117 research outputs found
Association of Immune-Mediated Cerebellitis With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
No full textImmune-mediated encephalitis related to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is a rare but increasingly described condition that can cause significant morbidity. There are several reported cases in the literature but no previously described cases of immune-mediated cerebellitis. We describe a case of acute cerebellitis that developed in a 20-year-old man with primary refractory Hodgkin lymphoma being treated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab. After exposure to 3 cycles of nivolumab, the patient had acute onset of headache, ataxia, nausea, and vomiting, with imaging findings of cerebellar edema, early tonsillar herniation, and early hydrocephalus. Immune-mediated cerebellar encephalitis was suspected and high-dose dexamethasone therapy (8 mg every 6 hours) was initiated. Within 4 days of dexamethasone therapy, his symptoms greatly improved with near-complete resolution of symptoms after a 4-week taper. Differential diagnosis of his condition included viral cerebellitis and paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. In cerebellar encephalitis suspected to be due to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, prompt recognition and early initiation of high-dose corticosteroids is essential for symptom resolution and treatment success, including the prevention of hydrocephalus and tonsillar herniation. Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines to guide the initial dose, type, or duration of corticosteroids. Further investigation is needed in the pathogenesis and treatment of cerebellar encephalitis related to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy to effectively treat this rare, disabling condition
Visual outcomes of bilateral congenital and developmental cataracts in young children in south India and causes of poor outcome.
No full textCONTEXT: Bilateral pediatric cataracts are important cause of visual impairment in children. AIM: To study the outcome of bilateral pediatric cataract surgery in young children. SETTING AND DESIGN: Retrospective case series in a tertiary center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of pediatric cataracts operated between January 2001 and December 2003, with a minimum follow-up of 3 months, were reviewed retrospectively. STATISTICAL METHODS: Independent sample t-test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science, Chicago, USA) version 12. RESULTS: 215/257 (83.7%) patients had a minimum follow-up of 3 months. The mean age of presentation to the hospital was 53 months (range: 0-168 months). Congenital cataract was present in 107 patients (58.2%) and developmental cataract in 77 patients (41.8%). The mean age at surgery was 55.2 months (range: 1-168 months). Out of 430 eyes, 269 (62.6%) had an intraocular lens implanted. The mean duration of follow-up was 13.1 months (range: 3-38 months). Pre-operatively, 102 patients (47.3%) had visual acuity 6/18. The most common early post-operative complication was fibrinous uveitis in 57 eyes (13.3%) and the most common delayed post-operative complication was posterior capsular opacification in 118 eyes (27.4%). The most important prognostic factor for poor outcome was congenital cataract (odds ratio [OR]: 26.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4-158.5) and total cataract (OR: 4.8; 95% CI, 1.3-17). CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the eyes had visual acuity >6/18. The outcome was poorer in congenital cataracts, especially those operated after >1 year of age
Data from: Metabolomics - Emory Cardiovascular Biobank
No full textUntargeted high-resolution plasma metabolomic profiling among patients with coronary artery disease. Patients recruited from the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank into independent discovery and validation cohorts.This DATSETNAMEreadme.txt file was generated on 2020-08-20 by ANURAG MEHTA and CHANG LIU
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Title of Dataset: Emory Cardiovascular Biobank Metabolomics
2. Author Information
A. Principal Investigator Contact Information
Name: Arshed A. Quyyumi, MD
Institution: Emory University School of Medicine
Address: 1462 Clifton Road NE, Suite 507, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Email: [email protected]
B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information
Name: Anurag Mehta, MD
Institution: Emory University School of Medicine
Address: 1462 Clifton Road NE, Suite 513, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Email: [email protected]
C. Alternate Contact Information
Name: Chang Liu
Institution: Emory University School of Medicine
Address: 1462 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Email: [email protected]
3. Date of data collection: 2004 to 2016
4. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant 1P20HL113451
SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION
1. Links to publications that cite or use the data: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237579
2. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.866t1g1mt
3. Links/relationships to ancillary data sets: none
4. Was data derived from another source? no
5. Recommended citation for this dataset: Mehta A, Liu C, Quyyumi AA. Emory Cardiovascular Biobank Metabolomics. 2020
DATA & FILE OVERVIEW
1. File List: Analysis_data_first_cohort.csv; Analysis_data_second_cohort.csv
2. Relationship between files: data of two separate cohorts
3. Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: none
4. Are there multiple versions of the dataset? no
METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION: please see description in materials and methods section of the manuscript
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Analysis_data_first_cohort.csv
1. Number of variables: 6796
2. Number of cases/rows: 454
3. Variable List:
GENEID: subject IDs
timetodeath3yr: time to death event or censoring at three years
death3yr: death event at three years
age: age in years
male: male gender, 1=male, 0=female
BlackRace: black race, 1=black, 0=non-black
batch: batch of metabolomics profiling
Strokehx: history of stroke, 1=yes, 0=no
CABGhx: prior CABG, 1=yes, 0=no
PVDhx: peripheral artery disease, 1=yes, 0=no
eGFR_max120_lt60: estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 ml/min/1.73m2, 1=yes, 0=no
curr_smoking: current smoking, 1=yes, 0=no
HFhx: heart failure history, 1=yes, 0=no
HTN: hypertension, 1=yes, 0=no
DM: diabetes, 1=yes, 0=no
mzXX_tXX: intensities of metabolic features
4. Missing data codes: NA
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Analysis_data_second_cohort.csv
1. Number of variables: 8729
2. Number of cases/rows: 322
3. Variable List:
GENEID: subject IDs
timetodeath3yr: time to death event or censoring at three years
death3yr: death event at three years, 1=yes, 0=no
age: age in years
male: male gender, 1=male, 0=female
BlackRace: black race, 1=black, 0=non-black
batch: batch of metabolomics profiling
Strokehx: history of stroke, 1=yes, 0=no
CABGhx: prior CABG, 1=yes, 0=no
PVDhx: peripheral artery disease, 1=yes, 0=no
eGFR_max120_lt60: estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 ml/min/1.73m2, 1=yes, 0=no
curr_smoking: current smoking, 1=yes, 0=no
HFhx: heart failure history, 1=yes, 0=no
HTN: hypertension, 1=yes, 0=no
DM: diabetes, 1=yes, 0=no
mzXX_tXX: intensities of metabolic features
4. Missing data codes: NA
Funding provided by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000050Award Number: 1P20HL113451Funding provided by: American Heart AssociationCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000968Award Number: 19POST34400057Dataset collected as part of Emory Cardiovascular Biobank - a prospective regsitry of patients with coronary artery diseas
A comparative study of the Finnish 4-H organization and the Wisconsin 4-H organization
No full textPlan BThe education of today’s youth, tomorrow’s future, is the focus of the 4-H organization. The aim of the 4-H program is to develop life skills in youth using hands-on learning. 4-H began in the heartland of America in the early 1900’s and soon stretched around the globe. 4-H or a partner organization of 4-H can be found in over 63 countries in the world (V. Gobeli, personal communication, February 25, 2002). The programming, structure, and principles of 4-H programs around the world are all based on the program that began in the United States, but the methods used are different in every country. It is even different among states in the United States. Each program has unique ideas used in the education of youth, but little communication exists to share these ideas among countries. The purpose of this study is to compare another country’s 4-H program to the program that has been long established in Wisconsin. The goal of the study is to show the similarities and difference of two programs that have been created using the same theme, “learning by doing.” Due to the scope of this research, the researcher chose to look only at one country. The country of Finland was chosen for comparison because of its location, similar structure, and its well-established example of European youth programming. The researcher looked at the history of the two programs to help establish the similarities and difference that might exist. The Finnish 4-H Federation began after two men visited the United States and observed the success of club work administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The program ideas were changed to fit the needs of the Finnish people, with the key concept of life skill development remaining the same. The researcher also found that many articles have been written to show an importance in international programming and international travel. The research was done using ethnographic research along with a qualitative written survey and various interviews. The written survey was used to gain basic information before ethnographic research began. The research revealed that although the programs have the same basic goal, the two programs are very different. The largest differences were seen in projects offered, staff roles, leaders participation, and competition. It was found that both 4-H programs contained ideas of superior quality. If these ideas were shared, it could help to improve the program in the other country. The research not only compared the two programs, but also recommended further programs or studies that could be established based on the research performed
Lipid-soluble Vitamins A, D, and E in HIV-Infected Pregnant women in Tanzania.
No full textThere is limited published research examining lipid-soluble vitamins in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women, particularly in resource-limited settings. This is an observational analysis of 1078 HIV-infected pregnant women enrolled in a trial of vitamin supplementation in Tanzania. Baseline data on sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory parameters were used to identify correlates of low plasma vitamin A (<0.7 micromol/l), vitamin D (<80 nmol/l) and vitamin E (<9.7 micromol/l) status. Binomial regression was used to estimate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Approximately 35, 39 and 51% of the women had low levels of vitamins A, D and E, respectively. Severe anemia (hemoglobin <85 g/l; P<0.01), plasma vitamin E (P=0.02), selenium (P=0.01) and vitamin D (P=0.02) concentrations were significant correlates of low vitamin A status in multivariate models. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was independently related to low vitamin A status in a nonlinear manner (P=0.01). The correlates of low vitamin D status were CD8 cell count (P=0.01), high ESR (ESR >81 mm/h; P<0.01), gestational age at enrollment (nonlinear; P=0.03) and plasma vitamins A (P=0.02) and E (P=0.01). For low vitamin E status, the correlates were money spent on food per household per day (P<0.01), plasma vitamin A concentration (nonlinear; P<0.01) and a gestational age <16 weeks at enrollment (P<0.01). Low concentrations of lipid-soluble vitamins are widely prevalent among HIV-infected women in Tanzania and are correlated with other nutritional insufficiencies. Identifying HIV-infected persons at greater risk of poor nutritional status and infections may help inform design and implementation of appropriate interventions
Journal of Proton Therapy: Call for Papers
No full textJournal of Proton Therapy (JPT) is an international open access, peer-reviewed journal, which publishes original research, technical reports, reviews, case reports, editorials, and other materials on proton therapy with focus on radiation oncology, medical physics, medical dosimetry, and radiation therapy.No article processing/submission feeNo publication feePeer-review completion within 3-6 weeksImmediate publication after the completion of final author proofreadDOI assignment for each published articleFree access to published articles for all readers without any access barriers or subscriptionThe views and opinions expressed in articles are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the Journal of Proton Therapy.Authors are encouraged to submit articles for publication in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Proton Therapy by online or email to [email protected] more information, please visit www. protonjournal.comwww. protonjournal.org **************************************Journal of Proton Therapy Welcomes Editorial Board Members Chee-Wai Cheng, PhD Dr. Cheng is the Director of Proton Medical Physics at the University Hospitals as well as Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology at the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.Carlos Vargas, MDDr. Vargas is a Radiation Oncologist at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona. Luca Cozzi, PhD Dr. Cozzi is a Clinical Research Scientist at the Department of Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery at Humanitas Cancer Center, Milan, Italy.Ted Ling, MD Dr. Ling is a Resident Physician at the Department of Radiation Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA.Haibo Lin, PhD Dr. Lin is a Medical Physicist at the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.Xiaodong Zhang, PhD Dr. Zhang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Radiation Physics - Patient Care, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.Alexei V. Trofimov, PhD Dr. Trofimov is a Radiation Physicist at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as well as Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.Minesh Mehta, MD Dr. Mehta is the Medical Director at the Maryland Proton Treatment Center as well as Professor at the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.Terence Sio, MD, MS Dr. Sio is a Resident Physician at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Bijan Arjomandy, PhD Dr. Arjomandy is a Lead Senior Proton Medical Physicist at the McLaren Proton Therapy Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.Gino Lim, PhD Dr. Lim is the Department Chair and Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.Wayne D. Newhauser, PhD Dr. Newhauser is the Professor and Director of Medical Physics and Health Physics at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.Shikui Tang, PhD Dr. Tang is a Medical Physicist at ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Somerset, New Jersey, USA.David Mansur, MD Dr. Mansur is a Division Chief at Radiation Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.Barbara Rombi, MD Dr. Rombi is an Attending Physician at Proton Therapy Center, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.Cole Kreofsky, MD Dr. Kreofsky is a Resident Physician at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.Lane Rosen, MDDr. Rosen is a Radiation Oncologist at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Willis-Knighton Cancer Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.Charles Bloch, PhDDr. Bloch is an Associate Professor at the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.Wei Liu, PhDDr. Liu is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Functional Characterisation of Alpha-Galactosidase A Mutations as a Basis for a New Classification System in Fabry Disease
No full textThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.The study has been supported partially by an unrestricted scientific grant from Shire Human Genetic Therapies (Germany
Stochastic Precipitation Generation for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed using Hidden Markov Models with Variational Bayes Parameter Estimation
No full textStochastic precipitation generators (SPGs) are a class of statistical models which generate synthetic data that can simulate dry and wet rainfall stretches for long durations. Generated precipitation time series data are used in climate projections,
impact assessment of extreme weather events, and water resource and agricultural
management. We construct an SPG for daily precipitation data that is specified as a
semi-continuous distribution at every location, with a point mass at zero for no precipitation and a mixture of two exponential distributions for positive precipitation.
Our generators are obtained as hidden Markov models (HMMs) where the underlying climate conditions form the states. We fit a 3-state HMM to daily precipitation
data for the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the Eastern coast of the USA for the wet
season months of July to September from 2000–2019. Data is obtained from the GPMIMERG remote sensing dataset, and existing work on variational HMMs is extended
to incorporate semi-continuous emission distributions. In light of the high spatial
dimension of the data, a stochastic optimization implementation allows for computational speedup. The most likely sequence of underlying states is estimated using
the Viterbi algorithm, and we are able to identify differences in the weather regimes
associated with the states of the proposed model. Synthetic data generated from the
HMM can reproduce monthly precipitation statistics as well as spatial dependency
present in the historical GPM-IMERG data.The hardware used in the computational studies is part of the UMBC High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF). The facility is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation through the MRI program (grant nos. CNS–0821258, CNS–1228778,
and OAC–1726023) and the SCREMS program (grant no. DMS–0821311), with additional substantial support from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
See hpcf.umbc.edu for more information on HPCF and the projects using its resources.
Co-author Reetam Majumder was supported by the Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology and by the HPCF as a Research Assistant.https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.0430
Determining and Validating Thermal Strain in Asphalt Concrete
No full textAbstractThermal strain causes transverse cracks in Asphalt Concrete (AC) pavements. In this study, thermal strain is determined by developing a three-dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM) model and validates the model with measured data using the field installed Horizontal Asphalt Strain Gauge (HASG) in Interstate 40 (I-40) located near the city of Albuquerque in the state of New Mexico. Materials’ properties of the pavement section were determined by laboratory testing on field collected cores from the pavement section after the construction. Viscoelastic material properties of AC were determined from the creep test on the field cored samples. Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and contraction (CTC) of AC were also determined in the laboratory and in the field. Results show that the FEM model can predict thermal strain with maximum variation of 6.0% compared to measured thermal strain in the field, which is very promising
- …
