Publications by authors named "S A Pierce"

Prion disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the misfolding of prion protein (PrP) encoded by the PRNP gene. While there is currently no cure for the disease, depleting PrP in the brain is an established strategy to prevent or stall templated misfolding of PrP. Here we developed in vivo cytosine and adenine base strategies delivered by adeno-associated viruses to permanently modify the PRNP locus to achieve PrP knockdown in the mouse brain.

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The smile is a complex human facial expression, most commonly associated with joy. We present a detailed view on Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of Saint John the Baptist, between 1516 to 1516, which illustrates a smiling saint, which has evoked multiple explanations and theories. Discussing Da Vinci's concept of painting as science media and the two merely contradictory painting techniques chiaroscuro and sfumato, we attempt to approach this picture.

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The regulation of cell physiology depends largely upon interactions of functionally distinct proteins and cellular components. These interactions may be transient or long-lived, but often affect protein motion. Measurement of protein dynamics within a cellular environment, particularly while perturbing protein function with small molecules, may enable dissection of key interactions and facilitate drug discovery; however, current approaches are limited by throughput with respect to data acquisition and analysis.

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In myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with TP53 aberrations, dissecting the interaction amongst patient, disease and treatment factors are important for therapeutic decisions and prognostication. This retrospective analysis included patients with newly diagnosed MDS (>5% blasts) and AML with TP53 mutation(s) treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We factored patient age, TP53 aberration burden, therapy intensity and use of venetoclax in the AML subgroup, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to interrogate outcomes.

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Purpose: This study explored whether the type of torticollis, amount of tummy time or container time, participant age at examination, and Alberta Infant Motor Scales score influence the length of physical therapy care for infants with torticollis.

Methods: Data for 149 participants were extracted from medical records for infants with torticollis who received care between November 2018 and November 2021.

Results: Statistically significant correlations were found between length of care (LOC) and torticollis type, age at examination, active range of motion rotation deficit, and passive range of motion rotation deficit.

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