Ensembl 2015.

Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org) is a genomic interpretation system providing the most up-to-date annotations, querying tools and access methods for chordates and key model organisms.

Do large-scale hospital- and system-wide interventions improve patient outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: While health care services are beginning to implement system-wide patient safety interventions, evidence on the efficacy of these interventions is sparse. We know that uptake can be variable, but we do not know the factors that affect uptake or how the interventions establish change and, in particular, whether they influence patient outcomes. We conducted a systematic review to identify how organisational and cultural factors mediate or are mediated by hospital-wide interventions, and to assess the effects of those factors on patient outcomes.

Pantothenic acid biosynthesis in the parasite Toxoplasma gondii: a target for chemotherapy.

Toxoplasma gondii is a major food pathogen and neglected parasitic infection that causes eye disease, birth defects, and fetal abortion and plays a role as an opportunistic infection in AIDS. In this study, we investigated pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) biosynthesis in T. gondii.

Hemostatic dysfunction with acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Objective: To estimate the frequency of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC); elucidate the genesis of hemostatic dysfunction; and characterize associated hemolysis in women with acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Methods: Hemostatic function was measured in 51 women. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was assessed using the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis DIC score.

Risk factors associated with enteric septicemia of catfish on Mississippi commercial catfish farms.

A gram-negative bacterium, Edwardsiella ictaluri, is the cause of enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), which is one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases in farm-raised catfish. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with ESC mortalities and are reported by farm personnel. To identify risk factors a catfish management database was developed.

Adherence to dabigatran therapy and longitudinal patient outcomes: insights from the veterans health administration.

Background: Dabigatran is a novel oral anti-coagulant (NOAC) that reduces risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). It does not require routine monitoring with laboratory testing which may have an adverse impact on adherence. We aimed to describe adherence to dabigatran in the first year after initiation and assess the association between non-adherence to dabigatran and clinical outcomes in a large integrated healthcare system.

Application of a modified gaseous exposure system to the in vitro toxicological assessment of tobacco smoke toxicants.

Tobacco smoke is a complex mixture of over 6,000 individual chemical constituents. Approximately 150 of these have been identified as 'tobacco smoke toxicants' due to their known toxicological effects. A number of these toxicants are present in the gaseous phase of tobacco smoke.

Patterns of collaboration in complex networks: the example of a translational research network.

Background: This paper examines collaboration in a complex translational cancer research network (TRN) made up of a range of hospital-based clinicians and university-based researchers. We examine the phenomenon of close-knit and often introspective clusters of people (silos) and test the extent that factors associated with this clustering (geography, profession and past experience) influence patterns of current and future collaboration on TRN projects. Understanding more of these patterns, especially the gaps or barriers between members, will help network leaders to manage subgroups and promote connectivity crucial to efficient network function.

Influenza A subtype H3 viruses in feral swine, United States, 2011-2012.

To determine whether, and to what extent, influenza A subtype H3 viruses were present in feral swine in the United States, we conducted serologic and virologic surveillance during October 2011-September 2012. These animals were periodically exposed to and infected with A(H3N2) viruses, suggesting they may threaten human and animal health.

Is total thyroxine better than free thyroxine during pregnancy?

Objective: The aims were to establish a gestational-age specific curve for serum total thyroxine (T4) levels and to compare pregnancy outcomes of euthyroid women with those identified to have subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) defined by an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level in conjunction with either total T4 or free T4 determinations.

Study Design: Over a 2.5 year period, serum thyroid analytes were measured in all women presenting for prenatal care.

The tomato mutation nxd1 reveals a gene necessary for neoxanthin biosynthesis and demonstrates that violaxanthin is a sufficient precursor for abscisic acid biosynthesis.

Carotenoid pigments are indispensable for plant life. They are synthesized within plastids where they provide essential functions in photosynthesis. Carotenoids serve as precursors for the synthesis of the strigolactone phytohormones, which are made from β-carotene, and of abscisic acid (ABA), which is produced from certain xanthophylls.

Myocardial infarction risk among patients with fractures receiving bisphosphonates.

Objective: To determine if bisphosphonates are associated with reduced risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Patients And Methods: A cohort of 14,256 veterans 65 years or older with femoral or vertebral fractures was selected from national administrative databases operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs and was derived from encounters at Veterans Affairs facilities between October 1, 1998, and September 30, 2006. The time to first AMI was assessed in relationship to bisphosphonate exposure as determined by records from the Pharmacy Benefits Management Database.

Ensembl 2014.

Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org) creates tools and data resources to facilitate genomic analysis in chordate species with an emphasis on human, major vertebrate model organisms and farm animals.

FDA warning and removal of rosiglitazone from VA national formulary.

Objectives: To describe changes in rosiglitazone prescribing following the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning of potentially increased risk of myocardial infarction and removal from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Formulary (VANF), assess patient-level factors associated with rosiglitazone discontinuation, and evaluate changes in glucose control.

Study Design: Historical cohort.

Methods: Veterans with an active outpatient prescription for rosiglitazone on April 1, 2007, were followed until June 30, 2008.

Medication-use evaluation with a Web application.

Purpose: A Web-based application for coordinating medication-use evaluation (MUE) initiatives within the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system is described.

Summary: The MUE Tracker (MUET) software program was created to improve VA's ability to conduct national medication-related interventions throughout its network of 147 medical centers. MUET initiatives are centrally coordinated by the VA Center for Medication Safety (VAMedSAFE), which monitors the agency's integrated databases for indications of suboptimal prescribing or drug therapy monitoring and adverse treatment outcomes.

Locus Reference Genomic: reference sequences for the reporting of clinically relevant sequence variants.

Locus Reference Genomic (LRG; http://www.lrg-sequence.org/) records contain internationally recognized stable reference sequences designed specifically for reporting clinically relevant sequence variants.

Leadership in complex networks: the importance of network position and strategic action in a translational cancer research network.

Background: Leadership behaviour in complex networks is under-researched, and little has been written concerning leadership of translational research networks (TRNs) that take discoveries made 'at the bench' and translate them into practices used 'at the bedside.' Understanding leaders' opportunities and behaviours within TRNs working to solve this key problem in implementing evidence into clinical practice is therefore important. This study explored the network position of governing body members and perceptions of their role in a new TRN in Sydney, Australia.

Integrative annotation of variants from 1092 humans: application to cancer genomics.

Interpreting variants, especially noncoding ones, in the increasing number of personal genomes is challenging. We used patterns of polymorphisms in functionally annotated regions in 1092 humans to identify deleterious variants; then we experimentally validated candidates. We analyzed both coding and noncoding regions, with the former corroborating the latter.

Incremental cost effectiveness of pharmacist-managed erythropoiesis-stimulating agent clinics for non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Pharmacists successfully manage patients with anemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the cost effectiveness of these programs is unknown.

Objective: To compare the cost effectiveness of pharmacist-managed erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) clinics with that of usual care in patients with non-dialysis-dependent (NDD)-CKD.

Methods: A Markov model was used to estimate the incremental cost effectiveness of pharmacist-managed ESA clinics compared with usual care in outpatient veterans receiving ESAs for NDD-CKD in 2009.

Mutation from arginine to lysine at the position 189 of hemagglutinin contributes to the antigenic drift in H3N2 swine influenza viruses.

Two distinct antigenic clusters were previously identified among the H3N2 swine influenza A viruses (IAVs) and were designated H3N2SIV-alpha and H3N2SIV-beta (Feng et al., 2013. Journal of Virology 87 (13), 7655-7667).