Nested case-control study of the emergence of tigecycline resistance in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

We performed a nested case-control study (ratio of 1:4) on the emergence of tigecycline-resistant multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (TR-MDRKP) isolates among patients who initially presented with a tigecycline-susceptible MDRKP isolate. Out of 260 patients, 24 (9%) had a subsequent clinical culture positive for a TR-MDRKP isolate within the 90-day follow-up period. On logistic regression analyses, receipt of tigecycline (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 5.

Temporal profile of lymphocyte counts and relationship with infections with fingolimod therapy.

Background: Reduction in peripheral blood lymphocytes is an expected pharmacodynamic outcome of fingolimod therapy.

Objective: The objective of this article is to evaluate lymphocyte dynamics during and after fingolimod therapy and assess the relationship between lymphocyte counts and infections.

Methods: Lymphocyte counts and their relationship with infections were evaluated in three multiple sclerosis (MS) populations: (Group A) FREEDOMS phase 3 core study group (n = 1272); (Group B) All Studies group (one phase 2 and two phase 3 studies, plus their extensions; n = 2315); and (Group C) Follow-up group (after fingolimod discontinuation; n = 538).

Catheter ablation of hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia with mechanical circulatory support.

Background: Catheter ablation of hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT) is possible with mechanical circulatory support (MCS), little is known regarding the relative safety and efficacy of different supporting devices for such procedures.

Methods And Results: Sixteen consecutive patients (aged 63 ± 11 years with left ventricular ejection fraction of 20 ± 9%) who underwent ablation of hemodynamically unstable VT were included in this study. Hemodynamic support included percutaneous (Impella® 2.

The high-risk patient with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: treatment options and challenges.

An estimated 5.1 million Americans aged 20 years and older have heart failure.(1) With therapies ranging from medication and physical therapy to implantable defibrillators and circulatory support, and possibly transplantation, accurate risk stratification of patient with heart failure and delivery of therapies appropriate to the level of their disease severity is becoming increasingly important.

Statins attenuate the development of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction induced by exposure to urban particulate matter (PM10).

Exposure to ambient air particulate matter (particles less than 10μm or PM10) has been shown to be an independent risk factor for the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have well-established anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of statins on the adverse functional and morphological changes in blood vessels induced by PM10.

Novel GHB-derived natural products from European mistletoe (Viscum album).

Context: The European white-berry mistletoe [Viscum album L. (Loranthaceae)] is among the oldest known medicinal plants. At present the most important application of mistletoe extracts is in the treatment of cancer.

Psychological treatment improves hemoglobin A1c outcomes in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Unlabelled: Adolescents diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus often exhibit reduced adherence to their medical regimen and poor glycemic control. A retrospective study examined longitudinal hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) outcomes for adolescent patients referred to the psychology service embedded within an endocrinology clinic. Three patient groups were examined: (1) TREATMENT: 59 adolescents referred who engaged in psychotherapy; (2) No

Treatment: 40 adolescents referred yet failed to initiate psychotherapy; (3) CONTROL: 58 adolescents not referred for treatment and matched on demographics to the two treatment groups.

Choosing colors for map display icons using models of visual search.

Objective: We show how to choose colors for icons on maps to minimize search time using predictions of a model of visual search.

Background: The model analyzes digital images of a search target (an icon on a map) and a search display (the map containing the icon) and predicts search time as a function of target-distractor color distinctiveness and target eccentricity.

Method: We parameterized the model using data from a visual search task and performed a series of optimization tasks to test the model's ability to choose colors for icons to minimize search time across icons.

Prolactin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with gestational diabetes.

Aims: Human placental lactogen (hPL) acts via the prolactin receptor (PRLR) on maternal β-cells to mediate increases in β-cell mass and function during normal pregnancy. This interaction between hPL and PRLR is essential to maintain normal glucose homeostasis and to address the increased metabolic demands of pregnancy. Given the importance of the PRLR-hPL axis in pancreatic islet cell adaptation to pregnancy, we hypothesized that genetic variation in the PRLR gene could influence risk of development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Fingolimod versus intramuscular interferon in patient subgroups from TRANSFORMS.

In the 12-month phase 3 TRANSFORMS study, fingolimod showed greater efficacy than intramuscular interferon beta (IFNβ)-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). This study analyzed fingolimod efficacy compared with IFNβ-1a in patient subgroups from TRANSFORMS. Patients were randomized to receive fingolimod or weekly IM IFNβ-1a for 12 months.

Start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism in toxic and non-toxic accessions of Jatropha curcas L. and development of a codominant SCAR marker.

Thirty six start codon targeted (SCoT) primers were used for characterization of 48 accessions of Jatropha curcas from different countries and include material with genetic variation for levels of phorbol esters, yield, seed oil content, test weight and plant type. SCoT analysis revealed high polymorphism and 74% of the primers generated polymorphic profiles. The SCoT6 primer discriminated edible and toxic accessions in a single reaction while the SCoT26 and 27 primers produced amplicons specific to toxic and non-toxic accessions, respectively.

Ophthalmic evaluations in clinical studies of fingolimod (FTY720) in multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: To report outcomes of ophthalmic evaluations in clinical studies of patients receiving fingolimod (Gilenya; Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: Analysis done on pooled safety data (N = 2615, all studies group) from 3 double-masked, randomized, parallel-group clinical trials (phase 2 core and extension >5 years, and phase 3 FREEDOMS and TRANSFORMS core and extension studies).

Participants: Patients aged 18 to 55 years (18-60 years in phase 2 study) diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS were included.

Publication bias in "Red, rank, and romance in women viewing men," by Elliot et al. (2010).

Elliot et al. (2010) reported multiple experimental findings that the color red modified women's ratings of attractiveness, sexual desirability, and status of a photographed man. An analysis of the reported statistics of these studies indicates that the experiments lack sufficient power to support these claims.

2012 update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the adult.

Many developments have occurred since the publication of the widely-used 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Dyslipidemia guidelines. Here, we present an updated version of the guidelines, incorporating new recommendations based on recent findings and harmonizing CCS guidelines with those from other Societies. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used, per present standards of the CCS.

Accumulation of inactive p53 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma: stabilization by protein interaction.

Our previous study showed that p53 protein is accumulated in >60% of cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its overexpression is related to poor prognosis. However, the mechanism behind this is still elusive. The present study attempts to dissect p53 alterations at various levels from gene to function in tumor biopsies to understand whether molecular alterations have any relationship with the accumulation of p53 protein in OSCC.

Predicting adverse events during angiotensin receptor blocker treatment in heart failure: results from the HEAAL trial.

Aims: In patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade reduces morbidity and mortality, but comes at an increased risk of adverse events (AEs). We utilized the HEAAL trial data to identify predictors of the most frequent investigator-reported AEs.

Methods And Results: The HEAAL trial investigated the relationship between losartan dose and outcomes in patients with HFrEF.

Fetal right-ventricular hypertrophy with pericardial effusion and maternal untreated hyperthyroidism.

Uncontrolled/untreated maternal hyperthyroidism has been associated with fetal tachycardia. We report a case of right-ventricular (RV) hypertrophy with pericardial effusion related to untreated maternal Graves' disease. A 33-year-old G4P1021 woman with uncontrolled Graves' disease presented at 29 weeks gestation with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding.

The same old New Look: Publication bias in a study of wishful seeing.

A recent study reported evidence of "wishful seeing," where observers reported seeing a desired object as being closer than other objects. A statistical analysis of the experimental findings reveals evidence of publication bias in the study, so the existence of wishful seeing remains unproven.

The Psychology of Replication and Replication in Psychology.

Like other scientists, psychologists believe experimental replication to be the final arbiter for determining the validity of an empirical finding. Reports in psychology journals often attempt to prove the validity of a hypothesis or theory with multiple experiments that replicate a finding. Unfortunately, these efforts are sometimes misguided because in a field like experimental psychology, ever more successful replication does not necessarily ensure the validity of an empirical finding.

Publication bias and the failure of replication in experimental psychology.

Replication of empirical findings plays a fundamental role in science. Among experimental psychologists, successful replication enhances belief in a finding, while a failure to replicate is often interpreted to mean that one of the experiments is flawed. This view is wrong.

Pyrolytic formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from sesquiterpenes.

The products of the pyrolysis of four sesquiterpenes, β-caryophyllene, α-cedrene, longifolene and valencene, have been examined. Pyrolysis was carried out at 300, 400 and 500°C, the products determined by GC-MS and then examined for similarities and differences using multivariate data analysis. Analysis showed that longifolene was most resistant and caryophyllene least resistant to pyrolysis with cedrene and valencene occupying intermediate positions.