[Application of next-generation sequencing technology for genetic diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy].

Objective: To detect genetic causes of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods: Next-generation sequencing was used to detect 6 DMD patients in whom no exonic deletions were detected by multiplex PCR. Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification were used to confirm the results.

Prevalence and risk factors for insomnia among breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors.

Purpose: Insomnia is increasingly recognized as a major symptom outcome in breast cancer; however, little is known about its prevalence and risk factors among women receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs), a standard treatment to increase disease-free survival among breast cancer patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among postmenopausal women with stage 0-III breast cancer receiving adjuvant AI therapy at an outpatient breast oncology clinic of a large university hospital. The insomnia severity index (ISI) was used as the primary outcome.

Acupuncture for hot flashes: decision making by breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: Hot flashes (HFs) are a particularly common and distressing symptom among breast cancer survivors (BCSs). Given its low rate of side effects, acupuncture shows promise as a therapeutic approach for HFs, but little is known about BCS's decision making about the use of acupuncture. This study seeks to identify attitudes and beliefs about using acupuncture for HFs by BCSs.

Antiarrhythmic effects of vasostatin-1 in a canine model of atrial fibrillation.

Background: We examined the antiarrhythmic effects of vasostatin-1, a recently identified cardioregulatory peptide, in canine models of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: In 13 pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs bilateral thoracotomies allowed the attachment of multielectrode catheters to superior and inferior pulmonary veins and atrial appendages (AA). Rapid atrial pacing (RAP) was maintained for 6 hours.

Prospectively examining physical activity in young adult survivors of childhood cancer and healthy controls.

Background: This study compares young adult survivors of childhood cancer (YASCC) and young adults without a history of serious illness/injury on physical activity levels and examines psychological predictors of physical activity in survivors over a 2-month period.

Procedure: YASCC participants (n = 117) and healthy controls (n = 148), ages 18-30, recruited during cancer survivorship clinic or primary care clinics completed self-report measures of physical activity, health problems, psychological distress, and health beliefs (Health Perceptions, Satisfaction with Healthcare, Cognitive Competence, and Autonomy). Survivorship providers completed ratings of health problems and treatment intensity for survivors.

Vitamin d deficiency in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are at an increased risk for decreased bone density and fractures. Given the role vitamin D plays in bone metabolism, we examined the prevalence of and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in a study of postmenopausal BCS on AIs.

Methods: We collected data on 391 postmenopausal women with stage I-III breast cancer on AI therapy.

Effect of simulated space gravity environment on Gibberella moniliformis EZG0807.

To determine the feasibility of inducing mutation for Gibberella moniliformis EZG0807 with a superconducting magnet, this paper investigated the effects of this instrument on the filamentous fungus G. moniliformis EZG0807. The superconducting magnet could simulate space gravity environment from hypo-gravity (0 g) to hyper-gravity (2 g).

Scope of symptoms and self-management strategies for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients.

Purpose: This study explored the self-management strategies utilized by female breast cancer patients to cope with the impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms. We also examined the variety of taxane-related side effects in women with and without CIPN in order to discriminate the CIPN symptom experience.

Methods: A purposive sample of 25 patients treated with docetaxel or paclitaxel were recruited, half with and half without CIPN.

A Pragmatic Evaluation of the National Cancer Institute Physician Data Query (PDQ)®-Based Brief Counseling on Cancer-Related Fatigue among Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) negatively affects quality of life among cancer patients. This study seeks to evaluate the outcome and patient receptiveness of a brief counseling program based on National Cancer Institute (NCI) PDQ® information to manage CRF when integrated into Radiation Therapy (RT).

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study among patients undergoing non-palliative RT.

Phase behavior of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate)-grafted silica nanoparticles and their stability in protein solutions.

Biocompatible and zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) was grafted onto the surface of initiator-modified silica nanoparticles via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The resultant samples were characterized via nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Their molecular weights and molecular weight distributions were determined via gel permeation chromatography after the removal of silica by etching.

Identifying potential adverse effects using the web: a new approach to medical hypothesis generation.

Medical message boards are online resources where users with a particular condition exchange information, some of which they might not otherwise share with medical providers. Many of these boards contain a large number of posts and contain patient opinions and experiences that would be potentially useful to clinicians and researchers. We present an approach that is able to collect a corpus of medical message board posts, de-identify the corpus, and extract information on potential adverse drug effects discussed by users.

[Genetic screening of mutation hot-spots for nonsyndromic hearing loss in southern Jiangsu province with SNaPshot].

Objective: To investigate the mutation frequency in 7 mutation hot-spots of deafness gene in southern Jiangsu province and verify the performance of the SNaPshot technology platform, designed for genetic screening of non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) in Chinese.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-five NSHL patients were enrolled. Amplification of 235delC, 299-300delAT in GJB2 gene, IVS7-2A>G, 2168 A>G in SLC26A4 gene, and 1555A>G, 7445 A>G and 3243 A>G in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.

Impact of yoga on functional outcomes in breast cancer survivors with aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgias.

Arthralgia affects postmenopausal breast cancer survivors (BCSs) receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs). This study aims to establish the feasibility of studying the impact of yoga on objective functional outcomes, pain, and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) for AI-associated arthralgia (AIAA). Postmenopausal women with stage I to III breast cancer who reported AIAA were enrolled in a single-arm pilot trial.

[Clinical detection of 22q11 microdeletion in the patients with congenital heart disease by multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification].

Objective: To detect 22q11 microdeletion in the children and fetuses affected by congenital heart defects.

Method: MLPA P250 kit was used to detect 22q11 microdeletion in 100 cases of sporadic congenital heart defects including 40 fetuses and 60 patients diagnosed by ultrasound.

Result: Two cases from the fetuses and 1 case from the patients were found to have 22q11 microdeletion.

pH/Temperature-responsive behavior of amphiphilic block copolymer micelles prepared using two different methods.

The pH- and temperature-responsive behavior of amphiphilic block copolymer poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PLLA-b-PDMAEMA) in aqueous solutions is investigated using static and dynamic light scattering. Electrostatic force, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonding coexist in the system. Micelles with different structures are prepared using water addition (WA) and direct dissolution (DD) methods.

Natural supplements for H1N1 influenza: retrospective observational infodemiology study of information and search activity on the Internet.

Background: As the incidence of H1N1 increases, the lay public may turn to the Internet for information about natural supplements for prevention and treatment.

Objective: Our objective was to identify and characterize websites that provide information about herbal and natural supplements with information about H1N1 and to examine trends in the public's behavior in searching for information about supplement use in preventing or treating H1N1.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational infodemiology study of indexed websites and Internet search activity over the period January 1, 2009, through November 15, 2009.

Uncovering the expectancy effect: the validation of the acupuncture expectancy scale.

Purpose: Research suggests that expectancy may modulate the response to medical interventions, including acupuncture. However, the paucity of validated tools to measure expectancy limits rigorous evaluation. We sought to validate a previously developed Acupuncture Expectancy Scale (AES) as an instrument to measure patients' expected responses to acupuncture.

Association of functional polymorphisms in CYP19A1 with aromatase inhibitor associated arthralgia in breast cancer survivors.

Introduction: Aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia (AIAA) is a common and often debilitating symptom in breast cancer survivors. Since joint symptoms have been related to estrogen deprivation through the menopausal transition, we hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms in CYP19A1, the final enzyme in estrogen synthesis, may be associated with the occurrence of AIAA.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women with stage 0 to III breast cancer receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy.

Positive changes, increased spiritual importance, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among cancer survivors.

Purpose: Spirituality is an important component of the cancer experience. This study aims to assess characteristics of spiritual health following a cancer diagnosis, and evaluate the relationship between spiritual change and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among a population-based cohort of cancer survivors.

Method: A mailed, cross-sectional survey was completed by 614 cancer survivors identified through the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry.

A general synthesis of high-quality inorganic nanocrystals via a two-phase method.

A two-phase method is exploited to prepare many kinds of nearly monodisperse, highly crystalline, size- and shape-controlled, surface-property-tunable inorganic nanocrystals, such as metal, semiconducting, magnetic, dielectric, and rare earth nanocrystals. The reaction of the two-phase system happens at the interface between the oil (nonpolar) and water (polar) phases and the interface is an exclusive site for both nucleation and growth. Interestingly, many solvent pairs with a clear interface can be applied to synthesize inorganic nanocrystals successfully.

Development and validation of the health competence beliefs inventory in young adults with and without a history of childhood cancer.

Background: Adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer are a vulnerable population. Health beliefs may be related to necessary follow-up care.

Purpose: This study seeks to develop a measure of health beliefs for adolescents and young adults with and without a history of cancer.

[22q11 microdeletion test in patients with congenital heart defects by quantitative fluorescent PCR].

Objective: To establish an assay for screening chromosome 22q11 microdeletion efficiently, and apply it for detecting del22q11 in patients with non-syndromic congenital heart defects (CHD).

Methods: Seventy nine patients with non-syndromic CHD and 84 normal controls were genotyped for 8 short tandem repeat (STR) markers located in 22q11 region, by using quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR).

Results: The average heterozygosity of the STR markers in patients and controls was 0.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer survivors: a population-based study.

Introduction: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer survivors is high, yet less is known about reasons behind such use or the communication of CAM with conventional medical providers.

Methods: Cross-sectional, multivariate logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the similarities and differences between cancer survivors and non-cancer controls in the 2007 National Health Interview Survey with 23,393 participants, including 1,471 cancer survivors.

Results: Among cancer survivors, 66.

Paenibacillus algorifonticola sp. nov., isolated from a cold spring.

A Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated XJ259(T), was isolated from a cold spring sample from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. The isolate grew optimally at 20-30 °C and pH 7.3-7.