The world's largest potato cryobank at the International Potato Center (CIP) - Status quo, protocol improvement through large-scale experiments and long-term viability monitoring.

Long-term conservation of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) is a key priority for guaranteeing food security and sustainability of agricultural systems for current and future generations. The need for the secure conservation of genetic resources collections is critical, due to rapid and extreme climatic changes which are threatening and reducing biodiversity in their natural environments. The International Potato Center (CIP) conserves one of the most complete and diverse genetic resources collections of potato, with more than 7500 accessions composed of 4900 cultivated potato and 2600 potato wild relative accessions.

Pharmacogenetics of Warfarin in a Diverse Patient Population.

Introduction: Many warfarin-related genotypes have shown to impact the average daily warfarin (ADW) dose requirements; however, information in non-Caucasian populations is limited.

Objectives: To identify the frequencies of 4 warfarin-related gene polymorphisms in an ethnically diverse patient population and to examine their impact with other clinical variables on ADW dose requirements.

Methods: Patients were recruited from 2 anticoagulation clinics in the Los Angeles area.

Investigating the Fractal Dimension of the Foveal Microvasculature in Relation to the Morphology of the Foveal Avascular Zone and to the Macular Circulation in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

In this study, we examined the relationship between the fractal dimension (FD), the morphology of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and the macular circulation in healthy controls and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and with no diabetic retinopathy (DR). Cross-sectional data of 47 subjects were analyzed from a 5-year longitudinal study using a multimodal optical imaging approach. Healthy eyes from nondiabetic volunteers ( = 12) were selected as controls.

Ultracentral Tumors Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy: Single-Institution Experience.

Introduction: Patients with ultracentral lung tumors, whose planning target volume directly contacts or overlaps the proximal bronchial tree, trachea, esophagus, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary artery, may be at higher risk of toxicity when treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). We reviewed the outcomes and toxicities of ultracentral lung tumors and compared the results with central lung tumors.

Patients And Methods: A review of our institutional prospective database of patients treated with lung SBRT from January 2006 to December 2015 was conducted.

Relationship between the morphology of the foveal avascular zone, retinal structure, and macular circulation in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is an extremely severe and common degenerative disease. The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between various parameters including the Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) morphology, retinal layer thickness, and retinal hemodynamic properties in healthy controls and patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with and with no mild DR (MDR) using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (Spectralis SDOCT, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Germany) and the Retinal Function Imager (Optical Imaging, Ltd., Rehovot, Israel).

Influence of height on the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: large, long-term population data indicate an inverse association for adult height with stroke incidence and mortality, whereas the risk of atrial fibrillation appears greater in taller individuals. However, it is unclear whether knowledge of an individual's stature is an important clinical factor to consider when assessing hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke. We determined the relation of body height with clinical characteristics and discharge outcomes among persons with ischemic stroke.

Prognostic value of Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Score in hospitalized stroke patients.

The Framingham Coronary Risk Score (FCRS) is based on several factors, including age, sex, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, presence of diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Some of these factors are individually linked with acute stroke outcomes. We explored whether FCRS could predict outcome in patients hospitalized with recent stroke.

Renal dysfunction and discharge destination in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Identifying predictors of outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) may improve understanding of factors that contribute to recovery. We determined whether indices of renal insufficiency would predict early outcome in patients with ICH without established chronic kidney disease (CKD). Consecutive ICH patients discharged from a university stroke service between September 2005 and June 2009 were evaluated for proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<60 mL/min per 1.

Strong independent correlation of proteinuria with cerebral microbleeds in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack.

Objective: To assess the association of proteinuria with the frequency and number of cerebral microbleeds (CMB), a harbinger of future hemorrhagic stroke.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Patients Patients with consecutive ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack admitted to a university hospital during a 22-month period.

Indices of kidney dysfunction and discharge outcomes in hospitalized stroke patients without known renal disease.

Background: The utility of clinical measurements of impairments in glomerular barrier or filtration rate among hospitalized stroke patients without known chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been well studied. We determined whether various indices of CKD would predict discharge outcomes in persons hospitalized with a recent ischemic stroke.

Methods: Presence of proteinuria and estimated low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 ml/min per 1.

Optimizing screening and management of asymptomatic coronary artery disease in patients with stroke and patients with transient ischemic attack.

Background And Purpose: The feasibility of implementing an expert consensus guideline recommending use of a stroke patient's profile to manage undiagnosed coronary artery disease remains unclear.

Methods: Following a guideline-based algorithm, we screened consecutive patients with ischemic stroke and patients with transient ischemic attack for asymptomatic coronary artery disease using the Framingham Heart Study Coronary Risk Score (FCRS) cutoff of high risk (> or = 20%) for experiencing a hard coronary artery disease event over a 10-year period. Patients with high FCRS received dobutamine stress echocardiogram outpatient screening, additional treatment (beta-blocker), or further management (cardiologist referral).

Impact of metabolic syndrome on distribution of cervicocephalic atherosclerosis: data from a diverse race-ethnic group.

Background: Vascular localization of symptomatic large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke differs for unknown reasons by race-ethnicity. The metabolic syndrome (MetSD) is associated with higher atherosclerotic stroke risk and comprises abnormal risk factors that can vary by race. Thus, we investigated whether MetSD may contribute to race-ethnic differences in LAA stroke by examining the association of MetSD with symptomatic intra- and extracranial atherosclerosis among a diverse race-ethnic group.

A care pathway to boost influenza vaccination rates among inpatients with acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack.

Background: Although influenza-related morbidity and mortality is high, and influenza can be a trigger for recurrent stroke, only about half of stroke survivors receive yearly influenza vaccination. Identifying new avenues through which to optimize influenza vaccination among stroke survivors is a public health need. We assessed the feasibility of integrating influenza vaccination into routine inpatient stroke care.

Association of serum bilirubin with ischemic stroke outcomes.

Background: Higher levels of serum bilirubin may offer a therapeutic advantage in oxidative stress-mediated diseases, but may also simply reflect intensity of oxidative stress. Little is known about the role of bilirubin in stroke. We assessed the relation of serum bilirubin levels with clinical presentation and outcomes among patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke.

Prior antiplatelet use and infarct volume in ischemic stroke.

Background: Conflicting data exist on the role of antiplatelet agents in reducing incident ischemic stroke magnitude, but most prior studies used clinically-assessed neurologic deficit as the index of stroke extent rather than more precise volumetric measurements of infarct size. We assessed the relation of premorbid antiplatelet use to initial diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) lesion volumes among acute ischemic stroke patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting within 24 h of ischemic stroke over an 18-month period were studied.