Smoking treatment optimisation in pharmacies (STOP): a cluster randomised pilot trial of a training intervention.

Background: UK government policy aims to strengthen the role of community pharmacies in health promotion. Thus, we conducted feasibility studies for an intervention to enhance delivery of the NHS Smoking Cessation Service.

Methods: The overall aims were to assess acceptability and feasibility of conducting the intervention in community pharmacies and piloting this with a cluster randomised trial.

The nature and nurture of cell heterogeneity: accounting for macrophage gene-environment interactions with single-cell RNA-Seq.

Background: Single-cell RNA-Seq can be a valuable and unbiased tool to dissect cellular heterogeneity, despite the transcriptome's limitations in describing higher functional phenotypes and protein events. Perhaps the most important shortfall with transcriptomic 'snapshots' of cell populations is that they risk being descriptive, only cataloging heterogeneity at one point in time, and without microenvironmental context. Studying the genetic ('nature') and environmental ('nurture') modifiers of heterogeneity, and how cell population dynamics unfold over time in response to these modifiers is key when studying highly plastic cells such as macrophages.

Relation between weight loss and causes of death in patients with cardiovascular disease: finding from the SCOUT trial.

Aims: Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of mortality. The Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes (SCOUT) trial can provide the first evidence of the effect of intentional weight loss on mortality in an obese population at high risk.

Methods: SCOUT was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial testing sibutramine vs.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions that cause weight loss and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Background: Overweight/obesity is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and costs. Weight loss has been shown to reverse some of these effects, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Aim: To determine the potential monies available, from an English National Health Service perspective, for weight loss interventions to be cost-effective in the prevention of CVD.

Influence of sibutramine in addition to diet and exercise on the relationship between weight loss and blood glucose changes.

Aims: Weight loss is expected to improve glycaemic control in patients with diabetes or at high risk hereof. Sibutramine causes weight loss and is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in high-risk patients. We examined the impact of sibutramine-induced weight loss on glycaemic control.

Variant U1 snRNAs are implicated in human pluripotent stem cell maintenance and neuromuscular disease.

The U1 small nuclear (sn)RNA (U1) is a multifunctional ncRNA, known for its pivotal role in pre-mRNA splicing and regulation of RNA 3' end processing events. We recently demonstrated that a new class of human U1-like snRNAs, the variant (v)U1 snRNAs (vU1s), also participate in pre-mRNA processing events. In this study, we show that several human vU1 genes are specifically upregulated in stem cells and participate in the regulation of cell fate decisions.

A novel real time imaging platform to quantify macrophage phagocytosis.

Phagocytosis of pathogens, apoptotic cells and debris is a key feature of macrophage function in host defense and tissue homeostasis. Quantification of macrophage phagocytosis in vitro has traditionally been technically challenging. Here we report the optimization and validation of the IncuCyte ZOOM® real time imaging platform for macrophage phagocytosis based on pHrodo® pathogen bioparticles, which only fluoresce when localized in the acidic environment of the phagolysosome.

Interventions that cause weight loss and the impact on cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Overweight and obesity increase the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This has been shown to be reversed with weight loss. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to determine the effect of weight loss in the primary prevention of CVD.

Mitochondrial DNA COI characterization of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Paraguay and Uruguay.

Since its detection in Brazil in 2013, the Old World cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera has been reported in Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Here we present evidence extending the South American range of H. armigera to Uruguay, using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase I region.

Long-Term Trends in Black and White Mortality in the Rural United States: Evidence of a Race-Specific Rural Mortality Penalty.

Purpose: The rural mortality penalty-growing disparities in rural-urban macro-level mortality rates-has persisted in the United States since the mid 1980s. Substantial intrarural differences exist: rural places of modest population size, close to urban areas, experience a greater mortality burden than the most rural locales. This research builds on recent findings by examining whether a race-specific rural mortality penalty exists; that is, are some rural areas more detrimental to black and/or white mortality than others?

Methods: Using data from the Compressed Mortality File from 1968 to 2012, we calculate annual age-adjusted, race-specific mortality rates for all rural-urban regions designated by the Rural-Urban Continuum Codes.

Controlling Endemic Pathogens-Challenges and Opportunities.

By most measures, the University of Utah Centralized Zebrafish Animal Resource is a successful zebrafish core facility: we house ∼4000-5000 tanks for over 16 research groups; provide services and equipment for ∼150 users; are currently undergoing an expansion by 3000 tanks; and have been praised by institutional and national regulatory agencies for the cleanliness and efficiency of our facility. In recent years, we have implemented new programs to improve the overall health of our colony and believe we have seen a reduction in apparently sick fish. However, there are still deficiencies in our monitoring and pathogen control programs.

ER Stress and Autophagic Perturbations Lead to Elevated Extracellular α-Synuclein in GBA-N370S Parkinson's iPSC-Derived Dopamine Neurons.

Heterozygous mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA) represent the strongest common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association are still poorly understood. Here, we have analyzed ten independent induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from three controls and three unrelated PD patients heterozygous for the GBA-N370S mutation, and identified relevant disease mechanisms.

A novel behavioral model of the pasture-based dairy cow from GPS data using data mining and machine learning techniques.

A better understanding of the behavior of individual grazing dairy cattle will assist in improving productivity and welfare. Global positioning systems (GPS) applied to cows could provide a means of monitoring grazing herds while overcoming the substantial efforts required for manual observation. Any model of behavioral prediction using GPS needs to be accurate and robust by accounting for inter-cow variation as well as atmospheric effects.

Impact of store-and-forward (SAF) teledermatology on outpatient dermatologic care: A prospective study in an underserved urban primary care setting.

Background: The clinical value of teledermatology in the primary care setting remains relatively unknown.

Objective: We sought to determine the impact of teledermatology on outpatient diagnosis, management, and access to dermatologic care in a resource-poor primary care setting.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of store-and-forward teledermatology consults submitted between January and November 2013 from 11 underserved clinics in Philadelphia to the University of Pennsylvania using mobile devices and the Internet.

Insect Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Toxin Cry2Ab Is Conferred by Mutations in an ABC Transporter Subfamily A Protein.

The use of conventional chemical insecticides and bacterial toxins to control lepidopteran pests of global agriculture has imposed significant selection pressure leading to the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance. Transgenic crops (e.g.

Lung Deflation and Cardiovascular Structure and Function in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Rationale: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develop increased cardiovascular morbidity with structural alterations.

Objectives: To investigate through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study the effect of lung deflation on cardiovascular structure and function using cardiac magnetic resonance.

Methods: Forty-five hyperinflated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomized (1:1) to 7 (maximum 14) days inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 100/25 μg or placebo (7-day minimum washout).

Proximate causes of the variation of the human sex ratio at birth.

There is evidence that the human sex ratio (proportion males at birth) is the result of two processes. First, the sexes of zygotes (from which the primary sex ratio would be calculated) are thought to be partially controlled by the hormone levels of both parents around the time of conception. Second, this primary sex ratio is apparently modified downwards by male-sex-selective spontaneous abortion caused by high levels of maternal stress-induced adrenal androgens, thus yielding the sex ratio at birth (the secondary sex ratio).