Assessing hepatitis B virus serologies when transitioning patients from intravenous immune globulin therapy to rituximab for the treatment of autoimmune neuromuscular diseases.

Introduction/aims: Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) has been used as early treatment for autoimmune neuromuscular diseases, but due to cost and frequency, may be switched to rituximab. Rituximab and other B-cell-depleting medications require screening of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologies given the risk of HBV reactivation (HBVr). We aimed to describe the incidence and characteristics of passively transferred antiviral serologies from IVIG and how to differentiate between passive antibody transfer and resolved HBV infection.

Implementation of a Targeted Inhaled Corticosteroid De-Escalation Process in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Primary Care Setting.

To evaluate the feasibility and success of a pharmacist-led, targeted inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) de-escalation process in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) where the risks of ICS therapy outweigh the potential benefits. A population health data management tool was leveraged to identify patients who may qualify for ICS de-escalation. Primary care pharmacists clinically reviewed and subsequently contacted patients who were determined to be appropriate candidates.

Multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable, and disabling disease. Significant advances have been made in recent years supporting an earlier, more accurate, diagnosis and have led to more than 15 disease-modifying therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Disease-modifying therapies are now being classified into categories based on level of efficacy.

Therapeutic Interferon Interchange in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Lowers Health Care and Pharmacy Expenditures with Comparable Safety.

Introduction: For patients with a less-active (fewer relapses or complete recovery from relapses, less radiologic burden of disease, or no or limited disease-related disability) relapsing form of multiple sclerosis (MS), interferon (IFN) beta-1b subcutaneous is similar in efficacy to IFN beta-1a intramuscular and subcutaneous. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of patient interchange from an IFN beta-1a to IFN beta-1b.

Methods: This was a retrospective, pre-post study of adult patients with relapsing MS who underwent interchange from an IFN beta-1a to IFN beta-1b between April 15, 2014, and April 30, 2015.

Nutrition Assessment of B-Vitamins in Highly Active and Sedentary Women.

Background: Female athletes and active women require adequate nutrition for optimal health and performance. Nutrition assessments are needed to identify potential nutrients of concern. Folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 function in important pathways used during physical activity and female athletes may be at risk for poor status of these micronutrients.

A conceptual framework for invasion in microbial communities.

There is a growing interest in controlling-promoting or avoiding-the invasion of microbial communities by new community members. Resource availability and community structure have been reported as determinants of invasion success. However, most invasion studies do not adhere to a coherent and consistent terminology nor always include rigorous interpretations of the processes behind invasion.

KLEIP deficiency in mice causes progressive corneal neovascular dystrophy.

Purpose: The BTB-kelch protein KLEIP/KLHL20 is an actin binding protein that regulates cell-cell contact formation and cell migration. The aim of our study was to characterize KLEIP's function in ocular health and disease in mice.

Methods: KLEIP(-/-) mice were generated, and corneas were examined histologically and stained for keratin-1, loricrin, keratin-12, keratin-14, CD31, LYVE-1, F4/80, E-cadherin, and Ki67.

Inducible expression of tissue factor in small-cell lung cancer: impact on morphology and matrix metalloproteinase secretion.

Purpose: Tissue factor (TF), the transmembrane receptor for factor VIIa (FVIIa), has key regulatory functions in coagulation as well as in tumour progression and metastasis. Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) metastasises more aggressively than non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previously, we described the transition of SCLC cell line H69 to adherent growth and TF expression.

Iron status in highly active and sedentary young women.

This study examined iron status and nutrient intake in highly active (n = 28; 20 +/- 2 yr, >/=12 hr purposeful physical activity per week [PPA/wk]) and sedentary (n = 28; 24 +/- 3 yr, View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Comparison of hydraulic and hemolytic properties of different impeller designs of an implantable rotary blood pump by computational fluid dynamics.

A mixed-flow blood pump for long-term applications has been developed at the Helmholtz-Institute in Aachen, Germany. Central features of this implantable pump are a centrally integrated motor, a blood-immersed mechanical bearing, magnetic coupling of the impeller, and a shrouded impeller, which allows a relatively wide clearance. The aim of the study was a numerical analysis of hydraulic and hemolytic properties of different impeller design configurations.