Do Recipients of an Association-Sponsored Quality Award Program Experience Better Quality Outcomes Compared With Other Nursing Facilities Across the United States?

Background: This study explores the relationship between recipients of an association-sponsored Quality Award Program and select measures of quality in U.S. nursing facilities, examined both cross-sectionally and over time.

Effectiveness and safety of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in patients with previous laminectomy.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for revision lumbar spine surgery in patients with previous laminectomy. The secondary objective was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome after such a procedure.

Methods: Retrospective case series study.

Proteomic analysis of bovine nucleolus.

Nucleolus is the most prominent subnuclear structure, which performs a wide variety of functions in the eukaryotic cellular processes. In order to understand the structural and functional role of the nucleoli in bovine cells, we analyzed the proteomic composition of the bovine nucleoli. The nucleoli were isolated from Madin Darby bovine kidney cells and subjected to proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS after fractionation by SDS-PAGE and strong cation exchange chromatography.

CT predictors for differentiating benign and clinically worrisome pneumatosis intestinalis in children beyond the neonatal period.

Purpose: To determine whether computed tomographic (CT) findings can help differentiate between benign and clinically worrisome causes of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in children.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and requirement for informed consent was waived. Data were stored in a secured and HIPAA-compliant fashion.

CT findings in children with Meckel diverticulum.

Background: Approximately 0.04% of the general population will present with a complication related to Meckel diverticulum. The classic teaching is that symptomatic children with Meckel diverticulum present with painless rectal bleeding and are evaluated with a radionuclide scan.

The soluble metal-binding domain of the copper transporter ATP7B binds and detoxifies cisplatin.

Wilson disease ATPase (ATP7B) has been implicated in the resistance of cancer cells to cisplatin. Using a simple in vivo assay in bacterial culture, in the present study we demonstrate that ATP7B can confer resistance to cisplatin by sequestering the drug in its N-terminal metal-binding domain without active drug extrusion from the cell. Expression of a protein fragment containing four N-terminal MBRs (metal-binding repeats) of ATP7B (MBR1-4) protects cells from the toxic effects of cisplatin.

Cardiac high molecular weight calmodulin-binding protein is homologous to calpastatin I and calpastatin II.

Calpastatin is an endogenous inhibitor of calpain, which has been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. In the present study we determined the molecular and inhibitory properties of HMWCaMBP, calpastatin I, and calpastatin II. Western blot analysis with antibodies raised against either full length HMWCaMBP or internal peptides that are common to all isoforms showed that all three homologs have common antigenic epitopes.

Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE1) splice variants from bovine cardiac muscle.

Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phopshodiesterase (PDE1) has been extensively characterized and is a key enzyme involved in the complex interaction between cyclic nucleotide and Ca(2+) second-messenger systems. It is well established that PDE1 exists in different isozymes. For example, bovine brain tissue has two PDE1 isozymes (PDE1A2 and PDE1B1) whereas only one form (PDE1A1) is reported in bovine cardiac tissue.

Characterization of the anti-fungal activity of a Bacillus spp. associated with sclerotia from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum fruiting bodies (sclerotia) were found to harbour bacteria that possess anti-fungal activity. Among 1,140 bacterial isolates collected, 32 were found to inhibit the growth of four common fungal pathogens of canola, S. sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria brassicae and Leptosphaeria maculans.

Effect of core body temperature on ventilator-induced lung injury.

Objective: Ventilator-induced lung injury is a risk in patients requiring elevated ventilatory support pressures. We hypothesized that thermal stress modulates the development of ventilator-induced lung injury.

Design: Experimental study.