Adjudication of Self-reported Symptomatic Stone Recurrence in the Prevention of Urinary Stones With Hydration Trial.

Objective: To assess accuracy of self-reported stone events in a large clinical trial by adjudication against the weight of documentation for spontaneous stone passage or surgical intervention.

Methods: Participants in the Prevention of Urinary Stones with Hydration (PUSH) trial were randomized to a multi-component behavioral intervention or control arm to increase and maintain high fluid intake. The primary endpoint was urinary stone events including symptomatic stone passage or procedural intervention.

Using structured problem solving to promote fluid consumption in the prevention of urinary stones with hydration (PUSH) trial.

Background: Structured Problem Solving (SPS) is a patient-centered approach to promoting behavior change that relies on productive collaboration between coaches and participants and reinforces participant autonomy. We aimed to describe the design, implementation, and assessment of SPS in the multicenter Prevention of Urinary Stones with Hydration (PUSH) randomized trial.

Methods: In the PUSH trial, individuals with a history of urinary stone disease and low urine output were randomized to control versus a multicomponent intervention including SPS that was designed to promote fluid consumption and thereby prevent recurrent stones.

Contribution of Hypersensitivity to Postureteroscopy Ureteral Stent Pain: Findings From Study to Enhance Understanding of Stent-associated Symptoms.

Objective: To examine the relationships between preoperative hypersensitivity to pain and central sensitization, and postoperative ureteral stent pain after ureteroscopy (URS) for urinary stones.

Methods: Adults enrolled in the STudy to Enhance uNderstanding of sTent-associated Symptoms (STENTS) underwent quantitative sensory testing (QST) prior to URS and stent placement. Hypersensitivity to mechanical pain was assessed using a pressure algometer.

Patients' Experiences With the Removal of a Ureteral Stent: Insights From In-depth Interviews With Participants in the USDRN STENTS Qualitative Cohort Study.

Objective: To describe the experiences of patients undergoing stent removal in the USDRN Study to Enhance Understanding of Stent-Associated Symptoms (STENTS), a prospective, observational cohort study of patients with short-term ureteral stent placement post-ureteroscopy.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using in-depth interviews. Participants reflected on (1) painful or bothersome aspects of stent removal, (2) symptoms immediately after removal, and (3) symptoms in the days following removal.

The Patient Voice: Stent Experiences After Ureteroscopy-Insights from In-Depth Interviews with Participants in the USDRN STENTS Nested Qualitative Cohort Study.

Ureteral stents are commonly used after ureteroscopy and cause significant discomfort, yet qualitative perspectives on patients' stent experiences remain unknown. We describe psychological, functional, and interpersonal effects of post-ureteroscopy stents and whether additional patient-reported assessments may be needed. Using a qualitative descriptive study design, we conducted in-depth interviews with a nested cohort of participants in the STudy to Enhance uNderstanding of sTent-associated Symptoms (STENTS).

Assessing health literacy in safety net primary care practices.

Health literacy is now recognized as a crucial element of patient safety. Measuring health literacy in busy primary care practices can be challenging. This article presents findings from a study in which a relatively recent tool, the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) was used in seven safety net primary care practices, five of which were nurse managed health centers.

Caring nurse practice in the intrapartum setting: nurses' perspectives on complexity, relationships and safety.

Aim: This article reports on a qualitative study of nurse perceptions of caring nurse practice in the complex adaptive system of health care.

Background: Caring nurse practice encompasses technical skills and caring behaviours. Maternity care in the USA has seen worsening maternal and neonatal outcomes and safety has become a priority.

Community-based distributive medical education: advantaging society.

This paper presents a narrative summary of an increasingly important trend in medical education by addressing the merits of community-based distributive medical education (CBDME). This is a relatively new and compelling model for teaching and training physicians in a manner that may better meet societal needs and expectations. Issues and trends regarding the growing shortage and imbalanced distribution of physicians in the USA are addressed, including the role of international medical graduates.

Expression profiling of transcription factors Pax-5, Oct-1, Oct-2, BOB.1, and PU.1 in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: a comparative study using high throughput tissue microarrays.

Analysis of B-cell-specific transcription factors is useful in understanding of the differentiation-linked phenotype in Hodgkin's as well as in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. We analyzed the expression profiling of transcription factors Pax-5, Oct-1, Oct-2, BOB.1, and PU.

Community lay rescuer automated external defibrillation programs: key state legislative components and implementation strategies: a summary of a decade of experience for healthcare providers, policymakers, legislators, employers, and community leaders from the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee, Council on Clinical Cardiology, and Office of State Advocacy.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for adults > or =40 years of age. The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that sudden cardiac arrest is responsible for about 250,000 out-of-hospital deaths annually in the United States. Since the early 1990s, the AHA has called for innovative approaches to reduce time to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation and improve survival from sudden cardiac arrest.

Kinetic and molecular modeling of nucleoside and nucleotide inhibition of malate dehydrogenase.

We studied the inhibition of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) by the nucleotides cAMP, AMP, ADP, ATP. The experimental kinetic studies showed that the nucleotides were competitive inhibitors and that cAMP was probably the most potent inhibitor. To explain these observations, we used molecular modeling to determine the location, orientation, and relative binding energy of the nucleotides to mMDH.

Quantitative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of major and modified nucleosides in DNA.

Improved, highly accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the measurement of the major and modified nucleosides in enzymatic digests of DNA using a single column are described. Four high resolution separation protocols (isocratic, binary, ternary and high speed) with specifically improved selectivity for 5-methyldeoxycytidine (m5dCyd) from Ade, dIno and Guo are presented. From a detailed study of the various factors contributing to the precision and accuracy of the measurement, optimized conditions and quantitative protocols were established.

Flow cytometric determination of estrogen receptors in intact cells.

Flow cytometry has been used to detect estrogen receptor (ER) in intact cells, using 1-(N)- fluoresceinyl estrone thiosemicarbazone ( 17FE ), a ligand shown to have sufficient affinity and specificity to identify high-affinity receptors. For each concentration of 17FE , two fluorescent distributions were obtained: (a) "total" fluorescence due to 17FE alone; and (b) diethylstilbestrol-inhibited fluorescence ("nonspecific"). The mean fluorescence intensity for both the "total" (MT) and "nonspecific" (MN) distributions was calculated at each ligand concentration by obtaining the total brightness of each sample, normalized to the number of cells analyzed.

Quantitative enzymatic hydrolysis of tRNAs: reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of tRNA nucleosides.

A rapid quantitative method for enzymatic hydrolysis of microgram amounts of tRNA has been developed, specifically to take full advantage of our precise, accurate, and selective reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system for separation and measurement of the major and modified nucleosides in tRNA. After study of several enzyme systems, nuclease P1 and bacterial alkaline phosphatase were selected and the hydrolysis parameters were systematically studied. Optimized hydrolysis conditions give quantitative hydrolysis in 2 h and this short incubation time prevents loss of unstable nucleosides.

Amount and distribution of 5-methylcytosine in human DNA from different types of tissues of cells.

Analysis of the total base composition of DNA from seven different normal human tissues and eight different types of homogeneous human cell populations revealed considerable tissue-specific and cell-specific differences in the extent of methylation of cytosine residues. The two most highly methylated DNAs were from thymus and brain with 1.00 and 0.

Quantitative reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic determination of major and modified deoxyribonucleosides in DNA.

We have developed a method to accurately determine (< 3% RSD) the complete major and modified base composition of a few micrograms of unlabeled DNA. The DNA samples were quantitatively hydrolyzed with DNase 1, Nuclease P1, and bacterial alkaline phosphatase. The resulting deoxyribonucleosides were directly separated in 70 min by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with detection by ultraviolet absorption at 254 nm and 280 nm (RP-HPLC).

Effectiveness of a pit and fissure sealant in the prevention of caries: three-year clinical results.

With use of the half-mouth technique, a pit and fissure sealant was applied to the permanent first molars of 200 children between 6 and 8 years of age in a community with fluoridated water in Colombia, South America. Complete retention of sealant at 12, 24, and 36 months after application was 91.6%, 88.

Comparison of cyclic nucleotide binding to adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinases.

Binding sites for [3H]cAMP on purified regulatory dimers of type II A-kinase (II-R2) are independent as assessed by equilibrium binding (KD = 6 +/- 1.3 nM at pH 7.2, 25 degrees; nH = 1.