Physical Activity Intervention for Urban Black Women With Asthma: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Efficacy Study.

Background: Black women experience a higher prevalence of poor asthma outcomes and physical inactivity than their White counterparts. Black women comprise a particularly vulnerable group of patients with asthma, with some of the highest rates of asthma in adults, high health care use (emergency department visits and hospitalizations), and the highest crude asthma mortality rate of all race or ethnicity groups. Despite recommendations to engage in regular physical activity, fewer than 15% of Black women meet the 2008 National Physical Activity Guidelines, the lowest of all racial subgroups of adults.

A mixed-methods examination of public attitudes toward vascularized composite allograft donation and transplantation.

Background: This mixed-methods study examined the general public's knowledge and attitudes about vascularized composite allografts. The availability of these anatomical gifts to treat individuals with severe disfiguring injuries relies largely on decisions made by family members. If vascularized composite allograft transplantation is to become more readily available, the knowledge and beliefs of the general public must be explored to ensure vascularized composite allograft donation approaches adequately support the donation decision-making process.

Evaluation of an eLearning System to Train Health Professionals to Communicate about Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation with Donor Families.

Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) donation relies on obtaining surrogate authorization. Yet, many donor professionals have limited experience discussing composite allograft donation. Using virtual and interactive elements, the eLearning program, Communicating Effectively about Donation for Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (CEaD-VCA), was developed to enhance the quality of donor professionals' communication approach.

Effect of Lactylate and on Growth Performance, Peripheral Blood Cell Profile, and Gut Microbiota of Nursery Pigs.

To evaluate the effects of lactylate and on growth performance, complete blood cell count, and microbial changes, 264 weaning pigs were assigned to four treatments (1) control (Con) basal diets that met the nutrient requirement for each phase, (2) 0.2% lactylate (LA), (3) 0.05% strains mixtures (BM), or (4) the combination of LA and BM (LA+BM) added to the control basal diet at their respective inclusion rates in each of the three phases.

Vascularized composite allotransplantation: Knowledge and attitudes of a national sample of organ procurement organization professionals.

With the emergence of vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) for transplantation, donation professionals' ability to obtain authorization for these anatomical gifts has become paramount for its continued practice. Our national study examines the experience of organ procurement organization (OPO) professionals responsible for presenting the opportunity to donate VCAs to families of deceased donor-eligible patients. Semi-structured telephone interviews conducted with 157 OPO staff assessed experience with VCA discussions, VCA knowledge, and comfort, confidence, and feeling prepared with discussions about different VCA types.

Bull's eye maculopathy associated with hereditary hemochromatosis.

Purpose: To report a case of bull's eye maculopathy, a novel finding in a patient with iron overload secondary to hereditary hemochromatosis with a homozygous mutation of the gene.

Observations: A 39-year-old man with recently diagnosed hereditary hemochromatosis undergoing treatment by serial phlebotomy presented with bilateral progressive blurry vision and recent onset of photopsias and headaches. Fundus examination revealed a symmetric bull's eye maculopathy with photoreceptor loss and retinal pigment epithelium transmission defects in the area of speckled hyper- and hypo-pigmentation by multimodal imaging.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1: Actions and Influence on Pancreatic Hormone Function.

GLP-1 was described as an incretin over 30 years ago. GLP-1 is encoded by the preproglucagon gene (Gcg), which is expressed in the intestine, the pancreas, and the central nervous system. GLP-1 activates GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1r) on the β-cell to induce insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.

Measuring Glaucomatous Focal Perfusion Loss in the Peripapillary Retina Using OCT Angiography.

Purpose: To measure low perfusion areas (LPAs) and focal perfusion loss (FPL) in the peripapillary retina using OCT angiography (OCTA) in glaucoma.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Participants: A total of 47 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 36 normal participants were analyzed.

Sectorwise Visual Field Simulation Using Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography Nerve Fiber Layer Plexus Measurements in Glaucoma.

Purpose: To simulate 24-2 visual field (VF) using optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) for glaucoma evaluation.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: One eye each of 39 glaucoma and 31 age-matched normal participants was scanned using 4.

Hyperglycemia and Cancer: A State-of-the-Science Review.

Problem Identification: Hyperglycemia can increase the risk for adverse events and outcomes in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. The purposes of this state-of-the-science review were to explore the complexity of hyperglycemia in patients with cancer and to analyze physiologic mechanisms and outcomes in individuals with or at risk for cancer.

Literature Search: PubMed® and the Cochrane Library databases were searched, and 95 articles were included.

Dietary Bacillus subtilis-based direct-fed microbials alleviate LPS-induced intestinal immunological stress and improve intestinal barrier gene expression in commercial broiler chickens.

This study investigated the effects of Bacillus subtilis-based probiotics on the performance, modulation of host inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier gene expression of broilers subjected to LPS challenge. Chickens were randomly allocated to one of the 3 dietary treatment groups - control, antibiotic, or probiotic. At 14days, half of the chickens in each treatment were injected with LPS (1mg/kg body weight), and the other half injected with sterile PBS.

Structural and Biochemical Characterization of the Catalytic Core of the Metastatic Factor P-Rex1 and Its Regulation by PtdIns(3,4,5)P3.

Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3)-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) is a Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor synergistically activated by PIP3 and Gβγ that plays an important role in the metastasis of breast, prostate, and skin cancer, making it an attractive therapeutic target. However, the molecular mechanisms behind P-Rex1 regulation are poorly understood. We determined structures of the P-Rex1 pleckstrin homology (PH) domain bound to the headgroup of PIP3 and resolved that PIP3 binding to the PH domain is required for P-Rex1 activity in cells but not for membrane localization, which points to an allosteric activation mechanism by PIP3.

Controlling Malglycemia in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Cancer.

Patients with or without preexisting diabetes undergoing treatment for cancer may be at risk for malglycemic events. Malglycemia, particularly hyperglycemia and diabetes in patients with cancer, may lead to adverse outcomes. Prevention, prompt recognition, and early intervention to regulate malglycemia can optimize the effects of cancer treatment, minimize the harmful consequences, and improve quality of life for patients with cancer.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of the Peripapillary Retina in Glaucoma.

Importance: Vascular factors may have important roles in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. A practical method for the clinical evaluation of ocular perfusion is needed to improve glaucoma management.

Objective: To detect peripapillary retinal perfusion in glaucomatous eyes compared with normal eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography.

Managing hyperglycemia and diabetes in patients receiving enteral feedings: A health system approach.

Evidence of poor outcomes in hospitalized patients with hyperglycemia has led to new and revised guidelines for inpatient management of diabetes. As providers become more aware of the need for better blood glucose control, they are finding limited guidance in the management of patients receiving enteral nutrition. To address the lack of guidelines in this population, Duke University Health System has developed a consistent practice for managing such patients.

Hyperglycemic-inducing neoadjuvant agents used in treatment of solid tumors: a review of the literature.

Purpose/objectives: To review the literature regarding the development of hyperglycemia associated with neoadjuvant agents used in the treatment of solid tumor cancers.

Data Sources: Research articles were obtained from PubMed, CINAHL®, and Cochrane Reviews. The following search terms were used alone and in combination: diabetes, glycemic control, chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, interferon-alpha, immunosuppressants, cancer, neoplasms, and hyperglycemia.

Advancing the use of theory in occupational therapy: a collaborative process.

Background: Theory is important to the growth and evolution of occupational therapy. However, use of theory remains challenging for many therapists.

Purpose: The aim was to develop a process that occupational therapists could apply to advance theory in practice.

The psychological impact of diabetes: a practical guide for the nurse practitioner.

Purpose: To describe the psychological impact of diabetes and to present a number of practical ways that nurse practitioners (NPs) can assess and address these concerns in the context of primary care.

Data Sources: Theory and research articles are reviewed from the fields of nursing and psychology describing the psychological problems unique to those with diabetes. A case study is provided for practical application of the clinical tools presented.

Perceived impact of cancer treatment on diabetes self-management.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the impact that cancer and its treatment had on diabetes self-management and to identify common issues that individuals with diabetes encounter while undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: This exploratory study utilized a baseline self-administered written survey and an 8-week telephone follow-up survey that included 2 open-ended questions. Forty-three adults aged 50 or older with diabetes and a solid tumor cancer receiving chemotherapy were recruited from 8 community outpatient cancer centers in Michigan and Ohio.

Clinical spectrum of tuberculous optic neuropathy.

Purpose: Tuberculous optic neuropathy may follow infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or administration of the bacille Calmette-Guerin. However, this condition is not well described in the ophthalmic literature.

Methods: Ophthalmologists, identified through professional electronic networks or previous publications, collected standardized clinical data relating to 62 eyes of 49 patients who they had managed with tuberculous optic neuropathy.

The life of a bill: a nursing experience.

In an effort to better understand the process of health policy to advocate for increased legislative support for the nurse practitioner (NP) role, the authors attended the Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) sponsored by the Nursing Organizations Alliance from March 14-16, 2010. The restrictions on NP practice must be removed if we are to meet the health care needs of the populace. This article is a condensed discussion of the process of health policy.