Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in a Young Athlete.

Sudden death in young athletes is rare, with an incidence of 0.61/100,000 person-years in the United States (Circulation. 2009;119(8):1085-1092).

Improving Information to Enable Effective Tobacco Control Intervention and Measure Progress Over Time: The Cambodia Country Experience.

Tobacco is a leading cause of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) which kill about 41 million people each year. Of these, 15 million die prematurely between the ages of 30 and 69 years, most of which occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and their targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a new impetus for countries to accelerate tobacco control efforts as they specifically call for strengthening implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and striving to achieve a one-third reduction in premature deaths from NCDs.

Prion seeding activity and infectivity in skin samples from patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), the most common human prion disease, is transmissible through iatrogenic routes due to abundant infectious prions [misfolded forms of the prion protein (PrP)] in the central nervous system (CNS). Some epidemiological studies have associated sCJD risk with non-CNS surgeries. We explored the potential prion seeding activity and infectivity of skin from sCJD patients.

Exploring longitudinal associations between neighborhood disadvantage and cortisol levels in early childhood.

Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience chronic stressors that generate "wear" on stress regulatory systems including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This can have long-term consequences for health and well-being. Prior research has examined the role of proximal family and home contributions to HPA axis functioning.

Trajectories of Discrimination Across Adolescence: Associations With Academic, Psychological, and Behavioral Outcomes.

The authors explored trajectories of perceived discrimination over a 6-year period (five assessments in 6th-11th grade) in relation to academic, behavioral, and psychological adjustment in 8th and 11th grades. They distinguished discrimination from adults versus peers in addition to overt versus covert discrimination from peers. The sample included 226 African American, White, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Chinese adolescents (ages 11-12 at Time 1) recruited in sixth grade from six public schools in New York City.

Note: A portable laser induced breakdown spectroscopy instrument for rapid sampling and analysis of silicon-containing aerosols.

A portable instrument has been developed for measuring silicon-containing aerosols in near real-time using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The instrument uses a vacuum system to collect and deposit airborne particulate matter onto a translatable reel of filter tape. LIBS is used to analyze the deposited material, determining the amount of silicon-containing compounds present.

Do We Know Where We Stand? Neighborhood Relative Income, Subjective Social Status, and Health.

Bridging research on relative income and subjective social status (SSS), this study examines how neighborhood relative income is related to ones' SSS, and in turn, physical and mental health. Using a survey sample of 1807 U.S.

Comparison of margin status and lesional size between radioactive seed localized vs conventional wire localized breast lumpectomy specimens.

Despite the known benefits of the use of radioactive seed localization (RSL), few studies have looked at the resultant pathologic marginal status of these lumpectomy specimens, especially in regard to different definitions of close/positive margins. We compared the marginal status of lumpectomy specimens removed by either RSL or conventional wire localization (CWL) techniques. A total of 106 lumpectomy specimens including 62 by CWL and 44 by RSL for invasive ductal and lobular carcinomas were compared.

Social Determinants of Health and Tobacco Use in Five Low and Middle-Income Countries - Results from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2011 - 2012.

Background: Tobacco consumption continues to be the leading cause of preventable deaths globally. The objective of this study was to examine the associaton of selected socio-demographic variables with current tobacco use in five countries that participated in the Phase II Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2011 - 2012.

Materials And Methods: We analysed internationally comparable representative household survey data from 33,482 respondents aged ≥ 15 years in Indonesia, Malaysia, Romania, Argentina and Nigeria for determinants of tobacco use within each country.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of immediate-release and extended-release formulations of lamotrigine in elderly epilepsy patients: Use of stable isotope methodology.

A classic 2-period crossover bioavailability study was conducted to evaluate the relative and absolute bioavailability of immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (XR) lamotrigine formulations under steady-state conditions in elderly patients with epilepsy. On treatment days, each subject's morning dose (IR or XR lamotrigine) was replaced with an intravenous 50-mg dose of stable-labeled lamotrigine. Lamotrigine concentrations were measured at 13 points between 0 and 96 hours.

Awareness and Current Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, and Greece: Findings From 2011-2013 Global Adult Tobacco Surveys.

Introduction: Increases in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) awareness and current use have been documented in high income countries but less is known about middle and low income countries.

Methods: Nationally representative household survey data from the first four Global Adult Tobacco Surveys to assess e-cigarettes were analyzed, including Indonesia (2011), Malaysia (2011), Qatar (2013), and Greece (2013). Correlates of e-cigarette awareness and current use were calculated.

The utility of liquid-based cytology in salivary gland fine-needle aspirates: experience of an academic institution.

Objective: To review the morphological features of salivary gland fine-needle aspirates (FNA) on ThinPrep® (TP) preparations. Emphasis is placed on the commonalities and specific differences between TP and conventional smear (CS) preparations.

Study Design: The cytology and surgical pathology archives were searched for 'salivary' or 'parotid' at our institution from 2003 to 2013 for cases processed by TP and with a range of specified diagnoses and surgical follow-up.

Safety of an intravenous formulation of lamotrigine.

Purpose: Intravenous (IV) formulations are useful when treating patients where oral administration is not possible and to study certain pharmacokinetic parameters such as bioavailability. We developed a stable-labeled IV formulation of lamotrigine (LTG) for studying pharmacokinetics in epilepsy patients.

Methods: Stable-labeled IV LTG was given to 20 persons with epilepsy (6 men; 14 women) with a mean age of 34.

Methodology of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey - 2008-2010.

In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization developed the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), an instrument to monitor global tobacco use and measure indicators of tobacco control. GATS, a nationally representative household survey of persons aged 15 years or older, was conducted for the first time during 2008-2010 in 14 low- and middle-income countries. In each country, GATS used a standard core questionnaire, sample design, and procedures for data collection and management and, as needed, added country-specific questions that were reviewed and approved by international experts.

Exposure to secondhand smoke among adults - Philippines, 2009.

Introduction: We assessed the differences in exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among adults at home, in indoor workplaces, and in various public places in the Philippines across various socio-demographic groups.

Methods: Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in 2009 in the Philippines were used. The data consist of survey answers from 9705 respondents from a nationally representative, multistage probability sample of adults aged 15 years or older.

Tracking MPOWER in 14 countries: results from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2008-2010.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER is a technical package of six tobacco control measures that assist countries in meeting their obligations of the WHO Framework Convention Tobacco Control and are proven to reduce tobacco use. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) systematically monitors adult tobacco use and tracks key tobacco control indicators.

Methods: GATS is a nationally representative household survey of adults aged 15 and older, using a standard and consistent protocol across countries; it includes information on the six WHO MPOWER measures.

The effect of topiramate plasma concentration on linguistic behavior, verbal recall and working memory.

This is the first study of the effect of topiramate on linguistic behavior and verbal recall using a computational linguistics system for automated language and speech analysis to detect and quantify drug-induced changes in speech recorded during discourse-level tasks. Healthy volunteers were administered a single, 100-mg oral dose of topiramate in two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover studies. Subjects' topiramate plasma levels ranged from 0.

Steady-state carbamazepine pharmacokinetics following oral and stable-labeled intravenous administration in epilepsy patients: effects of race and sex.

Carbamazepine is a widely prescribed antiepileptic drug. Owing to the lack of an intravenous formulation, its absolute bioavailability, absolute clearance, and half-life in patients at steady state have not been determined. We developed an intravenous, stable-labeled (SL) formulation in order to characterize carbamazepine pharmacokinetics in patients.

Intramuscular and intravenous levetiracetam in humans: safety and pharmacokinetics.

A study in dogs demonstrated that the commercially available formulation of IV levetiracetam (LEV) could be given safely IM and was quickly and completely absorbed. In this crossover study, 5 women and 5 men were given IM and IV LEV. This study demonstrates that administration of 5ml (500mg) IM LEV is well tolerated and its bioavailability is equivalent to an IV injection.

Long-term use of felbamate: clinical outcomes and effect of age and concomitant antiepileptic drug use on its clearance.

Purpose: To determine the effects of long-term use of felbamate (FBM) on weight, complete blood count, liver function tests, and seizure control, and also to determine the effect of age on FBM clearance.

Methods: A computerized prospective database was used to identify all subjects who had FBM listed as one of their antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during their most recent clinic visit. Medical records from each patient were then reviewed for inclusion criteria [treatment >2 years, FBM initiated at the study clinic, data for pre-FBM (Time-1; T1), one-year exposure to FBM (Time-2; T2), and the latest visit (Time-3; T3)].

Safety of an IV formulation of carbamazepine.

An intravenous formulation of carbamazepine (CBZ) was administered to 113 (60 male; 53 female) persons with epilepsy aged 19-87 years. Subjects received 100mg of study drug as replacement for 100mg of their usual morning dose of CBZ. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate suggesting that this formulation can be developed as replacement therapy for persons unable to take oral CBZ.

Phenytoin half-life and clearance during maintenance therapy in adults and elderly patients with epilepsy.

Background: Phenytoin (PHT) is widely used to treat epilepsy in elderly patients, but information on its pharmacokinetics in this population is limited.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of age and sex on PHT pharmacokinetics using stable-labeled (SL) isotopes of PHT or fosphenytoin (FOS) administered IV or IM while patients remained on their oral maintenance regimen.

Methods: Subjects were patients 18 years or older with epilepsy, but otherwise healthy, on a maintenance regimen of PHT who were not taking interacting medications.

The validity of epilepsy or seizure documentation in nursing homes.

Recent studies have reported that epilepsy and seizures are common in nursing homes. Prevalence has been reported to range from 5 to 9% and antiepileptic drug (AED) use is even more common. Most of these studies have relied on various forms of nursing home records, but the validity of this source data, while assumed, has not been verified.

Developing a model of evidence-based public health practice that makes sense for the Pacific.

The new paradigm for public service organizations is summed up in the phrase "evidence-based practice," a concept grown from its origin in clinical medical practice to include a broad range of disciplines, including non-clinical approaches to disease prevention and health promotion. From a "global" perspective, this movement reflects the modernization policies of national governments that are intended to ensure effectiveness and increase accountability of publicly funded programs. It has also been fueled by rapid developments in information technology and the burgeoning growth in evidence-based research that forms the foundation of the movement.