Epidemiology, patient characteristics, and treatment patterns of patients with narcolepsy in Sweden: a non-interventional study using secondary data.

Study Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and incidence and evaluate the treatment patterns of patients diagnosed with narcolepsy in specialist care in Sweden.

Methods: This non-interventional retrospective longitudinal study used Swedish register data from 2010 to 2020 and included patients diagnosed with narcolepsy (either type 1 or type 2), recorded in specialist outpatient and inpatient care from January 2015 to December 2019. All patients received an index date corresponding to the date of the first narcolepsy diagnosis.

Seasonal activity of spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), in Southeast Pennsylvania.

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White, 1845), is an invasive species in the United States. This pest causes damage to vineyards and has the potential to negatively affect other crops and industries. Information describing the seasonal timing of life stages can improve its management.

Spatio-Temporal Model for Predicting Spring Hatch of the Spotted Lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae).

The effect of temperature on the rate of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), egg development was investigated for a population in Pennsylvania. Mean developmental duration (days ± SE) for egg hatch was evaluated at five constant temperatures of 19.9, 24.

Indications for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Immune Effector Cell Therapy: Guidelines from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) published its first white paper on indications for autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in 2015. It was identified at the time that periodic updates of indications would be required to stay abreast with state of the art and emerging indications and therapy. In recent years the field has not only seen an improvement in transplantation technology, thus widening the therapeutic scope of HCT, but additionally a whole new treatment strategy using modified immune effector cells, including chimeric antigen receptor T cells and engineered T-cell receptors, has emerged.

TOMMORROW neuropsychological battery: German language validation and normative study.

Introduction: Assessment of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires reliable and validated methods to detect subtle cognitive changes. The battery of standardized cognitive assessments that is used for diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment due to AD in the TOMMORROW study have only been fully validated in English-speaking countries. We conducted a validation and normative study of the German language version of the TOMMORROW neuropsychological test battery, which tests episodic memory, language, visuospatial ability, executive function, and attention.

Indications for Autologous and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Guidelines from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Approximately 20,000 hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) procedures are performed in the United States annually. With advances in transplantation technology and supportive care practices, HCT has become safer, and patient survival continues to improve over time. Indications for HCT continue to evolve as research refines the role for HCT in established indications and identifies emerging indications where HCT may be beneficial.

Guidelines for defining and implementing standard episode of care for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the context of clinical trials.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires that health care insurers cover routine patient costs associated with participating in clinical trials for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. There is a need to better define routine costs within the context of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) clinical trials. This white paper presents guidance on behalf of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation for defining a standard HSCT episode and delineates components that may be considered as routine patient costs versus research costs.

Standardization of terminology for episodes of hematopoietic stem cell patient transplant care.

The nomenclature describing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has evolved, adding precision and definition in research and regulation. The lack of coordination and standardization in terminology has left some gaps in the definition of episodes of clinical care. These voids have caused particular problems in contracting for payment and billing for services rendered.

Diabetes medication use and blood lactate level among participants with type 2 diabetes: the atherosclerosis risk in communities carotid MRI study.

Background: The objective of this study is to compare lactate levels between users and non-users of diabetes medications under the hypothesis that the level of lactate is a marker of oxidative capacity.

Methods: The cross-sectional data of 493 participants aged 61-84 with type 2 diabetes who participated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Carotid MRI study were analyzed using survey weighted linear regression.

Results: Median plasma lactate level was 8.

On the electronic structure of nitro-substituted bipyridines and their platinum complexes.

We report the preparation and electrochemical studies of a systematic series of mono- and di-nitro-substituted 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) compounds [x-NO(2)-bipy (x = 3,4) and x,x'-(NO(2))(2)-bipy (x,x' = 3, 4, 5)] and their complexes with platinum(II), [Pt(x-NO(2)-bipy)Cl(2)] and [Pt(x,x'-(NO(2))(2)-bipy)Cl(2)]. The effect of the number and substitution pattern of the nitro groups on the low-lying acceptor molecular orbitals (involved in charge transfer transitions) is probed by in situ UV/Vis/NIR and EPR spectroelectrochemical methods, supported by DFT calculations. The LUMOs of x-NO(2)-bipy (x = 3-5) are largely localised on the NO(2)-pyridyl moiety; this is also true of their {PtCl(2)} complexes but with a small but significant shift of electron density from the nitro groups.

A stochastic simulator of a blood product donation environment with demand spikes and supply shocks.

The availability of an adequate blood supply is a critical public health need. An influenza epidemic or another crisis affecting population mobility could create a critical donor shortage, which could profoundly impact blood availability. We developed a simulation model for the blood supply environment in the United States to assess the likely impact on blood availability of factors such as an epidemic.

Association of blood lactate with type 2 diabetes: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Carotid MRI Study.

Background: Accumulating evidence implicates insufficient oxidative capacity in the development of type 2 diabetes. This notion has not been well tested in large, population-based studies.

Methods: To test this hypothesis, we assessed the cross-sectional association of plasma lactate, an indicator of the gap between oxidative capacity and energy expenditure, with type 2 diabetes in 1709 older adults not taking metformin, who were participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid MRI Study.

Effect of information availability on assessment and designation of species at risk.

Information required to evaluate the extent to which species are at risk of extinction is usually limited and characterized as highly uncertain. In this context, we define information availability as the presence or absence of information used to determine the value of an ecological variable. We examined which of three hypothetical approaches best matched how levels of risk are assigned to species: (1) precautionary approach in which analysts designate levels of risk regardless of the amount of information available, (2) worst-case approach in which analysts assign the maximum level of risk possible from the criteria, and (3) insurance approach in which analysts assign poorly known species to a high-risk category when little information is available.

Association of lactate with blood pressure before and after rapid weight loss.

Background: The mechanism linking obesity with its downstream complications is poorly understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that insufficient oxidative capacity plays a central role in the development of insulin resistance and, perhaps, hypertension.

Methods: To investigate this hypothesis, we measured lactate, a marker of the gap between energy expenditure and oxidative capacity, in 40 obese subjects with the metabolic syndrome (Ob-MS), 40 obese subjects without the metabolic syndrome (Ob), and 20 lean controls (LCs).

Regional and temporal variation in American Red Cross blood donations, 1995 to 2005.

Background: Maintaining a stable blood supply is a critical goal of the American Red Cross Blood Services. Extensive Red Cross data provided the opportunity to assess both long-term and short-term trends in the variation of weekly blood donations.

Study Design And Methods: Overall trends and week-to-week variation in donation rates were assessed in volunteer, whole-blood donations from 1995 to 2005 among three Red Cross donor regions: the Connecticut region, the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac (Maryland) region, and the Southern California region, adjusting for population change, calendar time, age, sex, and donor region.

Hepatic fat and adenosine triphosphate measurement in overweight and obese adults using 1H and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Background/aims: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measures hepatic fat and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but magnetic resonance studies are challenging in obese subjects. We aimed to evaluate the inter- and intrarater reliability and stability of hepatic fat and ATP measurements in a cohort of overweight and obese adults.

Methods: We measured hepatic fat and ATP using proton MRS ((1)H MRS) and phosphorus MRS ((31)P MRS) at baseline in adults enrolled in the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) clinical trial at one site.

Antibodies against fetal brain in sera of mothers with autistic children.

Serum antibodies in 100 mothers of children with autistic disorder (MCAD) were compared to 100 age-matched mothers with unaffected children (MUC) using as antigenic substrates human and rodent fetal and adult brain tissues, GFAP, and MBP. MCAD had significantly more individuals with Western immunoblot bands at 36 kDa in human fetal and rodent embryonic brain tissue. The density of bands was greater in fetal brain at 61 kDa.

Behaviors associated with fever in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Objective: Clinical case reports have suggested that the behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders may improve with fever. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of illness on behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders. Understanding the role of fever, if any, may be informative regarding causative mechanisms of and treatment opportunities for autism.

Using Reiki to decrease memory and behavior problems in mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: This empirical study explored the efficacy of using Reiki treatment to improve memory and behavior deficiencies in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer's disease. Reiki is an ancient hands-on healing technique reputedly developed in Tibet 2500 years ago.

Design: This study was a quasi-experimental study comparing pre- and post-test scores of the Annotated Mini-Mental State Examination (AMMSE) and Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC) after four weekly treatments of Reiki to a control group.

In vitro study of the safety limits of bronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation in the presence of airway stents.

Objective And Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the safety limits of bronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation (APC) around indwelling airway stents.

Methodology: This is an experimental in vitro study simulating a patient-care environment. Uncovered and covered Nitinol (Ultraflex), uncovered and covered Wallstent and studded silicone stents were deployed in the tracheobronchial tree of a ventilated and oxygenated heart-lung block from an expired pig.