Purpose: To assess how often non-infectious anterior scleritis remits and identify predictive factors.
Methods: Our retrospective cohort study at four ocular inflammation subspecialty centers collected data for each affected eye/patient at every visit from center inception (1978, 1978, 1984, 2005) until 2010. Remission was defined as inactivity of disease off all suppressive medications at all visits spanning at least three consecutive months or at all visits up to the last visit (to avoid censoring patients stopping follow-up after remission).
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors. Class 2 NRs, such as the liver X receptor (LXR)α and (LXR)β, are typically retained in the nucleus bound to the DNA in both the presence and absence of ligand. Upon binding ligands including hydroxylated cholesterol, LXR releases corepressor proteins in exchange for coactivators resulting in target gene transcription.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncreasingly large presence-only survey datasets are becoming available for use in conservation assessments. Potentially, these records could be used to determine spatial patterns of plant species rarity and endemism. We test the integration of a large South Korean species record database with Rabinowitz rarity classes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To describe epidemiological trends, risk factors, and hospital-associated charges for patients presenting with hyphema to emergency departments (EDs) throughout the United States (U.S.).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxysterols can contribute to proliferation of breast cancer through activation of the Estrogen Receptors, and to metastasis through activation of the Liver X Receptors. Endogenous levels of both esterified and free sidechain-hydroxylated oxysterols were examined in breast cancer tumours from Estrogen Receptor positive and negative breast tumours, using a novel fast liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Multiple aliquots of five milligram samples of 22 tumours were analysed for oxysterol content to assess intra- and inter-tumour variation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCertain general facets of biotic response to climate change, such as shifts in phenology and geographic distribution, are well characterized; however, it is not clear whether the observed similarity of responses across taxa will extend to variation in other population-level processes. We examined population response to climatic variation using long-term incidence data (collected over 42 years) encompassing 149 butterfly species and considerable habitat diversity (10 sites along an elevational gradient from sea level to over 2,700 m in California). Population responses were characterized by extreme heterogeneity that was not attributable to differences in species composition among sites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere has been an increase in the number of units providing anaesthesia for magnetic resonance imaging and the strength of magnetic resonance scanners, as well as the number of interventions and operations performed within the magnetic resonance environment. More devices and implants are now magnetic resonance imaging conditional, allowing scans to be undertaken in patients for whom this was previously not possible. There has also been a revision in terminology relating to magnetic resonance safety of devices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Adults with HIV have an increased burden of non-AIDS-defining cancers, myocardial infarction, end-stage liver disease, and end-stage renal disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the population attributable fractions (PAFs) of preventable or modifiable HIV-related and traditional risk factors for non-AIDS-defining cancers, myocardial infarction, end-stage liver disease, and end-stage renal disease outcomes.
Methods: We included participants receiving care in academic and community-based outpatient HIV clinical cohorts in the USA and Canada from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2014, who contributed to the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design and who had validated non-AIDS-defining cancers, myocardial infarction, end-stage liver disease, or end-stage renal disease outcomes.
Purpose: To assess sampling bias in national viral suppression (VS) estimates derived from the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) resulting from use of an abbreviated (four-month) annual sampling period. We aimed to improve VS estimates using cohort data from the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) and a novel cohort-adjustment method.
Methods: Using full calendar years of NA-ACCORD data, we assessed timing of HIV care attendance (inside vs.
Objective: We evaluated the associations between time-varying methotrexate (MTX) use and risk of cardiovascular events (CVE) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: We studied an inception cohort of 23,994 patients with RA diagnosed after their 65th birthday. Multivariable Cox regression models were fit to evaluate the associations between time-varying MTX use, controlling for other risk factors, and time to CVE.
The prion hypothesis proposes a causal relationship between the misfolded prion protein (PrPSc) molecular entity and the disease transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Variations in the conformation of PrPSc are associated with different forms of TSE and different risks to animal and human health. Since the discovery of atypical forms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2003, scientists have progressed the molecular characterisation of the associated PrPSc in order to better understand these risks, both in cattle as the natural host and following experimental transmission to other species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech
November 2018
MicroRNAs and RNA-binding proteins exert regulation on >60% of coding genes, yet interplay between them is little studied. Canonical microRNA binding occurs by base-pairing of microRNA 3'-ends to complementary "seed regions" in mRNA 3'UTRs, resulting in translational repression. Similarly, regulatory RNA-binding proteins bind to mRNAs, modifying stability or translation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeterogeneous catalysts with atomically defined active centers hold great promise for high-performance applications. Among them, catalysts featuring active moieties with more than one metal atom are important for chemical reactions that require synergistic effects but are rarer than single atom catalysts (SACs). The difficulty in synthesizing such catalysts has been a key challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of 3 regional corticosteroid injections for uveitic macular edema (ME): periocular triamcinolone acetonide (PTA), intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (ITA), and the intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI).
Design: Multicenter, randomized clinical trial.
Participants: Patients with uveitic ME.
Background: It is not known whether immune dysfunction is associated with increased risk of death after cancer diagnosis in persons with HIV (PWH). AIDS-defining illness (ADI) can signal significant immunosuppression. Our objective was to determine differences in cancer stage and mortality rates in PWH with and without history of ADI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The United States National HIV/AIDS Strategy established goals to reduce disparities in retention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, and viral suppression. The impact of sex, age, and sexual HIV acquisition risk (ie, heterosexual vs same-sex contact) on the magnitude of HIV-related racial/ethnic disparities is not well understood.
Methods: We estimated age-stratified racial/ethnic differences in the 5-year restricted mean percentage of person-time spent in care, on ART, and virally suppressed among 19 521 women (21.
Purpose: To review the evidence on the safety and efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: A literature search of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases was last conducted in February 2017; there were no date restrictions, and the search was limited to studies published in English. The combined searches yielded 191 citations, 28 of which were selected because they were clinical trials and were deemed clinically relevant for the Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee Retina/Vitreous Panel to review in full.
Importance: Electronic health record (EHR) systems based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coding of disease entities are increasingly being used to generate large data sets for analysis. However, the reproducibility of ICD-10 coding in uveitis has not been assessed across EHR platforms, and imprecision in coding may lead to improper conclusions in big-data analyses.
Objective: To compare ICD-10 coding of uveitis using 2 EHR systems.
Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the USA.
Patients And Methods: This study entailed analysis of claims data for patients with RA who initiated treatment with oral methotrexate (MTX) or a biologic in 2009 (n=48,910) or 2012 (n=107,636) and had follow-up for 4 years (2009 cohort) or 2 years (2012 cohort).
Results: A biologic was initiated before MTX for 27% of the 2009 cohort and 36% of the 2012 cohort.
Although a plethora of habitat-connectivity plans exists, protecting and restoring connectivity through on-the-ground action has been slow. We identified challenges to and opportunities for connectivity conservation through a literature review of project implementation, a workshop with scientists and conservation practitioners, 3 case studies of connectivity projects, and interviews with conservation professionals. Connectivity challenges and solutions tended to be context specific, dependent on land-ownership patterns, socioeconomic factors, and the policy framework.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To test the feasibility of reporting on 4 national performance measures for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 5 different models of care.
Methods: The following performance measures were evaluated in 5 models of care: waiting time (WT) to rheumatologist consultation, percentage of patients seen in yearly followup (FU), percentage taking disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), and time to starting DMARD. All models aimed to improve early access and care for patients with RA.
The synthesis, structure, and electrochemistry in Na cells of NaFe MO positive electrode materials with M = Ni, CoNi, and Co are reported. In particular, the properties of O3-NaFeO-NaCoNiO solid solutions having compositions NaFe (CoNi)O with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 are explored.
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