California National Primate Research Center non-human primate breeding colony, both for reasons of maintaining colony health and minimizing the risk of interference in COVID-19 and other research studies.

Methods: We collected biological samples from 10% of the rhesus macaque population for systematic testing to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus by RT-PCR and host antibody response by ELISA. Testing required the development and validation of new assays and an algorithm using in laboratory-developed and commercially available reagents and protocols.

A phase 2 clinical trial of the heat shock protein 90 (HSP 90) inhibitor ganetespib in patients with refractory advanced esophagogastric cancer.

Subsets of esophagogastric (EG) cancers harbor genetic abnormalities, including amplification of HER2, MET, or FGFR2 or mutations in PIK3CA, EGFR, or BRAF. Ganetespib which is a novel triazolone heterocyclic inhibitor of HSP90, is a potentially biologically rational treatment strategy for advanced EG cancers with these gene amplification. This multicenter, single-arm phase 2 trial enrolled patients with histologically confirmed advanced EG cancer with progression on at least one line of systemic therapy.

A phase II randomized controlled trial of tiopronin for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a significant contributor to poor outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The neurotoxin 3-aminopropanal (3-AP) is upregulated in cerebral ischemia. This phase II clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of tiopronin in reducing CSF 3-AP levels in patients with aSAH.

Emerging diagnostic challenges and characteristics of simian betaretrovirus infections in captive macaque colonies.

To better understand Simian betaretrovirus (SRV) seropositivity in virus-negative macaques, we transfused blood from SRV-infected or suspect donors into immunosuppressed naive recipients. Our results do not support typical SRV1-5 infection as the cause, but provide evidence for several possibilities including serological artifact, new/different SRV, or an endogenous virus.

A Content Analysis of Unique Selling Propositions of Tobacco Print Ads.

Objectives: We describe the unique selling propositions (USPs) (propositions used to convince customers to use a particular brand/product by focusing on the unique benefit) of print tobacco ads.

Methods: A qualitative content analysis was conducted of print tobacco ads (N = 171) selected from August 2012 to August 2013 for cigarettes, moist snuff, e-cigarettes, cigars, and snus to determine the content and themes of USPs for tobacco ads.

Results: Cigarette ad USP themes focused on portraying the product as attractive; moist snuff ads focused on portraying product as masculine; cigar ads focused on selling a "high end product;" and new and emerging tobacco products (e-cigarette, snus) focused on directly comparing these products to cigarettes.

Perceptions of Health Information Seeking and Partner Advocacy in the Context of a Cardiology Office Visit: Connections with Health Outcomes.

This paper explores perceived active health information seeking, informal advocacy by a partner or other, cardiac efficacy, and cardiovascular health indicators for patients surveyed while visiting their cardiologist. Participants include 208 patients with a diagnosed heart condition. Variables include predisposing characteristics (e.

Sociocultural experiences, body image, and indoor tanning among young adult women.

The purpose of this survey study was to evaluate a model of body image influences on indoor tanning behavior. Participants were 823 young adult women recruited from a probability-based web panel in the United States. Consistent with our hypothesized model, tanning-related sociocultural experiences were indirectly associated with lifetime indoor tanning use and intentions to tan as mediated through tan surveillance and tan dissatisfaction.

Genetic risk factors for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is associated with the greatest morbidity and mortality of all stroke subtypes. Established risk factors for ICH include hypertension, alcohol use, current cigarette smoking, and use of oral anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents. Familial aggregation of ICH has been observed, and the heritability of ICH risk has been estimated at 44%.

Partner Facilitation and Partner Interference in Individuals' Weight Loss Goals.

Drawing on the logic of the relational turbulence model, this study examined the ways in which romantic partners facilitate and interfere with individuals' weight loss goals. Participants (N = 122) described the ways in which their romantic partner had recently helped or hindered their weight loss at four times over the course of 2 months. We conducted a content analysis of responses to identify themes of partner facilitation (Research Question 1 [RQ1]) and partner interference (RQ2) in individuals' weight loss goals.

Inflammation, negative nitrogen balance, and outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective: To analyze the impact of inflammation and negative nitrogen balance (NBAL) on nutritional status and outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of SAH patients admitted between May 2008 and June 2012. Measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP), transthyretin (TTR), resting energy expenditure (REE), and NBAL (g/day) were performed over 4 preset time periods during the first 14 postbleed days (PBD) in addition to daily caloric intake.

A Theory-Grounded Measure of Adolescents' Response to a Media Literacy Intervention.

Media literacy interventions offer promising avenues for the prevention of risky health behaviors among children and adolescents, but current literature remains largely equivocal about their efficacy. The primary objective of this study was to develop and test theoretically-grounded measures of audiences' degree of engagement with the content of media literacy programs based on the recognition that engagement (and not participation per se) can better explain and predict individual variations in the effects of these programs. We tested the validity and reliability of a measure of engagement with two different samples of 10 grade high school students who participated in a pilot and actual test of a brief media literacy curriculum.

Variability in outcome after elective cerebral aneurysm repair in high-volume academic medical centers.

Background And Purpose: Unruptured intracranial aneurysm repair is the most commonly performed procedure for the prevention of hemorrhagic stroke. Despite efforts to regionalize care in high-volume centers, overall results have improved little. This study aims to determine the effectiveness in improving outcomes of previous efforts to regionalize unruptured intracranial aneurysm repair to high-volume centers and to recommend future steps toward that goal.

Therapeutic temperature modulation for fever after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: We sought to determine whether therapeutic temperature modulation (TTM) to treat fever after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with improved hospital complications and discharge outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study of patients admitted with spontaneous ICH having two consecutive fevers ≥38.3 °C despite acetaminophen administration.

Phase 1 study of N(1),N(11)‑diethylnorspermine (DENSPM) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: N(1),N(11)-diethylnorspermine (DENSPM), a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring polyamine spermine, can induce polyamine depletion and inhibit tumor cell growth. The objectives of this phase I study were to assess the safety, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity of DENSPM in advanced HCC.

Methods: Patients with measurable advanced HCC, Child-Pugh A or B cirrhosis, CLIP score ≤3, and Karnofsky score ≥60 % were eligible.

Volume-dependent effect of perihaematomal oedema on outcome for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhages.

Introduction: It is still unknown whether subsequent perihaematomal oedema (PHE) formation further increases the odds of an unfavourable outcome.

Methods: Demographic, clinical, radiographic and outcome data were prospectively collected in a single large academic centre. A multiple logistic regression model was then developed to determine the effect of admission oedema volume on outcome.

Epidemiological trends in the neurological intensive care unit from 2000 to 2008.

Intensive care units (ICU) specializing in the treatment of patients with neurological diseases (Neuro-ICU) have become increasingly common. However, there are few data on the longitudinal demographics of this patient population. Identifying admission trends may provide targets for improving resource utilization.

Effectiveness and safety of nicardipine and labetalol infusion for blood pressure management in patients with intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Nicardipine and labetalol are two commonly used antihypertensives for treating elevated blood pressures in the setting of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). There are no studies comparing these two agents as continuous infusions.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients admitted between November 2009 and January 2011 with ICH and SAH to compare effectiveness and safety between both agents.

Functional outcome prediction following intracerebral hemorrhage.

The ICH score is a validated method of assessing the risk of mortality and morbidity after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We sought to compare the ability of the ICH score to predict outcome assessed with three of the most widely used scales: the Barthel Index (BI), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS). All patients with ICH treated at our institution between February 2009 and March 2011 were followed-up at three months using the mRS, GOS, and BI.