The relationship between epigenetic age and the hallmarks of aging in human cells.

Epigenetic clocks are mathematically derived age estimators that are based on combinations of methylation values that change with age at specific CpGs in the genome. These clocks are widely used to measure the age of tissues and cells. The discrepancy between epigenetic age (EpiAge), as estimated by these clocks, and chronological age is referred to as EpiAge acceleration.

Endothelial cell vasodilator dysfunction mediates progressive pregnancy-induced hypertension in endothelial cell tetrahydrobiopterin deficient mice.

Background And Purpose: Pregnancy-associated vascular remodelling is essential for both maternal and fetal health. We have previously shown that maternal endothelial cell tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency causes poor pregnancy outcomes. Here, we investigated the role and mechanisms of endothelial cell-mediated vasorelaxation function in these outcomes.

A rare case of sphenoid sinus lymphoma.

Malignancy of the sphenoid sinus is rare. Tumors may extend to adjacent anatomic structures before detection and may be easily missed. Outcomes are typically poor and vary by tumor type.

Endothelial GTPCH (GTP Cyclohydrolase 1) and Tetrahydrobiopterin Regulate Gestational Blood Pressure, Uteroplacental Remodeling, and Fetal Growth.

[Figure: see text].

On the turbulence structure of deep katabatic flows on a gentle mesoscale slope.

A comprehensive analysis of the turbulence structure of relatively deep midlatitude katabatic flows (with jet maxima between 20 and 50 m) developing over a gentle (1°) mesoscale slope with a long fetch upstream of the Meteor Crater in Arizona is presented. The turbulence structure of flow below the katabatic jet maximum shows many similarities with the turbulence structure of shallower katabatic flows, with decreasing turbulence fluxes with height and almost constant turbulent Prandtl number. Still stark differences occur above the jet maximum where turbulence is suppressed by strong stability, is anisotropic and there is a large sub-mesoscale contribution to the flux.

The effect of LRRK2 loss-of-function variants in humans.

Human genetic variants predicted to cause loss-of-function of protein-coding genes (pLoF variants) provide natural in vivo models of human gene inactivation and can be valuable indicators of gene function and the potential toxicity of therapeutic inhibitors targeting these genes. Gain-of-kinase-function variants in LRRK2 are known to significantly increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, suggesting that inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity is a promising therapeutic strategy. While preclinical studies in model organisms have raised some on-target toxicity concerns, the biological consequences of LRRK2 inhibition have not been well characterized in humans.

Coupling between Chemical and Meteorological Processes under Persistent Cold-Air Pool Conditions: Evolution of Wintertime PM Pollution Events and NO Observations in Utah's Salt Lake Valley.

The Salt Lake Valley experiences severe fine particulate matter pollution episodes in winter during persistent cold-air pools (PCAPs). We employ measurements throughout an entire winter from different elevations to examine the chemical and dynamical processes driving these episodes. Whereas primary pollutants such as NO and CO were enhanced twofold during PCAPs, O concentrations were approximately threefold lower.

Mincle Signaling Promotes Con A Hepatitis.

Con A hepatitis is regarded as a T cell-mediated model of acute liver injury. Mincle is a C-type lectin receptor that is critical in the immune response to mycobacteria and fungi but does not have a well-defined role in preclinical models of non-pathogen-mediated inflammation. Because Mincle can ligate the cell death ligand SAP130, we postulated that Mincle signaling drives intrahepatic inflammation and liver injury in Con A hepatitis.

Major Trauma and the Elder West Virginian: A Six Year Review at a Level I Trauma Center.

Background: Trauma was the seventh leading cause of death for persons 65 and older in West Virginia (WV) in 2010. In 2007, fatality rates for both accidental falls and motor vehicle crashes were higher in West Virginia than the nation as a whole. US Census Data from 2010 showed WV to have one of the oldest median ages in the nation (surpassed by Maine and Vermont) and currently 16% of the population of WV is over 65 years of age.

Turbulent Fluxes and Pollutant Mixing during Wintertime Air Pollution Episodes in Complex Terrain.

Cold air pools (CAPs) are stagnant stable air masses that form in valleys and basins in the winter. Low wintertime insolation limits convective mixing, such that pollutant concentrations can build up within the CAP when pollutant sources are present. In the western United States, wintertime CAPs often persist for days or weeks.

Advice on stroke provided by pharmacies in the United States: implications for treatment and care.

Objectives: Studies have found that some health lines and physician's offices have provided treatment advice other than "call 9-1-1 for an ambulance" to patients who present with a stroke scenario. We assessed the treatment advice given by selected pharmacies in the United States regarding stroke.

Methods: The investigators called 73 randomly selected pharmacies and informed respondents that the caller's mother had experienced stroke-like symptoms several days earlier.

Trauma patient access: the role of the emergency medical services system in North-Central West Virginia.

Unlabelled: Trauma patients face many obstacles as they access the healthcare system in North-Central West Virginia. This study highlights some of these barriers and discusses administrative and legislative initiatives that could help mitigate the disparities that rural trauma patients face.

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study utilizing information from the West Virginia University (WVU) MedCom Database.

The use of technology to reduce radiation exposure in trauma patients transferred to a level I trauma center.

Background: Patients with traumatic injuries transferred from rural hospitals to tertiary centers in West Virginia frequently undergo repeat computed axial tomography (CT) imaging upon arrival. The traditional method of sending images on a compact disc (CD) with EMS can be unreliable due to software incompatibility, CD malfunction, or misplacement of the CD. Given the known risks associated with ionizing radiation, physicians are increasingly aware of the need to avoid unnecessary CT imaging.

Injury prevention and recreational all-terrain vehicle use: the impact of helmet use in West Virginia.

Unlabelled: All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are a popular source of outdoor activity in the United States, particularly in West Virginia. During the period of time from 1999 to 2007, deaths associated with ATVs in West Virginia increased by 28%. Helmet use among bicycle and motorcycle riders has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality following trauma.

Pediatric bicycle injury prevention and the effect of helmet use: the West Virginia experience.

Objectives: The primary objective was evaluation of the injury pattern of children 14 years old or less involved in bicycle accidents and comparison of the differences between those wearing a helmet and not wearing a helmet.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all pediatric patients involved in bicycle crashes from 2008 through 2010 who were treated within the West Virginia Trauma System. A case was selected for further analysis if "bicycle" and "blunt cause of injury" were present in the Mechanism of Injury field and if age was 14 years old or less.

Falls and dilemmas in injury prevention in older West Virginians.

Unlabelled: Falls are the number one cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in West Virginia senior citizens. Poor outcomes following falls are exacerbated by numerous comorbidities which are prevalent in the elderly population in West Virginia. This study describes the injury patterns, resource utilization and dispositions of WV seniors injured in a fall.

Major trauma in West Virginia dementia patients injury patterns, discharge dispositions and implications for treatment and injury prevention.

Our study examines injury patterns, treatment implications, discharge disposition, and injury prevention for trauma patients with dementia. It is a retrospective observational study of trauma patients at the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center at West Virginia University Hospitals. Causes of injury, injuries sustained, and discharge disposition were examined in 286 trauma patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia and 5,865 trauma patients without dementia.

Primary care office responses to a stroke scenario.

Purpose: One previous study found that healthlines affiliated with academic neurology programs recommended non-emergent treatment for a hypothetical stroke scenario almost one quarter of the time, which could contribute to patients presenting too late for time dependent stroke therapies. We assessed the treatment advice given in a hypothetical stroke scenario by primary care physician offices across the United States.

Methods: We obtained a national listing of United States primary care physician offices from Yellowpages.

Effect of age and number of parturitions on uterine and ovarian variables in owl monkeys.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the uterine and ovarian volumes of owl monkeys in different age groups with different numbers of live births and to analyze the interaction between both.

Methods: We performed pelvic ultrasound exams to compare the uterine measurements with weight, age (infant, juvenile, subadult, young adults, and adults) and the number of live births (nulliparous, primiparous, and multiparous) and to compare the ovarian measurements with weight and age.

Results And Conclusions: The uterine volume (UV) was directly proportional to the number of parturitions, which was the most important factor in the uterine growth of adult females (P < 0.

Concurrent validity of four clinical tests used to measure hamstring flexibility.

The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent validity of 4 clinical tests used to measure hamstring muscle length. A pilot study (N = 10) was conducted to determine the intratester reliability of 4 hamstring length measures: knee extension angle (KEA), sacral angle (SA), straight leg raise (SLR), and sit and reach (SR). The pilot investigation revealed good to excellent intratester reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.

National healthline responses to a stroke scenario: implications for early intervention.

Background And Purpose: Acute stroke is a time-dependent emergency in which patients often arrive outside of the therapeutic treatment windows. To determine the role that healthlines may have in promoting early presentation, this study evaluated patterns of healthline triage of potential stroke patients.

Methods: Phone numbers of healthlines at 82 United States hospitals with neurology residencies were acquired.

Uterine evaluation and gestation diagnosis in owl monkey (Aotus azarai infulatus) using the B mode ultrasound.

Background: Gynecological and obstetrical ultrasonography has become an indispensable tool in the routine management, health evaluation and research on captive non-human primates.

Methods: Ultrasound was used to evaluate the uterus and estimate the gestation of owl monkeys. Twelve couples were selected, where five were primiparous and seven multiparous females from the National Primate Center reproductive colony, Ananindeua-PA, Brazil.