Bladder cancer detection, treatment and outcomes: opportunities and challenges.

Bladder cancer (BlCa) is the fifth most common cancer in the United States and one of the ten deadliest. It ranks fifth among all cancers in total costs, consuming almost $3 billion annually, and has an extensive effect on quality of life for survivors and their families. Despite this human and economic toll, BlCa ranks comparatively low on the national agenda.

Cognitive development after traumatic brain injury in young children.

The primary aims of this study were to examine post-injury cognitive development in young children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to investigate the role of the proximal family environment in predicting cognitive outcomes. Age at injury was 3-6 years, and TBI was classified as severe (n = 23), moderate (n = 21), and complicated mild (n = 43). A comparison group of children who sustained orthopedic injuries (OI, n = 117) was also recruited.

The Snf1 kinase and proteasome-associated Rad23 regulate UV-responsive gene expression.

The transcriptional response to damaging agents is of fundamental significance for understanding mechanisms responsible for cell survival and genome maintenance. However, how damage signals are transmitted to the transcriptional apparatus is poorly understood. Here we identify two new regulators of the UV response transcriptome: Snf1, a nutrient-sensing kinase, and Rad23, a nucleotide excision repair factor with no previously known function in transcriptional control.

Patients' Perceptions of Physician-Patient Discussions and Adverse Events with Cancer Therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with cancer who are treated with chemotherapy report adverse events during their treatment, which can affect their quality of life and increase the likelihood that their treatment will not be completed. In this study, patients' perceptions of the physician-patient relationship and communication about cancer-related issues, particularly adverse events were examined. METHODS: We surveyed 508 patients with cancer concerning the occurrence of adverse events and their relationship and communication with their physicians regarding cancer, treatment, and adverse events.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a web-based parenting skills program for young children with traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To report the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a Web-based parenting skills program to reduce behavior problems following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in young children.

Methods: Families of 9 children between the ages of 3 and 8 years with TBI, injured less than 24 months earlier, participated in a pilot study of a Web-based parenting skills program designed to increase positive parenting skills and to improve caregiver stress management and coping. The program consisted of 10 core sessions and up to 4 supplemental sessions.

Fabrication of a pi-phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating at twice the Bragg wavelength with the standard phase mask technique.

A pair of reflection peaks/transmission dips, at twice the Bragg wavelength, were observed in spectra of a Type I fiber Bragg grating written with the standard phase mask technique. The occurrence of two peaks/dips, rather than one, is attributed to the interleaved refractive index modulations along the fiber core, with the periodicity of the phase mask that has been observed previously in images of gratings that cause destructive interference in a reflected wave at the Bragg condition owing to the pi phase difference between the grating phases. Thus the standard phase mask technique produced an alternative type of pi-phase-shifted grating at twice the design Bragg wavelength.

Predicting longitudinal patterns of functional deficits in children with traumatic brain injury.

Longitudinal patterns of functional deficits were investigated in 37 children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), 40 children with moderate TBI, and 44 children with orthopedic injuries. They were from 6 to 12 years of age when injured. Their neuropsychological, behavioral, adaptive, and academic functioning were assessed at 6 months, 12 months, and 3-5 years postinjury.

Butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine anesthesia in free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) using radiotransmitter darts.

Fourteen free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were successfully anesthetized for a total of 15 anesthetic events using a combination of butorphanol (mean+/-SD, 0.58+/-0.1 mg/kg), azaperone (0.

Factors associated with the risk of Giardia species infection in two sympatric species of Peromyscus mice.

An epidemiologic case-control study was conducted to identify factors that predispose Peromyscus spp. to the risk of infection with Giardia sp. in watersheds.

Rhabdomyolysis caused by an interaction of simvastatin and fusidic acid.

A case of severe rhabdomyolysis caused by an interaction between fusidic acid and simvastatin is described. Fusidic acid significantly reduces the excretion of simvastatin resulting in increased plasma levels thereby increasing the side effect profile. Simvastatin treatment should be temporarily withheld during treatment with fusidic acid.

Social information processing skills in adolescents with traumatic brain injury: Relationship with social competence and behavior problems.

Objective: To examine social information processing (SIP) skills, behavior problems, and social competence following adolescent TBI and to determine whether SIP skills were predictive of behavior problems and social competence.

Design: Cross-sectional analyses of adolescents with TBI recruited and enrolled in a behavioral treatment study currently in progress.

Setting: Two tertiary care children's hospitals with Level 1 trauma centers.

Correlation of diffusion tensor imaging with executive function measures after early childhood traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Examine relationships of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fractional anisotropy (FA) to executive function (EF) and attention measures following early childhood (3-7 years) traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Exploratory correlation and comparison study.

Setting: Children's hospital outpatient facilities.

Neural correlates of verbal associative memory and mnemonic strategy use following childhood traumatic brain injury.

Children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often experience memory deficits, although the nature, functional implication, and recovery trajectory of such difficulties are poorly understood. The present fMRI study examined the neural activation patterns in a group of young children who sustained moderate TBI in early childhood (n = 7), and a group of healthy control children (n = 13) during a verbal paired associate learning (PAL) task that promoted the use of two mnemonic strategies differing in efficacy. The children with TBI demonstrated intact memory performance and were able to successfully utilize the mnemonic strategies.

Preliminary efficacy of a Web-based family problem-solving treatment program for adolescents with traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Preliminary report of the efficacy of a Web-based treatment program to improve adolescent and family psychosocial functioning following traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Participants: Families of 9 adolescents with TBI (2 severe and 7 moderate) injured less than 24 months ago participated in this study.

Intervention: A Web-based family treatment program designed to enhance family problem solving and adjustment, as well as reduce adolescent behavioral and social problems that are common sequelae of moderate-to-severe TBI was used as intervention.

Predicting family burden following childhood traumatic brain injury: a cumulative risk approach.

Objective: To examine the utility of a cumulative risk index (CRI) in predicting the family burden of injury (FBI) over time in families of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Participants: One hundred eight children with severe or moderate TBI and their families participated in the study.

Measures: The measures used in the study include the Socioeconomic Composite Index, Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory--Adult Form, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Child Behavior Checklist, Children's Depression Inventory, McMaster Family Assessment Device, Brief Symptom Inventory, and Family Burden of Injury Interview.

Beta-glucuronidase and hexosaminidase are marker enzymes for different compartments of the endo-lysosomal system in mussel digestive cells.

In environmental toxicology, the most commonly used techniques used to visualise lysosomes in order to determine their responses to pollutants (LSC test: lysosomal structural changes test; LMS test: lysosomal membrane stability test) are based on the histochemical application of lysosomal marker enzymes. In mussel digestive cells, the marker enzymes used are beta-glucuronidase (beta-Gus) and hexosaminidase (Hex). The present work has been aimed at determining the distribution of these lysosomal marker enzymes in the various compartments of the endo-lysosomal system (ELS) of mussel digestive cells and at exploring whether intercellular transfer of lysosomal enzymes occurs between digestive and basophilic cells.

A survey of parasites identified in the feces of eastern spotted skunks (Spilogale putorius) in western Arkansas.

The endoparasite community of the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is poorly known. We surveyed parasites found in the feces of 29 eastern spotted skunks captured between March 2005 and January 2007 from a population in west-central Arkansas as part of a broader study of the ecology of the species. We identified 13 species (nine nematodes, four protozoa) from 82 fecal samples.

Validity of impedance-based predictions of total body water as measured by 2H dilution in African HIV/AIDS outpatients.

Measurements of body composition are crucial in identifying HIV-infected patients at risk of malnutrition. No information is available on the validity of indirect body composition methods in African HIV-infected outpatients. Our first aim was to test the validity of fifteen published equations, developed in whites, African-Americans and/or Africans who were or not HIV-infected, for predicting total body water (TBW) from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in HIV-infected patients.

Traumatic brain injury in young children: postacute effects on cognitive and school readiness skills.

Previous studies have documented weaknesses in cognitive ability and early academic readiness in young children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, few of these studies have rigorously controlled for demographic characteristics, examined the effects of TBI severity on a wide range of skills, or explored moderating influences of environmental factors on outcomes. To meet these objectives, each of three groups of children with TBI (20 with severe, 64 with moderate, and 15 with mild) were compared with a group of 117 children with orthopedic injuries (OI group).

Brief report: Description of feasibility and satisfaction findings from an innovative online family problem-solving intervention for adolescents following traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To describe feasibility and satisfaction findings from an innovative online family problem-solving intervention for adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Nine adolescents who sustained a moderate to severe TBI in the previous 24 months and their families participated in a novel, online, manualized treatment program (Teen Online Problem Solving, TOPS) consisting of 10 web-based sessions providing information and interactive exercises on cognitive, social, and behavioral skills typically affected by TBI. Web-based sessions were followed by synchronous video conferences with a therapist to review target skills and apply the problem-solving process to family goals.

Parent perceptions of school-based support for students with traumatic brain injuries.

Primary Objective: To determine whether parents believe schools provided necessary support to their children who sustained traumatic brain injuries.

Research Design: Interview, to determine parent perceptions.

Methods And Procedure: Sixty-six primary caregivers of school-age children who experienced a TBI within the previous 2 years were interviewed regarding what types of special support were needed by and provided for their children during the 3 months immediately following school re-entry.

Design of the POSSIBLE UStrade mark Study: postmenopausal women's compliance and persistence with osteoporosis medications.

Unlabelled: Failure to take prescribed medication is common. The POSSIBLE US study is evaluating the impact of physician and patient characteristics on patient-reported compliance and persistence with osteoporosis medications. We report our study design and the baseline characteristics of 4,994 postmenopausal women recruited from primary care physician offices in 33 states.

Fiber Bragg grating tether used to measure drag forces in neutral buoyancy flow tank tests.

The drag exerted on neutrally buoyant tethered spheres in a flow tank was measured as a function of flow rate. A unique solution to the problem was achieved using an optical fiber including a Bragg grating sensor as part of the tether. Measurements of the strain on the tether taken at flow rates between 0.

Traumatic brain injuries in early childhood: initial impact on the family.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine factors that affect parental burden and distress during the first few months following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in young children.

Methods: Participants were consecutively enrolled children ages 3 through 6 years with either a TBI (n = 89; 21 severe, 22 moderate, and 45 complicated mild) or orthopedic injury (OI; n = 119) requiring hospitalization. During the post-acute period, parents provided information regarding the preinjury family environment and current caregiver functioning and injury-related burden.