Bereaved Family Quality of Life Varies With Comorbid Psychological Distress and ICU-Care Quality.

Context: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is highly endorsed, but HRQOL studies scarcely investigate the following: ICU family members; modifiable end-of-life (EOL) ICU-care factors; conjoint associations with prolonged grief disorder (PGD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression; and long-term bereavement outcomes.

Objectives: Exploratorily investigate associations of PGD-PTSD-depressive-symptom states (resilient, subthreshold-depression dominant, PGD dominant, and PGD-PTSD-depression comorbid) and quality of EOL ICU care with families' HRQOL 6-24 months post loss.

Methods: This cohort study examined symptoms of PGD (11 items of the PG-13), PTSD (Impact of Event Scale-Revised), and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and HRQOL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey) among 303 ICU family members.

Thermodynamic Assessment of Sacrificial Oxidant Potential, HO/O Potential, and Rate-Overpotential Relationship to Examine Catalytic Water Oxidation in Nonaqueous Solvents.

The water oxidation reaction (WOR), which is pivotal to storing energy in chemical bonds, requires a catalyst to overcome its inherent kinetic barrier. In bulk solutions, sacrificial oxidants (SOs) can regenerate the catalysts to ensure that the homogeneous WOR can be operated with long-term consistent performance. To implement this strategy for organic WOR systems, we modified four common SOs with tetra--butylammonium ([NBu])─[NBu][Ce(NO)], [NBu][IO], [NBu][HSO], and [NBu][SO]─and examined their chemical stability and electrochemical behaviors in various organic solvents.

Discovery of a mu-opioid receptor modulator that in combination with morphinan antagonists induces analgesia.

Morphinan antagonists, which block opioid effects at mu-opioid receptors, have been studied for their analgesic potential. Previous studies have suggested that these antagonists elicit analgesia with fewer adverse effects in the presence of the mutant mu-opioid receptor (MOR; S196A). However, introducing a mutant receptor for medical applications represents significant challenges.

Combination of pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, and synthetic surfactant B-YL prevents hyperoxia-induced lung injury in adult mice lung explants.

Introduction: Hyperoxia-induced lung injury is characterized by acute alveolar injury, disrupted epithelial-mesenchymal signaling, oxidative stress, and surfactant dysfunction, yet currently, there is no effective treatment. Although a combination of aerosolized pioglitazone (PGZ) and a synthetic lung surfactant (B-YL peptide, a surfactant protein B mimic) prevents hyperoxia-induced neonatal rat lung injury, whether it is also effective in preventing hyperoxia-induced adult lung injury is unknown.

Method: Using adult mice lung explants, we characterize the effects of 24 and 72-h (h) exposure to hyperoxia on 1) perturbations in Wingless/Int (Wnt) and Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β signaling pathways, which are critical mediators of lung injury, 2) aberrations of lung homeostasis and injury repair pathways, and 3) whether these hyperoxia-induced aberrations can be blocked by concomitant treatment with PGZ and B-YL combination.

Pronounced interplay between intrinsic phase-coexistence and octahedral tilt magnitude in hole-doped lanthanum cuprates.

Definitive understanding of superconductivity and its interplay with structural symmetry in the hole-doped lanthanum cuprates remains elusive. The suppression of superconductivity around 1/8th doping maintains particular focus, often attributed to charge-density waves (CDWs) ordering in the low-temperature tetragonal (LTT) phase. Central to many investigations into this interplay is the thesis that LaBaCuO and particularly LaEuSrCuO present model systems of purely LTT structure at low temperature.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibition Exacerbates Hepatic Encephalopathy in Biliary Cirrhotic Rats.

In liver cirrhosis, hepatic inflammation and abundant portal-systemic collaterals are indicated for the development of hepatic encephalopathy. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a type of anti-diabetic agent which exert pleiotropic and anti-inflammatory effects. Diabetes and chronic liver disease often coexist, but the influence of SGLT-2 inhibition on liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy remains unknown.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir for Patients Coinfected With Chronic Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B in Taiwan: Follow-up at 108 Weeks Posttreatment.

Background: For patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), HCV treatment with direct-acting antivirals can lead to HBV reactivation. We evaluated HBV reactivation during ledipasvir/sofosbuvir treatment and 108-week follow-up.

Methods: In Taiwan, 111 patients with HCV genotype 1 or 2 and HBV received ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (90mg/400mg) once daily for 12 weeks.

Intratumor Heterogeneity Assessed by F-FDG PET/CT Predicts Treatment Response and Survival Outcomes in Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Rationale And Objectives: Radiomic analysis of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) images enables the extraction of quantitative information of intratumour heterogeneity. This study investigated whether the baseline F-FDG PET/CT radiomics can predict treatment response and survival outcomes in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five patients diagnosed with HL who underwent F-FDG PET/CT scans before and during chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled in this investigation.

Multi-platform discovery of haplotype-resolved structural variation in human genomes.

The incomplete identification of structural variants (SVs) from whole-genome sequencing data limits studies of human genetic diversity and disease association. Here, we apply a suite of long-read, short-read, strand-specific sequencing technologies, optical mapping, and variant discovery algorithms to comprehensively analyze three trios to define the full spectrum of human genetic variation in a haplotype-resolved manner. We identify 818,054 indel variants (<50 bp) and 27,622 SVs (≥50 bp) per genome.

Solitary Parathyroid Adenoma Localization in Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi SPECT and Multiphase Multidetector 4D CT.

Background And Purpose: Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery relies critically on image guidance, but data comparing the efficacy of various imaging modalities are scarce. Our aim was to perform a blinded comparison of the localizing capability of technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT, multiphase multidetector 4D CT, and the combination of these 2 modalities (technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT + multiphase multidetector 4D CT).

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the records of 31 (6 men, 25 women; median age, 56 years) consecutive patients diagnosed with biochemically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism between November 2009 and March 2010 who underwent preoperative technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT and multiphase multidetector 4D CT performed on the same scanner with pathologic confirmation by resection of a single parathyroid adenoma.

Genetic inactivation of ANGPTL4 improves glucose homeostasis and is associated with reduced risk of diabetes.

Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is an endogenous inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase that modulates lipid levels, coronary atherosclerosis risk, and nutrient partitioning. We hypothesize that loss of ANGPTL4 function might improve glucose homeostasis and decrease risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We investigate protein-altering variants in ANGPTL4 among 58,124 participants in the DiscovEHR human genetics study, with follow-up studies in 82,766 T2D cases and 498,761 controls.

1-(2,4-Dibromophenyl)-3,6,6-trimethyl-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-indazol-4-one: A Novel Opioid Receptor Agonist with Less Accompanying Gastrointestinal Dysfunction than Morphine.

Background: The authors investigated the pharmacology and signaling pathways of the opioid receptors modulated by compound 1, 1-(2,4-dibromophenyl)-3,6,6-trimethyl-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-4H-indazol-4-one.

Methods: In vitro studies of compound 1 were assessed by using a radioligand-binding assay (n = 3), a cyclic adenosine monophosphate assay (n = 3), a β-arrestin assay (n = 3), an internalization assay (n = 3), and an immunohistochemistry (n = 8). In vivo studies of compound 1 were characterized using a tail-flick test (n = 5 to 6), tail-clip test (n = 7), von Frey hair test (n = 5), and charcoal meal test (n = 5).

A Randomized Trial of Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Essential Tremor.

Background: Uncontrolled pilot studies have suggested the efficacy of focused ultrasound thalamotomy with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance for the treatment of essential tremor.

Methods: We enrolled patients with moderate-to-severe essential tremor that had not responded to at least two trials of medical therapy and randomly assigned them in a 3:1 ratio to undergo unilateral focused ultrasound thalamotomy or a sham procedure. The Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor and the Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire were administered at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.

One step engineering of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA using CRISPR/Cas9.

Bacteria are indispensable for the study of fundamental molecular biology processes due to their relatively simple gene and genome architecture. The ability to engineer bacterial chromosomes is quintessential for understanding gene functions. Here we demonstrate the engineering of the small-ribosomal subunit (16S) RNA of Mycoplasma mycoides, by combining the CRISPR/Cas9 system and the yeast recombination machinery.

Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Subjects With Hypertension: Nationwide Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Limited studies have examined the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use on the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in subjects with hypertension. Using National Health Insurance claims data in Taiwan, we conducted a propensity score-matched cohort study to investigate the relationship between NSAID use and CKD in subjects with hypertension. A total of 31976 subjects were included in this study: subjects not taking any NSAIDs in 2007 (n=10782); subjects taking NSAIDs for 1 to 89 days in 2007 (n=10605); and subjects taking NSAIDs for ≥90 days in 2007 (n=10589).

Association of short-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with stroke in patients with hypertension.

Background And Purpose: Limited studies have investigated the risk of cerebrovascular events associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in subjects at high risk. We examined the short-term (defined as 30-day period) effect of selective and nonselective NSAIDs use on the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in patients with hypertension.

Methods: We conducted a case-crossover study using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

MicroRNA mediation of endothelial inflammatory response to smooth muscle cells and its inhibition by atheroprotective shear stress.

Rationale: In atherosclerotic lesions, synthetic smooth muscle cells (sSMCs) induce aberrant microRNA (miR) profiles in endothelial cells (ECs) under flow stagnation. Increase in shear stress induces favorable miR modulation to mitigate sSMC-induced inflammation.

Objective: To address the role of miRs in sSMC-induced EC inflammation and its inhibition by shear stress.

Activation of hepatic inflammatory pathways by catecholamines is associated with hepatic insulin resistance in male ischemic stroke rats.

Patients who experience acute ischemic stroke may develop hyperglycemia, even in the absence of diabetes. In the current study we determined the effects of acute stroke on hepatic insulin signaling, TNF-α expression, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, the activities of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), inhibitor κB kinase β (IKK-β), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways. Rats with cerebral ischemia developed higher blood glucose, and insulin levels, and insulin resistance index, as well as hepatic gluconeogenic enzyme expression compared with the sham-treated group.

Observation of B(s)0-->K+ K- and measurements of branching fractions of charmless two-body decays of B0 and B(s)0 mesons in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV.

We search for decays of the type B(s)0-->h+ h'- (where h,h' = K or pi) in 180 pb(-1) of pp collisions collected at the Tevatron by the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab. We report the first observation of the new mode B(s)0-->K+ K- with a yield of 236+/-32 events, corresponding to (fs/fd) x B(B(s)0-->K+ K-)/B(B0-->K+ pi-) = 0.46+/-0.

Search for doubly charged Higgs bosons decaying to dileptons in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV.

We present the results of a search for doubly charged Higgs bosons (H+/-+/-) decaying to dileptons (ll(')) using approximately 240 pb(-1) of pp collision data collected by the CDF II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. In our search region, given by same-sign ll(') mass m(ll('))>80 GeV/c(2) (100 GeV/c(2) for ee channel), we observe no evidence for H+/-+/- production. We set limits on sigma(pp -->H++H---->l(+)l('+)l(-)l('-)) as a function of the mass of the H+/-+/- and the chirality of its couplings.