Cervical Cancer: Preventable Deaths Among American Indian/Alaska Native Communities.

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals have twice the mortality rate of cervical cancer than the general US population. Participation in prevention programs such as cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination are under-utilized in this population. There are high rates of established cervical cancer risk factors among this community, with AI/AN people having a higher likelihood of infection with high-risk HPV strains not included in the 9-valent vaccine.

Circulating CD200 is increased in the secretory phase of women with endometriosis as is endometrial mRNA, and endometrial stromal cell CD200R1 is increased in spite of reduced mRNA.

Problem: Estrogen-dependent extrauterine implantation and growth of menstrual endometrial tissue affects roughly 10% of reproductive age women and depends on suppression of local innate immune defenses to prevent ectopic tissue rejection. Immunohistochemistry has shown the immune check-point inhibitor CD200 which can suppress rejection is expressed in eutopic endometrium and in ectopic deposits. Soluble CD200 accumulated in venules draining eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis cases in the secretory phase but not proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, and should be increased in the circulation.

Ionic Channels as Potential Targets for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that directly affects brain functions and can culminate in delayed intellectual development, problems in verbal communication, difficulties in social interaction, and stereotyped behaviors. Its etiology reveals a genetic basis that can be strongly influenced by socio-environmental factors. Ion channels controlled by ligand voltage-activated calcium, sodium, and potassium channels may play important roles in modulating sensory and cognitive responses, and their dysfunctions may be closely associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD.

Postoperative antibiotic use and the incidence of intra-abdominal abscess in the setting of suppurative appendicitis: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Although guidelines exist for postoperative antibiotic use in acute appendicitis that is perforated, gangrenous, or simple/uncomplicated, there are less data about its use in suppurative appendicitis. Here, we targeted this subgroup of patients to determine whether postoperative antibiotic administration affects incidence of intra-abdominal abscess formation.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 1,192 patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Hospital between August 2010 and August 2013.

Vascular patterns in the heads of crocodilians: blood vessels and sites of thermal exchange.

Extant crocodilians are a highly apomorphic archosaur clade that is ectothermic, yet often achieve large body sizes that can be subject to higher heat loads. Therefore, the anatomical and physiological roles that blood vessels play in crocodilian thermoregulation need further investigation to better understand how crocodilians establish and maintain cephalic temperatures and regulate neurosensory tissue temperatures during basking and normal activities. The cephalic vascular anatomy of extant crocodilians, particularly American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) was investigated using a differential-contrast, dual-vascular injection technique and high resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT).

Perceptions of the Environment and Health Among Members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Indigenous cultures perceive the natural environment as an essential link between traditional cultural practices, social connectedness, identity, and health. Many tribal communities face substantial health disparities related to exposure to environmental hazards. Our study used qualitative methods to better understand the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) members' perspectives about their environment and its connections with their health including views on environmental health hazards.

AKAP5 and AKAP12 Form Homo-oligomers.

Background: A-kinase-anchoring proteins, AKAPs, constitute a family of scaffolds that play an essential role in catalyzing the spatial-temporal, dynamic interactions of protein kinase A, protein kinase C, tyrosine kinases, G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels. We studied AKAP5 (AKAP79; MW ~47 kDa) and AKAP12 (gravin, SSECKS; MW ~191 kDa) to probe if these AKAP scaffolds oligomerize.

Results: In gel analysis and sodium-dodecyl sulfate denaturation, AKAP12 behaved with a MW of a homo-dimer.

Fine needle aspiration of parapharyngeal space adult rhabdomyoma: a case report.

Background: Rhabdomyomas are rare benign tumors of striated muscle and include cardiac and extracardiac types. Extracardiac rhabdomyomas are divided in three subtypes (adult, fetal, genital). The adult type is usually found in the head and neck regions of elderly persons.

AKAR2-AKAP12 fusion protein "biosenses" dynamic phosphorylation and localization of a GPCR-based scaffold.

Background: The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) plays a pivotal role in virtually all cells, there being a multitude of important target molecules that are substrates for PKA in cell signaling. The spatial-temporal dynamics of PKA activation in living cells has been made accessible by the development of clever biosensors that yield a FRET signal in response to the phosphorylation by PKA. AKAR2 is genetically encoded fluorescent probe that acts as a biosensor for PKA activation.

Magnetic resonance imaging and brain histopathology in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often demonstrates brain lesions in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). The present study compared postmortem histopathology with premortem MRI in NPSLE.

Methods: Two hundred subjects with NPSLE were studied prospectively with MRI over a 10-year period during which 22 subjects died.

Proteomics computational analyses suggest that the bornavirus glycoprotein is a class III viral fusion protein (gamma penetrene).

Background: Borna disease virus (BDV) is the type member of the Bornaviridae, a family of viruses that induce often fatal neurological diseases in horses, sheep and other animals, and have been proposed to have roles in certain psychiatric diseases of humans. The BDV glycoprotein (G) is an extensively glycosylated protein that migrates with an apparent molecular mass of 84,000 to 94,000 kilodaltons (kDa). BDV G is post-translationally cleaved by the cellular subtilisin-like protease furin into two subunits, a 41 kDa amino terminal protein GP1 and a 43 kDa carboxyl terminal protein GP2.

Implementation of a nurse-driven sedation protocol in the ICU.

Background: Managing anxiety, pain and delirium in critically ill patients is an ongoing challenge. Differences in physician practice, variations of pharmacological agents, as well as concentrations and units can increase the risk of medication error Personal preferences, subjectivity, and nurses' level of expertise are variables when titrating analgesic and sedation infusions.

Purpose: The purpdse of this study was to evaluate the perceived benefits of implementing a standardized nurse-driven sedation protocol in the ICU.

Characterization of enantiomeric bile acid-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines.

Bile acids are steroid detergents that are toxic to mammalian cells at high concentrations; increased exposure to these steroids is pertinent in the pathogenesis of cholestatic disease and colon cancer. Understanding the mechanisms of bile acid toxicity and apoptosis, which could include nonspecific detergent effects and/or specific receptor activation, has potential therapeutic significance. In this report we investigate the ability of synthetic enantiomers of lithocholic acid (ent-LCA), chenodeoxycholic acid (ent-CDCA), and deoxycholic acid (ent-DCA) to induce toxicity and apoptosis in HT-29 and HCT-116 cells.

A phase I pharmacological and biological study of PI-88 and docetaxel in patients with advanced malignancies.

Purpose: This study evaluated the safety, toxicity, pharmacological properties and biological activity of PI-88, a heparanase endoglycosidase enzyme inhibitor, with fixed weekly docetaxel in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

Experimental Design: This was a phase I study to determine the maximal-tolerated dose of escalating doses of PI-88 administered subcutaneously for 4 days per week, along with docetaxel 30 mg/m(2) given on days 1, 8, 15 of a 28-day schedule.

Results: Sixteen patients received a total of 42 courses of therapy.

Endovascular treatment of acute ischaemic stroke.

The emphasis of treatments for acute ischaemic stroke during the past two decades has been on revascularisation. Endovascular treatment is a promising alternative for patients who are ineligible for standard intravenous thrombolytic therapy; however, its use is limited by the few randomised trials reported and the small number of practising neurointerventionalists. Although data are still being collected, important progress has been made.

Regulation of AKAP-membrane interactions by calcium.

The AKAP gravin is a scaffold for protein kinases, phosphatases, and adaptor molecules obligate for resensitization and recycling of beta2-adrenergic receptors. Gravin binds to the receptor through well characterized protein-protein interactions. These interactions are facilitated approximately 1000-fold when gravin is anchored to the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane.

Proteomics computational analyses suggest that the carboxyl terminal glycoproteins of Bunyaviruses are class II viral fusion protein (beta-penetrenes).

The Bunyaviridae family of enveloped RNA viruses includes five genuses, orthobunyaviruses, hantaviruses, phleboviruses, nairoviruses and tospoviruses. It has not been determined which Bunyavirus protein mediates virion:cell membrane fusion. Class II viral fusion proteins (beta-penetrenes), encoded by members of the Alphaviridae and Flaviviridae, are comprised of three antiparallel beta sheet domains with an internal fusion peptide located at the end of domain II.

Telomerase RNA: a flexible RNA scaffold for telomerase biosynthesis.

Determination of the structure of the yeast telomerase RNA component TLC1 has been hampered by its large size and high rate of evolutionary divergence. But detailed phylogenetic comparisons have now revealed the unusually flexible and modular architecture of this important RNA molecule.

The effects of graded forward and backward walking on heart rate and oxygen consumption.

Study Design: Single-group repeated-measures design.

Objectives: To compare the effects of forward walking (FW) and backward walking (BW) on heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) at treadmill grades of 5%, 7.5%, and 10%.

Protein kinase A regulates AKAP250 (gravin) scaffold binding to the beta2-adrenergic receptor.

A-kinase-anchoring protein 250 (AKAP250; gravin) acts as a scaffold that binds protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C and protein phosphatases, associating reversibly with the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor. The receptor-binding domain of the scaffold and the regulation of the receptor-scaffold association was revealed through mutagenesis and biochemical analyses. The AKAP domain found in other members of this superfamily is essential for the scaffold-receptor interactions.

Comparative analysis of methods for collection and measurement of cytokines and immunoglobulins in cervical and vaginal secretions of HIV and HPV infected women.

The goal of these studies was to distinguish which of two techniques [cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) and cervical wick (SS)] is the optimal collection method for the measurement of the local immunological response in human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV infected women. The following parameters were measured in 24 paired samples from 15 women (9 HIV+, 6 HIV-): total protein, immunoglobulin levels, HPV-specific antibodies, and Th1-Th2 cytokines. In addition, relative mRNA levels from CVL cell pellets were compared to protein levels from CVL supernatants.

Diabetes enhances leukocyte accumulation in the coronary microcirculation early in reperfusion following ischemia.

Background: Diabetic hearts are particularly vulnerable to ischemia-reperfusion injury. For leukocytes to participate in ischemia-reperfusion injury, they must first sequester in the microcirculation. The aim of this study was to determine, by direct observation, if early leukocyte deposition was increased in the diabetic coronary microcirculation early in reperfusion following myocardial ischemia.

Stroke rehabilitation in nursing homes: how do we measure quality?

Over one-third of Medicare stroke patients are admitted to nursing homes for rehabilitation. Patients with stroke who are admitted to nursing homes are extremely heterogeneous, including both those with minimal physical and cognitive impairment and those who are totally physically dependent. Quality measures that are appropriate for evaluating stroke care in nursing homes include outcome measures, particularly those that are patient-centered, such as self-reported functional recovery and return to the community; process measures involving essential services such as screening for depression and pain; and structural measures such as the availability of a psychologist or presence of an interdisciplinary team.