Identifying and Predicting Subgroups of Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Based on Distinct Configurations of Postconcussive Symptom Endorsement: A Latent Class Analysis.

Objective: To identify distinct subgroups of veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) based on configurations of postconcussive symptom (PCS) endorsement, and to examine predictors of subgroup membership.

Setting: Outpatient Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Participants: Veterans with clinician-confirmed mTBI who completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), determined using the Comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Evaluation database.

Effects of Hypoxemia by Acute High-Altitude Exposure on Human Intestinal Flora and Metabolism.

This study examined the effects of hypoxemia caused by acute high-altitude hypoxia (AHAH) exposure on the human intestinal flora and its metabolites. The changes in the intestinal flora, metabolism, and erythropoietin content in the AHAH population under altitude hypoxia conditions were comprehensively analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, metabonomics, and erythropoietin content. The results showed that compared with those in the control group (C group), the flora and metabolites in the hypoxemia group (D group) were altered.

Unmet Need for Outpatient Occupational Therapy Services Among Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Veterans Health Administration: The Role of Facility Characteristics.

Objective: To investigate whether participation restrictions, an indicator of need for occupational therapy (OT), was associated with outpatient OT utilization in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and whether this relation differs by facility characteristics.

Design: In a secondary analysis of national VHA data, we used modified Poisson regression to model OT utilization (yes/no) as a function of participation restrictions (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory Participation Index [M2PI]), facility characteristics, and covariates. Facility characteristics included complexity, geographic region, and self-reported access to specialty care.

Review of the relationship and underlying mechanisms between the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and host intestinal flora.

The intestinal microbial community is the largest ecosystem in the human body, in which the intestinal flora plays a dominant role and has a wide range of biological functions. However, it is vulnerable to a variety of factors, and exposure to extreme environments at high altitudes, as seen on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, may cause changes in the structure and function of the host intestinal flora. Conversely, the intestinal flora can help the host adapt to the plateau environment through a variety of ways.

Post-concussive symptoms mediate the relationship between sleep problems and participation restrictions among veterans with mild traumatic brain injury.

Background: Sleep problems are common among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and may contribute to participation restrictions. However, explanatory mechanisms underlying this relationship are poorly understood. Sleep problems are associated with post-concussive symptoms (e.

Changing referral characteristics of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Objective: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most frequent life-threatening hereditary disease. The study objective was to assess whether the clinical characteristics of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease who are referred to a major autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease center have changed over time.

Methods: The clinical characteristics of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease were compared between period A (1961-1990) and period B (1991-2011).

Serum uric acid, kidney volume and progression in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: Hyperuricemia has been implicated in the development and progression of chronic kidney disease, both in animal experiments and in clinical studies. As a potentially modifiable risk factor, we examined whether serum uric acid levels correlate with early hypertension, kidney volume and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospective observational study of the natural history of ADPKD, conducted at the University of Colorado between 1985 and 2005.

Prevalence of cardiovascular events in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: This study evaluates the prevalence of cardiovascular events in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients.

Methods: We distributed surveys to 1,439 subjects from our ADPKD research database. In total, 426 subjects completed and returned surveys; 7 of these were from children and were excluded from the study.

The impact of type II diabetes mellitus in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: The epidemic of obesity and diabetes is increasing within the USA and worldwide. We have previously shown that body mass index has increased significantly in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) subjects seen at our center in more recent years. However, the impact of Type II diabetes in ADPKD patients has not been well studied.

Glomerular hyperfiltration and renal progression in children with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether glomerular hyperfiltration (GH) occurring early in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is indicative of more rapid disease progression in children.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: One hundred eighty children with ADPKD (ages 4 to 18 years) with normal renal function were examined by renal ultrasound. Renal volume was calculated using a standard formula for a modified ellipsoid.

Renal ultrasonographic evaluation in children at risk of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: To date, there are no criteria for diagnosing autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in at-risk children 15 years or younger.

Study Design: Longitudinal (retrospective cohort study).

Setting & Participants: 420 children (mean age, 8.

Identifying altered gene expression in neuroblastoma cells preceding apoptosis.

Purpose: Concomitant differentiation and partial inhibition of proteasome trigger cell death in a neuroblastoma cell line (NBP2). Neither induction of differentiation nor partial inhibition of proteasome alone affects the viability of NBP2 cells. We wanted to identify genes whose expression alters under concomitant conditions and may account for cell death.

Prostaglandin-induced neurodegeneration is associated with increased levels of oxidative markers and reduced by a mixture of antioxidants.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), one product of inflammatory reactions, and PGA1, which is formed during PGE2 extraction, induce degeneration in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-induced differentiated neuroblastoma (NB) cells in culture. The mechanisms of action of PGE2 on neurodegeneration are not well understood. To investigate this, we have utilized PGA(1), which mimics the effect of PGE2 and is very stable in solution.

Role of the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in enhancing the efficacy of siRNA-mediated gene silencing in neuroblastoma cells.

Gene-silencing activity mediated by siRNA has been demonstrated in mammalian cells; however, the mechanism of its regulation is not well understood. Since downregulation of a number of genes occurs during adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-induced differentiation of neuroblastoma (NB) cells, it is possible that cAMP may play a role in regulating siRNA activity during differentiation. To study this, we utilized an NB cell line (NBP2-PN25) that expresses a short-lived green fluorescent protein (d2EGFP) under the CMV promoter.

Overexpression of alpha-synuclein decreased viability and enhanced sensitivity to prostaglandin E(2), hydrogen peroxide, and a nitric oxide donor in differentiated neuroblastoma cells.

Increased accumulation of alpha-synuclein is associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). One mechanism of alpha-synuclein-induced toxicity involves increased oxidative stress. It was unknown whether neurons overexpressing alpha-synuclein would exhibit increased sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) or 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1; a nitrous oxide donor).

Overexpression of amyloid precursor protein is associated with degeneration, decreased viability, and increased damage caused by neurotoxins (prostaglandins A1 and E2, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide) in differentiated neuroblastoma cells.

Inflammatory reactions are considered one of the important etiologic factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prostaglandins such as PGE2 and PGA1 and free radicals are some of the agents released during inflammatory reactions, and they are neurotoxic. The mechanisms of their action are not well understood.

Altered expression of genes regulating cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis during adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-induced differentiation of neuroblastoma cells in culture.

An elevation of the intracellular levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) induces terminal differentiation in neuroblastoma (NB) cells in culture; however, genetic alterations during differentiation have not been fully identified. To investigate this, we used Mouse Genome U74A microarray containing approximately 6000 functionally characterized genes to measure changes in gene expression in murine NB cells 30 min and 4, 24, and 72 h after treatment with cAMP-stimulating agents. Based on the time of increase in differentiated functions and their status (reversible versus irreversible) after treatment with cAMP-stimulating agents, the induction of differentiation in NB cells was divided into three distinct phases: initiation (about 4 h after treatment when no increase in differentiated functions is detectable), promotion (about 24 h after treatment when an increase in differentiated functions occurs, but they are reversible upon the removal of cAMP), and maintenance (about 72 h after treatment when differentiated functions are maximally expressed, but they are irreversible upon the removal of cAMP).

Alpha-tocopheryl succinate, the most effective form of vitamin E for adjuvant cancer treatment: a review.

In 1982, it was established that alpha-tocopheryl succinate (alpha-TS) was the most effective form of vitamin E in comparison to alpha-tocopherol, alpha-tocopheryl acetate and alpha-tocopheryl nicotinate in inducing differentiation, inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis in cancer cells, depending upon its concentration. During the last two decades, several studies have confirmed this observation in rodent and human cancer cells in culture and in vivo (animal model). The most exciting aspect of this alpha-TS effect is that it does not affect the proliferation of most normal cells.