A neurotoxic phosphoform of Elk-1 associates with inclusions from multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a number of features including the formation of inclusions, early synaptic degeneration and the selective loss of neurons. Molecules serving as links between these shared features have yet to be identified. Identifying candidates within the diseased microenvironment will open up novel avenues for therapeutic intervention.

The role of helplessness, outcome expectation for exercise and literacy in predicting disability and symptoms in older adults with arthritis.

Objective: To examine the effect of outcome expectation for exercise (OEE), helplessness, and literacy on arthritis outcomes in 2 community-based lifestyle randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in urban and rural communities with older adults with arthritis.

Methods: Data from 391 participants in 2 RCTs were combined to examine associations of 2 psychosocial variables: helplessness and OEE, and literacy with arthritis outcomes. Arthritis outcomes namely, the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and arthritis symptoms pain, fatigue and stiffness Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), were measured at baseline and at the end of the interventions.

Item Response Theory Analysis of Two Questionnaire Measures of Arthritis-Related Self-Efficacy Beliefs from Community-Based US Samples.

Using item response theory (IRT), we examined the Rheumatoid Arthritis Self-efficacy scale (RASE) collected from a People with Arthritis Can Exercise RCT (346 participants) and 2 subscales of the Arthritis Self-efficacy scale (ASE) collected from an Active Living Every Day (ALED) RCT (354 participants) to determine which one better identifies low arthritis self-efficacy in community-based adults with arthritis. The item parameters were estimated in Multilog using the graded response model. The 2 ASE subscales are adequately explained by one factor.

Vitamin D status and its associations with disease activity and severity in African Americans with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and the associations of vitamin D concentration with disease status in African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Study participants (n = 266) were enrolled in the Consortium for the Longitudinal Evaluation of African Americans with Early RA (CLEAR) Registry. The vitamin 25(OH)-D was measured on baseline plasma, and associations of 25(OH)-D with disease status (baseline and at 3 years' disease duration) were examined using univariate and multivariate regression.

Effects of repeated deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on the health of New Jersey Army National Guard troops: implications for military readiness.

Objectives: We assessed the effects of prior military service in Iraq or Afghanistan on the health of New Jersey Army National Guard members preparing for deployment to Iraq.

Methods: We analyzed anonymous, self-administered predeployment surveys from 2543 National Guard members deployed to Iraq in 2008. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to measure the effects of prior service in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF]) or Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF]) on mental and physical health.

Clues on the MDHAQ to identify patients with fibromyalgia and similar chronic pain conditions.

Patients with fibromyalgia and chronic pain conditions report high levels of pain and fatigue, and multiple symptoms. These phenomena may be recorded quantitatively on a self-report multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ). These responses are likely to differ in people with fibromyalgia or chronic pain conditions compared with people with an inflammatory rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Criterion contamination of depression scales in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the need for interpretation of patient questionnaires (as all clinical measures) in the context of all information about the patient.

The validity of information on a patient questionnaire may not necessarily be generalizable to all individuals and situations, and may depend on the context in which a person provides the information. Examples may be seen in responses of people with rheumatoid arthritis on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), on the original Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and on the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Several reports have indicated tendencies toward hypochondriasis, depression, and/or hysteria on the MMPI, and tendencies toward depression on the original BDI and CES-D.

A Standard Protocol to Evaluate Rheumatoid Arthritis (SPERA) for efficient capture of essential data from a patient and a health professional in a uniform "scientific" format.

An efficient, uniform procedure to collect essential data for patients who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a two- to four-page patient questionnaire and a three-page form for health professionals is known as a Standard Protocol to Assess Rheumatoid Arthritis (SPERA). The two- to four-page patient questionnaire may be a health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), multidimensional HAQ (MDHAQ), or variant, including a four-page format used in the Questionnaire in Standard Care of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (QUEST-RA) program. On each page, the three-page form for health professionals addresses (1) clinical features of RA; (2) medications taken currently, and major disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) taken previously; and (3) a 42-joint count, with joints assessed for four variables: swelling, tenderness, deformity/limited motion, and surgeries, and an entry for no abnormality.

Early-onset arthritis in retired National Football League players.

Background: Injury has been identified as a potential risk factor for osteoarthritis. However, no previous study has addressed playing-career injuries and subsequent osteoarthritis in a large sample of former athletes. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and determinants of arthritis and osteoarthritis in retired professional football players.

Development, evaluation, and peer verification of a rapid real-time PCR method for the detection of animal material.

Four real-time PCR assays that can be used with U.S.- and European Union-rendered materials to detect three ruminant species (bovine, caprine, and ovine) and a select set of avians (chicken, goose, and turkey) were developed.

Epithelial ablation of Bcl-XL increases sensitivity to oxygen without disrupting lung development.

Recent studies indicate that the antiapoptotic Bcl-X(L), one of five isoforms expressed by the Bcl-X gene, protects a variety of cell lines exposed to hyperoxia. However, its role in lung development and protection against oxidative stress in vivo is not known. Here, we show Bcl-X(L) is the predominant isoform expressed in the lung, and the only isoform detected in respiratory epithelium.

Skeletal health among African Americans with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be at increased fracture risk. We applied the World Health Organization (WHO) Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) and National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) guidelines to a cohort of African Americans with early RA to identify which patients were recommended for osteoporosis treatment.

Methods: Risk factors and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed in a cohort of African Americans with RA.

Factors associated with potential medication-herb/natural product interactions in a rural community.

Context: Use of both conventional medicines and herbs/natural products are increasing in the United States. Consequently, individuals are more likely to be exposed to potentially harmful interactions between these products.

Objective: To examine the use of both herbs/natural products and conventional medications in a rural community, examine the prevalence of potential interactions between herbs/natural products and conventional medications, and identify factors associated with exposure to such interactions.

First item response theory analysis on Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (fear of movement) in arthritis.

Objectives: To conduct the initial modern measurement theory analyses because of its many advantages on the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and emerging evidence suggesting that fear of movement influences functional disability in people with arthritis.

Study Design And Setting: Secondary analysis of 347 participants from a randomized controlled trial evaluating The People with Arthritis Can Exercise program. The original Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia has 17 items and we collected 16 items (excluding item 6).

Perceived coercion to treatment and housing satisfaction in housing-first and supportive housing programs.

Objectives: This study of five housing programs across the United States examined whether the type of program-housing first or supportive housing-is related to an explicit requirement that residents adhere to mental health and substance abuse treatment, to residents' subjective perceptions that treatment adherence was being coerced, and to residents' housing satisfaction.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 136 residents of housing programs at five sites.

Results: Results showed that compared with residents in supportive housing programs, those in housing-first programs were significantly less likely to report that mental health treatment adherence was an explicit requirement of obtaining housing and less likely to report that mental health and substance abuse treatment was a requirement of retaining housing.

p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase modulates endotoxin-induced diaphragm caspase activation.

We postulated that the p38 pathway is activated in the diaphragm during sepsis and contributes to sepsis-induced diaphragm caspase activation and contractile dysfunction. This study determined whether: (1) endotoxin administration elicits p38 activation in the diaphragm; (2) cytokines activate p38 in isolated muscle cells; (3) activation of p38 is accompanied by caspase 8 activation; (4) inhibition of p38 prevents caspase 8 activation and; (5) inhibition of p38 prevents diaphragm dysfunction in endotoxin-treated animals. We first evaluated the time course of diaphragm p38 activation after endotoxin in mice.

Development and psychometric analysis of the PROMIS pain behavior item bank.

The measurement of pain behavior is a key component of the assessment of persons with chronic pain; however, few self-reported pain behavior instruments have been developed. We developed a pain behavior item bank as part of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS). For the Wave I testing, because of the large number of PROMIS items, a complex sampling approach was used where participants were randomly assigned to either respond to two full-item banks or to multiple 7-item blocks of items.

Caspase and calpain activation both contribute to sepsis-induced diaphragmatic weakness.

The cecal ligation perforation (CLP) model of sepsis is known to induce severe diaphragm dysfunction, but the cellular mechanisms by which this occurs remain unknown. We hypothesized that CLP induces diaphragm caspase-3 and calpain activation, and that these two enzymes act at the level of the contractile proteins to reduce muscle force generation. Rats (n = 4/group) were subjected to 1) sham surgery plus saline (intraperitoneal); 2) CLP; 3) CLP plus administration of calpain inhibitor peptide III (12 mg/kg ip); or 4) CLP plus administration of a caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk (3 mg/kg).

MitoQ administration prevents endotoxin-induced cardiac dysfunction.

Sepsis elicits severe alterations in cardiac function, impairing cardiac mitochondrial and pressure-generating capacity. Currently, there are no therapies to prevent sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that administration of a mitochondrially targeted antioxidant, 10-(6'-ubiquinonyl)-decyltriphenylphosphonium (MitoQ), would prevent endotoxin-induced reductions in cardiac mitochondrial and contractile function.

The JNK MAP kinase pathway contributes to the development of endotoxin-induced diaphragm caspase activation.

We previously demonstrated that endotoxin-induced sepsis results in caspase 8-mediated diaphragmatic dysfunction. The upstream signaling pathways modulating diaphragm caspase 8 activation in response to endotoxin administration are, however, unknown. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the JNK (Jun N-terminal Kinase) pathway is activated in the diaphragm during sepsis and contributes to sepsis-induced diaphragm caspase 8 activation.

Hyperglycemia and acquired weakness in critically ill patients: potential mechanisms.

Critical illness polyneuropathy/critical illness myopathy (CIP/CIM) is a major cause of mortality and long-term morbidity in critically ill patients, but the true incidence and prevalence of these syndromes are not known. Hermans and colleagues show that when intensive insulin therapy is used as part of routine clinical practice in the intensive care unit, the incidence of CIP/CIM as determined by electrophysiologic testing is reduced. Our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for inducing prolonged weakness in intensive care unit patients is limited, and the role of hyperglycemia in modulating these processes is unknown.

Effect of proteasome inhibitors on endotoxin-induced diaphragm dysfunction.

Infections produce severe respiratory muscle dysfunction. It is known that the proteasome proteolytic system is activated in skeletal muscle in sepsis, and it has been postulated that this degradative pathway is responsible for inducing skeletal muscle weakness and wasting. The objective of this study was to determine if administration of proteasomal inhibitors (MG132, epoxomicin, bortezomib) can prevent sepsis-induced diaphragm weakness.

Physical activity programs for chronic arthritis.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to evaluate recent trials and studies of different types of physical activity programs for individuals with chronic arthritis and to discuss recommendations and findings from systematic reviews of physical activity interventions.

Recent Findings: Recent randomized control trials of different multicomponent land-based, aquatic, Tai Chi, and strength training programs report moderate benefits after intervention and at 6 and 12 months for individuals with various types of chronic arthritis. Reported benefits include increasing physical activity, strength, and balance, improving functional status, reducing symptoms, and enhancing self-efficacy.

Calpain activation contributes to endotoxin-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Calpain activation occurs in skeletal muscle in response to infection, but it is unknown if calpain inhibition improves muscle functional capacity. We hypothesized that infection induces diaphragm calpain activation, that calpain activation results in cleavage of important diaphragm cytoskeletal proteins, and that inhibition of calpain attenuates infection-induced diaphragm dysfunction. Mice (n = 4-6/group) were given: (1) saline (intraperitoneal); (2) endotoxin (12 mg/kg intraperitoneal); (3) calpain inhibitor peptide III (12 mg/kg intraperitoneal); and (4) endotoxin (12 mg/kg) plus calpain inhibitor peptide III (12 mg/kg).