Retrospective Evaluation of Rabbit Antithymocyte Globulin Induction in Heart Transplant Patients.

Unlabelled: The dosing intensity of antithymocyte globulin as induction therapy in heart transplantation remains controversial. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rabbit antithymocyte globulin at a total dose of 4.5 mg/kg compared with <4.

Impact of valganciclovir prophylaxis duration on cytomegalovirus disease in high-risk donor seropositive/recipient seronegative heart transplant recipients.

Background: Few data support use of 6 over 3 months of antiviral prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease prevention in donor seropositive/recipient seronegative (D+R-) heart transplant recipients (HTR).

Methods: We retrospectively assessed CMV disease and outcomes in 310 adult HTR between July 5, 2005, and December 30, 2016, at our center. Valganciclovir (VGCV) prophylaxis was given for 3-6 months in the D+R- group.

Therapeutic Challenges for Elderly Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) predominantly affects older adults, and parathyroidectomy can achieve definitive cure in symptomatic PHPT and asymptomatic meeting surgical criteria. As the population continues to age, the treatment of PHPT in octogenarians and nonagenarians presents a clinical conundrum. This case series presents the management of eight patients 85 years of age and older diagnosed with PHPT.

Mechanisms of Osteoblastic Bone Metastasis in Prostate Cancer: Role of Prostatic Acid Phosphatase.

Prostate cancer (PCa) preferentially metastasizes to bone, leading to complications including severe pain, fractures, spinal cord compression, bone marrow suppression, and a mortality of ∼70%. In spite of recent advances in chemo-, hormonal, and radiation therapies, bone-metastatic, castrate-resistant PCa is incurable. PCa is somewhat unique among the solid tumors in its tendency to produce osteoblastic lesions composed of hypermineralized bone with multiple layers of poorly organized type I collagen fibrils that have reduced mechanical strength.

Risk factors for progression of diabetic retinopathy in Alberta First Nations communities.

Objective: The Screening for Limb, I-Eye, Cardiovascular, and Kidney Complications (SLICK) Program was implemented in 1999 to improve diabetic care for Alberta First Nations individuals living on reserve. The purpose of this review is to determine the rate and predictors of progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) over a 10-year period.

Design: Cohort study.

Compressed 3D and 2D digital images versus standard 3D slide film for the evaluation of glaucomatous optic nerve features.

Synopsis: Clinicians can feel confident compressed three-dimensional digital (3DD) and two-dimensional digital (2DD) imaging evaluating important features of glaucomatous disc damage is comparable to the previous gold standard of stereoscopic slide film photography, supporting the use of digital imaging for teleglaucoma applications.

Background/aims: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of 3DD and 2DD photography with stereo slide film in detecting glaucomatous optic nerve head features.

Methods: This prospective, multireader validation study imaged and compressed glaucomatous, suspicious or normal optic nerves using a ratio of 16:1 into 3DD and 2DD (1024×1280 pixels) and compared both to stereo slide film.

Comparative genome and evolutionary analysis of naturally occurring Beilong virus in brown and black rats.

Recently, we reported the presence of Beilong virus in spleen and kidney samples of brown rats and black rats, suggesting that these rodents could be natural reservoirs of Beilong virus. In this study, four genomes of Beilong virus from brown rats and black rats were sequenced. Similar to the Beilong virus genome sequenced from kidney mesangial cell line culture, those of J-virus from house mouse and Tailam virus from Sikkim rats, these four genomes from naturally occurring Beilong virus also contain the eight genes (3'-N-P/V/C-M-F-SH-TM-G-L-5').

IMPACT OF ETHNIC BACKGROUND ON CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM.

Objective: To compare initial laboratory values and cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) among patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) of different ethnic backgrounds.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 500 charts of PHPT patients who presented at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2013. Among these patients were 46 African Americans (AA), 31 Asians (A), 19 Hispanics (H), and 404 Caucasians (C).

Identification and characterization of a novel paramyxovirus, porcine parainfluenza virus 1, from deceased pigs.

We describe the discovery and characterization of a novel paramyxovirus, porcine parainfluenza virus 1 (PPIV-1), from swine. The virus was detected in 12 (3.1 %) of 386 nasopharyngeal and two (0.

Recent transmission of a novel alphacoronavirus, bat coronavirus HKU10, from Leschenault's rousettes to pomona leaf-nosed bats: first evidence of interspecies transmission of coronavirus between bats of different suborders.

Although coronaviruses are known to infect various animals by adapting to new hosts, interspecies transmission events are still poorly understood. During a surveillance study from 2005 to 2010, a novel alphacoronavirus, BatCoV HKU10, was detected in two very different bat species, Ro-BatCoV HKU10 in Leschenault's rousettes (Rousettus leschenaulti) (fruit bats in the suborder Megachiroptera) in Guangdong and Hi-BatCoV HKU10 in Pomona leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideros pomona) (insectivorous bats in the suborder Microchiroptera) in Hong Kong. Although infected bats appeared to be healthy, Pomona leaf-nosed bats carrying Hi-BatCoV HKU10 had lower body weights than uninfected bats.

Risk factors for progression of diabetic retinopathy in Alberta First Nations communities.

Objective: The Screening for Limb, I-Eye, Cardiovascular, and Kidney Complications (SLICK) Program was implemented in 1999 to improve diabetic care for Alberta First Nations individuals living on reserve. The purpose of this review is to determine the rate and predictors of progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) over a 10-year period.

Design: Cohort study.

Feline morbillivirus, a previously undescribed paramyxovirus associated with tubulointerstitial nephritis in domestic cats.

We describe the discovery and isolation of a paramyxovirus, feline morbillivirus (FmoPV), from domestic cat (Felis catus). FmoPV RNA was detected in 56 (12.3%) of 457 stray cats (53 urine, four rectal swabs, and one blood sample) by RT-PCR.

Serial transverse enteroplasty for short bowel syndrome: Hong Kong experience.

Objective: To report our experience with the first series of serial transverse enteroplasty operations (a novel bowel-lengthening procedure for patients with short bowel syndrome). DESIGN. Case series.

Complete genome sequence of a novel paramyxovirus, Tailam virus, discovered in Sikkim rats.

We discovered a novel paramyxovirus, Tailam virus, of subfamily Paramyxovirinae, in the kidneys and spleens of Sikkim rats. The coding potential of its genome (3'-N-P/V/C-M-F-SH-TM-G-L-5') is similar to those of Beilong virus and J virus, with putative proteins having 59.1 to 94.

Coexistence of different genotypes in the same bat and serological characterization of Rousettus bat coronavirus HKU9 belonging to a novel Betacoronavirus subgroup.

Rousettus bat coronavirus HKU9 (Ro-BatCoV HKU9), a recently identified coronavirus of novel Betacoronavirus subgroup D, from Leschenault's rousette, was previously found to display marked sequence polymorphism among genomes of four strains. Among 10 bats with complete RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), spike (S), and nucleocapsid (N) genes sequenced, three and two sequence clades for all three genes were codetected in two and five bats, respectively, suggesting the coexistence of two or three distinct genotypes of Ro-BatCoV HKU9 in the same bat. Complete genome sequencing of the distinct genotypes from two bats, using degenerate/genome-specific primers with overlapping sequences confirmed by specific PCR, supported the coexistence of at least two distinct genomes in each bat.

Identification and complete genome analysis of three novel paramyxoviruses, Tuhoko virus 1, 2 and 3, in fruit bats from China.

Among 489 bats of 11 species in China, three novel paramyxoviruses [Tuhokovirus 1, 2 and 3 (ThkPV-1, ThkPV-2 and ThkPV-3)] were discovered in 15 Leschenault's rousettes. Phylogenetically, the three viruses are most closely related to Menangle and Tioman virus. Genome analysis showed that their 3'-leader sequences are unique by possessing GA instead of AG at the 5th and 6th positions.

Pupil dilation using a standard cataract surgery regimen alone or with atropine 1.0% pretreatment: prospective comparative evaluation.

Purpose: To compare the amount of pupil dilation produced by a set of commonly used preoperative mydriatic agents for cataract surgery, with the same regimen preceded by topical administration of atropine 1.0%.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA.

Cytosine deamination and selection of CpG suppressed clones are the two major independent biological forces that shape codon usage bias in coronaviruses.

Using the complete genome sequences of 19 coronavirus genomes, we analyzed the codon usage bias, dinucleotide relative abundance and cytosine deamination in coronavirus genomes. Of the eight codons that contain CpG, six were markedly suppressed. The mean NNU/NNC ratio of the six amino acids using either NNC or NNU as codon is 3.

Complications of peptic ulcer disease in children and adolescents: minimally invasive treatments offer feasible surgical options.

Purpose: Surgery for complications of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) carries a significant morbidity and even mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy, safety, and outcome of children and adolescents undergoing minimally invasive treatment of bleeding and perforation complicating PUD.

Methods: One hundred thirty-two consecutive patients aged 6 to 17 years managed endoscopically for bleeding and laparoscopically for perforation from January 1999 to February 2006 were reviewed.

Electrogastrography in the management of pediatric functional dyspepsia and motility disorder.

Purpose: Electrogastrography (EGG) is a noninvasive investigation for recording gastric myoelectrical activity. We hypothesize that children with functional dyspepsia (FD) and gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorder have abnormal gastric myoelectrical activity. We aim to study the dyspepsia symptom scores and EGG of these children and compare them with those of the normal population.