ProjectDRIVE: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to improve driving practices of high-risk teen drivers with a traffic violation.

Background: Teen drivers with a traffic violation are at increased risk for crashes and crash-related injuries; however, most parent-focused interventions target teen drivers with supervised learner's permits. Very few interventions are implemented at the probationary driver's license stage or target high-risk teen drivers, such as those with traffic violations. This paper describes the protocol of ProjectDRIVE, A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Driving Practices of High-Risk Teen Drivers with a Traffic Violation, which targets improving parent-teen communication about safe driving practices to reduce unsafe driving behaviors and traffic violation recidivism of teen drivers cited for traffic violation.

Germinal Center Cytokines Driven Epigenetic Control of Epstein-Barr Virus Latency Gene Expression.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persistently infects 95% of adults worldwide and is associated with multiple human lymphomas that express characteristic EBV latency programs used by the virus to navigate the B-cell compartment. Upon primary infection, the EBV latency III program, comprised of six Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigens (EBNA) and two Latent Membrane Protein (LMP) antigens, drives infected B-cells into germinal center (GC). By incompletely understood mechanisms, GC microenvironmental cues trigger the EBV genome to switch to the latency II program, comprised of EBNA1, LMP1 and LMP2A and observed in GC-derived Hodgkin lymphoma.

CD36-A Host Receptor Necessary for Malaria Parasites to Establish and Maintain Infection.

infected erythrocytes (IEs) present erythrocyte membrane protein 1 proteins (EMP1s) on the cell surface, via which they cytoadhere to various endothelial cell receptors (ECRs) on the walls of human blood vessels. This prevents the parasite from passing through the spleen, which would lead to its elimination. Each isolate has about 60 different EMP1s acting as ligands, and at least 24 ECRs have been identified as interaction partners.

Myoglobin-mediated lipid shuttling increases adrenergic activation of brown and white adipocyte metabolism and is as a marker of thermogenic adipocytes in humans.

Background: Recruitment and activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) results in increased energy expenditure (EE) via thermogenesis and represents an intriguing therapeutic approach to combat obesity and treat associated diseases. Thermogenesis requires an increased and efficient supply of energy substrates and oxygen to the BAT. The hemoprotein myoglobin (MB) is primarily expressed in heart and skeletal muscle fibres, where it facilitates oxygen storage and flux to the mitochondria during exercise.

Plasma Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate Is a Promising Biomarker of Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis.

Despite intensive research, reliable blood-derived parameters to detect clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in patients with cirrhosis are lacking. As altered homeostasis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), the central mediator of vasodilatation, is an essential factor in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension, the aim of our study was to evaluate plasma cGMP as potential biomarker of cirrhotic portal hypertension. Plasma cGMP was analyzed in cirrhotic patients with CSPH (ascites, = 39; esophageal varices, = 31), cirrhotic patients without CSPH ( = 21), patients with chronic liver disease without cirrhosis ( = 11) and healthy controls ( = 8).

Comparative Effectiveness of Parent-Based Interventions to Support Injured Children.

Objectives: A comparative effectiveness trial tested 2 parent-based interventions in improving the psychosocial recovery of hospitalized injured children: (1) Link for Injured Kids (Link), a program of psychological first aid in which parents are taught motivational interviewing and stress-screening skills, and (2) Trauma Education, based on an informational booklet about trauma and its impacts and resources.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 4 children's hospitals in the Midwestern United States. Children aged 10 to 17 years admitted for an unintentional injury and a parent were recruited and randomly assigned to Link or Trauma Education.

Blood reelin in the progression of chronic liver disease.

Purpose: Reelin is an extracellular matrix protein originally found to be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent findings indicate, that reelin may also play an important role in the process of liver fibrosis as well as in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Against this background, the aim of our study was to explore alterations in blood reelin levels in different stages of chronic liver diseases.

Propellant Off-Gassing and Implications for Triage and Rescue.

: Hypergolic propellants can be released in large amounts during space launch contingencies. Whether propellant-contaminated suit fabric poses a significant risk to rescue crews, due to off-gassing, has not been explored in detail. In this study, we addressed this issue experimentally, exposing space suit fabric to propellants (dinitrogen tetroxide [N₂O₄] and monomethyl hydrazine [MMH]).

The Role of Frozen Section Examination During Inguinal Exploration in Men with Inconclusive Testicular Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

For inconclusive testicular tumors with negative tumor markers, frozen section examination (FSE) during inguinal exploration is recommended. However, FSE is time-consuming and therefore often not requested. Furthermore, the exact diagnostic benefit remains poorly defined.

Adhesion between P. falciparum infected erythrocytes and human endothelial receptors follows alternative binding dynamics under flow and febrile conditions.

Characterizing the adhesive dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes (IEs) to different endothelial cell receptors (ECRs) in flow is a big challenge considering available methods. This study investigated the adhesive dynamics of IEs to five ECRs (CD36, ICAM-1, P-selectin, CD9, CSA) using simulations of in vivo-like flow and febrile conditions. To characterize the interactions between ECRs and knobby and knobless IEs of two laboratory-adapted P.

Stringent Selection of Knobby -Infected Erythrocytes during Cytoadhesion at Febrile Temperature.

Changes in the erythrocyte membrane induced by invasion allow cytoadhesion of infected erythrocytes (IEs) to the host endothelium, which can lead to severe complications. Binding to endothelial cell receptors (ECRs) is mainly mediated by members of the erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (EMP1) family, encoded by genes. Malaria infection causes several common symptoms, with fever being the most apparent.

CXCL12 expression is an adverse predictor for disease recurrence in patients with metastatic non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumors.

Background: To validate the utility of the chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) as prognostic marker in patients with localized and metastatic germ cell tumors (GCT).

Methods: CXCL12 expression was analyzed on a tissue microarray consisting of 750 tissue cores of different histological tumor components, Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) and adjacent normal tissue of 263 testicular cancer patients using a semi-quantitative score. The association between CXCL12 expression and recurrence-free survival (RFS) as well as overall survival (OS) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests.

Engaging parent-child dyad and healthcare provider stakeholders in a patient-centered comparative effectiveness study.

Describe engagement activities in a comparative effectiveness study evaluating two interventions for promoting psychosocial health among youth ages 10-17 who have recently experienced a nonintentional injury. Institutional, community and patient stakeholders from four children's hospitals were engaged through consultation meetings, individual interviews and a collaborative meeting. 67 engagement activities were conducted across four hospitals.

Pre-orchiectomy tumor marker levels should not be used for International Germ Cell Consensus Classification (IGCCCG) risk group assignment.

Purpose: To investigate whether the use of pre-orchiectomy instead of pre-chemotherapy tumor marker (TM) levels has an impact on the International Germ Cell Consensus Classification (IGCCCG) risk group assignment in patients with metastatic germ cell tumors (GCT).

Methods: Demographic and clinical information of all patients treated for primary metastatic testicular non-seminomatous GCT in our tertiary care academic center were extracted from medical charts. IGCCCG risk group assignment was correctly performed with pre-chemotherapy marker levels and additionally with pre-orchiectomy marker levels.

Systemic inflammatory markers have independent prognostic value in patients with metastatic testicular germ cell tumours undergoing first-line chemotherapy.

Background: The prognostic utility of systemic inflammatory markers has so far not been investigated in patients with metastatic testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs).

Methods: International Germ Cell Cancer Cooperative Group (IGCCCG) risk groups and blood-based systemic inflammatory markers (haemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets (P), neutrophils (N), lymphocytes (L), C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin) of 146 patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy for GCT were retrieved. In addition, N to L ratio (NLR), P to L ratio and the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII=N × P/L) were calculated.

Characterisation of Plasmodium falciparum populations selected on the human endothelial receptors P-selectin, E-selectin, CD9 and CD151.

The ability of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum to evade the immune system and be sequestered within human small blood vessels is responsible for severe forms of malaria. The sequestration depends on the interaction between human endothelial receptors and P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) exposed on the surface of the infected erythrocytes (IEs).

CD4-Negative Variant of Cutaneous Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm With a Novel PBRM1 Mutation in an 11-Year-Old Girl.

Objectives: We report a rare case of CD4- cutaneous blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) with a novel PBRM1 mutation.

Methods: An 11-year-old girl presented with an enlarged mass on her left arm and underwent an incisional biopsy.

Results: Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry studies showed a monotonous proliferation of blasts that were CD4-, CD56+, and CD123+.

Verification and feedback for medical students: an observational study during general practice rotations.

Purpose Of The Study: A general practice and family medicine rotation is mandatory as part of undergraduate medical education. However, little is known about the student-teacher interaction in this specific setting of ambulatory teaching. In this study we analysed how frequently preceptors verified students' history taking and clinical examination skills and how often they gave feedback.

Teaching points-do they occur and what do they contain? An observation study concerning the general practice rotation.

Background: A general practice rotation is mandatory in most undergraduate medical education programs. However, little is known about the student-teacher interaction which takes place in this setting. In this study we analyzed occurrence and content of teaching points.