Gender differences in the association between parental divorce during childhood and stroke in adulthood: findings from a population-based survey.

Background: Although there is a substantial literature examining the mental health consequences of parental divorce, less attention has been paid to possible long-term physical health outcomes.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the gender-specific association between childhood parental divorce and later incidence of stroke, while controlling for age, race ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health behaviors, diabetes, social support, marital status, mental health, and health care utilization.

Methods: Secondary analysis of the population-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey; logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Comparing supervised learning techniques on the task of physical activity recognition.

The objective of this study was to compare the performance of base-level and meta-level classifiers on the task of physical activity recognition. Five wireless kinematic sensors were attached to each subject (n = 25) while they completed a range of basic physical activities in a controlled laboratory setting. Subjects were then asked to carry out similar self-annotated physical activities in a random order and in an unsupervised environment.

Effects of a direct refill program for automated dispensing cabinets on medication-refill errors.

Purpose: The effects of a direct refill program for automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) on medication-refill errors were studied.

Methods: This study was conducted in designated acute care areas of a 386-bed academic medical center. A wholesaler-to-ADC direct refill program, consisting of prepackaged delivery of medications and bar-code-assisted ADC refilling, was implemented in the inpatient pharmacy of the medical center in September 2009.

Teleost growth factor independence (gfi) genes differentially regulate successive waves of hematopoiesis.

Growth Factor Independence (Gfi) transcription factors play essential roles in hematopoiesis, differentially activating and repressing transcriptional programs required for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) development and lineage specification. In mammals, Gfi1a regulates hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), myeloid and lymphoid populations, while its paralog, Gfi1b, regulates HSC, megakaryocyte and erythroid development. In zebrafish, gfi1aa is essential for primitive hematopoiesis; however, little is known about the role of gfi1aa in definitive hematopoiesis or about additional gfi factors in zebrafish.

Analysis of gait and balance through a single triaxial accelerometer in presymptomatic and symptomatic Huntington's disease.

Purpose: To investigate the capacity of a single triaxial accelerometer sensor in detecting gait and balance impairments in pre-manifest and manifest Huntington's disease (HD) subjects.

Methods: Fourteen manifest HD (MHD) (age: 51.83±14.

Development of a body sensor network to detect motor patterns of epileptic seizures.

The objective of this study was the development of a remote monitoring system to monitor and detect simple motor seizures. Using accelerometer-based kinematic sensors, data were gathered from subjects undergoing medication titration at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Over the course of the study, subjects repeatedly performed a predefined set of instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs).

The nationwide systematic prevention of cardiovascular disease: the UK's health check programme.

High-income countries have witnessed marked reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in recent years. Aging populations, however, maintain CVD as a major threat to public health and health system's financial stability. England has commenced on a population-wide screening and prevention program for CVD, the NHS Health Check program, the first national program of its type.

Importance of capillary forces in the assembly of carbon nanotubes in a polymer colloid lattice.

We highlight the significance of capillary pressure in the directed assembly of nanorods in ordered arrays of colloidal particles. Specifically, we discuss mechanisms for the assembly of carbon nanotubes at the interstitial sites between latex polymer particles during composite film formation. Our study points to general design rules to be considered to optimize the ordering of nanostructures within such polymer matrices.

Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors prior to NHS Health Checks in an urban setting: cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To assess the completeness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor recording and levels of risk factors in patients eligible for the NHS Health Check.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Twenty-eight general practices located in Hammersmith and Fulham, London, UK.

Health-related quality of life advantage of long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia: a time trade-off study.

Background: This study was undertaken to estimate utility values for alternative treatment intervals for long acting antipsychotic intramuscular injections for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Methods: Vignettes were developed using the published literature and an iterative consultation process with expert clinicians and patient representative groups. Four vignettes were developed.

A cost analysis of febrile neutropenia management in Australia: ambulatory v. in-hospital treatment.

Background: Adult febrile neutropenic oncology patients, at low risk of developing medical complications, may be effectively and safely managed in an ambulatory setting, provided they are appropriately selected and adequate supportive facilities and clinical services are available to monitor these patients and respond to any clinical deterioration.

Methods: A cost analysis was modelled using decision tree analysis, published cost and effectiveness parameters for ambulatory care strategies and data from the State of Victoria's hospital morbidity dataset. Two-way sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulation were performed to evaluate the uncertainty of costs and outcomes associated with ambulatory care.

Screening ethnically diverse human embryonic stem cells identifies a chromosome 20 minimal amplicon conferring growth advantage.

The International Stem Cell Initiative analyzed 125 human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines and 11 induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines, from 38 laboratories worldwide, for genetic changes occurring during culture. Most lines were analyzed at an early and late passage. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed that they included representatives of most major ethnic groups.

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk amongst the population eligible for the NHS Health Check Programme.

Background: The National Health Service (NHS) Health Check Programme aims to identify and manage patients in England aged 40-74 years with a 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk score over 20%. We aimed to assess the prevalence of high CVD risk in the English population, using the two CVD risk scores and the 20% cut off mandated in national policy, and the prevalence of risk factors within this population.

Design: Modelling study using patients registered in general practice in England.

The cost associated with administering risperidone long-acting injections in the Australian community.

Background: Risperidone long-acting injection (LAI) is mostly administered twice weekly to people with schizophrenia by nurses at community mental health centres (CMHC) or through mobile outreach visits. This study estimates the cost of resource utilisation associated with the administration of risperidone LAI and the potential savings from substituting two-weekly injections with a longer interval product of therapeutic equivalence.

Methods: A survey of mental health staff overseeing the administration of risperidone LAI at 253 distinct Australian CMHCs was undertaken in November 2009.

Colloid-Assisted Self-Assembly of Robust, Three-Dimensional Networks of Carbon Nanotubes over Large Areas.

Natural materials, such as bone and spider silk, possess remarkable properties as a result of sophisticated nanoscale structuring. They have inspired the design of synthetic materials whose structure at the nanoscale is carefully engineered or where nanoparticles, such as rods or wires, are self-assembled. Although much work has been done in recent years to create ordered structures using diblock copolymers and template-assisted assembly, no reports describe highly ordered, three-dimensional nanotube arrays within a polymeric material.

Type 1 collagenopathy presenting with a Russell-Silver phenotype.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders of bone formation, resulting in low bone mass and an increased propensity to fracture. It exhibits a broad spectrum of clinical severity, ranging from multiple fractures in utero and perinatal death, to normal adult stature and low fracture incidence. Extra-skeletal features of OI include blue sclera, hearing loss, skin hyperlaxity, joint hyperextensibility, and dentinogenesis imperfecta.

Uptake of the NHS Health Checks programme in a deprived, culturally diverse setting: cross-sectional study.

Background: The UK is embarking on a national cardiovascular risk assessment programme called NHS Health Checks; in order to be effective, high and equitable uptake is paramount.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, using data extracted from electronic medical records of persons aged 35-74 years estimated to be at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, to examine the uptake of the Health Checks using logistic regression and statin prescribing.

Results: A total of 44.

What can we learn from study of Alzheimer's disease in patients with Down syndrome for early-onset Alzheimer's disease in the general population?

The clinical and scientific study of dementia in adults with Down syndrome led to the development of the amyloid hypothesis as a fundamental concept in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. The journey started with the discovery of the structure and metabolic processing of β-amyloid brain deposits associated with Alzheimer's dementia in adults with Down syndrome, and then the prediction and confirmation of the amyloid precursor protein gene on chromosome 21. The processes and genes responsible for tau hyperphosphorylation contributing to toxic brain deposits were additionally identified.

The incidence of deep brain stimulator hardware infection: the effect of change in antibiotic prophylaxis regimen and review of the literature.

The complication of hardware infection related to deep brain stimulator implantation (or revision) varies between 0 and 15.2% in the literature. However, no national guidelines exist at present to define an average or acceptable rate of infection associated with, nor the preferred antibiotic prophylaxis required for, this procedure.

Aligned, isotropic and patterned carbon nanotube substrates that control the growth and alignment of Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Here we culture Chinese hamster ovary cells on isotropic, aligned and patterned substrates based on multiwall carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes provide the substrate with nanoscale topography. The cells adhere to and grow on all substrates, and on the aligned substrate, the cells align strongly with the axis of the bundles of the multiwall nanotubes.

Locking carbon nanotubes in confined lattice geometries--a route to low percolation in conducting composites.

A significant reduction in the electrical percolation threshold is achieved by locking carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a predominantly hexagonally close-packed (HCP) colloidal crystal lattice of partially plasticized latex particles. Contrary to other widely used latex processing where CNTs are randomly distributed within the latex matrix, for the first time, we show that excluding CNTs from occupying the interior volume of the latex particles promotes the formation of a nonrandom segregated network. The electrical percolation threshold is four times lower in an ordered segregated network made with colloidal particles near their glass transition temperature (T(g)) in comparison to in a random network made with particles at a temperature well above the T(g).

Computer-based rhythm and timing training in severe, stroke-induced arm hemiparesis.

Objective: We pilot tested the efficacy of computer-based training implementing rhythm and timing in chronic, severe, stroke-induced hemiparesis.

Method: Two chronic stroke patients were administered the upper-extremity section of the Fugl-Meyer Impairment Scale (FM), the Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT), Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). We then administered the computer-based intervention for 60 min, 3 days/wk for 4 wk.

The use of zoledronic acid in pediatric cancer patients.

Background: The third generation bisphosphonate zoledronic acid has demonstrated efficacy in reducing skeletal-related events in adult patients with multiple cancer types that have skeletal disease. The use of zoledronic acid in pediatric oncology patients with bone metastases for the purpose of reducing pain, improving bone strength and altering the progression of metastatic disease has not been thoroughly evaluated.

Procedure: From October 2005 to December 2008, 19 patients at the Aflac Cancer Center received one or more doses of zoledronic acid as part of their therapy.

Exclusion of patients from quality measurement of diabetes care in the UK pay-for-performance programme.

Background: We examined associations between patient and practice characteristics and exclusions from quality indicators for diabetes during the first 3 years of the Quality and Outcomes Framework, a major pay-for-performance scheme in the UK.

Methods: Three cross-sectional analyses, conducted using data from the electronic medical records of all patients with diabetes registered in 23 general practices in Brent, North West London between 2004/2005 and 2006/2007. Patterns of exclusions were examined for three intermediate outcome indicators.