Mediators and Moderators of two online interventions for managing pain, fear of progression and functional ability in rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a secondary analysis of a trial comparing online mindfulness-based stress reduction with cognitive-behaviour therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Both interventions were administered over eight weeks with five lessons and accompanied by weekly therapist contact. For the purposes of this study, we investigated the pain severity, fear of progression and functional ability as the outcome variables because the treatments had differential effects on these three outcomes but had equivalent effects on other variables.

Dissociation between area TE and rhinal cortex in accuracy vs. speed of visual categorization in rhesus monkeys.

In real-world vision, objects may appear for a short period, such as in conjunction with visual search. Presumably, this puts a premium on rapid categorization. We designed a visual categorization task cued by briefly presented images to study how visual categorization is processed in an ethologically relevant context.

Neural Correlates of Category Learning in Monkey Inferior Temporal Cortex.

Area TE is required for normal learning of visual categories based on perceptual similarity. To evaluate whether category learning changes neural activity in area TE, we trained two monkeys (both male) implanted with multielectrode arrays to categorize natural images of cats and dogs. Neural activity during a passive viewing task was compared pre- and post-training.

Revising VOC emissions speciation improves the simulation of global background ethane and propane.

Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs) generate ozone (O) when they are oxidized in the presence of oxides of nitrogen, modulate the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere and can lead to the formation of aerosol. Here, we assess the capability of a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to simulate NMVOC concentrations by comparing ethane, propane and higher alkane observations in remote regions from the NOAA Flask Network and the World Meteorological Organization's Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) network. Using the Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) inventory we find a significant underestimate in the simulated concentration of both ethane (35%) and propane (64%), consistent with previous studies.

Distinct roles of monkey OFC-subcortical pathways in adaptive behavior.

Primates must adapt to changing environments by optimizing their behavior to make beneficial choices. At the core of adaptive behavior is the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of the brain, which updates choice value through direct experience or knowledge-based inference. Here, we identify distinct neural circuitry underlying these two separate abilities.

Osteoporotic Fractures: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Significance From the International Working Group on DXA Best Practices.

Osteoporotic fractures, also known as fragility fractures, are reflective of compromised bone strength and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Such fractures may be clinically silent, and others may present clinically with pain and deformity at the time of the injury. Unfortunately, and even at the time of detection, most individuals sustaining fragility fractures are not identified as having underlying metabolic bone disease and are not evaluated or treated to reduce the incidence of future fractures.

Biliary Dyskinesia-Controversies, Diagnosis, and Management: A Review.

Importance: Biliary dyskinesia is a disorder characterized by biliary pain, a sonographically normal gallbladder, and a reduced gallbladder ejection fraction on cholecystokinin-cholescintigraphy (CCK-HIDA) scan. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains a common treatment for biliary dyskinesia despite a lack of high-quality evidence supporting the practice. The following review summarizes the current biliary dyskinesia outcomes data, the diagnostic strategies and their limitations, biliary dyskinesia in the pediatric population, the emerging phenomenon of the hyperkinetic gallbladder, and suggestions for addressing identified knowledge gaps.

Evaluation of [F]fluoroestradiol and ChRERα as a gene expression PET reporter system in rhesus monkey brain.

Positron emission tomography (PET) reporter systems are a valuable means of estimating the level of expression of a transgene in vivo. For example, the safety and efficacy of gene therapy approaches for the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders could be enhanced via the monitoring of exogenous gene expression levels in the brain. The present study evaluated the ability of a newly developed PET reporter system [F]fluoroestradiol ([F]FES) and the estrogen receptor-based PET reporter ChRERα, to monitor expression levels of a small hairpin RNA (shRNA) designed to suppress choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression in rhesus monkey brain.

Pulmonary vascular disease in Veterans with post-deployment respiratory syndrome.

Exertional dyspnea has been documented in US military personnel after deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. We studied whether continued exertional dyspnea in this patient population is associated with pulmonary vascular disease (PVD). We performed detailed histomorphometry of pulmonary vasculature in 52 Veterans with biopsy-proven post-deployment respiratory syndrome (PDRS) and then recruited five of these same Veterans with continued exertional dyspnea to undergo a follow-up clinical evaluation, including symptom questionnaire, pulmonary function testing, surface echocardiography, and right heart catheterization (RHC).

Elucidating the role of EPPK1 in lung adenocarcinoma development.

Background: We recently found that epiplakin 1 (EPPK1) alterations were present in 12% of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cases and were associated with a poor prognosis in early-stage LUAD when combined with other molecular alterations. This study aimed to identify a probable crucial role for EPPK1 in cancer development.

Methods: EPPK1 mRNA and protein expression was analyzed with clinical variables.

Race/Ethnicity and Social Determinants of Health and Their Impact on Receiving Appropriate Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer.

Introduction: Despite the heightened understanding and improved treatment for colorectal cancer in the United States, social determinants of health (SDH) play a significant role in the colorectal cancer outcomes. We sought to investigate the relationship between SDH and appropriate utilization of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III colon cancer.

Methods: For this retrospective study, we utilized data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB).

Race/Ethnicity and Social Determinants of Health and Their Impact on the Timely Receipt of Appropriate Operative Treatment of Colon Cancer.

Introduction: Rates of appropriate surgical treatment of colon cancer are historically worse in traditionally marginalized populations. We sought to examine which social determinants of health may be associated with longer time to appropriate operative intervention.

Methods: The National Cancer Databank was queried for this retrospective study.

Repetitive sulfur dioxide exposure in mice models post-deployment respiratory syndrome.

Soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms than nondeployed military personnel and some have been shown to have a constellation of findings on lung biopsy termed post-deployment respiratory syndrome (PDRS). Since many of the subjects in this cohort reported exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO), we developed a model of repetitive exposure to SO in mice that phenocopies many aspects of PDRS, including adaptive immune activation, airway wall remodeling, and pulmonary vascular (PV) disease. Although abnormalities in small airways were not sufficient to alter lung mechanics, PV remodeling resulted in the development of pulmonary hypertension and reduced exercise tolerance in SO-exposed mice.

Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of [C]uPSEM792 for PSAM-GlyR based chemogenetics.

Chemogenetic tools are designed to control neuronal signaling. These tools have the potential to contribute to the understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders and to the development of new treatments. One such chemogenetic technology comprises modified Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules (PSAMs) paired with Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules (PSEMs).

Integrating Clinical and Air Quality Data to Improve Prediction of COPD Exacerbations.

Several studies have found associations between air pollution and respiratory disease outcomes. However, there is minimal prognostic research exploring whether integrating air quality into clinical prediction models can improve accuracy and utility. In this study, we built models using both logistic regression and random forests to determine the benefits of including air quality data with meteorological and clinical data in prediction of COPD exacerbations requiring medical care.

The 'revolving door' of mental illness: A meta-analysis and systematic review of current versus lifetime rates of psychological disorders.

Objectives: Therapists have long observed a phenomenon referred to as the 'revolving door' of mental health services, in which individuals often develop, seek treatment for, and recover from multiple mental illnesses across their life. However, this has not been systematically examined. If this phenomenon is widespread, one would expect that the number of lifetime disorders would exceed that of current disorders.

Neural correlates of category learning in monkey inferior temporal cortex.

We trained two monkeys implanted with multi-electrode arrays to categorize natural images of cats and dogs, in order to observe changes in neural activity related to category learning. We recorded neural activity from area TE, which is required for normal learning of visual categories based on perceptual similarity. Neural activity during a passive viewing task was compared pre- and post-training.

Distinct roles of monkey OFC-subcortical pathways in adaptive behavior.

To be the most successful, primates must adapt to changing environments and optimize their behavior by making the most beneficial choices. At the core of adaptive behavior is the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of the brain, which updates choice value through direct experience or knowledge-based inference. Here, we identify distinct neural circuitry underlying these two separate abilities.

The development and validation of the Worries About Recurrence or Progression Scale (WARPS).

Objectives: Worry about recurrence or progression is a common concern among people with chronic physical illnesses. Although there are options to measure the fear of cancer recurrence and other illness-specific measures, there is only one transdiagnostic measure of fear of progression, which does not assess the fear of recurrence or relapse.

Design: A multi-phase study outlining the development and validation of a novel transdiagnostic measure of fear of recurrence or progression, the Worries About Recurrence and Progression Scale (WARPS).

Building clinic programs that drive a department of surgery's strategic plan.

Effectively navigating and executing change within a medical organization, particularly a large health care enterprise, such as a department of surgery within a major hospital system, can present a major challenge to both departmental and institutional leadership. In developing projects designed to bring about desired change, it is essential to be mindful of the strategic plan of the institution and department and to design change initiatives to create models that align with and serve to enhance both the institutional and departmental missions. Doing so requires careful definition of the mission and vision of the department and the key stakeholders within the institution; defining both short- and long-term goals; critical analysis of resources, needs, strengths, and weaknesses; and maintaining a clear understanding of the goals, expectations, and specific measures of success.