Proinflammatory CD20 T cells contribute to CNS-directed autoimmunity.

The origin and function of CD20 T cells are poorly understood. Here, we characterized CD20 T cells in mice and humans and investigated how they are affected by anti-CD20 antibody treatment. We report that murine CD20 T cells are unable to endogenously express the B cell lineage marker CD20; the development of CD20 T cells in rodents requires the presence of CD20-expressing B cells.

An RNA Thermometer Activity of the West Nile Virus Genomic 3'-Terminal Stem-Loop Element Modulates Viral Replication Efficiency during Host Switching.

The 3'-terminal stem-loop (3'SL) of the RNA genome of the flavivirus West Nile (WNV) harbors, in its stem, one of the sequence elements that are required for genome cyclization. As cyclization is a prerequisite for the initiation of viral replication, the 3'SL was proposed to act as a replication silencer. The lower part of the 3'SL is metastable and confers a structural flexibility that may regulate the switch from the linear to the circular conformation of the viral RNA.

Infection retardant coated inflatable penile prostheses decrease the incidence of infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review was done to compare the effectiveness of infection retardant coated inflatable penile prostheses vs noncoated devices.

Materials And Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed® and Galileo® to identify all relevant case studies. The postoperative infection incidence rate was compared for coated and noncoated inflatable penile prostheses to determine whether coating the implant affects the rate of surgical implant infection.

A phase II, single-blind, randomized, crossover evaluation of the safety and efficacy of avanafil using visual sexual stimulation in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.

Objective: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and time course of three doses of avanafil (50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg) compared with sildenafil 50 mg or placebo, given in conjunction with visual sexual stimulation (VSS) videos in men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

Patients And Methods: Male patients, 35-70 years of age, with mild to moderate ED of ≥6 months duration, were included in the study. During the course of the study, each patient received placebo, active control (sildenafil 50 mg), and one dose of avanafil (50 mg, 100 mg or 200 mg), all administered in random order at least 72 h apart.

Developmental outcomes after pediatric heart transplantation.

Background: Pediatric heart transplantation has now been successfully performed for more than 20 years. As survival rates have improved, more attention is now focused on long-term outcomes.

Methods: This report reviews the literature on developmental outcomes after pediatric heart transplantation.

Susceptibility-weighted imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in assessment of outcome after pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To assess the role of magnetic resonance imaging, specifically magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), in the evaluation of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Data Sources: Literature review and data from our recently published clinical studies.

Study Selection: Children with pediatric TBI who underwent SWI.

MR spectroscopy: predicting long-term neuropsychological outcome following pediatric TBI.

Purpose: To identify useful acute indicators of long-term neurocognitive outcome beyond clinical variables for children and adolescents treated for a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Materials And Methods: The efficacy of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) acquired 6+/-4 days after TBI in 20 children/adolescents in predicting intellectual and neuropsychological functioning one to four years post injury was assessed. Short echo-time single voxel MRS (SVS) from normal-appearing brain was compared to intermediate echo-time multivoxel MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) from normal-appearing and visibly-injured brain acquired through the level of the corpus callosum (CC).

Relationship of surgical approach to neurodevelopmental outcomes in hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Objective: Two strategies for surgical management are used for infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), primary heart transplantation and the Norwood procedure. We sought to determine how these 2 surgical approaches influence neurodevelopmental outcomes at school age.

Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study of neurodevelopmental outcomes among school-aged children (>8 years of age) with HLHS was undertaken between July 2003 and September 2004.

Susceptibility weighted imaging: neuropsychologic outcome and pediatric head injury.

Traumatic brain injury is among the most frequent pediatric neurologic disorders in the United States, affecting multiple aspects of neuropsychologic functioning. This study assessed the efficacy of susceptibility weighted imaging as a predictor of long-term neuropsychologic functioning after pediatric brain injury compared with magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Susceptibility weighted imaging is a relatively new method that is considered superior to traditional magnetic resonance imaging sequences for detecting hemorrhagic diffuse axonal injury.

The process of research in international settings: from risk assessment to program development and intervention.

Although there are many challenges, international HIV prevention research and program evaluation are critical to advances in the health and welfare of people around the globe. While there is an increasing amount of literature describing outcomes of international prevention programs, there is sparse information regarding the process of developing and implementing international research. This brief report describes key elements in the development of collaborative international prevention research and programmatic implementation.

Quality of parent-child relationship and adolescent HIV risk behaviour in St. Maarten.

The highest incidence rates of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean are recorded in heterosexual and youth populations. With sparse prevention and intervention programmes in place, there is a pressing need to address the HIV/AIDS risk of youth. The objective of this analysis was to describe the extent of youth risk behaviour in St.

Neuropsychological outcome of infant heart transplant recipients.

Objective: To assess long-term neuropsychological outcomes of infant heart transplant recipients.

Study Design: Fifty-five children (mean age, 6.4 years) with a primary diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome or other cardiac disorders participated in the study.

A longitudinal perspective on neurodevelopmental outcome after infant cardiac transplantation.

Background: With improvement in medical outcomes, the current research has shifted toward understanding and enhancing the quality of life after pediatric heart transplantation. Previous research has indicated that infant heart transplant recipients are generally at risk for neurodevelopmental delays; however, no longitudinal studies exploring the patterns of development within this medical population have been performed.

Methods: Using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II, 39 children (2 to 38 months of age) who underwent heart transplantation in infancy (<1 year) at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital were assessed consecutively over time.

An assessment of HIV/AIDS risk in higher education students in Yerevan, Armenia.

Armenia's current sociopolitical and economic instability and the alarming HIV incidence rates in neighboring countries amplify its risk for a national epidemic. The goals of this study were to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behaviors among higher education students in Yerevan. Knowledge of HIV transmission through sexual intercourse was markedly higher than that on intravenous transmission and prevailing myths; however, HIV/AIDS knowledge was not related to risk behaviors.

Neurodevelopmental outcome of solid organ transplantation in children.

The literature regarding organ transplantation has emphasized graft survival in the arena of organ transplantation for life-threatening disease. The concept of "if you can't get it to work ..

Predicting neuropsychologic outcome after traumatic brain injury in children.

The ability to predict long-term neurologic and neuropsychologic outcomes in 22 children, ages 1 week to 14 years at the time of traumatic brain injury, was investigated using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy acquired post injury and compared with standardized neurologic, intellectual, and neuropsychologic testing done 1-7 years later. Clinical indicators of acute injury severity including age at injury, electroencephalography, spectroscopy metabolite ratio variables (N-acetyl aspartate/choline, choline/creatine) and lactate presence accurately classified children as functioning above or below the average range for most intellectual and neuropsychologic outcome measures. Combined clinical and spectroscopy variables accounted for approximately 50% of the variance in cognitive and neuropsychologic outcome confirming the validity of their predictive use.

Developmental outcomes and cognitive functioning in infant and child heart transplant recipients.

Pediatric heart transplantation has become a mainstay in the treatment of end-stage heart disease in infants and children. There is, however, sparse information on post-transplant developmental and cognitive functioning. At Loma Linda University Children's Hospital 223 infants have undergone heart transplantation surgery with a survival rate of 73% (n=165).

Stress and distress in pediatric nurses: lessons from Baby K.

Background: Nurses experience stress and suffering when they care for critically ill and dying patients. Moral distress occurs when nurses are unable to translate their moral choices into moral action. In response to this stress, nurses may experience burnout.

Effects of in utero substance exposure on infant neurobehavior.

Objective: This study had two objectives: (1) to assess infant behavior by using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS), an assessment designed specifically for prenatally drug-exposed infants; and (2) to control for the effects of polydrug use involving alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes on the neurobehavioral status of the newborn infant.

Methods: The subjects and controls in this study were full-term infants of appropriate gestational age with no medical problems. At 1 to 2 days of age, 20 infants exposed to cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes; 17 infants exposed to alcohol and/or marijuana and cigarettes; and 20 drug-free infants were evaluated by using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale.

IgE and IgD antibodies to cow milk and soy protein in duodenal fluid: effects of pancreozymin and secretin.

Duodenal fluid IgE was reported to be increased in food allergy and in inflammatory conditions of the bowel. We studied the presence and specificity of IgE and IgD antibodies against alpha-casein, beta-lactoglobulin A, alpha-lactalbumin, bovine serum albumin and soy bean agglutinin using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Thirteen children with various intestinal diseases and thirteen normal adult volunteers were examined.