SMART—An Integrated Wireless System for Monitoring Unattended Patients

Monitoring vital signs and locations of certain classes of ambulatory patients can be useful in overcrowded emergency departments and at disaster scenes, both on-site and during transportation. To be useful, such monitoring needs to be portable and low cost, and have minimal adverse impact on emergency personnel, e.g., by not raising an excessive number of alarms. The SMART (Scalable Medical Alert Response Technology) system integrates wireless patient monitoring (ECG, SpO₂), geo-positioning, signal processing, targeted alerting, and a wireless interface for caregivers. A prototype implementation of SMART was piloted in the waiting area of an emergency department and evaluated with 145 post-triage patients. System deployment aspects were also evaluated during a small-scale disaster-drill exercise.     

Cellular expression of K-type pyruvate kinase in normal and neoplastic human tissues

The cellular expression of K-type pyruvate kinase was studied immunohistochemically in several normal and neoplastic tissues of human origin. The authors used the monoclonal antibody, designated as ES1, which was raised against human K-type pyruvate kinase. In contrast to the normal counterparts, a strong immunoreactivity was found in a rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 1), in a carcinoma of the pancreas (n = 1), and in neurofibromas (n = 2). Furthermore, the staining in leiomyosarcomas (n = 2) was shown to be more intense when compared with both normal smooth muscle cells and leiomyomas (n = 2). These findings show that knowledge about the cellular expression of the K-type pyruvate kinase identifies cell types for which its expression serves as oncodevelopmental marker. In addition, these immunohistochemical studies give information whether shifts toward K-type containing isozymes of pyruvate kinase, which are determined by electrophoresis in whole cytosolic extracts of various tumors, are due to an altered gene expression or due to proliferation of cells which normally express already the K-type pyruvate kinase. The first possibility probably occurs in rhabdomyosarcomas. The latter possibility seems to be valid for astrocytomas because astrocytes express the K-type pyruvate kinase in normal brain.     

Properties of human erythrocyte hexokinase related to cell age.

The kinetic, electrophoretic and immunological properties of hexokinase from human erythrocytes have been studied in relation to cell age. No differences in kinetic behaviour between hexokinase partly purified from reticulocytes, 10% youngest cells, normal red cell population or from 10% oldest cells were observed. The stability of the enzyme preparations showed little differences; hexokinase from the 10% youngest cells was the most labile enzyme, followed respectively by the enzyme from reticulocytes, normal red cell population and the 10% oldest cells. The electrophoretic pattern of erythrocyte hexokinase changed during senescence. The hexokinase activity located in the second band from the anode is shifted to the third with increasing cell age. The molecular specific acitivity of the enzyme from the 10% youngest cells, the normal red cell population and the 10% oldest cells remains the same, while the molecular specific activity of hexokinase from reticulocytes was much lower.     

KCa3.1—a microglial target ready for drug repurposing?

Over the past decade, glial cells have attracted attention for harboring unexploited targets for drug discovery. Several glial targets have attracted de novo drug discovery programs, as highlighted in this GLIA Special Issue. Drug repurposing, which has the objective of utilizing existing drugs as well as abandoned, failed, or not yet pursued clinical development candidates for new indications, might provide a faster opportunity to bring drugs for glial targets to patients with unmet needs. Here, we review the potential of the intermediate‐conductance calcium‐activated potassium channels K_Ca3.1 as the target for such a repurposing effort. We discuss the data on K_Ca3.1 expression on microglia in vitro and in vivo and review the relevant literature on the two K_Ca3.1 inhibitors TRAM‐34 and Senicapoc. Finally, we provide an outlook of what it might take to harness the potential of K_Ca3.1 as a bona fide microglial drug target. GLIA 2016;64:1733–1741     

Critical data‐based re‐evaluation of minocycline as a putative specific microglia inhibitor

Minocycline, a second generation broad‐spectrum antibiotic, has been frequently postulated to be a “microglia inhibitor.” A considerable number of publications have used minocycline as a tool and concluded, after achieving a pharmacological effect, that the effect must be due to “inhibition” of microglia. It is, however, unclear how this “inhibition” is achieved at the molecular and cellular levels. Here, we weigh the evidence whether minocycline is indeed a bona fide microglia inhibitor and discuss how data generated with minocycline should be interpreted. GLIA 2016;64:1788–1794     

Analysis of purine nucleoside phosphorylase from human T and non-T lymphocytes of different maturation stages

In the last few years evidence has been growing that purine/pyrimidine metabolism changes during maturation of lymphocytes. In this view enzyme characteristics of lymphocytes may act as biochemical markers of lymphocyte maturation. Human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) has been studied in extracts of T lymphocytes isolated from thymic tissue, cord blood, and peripheral blood, as well as in extracts of non-T lymphocytes from cord blood, peripheral blood and tonsils. Using inosine or deoxyinosine as a substrate, complicated kinetics of PNP are observed which may be caused by the presence of multiple active enzyme species. The number of PNP-active molecular forms increases with the maturation stage of the T and B lymphocytes as shown by cellogel electrophoresis. PNP activity of thymocytes as compared to peripheral blood T cells is low; PNP activity of peripheral blood B cells as compared to neonatal B cells does not differ significantly. The difference found in PNP activity between thymocytes and peripheral blood T cells is caused by the difference in amount of PNP protein, as has been demonstrated by immunoprecipitation tests.     

The effects of Snoezelen (multi-sensory behavior therapy) and psychiatric care on agitation, apathy, and activities of daily living in dementia patients on a short term geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit

A randomized, controlled, single-blinded, between group study of 24 participants with moderate to severe dementia was conducted on a geriatric psychiatric unit. All participants received pharmacological therapy, occupational therapy, structured hospital environment, and were randomized to receive multi sensory behavior therapy (MSBT) or a structured activity session. Greater independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) was observed for the group treated with MSBT and standard psychiatric inpatient care on the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living (KI-ADL; P = 0.05) than standard psychiatric inpatient care alone. The combination treatment of MSBT and standard psychiatric care also reduced agitation and apathy greater than standard psychiatric inpatient care alone as measured with the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease (P = 0.05). Multiple regression analysis predicted that within the multi-sensory group, activities of daily living (KI-ADL) increased as apathy and agitation reduced (R2 = 0.42; p = 0.03). These data suggest that utilizing MSBT with standard psychiatric inpatient care may reduce apathy and agitation and additionally improve activities of daily living in hospitalized people with moderate to severe dementia more than standard care alone.     

Aetiology and management of work-related upper extremity disorders

Work-related upper extremity disorders are a major cause for complaints and disability in worker populations. They may consist of a range of symptoms in the upper extremity, either clearly localised or more widespread, and are usually preceded or affected by exposure to physical activities and/or postures at work. In order to develop effective management strategies, both from a prevention and treatment perspective, more knowledge is needed with regard to the nature, pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors of this group of disorders. This chapter reviews the clinical manifestations, mechanisms and aetiology of work-related upper extremity disorders through an exploration of the literature. We also examine and discuss the evidence for the effectiveness of several preventative and therapeutic interventions.