Variation in the management and treatment of children with giant coronary artery aneurysm following Kawasaki disease.

Objectives: Giant coronary artery aneurysms are rare but potentially fatal complications of Kawasaki disease. The lack of evidence-based recommendations on their management and treatment cause guidelines and practices to differ. We aimed to assess these variations.

Topical Antioxidant Cocoa Polyphenol Skin Penetration.

Background: Cocoa powder derived from the Theobroma cacao plant is rich in polyphenols, such as catechin and epicatechin. These polyphenols are strong antioxidants when consumed orally; however, their ability to enter the stratum corneum following the topical application has never been demonstrated.

Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the deposition of catechin and epicatechin in the stratum corneum following the topical application of 6% aqueous cocoa powder 1 and 2 h after application.

Exploring Prognostic Implications of Race and Ethnicity in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Introduction: Significant health inequalities in major adverse limb events exist. Ethnically minoritized groups are more prone to have a major adverse event following peripheral vascular interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to describe the postoperative implications of racial and ethnic status on clinical outcomes following vascular interventions for claudication and chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Evaluating a Targeted Minimum Loss-Based Estimator for Capture-Recapture Analysis: An Application to HIV Surveillance in San Francisco, California.

The capture-recapture method is a common tool used in epidemiology to estimate the size of "hidden" populations and correct the underascertainment of cases, based on incomplete and overlapping lists of the target population. Log-linear models are often used to estimate the population size yet may produce implausible and unreliable estimates due to model misspecification and small cell sizes. A novel targeted minimum loss-based estimation (TMLE) model developed for capture-recapture makes several notable improvements to conventional modeling: "targeting" the parameter of interest, flexibly fitting the data to alternative functional forms, and limiting bias from small cell sizes.

Extending repair in peer interaction: A conversation analytic study.

Peer interaction constitutes a focal site for understanding learning orientations and autonomous learning behaviors. Based on 10 h of video-recorded data collected from small-size conversation-for-learning classes, this study, through the lens of Conversation Analysis, analyzes instances in which L2 learners spontaneously exploit learning opportunities from the on-task public talk and make them relevant for private learning in sequential private peer interaction. The analysis of extended negation-for-meaning practices in peer interaction displays how L2 learners orient to public repair for their learning opportunities in an immediate manner and in so doing, how different participation framework is being utilized to maximize their learning outcomes.

Results of a metabolic health clinic at a hostel for homeless men.

Objectives: People who are homeless have high mortality and morbidity, including from metabolic disorder. The aim of this study was to report on the characteristics and progress of the metabolic health of people attending a metabolic clinic at a homeless men's shelter.

Methods: Homeless men attending the clinic were assessed by measuring their weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose and, if indicated, HbA1c.

Differential expression of VEGFR2 protein in HER2 positive primary human breast cancer: potential relevance to anti-angiogenic therapies.

Background: Clinically relevant predictive biomarkers to tailor anti-angiogenic therapies to breast cancer (BRC) patient subpopulations are an unmet need.

Methods: We analyzed tumor vascular density and VEGFR2 protein expression in various subsets of primary human BRCs (186 females; Mean age: 59 years; range 33-88 years), using a tissue microarray. Discrete VEGFR2+ and CD34+ tumor vessels were manually scored in invasive ductal, lobular, mixed ductal-lobular and colloid (N = 139, 22, 18, 7) BRC cores.

Kinase suppressor of Ras (KSR1) modulates multiple kit-ligand-dependent mast cell functions.

The intricately regulated Ras pathway coordinates multiple kit-ligand-induced mast cell functions, including chemotaxis, proliferation, and degranulation. However, the intracellular proteins that modulate the intensity and duration of stem cell factor-induced signals and the consequent cellular response are incompletely understood. Scaffolding proteins coordinate the spatial organization of mitogen-activated protein kinase proteins that may potentiate and/or inhibit cell functions.

Genetic disruption of the scaffolding protein, Kinase Suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1), differentially regulates GM-CSF-stimulated hyperproliferation in hematopoietic progenitors expressing activating PTPN11 mutants D61Y and E76K.

Activating PTPN11 mutants promote hematopoietic progenitor hyperactivation of Erk and hypersensitivity to GM-CSF. We hypothesized that Kinase Suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1) contributes to activating PTPN11-induced GM-CSF hypersensitivity. Bone marrow progenitors from WT and KSR1-/- mice expressing WT Shp2, Shp2E76K, or Shp2D61Y were evaluated functionally and biochemically.

Nf1-/- Schwann cell-conditioned medium modulates mast cell degranulation by c-Kit-mediated hyperactivation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common genetic disorder and is characterized by both malignant and nonmalignant neurofibromas, which are composed of Schwann cells, degranulating mast cells, fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix. We and others have previously shown that hyperactivation of the c-Kit pathway in an Nf1 haploinsufficient microenvironment is required for both tumor formation and progression. Mast cells play a key role in both tumorigenesis and neoangiogenesis via the production of matrix metalloproteinases, heparin, and a range of different growth factors.