Publications by authors named "James MacKenzie"

Secondary fermentation in beer can result in undesirable consequences, such as off-flavors, increased alcohol content, hyperattenuation, gushing, and the spontaneous explosion of packaging. Strains of are a major contributor to such spoilage due to their production of extracellular glucoamylase enzyme encoded by the gene. yeasts can naturally produce antifungal proteins named "killer" toxins that inhibit the growth of competing yeasts.

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Outcomes of the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) nail have been reported for femur and tibial fractures, but its use in tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) is not well studied. Radiographic and clinical outcomes of TTCA using the SIGN database in patients with > 6 months of radiographic follow up were analyzed. Rates of tibiotalar (TT) fusion and subtalar (ST) fusion at final follow up were assessed by two independent reviewers.

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Objective: Per- and polyfluoro-alkyl substances (PFAS) and lead (Pb) are ubiquitous environmental toxicants with apparent impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. As one possible mechanism for this increased risk, we have previously demonstrated an association between Pb exposure and heightened cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress, a CVD risk factor. The present study expands this approach and considers both PFAS and Pb exposures (and the possible interaction).

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Background: Non-Hispanic Black Americans have a greater risk for certain subtypes of cardiovascular disease (CVD; e.g., stroke and heart failure) relative to non-Hispanic White Americans.

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Importance: Studies in adults have demonstrated associations between arsenic exposure and clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). No studies to date have considered potential associations in children.

Objective: To examine the association between total urinary arsenic levels in children and subclinical indicators of CVD.

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Air pollution is a serious public health issue with early childhood exposure being of high concern because of the greater risk that children might experience negative health outcomes. Industrial sources in and near communities are one potential path of exposure that children might face with greater levels of air pollution correlating with higher levels of toxicants detected in children. We compare estimated ambient air concentrations of Cadmium (Cd) to a cohort (n = 281) of 9 to 11-year old children during their early childhood years (0-5 years of age) in a mid-size city in Upstate New York.

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Objective: Research has consistently found associations between sleep characteristics and cardiovascular disease risk in children, adolescents, and adults. Although primarily investigated in clinical samples (e.g.

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Background: Exposure to air pollution has been linked to individual health effects in occupational environments and communities proximate to air pollution sources. Use of estimated chemical concentrations from the Risk Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, derived from the Toxics Release Inventory, can help approximate some contributions to individual lifetime exposure to risk from air pollution and holds potential for linkages with specific health outcome data.

Objectives: Our objectives were: (1) use regression modeling to test for associations between observed blood metal concentrations in children and RSEI total air concentrations of the same metals released from proximate manufacturing facilities; (2) determine the relative contribution of RSEI air pollution to blood metal concentrations; and (3) examine associations between chronic metal exposure and cardiovascular functioning and structure in study participants.

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Background: The impact of left-handedness on orthopaedic surgeons and trainees has not been well described. We investigated the prevalence and perceived impact of left-handedness among orthopaedic surgeons and trainees.

Methods: We distributed a survey regarding handedness to active members of the American Orthopaedic Association and the Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors affiliates, including department chairs, program directors, and residency and fellowship program coordinators.

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Background: Initial interest in the adverse consequences of exposure to lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) focused on relatively high exposures through environmental or occupational sources; however, recent evidence suggests even low-level background exposure to non-essential metals might be detrimental, particularly for children's health and development. One potentially important source of increased background levels of non-essential toxic metals is diet.

Objectives: We considered whether differences in diet are associated with levels of non-essential metals in blood and whether racial differences in metals are mediated by dietary differences.

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Orthopaedic procedures can affect patients' ability to perform activities of daily living, such as driving automobiles or other vehicles that require coordinated use of the upper and lower extremities. Many variables affect the time needed before a patient can drive competently after undergoing orthopaedic surgery to the extremities. These variables include whether the patient underwent upper or lower extremity surgery, the country in which the patient resides, whether the right or left lower extremity is involved, whether the dominant arm is involved, whether the extremity is in a cast or brace, whether the patient has adequate strength to control the steering wheel, and whether the patient is taking pain medication.

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Objective: Animal lifespan is controlled through genetic pathways that are conserved from nematodes to humans. Lifespan-promoting conditions in nematodes include fasting and a reduction of insulin/IGF signaling. Here we aimed to investigate the input of the Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of the mammalian rate-limiting lipolytic enzyme Adipose Triglyceride Lipase, ATGL-1, in longevity control.

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Purpose: Optimal cephalomedullary nail (CMN) length for unstable pertrochanteric femur fractures is controversial. Long CMNs (L-CMNs) are currently recommended; however, intermediate-length CMNs (I-CMNs) may provide stable fixation without the additional surgical steps required by L-CMNs. We analyzed outcomes after unstable pertrochanteric femur fractures treated with L-CMNs or I-CMNs to determine whether functional outcomes, perioperative measures, complications, and mortality and reoperation rates differ by CMN length.

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Background: The potential harm from exposure to nonessential metals, particularly mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb), has been the focus of research for years. Initial interest focused on relatively high exposures; however, recent evidence suggests that even background exposures might have adverse consequences for child development. Identifying the extent of these consequences is now a priority.

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Background: Earthquakes in developing countries are devastating events. Orthopaedic surgeons play a key role in treating earthquake-related injuries to the extremities. We describe orthopaedic injury epidemiology to help guide response planning for earthquake-related disasters.

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Objectives: Severe agitation is a common symptom in pediatric cases of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis-an autoimmune encephalitis with prominent neuropsychiatric symptoms. Agitation is a major barrier to treatment of the underlying disease process and increases patients' risk of harming themselves and others. Furthermore, male patients often have undetectable tumors and are especially at risk for extended hospitalization, but have been infrequently studied.

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The use of β-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) immunocytochemistry is standard practice in forensic neuropathology to assess the presence and severity of traumatic axonal injury. However, axonal injury has many causes, in addition to trauma. The principal complicating factor in interpretation is where traumatic brain injury is associated with brain swelling or hemorrhage, resulting in ischemic axonal injury.

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Examining the decomposed brain.

Am J Forensic Med Pathol

December 2014

Examination of the decomposed brain is a largely neglected area of forensic neuropathology. However, careful examination often yields valuable information that may assist in criminal proceedings. Decomposition encompasses the processes of autolysis, putrefaction, and decay.

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Implant malalignment in hip arthroplasty increases the risk of revision surgery due to problems such as hip instability, wear, and impingement. Traditional instrumentation lacks accuracy and does not individualize the goal. Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) and patient-specific solutions improve accuracy but add considerably to the cost, amongst other drawbacks.

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There is a sizeable literature suggesting that mercury (Hg) exposure affects cytokine levels in humans. In addition to their signaling role in the immune system, some cytokines are also integrally associated with sleep behavior. In this cross-sectional study of 9-11 year old children (N=100), we measured total blood Hg in whole blood, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and objectively measured sleep and activity using actigraphy.

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