Advantages of venous bypass during orthotopic transplantation of the liver.

Venous bypass restores normal hemodynamic physiology during the critical anhepatic phase of orthotopic transplantation of the liver. Its routine use in adults undergoing transplantation in Pittsburgh has resulted in lower operative blood losses, a lower frequency of postoperative renal failure, and a greater probability of survival for all but the highest risk patients. Because it allows for a longer anhepatic phase, the surgeon has the option of tailoring the native hepatectomy to the needs of the individual case, even to the point, in difficult cases, of obtaining most of the hemostasis after removal of the native liver, but before sewing in the donor organ. Selective use of bypass in children may offer similar advantages

The Utility of Cancer-Related Cultural Constructs to Understand Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans

Data suggest that colorectal cancer could be cut by approximately 60% if all people aged 50 years or older received regular screening. Studies have identified socio-cultural attitudes that might inform cancer education and screening promotion campaigns. This article applies item response theory (IRT) to a set of survey items selected to assess sociocultural attitudes in order to determine how current measures may affect what we know about how these attitudes affect colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). Design and Methods. A survey of colorectal cancer screening, screening attitudes and cultural beliefs was administered to 1021 African Americans - 683 women and 338 men, ages 50 to 75. Eligibility criteria for participation included being born in the United States, selfidentified African American male or female, age 50 to 75 years. The IRT analysis was performed on 655 individuals with complete data for the 43 observed variables. Results. Twenty-nine items comprise the Multi-construct African American Cultural Survey (MAACS) that addresses seven cultural constructs: mistrust/distrust, privacy, ethnic identity, collectivism, empowerment, and male gender roles. The items provide adequate information about the attitudes of the population across most levels of the constructs assessed. Among the sociocultural variables considered, empowerment (OR=1.078; 95% CI: 1.008, 1.151) had the strongest association with CRCS adherence and privacy showed promise. Conclusions. The MAACS provides a fixed length questionnaire to assess African American CRCS attitudes, two new constructs that might assist in CRCS promotion, and a suggested focus for identification of additional constructs of interest

Quantitative biomarker analysis of synovial gene expression by real-time PCR

Synovial biomarker analysis in rheumatoid arthritis can be used to evaluate drug effect in clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents. Previous studies of synovial gene expression for these studies have mainly relied on histological methods including immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. To increase the reliability of mRNA measurements on small synovial tissue samples, we developed and validated real time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) methods on biopsy specimens. RNA was isolated from synovial tissue and cDNA was prepared. Cell-based standards were prepared from mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Real time PCR was performed using TaqMan chemistry to quantify gene expression relative to the cell-based standard. Application of the cellular standard curve method markedly reduced intra- and inter-assay variability and corrected amplification efficiency errors compared with the C(t) method. The inter-assay coefficient of variation was less than 25% over time. Q-PCR methods were validated by demonstrating increased expression of IL-1β and IL-6 expression in rheumatoid arthritis synovial samples compared with osteoarthritis synovium. Based on determinations of sampling error and coefficient of variation, twofold differences in gene expression in serial biopsies can be detected by assaying approximately six synovial tissue biopsies from 8 to 10 patients. These data indicate that Q-PCR is a reliable method for determining relative gene expression in small synovial tissue specimens. The technique can potentially be used in serial biopsy studies to provide insights into mechanism of action and therapeutic effect of new anti-inflammatory agents

The Utility of Cancer-Related Cultural Constructs to Understand Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans

Data suggest that colorectal cancer could be cut by approximately 60% if all people aged 50 years or older received regular screening. Studies have identified socio-cultural attitudes that might inform cancer education and screening promotion campaigns. This article applies item response theory (IRT) to a set of survey items selected to assess sociocultural attitudes in order to determine how current measures may affect what we know about how these attitudes affect colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). Design and Methods. A survey of colorectal cancer screening, screening attitudes and cultural beliefs was administered to 1021 African Americans - 683 women and 338 men, ages 50 to 75. Eligibility criteria for participation included being born in the United States, selfidentified African American male or female, age 50 to 75 years. The IRT analysis was performed on 655 individuals with complete data for the 43 observed variables. Results. Twenty-nine items comprise the Multi-construct African American Cultural Survey (MAACS) that addresses seven cultural constructs: mistrust/distrust, privacy, ethnic identity, collectivism, empowerment, and male gender roles. The items provide adequate information about the attitudes of the population across most levels of the constructs assessed. Among the sociocultural variables considered, empowerment (OR=1.078; 95% CI: 1.008, 1.151) had the strongest association with CRCS adherence and privacy showed promise. Conclusions. The MAACS provides a fixed length questionnaire to assess African American CRCS attitudes, two new constructs that might assist in CRCS promotion, and a suggested focus for identification of additional constructs of interest

Contrasting interactions between photon spectra and temperature in cold-sensitive basil and cold-tolerant lettuce

Blue (B; 400–499 nm) light, far-red (FR; 700–750 nm) light, and temperature are key regulators of plant growth and development, with responses varying by species. While the independent effects of these environmental signals are well established, their interactive effects are not clear. We postulated that the effects of FR light and temperature would depend on the photon flux density (PFD) of B light. To test this, we grew cold-tolerant lettuce and cold-sensitive basil at 19 and 24°C under lighting treatments with three FR fractions [FR-PFD divided by the sum of red (600–699 nm) and FR PFD; 0.01, 0.19, or 0.32] and two B-PFDs (40 or 100 µmol m−2 s−1). The total PFD (400–750 nm; 270 µmol m−2 s−1) and photoperiod (24 h d−1) were the same in all treatments. There were significant differences between species. As expected, increasing the FR fraction dramatically increased shoot expansion in lettuce and internode elongation in basil. The shoot expansion in lettuce was amplified by higher temperature but attenuated by higher B-PFD. Unlike lettuce, the FR effect on basil internodes did not interact with either temperature or B-PFD. The increased shoot expansion in lettuce decreased foliage coloration, but coloration was minimally altered in basil. These results reveal fundamentally different species responses to light and temperature that may have implications for shade-avoidant and shade-tolerant species. Overall, these findings demonstrate the complex integration of environmental signals in the regulation of growth

Earth Observation Data for All: NASA and Google Earth Engine's Public-Private Partnership

No abstract availabl

\u27USU-Apogee\u27 Wheat - Registration

\u27USU-Apogee\u27 is a full-dwarf hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (NSSL Reg. no. 331390.01; PI 592742) cultivar developed for high yields in controlled environments. USU-Apogee was developed by the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and released in April 1996. NASA is interested in improved food crops for bioregenerative life support systems in space. Apogee is the point in an orbit farthest from the earth. USU-Apogee is a shorter, higher yielding alternative to \u27Yecora Rojo\u27 and \u27Veery-10\u27, the short field cultivars previously selected for use in controlled environments (Bugbee and Salisbury, 1988). USU-Apogee (45-50 cm tall, depending on temperature) is 10 to 15 cm shorter than Yecora Rojo and 2 to 5 cm shorter than Veery-10. USU-Apogee was also selected for resistance to the calcium-induced leaf tip necrosis that occurs in controlled-environments

The use of mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage repair and regeneration: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The management of articular cartilage defects presents many clinical challenges due to its avascular, aneural and alymphatic nature. Bone marrow stimulation techniques, such as microfracture, are the most frequently used method in clinical practice however the resulting mixed fibrocartilage tissue which is inferior to native hyaline cartilage. Other methods have shown promise but are far from perfect. There is an unmet need and growing interest in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to improve the outcome for patients requiring cartilage repair. Many published reviews on cartilage repair only list human clinical trials, underestimating the wealth of basic sciences and animal studies that are precursors to future research. We therefore set out to perform a systematic review of the literature to assess the translation of stem cell therapy to explore what research had been carried out at each of the stages of translation from bench-top (in vitro), animal (pre-clinical) and human studies (clinical) and assemble an evidence-based cascade for the responsible introduction of stem cell therapy for cartilage defects. This review was conducted in accordance to PRISMA guidelines using CINHAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Knowledge databases from 1st January 1900 to 30th June 2015. In total, there were 2880 studies identified of which 252 studies were included for analysis (100 articles for in vitro studies, 111 studies for animal studies; and 31 studies for human studies). There was a huge variance in cell source in pre-clinical studies both of terms of animal used, location of harvest (fat, marrow, blood or synovium) and allogeneicity. The use of scaffolds, growth factors, number of cell passages and number of cells used was hugely heterogeneous. SHORT CONCLUSIONS: This review offers a comprehensive assessment of the evidence behind the translation of basic science to the clinical practice of cartilage repair. It has revealed a lack of connectivity between the in vitro, pre-clinical and human data and a patchwork quilt of synergistic evidence. Drivers for progress in this space are largely driven by patient demand, surgeon inquisition and a regulatory framework that is learning at the same pace as new developments take place

Data Ecosystem for the Joint ESA-NASA Multimission Algorithm and Analysis Platform

No abstract availabl