Macular cystoid spaces in patients with retinal dystrophy.

Background: Non leaking macular cystoid spaces (MCS) are seen in some retinal dystrophies. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI) treatment may reduce the size of MSC and improve vision.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients with retinal dystrophy with MCS seen between 2009 and 2013 at two sites.

Tongue fat infiltration in obese versus lean Zucker rats.

Study Objectives: Obesity is the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the effects of obesity may be mediated by tongue fat. Our objective was to examine the effects of obesity on upper airway structures in obese (OBZ) and non-obese (NBZ) Zucker rats.

Design: Animal study.

Comparative evaluation of dual Scheimpflug imaging parameters in keratoconus, early keratoconus, and normal eyes.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of various parameters measured by dual Scheimpflug imaging technology in differentiating eyes with keratoconus or early keratoconus from normal eyes.

Setting: Cornea Service, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Design: Comparative case series.

Sleep in children with Williams Syndrome.

Objective: To analyze sleep in children with Williams Syndrome (WS) compared to normal healthy controls in order to determine whether particular sleep features are characteristic of WS, and to explore associations between disturbed sleep and behavior.

Methods: Thirty-five children with genetically-confirmed WS and 35 matched controls underwent overnight polysomnography and performance testing in the Sleep Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Parents completed questionnaires regarding the subjects' sleep and behavior.

Changes in components of energy regulation in mouse cortex with increases in wakefulness.

Study Objectives: Increases in ATP production machinery have been described in brain after 3 h of sleep deprivation. Whether this is sustained with longer durations of extended wakefulness is unknown. We hypothesized that energy depletion could be a mechanism leading to difficulty maintaining wakefulness and assessed changes in components of the electron transport chain.

Breast cancer: education, counseling, and adjustment among patients and partners: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Although various forms of psychoeducation and counseling interventions have been examined among patients with a variety of diagnoses, the unique contribution of phase-specific psychoeducation and telephone counseling (TC) to the ongoing process of adjustment has not been explored among patients with breast cancer and their partners.

Objective: To conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial of phase-specific evidence-based psychoeducation and TC interventions to enhance emotional, physical, and social adjustments in patients with breast cancer and their partners.

Methods: A purposive sample of 249 patient-partner dyads were assigned randomly to one of four groups: (a) control group receiving disease management (DM), (b) standardized psychoeducation (SE), (c) TC, or (d) standardized psychoeducation plus telephone counseling (SE + TC).

Ziprasidone in adolescents with autism: an open-label pilot study.

Introduction: The antipsychotic drugs are the best-studied agents shown to reduce symptoms in autism, including hyperactivity, aggression, self-abusive behavior, temper tantrums, lability, irritability, social withdrawal, and stereotypical behaviors. However, significant weight gain has been associated with use of many atypical agents. Ziprasidone has been weight neutral in adult populations, but data from adolescents and patients with autism are sparse.

Phasic respiratory pharyngeal mechanics by magnetic resonance imaging in lean and obese zucker rats.

Rationale: Although obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with obesity, we have little understanding of how obesity may alter the mechanical properties of the pharynx and the role of obesity in the pathogenesis of sleep apnea.

Objectives: The overall objective of this study was to determine the effect of obesity on pharyngeal airway size and pharyngeal wall tissue strain in lean and obese Zucker rats.

Methods: Respiratory-gated magnetic resonance imaging with noninvasive tissue tagging was performed in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing lean (n = 9) and obese (n = 9) Zucker rats.

Differences in activity of cytochrome C oxidase in brain between sleep and wakefulness.

Study Objectives: Increased mRNA level of subunit 1 cytochrome c oxidase (COXI) during wakefulness and after short-term sleep deprivation has been described in brain. We hypothesized that this might contribute to increased activity of cytochrome oxidase (COX) enzyme during wakefulness, as part of the mechanisms to provide sufficient amounts of adenosine triphosphate to meet increased neuronal energy demands.

Design: COX activity was measured in isolated mitochondria from different brain regions in groups of rats with 3 hours of spontaneous sleep, 3 hours of spontaneous wake, and 3 hours of sleep deprivation.

Pharyngeal airway wall mechanics using tagged magnetic resonance imaging during medial hypoglossal nerve stimulation in rats.

To better understand pharyngeal airway mechanics as it relates to the pathogenesis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea, we have developed a novel application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with non-invasive tissue tagging to measure pharyngeal wall tissue motion during active dilatation of the airway. Eleven anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were surgically prepared with platinum electrodes for bilateral stimulation of the medial branch of the hypoglossus nerve that supplies motor output to the protrudor and intrinsic tongue muscles. Images of the pharyngeal airway were acquired before and during stimulation using a gated multislice, spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR) imaging protocol in a 4.

Functional outcomes of excessive daytime sleepiness in older adults.

Objectives: To describe the effect of self-reported excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) on functional outcomes.

Design: Case-control study designed to examine differences in functional status between cases (with daytime sleepiness) and controls (no daytime sleepiness) with regard to demographic factors, general health, sleep history, and medications.

Setting: Retirement communities in southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.

Enzymes of adenosine metabolism in the brain: diurnal rhythm and the effect of sleep deprivation.

Adenosine plays a role in promoting sleep, an effect that is thought to be mediated in the basal forebrain. Adenosine levels vary in this region with prolonged wakefulness in a unique way. The basis for this is unknown.

Screening for risk of rehospitalization from home care: use of the outcomes assessment information set and the probability of readmission instrument.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Outcomes Assessment Information Set (OASIS) compared with the Probability of Readmission (P(ra)) instrument for use in predicting rehospitalization during home care. Using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the P(ra) instrument was found to be significantly better at predicting rehospitalization than the OASIS case mix weight, clinical, or service scores. The area under the curve (AUC) for the P(ra) was .