Overexpression of Semaphorin-3E enhances pancreatic cancer cell growth and associates with poor patient survival.

Semaphorin-3E (Sema3E) is a member of an axon guidance gene family, and has recently been reported to contribute to tumor progression and metastasis. However, its role in pancreatic cancer is yet unknown and uncharacterized. In this study, we showed that Sema3E is overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer, and that high Sema3E levels are associated with tumor progression and poor survival.

Role of Non-hepatic Medical Comorbidity and Functional Limitations in Predicting Mortality in Patients with HCV.

Background: Medical comorbidities and functional status limitations are determinants of mortality in many chronic diseases. The extent to which survival in the rapidly aging cohort of patients with HCV is affected by these competing causes of mortality remains unclear.

Aim: We sought to determine the effect of medical/functional comorbidities on survival after adjusting for liver disease severity in a cohort of patients with HCV infection.

Evaluation of US Veterans Nutrition Education for Diabetes Prevention.

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education interventions for diabetes prevention.

Design: Retrospective cohort design.

Setting: Tertiary-care US Veterans' Hospital, July 2007 to July 2012, using pre-existing database.

Racial-ethnic disparities in acute blood pressure after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: To assess race-ethnic differences in acute blood pressure (BP) following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and the contribution to disparities in ICH outcome.

Methods: BPs in the field (emergency medical services [EMS]), emergency department (ED), and at 24 hours were compared and adjusted for group differences between non-Hispanic black (black), non-Hispanic white (white), and Hispanic participants in the Ethnic Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage case-control study. Outcome was obtained by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months.

Reducing Unnecessary Shoulder MRI Examinations Within a Capitated Health Care System: A Potential Role for Shoulder Ultrasound.

Purpose: MRI is frequently overused. The aim of this study was to analyze shoulder MRI ordering practices within a capitated health care system and explore the potential effects of shoulder ultrasound substitution.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of 237 consecutive shoulder MRI examinations performed in 2013 at a Department of Veterans Affairs tertiary care hospital.

Comparison between endoscopic mucosal resection and hot snare resection of large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps: a randomized trial.

Background And Study Aims: It is unclear whether endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or hot snare resection is better for resecting large nonpedunculated polyps. The aim of this study was to determine a cutoff size of nonpedunculated neoplastic colorectal polyps at which the risk of incomplete resection differed between EMR and hot snare resection.

Patients And Methods: Patients with nonpedunculated neoplastic polyps (10 - 25 mm in diameter) were randomly assigned to undergo endoscopic resection using EMR (52 patients with 63 polyps) or hot snare resection (52 patients with 62 polyps).

Helicobacter pylori therapy: a paradigm shift.

Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is a leading cause of gastroduodenal disease, including gastric cancer. H.

Renal insufficiency, bleeding and prescription of discharge medication in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Dynamic Registry.

Aims: To establish the relationship between renal insufficiency, bleeding and prescription of cardiovascular medication.

Methods And Results: This was a prospective, multi-center, cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing PCI during three NHLBI Dynamic Registry recruitment waves. Major and minor bleeding, access site bleeding and rates of prescription of cardiovascular medication at discharge were determined based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Patient-Reported Attributions for Missed Colonoscopy Appointments in Two Large Healthcare Systems.

Background: Missed colonoscopy appointments (no-shows) can lead to wasted resources and delays in colorectal cancer diagnosis, an area of special concern in public health systems that often provide care for vulnerable patients. Our objective was to identify reasons for missed colonoscopy appointments in patients seeking care at two large public health systems in Houston, TX.

Methods: We conducted a telephone survey of patients who missed their colonoscopy appointments at two tertiary care health systems.

Identification of a Latin American-specific BabA adhesin variant through whole genome sequencing of Helicobacter pylori patient isolates from Nicaragua.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common bacterial infections in humans and this infection can lead to gastric ulcers and gastric cancer. H.

Incontinence and gait disturbance after intraventricular extension of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is associated with incontinence and gait disturbance among survivors of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at 3-month follow-ups.

Methods: The Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Hemorrhagic Stroke study was used as the discovery set. The Ethnic/Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage study served as a replication set.

Veterans Health Administration's MOVE! Weight Management Program: Primary Care Clinicians' Perceptions of Program Implementation.

The Veterans Health Administration's MOVE! Program is the largest health care-delivered weight loss intervention in the United States. As a referring clinician's perceptions and knowledge of health programs may impact implementation, examining perceptions of MOVE! may inform improvements to this and other programs. This study investigated primary care clinician perceptions of MOVE! (n = 754, 50% nurses).

Hepatocellular Carcinoma From Epidemiology to Prevention: Translating Knowledge into Practice.

The epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by dynamic temporal trends, several major established (i.e., HCV, HBV, alcohol) and emerging (i.

Rates and Predictors of Newly Diagnosed HIV Infection Among Veterans Receiving Routine Once-Per-Lifetime HIV Testing in the Veterans Health Administration.

Objective: To determine predictors and variations in the rate of newly diagnosed HIV infection among persons who underwent routine (ie, non-risk based) rather than risk-based HIV testing in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of the HIV infection new rates during the period when VHA policy called for routine (2009-2012) versus risk-based (2006-2009) HIV testing. Source data for testing results at 18 VHA facilities were obtained from the VHA National Corporate Data Warehouse.

Coffee and Caffeine Are Associated With Decreased Risk of Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis Among Patients With Hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Coffee or caffeine has been proposed to protect against hepatic fibrosis, but few data are available on their effects in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of veterans with chronic HCV infection to evaluate the association between daily intake of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, tea, and soda, and level of hepatic fibrosis, based on the FibroSURE test (BioPredictive, Paris, France) (F0-F3, mild [controls] vs. F3/F4-F4, advanced).

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori using the rapid urease test.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major human pathogen which causes progressive gastroduodenal damage. Guidelines recommend that, unless there are compelling reasons to delay, treatment is indicated for all patients in whom the infection is diagnosed.

Alcohol consumption and risk of heart failure: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Aim: Alcohol is a known cardiac toxin and heavy consumption can lead to heart failure (HF). However, the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and risk for HF, in either men or women, remains unclear.

Methods And Results: We examined 14 629 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (54 ± 6 years, 55% women) without prevalent HF at baseline (1987-89) who were followed for 24 ± 1 years.

Changing the natural history of metachronous gastric cancer after eradication.

Metachronous gastric cancer occurs frequently following endoscopic removal of an early gastric cancer. eradication significantly reduces that risk. While, the pathogenesis of this phenomenon remains unclear, it is clear that the natural history of metachronous gastric cancer is altered following eradication.

Sex hormone pathway gene polymorphisms are associated with risk of advanced hepatitis C-related liver disease in males.

Background: Males have excess advanced liver disease and cirrhosis risk including from chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection though the reasons are unclear.

Goal: To examine the role variants in genes involved in androgen and estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism play in HCV-related liver disease risk in males.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study evaluating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 16 candidate genes involved in androgen and estrogen ligand and receptor synthesis and risk of advanced hepatic fibrosis (F3/F4-F4) and inflammation (A2/A3-A3).

Neuropsychological changes following deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson's disease: comparisons of treatment at pallidal and subthalamic targets versus best medical therapy.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) improves motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), but questions remain regarding neuropsychological decrements sometimes associated with this treatment, including rates of statistically and clinically meaningful change, and whether there are differences in outcome related to surgical target.

Methods: Neuropsychological functioning was assessed in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) at baseline and after 6 months in a prospective, randomised, controlled study comparing best medical therapy (BMT, n=116) and bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS, n=164) at either the subthalamic nucleus (STN, n=84) or globus pallidus interna (GPi, n=80), using standardised neuropsychological tests. Measures of functional outcomes were also administered.

Effects of spironolactone treatment in elderly women with heart failure and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: Although spironolactone has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, its role in patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is not well defined. In this study we investigated the mechanisms involved when elderly women with HFpEF are treated with spironolactone.

Methods And Results: Forty-eight women with HFpEF were enrolled in a randomized placebo-controlled trial and were assigned to 25 mg spironolactone daily (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) for 6 months.