Factors affecting adherence to intranasal treatment for allergic rhinitis: A qualitative study.

Objective: To determine the facilitators of and barriers to adherence to use of intranasal pharmacotherapy (daily intranasal corticosteroids and/or antihistamine, and nasal saline irrigation [NSI]), for allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: Patients were recruited from an academic tertiary care rhinology and allergy clinic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the initial visit and/or 4-6 weeks following treatment.

Brain Enlarged Perivascular Spaces as Imaging Biomarkers of Cerebrovascular Disease: A Clinical Narrative Review.

Perivascular spaces or Virchow-Robin spaces form pathways along the subarachnoid spaces that facilitate the effective clearance of brain metabolic by-products through intracellular exchange and drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. Best seen on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVSs) are increasingly recognized as potential imaging biomarkers of neurological conditions. EPVSs are an established subtype of cerebral small-vessel disease; however, their associations with other cerebrovascular disorders are yet to be fully understood.

Development and assessment of a brief screening tool for psychosis in dementia.

Introduction: Hallucinations and delusions (H+D) are common in dementia, but screening for these symptoms-especially in busy clinical practices-is challenging.

Methods: Six subject matter experts developed the DRP3™ screen, a novel valid tool to detect H+D in dementia, assessed its content validity through alignment with DRP reference assessments (Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms-Hallucinations + Delusions, Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire, International Psychogeriatric Association Criteria), and retrospectively investigated its ability to detect H+D in HARMONY trial (NCT03325556) enrollees.

Results: All items from three reference assessments demonstrated significant agreement with the DRP3 screen among raters ( < .

Treatment Status of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Does Not Influence Rates of Sustained Virologic Response: An HCV-TARGET Analysis.

Recent studies have suggested a negative impact of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on sustained virologic response (SVR) to hepatitis C virus (HCV) direct acting antivirals (DAAs). We compared the effectiveness of DAAs in patients with cirrhosis, with and without HCC, and in those with HCC partially treated or untreated (PT/UT-HCC) versus completely treated (CT-HCC). HCC status was based on imaging 6 months before or 2 months after start of DAA therapy.

MicroRNA-138 Inhibits Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Human Dedifferentiated Chondrocytes by Regulating RhoC and the Actin Cytoskeleton.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play critical roles in many cellular processes including those regulating skeletal development and homeostasis. A previous study from our group identified differentially expressed miRNAs in the developing human growth plate. Among those more highly expressed in hypertrophic chondrocytes compared to progenitor chondrocytes was miR-138, therefore suggesting a possible role for this miRNA in regulating chondrogenesis and/or endochondral ossification.

Activation of brainstem neurons by underwater diving in the rat.

The mammalian diving response is a powerful autonomic adjustment to underwater submersion greatly affecting heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and ventilation. The bradycardia is mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system, arterial blood pressure is mediated via the sympathetic system and still other circuits mediate the respiratory changes. In the present study we investigate the cardiorespiratory responses and the brainstem neurons activated by voluntary diving of trained rats, and, compare them to control and swimming animals which did not dive.

Accuracy of Anatomical Landmarks in Locating the Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation Site among Different Levels of Anesthesia Trainees.

Background: Internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation is a common practice procedure employed by anesthesiologists to access large central veins. The purpose of this study is to examine the accuracy of the use of superficial anatomical landmarks to locate the IJV as well as to delineate differences in accuracy at various levels of anesthesiology trainees, and staff.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the accuracy of locating the left and right IJV on the skin surface by anesthesiology residents and board certified anesthesiologists.

Endothelial cell retraction is induced by PAK2 monophosphorylation of myosin II.

The p21-activated kinase (PAK) family includes several enzyme isoforms regulated by the GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. PAK1, found in brain, muscle and spleen, has been implicated in triggering cytoskeletal rearrangements such as the dissolution of stress fibers and reorganization of focal complexes. The role of the more widely distributed PAK2 in controlling the cytoskeleton has been less well studied.

Clostridium difficile suppresses colonic vasoactive intestinal peptide associated with altered motility.

We investigated whether Clostridium difficile toxin alters colonic tissue levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) at the expense of changes in colonic motility in the isolated perfused rabbit left colon. Colonic inflammation was induced by the intracolonic administration of 10(-8) M C. difflcile toxin.

Platelet-activating factor mediates trinitrobenzene induced dysmotility in the left colon.

We investigated whether TNB alters colonic tissue levels of PAF at the expense of changes in colonic motility in the isolated perfused rabbit left colon. Colonic inflammation was induced by the intracolonic administration of 0.25 ml of 50% ethanol containing 30 mg of trinitrobenzene.