The Mediating Role of Cortical Atrophy on the Relationship between the Resilience Index and Cognitive Function: Findings from the Healthy Brain Initiative.

Background: Lifestyle factors are linked to differences in brain aging and risk for Alzheimer's disease, underscored by concepts like 'cognitive reserve' and 'brain maintenance'. The Resilience Index (RI), a composite of 6 factors (cognitive reserve, physical and cognitive activities, social engagement, diet, and mindfulness) provides such a holistic measure.

Objective: This study aims to examine the association of RI scores with cognitive function and assess the mediating role of cortical atrophy.

Emerging drugs for dementia with Lewy Bodies: a review of Phase II & III trials.

Introduction: Despite faster cognitive decline and greater negative impact on patients and family caregivers, drug development efforts in Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) fall behind those for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Current off-label drug DLB treatment options are limited to symptomatic agents developed to address cognitive deficits in AD, motor deficits in Parkinson's Disease, or behavioral symptoms in psychiatric disease. Aided by recent improvements in DLB diagnosis, a new focus on the development of disease-modifying agents (DMA) is emerging.

Change management in higher education: A sequential mixed methods study exploring employees' perception.

Background: Higher education institutions need to put change management as a pivotal part of their strategy. The challenge is to effectively contextualize existing change management models to the respective work environment. Failing to properly adapt existing models to match the intricacies of the environment could lead to plenty of setbacks.

Impact of Emotions on Test of Variables of Attention(TOVA) Performance in a Pediatric Clinical Population: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Continuous Performance Tests, like the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), are commonly used to assess attention processes in clinical settings. Although a few previous studies have explored the effects of emotions on the outcome of such tests, the results are scarce and contradictory at times.

Objective: Through this retrospective study, we  aimed to explore the correlation between performance on the TOVA and parent-reported emotional symptoms in youth.

Is There Correlation Between Aluminum-Based Food Consumption and Plasma Level in Pregnant Women?

To explore the correlation of AL-based food consumption, known to have negative impact on health, and Al plasma levels with pregnancy status. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 participants, including 50 pregnant women. Al plasma levels were analyzed by ET-AAS.

Chromatographic methods for the determination of a broad spectrum of UV filters in swimming pool water.

This paper describes an analytical approach based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by analysis using liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detectors for a determination of 18 organic UV filters from water samples. Extraction method parameters were optimized: 250 ml of water sample loaded on Chromabond C18 cartridges after adjustment to pH 4 and then eluted with acetonitrile. The mobile phase and the parameters of the mass spectrometer, as well as those of the ionization source, were tested to enhance detection sensitivity.

Depressive symptoms in helping professions: a systematic review of prevalence rates and work-related risk factors.

Objective: The aim of this study is twofold. Our first aim is to provide an overview of the prevalence rate of depression in a wide array of helping professions. Our second aim is to identify work organization conditions that seem to be associated with this depression risk.

Evaluation of honey authenticity in Lebanon by analysis of carbon stable isotope ratio using elemental analyzer and liquid chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

Honey is one of the most valuable sweeteners consumed by humans all over the world. Consequently, it is often a target for adulteration through the addition of different sugar syrups during or after honey production, resulting in a reduction in its nutritive value. For the first time, this study analyzes honey samples of various botanical species collected from different Lebanese regions using element analyzer (EA) and liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS).

Invasive growth associated with cold-inducible RNA-binding protein expression drives recurrence of surgically resected brain metastases.

Background: Sixty percent of surgically resected brain metastases (BrM) recur within 1 year. These recurrences have long been thought to result from the dispersion of cancer cells during surgery. We tested the alternative hypothesis that invasion of cancer cells into the adjacent brain plays a significant role in local recurrence and shortened overall survival.

Aluminum exposure from food in the population of Lebanon.

Widely used for a variety of applications, levels of dietary aluminum (Al) have seen a perpetual rise in Lebanon, leading to noticeable effects upon the human body. This study aims to estimate the rates of Al contaminated food consumption and quantify the Al present in different dietary matrices, revealing the major contributors to Al exposure for the Lebanese population. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a customized, self-reported Electronic Food Frequency Questionnaire (E-FFQ) using Curve®, targeting individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 from different Lebanese regions, distributed proportionally.

Targeting mitochondria by Zn(II)N-alkylpyridylporphyrins: the impact of compound sub-mitochondrial partition on cell respiration and overall photodynamic efficacy.

Mitochondria play a key role in aerobic ATP production and redox control. They harness crucial metabolic pathways and control cell death mechanisms, properties that make these organelles essential for survival of most eukaryotic cells. Cancer cells have altered cell death pathways and typically show a shift towards anaerobic glycolysis for energy production, factors which point to mitochondria as potential culprits in cancer development.

Effect of molecular characteristics on cellular uptake, subcellular localization, and phototoxicity of Zn(II) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins.

Tetra-cationic Zn(II) meso-tetrakis(N-alkylpyridinium-2 (or -3 or -4)-yl)porphyrins (ZnPs) with progressively increased lipophilicity were synthesized to investigate how the tri-dimensional shape and lipophilicity of the photosensitizer (PS) affect cellular uptake, subcellular distribution, and photodynamic efficacy. The effect of the tri-dimensional shape of the molecule was studied by shifting the N-alkyl substituent attached to the pyridyl nitrogen from ortho to meta and para positions. Progressive increase of lipophilicity from shorter hydrophilic (methyl) to longer amphiphilic (hexyl) alkyl chains increased the phototoxicity of the ZnP PSs.

Brivanib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who were intolerant to sorafenib or for whom sorafenib failed: results from the randomized phase III BRISK-PS study.

Purpose: Brivanib is a selective dual inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptors implicated in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). An unmet medical need persists for patients with HCC whose tumors do not respond to sorafenib or who cannot tolerate it. This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessed brivanib in patients with HCC who had been treated with sorafenib.

Brivanib versus sorafenib as first-line therapy in patients with unresectable, advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: results from the randomized phase III BRISK-FL study.

Purpose: Brivanib is a dual inhibitor of vascular-endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptors that are implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our multinational, randomized, double-blind, phase III trial compared brivanib with sorafenib as first-line treatment for HCC.

Patients And Methods: Advanced HCC patients who had no prior systemic therapy were randomly assigned (ratio, 1:1) to receive sorafenib 400 mg twice daily orally (n = 578) or brivanib 800 mg once daily orally (n = 577).

Dual effect of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene on the development and severity of human systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To study the effect of the innate cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on the susceptibility and severity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a multinational population of 1,369 Caucasian and African American patients.

Methods: Two functional polymorphisms in the MIF gene, a -794 CATT(5-8) microsatellite repeat (rs5844572) and a -173 G/C single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs755622), were assessed for association with SLE in 3,195 patients and healthy controls. We also measured MIF plasma levels in relation to genotypes and clinical phenotypes, and assessed Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR-7)-stimulated MIF production in vitro.

Interleukin-6 and Cyclooxygenase-2 downregulation by fatty-acid fractions of Ranunculus constantinopolitanus.

Background: Medicinal plants represent alternative means for the treatment of several chronic diseases, including inflammation. The genus Ranunculus, a representative of the Ranunculaceae family, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic and antifungal activities, possibly due to the presence of anemonin and other. Different studies have shown the occurrence of unusual fatty acids (FAs) in Ranunculaceae; however, their therapeutic role has not been investigated.

Dasatinib induces durable cytogenetic responses in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase with resistance or intolerance to imatinib.

Dasatinib, a potent inhibitor of BCR-ABL in vitro, is effective for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) resistant or intolerant to imatinib. To provide a more definitive assessment of dasatinib in chronic-phase (CP)-CML, we report extended follow-up of a phase II trial, presenting data for the entire patient cohort (N=387). Dasatinib (70 mg) twice daily was administered to patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant CP-CML.

Phase II clinical trial of ixabepilone (BMS-247550), an epothilone B analog, as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline chemotherapy.

Purpose: There is a need for new agents to treat metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in patients for whom anthracycline therapy has failed or is contraindicated. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel antineoplastic, the epothilone B analog ixabepilone, in patients with MBC previously treated with an adjuvant anthracycline.

Patients And Methods: Patients were age >or= 18 years and had received a prior anthracycline-based regimen as adjuvant treatment.

Dasatinib induces notable hematologic and cytogenetic responses in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia after failure of imatinib therapy.

Although imatinib induces marked responses in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), resistance is increasingly problematic, and treatment options for imatinib-resistant or -intolerant CML are limited. Dasatinib, a novel, highly potent, oral, multitargeted kinase inhibitor of BCR-ABL and SRC family kinases, induced cytogenetic responses in a phase 1 study in imatinib-resistant or -intolerant CML and was well tolerated. Initial results are presented from a phase 2 study of 186 patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant chronic-phase CML (CML-CP) designed to further establish the efficacy and safety of dasatinib (70 mg twice daily).

Renal insufficiency predicts the time to first appropriate defibrillator shock.

Background: Indications for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation are expanding, but many primary and secondary ICD trials have excluded patients with advanced renal insufficiency. We investigated the effect of renal function on the incidence and time to first appropriate ICD shock.

Method: We analyzed data from all new ICD implantations at a tertiary care center from July 2001 to December 2002.

Relation of advanced heart failure symptoms to risk of inappropriate defibrillator shocks.

Inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks continue to be a major source of distress to patients and a drain on the health care system. Expanding indications for ICD implantation include a large portion of patients with heart failure. This study investigated the relation between inappropriate ICD shocks and the severity of heart failure symptoms.

Indications for internal cardioverter defibrillator implantation predict time to first shock and the modulating effect of beta-blockers.

Background: Patients receive implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for varying indications. Whether these indications influence the time to first ICD shock is suspected but not confirmed. The modulating effect of beta-blockers on shock-free survival is not fully elucidated.

Utilization of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in survivors of cardiac arrest in the United States from 1996 to 2001.

Objectives: We analyzed the incidence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in survivors of cardiac arrest (CA) in the U.S. from 1996 through 2001.

Relation of the leukocyte count to recurrent cardiac events in stable patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Increasing evidence implicates inflammation as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. We determined whether an elevated leukocyte count is associated with an increased risk of death or reinfarction in stable patients with a past acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The current analysis is a substudy of the Multicenter Diltiazem Postinfarction Trial, which investigated the effect of diltiazem on mortality and reinfarction in 2,466 patients hospitalized for AMI.