Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian, Version 2.2015.

The NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian provide recommendations for genetic testing and counseling and risk assessment and management for hereditary cancer syndromes. Guidelines focus on syndromes associated with an increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer and are intended to assist with clinical and shared decision-making. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize major discussion points of the 2015 NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian panel meeting.

Advancing LGBT Health at an Academic Medical Center: A Case Study.

Academic health centers are strategically positioned to impact the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations by advancing science, educating future generations of providers, and delivering integrated care that addresses the unique health needs of the LGBT community. This report describes the early experiences of the Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health, highlighting the favorable environment that led to its creation, the mission and structure of the Program, strategic planning process used to set priorities and establish collaborations, and the reception and early successes of the Program.

Utilization patterns of insulin therapy and healthcare services among Japanese insulin initiators during their first year: a descriptive analysis of administrative hospital data.

Background: Type 2 diabetes poses an increasing healthcare burden in Japan. Although insulin treatment has diversified in recent years, the literature on the utilization of healthcare services among patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing different insulin therapy regimens is scarce. The current study aimed to characterize the real-world insulin treatment patterns and associated utilization of healthcare services among patients with type 2 diabetes who initiated insulin therapy during the study period.

Clinical implementation and error sensitivity of a 3D quality assurance protocol for prostate and thoracic IMRT.

This work aims at three goals: first, to define a set of statistical parameters and plan structures for a 3D pretreatment thoracic and prostate intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) protocol; secondly, to test if the 3D QA protocol is able to detect certain clinical errors; and third, to compare the 3D QA method with QA performed with single ion chamber and 2D gamma test in detecting those errors. The 3D QA protocol measurements were performed on 13 prostate and 25 thoracic IMRT patients using IBA's COMPASS system. For each treatment planning structure included in the protocol, the following statistical parameters were evaluated: average absolute dose difference (AADD), percent structure volume with absolute dose difference greater than 6% (ADD6), and 3D gamma test.

Transgene-host cell interactions mediate significant influences on the production, stability, and function of recombinant canine FVIII.

Recombinant FVIII manufacturing is characterized by poor product stability and low yields. Codon-optimization of transgenes accelerates translation by exploiting the synonymous codon usage bias of a species. However, this can alter the performance of the final product.

Performance of a plastic-wrapped composting system for biosecure emergency disposal of disease-related swine mortalities.

A passively-ventilated plastic-wrapped composting system initially developed for biosecure disposal of poultry mortalities caused by avian influenza was adapted and tested to assess its potential as an emergency disposal option for disease-related swine mortalities. Fresh air was supplied through perforated plastic tubing routed through the base of the compost pile. The combined air inlet and top vent area is ⩽∼1% of the gas exchange surface of a conventional uncovered windrow.

Dysregulation of miR-212 Promotes Castration Resistance through hnRNPH1-Mediated Regulation of AR and AR-V7: Implications for Racial Disparity of Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: The causes of disproportionate incidence and mortality of prostate cancer among African Americans (AA) remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanistic role and assess clinical utility of the splicing factor heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (hnRNP H1) in prostate cancer progression among AA men.

Experimental Design: We employed an unbiased functional genomics approach coupled with suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) and custom cDNA microarrays to identify differentially expressed genes in microdissected tumors procured from age- and tumor grade-matched AA and Caucasian American (CA) men.

Using Population Genetics to Interrogate the Monogenic Nephrotic Syndrome Diagnosis in a Case Cohort.

To maximize clinical benefits of genetic screening of patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) to diagnose monogenic causes, reliably distinguishing NS-causing variants from the background of rare, noncausal variants prevalent in all genomes is vital. To determine the prevalence of monogenic NS in a North American case cohort while accounting for background prevalence of genetic variation, we sequenced 21 implicated monogenic NS genes in 312 participants from the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network and 61 putative controls from the 1000 Genomes Project (1000G). These analyses were extended to available sequence data from approximately 2500 subjects from the 1000G.

WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR LUNG CANCER TREATMENT: PATIENT VERSUS GENERAL PUBLIC VALUES.

Objectives: Lung cancer has been the most common cancer since 1985, accounting for 12-13 percent of cancer cases worldwide. Newer targeted therapies with potential increased survival benefits may not be affordable to patients. Many countries use arbitrary thresholds to determine whether a medical intervention is cost-effective.

Fano resonance in a gold nanosphere with a J-aggregate coating.

We present a facile method to induce J-aggregate formation on gold nanospheres in colloidal solution using polyvinylsulfate. The nanoparticle J-aggregate complex results in an absorption spectrum with a split lineshape due to plasmon-exciton coupling, i.e.

Sixty-minute infusion rituximab protocol allows for safe and efficient workflow.

Purpose: Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody approved to treat B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Infusion reactions among NHL patients are common during the first exposure but decrease with subsequent infusions. We sought to assess the safety and feasibility of a rituximab rapid infusion protocol in the outpatient treatment area of a comprehensive cancer center.

Multifocal Clinical Performance Improvement Across 21 Hospitals.

Improving quality and safety across an entire healthcare system in multiple clinical areas within a short time frame is challenging. We describe our experience with improving inpatient quality and safety at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. The foundations of performance improvement are a “four-wheel drive” approach and a comprehensive driver diagram linking improvement goals to focal areas.

Bioactive nanoparticles improve calcium handling in failing cardiac myocytes.

Aims: To evaluate the ability of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) decorated nanoparticles and their cargo to modulate calcium handling in failing cardiac myocytes (CMs).

Materials & Methods: Primary CMs isolated from normal and failing hearts were treated with GlcNAc nanoparticles in order to assess the ability of the nanoparticles and their cargo to correct dysfunctional calcium handling in failing myocytes.

Results & Conclusion: GlcNAc particles reduced aberrant calcium release in failing CMs and restored sarcomere function.

Comparative efficacy and safety of novel oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: A network meta-analysis with the adjustment for the possible bias from open label studies.

Background: This study was designed to compare efficacy and safety among novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), which have not been directly compared in randomized control trials to date.

Method: We performed network meta-analyses of randomized control trials in preventing thromboembolic events and major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for published studies and various registries of clinical trials for unpublished studies were searched for 2002-2013.

A Hybrid alldifferent-Tabu Search Algorithm for Solving Sudoku Puzzles.

The Sudoku problem is a well-known logic-based puzzle of combinatorial number-placement. It consists in filling a n(2) × n(2) grid, composed of n columns, n rows, and n subgrids, each one containing distinct integers from 1 to n(2). Such a puzzle belongs to the NP-complete collection of problems, to which there exist diverse exact and approximate methods able to solve it.

A slow neutron polarimeter for the measurement of parity-odd neutron rotary power.

We present the design, description, calibration procedure, and an analysis of systematic effects for an apparatus designed to measure the rotation of the plane of polarization of a transversely polarized slow neutron beam as it passes through unpolarized matter. This device is the neutron optical equivalent of a crossed polarizer/analyzer pair familiar from light optics. This apparatus has been used to search for parity violation in the interaction of polarized slow neutrons in matter.

Economic Burden of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication that arises after major abdominal surgery. VTE poses risks of negative outcomes and health care burden. The literature on the cost of VTE in Japanese surgical patients, however, is scarce.

Is something better than nothing? Food insecurity and eating patterns of young people experiencing homelessness.

Objective: Food insecurity is an increasing problem in marginalised groups that affects diet quality. We aimed to examine the extent of food insecurity and the eating patterns of young people accessing support from specialist homelessness services.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey with a researcher-administered food frequency and food insecurity questionnaire was undertaken with 50 young people experiencing homelessness, aged 14-26 years.

Complication with removal of a lumbar spinal locking plate.

Introduction. The use of locking plate technology for anterior lumbar spinal fusion has increased stability of the vertebral fusion mass over traditional nonconstrained screw and plate systems. This case report outlines a complication due to the use of this construct.

Thyroid cancer in black thyroid glands: the effect of age and race.

Background: Black thyroid pigmentation is a rare entity. The risk of malignancy is higher in black thyroid compared to non-black thyroid glands. We aimed to examine the effect of age and race on the risk of malignancy in black thyroid glands.

Plant development. Genetic control of distal stem cell fate within root and embryonic meristems.

The root meristem consists of populations of distal and proximal stem cells and an organizing center known as the quiescent center. During embryogenesis, initiation of the root meristem occurs when an asymmetric cell division of the hypophysis forms the distal stem cells and quiescent center. We have identified NO TRANSMITTING TRACT (NTT) and two closely related paralogs as being required for the initiation of the root meristem.

Validation of a COPD screening questionnaire and establishment of diagnostic cut-points in a Japanese general population: the Hisayama study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent worldwide. COPD is a treatable disease and it is important to identify COPD subjects, highlighting the need for an efficient screening measure. Although the COPD screening questionnaire (COPD Population Screener, COPD-PS) was developed as a screening tool, its validity is not clear in population-based studies.

Factors Influencing Risk of Homelessness among Youth in Transition from Foster Care in Oklahoma: Implications for Reforming Independent Living Services and Opportunities.

Research suggests that youth aging out of foster care may be at higher risk of experiencing homelessness than other youth. Among this already at-risk population there may be certain characteristics that further exacerbate the risk. This paper uses data collected from various local and state agencies to further examine significant predictors of homelessness among youth who have aged out of foster care.