Predicting conversion from MCI to AD by integrating rs-fMRI and structural MRI.

Structural MRI (sMRI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) have provided promising results in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), though the utility of integrating sMRI with rs-fMRI has not been explored thoroughly. We investigated the performances of rs-fMRI and sMRI in single modality and multi-modality approaches for classifying patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who progress to probable AD-MCI converter (MCI-C) from those with MCI who do not progress to probable AD-MCI non-converter (MCI-NC). The cortical and subcortical measurements, e.

Implementing a condensed dialectical behavior therapy skills group for binge-eating behaviors in adolescents.

Purpose: Subthreshold binge-eating disorder (BED) symptoms can lead to additive physical and psychological health challenges and may put youth at risk for developing BED during the early adulthood. We examined the implementation of a condensed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills intervention for subthreshold binge-eating behaviors in adolescents.

Methods: Fifteen 14-18 years old participated in a 10-week DBT skills group, which experientially introduced mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills in the context of emotionally driven overeating behaviors.

Ovarian masses in the child and adolescent: An American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Evidence-Based Practice Committee systematic review.

Background: The treatment of ovarian masses in pediatric patients should balance appropriate surgical management with the preservation of future reproductive capability. Preoperative estimation of malignant potential is essential to planning an optimal surgical strategy.

Methods: The American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Evidence-Based Practice Committee drafted three consensus-based questions regarding the evaluation and treatment of ovarian masses in pediatric patients.

Biorepository and integrative genomics initiative: designing and implementing a preliminary platform for predictive, preventive and personalized medicine at a pediatric hospital in a historically disadvantaged community in the USA.

Current healthcare is evolving to emphasize cost-effective care by leveraging results and outcomes of genomic and other advanced research efforts in clinical care and preventive health planning. Through a collaborative effort between the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital (LBCH), the Biorepository and Integrative Genomics (BIG) Initiative was established to set up a pediatric-based DNA biorepository that can serve as a foundation for successful development of delivery platforms for predictive, preventive, and personalized medical services in Memphis, Tennessee, a historically disadvantaged community in the USA. In this paper, we describe the steps that were followed to establish the biorepository.

Comparing molecular quantification of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with quantitative structural and functional disease severity in patients with HSV encephalitis (HSVE): Implications for improved therapeutic approaches.

Background: Herpes Simplex Virus encephalitis (HSVE) is a devastating disease of all ages. Rigorous studies correlating viral load with neuroradiological and clinical severity have not been performed, particularly in neonates. Understanding these relationships may improve therapies.

Influenza in Asthmatics: For Better or for Worse?

Asthma and influenza are two pathologic conditions of the respiratory tract that affect millions worldwide. Influenza virus of the 2009 pandemic was highly transmissible and caused severe respiratory disease in young and middle-aged individuals. Asthma was discovered to be an underlying co-morbidity that led to hospitalizations during this influenza pandemic albeit with less severe outcomes.

Comparison of antiviral resistance across acute and chronic viral infections.

Antiviral therapy can lead to drug resistance, but multiple factors determine the frequency of drug resistance mutations and the clinical consequences. When chronic infections caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) are compared with acute infections such as influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses, there are similarities in how and why antiviral resistance substitutions occur, but the clinical significance can be quite different. Emergence of resistant variants has implications for design of new therapeutics, treatment guidelines, clinical trial design, resistance monitoring, reporting, and interpretation.

Alström syndrome: Renal findings in correlation with obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and cardiomyopathy in 38 patients prospectively evaluated at the NIH clinical center.

Alström Syndrome is a ciliopathy associated with obesity, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiomyopathy, retinal degeneration, hearing loss, progressive liver and kidney disease, and normal cognitive function. ALMS1, the protein defective in this disorder, localizes to the cytoskeleton, microtubule organizing center, as well as the centrosomes and ciliary basal bodies and plays roles in formation and maintenance of cilia, cell cycle regulation, and endosomal trafficking. Kidney disease in this disorder has not been well characterized.

Secretory phospholipase A group IIA enhances the metabolic rate and increases glucose utilization in response to thyroid hormone.

Secretory phospholipase A group IIA (PLA2G2A) is a phospholipase which has a role in inflammation, atherogenesis, and host defense. Previously, we found that PLA2G2A protects mice on high-fat diets from weight gain and insulin resistance. Here, we examined the regulation of PLA2G2A and the metabolic changes that occur in response to variations in thyroid status.

Use of real-time semiquantitative PCR data in management of a neonatal intensive care unit adenovirus outbreak.

Objective: To describe an adenovirus outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), including the use of qualitative and semiquantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data to inform the outbreak response.

Design: Mixed prospective and retrospective observational study.

Setting: A level IV NICU in the southeastern United States.

Socio-demographic, maternal, and child indicators of socioemotional problems in 2-year-old children: A cohort study.

Throughout infancy and early childhood, stable and secure relationships with caregivers are needed to promote optimal socioemotional (SE) and cognitive development.The objective is to examine socio-demographic, maternal, and child indicators of SE problems in 2-year-olds living in an urban-suburban community in the southern United States.Mother-infant pairs enrolled in a prospective pregnancy cohort study.

The Preventable Shunt Revision Rate: A Multicenter Evaluation.

Background: The Preventable Shunt Revision Rate (PSRR) was recently introduced as a novel quality metric.

Objective: To evaluate the PSRR across multiple centers and determine associated variables.

Methods: Nine participating centers in North America provided at least 2 years of consecutive shunt operations.

Phantom Sensations Following Brachial Plexus Nerve Block: A Case Report.

Following the administration of brachial plexus anesthesia for right thumb carpometacarpal arthroplasty with ligament reconstruction, a 54-year-old woman with all limbs intact developed phantom limb sensations, including the misperception of the placement of her right arm and frozen limb sensations in her fingers. Immobility of her fingers in a stacked position was experienced for ~3.5 days after surgery, and she described her phantom sensations as the hand experiencing "tingling" and feeling "heavy.

Using Bradford's law of scattering to identify the core journals of pediatric surgery.

Background: Bradford's law of scattering defines an exponentially diminishing return when extending a search for references in journals and can be used to identify the "core" journals in a field. The purpose of this study was to identify the core journals of pediatric surgery.

Methods: With Institutional Review Board approval, we developed bibliometric profiles for the top academically productive pediatric surgeons in the United States.

Impaired growth outcomes in children with congenital colorectal diseases.

Background: Cloaca, Hirschsprung disease, and anorectal malformations (CHARM) are congenital anomalies of the hindgut. Small series have suggested that children suffering from one of these anomalies may be at risk for growth impairment. We sought to expand on these findings in a comprehensive cohort, hypothesizing that patients with Medicaid insurance or African-American (AA) race would be at higher risk for poor growth.

New mouse model of pulmonary hypertension induced by respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been observed in up to 75% of infants with moderate to severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in infants with congenital heart disease. The purpose of the present study was to establish a mouse model of PH secondary to RSV bronchiolitis that mimics the disease etiology as it occurs in infants. Neonatal mice were infected with RSV at 5 days of age and then reinfected 4 wk later.

A review of current theories and treatments for phantom limb pain.

Following amputation, most amputees still report feeling the missing limb and often describe these feelings as excruciatingly painful. Phantom limb sensations (PLS) are useful while controlling a prosthesis; however, phantom limb pain (PLP) is a debilitating condition that drastically hinders quality of life. Although such experiences have been reported since the early 16th century, the etiology remains unknown.

Association of Comorbidities With Adverse Outcomes After Enterostomy Closure in Premature Neonates.

This study uses the 2012-2015 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program–Pediatric database to examine the safety of enterostomy closure in premature neonates weighing less than 2 kg and identify risk factors for adverse outcomes.

Chronic features of allergic asthma are enhanced in the absence of resistin-like molecule-beta.

Asthma is characterized by inflammation and architectural changes in the lungs. A number of immune cells and mediators are recognized as initiators of asthma, although therapeutics based on these are not always effective. The multifaceted nature of this syndrome necessitate continued exploration of immunomodulators that may play a role in pathogenesis.

Radical containing combustion derived particulate matter enhance pulmonary Th17 inflammation via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

Background: Pollutant particles containing environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) are formed during many combustion processes (e.g. thermal remediation of hazardous wastes, diesel/gasoline combustion, wood smoke, cigarette smoke, etc.

Comprehensive Endocrine-Metabolic Evaluation of Patients With Alström Syndrome Compared With BMI-Matched Controls.

Background: Alström syndrome (AS), a monogenic form of obesity, is caused by recessive mutations in the centrosome- and basal body-associated gene ALMS1. AS is characterized by retinal dystrophy, sensory hearing loss, cardiomyopathy, childhood obesity, and metabolic derangements.

Objective: We sought to characterize the endocrine and metabolic features of AS while accounting for obesity as a confounder by comparing patients with AS to body mass index (BMI)-matched controls.

Time-restricted feeding of a high-fat diet in male C57BL/6 mice reduces adiposity but does not protect against increased systemic inflammation.

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) limits the duration of food availability without altering diet composition and can combat obesity in humans and mice. For this study we evaluated the effect of timing of food access during a TRF protocol on weight gain, adiposity, and inflammation. Young male C57BL/6 mice were placed on a high-fat (HF) diet (45% fat) for 8 weeks.