Standardizing Electronic Health Record Data on AD/ADRD to Accelerate Health Equity in Prevention, Detection, and Treatment.

Improving the prevention, detection, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (AD/ADRD) across racial, ethnic, and other diverse populations is a national priority. To this end, this paper proposes the development of the Standard Health Record for Dementia (SHRD, pronounced "shared") for collecting and sharing AD/ADRD real-world data (RWD). SHRD would replace the current unstandardized, fragmented, or missing state of key RWD with an open source, consensus-based, and interoperable common data standard.

Monte Carlo simulations of patch models with applications to soft matter.

Patch models have been employed to describe anisotropic interactions in disparate soft matter systems. In this work, we present a unified study of a patch model to explore particle self-assembly in both monodisperse and polydisperse systems, with applications to both proteins and colloids. In the first case, we obtained a temperature-density phase diagram for a model of the protein polyglutamine from Monte Carlo simulations.

Comparison of Local Injection of Fresh Frozen Plasma to Traditional Methods of Hemostasis in Minimally Invasive Procedures.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate different techniques for reducing hemorrhagic complications in coagulopathic patients with elevated international normalized ratio having an image-guided percutaneous invasive procedure; techniques included systemic transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), local injection of FFP, percutaneous injection of gelatin sponge, and percutaneous placements of angiographic coils.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of 232 consecutive patients with known coagulopathy undergoing image-guided minimally invasive procedures were selected. Ninety-one patients had local FFP injected, 40 patients underwent local synthetic gelatin injection, 16 patients had percutaneous coil embolization, and 85 patients received systemic FFP.

Early stage aggregation of a coarse-grained model of polyglutamine.

In this paper, we study the early stages of aggregation of a model of polyglutamine (polyQ) for different repeat lengths (number of glutamine amino acid groups in the chain). In particular, we use the Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator to study a generic coarse-grained model proposed by Bereau and Deserno. We focus on the primary nucleation mechanism involved and find that our results for the initial self-assembly process are consistent with the two-dimensional classical nucleation theory of Kashchiev and Auer.

Efficiency of combined blocking of aerobic and glycolytic metabolism pathways in treatment of N1-S1 hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of bumetanide (BU), a glycolytic metabolism pathway inhibitor, to arterial embolization improves tumor necrosis of N1-S1 hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: N1-S1 tumors were surgically implanted in the liver of 14 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into three groups: In control group (n = 5), 1 ml of normal saline was injected intra-arterially.

Pyogenic liver abscesses: a contemporary analysis of management strategies at a tertiary institution.

Background: Despite equivocal evidence, non-surgical management for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has become the standard of care at most institutions with surgery relegated to salvage therapy for those who fail less invasive means. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of a step-up approach to PLA management.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single institution for patients diagnosed with PLA over a 10-year period.

Cinnamic Acid Derivatives Enhance the Efficacy of Transarterial Embolization in a Rat Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Introduction: We hypothesize that the combination of transarterial embolization (TAE) plus inhibition of lactate export will limit anaerobic metabolism and reduce tumor survival compared to TAE alone. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Rat N1-S1 hepatoma cells were assayed in vitro using the Seahorse XF analyzer to measure extracellular acidification (lactate excretion) comparing effects of the addition of caffeic acid (CA) or ferulic acid (FA) or UK-5099 with control.

Direct Injection of Blood Products Versus Gelatin Sponge as a Technique for Local Hemostasis.

Purpose: To provide a method of reducing risk of minimally invasive procedures on patients with abnormal hemostasis and evaluate efficacy of direct fresh frozen plasma injection through a procedure needle tract compared to Gelfoam (gelatin sponge) administration.

Materials And Methods: Eighty patients with elevated international standardized ratio (INR) undergoing minimally invasive procedures using imaging guidance were selected retrospectively. Forty patients had received Gelfoam as a means of tract embolization during the procedure.

Phase diagram of a model of the protein amelogenin.

There has been considerable recent interest in the self-assembly and phase behavior of models of colloidal and protein particles with anisotropic interactions. One example of particular interest is amelogenin, an important protein involved in the formation of dental enamel. Amelogenin is primarily hydrophobic with a 25-residue charged C-terminus tail.

Phase I dose-escalation study of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for poor surgical candidates with localized renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the tolerability of escalating doses of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for primary treatment of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in poor surgical candidates.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients included those with clinically staged radiographic and or pathologically confirmed RCC who had not undergone previous abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy. All patients had comorbid medical conditions which precluded surgery.

Kinetics of aggregation of an anisotropic model of self-assembling molecules.

We study the kinetics of aggregation of a two site model of interacting spherical molecules. A given site on one molecule can interact with one or more sites on other neighboring molecules. The sites represent the result of a simple coarse graining of putative amino acid residues or two specifically designed sites on a colloidal particle.

Anti-angiogenic Effects of Bumetanide Revealed by DCE-MRI with a Biodegradable Macromolecular Contrast Agent in a Colon Cancer Model.

Purpose: To assess the antiangiogenic effect of bumetanide with dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI and a biodegradable macromolecular MRI contrast agent.

Methods: A new polydisulfide containing macrocyclic gadolinium (Gd(III)) chelates, poly([(Gd-DOTA)-DETA]-co-DTBP) (GODP), was synthesized as a safe biodegradable macromolecular MRI contrast agent for DCE-MRI. Nude mice bearing flank HT29 colon cancer xenografts were then treated daily with either bumetanide or saline for a total of 3 weeks.

ALPHA glycolytic vasculogenesis better correlates with MRI and CT imaging techniques than the traditional oxygen vasculogenesis theory.

Objective: Traditional vasculogenesis has many contradictions related to treatment and imaging. This occurs because cancer also uses glycolysis, which does not need oxygen or arteries. Glycolytic lactate supports many procancer processes but high levels of it inhibit glycolysis.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from ovarian mature cystic teratoma and causing small bowel obstruction.

Malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma (MCT) is a rare phenomenon with incidence of approximately 1-3%. We report a 48-year-old woman who presented to the emergency room with symptoms of bowel obstruction. She underwent computed tomography scan for the evaluation of obstruction, which demonstrated diffuse ascites accompanying a cystic pelvic to lower abdominal mass which had invaded into the adjacent small bowel causing partial small bowel obstruction.

Incidence of hypercoagulable events after image-guided percutaneous cryoablation of renal tumors: a single-center experience.

Purpose: To identify retrospectively hypercoagulable events that occurred over time in patients who underwent image-guided percutaneous renal cryoablation and compare the incidence with a cohort of patients who underwent surgical partial nephrectomy (PN) during the same time period.

Materials And Methods: An electronic medical record database was queried for patients who underwent percutaneous image-guided renal mass cryoablation or PN between September 2006 and June 2012. Records were examined for thrombotic events during the year following the procedure in each group.

Real-time monitoring of radiofrequency ablation and postablation assessment: accuracy of contrast-enhanced US in experimental rat liver model.

Purpose: To examine the accuracy of the unenhanced zone at contrast material-enhanced ultrasonography (US) in predicting coagulative necrosis during and 21 days after radiofrequency (RF) ablation by using radiologic-pathologic comparison.

Materials And Methods: Animal studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The livers of 28 rats underwent US-guided RF ablation.

Acidic lactate sequentially induced lymphogenesis, phlebogenesis, and arteriogenesis (ALPHA) hypothesis: Lactate-triggered glycolytic vasculogenesis that occurs in normoxia or hypoxia and complements the traditional concept of hypoxia-based vasculogenesis.

Our hypothesis, ALPHA (Acidic Lactate sequentially induced Lymphogenesis, PHlebogenesis, and Arteriogenesis) proposes that lactate triggers vasculogenesis to manage lactate levels and complements the traditional vasculogenesis hypothesis. The teleologic basis for glycolytic vasculogenesis is primariy to produce drainage vessels, initially lymphatics but subsequently veins.

Pneumodissection: an alternative protective technique for the percutaneous cryoablation of small renal masses.

Introduction: Percutaneous cryoablation is an emerging treatment option for the small renal mass. It poses a risk of thermal injury to adjacent tissues, limiting its application. We describe pneumodissection, a novel technique for preventing thermal injury during percutaneous cryoablation.

Image-guided biopsy of small renal masses in the era of ablative therapies.

Objective: To further evaluate the accuracy, safety, and impact of image-guided renal biopsies on clinical decision making and management of the indeterminate small renal masses.

Methods: A total of 145 patients (males 99, females 46) with small renal masses suspicious for malignancy were evaluated during the study period. The patients' mean age was 67.

Radiofrequency ablation: effect of tumor- and organ-specific pharmacologic modulation of arterial and portal venous blood flow on coagulation diameter in an N1-S1 tumor model.

Purpose: To investigate inherent differences in vasculature of tumors versus normal parenchyma and efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation with glucagon, adenosine, and a combination of the two compared with normal saline solution (NS) controls in an N1-S1 tumor model implanted in Sprague-Dawley rat livers.

Materials And Methods: A total of 17 tumors were established in the left lobes of rats. Tumor perfusion relative to surrounding liver parenchyma was evaluated with contrast-enhanced ultrasound with intermittent-bolus technique before and after administration of glucagon, adenosine, a combination of the two, or NS.

Percutaneous computed tomography guided cryoablation of the celiac plexus as an alternative treatment for intractable pain caused by pancreatic cancer.

Computed Tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous cryoablation was performed in a 43-year-old patient with intractable epigastric abdominal pain caused by advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and extensive celiac trunk involvement. Initial treatment with celiac plexus nerve neurolysis using local ethanol injection was unsuccessful. A 17-gauge 17-cm cryoablation probe (Galil Medical Inc.

Differentiation of benign periablational enhancement from residual tumor following radio-frequency ablation using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in a rat subcutaneous colon cancer model.

Benign periablational enhancement (BPE) response to thermal injury is a barrier to early detection of residual tumor in contrast enhanced imaging after radio-frequency (RF) ablation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of quantitative of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in early differentiation of BPE from residual tumor in a BD-IX rat subcutaneous colon cancer model. A phantom study was first performed to test the validity of the perfusion parameters in predicting blood flow of two US contrast imaging modes-contrast harmonic imaging (CHI) and microflow imaging (MFI).

Hemostasis effects of direct intraparenchymal injection of platelets and fresh frozen plasma before cutting needle biopsy in an animal model.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of direct intraparenchymal injection of platelets or fresh frozen plasma (FFP) into the needle tract before cutting needle biopsy to decrease postprocedural blood loss in pigs with normal and abnormal hemostasis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 12 Yorkshire-cross pigs were anesthetized and maintained on a respirator. The pigs were divided into three groups: three with normal hemostasis, five treated with warfarin anticoagulation, and four treated with aspirin.