Identification and Characterization of CC-AMP1-like and CC-AMP2-like Peptides in spp.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are compounds with a variety of bioactive properties. Especially promising are their antibacterial activities, often toward drug-resistant pathogens. Across different AMP sources, AMPs expressed within plants are relatively underexplored with a limited number of plant AMP families identified.

Genetic Silencing of AKT Induces Melanoma Cell Death via mTOR Suppression.

Aberrant activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway is common in many cancers, including melanoma, and AKT1, 2 and 3 (AKT1-3) are bona fide oncoprotein kinases with well-validated downstream effectors. However, efforts to pharmacologically inhibit AKT have proven to be largely ineffective. In this study, we observed paradoxical effects following either pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of AKT1-3 in melanoma cells.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Describing the treatment patterns, outcomes by line of treatment (LOT), and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma (mSS). In this descriptive, non-interventional, retrospective cohort study, physicians from five European countries reported on patients with recent pharmacological treatment for mSS. Among 296 patients with mSS, 86.

An examination of gender difference in advancement and salary for Marriage and Family Therapy faculty members working in public universities.

Evidence for inequitable advancement and salary disparity for women in academia is compelling, but only a marginal amount of research has explored this in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) specifically. Current research provides preliminary evidence that women remain underrepresented at the Full Professor rank and are paid less than men MFT faculty. This study collected publicly available data for MFT faculty in public universities to explore gender differences in advancement between ranks, salary disparity, and the representation of women and men in the highest and lowest paying niches of MFT academia.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in metastatic synovial sarcoma: a real-world study in the US oncology network.

To examine and understand patient characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes for patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma (mSS) treated in a US community setting. Retrospective observational study in adults with mSS in The US Oncology Network (diagnosed January 2012-December 2018). Of 202 patients diagnosed with synovial sarcoma (SS), 71 had mSS.

Qualitative study to characterize patient experience and relevance of patient-reported outcome measures for patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma.

Background: The outlook for patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma (mSS) is poor. Better understanding of patient experience in this setting, beyond clinical measures, may guide improvements in management. Validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments specific to many types of cancer exist, but for rare cancers this is often not the case.

In silico prediction and mass spectrometric characterization of botanical antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising compounds for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and are found across all organisms, including plants. Unlike most antibiotics, AMPs tend to act on more generalized and multiple targets, making development of resistance more difficult. Conventional approaches toward AMP identification include bioactivity-guided fractionation and genome mining.

Too Hot to Handle: Antibacterial Peptides Identified in Ghost Pepper.

spp. (hot peppers) demonstrate a range of interesting bioactive properties spanning anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. While several species within the genus are known to produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), AMP sequence mining of genomic data indicates this space remains largely unexplored.

Economic Impact of Next-Generation Sequencing Versus Single-Gene Testing to Detect Genomic Alterations in Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Using a Decision Analytic Model.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to assess the economic impact of using next-generation sequencing (NGS) versus single-gene testing strategies among patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) from the perspective of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and US commercial payers.

Methods: A decision analytic model considered patients who were newly diagnosed with mNSCLC who received programmed death ligand 1 and genomic alteration tests-, , , , , , and -using upfront NGS (all alterations tested simultaneously plus ), sequential testing (sequence of single-gene tests), exclusionary testing ( plus sequential testing), and hotspot panels ( and tested simultaneously plus single-gene tests or NGS for and ). Model outcomes for each strategy were time-to-test results, the proportion of patients identified harboring alterations with or without US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies, and total testing costs.

Resolving Single-Nanoconstruct Dynamics during Targeting and Nontargeting Live-Cell Membrane Interactions.

This paper describes how differences in the dynamics of targeting and nontargeting constructs can provide information on nanoparticle (NP)-cell interactions. We probed translational and rotational dynamics of functionalized Au nanostar (AuNS) nanoconstructs interacting with cells in serum-containing medium. We found that AuNS with targeting ligands had a larger dynamical footprint and faster rotational speed on cell membranes expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) receptors compared to that of AuNS with nontargeting ligands.

Using Mirror Patients to Enhance Patient Safety.

Unannounced, in situ simulations offer opportunities for interprofessional teams to train for pediatric emergencies and uncover latent safety threats (LST). Simulation fidelity is an important component of in situ simulations. Threats to fidelity include creating a fictional patient vignette, which limits realism and the opportunity for patient handoffs.

Real-world treatment patterns and survival of patients with BRAF V600-mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Clinical outcomes data on BRAF-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated in routine practice is limited. To address this gap, we described treatment patterns and survival in a cohort of these patients evaluated/treated at 7 US academic cancer centers during 2009-2016.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review.

Wavelength-Dependent Differential Interference Contrast Inversion of Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles.

Gold nanorods are promising nanoparticle-orientation sensors because they exhibit wavelength and angle-dependent optical patterns in their differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy images. In this paper, we report a finite-difference time-domain method to simulate DIC images using nanorods as model probes. First, we created a DIC image library of nanorods as a function of imaging wavelength and rotation angle that showed good agreement with experimental results.

Cricoid Pressure During Induction for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Children: A Report From National Emergency Airway Registry for Children.

Objectives: Cricoid pressure is often used to prevent regurgitation during induction and mask ventilation prior to high-risk tracheal intubation in critically ill children. Clinical data in children showing benefit are limited. Our objective was to evaluate the association between cricoid pressure use and the occurrence of regurgitation during tracheal intubation for critically ill children in PICU.

In Situ Identification of Nanoparticle Structural Information Using Optical Microscopy.

Diffraction-limited optical microscopy lacks the resolution to directly characterize nanoscale features of single nanoparticles. This paper describes how structural features of gold nanostars can be identified using differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. First, we established structure-property relationships between categories of nanoparticle shapes and DIC optical images and then validated the correlation with electrodynamic simulations and electron microscopy.

Treatment patterns, clinical and economic outcomes of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung cancer receiving ceritinib: a retrospective observational claims analysis.

To describe patient characteristics, treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and costs among patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase ()-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving ceritinib in second or later line of therapy. Adult patients with NSCLC receiving ceritinib were identified from two large US claims databases (2006-2015). Patient characteristics, comorbidity profile, treatment patterns prior to ceritinib, and ceritinib dosing patterns were described.

Economic analysis of BRAF gene mutation testing in real world practice using claims data: costs of single gene versus panel tests in patients with lung cancer.

Aims: To assess the time to BRAF testing, compare the characteristics of tested vs not-tested patients, and describe the costs for sequential vs next-generation sequencing (NGS) BRAF testing.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with lung cancer after December 1, 2013 were identified from two US claims databases; their characteristics were assessed during the 12 months before diagnosis (index date). Testing modalities were analyzed from the index date to end of continuous health plan enrollment or data availability (December 2015), based on combinations of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) procedure codes.

Cost-effectiveness of ceritinib in previously untreated anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in the United States.

Aims: To assess the cost-effectiveness of first-line ceritinib vs crizotinib and platinum doublet chemotherapy for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from a US third-party payer's perspective.

Materials And Methods: A partitioned survival model with three health states (stable disease, progressive disease, death) was developed over a 20-year time horizon. Ceritinib's efficacy inputs (progression-free and overall survival) were estimated from ASCEND-4; parametric survival models extrapolated data beyond the trial period.

Clinical Impact of External Laryngeal Manipulation During Laryngoscopy on Tracheal Intubation Success in Critically Ill Children.

Objectives: External laryngeal manipulation is a commonly used maneuver to improve visualization of the glottis during tracheal intubation in children. However, the effectiveness to improve tracheal intubation attempt success rate in the nonanesthesia setting is not clear. The study objective was to evaluate the association between external laryngeal manipulation use and initial tracheal intubation attempt success in PICUs.

Monitoring for and Characterizing Crizotinib Progression: A Chart Review of ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Crizotinib is recommended as first-line therapy for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but within a year of treatment initiation many patients develop resistance. With the recent approval of second-generation ALK inhibitors, this study assessed how physicians monitor for and diagnose progression and how they alter treatment following progression on crizotinib.

Methods: A panel of oncologists from the United States were surveyed regarding their monitoring practices and criteria for diagnosing progression on crizotinib.

Treatment Patterns and Early Outcomes of ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Ceritinib: A Chart Review Study.

Introduction: This study aimed to provide the first real-world description of the characteristics, treatments, dosing patterns, and early outcomes of patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received ceritinib in US clinical practice.

Methods: US oncologists provided data from medical charts of adult patients diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC who received ceritinib following crizotinib. Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, ceritinib dosing, early outcomes, and occurrence of gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs) by dose and instructions on food intake were assessed, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to describe clinician-defined progression-free survival (PFS) on ceritinib.

Psychiatric diagnoses and medication treatment among patients presenting for paediatric weight management: associations with adiposity, aerobic fitness and cardiometabolic health.

We compared anthropometry, cardiometabolic risk and aerobic fitness among obese youth in weight management who were diagnosed with one or more psychiatric disorders (PD), with (PD+M) or without (PD-M) a prescribed psychotropic medication with those with no PD (NPD). Physical measures were evaluated at baseline, and psychiatric diagnoses and related medications were identified from medical records. Of 99 patients 64 (65%) had a diagnosed PD, and of those, 23 (36%) had a related medication (PD+M).

Shape-Dependent Relaxivity of Nanoparticle-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents.

Gold nanostars functionalized with Gd(III) have shown significant promise as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of their anisotropic, branched shape. However, the size and shape polydispersity of as-synthesized gold nanostars have precluded efforts to develop a rigorous relationship between the gold nanostar structure (e.g.

The impact of curricular changes on BSCN students' clinical learning outcomes.

Ongoing curricular renewal is a necessary phenomenon in nursing education to align learning with ever-changing professional practice demands. The McMaster Mohawk Conestoga BScN Program in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada recently engaged in a comprehensive curriculum renewal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of curricular changes on students' deep learning.