Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an Intensive Clinic-Based Intervention for Children With Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a team-based intervention for youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with suboptimal glycemia, as detected based on the measurement of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C).

Methods: Forty participants with T1D for >1 year and an HbA1C level of ≥9.5% (80 mmol/mol) enrolled for a multidisciplinary intervention that included pediatric endocrinologists, pediatric psychologists, and a certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES).

GFI1 Cooperates with IKZF1/IKAROS to Activate Gene Expression in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Unlabelled: Growth factor independence-1 (GFI1) is a transcriptional repressor and master regulator of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Repression by GFI1 is attributable to recruitment of LSD1-containing protein complexes via its SNAG domain. However, the full complement of GFI1 partners in transcriptional control is not known.

Factors affecting sedimentational separation of bacteria from blood.

Rapid diagnosis of blood infections requires fast and efficient separation of bacteria from blood. We have developed spinning hollow disks that separate bacteria from blood cells via the differences in sedimentation velocities of these particles. Factors affecting separation included the spinning speed and duration, and disk size.

A Validated Scale for Assessing the Severity of Acute Infectious Mononucleosis.

Objectives: To develop a scale for the severity of mononucleosis.

Study Design: One to 5 percent of college students develop infectious mononucleosis annually, and about 10% meet criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) 6 months following infectious mononucleosis. We developed a severity of mononucleosis scale based on a review of the literature.

Dismissing chronic illness: A qualitative analysis of negative health care experiences.

In the US, medical training is inadequate regarding the symptomatology, prognosis, and treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). As a result, many physicians lack the appropriate level of knowledge about effective methods for ME and CFS symptom reduction and often suggest inappropriate treatments, such as increased exercise or psychiatric services. The authors' purpose in this study was to analyze negative patient experiences with health care professionals.

The impact of interprofessional education on family nurse practitioner students' and family medicine residents' knowledge and confidence in screening for breast and cervical cancer.

Background And Purpose: This study determined the impact of an interprofessional education (IPE) simulation on family nurse practitioner (FNP) students' and family medicine residents' (FMRs) self-reported confidence in counseling women reluctant to engage in cancer screening or evaluation and assessed knowledge of breast and cervical cancer risk factors.

Method: A multi-item knowledge survey on breast and cervical cancer risk factors was administered to 76 FNP students and FMRs followed by an IPE simulation with a pre-/postsurvey of self-reported confidence in counseling a woman reluctant to have breast and cervical cancer screening and evaluation.

Discussion: Data demonstrated knowledge deficits in breast and cervical cancer risk factors in both disciplines with the average risk factor knowledge score of 8.

Operationalizing Substantial Reduction in Functioning Among Young Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Purpose: Chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis are fatiguing illnesses that often result in long-term impairment in daily functioning. In reviewing case definitions, Thrope et al. (Fatigue 4(3):175-188, 2016) noted that the vast majority of case definitions used to describe these illnesses list a "substantial reduction" in activities as a required feature for diagnosis.

Rapid separation of very low concentrations of bacteria from blood.

A rapid and accurate diagnosis of the species and antibiotic resistance of bacteria in septic blood is vital to increase survival rates of patients with bloodstream infections, particularly those with carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections. The extremely low levels in blood (1 to 100CFU/ml) make rapid diagnosis difficult. In this study, very low concentrations of bacteria (6 to 200CFU/ml) were separated from 7ml of whole blood using rapid sedimentation in a spinning hollow disk that separated plasma from red and white cells, leaving most of the bacteria suspended in the plasma.

Rapid separation of bacteria from blood - Chemical aspects.

To rapidly diagnose infectious organisms causing blood sepsis, bacteria must be rapidly separated from blood, a very difficult process considering that concentrations of bacteria are many orders of magnitude lower than concentrations of blood cells. We have successfully separated bacteria from red and white blood cells using a sedimentation process in which the separation is driven by differences in density and size. Seven mL of whole human blood spiked with bacteria is placed in a 12-cm hollow disk and spun at 3000rpm for 1min.

Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers and Risk Factor Knowledge Among Uninsured Women.

A steady decline in cervical cancer incidence and mortality in the United States has been attributed to increased uptake of cervical cancer screening tests such as Papanicolau (Pap) tests. However, disparities in Pap test compliance exist, and may be due in part to perceived barriers or lack of knowledge about risk factors for cervical cancer. This study aimed to assess correlates of cervical cancer risk factor knowledge and examine socio-demographic predictors of self-reported barriers to screening among a group of low-income uninsured women.

Determinants of HPV vaccine awareness and healthcare providers' discussion of HPV vaccine among females.

Two human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are available and can prevent 98% of HPV 16 and 18 infections. This study aimed to explore determinants of 1) HPV vaccine awareness among a cohort of low-income women participating in a cancer prevention program in Central Texas and compare them to United States residents; 2) determinants of healthcare providers' discussion of HPV vaccine among female residents of the United States. Bivariate and multivariable analysis of HPV vaccine awareness using survey data (n = 359) collected between 2014 and 2016 in Central Texas, and the Health Information and Nutrition Survey (HINTS) data which is a nationally representative dataset (unweighted n = 1214) collected in 2013 were conducted.

GFI1 functions in transcriptional control and cell fate determination require SNAG domain methylation to recruit LSD1.

Proper hematopoietic cell fate decisions require co-ordinated functions of transcription factors, their associated co-regulators, and histone-modifying enzymes. Growth factor independence 1 (GFI1) is a zinc finger transcriptional repressor and master regulator of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. While several GFI1-interacting proteins have been described, how GFI1 leverages these relationships to carry out transcriptional repression remains unclear.

Rapid separation of bacteria from blood-review and outlook.

The high morbidity and mortality rate of bloodstream infections involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria necessitate a rapid identification of the infectious organism and its resistance profile. Traditional methods based on culturing the blood typically require at least 24 h, and genetic amplification by PCR in the presence of blood components has been problematic. The rapid separation of bacteria from blood would facilitate their genetic identification by PCR or other methods so that the proper antibiotic regimen can quickly be selected for the septic patient.

SUMOylation Regulates Growth Factor Independence 1 in Transcriptional Control and Hematopoiesis.

Cell fate specification requires precise coordination of transcription factors and their regulators to achieve fidelity and flexibility in lineage allocation. The transcriptional repressor growth factor independence 1 (GFI1) is comprised of conserved Snail/Slug/Gfi1 (SNAG) and zinc finger motifs separated by a linker region poorly conserved with GFI1B, its closest homolog. Moreover, GFI1 and GFI1B coordinate distinct developmental fates in hematopoiesis, suggesting that their functional differences may derive from structures within their linkers.

The cost-effectiveness of training US primary care physicians to conduct colorectal cancer screening in family medicine residency programs.

Background: Demand for a wide array of colorectal cancer screening strategies continues to outpace supply. One strategy to reduce this deficit is to dramatically increase the number of primary care physicians who are trained and supportive of performing office-based colonoscopies or flexible sigmoidoscopies. This study evaluates the clinical and economic implications of training primary care physicians via family medicine residency programs to offer colorectal cancer screening services as an in-office procedure.

The role of health literacy and communication habits on previous colorectal cancer screening among low-income and uninsured patients.

Objective: To determine the association between health literacy, communication habits and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among low-income patients.

Methods: Survey responses of patients who received financial assistance for colonoscopy between 2011 and 2014 at a family medicine residency clinic were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression (n = 456). There were two dependent variables: (1) previous CRC screening and (2) CRC screening adherence.

Expanding Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening: Benchmarking Quality Indicators in a Primary Care Colonoscopy Program.

Background: An inadequate supply of physicians who perform colonoscopies contributes to suboptimal screening rates, especially among the underserved. This shortage could be reduced if primary care physicians perform colonoscopies. This purpose of this article is to report quality indicators from colonoscopy procedures performed by family medicine physicians as part of a colorectal cancer prevention program targeting uninsured, low-income individuals.

Endocrine and pubertal disturbances in optic nerve hypoplasia, from infancy to adolescence.

Background: Endocrinologic abnormalities are a common co-morbidity in patients with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH), however the impact on puberty is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine rates of endocrine dysfunction and pubertal disturbances in a pediatric population of ONH.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on a cohort of children with ONH between January 2005 and March 2013.

Determinants of variations in self-reported barriers to colonoscopy among uninsured patients in a primary care setting.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer among both males and females in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although largely preventable through screening, early detection and removal of polyps, screening rates are considered sub-optimal. Perceived barriers to screening have been reported to influence screening rates.

Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products independently predicts cardiometabolic syndrome in Latino youth.

Objective: The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) has anti-atherogenic properties in adults, however, little is known about the relationship between sRAGE and cardiometabolic disease risk in pediatric populations. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to examine the relationship between sRAGE and cardiometabolic risk factors in Latino youth.

Research Design And Methods: Data from 133 Latino youth (58% female; age 16.

Directional Darwinian Selection in proteins.

Background: Molecular evolution is a very active field of research, with several complementary approaches, including dN/dS, HON90, MM01, and others. Each has documented strengths and weaknesses, and no one approach provides a clear picture of how natural selection works at the molecular level. The purpose of this work is to present a simple new method that uses quantitative amino acid properties to identify and characterize directional selection in proteins.