Characterization of c-Ki-ras and N-ras oncogenes in aflatoxin B1-induced rat liver tumors.

c-Ki-ras and N-ras oncogenes have been characterized in aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocellular carcinomas. Detection of different protooncogene and oncogene sequences and estimation of their frequency distribution were accomplished by polymerase chain reaction, cloning, and plaque screening methods. Two c-Ki-ras oncogene sequences were identified in DNA from liver tumors that contained nucleotide changes absent in DNA from livers of untreated control rats. Sequence changes involving G.C to T.A or G.C to A.T nucleotide substitutions in codon 12 were scored in three of eight tumor-bearing animals. Distributions of c-Ki-ras sequences in tumors and normal liver DNA indicated that the observed nucleotide changes were consistent with those expected to result from direct mutagenesis of the germ-line protooncogene by aflatoxin B1. N-ras oncogene sequences were identified in DNA from two of eight tumors. Three N-ras gene regions were identified, one of which was shown to be associated with an oncogene containing a putative activating amino acid residing at codon 13. All three N-ras sequences, including the region detected in N-ras oncogenes, were present at similar frequencies in DNA samples from control livers as well as liver tumors. The presence of a potential germ-line oncogene may be related to the sensitivity of the Fischer rat strain to liver carcinogenesis by aflatoxin B1 and other chemical carcinogens.     

DDAVP (1-desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin) treatment of central diabetes insipidus--mechanism of prolonged antidiuresis.

DDAVP, 1-desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin, is a synthetic analog of arginine vasopressin which produces prolonged antidiuresis after intranasal administration to patients with complete central diabetes insipidus. We have studied the mechanism of the prolonged antidiuretic effect by specific radioimmunossay of DDAVP in plasma of patients and by in vitro studies on the adenylate cyclase-cylic AMP system of the rat outer renal medulla. When DDAVP was administredd to patients, all responded, but the duration of response among patients varied from 5-21 h. The peak level of DDAVP in plasma was achieved up to 4 h after administration indicating a slow absorption from the nasal mucosa. The disappearance time of DDAVP from plasma correlated significantly with the duration of antidiuresis, P less than 0.001. On a molar basis DDAVP was 3-fold greater than AVP in its stimulation of outer medullary adenylate cyclase activity and 10-fold greater than AVP in its stimulation of cyclic AMP content. The prolonged antidiuresis of intranasally administered DDAVP is due to slow absorption, presistence in plasma, and enchanced effect on the kidney.     

Development and Early Implementation of The Bigger Picture,a Youth-Targeted Public Health Literacy Campaign to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly rising, especially among minority and low-income youth. There is an unmet need to engage youth in identifying solutions to reverse this trajectory. Social marketing campaigns and entertainment education are effective forms of health communication for engaging populations in health-promoting behaviors. Critical to curbing the epidemic is moving the diabetes conversation away from individual behavior alone and toward a socioecologic perspective using a public health literacy framework. The authors developed an academic-community partnership to develop, implement, and evaluate a type 2 diabetes prevention campaign targeting minority and low-income youth. The Bigger Picture campaign uses hard-hitting, youth-generated spoken-word messages around key environmental and social drivers of the type 2 diabetes epidemic. Campaign goals included promoting health capacity and civic engagement. This article focuses on the development and implementation of the campaign, including (a) rationale and theoretical underpinnings, (b) steps in campaign creation, (c) testing the campaign messaging, and (d) campaign dissemination and evaluation planning. A youth-created health communication campaign using a public health literacy framework with targeted, relevant, and compelling messaging appears to be a promising vehicle for reaching at-risk youth to increase knowledge of and attitudes about preventing type 2 diabetes, change social norms, and motivate participation in health-promoting initiatives.     

Short Inter-pregnancy Intervals,Parity, Excessive Pregnancy Weight Gain and Risk of Maternal Obesity

To investigate the relationship among parity, length of the inter-pregnancy intervals and excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy and the risk of obesity. Using a prospective cohort study of 3,422 non-obese, non-pregnant US women aged 14–22 years at baseline, adjusted Cox models were used to estimate the association among parity, inter-pregnancy intervals, and excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy and the relative hazard rate (HR) of obesity. Compared to nulliparous women, primiparous women with excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy had a HR of obesity of 1.79 (95 % CI 1.40, 2.29); no significant difference was seen between primiparous without excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy and nulliparous women. Among women with the same pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy and the same number of inter-pregnancy intervals (12 and 18 months or ≥18 months), the HR of obesity increased 2.43-fold (95 % CI 1.21, 4.89; p = 0.01) for every additional inter-pregnancy interval of <12 months; no significant association was seen for longer inter-pregnancy intervals. Among women with the same parity and inter-pregnancy interval pattern, women with excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy had an HR of obesity 2.41 times higher (95 % CI 1.81, 3.21; p < 0.001) than women without. Primiparous and nulliparous women had similar obesity risk unless the primiparous women had excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy, then their risk of obesity was greater. Multiparous women with the same excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy and at least one additional short inter-pregnancy interval had a significant risk of obesity after childbirth. Perinatal interventions that prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain in the first pregnancy or lengthen the inter-pregnancy interval are necessary for reducing maternal obesity.     

Voices from the past: Comparing the rapid prompting method and facilitated communication

Objective: This article briefly reviews the history and damage caused by facilitated communication (FC) and highlights the parallels between FC and the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM).

Background: FC involves a therapist (or facilitator) supporting the hand of a person with autism while a message is typed on a letter board. FC is widely acknowledged to be a pseudoscientific, unsafe, and unethical treatment for people with autism. RPM is a more recent intervention for people with autism that involves the facilitator holding and moving the letter board while the individual with autism moves their own hand. Those who espouse the perceived benefits of FC and RPM make strikingly similar claims of hidden intelligence and extraordinary communication abilities in people with autism following treatment.

Conclusion: Clients, proponents, and practitioners of RPM should demand scientific validation of RPM in order to ensure the safety of people with disabilities that are involved with RPM.     

Isolation and characterization of 8 polymorphic microsatellite markers from the Greater Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi)

The Greater Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) is a small reptile endemic to western North America that is classified as endangered in Canada. Here, we describe the development of 8 microsatellite markers for P. hernandesi. Observed allelic diversity varied from 2 to 11 while observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.370–0.852 to 0.486–0.856, respectively. These markers will facilitate studies that address conservation of the species, such as levels of genetic diversity and population structure.     

Genetic polymorphisms and traumatic brain injury: the contribution of individual differences to recovery

Recovery after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is variable, even for patients with similar severity of brain injury. Recent research has highlighted the contribution that genetic predisposition plays in determining TBI outcome. This review considers the potential for genetic polymorphisms to influence recovery of cognitive and social processes following TBI. Limitations and considerations that researchers should make when assessing the potential impact of polymorphisms on TBI outcome are also discussed. Understanding the genetic factors that support neuroplasticity will contribute to an understanding of the variation in outcome following injury and help to identify potential targets for rehabilitation.     

Dual antiplatelet therapy plus postoperative heparin and dextran is safe and effective for reducing risk of embolic stroke during aneurysm coiling

Background

Thromboembolic events represent a clinically significant cause of neurological morbidity during the endovascular management of cerebral aneurysms. We have implemented an anti-thromboembolic regimen consisting of pre- and postoperative dual antiplatelet therapy, as well as postoperative anticoagulation using heparin and dextran. The aims of our study were to examine the effect of this regimen on thromboembolic rates during elective aneurysm coiling, and to elucidate risk factors associated with the development of thromboembolic events in this setting.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent elective intracranial aneurysm coiling between January 2005 and February 2012. The primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of a clinically significant peri-procedural thromboembolic event. Secondary outcomes included the occurrence of a central nervous system (CNS) or systemic hemorrhage.

Results

During the study period, 312 patients underwent elective aneurysm coiling and six (2 %) thromboembolic events occurred; three (1 %) occurred in the group that received the anti-thromboembolic regimen (261 patients) and three (6 %) occurred in the group that did not receive the regimen (51 patients), resulting in a statistically significant difference (P?=?0.024). Both the presence of a hypercoagulable state (P?=?0.014) and the lack of the anti-thromboembolic regimen (P?=?0.043) were significantly associated with the occurrence of a thromboembolic event.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that the regimen described here is safe and reduces thromboembolic complications during elective aneurysm coiling. Ours is likely the most aggressive regimen in the published literature and significantly reduced the rate of thromboembolism without any significant increase hemorrhagic complications.     

The use of vancomycin powder reduces surgical reoperation in posterior instrumented and noninstrumented spinal surgery

Background

Surgical site infections can complicate posterior spine surgery. Multiple hospital admissions may be required to adequately treat a surgical site infection, which is associated with increased costs and lower patient satisfaction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic intra-wound vancomycin powder in reducing the incidence of repeat surgery for infections after posterior instrumented and noninstrumented spine surgery.

Methods

A series of consecutive patients who underwent instrumented or noninstrumented posterior spine surgery for any indication by two surgeons from July 2010 to July 2012 were reviewed. The preoperative antibiotic regimens of both surgeons were identical, except that one surgeon applied 1 g vancomycin powder directly to the surgical bed before wound closure, while the other did not. Patient demographics, operative details, and rates of reoperation for wound infection in the control and the treatment groups were compared.

Results

Both the control group and treatment group consisted of 150 patients; mean ages were 58.33 and 54.14 years, respectively. Both groups had low rates of deep infection requiring surgical intervention. The treatment group had a significantly lower rate of infection requiring reoperation or surgical debridement (0 %; 95 % CI: 0 %–2.4 %) compared with the control group (4 %; 95 % CI: 1.5 %–8.5 %) (P?=?0.0297). The six infections identified in the control group resulted in 12 repeat operative debridement procedures. Gram-positive organisms were identified in 66.7 % of infections. No complications were related to the application of vancomycin powder.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrate that adjunctive vancomycin powder applied directly to the surgical bed before closure seems effective in preventing deep infections that require operative debridement following posterior spine surgery.