Gait analysis in swine, sheep, and goats after neurologic injury: a literature review.

Medical research on neurologic ailments requires representative animal models to validate treatments before they are translated to human clinical trials. Rodents are the predominant animal model used in neurological research despite limited anatomic and physiologic similarities to humans. As a result, functional testing designed to assess locomotor recovery after neurologic impairment is well established in rodent models.

Brachial plexus anatomy in the miniature swine as compared to human.

Brachial plexus injury (BPI) occurs when the brachial plexus is compressed, stretched, or avulsed. Although rodents are commonly used to study BPI, these models poorly mimic human BPI due to the discrepancy in size. The objective of this study was to compare the brachial plexus between human and Wisconsin Miniature Swine (WMS ), which are approximately the weight of an average human (68-91 kg), to determine if swine would be a suitable model for studying BPI mechanisms and treatments.

Retrograde Balloon-Assisted Deep Enteroscopy in the Diagnosis of Metastatic Melanoma.

A 74-year-old male with a history of metastatic melanoma presents with persistently abnormal small bowel findings on PET-CT scan. The patient had persistent FDG uptake near the ileocolic junction on imaging, concerning for metastatic melanoma. Capsule endoscopy demonstrated ulcerated mucosa in the distal ileum.

NK cells in antibody-mediated rejection - Key effector cells in microvascular graft damage.

Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) stands as the major limitation to long-term transplant outcome. The immunologic understanding of ABMR continues to progress and has identified natural killer (NK) cells as key effector cells promoting and coordinating the immune attack on the graft microvascular endothelium. This review discusses the current concepts outlining the different ways that allow for NK cell recognition of graft endothelial cells which includes antibody-dependent as well as independent processes.

Expect delays: poor connections between rural and urban health systems challenge multidisciplinary care for rural Americans with diabetic foot ulcers.

Background: Rural Americans with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) face a 50% increased risk of major amputation compared to their urban counterparts. We sought to identify health system barriers contributing to this disparity.

Methods: We interviewed 44 participants involved in the care of rural patients with DFUs: 6 rural primary care providers (PCPs), 12 rural specialists, 12 urban specialists, 9 support staff, and 5 patients/caregivers.

Short-term Immunopathological Changes Associated with Pulse Steroids/IVIG/Rituximab Therapy in Late Kidney Allograft Antibody Mediated Rejection.

Background: B-cell depletion is a common treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). We sought to determine the specific immunopathologic effects of this therapeutic approach in kidney transplantation.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with late ABMR (>3 months after transplant).

A 2-yr, School-Based Resistance Exercise Pilot Program Increases Bone Accrual in Adolescent Girls.

Purpose: The current analysis evaluates cumulative benefits after year two (Y2) of a school-based resistance training intervention.

Methods: Adolescent girls were enrolled and measured at the beginning of 6 grade (baseline, BL) and again at 1 follow-up (FU1: Y1 end) and 2 follow-up (FU2: Y2 end). School gym classes met alternate school days.

The effects of tumor treating fields and temozolomide in MGMT expressing and non-expressing patient-derived glioblastoma cells.

A recent Phase 3 study of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) demonstrated the addition of tumor treating fields (TTFields) to temozolomide (TMZ) after combined radiation/TMZ significantly increased survival and progression free survival. Preliminary data suggested benefit with both methylated and unmethylated O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyl-transferase (MGMT) promoter status. To date, however, there have been no studies to address the potential interactions of TTFields and TMZ.

Culturally-Tailored Smoking Cessation for Adult American Indian Smokers: A Clinical Trial.

This collaborative, community-engaged project developed and tested a Culturally-Tailored Treatment (CTT) for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) smokers in the Menominee tribal community. One hundred three adult AI/AN smokers were randomized to receive either Standard Treatment (= 53) or CTT ( = 50) for smoking cessation. Both treatment conditions included 12 weeks of varenicline and four individual counseling sessions but differed in terms of cultural tailoring of the counseling.

Smoking cessation in smokers who smoke menthol and non-menthol cigarettes.

Aims: To assess the relations of menthol cigarette use with measures of cessation success in a large comparative effectiveness trial (CET).

Design: Participants were randomized to one of six medication treatment conditions in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. All participants received six individual counseling sessions.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II right-sided and left-sided colon cancer: analysis of SEER-medicare data.

Background: Survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy is established for stage III colon cancer; however, uncertainty exists for stage II patients. Tumor heterogeneity, specifically microsatellite instability (MSI), which is more common in right-sided cancers, may be the reason for this observation. We examined the relationship between adjuvant chemotherapy and overall 5-year mortality for stage II colon cancer by location (right- vs left-side) as a surrogate for MSI.

Mortality and cardiovascular burden of systemic lupus erythematosus in a US population-based cohort.

Objective: To examine the mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden among a population-based cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with previously described late mean onset and low rates of organ-threatening disease.

Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study investigated incident cases of SLE diagnosed from 1991-2008 and followed through March 2009 to examine rates of death and CVD events: myocardial infarction, stroke, or congestive heart failure hospitalization. Cases were identified using the 1997 update of the 1982 American College of Rheumatology SLE criteria.

Aggressive adenocarcinoma of the cervical esophagus: importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

Adenocarcinoma of the cervical esophagus is a rare tumor, in comparison to adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus which is on the rise and is often associated with Barrett's esophagus. We present a case of aggressive cervical esophageal adenocarcinoma in a 46-year-old female with no endoscopic or histopathologic evidence of Barrett's esophagus. We discuss the possible etiology of this tumor and review the treatment options, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of this rare disease.

Quitline cessation counseling for young adult smokers: a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: One in 5 young adults in the United States currently smoke, and young adults are less likely than other smokers to make aided quit attempts. Telephone quitlines may be a useful tool for treating this population. This study tested a quitline-based smoking cessation intervention versus mailed self-help materials in smokers 18-24 years old.

Using failure mode and effects analysis to plan implementation of smart i.v. pump technology.

Purpose: Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was used to evaluate a smart i.v. pump as it was implemented into a redesigned medication-use process.