Retrospective evaluation of a pilot eHealth/mHealth telewellness program for people with disabilities: Mindfulness, Exercise, and Nutrition To Optimize Resilience (MENTOR).

Background: People with disabilities have few options to participate in wellness programs that are tailored to their health, functional level, specific interests/needs, and available in the comfort of their home. To address this need, we evaluated a mobile health wellness program for people with physical disabilities.

Methods: Retrospective pilot evaluation of MENTOR (Mindfulness, Exercise, and Nutrition To Optimize Resilience), an 8-week, 40-hour online telewellness program adapted from the peer reviewed literature on wellness.

Identification of a Novel Serum Proteomic Signature for Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Context: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a complex heterogeneous autoimmune disease (AID) which can mimic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our exploratory study investigated serum biomarkers that may discriminate pSS from RA and SLE.

Methods: Serum concentrations of 63 biomarkers involved in immune cell trafficking, inflammatory response, cellular movement, and cell-to-cell signaling were measured in AID patients, included prospectively into the study at the Montpellier University Hospital.

Combining culture and microbead-based immunoassay for the early and generic detection of bacteria in platelet concentrates.

Background: Despite current preventive strategies, bacterial contamination of platelets is the highest residual infectious risk in transfusion. Bacteria can grow from an initial concentration of 0.03-0.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator controls neuronal death by raising surface dynamics of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors.

N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ion channels whose synaptic versus extrasynaptic localization critically influences their functions. This distribution of NMDARs is highly dependent on their lateral diffusion at the cell membrane. Each obligatory subunit of NMDARs (GluN1 and GluN2) contains two extracellular clamshell-like domains with an agonist-binding domain and a distal N-terminal domain (NTD).

Use of a synthetic biosensor for neutralizing activity-biased selection of monoclonal antibodies against atroxlysin-I, an hemorrhagic metalloproteinase from Bothrops atrox snake venom.

Background: The snake Bothrops atrox is responsible for the majority of envenomings in the northern region of South America. Severe local effects, including hemorrhage, which are mainly caused by snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), are not fully neutralized by conventional serum therapy. Little is known about the immunochemistry of the P-I SVMPs since few monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against these molecules have been obtained.

Circulating osteoglycin and NGAL/MMP9 complex concentrations predict 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events after coronary angiography.

Objective: Previous proteomics experiments have demonstrated that several proteins are differentially expressed in vulnerable human carotid plaques compared with stable plaques. This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of 13 such circulating biomarkers in patients with coronary artery disease.

Approach And Results: Between 2008 and 2011, 768 patients who underwent coronary angiography for acute coronary syndrome or stable angina pectoris were included in a prospective biomarker study.

Development of monoclonal antibodies to pre-haptoglobin 2 and their use in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Haptoglobins (HPs) are alpha 2-globulin proteins that bind free hemoglobin in plasma to prevent oxidative damage. HPs are produced as preproteins that are proteolytically cleaved in the ER into alpha and beta chains prior to forming mature, functional tetramers. Two alleles exist in humans (HP1 and HP2), therefore three genotypes are present in the population, i.

Generation and molecular characterization of a monoclonal antibody reactive with conserved epitope in sphingomyelinases D from Loxosceles spider venoms.

We report the production of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody able to recognize the venoms of three major medically important species of Loxosceles spiders in Brazil. The mAb was produced by immunization of mice with a toxic recombinant L. intermedia sphingomyelinase D {SMases D isoform (rLiD1)} [1] and screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using L.

Local carotid atherosclerotic plaque proteins for the identification of circulating biomarkers in coronary patients.

Objective: To identify circulating biomarkers that originate from atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques and that could predict future cardiovascular events.

Methods: After a protein enrichment step (combinatorial peptide ligand library approach), we performed a two-dimensional electrophoresis comparative analysis on human carotid plaque protein extracts (fibrotic and hemorrhagic atherosclerotic plaques). In silico analysis of the biological processes was applied on proteomic data.

Cerebrospinal Aβ11-x and 17-x levels as indicators of mild cognitive impairment and patients' stratification in Alzheimer's disease.

In the present work, the concentrations of Aβ11-x and Aβ17-x peptides (x=40 or 42), which result from the combined cleavages of β-amyloid precursor protein (AβPP) by β'/α or α/γ-secretases, respectively, were assessed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Specific multiplexed assays were set up using new anti-40 and anti-42 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the capture of these N-truncated Aβ peptides and anti-11 or anti-17 mAbs for their detection. The specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of such assays were assessed using synthetic peptides and human cell models.

N-truncated Aβ peptides in complex fluids unraveled by new specific immunoassays.

Previous studies have highlighted the potential physiopathological and diagnostic role of N- and C-terminally truncated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in Alzheimer's disease. However, our knowledge about their production remains incomplete, in part due to the lack of very specific and sensitive tools for their detection. We thus developed specific monoclonal antibodies that target either Aβ11-x or Aβ17-x species, which result from the combined cleavages by β/γ- or α/γ-secretases, respectively.

Student nurses' personality traits and the nursing profession: part 2.

Individuals' attitudes stem partly from their personality traits, which may influence their interpersonal relationships with patients. Although personality traits are somewhat genetically determined, research has found that there are other factors that may influence this, such as self-esteem, family, social and clinical environments, and education. Part one of this article explained the research process of this cross-sectional descriptive study, which assessed the personality traits of two cohorts of nursing/midwifery students (n=116, aged 19-44 years) in their third year of the Diploma/BSc (Hons) programme at the University of Malta (Baldacchino and Galea, 2012).

The placenta contributes to activation of the renin angiotensin system in twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is up-regulated in the donor fetus's kidneys, but down-regulated in the recipient's. Ultrasonographic and echocardiographic features suggest that the recipient is also exposed to RAS components. In this study we investigated the role and origin of RAS components in the recipient fetus.

Inflammatory cytokines in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: effects on physical growth and the insulin-like-growth factor axis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between markers of inflammation with physical growth and systemic markers of GH secretion in JIA.

Design: This is a cross sectional prospective study of patients with JIA recruited during therapeutic arthrocentesis of 17 children with JIA (F,10): 8 oligoarticular (OJIA) and 9 polyarticular (PJIA).

Results: Median adjusted height (AHt) SDS was -0.

Stage I twin-twin transfusion syndrome: rates of progression and regression in relation to outcome.

Objectives: Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) results in high rates of perinatal mortality and neurological morbidity. Fetoscopic laser ablation of placental anastomoses is now established as the treatment of choice for advanced disease. However, there remains controversy about its use in early-stage TTTS, in which laser-related fetal losses need to be balanced against relatively favorable outcomes with more conservative approaches.

Readiness for commitment: applying psychological constructs to pastoral issues in marriage.

The current crisis in marriage is partly related to people having problems in living their commitments. To investigate this phenomenon, a self-report instrument, the Commitment to Partnership Scale (CPS) was adopted to identify and measure those factors considered essential to marriage commitment: Attachment, Trust, Maturity, Investment, and Values. The CPS was given to 430 people in a significant relationship, from a Roman Catholic population, and from two different groups.

Cytokine profiling and in vitro studies of murine bone growth using biological fluids from children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: Growth retardation in children with chronic inflammatory disease may be partly due to direct effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the growth plate and requires further investigation.

Design: This study assessed the cytokine concentrations in serum and synovial fluid (SF) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and determined the effect of the biological fluid on cultured murine metatarsal growth.

Patients: Serum and SF were obtained from four children attending for arthrocentesis (child A, systemic; children B, C and D, oligoarticular).

Identification and characterization of cholest-4-en-3-one, oxime (TRO19622), a novel drug candidate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive death of cortical and spinal motor neurons, for which there is no effective treatment. Using a cell-based assay for compounds capable of preventing motor neuron cell death in vitro, a collection of approximately 40,000 low-molecular-weight compounds was screened to identify potential small-molecule therapeutics. We report the identification of cholest-4-en-3-one, oxime (TRO19622) as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of ALS.

Congenital localized scleroderma.

Objectives: Juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) usually has its onset during later childhood. This report describes the clinical and serologic features of six children with congenital localized scleroderma (CLS).

Study Design: A large, multinational study was conducted among pediatric rheumatology and dermatology centers by collecting information on demographics, family history, triggering environmental factors, clinical features, laboratory reports, and treatment of patients with JLS.

Insights into the pathophysiology of twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is attributed to trans-anastomotic transfusion between twins. Anastomoses are ubiquitous in monochorionic (MC) placentae, yet TTTS develops in only 15%. Although ex vivo and in vivo studies fail to identify a unique anastomotic signature, TTTS placentae are typically associated with an imbalance in unidirectional arteriovenous anastomoses with absent bidirectional anastomoses.

High risk of unexpected late fetal death in monochorionic twins despite intensive ultrasound surveillance: a cohort study.

Background: The rationale for fetal surveillance in monochorionic twin pregnancies is timely intervention to prevent the increased fetal/perinatal morbidity and mortality attributed to twin-twin transfusion syndrome and intrauterine growth restriction. We investigated the residual risk of fetal death after viability in otherwise uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies.

Methods And Findings: We searched an electronic database of 480 completed monochorionic pregnancies that underwent fortnightly ultrasound surveillance in our tertiary referral fetal medicine service between 1992 and 2004.

A randomised controlled trial of morphine versus phenobarbitone for neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Background: The incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has increased 10-fold over the last decade in Glasgow. In the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, it now accounts for 17% of special care baby unit (SCBU) admissions.

Objective: To compare opiate replacement therapy (morphine sulphate) with the present standard treatment (phenobarbitone) for management of NAS.